Matters of Drink and Men

Writers: Avery, Heather
Date Posted: 21st January 2018

Characters: Arion, Lucan
Description: Lucan drops by to catch up with Arion.
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 2, day 8 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: Benamil

Lucan knocked on Arion's door. He had a flask with him containing his
newest batch of a flavored cider, which he was bringing by so he could
get the other vintner's opinion on it. The fact that drinking it might
help improve Arion's mood, if it was down, was a side benefit.

Arion's heart leapt in his chest when he heard the knock at the door.
**Benamil!** He hadn't seen the beastcrafter in a couple of days
because he was busy working on things for the runners that would be
needed for the upcoming Gather. When he swung open the door his small
dropped just a little, "Oh, it's you," and then he grinned, "and I
mean that in the best way, Lucan. Come in."

Lucan took the invite and smiled at his friend. He lifted the flask as
he came in and sat on a chair. "I brought a sample of the newest cider
I'm working on, if you'd like to try it. It's not just redfruit,
there's other fruit mashes in it."

"There'd better be, you know I hate cider." Just because he was a
vintner didn't mean he had to like everything that they made. "It's
just usually too sweet for my liking," he said as he grabbed a small
glass and held it out to Lucan's flask.

"It's mixed with tart cherries. My goal was for something with a rich
ruby color and a tart taste," Lucan said as he poured a sample out.

Arion lifted it to his lips and took a sip that he savored over his
tongue for a moment, eyes slightly narrowed as he thought about the
flavors he tasted. "Mhm, well, it's better than traditional cider," he
allowed, "but it still tastes too much like cider for me."

"That's fair," Lucan said. "I'm hoping the Tavern will agree to serve
some of it as a special. Otherwise, if you have a contact who's
looking to buy something less typical, let me know and I'll owe you
one."

"Well, if you'll gather some up, I'll sell it in the vintner's stall
at the Gather and tell you how well it's received." Arion said,
setting his glass down.

"I'll be sure to do that," Lucan promised.

Now that the work discussion was out of the way, he shifted to asking
on a more personal topics. "So how are you doing?"

"I'm fine," Arion said, his thumb automatically going to the ring on
his finger that he twisted out of habit. "How is Lissayle?"

"She's doing well," Lucan said. He had an affection tone when he spoke
of his wife. "With all the news, I worried about you."

Arion put his chin in his hand, "By news I assume you are talking
about Benamil's upcoming marriage?"

"It is all over the place as the latest gossip," Lucan said.

The vintner sighed, "Yeah, I know. It's hard to avoid it when one of
the Blood gets married."

"It must hurt to hear about it all the time."

Arion made a face, "It is all everyone is talking about here lately.
About how happy and beautiful they look together, how they've never
been Benamil look so 'in love'."

"That's what I'm hearing. I'm sorry," Lucan said.

He produced a second flask, filled with a much harder liquor, and
offering it. "Anything I can do to keep your mind off it?"

"I guess not," Arion sighed, "he gave me this ring," he held up his
hand, "as reassurance of his feelings. It _has_ helped some," the
vintner admitted.

Lucan looked at the ring with interest. "And he's got a matching one
somewhere, I assume?"

"On his right hand," Arion replied. "Do you think it's silly?"

"I don't think it's silly. I'm just wondering if it counts as risky,"
Lucan said.

Arion raised his shoulders, "I don't think so, lots of people wear
rings for decoration, and he'll be wearing _her_ ring on his other
hand as people would expect."

"So they won't judge the other ones since they're seeing what they
want to see," Lucan realized.

"You got it," Arion said. "I'm the one taking all the risk, I think.
It would be really easy for him to shut me out and just live the
perfect life with this woman at the Hold."

"If he really cares about you, he wouldn't do that. And even if he did
have feelings for her that develop over time, surely they can't just
happen over night."

"You don't know Benamil, sometimes he's too... nice. He does
everything with his best, I'm sure being her husband will be no
different."

"So you think he'll fall in love and leave you behind? That'd be
pretty terrible of him," he muttered.

"I don't know that he'd fall in love, necessarily, but who wouldn't be
tempted by what was easy?" Arion waved his hand to seemingly dispel
the words. "Agh, enough of that. I could whine all night, if you
allowed it."

"I'm your friend, I'm here to listen," Lucan said. He liked supporting
his friends. "Or if you'd rather talk shop, or play a game of cards,
I'm here for that as well."

Arion rose with a smile and returned with a glass bottle that held an
amber liquid, "Let's do what Vintners do best."

Last updated on the February 1st 2018

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