He was glad to see a little joy return to Loren's face as they spoke about Astra - the little star of the hour cheering them both with her sweetness. The light in others could sometimes make it easier to fight back the darkness in himself, while the darkness in others tended to strengthen it. Loren's smile was as much a relief as the luxere's adorable antics, and Jigano relaxed a little as they headed on to the final window.
"Nobody on this world gives themselves the credit they deserve," he noted wryly at Loren's gentle deflection. "I remember you working hard to try and find answers to the blight and prepare for Long Night. It's only more impressive if you did so while fighting off your own demons. And here you are again, helping, just as she is." The smile he found for the luxere was a little easier, a little more genuine as he borrowed their strength. "And what you did... it hasn't been in vain."
He drew a shaky breath, picking a piece of moss into a smaller lump that could be more easily stuffed into a crack. The glance he shot the other man was uncharacteristically uncertain, but he wouldn't have his usual confidence back until the blight was gone from his blood entirely. "I would like to ask you about yourself, Loren," he said with quiet dignity and a formality that bordered on the awkward. "But... given your family name, I don't want to bring up bad memories." From his talks with Edy, he already knew that there were far too many of those. "So if those are too painful, will you tell me instead who you hope to become?"
"Nobody on this world gives themselves the credit they deserve," he noted wryly at Loren's gentle deflection. "I remember you working hard to try and find answers to the blight and prepare for Long Night. It's only more impressive if you did so while fighting off your own demons. And here you are again, helping, just as she is." The smile he found for the luxere was a little easier, a little more genuine as he borrowed their strength. "And what you did... it hasn't been in vain."
He drew a shaky breath, picking a piece of moss into a smaller lump that could be more easily stuffed into a crack. The glance he shot the other man was uncharacteristically uncertain, but he wouldn't have his usual confidence back until the blight was gone from his blood entirely. "I would like to ask you about yourself, Loren," he said with quiet dignity and a formality that bordered on the awkward. "But... given your family name, I don't want to bring up bad memories." From his talks with Edy, he already knew that there were far too many of those. "So if those are too painful, will you tell me instead who you hope to become?"
