It had taken a bit of time, a bit of awkwardness, and still that occasionally lingered between them, but then there were moments like this, where he and Rory fit together like two pieces of a complex puzzle, sliding together like it was the most natural thing in the world, and a little more of the coldness that he guarded in his heart melted away at it.
Amalia stayed where she was, sitting, not following his gentle tug down to join him on his terms but instead shifting to join them on her terms, and Jigano's momentary pang of loss at her initial refusal melted away to pride as the snow leopard instead curled behind them, offering herself as a pillow for weary heads of silver and gold. The bard accepted gladly, raising his head alongside Rory's and settling back with a sigh of pleasure at the plush fur. He turned to rest his cheek against it, a smile curving his lips for a moment at the feel of Amalia's warmth and breath and slow, even pulse beneath the thick fur. Smiling, too, at the warmth and solid strength of Rory pressed against his side, and the heat that seemed to radiate from the hand on his thigh. It was a moment he couldn't hold onto, but it glowed golden in his heart before the world and its worries intruded again, and the hunter found the courage to continue.
It was... not the best news. Maea, who had changed so drastically in so short a time, making him wonder if he'd ever really known her, or if she'd only shown him a mask those first few times they'd met. Sam, well-meaning but painfully shy and terrified of conflict. Though he had been growing stronger, he was still fragile, and could still be easily bullied by stronger personalities around him - especially his sister. Jigano had no real opinions of Evie, though he trusted Vai. Roana, though...
His sigh was more of a groan as he flexed his fingers against Rory's arm with what comfort he could give his friend. "She chose friends, it sounds like," he said thoughtfully. "People she knows... not necessarily the best ones for the job, but ones she is connected to... ones she wished to reward. Or bribe." His voice held more disappointment and sadness than censure, and though he couldn't shake his head he exhaled a puff of breath across golden hair and snowy fur. "I had thought... well. I think perhaps that I misjudged her. That I do not know her as well as I thought I did," he finished, knowing he was guilty, in this case, of trusting too easily and too far, just as he had accused Remi of, once upon a time.
Amalia stayed where she was, sitting, not following his gentle tug down to join him on his terms but instead shifting to join them on her terms, and Jigano's momentary pang of loss at her initial refusal melted away to pride as the snow leopard instead curled behind them, offering herself as a pillow for weary heads of silver and gold. The bard accepted gladly, raising his head alongside Rory's and settling back with a sigh of pleasure at the plush fur. He turned to rest his cheek against it, a smile curving his lips for a moment at the feel of Amalia's warmth and breath and slow, even pulse beneath the thick fur. Smiling, too, at the warmth and solid strength of Rory pressed against his side, and the heat that seemed to radiate from the hand on his thigh. It was a moment he couldn't hold onto, but it glowed golden in his heart before the world and its worries intruded again, and the hunter found the courage to continue.
It was... not the best news. Maea, who had changed so drastically in so short a time, making him wonder if he'd ever really known her, or if she'd only shown him a mask those first few times they'd met. Sam, well-meaning but painfully shy and terrified of conflict. Though he had been growing stronger, he was still fragile, and could still be easily bullied by stronger personalities around him - especially his sister. Jigano had no real opinions of Evie, though he trusted Vai. Roana, though...
His sigh was more of a groan as he flexed his fingers against Rory's arm with what comfort he could give his friend. "She chose friends, it sounds like," he said thoughtfully. "People she knows... not necessarily the best ones for the job, but ones she is connected to... ones she wished to reward. Or bribe." His voice held more disappointment and sadness than censure, and though he couldn't shake his head he exhaled a puff of breath across golden hair and snowy fur. "I had thought... well. I think perhaps that I misjudged her. That I do not know her as well as I thought I did," he finished, knowing he was guilty, in this case, of trusting too easily and too far, just as he had accused Remi of, once upon a time.
