Teach me Journeymen

Writers: Eimi, Elaine
Date Posted: 1st November 2005

Characters: Rialine, Jio
Description: Rialine pretends to be lost to spend some time with Jio
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 8, day 11 of Turn 3

Rialine was stepping quietly through the Vintner Hall. If anyone stopped her, she was already prepared to say she was looking for her father, saying she still didn't quite know her way around. **I wonder how long that will last?** She thought as she tip toed around, looking for her real destination.

She had come prepared from some goodies she had made this morning.
Spicy sweet treats, some bread, all wrapped in a basket. So she continued to tread softly, trying to find the office of a certain journeymen.

Jio looked up from the notes he was re-copying when he heard the door open. He recognized the young woman who peeked her head in immediately.
"Rialine! Are you looking for your father?"

Rialine's eyes lit up. "Why, why yes. But I seem to've found you instead." She frowned, as if confused. "I still don't quite know my way around the place, I keep thinking I'm still at the Healer Hall."

He smiled. It wasn't even a turn ago that he was as lost as she.
"Well, do you need me to take you to your father's office? I'm just re-copying my notes right now. It's not that vital."

"Oh no, I wouldn't want to interrupt." She replied. Being marched to her fathers office would be quite embarrassing and a complete backfire of her plan. "I can just wander until I find him. Walking...
aimlessly... its a great way to meet people." She did walk around his office as she talked though, noting things. "A tad cluttered in here?" she questioned, turning to look at Jio.

The journeyman stifled a chuckle as he watched her walk around the room. "Well, I could use more space, but I work with what I've been given."

"I'm sorry, I guess you can't help that," she said, although her tone didn't hold a hint of apology. "Still, it needs something hmmm," she thought, then took a bundle out of her basket. "...Something tasty!"
she said taking out some of treats. "They're fresh, I was bringing some for father for midday, but I can spare a few."

Jio was never one to pass up good treats, and he already knew her cooking was very good. "Well, if you have some to spare I wouldn't pass them up."

"Please yes, theres plenty. The more samplers the better."

"Well, aren't I lucky you found me on your aimless wandering." The journeyman pulled up a chair close to his desk. "Come and have a seat if you like."

"I like," she smiled as she sat down with a neat swirl of her skirts.
"I must say, I'm lucky too, to find an even mildly familiar face."

"Oh, am I only mildly familiar?"

"At the moment, yes, perhaps," she said, then paused. "But I'd like to change that."

Jio felt his first bite of bread turn into a lump in his throat.
Swallowing hard he asked as nonchalantly as possible, "Oh? You would, would you?"

"Well I mean," **Perhaps I am being a bit bold** she thought, but there was of course a logical response she could say. "You'll be working with my father quite a bit, won't you for that project of yours? It follows that I should get to know my father's collegues better. I may have to be prepared to entertain them. Oh wait," she paused and giggle slightly, "I guess I already have."

"Yes, you did, and you did very well." In fact, Jio had been quite impressed with Talrian's daughter. "Did you bake these?"

"Why yes, of course!" she said in response. "What, do you think I'm the type to bring people cookies that are not my own?"

The journeyman glanced up at the young woman, unsure if she was kidding or not. "There's nothing wrong with Vintner Hall cookies. We have a wonderful cook, you know."

"Oh no, I didn't mean it that way," the words rushed out quite fast.
She liked Cinale, actually hoped to learn a bit from the cook. "I could learn a lot from Cinale. I've been doing some help in the kitchens here, from time to time." She sighed. "I should have learned by now to better think before I tease."

Jio's lips turned into a smile. "I think you are learning just fine.
But you should also learned when someone is teasing _you_."

Rialine exclaimed with a brief intake of breath. "Oh!" She returned the smile with one of her own, though averting her eyes a moment in abashedness. After a moment she spoke again. "Its no fair, I wasn't expecting you to tease."

"Why?" he chuckled. "If you tease me, shouldn't I be able to tease you?"

"You're a Journeymen!" she said poking her finger at his shoulder knots, "and _I'm_, just a silly, young, girl."

He gently batted her finger away. "Well, who better to teach you how to tease then?"

She giggled, dropping her hands primly into her lap and resettling herself. "Alright," she jutted her chin out, and smiled daringly.
"Teach me Journeymen."

"Oh, I don't know how much I really _can_ teach you, Rialine. You seem to be pretty good at it naturally."

"Are you sure?" she asked, looking eye to eye. "There isn't anything you can teach me Jio?"

The journeyman returned her look for a long moment before clearing his throat and diverting his eyes to the basket she had brought and making a show or searching through it for another tasty treat. "I have a feeling you've learned more than you know, Rialine. The rest you will understand in time."

Rialine frowned. The tone of his response, made her a bit sad. **So move on the subject,** she thought. "But I said anything, Jio. I'm sure," she looked around the room, "you could teach me, about what your working on over there. I haven't a clue at all about _anything_
alcoholic."

"Ah, well," Jio said with a bit of relief, "there isn't anything I am supposed to _teach_ you exactly. But I would be happy to show you what I'm doing."

"Oh you knew what I meant Jio," she said with a flick of the hand.
"The only crafts I _may_ even be cut out for are those based on the womenly skills I do every day. Then whats the point? I'm happy practicing my bakery and sewing from the comfort of my own home." She breathed, finishing that comment. "But yes, what are you doing there?"

"All right. Well, we should start at the beginning then," he smiled as he stood up and offered her his arm. "Let me show you my herbs."

She said, taking the offered arm, gently using it to bring herself up. "Anything common I might be familiar with?" She asked, thinking of the various herbs she liked to use to flavor certain dishes.

"Several. Basil, sage, rosemary, lavender..." he pointed to each of the small plants in the boxes he was growing them in. "When spring comes all these will hopefully be planted in a special herb bed. I'm hoping your father and I can work together on that."

"Oh yes, I'm sure he could help," she said. "So, what do you do with them? You don't just stuff wine bottles with herbs, I'd think?"
Although she thought it might look decorative, that would be quite silly to drink.

"No," he replied as he steered her towards some small barrels in the corner. "I steep them in the wine and then remove them. Their medicinal properties remain though. The trick is getting the right balance for flavor and effectiveness."

"Hiding medicine, in wine?" she asked aloud. Although she knew somewhat about the project from her father, she really hadn't given it much thought. "That is a wonderful idea. I do bet its tricky. Some of those things," she made a face, "can taste quite bitter."

"There are all kinds of advantages," he nodded. "Taste is one. The natural effects of wine is another."

"Sleepiness?" she asked. Rialine had never had the opportunity to over indulge, so she wasn't exactly sure what Jio was referring to as a side effect.

Jio smiled. Not many people seemed to know that wine could be a medicine of sorts itself. "Well, that's one effect. It also helps the blood to flow, and is good for the heart. Perhaps your father can better explain that, though. I just make the wines. I'm not so knowledgeable in the practical application. That's why I need your father."

"I guess I should get my head out of the cookbooks more often." She said, abashed. She was a little embarrassed, she had never thought to really question, and try to retain her fathers work.

"Rialine, you might want to be careful about who you show your curiosity too in this Hall. I don't know how things are at the Healer Hall, but here the women have their place, and there are lines that are not crossed." He gave her an apologetic smile. "I don't mind, but asking too many questions has lead to problems before. I wouldn't want to see you in trouble."

"Oh!" Rialine said, genuinely said, a bit startled. "Thanks, for your concern Jio," she flushed. "But don't worry, I am usually quite content with my niche in life. Although, I guess I'll have to save any question I have for your ears only?"

"Oh, well, I don't know if I would go that far," he quickly reassured her. "Just be careful."

"Very well," Rialine replied with a merry tone. "I, swear, on... my ladle, to be careful."

Last updated on the November 1st 2005

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Teach me Journeymen