and it's hard to dance with a devil on your back

Strangely enough, Loren did feel a little lighter after unburdening himself to Samuel. Not enough to smile, or to show much life, but after revealing his past at least the summoner didn’t have to force himself to be polite or normal, because he wasn’t normal and he didn’t feel like being polite these days. Astra snuggled even closer to him, and he reached down again to give her head a rub. When the redhead mentioned Abasi sounded like a good person, though, the Launceleyn's carefully blank mask faltered for a moment. Grief etched its way onto his features. "He was." The words were soft, but carried the lifetime of sorrow he'd experienced. At the other man's comment, Loren nodded then stood. "Thank you." Reaching down, he hefted his bag. Turning, he headed towards the stairs. However, he hesitated at the foot of them. "If anyone...I went to Halo. In case it comes up." With that, he made his way up to the Atheneum proper, and headed towards the portal. Despite the heavy pack, his steps came just a little bit easier than they had before. LOREN Not quite an open book