Jigano had smiled in understanding of Samuel's desire to hide away from the world sometimes - not realizing that it was, in fact, always - when the other man's quick caveat made his smile even wider. "Thank you, Samuel," he chuckled with a dip of his head in acknowledgment. "I like you, too." Skittish though the man could be, he had the natural spark to be something more... if given opportunity and, perhaps, a little nudge.
But there was no rush, and no reason that he had to grow through trauma instead of slow, steady encouragement.
"Card games and dice games both, in fact. Part of entertaining - and gambling, to make up for a slow night in tips,"he added with a wink. He didn't cheat, but he knew how - and how to spot it. And, alright, maybe sometimes he did cheat the cheaters, just to even the playing field... but never honest players. Never friends. "We could certainly trade what we know! Though we might need another person or two for some of them. No reason we can't play them outside of Long Night, though!" And maybe he could meet some of Samuel's other friends that way, too.
Samuel's vehement objection was surprising and sweet, enough to earn a lopsided smile as the bard replaced a floorboard gently before going to gather more moss from the bag for both of them. "I've been looking into it," he assured his friend gently. "The books like that aren't common. And even if you die in the book you just get returned to the Atheneum." Usually. There had been some items - coats, gloves, packs - left behind in a way that seemed unsettlingly reminiscent of how Samuel's belongings had been abandoned before their own return. But he wasn't going to scare his friend with that information! "And if I do get snapped up again, well, I'll just enjoy the story through to its end. But... thank you Samuel. Really. I'll keep your offer in mind, though I'd hate to put you at risk by being the one who made a noise."
But there was no rush, and no reason that he had to grow through trauma instead of slow, steady encouragement.
"Card games and dice games both, in fact. Part of entertaining - and gambling, to make up for a slow night in tips,"he added with a wink. He didn't cheat, but he knew how - and how to spot it. And, alright, maybe sometimes he did cheat the cheaters, just to even the playing field... but never honest players. Never friends. "We could certainly trade what we know! Though we might need another person or two for some of them. No reason we can't play them outside of Long Night, though!" And maybe he could meet some of Samuel's other friends that way, too.
Samuel's vehement objection was surprising and sweet, enough to earn a lopsided smile as the bard replaced a floorboard gently before going to gather more moss from the bag for both of them. "I've been looking into it," he assured his friend gently. "The books like that aren't common. And even if you die in the book you just get returned to the Atheneum." Usually. There had been some items - coats, gloves, packs - left behind in a way that seemed unsettlingly reminiscent of how Samuel's belongings had been abandoned before their own return. But he wasn't going to scare his friend with that information! "And if I do get snapped up again, well, I'll just enjoy the story through to its end. But... thank you Samuel. Really. I'll keep your offer in mind, though I'd hate to put you at risk by being the one who made a noise."
