Getting a Glimmer

Writers: Jelena, Suzee
Date Posted: 4th March 2012

Characters: Jylanya, Naton
Description: The headwoman has a surprise lunch guest
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 6, day 16 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: Veerona, K'hetah, Qorri

Jylanya

Naton was a big flirt and he really did love that. He had flirted away
happily with the various pretty ladies - and even one guy, much to his
own embarrassment - he had met since he had arrived at his new home.
Yet one lady captured his interest above all the others. He couldn't
really explain why, they had only met on occasion and ever so briefly
over his first sevendays at the Hall, but he found Jylanya to be quite
captivating. So, when he heard some of the kitchen folk discussing who
would take the meal Jylanya had asked for up to her office, he quickly
cut in. After boldly stacking up the tray with his own lunch, he took
off for the Headwoman's office with a grin on his face. Not much
later, he knocked at the door, just barely managing to balance the
tray on one hand.

Jylanya was deep in concentration with her hidework when the knock
came. "Come in," she called almost absently.

"Good afternoon, lady Jylanya," Naton said with his widest smile as he
walked into the office, still barely balancing the tray. "I have
brought you a meal and a lunch date, are you interested?"

Her eyes lit when she saw who it was and a smile of welcome spread
across her face. "Good afternoon Journeyman." She chuckled and added,
"That would be nice actually."

Seeing Jylanya's face lit up as she noticed him, only served to widen
Naton's grin as he stepped further into the headwoman's office.
"Great, because I don't deal too well with heartbreak on an empty
stomach!" Looking at her desk, he waited, not wanting to disturb her
work. "Where do you want it?"

"Over there would be good," she said laughing and pointing across the
room to her small table. There was enough room there for two and she'd
had lunch there several times with her new fosterling Veerona.

She pushed her own chair out and walked over to help him unload the tray.

"Perfect," Naton said cheerfully as he made his way to the table and
started to set out their lunch. "Busy day today, eh?" He asked as he
caught her eyes. "Keep in mind proper relaxation is just as
important!" With that he winked and turned back to the food and drinks
on the tray.

She smiled and slid into the chair just shaking her head at his
infections enthusiasm. She had to admit she'd never met anyone quite
like him. "It's always busy," she said. "But that is why I've always
worked hard to make sure things were handled." And that was the truth.
Even when she was running her former husband's small hold, she'd
dedicated herself to the work.

"Well, all work and no play can't be good for the soul," Naton grinned
as he poured a glass of fresh juice and held it out to Jylanya.
"Remind me to make you go on a playdate with me sometime, too." While
he was always a playful man, even Naton had to admit he was a little
more giddy then usual. "Though I bet that lovely fosterchild of yours
keeps you young? She's a wonderful girl." At that bit he looked more
serious, though the twinkle in his eyes didn't fade for a second.

"She is a sweet thing." Jylanya looked into his eyes that were so
playful and smiled. She refused to let the shade of her 'almost'
relationship with a bronzrider color this simple pleasure. A new
friendly face was just what she needed.

"How are you enjoying the south?"

"Oh I'm regretting not moving here turns ago," Naton said with a
decisive nod. "The people are so much friendlier than I had expected.
And the weather here is just the kind I like." He paused for a moment,
looking her in the eyes again. "Not to mention some more specific
perks."

"It is rather lovely here," she smiled. Jylanya blushed slightly at
his obvious compliment. She had to admit a certain attraction but she
was still smarting from the way K'hetah had been ignoring her so she
was a bit cautious.

"It is indeed," Naton confirmed with a grin. "And what have you been
busying yourself with today?" Even Naton knew there was such a thing
as too much flirting and he wouldn't want too make Jylanya
uncomfortable.

"Well the hidework seems never ending. That is if you want your lunch
on time every day." Jylanya chuckled. "But thank you for bringing the
food and yourself to break it up."

"It's my pleasure," Naton said earnestly as he took another bite from
his pile of food. "In all honesty, I was looking for an excuse to
spend some time with you."

She blinked. That seemed rather forward but she'd begun to acclimate
to the ways of the Hall and realized he was probably still settling in
and looking to make new friendships where he could. "You're very kind.
I enjoy your company as well."

"That is good to hear," Naton said, noting with wonder to himself how
good it made him feel to hear that. He was starting to think there may
be more potential there than some harmless flirt and the feeling was
only growing on him as he spent more time in Jylanya's company. That
thought caught him slightly off guard and for a moment he fell silent,
obviously pensive, before he shook himself awake again. "Your cooks
certainly know how to make their lunches, shards, this is good."

"I'm lucky Qorri made sure we had a good cook. She's been great
helping us get on our feet here." The Weyr's headwoman had been all
that could be called helpful and Jylanya thought of her as a friend.
They ate in companionable silence for a few moments. "So how have you
found the pod here?" She found she wanted to learn more about him,
maybe get to know him and make another friend.

"Oh, the pod is wonderful," Naton said, his eyes lighting up once
more. "I mean, all dolphins are wonderful, really, but this pod has
been especially welcoming in my opinion. There are plenty unpartnered
dolphins eager to work together on my plans, which makes my job that
much easier."

Jylanya smiled gently as his eyes lit with enthusiasm for his craft.
It was so refreshing after all those years of no more than a single
word. Leaving her small hold to come here had been the best decision
of her life. There were so many questions she wanted to ask but didn't
dare. Well, not yet anyway.

"Any in particular you enjoy working with?"

"There is a pair of younger males, they team up a lot and are real
dare-devils," Naton said with an apreciative grin. "The three of us
really hit it off, so they are usually the first in line to work with
me. I like working with the pod as a whole, too, but sometimes it
helps if you're really in tune with eachother, you know?"

She returned his smile. "It really does help." She didn't completely
explore the meaning of her agreement but this simple pleasure of
having lunch with Naton was something she'd never imagined a turn ago.
"It's pretty nice when you hit it off with another person too."

"That is, I think, the most pleasant thing of all." Naton said with a
smile. "To find someone who really gets what you are about."

"Or at least wants to try," she agreed with a warm smile of her own.

Last updated on the March 9th 2012

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Getting a Glimmer