Day 0 | Festival Event: Wine Race

[Kannon]

"Sanya it is. Thank you, m'lady." The man seemed to have sidelined gloomy thoughts momentarily, a coping mechanism of sorts. "I'm Alexios Doukas, my orchard isn't far from here. You're welcome at my home. Pay us a visit sometime."

[Laila Bridger]

"I... think I'd like that. Laila Bridger. Glad to have met you, Alexios."

[Kannon]

"It was a pleasure. Whenever you're in Cidrit Town, m'lady." Alexios smiled genuinely, then stepped away with some social clumsiness, perhaps wondering if his farewells were proper enough.

[Laila Bridger]

"Oi! I'm no m'lady!"

She sounded a bit amused, and jerked her thumb at Hadrian.

"Ask him!"

[Kannon]

Caught unaware, Alexios stopped.

"Pardon me, m'lady, but I'm a traditional man. I've been raised to show respect." He scratched his scalp again, so as not to fidget. "Besides, I don't know what my wife would think if she found out I am talking to a young woman with familiarity." A droplet of sweat appeared on his forehead.

[Laila Bridger]

"So just call me Bridger. It's what my officers did, and they were anything but familiar."

[Kannon]

"Of course, Miss Bridges." Alexios nodded, waiting if there was anything else. After all, he had intruded upon her conservation with that Martikova.

[Hadrian Martikova]

"Oi! I'm no m'lady!"

She sounded a bit amused, and jerked her thumb at Hadrian.

"Ask him!"

Hadrian for his part had been grinning throughout the exchange. "Hey don't look at me m'lady." He said teasingly.

"Pardon me, m'lady, but I'm a traditional man. I've been raised to show respect." He scratched his scalp again, so as not to fidget. "Besides, I don't know what my wife would think if she found out I am talking to a young woman with familiarity." A droplet of sweat appeared on his forehead.

"I definitely think we wouldn't want that huh?" He grinned. "And for what it's worth, Sanya is a fine name for a Cidrit."

[Laila Bridger]

"I definitely think we wouldn't want that huh?" He grinned. "And for what it's worth, Sanya is a fine name for a Cidrit."

Laila rolled her eyes at the first part and half-smiked at the second.

"Guessing you two don't know each other?"

[Hadrian Martikova]

"Afraid not," he sits up, "but after today you have a friend in Martikova Vineyards." He says exchanging business cards with Alexios. "Perhaps you'll receive a substantial order in the near future. But until then, best of luck."

After Alexios takes his leave Hadrian will turn to Laila.

"You know I think you should take him up on that offer. Go and indulge in some home cooking, crack open his new Cidrit, and enjoy a little time in their garden exchanging stories." He shrugged, "Then afterwards maybe pay us a visit? Nothing like a vineyard tour to ease your troubles."

[Lydia Storm]

''Count your blessings: You got the good kind of annoying while I'm stuck with the bad kind until I succeed next year.''

She raised an eyebrow

''So you hunt and fish?''

"I prefer neither kind of annoying but I don't visit towns often enough. Maybe I can wait it out between jobs."

There was a small nod.

"Hunt, fish, pest control. Whatever. Keeping an eye on things leaving the jungle that can effect the farmlands. Killing that shark was a different one, but if it's causing issues I can remove it."

[Eileen Marsh]

snip

''I hunt and fish as well. We should go together sometimes''

[Laila Bridger]

"You know I think you should take him up on that offer. Go and indulge in some home cooking, crack open his new Cidrit, and enjoy a little time in their garden exchanging stories." He shrugged, "Then afterwards maybe pay us a visit? Nothing like a vineyard tour to ease your troubles."

"Might do. Probably not tonight, I intend to get utterly smashed, and if the poor guy's worried about seeming too chummy talking to me, his wife would really love it if I staggered into the family home three sheets to the wind."

She glanced at him.

"And I'd probably end up stomping all over the vines if I called on you'n yours tonight, so might get to that later too."

[Lydia Storm]

''I hunt and fish as well. We should go together sometimes''

"I'm more of a solo hunter but I don't see why not. Is there a difficult prey causing issues? Or simply bringing more back?" Lydia tilted her head.

[Hadrian Martikova]

"Might do. Probably not tonight, I intend to get utterly smashed, and if the poor guy's worried about seeming too chummy talking to me, his wife would really love it if I staggered into the family home three sheets to the wind."

She glanced at him.

"And I'd probably end up stomping all over the vines if I called on you'n yours tonight, so might get to that later too."

He laughed, "Tonight I might do the same if my family's sales don't improve. Neither of us would be in a state for polite company then. But hey, in the future I might have work for you so there's that. In which case one of the job requirements is to have a meal with the old man. Kind of a good luck ritual of his."

[Laila Bridger]

He laughed, "Tonight I might do the same if my family's sales don't improve. Neither of us would be in a state for polite company then. But hey, in the future I might have work for you so there's that. In which case one of the job requirements is to have a meal with the old man. Kind of a good luck ritual of his."

"Huh. Well. I could at least hear the job offer, I suppose. Later."

[Eileen Marsh]

"I'm more of a solo hunter but I don't see why not. Is there a difficult prey causing issues? Or simply bringing more back?" Lydia tilted her head.

''Not really at the moment. I hunt and fish for survival or for contracts but sometimes a good challenge comes by''

[Lydia Storm]

''Not really at the moment. I hunt and fish for survival or for contracts but sometimes a good challenge comes by''

"I don't need help with my contracts normally, but maybe contracts on the water are more difficult" Lydia commented with a rare thoughtful expression "I see. I'm sure I can help, assuming that doesn't void said contract?"

[Hadrian Martikova]

"Huh. Well. I could at least hear the job offer, I suppose. Later."

"Agreed," he said leaning on one arm, "there will be time enough for business. But for now we have plenty of wine left to drink. And I couldn't ask for better company."

[Laila Bridger]

"Agreed," he said leaning on one arm, "there will be time enough for business. But for now we have plenty of wine left to drink. And I couldn't ask for better company."

She gave him a sidelong glance.

"You must be a very, very strange person if you actually believe that. But cheers to strangeness."