Can't Walk Away

Writers: AL, Devin
Date Posted: 2nd August 2008

Characters: Jerroll, Edele
Description: Edele tells Jerroll her decision.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 11, day 4 of Turn 4

Edele took a deep breath and knocked upon the door. It was time to tell him of her decision. It had been a long and hard choice to take, but a choice she had to make. She waited until she was given leave to enter, then moved through the door and closed it behind her. "Hello Jerroll."

"Hello." He kept his expression neutral.

"I need to talk to you." She moved forward, drawing nearer to him.
"About my decision."

"Alright." He stood up from his small desk. "Would you like something to drink?"

"No, I'm fine." Edele slowly slid down into a chair. "So...I suppose I should let you know what I've decided."

"Yes." He took a glass and small bottle from his cabinet.

Edele watched Jerroll for a moment, letting the silence descend and get comfortable before disturbing it again. "I've decided to stay."

He let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. "Good." He poured himself a small drink. "Are you sure you don't want a drink?"

"Well...I guess I'll partake." One wouldn't hurt. "Don't get me wrong, Jerroll. I don't necessarily agree with all the practises but..." Her expression softened, "But you have all been so kind to me. Have helped me, made me feel like I'm part of a great big, if a bit odd, family of sorts. I couldn't walk away from that." Especially since she had no idea who her real family was.

He smiled as he took out a second glass for her. "I'm glad you can't.
I'd miss you. And everyone would miss your cooking."

The woman laughed softly and took the glass from Jerroll once it was offered. "So that's all I'm good for, my cooking, hm?"

"I suppose you're not bad company, either." He sat back down.

"I'm glad to hear it." Edele took a sip from the glass, wincing a bit at the bitterness, but taking another sip before adding, "I would hate that I was boring you all to tears."

"Not at all." He chuckled. "I've heard nothing but good things about you from the crew."

"Really?" Edele rested her elbow upon Jerroll's desk and leaned her chin upon her hand. "What sort of things?"

He took a sip. "That you're a kind woman, easy to talk to, and gracious."

"Keep talking like that and you're liable to get something out of it."
Edele laughed and managed to get down another sip of the drink.
"Maybe I'll bake you a cake."

"You'd have to bake enough for the whole crew. They're the ones saying such nice things about you."

"Ah, so the feeling isn't shared by you?"

"You asked what the crew said about you." He hid his smile behind his glass and took another sip.

"Perhaps I should ask, then," Edele stated dryly, eyeing the man, "How the first mate feels."

"Ahh ... now the pressure's on," he said. "The first mate agrees with the crew, although he would add that you lend a certain ... civility, a hominess to the ship."

"I'm assuming that this is a good thing."

He chuckled. "Yes."

"Oh good." Edele's fingers played idly at the glass. "I'd hate to disappoint you."

Jerroll gave her a warm smile. "I think you'd have to try very hard to disappoint me."

Edele returned the smile with one of her own. "I'll certainly try hard not to."

Last updated on the August 3rd 2008

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Can't Walk Away