It was, he realized after Rory had let go and it was too late to call him back, the first time that they had shared a hug. It had been far too brief, but the look on his friend's face seemed to promise that it wouldn't be the last, and that shared, unspoken desire soothed the regret of their parting. His own smile was uncharacteristically shy, some of the confidence he worked so hard to present to the world slipping to reveal a man walking an uncharted path, but one he chose gladly.
And then Rory slipped away to capture Amalia, whose company Jigano had shared all through their walk. While he had caught a flicker of her discontent in her quietude and distraction he had not realized how uncomfortable his greeting to the hunter had made her until he looked over and found her turned away, hiding behind her lovely hair and the solace of Vaya's attention. Rory, strong and loyal, sweet and true, would not let her wallow in her loneliness - and neither would Isuma, ecstatically eager to have two such wonderful people, so important to her bonded companion and herself, to play with and love.
His expression softened as Amalia let herself accept the hug, and he finished tying his braid off with a self-conscious fumbling of his fingers as the look Rory gave him sent a shiver up his spine and threatened to leave him breathless. As the pair broke apart from their hug he stepped forward to meet them, falling in on Amalia's other side and attempting to capture her hand with shy fingers unused to taking the initiative... but he would not leave her out of the warmth that settled over the four of them as Isuma made tiny, happy sounds on Rory's shoulder before making a remarkably coordinated leap to Amalia's shoulder instead - definitely staying well out of reach of the dog below, who had once chased her and given her companion such a fright!
"I may not be the strongest," Jigano admitted with a rueful grin, "or much of a carpenter, but I can at least clean out the old debris and help carry things!" He squeezed Amalia's hand and then loosened his fingers in case she wanted to free herself from his forwardness, but he didn't pull away until she did. He might have said more, but Isuma decided to take up the conversation at that point, reep?ing coaxingly to get Amalia to use her free hand for scritches as Jigano laughed quietly at her shameless importuning.
It gave him a chance to make more formal greeting to Vaya, and by the time Rory returned he was scratching the dog's ears as a tentative peace was reached between fox and hound. He chose an oft-mended pair that likely belonged to Rory - they shared similar long, slender fingers at least - and pulled them on as he began heading for the barn. "I can start sweeping out the splinters from the damaged stall," he suggested, "so you two can focus on the trough?"
And then Rory slipped away to capture Amalia, whose company Jigano had shared all through their walk. While he had caught a flicker of her discontent in her quietude and distraction he had not realized how uncomfortable his greeting to the hunter had made her until he looked over and found her turned away, hiding behind her lovely hair and the solace of Vaya's attention. Rory, strong and loyal, sweet and true, would not let her wallow in her loneliness - and neither would Isuma, ecstatically eager to have two such wonderful people, so important to her bonded companion and herself, to play with and love.
His expression softened as Amalia let herself accept the hug, and he finished tying his braid off with a self-conscious fumbling of his fingers as the look Rory gave him sent a shiver up his spine and threatened to leave him breathless. As the pair broke apart from their hug he stepped forward to meet them, falling in on Amalia's other side and attempting to capture her hand with shy fingers unused to taking the initiative... but he would not leave her out of the warmth that settled over the four of them as Isuma made tiny, happy sounds on Rory's shoulder before making a remarkably coordinated leap to Amalia's shoulder instead - definitely staying well out of reach of the dog below, who had once chased her and given her companion such a fright!
"I may not be the strongest," Jigano admitted with a rueful grin, "or much of a carpenter, but I can at least clean out the old debris and help carry things!" He squeezed Amalia's hand and then loosened his fingers in case she wanted to free herself from his forwardness, but he didn't pull away until she did. He might have said more, but Isuma decided to take up the conversation at that point, reep?ing coaxingly to get Amalia to use her free hand for scritches as Jigano laughed quietly at her shameless importuning.
It gave him a chance to make more formal greeting to Vaya, and by the time Rory returned he was scratching the dog's ears as a tentative peace was reached between fox and hound. He chose an oft-mended pair that likely belonged to Rory - they shared similar long, slender fingers at least - and pulled them on as he began heading for the barn. "I can start sweeping out the splinters from the damaged stall," he suggested, "so you two can focus on the trough?"
