A Fine Person

Writers: AL, Jane
Date Posted: 6th April 2008

Characters: Teene, Arador
Description: Teene has a meal at the Tavern with vintner journeyman Arador.
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 9, day 18 of Turn 4

Teene stepped inside the Tavern, her nose wrinkling as she took in all the scents of the place. The lightly falling snow she and her companion had walked had speckled her dark hair with white that in the heat of the building turned to water and sparkled in the light.

She turned to the young man beside her and smiled. "This is a _lovely_
tavern," she said in reassurance, smiling happily. It had been nice of the journeyman to invite her out for an evening meal at the Vintner Hall's pride and joy, and it suited her perfectly because she was curious about the place.

With Causton's background she had had the chance to visit a number of taverns since coming to live with the master vintner's family, but this one was the nicest yet.

"The food is excellent." Arador crossed over to a table and pulled a chair out for Teene. "Here you go. Of course, being so close to the hall, they also have an excellent choice of brews and wine."

"I like wine," Teene admitted, "but not other drinks." She laughed and screwed up her face as she added: "I like to eat best of all!"

Arador laughed and nodded. "I see, well, you look like you could do with a good, hot meal." He turned and motioned for someone to attend them. "Wine, then, the best wine they have!"

"No, no. That would be wasted on me," Teene protested. "Oh, unless that's for you," she added, blushing a little at the thought that she had misinterpreted the journeyman's gesture as being for her benefit.
"It's just that Master Causton says my palette has a way to go.
Sometimes he says it has a _long_ way to go."

"Well, drink it anyway. Maybe your palette will improve by the end of the evening." Arador took a seat and leaned back in his chair. "What would you like to eat tonight, my dear?"

"Do they have fish?" Teene asked wistfully. "We didn't have much in the way of fish where I grew up."

"Fish for the lady, and for myself!" Arador's voice boomed, causing a couple of people to look over at what all the hullabaloo was about.
"Where did you grow up my dear?" Arador pointedly ignored those who were looking at them.

"In a very little cothold upriver from Emerald Falls. I don't suppose you've even heard of Emerald Falls, have you?"

"Of course I have!" Arador let out a thunderous laugh. "I've visited there before. Did you like it there?"

"It was very nice," Teene said, finding herself becoming more polite and correct in response to her companion's loudness. She was usually the loud one, she thought with a grin, but she hoped she wasn't as loud as Arador.

"I'm from the North, myself. Came down five turns ago." The two were brought wine and food and Arador immediate took up his wine and drank deeply. When it was half gone, he set it down and motioned to Teene's plate. "Eat. Now, tell me more about yourself."

"Oh, no. I'm interested in hearing about you - and what it's like up North. Why did you come South? I thought not many people wanted to."
She picked up the glass and studied the wine for a moment. Appearance, fragrance - she took a sip - taste and aftertaste.

"Actually," Arador twirled his glass of wine between his fingers, "My brother moved down here and told me there was a need for good Vintner's.
He took a sip of the wine, let it roll around in his mouth for a moment, then nodded. "Not bad." He then jabbed a finger at Teene's plate before picking up his fork. "Eat."

Smothering a smile for the man's direct manner, Teene did as she was told. "Where did you come from, up North," she asked when the meal had progressed somewhat.

"A small hold, actually. My parents weren't holders, but were placed at a minor hold in Telgar." Arador paused to take a bite of his food and chew and swallow before continuing. "And then, of course, I went into the craft."

"And you enjoy vintnercraft?"

"Yes, I do, quite a bit." Arador admitted, then leaned forward over the table. "I also get to enjoy the fruits of my labours as often as I desire, as well as first pick. It can be quite rewarding in some ways."

"I suppose it could be," said the foster-mother who still preferred plain juices to wines and almost anything to ales.

"Take a sip of this." Arador took the bottle of wine that had been brought to the table and poured it into Teene's empty glass. "The first thing you must do when tasting a wine is to look at it. Examine the colour, the clarity. Cloudy wine will not do, no, it must be pure in colour and clear." The vintner moved his glass closer to himself and then looked down upon it as it sat on the table. "Is there sediment?
Some can be good, but too much is not. Then, observe the way it moves in the glass." He then took up the glass and carefully swirled the wine within.

Teene smiled. "I live with the Hallmaster," she reminded her companion.

"Ah, but has he ever shared with you the finer points of wine?" He grinned, then set down the glass. "I suppose he has. Forgive me, I get carried away."

"It's probably a good thing to be passionate about your craft. I love my work, too," she added.

"That's good. It's good for a woman to love taking care of children.
That's as it should be." Arador took up his glass before taking a sip.
"Ah, very nice. Very nice. Drink some wine, Teene, eat some more food, and in between tell me more about you. How did you come to live with the Hallmaster and care for his children?"

"He was looking for somebody - or Geni, his wife was - and my grandmother heard about it. She told somebody who told somebody who told Master Causton that I was _just_ the woman they needed!" Teene laughed. "I suppose anybody would have done, really."

"I wouldn't say that." Arador contradicted after swallowing a bit of fish. "People are generally very protective of their children. I hardly think that anybody would have done. How long have you been with them?"

"Two Turns. It feels like longer - not in a bad way, though. Just like I've always lived with them."

"Do you have an plans for the future?" Arador prodded, "Or do you always plan on being a foster mother?"

"Unless I find somebody I want to marry and then have children of my own. I like it; being part of the family and helping with the children."

"You'll make a fine wife and mother some day, I'm sure." Arador lifted his glass and saluted her before taking a drink. "Perhaps some day."

Teene felt she would rather make a fine person, any day, than wait for her 'fineness' to appear when she found a husband and started having children, but she supposed her companion thought it a compliment. "Are you going to have dessert?" she asked instead of commenting on his toast.

"Of course. He turned and made a motion, then called out without waiting for anyone to approach them, "Two bubbly pies!"

He turned back to Teene, took up his wine glass once more and smiled before he took a sip. Yes, she could be a fine wife indeed.

Last updated on the April 9th 2008

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A Fine Person