Video

[water_wine_wizard]

[Laruna's sitting cross-legged on a rock by a stream. Her feet are bare and it looks like she's been wading.]

Hello, darlings.

I've finally found a good water source around here, so I was wondering if some of you would be willing to help me with a bit of a venture. I need some vats made out of stone. Rather large, I can give dimensions, of course, but I can't make them myself.

They'll be for the wine I'm hoping to make. I'll give out shares of the first batches for helping me, if you'd like. Or we could make other arrangements.

Comments

video;

[candothat]

Why wine? You should try making vodka.

Re: video;

[water_wine_wizard]

Because I know how to make wine and I've never head of vodka before.

video;

[candothat]

You've never heard of vodka?

[GASP. SHOCK. HORROR.]

Re: video;

[water_wine_wizard]

Nope. What is it?

{SHOCK! SHE'S NOT FROM EARTH!]

video;

[candothat]

[BUT YOU KNOW ABOUT WINE.]

Words cannot do it justice. What is your name and your address? I can get a bottle for you.

Re: video;

[water_wine_wizard]

[No potatoes.]

I'm Laruna. Come over and bring me one and we'll talk.

[She gives him her address.]

video;

[candothat]

[The best vodka is made with wheat, actually. Potatoes are for Americans. And the Irish.]

Pavel Chekov. I will introduce you to vodka soon.

[And he will, as this is clearly an emergency.]

Re: video;

[water_wine_wizard]

[Did not know that!]

Good! I'm always glad to meet a new drink.

[It is!]

video;

[candothat]

[There's no time to waste with further talk. Within the hour, Chekov is at the given address with a bottle of Stoli.]

Miss Laruna?

[water_wine_wizard]

[Laruna opens the door and smiles at him brightly.]

Hello! You're Pavel, right? Come in!

[candothat]

[Someone cheerful? There are remarkably few cheerful people in the City. Chekov is pleased to have stumbled across one of them.]

Yes, and thank you. [He returns the smile and enters.] Is there no vodka in your world?

[water_wine_wizard]

[Yes! She's almost always cheerful. Her brothers say it's like an infectious disease.]

If there is, I've not been exposed to it. Or it might be under a different name.

[candothat]

Is there a Russia in your world? If not, there is likely no vodka.

[He presents Laruna with the bottle of vodka with a ceremonious air.]

Vodka is a real drink. Wine is only grape juice.

[water_wine_wizard]

No. There's no Russia in my world.

[She takes the bottle with an equally ceremonious air. For a moment Laruna considers just taking a swig out of the bottle, but decides against it. Instead she goes and finds some clean glasses.]

Oh, I don't make wine out of grapes.

[candothat]

No Russia! That's a tragedy.

How do you make it? Magic? [He's half-serious. Things are strange here.]

[water_wine_wizard]

[She shrugs off the Russian tragedy. She'd say the same about there not being anyone from her world in his.]

Yes. Magic.

[candothat]

It is always magic here.

[No one appreciates science when they have magic. It's sad.]

Try the vodka, Miss Laruna? It's a real drink.

[water_wine_wizard]

[She pours the vodka into two cups, to be polite.]

Is it really? I guess the cold box is... as are the lights... and the stoves...

[And she'll take a careful sip.]

[candothat]

Not all of the appliances are magic. To a scientist, that's a significant relief; we would have little purpose in a world operated entirely by magic.

[He has feelings about this. He also wants Laruna to like vodka because everyone should.]

What do you think?

[water_wine_wizard]

[She holds up her finger as she takes another sip. Her eyes are closed as she's tasting it. Seeing what it's made of.]

[candothat]

[After giving Laruna a few seconds, he feels a need to prompt:]

Well?

[water_wine_wizard]

It's good... interesting harmonics. What's in it?

I like it.

[candothat]

Winter wheat, glacial water. The rest of the taste is due to the filtration process--very secretive, but it involves charcoal, quartz, and silver.

[water_wine_wizard]

Does it have to be winter wheat?

[She takes another sip, larger this time, still slightly distracted.]

[candothat]

If it's to be made properly.

[water_wine_wizard]

I've never thought of silver as a filtering ingredient before...

[candothat]

Miss Laruna, I think that you would learn many things that you had not thought of if you visited Russia.

[water_wine_wizard]

And I'm sure you'd learn just as many things if you came home with me.

Do you mind if I keep this? I'd like to try and replicate it.

[candothat]

I would, certainly.

No, please, it is a gift. Ah--if you do replicate it, I am willing to taste it. For quality, of course.

[water_wine_wizard]

That's so sweet of you!

[And she gives him a kiss on the cheek.]

[candothat]

[His ears redden and he steps away from Laruna.]

I do it out of selfishness, I assure you.

[water_wine_wizard]

[That's so cute!]

Of course it is. Everyone wants to have the best drinks.

[candothat]

[No, not cute. Manly.]

Yes, of course. [He's edging towards the door, thinking about Lucy and the protocols of dating which probably state that being kissed by other women is a bad thing.] Contact me, if you need assistance? I am always happy to help with vodka.