It absolutely does count, Jigano responded back, a hint of tartness in his tone. Those getting healed get to make that call. And you Healed me at Fiat Lux. My own earth shield broke and a chunk of it knocked me out, I was told. Thanks to the mud that monster was slinging around - and no, it wasn't your fault, Loren. It was the damn mud beast's fault. You might as well hate Phoebe and Sunjata for failing to stop it sooner, if you're going to treat yourself like that.
Anger and despair were old friends to the bard, but seeing them in Loren gave him an uncomfortable level of insight into his own martyr complex that he really didn't want to deal with just then. Luckily, Loren provided a much better distraction. Zariah can go fuck herself with an icicle, he retorted. A sharp one, preferably. But you're as much a Launceleyn as she is - and a far better person all around. You're not in Northwind anymore, and whatever power she had there? Doesn't exist here. Disown her. And found your own family, without all the manipulation and torture and cruelty she thrives on. Turned out Jigano had no little anger to work out when it came to the ex-Queen, too. Perhaps it was something they could bond over when things had calmed down.They could dream, couldn't they?
Caring hurt, Jigano well knew. His soul still bore the scars of his arguments with Amalia, Sam, and Rex. The loss of Caiside and Edy and Isla. He was quiet for a time as they flew before he exhaled a puff of frosty breath, quickly whipped away by the wind. I can't argue with that, he said at last, subdued. This is a harsh world, and there are no guarantees of survival for anyone. But the people we care for make us better while we're in their lives, and caring for them gives us strength. What do you think you will become if you try to cut everyone else, every person who matters to you, out of your life? What purpose would you have, then?What would you do, with no one to love or protect or help?
Anger and despair were old friends to the bard, but seeing them in Loren gave him an uncomfortable level of insight into his own martyr complex that he really didn't want to deal with just then. Luckily, Loren provided a much better distraction. Zariah can go fuck herself with an icicle, he retorted. A sharp one, preferably. But you're as much a Launceleyn as she is - and a far better person all around. You're not in Northwind anymore, and whatever power she had there? Doesn't exist here. Disown her. And found your own family, without all the manipulation and torture and cruelty she thrives on. Turned out Jigano had no little anger to work out when it came to the ex-Queen, too. Perhaps it was something they could bond over when things had calmed down.
Caring hurt, Jigano well knew. His soul still bore the scars of his arguments with Amalia, Sam, and Rex. The loss of Caiside and Edy and Isla. He was quiet for a time as they flew before he exhaled a puff of frosty breath, quickly whipped away by the wind. I can't argue with that, he said at last, subdued. This is a harsh world, and there are no guarantees of survival for anyone. But the people we care for make us better while we're in their lives, and caring for them gives us strength. What do you think you will become if you try to cut everyone else, every person who matters to you, out of your life? What purpose would you have, then?What would you do, with no one to love or protect or help?
