Love mends even the broken parts
Letting out a huff of laughter, Loren grinned at Hotaru. "Excellent point. But then I have to deal with the single guards. Any ideas?" He took a sip of the wine as he waited for her next quip.
Smiling sadly, he reached up to give her shoulder a gentle squeeze and just shook his head slowly, offering what comfort he could. "Quite a secret." Sighing, he gave her an understanding look. "The real secret is figuring out how to actually not get close to people. I haven't quite mastered that one, yet, more's the pity." However, his own attempt at lightening the mood and trying to find the humor in this fell as flat as hers had.
Nodding, he glanced towards the door. "I do. My brother is the Warden here, and my distant cousin is the Archmage. She has two children as well" Smirking, he returned his gaze to her, staring directly into her mismatched eyes. "And yes, before you ask I absolutely did get my job through nepotism." This time, his wry and self-deprecating tone was actually humorous. Or at least he hoped.
Taking another sip, he grinned at her. "I confess it's a bit of selfishness on my part. If those relationships had worked out, I somehow imagine you wouldn't be here with me." However his expression softened. "I didn't realize you had kids." It came out quietly. While there was a slightly questioning tone to his voice and a mildly curious expression on his face, he wouldn't press her.
When she asked about his own lost loves, his gaze grew distant. "No it's fine. Talking helps." He bit his lip. "His name was Abasi. He burned to death while I was standing right next to him." The words ached with a familiar pain, and he swallowed hard against the sudden lump in his throat. Seeking out the hand she had on his thigh, he laced their fingers together. He took more than a bit of comfort from the simple touch.
Smiling more genuinely at her than he had before, it transformed him for the briefest of moments. There was no hint of flirtation or suggestively to it. Instead, he looked younger and more carefree than he usually did. Almost like a different person, the person he might've been if life hadn't conspired against him. "Well I can't offer you much besides my hand in marriage." Letting go of her hand, he carefully slipped his arm across her shoulders. If there was any hint of resistance, he'd stop. "But company I can do."
Smiling sadly, he reached up to give her shoulder a gentle squeeze and just shook his head slowly, offering what comfort he could. "Quite a secret." Sighing, he gave her an understanding look. "The real secret is figuring out how to actually not get close to people. I haven't quite mastered that one, yet, more's the pity." However, his own attempt at lightening the mood and trying to find the humor in this fell as flat as hers had.
Nodding, he glanced towards the door. "I do. My brother is the Warden here, and my distant cousin is the Archmage. She has two children as well" Smirking, he returned his gaze to her, staring directly into her mismatched eyes. "And yes, before you ask I absolutely did get my job through nepotism." This time, his wry and self-deprecating tone was actually humorous. Or at least he hoped.
Taking another sip, he grinned at her. "I confess it's a bit of selfishness on my part. If those relationships had worked out, I somehow imagine you wouldn't be here with me." However his expression softened. "I didn't realize you had kids." It came out quietly. While there was a slightly questioning tone to his voice and a mildly curious expression on his face, he wouldn't press her.
When she asked about his own lost loves, his gaze grew distant. "No it's fine. Talking helps." He bit his lip. "His name was Abasi. He burned to death while I was standing right next to him." The words ached with a familiar pain, and he swallowed hard against the sudden lump in his throat. Seeking out the hand she had on his thigh, he laced their fingers together. He took more than a bit of comfort from the simple touch.
Smiling more genuinely at her than he had before, it transformed him for the briefest of moments. There was no hint of flirtation or suggestively to it. Instead, he looked younger and more carefree than he usually did. Almost like a different person, the person he might've been if life hadn't conspired against him. "Well I can't offer you much besides my hand in marriage." Letting go of her hand, he carefully slipped his arm across her shoulders. If there was any hint of resistance, he'd stop. "But company I can do."
loren
