Posted Feb. 3, 2023, 11:38 a.m. by Civilian Jal'na Sherko of House Noggra (Head of Physical Therapy - Sacred Heart Hospital) (Jennifer Ward)
Posted by Civilian Urg’tohn, Son of the House of Duroc (Klingon Warrior) in Challenge Accepted (Tag Urg’tohn)
Posted by Civilian Jal’na Sherko of House Noggra (Head of Physical Therapy - Sacred Heart Hospital) in Challenge Accepted (Tag Urg’tohn)
Posted by Civilian Urg’tohn, Son of the House of Duroc (Klingon Warrior) in Challenge Accepted (Tag Urg’tohn)
Posted by… suppressed (11) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Jal’na had started her day by cleaning up the the remnants of the impromptu gathering that had lasted well into the early hours of the morning. Ah but there really wasn’t much to tell much to the disappointment of her friends. She was sure tonight they would be hoping for many more details. Or maybe they would wait and ambush her tomorrow like they had Yavia and Sharah. But many more exciting things were happening today than swapping tales with her friends.She wasn’t too thrilled about a ground car being sent for her. Jal’na preferred to walk, but it was a gesture that would be rude to refuse. Jal’na was wearing a heavy forest green dress that had black sleeves, and a high neck. Shoulders, sleeves and collar were edged in copper accents. Her waisted was wrapped in a very wide black leather belt with matching accents. Her broach marking her as a member of House Noggra was pinned to a black padded, baldric like accent draped from her left shoulder to her right waist.
The requested yarn and ingredients for the pesto were packed in a bag that she slipped over her shoulder. She took the lift down to the main floor and spoke briefly to the guard in the lobby before exiting and making her way toward the street.
Jal’na
The slider was waiting for her outside. Emblems on the door marked it as an embassy vehicle of House Duroc. An armored Klingon stood outside and set his fist on his chest as she approached. “Jal’na of House Noggra. Lord Duroc sends his greetings.” and they opened the door for her.
“Thank you,” Jal’na returned the salute and slipped into the car. They didn’t offer names and the ride was excessively quiet. It didn’t so much bother her as she noticed the stark contrast to her very boisterous friends. Then she supposed they were quite busy doing their job. Many attempts had been made on the Lord of House Duroc. It was his slider after all.
Once she was inside, the door closed and the slider began moving. It took about twenty minutes to get to the House Duroc Embassy; and when they arrived the idea went last the main gate and co tinued around the corner, coming up to the rear of the imposing structure. A vehicle gate slid open and they drove through and then down a ramp and under the embassy grounds to a subterranean parking garage. Scanners went over the slider as it entered and then red lights indicated the vehicle was cleared to park. Once stopped, the guard opened the door for Jal’na and escorted her to a turbolift. “Lord Duroc will meet you on level four in the kitchens.” and he nodded once and then stood by the door. Theft opened and a second guard, a human, set his hand on his chest and then wordlessly activated the lift and took her up.When they finally stopped and the door opened, Jal’na was ready to get out. She decided she did not like riding in such contraptions at all. She was used to moving, and perhaps the anticipation of seeing Urg added to that need to not sit idle.
The doors opened onto a scene of chaos and a cacophony of noise. The ‘kitchens’ were massive. Dozens of individuals ran back and forth and yelled orders and needs to each other. At the center of thee chaos stood a female Orion and Lord Duroc himself. Urg saw her and smiled, and there was an aspect to it that was thus far unfamiliar to her in it. He waved her over and said over the din “Jal’na of House Noggra. This is Kishet. She is the chef. She is ready for you to show her how to make pesto. Please… allow me.” and he took the bag from her shoulder, his fingers lingering as he slipped the bag off.
His smile was returned as she made her way across the chaos of the kitchen. “Lord Duroc,” and he took her bag before she could say more in greeting. Her gaze held his as his fingers lingered. “My thanks.” Jal’na turned to the woman, “Well met, Chef Kishet.”
Kishet inclined her head and said “Welcome to the House Duroc kitchens. We operate all day, every day. There is never a time we aren’t cooking. Many mouths and a higher than average hunger.” and she smiled an energetic smile. “And we wouldn’t have it any other way.”
They walked over to an empty table. “I have some business to attend to that cannot wait. Please… take your time. Kishet is a friend, and she will be a most willing learner. She will bring you to me when you are done.” He set his hand on Jal’na’s arm for a long moment as he looked at her, and then he simply turned and walked away.
Kishmet watched him leave, and then she turned and smiled at Jal’na. “Do not take offense. He has to speak to the Council. So… pesto, is it? I haven’t heard of it. Please… show me.”
House Duroc
Jal’na grinned, all sharp teeth, “I would not take offense to anyone doing their duty.” She flipped open her bag and began to remove containers. “Pesto is a sauce first made in Italy, Earth. It can be used for many things. It only takes 5 minutes to make. It can be chopped and mixed by hand, but I have found using a food processor provides a more hearty texture. Blending makes it too wet.”
Jal’na glanced at the size of the kitchen, they would need much more than what she brought, but it was enough for today. “This amount will yield a cup of pesto sauce.” She handed Kishet a piece of paper with the recipe on it. “First we will toast the pine nuts. This step can be skipped, but the flavor is not the same if you do.” Jal’na poured the nuts into a skillet and stepped back. “They toast very quickly. You want them browned but not black.”
“Dried basil works, but I found fresh mixes more easily and gives the sauce a richer green color.” Jal’na dumped the basil, parmesan, salt, pepper, and peeled garlic into the processor. Then when ready the toasted pine nuts. “Then we let the processor chop it. I add the olive oil a little at a time while everything is in the processor. Until it is well mixed, but is the consistency of a spread or thick sauce.”
When it was finished, Jal’na tasted it and nodded to herself. “Please try it.”
Jal’na
Kishet was silent the entire time, but her attention was razor-focused… no small feat considering the organized chaos around them. When it was all done, Kishet took a small spoon and sampled the pesto. She was silent a moment, thoughtful, and then she said “Savory and earthy… with a hint of citrus. It’s delicious.” and she smiled at Jal’na. “Very good, Doctor. And how would this be traditionally served? You said sauce and Italy, so pasta? Meat? Fish?”
House Duroc
“I understand that it is used much like a tomato or alfredo pasta sauce. It can be used directly on the pasta or used to flavor meat or fish of any kind. It also goes well spread on flat bread or used as an alternative pizza sauce. I cannot attest to the success of other pairings, but I enjoy it on baked chicken. I understand it is also quite good when grilled on chicken or fish. The man that I buy my basil from says it is quite delicious when used to make chicken salad and then stuffed in portobello mushrooms.”
Jal’na
Kishet smiled and said “Excellent. I xan’t wait to try it out!” and she wiped off her hands and said “Now… let’s get you to Lord Duroc.” and she led Jal’na out of the kitchen.
A secondary set of lifts were apparently in the rear of rhe building to facilitate staff and House member movement. It was to these that Kishet led her and they stepped inside. As the lift began to move, Kishet looked Jal’na up and with her peripheral vision. “We are all indebted to Lord Duroc, you know. He has done so much for us… individually and as House Duroc.” she said softly as she stared at the display of levels being counted up. “And I promise…” and she smiled a beautiful smile at Jal’na, “…if you hurt him in anyway… we will make sure your body is never found.”
House Duroc
Jal’na turned to look at the woman silently for a moment. Then she grinned, a whole hungry and mischievous look. “That will be quite a conundrum then. Klingon courtship and mating is quite vigorous. Getting hurt is expected.” Then she turned fully to the woman, her expression serious as she gave a firm nod, “But should I hurt him such a way as you suggest, I would expect and deserve nothing less.” Jal’na thought the threat was a given. If the woman felt the need to express it, it only confirmed the conclusion that Jal’na had already come to.
Jal’na
Kishet smiled and said “Then I look forward to serving you, Jal’na of House Doggra.” The doors to the lift opened and she said “Lord Duroc will be here momentarily. Please make yourself comfortable.”
Jal’na nodded, “Thank you, Kishet.” She stepped off the lift and looked around the large room. Making her way around she paused to look at the various trophies and banners.
The room was a large one, stone and dark wood,, dominated by a round table set in the middle of the room. Banners and tropies hung on the walls, and agree fireplace was opposite the lift doors, behind a large rug made of the skin of some slain beast with two large, leather covered chairs sitting and facing the fireplace at an angle. A set of large doors was visible left of the fireplace, and it was these doors that swung open and Lord Duroc entered the room. He saw Jal’na and smiled. “Welcome. I hope your time in the kitchen was productive. Please come and sit.” and he indicated one of the chairs in front of the fireplace.
Lord Duroc
He was suddenly there, quite literally larger than life, and Jal’na smiled. Her heart pounded harder and she inhaled deeply as her eyes traveled over him. Yes, she was happy to see him. She moved toward the chairs, “I believe it was. Kishet seems eager to try the sauce in her kitchen. I will be pleased if she enjoys using it.” Jal’na sat in the chair, setting her bag down beside the chair. “Have you concluded your business? Pesto does not take long to make, I am content on my own if you have not.”
Jal’na
Urg sat and said “I have cleared my calendar for the rest of the evening. Barring and emergency, I am all yours.” and he grinned. “Would you care for drink? Or shall we simply talk for a time?” he asked.
Urg, Lord Duroc
Jal’na’s mind went to places it really should not, not yet anyway. All hers was a heady prospect. “A drink, please. And what topics are on your mind tonight, Urg?”
Jal’na
Urg fetched two large goblets of blood wine and handed one to Jal’na before seating himself. “I wish to know more of you. And I wish to know what you have been thinking about as this evening came closer.” he said as he took a drink.
Urg, Lord Duroc
Jal’na took the goblet and drank. She had thought many things. Mostly about whether she had the courage to be Urg’tohn’s mate in the end. She would not simply be his mate, she would be the lady of his house. The first as he was the first Lord Duroc. She feared, she knew, she would not be enough. She feared losing herself and her life, her work, to the obligations required of her to his house. But a Klingon did not admit to such things. “Making sure I brought all the items you requested. That all my work was finalized so our evening would not be ended by being recalled to the hospital. You said you would show me my your world, and I have been wondering what that looks like and what that will mean in the future. If you too were anticipating tonight.”
Jal’na
Urg’s eyes narrowed and his eyes seemed to bore into her very core. A small smile spread across his lips and he said “You were scared.” To say such a thing to any Klingon was tantamount to stabbing their mother in front of them while laughing. But Urg held up a hand to silence any protest or anger. “Do not take offense. I was, as well. And if you were not, I would consider that a sign that this was not to be.” He took a drink and then said “Tell me why, if you are willing to admit to such things. And know that I do not find fear a weakness… I find the inability to acknowledge fear, to be unable to admit to it, to be a flaw in our people. Fear is not weakness, it is survival. Weakness is allowing the fear to dictate to you. And when I hear one of the prattling old dull-toothed idiots in the Council squawk about being ‘fearless’, I always laugh. Because being unable to admit you are afraid is just being afraid to be afraid. Its pointless.”
Urg, Lord Duroc
Jal’na didn’t squirm and she didn’t look away from his gaze, but it was uncomfortable how he saw things, they way he seemed to look into her. Was that just her or was he like that with everyone? He certainly acted as if he saw more than Dr Fayth expected. She wasn’t sure she could get used to that. But always being comfortable didn’t allow for growth, and it certainly didn’t make for an interesting life.
Urg had strange notions for a Klingon. Well perhaps not so strange, but not in the majority. Lord Noggra held similar views, or at least she thought he did. She certainly wasn’t privy to his thoughts or an advisor. She thought his actions and behavior towards others spoke of his different views. And he wanted her to tell him. She supposed such inimacies were expected and natural between a wife and her husband, but before? She had given her word to give the full effort and consideration his challenge deserved.
“I fear I do not have the courage to be your mate in the end, Urg. I would not simply be your mate, I would be the lady of House Duroc. The first of your house. I fear I will not be enough. Of losing myself, my life, my work, to the enormity of those obligations. I have heard the stories about the types of people you take into your house.” She held up a hand, it was not an accusation, just an observation. “I have no great struggles that I have over come, nothing I am running away from, or glory I am searching for. I would need to be both a good mate and a lady worthy of running your house and standing by you in such a capacity.” Jal’na only ever wanted a simple life and the prospect was more than daunting.
Jal’na
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