He can't quite put his finger to it. Watching the myriad of expressions that dawn on Tidus' face, the way he knows what he wants to say, but somehow it's still the small things that speak volumes. Roland doesn't admit these things openly, but in truth, he is already well-endeared to Tidus and his quirks. There's something about his genuine nature, how he can't ever seem to hold any pretenses or hidden intentions, that gives Roland every reason to ensure this young man continues on whatever path he has taken, and to prevail in it.
A slow upward turn of his lips turns into a toothy smile. Roland shifts his gaze down on the table and he chuckles heartily, having heard Tidus' words more times than he can count, the same message said in different ways. From the family he has come to know in Evermore, to the one he has seemingly left behind. It's familiar and foreign all at once.
Thank you, Tidus.
"Heh. I get it. I keep telling you to rest and take it easy so you don't burn out on both ends, but here I am not taking my own advice. Who's the one lecturing who now?" He says it with the return of mirth and warmth, and a silent promise that more than ever, as much as Tidus might hate him for it eventually, Roland will continue to look over these bright-eyed youths with all that he has to offer.
"With your permission then, I'll be relying on you more often from now on. So long as...you try to do the same with me. We can't both be hardheaded, and I think you beat me out on that one." He smirks, that challenging glint in his eye returning at full force. As his wound has healed, so to has the sermons and lectures he was so ready to give just minutes ago.
no subject
A slow upward turn of his lips turns into a toothy smile. Roland shifts his gaze down on the table and he chuckles heartily, having heard Tidus' words more times than he can count, the same message said in different ways. From the family he has come to know in Evermore, to the one he has seemingly left behind. It's familiar and foreign all at once.
Thank you, Tidus.
"Heh. I get it. I keep telling you to rest and take it easy so you don't burn out on both ends, but here I am not taking my own advice. Who's the one lecturing who now?" He says it with the return of mirth and warmth, and a silent promise that more than ever, as much as Tidus might hate him for it eventually, Roland will continue to look over these bright-eyed youths with all that he has to offer.
"With your permission then, I'll be relying on you more often from now on. So long as...you try to do the same with me. We can't both be hardheaded, and I think you beat me out on that one." He smirks, that challenging glint in his eye returning at full force. As his wound has healed, so to has the sermons and lectures he was so ready to give just minutes ago.