[ So maybe he's made what one would call a 'dumb bitch move', attempting to practice his new magic out here in a public place like this. Given that he was working under the assumption it would only be a tiny spell, he hadn't considered that there were risks involved with even that. He does usually make cautiously weighed decisions, but perhaps his wonderment at having an innate ability at all had clouded his judgment. That's what happens when you've lived closed off in a walled country for most of your life. Everything that's a little bit new is so very exciting.
He won't try this again, at least. He's lucky Mithra was not hurt. ]
Shit. Hey, sorry about that. You didn't get burnt, did you?
[ It doesn't look that way, but Jean does try to check, reaching out to inspect Mithra's hands for any signs of a burn. For a guy who just lost a fish, he's really nonchalant about it, though. Fish (and food, in general) is very valuable to anyone from Jean's world, so he would certainly be annoyed if the situation were flipped. ]
[ his expression barely shifts as he eyes out his nice heaping bowl of ashy matter.
instead of even looking moderately peeved, he instead exhales in satisfaction. ] I'm fine. [ while it may seem like a curt response on the surface, there's no edge to his voice. no tone that would suggest ...
well, any emotion really. with the same indifference as he's casted thus far, he simply lets jean inspect his hands. the idea of a stranger being this concerned for him is interesting. interesting in a semi-familiar kind of way, that is. it vaguely reminds him of a few busy bodies back at the wizards' tower. the idea is enough to distract him from recoiling or moving out of reach — not that he was really inclined to do either way, but it stills him all the same.
when he does manage to pull one of his hands back, however...
he reaches right into the pile of charcoal. grabbing the black pile and proceeding to stuff it into his mouth. ]
It's not a big deal. [ he says mid-chew, as black streaks stain his mouth and even ... cheek?? ]
[ Jean knows a dead-eyed stare when he sees one. He's seen many, given the devastating circumstances he's come from. He definitely feels a pang of empathy, like this man must come from circumstances he can understand. All that goes down the drain though when he grabs that black pile of charcoal and starts chowing down on it like it's a boiled potato or something. He hasn't really felt scared since coming here, but somehow, it's this moment that instills a bit of trepidation in his heart.
He's just so confused. ]
I -- What the hell? [ Even in famine his people would never eat charcoal!!! ] My magic shouldn't have had any mental effects. Don't tell me you've actually snapped ...
Edited (a more dramatic icon) 2020-05-28 06:57 (UTC)
[ to be quite honest, he isn't sure where this reaction is coming from. he definitely comprehends that ... somehow it's dramatic. but, he just can't fathom how and why, and so he decides to take it in stride. not that he ever opted for anything else, but listen. it's the thought that counts.
just like right now.
he understands that it may have not been intended, but the flavor dissolving on his tongue is one he is all too familiar with. akin to the meals that the sage had made for him in the past. ] Snapped? What do you mean? [ for what it's worth, because he's so calm...
jean definitely is catching more attention than he is. maybe.
he takes another handful before licking his lips. it's hard to tell, but it seems like he's enjoying it? ]
[ Jean definitely is catching more attention between them both, oddly. Something about Mithra's calm energy just makes people overlook the fact that he's eating the burnt remains of what was once a fish. It's like a perception filter, almost. People see him but not the nonsense he's pulling right now.
Jean is alone in his incredulity. This is a life he knows well. ]
I see. An abnormal ... [ It all makes sense now. This person is just beyond human comprehension, so Jean will stop trying to comprehend him. There's a long, tired sigh. He is honestly a little curious at least? ]
[ the judgement is likely palpable, but mithra doesn't seem to pay it any mind. instead, he crunches on the last bits of charcoal before giving a sideways nod in satisfaction. ] It was good. [ there's no trace of a lie in his voice.
after a pause, he continues. ] Thank you. [ it's polite. simple and to the point, but there's something cordial or maybe even a little formal about the way he says it. it may have seemed like a nice gesture if his hands weren't covered in black soot that he now places on the side of his neck.
honestly, he probably looks nothing short of a mess, but oh well. ]
[ This man is such a fucking mess. But Jean can't be angry at someone who actually has manners. That's more than can be said for 90% of the people he knows. ]
No problem. [ What the fuck. He feels like he should back away, but he also doesn't get much entertainment back home so he's so deathly curious. ] What is that supposed to taste like?
[ he pauses for a moment, as if to take in the question,
then seconds later, he brings his sullied hand back in front of his gaze, before extending it out towards jean. ] It's difficult to explain... [ he starts quietly, before raising his sights back on jean. ] Do you want to try?
[ is he offering jean the scraps on his plate or his ashy fingertips? the world may never know, and to be honest, mithra might not know either. he doesn't seem to care either way. he had a penchant of avoiding complications and this was a direct result of that... somehow. ]
[ With how he's extending his dirty hand in front of Jean, he definitely assumes the latter. There's just this look of complete disgust. ]
Even if you had something good to share with me, I wouldn't lick it off your fingers. [ He sounds slightly offended that Mithra is even offering it to him like this. There's nothing appetizing about the food being offered and the delivery is even less appealing. Jean swipes a tissue box from one of the tables and shoves it into Mithra's chest. ]
Clean yourself up. How do you not get sick from this?
Is that what you thought...? [ he looks at his hand and then back and jean. rinse, repeat.
nah, he doesn't correct him. instead he's about to lick his slightly scaly fingers back up, before he feels the pressure against his chest and visually sees the tissue there. he blinks, making no move to grab it from him immediately. ]
But, I'm fine this way. [ but, he does take it for measure. but, barely dabs at his face before giving up on the endeavor entirely. ] By chance, are you the type who really focuses on the little things? [ vaguely pointless things, he means.
granted, not much seems of worth when you've lived 600+ years. not that he's ever really thought of that way, either. still, he finds it odd how focused this individual was on his eating. though, he's been said to have horrible table manners on multiple occasions?? is he the problem? ]
Are you saying I'm pedantic? [ It actually is true that he has an eye for detail, with his naturally observant personality. It might even be true that he can be pedantic at times. Jean thinks he's quite justified to question Mithra's eating habits if they involve completely charred food though. ]
I don't think it's unreasonable to ... find what you just did weird as hell. [ He is too normal for this. ]
Is that wrong? [ though, when he says it with he drawl that he does, it sounds less like an inquiry and more like an accusation. but, he doesn't seem to care either way. ] Really? [ a shrug. ] I've been told I have bad table manners.
[ he says without any remorse, then followed by a quiet: ]
Do you often cook up meals for a stranger? [ is that what jean did.... ]
You don't say. [ There's absolutely no disagreement on that, because here's a guy who was happy to smear burnt fish remains all over his hands and face. Jean lives with military men so he's used to rowdy cafeteria times, but Mithra's a whole league on his own. ]
I'd hardly call that cooking... More like a cremation. [ But maybe it's 'cooking' in Mithra's eyes because his palate is clearly an outlier from the rest of normal society. ]
I was trying to warm up my coffee, actually. [ And he started a fire that worked out in Mithra's favour??? ]
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homie b
He won't try this again, at least. He's lucky Mithra was not hurt. ]
Shit. Hey, sorry about that. You didn't get burnt, did you?
[ It doesn't look that way, but Jean does try to check, reaching out to inspect Mithra's hands for any signs of a burn. For a guy who just lost a fish, he's really nonchalant about it, though. Fish (and food, in general) is very valuable to anyone from Jean's world, so he would certainly be annoyed if the situation were flipped. ]
homie c
instead of even looking moderately peeved, he instead exhales in satisfaction. ] I'm fine. [ while it may seem like a curt response on the surface, there's no edge to his voice. no tone that would suggest ...
well, any emotion really. with the same indifference as he's casted thus far, he simply lets jean inspect his hands. the idea of a stranger being this concerned for him is interesting. interesting in a semi-familiar kind of way, that is. it vaguely reminds him of a few busy bodies back at the wizards' tower. the idea is enough to distract him from recoiling or moving out of reach — not that he was really inclined to do either way, but it stills him all the same.
when he does manage to pull one of his hands back, however...
he reaches right into the pile of charcoal. grabbing the black pile and proceeding to stuff it into his mouth. ]
It's not a big deal. [ he says mid-chew, as black streaks stain his mouth and even ... cheek?? ]
what am i reading
[ Is his home life okay? ]
[ Jean knows a dead-eyed stare when he sees one. He's seen many, given the devastating circumstances he's come from. He definitely feels a pang of empathy, like this man must come from circumstances he can understand. All that goes down the drain though when he grabs that black pile of charcoal and starts chowing down on it like it's a boiled potato or something. He hasn't really felt scared since coming here, but somehow, it's this moment that instills a bit of trepidation in his heart.
He's just so confused. ]
I -- What the hell? [ Even in famine his people would never eat charcoal!!! ] My magic shouldn't have had any mental effects. Don't tell me you've actually snapped ...
no subject
just like right now.
he understands that it may have not been intended, but the flavor dissolving on his tongue is one he is all too familiar with. akin to the meals that the sage had made for him in the past. ] Snapped? What do you mean? [ for what it's worth, because he's so calm...
jean definitely is catching more attention than he is. maybe.
he takes another handful before licking his lips. it's hard to tell, but it seems like he's enjoying it? ]
no subject
Jean is alone in his incredulity. This is a life he knows well. ]
I see. An abnormal ... [ It all makes sense now. This person is just beyond human comprehension, so Jean will stop trying to comprehend him. There's a long, tired sigh. He is honestly a little curious at least? ]
No, it's nothing. Is that ... delicious for you?
no subject
after a pause, he continues. ] Thank you. [ it's polite. simple and to the point, but there's something cordial or maybe even a little formal about the way he says it. it may have seemed like a nice gesture if his hands weren't covered in black soot that he now places on the side of his neck.
honestly, he probably looks nothing short of a mess, but oh well. ]
no subject
No problem. [ What the fuck. He feels like he should back away, but he also doesn't get much entertainment back home so he's so deathly curious. ] What is that supposed to taste like?
no subject
then seconds later, he brings his sullied hand back in front of his gaze, before extending it out towards jean. ] It's difficult to explain... [ he starts quietly, before raising his sights back on jean. ] Do you want to try?
[ is he offering jean the scraps on his plate or his ashy fingertips? the world may never know, and to be honest, mithra might not know either. he doesn't seem to care either way. he had a penchant of avoiding complications and this was a direct result of that... somehow. ]
no subject
Even if you had something good to share with me, I wouldn't lick it off your fingers. [ He sounds slightly offended that Mithra is even offering it to him like this. There's nothing appetizing about the food being offered and the delivery is even less appealing. Jean swipes a tissue box from one of the tables and shoves it into Mithra's chest. ]
Clean yourself up. How do you not get sick from this?
no subject
nah, he doesn't correct him. instead he's about to lick his slightly scaly fingers back up, before he feels the pressure against his chest and visually sees the tissue there. he blinks, making no move to grab it from him immediately. ]
But, I'm fine this way. [ but, he does take it for measure. but, barely dabs at his face before giving up on the endeavor entirely. ] By chance, are you the type who really focuses on the little things? [ vaguely pointless things, he means.
granted, not much seems of worth when you've lived 600+ years. not that he's ever really thought of that way, either. still, he finds it odd how focused this individual was on his eating. though, he's been said to have horrible table manners on multiple occasions?? is he the problem? ]
no subject
I don't think it's unreasonable to ... find what you just did weird as hell. [ He is too normal for this. ]
no subject
[ he says without any remorse, then followed by a quiet: ]
Do you often cook up meals for a stranger? [ is that what jean did.... ]
no subject
I'd hardly call that cooking... More like a cremation. [ But maybe it's 'cooking' in Mithra's eyes because his palate is clearly an outlier from the rest of normal society. ]
I was trying to warm up my coffee, actually. [ And he started a fire that worked out in Mithra's favour??? ]