Ah Friday. Yu have arrived. Shall wee see what the last prompt of the week brings? Timers at the ready, flex the fingers, bend the brains so you don’t get any mind cramps as we dash into a potential story line. Everyone stretched? Good, let’s go for our fifteen minute sprint.
Interesting. Stephen clearly has something up his sleeve Not sure what yet. But something.
Friday, October 25th: They waited for his approval.
They waited for his approval. Not for the first time he wished Stephen had not felt the need to announce his identity. He could feel the weight of their regard. Still, he knew what they were waiting for and he felt the pressure to comply. He hoped Stephen appreciated the effort.
Oliver lifted the glass of in to the light, looked at the color of the wine and swirled it a little as he brought it back down. He nodded as he inspected. Then he sniffed, drawing the scent through his nose and letting it fill his senses, his eyes closing as he did.
The room fell away as he inhaled. He forgot Stephen and his absurd need to make certain that everyone knew the details of each of his visitors so they could be properly impressed. He forgot his irritation at not realizing that he would be included in the bunch of impressive guests.
This wine was special. The notes, juicy, spicy and utterly intriguing. He kept his eyes closed as he took a small sip. He breathed in, pulling air over the liquid and moving it around his mouth. The flavor filled him. It was complex, there was no doubt about that. It danced on his tongue and surprised him. It was not a vintage he was familiar with. That in itself was exceptional as knowing wines was part of his job. His life. This was new. He swallowed the mouthful of wine and opened his eyes. He could see flashes of disappointment when he did not spit it out.
Oliver lowered the glass to the table and nodded to the wine steward. The glass was filled ad the bottle placed down. Oliver turned to look at the label. He frowned. Not only was the vintage unfamiliar but the label was not one he had even seen in passing and the vineyard was not one he heard of.
“Local?” he asked.
“After a fashion,” Stephen said. “Do you like it.”
There was a worried crease on his forehead.
“I do,” Oliver said. The crease disappeared. “It is a most excellent vintage and I will have to learn more about the winery and the entire area if they are producing wines like these.”
Stephen seemed to relax and Oliver realized he had played directly into one of Stephen’s plans.
“I’m sure that can be arranged,” Stephen said.
Oliver nodded but knew not to press him. Stephen would reveal his plans in his own time. He resisted the urge to sigh. Sometimes being friends with Stephen was more trying than rewarding. He lifted his glass and took a sip. It was just as impressive as it was upon first meeting.
‘Perhaps this time Stephen will be worth it,’ Oliver thought. Stephen was no longer paying attention to him, in fact no one was paying much attention to him now that he had passed positive judgement on the wine. Instead one of Stephen’s other guests was the focus. He knew that the details were mentioned as Stephen couldn’t help himself but Oliver hadn’t been paying attention and couldn’t remember why she was famous, infamous or notable. H contented himself with his wine, pleased the spotlight had shifted.
Ten til Midnight 