Completed [Windswept Condos] Homestead (Rinya)

[Jorin Ertihan]

Season of Fall, Day 23, 513 AV

Home.

The definition of the word usually implied a dwelling of some sort, but to Jorin it always denoted the place where one felt the safest. The place one automatically wanted to return to after a long day, the place where one felt the most comfortable.

His tiny condo in the Windswept was pleasant enough, but after his experiences with Rinya in the last few days, Jorin decided he wasn't interested in spending all his free time alone anymore.

Jorin smirked a bit when he looked down at the 500 gold-rimmed mizas, in a neat little bag in his hand. He'd already gone ahead and done this, despite the fact that he didn't even know if Rinya would even agree to his proposal. He supposed, if he tried hard enough, he could probably convince her, but something told him he wouldn't have to. In any event, the deed was done.

It didn't escape Jorin's notice that the only really affordable condos for two people at his current standard of living was right where he started: WIndswept Condos. The irony would have made him laugh if he wasn't so nervous. It wasn't the same sort of nerves as when he'd waited for Rinya in front of Red Diamond Fashions. This was more charged anticipation.

If Rinya agreed, they could be living together fairly soon. And then ... Jorin shrugged internally. One step at a time.

[Rinya]

Day 23, Season Fall, 513 AV

There was something bothering Jorin. Nerves weren’t exactly new to her really; after all he often had them before a performance on stage, or even when he had do something he dreaded. But he was just released from Gilia so she highly doubted it had to do with his job. They had covered his spot with an understudy—which irritated him no end honestly. He tried to hide it, but when she had asked during one of her visits he was obviously displeased with the idea. Rinya had figured that work was a topic to avoid until he was better after that point. He loved his job and being replaced—even if it was temporary—was a stress he didn’t need on his mind.

Rinya visited him as often as she could, usually having to be shooed from the room as soon as visiting hours were over. The nurse watching over him hadn’t exactly taken a liking to her when she found the two of them sleeping in his bed in the wee hours of the morning. Since then she was adamant about keeping Rinya out after hours, even making sure to close the window. The woman was certainly not stupid.

But Rinya had not seen much of Jorin since his release. She had walked home with him, but she had to work and since then she hadn’t seen much of him. Luckily they both lived in the Windswept Condos, so if she needed to find him it wasn’t terribly difficult. But Jorin had asked once again to meet her outside of Rosela’s shop and Rinya wasn’t sure why… was another dress in order?

Rinya cocked her head curiously as she spotted Jorin. He was looking down at something in his hand, a bag by the looks of it. Smiling slightly, she rolled her eyes and slid up behind him. Snagging his arm, she leaned up and kissed the corner of his mouth in a quick peck. She had refused to kiss him again like they had in the medical center. There was too much fire and last time she hadn’t wanted to stop. Jorin needed to be healed first, or she was bound to hurt him in her—enthusiastic reactions. But she had taken to muttering a quiet “I love you” now and then. They had been through too much to fall entirely back to square one. She wasn’t avoiding her feelings for him anymore.

”Jorin? What has you so nervous?”

[Jorin Ertihan]

Season of Fall, Day 23, 513 AV

Jorin had always looked forward to Rinya's daily visits to him in the medical center. With nothing else to do, her presence was the only reason he hadn't gone completely insane in there. And the nurses kept insisting on shooing her out after only a few precious Bells. What was wrong with them?!

Jorin knew in his heart that, of course, the nurses were in fact right. He probably would have recovered much, much slower if he and Rinya had their way, constantly tearing open his wounds again in their excitement to explore their love. When he had finally been released, the head nurse, the same age-lined woman he'd seen when he first came to the center looking for Rinya, had given him a very hard stare.

"I expect you to exercise good judgement, young man," she admonished. "No strenuous exercise for at least a week. Am I clear?"

Even though she never said it out loud, Jorin knew what she was getting at. He merely nodded. The woman gave a noise of acknowledgement before indicating he take his leave.

The rotator cuff in his arm was basically healed, although the soreness would likely remain for another few days. The ribs were tender, but mostly stable, and the lung only hurt if he had to take very deep breaths. Overall, he was mostly recovered, needing only about a week for everything to fully heal. Jorin intended to return to the Sasaran once he had; this time he would tell Rinya though. No more secrets between them, not even accidental ones.

During her visits, Rinya sometimes whispered "I love you" to him, and Jorin could feel a surge of love each time she said it. He always returned her sentiments, whispering the words back to her. And he did love her. More than anything. Now that they had truly acknowledged their feelings he no longer felt he needed to hide this fact anymore.

Jorin's eyes lit up when he saw Rinya's lovely form as she snagged his arm and kissed him. He leaned over and returned her kiss, brushing his lips lightly against hers. Just because they couldn't kiss like they did at the medical center for fear of aggravating his injures didn't mean he couldn't express his feelings for her in other ways.

”Jorin? What has you so nervous?” she asked brightly. Jorin smiled down at her.

"Now that you're here, my love? Nothing at all," he replied. And it was true. All his nervousness was gone. He felt a tingle when he called her "my love". he had no idea whether she'd like that, but he was just so caught up in her that he wanted to always let her know how important she was to him.

"Oh! you're probably wondering about this," he exclaimed, as he looked down at his little pouch. He smiled at her sheepishly. "Well, uhh, I was thinking, maybe we could, umm..."

OK. Maybe the nervousness wasn't completely gone. Jorin cleared his throat. Time to try this again.

"Rinya, would you be interested in, well I mean, you don't have to of course but I ... what I'm trying to say is, Rinya, would you be willing to live with me? In the same residence, I mean?"

Jorin flushed and looked down, then back up at her eyes. He gave a nervous shrug, indicating the little bag. "It's just, I heard that the Windswept Condos might have some two-person rooms available..."

Jorin winced a bit. Gods. He sounded so lame.

[Rinya]

Day 23, Season Fall, 513 AV

Rinya could feel a flush across her cheeks at Jorin’s new nickname for her. It wasn’t so much that it bothered her at all, but it certainly was unexpected. But he was smiling and it seemed his nerves had smoothed so Rinya just rolled her eyes again and bumped her shoulder against his right side. Even with everything nearly healed, she was extremely cautious… mostly because she had done damage to her arm after it was nearly healed itself. But of course there were reasons for such an injury. Well worth it actually, even if Jorin didn’t know why.

But as he examined the pouch, Rinya could feel his nerves starting to rise again. He was being almost…shy. Like he had no idea how to say what he was thinking—a hard task to bring him of all people to.

”Rinya, would you be interested in, well I mean, you don’t have to of course but I… what I’m trying to say is, Rinya, would you be willing to live with me? In the same residence, I mean?”

Rinya blinked a few times, staring up at him almost blankly. The first thing that came to mind was—she had never lived with anyone other than her father, she wasn’t entirely sure she would be good company. The other was—well living with Jorin was a big step. A really big one.

But she knew she could easily talk herself out of the idea, because it was easy to think about all the things that could go wrong. However—he wanted to be that close to her. She wouldn’t have to try and find him through the bond after work; she would know where he would be at already. At home. And that’s what it would be really. Because her condo wasn’t really much of anything but shelter. Jorin was her home in many senses of the word.

Taking a deep breath, Rinya slid her hand into his and squeezed his hand gently. If he was stuttering then it was because he probably thought she might actually turn him down. Rinya had promised herself though, to let things come as they should. They were not a general couple as it was—it was just too hard to fight what she wanted anymore.

”Breathe Jorin, you’re starting to sound like me.” Rinya teased gently before she leaned against his shoulder. ”Living with you… I think I would like that.” Her voice was timid, sounded quite shy, but she was confident for once that she was making a good decision for herself. Besides it would have been one of the hardest things to do—telling him no.

And then a thought struck her. What was sitting in his palm was…?

”Jorin… did you already sell your place?” Her voice wasn’t angry, most astounded than anything. He had that much faith in her?

[Jorin Ertihan]

Season of Fall, Day 23, 513 AV

Warmth radiated from Rinya's hand as she squeezed. Jorin was always amazed at how tiny things, like holding hands, or a light kiss, or even just Rinya's quiet presence next to him, could have such tremendous effect upon his mood.

Jorin chuckled when Rinya teased him lightly about sounding like her. He simply could not see anything wrong with sounding like the most important person in his life. Still, he knew what she meant. Her next words were softer, shyer and more timid, but still firm, like she was quite sure of what she was saying.

”Living with you… I think I would like that.”

Jorin couldn't help it. An enormous smile lit up his face and his eyes twinkled. Joy bubbled up in his chest and felt like he was walking on air. Rinya had said yes! She even said she would like it. He was glad she was happy with the idea of living with him.

”Jorin… did you already sell your place?” Rinya asked, seemingly just truly noticing the pouch in his hand. She didn't sound angry, just surprised, as though she'd expected him to exercise more caution than that. Jorin was a little surprised at himself, truthfully. It seemed he wasn't his usual cautious self when it came to Rinya. With her, Jorin was willing to take any risk, if it meant that they'd be closer together.

In any event, yes. Selling his place. Jorin coughed and his smile morphed into a more sheepish one.

"Uhhh, well that's ... yes," Jorin admitted, hand going to the back of his head and scratching with nervousness. His eyes dropped from Rinya's again as his cheeks flushed.

"I was just so excited with the idea of living with you I guess I just ... I should have waited for you. I'm sorry..."

Jorin looked back up at Rinya and smiled. "Actually, Rinya, I've asked around. The real irony is that seems like the only place to get a two-person condo is right back where we started."

Jorin laughed heartily, grinning at Rinya as he explained. "Looks like we're going back to Windswept Condos," he concluded with a wink.

[Rinya]

Day 23, Season Fall, 513 AV

"I was just so excited with the idea of living with you I guess I just ... I should have waited for you. I'm sorry..."

Rinya’s jaw dropped slightly as he confirmed that he might have jumped the gun just a little in terms of selling his condo. Even if she had been cross about him not waiting for an answer, it was just such a… romantic thing for him to do. And while it didn’t wasn’t as though Jorin wasn’t romantic to start with, there was something about his eagerness to be close—Rinya probably would have fallen in love with him right then if she wasn’t already.

"Actually, Rinya, I've asked around. The real irony is that seems like the only place to get a two-person condo is right back where we started."

Rinya cocked her head to the side a little. Back where they started. While they had always lived close by to each other, Rinya had no idea where his condo was—or rather used to be. And belatedly the idea made her realize several other things she did not know about him. While she knew he loved her, and would do anything to make her happy—there were the little things she didn’t actually know about him.

”The condos is perfect actually. I like the nature feel to it—besides I do not need anything fancy. You will be there and that’s all I really need.” Rinya used her hand to tug his and she started towards the condos. It took her several chimes however before she spoke up. Her face turned a little red really, she wasn’t entirely sure how to ask him.

”Jorin… you know…” She bit her bottom lip and focused on the ground, somewhat embarrassed actually and Rinya wasn’t clear as to why. ”For as much as I know about you—there is a lot I don’t. Like your birthday, or favorite color…”

Rinya had never taken stock in dates or other such things most humans enjoyed, but she wanted to know these things about her mate. In their own time she supposed she would have learned them, but there was something about a new start that made her curious.

[Jorin Ertihan]

Season of Fall, Day 23, 513 AV

”The condos is perfect actually. I like the nature feel to it—besides I do not need anything fancy. You will be there and that’s all I really need.”

Jorin nodded. "I feel the same way," he replied. "I never really cared where we lived as long as we lived together." Jorin smiled and let his new love pull him in the direction of the Windswept Condos. The fact that Rinya knew where to go told him she'd either been there already or was already living there. That was perfect actually.

A few chimes later, Rinya spoke up.

”Jorin… you know…” she said, biting her bottom lip and focusing on the ground ”For as much as I know about you—there is a lot I don’t. Like your birthday, or favorite color…”

She seemed not so much sad as curious. She really wanted to know those things? Jorin supposed there were a lot of details that they didn't have about each other. He wanted to know everything about her as well. What was life in Syliras like? He'd only been their briefly with his troupe, but Rinya had been there significantly longer. What was her father like? He'd only gotten brief glimpses of her experiences with her father, but she'd never really told him.

"Well, I was born in the twelfth of Summer, 493," Jorin began, "Which would make me twenty years old."

He smiled and squeezed Rinya's hand to assure her. "Don't worry about missing my birthday last season," he chuckled. "There will be plenty more birthdays for us both to share. As for my favorite color, that's an easy one."

Jorin looked into Rinya's eyes. "Gold," he replied without any trace of doubt or hesitation. "My favorite color is gold."

Then he broke the gaze and it was his turn to pull Rinya with him to the Windswept Condos. "You know," he mentioned, "There was this really annoying interviewer who asked me all sorts of questions. I mean, they were weird questions like how would I want to die, and what my favorite colors were. Well, I don't think they're weird for you to ask me, but you're my ... mate." Jorin tested the word out on his tongue.

It caused him to flush all the way down to his neck and he couldn't look at her face. He stopped moving, and shuffled his feet nervously. He didn't know what Rinya would think of him calling her that. It just seemed so intimate, and while he somehow knew it would be the word Rinya would probably choose, it felt like he was naked when he spoke it to her. Like he had no barriers and she could see right through to his core ... and Jorin realized maybe that was exactly what he wanted. Still, Jorin wasn't sure if he was ready to say that word aloud to others. It would take some getting used to.

Jorin cleared his throat. "Anyway he insisted on doing this stupid interview, and even had it all transcribed." Jorin shrugged, still staring at his feet. "I know I promised to teach you to read and write. I'm sure a silly interview like that wouldn't interest you though..."

[Rinya]

Day 23, Season Fall, 513 AV

"Don't worry about missing my birthday last season," he chuckled.

”Jorin… I didn’t even know you yet.” Rinya smirked slightly. She hadn’t even arrived yet in Riverfall. In fact, it was… four days before she had arrived. Thinking back, it actually seemed like forever. She had been here little over a season, but spending time with Jorin made it seem longer—and not in a bad way. For once she wasn’t keeping track of every little thing she did. It had been a habit she had picked up after her father disappeared. The thought was so stuck in her head, if Jorin hadn’t stopped to look at her, she might’ve missed his next sentence.

"My favorite color is gold."

A few words and Rinya’s thoughts shifted so drastically. One moment she was considering her father, and the next she couldn’t even really think at all. Jorin’s confidence left her breathless, and Rinya could feel her blush turn dark red. How did he do that?

Luckily he didn’t require an answer. He just tugged her along with him as he started to walk and told her about some odd person taking an interest in his life. Apparently someone he didn’t even know. But it was somewhat disturbing actually. How Jorin wanted to die? Why would anyone want to think about that? It was a morbid thought, picking out your own demise. Shivering slightly, Rinya wrapped both her arms around his and rested her face against his shoulder.

"Well, I don't think they're weird for you to ask me, but you're my ... mate."

Rinya wouldn’t have reacted all to the word if Jorin hadn’t stopped. He was her mate. Frowning a little, she watched his face flush and he avoided looking at her. He was nervous again. And Rinya was hard pressed not to take his reaction the wrong way. He didn’t feel like he regretted the idea of being her mate… so why did it bother him? But he wasn’t hiding anything from her either. She just couldn’t understand. Releasing his arm, Rinya moved to stand in front of him.

”Does the word… bother you? You don’t have to use it you know—I know it is not generally a word humans use… It doesn’t bother me if you don’t like it.” The only way to know was to ask. Instead of taking offense or rejection, Rinya decided this might be the better choice. Her usual talent for being blunt around Jorin only occurred when she was mad. It was something that she had to change, seeing as Jorin understood her lack of words—most of the time.

"I know I promised to teach you to read and write. I'm sure a silly interview like that wouldn't interest you though..."

Rinya did snort this time. Since he didn’t want to look at her, Rinya huffed and turned away from him intent on continuing on to the condos. She wasn’t really mad, but perhaps a little miffed. People always got under Jorin’s skin—making him believe he was worth less than he was. But she supposed it was part of what endeared him to her. He wasn’t full in the head of himself. And that was probably the only reason why she wasn’t mad about it.

But it left Jorin open to people like Farline. While Jorin was most certainly not stupid—the fact that woman had so much influence over Jorin still bothered her. Rinya wasn’t sure which of the two actually caused violence out of her though. Was it Farline taking advantage of Jorin—or the fact that Jorin let her because he cared for her? Rinya could still feel flashes of jealousy and rage over the woman throwing herself all over Jorin and accusing her of—well practically being a monster over a punch to the face.

”Nothing like a mate with another woman all over him” Rinya muttered to herself before she realized she was letting the whole idea take over her mind again. It was an easy thing to dwell on, yet another thing she was going to have to work on. Sighing slightly Rinya rubbed her hands over her face before glancing over her shoulder at Jorin, not quite looking at him though.

”I’d like to read it either way. Plus at some point, I’ll actually be able to read your poems.” The sudden shift in subject was a little hard, Rinya knew he’d pick up on it, but whether he acknowledged it or not…

[Jorin Ertihan]

Season of Fall, Day 23, 513 AV

When Rinya had asked him about whether the word "mate" bothered him, Jorin was strangely mute. His mind was still trying to put the pieces together, his sometimes infuriating need to have things make sense. In his hesitation he missed his moment, and had moved on to the strange interview he'd experienced.

Because he was so absorbed in his own thoughts, he'd missed Rinya's muttered words when she'd pulled ahead of him, but he lifted his head when she said, ”I’d like to read it either way. Plus at some point, I’ll actually be able to read your poems.”

Jorin paused for a moment. He just needed to get a proper hold of his thoughts. Put them in neat, orderly piles. Why did the word bother him? Did it even bother him?

"Of course, Rinya," Jorin replied, as he walked up to her slowly. "My poems are your poems but ... I think I would like to talk about that word. 'Mate'. I don't have a problem with it, it's just ... foreign to me, is all. I was trying to think what exactly we were. I mean, I know that I am in love with you, and that you are in love with me ... if we were both human that would make us partners, but I'm not sure if that term's appropriate for us."

Jorin cleared his throat and flushed a bit more, but this time didn't look away from Rinya. "There's a human tradition ... the exchange of vows, at which point you'd be my wife, but I don't know if you'd be interested. The word 'mate' was the only one that seemed to work but I wasn't sure if even that was correct... or if you'd even approve of my using it..."

Jorin swallowed and shook his head a bit. "Rinya, when you said that you were in love with me, and when I said it back to you, I promised myself, no secrets from you. Not even accidental ones, if I can help it."

Jorin took a deep breath. "I don't want you to ever think I love you any less than I do," Jorin insisted. "I've said it before, Rinya. You're the brightest star in my sky. You're the only star in my sky."

Oh petch it. Words were all well and good, but Jorin knew there was a much easier way to convey what he was saying. He couldn't do it like they did it in the hospital, or they'd collapse onto the side of the road. But he could at least give Rinya a taste.

He trotted up to her and smiled down, reaching around her waist to pull her close. The kiss on the bed had been somewhat awkward. The pain from his ribs and arm meant he couldn't do what he wanted to do. His shoulder wasn't completely healed, it was true, but it was healed enough.

Jorin clasped his hands around Rinya's waist, arms loose, so as to give Rinya the freedom to put her arms around his neck if she chose. He leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. It wasn't the fiery, intense kiss of the hospital, but instead a firm, loving one, filled with his passion for her and his desire for them to be together.

He could feel her emotions wash over him too, such intensity that he knew she must understand now, that no single word could ever define who they were. Right then, in that moment, that was their love.

As much as Jorin loved kissing Rinya, and could do it all day if allowed, he realized that if he permitted it, the kiss would inevitably become too intense. Despite his regret that it couldn't last longer, Jorin pulled away, but before he did he kissed her lightly a few more times as assurance that it wasn't by choice.

After a few moments, when the tingle from their kiss died down, Jorin smiled softly and told her, "Rinya I want - no. I need you to understand ... to me our relationship isn't defined by a word. 'Mate' is just a word, in the end it's no more important than any other word. Our relationship is so much more than that."

Jorin's eyes took on a faraway look. "Moments like that day at Rookery Park when we first met. Or that night after our disastrous 'dinner' with Rhys, when we first kissed. That day at the hospital when we first admitted we were in love with each other. The kiss we just shared - moments like that, define who we are."

Jorin's arm came up from behind Rinya's waist and stroked her cheek, tucking an errant hair from her face behind her ear. "You and I, we cannot be defined so easily as just one word. Partner, wife, mate. None of them say everything that you are to me. And I'm fine with that, as long as you are."

[Rinya]

Day 23, Season Fall, 513 AV

Rinya suppressed a groan as Jorin tried to tell her that the whole word didn’t bother him. Really, neither of them knew what to call the other—they just were. There were words they could use to describe one another, but in the end they just were. But Rinya’s curiosity perked a little at the mention of “vows”. She knew the general idea of such a ritual, after all each culture had their own version, but the thought never crossed her mind that it might be something Jorin wanted one day. Not that he entirely admitted to wanting it either—he flushed and spoke openly, but skittered around the actual idea.

"Rinya, when you said that you were in love with me, and when I said it back to you, I promised myself, no secrets from you. Not even accidental ones, if I can help it."

Rinya felt a nudge of guilt in her gut. There was one thing she hadn’t really told him yet—but he hadn’t really asked and she was glad for it. Rinya really didn’t want to hash out what Farline said to her that caused her to flip out and hit the woman. Then again Jorin never did hold onto things like that, so perhaps it was just her.

"I don't want you to ever think I love you any less than I do," Jorin insisted. "I've said it before, Rinya. You're the brightest star in my sky. You're the only star in my sky."

”Jorin I never thought you loved me less.” Rinya barely got the words out before he grinned at her and pulled her to him by her waist. The moment his lips connected to hers, Rinya could instantly feel her thoughts fly out of her mind. Instead her mind shifted to a combination of both their feelings. His love, her need, their desire—anything and everything in one moment.

But there were the facts that they were in public, and that he was still injured, that only kept them from getting out of hand. Rinya had apparently fisted her hands into his shirt, and as Jorin released her Rinya let go, grinning sheepishly up at him.

"You and I, we cannot be defined so easily as just one word. Partner, wife, mate. None of them say everything that you are to me. And I'm fine with that, as long as you are."

Rinya swallowed hard at his touch, his words. He actually did understand what she was trying to say. She was hard pressed not to kiss him again regardless of the consequences, but instead lifted her hand to his and turned her face so she could place a gentle kiss into the palm of his hand.

”Words are nice. Kisses are better.” Rinya teased before looping her fingers into his and nodded her head forward. ”We should probably get my place sold—if we want a place to sleep tonight.” Rinya smirked slightly before leading the way. ”By the way… I wouldn’t mind the vows—if you wanted.” If Jorin wanted the vows, Rinya certainly wouldn't mind a physical mark that noted they belonged to each other. Another wordless sort of title that said everything.

Rinya spotted Allasta outside, tending to her garden as usual. Stepping up to the woman, Rinya suddenly felt shy. How does one ask to sell her condo, then turn around a buy another one? Glancing over her shoulder at Jorin, Rinya’s face flushed slightly, but she tightened her grip on Jorin’s hand.

”Allasta I love my condo but… I need to sell it.” The woman jolted slightly from her gardening, looking back and forth between the two of them before sighing slightly.

"First I lose him, and now you?”

”Uhm… we were uhh… hoping to buy a double—together.” Allasta perked at this one, grinning at them brightly.

"Well well… that’s cute isn’t it? Alright then, Jorin let me have your Mizas and I’ll just hang onto yours my dear. I’ll go fetch the keys.” Allasta stood, brushing the dirt off her hands and took Jorin’s pouch before disappearing inside.

”Jorin you realize I don’t actually know how to live with someone else right? I mean… I could be a terrible… roommate?” For some reason that sounded wrong, to call him a roommate—again with the titles. Allasta came out a moment later though, cutting off whatever reply Jorin might have had, handing the two of them identical keys before motioning down a pathway to their left.

”You guys will be the first condo at the end of the pathway. Just remember the rules.” Allasta winked and Rinya felt her face go twice red. She didn’t reply, just tugged Jorin’s hand down the pathway.