To That Special Man

Writers: Dana, Eimi
Date Posted: 25th July 2005

Characters: Daigoro, Cinale, Colyn
Description: Daigoro and Cinale end up having dinner together in the Dining Hall... with helpful Unlce Colyn
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 7, day 4 of Turn 3

Cinale

Daigoro adjusted his tunic before he strode into the kitchen. He didn't know why he suddenly felt like an adolescent again! Putting on his most carefree smile he strode in. "All right, Cinale, I'm here to escort you to the dining hall."

At the sound of his voice, she looked up from organizing her spices. "So, hon, you remembered, did you?" she grinned as he approached.

"Well, to be honest, Wort reminded me when he started pecking at my sleeve." Daigoro chuckled. "Sometimes I wondering if it's just a coincidence or if the little bronze remembers my appointments better than I do!"

"I have a feeling he just might! Especially when it comes to meals." She gave him a mock frown of disapproval. "It's a very sad day indeed when a man's firelizard remembers more than the man himself!"

"Well, in that case, my life has been full of sad days over the last ten turns." He smiled. "But I hope good company can brighten things up a bit." Daigoro offered the cook his arm. "Shall we?"

Cinale grinned at him as she accepted his arm. "Yes, let's," she chuckled. "So tell me, how is that little rascal of a fire-lizard of yours, hmm? I haven't seen him for a while."

"He's already found a favorite perch in my office. I think he's settling in there well. Though I am told he still visits my old classes from time to time." Daigoro smiled at the thought of his little pet. He had truly grown fond of the little bronze over the turns.

"He's a sweet creature," she smiled, glancing out of the corner of her eye at him.

"Well, you know, I trained him myself." The Hallsecond grinned as he lead her into the dining hall.

"I know you did. It was a double compliment, hon." She paused to take a good look at the dining hall - and all the people! She had forgotten how many occupants there were in Vinter Hall - which was rather silly of her, seeing as how she _cooked_ all the food the masses ate!

Daigoro watched her reaction. He could almost read her thoughts as she looked around the room. Leaning closer, he said, "I wonder if you could ever be content cooking for only one man after feeding so many for so long."

"Hmm... I don't know," she replied thoughtfully, her eyes still scanning the place. "Cooking for you all and cooking for just one man both have their pros and cons."

"Well, perhaps you will be lucky and you will find a man that will let you do both, if that is what you want to do." He gave her a little wink before leading her further into the room. "I believe as Hallsecond I'm allowed to sit up at the front, though I'm not much for ceremony in that kind of thing. Still, I suppose it is expected of me."

"In _front_?" The words were out before she could stop them, and she grinned a little guiltily. Cinale liked to stay behind the scenes...and sitting up front was definitely _not_ behind the scenes.

"Or perhaps we can find someone to sit with?" He said helpfully. Daigoro didn't like the idea of sitting so far front either. There were too many interesting people to talk to elsewhere.

They didn't have to look for long before a voice hailed them from the corner of the room. "Cinale! Finally, you've decided to visit the place where they _eat_ the food! Come over here, girl!"

She rolled her eyes at her uncle's teasing, but she was grinning as she waved. To Daigoro she said, "_That_ would be my uncle Colyn. Shall we join him?"

"I would love to meet one of your relatives." Daigoro said, surprised she had never mentioned him before.

"Come on then," she smiled as she began pulling him gently over to where Colyn was sitting. "Enjoying the meal, Uncle?" she asked with an expectant grin.

Colyn grinned and stood up to pull a chair out for Cinale, leaning down to kiss her fondly on the cheek. "Of course I am, dear."

"Good." Cinale looked at her companion. "Colyn, this is my friend, Daigoro. He's the one who convinced me to leave my lair and come out here tonight."

"Master Colyn, I've heard of your work of course." Daigoro offered the man his hand. "I just didn't know you were so advantageously connected to our cook!"

Colyn laughed, shaking Daigoro's hand. "And I didn't know my little niece was so advantageously connected to our new Hallsecond. I'm glad you're both here... I've been wanting to talk to you, Daigoro."

Cinale sat down in the offered chair and looked from Daigoro to her uncle, an amused smile playing at her lips.

Daigoro took the seat opposite Colyn as he said, "Of course. What did you want to speak with me about? Or would you rather wait until after the meal to talk shop?"

"Oh, after the meal." Colyn winked at Cinale. "After all, we don't want to bore my girl! Especially now that you've finally lured her out of the kitchens."

"I like it there, Uncle," she grinned. "It gives me peace of mind."

"Actually, I think she just likes to watch and make sure that I eat." Daigoro said, rolling his eyes dramatically.

"That's Cinale," Colyn replied, pulling over a basked of bread. "She's been feeding the rest of us since she was a young girl... and as bossy about it as her mother ever was." Colyn grinned at Daigoro. "Her mother was my younger sister... but you never would have known from the way the girl ruled over me!" Reaching over to tug on Cinale's braid, the Master Vintner smiled fondly at Cinale. "Her daughter's been doing the same thing to me since she learned how to toddle."

She shook her finger at him, a tolerant grin lifting her lips. "You _know_ that you need me to toddle. It's a good trait I inherited from Mama. Very good. And it keeps people like you two well and _fed_."

"I don't think anyone but you would have thought I was starving." Daigoro chuckled as he patted his stomach, which he had to admit he seen firmer days.

"I never said you were starving yourself, hon. But you _do_ need to eat." She glanced at her uncle. "_Both_ of you."

Daigoro rolled his eyes in mock annoyance. "There is no arguing with this woman, is there."

"You can try," Colyn replied, reaching for the dinner rolls and putting two on his plate. "My wife raised her though, and if there's one thing I've learned over the turns, it's that arguing with either of them is a waste of time."

She just smiled sweetly at him. "But I always make an effort to listen to your side and try to understand the logic behind your reasons. You know that."

The Hallsecond just smiled to see Cinale interacting with her uncle. He could tell there was a great affection between the two which he was happy to see. "Well, it seems you and your wife did a fine job raising Cinale."

"I certainly think so." Colyn winked at Cinale, knowing that what he was planning on saying next was going to annoy her. "We've only got one complaint... that she won't settle down and give us some babies to play with!"

"Colyn!" She shook her head, laughing a little. "Will you _ever_ let it drop?"

"Poor Cinale," Daigoro laughed as he reached for the nearest bottle to fill his glass, "she get's that complaint from everyone these days."

"Her aunt and I are waiting," Colyn replied with a grin. "We've always wanted grandchildren!"

"And you'll get them. Eventually, Uncle. Be patient, hmm?"

"Don't worry, Master Conlyn, I'm sure she'll find a man soon enough to tempt her out of her kitchen." Daigoro took an appreciative sip of wine. One thing he had forgotten about eating in the dinning hall was that they always got the perfect wine to go with their dinner. It was one of the perks of living in the Vintner Hall.

"Well, then..." Colyn held up his glass. "A toast to that special man, whoever he may be." The look in the old Master's eyes made it more than clear he wouldn't mind if that man was Daigoro.

Cinale paused, her glass halfway to her lips as she stared at her not-so-subtle uncle. Then, to cover up the sudden, almost awkward silence that fell, she took a sip. And then another. And then another.

The Hallmaster Second did not miss the implications, and gulped at his wine quickly, careful not to meet Cinale's eye.

Last updated on the August 17th 2005

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