homeless_pard | Shall we celebrate?

Entry tags:

jason au

Shall we celebrate?

Who: Khemrys, Requiem, some donors, Jason?
When: Several weeks after arrival.
What: Khemry's feet can be declared healed!

Khemrys was pulling the last of the meat pies from the oven. They'd need time to cool, and the oven as well, then she'd seal them back in the warm box to wait for Jason and Nathaniel to come for their meal. Even if they worked they tried to stop in at least once to eat before dawn, and so she made sure to have proper meals waiting for them.

Granted, there were still donors waking and poking their heads into the common room that had become a combination of kitchen and dining room these days making hopeful eyes each time the oven opened...

...but they had plenty left still of the previous pies, layered with ham, beef, and potato, with pea and herb gravy throughout. It had turned out well in her opinion honestly. The last two pies were somewhat different though, layering duck, fried shallots, and beef mousse with a cranberry mince. Special, and higher protein with slightly less fat as those two men seemed ever worried for the merest hint of actual weight.

Silly lords.

"Salad, lord, if you do not wish a full serving of the pies already out," Khemrys noted, flicking a towel at fingers reaching for the cooling set. She'd learned the first night the men had returned that salads were an acceptable thing to pair with most meals alongside fresh bread so no one went hungry. In her own world such would be sneered at when served too often unless amongst such as the Dames, or in summers when most veg was in abundance. Otherwise 'salad' was pickles and preserves more often than not.

What a strange land to have such readily available in all seasons.

She had to turn enough to give the donor a mild look before he winced and backed off properly, "but I love duck..."

"And as such I will try to add more of it to meals," she noted simply. "But such is not this eve."

The man sighed and slouched to the table, dishing up, and Khemrys shook her head in amusement, shifting to ah...pass dirtied pans to Requiem. He had an odd rule about cooks not cleaning, and if the donors forgot it he came by to remind them. It was still odd, and it was even odds that she'd clean as she went, but tonight he had caught her out. Bah. "You're early this eve," she noted quietly.

Requiem chuckled, stacking the dishes properly and waving at the next donor on the list for the chore, "I heard Lillian deemed your feet healed."

"Aye," she laughed, "she did, though I've exercises to do to reduce scarring." And balm, which she well knew how to apply yes.

He smiled, "well, then we should celebrate yes? and test the strength of your feet currently so you'll know for improvement?"

She blinked, considering that. "ah?" No, she had no idea. "The lord is suggesting...?"

"That we show these people how to dance. Jean Claude and Asher may join as well, should the the idea amuse them. And no doubt Nathaniel and Jason when they arrive!"

Dance? "To...what music?"

"I found much to try!" he admitted with a smile. "Trust me?"

"Of course lord," she blinked. How could she not after weeks living here?

"Everyone could benefit from learning proper dancing," he chuckled, docking his phone in the speaker system and holding his hand out to Khemrys, "and this way we might convince our club dancers to add a touch of grace to their repertoire..."

"I'm certain they might do well of their own," Khemrys murmured, turning to place the two pies safely back in the cooler oven to stay warm before taking Requiem's hand and settling her other properly at his hip with a smile. "As they assure me they dance well."

"...trust me, they'll want to learn," he chuckled, sweeping her gracefully into the first swell of the song. Likely his own knowledge was comparable to hers of trained dancing! And it was fun to encourage the donors to watch and learn as well!

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He laughed. "Pointers," he corrected gently, "it's like advice. You show me how to do it better."

He winked and held out his hand. "Make me look like I know what I'm doing."

"...ah? But you are to lead, lord," and she'd been teaching following!

And the teasing obviously fell a touch flat because she blinked, "of course, I wouldst fain let you look the fool..." never, no, witness how she took his hand easily and waited!

He chuckled, pulling her into the opening steps of the dance. "Yeah, but I saw you dance: you know enough to cover any mistakes I make."

Despite being new to the steps, he was clearly comfortable moving to the music and enjoyed doing so. Once or twice he may have faltered on a step, but he was able to recover quickly with a good-natured laugh.

"Aye lord, it's the task of those who follow," she noted simply. She didn't draw attention to his missteps, actually moving in half swirls and dips so her own skirts covered sight of them much like the waves of the ocean might hide swimmers. She knew how to flatter someone.

At least he was doing better than most the other students?

It wouldn't have been a surprise to him, and he wouldn't have denied the observation if it had been voiced.

He was watching her closely with laughing eyes, maybe letting himself be distracted enough to not mind missing some steps so he could watch her whirl by him to mask them.

Sadly, she wouldn't think to voice them, she was too busy watching and moving to compliment him honestly, and Requiem was just shaking his head in amusement as he watched everyone and corrected some things. "Distance, Jason," he reminded in passing while going to mediate a couple who were in danger of tripping.

Jason grinned and made a show of rolling his eyes. "He makes me feel like I'm at a middle school dance," he joked. "I'm half expecting him to yell at me to 'make room for Jesus'."

Still, he adjusted slightly on his next pass, giving her a bit more room. "Sorry if I was too close," he smiled softly in apology.

"...who is Jesus?" she blinked. The way he said it implied a name but not anyone she'd met? "I was too busy ensuring your appearance to notice, apologies," she admitted. He had tasked her after all.

"Remember when Requiem was telling you about crosses? That guy. Dance chaperones used to love to yell at us to 'make room for Jesus' when we were dancing so no one would be so "sinfully close" to each other."

He chuckled and winked at her. "It's ok, Khemrys, I was joking around more than anything; I don't want you to start thinking of dancing with me as a chore. Though now I'm a little worried that you're having to work that hard."

She was a hard one to tease, but he was having a good time and he made a point to let that show in his eyes.

"That makes no sense," she admitted. "Would they not both then be closer to a different man?" It made no sense. Rules were one thing, certainly, and sins were larger rules enforced by powerful people in her knowledge, but...

...the saying made no sense!

"Ah?" Yes, that startled her slightly, "but the lord Jason's appearance is of great import. To the point you require meals of certain types," she mused. It was rather highly regarded by himself AND others, his means of earning a living might depend on such so it was a sensible request on his part?

"Work means little. I am dancing this eve to test the scarring now I may remove bandaging."

He laughed at that. "Technically, yes; but the thought it that Jesus is such a holy entity that there would be nothing inappropriate in being closer to Him."

He blinked at that and nearly missed another step, stumbling back into rhythm with another laugh. "Yeah, I guess I'm a little vain. But if you're talking about salads, then yes, I don't want to be bloated for work. But I'd rather just enjoy dancing together than to really worry about appearances."

He chanced a glance to her feet. "You've got the all clear then? I'm glad: I felt bad watching you having to heal that so slowly."

"...how do the Powers of this world have children if they cannot abide such acts?" she blinked. Continuing to make no sense! "Is Jesus not to ever love either man or woman?" Christianity should perhaps fear her ideas yes!

"No lord, not just salads, lean despite your activity, you move and burn much energy, you will not bloat with the meals I serve and yet," she shrugged. Ah well, she could understand vanity, he was fair in a world of fair people.

Such lands encouraged vanity.

"Aye, Lillian has judged them sound, and I will work on the scarring next so I do not lose overly much sensitivity."

He looked almost surprised at that: he wouldn't think anyone so...traditional to have any sort of open mindedness about sex. "It's the belief that he didn't take sexual lovers. It's why priests are supposed to be celibate. But couples are expected to wait until they're married and then make lots and lots of babies."

It's clear that his own opinions don't really align with this.

He chuckled, twirling her. "If I could get through a night at work without water, I'd do that, too. But it all means I get to come back here after and wreck myself on all the amazing food you make."

"You know," he added, "ask Lillian about massage therapy: that could be helpful for the scar tissue." He wanted badly to volunteer, but he knew more than a few people would have opinions on that.

"Powers should be allowed lives, else they can grow curdled and dark themselves," she admitted quietly. "If you wish them to be such as may care for people, they must too be people. A star cannot feel in the manner a man might, so too a god of goddess without humanity should not rein over humans." It wasn't so much openness to sex in general as very different basis for Faith.

Very different. "The dames were of Cup and Flame, but they were tools representing their bright god, and I could not feel for such vows as there was nothing to connect to..." Ah, but that was the past, yes.

"Without water would be quite foolish, you make no sense at times lord," she finally chuckled softly. "And I'd not damage you!" EVER!

Ah, "I am familiar with such and well able to work my own fete lord thank you." She need not bother Lillian about common practice.

That gave him pause, eyebrows raised. "No, that makes sense. I think that was the general idea, Jesus being a man, but I guess accepting him as a sexual being is just too much for a lot of people in the religion."

He shrugged. "Water weight comes off and muscles appear more defined," he said simply. "But my metabolism is too fast to really go full on with water fasting. I just limit everything that afternoon." He snickered, "I know you won't damage me. I just meant that I will happily make up for all the food I don't eat before work by eating what you make for us after work."

"Was he not?" she blinked. "Is he merely a tale?" Why would anyone follow such? This was a confusing world.

A very confusing world.

"...but your muscles are already rather obvious," she blinked. "Are people where you work blind?" OR PERHAPS SHE WAS TOO MUCH A HEALER TO NOT SEE UNDERLYING STRUCTURE WHO KNEW?! "Ah, I see, so I might make you things with more fats in than before such work?" She didn't MIND making special dishes at all mind you but she had thought it was more of an edict...

He sighed, but he was still chuckling. "That's a very big debate in this world, and a hotly contested one. Not everyone follows that religion, and not everyone in the religion agrees with each other." He nodded to where he knew her amulet lay. "Probably for the best that you brought yours with you."

His smile broadened: she at least had noticed his body, even if it had been from more of a medical standpoint. "If I could get through work without eating or drinking anything, I would. It's all about image at the club. No one says we can't eat, but you notice the change in audience reaction if you're not bringing everything you've got."

"Ah, well, should Gunnora visit I will ask if there are other Powers she may speak with so we may know who will be like to be wroth without respects?" Because respect was always best?

"...everything a person might have includes health," she sighed. "Which does not oft include such regular fasting alongside exercises." But he'd not answered her on additional special meals so she'd continue such.

He blinked. "If your goddess comes by for a visit, I honestly don't know what I'd do; that sort of thing only happens in stories here."

He gave her another gentle twirl. "I'll be fine. I learned my limits a long time ago. Besides," he said softly, "since you've started cooking for everyone here, I can confidently say that I've never eaten so healthily in my life."

"I'll ask she not say hello to you?" she blinked. "Should she appear for others?" If it would distress him? She rather thought Gunnora may wish a closer look at the Night Walkers here but that was only a guess.

Oh dear, "that does not recommend your life prior," she noted, amused as she went to the end of his arm gracefully.

"Oh no, have her say hello," he laughed, "I just can't guarantee I wouldn't be in shock the while time."

He smiled, but there was the barest shadow in his eyes. "We don't always make the healthiest choice when we're young," he said simply. He saw her extend gracefully from the twirl, and he couldn't help but pause for a moment to watch her with that soft smile. Then he offered a small bow like he saw Requiem had done. "You're a fantastic dancer."

"Such a silly reaction to Power," she chuckled softly. It would be, though t might amuse Gunnora, who was to know?

"Aye, mayhap." She never had a properly wild youth as it were, but she could understand? She kept his hand but sunk into a deep curtsy, skirts pooling around her as the dance ended. It helped hide the slight flush at the compliment? "No, we are well taught, those raised as I was."

The smile changed somehow at that curtsy; he couldn't (or wouldn't) give name to whatever he was feeling when she did that. He met her eyes seriously, but that smile still playing at his lips. "No. There's someone who is taught well, and then there's someone who can feel the music. You might have the steps, but your body is moving with the music. That's the difference."

"No, lord, I move with the partner, as is proper in informal events," she corrected gently as she rose. "But it has been pleasant." Certainly.

And the donors seemed pleased at least?

He chuckled softly to himself. "Yeah, it's been pleasant. And I think everyone else seems to be having fun, too." He nodded towards Requiem with a smirk and winked at her. "You've even got Requiem smiling over there."

He saw Nathaniel out of the corner of his eye in a deep curtsy and he laughed. "We'll definitely all have to do this again sometime."

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