Chemistry and Cookies

Writers: Chelle, Tyr
Date Posted: 25th November 2014

Characters: R'gelen, Symion
Description: Symion explains a hard concept to the younger apprentice.
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 10, day 5 of Turn 7

Mandatory study time was drawing to a close as Symion approached
Rohagelen, who looked to be diligently at work. "You look as if you
could use this, Rohagelen," Symion stated with a smile, dropping a
cookie next to the junior apprentice.

His eyes caught on the cookie first and he smiled slowly. "Ah thanks."
Pulling himself up and leaning back, he bit into the dessert and savored
it. "Trying to wrap my head around the chemist stuff that makes the grape
juice change into wine or vinegar or whatever." He squeezed his head
and made a face to demonstrate his difficulty.

"Yeah, that part can be hard, I remember puzzling through it. Let me
know if you need any help," the older apprentice offered. "Some people
treat this like a big competition but I think the more we help each
other the better. Kind of think that's the point of having a craft,
you know banding together, kind of like a family."

He put his lips together and considered that. "Everyone has their strengths
and weaknesses sure, but there's also the race to get promoted and
some want to earlier than others. Me, I don't mind so much. So
yeah..I'd
appreciate it." It would be quite a few turns before he'd make senior
apprentice anyway.

"We're coming up on freetime, now. Does your brain want a break or do
you want to tackle it now while it's fresh in your head?"

"Maybe just go over it one more time before I head out?" He had to get
ahead and do right by his parents for sending him here. And sometimes,
a little extra work was how you did that. His father was a farmer so
he'd seen plenty of that.

"Okay so _primary_ fermentation is the first step, right? So yeast
plus the natural sweeteners in the grapes equals the alcohol - or wine
- plus the gas that is given off. When animals eat they pass gas and
poop right? Well, it's like the yeast is gobbling the sweetener,
passing gas and then leaving us with the alcohol. Best waste product
ever!" Symion said with a laugh. "In primary fermentation, about
two-thirds of the sweetener is used up, but there's still more left to
be gobbled up." The older apprentice paused to see if Rohagelen was
following.

"Right...I get the process, but not what they're saying about this."
He pointed to the chemical notations on his lesson hide. Translating
the words into symbols confused him.

"Ah, yes well that can be tricky as it's almost like learning a whole
different language. This represents the sweetener in the grapes,
which is made up of different components. Just like
your shirt is made up of sleeves, buttons, and collar. Here's the
yeast in the middle which causes the sweetener to break down, but does
not really add anything to the mix. During this reaction - the
fermentation - everything is rearranged. Certain parts are moved
about, like taking the sleeves off your shirt and leaving you with a
vest. The important thing to remember is that there must be the same
number of components on both sides of the equation. See, this breaks
off and goes here," Symion pointed to the hide. "And that represents
the gas that is given off. Then we have this here that has been
rearranged to form what is now alcohol. You do just kind of have to
remember that this one is sweetener, this stands for alcohol, and this
the gas that's given off.

The shirt analogy made it easier to understand but Rohagelen understood
that he was going to have to memorize the symbols if he was going to
remember. That was easy enough. "Oh...so what if we have vinegar
then?"

"Well, it has the same components, just more reorganization. You
start with alcohol," Symion pointed to the symbol. "You add air," he
added pointing to another symbol. "This time instead of yeast you have
bacteria in the middle doing the breakdown. Then you end up with the
ascetic acid, or vinegar. Again, no matter how you reorganize, you
have to have the same number of components on both sides of the
equation. Kind of like if you take apart your shirt to make a new
one, you still have the same number of buttons to work with, even if
you put them in a different order."

"Hm so it's the bacteria the air introduces..." That was sorta neat.
Focusing more now that it made sense, the junior apprentice smiled. "I
think I get it now. Thanks..you're a good teacher."

Symion smiled, his chest puffing at the compliment. Now if he could
just get Rohagelen to spread that around with the journeymen and
masters then this small time investment of time would have been more
than worth it! His mind traveled to back to his conversation with
Keayd and how the journeyman had acted so superior, but here he had
explained this concept to the other apprentice better than the
deformed man could have! He was going to make journeyman and when he
did he'd be a far sight better at it than that bitter, sarcastic
cripple.

"I'm glad I could help, but you were almost there already. Let me know
if you ever need anything else and I don't mean just homework. I know
you haven't been here long, but like I said, my philosophy is we're
here to help each other."

He nodded, curls shaking slightly. That was a good offer, one he held
out hope for. Maybe he would make some friends yet. And smart friends
were good to have. "Thanks." He began to gather up his things, intending
on heading off to take a quick nap before his next lesson. He paid careful
attention to his hides and stylus. He didn't have much and he took
great care with what he did have.

"Sure thing. Enjoy your free time." Symion gave the younger boy a
nod, deciding he liked the kid and would keep an eye out for him.
Symion had a lot of friends in the barracks and if he wanted to make
sure someone had an easier go of it that was well within his power.
He smiled at that image. As if he were Lord of his own little Holding.

Last updated on the November 28th 2014

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Chemistry and Cookies