Jigano could feel his friend's weariness, and rumbled soft encouragement. You can rest on my shoulders if you need to. We're not too far now, though. He suspected Loren's pride wouldn't let him accept the offer, but as Remi had once done for the raven, so the dragon tried to do for the goose. I would like to know what your favorite color is. What foods you like, and if you prefer wine or ale - or something else. If you play cards, or dice, or enjoy puzzles of words or tiles, perhaps. Whether you're a morning person or a night owl. Little things. Important things. Things he might have learned in time over tea or booze, in a bar or beside a campfire...
If these were normal times. If Caido would ever give them time for such normalcy.
It didn't sound like Loren had accepted that Remi had moved on, not based on his previous outbursts, but Jigano kept those thoughts to himself. That the alchemist would want to repair a broken bridge surprised him not at all, but that he had a certain expectation of what he wanted from it that didn't match what Loren did? That, Jigano could believe. The alchemist's memories had been warped and stolen too many times for a ghost from his past to share the same connection they once had. I might... be able to look for him... He thought hesitantly instead, feeling a rebellious flutter of optimism in his chest. At least... I might be able to find out whether he's alive or not. Such a short word, 'not,' to contain such a wealth of meaning.
Talk of Rory warmed the bard's thoughts, though there was worry in them, too. Sometimes, he thought softly. Sometimes he's the sunshine at the end of Flowerbirth, warm and bright and laughing. And sometimes he's the Leafchange storm, dark and desolate and filled with distant thunder. It hasn't solved his problems. It's just... pushed some of them a little further away for a time. Not forever, though. Eventually he'd have to face the world again, but that day wouldn't be soon.
If these were normal times. If Caido would ever give them time for such normalcy.
It didn't sound like Loren had accepted that Remi had moved on, not based on his previous outbursts, but Jigano kept those thoughts to himself. That the alchemist would want to repair a broken bridge surprised him not at all, but that he had a certain expectation of what he wanted from it that didn't match what Loren did? That, Jigano could believe. The alchemist's memories had been warped and stolen too many times for a ghost from his past to share the same connection they once had. I might... be able to look for him... He thought hesitantly instead, feeling a rebellious flutter of optimism in his chest. At least... I might be able to find out whether he's alive or not. Such a short word, 'not,' to contain such a wealth of meaning.
Talk of Rory warmed the bard's thoughts, though there was worry in them, too. Sometimes, he thought softly. Sometimes he's the sunshine at the end of Flowerbirth, warm and bright and laughing. And sometimes he's the Leafchange storm, dark and desolate and filled with distant thunder. It hasn't solved his problems. It's just... pushed some of them a little further away for a time. Not forever, though. Eventually he'd have to face the world again, but that day wouldn't be soon.
