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 Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2023 3:36 pm
Zota knew she had been getting more distant from her family lately. She was spending more and more time in town and now a job there was going to keep her even busier. Relating to her siblings, especially the youngest ones, wasn't always easy, but she knew one thing that she could do to show she was thinking of them. Clothing was her passion, and it was one that she could easily and happily share with those she cared for.
"Hello? Is anyone home?" She dropped a heavy burlap bag onto the kitchen table and called out for her family in the quiet residence. Hopefully someone was around.
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2023 3:37 pm
Painted Moose via Discord
Most generally Zerynthia was dressed in her performance garb and at the very least more flamboyant pieces. Today, however, she’d forsaken all of that in favor of a simple dress meant for chores. There were a number of things she needed to do around the house before her family returned; things she’d had all week to work on, but had chosen not to.
When she heard someone returning her grip on the broom nearly snapped it in half. The kitchen! If her parents saw the state of it – Oh. It was just Zota. With a relieved sigh, Zerynthia lifted her broom and walked around the corner to greet her older sister. “Nice to see you still know where home is,” She smirked. “Rarely see you these days.”
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2023 3:37 pm
Zota couldn't help a small wince of guilt as her sister made her entrance. No beating around the bush there. Still, the wince was able to shift into a melancholy smile. "I miss you, too, Tia. Are you the only one here?" She cocked her head as she took in the simple dress and broom her sibling sported. Ooh, she knew what time it was. Her gaze drifted knowingly around the messy kitchen, but her expression held no judgement. She certainly would never have let it get into this state... but life was certainly busy for everyone there. "I had thought the others would be back by now, but it seems I might be a bit early. Can you spare a little time or are you on a time crunch?"
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2023 3:37 pm
Moose
She followed her sister’s eyes toward the kitchen, but instead of lingering there she let her own roll. Not everyone could be the perfect housekeeper like Zota. Some of us have better things to do. “The kitchen is all that I have left so if you’re willing to help out then I’m yours.” Cocking a brow, Zerynthia leaned a little heavier on her broom. “What’s up?” It wasn’t often that her older sisters came to her for anything, especially now that they were starting to branch out, but the curiosity was there. As well as a healthy dose of suspicion.
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2023 3:38 pm
"Only if I help, huh? I think I could manage that." Zota looked around the kitchen again, immediately laying out a plan of action in her mind. "Between the two of us, it will get done in no time." She looked at the bag on the table and tapped her lip. It wasn't ideal, but at least it would be more time with her sibling... She opened the bag and let the sides fall to reveal a stack of seven packages neatly wrapped with colorful twine. Her fingers ran along the stack before they settled on grabbing one package from the middle of the pile.
"I'm getting a job at mistress Pawree's shop in town. She's offered me a room to stay as well, so that I don't need to make the long trip every day." She hugged the package to her chest as she turned back to Zerynthia with a hopeful smile. "I'm excited for the opportunity, but I know it's going to keep me even busier. I.. don't want anyone to think I've forgotten them." She held out the package. "I made this one for you."
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2023 3:38 pm
Moose
Setting the broom to the side, Zerynthia moved closer to the counter and Zota’s packages. Her golden eyes took in the plethora of colorful ties as her curiosity grew. “A new job and you’re moving out? You’ll break Papa’s heart.” She reached out to flick the edge of a package with a smile. “Seriously though, congratulations. I know it’s something you’ve wanted for a while.” Having one leave the nest would no doubt make their parents a little sad, but Zerynthia knew they’d be happy for her. Zota was a hard worker; the perfect golden child and as much as Zerynthia like to poke fun at that she was genuinely happy for her sister.
“For me?” Oh, well, that really had her attention. She took the package eagerly, gave Zota one last skeptic look, and started to open it. Inside was a lovely dress with a fitted top and just enough flare to fit into her performances. The colors were that of a sunset, just like Zerynthia liked them, and while there were flowers in the hem (which weren’t her favorite) there was no denying it’s beauty. “Oh my Gods….Zota it’s wonderful. You made this?”
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2023 3:39 pm
Zota gave a wane smile. She was certainly worried about how her parents would react. She knew they would be pleased, but it would also certainly be difficult. "At least I'm not moving across the territories like mother did. We know grandpa and grandma always love her visits." The support did help her smile warm. "Thank you. I'm nervous.. but I know it will be for the best."
Ah, but then Zerynthia reacted to the gift and Zota's smile brightened like the sun with joy and relief. "I did. I was trying to make something you could use with your performances, if you would like." She glanced around the kitchen, but quickly turned back to her sister. "You should go try it on in case I need to adjust anything."
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2023 3:39 pm
Moose
Zerynthia held the dress against herself and stretched one of the sleeves out to see how it would look on her arm. The fabric was light which was good now that they were moving into spring, but still not so revealing that she would take chill. Looking back to Zota, she thought about it for a second and nodded. “I’ll be quick.” The hybrid scooped it into her arms so she wouldn’t trip and scurried toward her room.
The space she shared with Ezili was already a mess of clothing, gears and other things. With a few quick kicks of her feet Zerynthia made a space big enough on the floor to change out of her dress and into the new one. The length was a little longer than she was used to and the waist was a little larger, but nothing that couldn’t be taken in. She paused in front of a full length mirror the girls had in their room and looked at herself before going back toward the kitchen.
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2023 3:40 pm
Zota took the time alone to clear off the table so that she could spread out the packages into two shorter stacks of three. She rolled the burlap bag up and tied it tightly, and then pushed it all to one side to be out of the way.
Her smile rose bright again when her sister returned. "Oh Tia, you are absolutely shining." Of course, the critical part of her brain started to notice the little things that would need adjusting. She took a small, narrow box out of a bag on her hip and opened it to reveal a small travel sewing kit. With a few pins, she walked over to gently tug and shift the waist fabric around to fit more snug and pinned it into place. "There. Is there anything you need different? How does it feel?"
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2023 3:40 pm
Moose
“Oh, I know.” Zerynthia waved her hand into the air and ended on a pose that may have been magical if she had magic. She shook her hips a little, marveling at the easy way it swayed for her, but still getting caught up in the length. When her older sister came closer she paused, doing her best to stay still but natural so that the ‘fixes’ would be accurate. “Can you take it up a little? Half a hands length?” When she’d been a child the shorter dresses were ‘cute’ and ‘mystical’ but now that she was getting older Zerynthia found herself liking the way her legs looked when bare. She still preferred bouncier dresses with a lot of flare, but a little skin never hurt.
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2023 3:40 pm
As she pinned the skirt up, Zota couldn't help marveling at how quickly the time was passing. Where it had once just been her and Anahita, there were now four other siblings running around. She could still remember when Zerynthia had been just a tiny infant, and here she was now growing up into a lovely young woman. Zota felt on the verge of tearing up, but managed to catch herself and let out a brisk breath of a sigh. It wasn't like she herself was that old yet! "There. Half a hand." She stepped away to give the adjustments a full look and nodded. "Beautiful."
The little box was closed up and put away. "It shouldn't take me long to fix it up. I still have some time before mistress Pawree starts giving me any orders for the shop. Right now I'm just doing small fixes and touch ups around the shop until she figures out how she wants to balance the workload."
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2023 3:41 pm
Moose
Looking down at the hemline, Zerynthia smiled and nodded. She gave her narrow hips a little twist, just to be sure, and when it was good she straightened up. “Do you think you can have it ready for my trip to Oba and Matori? I’m going to go visit everyone.” And hopefully make a lot more coin along the way than I do here. She loved Sauti, she really did, but the coin was so much better on the streets of bigger cities. When she’d brought the topic up to her parents a suggestion to visit her Uncles just north of them had been brought up too and while she loved them it was a hard no.
Their village was smaller than her own and she’d have to help take care of animals! No way!
“If you weren’t so busy I’d ask if you wanted to come too, but even if you weren’t working I doubt you’d want to be away from your boyfriend for that long.” She grinned.
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2023 3:41 pm
"You're going alone?" Zota pursed her lips to pause a moment. "How soon do you need it? I'm sure the others will need a little adjusting as well, but I can work on yours first." First come, first serve. Besides, she was eager for the clothing to be used. Thankfully, the dress should work in the hotter climates of Oba and Matori without overheating its wearer.
Heat rushed along her cheeks with bashful delight at the mention of her interests. "Perhaps I'll make the time to see one of your shows before you go. You'll have to tell me when you're planning your next one." She reached out to fluff one of the dress accents lightly. "I appreciate the thought, though. It would be nice to see everyone there as well."
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2023 3:41 pm
Moose
“Stop worrying Zota, you’ll get wrinkles.” Zerynthia turned away from her big sister, “I’ll be leaving in two weeks so if you can have it done by then that would be amazing. Otherwise I’ll leave you some gold and you can have it sent to me.” The teen made her way back to her room to change out of it and back into her previous dress. Compared to the more elaborate, performative garb Zota had brought this one just seemed plain.
When she came back the dress was folded neatly in her arms and she gingerly handed it over. “I’m performing tomorrow night if you want to come. There was a bard that was supposed to play at Tilly’s Tavern, but he sort of….died so I asked if I could take his spot.” The Great and Marvelous Zerynthia needed all of the publicity she could get!
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Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2023 3:42 pm
Wrinkles? Zota gasped softly and her hand raised to touch her cheek before she could catch herself. Then her cheeks flushed anew. "Two weeks. Yes. I can have it done by then." She cleared her throat to turn her focus to another small back at her hip. While Zerynthia changed, Zota pulled a long ribbon loose and used it to secure her hair back from her face in a quick and easy braid.
She accepted the dress back and re-tied the twine around it securely. She would pack everything back up later. "Tomorrow will work," she assured happily, though that delight faltered at mention of the bard. "Oh, well... It's too bad that you got the spot that way, but I am excited to see you on stage."
One wall held a small line of hooks which Zota approached to swipe up an apron and tied it around her waist. "Now, why don't we get to work before it gets much later?"
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