At least he wasn't the only one startled - Isla jumped as well, so at least Jigano wasn't alone in feeling a little foolish. He took their laughter and spun it into an invitation for an impromptu celebration of winter since their original reason for coming was so clearly extinguished.
"A duchess?" He grinned, voice projecting disbelief. "I do not believe it, in fact. No less a title than 'queen' would do for you, lovely healer!" With that flamboyant claim he reached to take her hand with light - and cold - fingers, keeping the contact to the barest minimum for courtesy's sake, but he'd hardly begun to hum a lively reel when Isla's attention was caught by something other than her partner.
Not one to push, he released her hand when she turned away from him, and craned to see what she was looking towards.
"I think... yes? It certainly appears to be... but it's so small. A reindeer, perhaps?" Jigano caught his breath as they were pinned by its gentle brown gaze. "Oh... he's lovely, though, isn't he?" His voice had softened considerably, barely a whisper as he tried not to startle the stately creature. "And that glow... Isla, I'm beginning to sense a theme to the things in this glade," he added wryly.
"A duchess?" He grinned, voice projecting disbelief. "I do not believe it, in fact. No less a title than 'queen' would do for you, lovely healer!" With that flamboyant claim he reached to take her hand with light - and cold - fingers, keeping the contact to the barest minimum for courtesy's sake, but he'd hardly begun to hum a lively reel when Isla's attention was caught by something other than her partner.
Not one to push, he released her hand when she turned away from him, and craned to see what she was looking towards.
"I think... yes? It certainly appears to be... but it's so small. A reindeer, perhaps?" Jigano caught his breath as they were pinned by its gentle brown gaze. "Oh... he's lovely, though, isn't he?" His voice had softened considerably, barely a whisper as he tried not to startle the stately creature. "And that glow... Isla, I'm beginning to sense a theme to the things in this glade," he added wryly.