Sam's words were small, empty things with a weight far beyond their brevity. They fell into Jigano's waiting ears and dripped like lead down into his heart, making it heavier and heavier as the bookmaker went on until he thought it would drag him down to Hell all on its own. He sagged in his seat, his perfect posture finally broken as he acknowledged the death of the brief spark of hope he'd foolishly entertained for perhaps three seconds, stillborn before it had ever really had a chance to live. "I see..." he murmured softly, not knowing what else to say, and hiding behind the vague courtesy of the expression. What else was there to say, after all?
He had expected a longer lapse into silence after his plea for help. Surely Sam would need time to think things through before he offered any ideas. Jigano was unprepared for how quickly the other man spoke up, and he raised his head in surprise. What he saw was not nearly as interesting as what he didn't see as his friend's hands faded away into nothingness. Blue eyes widened, the bard straightening as gears began to turn inside his head. "But Sam, that's an incredible ability--!" He began, but the bookmaker's fear stopped him cold and he blinked at the ginger-bearded man in shock.
And disappointment, though he hid it well. He set his tea down carefully, taking a deep breath to center himself and remind himself of how far the other man had come over the course of their friendship. He could ask this of Sam, yes... but Sam had every right to tell him no.
"You don't have to help," the lorekeeper forced himself to say, gentle and aching as he thought of those who had already been taken from him. "I am asking for it, because it involves our guildmates. but I would not force you, Sam." He winced, taking a steadying breath. "We need information we can only get by going into the woods... but going into the woods is dangerous. Flying above it is safer, since nothing can sneak up on you, but it's like it fixes itself beneath you so you can't get anywhere. And if you enter it with a destination in mind it simply turns you around and spits you out again," he explained with a grimace. "But... there is someone who seems to know the way through it. A fox named Ianto. Deimos is going to see if he can convince him to lead us... and not into another ambush." Given the intimidation factor of the big man, Jigano had some small hope that it might even work.
He had expected a longer lapse into silence after his plea for help. Surely Sam would need time to think things through before he offered any ideas. Jigano was unprepared for how quickly the other man spoke up, and he raised his head in surprise. What he saw was not nearly as interesting as what he didn't see as his friend's hands faded away into nothingness. Blue eyes widened, the bard straightening as gears began to turn inside his head. "But Sam, that's an incredible ability--!" He began, but the bookmaker's fear stopped him cold and he blinked at the ginger-bearded man in shock.
And disappointment, though he hid it well. He set his tea down carefully, taking a deep breath to center himself and remind himself of how far the other man had come over the course of their friendship. He could ask this of Sam, yes... but Sam had every right to tell him no.
"You don't have to help," the lorekeeper forced himself to say, gentle and aching as he thought of those who had already been taken from him. "I am asking for it, because it involves our guildmates. but I would not force you, Sam." He winced, taking a steadying breath. "We need information we can only get by going into the woods... but going into the woods is dangerous. Flying above it is safer, since nothing can sneak up on you, but it's like it fixes itself beneath you so you can't get anywhere. And if you enter it with a destination in mind it simply turns you around and spits you out again," he explained with a grimace. "But... there is someone who seems to know the way through it. A fox named Ianto. Deimos is going to see if he can convince him to lead us... and not into another ambush." Given the intimidation factor of the big man, Jigano had some small hope that it might even work.
