Wine selection

Writers: Paula, Heather K
Date Posted: 22nd November 2011

Characters: Blayre, L'ris
Description: Blayre talks with Layris about an issue with wines.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 4, day 20 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: Solieira

"This list is ridiculous!" Blayre said outloud to himself. He had in his
hand a list of the wines used at regular dinners and in the cooking itself. To his eye it seemed that the last Vintner River Bluff had on
staff was either without a tongue or just a complete idiot in his craft.

Rolling the list back up, he made his way towards the kitchens. He had a
fair idea of the wines the Weyr had on hand and needed to consult with a
cook to finalize a new list. How no one had yet to complain about the food
and drink was beyond him. The cook must be one intimidating man to
discourage anyone from complaining about the food.

Wasting no time, Blayre tapped the shoulder of the first aproned person he
came across. "Excuse me, sir. Could you point out one the main cooks? I need to have a word with them."

"Take your pick. Although I wouldn't go there just now," Layris replied,
arm full of fresh fishes and pointed to people, man and woman, who were
having a heated discussion of the recipe of fish gravy. It was kind of
heated discussion that often end up in broken noses.

The Vintner pulled a face as he watched the discussion quickly escalate.
The man's face was turning red and the woman was gesturing widely. "All
this madness over fish gravy, hm? Something tells me there's more drama
lurking below the surface. How long do these...interactions normally take?"

"Until they get it settled or the Headwoman appears," Layris replied. He
unloaded the fish to the counter.

"Seeing as how that could take some time, perhaps you can help me? I'm the
new Vintner here and I've noticed some issues with choices of cook and dinner wines." Blayre hoped that this boy wasn't just a dishwasher or some like and had some idea at least of what went into the food around here.

"I can try," Layris replied with a friendly tone. "What's wrong with them?"

Blayre unrolled the list in his hand and shook his head. "This. It's all
wrong." He offered the hide to Layris and asked, "What's wrong with this
picture?"

Layris looked the list up and down. "Umh?" he said uncertainly.

Seeing the confusion on the boy's face was not a surprise to Blayre. He
pointed to the list, "Do you see this? Such a bitter wine with that kind of meat is absurd. And..and here, well that's just plain disgusting. And why on Pern would you bast fish in red wine? I'm going to single handedly
change the way this Weyr eats. Well, with the kitchen's help of course." He looked to the boy and waited for some sign of understanding. He hoped that he had understood at least some of what he'd said. Blayre did so hate
repeating himself.

"Oh, I see," Layris said. "I admit not knowing much about wines," he said
thoughtfully. "But I do know that white goes with fish and avian while red
wine goes with red meat," he agreed with the vintner in that regard.

"Well, you apparently know more than this Vintner did," he rolled the list
up with a sense of finality. "Look, do me a favor would you? When they," he jerked a thumb at the cook and the woman who were now ignoring each other, "cool down could you give the cook this list? I'll come back tomorrow and actually discuss it with the head cook. For the sake of the Weyr, kid, can you do this?" His smirk let on that he was joking, well... partly joking.

"I think he was too much into his own products, if you know what I mean,"
Layris remarked and grinned. "Sure, can do," he nodded and promised.

"Much appreciated. So, on a more personal note, with coworkers like _them_
why aren't you running the place? I see a future for you in the kitchens if you really wanted one," the Journeyman observed. From the looks of him, the boy seemed to be a solid worker. Apron dirtied, hands stained, and he had level head to boot.

"I really want to be a dragonrider," Layris replied with a shrug of his
shoulder. "Only if I don't Impress, I will be the headcook."

**Should've seen that coming,** he thought to himself. Repeating the
qualities the boy had in his head led him to the realization that
dragonriding may in fact be his destiny after all. "That makes sense. I
think you'd make a splendid 'rider and if that doesn't pan out, like you
said, you've always got something to fall back on. If I had coworkers like
that, I'd try my luck on the sands too."

Layris just grinned and nodded after having a glance around him.

"Hm, right. Well, I appreciate your help and time, lad. I must be getting
back to work. I'll be seeing you on the sands," he called as he walked off
and headed back down the stairs to the comfort of his cellar.

Last updated on the January 16th 2012

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Wine selection