It's about Cinale...

Writers: Eimi, Elaine
Date Posted: 14th February 2006

Characters: Daigoro, Ariavin
Description: Daigoro looks to his friend for advice on women
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 10, day 13 of Turn 3

Daigoro breathed in the smell of sawdust and smoked wood. It was such an earthy smell, calming and soothing. "Still working on your master's knots then, Ariavin?"

"Aye," the woodsmith answered, daigoro breaking his thoughts. "They better be gold plated considering the time this project is taking."

"Well, if they are, I'll switch to woodsmithing," Daigoro chuckled.

"Unfortunately no. You wouldn't want to ruin those hands of yours friend," Arivian laughed, making strumming motions.

"I suppose I'm happy right where I am anyway," the Hallsecond smiled.
His face fell a bit though as he ran a finger across a fire-chared board thoughtfully. "There something I came to talk to you about Ariavin.
Something... I need advice on."

"What ever I can help you with," Arivian said, putting down what he was working on. "I sense this is something that should get my full attention. Ok, what is it daigoro?"

Daigoro sighed and sat down on the nearest stool, looking up at his friend unsure where to begin. "You remember we had a conversation a while ago? About a woman? About... Cinale."

"Yes, I recall," Arivian said nodding. He tried to make expresions to write off his sighing as something else. "You completely beat me in chess that night."

"That I did," Daigoro smiled. "But, you also said that you think it's time for me to settle down. Well... I think so too. I can't wait any longer. If I don't have Cinale, shards man, I'll go crazy."

"Why're you asking me again, if your minds already decided?" Ariavin asked bluntly, but not unkindly. "I'm yer friend, I don't want you to go crazy, so obviously I would want you to be with Cinale if you want to be," Arivian said, pausing a bit between phrases. This wasn't easy to say. Only being friends with daigoro didn't exactly drive him crazy.
Ariavin had a wife, but yes he was attracted to his friend, and moments like this hurt.

But if he didn't get through these moment, they wouldn't even be friends. So Ariavin tried.

Daigoro, however, was oblivious to his friends feelings. "But the thing is... I don't know how to tell her. And I know that you've been through it before."

Arivian laughed, "Yes, when I was a much younger man. The folly and bravness of youth definitely helps."

"Well, I don't have that on my side," Daigoro frowned, "so I'm hoping the wise council of a friend will help."

Arivian thought back, recalling his own proposal to his wife. He remembered this nervous feeling that daigoro obviously had. When she said yes, to himself, such a confused young boy... "Let her know, somehow, that that moment is different. I hate to say it, but, get her out of the kitchens one night, just tell me which night it'll be?" he said with a chuckle. "Wine her, dine her, and tell her how you feel."

"Well, soon, I hope... wine and dine her..." A frown crossed his face.
"How do I wine and dine her when _she's_ the cook?"

"That is what makes your situation so difficult friend," Ariavin shot back with a barking laugh.

"So, out of the kitchens?" He was pretty sure he could get her out of the kitchen... but to _where_? "Maybe a walk?"

"Just make surrre not to tumble in the snow again, eh?" Arivian said, giving daigoro a hearty slap to the back.

"I'm more afraid of tripping over my tongue to be honest," the big brewer admitted. "I have no idea what to say. Do I just tell her? Do I casually mention it? Do I propose right away or take it all in steps. Shards, Ariavin. All I know is beer and Hall. What do I know of women?"

Arivian sighed. Took in a big breath, then sighed again and walked right up to daigoro. "This isn't just any women, this is Cinale. You _know_ Cinale, isn't that the point of this?" He took daigoro's hands into his own, looking straight into his friend's eyes. "Now tell me, why Cinale?"

Daigoro was silent a moment as he tried to rationalize his feelings and put them into words that made sense. "She's the most warm hearted and gentle woman I have ever known," he finally began. "She can turn the worst day into a good one with her smile and her thoughtfulness.
Shards... She's smart, talented, she's got opinions about things and not afriad to say them, but in gentle ways that make you see the reason in them." The Hallsecond sighed as he looked down into his friend's eyes.
"She's a woman, Ariavin, in all the ways a man could want. And I... I can't imagine my life without her."

**Very powerful words** Ariavin thought, tears almost coming to his eyes at daigoro's eloquence or sincerity, he wasn't sure. He gave his friends hand a squeeze, then turned away to wipe his wet eyes. "You say that daigoro, see, you've even gotten a gruff man like me to cry," He laughed weakly but turned back when his eyes were mostly clear. "You got a harper in there somewhere?" he said jokingly throwing a light punch to daigoro.

"Are you getting emotional in your old age?" Daigoro teased lightly, smiling a bit more confidently. "You really think that's good?"

"I don't think there are better words you could possibly say friend"
Arivian responded, as he began to move around his workshop, as if the subject were closed. He was still listening, just checking on some things. "Stop being so nervous, its not like you don't know if she'll reciprocate are not."

"Well, I _don't_," the Hallsecond frowned. "She could see me as just a very good friend, you know. We've known each other a long time. She might never have thought of me as anything but a friend, or a brother even."

"Its always the people involved that can't see whats happening to themselves, isn't it, hmm?" Arivian said with a little laugh. "She likes you, more then a friend, I'd bet on that. I'm trying ot be helpful daigoro," he said, then turned a bit, facing him again, "If you want to be pessimistic, I can help you with that instead."

"No," Daigoro chuckled, "you know me. I like to be an optimist." He just really hoped he had good reason to be in this case.

"Well then, what err you doing in here then? Go bear your heart to Cinale," Ariavin was poking around the room again, tidying it up a bit.
"You want to, and you're an optimist, you just said so your self. Whats holding you back? Surely not this woodsmen."

"Shards, this is a big step," Daigoro breathed as he ran his fingers through his thick greying hair. "You're right. I should just go and do it. There's no reason to keep waiting like this."

Ariavin grinned at his friend, popping from around a shelf. "Aye. You certainly aren't getting any younger"

The big brewer laughed. "All right, all right! I'm going! Now why don't you go back and do some _real_ work instead of playing with burnt sticks." He gave the man a grateful smile. "Thank you Ariavin. You are a good friend to me, you know."

"And you to me, when you aren't making fun of my sticks." Arivian picked up one and began to shoo daigoro with it. "Shoo!"

Daigoro laughed as he allowed himself to be chased out of the cooper's workshop, but as he walked back out into the cool air he took a few deep breaths to steady his nerves. This was a big step. His life would never be the same. But Ariavin was right, he wasn't getting any younger. It was time.

Last updated on the February 14th 2006

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