They say blood makes you related but
loyalty makes you family
Sunjata was really digging his pity party. Loren, on the other hand, wasn’t ”Trying is the best you can do sometimes. And you have to be okay with that, even if you fail.” Everyone had bad days. So long as they did what they could to have the good ones outnumber the bad, and to make up for what happened on the bad ones, that would have to be enough. Just because they’d been through a lot together didn’t mean Sunjata and Lusea were destined to be together: love didn’t mean being together, something Loren had heard more than once lately. As for Phoebe, well, she might’ve been well meaning, but she was hardly an impartial party here, and had probably done more harm than good. However, he wasn’t in any position to criticize the midwife, not after how cruel he’d been to her.
Listening to what the panther had to say, the summoner kept an easy and gentle smile on his face. The combative Launceleyn was gone; in his place was the man Loren might have always been, under the trauma and the pigheadedness. ”Harder, yes. Because as you said, it’s her decision, not yours.” Not having control was always tough, but trying to control Lusea would just cause the other man to lose her for sure.
Thankfully, the tougher love worked a little bit. At Sunjata’s comment about wallowing, the summoner grinned outright. ”Me too. But it gets a bit tired after a while. Gotta switch up the act every once in a while, keep people on their toes.” It was the closest he’d ever get to admitting that sometimes his personality changes were more affected than anything else. Not that that should surprise anyone who spent a great deal of time with him.
He waved away the panther’s apology. ”Don’t worry about it. And hey, if you ever need to talk or a drinking buddy, let me know.” Tipping the cup of water, the Launceleyn gave a friendly nod before downing the rest of it. Hopefully Sunjata was calmer now, and more ready to be patient with Lusea. If so, maybe the summoner hadn’t mucked it up completely here.
Listening to what the panther had to say, the summoner kept an easy and gentle smile on his face. The combative Launceleyn was gone; in his place was the man Loren might have always been, under the trauma and the pigheadedness. ”Harder, yes. Because as you said, it’s her decision, not yours.” Not having control was always tough, but trying to control Lusea would just cause the other man to lose her for sure.
Thankfully, the tougher love worked a little bit. At Sunjata’s comment about wallowing, the summoner grinned outright. ”Me too. But it gets a bit tired after a while. Gotta switch up the act every once in a while, keep people on their toes.” It was the closest he’d ever get to admitting that sometimes his personality changes were more affected than anything else. Not that that should surprise anyone who spent a great deal of time with him.
He waved away the panther’s apology. ”Don’t worry about it. And hey, if you ever need to talk or a drinking buddy, let me know.” Tipping the cup of water, the Launceleyn gave a friendly nod before downing the rest of it. Hopefully Sunjata was calmer now, and more ready to be patient with Lusea. If so, maybe the summoner hadn’t mucked it up completely here.
LOREN
