Un: TerribleTinkerer

[badnewsandshitlist]

I find myself surrounded by automatons- efficient, tireless, and entirely without taste buds.

Tragic, really. I briefly considered inventing some for them, but the idea of mechanical wine critics felt like the beginning of the end.

Still, their absence of taste has me thinking. We live in a place where every whim can be fulfilled, every desire neatly answered, and yet it all feels strangely hollow. It makes me wonder if pleasure only matters when it is imperfect.

As an adventurer, drinking always seemed part of the profession. You celebrate with a glass, mourn with a bottle, and pass the time between the two. It is not only about taste, but about presence, proof that you are still here and still capable of warmth.

I suppose that is why I keep wondering what it is that other people like about wine and spirits. The flavour, the warmth, the small act of refinement before it all falls apart? Or perhaps it is the comfort of something real in a world that feels increasingly mechanical.

As for myself, I have always liked the pause before the first sip. That quiet moment where everything is still possible, where the glass is complete and the world has not yet disappointed you. It is a lie, of course, but a pleasant one.

I am half tempted to ask Aurora to send a bottle from my Whitestone reserve, perhaps in the name of scientific inquiry. Or perhaps out of homesickness. The difference feels minimal tonight.

Indulge me. What is your poison, and do you drink it for taste, for comfort, or to feel human for a while?

Comments

Un: TerribleTinkerer | Text

[badnewsandshitlist]

For the record, I still favor the art of looking clever. It is less intoxicating, but far more consistent.

voice; un: roronoa

[yourotherleft]

...so you're a wine snob.

[it doesn't take an alcoholic to get the gist of that description]

If you've got anything harder, I'm in. Rum, whiskey, it's all good.

[badnewsandshitlist]

Snob? No, just a man with standards. Though I won’t refuse a decent whiskey, if you pour it properly.

[yourotherleft]

There's a way to pour it badly? News to me.

I've had some rot-gut before but I'll still drink anything handed to me.

voice | un: bahamut

[oblige]

Good day to you, Percival.

As to the subject at hand... Wine has oft been an occasional indulgence, typically when I find myself in the capital between deployments. As such, I feel I've not the breadth of experience to comment in an educated manner on the subject.

However, I took interest in the way wines were paired with certain dishes or meals during the mission on Earth. It lends a certain intention and complexity to preparation and experience. The same holds true for teas and...coffee...

[ That last one tastes so strongly he doesn't quite grasp it, but it bears acknowledgement. ]

[badnewsandshitlist]

Good Day, Dion. You make a fair case about intention. It is the only quality that separates craft from routine. Even the best machine can only imitate that.

The synthetic wine here tries its best, but there’s no warmth in it. It tastes of process, not patience. I still drink it, though, out of habit or stubborn hope. Some things you keep doing until they feel right again.

When my Whitestone shipment arrives, you should join me. We can test a real bottle and decide whether intention truly changes the taste. You can bring tea if you prefer. I’m curious whether refinement or practicality wins in the end.

[oblige]

I'd dealt with some unfortunate draughts when far afield, as needs must, but much of what is to be found here... Had I but known how bitter some drinks could be, I'd have been more grateful in the past.

I would be pleased to accept the invitation. In the meantime, should you like, I did bring back some bottles from Earth. I'd intended them for cooking, but admittedly I find it more than I've practical use for.

[badnewsandshitlist]

That is a generous offer, and I will gladly take you up on it. Even a bottle meant for cooking would be an improvement over what the machines serve here. I would welcome anything that tastes of earth instead of metal.

You will have to forgive me if I treat it like a rare vintage. The standard for quality has dropped rather low. When my own shipment arrives, I will return the favor with something properly Whitestone in character—subtle, a little sharp, and far too proud of itself.

Vex will likely insist on joining us when the real bottles arrive. She has an unerring instinct for good wine and good company, and I suspect she will find you both.

Bring one of your Earth bottles whenever you like. I will find three clean glasses and try not to let her drink all of it first.

[oblige]

[ Dion doesn't announce as much, but he decides the bottle count ought to be two. He hasn't yet made up for his lapse in manners in his own mind, and Percival could make that second bottle a gift to his wife.

Nothing wrong with supporting a happy couple. ]

Please, she should be invited by all means. I'd never object, and I can do with less if you both enjoy the wine.

Where have the two of you taken residence, and is there a time that best suits your schedules?

un: Wolfman | video

[will_chase_balls]

I like a good, hearty ale. I like the taste, and I like how it helps me loosen up and relax.

[badnewsandshitlist]

A hearty ale and the ability to relax? You might be the most successful alchemist among us. I’ve spent decades trying to bottle that exact result.

[will_chase_balls]

Well, I'm not the one brewing it, just the one drinking it. Karrnathi ale is the best ale you can get, though, so you definitely should try it if you ever get the chance.

un: e-soul | text;

[neonrain]

Aren't you overthinking it?

Re: un: e-soul | text;

[badnewsandshitlist]

Overthinking’s half the fun, isn’t it? You drink, you think, you spiral, you drink again. Cycle complete.

[neonrain]

The fact that you know you have a problem makes it worse. Biochem?

un: Sunday | voice;

[choirmaster]

[A clear, melodic voice hums, then...]

Hm... I wonder, why would you think pleasure matters most when things are imperfect?

[Wouldn't people experience permanent contentment if surrounded by absolute perfection? He thinks so.]

Anyway, in regard to your question, I've always preferred wine. A good wine is like a symphony. Though I only drink it on ceremonial occasions.

text; un:aliarra

[lockdownbuild]

As an adventurer? Best part of a drink is being able to drink it. It's a symbol of the latest disaster being over, or at least there being enough of a break to sit back and quaff instead of setting watches and keeping weapons ready.

Text: Username: LaFleurDeParis

[repaintress]

It feels hollow because it is unreal. Perfection is valuable because it is rare and it takes dedication and practice. Perfection in the real world is a rare event, like an eclipse, and should be appreciated as such. Unreal perfection is hollow because it is shallow and lacks the depths that bring joy from the actual world.

I enjoy wine because it connects it me to my people's history and because each bottle is different from the one before. To appreciate it properly requires an attention to detail, which is a muscle I enjoy flexing. Alcohol can also introduce you to aspects of yourself that might otherwise be hidden, and I enjoy such explorations. By stripping away certain inhibitions, creativity can be fostered.