It took a deliberate effort on Doryn's part not to say the words 'overpriced swill,' when Hani finally identified it for him, simply nodding and finding that explained the matter. He'd of course sampled the goods when they'd first made it to the city via one of the trade routes, making it a matter to keep abreast of all his competitors, and Gresham Orchards certainly considered themselves such even if the Knight-Captain didn't share their heightened opinion of their own product. Still, he'd obviously been a bit too hasty before, '<em>Gresham Red</em>' wasn't nearly as bad as he'd suspected and the mental divide between what he would have expected and what his palate was telling him were no doubt why he'd failed to make the identification himself.<br/><br/>"Hmmm, still inferior to my own vintages, but... novel enough to please some," Doryn finally said, before shrugging a bit. He'd not<em>meant</em>to give Ethindir any offense, and hopefully the Elf could understand the professional puckishness of someone in the business of making wine. Especially since, as an Elf, more or less all human vintages paled in comparison to all but the basest of elven wines. He'd always vaguely wondered just how they pulled that off, if it was some trick of magic or a rare ingredient, but so far he'd not gotten anywhere in his attempts to learn more about the process.<br/><br/>The Knight-Captain gave the two a bit of room, in any event, allowing them to finish their business dealings. Which, of course, included rather a large amount of flirting,-- but, it's not like his business dealings with Hani didn't involve just as much teasing and posturing,-- honestly, rather more,-- but then,... oh<em>then</em>the elven Bastard decided to take things too far. The offer to dance was, at least in Doryn's eyes, a step rather too far and a clear sign that the whoreson was<em>interested</em>in<strong>his</strong>girl.<br/><br/>Nor did Hani even look back at him before gleefully accepting,--<br/>--not that she would be required to do so, but still.<br/><br/>It was his own fault, he knew that, but it was a hard habit for him to break. It wasn't even his fault, not really, Northerners took their dancing<em>very</em>seriously and to dance with a woman was an act of no little intimacy that could easily get one involved in a duel if you chose to impose such on the wrong woman. It was dancing with the daughter of his Yarl, in point of fact, that had started Doryn's self-exile from his home and his not-wholly-voluntary exploration of the southern lands. The only thing more serious than dancing, to a Northerner, was the actual act of intimacy,--<br/><br/>--and, well, dancing was considered a clear and obvious sign that one intended such with one's partner.<br/><br/>The Southener's traditions, of course, were different and Doryn understood that. He even took a bit of joy out of it being acceptable to, in his eyes, publically announce his seduction of more or less anyone. He could even cut in, taking a woman from her partner, something that would almost<em>always</em>result in a fight in the North! It was a different way of looking at the world, if not quite so removed from his own as he'd first believed when he saw how flagrant the Southerners could be on the dance floor,-- for Doryn had since learned that even though it wasn't quite so<em>formal</em>and<em>assumed</em>as in the north, that still didn't mean that dancer partners didn't very frequently end up engaged in other acts... later,-- but he'd never fully shaken the mores of his people entirely.<br/><br/>It was why he'd never been able to take Hani onto the dance floor,--<br/><br/>--it was why seeing her so gleeful as Lord Talion took her down to dance caused his blood to boil.<br/><br/>Indeed, so fixated was Doryn on what was going on that he didn't even notice the death-grip with which he held his wine glass. He barely noticed the harsh crystalline snap of the wineglasses stem cracking, dropping the broken glass to shatter on the floor even as he brought his fingers to his lips to kiss away at the blood. Mercedes must have been nearby, an amused grin on her face as she came by to clean up, but Doryn only barely acknowledged her words.<br/><br/><em>"Shall I get you another glass? Or would you prefer something else?"</em>she teased.<em>"You did invite him here, didn't you? I mean, he is your friend. I am glad you did. He is very handsome and a great dancer. I think Hani is really enjoying herself..."</em><br/><br/>She was about to say something else,-- probably to dismiss herself and head back to work-- when Doryn turned on her.<br/><br/>"Come, Mercy, we're going dancing," he said, taking her hand even as he rose from his chair.<br/><br/>She simply protested, "Lord Aelland! I'm working!"<br/><br/>"I don't care," Doryn said, simply enough, feeling as the protest quickly died away from the girl and she just relented herself to what was happening. "That's a girl. Come on.<em>Dance with me</em>."<br/><br/>If he heard Meerika's dry chuckle, Doryn paid it no heed.<br/><br/>If the Elf wanted to play dirty, then he would play dirty as well, and may the better man win.