Lunch with Mother and Son

Writers: Devin, Mirren
Date Posted: 24th March 2012

Characters: Elona, J'kri
Description: Jykri meets Elona and her son Elonus.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 7, day 4 of Turn 6

Elona's ponytail swung to the side as she leaned too far over to the
side. "Easy now!" she righted Elonus and he took two more faltering
steps before plopping down onto his padded bottom. She laughed and
swept the turn old up onto her hip. She kissed his soft, plump cheek.
And went on walking toward the dining cavern.

Times like this were rare, where she stole her son away to take him to
lunch. Really, she should probably let the Headwoman choose him a
suitable foster mother. If she ever
impressed, she'd have less time for him and maybe it wasn't fair to
spend time with him now. But he was irresistible. And she hadn't
impressed, so she might have his raising to herself yet.

Elonus gurgled and babbled something like 'ba ba ba' before waving a
hand at something. Or someone. Elona laughed. "You want to go over
there hmmm? Who too, hmmm?"

Jykri waved back at the baby and gave him a wide, friendly smile

Elona walked up closer, having decided that her son wanted to be
sociable with Jykri this morning. "Hello," she started to speak when
Elonus stuck out his tongue and blew a raspberry at Jykri.

"Mind your manners!" she laughed. "I'm sorry about him, he's too young
to know any better, really!"

"It's okay. My little sisters did the same thing. At least I know I
don't have to clean his diaper." Jyrki laughed.

Elonus leaned over and grabbed a tiny fistful of Jykri's hair and
tried to tug it toward his mouth.

"I think he's hungry," she pried his fingers apart and moved back.
"Would you care to sit with us or," her eyed widened with good humour,
"do you dare to?"

"I think I'm brave enough. I'm Jykri." He held out his hand

"Elona and this is Elonus." Her son's name was close to hers to
indicate that she was his mother but that who his father was between
him and her. She shook his hand and looked around. "can you see a
spare table anywhere?" It was always busy at this time of day.

He scanned the area and spotted one. "Over there." He pointed and then
led the way. As they took their seats, he asked, "So Elonus is your
son?" He wanted to be sure. There could be a wide age difference in
siblings. His oldest sister was about Elona's age, and his baby sister
was four.

She hefted Elonus higher on her hip and followed. "Yes, he is." She
got to the table and dragged a high chair over to put the baby in. She
clicked him in and slid into a chair. "He's old enough that I'm
allowed to Stand again. I wasn't ready for a while there."

He hadn't thought about it, but if a person could Stand until they
were 21, then some of the older ones could have children. "So you
still want to Impress?"

"Oh yes, but if I don't, I'm happy here anyway. Where do you come from?"

"Amber Hills. And you?"

She looked surprised. "Same! I _thought_ you looked familiar! "You're
Jysari's son, right? The healer?"

"Yes. So if you remember me, I should remember you, but I don't."
Jykri looked guilty. He remembered information just fine, but wasn't
as good with people.

She just laughed. "It's fine, really. You were pretty young when I saw
you last, I wouldn't expect you to remember!"

"Well, I won't forget this time, I promise." Jykri glanced at Elonus.
"What will you do with him if you Impress? You'll have to foster him,
won't you?"

"Yes," she said firmly. "But I'll see him sometimes. I mean,
weyrlinghood will be really busy but after that... Well that'll be
busy too," she laughed. "But he can always come and help me wash my
dragon! And yours!

"Watch out," he told the little boy. "She's already planning work for you."

"Ba ba ba!" Elonus babbled back, waving his hand at Jykri.

"He'll be happy to help," Elona giggled. "Now are we going to eat?
Could you watch him and I'll go and get it?"

"Let me get it, you stay here and relax." Jykri stood.

She was more used to waiting on others than being waited on herself,
so the offer surprised her. "Oh, that would be lovely! I'll have
whatever, but he'll need some toast and some fruit or veggies I can
mash up. And a fork if you don't mind?" She watched fondly as the baby
stuck his fist in his mouth and started to suck on it. "And a cup of
milk with a handle if you can fit it in." She'd stopped feeding him
herself a while back, when he was ready. It gave them enough time to
be used to it before she Stood, although she still leaked
occasionally.

"Okay, no problem." He was gone for a few minutes and came back with a
full tray: two plates piled high, two regular cups and one small one.
"One of the kitchen workers found one with a handle." he said as he
set the tray down. Jykri gave one plate to Elona, with some redfruit
and vegetables for the baby, and his own plate had an extra piece of
toast.

"Oh thank you!" she enthused. "That's just perfect!" She set about
mashing the vegetables down with the fork and then offering some to
Elonus on the end of a spoon. While she fed him with one hand, she ate
with the other. "Oh the food here is always so wonderful isn't it! I
mean, the hold was good, but this..." she shook her head and went on
enjoying it.

"My father complained the Weyr got the best of everything. From the
taste of the food, he was right." And now he got to enjoy it, Jykri
thought with a smile.

"Oh so did mine," she agreed, but that included her virtue with
probably wasn't an issue for his parents. "Would you ever go back, of
you don't impress?"

Jykri frowned. "It's a little early to say, but I don't think so."

"Oh? You like it here that much?" she asked gently, aware that it was
none of her business.

"There's so much freedom." Jykri wondered if he should mention what
freedom in particular he was thinking of.

She smiled wanly. "Yes, yes there is. If I'd had my son at home..."
she shrugged. Who knew where she'd be?

"Does that mean you aren't married -- or weyrmated -- to his father?"

"Oh shards no!" her usual happy expression faded briefly. "I...thought
I was in love but...he wasn't."

Jykri frowned. "That's too bad. At least you're here, where you'll
have help to raise him."

"Yes, " she grinned, "lots! But enough about me, what have you been up
to since you got here?" She finished mashing the vegetables, scooped
some onto the spoon and popped it into Elonus' mouth.

"Just trying to get used to weyr life, and classes, and chores -- lots
of chores." Jykri wasn't going to mention his explorations with Daret.

She laughed. "Oh yes, they like to keep us busy, don't they? It's good
that we can be useful though. I mean I'd feel bad if I wasn't earning
my keep."

"That's true, although I wonder if I should finally pick a craft."
Doing dull tasks all day would drive him mad before too long.

"Tough choice,' she commented. "On one hand you might want to have a
craft to fall back on. On the other hand, you might waste time on a
craft you never use if you impress..." She sounded older than 18.

"Oh, the time wouldn't be wasted. I'm sure I'd learn a lot. The
problem is picking _one_."

She giggled at that. "What are you interested in?"

"Everything." He smiled. "The world's just too full of interesting things."

"I think you had better impress then, or you're going to be in
trouble!" she laughed.

"I think I'll be in trouble no matter what," he joked.

"You'll be fine!" she said firmly.

Last updated on the March 27th 2012

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Lunch with Mother and Son