Love mends even the broken parts
As Hotaru leaned closer in as well, Loren just grinned. Laughing a bit at her question, he nodded slowly. "Yes." Taking a sip of his wine, he waved a hand in his air. "I wish I could say it's all to do with my assets, but honestly any eligible bachelor is fair game here. Or maiden." Given how small and insular Halo was, that was actually true, but the self-deprecating tone in his voice made it sound like a joke.
"Speaking from experience, losing friends in quantity isn't great either." He gave her a rueful smile. At the same time, his hand found hers again to give it another gentle squeeze. "But you're right. And I am sorry, truly for your losses. I wouldn't wish that on anyone." He spoke as someone intimately familiar with such pain and heartache.
Chuckling at her comment, he found his eyes straying towards the door. "Which makes it all the more ironic that I find myself back here." Her reaction caught his attention, and drew his gaze back to her. Smirking a bit, he toasted. "I believe I can definitively say it is their loss." It was clear he was pleased to have caught her off guard.
Then his expression softened. "For what it's worth, I've only had one long-term relationship. And that...ended in disaster of another sort." For a moment he lost track of the game and rubbed a palm against his thigh, eyes sad and distant.
Watching her carefully as she spoke, he didn't respond right away. Instead, his expression grew thoughtful. Finally he spoke in a much more normal tone of voice. "It's less about what intrigues me and more about what you need right now." He smiled, no hint of flirtation in it. "And if you'll forgive me for being so bold as to put words in your mouth, it seems like we could both do with some company right now." Raising his eyebrows, he looked at her almost expectantly.
"Speaking from experience, losing friends in quantity isn't great either." He gave her a rueful smile. At the same time, his hand found hers again to give it another gentle squeeze. "But you're right. And I am sorry, truly for your losses. I wouldn't wish that on anyone." He spoke as someone intimately familiar with such pain and heartache.
Chuckling at her comment, he found his eyes straying towards the door. "Which makes it all the more ironic that I find myself back here." Her reaction caught his attention, and drew his gaze back to her. Smirking a bit, he toasted. "I believe I can definitively say it is their loss." It was clear he was pleased to have caught her off guard.
Then his expression softened. "For what it's worth, I've only had one long-term relationship. And that...ended in disaster of another sort." For a moment he lost track of the game and rubbed a palm against his thigh, eyes sad and distant.
Watching her carefully as she spoke, he didn't respond right away. Instead, his expression grew thoughtful. Finally he spoke in a much more normal tone of voice. "It's less about what intrigues me and more about what you need right now." He smiled, no hint of flirtation in it. "And if you'll forgive me for being so bold as to put words in your mouth, it seems like we could both do with some company right now." Raising his eyebrows, he looked at her almost expectantly.
loren
