Do You Need A Hand?

Writers: Eimi, Elaine
Date Posted: 7th December 2005

Characters: Rialine, Jio
Description: Rialine just happens to take Jio his dinner
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 8, day 25 of Turn 3

Rialine had noticed while working in the kitchen that a certain Journeymen didn't always take his meals. He saw one of the other girls start to walk away with a tray, so she carefully chased her down.

"Hey do you need a hand?" she asked, blocking the young drudge. "How about I take this, and you can head back to the kitchen. Where was this going?" She asked. This was try two of the day.

She nodded down the hall, "Jio, the office over there..." she gave her a brief look, but simply shrugged and walked back, deciding not to question. "Thanks."

She knocked on the door. "Special delivery!"

"Yes?" Jio called as he put down one corrected hide and picked up another.

Rialine took that as a possible cue to enter. She tenatively opened the door part way, bumping it open since her hands were on the tray.
"Cinale seems to think you're part of the horde that can't keep themselves fed around here," she said by way of explaination of why she was here. Her eyes quickly scanned the office. "Is she right?"

"You should know by now that Cinale is _always_ right," Jio grinned.
"But how did she get _you_ into bringing me dinner?"

"Fathers working late so I was helping out in the kitchens," she answered quite simply as she emerged fully into the office. "Is there a safe spot to put this?" she asked.

"Well..." The journeyman looked at his desk covered in hides. "Just a moment." He picked up a couple stacks and set them on the floor beside his desk. "I'm through with those ones anyway."

Rialine placed the tray carefully in the empty space, then stared down at Jio. "I was instructed to make sure you _eat_ this while its still hot."

"Our cook is sure getting strict," he laughed. "All right, let me find you a chair then." He cleared off another stack of papers and brought it over by his desk. "Have a seat and make yourself comfortable. Did you eat? Do you want some of this?"

"No thanks, I'm all set," she said, sweeping her skirts as she sat down. "I'm just here to observe," she replied with a giggle.

He opened the top of the tray and grabbed slice of bread. Cinale did make the most wonderful bread. "Observe? Me eating? That's can't be all that entertaining."

She shrugged, "Well, its a break, from work, and those gossipy kitchen girls." She giggled again. "Some of them say the most outrageous things."

"Oh?" he asked, masking his slight irritation. Jio knew only too well how the kitchen staff liked to gossip. Hopefully it wasn't about him and Miryene anymore. "I love a bit of gossip. What do they say?"

"Oh, I'm sure its rubish," she replied, but thought for a second.
"Lately its been trying to figure out how the Hall Second got hurt exactly, but even some of those ideas are a bit far fetched."

He looked up at her from behind his mug of klah. "Oh yes? What are they saying about it?"

"Theres something about a flock of wild wherries attacking people,"
she said, tilting her head in thought. "Oh, or that a band or raiders were were trying to kidnap Cinale because they needed a cook. I cannot fathom where that one came from. Then theres the more run of the mill, of why were both daigoro and Cinale out together, at night, but, those aren't so silly." She blushed a bit, recalling a few of those comments.

"Oh?" He leaned forward a bit conspiritorially. "And just what do _you_ think they were doing out late in the snow?"

"I think," she said, stalling to decide her words, "That what ever they were doing, is certainly, none of our business." But she was smiling as she said this.

Jio smiled and leaned closer. "I think that whatever they were doing...
was completely innocent." He sat back with a shrug. "I have inside knowledge. He was just escorting her while she was delivering food to a cothold after dark."

Rialine's breath paused as Jio leaned in, but then he backed away again. "Oh, and I was really hoping it was the wild wherry flock,"
she said in pretend disapointment. "You'll actually have to _come_ to dinner and help straighten the rumors out."

"Ah, but then I would be sitting with the journeymen, and they are not half as pretty as the company that brings me my dinner here," he replied with a teasing wink.

Rialine failed at her attempt to make a demure face in response.
"Welll," she said, tilting her head in thought. "I don't know, there are some quite handsome Journeymen at the Hall," she paused a moment.
She hated sounding so forward, or obvious. "Perhaps I should take your place at dinner so I can keep an eye on them?"

His eyes raised in surprise. "Well, I'm sure you're much more then journeyman's type than I am."

"Oh no, I'm just kidding," she said, dismissing her previous comment with a gesture of her hand. "I usually have dinner with my father anyways so the point is moot."

"Well, I didn't exactly think you were serious, Rialine," Jio smiled.
"After all, I'm pretty sure the journeymen wouldn't have really mistaken you for me."

"Yes, I'd have a hard time cultivating that face fuzz," she said, pointing, but not quite touching his beard.

"I don't think it would look _nearly_ so good on you," he laughed. "It offer a bit of protection in the winter, but it takes a lot of work to keep it looking his good." His fingers brushed away imaginary crumbs from his chin.

"No, it wouldn't, it'd clash horribly with my hair," she said, give her braid a stroke. "I imagine that takes a bit of work. Scarves are easier, but, not as hmmm, wahts the word? dashing perhaps I'd say?"

"Dashing? You think my beard is _dashing_?" he asked, his eyes dancing with amusement.

"Not exactly," Rialine said, trying horribly not to blush. "It just gives you a certain air?"

"Huh." He smiled as he scratched absently at his scruff. "Well, I suppose that's a good thing?"

"I bet its good for scowling at erring apprentices," she said, laughing while trying to make her own scowly face.

"Oh of course!" He growled and ripped piece of bread with his teeth.

"Ahhh!" Rialine did a fake scream, ducking behind her upheld hands.

Jio took a long swig of klah to wash the bread down. "So, do you think I could scare the apprentices with that face?"

"Anyone! Even the Hallmaster!" Rialine said, quite exageratedly.

"Perfect! Then maybe I can scare him into giving me fewer classes so I can have time for my own studies," he laughed as he set down the empty plate.

"Sounds like a plan," she said, looking down at the offensive empty plate. "I guess I'll let you get back to your studies, I'll personally tell Cinale you cleaned the plate." She said, getting up and beginning to gather the eating utensiles.

Jio nodded as he helped straighten up the tray. "Thank you for keeping me company, Rialine. And please give Cinale my compliments."

"I will!" she said, as she walked over to the door. "You don't work too late," she said waggling a finger, "Or before you know it, people will be sending people to make sure your getting some _sleep_ in addition to food."

"Well, we can't have _that_ now can we," he joked as he picked up another hide to correct.

Rialine just smiled. "Good night Jio." And with that, she left, leting the door close itself.

Last updated on the December 7th 2005

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Do You Need A Hand?