Jaz turned her gaze to Monica, tears already spilling from her eyes...the blooms of blue that their touch had sparked on her skin receding all too rapidly. Monica wanted to reach out, offer her hand to Jaz again, but she hesitated, unsure if it would be too much right now, for both of them.
After a moment, Jaz let out a nervous laugh, and all Monica could do was furrow her brow with attentive sympathy.
"He does that sort of thing... a lot... then?" Jaz asked in a half-hearted singsong voice. Monica sighed, though her soft lips did curl just subtly to one side.
"Ren..." she started almost wistfully, her eyes drifting toward the fur curtains. "...Needs a lot of space." She brought her eyes back to Jaz, her subtle smile a bit more pronounced, just the tiniest bit of humor in her eyes.
Leaving the Djinn
Moderator: On Dreams And Desire
Re: Leaving the Djinn
Monica let half a smile slide onto her face but then looked toward the curtains. Jaz followed her gaze.
"Ren..." Monica said, "...needs a lot of space." Jaz nodded. It made sense. He did live a long way from town. Jaz didn't want to diminish the gravity of what all that must have meant for him, but...
"And... you?" Jaz asked, turning back to Monica as she laid her hand on her own side of the table, palm up, in a very subtle, tentative offering.
"Ren..." Monica said, "...needs a lot of space." Jaz nodded. It made sense. He did live a long way from town. Jaz didn't want to diminish the gravity of what all that must have meant for him, but...
"And... you?" Jaz asked, turning back to Monica as she laid her hand on her own side of the table, palm up, in a very subtle, tentative offering.
Re: Leaving the Djinn
"And... you?" Jaz asked, turning back to Monica as she laid her hand on her side of the table, palm up.
Monica's smile grew warmer, more relaxed.
"I am overjoyed to have met you, Jaz," she answered wholeheartedly as she reached forward to slip her fingertips gently between Jaz's, mirroring the way Jaz had touched her own hand previously. She offered echoes of her delight through the touch, inviting them both back to the happiness that had flowed through them before.
It was perhaps a bit distant this time, though--admiration from afar, not quite enough to sink into. Monica's attention was also peripherally on the fur curtains, prepared to welcome Ren back if he decided to rejoin them. Additionally, there was an awareness of time elapsed, of who she might check in with once she had sent Ren and Jaz on their way, of how all of this might play out over the next hours, days, weeks... maybe longer. She found herself genuinely hoping that it would be longer, warmth blooming in her chest at the thought, though a thread of nervousness still wove through all of it. She just didn't know how it would all go.
"And I hope we get many more opportunities to share touch with one another."
Monica's smile grew warmer, more relaxed.
"I am overjoyed to have met you, Jaz," she answered wholeheartedly as she reached forward to slip her fingertips gently between Jaz's, mirroring the way Jaz had touched her own hand previously. She offered echoes of her delight through the touch, inviting them both back to the happiness that had flowed through them before.
It was perhaps a bit distant this time, though--admiration from afar, not quite enough to sink into. Monica's attention was also peripherally on the fur curtains, prepared to welcome Ren back if he decided to rejoin them. Additionally, there was an awareness of time elapsed, of who she might check in with once she had sent Ren and Jaz on their way, of how all of this might play out over the next hours, days, weeks... maybe longer. She found herself genuinely hoping that it would be longer, warmth blooming in her chest at the thought, though a thread of nervousness still wove through all of it. She just didn't know how it would all go.
"And I hope we get many more opportunities to share touch with one another."
Re: Leaving the Djinn
Monica's smile relaxed. "I am overjoyed to have met you, Jaz," she said and reached out to slip her fingers halfway down Jaz's fingers. Both the words and the touch did wonders to reassure Jaz, and she was positive that at least Monica's warmth was authentic and genuinely inviting. There was a pull to return to where they had so recently been going--a deeper intertwining than this, perhaps--which made sparks of sensation burst in Jaz's chest. But, then again, there was a bit of a distance still even between Jaz and Monica. It wasn't unpleasant, just an understanding of the passing of time, maybe even background predictions of all their possible futures.
Jaz smiled, pleased with herself. She was grateful that she had managed to win some favor with at least one of the humans here.
"And I hope we get many more opportunities to share touch with one another," Monica added. This also made Jaz happy, but it felt like more of a dismissal than anything Monica had said so far. Where was Jaz even supposed to go from here? And what if Ren just... didn't come back?
"I don't see why not," Jaz said, wiggling her fingers a little against Monica's. She tried very hard just to enjoy this time with Monica, but perhaps Jaz would just need to come back to fully experience what the two of them could be for each other. She was too distracted by the sensation that--somewhere--Ren was... what, exactly?
Shutting everyone out.
The thought made Jaz's heart clench, and she again withdrew her hand from Monica's.
She looked down. Jaz already couldn't imagine being in this place without both Ren and Monica. But, she wasn't going to be able to bring them back with her to her mountain, back with the djinn... right? So what did these nascent bonds with these two mean?
"I suspect I'll want to come back here at the soonest possibility," Jaz said, looking up with a small smile.
Jaz smiled, pleased with herself. She was grateful that she had managed to win some favor with at least one of the humans here.
"And I hope we get many more opportunities to share touch with one another," Monica added. This also made Jaz happy, but it felt like more of a dismissal than anything Monica had said so far. Where was Jaz even supposed to go from here? And what if Ren just... didn't come back?
"I don't see why not," Jaz said, wiggling her fingers a little against Monica's. She tried very hard just to enjoy this time with Monica, but perhaps Jaz would just need to come back to fully experience what the two of them could be for each other. She was too distracted by the sensation that--somewhere--Ren was... what, exactly?
Shutting everyone out.
The thought made Jaz's heart clench, and she again withdrew her hand from Monica's.
She looked down. Jaz already couldn't imagine being in this place without both Ren and Monica. But, she wasn't going to be able to bring them back with her to her mountain, back with the djinn... right? So what did these nascent bonds with these two mean?
"I suspect I'll want to come back here at the soonest possibility," Jaz said, looking up with a small smile.
Re: Leaving the Djinn
"I don't see why not," Jaz said, wiggling her fingers a little against Monica's. More sparkles of joy passed between them, soon enough there was a clench, and Jaz drew away. If Monica understood correctly, the weight of Ren's absense was a lot for both of them, which was understandable.
"I suspect I'll want to come back here at the soonest possibility," Jaz said, looking up with a small smile. Monica nodded with affirmation.
"You are welcome here any time."
She left it at that for a beat, and then sighed as her attention was tugged back toward the still-undisturbed fur curtains. Resummoning an optimistic smile, she returned her attention to Jaz.
"Shall we go check on Ren?"
"I suspect I'll want to come back here at the soonest possibility," Jaz said, looking up with a small smile. Monica nodded with affirmation.
"You are welcome here any time."
She left it at that for a beat, and then sighed as her attention was tugged back toward the still-undisturbed fur curtains. Resummoning an optimistic smile, she returned her attention to Jaz.
"Shall we go check on Ren?"
Re: Leaving the Djinn
"You are welcome here anytime," Monica said, further reassuring Jaz, although Jaz couldn't help but think, except right now.
Jaz let out a light exhale when Monica looked at the curtains again. "Shall we go check on Ren?" the priestess asked.
The djinn looked down and thought for a moment, an intuition and an idea striking in her mind.
"May I... see if I can find him on my own?"
Jaz let out a light exhale when Monica looked at the curtains again. "Shall we go check on Ren?" the priestess asked.
The djinn looked down and thought for a moment, an intuition and an idea striking in her mind.
"May I... see if I can find him on my own?"
Re: Leaving the Djinn
"May I... see if I can find him on my own?" Jaz asked after a moment of thought.
Monica was a little surprised, and a little bit hesitant--a protectiveness briefly gripping at her chest. But she reminded herself of what they had all just shared. The resilience she knew Ren possessed. The warm-hearted self-determination that Jaz had demonstrated just in their short time together. She gently gathered her protectiveness into her lungs and released it as she exhaled, nodding to Jaz once her hesitation was gone.
"Of course," she said warmly. Then, she pushed herself to her feet, body language inviting Jaz to do the same. Provided Jaz didn't seem too hesitant, Monica then moved over to the furs and drew them open, inviting Jaz to pass through them as she had on the way in.
Monica was a little surprised, and a little bit hesitant--a protectiveness briefly gripping at her chest. But she reminded herself of what they had all just shared. The resilience she knew Ren possessed. The warm-hearted self-determination that Jaz had demonstrated just in their short time together. She gently gathered her protectiveness into her lungs and released it as she exhaled, nodding to Jaz once her hesitation was gone.
"Of course," she said warmly. Then, she pushed herself to her feet, body language inviting Jaz to do the same. Provided Jaz didn't seem too hesitant, Monica then moved over to the furs and drew them open, inviting Jaz to pass through them as she had on the way in.
Re: Leaving the Djinn
Monica hesitated a moment, her posture leaning back slightly, but she soon said, "Of course." The priestess stood up, and Jaz did the same. Jaz was grateful for the way that Monica held the furs aside, but as she passed near them this time, she allowed herself a gentle touch on the edge of one, happy to find that it felt cool and smooth against her fingers. Jaz smiled at Monica and walked out.
Jaz hoped Ren might have just gone outside the room, but he wasn't in the apothecary. With a sigh, Jaz ventured toward the main temple room where they had first come in, unsure what she would do if Ren were not there. But she spotted him quickly, praying at one of four altars. While she didn't want him to leave without at least seeing her, Jaz didn't want to interrupt the man either. Instead, Jaz occupied herself with looking leisurely about the room.
Jaz hoped Ren might have just gone outside the room, but he wasn't in the apothecary. With a sigh, Jaz ventured toward the main temple room where they had first come in, unsure what she would do if Ren were not there. But she spotted him quickly, praying at one of four altars. While she didn't want him to leave without at least seeing her, Jaz didn't want to interrupt the man either. Instead, Jaz occupied herself with looking leisurely about the room.
Re: Leaving the Djinn
Ren had lingered in the apothecary a moment, assessing whether the light from the window was enough to calm his nerves. It did help, and he let his curiosity roam again over the various tinctures and salves and projects in the room. But there was a gravity toward the fur curtains still, uncertainty and anxiety pricking at his awareness. Should he go back in, reassure them? But, no, the thought of being back in that small, dim space with them in his current state wound his muscles tight again, and he knew he wouldn't be able to reassure anyone at that point. He felt guilty for how he'd left, but he just didn't know what else to do. He needed to calm down, and he needed more than just light from the window to do it.
With a soft sigh, he exited the apothecary back out into the main room of the temple. A couple curious gazes landed on him, clocking that the priestess didn't accompany him, and neither did the stranger he had brought. Insofar as those gazes were questions, he answered by simply moving on with his business, indicating that he didn't need anything from anyone, and the occupants of the temple duly let him alone. He moved silently over to the altars, bowing his head slightly as his eyes fixed on Veil's, in some ways asking her blessing to enter what felt like sacred space. He always did. It had taken him some time to feel worthy of coming so close, of being so visibly intimate with these gods, and he wasn't about to take it for granted, no matter how much Monica had reassured him.
He walked past Ressen's altar first, offering a respectful nod. He had yet to bond much with her directly, but he certainly appreciated the village's affinity for the goddess of stewardship and agriculture. Her altar in some ways looked like an extension of the apothecary, with salved and tinctures and materials and tools scattered amongst carvings and drawings of moon cycles and animals and plants.
Next was Inora, goddess of peace and introspection. She did feel like a beloved companion, and her altar always held a draw for him. Not too long ago, he'd grown brave enough to place a small wooden wolf he'd carved on her table, howling toward someone else's image of a moon, the motif echoing itself throughout all of the altars - the village did like paying attention to the cycles of the moon. He felt both pride and embarrassment looking at his offering. It certainly wasn't the most skilled rendition of a wolf, blocky and simplistic though he had tried to add some texture. And was it a bit on the nose how he'd placed it, interacting with someone else's art? But, then again, was every single item here not interacting with all the others, on some level, all of them together a chorus of worship to their shared gods?
He moved on to Veil's altar, seeking the comfort he felt in her presence. Goddess of harmony and space, blessing this whole arrangement of objects, their interactions with one another, the interactions of every person in this room and the objects and distances between them. He felt most welcomed by her, most sure that she accompanied him beyond the temple walls. Lace and loose-woven fabric draped over her altar much like the curtains to the apothecary, though they also wove between some obejcts, rested beneath others. It meant that fewer other objects graced her altar, the fabric creating its own negative space, and he suspected she was perfectly happy with that.
It was tempting to linger by her table, stay in his comfort zone with her to calm down, but contemplating distance seemed... self-indulgent, maybe, in this instance. No, perhaps where he was meant to end up was indeed Sankera on the far end, goddess of mentorship and community. She was most foreign to him, seemed most like an empty promise, at least of the gods this village believed concerned them. He was so used to bonds between people being coercive, restrictive, disingenuous, parasitic... at least until he met Monica. It had taken him some time to trust, but from the moment they met, she had never once lied to him, never once tried to coerce something from him, and she was doing her best to foster that in the village as a whole. He'd thought more than once that Monica seemed like a priestess of Sankera most of all, though she was diligent in her service to all four of the village's matron gods.
With a sigh he sat down on a cushion in front of Sankera's altar, taking a moment to look at the objects on her table. Jewelry, drawings and paintings, decorative knots and charms, many sentimental trinkets celebrating bonds between people, commemorating momentous occasions in the village's history. He was grateful for this village, for Monica's role in it, for whatever part Sankera played in the cosmos resulting in this oasis he'd finally found. Finally he closed his eyes, and carefully looked back at his interactions with Jaz and Monica, tenderly trying to open himself and lay them out for the velvet goddess to see and help him with.
((OOC: Not strictly tied to any of this, just taking a stab at laying things out!))
With a soft sigh, he exited the apothecary back out into the main room of the temple. A couple curious gazes landed on him, clocking that the priestess didn't accompany him, and neither did the stranger he had brought. Insofar as those gazes were questions, he answered by simply moving on with his business, indicating that he didn't need anything from anyone, and the occupants of the temple duly let him alone. He moved silently over to the altars, bowing his head slightly as his eyes fixed on Veil's, in some ways asking her blessing to enter what felt like sacred space. He always did. It had taken him some time to feel worthy of coming so close, of being so visibly intimate with these gods, and he wasn't about to take it for granted, no matter how much Monica had reassured him.
He walked past Ressen's altar first, offering a respectful nod. He had yet to bond much with her directly, but he certainly appreciated the village's affinity for the goddess of stewardship and agriculture. Her altar in some ways looked like an extension of the apothecary, with salved and tinctures and materials and tools scattered amongst carvings and drawings of moon cycles and animals and plants.
Next was Inora, goddess of peace and introspection. She did feel like a beloved companion, and her altar always held a draw for him. Not too long ago, he'd grown brave enough to place a small wooden wolf he'd carved on her table, howling toward someone else's image of a moon, the motif echoing itself throughout all of the altars - the village did like paying attention to the cycles of the moon. He felt both pride and embarrassment looking at his offering. It certainly wasn't the most skilled rendition of a wolf, blocky and simplistic though he had tried to add some texture. And was it a bit on the nose how he'd placed it, interacting with someone else's art? But, then again, was every single item here not interacting with all the others, on some level, all of them together a chorus of worship to their shared gods?
He moved on to Veil's altar, seeking the comfort he felt in her presence. Goddess of harmony and space, blessing this whole arrangement of objects, their interactions with one another, the interactions of every person in this room and the objects and distances between them. He felt most welcomed by her, most sure that she accompanied him beyond the temple walls. Lace and loose-woven fabric draped over her altar much like the curtains to the apothecary, though they also wove between some obejcts, rested beneath others. It meant that fewer other objects graced her altar, the fabric creating its own negative space, and he suspected she was perfectly happy with that.
It was tempting to linger by her table, stay in his comfort zone with her to calm down, but contemplating distance seemed... self-indulgent, maybe, in this instance. No, perhaps where he was meant to end up was indeed Sankera on the far end, goddess of mentorship and community. She was most foreign to him, seemed most like an empty promise, at least of the gods this village believed concerned them. He was so used to bonds between people being coercive, restrictive, disingenuous, parasitic... at least until he met Monica. It had taken him some time to trust, but from the moment they met, she had never once lied to him, never once tried to coerce something from him, and she was doing her best to foster that in the village as a whole. He'd thought more than once that Monica seemed like a priestess of Sankera most of all, though she was diligent in her service to all four of the village's matron gods.
With a sigh he sat down on a cushion in front of Sankera's altar, taking a moment to look at the objects on her table. Jewelry, drawings and paintings, decorative knots and charms, many sentimental trinkets celebrating bonds between people, commemorating momentous occasions in the village's history. He was grateful for this village, for Monica's role in it, for whatever part Sankera played in the cosmos resulting in this oasis he'd finally found. Finally he closed his eyes, and carefully looked back at his interactions with Jaz and Monica, tenderly trying to open himself and lay them out for the velvet goddess to see and help him with.
((OOC: Not strictly tied to any of this, just taking a stab at laying things out!))
Re: Leaving the Djinn
Jaz moved in a slow circle about the room, looking casually at the people around her. They all seemed reverent, devoted. They were patient and happy and conscientious, taking their presence in the temple seriously, though there was still a pleasant, humming peace and welcome in the air. It truly did feel wonderful here. Jaz was grateful to have a moment free of distraction to admire it.
She had an ache to approach Ren, but the djinn worshipped some of their gods while refraining from touch, and Jaz didn't know which god Ren was honoring. Besides, he had told her... to stop. She didn't want to begin again without some invitation from him.
Jaz took a deep breath, and when she opened her eyes, Jaz looked at the woman tending the food in the middle of the room. She was a pretty blonde woman, and Jaz wondered if perhaps she helped Monica in the temple. Maybe she was part of Monica's family. If nothing else, the woman was helping to tend this lovely place. Jaz smiled at her sweetly with what she hoped was gratitude.
Finally, still a little unsure what to do with herself and not wanting to draw attention, Jaz looked over the altars themselves, trying to discern if the people of this village worshipped gods she knew of or not. There was nothing to remind her of Dehaljadrun--that much felt clear to Jaz--but there were many moons on the table. That much was similar. The many phases depicted in the small statues and drawings made Jaz think of her own moons and how much her people counted time and seasons by them. How many moons did this realm have? And would they guide her in navigation at all?
Looking at all the moons depicted on the table, Jaz saw six and thought that many moons would be wonderful compared to the two in the goddess' realm.
Jaz couldn't help herself from sneaking glances at Ren even as she approached the least attended altar so as to not look out of touch here. The objects here included a simply carved wolf; one of the sculpted moons, this one in its quarter phase; and a smattering of freshly harvested, humid plants... or maybe a fungus. It seemed earthly and reminded Jaz of the bond she had made with this land's dampened magic.
The djinn closed her eyes, feeling the slow moving fire of the earth churn under her skin. Opening her eyes again, she had the distinct impression that people were looking at her. Jaz turned and caught the woman tending the cooking fire staring a little, though she quickly became embarrassed. Jaz walked over to her.
"What are you making?" She asked curiously, trying to discern any familiar scents. She didn't think she detected any raspberries.
She had an ache to approach Ren, but the djinn worshipped some of their gods while refraining from touch, and Jaz didn't know which god Ren was honoring. Besides, he had told her... to stop. She didn't want to begin again without some invitation from him.
Jaz took a deep breath, and when she opened her eyes, Jaz looked at the woman tending the food in the middle of the room. She was a pretty blonde woman, and Jaz wondered if perhaps she helped Monica in the temple. Maybe she was part of Monica's family. If nothing else, the woman was helping to tend this lovely place. Jaz smiled at her sweetly with what she hoped was gratitude.
Finally, still a little unsure what to do with herself and not wanting to draw attention, Jaz looked over the altars themselves, trying to discern if the people of this village worshipped gods she knew of or not. There was nothing to remind her of Dehaljadrun--that much felt clear to Jaz--but there were many moons on the table. That much was similar. The many phases depicted in the small statues and drawings made Jaz think of her own moons and how much her people counted time and seasons by them. How many moons did this realm have? And would they guide her in navigation at all?
Looking at all the moons depicted on the table, Jaz saw six and thought that many moons would be wonderful compared to the two in the goddess' realm.
Jaz couldn't help herself from sneaking glances at Ren even as she approached the least attended altar so as to not look out of touch here. The objects here included a simply carved wolf; one of the sculpted moons, this one in its quarter phase; and a smattering of freshly harvested, humid plants... or maybe a fungus. It seemed earthly and reminded Jaz of the bond she had made with this land's dampened magic.
The djinn closed her eyes, feeling the slow moving fire of the earth churn under her skin. Opening her eyes again, she had the distinct impression that people were looking at her. Jaz turned and caught the woman tending the cooking fire staring a little, though she quickly became embarrassed. Jaz walked over to her.
"What are you making?" She asked curiously, trying to discern any familiar scents. She didn't think she detected any raspberries.