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Then perhaps you should heed him. [ Reaching over to pinch Ja'far's cheek and tug, a little. ]

I would, of course, appreciate the help. I cannot promise to be the best student, but I certainly will try.

( Augh, cheek pull. He accepts it, he guesses. )

Don't worry, I'm sure you'll be easier to teach than Masrur.

I feel as if there's an untold story there, but I won't pry.

[ ... letting go. ]

Why don't you learn botany with me? And I could learn... cooking. [ He makes a face. ]

( Ja'far rubs his cheek, laughing. )

Not fond of cooking, I take it?

I don't like things I'm not good at.

[ ... surprisingly petulant. ]

King Belias is an amazing cook, but... every time he's tried to teach me, I fail...

( A laugh. Ja'far felt similarly when he was little. )

We'll start with simple things, then.

Alright...

[ ... if Ja'far learns botany, he's gonna find out the plants he put in Sin's suite, huh.

Well. They'll cross that bridge when they come to it. ]

( Ja'far rubs Aspen's back again, looking at his wings. )

Are you still having trouble with the molting?

Ah, no... not as much.

[ He opens the wing - Ja'far is right to question, given he most certainly has less feathers than he used to at the start of the month. Thankfully no patchiness, but... ]

The pain's mostly gone. I do hope I won't molt this summer. It takes quite a while for these feathers to grow back.

That's good, I was worried about you.

And hopefully not. Let me know if you need help with it again.

[ ... something occurs to him and he looks to Ja'far with a guarded expression. ]

I... have to be there to draft up the... contracts, don't I?

Only if you want to and are ready for it. Sin, Masrur, and I can draft up our contracts on our own. You and Asra should talk about if you want to enter a contract together, but that's separate.

[ He stiffens, then looks down. ]

... I'm... not sure. I don't think... Asra should be with me. There's... doubtless others much better than I, more suited to his... ethereality and charm. I know it's only for a few months, but...

( Ja'far pats him, gentle and warm. )

Don't stress too much over it. Try to think of it objectively, how it will help the both of you, before you go into the negatives.

[ Softly; ]

... it's - very hard to think of this objectively. [ He presses his face into his hands, rubbing them down his cheeks. ] This used to be my life.

( Ja'far just stays quiet for a long moment, his hand still on Aspen's back. )

...I'm sorry that this situation is too much like home for you. It isn't fair to anyone, but to have this be so close to a situation you were in before... I'm sorry.

It's alright. I would just... gladly be a Submissive, to save someone else that pain. I wouldn't mind. But being this... I don't think I'll ever understand it.

[ He breathes in deeply and rakes a hand through his hair, pushing his bangs back from red-rimmed eyes. ]

Sh-should I make you something? I can boil water, so tea is possible... you've just been listening to me go on, I want to do something for you.

I don't mind listening to you. You're my friend. ( Ja'far beams at him. )

But, if you have some coffee, I wouldn't say no to that. Tea would be lovely as well.

[ He nods, getting up to move over to the kitchen. What would help with Ja'far's... restlessness? Well, he could just put him to sleep and deliver him back to Sinbad's floor, but that's not very friendly. Or at least, that's what Wisteria tells him. Maybe just a relaxing herbal blend... ]

Coffee, this late in the day...?

Ah, sorry, it's habit. I'm used to drinking a lot of it to stay awake to finish work in Sindria. ( He at least looks a bit sheepish. ) It's also my favorite.

I've got a blend of herbs that might help you relax a bit. You do seem tense.

( Tense? Well, he is still dealing with everything going on here... )

That sounds nice.

[ He gives a nod, stepping into the kitchen and gesturing to a stool on the opposite side of the counter. For the most part, the kitchen is immaculate - like it's rarely ever used. What isn't immaculate is the small herb garden that spans a good half of the counter on Aspen's side, most of the plants growing and showing a healthy green tint. He knows them on sight, picking a few and pressing them between his hands. There's a bright flash of light from his fingertips and he tilts his hands to let the water drain from his palms, gesturing to the cups on a hook beside where Ja'far eventually sits. ]

Ah, could you hold out one of those for me?

( Ja'far watches curiously, unfamiliar with this kind of magic. When Aspen asks for him to help though, he nods, grabbing the cup and holding it out for him. )

[ When he opens his hands, dried herbs fall from them, a potent scent of fresh lemongrass and ginger following. Somehow, Aspen seems far more relaxed and at ease just handling the plants and using his magic than anything else. ]

Thank you. And for tea, that's... [ He takes an electric kettle, filling it with water and flicking it on before rustling through the cupboard. ] What sort of snacks do you like?

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