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(no subject)

Date & Time: May 10th
Location: Unit 409
Characters: Jesse & Kriem
Summary: She heads off with not only her gift in tow, but also with a thermos of soup while she goes to pay a visit to Jesse.
Warnings: na

[She had been happy with herself for getting what she did done. Her and Jake were settling into their new apartment, and she'd even managed to get some ingredients for miso soup! Not that they were the best ingredients, but the broth didn't need much.

Her steps were quiet while making her way down the hall. Kriem hadn't thought that Jesse might have moved since she last saw him before the crash. It hadn't entered her mind even while she reached up to juggle the few things in her arm before knocking on the door.

Kriem quickly hid her gift behind her back while waiting with a smile to see if Jess was home.]

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[She was positively thrilled with his reaction. Kriem handed the bear over before dropping her arms back to her sides.]

I'm so pleased you like it! [Kriem wasn't sure if he would have. Men were funny like that.] And yes, I made it just for you. I wanted to make you something special to show my appreciation. [It just took her some time to make it.]

[Jesse takes a good long moment to examine the bear, turning it this way and that and peeking inside the jacket and looking at the stitchwork. He's grinning all the while.]

It's perfect. Thank you so much, I mean it.

You are welcome, Jesse.

[She was pleased with herself. While she'd sold her bears back in Sternbild, Kriem had never actually given a bear away as a gift. There had always been those around whatever hideout that Jake and she were in, but they were ones who always helped with the chores more than anything.]

I used to make ones that were similar back in my world.

[He's wiggling the bears arms a little. Hi, was he supposed to be getting bowls or something? Because he's totally forgotten about that now.]

Yeah? Just for fun, or..?

[That's okay! The miso's in a thermos so it will remain hot for a while yet.]

Both! They used to be sold in toy stores, but I made a few for fun though. [If by fun you mean at the expense of the entire city, then yeah!]

That's so cool...

[For a fleeting moment, he gets a wistful look in his eyes, like something sad's just crossed his mind. But then he brightens again and gives Kriem another smile.]

Seriously, thanks.

[Kriem paused when she caught that look in his eyes. It left her curious, but she didn't bring it up just yet. No, that sounded like something that might be better done over miso soup instead!]

Where are your bowls?

Oh, shit. Sorry, um.

[He very gingerly props the bear on the counter so it's sitting up like a happy bear should, then grabs the bowls out of the cabinet like he originally intended, along with two spoons. With those in hand, he leads the way over to the dining table.]

[She watched him, but she said nothing more while he took out the bowls and spoons. It had been a curious reaction and one she would ask about. That's what she told herself while picking up the thermos and taking it out to where the dining room table.

Kriem uncapped the thermos before handing it over for Jesse to pour.]

Have you had tofu before?

[He shakes his head as he very carefully pours out the soup into each bowl.]

I don't think so, anyway. It's like super healthy, right?

It's quite good for you, but if you don't like the taste, you can leave it in the bowl.

[She didn't want him to be polite and eat something he didn't like! Kriem liked honesty.]

[Jesse nods, although he fully intends to pretend he likes it even if he doesn't. As he sits down, he examines the soup in his bowl much like he examined the bear: appreciatively. He sniffs it, too.]

It smells real good. So there's no noodles or anything? Just tofu and..?

[Taking her own bowl, she sat down in one graceful movement.]

Besides the soup base, I've just added some wakame, which is dried seaweed, and some spring onion.

[Kriem waited for a moment before dipping her spoon into the soup and bringing it up to her lips. She didn't mind starting to help encourage him to try it himself.]

[That all sounds quite exotic to him, though not unappetizing.]

Awesome.

[Jesse picks up his spoon, too, and stirs the soup around a little bit. He catches a chunk of tofu and shovels it into his mouth. A spark of surprise crosses his features.]

It's squishy!

[Some didn't like the texture of tofu, and his reaction had her giggling a little.]

It is! But very good for you.

[Taking another few sips, she savored the favor thinking that it was acceptable, but Kriem knew that she had to find a better base.]

The bear didn't upset you, did it?

[If the soup's lacking, Jesse doesn't notice. It's actually a lot tastier than he expected. He's scooping it into his mouth quite rapidly until she asks him that, and then he puts his spoon down and looks up guiltily, like she caught him doing something bad.]

What? No, I loved it. Seriously.

[He seemed to be enjoying it, which made Kriem happy! She always liked seeing people enjoying the things she made, even more so when they were made for them!]

You had a look in your eyes, as though you were remembering something.

[She's pushing for now, but Kriem would only do so while he let her.]

Ah...

[Jesse glances down at his soup, swirling the spoon around for a moment while he mentally wrestles with whether it's better to lie. But then:]

I was just thinking, my kid woulda loved a toy like that. That's all.

[It seemed that she had seen correctly. That look had meant something, but Kriem waited to see if he would speak of it. When he did, Kriem kept her silence. Would? Was past tense used because he was here, or because...?]

Did you lose your child?

Something like that.

[- No, that's unfair. He should own up to it.]

I left him and his mom.

[Kriem fell quiet at that. The memories of her own parents abandoning her still haunted her mind at times. Now was one of those moments even if she didn't let it take root. He had spoken part of his life, and it didn't seem much like one a child should be exposed to. Still the thought kept her quiet in thought.]

May I ask why?

It, u-um...

[It wasn't safe.

He takes a breath, watching the broth swirl around in his bowl.]

I wasn't good for him.

Was it hard?

[Kriem did what she could to keep her expression soft, to not show how much she felt towards this type of thing. She had seen the look in his eyes. Had he found it a difficult decision? Kriem knew that she was being unfair, but despite everything, one small part of her wanted to believe that her own parents had found it difficult to give her up. It was a stupid thought to have. She knew that they didn't, but there would always be that longing there.]

I'm sorry. I shouldn't be prying.

It's okay, um.

[Normally he wouldn't answer, but because he knows her story and how much this must mean to her, he doesn't want to leave her thinking like he was some deadbeat who walked away without a second thought.]

It was real hard. But, you know, people are always saying a guy like me shouldn't be around kids. I used to get mad when they said that, but they're right. He deserved someone better. Him and his mom.

[The soup went forgotten at this point, even if Kriem was gripping her spoon a little more tightly than she should have. Lowering her spoon down, she abandoned it to the bowl as her hands came to sit against her lap. Fingers rubbed over her wrists, a subtle gesture she did to reassure herself even while she tried not to show any reaction to his words.]

Then I hope that your time here in this world will teach you otherwise, Jesse.

[He wanted to be with his child and the woman he sired him with. Maybe she was trying to impress her own wish on him, but even just knowing that he wanted to be with them again was more than enough for her.]