Sam still seemed surprised to get gifts of any kind, and Jigano's heart ached a little for the lonely bookseller. He gave a gentle shake of his head, smile softening at the guilt on his friend's face and in his voice. "They're gifts," he said gently. "You don't need to return them. This is something I decided to do on my own, because I enjoy your company and your friendship. Those are the gifts you've already given to me." A slight twist of his wrist slid the coin back into his sleeve even as he turned his hand over to reveal a small golden charm, an inch long, of an incredibly detailed and almost life-like little horse. "I had it made from the coins I brought from my world," he explained, smile brightening hopefully. "I remember how you liked the gold in that story, when it was all piled up and shining in the sun. And the horse, well..." He chuckled ruefully, giving his friend a wink. "That's our little secret, just between us, isn't it? I thought you could maybe use it as a luckpiece... or attach it to a bookmark, perhaps? Whatever you want, so long as it makes you happy to see it." He reached out to place the token gently into Sam's palm, if the other man would accept it.
"But I don't want you getting too cold out here. It seems fairly quiet now, so maybe we should--" He was interrupted by a flash of grey as two squirrels darted out from the nearby trees, very near to the barrier. One had more eyes than it clearly needed, the other, chasing it, had part of a second tail growing beside the first, though stunted and dragging behind it rather than flicking with liquid grace like the more normal one alongside it.
Jigano froze as they came near, trying not to startle them away as his eyes darted quickly to try and pick out details as they zig-zagged and zoomed over the snow - in either play or some squirrelish territorial dispute, he wasn't certain, but at least they weren't talking in human speech!
"But I don't want you getting too cold out here. It seems fairly quiet now, so maybe we should--" He was interrupted by a flash of grey as two squirrels darted out from the nearby trees, very near to the barrier. One had more eyes than it clearly needed, the other, chasing it, had part of a second tail growing beside the first, though stunted and dragging behind it rather than flicking with liquid grace like the more normal one alongside it.
Jigano froze as they came near, trying not to startle them away as his eyes darted quickly to try and pick out details as they zig-zagged and zoomed over the snow - in either play or some squirrelish territorial dispute, he wasn't certain, but at least they weren't talking in human speech!
