"May way is always the best," Mara said with mock superiority.
She watched Pak correct herself and get back on track, but she stayed fairly silent once it became clear that the two younger vampires were happy chatting with each other.
Secretly she was pleased that they got along so well, although at this stage it was no surprise. Ran got along with everyone. Mara hadn't thought Pak would be such a tough nut for him to crack.
She was surprised, however, when Pak rather openly flirted with Ran. It was cute. And it was what she had hoped might happen. Ran needed someone to be close to, someone beside herself and Amir. He had a string of relationships long enough to go around the world but nothing that lasted, and he showed no signs of wanting it that way. Mara thought she understood how he worked though.
Inside, Ran was a pretty soft-hearted person. He claimed his home Island couldn't handle his big personality but Mara knew that it had hurt him badly to never be accepted, and to never fit in. So he became bigger, bolder, louder, more brash, to cover up his own insecurities. It would take someone special to get under that to the softer, sweeter Ran.
She didn't know if Pak was that person, but either of them could benefit from having that. Pak covered up her own insecurities the way Ran did, but with snarling surliness that Mara knew wouldn't bother Ran. Not outwardly anyway. It did occur to her that Pak could bruise Ran's feelings without him even showing it, but if they could actually get past themselves and start enjoying each other, it might be a good thing.
Cooking Class (attn Ran, Pak)
Mara was doing her best to be attentive, while at the same time making sure Ran didn't accidentally skewer himself or anyone else. She needn't have worried but it was her 'thing' to be the responsible party when Ran was around. However, clumsiness with bladed weapons was not one of his faults. He had stopped flipping his knife end over end when their instructor, a lovely grandmotherly-type woman named Eileen, had shot him a look that nearly turned him to stone.
They were taking a night class, of course, at the Adult Education Center in Nachton which offered all sorts of classes. Cooking was just one. Mara loved the selection and thought she might continue to take some after this one. However, this was only class number two. The first class they had familiarized themselves with the kitchen, organized their stations, learned what was what and what was where, and started learning about knife cuts and such. Mara had found it fascinating and even Ran had kept his mouth shut and applied himself. It wasn't that he didn't want to learn, Mara suspected, so much as Ran habitually had trouble following structured lessons. He was clearly making an effort though.
Pak, too, was well-behaved, and Mara found it amusing that their often gruff, sometimes belligerently brusque Evenhet friend was apparently a good little student. Of course, Eileen was such a sweet lady, everyone's grandma, that just the thought of disappointing her tended to make one feel like a puppy-kicker. Underneath the sweetness, however, she was entirely capable of sending looks like the one she'd given Ran. Mara liked her immediately.
Eileen demonstrated knife cuts for them, showing them the very minute difference between an allumette and a julienne. Tonight they would cook their first meal, a braised pork cutlet with a carrot slaw and sauteed diced zucchini. With only nine people in the class they worked in groups of three which allowed them to remain together.
Keeping half an eye on Ran Mara julienned her carrots and some cucumbers slowly and precisely, putting them in a little bowl to get ready to season and dress them. Usually she cooked desserts since both Jin and Amir had a little bit of a sweet tooth but she was looking forward to learning to make entire meals. It seemed like a good thing to know, although she wasn't sure if she would ever have the occasion to apply her cooking skills as a Nightswoman. She could certainly apply them to a certain tiger and jackal.
Mara
11 years ago
Ran Iyala
11 years ago
Ran shrugged with false modesty when Pak mentioned residual heat. Gesturing at the "Caution: Extremely Hot" logo on his apron he said, "Well, that could work."
He flashed the younger woman a grin and flipped his cutlet in the pan, letting the other side sear a bit. he could get the hang of this cooking thing, he thought. He could follow directions very well, when he was trying.
"No, no, there's nothing diplomatic about that. But that's fine," Ran said cheerfully. "We all have our uses. My folks have plenty of slinky, sneaky, diplomatic types." He turned and briefly stuck his tongue out at Mara. "On occasion the bold type works just fine."
Then bold definitely happened at Pak's next question. Ran didn't bat an eyelash though, Nightsman that he was. He did have some ability to be sneaky and subtle. He just didn't often bother to employ it.
"Of course I like them," he said, deliberately misunderstanding, squirming away from Pak's poke with a little yelp. "After all, this one practically raised me."
He pointed to Mara, who tossed her head, smiled, and pretended to ignore them. Very diplomatic of her, too. Then Ran leaned toward Pak and his smile turned into something smoother, silkier, warmer.
"But if you're asking which way I swing, Brighteyes, you're definitely on the right side of the playground."
He straightened, grinned again, all carefree, and continued to dice zucchini like nothing had happened.
He flashed the younger woman a grin and flipped his cutlet in the pan, letting the other side sear a bit. he could get the hang of this cooking thing, he thought. He could follow directions very well, when he was trying.
"No, no, there's nothing diplomatic about that. But that's fine," Ran said cheerfully. "We all have our uses. My folks have plenty of slinky, sneaky, diplomatic types." He turned and briefly stuck his tongue out at Mara. "On occasion the bold type works just fine."
Then bold definitely happened at Pak's next question. Ran didn't bat an eyelash though, Nightsman that he was. He did have some ability to be sneaky and subtle. He just didn't often bother to employ it.
"Of course I like them," he said, deliberately misunderstanding, squirming away from Pak's poke with a little yelp. "After all, this one practically raised me."
He pointed to Mara, who tossed her head, smiled, and pretended to ignore them. Very diplomatic of her, too. Then Ran leaned toward Pak and his smile turned into something smoother, silkier, warmer.
"But if you're asking which way I swing, Brighteyes, you're definitely on the right side of the playground."
He straightened, grinned again, all carefree, and continued to dice zucchini like nothing had happened.
Pakpao
11 years ago
"That seems to be a family trait.â€
Pak fired back at Mara. She had yet to meet anyone in their blood (pun in tended) line that didn't have a certain amount of arrogance. She had it, Bao had it, Amir had it, okay thus far Ran didn't -seem- to have it but it could be just well disguised.
"No one expects the Spanish Inquisition?â€
She asked with a raised eyebrow. The orders were an interesting concept to Pak. It seemed so logical and well thought out quantify people's talents and uses them in the most practical and efficient manner. She approved. But it also seemed rather cold and ridged some people didn't fit neatly into a box, they had talents that could use equally well by one or more or the orders. But she wasn't Anantya, and didn't want to be, maybe the old ways worked, more or less. Or maybe they'd eventually evolve out of them. Who knew.
Thank god Ran misunderstood her. Pak wasn't really ready to be so forward. Yes she had a little crush on Ran he was smart and sweet and made her laugh, not too many people made her laugh and the ones who did qualified as friends. Even with the blue hair and funky contacts, he was attractive but she didn't know exactly what to make of it. What she did know is she didn't want to screw up.
When he responded Pak found she had stopped breathing for a second. Yeah she was attracted to him and it probably showed. Pak wasn't about to be caught like a green school girl, she could give as good as she got. She grinned mischievously.
"Mmmmm.... sounds like an Oedipus complex to me.â€
She teased him. There wasn't a good term for wanting to sexually posses one's sister but if Mara had 'practically raised him' then it was close enough.
Pak fired back at Mara. She had yet to meet anyone in their blood (pun in tended) line that didn't have a certain amount of arrogance. She had it, Bao had it, Amir had it, okay thus far Ran didn't -seem- to have it but it could be just well disguised.
"No one expects the Spanish Inquisition?â€
She asked with a raised eyebrow. The orders were an interesting concept to Pak. It seemed so logical and well thought out quantify people's talents and uses them in the most practical and efficient manner. She approved. But it also seemed rather cold and ridged some people didn't fit neatly into a box, they had talents that could use equally well by one or more or the orders. But she wasn't Anantya, and didn't want to be, maybe the old ways worked, more or less. Or maybe they'd eventually evolve out of them. Who knew.
Thank god Ran misunderstood her. Pak wasn't really ready to be so forward. Yes she had a little crush on Ran he was smart and sweet and made her laugh, not too many people made her laugh and the ones who did qualified as friends. Even with the blue hair and funky contacts, he was attractive but she didn't know exactly what to make of it. What she did know is she didn't want to screw up.
When he responded Pak found she had stopped breathing for a second. Yeah she was attracted to him and it probably showed. Pak wasn't about to be caught like a green school girl, she could give as good as she got. She grinned mischievously.
"Mmmmm.... sounds like an Oedipus complex to me.â€
She teased him. There wasn't a good term for wanting to sexually posses one's sister but if Mara had 'practically raised him' then it was close enough.
Mara
11 years ago
Mara simply couldn't keep quiet on the topic of the Oedipus complex. "I don't think that's what's up. Because then he'd first want to kill Amir."
And that was a prospect no one would relish. Not that Amir didn't have his fair share of enemies; her opinionated Creator and lover most certainly did. But he was a bitch to injure. Putting him out of commission was a chore; killing him was downright unlikely.
"And anything Ran could do to him would probably just piss him off," Mara said with a grin. "And Ran knows I don't like his type anyway."
She shot Ran an innocent smile and continued cooking, happy that the smells coming from her stovetop were pleasant ones. After a moment she put her cutlet into the braising liquid and covered it up. It was hard to believe she was actually making a whole meal... and doing it properly. So far she'd just been doing a lot of baking, following recipes and measurements. This was something very different. She could see where it allowed for a lot of creativity and she liked that.
And that was a prospect no one would relish. Not that Amir didn't have his fair share of enemies; her opinionated Creator and lover most certainly did. But he was a bitch to injure. Putting him out of commission was a chore; killing him was downright unlikely.
"And anything Ran could do to him would probably just piss him off," Mara said with a grin. "And Ran knows I don't like his type anyway."
She shot Ran an innocent smile and continued cooking, happy that the smells coming from her stovetop were pleasant ones. After a moment she put her cutlet into the braising liquid and covered it up. It was hard to believe she was actually making a whole meal... and doing it properly. So far she'd just been doing a lot of baking, following recipes and measurements. This was something very different. She could see where it allowed for a lot of creativity and she liked that.
Ran Iyala
11 years ago
Ran laughed at Pak and then immediately grimaced at Mara's statement. "She has a point," he said, "although to be fair I might actually be able to annoy Amir to death. Or, I might have been able to before he actually died."
He gave it some thought for a second and then shrugged his shoulders. Mara pointed out that she wasn't his type and he had to laugh softly again. "That is true," he said. "You're gorgeous, of course, and I don't particularly care if you're already engaged or married or what have you, but there's that pesky 'in love with someone else' detail that gets in the way every time."
He turned to Pak, smiling widely, fangs glinting. There was no point trying to hide them; they were too large. "She's been hooked on Amir for centuries," he said. "Alas, my tastes run more toward woman who are emotionally available."
Ran admittedly had very low standards. Sex was fun; why no engage in it as often as possible? It was an easy way to get a meal, a great way to pass a few hours. He knew Amir never understood sleeping with humans. To him they were cattle. To Ran, they were an endless source of entertainment. He drew the line, though, at sleeping with women whose hearts were otherwise engaged. Perhaps if he were less tenderhearted himself he'd lower his standards further, but he was who he was. He preferred his affairs be engaged with him for the one or few nights they were together.
Mara had been off-limits since day one... but that made her acceptable to play with, or it had once she had realized he was no threat to her. That had taken some time; she wasn't always as confident as she was now. But her two lovers had changed her, and Ran thought she was all the more beautiful for it.
Busy wool-gathering, he forgot to check the meat in his pan. When he glanced down it was definitely darker than it was supposed to be.
"Argh."
He quickly pulled it off the heat and dropped it into the covered pot with its assortment of herbs and spices and liquids. Covering it hastily, he looked for Eileen. She didn't appear to have seen him.
"Well, that should be interesting," he grumbled. He had intended to take this reasonably seriously. Oh well.
He gave it some thought for a second and then shrugged his shoulders. Mara pointed out that she wasn't his type and he had to laugh softly again. "That is true," he said. "You're gorgeous, of course, and I don't particularly care if you're already engaged or married or what have you, but there's that pesky 'in love with someone else' detail that gets in the way every time."
He turned to Pak, smiling widely, fangs glinting. There was no point trying to hide them; they were too large. "She's been hooked on Amir for centuries," he said. "Alas, my tastes run more toward woman who are emotionally available."
Ran admittedly had very low standards. Sex was fun; why no engage in it as often as possible? It was an easy way to get a meal, a great way to pass a few hours. He knew Amir never understood sleeping with humans. To him they were cattle. To Ran, they were an endless source of entertainment. He drew the line, though, at sleeping with women whose hearts were otherwise engaged. Perhaps if he were less tenderhearted himself he'd lower his standards further, but he was who he was. He preferred his affairs be engaged with him for the one or few nights they were together.
Mara had been off-limits since day one... but that made her acceptable to play with, or it had once she had realized he was no threat to her. That had taken some time; she wasn't always as confident as she was now. But her two lovers had changed her, and Ran thought she was all the more beautiful for it.
Busy wool-gathering, he forgot to check the meat in his pan. When he glanced down it was definitely darker than it was supposed to be.
"Argh."
He quickly pulled it off the heat and dropped it into the covered pot with its assortment of herbs and spices and liquids. Covering it hastily, he looked for Eileen. She didn't appear to have seen him.
"Well, that should be interesting," he grumbled. He had intended to take this reasonably seriously. Oh well.
Pakpao
11 years ago
"Oh damned I forgot about the killing your father part."
Even Pak agreed that would probably be difficult and dangerous. She coughed to cover a laugh at Mara's very blunt rejection of Ran.
Ran's declaration of standards was very interesting. She'd learned he was a terrible flirt and had wondered exactly how far his flirting went. It was interesting that he seemed to draw the line where he wasn't the object, however temporary, of the ladies affection. Pak wasn't sure if that was consideration for the woman, her partner or for himself. It might even qualify as vanity. But for now she gave him the benefit of the doubt and chose to see it as noble, well more or less noble.
Pak's own meat looked to be perfect and she frowned at the bit of a mess Ran had made of his. Sliding her chop into its pot she checked for Eileen and following his earlier example switched meat with Ran.
"No point in you screwing up everything."
She said with a shrug of her shoulders. The slaw hadn't been his fault, the meat well that was but Pak didn't want him to be the worst student in the class. They could share that rather dubious honor.
Even Pak agreed that would probably be difficult and dangerous. She coughed to cover a laugh at Mara's very blunt rejection of Ran.
Ran's declaration of standards was very interesting. She'd learned he was a terrible flirt and had wondered exactly how far his flirting went. It was interesting that he seemed to draw the line where he wasn't the object, however temporary, of the ladies affection. Pak wasn't sure if that was consideration for the woman, her partner or for himself. It might even qualify as vanity. But for now she gave him the benefit of the doubt and chose to see it as noble, well more or less noble.
Pak's own meat looked to be perfect and she frowned at the bit of a mess Ran had made of his. Sliding her chop into its pot she checked for Eileen and following his earlier example switched meat with Ran.
"No point in you screwing up everything."
She said with a shrug of her shoulders. The slaw hadn't been his fault, the meat well that was but Pak didn't want him to be the worst student in the class. They could share that rather dubious honor.
Mara
11 years ago
Mara thought it was sweet that Pak took a turn helping Ran. She thought the odds were good that Ran's dinner would have come out well anyway, but the thought was a generous one.
The class lasted another 45 minutes or so, during which everyone made a few mistakes, but not terrible ones. No one there was inept - just uneducated. They did sample dishes that weren't theirs and they learned to tell the difference between certain tastes. Too salty, too acidic, too bitter, too dark. It was educational, which was how it was meant. Mara already felt a little better about the things she'd been trying to cook on her own, and Eileen was a good teacher.
When they let out for the night, Mara shooed Ran and Pak out ahead of her, promising to catch up with them later. She knew interest when she saw it, and she thought Pak was definitely interested. At least, a little bit. She wanted them to have a chance to talk and walk and just get to know each other. Maybe nothing would come of it, but she didn't think either of them would turn down a new friendship.
Once they'd gone Mara sneaked out a different door, shifted forms, and clung to the shadows like a pro. She certainly didn't want to miss it, either.
((ooc: All out))
The class lasted another 45 minutes or so, during which everyone made a few mistakes, but not terrible ones. No one there was inept - just uneducated. They did sample dishes that weren't theirs and they learned to tell the difference between certain tastes. Too salty, too acidic, too bitter, too dark. It was educational, which was how it was meant. Mara already felt a little better about the things she'd been trying to cook on her own, and Eileen was a good teacher.
When they let out for the night, Mara shooed Ran and Pak out ahead of her, promising to catch up with them later. She knew interest when she saw it, and she thought Pak was definitely interested. At least, a little bit. She wanted them to have a chance to talk and walk and just get to know each other. Maybe nothing would come of it, but she didn't think either of them would turn down a new friendship.
Once they'd gone Mara sneaked out a different door, shifted forms, and clung to the shadows like a pro. She certainly didn't want to miss it, either.
((ooc: All out))