Difference between revisions of "Logs:Interro-tasting"

In an area situated a short runner ride from Benden Hold is a
  chateau-style building with sprawling acres of grape trees and vines.
  While this is the main building, there are many vintner sub-fields and
  buildings situated throughout the area.

  The main hall is made up of separate wings for the masters, journeymen,
  and apprentices on the second and third floors. Several lecture halls and
  workrooms make up the first floor, while a large tasting room claims the
  entryway to the Hall.

It is certainly a picturesque view from the iced windows of vitner hall as the sun sets over Benden this evening, casting bring hues of reds and oranges over the still snow-covered hills that sprawl outwards from the chateau-style building. In front of one of those windows, Lilah has claimed a cushioned chair with a glass of white wine, her gaze cast out over the area but her attention turned inward in the particular distraction known to dragonriders, her dragon caught in the corner of her eye. Eliyaveith has claimed a piece of snow covered land for herself, still except in the shivers that seem to roll down her spine. The activity here at Vitner seems to grow, rather than cease as it would at other crafts, at least here in this tasting room as other visitors gather.

There's no sense of Leiventh's arrival, and yet R'hin can be seen walking up from the Hold proper with a younger man, the pair conversing as they walk. Either she's early, or he's late -- the latter more likely, given the easy, measured pace he sets, not in any hurry. In view of the window, they stand and talk for a minute or so more, before the younger man -- an apprentice, to judge by his knot -- heads off towards one of the smaller buildings. The bronzerider turns deliberately towards the window -- winks -- then strolls casually into the building, approaching Lilah moments later. His gaze goes towards her glass, with a dismissive shake of head, instead holding out a hand towards her in silent invitation, in lieu of any other verbal greeting.

It may be that Lilah doesn't even notice R'hin's arrival, either, as wrapped up as the woman is in her conversation with Eliyaveith, because she seems startled to catch sight of him even as the apprentice walks away. At least she is prepared by the time he approaches her, ready with a simple smile and a "Good evening, Wingleader." Her brows curve upwards, either at the shake of his head or the extended hand, but at least with the latter she slides her own into his. To the former, she adds defensively, "There is nothing you can say about my taste this time. It is white and it is Benden."

"It is," R'hin concedes, with a low-throated laugh, "And yet, not quite what we're after. Come," he says, settling her hand in the crook of his elbow once she's stepped closer to him. "What's sold here is good, but also expensive. I thought you might like the other tour, for Dice. Or for your personal collection." The other tour apparently involves leaving the main tasting building, and a walk across snow-covered tracks, noteably in the wake of the apprentice he was spotted talking to earlier.

Lilah's nose wrinkles slightly at R'hin's answer, though she is quick to down the rest of her glass and set it down on the nearest surface to leave for an apprentice to clean up. "Other tour?" she questions, clearly not here often enough to know what that would mean. But luckily, she is still in her riding leathers, the dark leather still warm and soft from being indoors. "I already have a supplier for Dice. --But something special for Turn's End may not go amiss."

"Only one," R'hin says, incredulously, staring at Lilah like this is some sort of crime, and to the bronzerider, this might actually be the case. "The wines sold there are the Master and Journeyman quality wines. But the apprentice-made wines are often just as good, almost as good, and much, much cheaper." With a tsk of tongue, "You should at least be considering your personal stash first," he says sternly, though the expression doesn't last, a certain anticipation quickening his steps as they near a smaller building.

"But then what will people say, if I offer apprentice-made wines to my guests," teases Lilah back simply, though she offers a hint of a noncommittal smile. "I am sure that your personal stash doesn't need help. Or perhaps it does?" There is a flick of dark eyes towards R'hin as she asks it, briefly.

"You don't offer it in the bottle," R'hin says, with another cluck of tongue, as if this should've been obvious. "Serve it in a glass, like a respectable establishment. As long as the taste matches, no one will be the wiser." Except, perhaps, a connoisseur like him. "Mm. It seems to be being raided more than normal, lately," he says, with a low-throated chuckle that suggests he's more amused than annoyed by this. He takes a step forward ahead of Lilah to open the door and gesture for her to precede him in: unlike the official tasting hall, this room isn't so much designed for guests as it is for practicality, barrels of wines lining the walls, making for a small, cramped space near the entrance.

It is likely not surprising that answer draws Lilah's curiosity, forestalled only as she steps inside ahead of him. When he joins her, she turns to him to question a light, "Oh, has it? By Jadzia, and the like?" She doesn't press that, however, instead casting a look around the room as she lingers by the door, unsure of what to do now in this cramped space. She adds in clarification, "I meant for my personal stash, not Dice. If I'm going to buy it for personal use, it would be mostly for guests."

"Jadzia?" R'hin's genuinely surprised by that, chuckling as he says, "Oh, ho. No. Jadzia's taste for wine isn't that well-developed for her to go to that effort, try though I might to enlighten her tastebuds." With an agreeable grin, he says, "And neither should your guests be served from the bottle, no?" On cue, the apprentice from earlier appears, and with a wave, gestures for them to follow him. The scent of wine hangs heavy in the air, and R'hin breathes deeply as he follows in the apprentice's wake down one of the aisles, glancing over his shoulder to make sure Lilah's close behind. Beyond, the space opens out a little around a wooden table, glasses and bottles laid out. "Please, sit," the apprentice says with an easy grin. "White first?" to R'hin, but he's already pouring a splash from the first bottle into two glasses, like it's less confirmation and more assurance.

Lilah may be uncertain about what to do in that cramped space, but she doesn't hesitate in following R'hin. (At least that much has become habit, to follow without questioning.) "That wasn't the impression that I got," is all the goldrider murmurs, dark eyes falling briefly on R'hin like a weight as she studies him for a long moment. She addresses the apprentice next, taking the time to slide a look over to the young man and offer a simple, "Thank you," as she moves to accept a glass from him once he's done pouring.

"No?" R'hin shoots a bemused look at Lilah. "Stick a bottle of bottle of rotgut, and a bottle of expensive Benden white in front of her, and I can almost guarantee which she'd pick." A faint chuckle follows, but he's soon focusing his attention, likewise, on the apprentice, with a grin of genuine gratitude. "You're a man amongst men, Rosney," even as he's lifting his glass in silent toast, taking a small sip of the liquid, letting it sit in his mouth for a moment, before leaning to spit out the contents into the bucket on the table. "Mm. Not bad. A bit tart still. Another Turn or so away?" he wonders, to the apprentice's nod; before he glances at Lilah to get a impression of her opinion.

Lilah doesn't spit out the sip that she takes. That much, at least, is obvious in her reaction. But nor does she take her time in savoring it, swallowing it down quickly before she places her glass back on the table. "Well, I only met her the once. I was just under the impression that you were quite an influence on her. She appreciates you as a wingleader, at least," she offers, instead of any opinion on the wine.

"And here I thought you might want to drink wine with a handsome man, not talk about one of my wingriders." After a long pause, R'hin gestures towards the apprentice, and he pulls out the next bottle, while R'hin dumps the rest of the contents of his glass into the bucket. Splashing some of the liquid into R'hin's glass, Rosney pauses and looks at Lilah inquisitively, holding the bottle.

"That depends. Is this a date?" is a challenge leveled back to R'hin, with Lilah's lips curving into a slight smile. She picks up her glass again to finish off what is left inside, still swallowing it when she holds her glass out to the apprentice. (A deprecating, subtle wince is shared specifically with Rosney for that awkwardness.)

"This is two people hanging out, tasting good wine, and seeing where the night ends," R'hin counters, though his gaze doesn't linger on her to see how that answer fares; instead, he's taking an appreciative sip of the next wine. Dutifully, Rosney fills the goldrider's glass, only a splash, and with a slight clearing of his throat, indicates the bucket, "You can -- uh, ma'am -- put the leftovers in there."

It seems, at least, to be what Lilah was expecting since she is quick to reply, "Then I see no harm in talking about one or any of your wingriders." Rosney gets a quirk of a brow, and the goldrider responds to him with a dismissive, "No, thank you. That seems like a waste."

"So, it's to be an interrogation, then?" R'hin replies, all-too-easily, after he spits out the next mouthful of wine, giving an approving nod to Rosney. "Two, I think," he says. The apprentice makes a note on a hide, then frowns at Lilah, casting a questioning glance at R'hin. The bronzerider gives a brief shrug, and: "The goldrider knows her own limits." Rosney retreats to bring forth the next bottle.

"I think I would have more luck interrogating a brick wall than you. Or perhaps the apprentice here," answers Lilah, a hint of something flickering sharp in dark eyes for the latter's questioning glance towards R'hin, though she only takes that sip of her wine. But perhaps he has earned it when she asks of the young man when he returns, "I am sure R'hin brings a lot of women here, doesn't he? Must be impressive, a wine tasting and showing off his knowledge." Her words are warmed by a tease, yet still--.

R'hin's silent, expression pointedly even as he tastes the next wine. Rosney looks hesitant, and rather uncomfortably caught in between this unexpected argument. He glances at R'hin again, who gives a dismissive wave, as if he has no care for what the apprentice says, "No, ma'am. I'd imagine--" with a darted, apologetic look to R'hin, "--he on-sells some of these and profits from it." With a careless shrug, R'hin adds, "Profits I share, my friend. A crate of this. The reds next, I think."

That is certainly a answer, and for a moment, Lilah seems satisfied with one. Thoughtful even, as her gaze slides between Rosney to R'hin, lingering on the latter though she doesn't seem exactly surprised by a dragonrider making marks on the side. "How long has he been buying from you?" she continues to question of the apprentice, either oblivious of his discomfort or ignoring it. And then, she adds in a quiet murmur after R'hin's order, "Two bottles for me, please."

"Ma'am, I don't," Rosney's practically squirming. "I don't think I should..." he's glancing at R'hin again. With an exhale, the bronzerider rises, murmuring, "It's fine, Rosney. I think we'll settle for the whites, tonight, thank you. You'll have them delivered to me in the usual fashion?" The apprentice looks relieved, and gives a nod, another darted look given the Fortian before he disappears between the aisles. R'hin empties his glass and, wordlessly, rises and retraces their steps towards the door.

Lilah's lips press into a line as she watches R'hin's retreat, taking her time to finish the last of the wine in her glass and set it down before she follows. It is only once she has caught up and they are outside that she ventures to say with a hint of defense, "If you didn't want me to ask, then you did not have to bring me."

"Lesson learnt," R'hin replies, without stopping, though he does, it seems, alter his stride to make it easier for her to keep up.

Fingers digging into the pockets of her riding jacket, Lilah only casts a sidelong glance towards R'hin at that answer, those brows lifting upwards a always in an expressive response that does not make it to her lips.

R'hin slows, though not so much for her benefit this time, as the sudden arrival of Leiventh, landing off to one side of the road, stirring up a minimal amount of snow. "I'll let you know when your bottles arrive," he says, presumably to High Reaches, before he twists and angles out across the field to meet his bronze.

"Thank you," is a crisp reply, the Fortian junior coming to a halt when R'hin peels away. The way she continues to watch the bronzerider is tense, fingers still clutched in her jacket pockets. Perhaps even more notable is that Eliyaveith does not reach out her warmth towards the bronze, though she makes a soft noise of greeting as if she can't help herself.

He doesn't look back, and the smooth way he climbs the bronze's side and settles on his neckridges -- not to mention the way Leiventh spreads his wings even before R'hin is fully settled -- suggests Turns of habit guiding the quick departure. Leiventh's cold winds acknowledge and return the greeting of the Fortian queen, terse as ever, dissipating as he disappears between.