Oh, more friends?! Isuma was a-flutter with excitement as Haai came to greet her, returning the sniffs with a chortle and a happy lashing of her long, fluffy tail. Jigano smiled and nodded at Sunjata as well, realizing with a start that he hadn't seen the VlamVloed's owner since the bar had opened. Damn, time was flying... and not always for the best, given the tragedies that had occurred twixt then and now. His expression fell a little, but Isuma's joy was too infectious on this day to let it overcome him for long, and he turned back to Kai and his sister. Isuma bounded towards her demigod friend to bump up against his hand and nibble a finger and--
Oh, I like him! He has interesting smells! Haai, come smell this!
Jigano blinked in utter bemusement as the shock of his companions perky, joyful voice washed through him. Kai's explanation was almost lost in the surprise, but his expression softened with gratitude as he bowed deeply to the young man. "Ah... thank you. This is... even if temporary... it is a great gift," he said softly, almost (almost) at a loss for words as Isuma's happy thoughts bounced through his mind.
Oia'i'o seemed far less comfortable with the gathered group than Kai was... but then again, Loren looked rather awkward as well, and far more unhappy. The bard studied Kai's sister thoughtfully for a moment, then nodded acceptance of the instructions and settled himself down cross-legged on the ground, calling Isuma gently back to him. She hopped into his lap and rubbed against his hands as he scratched her cheeks, sending her a query of ? to remind her of Oia'i'o's question.
Oh! I like all of the friends we meet, and the scratches behind my ears and when Rory tickles my belly and feeds me jerky and when Vaya chases me and runs into things and cuddling with Ama-sis and singing with Jyoti and--
"Whoa, whoa, slow down! What do you like about being bonded, specifically?" he laughed at the excited train of thought and tried to gently redirect her, obligingly scratching behind her ears. "And what you don't like?"
Golden eyes blinked up at him for a moment as she tilted her owlish head into the scritches. Welllll... I like having a family. And I like everyone I get to meet when I'm with you. And I like being loved and loving you, too, and how you feel when you feel my love, and hunting mice together, and making a nest in your hood. I like not ever being alone, not really, not even when we're far apart. Jigano drew a sudden breath at that, feeling a rush of love and guilt that he left her so often... and she peeped softly. That. I don't like that. How much you hurt inside. And when you go away and leave me to watch Rory-dad. I can help you, too, just like Ama-sis! I'm not a baby anymore. She purred and pressed her head up into his hands, reassuring and soothing as she demanded more attention, and Jigano found himself blinking back emotion and not looking at anyone else as he obliged.
"Ah... she says... that she likes not being alone, even when we're not together. And feeling how much I love her, and she loves me. She likes hunting together, and nesting near me and... and all of the different people she gets to meet with me." He drew a breath, smiling down at her with a little sadness. "She also says that she doesn't like it when I go places without her. Or when I feel bad... about myself, but also just in general, I think."
Oh, I like him! He has interesting smells! Haai, come smell this!
Jigano blinked in utter bemusement as the shock of his companions perky, joyful voice washed through him. Kai's explanation was almost lost in the surprise, but his expression softened with gratitude as he bowed deeply to the young man. "Ah... thank you. This is... even if temporary... it is a great gift," he said softly, almost (almost) at a loss for words as Isuma's happy thoughts bounced through his mind.
Oia'i'o seemed far less comfortable with the gathered group than Kai was... but then again, Loren looked rather awkward as well, and far more unhappy. The bard studied Kai's sister thoughtfully for a moment, then nodded acceptance of the instructions and settled himself down cross-legged on the ground, calling Isuma gently back to him. She hopped into his lap and rubbed against his hands as he scratched her cheeks, sending her a query of ? to remind her of Oia'i'o's question.
Oh! I like all of the friends we meet, and the scratches behind my ears and when Rory tickles my belly and feeds me jerky and when Vaya chases me and runs into things and cuddling with Ama-sis and singing with Jyoti and--
"Whoa, whoa, slow down! What do you like about being bonded, specifically?" he laughed at the excited train of thought and tried to gently redirect her, obligingly scratching behind her ears. "And what you don't like?"
Golden eyes blinked up at him for a moment as she tilted her owlish head into the scritches. Welllll... I like having a family. And I like everyone I get to meet when I'm with you. And I like being loved and loving you, too, and how you feel when you feel my love, and hunting mice together, and making a nest in your hood. I like not ever being alone, not really, not even when we're far apart. Jigano drew a sudden breath at that, feeling a rush of love and guilt that he left her so often... and she peeped softly. That. I don't like that. How much you hurt inside. And when you go away and leave me to watch Rory-dad. I can help you, too, just like Ama-sis! I'm not a baby anymore. She purred and pressed her head up into his hands, reassuring and soothing as she demanded more attention, and Jigano found himself blinking back emotion and not looking at anyone else as he obliged.
"Ah... she says... that she likes not being alone, even when we're not together. And feeling how much I love her, and she loves me. She likes hunting together, and nesting near me and... and all of the different people she gets to meet with me." He drew a breath, smiling down at her with a little sadness. "She also says that she doesn't like it when I go places without her. Or when I feel bad... about myself, but also just in general, I think."
