Part 1
Re: Part 1
Jaz led the way out of the temple, casually glancing at some of the robed people in the rooms she passed. Could she ever be happy here? There was a sense of purpose they all seemed to have, and yet... Jaz wasn't sure she could feel anything more than trapped here, still waiting. Waiting for what, Jaz didn't know. It felt like she had been waiting for a long time.
When they were out of the temple, Jaz turned to make sure Elk was still following and smiled, turning back around quickly. Jaz wondered what Gwen would think about her bringing another guest back so soon. It wasn't as though it hadn't happened before, and besides, Gwen always got something out of it, one way or another. That reminded her--she owed Gwen some time in the garden. Maybe tomorrow before the dreaming.
Did Toffee and Tigre tell Elk about the dreaming? Jaz didn't know and decided not to mention it. It wasn't relevant. Yet.
By way of making small talk, Jaz said over her shoulder, "Gwen can sometimes be a bit standoffish at first, but she's a load of fun once you get her going. Very laid back." Jaz pressed her lips together, wondering if that was actually true. Gwen had been quite somber after the last dreaming, try as Jaz might to cheer her up. She wasn't known for turning people away, though, regardless.
When they were out of the temple, Jaz turned to make sure Elk was still following and smiled, turning back around quickly. Jaz wondered what Gwen would think about her bringing another guest back so soon. It wasn't as though it hadn't happened before, and besides, Gwen always got something out of it, one way or another. That reminded her--she owed Gwen some time in the garden. Maybe tomorrow before the dreaming.
Did Toffee and Tigre tell Elk about the dreaming? Jaz didn't know and decided not to mention it. It wasn't relevant. Yet.
By way of making small talk, Jaz said over her shoulder, "Gwen can sometimes be a bit standoffish at first, but she's a load of fun once you get her going. Very laid back." Jaz pressed her lips together, wondering if that was actually true. Gwen had been quite somber after the last dreaming, try as Jaz might to cheer her up. She wasn't known for turning people away, though, regardless.
Re: Part 1
“In fairness, it’s likely not every day that she meets someone with shapeshifting tattoos and skin that periodically glows. I suspect I rather stand out,” Elk said, laughing as they caught up with her to walk alongside. Jaz looked at Elk with a smirk, a warmth filling her low belly. Their laugh was pleasant. Jaz almost whispered a prayer to the gods that Gwen would be similarly affected but stopped just shy, laughing internally at herself. Maybe being someone of the vows would not be as difficult as she thought.
“How long have you been in this tell? It sounds as though you’ve been staying with Gwen for a while.”
Jaz laughed, mostly as a way to buy time before she responded. "It's nearly been a year. Longer than most of Gwen's guests, to be sure. But she needs me." Jaz wondered how many more times she was going to say that, about Gwen needing her. But, in many ways, it was true. Jaz had brought almost half of the guests that came through, whether they stayed in Jaz's room or not. Gwen wasn't exactly one to advertise. The innkeeper cared more about the gardens and the food than the guests, it seemed. Always peculiar to Jaz.
The few villagers who still remained out on the main path looked at Elk and Jaz with quizzical expressions, but Jaz just smiled and waved to them, trying to convey that everything was all right, even despite the sinking feeling in her stomach that it was probably very much not in some deep way she did not yet understand.
“How long have you been in this tell? It sounds as though you’ve been staying with Gwen for a while.”
Jaz laughed, mostly as a way to buy time before she responded. "It's nearly been a year. Longer than most of Gwen's guests, to be sure. But she needs me." Jaz wondered how many more times she was going to say that, about Gwen needing her. But, in many ways, it was true. Jaz had brought almost half of the guests that came through, whether they stayed in Jaz's room or not. Gwen wasn't exactly one to advertise. The innkeeper cared more about the gardens and the food than the guests, it seemed. Always peculiar to Jaz.
The few villagers who still remained out on the main path looked at Elk and Jaz with quizzical expressions, but Jaz just smiled and waved to them, trying to convey that everything was all right, even despite the sinking feeling in her stomach that it was probably very much not in some deep way she did not yet understand.
Re: Part 1
"You must be a good guest. I hope I will likewise be able to help her and show my gratitude, should she accept. Maybe we’ll find time to chat further while we do our chores." Jaz didn't know who Elk was talking about, but she nodded, all possible meanings being amenable.
When Jaz looked over at Elk, they seemed a little more subdued, pulling their glow more inward, and Jaz felt her heart sink a little bit. She ached for Elk to feel comfortable here. But, of course someone like Elk was going to draw attention. They were beautiful. Radiant. Fascinating. Jaz stood a little straighter after thinking that, walking beside them, smiling.
Elk asked, “Tell me, what’s your favorite dish of Gwen’s? Our meal at the temple was delicious, and I’m starting to realize how much I’ve missed a hearth. I’m not sure how long it’s been, but it’s been a while.”
They want to talk about food now? Jaz thought. But she laughed and genuinely thought about it.
She ached for the meals of her home village first. Jaz had been meaning to teach some to Satyr and hadn't quite gotten around to it. But beyond that...
"There's a ginger curry dish that Gwen makes sometimes," Jaz said, her mouth watering slightly at the thought of it. Jaz then looked down at the ground ahead of her and smiled slightly, thinking of fond memories. "And sometimes we bake fruit together on the fire." The thought of it warmed her low belly, and Jaz shivered pleasantly, feeling the urge to grasp one of Elk's hands. At the last moment, she refrained, wondering if that would already be too familiar.
When Jaz looked over at Elk, they seemed a little more subdued, pulling their glow more inward, and Jaz felt her heart sink a little bit. She ached for Elk to feel comfortable here. But, of course someone like Elk was going to draw attention. They were beautiful. Radiant. Fascinating. Jaz stood a little straighter after thinking that, walking beside them, smiling.
Elk asked, “Tell me, what’s your favorite dish of Gwen’s? Our meal at the temple was delicious, and I’m starting to realize how much I’ve missed a hearth. I’m not sure how long it’s been, but it’s been a while.”
They want to talk about food now? Jaz thought. But she laughed and genuinely thought about it.
She ached for the meals of her home village first. Jaz had been meaning to teach some to Satyr and hadn't quite gotten around to it. But beyond that...
"There's a ginger curry dish that Gwen makes sometimes," Jaz said, her mouth watering slightly at the thought of it. Jaz then looked down at the ground ahead of her and smiled slightly, thinking of fond memories. "And sometimes we bake fruit together on the fire." The thought of it warmed her low belly, and Jaz shivered pleasantly, feeling the urge to grasp one of Elk's hands. At the last moment, she refrained, wondering if that would already be too familiar.
Re: Part 1
((OOC: Nope! Oops, Jaz got it wrong. It is fixed now. Thanks for the catch.))
Re: Part 1
“Are there any dishes you favor most from your homeland?" Jaz swallowed hard at the question. Not many people asked her about where she had come from. She had an urge to dodge the question.
Elk continued, ”Mostly, I gather herbs and berries along the path, and sometimes I fish--it feels like it’s rare for me to share meals with others, and I find myself inspired and curious.”
Good-naturedly, catching her slight and hopefully imperceptible falter, Jaz joked, "Gwen will have to put your culinary skills to work."
She let stand a small moment of silence, thinking. "Fenugreek flatbread, I think," she finally said quietly.
Thankfully, they were getting close to the guest house. It wouldn't be long now. Perhaps they wouldn't spend too much time on thoughts of her past. She was ready to put all that behind her.
((OOC: Option for Elk to interject; otherwise, I can continue.))
Elk continued, ”Mostly, I gather herbs and berries along the path, and sometimes I fish--it feels like it’s rare for me to share meals with others, and I find myself inspired and curious.”
Good-naturedly, catching her slight and hopefully imperceptible falter, Jaz joked, "Gwen will have to put your culinary skills to work."
She let stand a small moment of silence, thinking. "Fenugreek flatbread, I think," she finally said quietly.
Thankfully, they were getting close to the guest house. It wouldn't be long now. Perhaps they wouldn't spend too much time on thoughts of her past. She was ready to put all that behind her.
((OOC: Option for Elk to interject; otherwise, I can continue.))