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[ She may not be an expert, but her opinion matters regardless, Aymeric sets the bottle aside and waits with is own until he has her final appraisal, pleased to see that it meets her standards. He relaxes a little and takes the seat across from her, letting the table mark the space between them. ]

That you approve is all that matters. 'Twould make me a poor host to serve my guest something that would offend her palette.

[ He raises his glass then and takes a sip himself, exhaling slow from his nose as he swallows. ]

For the collection that I inherited, truthfully I cannot say that I am a sommelier of any definition or accord. To know what one likes and to enjoy it is of most import, I would say, and 'tis better enjoyed with company.

[ Cecil demurely utters a soft chuckle behind a hand at that. Somehow, she can't help feeling a bit honored that he chose to share a small part of his family with her like this. She's sure it might not be much to him, since she's certain that wine cellar is as vastly full of memories as the rest of his home is, but it is a very warm gesture of friendship in her eyes. She doesn't take it for granted. ]

Prior to ascending the throne, wine was drink I only allowed myself to indulge in occasionally, largely at official gatherings and other such galas I could not talk my way out of skipping.

[ She takes another sip from her glass with a little smile. ]

The crew members of The Red Wings often indulged at ports and towns as we passed through, but I felt this... responsibility to be the one sober person among us, as I was captain.

[ It is true, wine itself is usually a drink of the aristocracy, a point that was driven home in his earlier days as a Temple Knight. Low-quality ale was a necessity on long patrols and missions, and the better stuff a the Forgotten Knight after battles and aforementioned missions was the usual faire for celebration. Occasionally home-brewed meads were welcomed as well, but wine--usually imported from other regions--was rare.

Since then he has taken to greater appreciation of the collection his father amassed, having only added a few bottles to it himself. A legacy he hopes to give more due time and honor to some day. ]

A much more difficult task in your new position, I gather.

[ Skipping galas, that is. He does empathize on some level, knowing his presence is oft required as a set duty rather than just for socializing. As such leaving them behind has become something of a relief on nights such as this. ]

An unspoken obligation.

[ Aymeric nods at Cecil, taking another sip for himself. ]

To set the example for those under your watch and care...even more now than before.

[ Even in Ishgard where the High Houses throw marvelous parties with drunken revelry, it is rarely the Count or Countess that is seen with their pants down, so to speak. ]

[ She ducks her head a little, sheepishly. ]

Well... I also certainly enjoy them a bit more now, so, yes, it is more difficult now of course, but I do think I have grown out of my old habits of avoiding such responsibilities some. Even little progress is better than no progress at all, as they say.

[ She raises her glass in a modest toast to "progress", before indulging in a bit longer of a drink. While the sweetness of the wine is still fresh in her mouth, she closes her eyes momentarily, relishing the taste. When at last she pulls the rim of the glass away from her lips, she seems relaxed-- at least enough to give Aymeric a small playful wink. ]

It seems we truly do understand each other rather well, Lord Speaker. Tell me more. These days you are a rebellious politician sneaking off to drink wine with a foreign dignitary. Did you ever get up to such mischief while you were a mere Temple Knight?

[ Progress is something that he can and will most certainly toast to in kind. Moving forward is ever the goal, not ignorant of past mistakes but not dwelling on them either. To see where the world is in another ten years time is something Aymeric is looking forward to.

So toast he does, though he laughs easily shortly after at her (admittedly, accurate) appraisal of his position. ]

Is that how you view me?

[ Of which he has no issue. ]

Alas, my earlier days as Knight were more oft long and studious...I had much to prove and was careful only to cause trouble when necessary. Such as an incident where a friend and I had to face the then Azure Dragoon and his compatriot in a trial by combat to clear are names of the charge of conspiracy.

[ He caused a little trouble. ]

[ This little story clearly takes her by surprise, her eyes widening, and she can't help but lean forward in her seat a little, all of a sudden not at all interested in finishing her wine, but, rather, in hearing more about this conspiracy charge. ]

This I have never heard of.

[ Her remark isn't made with any manner of suspicion, but rather of deep interest, one corner of her lips curling upwards in a modest, but still very much present wry little smile. She's heard plenty of anecdotes and tales of Aymeric de Borel's bravery and strength, his skill with a sword and his noble bearing... There was no shortage of good things to hear about him, honestly. While she does admire him for all of that and the kindness and warmth he's shown her over the course of their budding friendship, it's this bit of untold history that truly piques her curiosity. She's equal parts amused and impressed to hear that the now Lord Speaker of Ishgard had once been in such trouble with his homeland.

Actually, it sounds a bit like herself. ]

...What did you do?

[ When she asks, her tone a bit scolding, but more playful, in truth-- certainly more so than it would be had she not been really enjoying his wine, at least. She almost sounds as though she's trying to coax admission of some transgression from a child. ]

[ Such things would normally be kept under lock and key for the privacy and sanctity of Ishgard's reputation, but they had made it something of a public spectacle that there are a few who still boast having been in the stands that day. Who would have known that two green knights would cause such a stir, let alone rise so high in the ranks?

But it is hardly listed in his ledger, given it had shone a poor light on one of the High Houses. For their sakes he keeps all names and specifics out of his retelling, even though he sincerely doubts Cecil would use such things to her own advantage. ]

It is not oft looked upon as one of the better moments of the Holy See, so I find that hardly surprising, no matter the good it did in the end.

[ There is still no small amount of mirth in his recollections. ]

My squadron was young and eager themselves at the time and in a routine duty in the Highlands, they happened to tug at a string that slowly unravelled a fiscal scandal that was much to the shame of the promises of the Holy See to the detriment of those who lived outside of her walls. In order to cover the debts of their own, a few choice members of a noble House had deigned to redirect funding away from allotments to the villages in Coerthas, leaving many small villages and townships without.

[ He can still recall the looks of distrust he and his squadron had received then they assured the town leader that they would return with their owed supplies. Ishgard would have to earn her respect once more. ]

I performed an...unsanctioned investigation of my own through the contacts I had acquired in my short time as Knight while my dear friend was more...forthright in his approach.

[ Aymeric shakes his head with a laugh. ]

Breaking and entering is hardly an affair to take lightly where nobility is concerned, but in the end it was the final catalyst needed to share all that had been learned thus far. We demanded trial by combat and turned what was intended to be a fight to clear our own names for looting and robbery to a full display of the conspiracy to swindle goods from what is rightfully the Holy See's pockets--as where all allotments are funded--to an individual House. Even if we had not won the fight, it would have been worth it's weight in gold in exposure.

[ He takes a sip of his own drink, shifting his gaze to look back at Cecil as he pulls back from the memories. ]

Ishgardians do enjoy their gossip, as I am sure you are well-aware.

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