The Tastes of a Bluerider

Writers: Heather, Heather K
Date Posted: 26th September 2011

Characters: S'yei, Blayre
Description: S'yei scores a date with an unsure Blayre.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 4, day 10 of Turn 6

S'yei had been itching for a good month to get back into the vintners'
workshop and try out some of the ideas for some new vintages that he
had on his mind. Only, he'd moved to River Bluff and he'd been busy
with Wing duties and other dragonrider things ever since. Since today
was a restday, he figured he could get some undisturbed time down in
the lower caverns. He'd tasted the Weyr's wine and it was good, which
piqued his curiosity over the vintner in charge.

After getting turned around more than once, S'yei knew that he was on
the right path when the smell of fermenting liquids caught his nose.
Peeking his head into the room, S'yei stopped short. A man stood in
the room, a vintner judging by his shoulder knots, and shards, if he
didn't have the creamiest skin that S'yei had ever seen. The bluerider
began his mental check of the attributes that he liked in man: Hair?
Check. Nice shoulders? Check. Not too tall? Check. But what about his
face? S'yei waited for the man to turn around- double check.

Stepping into the room, S'yei smiled, "Hello there."

Looking up from his work, Blayre's green eyes traveled up the man in
front of him. He fit right in with this Weyr crowd. A looker every one
of them and even he could admit that this bluerider, judging by the
knots, was no exception.

"Hello to you as well. What can I get for you?" He asked with a genuine smile.

**You and a bed.** S'yei thought automatically.

"Nothing in particular," the bluerider settled for saying, "I'm a
vintner by craft, when Yalith isn't taking up most of my time, and I
wanted to come and see if I could lend any assistance. I've tasted the
Weyr's wine and it's nicely done. I'm S'yei, by the way." He held out
his hand.

"Ah, a man after my own heart. We will be great friends, I trust, for
what better thing to join us than wine? I'm Blayre and it's good to
meet you, S'yei." He shook the other man's hand and then turned to
take an unnecessary look at his cellar. "Seeing as how I've only
recently begun to catalog this mess of a cellar, perhaps you can be of
some use. Tell me, were you trained in the South?" Blayre was Northern
born himself and could really use the palette of someone more local.

"Yes, I was. I did most of my training, before Impression, over at
Dragonsfall." S'yei had enjoyed working with vintages and he'd had
plenty of time to work on his craft back in those days since Thread
had yet to fall then.

Blayre smiled widely. "Wonderful, then I have a use for you. I can use
your palette to help me decipher some of the specimens down here. I'm
sure the last Vintner knew what they were but he neglected to leave
that information behind and any markings on the hides or the barrel
itself have been rubbed away. A good sign to their Turn I'm sure." He
pulled a piece of leather from his pocket and began to tie back his
dark brown hair. As he did so he said, "So, S'yei, shall we get
started?"

S'yei had to give himself a strict lecture over the fact that even
though "get started" had multiple meanings, Blayre was, in fact,
talking about tasting vintages and _nothing_ else. **Get a grip,
S'yei.** He told himself. It wasn't as if Blayre were the first
beautifully crafted male specimen that S'yei had ever seen... Blayre
_was_ the first one that had met everything on S'yei's impossible
checklist, however. The fact that the vintner was not a dragonrider
was nearly a double check on the bluerider's list since he wasn't
interested in forming attachments to anyone who fought Thread.

"Let's do it then." S'yei smiled.

Blayre disappeared around a corner for the moment to grab a pipette
and a decanter. "If you would grab two glasses and follow me. There's
one keg back there that's quite good but it's unlike anything I've
tasted before. It's a mystery that needs solving, S'yei, and I think
you're just the man to crack it. I've got a feeling." Blayre excitedly
led the way back to the keg in question and uncorked it. Piping some
out, he let it out into the decanter and handed it to the dragonrider.
"What do you smell?"

S'yei took the decanter from Blayre, his thoughts focused on the
vintage as he lifted it closer to his face and took a sniff, "Oak,
first," he took a moment, his eyes squinting a bit, "it's been in that
oak keg there for a while. And I think that second scent is a hint of
plum." An usual fruit for wine, but a reprieve from the usual grapes
that were used.

Blayre sipped the wine and rolled it around on his tongue. He
discerned much the same ingredient on his own but a plum wine this far
South was odd. So much so that he had previously dismissed the idea
figuring the taste to be that of a similar tasting exotic Southern
fruit. "I'm surprised by you, rider. Plum fruit is a favorite of the
Northern most Holds and Weyrs and not grown much in the South or so
I've heard. Your palette is quite skilled." He smiled gratefully at
the dark haired man and then made a note on his hide.

"One of the many upsides to being a dragonrider is that you can travel
easily. Before Thread started falling again I had lots of time to
devote to the craft and I had Yalith who could take me anywhere. It's
been a long time since I've tasted a plum." S'yei admitted, pleased
that he had impressed Blayre.

Travel on a dragon was far easier than on runnerback. Blayre did envy
the dragonriders in that respect. "I have wanted to take a trip cross
country and visit the local vineyards sometime but that will have to
come after I reach my Mastery. The smaller vineyards often have some
of the most creative mixes," Blayre explained as he led them down
another row and around a corner before stopping at one of the dustier
kegs. He tapped it as he had the previous one and handed the glass to
S'yei. "What about this one? What do you make of it's age in
particular?"

"Well, if you ever have spare time and need transport to a vineyard
just let me know. Yalith and I would be more than happy to help." More
than happy, indeed. S'yei took a sip of the vintage that Blayre led
him to next, "Hm, white grapes, _good_ white grapes." The bluerider
took another sip, focusing on the feel of the liquid as it passed over
his tongue, "I'd say this vintage is at least fifty Turns old."

"I'll be sure to do that. I need to expand my palette and get used to
these Southern fruits," the Journeyman explained, running a hand
through his dark hair. Upon hearing the bluerider's critique of the
wine in question Blayre nodded. "I had surmised something similar.
It's really a shame you can't devote more time to your Craft, Rider.
Don't get me wrong I _greatly_ appreciate what you do but the Vintner
craft lost a talent when you Impressed."

S'yei could feel a blush coming on. **Shard it! I'm not some
pocked-face teenager!** He scolded himself. Still, he couldn't help
but wonder if Blayre were flirting a bit. He took it as a good sign
that he _wouldn't_ get turned down if he asked the vintner on a date.
"Thank you, I take that as a great compliment. To be fair though, I
was able to have a dragon and focus on my crafts since I Impressed
during an Interval. It's an advantage to be sure."

"Indeed it is. Well I think that's about enough for now. What do you
say we fill our glasses and then sit and chat for a bit, hm? I've had
enough work for the moment. Time to enjoy," he filled his glass with
the white and then also S'yei's.

The bluerider had the feeling that drinking more wine and being around
a man he found extremely attractive could be a dangerous combination,
"Sounds like a plan." S'yei said as he took his refreshed glass of
wine and retreated to a small table in the corner of the room where
they could sit and relax for a bit. "So you don't have a weyrmate or
anyone that you should be rushing off to see?"

"Oh I've only just got here. I'm fast but I'm not _that_ fast. No,
it's just me for now. What about you? Do you have...someone to go home
to at night?" He asked casually, sipping his wine.

"No, I don't, but I'd be glad to take you out any time you have a free
night." S'yei said, thinking that the invitation came out a lot
smoother than he'd anticipated.

Blayre quickly took another sip of wine. He had to admit this was not
the first time a man had asked him out. He wondered what it was about
his that attracted these men. He had always been with women because
that's just how the dice fell. He had never really given a thought to
what it would be like with a man and the fact that his mind had not
immediately discredited the idea intrigued him. Besides, he seemed to
be hitting it off with S'yei and they had similar personalities. If
nothing else it would at least result in a fun night and a new friend.
"I think I might just let you do that. You seem to have caught me at a
free time in my life. I'm not usually this single."

S'yei counted himself lucky, and didn't bother to try and squelch the
giddy feeling that was in his chest, "Excellent! Next Restday be ready
and dress for flight." The bluerider stood and inclined his head
towards Blayre, "I'll see you then?"

"Wouldn't miss it," came Blayre's eager reply. He may have sounded
confident but in his head was the thought **Great, that much more time
for me to over think things.**

Last updated on the October 20th 2011

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The Tastes of a Bluerider