[ His paternal instincts are always the strongest when it comes to this - to watching a child suffer the way that they do, forced to grow up too fast in a cruel, relentless world. He still doesn't know enough about where Inigo comes from, but he's heard more than he needs to piece together some vague assumptions.
One of them of course, is assuming that his mother was already gone. How could Roland not read in between the lines? How could he ignore that look in Inigo's eyes whenever he speaks of Olivia? More than anyone, he was familiar with loss the most. He may try to fight it, but his pain lingers close, never too far from his heart. Inigo's eyes are always glossy with something deeper, and now he knows one of the reasons why his heart is tender; why it beats so strongly the way that it does.
He listens to Inigo speak, but he also makes his way towards him, crosses that short distance between them, and carefully, lays a gentle hand against his hair, stroking it softly, comfortingly. ]
I know, Inigo. I kind of figured. [ He continues to stroke his hair, back and forth, radiating warmth with low tones reverberating against his chest. ] And I'm sorry for your loss. It's...it's never easy, and it hardly gets better even when days and years pass. You just sort of live with it. [ As he has. As he does. Will lost his mother too, and at such a young age. He told Inigo as much before, in the forest, but it hits Roland harder when he knows deep down, he may have lost Will too; to the fire, to the brimstone. ]
[ He stays silent for a good while, letting the conversation ease into a steady rhythm as heavy as it was - for both of them. Roland watches Inigo's fist grip into his clothes and he knows he needs to keep going, though his comforting touch is never too far away. ]
We all come from different worlds, different dimensions. But still, a part of me thinks it's universal that parents are still looking out for their children. Even if they're separated by time, space...life, or death. [ He closes his eyes for a breath of a moment. So close; too close to his own horror, but he will keep going. He must. ] Even when they're not with you, you know they still are. They're a part of you, forever.
So, just think about that okay? [ Roland's voice remains as young as he looks, but somehow, he has once again transcended the magic; now, as his hand continues to keep Inigo close, he is the same man, the same father, just trying his best. ] That Olivia is rooting for you, even now, and that someone who's earned all of her love can't possibly be as bad of a person as they think they are.
[ He halts the strokes against Inigo's hair as he kneels to his eye level, similar to how he looked at him in Jema'grethy. The emotion swelling behind Roland's eyes is unmistakable. ]
And you have to stop calling it a burden on me when I want in. I'll help you carry whatever load you lend me. That includes dealing with this, with Reno, with whoever hurts you. I promised, right?
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One of them of course, is assuming that his mother was already gone. How could Roland not read in between the lines? How could he ignore that look in Inigo's eyes whenever he speaks of Olivia? More than anyone, he was familiar with loss the most. He may try to fight it, but his pain lingers close, never too far from his heart. Inigo's eyes are always glossy with something deeper, and now he knows one of the reasons why his heart is tender; why it beats so strongly the way that it does.
He listens to Inigo speak, but he also makes his way towards him, crosses that short distance between them, and carefully, lays a gentle hand against his hair, stroking it softly, comfortingly. ]
I know, Inigo. I kind of figured. [ He continues to stroke his hair, back and forth, radiating warmth with low tones reverberating against his chest. ] And I'm sorry for your loss. It's...it's never easy, and it hardly gets better even when days and years pass. You just sort of live with it. [ As he has. As he does. Will lost his mother too, and at such a young age. He told Inigo as much before, in the forest, but it hits Roland harder when he knows deep down, he may have lost Will too; to the fire, to the brimstone. ]
[ He stays silent for a good while, letting the conversation ease into a steady rhythm as heavy as it was - for both of them. Roland watches Inigo's fist grip into his clothes and he knows he needs to keep going, though his comforting touch is never too far away. ]
We all come from different worlds, different dimensions. But still, a part of me thinks it's universal that parents are still looking out for their children. Even if they're separated by time, space...life, or death. [ He closes his eyes for a breath of a moment. So close; too close to his own horror, but he will keep going. He must. ] Even when they're not with you, you know they still are. They're a part of you, forever.
So, just think about that okay? [ Roland's voice remains as young as he looks, but somehow, he has once again transcended the magic; now, as his hand continues to keep Inigo close, he is the same man, the same father, just trying his best. ] That Olivia is rooting for you, even now, and that someone who's earned all of her love can't possibly be as bad of a person as they think they are.
[ He halts the strokes against Inigo's hair as he kneels to his eye level, similar to how he looked at him in Jema'grethy. The emotion swelling behind Roland's eyes is unmistakable. ]
And you have to stop calling it a burden on me when I want in. I'll help you carry whatever load you lend me. That includes dealing with this, with Reno, with whoever hurts you. I promised, right?