"Yes, with Ronin being... yes, I can understand that," Jigano murmured sympathetically, feeling the frisson of annoyance beneath his skin, that dark, burning restlessness that wanted to snap at the Ascended for turning a blind eye to the Voice's machinations instead of seeking answers from her. Sympathy for Sam and Remi both trickled thinly over the top of the irrational anger, but he held it in check for now, turning his attention instead to recounting a short, sanitized tale of the bard who was briefly king. It didn't exactly help him keep his temper, but it changed the focus of the simmering rage to people who weren't currently with him.
At least the bookmaker didn't join in with the judgment parade. He looked to Jigano with trust that caused the lorekeeper's heart to ache, cutting past the anger to drip a cooling salve upon the cracks in his heart. He found a smile for his friend, letting out a relieved breath. "Thank you," he said softly, then cleared his throat self-consciously and his smile turned back to its usual wry tilt. "Chaotic and emotional... yes, it very much is. Kings and Queens and Blights and Fae and Longnight just around the corner. I guess we're all on edge these days. But at least Zariah is gone, so that's one less worry to deal with - especially for two renegades like ourselves!" His smile shone a little brighter, but faded as they reached the first platform that Sam had braved once upon a Flowerbirth night, all those months ago.
The funny thing about looking for trouble, is that sometimes you can find it. As the staircase rounded another bend a door came into view, dark and oddly forboding in the light of Jigano's white lantern. He exchanged a cautious look with Sam and then approached it, testing it gently to see if it would open.
Locked.
"I don't suppose you brought any keys with you?" he said, more to keep the mood light than because he had any hope that their keys would fit. Nibbling his lip, the bard narrowed his gaze at the door, studying it and whatever mechanism kept it closed thoughtfully.
At least the bookmaker didn't join in with the judgment parade. He looked to Jigano with trust that caused the lorekeeper's heart to ache, cutting past the anger to drip a cooling salve upon the cracks in his heart. He found a smile for his friend, letting out a relieved breath. "Thank you," he said softly, then cleared his throat self-consciously and his smile turned back to its usual wry tilt. "Chaotic and emotional... yes, it very much is. Kings and Queens and Blights and Fae and Longnight just around the corner. I guess we're all on edge these days. But at least Zariah is gone, so that's one less worry to deal with - especially for two renegades like ourselves!" His smile shone a little brighter, but faded as they reached the first platform that Sam had braved once upon a Flowerbirth night, all those months ago.
The funny thing about looking for trouble, is that sometimes you can find it. As the staircase rounded another bend a door came into view, dark and oddly forboding in the light of Jigano's white lantern. He exchanged a cautious look with Sam and then approached it, testing it gently to see if it would open.
Locked.
"I don't suppose you brought any keys with you?" he said, more to keep the mood light than because he had any hope that their keys would fit. Nibbling his lip, the bard narrowed his gaze at the door, studying it and whatever mechanism kept it closed thoughtfully.
