Jaz pulled her hands back from the table and blinked at the floor in disbelief, and Monica worried she had still overwhelmed her.
"Yes," Jaz said with a breathy laugh, tears wetting her eyes. "Somewhere relatively safe I know I could return to would help enormously. As for touch... I can... I would... More would be lovely. But I wouldn't want to impose. Or be imposed upon."
Jaz looked back up to Monica as she finished speaking, and Monica nodded in understanding, though it took more thought before she could reply.
"You are welcome here in the temple," she finally said, "if nothing else." Then she raised her knuckle to her chin in thought again, still weighing more considerations. "Outside of here, you should probably remain near me or Ren while in town for now, while no one else knows about you. But, I worry that it may bring quite a lot of curiosity to you, if you stay as my guest."
Monica looked at Ren then, perhaps curiously. He didn't catch the gaze at first, his own eyes looking at the floor and his brow furrowed in thought. But as his mind turned over what Monica had said, he did glance up, though he didn't look especially pleased about it.
"Perhaps the Roens," she offered, curious about his thoughts. Ren crossed his arms, looking skeptical. "They would be welcoming, but discrete," she added, but Ren shook his head.
"Jarrett would be around a lot," he said, at first to Monica, but then his eyes shifted to Jaz, letting a beat of silence pass with a frown. "If you don't mind the hike..." he finally said to her, "you could camp near my cabin. We can get the gear today, and..." his eyes flicked away, admitting some annoyance. "You're kind of already my guest, anyway."
"Honestly, Ren," Monica let out a soft breath between a laugh and a sigh. "Welcoming guests is part of having a home. Don't forget you chose to build one."
Ren tossed Monica a bit of a warning glare, but she seemed serenely unaffected, and his expression dissipated quickly into something softer. He sighed softly, and turned his gaze back to Jaz.
"You would be welcome," he reassured her, "while we figure this out."
Leaving the Djinn
Moderator: On Dreams And Desire
Re: Leaving the Djinn
"You are welcome here in the temple," she finally said, "if nothing else."
Jaz gave a small smile, grateful that, even if this priestess did not worship Dehaljadrun, Jaz's presence would not be anathema to the temple.
Monica raised her knuckle to her chin again in thought and said, "Outside of here, you should probably remain near me or Ren while in town for now, while no one else knows about you. But, I worry that it may bring quite a lot of curiosity to you, if you stay as my guest."
Jaz furrowed her brow at that, trying to understand what that meant. While she was happy to stay with either Monica or Ren, thrilled even, she wasn't excited about the idea of staying unknown to everyone else. She wasn't accustomed to living a secret.
"Perhaps the Roens," Monica offered and glanced at Ren. Ren crossed his arms. "They would be welcoming, but discrete," she added, but Ren shook his head.
"Jarrett would be around a lot," he said. Jaz's stomach curdled at the thought. No, no, that wouldn't do. She would rather go out on her own than face that again for a certainty.
Ren frowned further in thought, and Jaz worried they were running out of options. Maybe she would need to move on. She couldn't really expect...
"If you don't mind the hike..." he finally said to Jaz, "you could camp near my cabin. We can get the gear today, and... you're kind of already my guest, anyway." He looked away in what Jaz thought might be annoyance or displeasure, and the air left Jaz's lungs.
"Honestly, Ren," Monica said, her breathy laugh lightening the mood, "Welcoming guests is part of having a home. Don't forget you chose to build one."
Ren gave Monica a neutral but pointed stare for a moment, and Jaz thought the priestess might step her comment back under the weight of it, but she seemed unfazed. Softer, even.
Ren sighed softly and looked back to Jaz.
"You would be welcome," he reassured her, "while we figure this out." Jaz still wasn't sure this was fully a win, but she was happy to stay near Ren, even if the thought of camping alone in the cold didn't especially appeal. She had known she would need to make sacrifices and compromises in coming to a completely new world. She would just need to stockpile some food for the night to get through.
One thing at a time, though.
"That's... generous of you, Ren," Jaz said carefully, unable to meet his gaze. "I didn't mind the hike," she said quietly with a soft smile.
Recovering herself, she added, "Do you think it would be all right for me to look around while I'm here? Everything is so new to me, and... I mean, I could be careful."
Jaz gave a small smile, grateful that, even if this priestess did not worship Dehaljadrun, Jaz's presence would not be anathema to the temple.
Monica raised her knuckle to her chin again in thought and said, "Outside of here, you should probably remain near me or Ren while in town for now, while no one else knows about you. But, I worry that it may bring quite a lot of curiosity to you, if you stay as my guest."
Jaz furrowed her brow at that, trying to understand what that meant. While she was happy to stay with either Monica or Ren, thrilled even, she wasn't excited about the idea of staying unknown to everyone else. She wasn't accustomed to living a secret.
"Perhaps the Roens," Monica offered and glanced at Ren. Ren crossed his arms. "They would be welcoming, but discrete," she added, but Ren shook his head.
"Jarrett would be around a lot," he said. Jaz's stomach curdled at the thought. No, no, that wouldn't do. She would rather go out on her own than face that again for a certainty.
Ren frowned further in thought, and Jaz worried they were running out of options. Maybe she would need to move on. She couldn't really expect...
"If you don't mind the hike..." he finally said to Jaz, "you could camp near my cabin. We can get the gear today, and... you're kind of already my guest, anyway." He looked away in what Jaz thought might be annoyance or displeasure, and the air left Jaz's lungs.
"Honestly, Ren," Monica said, her breathy laugh lightening the mood, "Welcoming guests is part of having a home. Don't forget you chose to build one."
Ren gave Monica a neutral but pointed stare for a moment, and Jaz thought the priestess might step her comment back under the weight of it, but she seemed unfazed. Softer, even.
Ren sighed softly and looked back to Jaz.
"You would be welcome," he reassured her, "while we figure this out." Jaz still wasn't sure this was fully a win, but she was happy to stay near Ren, even if the thought of camping alone in the cold didn't especially appeal. She had known she would need to make sacrifices and compromises in coming to a completely new world. She would just need to stockpile some food for the night to get through.
One thing at a time, though.
"That's... generous of you, Ren," Jaz said carefully, unable to meet his gaze. "I didn't mind the hike," she said quietly with a soft smile.
Recovering herself, she added, "Do you think it would be all right for me to look around while I'm here? Everything is so new to me, and... I mean, I could be careful."
Re: Leaving the Djinn
"That's... generous of you, Ren," Jaz said carefully, unable to meet Ren's gaze. Ren frowned a little, his own gaze shifting to the side.
"I didn't mind the hike," Jaz said quietly, drawing his gaze back to her in time to see a soft smile. A blink later, she raised her attention to include Monica again, and added, "Do you think it would be all right for me to look around while I'm here? Everything is so new to me, and... I mean, I could be careful."
Ren and Monica both looked at one another, an understanding passing gently and silently between them.
"I can take you around," Ren said as he returned his attention to Jaz.
"If you really want to explore on your own," Monica gently interjected, surprising Ren a little. He glanced to her with a slight irritated twitch of his brow, but his expression remained open and curious, interested in what Monica was going to say. Monica continued smoothly, "it would be a little bit risky, but I think it would be okay."
Ren looked skeptical for a moment, but let go of his friction to it with a soft exhale, and returned his gaze to Jaz with a nod.
"It's up to you."
"I didn't mind the hike," Jaz said quietly, drawing his gaze back to her in time to see a soft smile. A blink later, she raised her attention to include Monica again, and added, "Do you think it would be all right for me to look around while I'm here? Everything is so new to me, and... I mean, I could be careful."
Ren and Monica both looked at one another, an understanding passing gently and silently between them.
"I can take you around," Ren said as he returned his attention to Jaz.
"If you really want to explore on your own," Monica gently interjected, surprising Ren a little. He glanced to her with a slight irritated twitch of his brow, but his expression remained open and curious, interested in what Monica was going to say. Monica continued smoothly, "it would be a little bit risky, but I think it would be okay."
Ren looked skeptical for a moment, but let go of his friction to it with a soft exhale, and returned his gaze to Jaz with a nod.
"It's up to you."
Re: Leaving the Djinn
Jaz hadn't realized that she had addressed both of them before they looked at each other, but she was grateful that Ren was also considering it. They were both genuinely trying to help and balance what was best for the town. Jaz did appreciate how much care they were putting into it all, and she was happy to note that it seemed like Ren, even though he lived well outside of town, shared some equal stake in the matter.
That, or he really just didn't trust her--or others around her--that much. How many people acted like Jarrett?
Still, Monica's presence reassured Jaz.
"I can take you around," Ren said, and Jaz's small smile returned. That was certainly a faster agreement than her staying with him. Maybe he was warming to the idea of her.
"If you really want to explore on your own," Monica interjected, and Jaz's attention flipped quickly back to the priestess, "It would be a little bit risky, but I think it would be okay." Jaz looked at Ren in time to see a slightly raised eyebrow, but he let his breath out and nodded.
"It's up to you," Ren said.
Jaz stared down at her hands for a moment. A fluttery, petal-like sensation bloomed in her stomach at the thought of going around alone. They were both condoning the idea of her masquerading as... human. At least temporarily.
"What do you think the consequences might be if I were suddenly found out?" Jaz asked. The question would be difficult for anyone to answer with any kind of certainty, Jaz knew, but she needed to know if Monica and Ren were significant anomalies among their people and what she was really risking here. Because, clearly, they were afraid of something.
That, or he really just didn't trust her--or others around her--that much. How many people acted like Jarrett?
Still, Monica's presence reassured Jaz.
"I can take you around," Ren said, and Jaz's small smile returned. That was certainly a faster agreement than her staying with him. Maybe he was warming to the idea of her.
"If you really want to explore on your own," Monica interjected, and Jaz's attention flipped quickly back to the priestess, "It would be a little bit risky, but I think it would be okay." Jaz looked at Ren in time to see a slightly raised eyebrow, but he let his breath out and nodded.
"It's up to you," Ren said.
Jaz stared down at her hands for a moment. A fluttery, petal-like sensation bloomed in her stomach at the thought of going around alone. They were both condoning the idea of her masquerading as... human. At least temporarily.
"What do you think the consequences might be if I were suddenly found out?" Jaz asked. The question would be difficult for anyone to answer with any kind of certainty, Jaz knew, but she needed to know if Monica and Ren were significant anomalies among their people and what she was really risking here. Because, clearly, they were afraid of something.
Re: Leaving the Djinn
"What do you think might be the consequences if I were suddenly found out?" Jaz asked, and Monica and Ren shared another glance with each other.
"There's no precedent," Monica said carefully as she returned her gaze to Jaz, "so it is difficult to know. But... it's possible you could be run out of town, if folks get scared." She allowed a flash fo sorrow to cross her expression for a moment as she spoke, but regained her confidence as she continued, "I don't think that's likely, however. If someone does discover you, I think telling them that you have already spoken with me will put them at ease. I hope it would."
Ren frowned, not quite meeting either woman's gaze.
"There's no precedent," Monica said carefully as she returned her gaze to Jaz, "so it is difficult to know. But... it's possible you could be run out of town, if folks get scared." She allowed a flash fo sorrow to cross her expression for a moment as she spoke, but regained her confidence as she continued, "I don't think that's likely, however. If someone does discover you, I think telling them that you have already spoken with me will put them at ease. I hope it would."
Ren frowned, not quite meeting either woman's gaze.
Re: Leaving the Djinn
Jaz watched the two others closely, and they shared a glance with each other. While it reminded Jaz sometimes of looks Tigre and Suldana would share, which was comforting and familiar, Jaz was also starting to feel left out.
"There's no precedent," Monica said, enunciating or at least going carefully over the syllables, "so it is difficult to know. But... it's possible you could be run out of town, if folks get scared." Monica looked down regretfully, but it did not deter her for long. "I don't think that's likely, however. If someone does discover you, I think telling them that you have already spoken with me will put them at ease. I hope it would."
Ren frowned and looked pointedly elsewhere. Uncomfortable, still, then, Jaz thought.
But the decision was still in Jaz's court and... what did she want?
She closed her eyes, imagining walking through the market, maybe visiting some of the stalls. She imagined people reaching out to her like Monica had and needing to turn them away. She imagined them asking where she had come from. She imagined them offering food she wasn't sure she could safely eat.
It was suddenly more overwhelming than she had previously thought. Jaz tried to remind herself of the rich colors and of the weaving that had been on display. She remembered that Ren seemed to appreciate the little stone she had given him. And the ways the vendors had seemed so eager to see her, maybe even she and Ren both.
And, after they were all told what she was, would they look at her differently?
Jaz opened her eyes, and her hunger for touch came back with a vengeance in her core and her belly as she stared at these two strangers who genuinely wanted the best for her. And everyone.
"I'd appreciate Ren's company in the village," Jaz admitted, "and perhaps I will go do some exploring on my own once we are back at Ren's cottage." It was a compromise she could be happy with. They would still need to go get the camping supplies at the very least, and Jaz was content to view most of the market from a distance. For now.
"There's no precedent," Monica said, enunciating or at least going carefully over the syllables, "so it is difficult to know. But... it's possible you could be run out of town, if folks get scared." Monica looked down regretfully, but it did not deter her for long. "I don't think that's likely, however. If someone does discover you, I think telling them that you have already spoken with me will put them at ease. I hope it would."
Ren frowned and looked pointedly elsewhere. Uncomfortable, still, then, Jaz thought.
But the decision was still in Jaz's court and... what did she want?
She closed her eyes, imagining walking through the market, maybe visiting some of the stalls. She imagined people reaching out to her like Monica had and needing to turn them away. She imagined them asking where she had come from. She imagined them offering food she wasn't sure she could safely eat.
It was suddenly more overwhelming than she had previously thought. Jaz tried to remind herself of the rich colors and of the weaving that had been on display. She remembered that Ren seemed to appreciate the little stone she had given him. And the ways the vendors had seemed so eager to see her, maybe even she and Ren both.
And, after they were all told what she was, would they look at her differently?
Jaz opened her eyes, and her hunger for touch came back with a vengeance in her core and her belly as she stared at these two strangers who genuinely wanted the best for her. And everyone.
"I'd appreciate Ren's company in the village," Jaz admitted, "and perhaps I will go do some exploring on my own once we are back at Ren's cottage." It was a compromise she could be happy with. They would still need to go get the camping supplies at the very least, and Jaz was content to view most of the market from a distance. For now.
Re: Leaving the Djinn
Jaz was quiet for some time, eyes closed in thought.
"I'd appreciate Ren's company in the village," Jaz finally said, "and perhaps I will go do some exploring on my own once we are back at Ren's cottage."
"That should be safe," Ren said, his shoulders visibly relaxing as he brought his gaze back to Jaz. Monica nodded, and gave Jaz a smile.
"You are in good hands with him," she said. Ren looked away a little bashfully. Monica paid him no mind, and gently set her hands on the table, palms up and inviting.
"May I offer a few more moments of touch before you go?"
"I'd appreciate Ren's company in the village," Jaz finally said, "and perhaps I will go do some exploring on my own once we are back at Ren's cottage."
"That should be safe," Ren said, his shoulders visibly relaxing as he brought his gaze back to Jaz. Monica nodded, and gave Jaz a smile.
"You are in good hands with him," she said. Ren looked away a little bashfully. Monica paid him no mind, and gently set her hands on the table, palms up and inviting.
"May I offer a few more moments of touch before you go?"
Re: Leaving the Djinn
"That should be safe," Ren said, and Jaz watched his shoulders relax intently, a thrill cascading down her spine as she thought about touching the back of Ren's shoulder blades where the muscles were now pliable.
"You're in good hands with him," Monica said, and Jaz blushed a little, feeling a bit caught out.
But soon after, Monica set her own hands on the table, palms up in mirror of what Jaz had done earlier. Jaz's chest bloomed with excitement and happiness.
"May I offer a few more moments of touch before you go?" Monica asked, and Jaz's heart leapt into her throat.
"I would like that," Jaz said, bursting into a grin, "I would like that very much."
Jaz reached gently for the hand closest her, nodding slightly to Ren in case he wanted to take Monica's other hand. With a quiet but audible hum, Jaz slid the tips of her fingers through Monica's, and Jaz's lips parted. She then brought her face close to their entwined hands and closed her eyes, laying her cheek over the back of her own hand such that the tips of Monica's fingers touched Jaz's hair and scalp. Jaz's thick black waves in their half ponytail fell pleasantly to one side as she did so.
"You're in good hands with him," Monica said, and Jaz blushed a little, feeling a bit caught out.
But soon after, Monica set her own hands on the table, palms up in mirror of what Jaz had done earlier. Jaz's chest bloomed with excitement and happiness.
"May I offer a few more moments of touch before you go?" Monica asked, and Jaz's heart leapt into her throat.
"I would like that," Jaz said, bursting into a grin, "I would like that very much."
Jaz reached gently for the hand closest her, nodding slightly to Ren in case he wanted to take Monica's other hand. With a quiet but audible hum, Jaz slid the tips of her fingers through Monica's, and Jaz's lips parted. She then brought her face close to their entwined hands and closed her eyes, laying her cheek over the back of her own hand such that the tips of Monica's fingers touched Jaz's hair and scalp. Jaz's thick black waves in their half ponytail fell pleasantly to one side as she did so.
Re: Leaving the Djinn
"I would like that," Jaz said, bursting into a grin, "I would like that very much."
Jaz reached gently for Monica's hand closest her, nodding slightly to Ren in case he wanted to take Monica's other hand. Ren looked up to Monica with some surprise and uncertainty, and Monica offered him a warm, inviting nod. He hesitated, though, and Monica turned her attention more fully back to Jaz as the djinn slid her fingers between Monica's with a quiet hum. The priestess watched and relaxed as Jaz gently brought her face close to their entwined hands, closing her eyes as she invited the tips of Monica's fingers to rest in her hair against her scalp. Monica echoed Jaz' quiet hum and closed her own eyes, cherishing the sweetness of this touch.
Ren finally took Monica's hand on the table, resting his palm flat against hers and letting the weight of it warmly press against her skin. Monica opened her eyes just long enough to give him a sidelong smile. Ren offered a small smile in turn, nodding to her with thanks. When she closed her eyes again, he shifted his gaze to where Jaz and Monica both touched, curious about the interaction. His free hand was tempted toward reaching for Jaz's, but, not wanting to risk intruding, he kept it on his knee, though his pinky finger did reach out a little toward her.
Jaz reached gently for Monica's hand closest her, nodding slightly to Ren in case he wanted to take Monica's other hand. Ren looked up to Monica with some surprise and uncertainty, and Monica offered him a warm, inviting nod. He hesitated, though, and Monica turned her attention more fully back to Jaz as the djinn slid her fingers between Monica's with a quiet hum. The priestess watched and relaxed as Jaz gently brought her face close to their entwined hands, closing her eyes as she invited the tips of Monica's fingers to rest in her hair against her scalp. Monica echoed Jaz' quiet hum and closed her own eyes, cherishing the sweetness of this touch.
Ren finally took Monica's hand on the table, resting his palm flat against hers and letting the weight of it warmly press against her skin. Monica opened her eyes just long enough to give him a sidelong smile. Ren offered a small smile in turn, nodding to her with thanks. When she closed her eyes again, he shifted his gaze to where Jaz and Monica both touched, curious about the interaction. His free hand was tempted toward reaching for Jaz's, but, not wanting to risk intruding, he kept it on his knee, though his pinky finger did reach out a little toward her.
Re: Leaving the Djinn
Jaz felt Monica relax, even just from feeling the tips of her fingers, and her ears picked up the low hum of Monica's vocal chords. Gods, this was lovely. The djinn slid her fingers back and forth slightly through Monica's, enjoying all the textures and frictions. Her fingers articulated gently around Monica's knuckles and delighted in them.
In curiosity, with her head still turned to one side, Jaz opened her eyes and looked to Ren, who had taken Monica's other hand and was holding it sweetly, even if the two of them were otherwise still. The sight of it made a burst of sensation float up from Jaz's middle into her chest, but the feeling didn't fully solidify until she caught sight of Ren's smallest finger reaching in her direction.
Only moving her free hand, Jaz reached a brave distance toward Ren and locked a pinky finger around his.
Jaz's right hand suddenly felt colder than the rest of her, and it took her a moment to realize why.
Ren said not to show him anything else. But hadn't that been just for the village? Just while they were walking?
It was unclear.
Jaz stopped moving her hand with Monica, squeezing once and stilling it. She hoped to garner a little support. Sitting up and looking at Ren, Jaz pulled her finger just enough away from his so they were no longer touching and asked, "How long would you like me to refrain from... showing you things? And... what things?" The questions felt foreign in Jaz's mouth, but she didn't want to close this interaction down before it had even fully begun.
In curiosity, with her head still turned to one side, Jaz opened her eyes and looked to Ren, who had taken Monica's other hand and was holding it sweetly, even if the two of them were otherwise still. The sight of it made a burst of sensation float up from Jaz's middle into her chest, but the feeling didn't fully solidify until she caught sight of Ren's smallest finger reaching in her direction.
Only moving her free hand, Jaz reached a brave distance toward Ren and locked a pinky finger around his.
Jaz's right hand suddenly felt colder than the rest of her, and it took her a moment to realize why.
Ren said not to show him anything else. But hadn't that been just for the village? Just while they were walking?
It was unclear.
Jaz stopped moving her hand with Monica, squeezing once and stilling it. She hoped to garner a little support. Sitting up and looking at Ren, Jaz pulled her finger just enough away from his so they were no longer touching and asked, "How long would you like me to refrain from... showing you things? And... what things?" The questions felt foreign in Jaz's mouth, but she didn't want to close this interaction down before it had even fully begun.