A low moan filled the air of the Datu household. Jarek had pounced upon the smorgasbord of sweets like a wild cat at a fresh kill. Sisu and Pranee had watched intently as their guest commenced with the feast, and feast he did. Jarek spared not a single crumb, becoming a whole different sort of creature as he gorged himself. By the time it was over, neither sister had any words to say.
Jarek moaned once more, placing his claws upon his rather enlarged gut, "I...am...stuffed!" Jarek declared before bursting with a hiccup followed by a soft burp.
Pranee put a claw to her lips and giggled, while Sisu looked on disapprovingly, finally finding the words to say, "Geeze Skippy have you no shame?"
Smacking his lips, Jarek pat his belly sleepily, "To answer your question Ms. (Hic) Datu," Jarek hiccuped, "That would be a definite "no"."
"Really? I mean at this point it would serve you right if you got an acute attack of indigestion," Sisu scolded.
Jarek burped again, melting into a chuckle, "Trust me, sister, my gut's been preparing for this day and it performed well," Jarek rubbed his stomach proudly.
"Oh come on Sisu, I thought it was kind of cute, just look at him all dopey and lethargic," Pranee cooed.
Letting out a laugh, Jarek reclined in his position, "See? She gets it. Not you though," He said pointing to Sisu, "You're no better than my sister!"
Sisu eyed Jarek curiously at the mention of the word "sister" but didn't address it, "Well I take it you're going to pass out about now eh?"
Jarek let out a yawn, "Yeah a nap sounds good, you mind grabbing me some pillows?"
Gritting her teeth ever so slightly, Sisu put aside her irritation and said, "Sure, um Pranee can I speak to you in private?"
Pranee glanced over at Jarek who already had his eyes closed and would certainly lapse into slumber soon, "Sure Sis."
The two dragons traversed into the hallway, out of Jarek's earshot.
"Look Sis, I know you're trying to reach his heart through his stomach, but please don't turn my student into a butterball!" Sisu chided.
"Butterball?" Pranee said in confusion, but then she perked up, "Actually he might look really cute with a tummy."
"What? You plan on giving him a Ba Bod once you hook up with him or something?" Sisu asked.
"Well since you mention Ba, the idea-"
"Look Pranee! I get you don't want to die single, but what's that human saying, something about counting your eggs or something?"
"I'm not sure that's how the saying goes Sisu," Pranee noted.
"Look, the point is I think we need to start planning his meals out in a more healthy-minded situation. You know? Like those lunches, Ma made for us?" Sisu reminded.
That thought brought along childhood memories, pleasant ones where they were all together as a family. And in that instant, they felt sad. But the past was the past.
"Okay Sis, I gotcha," Pranee relented.
"Thanks," Sisu smiled, "I'll make the lunches but if you wanted to sneak in a little dessert I won't mind."
"Something simple right?" Pranee asked.
"Yeah like a teeny tiny piece of candy," Sisu said placing her claw digits together.
Letting out a little laugh, Pranee said, "Why do I get the feeling you are going to go all out with his lunches?"
"Come on, you know I'm not the flashy one in the family," Sisu admitted.
"And there you go putting yourself down again, honestly I don't know why you do that?" Pranee said with some exasperation.
Sisu didn't answer, she knew her sister was right but she didn't want to go into long-winded reason as to why.
"Fine, but the message is loud and clear, I'll let you feed him," Pranee further relented.
Tiptoeing back into the kitchen, Sisu was momentarily startled by a loud snore. There sleeping peacefully was a nice and bloated Jarek. Sisu couldn't help but grin to herself.
"With how much he ate, I doubt I'll be feeding him for a while," Sisu chuckled before going off to get Jarek a pillow.
At that moment, Jarek didn't care about anything. His overstuffed stomach fully pushed his mind down into slumber. All he could do was wait to see what tomorrow would bring. And indeed Jarek did sleep for a good long while. He couldn't tell how long it had been when he awoke, but when he did, he noticed his large belly had shrunken down.
Rubbing the spot, Jarek gave a small grin, "Dang, digestion works fast,"
"Fast nothing, you were out the entire day, it's morning."
There stood Sisu, looking down at the former human with a disapproving glance.
"Morning Ms. Datu," Jarek chuckled.
"Morning yourself Skippy. Have a fun night?" She asked.
"Oh, the best! Man, I'm never going to forget a feast like that! Haven't eaten that well in my entire life!" Jarek boasted before letting out a burp, "Oh, had a little one leftover," Glancing down at his gut he patted it, "Stomach put in some overtime."
The new dragon's stomach had shrunken down to its original size. Sisu wasn't sure if it was a fluke, a side effect of whatever magic had transformed him into a dragon, or just a natural procedure of dragon digestion. Sisu wouldn't know of the latter as she had never pigged out as Jarek did. Least from what she didn't remember. She had always had an average appetite, even as a child. The fact she wasn't fat showed she hadn't overeaten or at least got enough exercise to work off any added calories. But Jarek she got the impression was not used to full meals.
"Whooo, man I'm starving! What's for breakfast?" Jarek sighed.
That brought Sisu to her next point.
"I already ate, but for you, porridge," Sisu stated.
Hearing that made Jarek frown, "What? Couldn't your sister bake up some of those treats again? I could eat another mountain's worth."
"That's what I'm afraid of," Sisu remarked, going over to a nearby cooking pot.
A smell wafted from the pot itself. Sisu stirred it before pouring some of the contents into a bowl.
"We've got to set some ground rules, Skippy," Sisu stated.
"Such as?" Jarek curiously asked.
"Well for one, no stuffing yourself silly anymore!" Sisu chided.
"Don't exaggerate, I didn't eat that much," Jarek likewise chided.
"Didn't eat much? If someone looked at you yesterday they would have asked "when's the baby due?"," Sisu said putting on her best deep-voiced faux voice, one she had used before back when Raya had revealed the Dragon Gem was shattered.
"I thought dragons laid eggs?" Jarek asked.
"We do, I'm just saying," Sisu said plopping the filled bowl down, "So from now on I'm in charge of your meals, starting today!"
Jarek got up, and gazed upon the meal before him, "Looks appetizing," He remarked with a grimace as he noticed a bubble rise and pop.
"Trust me it's good for you, so you'll thank me later," Sisu said handing Jarek a spoon.
Jarek took it and without much choice, he submerged it, raising it and putting the contents within his mouth. He chewed for a bit, bathing his tongue before swallowing. As it slid down his throat, his expression became one of approval.
"Alright, I admit, it's not bad," Jarek admitted, "Kind of reminds me of what my mother used to make."
"Well I'm glad I met your Mama's standards," Sisu proudly remarked as she sat down.
"So are you going to just sit there and watch me eat?" Jarek asked suspiciously.
"Just want to make sure you're finishing it," Said Sisu.
"Don't worry, I plan to, might go for seconds," Jarek laughed.
"Not on my watch Skippy," Sisu warned, "Trust me, the way you shovel down sweets we'll have to change your nickname to "Stompy"."
"Stompy?" Jarek repeated.
"Yeah, you'll get so fat you'll be stomping around everywhere. Or we could change it to "Rolly" as I'd probably have to roll you around everywhere," The dragoness chuckled.
Jarek snorted a bit of laughter as well, "What is it with you and nicknames?"
"Why not? Nicknames are more interesting," Sisu declared.
"Okay let's give you one then...how about it "Noodle"?" Said Jarek.
Sisu narrowed her eyes and gave an unamused look, "Really? Noodle? You think you're original for thinking that up?"
Jarek flashed a smarmy and proud grin and rubbed his claw against his chest.
"Wow, makes me wonder if you were a comedian when you were human?" Sisu asked.
"Nah I worked with my hands," Jarek retorted.
"Hands? How so?" Sisu inquired.
Jarek paused, realizing what he had just said. His eyes darted left and right before he rubbed the back of his maned head, "Oh well I...I was you see, handling goods and-"
"You mean like a merchant?" Sisu suddenly asked.
"Yes!" Jarek blurted, "I am, I "was" a merchant! Yes, a merchant, that's it," Jarek's last sentence fragment was mumbled. Good for him as Sisu didn't pick up on it.
"Wow! The only merchants I met were in Talon, and trust me, they do not like the concept of credit," Sisu recalled her time in Talon, and of how she nearly was turned to stone. Thankfully things in Talon were better, least during her last visit.
"Yeah, people in my homeland sure do love to bargain," Jarek recalled.
"Ah, so you were a Talon merchant? I can see it," Sisu noted, "You have that Talon air about you. And you have family there right?"
"Family?" Jarek asked curiously.
"Yesterday after you pigged out, you mentioned you had a sister," Sisu reminded.
Jarek thought back, and in the recesses of his mind, which at the time had been clogged by the euphoria his overstuffed stomach had given him. He did recall he mentioned his sister.
"Yeah, her name is Rapi. We're twins," Jarek stated.
"Who's the oldest?" Sisu pressed.
"She is," Jarek answered.
"So that makes you the baby of the family?" Sisu jested.
"Yeah it does I guess," Jarek sighed, "I also have a niece."
Sisu let out an audible gasp, "A niece? So that means your an uncle?" Jarek nodded, "Uncle Jarek, it has a nice ring to it!"
"Thanks, little Padi's crazy about me if I do say so myself," Jarek remarked that last bit of info rather proudly.
"I've always wanted to be an aunt," Sisu said longingly, "But sadly none of my brothers and sisters have tied to knot yet."
"Kind of surprised, I mean your sisters aren't badly looking, and your brothers could have any girls they wanted it seems," Jarek noted.
"Eh Amba's not interested in girls or boys for that matter, and Pengu, well I doubt he'll be getting a girlfriend anytime soon...his barn door doesn't swing that way if you catch my drift?" Jarek flashed a momentary look of surprise, "Pranee and Jagan I could see, but Pranee is kind of going for any guy who likes her baking, and Jagan only has eyes for our cousin Reela."
Jarek's eyes widened at the mention of Pranee, but he paid it no mind, either because he was focused on other things, or it just went over his head completely, but his thoughts were on something else.
"I really hope I get to see my family again," Jarek lamented, "When I left home my sister and I didn't leave on good terms, least not completely."
"You two had a fight?" Sisu asked.
"Yeah, we made up...kind of, she just thinks I need to pick a different line of work," Jarek admitted, "She thinks it's too dangerous."
"What could be dangerous about being a merchant?" Sisu said bewildered, "I mean it's not like you traveled when the Druun were around right?"
"Actually, I did," Jarek clarified.
"Seriously!?" Sisu exclaimed, "And you got away without being turned to stone?" Jarek once more flashed a proud grin, "That's so awesome, I mean the fact my human friends managed to make it, it's possible, but a merchant?"
"What can I say? I'm the luckiest man in Kumandra," Jarek boasted, but then as he took note of his altered form once more, he added, "Almost lucky."
"Still I can see why your sis would want you to change careers, those were dangerous times to live in," Sisu noted.
"Yeah, they were, but the Druun were easy to get around, just had to stick near water, keep water on you, and keep your spirits up," Jarek listed his steps for Druun free travel.
"I bet you've been all around Kumandra haven't you?" Sisu's question was one of awe and wonder.
Jarek basked in the curiosity given to him, it honestly reminded him of his niece.
"Well we've talked long enough, finish up your breakfast so we can get back to your lessons," Said Sisu, "We still need to work on your flying."
Jarek spooned another mouthful of his porridge. It had cooled somewhat, but the taste hadn't lessened.
As he swallowed he simply muttered, "Whatever you say, Ms. Datu."
He continued with his meal and soon after joined Sisu outside. Of course, there was the nagging feeling his little lie about his profession might bite him in the rear. But what harm would it be? It wasn't as if anyone would look into the theft at Heart.
Right?
A/N: Okay, apologies this took too long to post. But recently I've been participating in Nanowrimo this month, so that has been eating into my time a lot. However, a friend did some math and figured out the exact word count I would have to do each day to reach my goal. Now the scene with Jarek at the start was inspired by two sources: One being the adaptation of Red Riding Hood from the old show Happily Ever After Fairy Tales for every child, and Charlotte's Web. The 1973 film that is.
Jarek I could see being voice by BD Wong, and BD Wong voiced the wolf in that particular version of Red Riding Hood, and Jarek is totally channeling Templeton. If anything I tried to reference both sources.