As Laenid and Hitome work on the vegetables, Jin fills a large pot halfway with water before getting the chicken and starting to season it after separating the pieces. She rubs various seasonings into the meat before adding it to the pot.
Going over to her girlfriend and Hitome she says, "We can get these ready to add to thed soup. The meat needs about an hour to simmer before we add thed vegetables, should I cut up some fruit and cheese for us to snack on while we wait on the food?" She asks as her tummy starts to rumble.
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Laenid smirks. "It sounds like you answered your own question."
Jin blushes, "I'm not thef onlyh oned here though, so I wanted to ask so I know how much to prepare."
"I think we could all use a pre-meal snack," Laenid says. "Right, Hitome?"
"Sure!" Hitome replies with a grin.
Jin nods, "Okay, I'll slice up some stuff for us. I think we have some apples and cheese. There's just not thatg much fruit available right now with it being so cold. Does anyone else think it's strange that it's this cold when we're so far south?" She asks while washing a few apples before cutting them into slices. Jin puts the apple slices on a platter with some slices of cheese, and some crackers before taking it back to the table.
"It's always been this way since I was a child," Laenid says. "There are stories that Zahvroma keeps the weather from its original place in the world."
Snacking on some apple and cheese, Jin tilts her head slightly to the side while regarding Laenid with a curious expression, "What do you mean Neenee?"
"They're not really stories because they're the truth. When the world was created, all the lands were joined together and Zahvroma was the center of Vesaria," Laenid explains. "After the Predecessors died and the land split up, Zahvroma was sent to the southern part of the world. The weather here is still like those old days, but people say its part of the curse of this land."
Her eyes get a little large, "Wow Neenee....you know lots of stuff about this place. I don't think I knew any of that stuff. Soooo....what's a Predecessor, and is this land really "cursed", or is it that people just don't understand this island's origins?" Jin asks, her mind ever curious.
Laenid takes a bite of cheese. "There is a lot of history in Zahvroma, a lot of it still exists."
She pauses for a moment. "The Predecessors were the first race of Vesaria. They were a race of giants, kind of like stone giants...maybe more like marble giants. Anyhow, they created the human race as a race of slaves. The Predecessors were obsessed with magic and thought they were better than the gods. Of course, they weren't.
"A lot of bad things happened in this land, leading people to think it's cursed. Maybe it is, but I think that the history of this land just attracts trouble."
"There's definitely power here, which likely attracts those seeking power to use to their own ends." Hitome says thoughtfully. "Knowing that groups like the Summoners and others have heled great power here in the past will draw the power hungry, time and time again."
"There's also people who desire peace," Laenid says. "So, perhaps we can change Zahvroma's place in the world."
Jin nods, "I'd really like to try. I don't want anyone to suffer. I know it's not possible to wipe out every trace of evil, because there needs to be a balance....but I'd really like to try and make things better for the people who live here."
"Zahvroma could do with a little less mystery, I think."
Jin nods again as she goes to check on the chicken, "Yup...well, we'll do what we can. I'm sure things will start coming together shortly."
Feeling satisfied with the rate the chicken is cooking, Jin adds the cut up vegetables and puts a lid on the soup for it to cook before returning to Laenid and Hitome at the table.
Getting a thoughtful expression on her face she adds, "It could do with a few less bad guys too."
"There's a lot of those, though," Laenid says, eating a slice of apple.
"Well...yeah, but we'll just kick their butts, until they stop acting mean and stupid." She says with an impish smile.
"There's no shortage of those to replace them, but every one of them we can stop is worth the effort." Hitome adds.
"Sso is there anything you need us for today?" Kama asks brightly of Asha as she holds her beloved's hand.
Asha looks up from the dress she is working on. "I think we have everything in order, unless you want one last-minute fitting to make sure that your dresses are comfortable."
Laenid nods. "Do you think the soup is ready?"
"Let me check." She says, while moving to the pot tok check thed vegetables and chickedn. Tasting it she says, "It tastes like it is. The vegetables are still just a little crunchy, but that's okay. I don't like mushy vegetables. Would you get some bowls for us Neenee?"
Laeniod nods and gets some bowls down for the three of them.
After Laenid gets the bowls down, Jin serves up the soup.
"Alrighty, be careful. It's fresh off the stove." She says as she takes a little of the broth and blows on it before taking a taste. "Hmmmm...not too bad. What do you guys think? Do you think Toni would like it?"
"It's good," Laenid answers after taking a taste. "I think Toni would enjoy this."
She smiles, "Really? Yay! I'm glad it turned out well. I didn't do a whole lot of cooking while I was with Yamamoto Sensei, but he made sure I at least knew the basics."
Looking over at Hitome she asks, "Do you think we should take some over after we're done eating, or should we give her a little longer to rest? I don't want to bother them too late though...what do you think?"
Rajni slowly sips on her hot chocolate while enjoying the cookies slowly, "I think these are my favorite cookies. What do you think Juhi? Do you like these, or do you like one of the other goodies better?" She asks, giving her little sister a smile. She was really starting to feel the sugar.
"I like all of Miss Yulia's things equally," Juhi says.
Rajni chickles, "Right you are. Everything she makes is delicious, I just really like cookies. So, would you like anything else to eat or drink? Is there anything else you'd like to do before we head home?"
She asks, before finishing her hot chocolate and the last cookie.
Juhi shakes her head. "I think I'm ready to go home."
She nods, "Okay kiddo, home it is then." Rajni says as she pulls a gold out and puts it on the table, "Thanks for everything Ms. Yulia, it was good as always. We need to get going home now, have a nice rest of your day." Giving her a friendly wave as they get their cold weather gear back on, Rajni goes to the door and holds it open for Juhi, "Juhi, would you like me to carry you home, or are you okay to walk on your own? I'm just asking because you were starting to look a little tired back there. I didn't wear you out too much did I?"
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"I'm okay, we sat down for a while," Juhi says, hopping from a patch of snow to another. She giggles as the snow sprays out from her jump.
Rajni laughs, enjoying seeing her little sister having fun as they head home.
The house is quiet when Rajni and Juhi return. The fetchling sees Malyoxa sitting on the couch, scribbling in a little book.
Rajni approaches Malyoxa, "Whatcha doin'?"
"Eh, trying out a new hobby," Malyoxa says. "It's not going well."
She shrugs, "Everything takes time to learn. How's Toni doing?"
"Still asleep," the drow replies. "I checked on her five minutes ago."
She nods and sits down on the couch, "Oh, okay. It's probably best to just let her rest then. Hopefully she'll feel better before you guys need to head out. I hope those other guys can figure out what's going on that other island and get back without much issue."
Malyoxa shrugs. "I guess it depends on what's out there."
She nods and gets up, unsure of what she wants to do now. Looking up at Juhi she says, "It's going to be a very busy day tomorrow and we're going to be doing a lot to get ready for the wedding, so I think you should probably go get a bath and get cleaned up now, so you don't have to worry about it tomorrow. Besides, I think we got a little dirty while we were playing outside and you'd sleep better if your skin was all fresh and clean. Okay?"
"Okay," Juhi says, going upstairs.
Rajni pulls a book off the shelf and plops down into a comfy chair to read while Juhi takes her bath.
When Shamara comes over to her, Rajni pets her head while reading the book.
"We should go when we've finished," Laenid replies. "We don't all need to get sick in the cold, night air."
Jin nods and says inbetween sips of her soup, "Okay Neenee, we'll go when we're done eating then."
After a while, Malyoxa closes her journal. "Did you have fun on your outing with Juhi?"
Looking up she nods, "Yeah, it'll take her a while to learn her own style of being sneaky, but she picks up on stuff really fast. We enjoyed some hot chocolate and cookies at Yulia's, and she had fun jumping in piles of snow. It was a fun outing. How bout you? Did you enjoy yourself while you out?" She asks.
Malyoxa nods. "I did."
She tilts her head to the side slightly, "Soooo....I guess all of you will be heading out soon to take care of other stuff huh?"