Blackwine Before Work

Blackwine Before Work

Tuesday, November 10, 2026
Locations: Turmus (Nile River), Educational Hall, Odette’s Tea Room, Shades of Turmus
All times SLT

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4:29–5:22 a.m. | Odette’s Tea Room — RP

 Harry recognized me from the day before and asked if he could sit. I told him to help himself to the blackwine. He asked what I did in Turmus, and I told him I was the Assistant Magistrate and a teacher. When I asked what he did, he said he mostly annoyed Free Women. I asked why he made that his aim, and he said it was no aim at all; it just seemed to happen because they took him for a brute. He was from the North and only passing through. Home, he said, was wherever he laid his head.

 Odette refilled the pot before going to the bakery for fresh pastries. I thought the blackwine was exceptional. Harry said he was no great admirer of it, though it had its uses after a night of drinking. Vitoria came in with Cherry and took over while Odette saw to her work. Torm introduced himself as a Scribe newly arrived from Cos, where he had sailed from while accompanying a lady on her trading business. He asked for a mellow tea, and Vitoria served him honey tea for two coppers.

 Harry asked if I would show him around the city, but I had a lesson to prepare. I introduced myself to Torm, who said he had already sent word that he was looking for an apprenticeship. I had found that message in the Magistrate’s mailbox the day before. He said he hoped to come to my lesson. At that hour I still gave noon and four as the class times. Before I left, Vitoria congratulated me and wished the Priest-Kings’ blessing on our companionship.

5:42–7:37 a.m. | Educational Hall, Tea Room, and Shades of Turmus — RP and OOC

 Kaellaed Rhode found me at the Educational Hall while I was updating the lesson on Scribes. The blackboard had caught his attention. He was thinking about the difference between a record and the truth: a Scribe is meant to observe without becoming part of what is being recorded, but even an observer can mistake what an action means. What looks like theft might be a purchase; what looks like an attack might be self-defense. Those were good examples for the lesson. I confess I was so glad to see him that it took me a moment to remember what I had put on the board. He said he had mellowed over the years and told me he appreciated the way I observe, care, and work. It felt good to stand close to him and hear him say that.

 He asked about Uncle William, the invitations, and what we would do for music if Bluesaint did not come through. I told him William had said he would perform the ceremony, and that I had sent invitations the previous day after Selia posted the announcement in Turmus. Copies were up at our house and the Educational Hall, and I had permission to post one by the Theater Falls. I asked him to send a scroll to Eloise, his daughter, and to anyone else he wanted there. He opened the invitation and liked both the way it looked and what it said. We left the question of backup music open.

 We also talked about the adoption papers. I had been waiting for Roland Kasimir to answer before I signed them, but I had not explained that clearly to Nadia. She thought I was leaving her out of a decision that affected her. I could see where I had left room for that misunderstanding. I changed subjects so quickly that Kaellaed Rhode briefly thought I was still talking about Eloise. I do forget to say when I have moved on to something else.

 OOC: We tried different colors and footwear with his new outfit. One pair of shoes was enormous, and for a while his feet had disappeared altogether. The pale blue with gold sleeves made me think of a dress I already own. The boots he had would do for now, and we talked about looking for boots and other outfits over the weekend.

 We walked to the Tea Room and sat over blackwine. I pointed out another invitation by the western stairs and told him how many people had already congratulated me. He asked if I was getting giddy. I was, and I told him I was getting more excited the closer we came to the nineteenth. He admitted that now that the event had been announced, he was getting nervous. We talked about the reception at the house, and I told him I had planned as far as that. He teased me about being strict, by which he meant I like people to follow the law and have little patience for careless work. Once he put it that way, I had to give him the point.

 A call from work meant he would soon have to go. When I asked if it was time, he wanted a few more minutes. He called our time together his oasis and told me how much he enjoyed it. I rarely sit still when there is work waiting, but I was glad to sit a little longer that morning. When the region was about to restart, we moved to Shades of Turmus. He hugged me before he left, and I thanked him for spending the morning with me.

10:01 a.m.–4:00 p.m. | Educational Hall — RP and OOC

 Lady Regina Razor came in to see what was in the Hall. She looked up at the schedule and asked if the lessons were only for Scribes. I told her anyone could come. She said she would try to make one, and I was glad she had stopped in to ask.

 OOC: Earlier I thought my appointment would take me away from the four o’clock class. I had entered it in the wrong time zone, and by late morning I realized I needed to hurry out. At 11:39 the Hall’s calendar showed the noon session of Class 92: The Scribes: Knowledge, Truth, and the Written Record canceled and the four o’clock session still listed. I made the appointment with little time to spare, and it took longer than I expected. Later I accepted an invitation to dinner and forgot to return for the second session. I did not teach either class. One student let me know he had come, just as my sign in the classroom asked people to do if they found me away. I sent him the lesson as promised.

7:06–8:51 p.m. | Turmus — OOC and RP

 OOC: Kaellaed Rhode asked how my day had gone. I told him about the time mix-up, getting next year’s insurance sorted, and the chicken soup and manicotti I had for dinner. I had worked on a few songs and a sign telling people where to find them. We talked about the regular teaching schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon and four, and Saturdays at ten. I have lessons planned through July 2027, though some of the older ones still need my title updated. We also talked about Ink. She has a full life outside Turmus and often comes in for a little break. Even when there is hardly time to give her anything to do, I like having her around.

 I told him I liked the changes to the Tea Room and the walls that had gone up around the butcher’s shop. I had heard more houses were being built and wondered where they would go. He thought they might be on the neighboring region. I mentioned that I had made the textures for the trellis walls with the Tea Room sign. When I asked about the work that called him away that morning, he said it had been a busy but productive day, with procedures to straighten out and forms to clarify.

 RP: Lady Talena Lenore stopped to introduce herself. She had been away a long while and was still getting settled. When she saw my veil, she asked if she should be wearing one now that she was back from Torvaldsland. Kaellaed Rhode said he understood it was not required and looked to me as Magistrate. I told her that most high caste women wear one. She excused herself to put one on, and I invited her to come by in the morning when the women gather for blackwine. It had grown late by then. Kaellaed Rhode offered to walk me home, gave me a hug, and we said good night.

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To-Do
◈ Follow up with Bluesaint and settle on backup music for the ceremony and reception.
◈ Have Kaellaed Rhode send Eloise the invitation scroll and choose any other guests he would like to invite.
◈ Look for boots and possible ceremony outfits together over the weekend.
◈ Follow up on Roland Kasimir’s response before signing Nadia Kasimir’s adoption papers.
◈ Follow up on Torm’s Scribe apprenticeship inquiry.
◈ Update my title in older lessons as I prepare them for class.

Done
◈ Marked the noon session of Class 92 canceled on the Educational Hall calendar.
◈ Sent Class 92 to the student who wrote after coming to the Hall.