The sound of Ahn-Bo’s stomach growl made Jin smile so widely that he laughed, exposing one dimple. There was familiarity in that sound unlike any he could really explain. As Bo-ah settled beside him, Jin felt himself calm even more— the peace within radiating out a bit. If they could just have this, forever, he’d have been perfectly happy too. Jin spent a lot of time lingering in the kitchens when he was home, just watching the cooks go about their business. He’d learned a lot from them just through observation and the occasional question, or from Eun-Ho; the rest he’d learned when living in the apothecary with Eomma and Myeong. These days though Jin relished a good herbology or potions book. It was just domestic enough to be useful and unalarming.
He accepted the honey cake passed to him and took a small bite. Eun-Ho made the best ones, but these were pretty good too. Idly, Jin wondered if Ahn-Bo and Eun-Ho would get along; he couldn’t imagine they wouldn’t. They were both such marked fixtures in his life. And when he wasn’t grumpy and hollow, Ahn-Bo got along with everyone. It was impossible to dislike him. Same for Eun-Ho, really. She was too quiet and unobtrusive to dislike.
The water boiled and Jin was quick to move it off the fire and mix together a blend of herbs with two small jujubes that he cut in half before plopping into the kettle. “This should have a soothing effect for your muscles,” he said easily, setting the kettle aside to steep while he dug out two small tea cups. Jin could only imagine how sore Ahn-Bo must be after sleeping in a thin bedroll in a cave for all these months. The smell of cooked food was starting to permeate however, chasing out whatever stench had lingered before, and Jin wondered if he should tidy up now or wait. One glance at Ahn-Bo-ah and he decided to wait.
His friend still looked drawn and exhausted, but at least there was some life back in his honey-brown eyes. They flickered in the firelight, watching as Jin shuffled about, and the little vampire couldn’t help but smile as he poked Ahn-Bo-ah in the cheek playfully. “You should be thanking me for not bringing fish,” he teased lightly. “Yorisanim had prepared Maeuntang for my homecoming but I convinced him to make us Yukgaejang instead. It won’t be perfect, since it’s not fresh, but better than fish, ne?” Jin poured the tea and handed him a cup. "Drink this in the meantime," he said a little more gently. "It will help your stomach settle."
He accepted the honey cake passed to him and took a small bite. Eun-Ho made the best ones, but these were pretty good too. Idly, Jin wondered if Ahn-Bo and Eun-Ho would get along; he couldn’t imagine they wouldn’t. They were both such marked fixtures in his life. And when he wasn’t grumpy and hollow, Ahn-Bo got along with everyone. It was impossible to dislike him. Same for Eun-Ho, really. She was too quiet and unobtrusive to dislike.
The water boiled and Jin was quick to move it off the fire and mix together a blend of herbs with two small jujubes that he cut in half before plopping into the kettle. “This should have a soothing effect for your muscles,” he said easily, setting the kettle aside to steep while he dug out two small tea cups. Jin could only imagine how sore Ahn-Bo must be after sleeping in a thin bedroll in a cave for all these months. The smell of cooked food was starting to permeate however, chasing out whatever stench had lingered before, and Jin wondered if he should tidy up now or wait. One glance at Ahn-Bo-ah and he decided to wait.
His friend still looked drawn and exhausted, but at least there was some life back in his honey-brown eyes. They flickered in the firelight, watching as Jin shuffled about, and the little vampire couldn’t help but smile as he poked Ahn-Bo-ah in the cheek playfully. “You should be thanking me for not bringing fish,” he teased lightly. “Yorisanim had prepared Maeuntang for my homecoming but I convinced him to make us Yukgaejang instead. It won’t be perfect, since it’s not fresh, but better than fish, ne?” Jin poured the tea and handed him a cup. "Drink this in the meantime," he said a little more gently. "It will help your stomach settle."
![[Image: HjIYkam.png]](https://i.imgur.com/HjIYkam.png)
* Jin takes potions and enchantments at times to give his voice a persuasive quality.
His performances, or even a simple conversation, can sometimes suggest thoughts
and ideas to his audiences.