"You're welcome," Ren said, and Jaz looked over to him. "I'm glad it's brought you some comfort. We can come back here or inside the temple whenever you need." She nodded. She was going to have to shore herself up if they were going into town proper, but it was good that she had already discovered some safe havens. Jaz still didn't like that she would need to hide so much of who and what she was, but perhaps there really was nothing for it. She supposed she should just be grateful that the fae gate hadn't dropped her into fully hostile territory. All in all, she had met extraordinarily kind people. Even Ren included.
Jaz did what she could to assess how blue her skin was, at least what she could see. It seemed that her body was burning through the affect of Sage's touch quickly, probably on account of the anxiety. Jaz took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then, she pulled her clothing up over bare her shoulder, trying to hide some of the blue on her neck, but even that would be fully faded soon. Rummaging in her pack, Jaz pulled out a second wafer, another one of the ten she had brought, and started to eat it. Hopefully it would settle her nerves. Her stomach gurgled unpleasantly, any food still feeling unfamiliar to her body.
Once she had finished and felt full, Jaz looked at Ren and smiled, feeling suddenly shy. He was still here with her, still making sure she was all right. And she would stay with him tonight. There really was something amazing about that.
"All right," she said, "I'm ready."
Leaving the Djinn
Moderator: On Dreams And Desire
Re: Leaving the Djinn
Ren watched quietly as Jaz assessed herself, grateful that she was taking care. She pulled her clothing up to cover more of her shoulder, and ate a snack from her bag. Then she looked at him, smiling shyly.
"All right," she said, "I'm ready."
Ren nodded thoughtfully, and moved his eyes across the garden, contemplating something. After a moment he moved over to one of the messier raised beds, and plucked two striped yelow sphere from a vining plant there. There weren't many left, but in practice what that meant was that plenty of folks had already had their pick, and these might be overripe soon anyhow. He held one out to Jaz, and very nearly said, try this, before catching himself.
"This is a good snack." He said a little awkwardly, having to rearrange his phrasing on the fly. "It's called a lemon cucumber." He wondered, after stating that, if he should explain lemon or cucumber to Jaz, but decided that would be too much information all at once. Instead, he just went ahead and bit into his, and then nodded toward the garden exit before starting to lead Jaz that direction.
"All right," she said, "I'm ready."
Ren nodded thoughtfully, and moved his eyes across the garden, contemplating something. After a moment he moved over to one of the messier raised beds, and plucked two striped yelow sphere from a vining plant there. There weren't many left, but in practice what that meant was that plenty of folks had already had their pick, and these might be overripe soon anyhow. He held one out to Jaz, and very nearly said, try this, before catching himself.
"This is a good snack." He said a little awkwardly, having to rearrange his phrasing on the fly. "It's called a lemon cucumber." He wondered, after stating that, if he should explain lemon or cucumber to Jaz, but decided that would be too much information all at once. Instead, he just went ahead and bit into his, and then nodded toward the garden exit before starting to lead Jaz that direction.
Re: Leaving the Djinn
While Jaz prepared herself, Ren went over to one of the other garden beds and selected something from a set of vining plants.
He held one out to Jaz. "This is a good snack," he said. "It's called a lemon cucumber." She took the little yellow orb and contemplated it, watching as Ren bit into his. He looked prepared to move on and started walking. It was difficult for Jaz to think about walking and eating at the same time--and she wasn't hungry anymore--so she stashed the cucumber into her bag and followed Ren out of the garden.
"Thank you," she added as a somewhat awkward afterthought. "I'll try it soon." She wanted to ask if she could have just one bite of his, but she wasn't sure what the etiquette around that would be, so she refrained.
He held one out to Jaz. "This is a good snack," he said. "It's called a lemon cucumber." She took the little yellow orb and contemplated it, watching as Ren bit into his. He looked prepared to move on and started walking. It was difficult for Jaz to think about walking and eating at the same time--and she wasn't hungry anymore--so she stashed the cucumber into her bag and followed Ren out of the garden.
"Thank you," she added as a somewhat awkward afterthought. "I'll try it soon." She wanted to ask if she could have just one bite of his, but she wasn't sure what the etiquette around that would be, so she refrained.
Re: Leaving the Djinn
"Thank you," Jaz said. "I'll try it soon."
Well, Ren was certainly glad he hadn't accidentally commanded her to try it. Mostly, he just wanted her to have options? He'd seen her eat her wafers that morning, and didn't want her to run out. Best to start getting her used to the food she'd have access to here. But, yes, that could wait until later; she'd have it in her pack when it was ready.
All Ren could really think to do was give her a nod to indicate that that was fine.
"We should go get some of your stones assessed, first. With any luck, those may get you some local currency to work with."
((OOC: Invitation to play a jeweler/the closest thing Ti'la has to a jeweler? Or at least, someone with relevant knowledge that Ren would have a decent relationship with? I can come up with someone, too, but since nobody's jumping at the opportunity on my end (Yukiko would be most likely to want to play a jeweler or similar, but she's pretty content with the rps she's in already lol), seemed like it might be good to offer you the spot. Specially since that way you can pretty organically decide how valuable the stones are to the people in Ti'la.))
Well, Ren was certainly glad he hadn't accidentally commanded her to try it. Mostly, he just wanted her to have options? He'd seen her eat her wafers that morning, and didn't want her to run out. Best to start getting her used to the food she'd have access to here. But, yes, that could wait until later; she'd have it in her pack when it was ready.
All Ren could really think to do was give her a nod to indicate that that was fine.
"We should go get some of your stones assessed, first. With any luck, those may get you some local currency to work with."
((OOC: Invitation to play a jeweler/the closest thing Ti'la has to a jeweler? Or at least, someone with relevant knowledge that Ren would have a decent relationship with? I can come up with someone, too, but since nobody's jumping at the opportunity on my end (Yukiko would be most likely to want to play a jeweler or similar, but she's pretty content with the rps she's in already lol), seemed like it might be good to offer you the spot. Specially since that way you can pretty organically decide how valuable the stones are to the people in Ti'la.))
Re: Leaving the Djinn
Ren nodded at Jaz, and she took that to mean he wasn't offended that she hadn't eaten the cucumber just yet. Good.
"We should go get some of your stones assessed, first. With any luck, those may get you some local currency to work with." Jaz's lips curled toward a slight frown at that. She didn't like the idea of giving away something that was from her goddess' realm and had memories of her people, but she wasn't sure what her other options were. Granted, she didn't especially like the idea of trade at all. At home, everything was shared. Gifts.
Jaz was here to learn about other ways of living, though, so she resigned herself to the idea of compromising on this front.
She followed Ren on his way through town, noticing that he circumnavigated the main market area as much as possible. Jaz was grateful because, while they were close enough for her to get another look at some of the stalls, she wasn't quite as assaulted by the sounds and sights. Ren took her to the edge of town, furthest from the temple, and they entered a small structure with some writing on it. Jaz looked up at Ren, not entirely sure what that meant and somewhat distracted by the script that humans here seemed to use. So many unfamiliar lines and curves.
Inside the shop was a menagerie of things Jaz didn't understand or recognize, and a queasy feeling came over her stomach, though she didn't fully understand why. She almost reached for Ren's hand to seek comfort, but she caught herself halfway there, awkwardly lowering her hand back down to her side.
The shop was small and cramped with objects. Round orbs and glass bottles, nets and baubles, little sculptures of animals. Jaz had never seen so much stuff crammed into one tiny space.
The person in the shop was also small, short, and petite, though she looked to be maybe a little older than Ren. Her hair was up on her head in wild spiky pigtails that made Jaz want to giggle happily every time she caught a glimpse of them.
"Ren! It's you! And a friend!" the short woman said. "Find something interesting out in the woods or you here to buy?"
((OOC: We are imagining XJ calls this an "Oddities Shop." And, yeah, I imagine that enough people have figured out that XJ is lesbian that Ren would probably know a little something about that, especially since it seems like she's been here a while.))
"We should go get some of your stones assessed, first. With any luck, those may get you some local currency to work with." Jaz's lips curled toward a slight frown at that. She didn't like the idea of giving away something that was from her goddess' realm and had memories of her people, but she wasn't sure what her other options were. Granted, she didn't especially like the idea of trade at all. At home, everything was shared. Gifts.
Jaz was here to learn about other ways of living, though, so she resigned herself to the idea of compromising on this front.
She followed Ren on his way through town, noticing that he circumnavigated the main market area as much as possible. Jaz was grateful because, while they were close enough for her to get another look at some of the stalls, she wasn't quite as assaulted by the sounds and sights. Ren took her to the edge of town, furthest from the temple, and they entered a small structure with some writing on it. Jaz looked up at Ren, not entirely sure what that meant and somewhat distracted by the script that humans here seemed to use. So many unfamiliar lines and curves.
Inside the shop was a menagerie of things Jaz didn't understand or recognize, and a queasy feeling came over her stomach, though she didn't fully understand why. She almost reached for Ren's hand to seek comfort, but she caught herself halfway there, awkwardly lowering her hand back down to her side.
The shop was small and cramped with objects. Round orbs and glass bottles, nets and baubles, little sculptures of animals. Jaz had never seen so much stuff crammed into one tiny space.
The person in the shop was also small, short, and petite, though she looked to be maybe a little older than Ren. Her hair was up on her head in wild spiky pigtails that made Jaz want to giggle happily every time she caught a glimpse of them.
"Ren! It's you! And a friend!" the short woman said. "Find something interesting out in the woods or you here to buy?"
((OOC: We are imagining XJ calls this an "Oddities Shop." And, yeah, I imagine that enough people have figured out that XJ is lesbian that Ren would probably know a little something about that, especially since it seems like she's been here a while.))
Re: Leaving the Djinn
Ren kept a close eye on Jaz as they walked through town, mostly to make sure he didn't lead her too quickly or lose her to any distractions. She seemed content to stay close, if a little melancholy? Perhaps he was just projecting that. Or perhaps it was just the ever-present melancholy of not touching another being. Just inside the shop he'd brought her to, she very nearly reached for his hand, but caught herself, which he was grateful for, though he felt a pang of his own melancholy in his chest.
"Ren! It's you! And a friend!" XJ exclaimed, animated as ever. Ren offered her just a slight, crooked twist of a smile--pretty standard response, and XJ continued without missing a beat: "Find something interesting out in the woods or you here to buy?"
His smile grew a bit wider, and he very nearly nodded toward Jaz before thinking better of the gesture. Then again, they didn't really have a better story than that he'd found Jaz in the woods, but in any case, he let the moment for humor about it pass by.
"This is Jaz, I'm showing her around. We'd like you to look at some stones, see if you're interested in them, or can at least give us a fair assessment before we go trying to barter with the cutthroats out there." He gestured with his thumb over his shoulder very vaguely in the direction of the main market, his smile widening into a crooked, good-natured grin.
"Ren! It's you! And a friend!" XJ exclaimed, animated as ever. Ren offered her just a slight, crooked twist of a smile--pretty standard response, and XJ continued without missing a beat: "Find something interesting out in the woods or you here to buy?"
His smile grew a bit wider, and he very nearly nodded toward Jaz before thinking better of the gesture. Then again, they didn't really have a better story than that he'd found Jaz in the woods, but in any case, he let the moment for humor about it pass by.
"This is Jaz, I'm showing her around. We'd like you to look at some stones, see if you're interested in them, or can at least give us a fair assessment before we go trying to barter with the cutthroats out there." He gestured with his thumb over his shoulder very vaguely in the direction of the main market, his smile widening into a crooked, good-natured grin.
Re: Leaving the Djinn
"This is Jaz, I'm showing her around. We'd like you to look at some stones, see if you're interested in them, or can at least give us a fair assessment before we go trying to barter with the cutthroats out there."
XJ took a better look at Ren's companion. He hadn't ever brought anyone else around, and this was a complete stranger. Where had he found her? And where had he found the stones? Ugh! So many questions.
But the idea of new stones definitely intrigued her.
"Aw, Ren, come on," XJ said playfully, waving Ren off, "most of them out there will give you a fair price even on a bad day." Still, XJ beamed with pride and happiness that Ren trusted her with whatever he had found. Only a little fear tugged at her chest, thinking that stones weren't especially her best subject, but she was sure she could do right by Ren to some degree.
"All right. Let's see what you have," XJ said, leading them to an long table. She took a moment to light some long but well-used candles before she gestured for the stones.
--
"Ren! It's you! And a friend!" the shopkeeper said, and Jaz tensed a little, aching for Ren's hand again but suppressing the impulse this time before it reached movement. "Find something interesting out in the woods or you here to buy?"
Jaz did quirk a smile at that, however, looking to Ren to see if he would answer truthfully. His smile was wide, but he seemed content to let the connection to their actual situation go.
"This is Jaz, I'm showing her around. We'd like you to look at some stones, see if you're interested in them, or can at least give us a fair assessment before we go trying to barter with the cutthroats out there."
"Aw, Ren, come on," the shopkeeper responded. "most of them out there will give you a fair price even on a bad day."
Jaz thought the comment was meant to be reassuring, but her stomach soured at the thought. Was it not common practice to be fair? Did people expect to be taken advantage of? Without thinking, Jaz's eyebrows pulled together, and her fingertips grazed their respective palms nervously. Thankfully, no one seemed to notice.
The short woman led them over to a long table a few steps away, and as she lit a long series of candles, Jaz felt the weight of all the objects around her. How many different places were all these from? How many hands' stories were each of them holding? She started to feel a little dizzy thinking about it.
"All right. Let's see what you have." Jaz looked blankly at the woman for a moment, blinking a couple times in confusion. At last, she realized that she needed to pull the stones out. Right. Quickly, she dug in her bag, found the pouch, and pulled it out.
She was about to pour the lot of them in her hand, but she thought better of it at the last moment. Jaz wasn't sure she wanted either Ren or this shopkeeper to know exactly how many she had. In the end, shaking the bag once, five fell out into her hand. They looked small under the scrutiny of both Ren and the shopkeeper, who now had large magnifying glass over her eyes.
Jaz felt protective over the tiny rocks, which she had thought at the time of collecting as just something pretty to remember the journey by, some delight to share with others. She wasn't accustomed to thinking of their value beyond that.
And, now that she was holding out her hand to the shopkeeper, she tensed, realizing too late that she should be careful not to let anyone touch her. A zinging bolt of fear ran down her spine and forced her posture straight, but she tried to make the uncontrollable movement subtle. And she couldn't exactly pull her hand back now.
--
XJ gingerly selected the largest of the fives stone the strange woman held, grasping it with the tiniest width of her index finger and thumb. She wanted to at least look like she knew what she was doing. But maybe she was selling herself short. She'd been in this business a while, and she at least had a sense of what kinds of things would attract attention.
She held the stone--clear with electric blue lines arcing toward the center--up close to her glasses, angling the stone this way and that under the light of the candles. It was pretty, and excitement leapt in XJ's chest at the sight of it. She had certainly never seen anything remotely like it. And, besides, she quite liked the color. Sure, it was raw and would need some polishing or refining to make the most of it for a setting in a piece of jewelry, but XJ thought that would be quick work for someone with the right equipment.
XJ couldn't help herself, she was smiling wide.
"Well, to be honest, I don't think anyone in town would know quite what to make of these," XJ said, setting that stone back down in Jaz's hand lightly and picking up another with the same delicate manner.
This one also had lines streaking toward the center, though XJ could see some variation in the curves and the sparkle. How did this stone form such that it always reached roughly for its own center? Fascinating. XJ liked looking at it.
She carefully dropped the stone into Jaz's hand and pulled her glasses off.
"But, tell you what, I can just about guarantee that I would double any price you heard around town." XJ ran a couple quick guesses of what some other shopkeepers in the market would offer and doubled it. It was a good strategy, good for repeat traders who thought they had found something special. It kept XJ's supply incredibly unique.
"I'd give you 100 shils each," XJ said, adjusting her number on account of how many more of the stones XJ thought the woman might have in that pouch and how much capital XJ had to spend at the moment on such a find. It was a significant amount of what she had for the rest of the month, but she hadn't seen something so unique in a minute. "Or a little more if you want to trade for something in my shop."
It was only then that XJ tossed a glance back at the woman's face properly. With her eyes wide and her brows furrowed, she looked... angry? sad? surprised? XJ was having a difficult time making sense of the expression. She thought she was being generous. Had she done her math wrong? XJ looked to Ren, hoping his expression would help her understand the situation.
--
Jaz tensed with what felt like every muscle in her body as XJ reached for one of the stones. Would her skin turn blue in front of this woman and her giant magnifying glasses? Would this be the end of Jaz's time in Ti'la? Would they chase her out of the town for worshipping her goddess?
But XJ didn't touch her at all. Just the largest of the five stones she had so thoughtlessly poured out onto her hand. Jaz breathed out for a long time, trying to make her relief seem... normal.
Fortunately, XJ was thoroughly distracted by the stone, turning it over and over in the light. Already Jaz had eaten through two of her wafers, and now she was about to trade stones she had collected lovingly in the waterfall with Suldana. Her goddess' water had poured over these stones for years, and Suldana had laughed and danced when they had discovered them. Could the shopkeeper see all that joy in them? Did Jaz even want her to see it?
Jaz felt a bittersweet excitement looking at the shopkeeper's enthusiastic smile.
"Well, to be honest, I don't think anyone in town would know quite what to make of these," she told Jaz and Ren, and Jaz's unease remained. She continued to hold out the stones in her hand, eyeing them now with some concern. XJ traded one stone out for another, avoiding Jaz's skin again. Was this common practice? Did the woman know not to touch Jaz somehow? No, that was absurd, right? No one else in the town had even heard of djinn... except Sage.
When XJ gently dropped the second stone in Jaz's hand, Jaz closed her fingers around them and gingerly placed them back in the pouch, holding them at her side. She didn't need more chances for touching this woman. Not right now. And, really, Jaz chastised herself, Jaz should have been more careful from the beginning. She would need to get used to that.
"But, tell you what, I can just about guarantee that I would double any price you heard around town," the shopkeeper said, and Jaz looked at the woman anxiously, still uncertain if this was a good outcome. Jaz certainly didn't want to trade these for currency, but it was better to get more for fewer of her stones, right?
"I'd give you 100 shils each for ones around that size. Or a little more if you want to trade for something in my shop," the woman told Jaz. As the woman's attention turned more properly to Jaz, Jaz could feel the ferocity with which she was unconsciously pulling her eyebrows together in worry. She tried to ease them toward relaxing, but they stubbornly wouldn't move.
The shopkeeper looked up at Ren, and Jaz looked at the ground, scrambling internally for what to do.
XJ took a better look at Ren's companion. He hadn't ever brought anyone else around, and this was a complete stranger. Where had he found her? And where had he found the stones? Ugh! So many questions.
But the idea of new stones definitely intrigued her.
"Aw, Ren, come on," XJ said playfully, waving Ren off, "most of them out there will give you a fair price even on a bad day." Still, XJ beamed with pride and happiness that Ren trusted her with whatever he had found. Only a little fear tugged at her chest, thinking that stones weren't especially her best subject, but she was sure she could do right by Ren to some degree.
"All right. Let's see what you have," XJ said, leading them to an long table. She took a moment to light some long but well-used candles before she gestured for the stones.
--
"Ren! It's you! And a friend!" the shopkeeper said, and Jaz tensed a little, aching for Ren's hand again but suppressing the impulse this time before it reached movement. "Find something interesting out in the woods or you here to buy?"
Jaz did quirk a smile at that, however, looking to Ren to see if he would answer truthfully. His smile was wide, but he seemed content to let the connection to their actual situation go.
"This is Jaz, I'm showing her around. We'd like you to look at some stones, see if you're interested in them, or can at least give us a fair assessment before we go trying to barter with the cutthroats out there."
"Aw, Ren, come on," the shopkeeper responded. "most of them out there will give you a fair price even on a bad day."
Jaz thought the comment was meant to be reassuring, but her stomach soured at the thought. Was it not common practice to be fair? Did people expect to be taken advantage of? Without thinking, Jaz's eyebrows pulled together, and her fingertips grazed their respective palms nervously. Thankfully, no one seemed to notice.
The short woman led them over to a long table a few steps away, and as she lit a long series of candles, Jaz felt the weight of all the objects around her. How many different places were all these from? How many hands' stories were each of them holding? She started to feel a little dizzy thinking about it.
"All right. Let's see what you have." Jaz looked blankly at the woman for a moment, blinking a couple times in confusion. At last, she realized that she needed to pull the stones out. Right. Quickly, she dug in her bag, found the pouch, and pulled it out.
She was about to pour the lot of them in her hand, but she thought better of it at the last moment. Jaz wasn't sure she wanted either Ren or this shopkeeper to know exactly how many she had. In the end, shaking the bag once, five fell out into her hand. They looked small under the scrutiny of both Ren and the shopkeeper, who now had large magnifying glass over her eyes.
Jaz felt protective over the tiny rocks, which she had thought at the time of collecting as just something pretty to remember the journey by, some delight to share with others. She wasn't accustomed to thinking of their value beyond that.
And, now that she was holding out her hand to the shopkeeper, she tensed, realizing too late that she should be careful not to let anyone touch her. A zinging bolt of fear ran down her spine and forced her posture straight, but she tried to make the uncontrollable movement subtle. And she couldn't exactly pull her hand back now.
--
XJ gingerly selected the largest of the fives stone the strange woman held, grasping it with the tiniest width of her index finger and thumb. She wanted to at least look like she knew what she was doing. But maybe she was selling herself short. She'd been in this business a while, and she at least had a sense of what kinds of things would attract attention.
She held the stone--clear with electric blue lines arcing toward the center--up close to her glasses, angling the stone this way and that under the light of the candles. It was pretty, and excitement leapt in XJ's chest at the sight of it. She had certainly never seen anything remotely like it. And, besides, she quite liked the color. Sure, it was raw and would need some polishing or refining to make the most of it for a setting in a piece of jewelry, but XJ thought that would be quick work for someone with the right equipment.
XJ couldn't help herself, she was smiling wide.
"Well, to be honest, I don't think anyone in town would know quite what to make of these," XJ said, setting that stone back down in Jaz's hand lightly and picking up another with the same delicate manner.
This one also had lines streaking toward the center, though XJ could see some variation in the curves and the sparkle. How did this stone form such that it always reached roughly for its own center? Fascinating. XJ liked looking at it.
She carefully dropped the stone into Jaz's hand and pulled her glasses off.
"But, tell you what, I can just about guarantee that I would double any price you heard around town." XJ ran a couple quick guesses of what some other shopkeepers in the market would offer and doubled it. It was a good strategy, good for repeat traders who thought they had found something special. It kept XJ's supply incredibly unique.
"I'd give you 100 shils each," XJ said, adjusting her number on account of how many more of the stones XJ thought the woman might have in that pouch and how much capital XJ had to spend at the moment on such a find. It was a significant amount of what she had for the rest of the month, but she hadn't seen something so unique in a minute. "Or a little more if you want to trade for something in my shop."
It was only then that XJ tossed a glance back at the woman's face properly. With her eyes wide and her brows furrowed, she looked... angry? sad? surprised? XJ was having a difficult time making sense of the expression. She thought she was being generous. Had she done her math wrong? XJ looked to Ren, hoping his expression would help her understand the situation.
--
Jaz tensed with what felt like every muscle in her body as XJ reached for one of the stones. Would her skin turn blue in front of this woman and her giant magnifying glasses? Would this be the end of Jaz's time in Ti'la? Would they chase her out of the town for worshipping her goddess?
But XJ didn't touch her at all. Just the largest of the five stones she had so thoughtlessly poured out onto her hand. Jaz breathed out for a long time, trying to make her relief seem... normal.
Fortunately, XJ was thoroughly distracted by the stone, turning it over and over in the light. Already Jaz had eaten through two of her wafers, and now she was about to trade stones she had collected lovingly in the waterfall with Suldana. Her goddess' water had poured over these stones for years, and Suldana had laughed and danced when they had discovered them. Could the shopkeeper see all that joy in them? Did Jaz even want her to see it?
Jaz felt a bittersweet excitement looking at the shopkeeper's enthusiastic smile.
"Well, to be honest, I don't think anyone in town would know quite what to make of these," she told Jaz and Ren, and Jaz's unease remained. She continued to hold out the stones in her hand, eyeing them now with some concern. XJ traded one stone out for another, avoiding Jaz's skin again. Was this common practice? Did the woman know not to touch Jaz somehow? No, that was absurd, right? No one else in the town had even heard of djinn... except Sage.
When XJ gently dropped the second stone in Jaz's hand, Jaz closed her fingers around them and gingerly placed them back in the pouch, holding them at her side. She didn't need more chances for touching this woman. Not right now. And, really, Jaz chastised herself, Jaz should have been more careful from the beginning. She would need to get used to that.
"But, tell you what, I can just about guarantee that I would double any price you heard around town," the shopkeeper said, and Jaz looked at the woman anxiously, still uncertain if this was a good outcome. Jaz certainly didn't want to trade these for currency, but it was better to get more for fewer of her stones, right?
"I'd give you 100 shils each for ones around that size. Or a little more if you want to trade for something in my shop," the woman told Jaz. As the woman's attention turned more properly to Jaz, Jaz could feel the ferocity with which she was unconsciously pulling her eyebrows together in worry. She tried to ease them toward relaxing, but they stubbornly wouldn't move.
The shopkeeper looked up at Ren, and Jaz looked at the ground, scrambling internally for what to do.
Re: Leaving the Djinn
"Aw, Ren, come on," XJ waved Ren off playfully, "most of them out there will give you a fair price even on a bad day." It seemed that she took the implied compliment just the same, though, her smile bright.
"All right. Let's see what you have," XJ said, leading them to an long table. She took a moment to light some long but well-used candles before she gestured for the stones.
Ren looked at Jaz, who looked pretty overwhelmed. He debated whether she might need any additional guidance on what to do here, but soon enough she dug out her bag of stones, and gently shook out a small handful - five in total gently rolling onto her skin.
Then, all at once, XJ was reaching for one, and Ren bristled, briefly contemplating whether he should intercept somehow. But, any interception he attempted would be its own sort of suspicious, and anyway, before he could think of anything remotely reasonable, XJ was already gingerly grasping one of the stones in Jaz's hand, plucking it up in her thumb and forefinger without making any skin contact at all.
The relief from that was short-lived as Ren watched XJ examine the stone. He hoped they would be decently valuable, but it was so hard to know.
"Well, to be honest, I don't think anyone in town would know quite what to make of these," XJ said, setting that stone back down in Jaz's hand lightly and picking up another with the same delicate manner. Ren continued watching, careful to keep his expression stoic, but his attentiveness was unmistakable. Finally, XJ carefully dropped the stone into Jaz's hand and pulled her glasses off.
"But, tell you what, I can just about guarantee that I would double any price you heard around town. I'd give you 100 shils each for ones around that size. Or a little more if you want to trade for something in my shop."
Oh, thank the gods. Ren allowed himself a soft, subtle smile, too relieved to stay entirely hidden in his stoic expression. Jaz had a bag of precious gemstones, and already had a trader willing to buy them at a good price.
But when he looked at Jaz, she looked terribly worried--and likely still thoroughly overwhelmed. Right; she likely had no idea what XJ had just offered. Jaz looked at the ground, and Ren turned his attention back to XJ, who looked at him with a bit of nervous confusion in her eyes. Fair enough. He offered her a nod and reprised his soft smile, hoping to convey his gratitude.
"Thank you," he said, and then turned his gaze back to Jaz.
"100 shils would get you a good-quality tent and supplies to last you through the new moon, easy--and leave you some extra."
Here was hoping that would at least give Jaz some understanding of what XJ was offering. And here was hoping that XJ wouldn't get too curious just yet about why Jaz needed currency translated for her. It was a little bit tempting to usher Jaz out of the shop for a private conversation -- and he might yet guide them that direction, depending on how this went. But he didn't want to disengage from XJ just yet, if they could all navigate through this successfully together.
((OOC: I forget if we've established where the moon is in its cycle right now, but I figure that amounts to 'between one and three weeks' lol. Seemed like he'd most likely convey that through moon cycles.))
"All right. Let's see what you have," XJ said, leading them to an long table. She took a moment to light some long but well-used candles before she gestured for the stones.
Ren looked at Jaz, who looked pretty overwhelmed. He debated whether she might need any additional guidance on what to do here, but soon enough she dug out her bag of stones, and gently shook out a small handful - five in total gently rolling onto her skin.
Then, all at once, XJ was reaching for one, and Ren bristled, briefly contemplating whether he should intercept somehow. But, any interception he attempted would be its own sort of suspicious, and anyway, before he could think of anything remotely reasonable, XJ was already gingerly grasping one of the stones in Jaz's hand, plucking it up in her thumb and forefinger without making any skin contact at all.
The relief from that was short-lived as Ren watched XJ examine the stone. He hoped they would be decently valuable, but it was so hard to know.
"Well, to be honest, I don't think anyone in town would know quite what to make of these," XJ said, setting that stone back down in Jaz's hand lightly and picking up another with the same delicate manner. Ren continued watching, careful to keep his expression stoic, but his attentiveness was unmistakable. Finally, XJ carefully dropped the stone into Jaz's hand and pulled her glasses off.
"But, tell you what, I can just about guarantee that I would double any price you heard around town. I'd give you 100 shils each for ones around that size. Or a little more if you want to trade for something in my shop."
Oh, thank the gods. Ren allowed himself a soft, subtle smile, too relieved to stay entirely hidden in his stoic expression. Jaz had a bag of precious gemstones, and already had a trader willing to buy them at a good price.
But when he looked at Jaz, she looked terribly worried--and likely still thoroughly overwhelmed. Right; she likely had no idea what XJ had just offered. Jaz looked at the ground, and Ren turned his attention back to XJ, who looked at him with a bit of nervous confusion in her eyes. Fair enough. He offered her a nod and reprised his soft smile, hoping to convey his gratitude.
"Thank you," he said, and then turned his gaze back to Jaz.
"100 shils would get you a good-quality tent and supplies to last you through the new moon, easy--and leave you some extra."
Here was hoping that would at least give Jaz some understanding of what XJ was offering. And here was hoping that XJ wouldn't get too curious just yet about why Jaz needed currency translated for her. It was a little bit tempting to usher Jaz out of the shop for a private conversation -- and he might yet guide them that direction, depending on how this went. But he didn't want to disengage from XJ just yet, if they could all navigate through this successfully together.
((OOC: I forget if we've established where the moon is in its cycle right now, but I figure that amounts to 'between one and three weeks' lol. Seemed like he'd most likely convey that through moon cycles.))
Re: Leaving the Djinn
"Thank you," Jaz heard Ren say, somewhat distantly. She looked up at him, trying to understand what was expected here. She felt like she might burst into tears any second now, but she was swallowing them down, trying to think rationally.
It dramatically helped when Ren said, "A hundred shils would get you a good-quality tent and supplies to last you through the next new moon, easy--and leave you some extra." She didn't exactly know what length of time Ren meant--did they even have the same moons here?--but he sounded reassured by it. By her own village's measure, that would mean about 14 days.
So, one gem from her homeland for two weeks here. She did some mental calculation. If she sold all of them, she could stay here for most of a sun revolution. Was that what she wanted? But maybe she was getting too far ahead of herself. She just needed shelter for now, and she could make longer term decisions later. For now, it was enough to know that she could provide for herself for a little while, if needed.
"Okay," Jaz said, a little reluctantly. "I'll trade you one for now." Jaz began pulling out what she thought were the five gems XJ had already seen, laying them out on the table for XJ to choose between.
--
Well, Ren looked happy. Or, at least, he was not mirroring whatever the woman was feeling about the situation, which gave XJ some relief.
"A hundred shils would get you a good-quality tent and supplies to last you through the next new moon, easy--and leave you some extra," Ren explained to the woman. Gods, she must really not be from around here if she didn't know that. Maybe she was from a rural part of Asphodel?
"Okay," the woman said, "I'll trade you one for now." She pulled the stones back out and placed them on the table in front of XJ.
XJ frowned a little, unsure how much good just one of these strange gems would get her. The jeweler she knew would want at least three to make something of note.
"If you like the idea," XJ started, "I'd buy three for 350 shils, and I have an old tent I'd throw into the mix. It could probably use some reinforcement before the winter really sets in, but it will get you through the fall." She smiled gently at the woman, trying to convey that she would be comfortable with any direction this negotiation went.
--
Jaz looked up at Ren, curious about his response to this latest offer. She wanted to at least make sure that getting a tent here wouldn't throw a branch in Ren's plans for the two of them before she proceeded, but she was hopeful about the trade, and it showed somewhat in her relaxed posture. Ren nodded, and Jaz offered a ghost of a smile, first to him and then to XJ.
"All right then. That's what I'll do."
The shopkeeper clapped her hands together definitively and smiled, setting about choosing three stones. At least the shopkeeper did genuinely seem excited about them. Maybe they would find good homes elsewhere and bring others happiness.
After counting out what looked like pieces of heavy, dark metal with images somehow printed on them, the shopkeeper handed the lot to Jaz, which she then transferred to an inner pocket of her bag. Best not lose them after all that.
In the meantime, the shopkeeper had dug under a pile of things to find a bundle that Jaz could only assume was a tent. The woman kept searched around for some things after that and ultimately had a pile ready on the table.
"I threw in a needle and some sturdy thread in case there are any tears to patch. Shouldn't be too difficult." Jaz nodded and put the small items into her bag, lifting the bundle into her arms. It was a little cumbersome, but Jaz believed she would be able to carry it back to Ren's cottage.
"Come back if you have a mind to trade some more!" The shopkeeper said with an enormous smile and a wave.
((OOC: Following Ren's lead at this point, then!))
It dramatically helped when Ren said, "A hundred shils would get you a good-quality tent and supplies to last you through the next new moon, easy--and leave you some extra." She didn't exactly know what length of time Ren meant--did they even have the same moons here?--but he sounded reassured by it. By her own village's measure, that would mean about 14 days.
So, one gem from her homeland for two weeks here. She did some mental calculation. If she sold all of them, she could stay here for most of a sun revolution. Was that what she wanted? But maybe she was getting too far ahead of herself. She just needed shelter for now, and she could make longer term decisions later. For now, it was enough to know that she could provide for herself for a little while, if needed.
"Okay," Jaz said, a little reluctantly. "I'll trade you one for now." Jaz began pulling out what she thought were the five gems XJ had already seen, laying them out on the table for XJ to choose between.
--
Well, Ren looked happy. Or, at least, he was not mirroring whatever the woman was feeling about the situation, which gave XJ some relief.
"A hundred shils would get you a good-quality tent and supplies to last you through the next new moon, easy--and leave you some extra," Ren explained to the woman. Gods, she must really not be from around here if she didn't know that. Maybe she was from a rural part of Asphodel?
"Okay," the woman said, "I'll trade you one for now." She pulled the stones back out and placed them on the table in front of XJ.
XJ frowned a little, unsure how much good just one of these strange gems would get her. The jeweler she knew would want at least three to make something of note.
"If you like the idea," XJ started, "I'd buy three for 350 shils, and I have an old tent I'd throw into the mix. It could probably use some reinforcement before the winter really sets in, but it will get you through the fall." She smiled gently at the woman, trying to convey that she would be comfortable with any direction this negotiation went.
--
Jaz looked up at Ren, curious about his response to this latest offer. She wanted to at least make sure that getting a tent here wouldn't throw a branch in Ren's plans for the two of them before she proceeded, but she was hopeful about the trade, and it showed somewhat in her relaxed posture. Ren nodded, and Jaz offered a ghost of a smile, first to him and then to XJ.
"All right then. That's what I'll do."
The shopkeeper clapped her hands together definitively and smiled, setting about choosing three stones. At least the shopkeeper did genuinely seem excited about them. Maybe they would find good homes elsewhere and bring others happiness.
After counting out what looked like pieces of heavy, dark metal with images somehow printed on them, the shopkeeper handed the lot to Jaz, which she then transferred to an inner pocket of her bag. Best not lose them after all that.
In the meantime, the shopkeeper had dug under a pile of things to find a bundle that Jaz could only assume was a tent. The woman kept searched around for some things after that and ultimately had a pile ready on the table.
"I threw in a needle and some sturdy thread in case there are any tears to patch. Shouldn't be too difficult." Jaz nodded and put the small items into her bag, lifting the bundle into her arms. It was a little cumbersome, but Jaz believed she would be able to carry it back to Ren's cottage.
"Come back if you have a mind to trade some more!" The shopkeeper said with an enormous smile and a wave.
((OOC: Following Ren's lead at this point, then!))
Re: Leaving the Djinn
Jaz pondered, and Ren gave her the space to chew on her thoughts. It would certainly make their next steps easier if she would be willing to part with at least one of her stones here, but he wasn't quite ready to apply pressure that direction.
"Okay," Jaz finally said, a little reluctantly. "I'll trade you one for now." Jaz began pulling the stones she had shown before back out and setting them on the table before her.
Ren looked to XJ, a little disappointed to see a subtle frown form on her lips, but thankfully she didn't keep him in suspense for long.
"If you like the idea," she said, "I'd buy three for 350 shils, and I have an old tent I'd throw into the mix. It could probably use some reinforcement before the winter really sets in, but it will get you through the fall."
Jaz looked to Ren, eyes hopeful but checking in with him, and he gave her a nod. This would set Jaz up nicely, and he wouldn't mind working on the tent if he needed to.
"All right then," Jaz proclaimed with a ghost of a smile, "That's what I'll do."
XJ clapped her hands together and smiled before gathering together the currency to trade, and Ren gave Jaz an encouraging smile. He was greatly relieved that she would have a good collection of local currency to work with now--not to mention the most important piece of equipment they'd need for the day. There were a few other supplies they should also get her, but those should be easy enough from here.
"I threw in a needle and some sturdy thread in case there are any tears to patch," XJ announced as she returned to the table with the tent and some other items, "Shouldn't be too difficult."
Jaz collected the tent bundle into her arms, having put the currency and small items into her bag. Ren debated offering to carry it for her, but decided against it, and instead returned his attention to XJ, who was already giving them both a big smile and wave.
"Come back if you have a mind to trade some more!" she said, and Ren offered her a smile and wave in return.
"Of course. Thank you, XJ."
Then, he gently nodded toward the shop's exit, and gestured for Jaz to follow him. He held the door open for her, and offered XJ one last nod before fully departing.
Outside the shop, Ren led them a little ways away from the entrance, out of the way and where he should be able to notice anyone trying to eavesdrop. Not that he planned to talk about anything terribly sensitive at the moment, but it was just good practice, really.
"There are a few more supplies it would likely be wise to get you," he said to Jaz. "If you're up for it, I can take you to the next stop I have in mind. Or, we could head back to the temple first. I'm sure Monica would be happy to store the tent there until we depart." And, they could check in, and Jaz could rest if she needed to. But Ren was hesitant to say that bit out loud, not wanting to insult Jaz or come off as overbearing.
"Okay," Jaz finally said, a little reluctantly. "I'll trade you one for now." Jaz began pulling the stones she had shown before back out and setting them on the table before her.
Ren looked to XJ, a little disappointed to see a subtle frown form on her lips, but thankfully she didn't keep him in suspense for long.
"If you like the idea," she said, "I'd buy three for 350 shils, and I have an old tent I'd throw into the mix. It could probably use some reinforcement before the winter really sets in, but it will get you through the fall."
Jaz looked to Ren, eyes hopeful but checking in with him, and he gave her a nod. This would set Jaz up nicely, and he wouldn't mind working on the tent if he needed to.
"All right then," Jaz proclaimed with a ghost of a smile, "That's what I'll do."
XJ clapped her hands together and smiled before gathering together the currency to trade, and Ren gave Jaz an encouraging smile. He was greatly relieved that she would have a good collection of local currency to work with now--not to mention the most important piece of equipment they'd need for the day. There were a few other supplies they should also get her, but those should be easy enough from here.
"I threw in a needle and some sturdy thread in case there are any tears to patch," XJ announced as she returned to the table with the tent and some other items, "Shouldn't be too difficult."
Jaz collected the tent bundle into her arms, having put the currency and small items into her bag. Ren debated offering to carry it for her, but decided against it, and instead returned his attention to XJ, who was already giving them both a big smile and wave.
"Come back if you have a mind to trade some more!" she said, and Ren offered her a smile and wave in return.
"Of course. Thank you, XJ."
Then, he gently nodded toward the shop's exit, and gestured for Jaz to follow him. He held the door open for her, and offered XJ one last nod before fully departing.
Outside the shop, Ren led them a little ways away from the entrance, out of the way and where he should be able to notice anyone trying to eavesdrop. Not that he planned to talk about anything terribly sensitive at the moment, but it was just good practice, really.
"There are a few more supplies it would likely be wise to get you," he said to Jaz. "If you're up for it, I can take you to the next stop I have in mind. Or, we could head back to the temple first. I'm sure Monica would be happy to store the tent there until we depart." And, they could check in, and Jaz could rest if she needed to. But Ren was hesitant to say that bit out loud, not wanting to insult Jaz or come off as overbearing.