The Raven's Tale [SE]

Rance nodded in thanks and acknowledgment of his host’s continued offers of aid, even in something that was comparatively less world-view-shattering. His admission about how shaky and uncertain he was came easier thanks to those offers, and Jigano’s own admissions. They might have come from different places, but parts of their journeys weren’t that dissimilar. Those ideas were reinforced again as the fox spoke of his own arrival on Caido and of the past he’d left behind. Rance listened, feeling a tightening in his chest as flickers of what he himself had been pulled away from. “I lived on the road for the most part, too. Spent a lot of time travelin’ between towns, listenin’ to people’s stories, doing to odd job. Met just as many good people as assholes, made friends with both kinds.” His mouth twitched in humor, though both the laugh and the smile faded. He watched Jigano move about gathering materials as he continued, “Always had my family to go back to, though, even if I was sometimes away for months at a stretch. I guess, if there’s one good thing about the way we’re brought here, no one back home’s going to even know I’m gone.” The smile returned briefly, thought it was far from happy. He didn’t know quite how to offer his condolences for what Jigano had lost, or even if he should with how much time had passed. He wasn’t good at sympathizing on the best of days, and that day was far from that.

His eyes flickered over what was laid out on the table, the pieces looking as mysterious as an artist’s tools to him. The smile and another offer from the silver-haired man made Rance’s smile a little more sincere. “I’ll watch for a bit, see how it’s done before I try.” Then, because he was aware enough to realize what ‘a few new ones’ meant in that context, he murmured, “Were you close to them? The ones you’re making lanterns for?”