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Writers: Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 30th December 2020

Characters: Dunrik, Jayzine
Description: Dunrik and Jayzine have dinner together
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 7, day 2 of Turn 10

Jayzine

Dunrik adjusted his collar as he stood in front of the Headwoman's
door and knocked softly. He'd worn his gather best, and though it was
old, it still fit him. It may not have been in the latest fashion, but
it was what he had. He fiddled with the box in his hand; he'd not felt
so nervous in over a decade. He'd thought he'd never actively pursue a
woman again until he met Jayzine. He exhaled and waited for her to
answer.

Jayzine pulled the door open and gave him one of her very rare and
beautiful smiles. Her own dress was one of her better ones and her
daughter had given her a rather pointed look as she'd taken her
brother down to dinner with her friends. She opened the door wide to
allow him in. "Welcome Dunrik," she smiled and stepped black.

His eyes swept over her, lighting up with pleasure at the sight. She
looked beautiful, like a lady in some Harper tale and that she'd made
the effort for a simple man like him, warmed him to the core. "You
look lovely, Jayzine." Carrying in his chess set and a bottle of wine,
the small box he also carried made him look a bit awkward. "Thank
you." He set the chess set down and offered the bottle; it had cost
him in marks but he thought she might enjoy the older vintage. "For
us." He then took out the small box and almost shyly, handed it to
her. "And for you. I couldn't find any flowers late in the season, but
this one won't ever wilt."

The bottle she recognized and blinked. It was fit for a Lord's table.
"Dunrik..." she started then paused when she opened the box. It was
lovely and so life-like that she almost wanted to smell it. The
perfectly crafted lily's silver petals shone with a high polish and
she could almost see herself in them. Delicate gold stamen stood up in
the center and she'd never have to pluck them to keep them from
making her sneeze. She smiled at Dunrik. "This is beautiful," she
said. "This flower," she stroked the bluegreen sheen of the leaves
and stem, "is amazing. Thank you!"

He shifted on his feet, clearly pleased at her reaction. "I'm glad you
like it. I wanted you to have something beautiful. Something that
matches what I see in you." He knew it was extravagant, especially for
just starting to court her, but when he'd had the idea, it wouldn't
leave his mind. "Delicate, but beautiful and strong. Something
lasting."

Her eyes teared for the first time in turns and she couldn't speak for
a moment. She pressed her lips together and busied herself by going to
the mantle and pulling down the small vase there and putting the lilly
into it. She set it back on the mantle and stepped back to admire it.
"I can't thank you enough. At least let me feed you," she nodded
toward the table.

She'd been working on this recipe for turns and she thought she'd
perfected it. She planned to serve it to the Weyrleaders at the
hatching feast. "You remember the fish you gave me yesterday," she
asked as she led him toward the table.

"Of course. I've been looking forward to it. Whatever you cooked
smells wonderful. Rikol and I look forward to our meals at the dining
hall. It's quite a difference from the Hall or me cooking for him." He
was pleased at the placement of the flower and felt his chest thrust
out just a little bit at her pleasure in his gift. Moving towards the
table, he inhaled deeply. "You must have cooked it."

"Yes," she nodded toward the head of the table for him to take that
seat. She moved toward the longer side of the table. "I like to cook
when possible," she said. "The dining hall does use quite a few of my
recipes. I'm glad you like them." She didn't explain that cooking
calmed her and let her think about things while she used her hands to
nourish those around her.

"I do indeed. We both do. He's going through a growth spurt right now,
so he eats like a porcine." He didn't sit immediately, instead
deciding to open the wine and carefully pour her a glass, then
himself. "You've got a real talent for it and it's one I think
everyone appreciates. And it smells delicious. What's in it? It smells
like more than the fish and it looks amazing."

"It's a pastry wrapped around the fish and greens with a special
sauce. I baked it all wrapped up and that sort of poaches the fish
inside the pastry. You'll have to tell me if you like it." Her knife
cut into the fish shaped pastry releasing a fragrant steam and she
served a large slice onto his plate. Then she took the yellow sauce
made from egg yolks, citron and butter, and poured it over the top.
"And some steamed vegetables." She handed him the bowl and then
proceeded to cut her own slice of the fish.

An audible rumble emerged from the area of Dunrik's abdomen and eyed
the bowl with the eager relish of a large, hungry man. Before he sat,
however, he moved to pull Jayzine's chair away from the table for her
and waited until she took a seat before taking his own. "I can already
tell by the way it smells that I'll like it." He looked at his wine
glass. "I'd like to make a toast, but I'm afraid I'm not very good at
that sort of thing. The right words never seem to come."

"Don't worry Dunrik," she smiled. "I think we understand one another
well enough to know that what we say only underscores what we feel. So
just say what you feel."

Taking a breath, Dunrik cleared his throat and took a moment to try to
think of some good words. He wasn't eloquent and he was plainspoken,
so he simply said what he was thinking. "To you, Jayzine, for giving
me a chance to show you that I can be a good man for you. "

She smiled softly. "You are a good man," she replied. "I've always
thought this of you Dunrik." She lifted her own glass to chink with
his in acceptance of his toast. "May we walk this road to see where it
takes us," she added.

Her toast sounded much better than his own, but then again, she was
far better with words than he. He lightly tapped his glass against
hers, then sipped. He blinked, surprised at the niceness of the wine
he'd chosen, then set it down. As he began to eat, he looked at
Jayzine. "Perhaps a game of chess after our meal?"

"That would be delightful," she smiled. She cut into her portion of
tish and closed her eyes in appreciation. This was definitely
something she would serve to the Weyrleaders. She reached out for the
gravy bow where there was a yellow sauce and she put some on her fish
and offered it to Dunrik. "This is something my mother called Halladay
sauce. She said it was one of the mother sauces all good cooks should
know. Made with citron, egg yolks and butter. I know those are
expensive ingredients but trust me it's worth it."

Always willing to try any new food, Dunrik took the gravy bowl and
poured a little of the sauce on his fish, then took a bite. His brows
rose and he quickly poured a healthy drizzle over the rest of his
fish. "Faranth, that's good." He tucked into the food eagerly,
savoring each bite. "You certainly know how to cook. The entire Weyr
is lucky to have you." He looked up at her and his eyes gentled. "And
I'm lucky enough to be here with you."

Her eyes were gentle when she looked at Dunrik. He wasn't blood, but
he was a Master of his craft and if she'd had any doubt of that before
this it would have been cured by the beautiful flower he'd just given
her. He was honest and respectful and probably the nicest man she'd
known in her life. "Thank you Dunrik," she said after a moment. "I
enjoy your company too."

Wiping his lips with a napkin, he slowly reached out a hand towards
her. "Maybe we could do this often?" He looked down at his meal and
then back up at her. "Not just because I enjoy your cooking, because I
obviously do, but just to spend some time together. I want to know
everything you're willing to share with me."

Her eyes traveled back and forth between his for a moment before she
slowly put her hand into his. Normally people droned on and on about
themselves with little to no encouragement. Some didn't even realize
they were dominating the conversation and seemed to feel that you were
their best friend on Pern when you didn't interrupt them as they told
the same stories over and over again. Just because you listened.
"Really?" she couldn't help but ask.

His hand lightly squeezed hers. "Of course. Whatever you're willing to
share. I want to know you as more than just a Headwoman or someone
who's beautiful. I know there's more to you than those things. I want
to learn about them."

That simple offer was more precious than gold to Jayzine. She squeezed
his fingers lightly. "I want to learn about you too Dunrik," she said
with a light in her eyes. They were large and vulnerable as she gazed
at him. "My life hasn't always been difficult but it's been quite
unhappy a great deal of the time. I've made some poor choices yet, I
think the best one was coming to the Weyr."

"I'm sorry that you haven't been happy." Dunrik's eyes were
compassionate, but he didn't ask what decisions she'd made. "Maybe I
can help change that." And perhaps, one day, she'd make a good choice
in him that would make her happy; Faranth, he wanted that for her.

"Maybe you can," she nodded.

Last updated on the January 14th 2021

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