Make-Up Dinner

Writers: Aaron, Heather
Date Posted: 24th September 2019

Characters: K'don, Ranni
Description: K'don tries to make up to Ranni for missing the family dinner... Things don't go as planned.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 12, day 10 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: R'nar, Cyradis, K'deren, K'sedel

K'don

Ranni

K'don always felt lousy when he was too busy to make family dinners, and this was a particularly important one! Someone new was joining his family, and she was bringing a new niece or nephew with her. It was a very exciting time, and although K'don had heard that things were complicated, that did not stop him from feeling that he had a duty to make it up to Ranni that he had missed her dinner.

To that end, he packed up a picnic lunch and took it to the dining hall when Ranni's class was scheduled to be there. He brought all of the things a teenage boy thought was important for a weyrling lunch, and when he saw Ranni arrive, he waved excitedly to her and then ran to join her.

"Hi!" he said cheerily.

Ranni took an involuntary step backward at the approach of the stranger. Her brows bunched together as she wondered why in the name of Faranth he was so cheerful. "Uh... hi?"

K'don blinked in confusion for a moment, tilting his head. Oh, dear. Perhaps he had mistaken this incredibly similar looking person for Ranni after all.

"R-ranni, right?" he asked to confirm.

"Yes," she said slowly, as if she were contemplating whether or not the individual in front of her had brain damage or not. "And you are?"

"Sorry, I thought..." K'don was not exactly sure why he should have expected Ranni to recognize him, but somehow he had. "Nevermind. Sorry. I'm K'don, R'nar's little brother. I'm still in the weyrling wing?" he offered tentatively, hoping she might recognize him at least a little bit in that context. Though he supposed she still might never have actually seen or taken note of him. "I couldn't make it to dinner the other day, so I wanted to make it up to you."

"I, uh... I know they already have food here, but I thought it would be a little more special if I brought some for just us. Is it OK if I eat with you?" he asked, realizing that he might not be able to take that for granted after all.

R'nar had _more_ family? Ranni would never get used to the complicated, extended families in the Weyr. "You and R'nar don't look anything alike," she settled for saying, which she then realized probably sounded rude. "Uh, yeah, you can eat with me," she said, more in an effort to cover for the earlier comment than coming from a desire to actually know the boy.

"We have different dads," said K'don. "And... different moms, too, kind of. Well, I guess it's more like we have the same mom, kind of. My birth mother never really wanted me, and my second mom died, and now Cyradis is my mom, and that's his mom, too, so. Brothers!" K'don beamed as though this all made perfect sense.

He sat down across from Ranni and began unpacking the very meat-bread-and-cheese-heavy meal.

Ranni did not understand how that made K'don R'nar's brother, but she had ceased trying to understand R'nar's odd family. "My father never wanted me either, so I understand a little what that is like." She sat down with him, although she normally preferred a spot alone in the Dining Cavern. As he unpacked the food she felt her stomach twist at the sight of the meat. Meat and her pregnant stomach had not been getting along well. **Just nibble some bread,** she told herself picking up a piece.

"I'm sorry," said K'don with a sympathetic wince. It had never bothered him as far as he could remember that his mother had given birth to him and then left, but that was only because he had two other women to look up to after she had gone. Maybe Ranni had a surrogate father, but it seemed risky to ask if she did not bring it up.

Especially since it seemed just bringing it up caused Ranni to lose her appetite.

"How are your classes? Is there anything I can help with? I'm kind of an assistant right now, so I can at least talk to the people who can help I can't."

She could feel her gorge rising as the smell of the meat wafted over to her. "Uh," she stuffed bread in her mouth, hoping it would somehow settle her stomach. "Classes are fine. R'nar told K'sedel that he would help with my chores when I get to the point where I can't."

"I can do that, too!" K'don offered without hesitation. It certainly seemed that she could use some support! "I don't think K'sedel would say no."

"No, we have it covered, really," Ranni said, beginning to feel a hot flush creep up her body and make her scalp tingle. Having to deal with R'nar was difficult enough, but his smotheringly nice family was an entirely different level of awkward that she was not prepared to deal with during her pregnancy.

"Oh." K'don nodded, a bit disappointed. He looked up at Ranni for a moment. He was no human healer, but...

"Are you feeling alright?" he asked.

Ranni held a hand up to her mouth. "I'm sorry I'm feeling just a little nauseated. I seem to have morning sickness all the time and it hits whenever he wants."

"Oh!"

K'don quickly began to pack the food away, excepting Ranni's bread. It would do nobody any good if he made her vomit.

"Can I get you some water, or...?"

"No," Ranni said pushing away from the table, now little a tad green, "I'm sorry... K'don," it took her a moment to remember his name. "The thought was nice. I'm going to have to go before I...." She took a gulp of air and then dashed away from the table toward the exit.

K'don deflated as he watched Ranni go. He felt this was most definitely his fault for not being sensitive to Ranni's condition, but morning sickness was not something he had even considered.

"I'm sorry," he said to the empty seat across from him. Then he perked up as he remembered he happened to have a way to tell her so.

**Maciath. Will you please tell Sukiith to relay to her rider that I apologize for not thinking this through.**

}:I will! Sukiith! K'don is most highly sorry for his lack of forethought when it comes to the food. By your leave, I ask you tell your rider so.:{

Sukiith, not understanding the urgency or importance of the message, gave the equivalent of a dragon's shrug. }:Sure, I'll tell her.:{ she said to Maciath before turning her attention on her rider. }:Maciath's is sorry for making you puke.:{

Ranni groaned as she wiped at her mouth with a sleeve. **The Weyrwoman's family is going to be the death of me.**

Last updated on the October 14th 2019

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Make-Up Dinner