Cake To Date

Writers: Chelle, Mirren
Date Posted: 14th May 2012

Characters: Nikhan, Sarban
Description: Nikhan brings Sarban a cake for his birthingday and the two of them hatch a plan.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 8, day 10 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: Lisadi, Felyna

It was his birthingday, but he hadn't planned anything now that Lisadi was gone. Sighing, he finished off his mug of klah and headed to his office. There was always something to do at least so he could forget by burying himself in work. Now that they were trying to get the other settlements back online after so long, he sometimes forgot to sleep after days of interviewing possible settlers.

Nikhan didn't usually have the time to make cakes for individual birthing days, but he liked to when he could fit one in. This was one of those days. It wasn't the most exciting cake or the most complicated, but he let it cool, iced it and put it on a plate. Carrying it carefully, he took it to the steward's office and knocked on the door.

"Aye?" came the usual call. Sarban was knee deep in klah and survey reports. It wasn't exactly the most exciting of mornings, but at least it was predictable.

Nikhan pushed the door open and stepped inside. "I just brought you a little something to help you celebrate your birthingday," he said, putting the cake on the desk. "It's nothing much, but..." he shrugged.

For a moment he was quiet. Out of everyone, the baker had remembered. He didn't really feel like celebrating but he did feel grateful to Nikhan for the gesture. "No..thank you. What..kind is it?" He gave an experimental sniff but couldn't quite figure it out from that.

"Berry and sweetened cream," Nikhan said. "But if you don't want it, I'm sure I can find someone who will." He'd seen more enthusiasm in people before Threadfall.

"No....I want it. I was just surprised. I guess with her gone I just expected to not do anything, you know?" She had been the first person to pay attention to him and now that she was gone, he planned on just going back into the woodwork again. It was hard to explain really.

Nikhan shrugged. "Just because no one remembered mine doesn't mean I can't remember other people's birthingdays."

"When was yours?" He had never had cause to add Nikhan's birthingday to his calendar. Then again, if the man was going to reciprocate with tasty treats, perhaps he should. Scooting around, he began to look for something to eat it with.

"Don't worry about it," Nikhan said with a sigh. "it's just another day." He reached into his pocket and pulled out the fork he'd put in there for this purpose. He handed it over.,"I should get back to work."

"You sure? Don't think I can eat this all myself. And if anyone asks, I'll tell them we were discussing business. Like whether or not you plan to take on any new apprentices I need to find housing for." Sarban's brow rose and his slightly devious streak could be seen.

"Now that you mention it, I could use a new apprentice or two," Nikhan agreed. "But the cake is all yours."

"Ah hm..any prospects? Maybe some of the children out at the minor holds?" Fortunately, the bakercraft was able to take on female apprentices since it was traditionally womens' work anyway so that helped with possibilities.

Nikhan shrugged. "Apparently baking isn't glamorous enough. I suppose because it's something people do from day to day, they don't really think of it as a craft, as such." He sighed. Once upon a time people found crafting a noble thing.

"Hmmm...could be a way for some of them to get away from home, though, and come to the main hold. You should ride out with me sometimes to meet some of them." It might be easier for the fathers to know their sons were going into the care of a capable looking baker. "Probably wouldn't hurt to bring a sample either so they can figure out how useful it would be to have a trained baker back at their holds."

"At this point I'd be happy to happy to find someone who was cute," Nikhan looked apologetic. "Sorry, I guess I'm just feeling my age. I figured I'd be married by now," he sighed.

"Yeah well didn't we all?" He sighed, then started to chew and swallow his bite of the cake. "And instead here we are, alone. I would recommend no relationships with people you work with, though. However, when we go hold riding, you might find a girl that catches your eye. Fathers like skilled craftsmen." And of course, Sarban might just look a little himself, though he knew most of them by now.

Nikhan smirked. "Yes, but can you imagine what fathers think of unmarried men who spend their days in the kitchen? Suffice to say they think I'd be better suited to Weyrlife."

"Ah hmmm...several holds have male cooks and they marry?" He hated to correct Nikhan but there had to be a woman out there for him. If there wasn't, then there might not be one out there for Sarban and he'd be shelled if he'd go after some little girl like a wherry holding its claws open.

"Yes, but they would have to, wouldn't they? It doesn't help that the women in the kitchens think of me as one of the girls. And here I am bringing you cake. It's not really helping my reputation any," Nikhan smiled wryly.

"Well....I can't control what the women of the kitchens think, but maybe I can get you a dinner appointment with a woman perhaps. Give me a few days." He started running through the bunch in his mind.

"A blind date?" Nikhan frowned. "Aren't those just for people who look like runner's back ends?" He didn't happen to think he fit that description.

"Not always. Sometimes they can be good. And if you don't want my help there's always asking Lady Felyna. Matchmaking is her personal specialty." He almost regretted not letting her do what she wanted when he'd chosen Lisadi.

"No, no. I don't want to end up married out of obligation to anyone. I know you won't pressure me, but women..." Nikhan shook his head. "When they get an idea in their head, they won't let go!"

A slow smile spread across his face. "Our Lady Holder can be persistent aye."

"Maybe being single isn't so bad," the baker conceded.

"In some respects aye...but when you get to be my turns and you don't have someone to talk to about your day and you always come home to empty quarters..it gets sort of old," he ruefully admitted. Sarban had had his fun-his seafaring single days. Now he was ready for something different.

Nikhan nodded. "Of course there are other benefits. For me, it'd be nice to share the cooking." He smiled. "Faint hope of that I suppose, I'd still end up doing it."

"I was just about to say that," Sarban agreed, though it might not be true. Or maybe they could cook together or something. That could be good.

"You know we're getting old when neither of us mentioned sex," Nikhan added, smirking.

"I can get that now...there are some widows....that are accommodating." Indeed there was no way the steward would have gone that long without that particular pleasure. He'd had too much fun during his sailing turns.

"Now I _know_ I've spent too much time in the kitchens," Nikhan said, frowning. "Maybe I need a career change."

"Honestly I think you just need to get some woman hooked on your pie. Women and pie....well that's a strange relationship I'm not even going to touch. Not by a longshot." He took his last bite of the piece he'd cut and leaned back in his chair. "Want to have dinner with a widow hm?" Obviously he could arrange that.

"Well, maybe an introduction," Nikhan agreed cautiously. There was no point having expectations of anything more.

Going back to eating another slice, Sarban began to think about the possibilities. The steward knew a few who would probably be easy to convince.

Last updated on the May 28th 2012

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Cake To Date