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[drawsblood]

// username: joric

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[drawsblood]

Close to a cow's milk, though a little sweeter.

[ Of course they always used theirs right away so it didn't have time to take a turn and taste bad. He thinks maybe he'll get a few goats when he returns home. The carving knife stops mid-carve as he realizes what he's just thought. Going home has had nothing but a bittersweet feeling attached to it, knowing what he'd be missing here, but for a moment he saw more than just curing himself of his rage. He began to see building his life again. The knife moves again. ]

Goats are a better value. Smaller, easier to feed, unable to trample you.

[morethan084]

Huh. I don't know why, but I'd imagine it would be almost bitter?

[Then again, it's not like she's really tried a lot of different milks.]

Trample you? Is that something people are concerned about where you're from?

[She grew up in a city, so the thought of cows trampling her is not something she ever thought about.]

[drawsblood]

[ He raises his brow and gives a shrug. ]

It's not common, but cows are huge, heavy animals that can take fright and thrash all over the place. One has to be mindful of that while working with one.

[morethan084]

[He has a point.]

So, you grew up on a farm?

[Already she’s smiling at the image of him as a farmer.]

[drawsblood]

No. I grew up in a village.

[ It is not clicking in his head why he wouldn't know about cows, though. ]

[morethan084]

And everyone there had farm animals?

[It’s hard for her to imagine herself living that kind of life, having grown up in a major city and more or less constantly moving since she was a child.]

[drawsblood]

Most people did, yes. It helps to have daily eggs and milk. But our yard wasn't big enough for cows. They need space to graze. Like I said, goats will eat anything.

[morethan084]

That sounds like a really nice way to grow up.

[And maybe a little smelly, but Manhattan also didn’t smell great.]

How did you learn wood carving?

[drawsblood]

It was.

[ He turns the wood over to start on the backside. ]

I picked it up while I was out on my own avoiding people. [ There's a pause as he tries to decide how much more to say. ] I needed to keep my hands busy and my mind occupied. But back then I only had my hunting knife so the things I made were awful. It's way too large a knife to properly carve out bits and detail things. Now that I have these tools I can make things worth looking at.

[morethan084]

[Frowning when he talks about how he learned how to carve wood, Daisy leans forward to reach out and touch his hand gently.

She knows nothing she can say will make him feel better about an awful time in his life, but at least he won’t have to go through that again.]

[drawsblood]

[ The touch is a reminder of how much he'll miss this, but he doesn't voice such thoughts aloud. Instead he pauses in his task and gives her a grateful smile. ]

All is well now.

[morethan084]

[Daisy smiles sadly in return, because he doesn't have to say it out loud for her to know what hes thinking.]

Good.

[She's leaning further, almost halfway off the bed, to kiss him on his forehead.]

[drawsblood]

[ He smiles at her actions, but sets his things in his lap to hold an arm out in front of her as a barrier. ]

Don't fall.

[ She is leaning quite a bit. ]

[morethan084]

[Daisy snorts out a laugh at that, pressing a quick kiss to his forehead before leaning back on the bed.]

Thanks.

[Scooting back on the bed, Daisy looks at the wood carving.]

What did you say you were making?

[drawsblood]

It's the large Cubit for Wei Wuxian. I hope I don't take off too much. It was pretty round.

[ He turns the wood over in his hands. Hm, bit lopsided at the moment. ]

I'm making you something too, but it's a surprise.

[morethan084]

Right.

[She smiles up at him, touched by his thoughtfulness. Her smile widens when he mentions something being in the works for her too.]

Really?

[drawsblood]

Yes, really.

[ He glances up at her with an amused look. ]

I have given you gifts before. It cannot be so surprising.

[morethan084]

I know, but...

[Her cheeks flush and she looks down at her hands,]

I've never really been given hand made gifts.

[drawsblood]

Hm. I suppose you are used to things being created as one of many. In my land everything is handmade and therefore unique.

[morethan084]

Well, whatever it is. I can't wait to see it.

[And now she thinks she needs to find something to give him in return. She's not talented enough to make things with her hands, although maybe she could give basket weaving a go again. With Andy's help, of course.]

[drawsblood]

Mm. Well, I'll have to get this one finished first. I'm not one to leave things half done.

[ He returns to carving, taking off long curls of wood that he lets fall to the floor at his feet. ]

But I already know what design I want to do.

[morethan084]

Can you teach me?

[Daisy asks as she watches the shavings fall to the floor.]

Not that I'd be half as talented as you are.

[Of course he'll tease her with what he's going to make her.]

I'm guessing that part is a surprise too?

[drawsblood]

It is. You'll have to be patient.

[ He gestures for her to come closer so she can see. ]

It's about using your wrist to make smooth strokes. You don't want to wriggle unless you're carving a design that way. See, you pick a spot and the way you want to shape it, then draw a long stroke down. I want it rounded, so I curve as I go down.

[morethan084]

[Daisy moves to stand next to him, watching how easily he moves the knife.]

You make it look so easy. I’d probably end up slicing my finger off.

[drawsblood]

That's a risk. Mine are scarred up enough that I wouldn't care if I cut myself.

[ A whole finger is unlikely to come off in his case. He sets the knife down on his thigh and reaches for her hand, curling fingers around her own and lifting her knuckles to his lips to kiss. ]

Though I suppose you could always wear a heavy glove.