the house that built me

"That was the point of it." The alchemist agreed, the corners of his lips twitching into a half-smile as he wondered if this wasn't Jigano's way of leading him down the conversational path he was finding himself searching for. At the mention of both Loren and Sam's names, the alchemist's smile faded entirely as if slapped away, replaced with a scowl. "I can only imagine what a well-rounded and unbiased account of things they had to offer." He said bitterly, leaning back into his chair such that the front two legs came off the ground. Tapping his fingers on the arms, the alchemist sighed. "I absolutely didn't want to see any of you again. But then the portals opened and with it spilled all those I was happy to leave behind." A finger continued to tap out an anxious rhythm against the woodgrain of the chair. "I'm better now, than I was when last Sam and Loren saw me, but I can't say I regret how I treated them." Sam and his neediness, screaming Aoife's name into the night and Loren slashing his throat as if it were a chip to be played in a chess game Remi hadn't agreed to play with him. If he never saw either of them again, it would be too soon. remi Too long till I drown in your hands