"No," Jigano agreed, low and aching with his failure to help Sam see how he was being used for one once-mortal woman's ambitions. He dragged in a ragged breath as he worked with the moss, hating how his hands still shook. "But sometimes that is inevitable between people."
At the jab about Ronin, however, he stopped to turn and arch that pale, judging brow at Sam. He said nothing at first, just let his disappointment show in his blight-marred eyes for long, uncomfortable moments.
"Perhaps because everyone is afraid to criticize anything you do," he said at last, the blight adding gravel to his usually-smooth voice as he spoke the truth as he saw it. "They know you will run from it, from them, run towards what is easier and looks sweet on the outside. Like a child avoiding his vegetables and wanting to eat only candy." He sighed, shoulders slumping with weariness. "But you aren't a child anymore, Sam, no matter how the Voice tries to treat you. Tries to stifle you, encouraging you to be an eternal child that she can control with sweets and empty praise - and the unspoken fear of punishment in the background. The carrot and the stick." Effective across any world, it would seem, because people were people, no matter where he went.
At the mention of the Ascended during LongNight he barked another rough laugh, the blight striking hard as his heart became too heavy to fight it back any longer. He watched Sam's back with ancient, exhausted eyes that showed only the faintest rim of blue, though the Ascended wouldn't see it. "Oh, they'll look after us alright... those Ascended monsters the Voice experimented on and then abandoned and left to ravage the lands within the barrier. They'll look after us as they have for centuries, with fangs and claws and the twisting of minds and hearts. Be careful, Sam. When the Voice finds some new toys to play with you might end up like they did. Like the Spire Demon. Tossed aside and left to rot like she left the Blighted. She's not much for fixing things, is she? Not when she can just turn to the newer, shinier model without all the fuss and upkeep..."
At the jab about Ronin, however, he stopped to turn and arch that pale, judging brow at Sam. He said nothing at first, just let his disappointment show in his blight-marred eyes for long, uncomfortable moments.
"Perhaps because everyone is afraid to criticize anything you do," he said at last, the blight adding gravel to his usually-smooth voice as he spoke the truth as he saw it. "They know you will run from it, from them, run towards what is easier and looks sweet on the outside. Like a child avoiding his vegetables and wanting to eat only candy." He sighed, shoulders slumping with weariness. "But you aren't a child anymore, Sam, no matter how the Voice tries to treat you. Tries to stifle you, encouraging you to be an eternal child that she can control with sweets and empty praise - and the unspoken fear of punishment in the background. The carrot and the stick." Effective across any world, it would seem, because people were people, no matter where he went.
At the mention of the Ascended during LongNight he barked another rough laugh, the blight striking hard as his heart became too heavy to fight it back any longer. He watched Sam's back with ancient, exhausted eyes that showed only the faintest rim of blue, though the Ascended wouldn't see it. "Oh, they'll look after us alright... those Ascended monsters the Voice experimented on and then abandoned and left to ravage the lands within the barrier. They'll look after us as they have for centuries, with fangs and claws and the twisting of minds and hearts. Be careful, Sam. When the Voice finds some new toys to play with you might end up like they did. Like the Spire Demon. Tossed aside and left to rot like she left the Blighted. She's not much for fixing things, is she? Not when she can just turn to the newer, shinier model without all the fuss and upkeep..."
