"Something else we have in common then," Jigano said softly, noting the lack of humor and the not-smile, but responding with a sober sincerity. "Surviving when others don't... even when we might wish it otherwise." Or even when the gods might wish it otherwise. Certain ones among them, at least. Or so it felt some days.
He couldn't stop Loren's downward spiral until the summoner was willing to allow others to help, or to pull himself back out of it, but he could let his friend know that he would be there when that time came. Even if all he could do was help out in small ways until then it was worth it if it eased the other man's mind even a little. "You're welcome. I'll come by soon. If you feel up to it you can send a raven with a list of seedlings you want, or I can surprise you with a grab-bag." Making decisions was a bitch sometimes, and if Loren didn't feel up to it he didn't have to. Even if the seeds Jigano brought were redundant, backups weren't a bad thing to have in Halo.
Loren's rare show of uncertainty over his current course revealed the depth of his connection to Astra, and the bard sent a pulse of quiet understanding through the bond as he glanced at the summoner and then away again. "What sort of things does she like to do?" he asked instead. "Does she have any favorite games or activities that you do together?"
He couldn't stop Loren's downward spiral until the summoner was willing to allow others to help, or to pull himself back out of it, but he could let his friend know that he would be there when that time came. Even if all he could do was help out in small ways until then it was worth it if it eased the other man's mind even a little. "You're welcome. I'll come by soon. If you feel up to it you can send a raven with a list of seedlings you want, or I can surprise you with a grab-bag." Making decisions was a bitch sometimes, and if Loren didn't feel up to it he didn't have to. Even if the seeds Jigano brought were redundant, backups weren't a bad thing to have in Halo.
Loren's rare show of uncertainty over his current course revealed the depth of his connection to Astra, and the bard sent a pulse of quiet understanding through the bond as he glanced at the summoner and then away again. "What sort of things does she like to do?" he asked instead. "Does she have any favorite games or activities that you do together?"
