Ren watched silently as Jaz arranged the rose petals, curious about the pattern she created. He marveled a little at her boldness -- even transient as rearranging fallen rose petals was, she was making a mark. How long had it taken Ren to feel comfortable doing the same? It was the sort of thing he might have found distasteful, but... here in this moment, if he checked in with what connection he felt confident he had with Veil... it genuinely seemed like Jaz was doing right by the space, as far as he could tell.
"It seems we have visitors in the garden today."
Ren looked over his shoulder to where Sage sat on a bench nearby. She nodded to Jaz's arrangement of petals. "That's beautiful. Thank you for making this place even more sacred." Then, she looked to Ren.
"Good to see you, Ren."
Ren nodded respectfully, though he felt a little awkward, like he'd been caught out at something. Sage was pretty happy for folks to spend time in the garden, though--she'd even praised Jaz's contribution--so he wasn't entirely sure why he felt so sheepish.
"Sage," he said, mostly by way of greeting, but then nodded toward Jaz. "This is Jaz. She's... going to be staying with me, for a little while." Then, he turned his gaze to Jaz, nodding similarly toward Sage. "Sage is a priestess, like Monica."
Leaving the Djinn
Moderator: On Dreams And Desire
Re: Leaving the Djinn
"Sage," Ren said, and Jaz though she heard a tightness in his throat. She wondered why and looked in Ren's direction, puzzled, for a moment. "This is Jaz. She's... going to be staying with me, for a little while." Jaz was honestly grateful that Ren took the lead in introducing her. It was going to get a little tiresome doing that with every new person she met. But, it also made her happy to hear Ren speak so plainly about her staying with him. Some part of her hadn't fully trusted they were going through with that plan until now.
Looking to Jaz, Ren added, "Sage is a priestess, like Monica." Jaz thought about getting to her feet but didn't want to abandon her small adornment. She stayed seated but gave the older woman a gesture of respect like she might have given her own elders. Jaz bowed her head, held both thumbs up together, kept one hand stationary, and let the one on the right travel in a circle until it arrived back in the same place again. Then she lowered both hands and lifted her chin.
Sage tilted her head a little and even smiled in momentary surprise but quickly waved her hand a couple times in front of herself, looking to Ren.
"You're too kind, Ren. I don't do much anymore, not for others, anyway." She took a breath and gazed at the temple. "Monica's done well for this place, hasn't she," Sage added and nodded as though she knew exactly what Ren's answer would be.
Looking to Jaz, Ren added, "Sage is a priestess, like Monica." Jaz thought about getting to her feet but didn't want to abandon her small adornment. She stayed seated but gave the older woman a gesture of respect like she might have given her own elders. Jaz bowed her head, held both thumbs up together, kept one hand stationary, and let the one on the right travel in a circle until it arrived back in the same place again. Then she lowered both hands and lifted her chin.
Sage tilted her head a little and even smiled in momentary surprise but quickly waved her hand a couple times in front of herself, looking to Ren.
"You're too kind, Ren. I don't do much anymore, not for others, anyway." She took a breath and gazed at the temple. "Monica's done well for this place, hasn't she," Sage added and nodded as though she knew exactly what Ren's answer would be.
Re: Leaving the Djinn
Jaz made an interesting bow to Sage, her hands forming a gesture he didn't recognize. He supposed that he wouldn't, of course. Sage looked perhaps a bit surprised, but not put off, which was good. Though, she did wave her hand in front of her face lightly, but it was a gesture Ren did recognize, and was comfortable with.
"You're too kind, Ren. I don't do much anymore, not for others, anyway." She took a breath and gazed at the temple. "Monica's done well for this place, hasn't she?"
"She has," Ren nodded with a slight, crooked smile. "And she'd credit you for much of her journey, from what I understand."
"You're too kind, Ren. I don't do much anymore, not for others, anyway." She took a breath and gazed at the temple. "Monica's done well for this place, hasn't she?"
"She has," Ren nodded with a slight, crooked smile. "And she'd credit you for much of her journey, from what I understand."
Re: Leaving the Djinn
"She has," Ren said, and Jaz was unsurprised but again grateful that nothing they had done in that small inner room had soured Ren's opinion of Monica. "And she'd credit you for much of her journey, from what I understand." Jaz looked on at Ren's subtle, crooked smile and not for the first time found him beautiful. She liked when he talked, she decided.
Sage nodded and looked down at her feet, gracefully accepting the compliment. After a moment, she looked at Jaz with narrowed eyes and a smile. "You know, you do remind me of someone I haven't seen in a long, long time."
Jaz looked at Ren a little anxiously. Was it possible that this woman--Sage--knew about her? About the djinn? Could Sage help her get home? Had Sage helped someone else get home? But, wait, no, that was far too much to assume. Maybe Jaz genuinely just looked like someone Sage knew. Yes, that was probably it.
Sage nodded and looked down at her feet, gracefully accepting the compliment. After a moment, she looked at Jaz with narrowed eyes and a smile. "You know, you do remind me of someone I haven't seen in a long, long time."
Jaz looked at Ren a little anxiously. Was it possible that this woman--Sage--knew about her? About the djinn? Could Sage help her get home? Had Sage helped someone else get home? But, wait, no, that was far too much to assume. Maybe Jaz genuinely just looked like someone Sage knew. Yes, that was probably it.
Re: Leaving the Djinn
Sage nodded and looked down at her feet, gracefully accepting the compliment. After a moment, she looked at Jaz with narrowed eyes and a smile. "You know, you do remind me of someone I haven't seen in a long, long time."
Ren raised his eyebrow a little, certainly curious. He felt Jaz' anxious gaze beside him, though, and it made him feel anxious. That seemed a little absurd, though. He drew his gaze back to Sage, mustering an understated playful grin.
"An old friend, I hope?"
Ren raised his eyebrow a little, certainly curious. He felt Jaz' anxious gaze beside him, though, and it made him feel anxious. That seemed a little absurd, though. He drew his gaze back to Sage, mustering an understated playful grin.
"An old friend, I hope?"
Re: Leaving the Djinn
"An old friend, I hope," Ren said, more of a statement than a question. Then, he wasn't yet concerned. Jaz tried to relax, assuming she was just on edge from being in a new place.
Sage smiled, wrinkles gathering in the corners of her eyes.
"Yes, he certainly came to be. For a time." Sage gazed off into the distance for a moment, quiet for a time.
The lingering silence started to make Jaz anxious, so she turned back toward her petal arrangement and completed the triangle of colors, finally satisfied with it.
She stood then, prepared to leave it and move on if necessary. It had just been something to do with her hands, after all.
Jaz's change of position seemed to pull the older woman's attention back toward her.
"Would you indulge me and let me hold one of your hands between mine before you go?"
Sparks flew up from Jaz's belly as she considered the question. It was an effort to resist looking at Ren for guidance. She would need to act without him eventually.
In the end, Jaz smiled and walked forward in response. She reminded herself that this was a woman who had trained or at least supported Monica. Surely Jaz could extend a similar trust?
As Jaz extended one stubbornly beige hand, she did look behind her at Ren for a moment in hope that she wouldn't aggravate him the way she had before, back with Monica. But she didn't wait for his reaction. She turned back to Sage and nodded.
Sage smiled, wrinkles gathering in the corners of her eyes.
"Yes, he certainly came to be. For a time." Sage gazed off into the distance for a moment, quiet for a time.
The lingering silence started to make Jaz anxious, so she turned back toward her petal arrangement and completed the triangle of colors, finally satisfied with it.
She stood then, prepared to leave it and move on if necessary. It had just been something to do with her hands, after all.
Jaz's change of position seemed to pull the older woman's attention back toward her.
"Would you indulge me and let me hold one of your hands between mine before you go?"
Sparks flew up from Jaz's belly as she considered the question. It was an effort to resist looking at Ren for guidance. She would need to act without him eventually.
In the end, Jaz smiled and walked forward in response. She reminded herself that this was a woman who had trained or at least supported Monica. Surely Jaz could extend a similar trust?
As Jaz extended one stubbornly beige hand, she did look behind her at Ren for a moment in hope that she wouldn't aggravate him the way she had before, back with Monica. But she didn't wait for his reaction. She turned back to Sage and nodded.
Re: Leaving the Djinn
Sage gently clasped Jaz's outstretched hand between both of her own. Jaz closed her eyes, relief again flooding through her at having touch to nourish her. What she had gotten since she arrived was so fleeting, even if it did all feel special.
Once the initial relief had subsided, Jaz felt Sage's curiosity reaching gently forward. There was a memory of a man with a wide, welcoming smile behind a collection of small bottles of liquid. Jaz assumed that was the friend Sage had mentioned. There was a warm familiarity to the memory, as though Sage brought it to mind often.
He taught me much of what know about salves and tinctures. Helped us form our small apothecary.
Jaz was startled to hear fully formed thoughts from the woman and almost pulled her hand away. With Monica and Ren, it was all formless--beautiful but abstract. Sage... knew Jaz would hear her, then? Or at least suspected. But Jaz relaxed, curious where this would all lead.
Sage's first memory shifted to another, and in the dimness of moonlight, Jaz watched the man take her hand--no, Sage's hand, youthful, then. And his skin started turning from milky dark brown to a shimmering golden color. Jaz could feel Sage's implied question even though no words flowed between them.
Jaz was about to answer in internal affirmation when, instead, she brightened and opened her eyes, nodding happily at the woman. Sage beamed back at her and looked down to where their hands met, where Jaz's skin was creeping back toward a healthy blue.
"I had heard there were other clans, in other realms," Jaz said aloud, "But I've never met any of them."
"He spoke very highly of Samael," Sage said as though in response. "And you?" Jaz shook her head, the name unfamiliar.
"Dehaljadrun," Jaz said, hopeful that perhaps Sage would think better of her goddess than Ren had.
Sage frowned, the expression emphasizing her age, and Jaz's face fell. She gently pulled her hand from Sage's and looked off to one side of the ground, her mouth a hard, frustrated line.
Quietly, Sage said, "I don't doubt her divinity, but many fear rather than revere her and any who associate with her. Be careful who you speak that name to."
Sage nodded, her face becoming more neutral.
"Even belief in our four matron goddesses, outside our little town, is more rare than you might expect," Sage added, trying to recover. Finally, she looked to Ren.
"You have a remarkable being in your care, Ren. Does Monica know?"
Once the initial relief had subsided, Jaz felt Sage's curiosity reaching gently forward. There was a memory of a man with a wide, welcoming smile behind a collection of small bottles of liquid. Jaz assumed that was the friend Sage had mentioned. There was a warm familiarity to the memory, as though Sage brought it to mind often.
He taught me much of what know about salves and tinctures. Helped us form our small apothecary.
Jaz was startled to hear fully formed thoughts from the woman and almost pulled her hand away. With Monica and Ren, it was all formless--beautiful but abstract. Sage... knew Jaz would hear her, then? Or at least suspected. But Jaz relaxed, curious where this would all lead.
Sage's first memory shifted to another, and in the dimness of moonlight, Jaz watched the man take her hand--no, Sage's hand, youthful, then. And his skin started turning from milky dark brown to a shimmering golden color. Jaz could feel Sage's implied question even though no words flowed between them.
Jaz was about to answer in internal affirmation when, instead, she brightened and opened her eyes, nodding happily at the woman. Sage beamed back at her and looked down to where their hands met, where Jaz's skin was creeping back toward a healthy blue.
"I had heard there were other clans, in other realms," Jaz said aloud, "But I've never met any of them."
"He spoke very highly of Samael," Sage said as though in response. "And you?" Jaz shook her head, the name unfamiliar.
"Dehaljadrun," Jaz said, hopeful that perhaps Sage would think better of her goddess than Ren had.
Sage frowned, the expression emphasizing her age, and Jaz's face fell. She gently pulled her hand from Sage's and looked off to one side of the ground, her mouth a hard, frustrated line.
Quietly, Sage said, "I don't doubt her divinity, but many fear rather than revere her and any who associate with her. Be careful who you speak that name to."
Sage nodded, her face becoming more neutral.
"Even belief in our four matron goddesses, outside our little town, is more rare than you might expect," Sage added, trying to recover. Finally, she looked to Ren.
"You have a remarkable being in your care, Ren. Does Monica know?"
Re: Leaving the Djinn
"Yes, he certainly came to be. For a time." Sage gazed off into the distance for a moment, quiet for a time.
Jaz turned back to the petals she arranged on the ground, and Ren glanced a little anxiously between her and Sage. Granted, it wasn't terribly strange for Sage to trail off like that. Lost in a memory, he supposed. Hopefully a good one.
Jaz eventually stood, perhaps deeming her petal arrangement complete, and Ren pushed himself to his feet alongside her.
"Would you indulge me and let me hold one of your hands between mine before you go?" Sage asked, and Ren bristled. He looked at Jaz, who looked stiff, but was - perhaps stubbornly - not looking at him. It irritated him, but, well, he supposed he couldn't dictate who she touched forever, and Sage was a reasonable next person to engage with.
Ultimately, Jaz smiled to Sage and walked toward her, extending her hand. Ren's gaze flickered to the walkway beyond the garden, just wanting to keep aware of any who passed by.
"I had heard there were other clans, in other realms," Jaz said aloud after a few moments, "But I've never met any of them."
Ren stiffened as he returned his attention to Sage and Jaz. He supposed it was good that Sage knew something, but it was also fucking terrifying.
"He spoke very highly of Samael," Sage said. "And you?"
"Dehaljadrun."
Sage frowned, and Ren's heart sank a little, nervousness buzzing in his stomach.
"I don't doubt her divinity, but many fear rather than revere her and any who associate with her. Be careful who you speak that name to."
Ren nodded, atl east relieved that he and Sage seemed to be mostly on the same page about that. Depending on definitions of divinity, maybe.
"Even belief in our four matron goddesses, outside our little town, is more rare than you might expect," Sage added, and then looked to Ren. "You have a remarkable being in your care, Ren. Does Monica know?"
Ren nodded.
"We just came from speaking with her."
Jaz turned back to the petals she arranged on the ground, and Ren glanced a little anxiously between her and Sage. Granted, it wasn't terribly strange for Sage to trail off like that. Lost in a memory, he supposed. Hopefully a good one.
Jaz eventually stood, perhaps deeming her petal arrangement complete, and Ren pushed himself to his feet alongside her.
"Would you indulge me and let me hold one of your hands between mine before you go?" Sage asked, and Ren bristled. He looked at Jaz, who looked stiff, but was - perhaps stubbornly - not looking at him. It irritated him, but, well, he supposed he couldn't dictate who she touched forever, and Sage was a reasonable next person to engage with.
Ultimately, Jaz smiled to Sage and walked toward her, extending her hand. Ren's gaze flickered to the walkway beyond the garden, just wanting to keep aware of any who passed by.
"I had heard there were other clans, in other realms," Jaz said aloud after a few moments, "But I've never met any of them."
Ren stiffened as he returned his attention to Sage and Jaz. He supposed it was good that Sage knew something, but it was also fucking terrifying.
"He spoke very highly of Samael," Sage said. "And you?"
"Dehaljadrun."
Sage frowned, and Ren's heart sank a little, nervousness buzzing in his stomach.
"I don't doubt her divinity, but many fear rather than revere her and any who associate with her. Be careful who you speak that name to."
Ren nodded, atl east relieved that he and Sage seemed to be mostly on the same page about that. Depending on definitions of divinity, maybe.
"Even belief in our four matron goddesses, outside our little town, is more rare than you might expect," Sage added, and then looked to Ren. "You have a remarkable being in your care, Ren. Does Monica know?"
Ren nodded.
"We just came from speaking with her."
Re: Leaving the Djinn
Jaz looked back to Ren to see him nod and say, "We just came from speaking with her." Jaz furrowed her eyebrows, feeling nervous, trapped even. She hated that she needed to hide what she was and who she worshipped. What mysterious person was going to hurt her? Where did they live? And why did they feel so safe condemning her goddess?
A righteous fury burned in Jaz, and a flame burst briefly into the hand that Sage had recently held, though it snuffed out once the blue had fully faded.
Jaz sighed, angry and tired. She looked at Ren pleadingly. She wanted an embrace, a comfort, anything really. Maybe she should get on the ground... or eat. Gods, this was miserable.
Maybe she could go back in to Monica and the two of them could figure this all out, maybe send Jaz off in a better direction. But, Jaz knew this was going to take time. She needed a lay of the land first. And, it seemed like a good idea to have a safe place away from all these humans. Most of these humans.
Perhaps Sage noticed Jaz's distress because she stood and asked, "Would you accept a hug, Jaz?"
Jaz looked back at the old woman and nodded, practically running into the woman's open arms. She did cry, then, missing all of her family back in her village and all the familiar places that gave her peace and comfort. Jaz knew distantly that the hug was going to turn strange parts of her skin blue, but she couldn't bring herself to care. She needed this.
When she was finished crying after another minute or two, Jaz pulled away and wiped her eyes, smiling at Sage.
"Thank you," Jaz said.
"Anytime, dear girl," the old woman said. "You're welcome to stay here in the garden as long as you like, of course. It's open to everyone."
Sage nodded to Ren and turned to take her leave. Jaz turned back toward her petal arrangement, smiling down at it. "This is a beautiful place," Jaz finally said to Ren. "Thank you for bringing me here."
A righteous fury burned in Jaz, and a flame burst briefly into the hand that Sage had recently held, though it snuffed out once the blue had fully faded.
Jaz sighed, angry and tired. She looked at Ren pleadingly. She wanted an embrace, a comfort, anything really. Maybe she should get on the ground... or eat. Gods, this was miserable.
Maybe she could go back in to Monica and the two of them could figure this all out, maybe send Jaz off in a better direction. But, Jaz knew this was going to take time. She needed a lay of the land first. And, it seemed like a good idea to have a safe place away from all these humans. Most of these humans.
Perhaps Sage noticed Jaz's distress because she stood and asked, "Would you accept a hug, Jaz?"
Jaz looked back at the old woman and nodded, practically running into the woman's open arms. She did cry, then, missing all of her family back in her village and all the familiar places that gave her peace and comfort. Jaz knew distantly that the hug was going to turn strange parts of her skin blue, but she couldn't bring herself to care. She needed this.
When she was finished crying after another minute or two, Jaz pulled away and wiped her eyes, smiling at Sage.
"Thank you," Jaz said.
"Anytime, dear girl," the old woman said. "You're welcome to stay here in the garden as long as you like, of course. It's open to everyone."
Sage nodded to Ren and turned to take her leave. Jaz turned back toward her petal arrangement, smiling down at it. "This is a beautiful place," Jaz finally said to Ren. "Thank you for bringing me here."
Re: Leaving the Djinn
Jaz startled Ren with a flame in her hand, though it snuffed out quickly. Still, what was she thinking? His eyes once again flicked to the walkway outside the garden, ever aware of the possibility of someone wandering by.
Jaz looked at him pleadingly, though, and he met her gaze with a grumpy uncertainty. Whatever she was asking for, he had a feeling he couldn't give it to her.
"Would you accept a hug, Jaz?" Sage asked, and Ren looked to the priestess with wide eyes. Surely that was too risky?
But Jaz was in Sage's arms in a blink, crying openly into her. Guilt flared within Ren, chiding him that perhaps sometimes he was simply too cautious. Cold-hearted, stingy, curmudgeonly all came far too readily to mind. No fun. Ugh. But, wasn't it for good reason? It wasn't as though he was being purposefully cruel to Jaz; he was trying to protect her. ...And himself.
"Thank you," Jaz said to Sage as she pulled back. Ren couldn't help raking his eyes over her, instinctively assessing what discoloration was visible. More unkind words pummeled at his mind as he did so, but there was nothing for it; he had to know the practical situation.
"Anytime, dear girl," Sage said to Jaz. "You're welcome to stay here in the garden as long as you like, of course. It's open to everyone." Then, she nodded to Ren, and turned to take her leave.
Jaz turned back toward her arrangement of petals, smiling lightly. "This is a beautiful place," she finally said to Ren. "Thank you for bringing me here."
Ren sighed softly, relieved that he had given her something of value. He may not be able to offer her much in the way of touch, but he could at least offer her nature and peace.
"You're welcome," he said, trying to show her what warmth he could allow to flow through himself. "I'm glad it's brought you some comfort. We can come back here or inside the temple whenever you need."
((OOC: I suppose, Ren is somewhat anxious to get going, but certianly won't want to leave the garden until any visible blue on Jaz has faded.))
Jaz looked at him pleadingly, though, and he met her gaze with a grumpy uncertainty. Whatever she was asking for, he had a feeling he couldn't give it to her.
"Would you accept a hug, Jaz?" Sage asked, and Ren looked to the priestess with wide eyes. Surely that was too risky?
But Jaz was in Sage's arms in a blink, crying openly into her. Guilt flared within Ren, chiding him that perhaps sometimes he was simply too cautious. Cold-hearted, stingy, curmudgeonly all came far too readily to mind. No fun. Ugh. But, wasn't it for good reason? It wasn't as though he was being purposefully cruel to Jaz; he was trying to protect her. ...And himself.
"Thank you," Jaz said to Sage as she pulled back. Ren couldn't help raking his eyes over her, instinctively assessing what discoloration was visible. More unkind words pummeled at his mind as he did so, but there was nothing for it; he had to know the practical situation.
"Anytime, dear girl," Sage said to Jaz. "You're welcome to stay here in the garden as long as you like, of course. It's open to everyone." Then, she nodded to Ren, and turned to take her leave.
Jaz turned back toward her arrangement of petals, smiling lightly. "This is a beautiful place," she finally said to Ren. "Thank you for bringing me here."
Ren sighed softly, relieved that he had given her something of value. He may not be able to offer her much in the way of touch, but he could at least offer her nature and peace.
"You're welcome," he said, trying to show her what warmth he could allow to flow through himself. "I'm glad it's brought you some comfort. We can come back here or inside the temple whenever you need."
((OOC: I suppose, Ren is somewhat anxious to get going, but certianly won't want to leave the garden until any visible blue on Jaz has faded.))