40.01 The Heady Vintage of the Great Gardens
“The Heady Vintage of the Great Gardens” When having a busy day (month, year), the briefest of breaks is a blessing before diving back in. For many, a big break is coming up. I hope it is an enjoyable one and Happy Holidays.
Be careful out there.
↓ Transcript
Panel 1
Viewed from the hallway balcony of the White Bear tavern, a smiling Fip gives a little wave from inside a guest room as the door is closed from the outside by Puccini, whose hand is just seen on the doorknob.
Panel 2
The scene shifts and zooms in on Puccini's feet as he takes the steps leading down to the ground floor.
Puccini, thinking: "Whiskit, is Nob still with you?"
Panel 3
From a side view, Puccini is about to leave the staircase when his attention is drawn behind and to the right of him...
Whiskit, telepathically offscreen: "What do you think?"
Zathrus, interrupting offscreen: "Last call was an hour ago. But I'll make an exception."
Panel 4
...towards Zathrus, who is behind the bar, three large casks with spigots line the wall and below them a shelf filled with a number of bottles. The dwarf bartender's attention is not on Puccini (offscreen); instead she is looking at the brandy snifter that she is casually cleaning.
Puccini, offscreen: "Still have that rosé I like?"
Zathrus: "Coming up."
Puccini, offscreen: "Thanks."
Panel 5
Puccini has made it to the bar and leans against it, back to the viewer.
Puccini, thinking: "Let Nob know that I'll be ready soon."
Whiskit, telepathically offscreen: "Please. Don't take to long."
Panel 6
Zathrus is entering the frame, glass of wine in hand. She engages the wizard in conversation, although the viewer cannot see their expressions...
Zathrus: "One glass of rosé for Puccini the Preoccupied."
Puccini: "Again thanks. I do..."
Panel 7
...until Puccini suddenly turns to face the dwarf, startled and a touch perturbed by Zathrus' comment. The bartender has come to a stop before the wizard, a bottle can just be seen in her other hand.
Puccini: "Preocc... it's Puissant!"
Zathrus: "I jest. but I'm right."
Panel 8
Zathrus lifts the glass and hands it to a more settled Puccini, who looks off to the side with a slightly defeated look.
Zathrus: "So I brought the bottle. Want it?"
Puccini: "...yes please."
Panel 9
In an extreme close up, Zathrus' right hand is held palm up to receive the thirteen gold coins that Puccini's right hand showers. The wizard's left hand is pulling the glass of wine out of view.
Zathrus: "Do you... need to talk?"
Puccini: "Wow, you said that so nicely."
Panel 10
To complete the exchange, Zathrus' left hand brings up a bottle with a simple label that reads, "Previdenza, Vino Rosato 1405" Puccini receives the bottle with his now free hand.
Zathrus, laughs: "Ho ho! There he is!"
Puccini: "Yes, I too can jest."
Panel 11
The view zooms out and moves with Puccini, the wizard with a grin looking back at Zathrus, smiling with arms akimbo.
Zathrus: "If you change your mind, you know where my ear is."
Puccini: "You'll regret that."
Panel 12
The scene pulls out further as Puccini reaches a booth and slowly eases in, sliding the bottle in further along the table top. Near the edge of that surface, as the wizard uses it for support, he gives the wine glass a little swirl.
Panel 13
Moving to a close side profile shot, Puccini raises the glass to his nose and gives it a sniff...
Panel 14
...before he takes a sip...
Panel 15
...and then holds the glass up and away so he can inspect its color. He appears pleased...
Puccini, thinking: "I'm ready."
Panel 16
...until the pleasure is drained away as soon as his eyes begin to glow when he receives a magical transmission.
Nob, telepathically: "<What was everyone doing all this time?! Feasting and drinking?!>"
Viewed from the hallway balcony of the White Bear tavern, a smiling Fip gives a little wave from inside a guest room as the door is closed from the outside by Puccini, whose hand is just seen on the doorknob.
Panel 2
The scene shifts and zooms in on Puccini's feet as he takes the steps leading down to the ground floor.
Puccini, thinking: "Whiskit, is Nob still with you?"
Panel 3
From a side view, Puccini is about to leave the staircase when his attention is drawn behind and to the right of him...
Whiskit, telepathically offscreen: "What do you think?"
Zathrus, interrupting offscreen: "Last call was an hour ago. But I'll make an exception."
Panel 4
...towards Zathrus, who is behind the bar, three large casks with spigots line the wall and below them a shelf filled with a number of bottles. The dwarf bartender's attention is not on Puccini (offscreen); instead she is looking at the brandy snifter that she is casually cleaning.
Puccini, offscreen: "Still have that rosé I like?"
Zathrus: "Coming up."
Puccini, offscreen: "Thanks."
Panel 5
Puccini has made it to the bar and leans against it, back to the viewer.
Puccini, thinking: "Let Nob know that I'll be ready soon."
Whiskit, telepathically offscreen: "Please. Don't take to long."
Panel 6
Zathrus is entering the frame, glass of wine in hand. She engages the wizard in conversation, although the viewer cannot see their expressions...
Zathrus: "One glass of rosé for Puccini the Preoccupied."
Puccini: "Again thanks. I do..."
Panel 7
...until Puccini suddenly turns to face the dwarf, startled and a touch perturbed by Zathrus' comment. The bartender has come to a stop before the wizard, a bottle can just be seen in her other hand.
Puccini: "Preocc... it's Puissant!"
Zathrus: "I jest. but I'm right."
Panel 8
Zathrus lifts the glass and hands it to a more settled Puccini, who looks off to the side with a slightly defeated look.
Zathrus: "So I brought the bottle. Want it?"
Puccini: "...yes please."
Panel 9
In an extreme close up, Zathrus' right hand is held palm up to receive the thirteen gold coins that Puccini's right hand showers. The wizard's left hand is pulling the glass of wine out of view.
Zathrus: "Do you... need to talk?"
Puccini: "Wow, you said that so nicely."
Panel 10
To complete the exchange, Zathrus' left hand brings up a bottle with a simple label that reads, "Previdenza, Vino Rosato 1405" Puccini receives the bottle with his now free hand.
Zathrus, laughs: "Ho ho! There he is!"
Puccini: "Yes, I too can jest."
Panel 11
The view zooms out and moves with Puccini, the wizard with a grin looking back at Zathrus, smiling with arms akimbo.
Zathrus: "If you change your mind, you know where my ear is."
Puccini: "You'll regret that."
Panel 12
The scene pulls out further as Puccini reaches a booth and slowly eases in, sliding the bottle in further along the table top. Near the edge of that surface, as the wizard uses it for support, he gives the wine glass a little swirl.
Panel 13
Moving to a close side profile shot, Puccini raises the glass to his nose and gives it a sniff...
Panel 14
...before he takes a sip...
Panel 15
...and then holds the glass up and away so he can inspect its color. He appears pleased...
Puccini, thinking: "I'm ready."
Panel 16
...until the pleasure is drained away as soon as his eyes begin to glow when he receives a magical transmission.
Nob, telepathically: "<What was everyone doing all this time?! Feasting and drinking?!>"
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