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 Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2021 10:29 am
Tanning hides was a very long, drawn out process, but a necessary one. Even though it would have been much easier to simply sell the mammu’s flesh to a merchant Sylvirah wasn’t about to let her prey go to anyone else. She’d personally set about stripping the animal of its flesh, bone and skin so that every part of it would be used to aide her family. And naturally, she’d shown her children every step.
With her daughter off with Zyphire for the day Sylvirah was left to spend some special time with her son. Instead of choosing something ‘fun’ to do, though, she set him to work. They were poised next to the large vat inside the tanning hut that held a special brine used to pull the remaining fat and flesh off the hide. Occasionally she would dip her hands in and massage the hide, just to see if it was ready.
“Ziya, hent tørkestativet.” Ziya, fetch the drying rack. Occasionally, Sylvirah would slip into her mother tongue around the children just to test them.
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2021 12:58 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
Oh the joys of chores. Ziya pursed his lips in defiance as he slowly took his time getting to the large vat for tanning. He was much more content with supervising than getting his hands dirty even though he knew he had to do his part within the village. Even when he went south to visit relatives he still got dragged into things and his father often pulled him into the kitchen when he tried to hide about the house, but Ziya still protested a little. Unless of course it turned into a competition or a way to show off his growing skills to others of course. Either way the boy had followed his mother and when she spoke to him in the mother tongue he simply nodded before fetching the drying rack.
Talking was his forte and so at least he had a knack for languages. That much Ziya could rely on as he slowly tugged the drying rack after him and placed it near his mother. Even if he was a bit clumsy here and there at least he finally got it in place before glancing at her. "And now?" He asked with a small smile, his head tilted as he studied his mother.
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2021 1:03 pm
[Sylvirah 2]
A few curls slipped out of the bun Sylvirah had managed before diving into the dirty job. Even though her sleeves were rolled to the elbow the cloth itself was still getting wet and she knew she’d likely never get the stains out. As her first born worked on getting the rack closer Sylvirah lifted the high, did her best to wring out excess liquids and readied herself to toss it up. To say she was pleased to see how he’d caught on was an understatement.
“Nå trenger vi den grønne flasken med olje.” Now they needed the green bottle of oil, but this time she neither made a motion toward what she needed nor did she make eye contact with it. When he’d been younger she might have given hints, but now? Well, Ziya was a smart boy; he could figure it out. Hefting the heavy hide out of the vat, the iceling flopped it onto the drying rack and spread it out as best she could.
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2021 5:43 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
Okay so perhaps Ziya still had some learning to do. The young boy was stubborn about showing his weakness, however, and so when his mother asked him for something he took his time pondering her words. He knew flasken was for a bottle, but it seemed colors escaped him. Perhaps he simply didn't see the world in the variety of colors that others clearly could but either way Ziya made his way towards a shelf of bottles and found himself picking up several. He didn't want to reveal his confusion and casually placed them next to his mother. "In case you wanted other colors too." He offered with a small smile as he glanced towards Sylvirah. "Noe annet?" He added confidently as he watched to see what his mother would ask of him next. Even if there was the pressure from being tested the boy found it more exciting than simply going through the motions of chores since he wanted to do his best to make his mother proud.
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2021 5:50 pm
[Sylvirah 3]
With a special brush Sylvirah combed over the hide, removing not only excess fluids but also bits of fat and hair that hadn’t come off in the bath. She sparred a sidelong glance at him, saw the way Ziya was focused on his task and carefully looked back at her own project. Sylvirah had never been the type of mother to needlessly hover; if he wanted her help then she would give it, but otherwise…Well, he’d figure it out, right? A small part of her wanted to jump in, but she pushed that part down. She didn’t want her weaknesses making her own children weak.
Seeing his offering brought a smirk to her face. Cheeky little thing. Lifting the green vial she gave him a knowing look and dabbled a bit of the oil on the hide. “Ha oljen på hånden og gni den mot venstre.” She held the vial back to him instead of setting it down, curious to see what he would do next. “Gni den feil vei og hånden din vil brenne.”
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Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2021 12:00 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
Relief made Ziya's shoulders relax even though he did his best to try and act like nothing had been the matter. The boy pursed his lips as he watched his mother, his bi-colored gaze tracking her every movement as she worked on the hide and dabbled the oil on it. "Trenger det me?" He managed as he gestured to the hide wondering how much oil it would need. He couldn't quite grasp the words that he wanted to express so the youngling reluctantly switched back to common. "Will I burn my hands?" He reached out slowly for the bottle and turned it in his hands. "After all I need my fingers if I'm going to be helpful to you." He managed with a small playful grin towards his mother.
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Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2021 12:07 pm
[Sylvirah 4]
Later in the evening Sylvirah planned on discussing Ziya’s little trick with her partner. It wasn’t the first time she’d seen him divert away from a direct response where colors were concerned, and maybe Zyphire had noticed the same thing. For all she knew it could have been an odd coincidence, but then again…
“Rub it in alternating circles. A few swipes to the left, then a few to the right and then wipe as much of the oil off your hands as possible. If you leave it on for too long it will burn.” Just to make sure he got it, she demonstrated the act by performing it herself. As she worked a proud smile worked it’s way onto her face. “You’re doing really well. I’m happy you’ve picked up the mother tongue so easily.”
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Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2021 12:14 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
A proud grin crossed Ziya's lips. "Papa said I have a gift for gabbing like him." He expressed happily as he attempted to copy his mother's motions. The boy's fingers moved slowly unlike his talkative mouth, something he hoped he would improve on so that he could keep up with his sibling. A few to thr left and then to the right....Ziya paused before blinking towards his mother. Did he wipe them on his leggings or the hide or? Eventually the panic settled as he tentatively copied his mother some more. So far no burns! Maybe the tips of his fingers were a bit warmer than usual but that wasn't anything like the one time he decided to try and pull sticks directly out of a fire!
"What are we going to do with this hide?" He found himself asking as he kept moving his fingers back and forth, perhaps leaving a bit too much oil here and there though he was honestly doing his best to copy his mother's much more experienced movements.
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Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2021 12:22 pm
[Sylvirah 5]
Sylvirah snorted. “You definitely got it from him.” She reached for a special rack that would help to smooth the oil across the hide, pulling any remaining hair and fat with it. In its wake was a nice, shiny hide that once dried would be a lovely shade of charcoal leather. Occasionally Sylvirah would look to her side and watch Ziya. His technique wasn’t perfect, but he was trying and the only way he would get better would be to practice.
After looking over his work, and only reaching over to ‘adjust’ a piece of it once, Sylvirah reached for a clean cloth. She wiped her hands down and then held it out for him to use. “What do you think we should do with it?”
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Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2021 12:35 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
Ziya chuckled at his mother's reaction. His father did talk a lot didn't he? It almost made their home feel too quiet during the colder months when he was away. Maybe that was why he had started copying the man and told stories or talked about whatever he could? Either way Ziya was happy to get a laugh out of his mother. His sister was a harder one to get but he definitely tried! While she acted much too mature the boy instead tried to be playful and get a rise out of her when he could. Ziya's thoughts trailed off as he reached for the cloth and twisted it in his hands to try and clean off the oil that clung to his fingertips.
"Me?" The boy blinked in surprise before glancing over the hide. It seemed to be a nice shade and he liked the feeling of it beneath his fingers when he was working with the oil. "Maybe a coat? What do you think, mor?"
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Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2021 12:41 pm
[Sylvirah 6]
“I think it’s perfect, litt kjærlighet.” Sylvirah studied the swath of curating flesh and her face took on a softer look. Something about the colors reminded her of those worn by a man who was preparing to leave the North any day now…and yet, when she looked at the hide, it wasn’t him she was seeing. “How about a coat for you? You grow a little more everyday and by the time the snows hit you’ll have outgrown the one you have now.”
Surely they purchase something for him, but Sylvirah didn’t like doing that. She never turned down gifts for the children, what parent would?, but there was something special about a coat one made for themselves. “Maybe your far will go on a hunt with you before he leaves and you can line it with the fur from your kill?”
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Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2021 3:03 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
Ziya's gaze gleamed at his mother's suggestion. "Okay! I mean..." He trailed off with a flush as he tried to contain his excitement. "If you think that's necessary. Maybe we can find something else for Yngvara too." He offered with a grin as he glanced back towards the drying hide. Maybe he could find something with enough fur to make his sister gloves or something to help keep her warmer as well. Despite his difficulty with certain aspects of design the boy did enjoy doing creating things for his family, especially his sister.
"Do you think father would freeze if he stayed up here during winter?" Asked Ziya suddenly as his mothers words registered. "Do non-zenans get cold so easily?" He didn't really leave the village much during winter so he never really saw any foreigners during that time and since his father always migrated south it made him wonder. Did they just become snowmen or something?
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Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2021 3:04 pm
[Sylvirah 7]
“I’m sure if you try hard enough you could.” She stepped back to look at the work and grasped the rack once more. There wasn’t much to smooth out, but as much as she wanted her son to have pride in what he’d done Sylvirah needed to make sure their work would be usable for the coming stages.
Ah, well…That stilled her hand, now didn’t it? “…He might turn blue like your Uncle and maybe if enough ice builds up on his ears he’ll look like a Zenan.” Thinking on it, though, caused Sylvirah to purse her lips. “If he was from Sauti it might not be as bad, but your fathers used to traveling. It’s a lot warmer in the south so maybe that’s why everyone else stays away in the winter.”
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Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2021 3:16 pm
[Sabra via discord]
Ziya let out a snort of amusement. "I just hope it doesn't turn him into my uncle." The boy teased mischievously. "Father is a lot stronger and much more fun." Even if he wasn't able to stand the cold that didn't mean Ziya thought less of him! If anything he wondered how much heat his father could withstand and if Zenans would melt into puddles if they left the north for too long. "Maybe we would melt in the south then? Is that why we haven't left Zena?" He asked his mother as he pondered her words. Did others prefer the warm then? Honestly Ziya couldn't imagine life without the comforts of snow and the beauty of ice. What about those burns from the sun and the sweat constantly sticking to your body even without training? Ziya wrinkled his nose at the thought.
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Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2021 3:18 pm
[Sylvirah 8]
“Faren din er mye mer trøbbel.” Even if he wasn’t here during the winter months that didn’t mean that Sylvirah could afford to put her guard down. He’d been sure to leave just enough of him behind in their children to keep her on her toes. Ziya’s words brought a furrow to her brow and when she looked at him the smile had dropped from her face. “…Vil du reise sørover med ham? Jeg blir ikke sint hvis du gjør det. ”
They’d gone before, of course, but only when she and Zyphire had prior discussions about it. Up until this point neither of the children had really asked and she…wasn’t really prepared for it.
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