Date Night

Two bags of meat sat on the counter. One for human consumption and one that sated the hunger of a Wendigo.

Dyani Jones had already meticulously cleaned everything in the small dorm she was assigned, but she was dusting a immaculate corner anyways because Soren was coming over. It had to be sparkling. The small kitchen that sat in the corner had also been cleaned until it shone, but she ran in there next, making sure one bag was clearly marked "Pork". The other, "Human". Yes, the stove was clean. Yes, everything was put away. But what about-

Knock knock

Cooling her nerves, she strode to the door and opened it, the involuntary smile that her half-angel boyfriend brought to her face shining immeaditly. "Come in, Soren" she said quietly, offering to take one or more of the bags so she could place them on the counter. Dyani wondered what he was thinking of preparing, since he had almost certainly never prepared human meat before. If he would ask her, she knew literally hundreds of ways to prepare it, since she had been forced to hide it as edible meat several times during hiding.

Dyani seemed to glow slightly with happiness as Soren entered, cheerfully taking the pans in her arms and setting them down on the stove. Returning his welcoming kiss, she stood and listened to him explain how he had arrived. She pictured him trying to fly with all the things he had carried in, and was vaguely bemused by the mental picture as she watched him look around her little dorm.

It was cozy, warm and furnished just enough without extravagance. The only decoration was a medium sized painting of a forest over her bed, reminding her of her real home. Trees surrounded the little glen in the picture, it was beautiful and if one looked closely it would appear that the signature was in a Native American language.

She nodded as Soren explained what he was planning to cook, it made sense to try and cook the meat with vegetables. It was really something of an honor to have someone cook for her, especially cook her favorite food. Most would be horrified at the mere though that she ate human meat, not to mention unwilling to be near her when she was eating it. Soren was supportive to such a degree that he was willing to prepare it for her, which made her heart ache a little with the sheer kindness of the gesture.

Tilting her head in confusion, she wondered what he had forgotten. Dyani smiled into their kiss and closed her eyes, the green orbs of light widening in surprise at Soren as she looked down at the necklace. It was beautiful. "Th-thank you so much" she managed, blushing and looking up at him with amazement and joy. He continued to shock her with his thoughtfulness and goodness, making her wonder how she had deserved such a person. Dyani rotated it gently, placing the deer charm in the center of the necklace and letting the other charms lay on either side.

The Wendigo stood there for a moment, just leaning her head softly on his shoulder and considering how incredibly nice it was to have contact with others after all. The slight cold of the ornaments on her chest felt surprisingly nice, a physical reminder of Soren's fondness and loyalty. As they kept still for what seemed like both an eternity and mere moments, Dyani was grateful she had given someone a chance to get past her frozen exterior. Living in a mental shell for that long had isolated her in ways she had not thought possible.

As Soren made his way into the kitchen and got to work, she bustled to set the small table that she had procured for the room. It was little more than a set-up table and two plastic chairs, but she had a red tablecloth on it and had procured white cushions for the chairs. Earlier she had gone shopping, with the shocking realization that she had nothing home-like about her supposed home. It was barren. A trip to a thrift store and a furniture store later (she had barely escaped the thrift store out of pure absorbing curiosity, because human curios were weird) she had a normal looking human girl room. The painting was the only thing she hadn't bought. Although no one would be able to get her to admit it, she had painted it herself. Living for as long as she had left her with a lot of time on her hands to learn a skill or two.

"I'm sure you're very talented" Dyani replied in her quiet, oddly accented tone. She had faith in his abilities as a cook, not only because he was modest but because he had been willing to take on cooking human meat. Most would shrink from the challenge of cooking a new (and odd) meat. When Soren mentioned camping, she nodded vehemently. "That makes sense. I do love the outdoors" she said, picturing trying to get along perfectly with Soren's mother for that long of a time. Maybe. In the name of nature, possibly.

Dyani raised her eyebrows slightly. "Cooking is one of the most important talents. It is not only an art, but a science and a necessity" she added to his denial of her complement. She herself was something of a good cook, having to cook for herself almost all her life. Someone else doing the cooking was odd, a new level of trust she was giving Soren that she would allow no one else.

Oh, he had moved her chair for her. Dyani flushed and smiled like the schoolgirl she appeared to be, absolutely flummoxed by the gesture. She sat, moving in the dignity that she had adapted in the 60s, when pulling out one's chair had been more fashionable. If she considered it, she would find that she had envied the girls who had their chairs moved for them. Of course, she usually thought she was above that kind of thinking, so she had dismissed it. Soren continued to amaze her with everything he did, with his selflessness and lack of self worth. "You are a nephilim and without blemish, Soren. So kindhearted and good" Dyani said, with honestly and in her soft tone. "I am... a literal monster. It is an honor you even deign to spend time with me" she added, marveling at the delicious pile of vegetables and meat set before her. She took a tentative bite, then her face lit up and she nodded shortly before finishing so she could speak. "This is really delicious" she said, reveling in the flavors and tact with which the dish had been executed.

Interlacing her fingers in Soren's as he took her hand, Dyani nodded resignedly. She would listen to her favorite half angel telling her she wasn't an abomination, wasn't a plague on the Earth that had almost been wiped out. It would take more than just words though, just to convince her she wasn't. Maybe Soren was the only person in the universe who was capable of convincing her eventually, since he was the only one she had trusted since her youth. There would be no trusting anyone if Soren let her down, not ever again. This was likely the first and last time.

"It's very good. What's your favorite thing to cook?" she asked, eating another bite and wondering at the flavors. It was incredible he had done such a good job with preparing it, and that was quite the complement coming from a Wendigo. They were the worst human meat critics around.