• Solo • Slave to the Nel

[Quincy Andaris]

Arc 716, 30th Trial of Ashan

Quincy tried not to get irritated.


The celebration to honor the Andaris was a long way off but there was still so much to do. He stood in the center of the gala, an arsenal of servants at his disposal to help with the preparations. The baron had insisted on the party. He seemed to think the Andaris name was in need of being paraded about, remind the rest of the noble families where the real power lie.


So the task had fallen to the second born.


If he had it his way, he would be face down in a barrel of wine, drinking his way to the bottom. But he knew that if he didn’t please the Baron, that his access to his boozes would be quickly cut off and him kicked to the curb. So dragging himself out of bed and nursing a hangover, Quincy Andaris held an open journal in hand, staring at its contents and transferring receipts from the scraps of paper he was given to the ledger.


So we finally got our shipment of the Sparking White in. Something about bad weather delaying the ship, load of crap. Gillian is just pissed I worked him down from his absurdly high price. Trying to get payback. Whatever, I'll deal with him later. FOCUS.


At fifty bottles, ten gold nel per bottle that’s...240 gold nel….geez that’s still pricey. Oh well. We need it for the welcoming toast. We can cut costs by buying less of the Nanutha and Kuwasa, I think. Okay, so if each bottle holds six glasses of wine, that will allow for…240 servings. Cheaper than paying by the glass at any rate. It cuts the costs by half. So roughly 200 guests if we want to play it safe. Alright. Ugh.


Quincy lifted his head, feeling his neck ache from hunching over the ledger. He tried rubbing the pain out of it. He hated this part of the job, it made his head swim. Looking up from the book, receipts laid out neatly on the table in front of him, he scanned to make sure everything was moving along.


Servants milled about the gala, boxes and trays of items being carried every which way. It seemed chaotic to an outsider’s eye but there was structure to the madness. Quincy spotted one of the servants he placed in charge of arranging the chairs and tables. Raising one hand and snapping impatiently, he summoned the man over.


The servant noticed the Andaris looking at him, an expression of annoyance on his face and hurried over.


“Yes, Lord Quincy?”


Quincy eyed him evenly.


“You seem uncertain. You do know your job, correct?”


The servant shifted uncomfortably.


“Y-yes m’lord. It’s just that we don’t have as many chairs as we originally thought. We counted two hundred and fifty but we are only able to locate two hundred and eleven.”


Quincy stared at him, huffing exasperatedly.


“Do I have to do everything around here? Did you even talk to Rafael? He has a storage shed in the back where he keeps the overflow.”


The servant flushed red.


“I-no. I didn’t want to both-“


“But you deemed it necessary to interrupt me instead?”


“But Lord Quincy, you called for-“


He stopped mid sentence as he caught the black look on the Andaris’ face. The servant hastily corrected himself.


“I mean, forgive me m’lord. I was not thinking.”


Quincy nodded and with a flick of his hand dismissed him. The man hurried off as quickly as he could before he was spoken to again. Quincy shook his head annoyed.


It’s hard to get good help around here…

Quincy Andaris

[Quincy Andaris]

Quincy was about to return to his ledger when a figure approached him, a footstep landing heavily, a slight hitch in its step. Step. Drag. Step. Drag. The third in line for the title of baron didn’t turn his head, already knowing who it was at the familiar sound.


“Rafael. I just sent one of our minions to find you.”


The old man slowly approached leaning heavily on a cane, one leg dragging slightly behind the other. An accident, back before he had come to the city had crushed the limb, making it utterly useless. Without a cane, he was more or less immobilized. A neatly trimmed white beard and slicked back white hair framed the man’s face, giving him a rugged yet commanding look. Even with his hobbled foot, he still stood taller than the Andaris by a few inches. He finally reached the table and stood beside the brother.


“Yehh. I saw ‘em. He t’was as spooked as one of ‘er jack rabbits back home.” He chuckled. “I bet ye’ had somethin’ to do ‘bout that.”


Rafael’s accent was still present in his voice, even though he had spent many arcs in the city of Andaris. But the influences of his youth and mid life down in the farmland still clung stubbornly to him. It was endearing to those who knew him well but to outsiders, he was often looked down upon. Especially by their clients.


Which is where Quincy came in. Rafael was a master when it came to wine making and running the business from a logistical stand point. He was the reason it had been so successful. But when it came to face to face interactions, his weaknesses came out. He was a craftsman, not a salesman. Wooing clients and making them feel important did not fall into his tool belt. That side of the business needed a…finer touch. And what better person to fill that role than the second born?


Quincy grinned, unable to help himself, despite his bad mood.


“Yes, well. He annoys me.”


Rafael shook his head amused.


“Tis part of runnin’ a business. Yeh’ can’t get along wit’ everyone. Yeh’ have ta learn to deal wi’h people yeh’ don’t like.”


Quincy eyed him.


“Are you sure I can’t just fire them? Because I’m pretty sure I can just fire them.”


Rafael shook his head again.


“No, bad for business. Kills morale. Besides it’ll build character.” He patted Quincy’s shoulder. “But that ain’t why I came over here. I can’t seem ta’ decide between two wines. Need yehr’ opinion. Yeh think yeh’ can handle it?”


Quincy snorted.


“Please, like you need my help with that.”


Rafael had been making wine for a large portion of his later life, a large part of the reason Quincy’s mother, Mary had asked her uncle to run the family business. Family was important to her and so her husband, Thomas reluctantly agreed, a decision he never came to regret. But it wasn’t just because Rafael was of the same blood. He also just knew his stuff.


Sighing, more for show than any real exasperation, Quincy followed him towards the wine cellar.

Quincy Andaris

[Quincy Andaris]

The two slowly made their way towards the cellar, servants dodging out of their way carrying curtains, trays and an assortment of items needed to decorate the halls for the celebration. It took a few bits but they finally made it down the stairs and down the hall way towards a small, unmarked door.


Rafael took out a key from a pocket and slid it into the lock, twisting and with a loud creak, opened the door, cold air wafting up at them. Quincy inhaled deeply, the familiar cool air stealing into his lungs. So many memories down here…


Quincy shook his head of them. They led to nothing but sadness. The memory of his mother were still too fresh, her being the reason he worked for the gala and winery. The job reminded him of her every day. Another memory wouldn’t make the pain any easier to bear. He shoved it down and buried it with all the rest.


The two men reached the bottom of the stairs, the air growing cooler the farther down they went. Finally reaching the bottom, they opened another door and walked into the room. Rows of wine racks lined the walls, hundreds of bottles slid individually into their secure slots. The shelves reached the ceiling, requiring a small foot stool to reach.


Rafael slowly made his way to a small table in the middle of the room, two pairs of chairs beside it and two wine glasses and bottles on the smooth wooden surface. He gestured for the Andaris to sit.


Quincy sat down, waiting for Rafael to explain. He didn’t have long to wait.


“Well boy, we be needin’ ta decide between a white anda’ red in case the Baron be arrivin’ for the party. We ain't gonna be servin' him cheap swill. Better safe than sorry. Which do ye’ be preferrin’.”


Rafael’s accent always seemed to get worst when he was excited. Quincy eyed the bottles curiously. He didn’t recognize the designs. Rafael uncorked one and poured it into the glass. The Andaris picked it up. Holding it up so the candle light illuminated the color, he looked at it closely, speaking his thoughts aloud.


“Well. It’s a dark red in color but somehow…lighter? Not sure how to explain it. I can see through it clearly, unlike other reds.”


Quincy held it up to his nose and sniffed.


“I-hmm…I can’t tell what it smells like. I don’t recognize it.”


Rafael nodded, knowingly.


“Remember to inhale before tasting. It enhances the flavor.”


Quincy grunted in irritation, having almost forgotten and brought the wine glass to his lips. He inhaled sharply before allowing the liquid to touch his lips. The wine finally in his mouth, he swirled it around with his tongue, lips puckered to keep the wine in while still allowing for airflow. It made a slight gurgling noise, a sound a wine taster got used. He finally swallowed it.


Rafael looked at him disapprovingly.


“Tell me yeh’ dint’ just swallow the wine.” He lifted the small bucket and shook it, annoyance crossing his face for the first time. “Yeh’ are supposed to spit it out afta’ tasting it. How yeh’ goin’ keep yehr’ judgment if yehr’ drunk, boy?”


Quincy could see the irritation in his mentor’s voice but he didn’t care. He had gotten into a bad habit. Oh well. He ignored the comment.


“Hmm…it taste like…some kind of berry. Orange? I definitely taste the citrus. But there are other flavors I can’t pinpoint.”


Rafael seemed to forget about his irritation and he smiled excitedly.


“What yeh' are tastin' is acai mixed with orange, which yeh' discovered and…” He paused for effect, letting Quincy hang in suspense, “…starfruit.”


Quincy’s eyebrows lifted in surprise.


“What is this and where did you get it?”


Rafael tried not to look smug but he couldn’t quite pull it off.


“What yeh’ be tastin’ is Ruby Suv. Exported from Hiladrith. Not an easy thing ta’ be getting’ ahold of, let me tell yeh’.”


Quincy blinked in mild shock.


“That must have cost an arm and a-“ he stopped suddenly, realizing what he was about to say and feeling slightly foolish. Rafael snorted, finishing his sentence in his head. Rafael reached for the other bottle but was interrupted as another servant came down the stairs, interrupting them.


“My apologizes Lord Quincy and Sir Rafael. But there is a situation upstairs we need you.”


Quincy sighed. He looked at his mentor, standing up from the table.


“I think this wine should be more than sufficient. Have this bottle on hand if the Baron decides to make a surprise visit. I will deal with what," he waved his hand in annoyance in the air, "this.”


Quincy followed his minion up the stairs.


The job was never done.

Quincy Andaris

[Griffin]

Quincy

Skills
Endurance: 1
Mathematics: 1
Intimidation: 1
Appraisal: 3
Rhetoric: 1
Business Management: 2

Basic Knowledge
Rafael: Master Vinter
Rafael: Great-Uncle
Winetasting: Don't drink the wine

Specialised Knowledge
Winetasting: Inhale before tasting
Ruby Suv: A rare wine from Hiladrith
Ruby Suv: Tastes of orange, acai and has hints of starfruit

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Notes:
I was worried by the warning, but there was no need. All the wine for me please.

A good thread and interesting to meet another member of the family. My only suggestion would be to include specific details of his memory of his mother to make future scene more active. Have him remember her sitting on the steps etc...She's such a big part of his story, it would be nice to have some clear visualizations.

PM me if you have any questions!