Ren heard Jaz walking closer to him, and he tensed a little, but in the end it seemed she was just coming to peer at the food, and he relaxed. But then she stepped back abruptly, her breathing changing. Ren turned to look at her with some worry in his brow. Her eyes were closed, her hands massaging her temples, and he decided to leave her be and return to cooking.
Eventually, he heard her sit down, and then she said, "I thought of my question," which tensed him again. "How... how often do those sorts of eggs get laid?"
Ren turned to look at her again, his eyebrow raised with some surprise and, perhaps, puzzlement. But, his expression relaxed into a gentle smile as he remembered just how alien her world had seemed in the glimpses she had shared with him; she genuinely didn't know what to make of these eggs, and he could be patient for that.
"Fairly often," he said, hopeful that would reassure some of what seemed to worry her. "We have a type of bird called chickens. As long as their food supply is plentiful, the females may lay eggs almost daily." He turned his attention back to the pan to continue scrambling the eggs, but added, "That season is almost over, but in town the Roens keep a flock well fed all year. I was actually thinking we may stop by the forest flock on our way to see Baer today."
Leaving the Djinn
Re: Leaving the Djinn
Jaz heard Ren turn toward her, but she couldn't meet his eyes. She was working too hard to control her runaway emotions.
"Fairly often," he said, and Jaz let out a pent-up breath. At least these weren't a rarity. "We have a type of bird called chickens. As long as their food supply is plentiful, the females may lay eggs almost daily. That season is almost over, but in town, the Roens keep a flock well fed all year. I was actually thinking we may stop by the forest flock on our way to see Baer today."
Jaz nodded, embarrassed and grateful that Ren was going gentle on her about it all.
"I'd like that," Jaz said quietly, recovering. But then she smiled wryly, realizing her mistake. "I guess that wasn't really a personal question."
She hesitated a few moments, letting a silence pass between them before she said, "There's only one egg-laying animal I know of, which my clan raises for their fur to make our clothing. They lay very large eggs a few times a year, and only a couple of the eggs ever make it to hatching. They're... sacred. We consider them great gifts." Her voice grew a little quieter at the end of her statement, hoping that Ren wouldn't take what she had said as judgment. Even quieter, she said, "So many new things to learn," and shook her head.
"Fairly often," he said, and Jaz let out a pent-up breath. At least these weren't a rarity. "We have a type of bird called chickens. As long as their food supply is plentiful, the females may lay eggs almost daily. That season is almost over, but in town, the Roens keep a flock well fed all year. I was actually thinking we may stop by the forest flock on our way to see Baer today."
Jaz nodded, embarrassed and grateful that Ren was going gentle on her about it all.
"I'd like that," Jaz said quietly, recovering. But then she smiled wryly, realizing her mistake. "I guess that wasn't really a personal question."
She hesitated a few moments, letting a silence pass between them before she said, "There's only one egg-laying animal I know of, which my clan raises for their fur to make our clothing. They lay very large eggs a few times a year, and only a couple of the eggs ever make it to hatching. They're... sacred. We consider them great gifts." Her voice grew a little quieter at the end of her statement, hoping that Ren wouldn't take what she had said as judgment. Even quieter, she said, "So many new things to learn," and shook her head.
Re: Leaving the Djinn
"I'd like that," Jaz said quietly, and Ren looked over his shoulder toward her just enough to offer a soft smile. Then, she added, "I guess that wasn't really a personal question." Ren's smile turned a little wry--and so did Jaz's--and he returned his attention to the eggs, stiffening a little. If she'd thought of a personal question she wanted to ask, he'd assess it on its own merit; he was fairly certain they'd discharged any sense that he 'owed' her for this slip-up this morning twice now.
"There's only one egg-laying animal I know of," Jaz finally said, "which my clan raises for their fur to make our clothing. They lay very large eggs a few times a year, and only a couple of the eggs ever make it to hatching. They're... sacred. We consider them great gifts."
Ren was quiet, taking in her words. He wasn't entirely sure where she was going. Perhaps just offering context for her question?
"So many new things to learn," she added quietly, and Ren let a few moments of silence stand.
"It won't always be so overwhelming," he finally offered, his voice sober and gentle. Granted, when he'd left the world that he'd grown up in, he didn't travel to a new realm altogether. But, the life he now led would seem fairly alien to his younger self in many ways, and the first transitions he'd gone through to get here had certainly not been easy. He and Monica and the rest of Ti'la could surely give her a softer landing than that, even in this world that was so strange to her.
He searched for a moment for more to say, but ultimately left it at that. Anyhow, the eggs were cooked through, and Ren scooped the scramble equally onto two different plates, taking them over to the small table when he was through. Once he grabbed forks for them both, he felt the impulse rise to tell her, Come, eat. Instead, he gave her a warm if subtly chagrined smile and said, "Will you join me?", gesturing toward the other stool before taking his seat.
((OOC: I don't know wtf punctuation is actually appropriate for that last line but don't feel like editing it rn lol))
"There's only one egg-laying animal I know of," Jaz finally said, "which my clan raises for their fur to make our clothing. They lay very large eggs a few times a year, and only a couple of the eggs ever make it to hatching. They're... sacred. We consider them great gifts."
Ren was quiet, taking in her words. He wasn't entirely sure where she was going. Perhaps just offering context for her question?
"So many new things to learn," she added quietly, and Ren let a few moments of silence stand.
"It won't always be so overwhelming," he finally offered, his voice sober and gentle. Granted, when he'd left the world that he'd grown up in, he didn't travel to a new realm altogether. But, the life he now led would seem fairly alien to his younger self in many ways, and the first transitions he'd gone through to get here had certainly not been easy. He and Monica and the rest of Ti'la could surely give her a softer landing than that, even in this world that was so strange to her.
He searched for a moment for more to say, but ultimately left it at that. Anyhow, the eggs were cooked through, and Ren scooped the scramble equally onto two different plates, taking them over to the small table when he was through. Once he grabbed forks for them both, he felt the impulse rise to tell her, Come, eat. Instead, he gave her a warm if subtly chagrined smile and said, "Will you join me?", gesturing toward the other stool before taking his seat.
((OOC: I don't know wtf punctuation is actually appropriate for that last line but don't feel like editing it rn lol))
Re: Leaving the Djinn
"It won't always be so overwhelming," Ren said after a while. Jaz looked up at him, her interest piqued, a glint in her eye. There seemed a whole world of his own in his past, and she had the impulse to drudge it up, just to see what it was.
But Ren turned and served the vegetable and egg mixture onto two plates, taking them over to the small table. Giving her a smirk of a grin, he asked her, "Will you join me?"
Had that nearly been a command? she wondered. A thrill rushed down her front as she again remembered their experiments the last time they sat together at the table.
Jaz nodded with a sly smile and sat down, looking at the food. She hadn't eaten any of the crackers Ren had provided, and her stomach roiled uncomfortably. The food did smell good, and it looked soft. It wouldn't hurt to try, anyway, although she was uncertain that she would finish it all. Picking up a fork that Ren had provided, she stabbed a few pieces of vegetable and a fluffy chunk of egg. With a glance Ren's way, she put the selection into her mouth and began to chew. She closed her eyes, trying to isolate the individual flavors as her mouth watered around them all. The vegetable was tender and savory, having collected and soaked up the animal fat, Jaz supposed. And the egg had a similar flavor but felt like small clouds in her mouth.
She giggled, covering her mouth and looking toward at the table. The mixture was also still hot, and she shaped her mouth around the food as to not burn herself. Still, the delight she felt at trying this new dish bubbled out of her. She nearly choked as she navigated laughing and swallowing, but she made it through, mirth and the beginnings of tears in her eyes as she looked with gratitude at Ren.
"It's good," she said honestly when she had recovered.
But Ren turned and served the vegetable and egg mixture onto two plates, taking them over to the small table. Giving her a smirk of a grin, he asked her, "Will you join me?"
Had that nearly been a command? she wondered. A thrill rushed down her front as she again remembered their experiments the last time they sat together at the table.
Jaz nodded with a sly smile and sat down, looking at the food. She hadn't eaten any of the crackers Ren had provided, and her stomach roiled uncomfortably. The food did smell good, and it looked soft. It wouldn't hurt to try, anyway, although she was uncertain that she would finish it all. Picking up a fork that Ren had provided, she stabbed a few pieces of vegetable and a fluffy chunk of egg. With a glance Ren's way, she put the selection into her mouth and began to chew. She closed her eyes, trying to isolate the individual flavors as her mouth watered around them all. The vegetable was tender and savory, having collected and soaked up the animal fat, Jaz supposed. And the egg had a similar flavor but felt like small clouds in her mouth.
She giggled, covering her mouth and looking toward at the table. The mixture was also still hot, and she shaped her mouth around the food as to not burn herself. Still, the delight she felt at trying this new dish bubbled out of her. She nearly choked as she navigated laughing and swallowing, but she made it through, mirth and the beginnings of tears in her eyes as she looked with gratitude at Ren.
"It's good," she said honestly when she had recovered.
Re: Leaving the Djinn
Ren had collected a bite on his fork, but stalled out on actually getting it to his mouth; his attention was too eager to focus on Jaz, to take in how she encountered what he had made for her. She even looked his way before closing her eyes to engage with the food, and Ren altogether rested his fork back down on his plate.
After a first initial chew, she giggled lightly and loosened her mouth around it--of course, it was still quite warm, and she hadn't blown on it first. Ren smiled a little crookedly at that. Still, she seemed to enjoy the tastes and textures, and looked at him with utter, teary delight after swallowing.
"It's good," she said, and Ren smiled more fully.
"I'm glad you like it," he said, and then finally lifted his own fork to his mouth to enjoy his first bite as well--blowing a little on it before bringing it to his mouth. He chewed slower than he might have, finding himself curious about what eating would be like for someone who didn't eat very often. It was difficult to wrap his mind around, but he quite enjoyed taking his time with the food, in any case. This was a staple he frequently visited in his diet, and he felt a lot of gratitude for it. He looked forward to visiting the chickens with Jaz, and bringing Baer some vegetables to share. Here was hoping, today would be a good day.
After a first initial chew, she giggled lightly and loosened her mouth around it--of course, it was still quite warm, and she hadn't blown on it first. Ren smiled a little crookedly at that. Still, she seemed to enjoy the tastes and textures, and looked at him with utter, teary delight after swallowing.
"It's good," she said, and Ren smiled more fully.
"I'm glad you like it," he said, and then finally lifted his own fork to his mouth to enjoy his first bite as well--blowing a little on it before bringing it to his mouth. He chewed slower than he might have, finding himself curious about what eating would be like for someone who didn't eat very often. It was difficult to wrap his mind around, but he quite enjoyed taking his time with the food, in any case. This was a staple he frequently visited in his diet, and he felt a lot of gratitude for it. He looked forward to visiting the chickens with Jaz, and bringing Baer some vegetables to share. Here was hoping, today would be a good day.
Re: Leaving the Djinn
“I’m glad you like it,” Ren said, taking a bite himself. Jaz couldn’t help but watch as Ren took his first bite. He wisely blew on the food before putting the mixture in his mouth, and Jaz put her hand in front of her lips, almost embarrassed in the pleasure she found in looking at him. He also closed his eyes, chewing slowly.
It was such a strange thing, eating, needing to be nourished by entities other than one’s own people. All the more reason to be thankful, Jaz supposed. She straightened her spine then and closed her eyes again, trying to imagine the plants that might have grown the vegetable Ren had cooked. Long leaves, maybe, to match the shape of the squash? She found it even more difficult to imagine the small bird that might have laid these eggs. Big eyes? Scrawny feathers? But, regardless, she thanked them, looking forward to Ren’s offer to visit them on the way to his friend.
Finished, she opened her eyes again and stared down at her plate. She definitely wasn’t going to finish all of it. She waited for the mixture to hit her stomach, expecting it to expand the way her wafers had. After a few breaths had passed, Jaz decided it probably wasn’t going to and took another bite, blowing on it the way Ren had done. The food was already much cooler now, though, and Jaz chewed through it easily. She waited once again between bites and finally took a third bite, but after that one, her stomach felt too full.
Looking at Ren sheepishly, she said, “That’s probably all I can eat right now. My body is still… getting used to this. Thank you for making it for me, though.” Her eyes were downcast, horrified at the idea of wasting any of it.
It was such a strange thing, eating, needing to be nourished by entities other than one’s own people. All the more reason to be thankful, Jaz supposed. She straightened her spine then and closed her eyes again, trying to imagine the plants that might have grown the vegetable Ren had cooked. Long leaves, maybe, to match the shape of the squash? She found it even more difficult to imagine the small bird that might have laid these eggs. Big eyes? Scrawny feathers? But, regardless, she thanked them, looking forward to Ren’s offer to visit them on the way to his friend.
Finished, she opened her eyes again and stared down at her plate. She definitely wasn’t going to finish all of it. She waited for the mixture to hit her stomach, expecting it to expand the way her wafers had. After a few breaths had passed, Jaz decided it probably wasn’t going to and took another bite, blowing on it the way Ren had done. The food was already much cooler now, though, and Jaz chewed through it easily. She waited once again between bites and finally took a third bite, but after that one, her stomach felt too full.
Looking at Ren sheepishly, she said, “That’s probably all I can eat right now. My body is still… getting used to this. Thank you for making it for me, though.” Her eyes were downcast, horrified at the idea of wasting any of it.
Re: Leaving the Djinn
Ren enjoyed the companionable quiet while they both savored their breakfast. He felt quite content, and glad that he and Jaz were finding more comfort with each other.
“That’s probably all I can eat right now," Jaz said, looking a bit sheepish. Well, she had only eaten a few bites. "My body is still… getting used to this. Thank you for making it for me, though.”
Ren smiled gently, hoping to reassure her. "That's quite all right. I'll happily finish the rest." He still had a few more bites of his own, though, and grew awkward mentally over-complicating logistics - did he want to go ahead and shuffle the rest of her food onto his plate, or wait until he'd finished his plate and switch her out? He shook his head a little bit, smiling just a little bit bitterly at himself and taking another bite, since that was what he really wanted to do in the moment.
He closed his eyes again as he chewed, resolutely dispelling whatever old cultural hex had briefly gripped at him. Just enjoy the food. He relaxed with a soft exhale, and opened his eyes with the satisfaction of having defeated something, though he realized with some chagrin that there was still some awkwardness--what would occupy Jaz while Ren ate. He didn't especially want her to just stare, and he also didn't relish rushing his meal. His eyes searched her face a moment, wondering what he wanted.
"Do you enjoy singing?" he finally asked before taking another bite of his food, fondly remembering her song the previous night.
“That’s probably all I can eat right now," Jaz said, looking a bit sheepish. Well, she had only eaten a few bites. "My body is still… getting used to this. Thank you for making it for me, though.”
Ren smiled gently, hoping to reassure her. "That's quite all right. I'll happily finish the rest." He still had a few more bites of his own, though, and grew awkward mentally over-complicating logistics - did he want to go ahead and shuffle the rest of her food onto his plate, or wait until he'd finished his plate and switch her out? He shook his head a little bit, smiling just a little bit bitterly at himself and taking another bite, since that was what he really wanted to do in the moment.
He closed his eyes again as he chewed, resolutely dispelling whatever old cultural hex had briefly gripped at him. Just enjoy the food. He relaxed with a soft exhale, and opened his eyes with the satisfaction of having defeated something, though he realized with some chagrin that there was still some awkwardness--what would occupy Jaz while Ren ate. He didn't especially want her to just stare, and he also didn't relish rushing his meal. His eyes searched her face a moment, wondering what he wanted.
"Do you enjoy singing?" he finally asked before taking another bite of his food, fondly remembering her song the previous night.
Re: Leaving the Djinn
Ren smiled, although it didn't quite meet his eyes. She suspected he was doing it for her benefit, and inwardly, she winced.
"That's quite all right. I'll happily finish the rest." He paused in his chewing momentarily, staring in contemplation at her plate, making Jaz squirm.
Finally, Ren shook his head, moving past whatever had gotten stuck, and Jaz let out a long, slow breath, feeling intensely like they had just dodged something.
Still, she hoped he wouldn't force himself to eat the rest.
Ren closed his eyes, and he seemed to genuinely enjoy his own cooking again. His features softened, and Jaz felt something in her stomach relax. It was vulnerable, watching him like this. She almost didn't want him to open his eyes at all so she might feel comfortable continuing to study every little strangeness, every little detail that made him quintessentially human.
He did open his eyes, however, and Jaz looked away, somewhat embarrassed, having been caught out.
Ren moved past the moment quickly, though, asking her, "Do you enjoy singing?"
She quirked one corner of her mouth amused. "Yes..." she said, playfully making the word two syllables. It was as though he had asked her if she enjoyed breathing. And suddenly her whole body's vibrations grew louder, humming just under the surface. She closed her eyes, listening to the song of her own body. Jaz had the urge to hum along, but she worried Ren might find that odd. Eventually, though, the vibrations were too strong to ignore, and she did hum. First, it was only long, slow notes, but over time, the tune built into something more complex, more melancholy and with more depth than Jaz was accustomed to. She frowned softly before she stopped and opened her eyes, flicking her gaze nervously to Ren.
"Don't you?" Jaz asked, suddenly terrified that he might not. She wasn't sure how she would react to that.
"That's quite all right. I'll happily finish the rest." He paused in his chewing momentarily, staring in contemplation at her plate, making Jaz squirm.
Finally, Ren shook his head, moving past whatever had gotten stuck, and Jaz let out a long, slow breath, feeling intensely like they had just dodged something.
Still, she hoped he wouldn't force himself to eat the rest.
Ren closed his eyes, and he seemed to genuinely enjoy his own cooking again. His features softened, and Jaz felt something in her stomach relax. It was vulnerable, watching him like this. She almost didn't want him to open his eyes at all so she might feel comfortable continuing to study every little strangeness, every little detail that made him quintessentially human.
He did open his eyes, however, and Jaz looked away, somewhat embarrassed, having been caught out.
Ren moved past the moment quickly, though, asking her, "Do you enjoy singing?"
She quirked one corner of her mouth amused. "Yes..." she said, playfully making the word two syllables. It was as though he had asked her if she enjoyed breathing. And suddenly her whole body's vibrations grew louder, humming just under the surface. She closed her eyes, listening to the song of her own body. Jaz had the urge to hum along, but she worried Ren might find that odd. Eventually, though, the vibrations were too strong to ignore, and she did hum. First, it was only long, slow notes, but over time, the tune built into something more complex, more melancholy and with more depth than Jaz was accustomed to. She frowned softly before she stopped and opened her eyes, flicking her gaze nervously to Ren.
"Don't you?" Jaz asked, suddenly terrified that he might not. She wasn't sure how she would react to that.
Re: Leaving the Djinn
"Yes..." Jaz stretched the word into two syllables, amused.
Ren was about to ask her to sing another song, then--once he finished his present bite of food, and once he formulated his words properly as a request and not a command--but she closed her eyes, in a way that stilled him. She almost looked in prayer, if he had to say. The thought crossed his mind to look away and afford her some privacy, but he found that he didn't want to. And then, she started humming. He smiled, and took another leisurely bite of his food.
He enjoyed the melody she hummed, deep and complex and perhaps a bit melancholy. It felt reverent. And he felt positively spoiled, enjoying his breakfast with lovely humming to keep him company. He allowed his gaze to turn to look out the window, enjoying the view of the meadow that had kept him company these past years, now with a tent framing it to once side. Ren grinned a little crookedly, wondering what they would really end up doing in the long term, but decided that needn't be a consideration for right now.
Jaz's humming stopped somewhat abruptly, and Ren looked back to her to find her eyes open, gaze nervously on him.
"Don't you?" she asked, sounding a little bit terrified of his answer. Ren's smile curled in amusement, one eyebrows raised in mild puzzlement. What was she so scared of, here?
"I suppose," he said with a slight shrug. He suspected that there was likely more of an answer that she might appreciate, but he wasn't sure what direction to go, and so he went ahead and brought the last bite of food from his plate to his mouth, and then reched forward to gently set Jaz's plate on top of his own, allowing Jaz to ask further questions in the silence if she cared to.
Ren was about to ask her to sing another song, then--once he finished his present bite of food, and once he formulated his words properly as a request and not a command--but she closed her eyes, in a way that stilled him. She almost looked in prayer, if he had to say. The thought crossed his mind to look away and afford her some privacy, but he found that he didn't want to. And then, she started humming. He smiled, and took another leisurely bite of his food.
He enjoyed the melody she hummed, deep and complex and perhaps a bit melancholy. It felt reverent. And he felt positively spoiled, enjoying his breakfast with lovely humming to keep him company. He allowed his gaze to turn to look out the window, enjoying the view of the meadow that had kept him company these past years, now with a tent framing it to once side. Ren grinned a little crookedly, wondering what they would really end up doing in the long term, but decided that needn't be a consideration for right now.
Jaz's humming stopped somewhat abruptly, and Ren looked back to her to find her eyes open, gaze nervously on him.
"Don't you?" she asked, sounding a little bit terrified of his answer. Ren's smile curled in amusement, one eyebrows raised in mild puzzlement. What was she so scared of, here?
"I suppose," he said with a slight shrug. He suspected that there was likely more of an answer that she might appreciate, but he wasn't sure what direction to go, and so he went ahead and brought the last bite of food from his plate to his mouth, and then reched forward to gently set Jaz's plate on top of his own, allowing Jaz to ask further questions in the silence if she cared to.
Re: Leaving the Djinn
"I suppose," Ren said with a shrug. Jaz pulled her eyebrows up, skeptical or perhaps concerned.
While she thought about what to say to that non-response, Ren finished his last bite of food and then reached forward to collect Jaz's plate. She had the urge to grab the plate to stop him from taking it, if only to be... what? Disobedient? But she also didn't want to confuse him. She did want him to have it, if he wanted it.
She shook her head and chuckled at herself, her face warming as she thought again of resisting his commands the night before. Idly, she wondered what it would be like if Ren ordered her to sing. What would come out of her? How long could she hold it in before something burst out of her?
"Our myths say that Dehaljadrun sang the plants into being when she first created the realm, and we still sing to them, so they might remember what it felt like to be in her presence. And, in pleasure, when we djinn are tangled and twined, it is a song. Some of the elders say it's possible that song is the goddess' truest form." Jaz said this wistfully, looking out the window and wondering if Dehaljadrun sang the plants in this realm into being as well or if another god had created them.
While she thought about what to say to that non-response, Ren finished his last bite of food and then reached forward to collect Jaz's plate. She had the urge to grab the plate to stop him from taking it, if only to be... what? Disobedient? But she also didn't want to confuse him. She did want him to have it, if he wanted it.
She shook her head and chuckled at herself, her face warming as she thought again of resisting his commands the night before. Idly, she wondered what it would be like if Ren ordered her to sing. What would come out of her? How long could she hold it in before something burst out of her?
"Our myths say that Dehaljadrun sang the plants into being when she first created the realm, and we still sing to them, so they might remember what it felt like to be in her presence. And, in pleasure, when we djinn are tangled and twined, it is a song. Some of the elders say it's possible that song is the goddess' truest form." Jaz said this wistfully, looking out the window and wondering if Dehaljadrun sang the plants in this realm into being as well or if another god had created them.