#and the shawl is just one (1) stash ball!!

[bigcats-birds-and-books]

okay so i'm gonna try to finish a ball of this sport weight behemoth this weekend (maybe), and THEN i'm gonna cast on a shawl as a Gift for a March Birthday :) AND hopefully it'll be a ~writing weekend~!!!

[gardenvarietycrafts]

WIP Wednesday (Belatedly)

I know it's been a minute since I've posted, but my partner got me Stardew Valley and I am obsessed with it and haven't been knitting as much. I did pick back up my needles recently, though, so here's what I'm currently working on:

I just cast on the Leafy Leaf cowl. I was going to wait until I had finished something else first (the Dustland shawl being the main one I'd wanted to finish before starting this cowl) but I recently watched a Nimble Needles video with tips and tricks for the experienced knitter and just had to try this one! The tip is that no cast on and bind off will truly match perfectly, because they're just formed differently no matter what, but to match exactly you can provisional cast on, knit the work, then bind off both top and bottom with the same bind off technique. I'll update once I'm finished with the cowl to let you know how I like it, but it also gave me an excuse to learn how to provisional cast on in the round!

The second photo shows a little bit closer view of the lace pattern. I've only made it about halfway through the first repeat, but I really like how it's turning out so far. I'm not sold on my guage, though, so I may restart on smaller needles. If I do, I'll still use the provisional cast on then bind off the bottom edge technique.

This one is a hit of a back burner project because I chose a yarn with less stitch definition than I probably should have used for this project, but it's the No Rhinebeck No Problem MKAL 3, and all clues are currently released. I just need to finish the last repeat for clue 3 and then complete clue 4 and I'll be finished with this one.

This one was also in WIP time out for a bit due to the way this yarn knits, but I've picked it back up recently. Working on finishing the heel turn for sock 2 (the more pink sock) and then I'll be back to working on these two at a time in the round. The heels on these are Japanese short row heels, and they'll be a gift for a friend. These are both from the same ball of yarn, and I should be able to get a second pair out of it, which I'll knit exactly the same as these so that all 4 socks can be mixed and matched. My goal is to finish all 4 socks before gifting, but I may just gift these 2 socks first, since my next socks will be a pair for me, I think.

I'm not using a specific pattern for the socks, but they're just stockinette stitch, Japanese short row heels, and I'll use a wedge toe.

Not pictured:

The Dustland shawl - I'm still working on it, slowly, but progress isn't really visible because the stitch pattern just repeats. I have, however, decided to stop just after this pattern repeat, so after the next diagonal rib section (actually, after the garter section after the diagonal rib) because 1, it's huge already, 2, the rows are too long to maintain motivation, and 3, I'd like to not have to use up the whole last ball of this yarn. If I get close to the end of the ball, I'll finish it off there, even if I haven't gotten to where I planned to.

Mitered square blanket - I've decided to add more squares to the width and just make all the squares in the same direction, instead of making panels and seaming them together, so next steps will be adding more squares onto the width of the blanket. But this one likely will also be a long term project, since I have other things I'm focused on working on right now.

Project list, for things I have planned (mostly so I don't forget):

Socks for me using the Duo Sox yarn by Willow Yarns, which is meant for knitting a pair of matching socks and comes with two balls, perfect for the taat method I use

Second pair of apple mittens for my partner. She follows me, so I can't explain how they'll be different because I want it to be a surprise.

Mittens for me to match the hat and cowl I have, though I may also do a stripey cowl with that green and a dark blue yarn I have in my stash. I have an idea to knit a pattern I saw slightly differently to suit my needs better.

A pair of worsted weight socks, because warm and faster to knit.

Tea cozy for my tea pot. The first one I attempted was too small.

[gaviicreates]

Stash Spotlight: Juniper Moon Farm -Nimbus Paints

Happy Stitchin! I've been asked to share some of what's in my stash, so I'm starting a new section of the blog under the tag #yarn stash where I'll spend some dedicated time on what I have on hand or share some of my acquisitions with you.

Disclaimers: 1) I'll start off by sharing that I am NEW to my fiber arts journey. Some of what I plan to do here is learn. I don't pretend to be an expert, and if I get anything wrong, I invite you to let me know, just please do so kindly 2) Yarn stash size is dependent person to person - having a small one or large one does not make any one any less or more a crafter, and it's important for you to know what level "on-hand" is right for you. I find myself accepting that yarn collecting is a different hobby than crafting, and having yarns on hand to touch and feel and be inspired by brings me its own happiness. 3) Just like the yarn stash, what materials you choose to work with also doesn't make you any more or less a crafter than other materials. I use all sorts of yarn fibers and brands of hooks, needles, and extras, and I love them all.

Nimbus Paints - here at Juniper Moon Farm website

I have three of the same colorway of Nimbus Paints which I saw in person and immediately was curious how they'd look up in crochet. The store I bought these from had a scarf on display, and it was soo lovely, but I felt a bit more difficult than my current knit skill set. There are only 6 colorways available, and the one I chose is called Sagtikos Boardwalk. It reminded me of a foggy morning, and I've been really gravitating towards greys lately. That soft grey caught my eye even before I saw the added plus of the green tucked away inside.

If you haven't clicked that link to Juniper Moon's website, I recommend you do so. While this is my first time using a yarn from their brand, I've heard of their yarns before, most especially "Cumulus", and I can't recommend their website more for learning about what they have and where to access it in your area. Besides the patterns and color names, I love that they also have the shades worked up to clearly see the gradients as well as an easy to use shop finder.

Nimbus is a Bulky Weight 5, 96% Israeli Mako Cotton, 4% Nylon, with the recommended care instructions to hand wash cold and lay flat to dry. Suggested is a US 9-11 (5.5-8mm) knitting needle or US K10.5-M13 (6.5-9mm) crochet hook to meet gauge.

One 100g ball is 164 yards/150m.

This is chainette yarn construction, and it is oh, so soft. You can see my squish test here:

It's pleasing to work with, and among the softer cottons. That said, if you are someone who doesn't like the feel of cotton there's no mistaking this yarn as anything else and it may not be for you.

As may be obvious, I started to work up yet another virus shawl with the three balls of Nimbus Paints I have. I don't usually work with bulky yarn, so it's been a delight having the piece work up as quickly as it is.

On to ball #2.

[forbidden-spaghetti]

Geogradient Shawl is complete! I slowed down a lot at the end, but I accidentally added two extra rows between dip rows on clue 4. Looks like it blocked out alright and I honestly don’t mind how it looks so I’ve decided to keep it. I’ll add fringe once it’s dry and call it complete!

Anyway, more thoughts about this project under the cut

SO!

The pattern is.. not my favourite from Westknits, but definitely not a bad one. The pattern itself was decently written but there was a discrepancy between clues 1 and 2 regarding which colours to use. I’m not too upset about that because of the shitshow that was clue 1 but I do hope it gets updated eventually. Subsequent clues were updated, but I mostly went by the pattern and didn’t check the ravelry group all that much so I ended up using less colour C and D in the design as a result. Another part of the pattern that irked me somewhat was the right handed language used. This is pretty standard for knitting patterns but idk I was hoping a big designer like Stephen West would at least be able to use more neutral language so as to not confuse me lol. The original clue 1 was especially confusing as I had to construct it in the opposite direction.

The first two clues were a bit boring tbh. Westknits MKAL patterns always seem to be full of wacky stitches and cool colour play but this one felt like a slog until I got to clue 3. Again, I blame the part 1 shitshow for this and I do understand that it’d be a huge pain to have to rewrite an entire part of your pattern in a few hours. I adore the Granny Square alternative clue 1 and honestly wish I had seen it before deciding what to do with mine but oh well lol. Overall, pattern is ok. I already have a triangular shawl so I was hoping the would be a different shape, so clue 4 was a pleasant surprise!

Now when I got up to the horizontal floats and dip stitches, I was a bit wary because while they look pretty, I feel like this shawl is going to catch on eeeeeveeything. I don’t know how much I’ll wear it, it might be a special occasion kinda shawl.

The yarn I used was too thin. The result was nice and airy with a good drape, but it does make the floats and dips a little less impactful than I’ve seen on other finished geogradients. I didn’t buy a kit from my lys but my lys was selling kits of this yarn. Otherwise the yarn is lovely and soft. I have about 150g leftover (not including the scraps I plan to turn into fringe) so I’ll have to think of something to do with them. I don’t think they’re going to play ball with my other fingering weight scraps. It was also a bitch to frog and would get fuzzy at the drop of a hat thanks to the alpaca content.

Overall I enjoyed this project though. Would I do another MKAL? Probably not. At least not for a while. I think I’d rather wait for the design to be released first. But who knows? I am a slave to my FOMO and there was a lot of that in my geogradient shawl.

Would I make this pattern again? Honestly? Yeah. I think I’d do it with a thicker fingering weight yarn and probably with a proper merino (or merino/nylon at the very least) I’d also do the granny square variant clue 1 and probably the optional mohair part in clue 2 as well. I was a little peeved that optional mohair wasn’t listed in the initial materials but apparently that a weird unwritten rule of an MKAL- Stephen is just happy to drop this info mid project and assumes that every knitter has an extensive stash of yarn they can pull from. Especially mohair, which isn’t something that’s regularly produced in Australia (except for one farm in QLD) so it’s all imported and all expensive.

It’s a pity, because the mohair dares I saw looked gorgeous.

Anyway, I’ll add the fringe once it’s dry and probably won’t touch it again for 6 months. That’s another lesson learned: all the trendy patterns on ravelry are seasonal for the northern hemisphere so it’s not worth keeping up with them.

[knitcrate]

July 2021 Reveals

July is here! Let's check out our featured yarns for this month!

Meet the yarns and our themes in this month’s full crate reveal on YouTube.

Knit & Crochet Club Theme

It’s electric! This theme is all about bold colors, geometric shapes, and daring color combinations that will take your projects to the next level. Get in touch with your bright side with a pop of color in your crafts. Perfect for anything from a night out on the town to a cozy weekend at home, this month’s yarn will bring that wow factor. So set aside your weekend for some amazing crafting!

KnitCrate Knit & Crochet Club

Turn on the spotlights and disco balls for this month’s featured yarn, Uru.Yarn Electric! This 2-ply worsted weight yarn lives up to its name with two equally striking colorways, one bright pink and the other neon blue, sure to make your projects pop. Uru.Yarn Electric is a luxurious mix of 40% Alpaca, 30% Wool, and 30% Suri Alpaca, for cozy warmth and beautiful drape. With 150 yds (137 m) of this snazzy yarn in each skein, not a single stitch will be boring.

KnitCrate Knit & Crochet Club July 2021 Colorways

Members will receive 2 matching skeins in one of these 2 colorways.

Rave: Bring the party home to your yarn stash with the striking neon blue of Rave. The bold mix of blue plied with dark grey will shine in your next project that is sure to be anything but boring.

Wired: Hot pink and dark grey twine together to form the stripes of “Wired” with an eye-catching pop of contrast. You’ll want to keep crafting all night!

Knit & Crochet Club Patterns

Knit Pattern

Meredith Trzebiatowski (Sweet Pea & Sparrow) brings us the Weekend Vibes Cowl with luxuriously squishy cables and an oversized, slouchy vibe. The stitch pattern highlights the twisted plies of the yarn and creates an eye-catching fabric, perfect to pair with any outfit for peak coziness.

KNIT Pattern Details Needles: US 6 (4mm) circular needle to accommodate a 32” (81 cm) circumference cowl Yarn Needed: 284 yds (260 m) used / 2 skeins needed Finished Size: 16.5” (41.25 cm) wide x 12” (30 cm) tall Colorway: Wired

Crochet Pattern

The Weekender Slouch Hat by Natalia McHayle / Talia’s Crochet Creations is the perfect fast-paced project for a weekend of fun. This hat is made in one piece from the top down using a classic granny stitch pattern, meaning you can make this while you chat or watch TV with family and friends. The yarn lends the perfect drape to this accessory.

CROCHET Pattern Details Crochet Hooks: US H/8 (5 mm) and US K/10.5 (6.5 mm), or sizes needed to meet gauge Yarn Needed: 195 (240) yds (178 (219) m) used / 2 skeins needed for all sizes Notions: Tapestry needle Finished Size: 10 (12)” (25 (30)cm) wide x 9 (11)” (23 (28)cm) tall to fit heads 18-20 (22-24)” (46-51 (56-61)cm) circumference Colorway: Rave

Not a member yet? Join today!

Sock Knit & Crochet Club + Mrs. Crosby Travels Theme

A yarn store glimmers in the distance. As you get closer, you can make out shades of green, blue, red, and gray – which one will be right for your next project? The good thing about this mirage, though, is that it doesn’t disappear as you get closer. All of the yarn is at your fingertips, ready to be knitted or crocheted into your next creation. As the desert sun slips beneath the horizon, make yourself a cozy scarf or shawl to keep away the cold as the wind blows across the sand. We know you’ll love this month’s yarn and projects that call to mind a beautiful desert mirage.

For our Sock Knit & Crochet Club this month, we are featuring some of your favorite knit and crochet artists from Spain! Special thanks to Clara Mateo who helped us coordinate the designs for this month as well as shared her talented photography with us.

Sock Knit & Crochet Club

Walk across the shifting landscape to admire the desert mirages with this month’s colorful array of options for your Sock Crate. Your toes will stay toasty warm despite the blowing wind with Vidalana Mirage Sock, a mix of 50% Superwash Merino, 35% Bamboo, and 15% Nylon. Each skein of fingering-weight yarn includes 400 yards (366 meters)/100 grams in one of three gorgeous colorways, enough to make an entire cozy pair of socks.

Members will receive 1 skein in one of these 3 colorways.

Amargosa: Take in the beautiful tones of this turquoise that call to mind peaceful, healing waters. This deep shade of teal is sure to bring relaxation.

Helianthus: The deep gold shades of Helianthus are sure to bring you right to the desert to enjoy a day out in the sunshine.

Sandstorm: Imagine the stars shining against the velvety navy color of Sandstorm. This inky blue has lighter patches of blue to add depth to the night sky.

Sock Knit & Crochet Club Patterns

Knit Sock Pattern

The La Platja Socks by Vanessa Pellisa are your new go-to summer accessory, with their wave cuff picot edging that calls to mind an afternoon on the beach. The ribbed structure of these socks lends a classic and romantic look to the design and are worked all in one piece for minimal finishing and maximum style.

KNIT Sock Pattern Details Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm) circular needle with a cable of at least 40” (102 cm) length for magic loop

Yarn Needed: 240 (309, 386) yds (171 (219, 274) m) used / 1 skein needed for all sizes

Notions: stitch markers (2), tapestry needle, and a stitch holder.

To Fit Foot circumference: 7 (8, 9)” / 17.5 (20, 22.5) cm Finished Foot Circumference: 6.75 (7.75, 8.75)” / 17 (20, 22) cm

Colorway: Helianthus

Crochet Sock Pattern

Lucía Cabrera Valverde (Knitting the Skyline) was inspired by summers in the north of Spain when designing the Net Summer Socks. You’re sure to feel fresh and fun with these mesh socks that let your feet breathe while still looking fabulous. Made with a mixture of chain spaces and single crochets, these socks work up quickly for a satisfying project.

CROCHET Sock Pattern Details Crochet Hooks: US 2.5 (3 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge Yarn Needed: 240 (280) yds (219 (256) m) used / 1 skein needed for all sizes Notions: stitch markers (2), tapestry needle. Finished Ankle/Foot Circumference: 8 (9)" (20 (23) cm)   To Fit Sizes: 7-10” (10-12”) (18-25 (25-30) cm) foot circumference Colorway: Amargosa

Want to join Sock Knit & Crochet Club? You can do it here!

Mrs. Crosby Travels Club, Quarterly Membership

This quarter has the illustrious Mrs. Crosby traveling to Morocco, a country full of beautiful buildings, breathtaking scenery, inspirational art, and rich history. Desert tones seem to make the blues found around cities like Marrakesh and Fez more vibrant than one can imagine. Blues are center stage with the skeins of Steamer Trunk Mrs. Crosby dyed in the colorway Sahra just for us, and we are once again swept away in a crafting escape. Each 100% Superwash Merino, worsted weight skein is 164 yds (150m), and members will receive 3 skeins in this quarterly partner crate.

Mrs.Crosby Travels Club Patterns

Knit Pattern

Lauren McElroy - Mother of Purl brings us the Dune Legwarmers, whose meandering cables were inspired by the natural curves of sand dunes. This is an excellent project for improving your cable-knitting skills as you create these chunky thigh-high legwarmers, which can be styled in a variety of ways for all seasons.

KNIT Pattern Details Needles: US 4 (3.5mm) circular needle, 9” (27 cm) or set of 5 dpns     Yarn Needed: 391 (447, 502, 558, 614) yds (358 (409. 459, 510, 561) m) used / 3 (3, 4, 4, 4) skeins needed Notions: cable needle (or extra DPN), stitch markers (2), tapestry needle. To fit Ankle Circumference: 7 (8, 9, 10, 11)” / 18 (20, 23, 25, 28) cm. (Choose a size with 0.5" / 1 cm positive ease.)  

Crochet Pattern

The Summer Charm Handbag from Alexandra Halsey/With Alex is a delightful choice of purse for any event, whether it’s a trip to the yarn market or your next night out on the town. Made with the waistcoat stitch, a variation on single crochet that creates a sturdy fabric, this bag has a gorgeous knit texture that doesn’t require any lining. It even features a removable cardboard base for even more structure.

CROCHET Pattern Details Hook: US J/10 (6 mm) Yarn Needed:  415 yds (379 m) used / 3 skeins needed Finished Measurements:  5.5x5.5" (14x14 cm) across, 6.5" (17 cm) tall, not including handle.

[onegirlatelier]

Annie Cardigan | February - March, 2021

Happy International Women’s Day!

The pattern and colours of this cardigan are chosen specifically with Women’s Day in mind, and is named after the first woman to gain honours at Oxford, Annie Mary Anne Henley Rogers. She gained her first class honours in Latin and Greek in 1877, followed by first class honours in Ancient History in 1879, and finally matriculated and graduated in 1920.

A lot has happened in the recent few months which made me re-consider my degree at Oxford, but I have never regretted going there or doubted the value of the experience. I have been taught by so many lovely women teachers and professors and met so many fellow female students—which made me sometimes forget the gender inequality in academia and in schools of all ages—and it almost feels like nothing can make me give up the opportunity to be welcomed in this place where I am expected to actually achieve something.

Aren’t I lucky?

This cardigan is probably my last big project until July, because after a long struggle, I’ve decided to finish what I started—I will need to pass the exams in order to continue my study. Today is one of those good days where I feel connected to the world, and I must cherish my opportunity at Oxford because it hasn’t been an easy fight.

There might be a life waiting for me somewhere. Maybe it’s not going to be too bad. Maybe I just need to push myself a little harder. To eat a bit more, to exercise a bit more (not to. lose weight but to be ready for the long hikes in the summer vacation), and to talk a bit more when I feel like it.

Pattern

Once and Floral by Maxim Cyr.

It was a very simple top-down yoke sweater and the instruction was clear. I set myself a difficult task by deciding to make a cardigan instead and doing the body in flat rather than in the round, which meant doing stranded colourwork from the purl side.

The only problem with the pattern was that the required gauge seemed very odd to me. It was 26sts*30 rows in a 10cm square and the author used a standard fingering weight yarn (400m/100g) and 3.5mm needles. I used a light fingering weight yarn and 3.25 needles, which theoretically should make a tighter gauge, but got around 25sts*34 rows per 10cm. Maybe if I pulled my swatch vertically when blocking, I could have achieved what the pattern asked for, which was very tight in stitch gauge but very loose in row gauge. Thankfully it didn’t create too much trouble for me and I had only a few small mods. (Please refer to the Modification section.)

I am becoming more aware of the accessibility issues of Ravelry, and will try to discover more patterns that are available outside of Ravelry. I have access to books by Japanese designers, but if you know any good source for large, complicated, heirloom lace shawls, please let me know!

Yarn

Isager Alpaca 2, 50% alpaca, 50% wool. 250m per 50g skein.

White: (from the Eco range of Alpaca 2) #E0. I used about 30g (11g left from a used ball), or 150m.

Green: #thyme. I used about 168g (52g left from the four skeins I used), or 840m.

Purple: #52. I used about 10g (44g left), or 50m.

(I find that most skeins are a little more than 50g, so the figures are not exact. The usage of the #thyme also includes two small swatches. The whole cardigan weighs 205g without buttons.)

I’ve worked with this yarn before in my Scandinavian Spring cardigan, and this time I’m very pleased with it as well. It is made of natural fibres and has a nice wooly smell. It creates a thin, soft, and warm fabric that grows and puffs up after blocking. In fact, the Isager website specifically recommends it for cardigans.

The down side of such a soft yarn is obviously that it’s not as hard-wearing as some of the more rustic woolen yarns (such as Tukuwool Fingering). The website does state that it’s not able to handle too much wear and tear, but that is okay for me since both this cardigan and my Scandinavian Cardigan are very special and I do not expect to wear them as everyday garments.

These skeins did have travelled a long way to reach me, so I need to keep the carbon emission in mind. I purchased them from a local yarn store which bulk-ordered from the Isager website, though, so at least that’s better than buying small amounts directly from the Isager store. For this specific project, I only had to buy two more skeins of #thyme and one skein of #52, and the rest came from my stash.

(Can you see the heathered effect on this swatch? I'm swooning 😍)

Other materials

I used freshwater mother of pearl buttons. I’m not sure about the source of these buttons, but I understand that freshwater mussels are very important to the ecological systems in which they live (as are all other species), and I do hope that they come from responsible farming.

As for the thread to sew on the buttons, I opted for Fujix Patchwork Coton #50, which is 100% cotton with a coating that makes it a bit glossier, stiffer, and presumably stronger than the average cotton thread.

Needle sizes

3.25mm for the main body

2.5mm for the ribbing, because I like the ribbing to hug my body snugly and was worried about it being stretched out.

Finished size

I no longer think it’s relevant to take excessive measurements of my finished project, so I will only note the essential figures that might help me (or you) if trying to figure out how many stitches to cast on, how to adjust the yoke, etc.

Underarm circumference: 82cm

Total length of the yoke chart: 16cm

(Three ways to wear the cardigan, and the white bordering with which I'm so pleased - see Mod.)

Modifications

The most obvious mod is of course that I changed it from a pullover to a cardigan. Normally you would still knit in the round and steek the front later, but in order to preserve the yarn, I knitted the body back and forth.

I casted on 110sts instead of 120 because I was hoping for a tight collar. Then in the first row I increased to 120sts.

For the colourwork yoke, there were a few rows where I had only three or four sts of one colour in a repeat and the remaining sts are all in other colours (such as the rows showing the stamen), and for me it wasn’t worth it to carry the yarn of that colour all the way along the row. Hence I used a separate length of yarn to knit those few stitches in each repeat. For the stamen, I cut a length of green yarn for each repeat and knitted it in intarsia.

I did the body first. And then I was hesitant about the design of the hemming, button bands, and the collar, so I did them (in the order I mentioned them) before knitting the sleeves to save some brain power. I had seven button holes, one on the collar band and the rest on the button band, similar to the front of a shirt. The third button was specifically placed to echo the design of the yoke.

The pattern called for 1*1 ribbing, but I did 2*2 as it was stretchier. I did invisible 2*2 bind off with a decorative lining, and the technique is similar to what I did with my Toscana Shrug: after several rows of 2*2 ribbing in green, I switched to white and did one more row of ribbing. Then in white I bound off using the invisible method. You need to knit one row in the contrasting colour before binding off; otherwise it would look somewhat messy.)

You may know that when you change colours, there will be a dotted line on the purl side, and the same thing happens for the ‘purl’ part of the ribbing. I was really worried, but the invisible bound off seemed to have covered up that dotted line, so the result was quite neat—a nice surprise!

For each of the sleeve, I have 74sts on the set up row. I knitted 10 rows, then from next row: (dec 2 for the row, knit nine more rows) repeat five times. So at about elbow length I had five dec rows and 64sts on the needles. I knitted 51 rows to create a straight (instead of tapered) forearm. Then I dec 4 each row for five rows, and ended up with 44sts. I then switched to 2.5mm needles and did 2*2 ribbing. I knitted the ribbing extra long so that I could fold it back, which was the way I preferred.

(Here is a tutorial by Anushka about sewing buttons onto knitted garments, which is very helpful.)

Further Considerations

This was my first time doing colourwork from the purl side and it definitely was not a pleasant job. With more practice I will hopefully become better at it, though! I did reserve knitting (knitting from left to right) instead of purling for a few rows, but gave up as I couldn’t find a way to hold yarn comfortably with my left hand. I might need more practice there, too.

The ribbing is a little bit on the tight side, but at the moment I don’t have a problem with it. If I find it still too tight after some wear, next time I will remember to use 2.75mm needles. The 44sts cuffs are quite snug on my wrists, so next time I’ll do 48sts or more instead.

I still have a fair bit of Isager Alpaca 2 left, and I really need some long gloves to warm my wrists as well as forearms, so I might be knitting a pair of fingerless gloves later.

[gwiiyeoweo]

Drautos ferries him to a festival.

Pairing: Noctis & Titan, Noctis & Titus Drautos Rating: G

Noctis had been begging them for years.

Of them all, Cor was always the first to crumble, the Immortal shogun but a mere peasant under Noctis’ small but terrifying thumb, therefore always the first target. Clarus and Drautos were on par with each other in terms of resilience, but it was only a matter of time before they too were defeated.

Regis, somehow, had grown a resistance to his shining puppy eyes, saying “Not this year, son, how about next time?” and feeding him well-meaning but half-empty promises.

But this year. This year, Regis finally decided to make good on his word and let Noctis attend the Assassin’s Festival. Regis wasn’t sure about letting a child attend an event centering around an assassin — despite the festival’s claim it was good fun for everyone of all ages — but his son was too passionate about the video game series to deny him much more. And if it could fit in genuine history lessons that Noctis would lap up eagerly, he supposed it wasn't a terrible trade-off. (Never mind that they had two major departments, the Kingsglaive and Crownsguard, specializing in combat and that his son was already learning to play around with rubber practice daggers.)

At dinner, a small cozy affair in Regis’ office, where they both sat on the floor and stained the carpet with pizza grease and marinara, Regis was careful to hide the festival tickets under a manila folder, haphazardly throwing a few important documents around it for good measure. Noctis sat across from him, his little handheld console showing off a red “Game Over” on a black screen beside him, folding an extra cheesy pizza slice in half and stuffing his face with it.

Noctis had wandered into his office with a little zipped-up case, asking if he could play his video game and promising to use his earbuds and keep the noise to a minimum. And the father in Regis had wanted to fall to his knees and clutch at his heart, letting all the feels of “how can my son be this cute, holy gods.” Somewhere along the way, Regis had grabbed a pen and the stack of paperwork and joined Noctis on the floor, Clarus playing delivery boy when they both decided to skip fine dining and go straight for the artery killers with a large Kenny’s Super Caw-licious Pizza. Extra cheese.

“Noctis,” Regis said, wiping his hands on a napkin before discreetly shuffling the stray papers around, “I know I kept promising to take you to the Festival these past few years. And a good King should keep his promises.”

Noctis tackled him to the ground, somehow cleanly vaulting over the shared box of pizza between them, one arm squeezing Regis in a hug and the other waving the tickets in the air with a victory whoop.

“And we have to wear these rags?”

“You have to. And they’re not rags!”

Drautos tugged on the dusty scarf wrapped around his shoulders, grimacing at the way the not-rags hung off him. He was too used to the well-fitted coats and stiff leather the Kingsglaive afforded him, not the loose swaths of intentionally stained cloth that wrapped around him in loose stitches and strings. He wasn’t sure why Noctis didn’t allow him to wear the white shawl and hood that many of the others wore, but at least he was allowed to keep his shirt on, while other festival goers decided to go full-on cosplay mode and strip their chests bare wearing nothing but some strips of cloth over their torsos. Like little Noctis, who was still ooh-ing and aww-ing at his costume and the bits of plastic bronze that clung around his belt.

Regis was supposed to be here. At least, that had been the idea when Drautos agreed to pick up the tickets in his stead, when he carefully handed off the goods to Regis in passing, as if they were trading contraband and not just tickets to some yearly festival. But as the fates would have it, some dignitaries from Cleigne were meeting with the King the very same week the Assassin’s Festival would run through. And the burden of chaperoning the Prince had fallen onto Drautos.

Not that he’d complain, really. It had been some while since he could spend some quality time with the youngster, and Cor’s chocobo-birthday trip shot him way up on the #1 Uncle Leaderboards. He was going to get back his title, even if it meant whacking a thousand cactuars and winning that giant green plush as big as Noctis himself. Even if it meant suffering Lestallum’s heat in his shirt and costume.

“Uncle!” Noctis excitedly tugged at his sleeve, pulling Drautos out of his Bop-To-The-Top plan. “Look, look!”

The man obediently followed, letting himself be dragged off to a stall decorated with the festival’s usual fanfare. The whole city was draped in banners, all proudly declaring the first day of the Assassin’s Festival, with its official reds and whites. Balloons were tied to lamp posts and whatever else the coordinators could get them on, streamers of white and gold seemed to just float and fly around perpetually, and Drautos was just glad there wasn’t any confetti to accidentally swallow. He spotted larger balloons in the distance, all with a colored bull’s eye in their centers, and occasionally one or two would pop and spit out thin streamers.

Probably some archery game, he thought, when Noctis prodded at his side and directed his attention back to the stall. Drautos sighed.

It was a weapons stall — well, toy weapons. At first glance, even to the untrained eye, he could tell they were all made from plastic and mass-produced at some factory. They were supposed to be old, or rather, made to mimic the ancient weapons used during the fabled days of the Assassin. Small, round shields were set into rows, displaying their… poor craftsmanship and blunted edges, but at least there was more variety with the swords and daggers that came in different sizes and blades.

Noctis picked up some odd contraption and rolled it around in both hands, eyeing the thing with bright eyes and an even brighter smile, before wrapping it around his wrist and testing its weight. He swiveled around, looking expectantly at Drautos and showing the brace off. “And then you just —”

The boy pressed something and out came a plastic blade from underneath his palm. Noctis hopped up and down on the balls of his feet, giggling with a glee Drautos didn’t really think should come from a prince excited by some plastic toy replica.

Honestly. Noctis had an entire arsenal of weapons at his disposal, all very real and very sharp, that he could literally call upon at any time, no concealment trick needed. Though Regis and Cor had decided it was best to let Noctis only keep a shortsword and a practice dagger in there; he was still just a boy, they reasoned. Also, no one wanted their only heir to run down the hallway, chasing after Gladio with a greatsword and accidentally lopping off a finger. Or worse.

Still, Drautos trusted Noctis to be smarter than that, had even let the little thing stash a crossbow in there one night — “Real bolts! I can keep them?!” Noctis had half-yelled — when the child dawdled in and asked to see some cool Kingsglaive tricks. Officially, there were still a couple years left before the Prince’s combat training began, but Noctis had been just raring to go and swing an actual sword around. Drautos liked to indulge him where he could, the simple stances he taught enough to satiate the boy. If only he could see that same enthusiasm in some of the Kingsglaive.  

Noctis poked him in the side with the blunt blade, looking up at him with big blue eyes and pursed lips. Drautos knew that look. Everyone knew that look.

“Noctis,” Drautos said, quirking a brow up, “We have rooms full of swords and polearms, the finest blades cut from mythril and orichalcum.” He waved a lazy finger at the toy. “And you want that?”

Noctis shook his head up and down with such energy that it looked like his neck would detach from his shoulders. Drautos had to plant his hands on both sides of the boy's face, just to make sure he didn't give himself whiplash.

Drautos didn't even ask why. He vaguely understood the reason behind it, the childish obsession and enthusiasm. But still, it was plastic. Yet it didn't stop him from paying for the thing and handing off a small bit of coin, while Noctis pumped his fist into the air.

After hours of whack-a-cactuar, archery tests, dagger slinging, and all manner of carnival games, Drautos was worn absolutely ragged like the dusty cosplay he wore. He all but threw everything into the trunk of the Regalia, on loan from Regis to ship Noctis to and from Lestallum, stuffing all the prizes and toys into whatever crevice he could manage. Captain of the Kingsglaive, worn down to aching feet and tired arms, all because of a little field day at a festival. Noctis could be a little monster of a brat when he wanted to be, a tiny fire that had not even reached puberty yet and Drautos didn’t want to imagine what kind of inferno that would entail. It’s a wonder how parents did it, managing their little pups. At least Regis had professional help to keep up with the young Prince, but being royalty tacked on a different level of parenting that the King seemed to handle well for the most part.

But Drautos never signed up to be an uncle; that hadn’t been in the job description when he first joined Insomnia’s ranks. Yet one way or another, the little thing weaseled his way into his heart, and here he was — stuffing the spoils of their trip into the car with Noctis sitting in the backseat, his prized cactuar plush sitting beside him. And of course, leaving Drautos aching to return to the Leville and cash in on his well-earned R&R.

He would love to just wave Noctis into bed and go straight to sleep himself. Except his Royal Brattiness had insisted they make a trip down to the meteor before turning in for the night. Drautos had pointed out they could visit come the morning, but Noctis had been absolutely hellbent on going now. The boy even had the audacity to pull rank and use his Prince card, citing that he was the Crown Prince and Drautos was legally obliged to obey him. He had rolled his eyes at that, half miffed at the cheap shot Noctis lobbed at him, half amused at the absolute gall.

“Alright, Noctis,” Drautos sighed, slipping into the driver’s seat and pulling the door with him, “Are you absolutely positive about —”

“Yeah, let’s go!”

From the rearview mirror, he caught a glance of Noctis shaking the cactuar toy in his lap, its L-shaped arms ready to fly off at the seams.

Well, it was worth the shot. Drautos pulled the car into reverse, making sure no passerby was sneaking about behind him, and crawled out of the parking lot to hit the highway. He suspected it was at least a good time for a drive, the roads clear for the most part with the sun setting dangerously low in the horizon. Daemon activity had been low as of late, but no one outside of Insomnia was willing to travel through the nights. The Crown City had her high beam headlights, some blend of UV and LED bulbs that repelled even red giants, but the cost of manufacturing was too high for the average person — though for royalty, it was a scant few coins pulled from their overflowing vaults.

The ride was tolerable, so had been the first drive from Insomnia to Lestallum. Or maybe he had more patience than Cor; then again, he didn’t have to deal with two kids and an adult who barely passed as one — he learned from Nyx himself that the Glaive tried his damned hardest to push all of Cor’s buttons. Over a couple beers and skewers, Nyx had given him the details, from the chocobo shenanigans to singing along with the kids and the bird theme song on a two-hour loop. But when he went over the little story about Ramuh, Drautos had believed it was the alcohol talking. Because really, a sentient raincloud? He was more likely to believe in a behemoth wearing a frilly pink tutu.

But then. But then, he had been sipping on his afternoon coffee and scrolling through his phone for his daily news, when he saw cell phone footage of Leviathan. And Noctis. Of Leviathan and Noctis having a merry good time while a blurry Regis stood at the very edge of the video. The hot coffee he choked down, scalding his windpipe as it went, had been but the smaller price compared to Regis, and Drautos had no doubt the King lost a couple of years over that fiasco. Yet it had been in that moment, that he thought back to Nyx’s story and wondered how much of all that had been true and not some exaggerated spews of a cocky and drunk Glaive.

And it was now, glancing back at Noctis peering through the tinted windows with mild fascination, that Drautos finally realized why the boy was so adamant on going to the Disc. He never asked the reason for the sudden inclination, only asked if the visit couldn’t be put off for the morning, and he began to regret not asking.

“Noctis,” he began, clearing his throat. When the boy gave a non committal hum, Drautos continued. “Why do you want to see the Meteor?”

“To see Titan.”

Shit.

Drautos has stared death in the face, glared at its cold unseeing eyes and forced it back with a warrior’s fire. He’s seen carnage and raining destruction, all the terrible sights of blood and oil and machine split and torn asunder, sounds and scenes that would have a greenhorn quake and puke on his own boots. Hell, he still suffered from occasional night terrors, terrible dreams of having his own family torn away from him in fire and smoke and so much red.

He was used to it all, grown accustomed to it. He thought there was nothing left that could pit an ice cold block in his stomach anymore, yet here he was, knees unsteady and feet threatening to slip from under him.

But that was probably Titan’s doing; every movement he made sent the earth cracking and thundering, shaking the very ground Drautos stood upon.

Noctis, though, looked absolutely peachy.

The boy hopped onto the flat edge of the remains of a stalagmite cut cleanly across and waved both his arms in the air, standing before the face of the Astral whose head covered the entire sky, fragments of the meteor jutting from his skull and blocking out the darkening clouds. Titan, unlike the boy’s cheerful exuberance, looked damn intimidating with his glowing eyes and rows of stark teeth, his expression coming off more as a grumpy god ready to smash the small ant of a Prince.

Drautos thought he really would squash Noctis when he raised a hand, debris and gravel rolling off those large fingers, but then he held his palm open and flat at the cliff’s edge.

He also just about had a heart attack when Noctis hopped off the makeshift podium and took to a running start, leaping from the cliff to plummet to the depths below — only to tuck his knees to his chest and roll onto Titan’s palm. (Later, Drautos would be just a touch proud that the boy remembered his lesson on how to properly roll and break a fall.)

From the distance that separated them, he could see Noctis talk quite animatedly, flinging his arms to the side or up and down, bouncing on his feet and mouth running a mile a minute. And, was Titan smiling? Drautos absolutely could not tell; it looked more like an angry toothy frown to him, almost like gnashing teeth actually.

When Titan gently slid the boy off his hand and back on solid ground — much to Drautos’ relief now that he was within a few paces of his charge — Noctis looked absolutely giddy, practically vibrating with anticipation where he stood. Drautos had seen his “adopted” nephew excited plenty of times, the way his eyes lit up like the stars beyond the Wall, and in that left dimple that seemed to be filling the more years he racked up. But rarely had he seen that genuine, sheer delight that made his eyes shine brighter than the moon, sun, and stars all combined; when, for as much as of a chatterbox he could be over his passions and whatever game series he was playing, even words escaped him when the exhilaration stole his voice and all coherent thought, leaving nothing but flailing arms and high-pitched whines.

Rather adorable, Drautos thought but would never admit out loud, kind of like a fat seal pup with its dinky flappers and odd wailing.

Speaking of odd wailing, Noctis’ turned into a high-pitched, god-awful cacophony of shrieks and screams of the ear piercing frequency, when Titan reached a hand down into the depths to plop a life-sized statue in front of Noctis, the bronzework easily overshadowing the child. Drautos thought he caught a glimpse of the gold and copper and the tell-tale architecture that adorned the coffins of ancient kings past, when Titan shifted his arm to drop off the statue, but watching Noctis run laps around the giant figurine was more amusing.

“It’s him! It’s really him!” Noctis half-yelled, half-laughed, trying to clamber his way up the pedestal, hands slapping at the dusty thing.

For a split second, Drautos had no idea who him was, then thought himself a fool for not recognizing the bronzework earlier. That face had been everywhere, from the banners to artwork to cosplay, albeit some of the details were different, but it really should have been unmistakeable. The bronze had aged, turning its once warm gold-orange sheen into a rusty green, but he knew those distinct clothes, the hood almost obscuring its face and the emblem adorning it. The pose, both hands slightly lifted at the sides and palms facing outward, the trickblade unsheathed and sitting at a wrist.

“Can I keep it? Really?!”

Titan rumbled, sending another quake beneath them, and surely Lestallum must be feeling the aftershocks of all this. An affirmation of sorts, considering the ungodly shriek he earns from the boy. Perhaps Regis should schedule the Prince’s etiquette lessons soon.

Noctis tears his little arms off the statue long enough to turn to Drautos and tug him over, one hand clasped at his cloak and the other pointing at… what Drautos assumed was now a gift of sorts. He’s surprised by how easily his feet move, considering the unnerving gaze of Titan looming over him, coupled with the giant-ass Meteor he held, and he did his best to not get too paranoid of the Astral somehow dropping it on them.

“Can we fit it in dad’s car? Titan said I can have it.”

Uhhhh.

“I don’t think so, Princeling.”

As spacious as the Regalia could be, there was absolutely no way the life-sized statue could fit inside. Well, perhaps if they rolled down the back windows and had it sticking out at both ends, but that would be without all the goods and prizes they snatched up from the festival.

“Dang it. Ummm, oh, I know!” Noctis toddled back to the statue, stretching both his hands toward it. “I saw Dad do this with a suitcase.”

Drautos watched him purse his lips and furrow his eyebrows in concentration, his little fingers flexing and straining as he tried to — oh.

A thin film of magic crawled from his fingertips, spreading out in thin webs as it covered the statue, glowing an eerie ice blue. In the next moment, the magic dispersed, the light shattering in small firefly sparks and taking the statue with it. Noctis blew out a heavy huff, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand, but still wearing that smile of absolute delight.

“Did you just put that in your Armiger?” Drautos asked, blinking at the now empty space.

“Yeah.”

“I want to ride — “

Drautos couldn’t help but steal glances at the glowing meteorite sitting atop the dashboard, another gift from Titan when he broke off a piece and let it fall into Noctis’ hands. He knew the workers at EXINERIS would love to get their hands on the sizeable chunk, use it to power their energy plants and city, but Noctis was more enamored by the Assassin statue sitting in his Armiger. A relic of the past that belonged in a museum instead of a boy’s magic pocket, but Drautos wasn’t going to argue about that — not when Titan specifically gave it to the boy, and the captain didn’t go picking fights with all powerful gods.

“My chocobo —”

In the passenger seat, Noctis swayed his head to the theme song, singing along with what seemed to be a child’s infinite energy. Maybe the meteorite was somehow powering him as well.

“All day, la-la-la!”

Drautos was just thankful they could finally head back to the hotel.

Until the instrument panel started beeping and the once lit roads suddenly blinked into darkness. Of course, the headlights just had to die out. He’s heard plenty of stories about the Regalia breaking down, when Regis and his entourage had to push her down a hot and dusty road once, piled on top of all the other car problems they once had. He should have expected the same thing to happen to them — and now, of all times.

When Drautos caught the first signs of the daemon miasma bubble and spurt from the ground, he stepped on the brakes and turned to Noctis to issue a word of reassurance, expecting a worried boy scared for his safety. Instead, he saw the soft glow of magenta in his eyes and a little lopsided smile.

So engrossed in the eerie sight, he almost missed the boulder tossed across the bridge, pummeling into the daemon spawn and knocking them into the fissure below. He knew too damn well where this story was going, having heard of the spectacle that was Ramuh and a Griffon and bearing witness to the video of Leviathan.

“Titan?”

“Titan.”

[emospritelet]

Cuckoo’s Flight

I wanted to write a fic in which Belle meets season 1 Gold and they screw their brains out.  Unfortunately my own brain wanted to take its time over the set-up, so it ended up way longer than I’d planned.  Therefore it’s no longer a one-shot, but a five-chapter fic.  However, the smut definitely happens, because I’ve written it :)  Overall rating E (obvs, it’s me) but this chapter T

AO3 link

She wasn’t sure how it had happened.

They’d been telling her she was mad for years, but she didn’t feel it.  Perhaps that was the drugs they kept her on, but she didn’t think so.  Besides, she had stopped taking those some time ago, pushing them into the side of her cheek and waiting until the severe nurse who brought them to her twice a day nodded and left, then stashing them under her mattress until she could slip them down the drain in the showers.  Coming off the meds had made her brain clearer, her thoughts more coherent.  It didn’t help with the dreams, but no one believed those anyway.  Perhaps she really was mad.

She shook her head, walking quickly with her head bowed and her arms wrapped around herself, the cold air exhilarating on her skin after so long staring at the same four walls.  Dusk had fallen, and the streets were quiet, but she was still attracting some curious looks, dressed as she was, and she quickened her pace.  Dr Hopper had given her a bag with some clothes and shoes and some money, and told her she was free to go.  She still didn’t know why, and from the stricken look on his face, he wasn’t sure either.

“You don’t belong here, Belle,” he had said, when she asked him, and stood there opening and closing his mouth for a moment, as though he couldn’t understand why he’d said that.

She had run before he could change his mind, before the woman with the red lips and the wicked smile could come to peer at her through the hatch in her door like she was an exhibit in a freak show.  No one had stopped her, and she had slipped out of the hospital and made her way into town, not knowing where she would sleep that night, or the next.  One thing was certain, though.  She needed to get out of sight, and change out of the hospital gown which was all she had worn for as long as she could remember.  Once she looked less like an escaped hospital patient, she could see about getting something to eat, and a place to stay for the night.

The sound of harsh rock music caught her ear, and she hesitated for a moment, looking around.  Lights in the gathering dark, a red sign with a stylised white rabbit.  The Rabbit Hole, it declared, and she wavered, shifting from foot to foot in the hospital-issue slippers.  They would have restrooms, she decided, and possibly something to eat and drink, and so she ducked inside, finding an empty corridor that smelt of cigarettes and stale beer.

The ladies’ room had three stalls, one of which had a broken lock, but she slipped into the middle one and sat down on the toilet seat, rummaging in the bag.  The clothes looked to be decent enough, a short grey dress with a thin black belt and black heels.  Frowning, she turned the dress over and over in her hands.  Part of her mind was telling her firmly that she had never worn something so short, but another part was insisting that she must have, and simply couldn’t remember it.  She shook her head, trying to recall how long it had been since her father had had her locked away.  She found that she couldn’t remember, and so she shrugged, and pawed through the bag to see what else there was.  Plain black underwear: a bra and panties in “small”, the box showing a smiling woman with more cleavage than she suspected the bra, which looked to be a simple pull-on halter with little support, would give her.  Still, she was used to going without, and she supposed Dr Hopper wouldn’t have known her size, so he couldn’t buy anything else but a simple set.  He’d done pretty well to guess at the rest, although the shoes, when she put them on, were a little loose, and she had to pull the straps tight.

She tugged up the dress and zipped it, belting it at the waist and smoothing it over her hips.  There was a roll of money in the bag, too.  Two hundred dollars, secured by an elastic band.  The dress had no pockets, of course, and she bit her lip in consternation, wondering where she could hide it.  She tried down the front of her dress, but the bra wasn’t tight enough to tuck it without it being obvious, and the neckline was so high she would have been scrabbling around every time she tried to reach it.  Eventually she lifted her skirt and slipped the roll into the waistband of her panties, just to the right of her left hip bone.  At least she could feel it there, and couldn’t see it when she looked down.

Taking a deep breath, she opened the stall door and stepped out, shoving the bag with the hospital gown, slippers and her used underwear into the trash.  She caught a glance at the mirror above the sink, and turned to look herself over properly.  The asylum had no mirrors, and she blinked, unused to her reflection.  Large blue eyes stared out of a pale face with high cheekbones, reddish-brown hair falling in waves around her shoulders.  The heels made her legs look long, and took some getting used to, but she could walk in them.  And she definitely didn’t look as though she’d just escaped from the hospital, so that had to be a plus.

The door opened then, a young woman entering and glancing at her curiously before crossing to the mirror.  She was taller, and thinner, dark hair falling in a shining sheet halfway down her back, a red shawl draped around her shoulders.

“Hey,” she said carelessly.

She fished a lipstick out of her purse, applying it in the mirror, bright red lips in a pale face.

“It’s pretty dead in there tonight,” she added.  “Sleazes being sleazes, no change there.  I might come back later, if Granny lets me out again.  It’s rent day, so she’s pissed.”

She blotted her lips with a tissue, turning around and grinning, and Belle swallowed.

“Could I - could I borrow that?” she asked, and the young woman’s grin widened.

“Sure!  Oh, wait…”  She rummaged in her purse.  “I think this colour might suit you better, it’s a little darker.  You want anything else?  I got perfume, deodorant, a little powder....”  She glanced up, dark eyes warm.  “I’m Ruby, by the way.”

Belle smiled.

Ten minutes later she was ready to leave, her hair teased up into a messy bun, tendrils curling at the nape of her neck, her lips the colour of claret and a light, floral perfume at her wrists and throat.  All courtesy of Ruby, who had seemed to enjoy making her up.  She had managed to think of a backstory for herself, and the lie had tasted surprisingly easy on her tongue.  Agoraphobia, she said.  Dr Hopper had been giving her therapy, and she was trying to ease her way back into town life, which meant that she was hardly ever out in Storybrooke during the day when it was busy.  Ruby was sympathetic.

“You’re in luck,” she said.  “There’s maybe six people in the bar right now, and believe me, you wouldn’t want to talk to any of them.”

“Dr Hopper said getting used to being in the same room as people is important,” said Belle, and Ruby shrugged.

“Nowhere lonelier than the Rabbit Hole, even when it’s full of people,” she said.  “Just ignore that asshole Keith if he tries to hit on you.  Or punch him in the balls, your call.  Good luck!”

She went out, swinging her hips, and Belle bit at her lower lip, glancing at her reflection in the mirror again.  She’d need something to eat, and a place to stay.  The first she could remedy here, at least.

She pushed open the bathroom door, walking out into the corridor, the sound of music louder.  Clenching and unclenching her fists uncertainly, she glanced at the door to the bar before lifting her chin and pushing it open.  The smell of stale beer was stronger in here, a few men standing near the flat screen TV, which appeared to be showing a football game.  Two more were shooting pool while another looked on.  The dark-haired, slightly paunchy barman was watching her, polishing a glass with a rag that looked as though it had seen better days.  She stepped forward, ignoring the looks she was getting, and slid onto a stool at the bar.

“Hey,” she said.  “You got any food here?”

“We got nachos,” he said.  “You want some?”

“Sure.”  She thought she could remember what nachos were like.  Eating something that wasn’t tasteless slop would make a change.  “And can I get a glass of wine?”

It had been something she had thought about, all that time in the asylum.  Given how many years she must have been in there, she didn’t think she’d ever drunk wine in her life, and yet it was as though she remembered it, the rich taste on her tongue, the heat as it went down.  The barman nodded and turned away to pour her a glass, setting it in front of her.  She took a sip, wrinkling her nose.  She hadn’t expected it to taste as sour as this, but perhaps she’d get used to it.  The mild heat was there, at least, warming her from within.

“Hey there.”

The sound of a deep voice made her look around, and she turned to see a dark-haired man smiling at her.  She supposed he was good-looking, the hair flopping over his forehead, his body tall and lean, but she recognised that she wasn’t really the best judge of these things.

“Not seen you in here before,” he went on.  “Can I buy you a drink?”

“Just got one, thanks,” she said, and sipped at her wine again, turning away.

“After that, then?” he persisted.  “I’m Keith, by the way.”

Ah, so this is Keith.  No thanks.  She ignored him, and he shifted closer.

“Are you gonna tell me your name, or do you want me to beg?” he asked.  “Because that’s not something I do.”

“Neither,” she said, not looking at him.  “And I’m just here for something to eat.”

He snorted.  “Seriously, you came here for food?”

“Hey!” said the barman, looking affronted.

Keith shook his head.  “Look, babe, you don’t need to eat in this dive.  I can make you something back at my place, what do you say?”

“No, thank you.”  She wished he’d leave.

“Come on, I got frozen pizza, tater tots, you name it.”

What the bloody hell are tater tots?  “No, thank you, I just want to drink my wine.”

“Girls don’t really come to this place alone,” he said, and leaned in, his eyebrows wiggling lasciviously.  “Not unless they’re after one thing, you know what I’m saying?”

She pulled away, wishing he’d leave, and casting a desperate glance at the seemingly-oblivious barman, her heart thumping with anxiety.  Keith took a step closer, making her want to shrink in on herself.

“You know, that dress isn’t bad, but it would look way better on my floor…”

There was a flash of gold at his throat, and he choked on his words, his eyes widening before he lurched away from her, stumbling back with his arms flailing.

“You really have a problem with the word ‘no’, don’t you?”

A calm voice, accented.  Belle looked around.  There was a second man there, short and slight, a gold-handled cane grounded in front of him.  He had hair that was longer than usual, brushing the collar of his suit jacket, and was glaring at Keith, who despite having the advantage in terms of both height and weight, was backing away, hands in the air.

“I - I didn’t see you there,” he babbled, and the man’s mouth twitched, a tiny smile.

“Well, of course not,” he said quietly.  A gold tooth gleamed on his lower jaw as he spoke.  “You were too busy pushing your unwanted attentions on this young woman.  I suggest you leave while I’m still feeling generous.”

He was Scottish, thought Belle, his evident displeasure making his accent seem stronger than it otherwise would.  His voice was soft, barely above a whisper, but menacing, as was the look in his dark eyes.  Keith continued to back away, nodding hurriedly, and turned on his heel, making for the door.  The man allowed himself a brief grin, and turned to Belle.  His eyes flicked up and down her very briefly, and then he gestured to the barman.

“Whisky,” he said.  “And the rent, of course.”

“I - uh - yes, Mr Gold, coming right up.”

The barman scuttled off to grab a bottle, and Belle took another sip of her wine, eyeing the man as he waited for his drink.  Mr Gold.  His hands were opening and closing on the handle of the cane, long fingers with smooth nails.  He wore a large gold ring set with a moonstone on the third finger of his right hand.  The suit looked as though it had been made for him, sleek and dark, and he had a black tie and a black and white checked shirt beneath it.  That looked a little odd to her eyes, as though it was laundry day, and he’d run out of decent shirts.  She imagined him in something darker.  His hair was brown, starting to grey at the temples, and she ran her gaze over his profile, high cheekbones and a long nose, his lower lip soft, almost sensual.  Deep brown eyes flicked across to her.

“See something you like?” he asked dryly, and she felt herself blush.

“Sorry, it’s just…”  She shook her head.  “Thank you.  I wasn’t sure how to get rid of him.”

“No matter.”

He reached for the glass of whisky that the barman set in front of him, and turned towards her slightly.  He shook back his hair, his eyes gleaming in the light, and she felt a tug of something at the back of her mind.  Almost like a memory.

“We don’t get strangers in this town,” he said eventually.  “What are you doing, sitting in this vile joint drinking terrible wine?”

The barman cleared his throat, looking offended, and Mr Gold gave him a flat stare.

“Rent,” he said curtly, and the barman swallowed and scurried off.

“I - I just got here,” said Belle lamely.

“I can see that, dear.”  He took a sip of the whisky.  “Doesn’t answer my question.”

“It’s…”  She cut off, trying to think of something to say. His eyes made her want to be honest, as though she instinctively knew that he could hear lies.  “It’s quiet, I guess.”

“Hmm.”  He looked amused.  “Well, that’s certainly true, although you’ll find it gets busier as the hour gets later and this town’s trolls slither out from under their bridges.”

The barman returned then, holding up a roll of money, which Mr Gold plucked from his fingers.  He set down his whisky glass and began counting out the money, sorting the bills into piles.

“You’re a landlord,” she observed, and he glanced across at her.

“Only one in town,” he said.  “Are you looking for a place to stay?”

“Maybe.”  She watched as he licked his thumb, separating the dollar bills.  “How much do you charge?”

“Well, that depends.”  He turned back towards her, settling back on one foot.  “What is it you want?”

The barman shuffled over at that point, setting a dish of nachos in front of her.  The scent of melted cheese made her mouth water, and she took a corn chip between finger and thumb, transferring it to her mouth.

“I mean apart from food with some nutritional value,” he said dryly.

“I was hungry,” she said, a little defensively.

“Apparently so, if you chose to eat here.”

“I don’t see that it’s any of your business,” she snapped, surprised by her own inner fire, and he smirked, a tiny, amused smile, as though he was not used to being spoken to in that way.

“I merely wanted to inform you that there are better places in Storybrooke to eat and drink, that’s all.”

Belle ignored him, and he turned back to counting the money the barman had given him.  Watching him out of the corner of her eyes, she slid a hand up her leg beneath the skirt of her dress to pull out the two hundred dollars she had stashed there.  Peeling off a twenty-dollar bill, she slid it across the bar to pay for her food and drink, and the barman gave her change, which she folded around the rest of the money and returned it to its hiding place just as Gold finished counting and turned back to her.  His eyebrow twitched, but otherwise he gave no sign that he had seen her slip money into her underwear.

“You’re paid up,” he informed the barman, his tone terse.  “Don’t be bloody late next time, do you understand?  I have a round, and a set routine, and I hate having to go out of my way.”

The barman muttered something and slouched off, and Gold turned his attention back to Belle.

“So, you want something from me,” he said softly.  “Why don’t we sit and discuss it?  Perhaps I’ll be able to give you what you need.”

[pjoangavigan]

Oh boy… what a week it’s been on the knitting front. 

Am in the home stretch for the Bright Sweater (finally!) with four more repeats of the sleeve patterning for the second (left) sleeve and then the twisted stitch ribbing and stockinette roll at the cuff.  I actually tried it on and – who knew?- it will fit! This sweater is meant to be extremely over-sized for a petite woman.  Since I am already over-sized, it fits pretty darn well. I am not complaining.  I have enough over-sized sweaters.

Despite being incredibly (for me) monogamous lately – most likely because I haven’t had as many opportunities to knit in the last month or so – I have worked on a few other projects and yesterday began a new one (as I usually do right after our bi-annual yarn swaps, but I am getting ahead of myself).

I often take some bit of knitting with me on Sundays when I spend two services in the choir loft playing bells.  There’s the homily (Rector, this helps me listen better, I promise) and the time between services during which I knit to keep out of trouble. Recently, I brought along my version of the Brick Sweater.

I have moved well beyond the above picture; am well past the armholes on this top-down pullover. Hoping it will become some sort of staple item, as many of my clothes are black.

This week has added to my yarn and knitting book collection more than usual. A local yarn shop has decided to go out of business and has incrementally reduced prices leading up to the final date.  What is left will be sold at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival the weekend after they close. I have been visiting on and off since I learned they were leaving us.  Their feeling was that they could not compete with the internet – a true shame.  Their shop was a way to involve their disabled daughters in making a living and making their way in the world. I wish them well.

When their prices got to 50% off, I felt I should go – to help them (and of course myself) while there was still a substantial choice.  I needn’t have worried.  Yarn was 50% off, magazines $1 and books $5. I purchased a good bit of their offerings of Jamieson’s Shetland DK yarn and a couple of skeins of a Berroco yarn I have been using in a project not pictured here.

I was also able to get a number of books I know I will enjoy – many of which are parts of series I have collected but didn’t yet have.

  As if that weren’t enough, the Columbia Sip ‘n Knit group had a yarn swap yesterday morning. I was able to divest myself of a rather large bag of decent yarn that I knew I would not be knitting any time soon – so why not see if someone else could enjoy? In return, I received a new set of goodies.

Yes, the beautiful orange Namaste bag is part of the haul, along with the yarn pictured, five magazines not previously in my library, two Tunisian crochet hooks (seen on top of the purpley yarn in the picture), and a pair of straight knitting needles (I picked those up because I hadn’t brought any knitting with me – DUH! – and thought I’d start something while there.)

Eight skeins were of Harrisville New England Shetland wool.  Combined with the Jamieson’s DK haul of the previous day, I’d say I have enough for at least a colorwork sweater.

I’d say I did pretty darn well.

That project I started yesterday? It will hopefully be an afghan eventually.  Right now it’s a six-foot-long skinny scarf:) in “thick and thin” wool (I think).  Because it’s thick and thin and therefore highly textured already, I am just crocheting it with an extended half double crochet.  A few months of doing this relatively mindlessly in front of the boob tube, and I should have something to show for it.:)

Here’s hoping.  The yarn fascinated me, but it took me three tours of the yarn tables to pick it up – because I wondered what I’d make with it. I think this is the most sensible use of the yarn.

In addition to the above, I picked up some bunches of partial skeins of fingering weight wool or cotton or alpaca with a view to combining them into a cowl/scarf/what-have-you.

And what about these beauties? The Kauni will likely go with another similar ball I have in the “Red” (which is really orange to rust in color).  I am pondering what to do with the Verb for Keeping Warm yarn in “Dusk.” Maybe include as part of a What the Fade shawl? I think that’s what I love most about a new skein of yarn: thinking about the many possibilities.  In this case, I am enjoying the fruits of someone else’s good taste and hopefully upgrading/informing my own.  Well, it’s Sunday and the gang is coming over for dinner.  Time to do some dishes and peel the laundry out of the washing machine….

God be with you ’til we meet again+

An Embarassment of Riches and Stash Enhancement:)

Oh boy… what a week it’s been on the knitting front.  Am in the home stretch for the Bright Sweater (finally!) with four more repeats of the sleeve patterning for the second (left) sleeve and then the twisted stitch ribbing and stockinette roll at the cuff. 

An Embarassment of Riches and Stash Enhancement:) Oh boy... what a week it's been on the knitting front.  Am in the home stretch for the Bright Sweater (finally!) with four more repeats of the sleeve patterning for the second (left) sleeve and then the twisted stitch ribbing and stockinette roll at the cuff.