18.Sep.13, 01:00 AM
Z'jan was following her words very closely. He was, after all, a very good listener. Perhaps not the most eloquent speaker, sure... but listening. Listening was easy. Just translate the words coming out of someone's mouth and ignore everything else until they finish talking. Why so many people had trouble listening was beyond Z'jan. It was the easiest thing in the world! The only person Z'jan ever interrupted was himself.
He smiled at the girl's partially concealed amusement. He liked to make people laugh. And seeing a touch of humor, even just a hint of a smile rise to her cheeks, made Z'jan smile as well. He was like a mirror; he had no choice but to reflect people's emotions. At least the good ones...
If he was a canine, his tail would have been banging against the table. And though he was human, he still had yet to sit down properly at the table like a civilized human being. Instead he shifted legs, kneeling on his left leg now, his right one bunched up between his body and the table, knee pointing upright next to his chest.
Aeldan's pause had Z'jan leaning forward to the point where his face was almost hovering over his tray. It took him a second of watching her awkwardly chew to realize his own awkwardness. With a slight cough, he leaned back, assuming his previous, more dignified position... if it could be called that.
"Going to be? You're old enough!" Wait. That was something you don't talk to women about. Age. Stupid. Stupid Z'jan. "Don't get me wrong! I mean you're young and all. But not... too young?"
Talking was dumb. This time it was Z'jan's turn to put food into his face to keep it from making more noise. He chewed absently. Looked around the room. Looked back at Aeldan. He held her eyes for a moment, or as long as she would let him. Then he gave a small, one shouldered shrug. A sheepish smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
He was absolutely, undeniable, unabashedly at a loss for what to say. But instead of finding this mortifying, he seemed to find it bashfully funny.
"So..." the smile got a little bigger, before he forced it back into a more subtle curve, "do you....uh. Like..."
"...stuff?"
He smiled at the girl's partially concealed amusement. He liked to make people laugh. And seeing a touch of humor, even just a hint of a smile rise to her cheeks, made Z'jan smile as well. He was like a mirror; he had no choice but to reflect people's emotions. At least the good ones...
If he was a canine, his tail would have been banging against the table. And though he was human, he still had yet to sit down properly at the table like a civilized human being. Instead he shifted legs, kneeling on his left leg now, his right one bunched up between his body and the table, knee pointing upright next to his chest.
Aeldan's pause had Z'jan leaning forward to the point where his face was almost hovering over his tray. It took him a second of watching her awkwardly chew to realize his own awkwardness. With a slight cough, he leaned back, assuming his previous, more dignified position... if it could be called that.
"Going to be? You're old enough!" Wait. That was something you don't talk to women about. Age. Stupid. Stupid Z'jan. "Don't get me wrong! I mean you're young and all. But not... too young?"
Talking was dumb. This time it was Z'jan's turn to put food into his face to keep it from making more noise. He chewed absently. Looked around the room. Looked back at Aeldan. He held her eyes for a moment, or as long as she would let him. Then he gave a small, one shouldered shrug. A sheepish smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
He was absolutely, undeniable, unabashedly at a loss for what to say. But instead of finding this mortifying, he seemed to find it bashfully funny.
"So..." the smile got a little bigger, before he forced it back into a more subtle curve, "do you....uh. Like..."
"...stuff?"