#and for figuring out stitch patterns in knitting and crochet

[im-da-bronx]

(*whispers to person next to me*: what are they talking about?)

Look, you can't complain about this after giving us so many scenarios involving N locked chests and M unlabeled keys.

D&D Combinatorics [Explained]

[hes-a-plant]

Those of y’all that cross stitch, how many hours did your last project take you, and what was the stitch count?

I’m curious how it compares to other crafts, I never got the hang of cross stitch so I’m very slow at it.

[exculis]

fascinating how i get kinda hooked on specific clothing items for specific hobbies. i like to machine knit socks and hand knit hats. most of my sewing project ideas have been pants-related. i mostly crochet net bags these days. which isnt a clothing item but you get my point.

[zahlibeth]

look ma, i made mittens!

fingerless of course, because I need the dexterity for holding the hand of a squirmy six year old, or typing on my phone. I like them extra long and then I can curl my fingers into the body of the gloves when it gets really cold!

yarn arapey and pocion - malabrigo ultimate sock, 2.75mm needles ohhh this yarn is beautiful and easy to work with and both skeins were much more even than the last sock yarn I used. I knit two-at-a-time so one mitten comes from the start of the skein and one from the end and both pairs of mittens are very evenly matched.

patterns in both cases I ignored the suggested cuff length and just did about an inch of ribbing before starting the increases. Then I kept knitting the body of the glove until about the first knuckle on my little finger and mirrored the ribbing before binding off.

arapey (light): hidden gusset by mone dräger - would recommend, this one was a delight. I'm affectionately mad at the beautiful half-twisted rib because it takes so long but it looks so much better than standard 1x1 rib. The travelling diagonal will cause an issue at some point for two-at-a-time, but you can always sneak stitches round to the other needle by careful use of stitch markers etc. The slow rib section is balanced by the nice easy knit section round the middle, so it goes fast at that point. I picked up 5 stitches over the thumb rather than 3 and then immediately reduced, and also did the reduction in pattern. It's not perfect, but the resulting diamond is a fun little hidden detail.

Bind off is Jeny's surprisingly stretchy bind off done in pattern (so ktbl) with a 3.5mm crochet hook.

pocion (dark): carbon fingerless mitts by shanna felice - LOVE the design on these. do not recommend this specific pattern (this one may be better? it also demonstrates a two-tone version I love, which helps clarify how it works too, though it's a one-float vs a two-float version). The hexagons are cute and super easy to do, it's just scooping floats up and the pattern is easy to remember. Plus it looks very cool on variagated yarn like this. For this specific pattern the thumb is particularly Weird, it's way way too big - I tried to hide it a little in the photos but it does gape strangely around the base of the thumb and I had to put some hardcore decreasing into the thumb itself. The irony is that I did this pattern second and it's the same yarn, so I really should have been able to spot the glaring difference in the number of stitches reserved for the thumb - 19 vs 28?! Also this pattern had no suggestion to pick up stitches over the gap when joining for the thumb?? I ignored that of course, picked up 5 as above and figured out a lil set of decreases before starting the ribbing so they're wearable. The picture from cast off, before they'd been stretched out by wearing, is hilarious:

The body of the gloves is bigger too, which was somewhat on purpose, so I used a different bind off which is less stretchy - k1, k1, knit both through the backloop. Felt very weird to bind off with a knitting needle, I just always default to a crochet hook. I suppose there's nothing stopping me doing this bind off with a hook??

other notes still hardcore recommend two-at-a-time despite the need to wiggle the pattern occasionally. There are some places in each pair where I messed up a tiny bit, but I messed up identically which makes it very easy to just quietly fix and move on. It's a pain to get started for my usual cast-on and join, but I figured a way around that too. I ended up casting on and joining the entire first mitten, and shifting it out of the way. Then you cast on half (+1) of the stitches for the next mitten on to the "front" needle, and purlwise point-to-point shift them on to the back needle. Then cast the remaining stitches (easiest to do if you hold the needles 90 degrees to each other) and do my usual join which involves carrying the first stitch back to the front needle, passing over the last stitch and slipping the last stitch off.

I deliberately set these up so the lighter pair are...lighter - they're a tighter fit and a little less warm. The darker pair are a little looser to trap air and bulkier with all those hexagon lines, perfect for the winter. Yes, colour wise it looked better to photograph the light with the winter snow and the dark with the autumn leaves, but we can ignore that for the aesthetics.

I have never worn gloves so consistently as I'm wearing both of these, they are so fucking comfortable I'm in love.

[zoeychuanart]

Hi! Big fan of your crochet projects ☺️ I purchased the Courage pattern the other day but only now realized it uses a Tunisian hook. Would you happen to have a pic of the hook? Or do you know if I can use a regular crochet hook to do the project? This sounds like the perfect opportunity to learn this type of stitch haha

Thanks in advance

Hi, thank you for asking! Id love to answer this for you since a lot of people seem to be curious what I’m doing since it’s not common to see toys made with Tunisian crochet hooks, but for me they are perfect and once I figured it out I couldn’t stop.

Here are the crochet hooks and Tunisian crochet hooks I use the most!

So basically Tunisian crochet hooks are in general longer, because you need to keep many loops on the hooks. You can even get ones that are attached with strings if your projects are big(like the first hook in the picture). Let me share you two of the more common stitches you can do with Tunisian crochet to show what I mean!

A) Tunisian simple stitch

Forward pass:

Return pass:

This is the technique I use for blankets and pillow cases. It’s one of my favorite ever for how neat they look.

B) Tunisian knit stitch

Forward pass

Return pass

And this is the technique I use for all my toys! (The clothes for the toys I use the regular hooks) I figured this out one day when I was making socks lol. They give such smooth texture just like knitting, but you do it with the logic like crocheting!

I hope this answers your question and I hope you’ll have fun! Let me know if you have any further questions! ♥️

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[leiyahime]

Newly acquired knitting skills

I continued knitting my pretty socks and noticed after 6 rows that my tension was... completely off. I contemplated leaving it as it is... but decided no I want the yarn pattern to be right.

like... the neon coloured patches stacked exactly in top of each other 3 times and I could not have that. That means I needed new skills to fix it so that the neon stripes can again wind around the sock

Acquired skills:

figured out the tension was too loose

pulling in a lifeline to frog

managed to get every stitch on the needles (only had to use my crochet hook once for the 68 stitches)

knitted the next row and noticed which stitches were twisted and also fixed that

I think that's a good learning progress. Sadly no sock progress bc I had to frog everything I made before I noticed what exactly was off lol

[cerealmonster15]

when my grandpa died this year, my mom went thru my grandmas endless stockpile of yarn from years of her and my mom doing craft shows and making endless things… my mom preferred crochet and I think my grandma preferred knitting, but by the end it was mostly just my mom making stuff. she didn’t have space for all of the yarn, since she has her own stockpile, so she gave me a bunch!

But then I got extremely overwhelmed by how much yarn I had lol, and I ended up donating most of it to a nearby center I found that I think teaches people knitting and crocheting, and maybe also they craft stuff for charity? Either way, I brought over two trash bags full of yarn that I didn’t have plans for.

And I still have so much left… it’s a mix of some yarn I kept from my grandma’s pile, yarn my mom has given me for various reasons (a few are for making beanies to replicate a red one she made me. I have made a blue! But there are 2 still waiting to be made), and then some I’ve just had in my own mini pile. I got a few from a junk shop I found I think earlier this year, and a couple I bought because I liked the colors (no and ace colors that I figured I could also make beanies from and still haven’t) and some are leftover from old projects! The biiiig teal and one of the off whites are from when I crocheted a Snorlax for my partner a few years ago. I think I was working on that the last day I ever saw my grandma before she died. And then most of the rest of the smaller balls of yarn are leftover from the Jamie harvest moon poncho that I started back in I think middle or high school, and only finished this year or last year because I always kept forgetting about it and would barely remember to touch it.

I’m in the process of winding up one of my messy white skeins, and 2 yarns (people from grandma stash and dark gray from junk shop) are in the middle of being used!!! I don’t know what I’ll do with most of the others. I think it would be cool to cosplay ren faire costume items (like I’m doing with the dark gray) or cosplay or something. Wearables in general would be cool but also sound scary.

Oh I also have a bag in my closet I forgot about- another bit from my mom’s stash she gave me for a purpose

She had an unfinished something in there but just told me to pull it out and use it. I was looking at a pattern for a wearable and she said this was a good yarn type for it, but I haven’t started it yet. It’s a granny stitch pattern so it shouldn’t be too bad, I’m just worried about figuring out sizing. It has a gauge thing for it but I’ve never had to do that before!!

[burningthetree]

Haikyuu characters knitting

Daichi is a man of discipline and can knit nicely. However, he’s never moved past the stage of making scarves. (He gifts them all to Suga.)

Asahi has great visions but he’s too scared to actually pull it tightly enough without it falling apart. Eventually, he gets more confident and makes various clothing items

Noya & Hinata are too energetic to sit down long enough to actually make anything. Nishinoya made one bracelet and that was it. (Asahi wears it every day.)

Kageyama doesn’t get how it works. He can’t figure out what loop what threat goes through. Once he does, he doesn’t believe in patterns, so all his projects end up messy and he can’t be bothered because he only cares about volleyball anyway.

Tanaka has mastered the knit stitch. That’s it. He’s working hard on learning the pearl stitch, but he can’t quite figure out how to hold the needles. But he’s working on it. (Wants to gift Kiyoko a matching scarf and hat at some point.)

Tsukishima and Yamaguchi have a knitting club for just the two of them. They’re really good at it, and learned it because they like sitting together in silence. Yamaguchi is great at crocheting too. He made Tsukishima a knitted dinosaur once and Tsukishima keeps it on his nightstand.

Suga has great ambitions and follows patterns. He mostly likes to watch Daichi make things though instead of making them himself.

Kiyoko made everyone tiny volleyballs as keychains that the team keeps on their bags or keys.

Coach Ukai doesn’t know what knitting is. Takeda tried to teach him but they ended up making out. (Finally.) (They never tried knitting ever again, though Takeda keeps gifting him things. It helps him de-stress.)

Ennoshita, Narita, and Kinoshita know how to knit but they don’t particularly share it with anyone. It’s more so a private thing that they do. (They also never try new things. They want to see how many scarves they can make before they no longer have room.)

[gardenfungus]

Another holiday gift! I tried my hand at the moss stitch and made these lovely lighter holders, combining crochet and knitting for the first time (for myself). I couldn’t quite figure out how to crochet an I-cord so I grabbed out my knitting needles and made it that way instead.

Pattern info: Magical Mushroom Lanyard & Christmas Lanyards by The Crafter’s Cauldron (free pattern)

[cosmictyto]

Things Gabriella has Knitted (or Crocheted) for Everyone:

First, (nearly) everyone has gotten a pair of socks from her as a “welcome to the brotherhood” gift.

(In alphabetical order)

—

🐺 Arnbjorn: A bright red knitted sweater as a wedding present. He’s only worn it once. (He jokes that it's not his style but he secretly loves it. He doesn't want to ruin it on accident.)

—

🔪 Astrid: A black and red striped knitted cowl. As a wedding present. Also a matching pair of gloves.

—

🩸 Babette: A crocheted doll to better help her "innocent child" ruse + several knitted dresses in many colors. Gabriella loves trying out new patterns. And because Babette’s small, she doesn’t need as much yarn. Win win.

—

♥️ Cicero: Nothing. Though she was working on her “welcome to the sanctuary” socks for him before he attacked Astrid and Veezara.

—

☄️ Festus Krex: Black, knitted fingerless gloves (his hands get cold and stiff sometimes.) They look simple at first, but actually have a quite complex stitching pattern on them. Also a black scarf and hat (with string pom-pom.)

—

🦋 Nazir: some hard-soled slippers and a deep red tote bag (with black hand print artfully knitted in.)

—

🦎 Veezara: Bright, garish horn cozies. It was a gag gift. He loves them.

—

Bonus round

🐈‍⬛ Sajjah (OC:) A thick n’ chunky, mottled black & gray blanket (crocheted.) as well as a matching cowl + gloves set. They were working on a hat design but couldn’t figure out how it would work with her ears before the sanctuary was attacked.

[solar-halos]

I FINISHED HIM

a little bit ago i asked which crochet project i should dedicate my thanksgiving break to, and the hungry caterpillar scarf won!! i did however finish it all in two days which i am soso happy about cos it was a nice reminder that i can do some things fast. usually when i finish crochet projects i hate them immediately after but i love this one sm! <3

first and foremost here is the inspo!!! unfortunately i did not know there was a pattern released for this so that is why mine looks so different, but i really wanted to follow the same color scheme w what i already had. here’s what mine looks like

i just noticed the lil bump… ignore that. and also ignore all the ends i need to weave in. maybe i’ll give in to mr diva and take an edible and weave them in tn, ive heard ppl like doing that. with that being said the hungry caterpillar is so fuckin wavy so i figured that making a bunch of increases in the middle portion would create a wavy effect when i added the border, and im so glad i was right!! i couldn’t fit him in but i LOVE how long it is, i can wrap it around my neck and the tails go down to my chest area. while i was finishing this up i was watching someone else crochet and they pointed out that crochet garments dont really look as professionally made as knit garments bc the stitches are so bulky and visually apparent, which gives it a more homemade and kitschy look. this wasn’t criticism obv (knit and crochet both look so cool in their own ways, i can’t wait to actually commit to knitting!! i have hand warmers in the making) and i really just love the look of this scarf. it’s giving first grade teacher it’s giving ms frizzle it’s giving your grandma made this for you for christmas. if you made it this long into the ramble thank you ilysm

[gardenvarietycrafts]

WIP Wednesday

One sock is done, and I couldn't be happier with that gradient! It's really making me excited to finish the second sock so I can actually wear these (though It's getting a bit warm here for wool socks). I feel like I've really gotten used to using the 9" circulars, so now I'm really flying through the start of the second sock.

No pattern, they're just vanilla socks with pinned short row toes and heels.

Yarn is Willow Duo Sox in color 3 Aegean. I originally got it for 2aat (since it comes with 2 balls of yarn to make matching socks) but I think I like my 9" circulars better.

The leafs have multiplied! I've been doing one or two a day to keep myself from getting tired of knitting leaves, while still making progress. I also looked up different ways for how to make leaf garland, and I think I'm going to connect these with a crochet chain (inserting the hook through the bottom of a leaf when I want to attach one, then making the next chain by pulling the yarn through both the leaf and the chain) and then slip stitch along the chain to make it sturdier.

Pattern I'm using is below the cut, and I'd love to see if anyone else makes some leaves or a leaf garland from them!

The Leafy Leaf cowl was frogged and put in time out. I dropped the center stitch in between a line of yarn overs and ended up losing stitches and couldn't figure out how to get them back without making that leaf's lace a lot more open, so I decided to restart it later. Or not! I wasn't in love with how it was working up, so if I find a better use for that yarn I'll use it there instead.

This does mean that I'm back down to one project with the ace hat having been finished as well. Which means I'm all clear to (re)start the burgundy cardigan! I'm using a different pattern than last time I started it, and looking at it, I think the sleeves will end up too big if I follow the decreases as written, so I am probably going to wing that section and just take super careful notes so I can repeat it for the second sleeve. We're aiming for an end product I love here, that's why I've restarted this one so much.

Leaf pattern:

CO 6 stitches using Judy's magic CO or your favorite cast on for knitting from the center out. Divide the stitches so you have 3 on each needle, then knit a round.

1. *k1, yo, k1, yo, k1* ×2 (5st/needle, 10st total)

2 (and all even rounds) knit around

3. *k2, yo, k1, yo, k2* ×2 (7st/needle)

5. *k3, yo, k1, yo, k3* ×2 (9st/needle)

6. *k4, yo, k1, yo, k4* ×2 (11st/needle)

7. *ssk, k7, k2tog* ×2 (9st/needle)

9. *ssk, k5, k2tog* ×2 (7st/needle)

11. *ssk, k3, k2tog* ×2 (5st/needle)

13. *ssk, k1, k2tog* ×2 (3st/needle)

15. cdd ×2, break yarn and pull through remaining 2 loops twice, then hide tail inside the leaf

[dustbunny105]

This being the first day of Black History just reminded me to plug my new favorite indie yarn dyer. Mary of Republic of Yarnia is a literary historian who creates colorways based on historical artwork depicting Black people; so far, she has collections for colorways inspired by Medieval, Renaissance and 1700s artworks. She's also open for custom orders and offers a variety of bases to choose from. Her site offers a monthly subscription, which gets you at least one skein a month of a specially designed colorway, a write-up on the figure it's based on, suggested patterns for crochet and knitting and the occasional extra bit such as cute stitch markers, as well as discounts on all orders. I'll also vouch for her customer service.

Over on Twitter, she'll be spotlighting a different Black figure and the colorway inspired by them each day, as well as offering deals.

So, if you're interested in Medieval art history and beautiful, high quality yarn and would like to support a Black woman-owned small business that stands for all stripes of social justice, please consider checking out Republic of Yarnia!

[gaviicreates]

FO: time flies by in the yellow and green...

...Stick around and you'll see what I mean

(there will also be more pictures under the cut)

Remember literally yesterday when I mentioned I was doing a stretchy bind-off purlwise, and I loved the fluidity of it? Well, obviously a bind off pretty much heralds the end of a project in sight so here we are. I was so eager for this one to be completed that I lightly washed the shawl and pinned it overnight so that, by today, I'd have my first finished, knitted shawl.

Pattern: Mara Shawl by Madelinetosh, available here through Ravelry

Yarn: Arcane Fibre Works, "Calm Waters" -80/20 Extra Fine Merino Nylon Super Wash Fingering Weight. (2 Skeins)

Tools: Clover Takumi Bamboo Circulars - US 5 3.75mm, Eucalan Lavender Wash for blocking

This shawl is a garter stitch shawl with yarn overs down the center and sides to both increase and add a bit of lacy interest. I had actually started on this before I finished the throw blanket, so these two pieces together were so critical for my knitting journey thus far, and I've learned so much already.

While the throw maintained the upward structure of its rows, this shawl gave me the experience of increasing along the center and sides, working outward as well as up. Once I figured out the yarn-over and the cadence from row to row, the location of the yarn-overs was easy to remember. Simple, but elegant on the piece. It did take me a few rows in to figure out that a stitch marker for the RS vs WS would probably be helpful, and from there it was smooth sailing.

Almost too smooth, because I just kept going. I don't remember the cord size I used, but eventually working the stitches scrunched up on the needles, and the work curled into itself. Once that started, I had a hard time imagining what it would look like finished. I had no idea what the shaping would look like once it was off the needles, so my plan was to hope I just figured out when would be a good time to stop. Low stakes winging it, if you will.

She's big. This is no shawlette you behold. The length surpasses my wingspan on both sides, and the drape down the back is lovely and full while the fabric itself is light and breathable between the stitches. I think because the needles were a bit bigger than recommended size for fingering weight, this resulted in some space between the stitches.

I'm dreaming of that first cool day of fall, and wrapping myself up with her covering my shoulders pinned with a nice brooch, or rolled into a scarf around my neck over denim. She's going to be a wonderful addition to my wardrobe, and I am ecstatic with the final length and look.

I mentioned above I used two skeins. Another learning curve for me - one I intentionally played with here - was the way the colors fell. I don't think it's a crochet thing specifically because I know opinions still vary, but coming from a craft that tends to create potentially less ordered fabrics with variegated yarns, I'm kind of open to color pooling at times. It's not for everyone, but I think there's a fun little magic in letting the colors land the way they want to in both crafts it seems.

I started with one skein, then switched to alternating after a while to learn that technique, then ended with one skein again as I finished out the project. I was nervous about this choice, especially as I started seeing entire blocks of yellow forming. But in the final garment, I don't feel like these larger streaks take away from the color combination. I'm loving that it's not uniform and there's a bit of fun and randomness to how the colors fall.

Towards the final rows, the pattern switched from garter to 1x1, then 2x2 ribbing, which I could see being a great opportunity to switch out to another color to complement. But I really wanted to have my yellow and green shawl, so I decided to keep working up with the same yarn. Plus I am kind of in love with seeing how different stitches create a new texture that gives the colors in a variegated yarn a bit of a different life to them.

Now - I do have one more skein of this colorway, as I had bought a just-in-case extra. I am thinking my big shawl needs a little something else to go with it - maybe a hat or some fingerless gloves, oooh! or some socks.

Now, I have... how many more months till I can wear this?

[ub-sessed]

Garter tab breakthrough: knitting JMCO from the purl side

Tl;dr: After about 10 attempts at knitting the garter tab cast on, I finally discovered that if I use Judy's Magic Cast On and then start my garter stitch on the purl side, I end up with garter ridges that are actually tidy and alternate purl/knit properly.

Blah blah and more photos below the cut:

So I've never knit a shawl before because I don't wear shawls, but I wanted a bandana to wear at work in the winter, and I was way more attracted to the shawl patterns than the bandana patterns I found, so I figured it wouldn't be hard to just make a mini shawl and call it a bandana.

I knit a few swatches and figured out what adjustments I wanted for the bandana, but I just could not get the garter tab to look right. I tried the long tail cast on, the Turkish CO, Judy's Magic CO, all sorts of things. With a regular cast on, the picked up row would always be a mess, and with the provisional cast ons, there would always be a gap where there were two knit rows or two purl rows next to each other. I watched so many videos and read so many articles, and I couldn't figure out what I was missing. I began to suspect that it was not me who was missing something.

Stephen West, in his garter tab tutorial, says of picking up stitches from the CO: "There's no rules for this. Just get any three strands of yarn." And it occurred to me: Most shawls are quite large, knit with relatively fine yarn, and the garter tab is a tiny thing that gets lost behind your neck. Maybe people just don't care that much how it looks.

But I am knitting my bandana with DK, and the garter tab is going to be smack dab in the middle of my forehead. Any irregularities will be glaring.

Now, the yarn I'm working with is Bernat Softee Baby, which while it's very soft and pretty, is awful to work with: it splits like crazy, and is such a messy yarn that it can be hard to see what's happening. On top of that I'm knitting at a fairly tight gauge because I want a relatively stiff fabric. So when I looked at my many garter tab swatches, it was hard to see what was actually going on. So I decided to do a few experiments using a familiar aran yarn and much larger needles.

SWATCH #1: Long tail cast on

Immediately after doing my LTCO, I ran my Clover Circular Stitch Holder through the stitches so that I could be sure that I was picking up the right stitches. As you can see, this cast on creates a gap that has a couple random stitches in it.

SWATCH #2: Needle and hook crochet provisional CO

I followed instructions from Tin Can Knits, but even on my second attempt I had a really hard time picking up my provisional stitches. So I don't know if I did it right, but I ended up with what looks like a gap created by two knit rows next to each other, which is not what we want in garter stitch.

SWATCH #3: Judy's Magic Cast On (traditional)

Laura Nelkin has a great video on how to do this. But as is only logical, it results in two purl rows next to each other.

SWATCH #4: JMCO knit from the purl side

With JMCO, after you've cast on your stitches, you rotate your needles around soon that they're pointing to the right and start knitting. But what if you also flipped the whole thing over so that the purl stitches are facing you?

In the photo above, it looks like I have ended up with the same problem of two purl rows next to each other, but when I looked more carefully, I saw that there was a knit row between them, it was just tiny. I realized: Traditionally, when you start knitting into your JMCO, you're knitting into the stitch that was just cast on. But the way I was flipping things, that stitch was sitting on the needle cable, with nothing to keep it at the right size.

SWATCH #5: JMCO knit from the purl side more carefully

This time I carefully crossed my tail over the working yarn to hold the stitch at the right size before pulling my working needle out of the cast on stitches.

I found this much easier using a grippy needle and knitting Norwegian. I'm knitting the actual bandana on metal needles, but to get this cast on to work with the Softee Baby, I had to do the cast on with wooden needles.

I have no idea if this would work with other provisional cast ons. I'm just thrilled that I managed to puzzle it out, and that after months of swatching, I have finally started on the actual bandana!

[cryoculus]

— guard dog 06 ⟢

pairing: thoma x assassin!reader

summary: just when you thought your life has stabilized somewhat, familiar faces start to resurface—reminding you of where your allegiance should lie.

word count: 4.3k words

notable characters: thoma, kamisato ayaka, kujou sara

tags: found family, enemies to lovers, slow burn, angst, eventual smut

masterlist

You should find it terrifying, how comfortable you’ve become over the next few days.

After attending the festival with Thoma, he seemed to be more present than what you’d gotten used to. Instead of leaving you a list of chores to get done before fucking off somewhere else, the chief retainer was currently busying himself with repairing some rotting floorboards in the pavilion. Neither the attendants nor the guards found his behavior odd—simply carrying on with their own duties as if seeing the highest ranking retainer subject himself to manual labor was a normal thing. 

Well, this wasn’t the first time you’ve seen him pitch in with the housework around the estate. You recalled the one time you witnessed the man trimming hedges during your stakeout days, but that's besides the point!

Thoma was humming leisurely as he tossed the old slabs of wood with new ones—hammering them in place without a care in the world. And he wasn’t just replacing the floorboards, he made sure they were a perfect fit. He even brought out sheets of sandpaper to smoothen the edges and even them out with the rest of the platform! What amateur carpenter does that?

But before you could watch his handiwork more closely, you were scolded for taking too long to bring Ayaka’s and Ayato’s covers to the wash. 

The next time you saw the chief retainer was on your way to the attendants’ quarters. Laundry wasn't very high on your list of favorite chores, and you figured that an afternoon siesta could give you the proper rest and relaxation you direly needed. 

However, when you passed by the common hall, you heard a fit of familiar laughter spilling out of the room. 

You silenced your steps as you observed the scene through a crack in the shoji. Inside, Thoma and a few elderly retainers were seated around a low table—vibrant crochets and knitting needles in hand. A scowl made itself on your face as the blond taught old lady Furuta how to specifically do a cross-stitch pattern resembling a little shiba puppy. The others giggled at his instruction before silently following his lead as well. 

Sliding the door shut, you muttered to yourself on your way back to your room.

“What the fuck…”

By dinner time, the whiplash had been abated slightly, since you had to retrieve the dried sheets from the clothesline, fold them, and put them back in the cabinets. You were busy enough to not think about a certain chief retainer, and it stayed that way for the remainder of the late afternoon.

That’s until you got to the kitchen—intent on getting a glass of water, only to see Thoma with an apron around his waist as he mixed some stir-fried rice on a large wok pan. 

“What the fuck…?”

This time, you couldn’t quite be left alone with your curiosity. 

“Mmm? Oh, Miss Kira,” the bastard chirped, tending to the coals underneath the stove as he wiped a sheen of sweat off his brow. “Didn’t think I’d see you here. Are you opposed to taste testing the katsudon I’ll be serving later? Oh, I’m also pairing it with my special miso soup, since everyone did a great job today.”

“Are you for real?” 

Thoma raised an eyebrow before turning to the adjacent stove, where he was deep-frying breaded katsu strips and boiling a pot of hot water. “Pardon?”

You could only stare at him in jaw-dropping disbelief. This couldn’t be right. Wasn’t Thoma the chief retainer who swore fealty to the Yashiro Commission? A well-known fixer in Ritou Harbor? Kamisato Ayaka’s unsung bodyguard? 

Who in the seven nations is the househusband standing in front of you right now, then?!

“W-Whatever,” you mumbled, pouring yourself a cup of water like initially planned. “Don’t you have anything more important to do, though? You’ve been doing housework all day, it’s kind of weirding me out.”

He smiled, resting the hand not holding a long metal spoon on his waist. “What do you mean? I’m always doing housework when I don’t have any other pre-assigned tasks. I’m not the Kamisato clan’s housekeeper for nothing, you know.” 

“Excuse me, the what?”

Thoma chuckled softly before turning to the food he’s preparing—not quite entertaining your question just yet. He hummed the same song he’d been humming to earlier in the day as he grabbed a pair of chopsticks resting on the counter. To your surprise, he snatched up one of the katsu strips he’d already finished frying before making his way towards you.

“Say ah~” He opened his mouth wide as if you were a toddler. 

“I am going to kill you,” you spoke flatly. “I am seriously going to kill you and find the real Master Thoma.”

Thoma pouted. “But this is the real me. The only reason I’ve been out and about for the past few weeks was because I was gathering intel about you. The Commissioner refused to sit still until I presented him with enough information to ensure you’re not a psychotic killer that indiscriminately culls the people around her.” 

You scowled again. “So you’re letting me know that Lord Ayato ordered you to do a background check on me just like that?”

“Well, you already knew that I was curious, too, so…”

Unbelievable.

But in the back of your mind, you thought about how his constant presence over the past few days indicated that Thoma was done trying to dig up dirt on you. It’s either he’d already gleaned what Ayato wanted to know, or you’ve already gained their trust. 

The latter was embarrassingly unlikely. 

“Let me have it.”

The blond perked up at your words. “Have what?”

You sighed, pointing at the breaded pork strip he’s still waving around like a snack. “Your cooking. I’ll be the judge of your proficiency as the Kamisato clan’s so-called housekeeper.”

“I see.” He grinned, drawing closer as he held the katsu to your lips. “Well, prepare to be blown away, Miss Kira. Everyone here is a huge fan of my rice bowls. Even the princess.”

Scoffing, you parted your lips—letting Thoma drop it into your mouth before he pulled his gloved hand away with a satisfied smile. You rolled your eyes as you chewed, trying your best to ignore his intent, green-eyed gaze. 

…It wasn’t half bad. The breading added a good crunch to each bite. There’s a bit too much grease for your liking, but it seemed like he marinated the meat well enough to encourage a savory flavor… And was that a hint of lime you’re tasting? 

“You like it.”

“I do not.”

“Your eyes definitely lit up just now.”

“How do you know that? Were you looking into my eyes while I ate your cooking or something?”

“If I told you I was?”

“Um…”

It was only at the sound of another person’s voice that you realized how closely Thoma was hovering in front of you. Almost immediately, the two of you sprang apart, eyeing the newcomer with feigned curiosity. Ayame stood at the doorway with an awkward look.

“Madarame asked us to set the tables at the pavilion,” she said dryly. “Excuse me…” 

“Sure. Dinner will be ready in a few minutes,” Thoma chipped in. “Oh, and Miss Ayame, can you set out a few extra bowls? I made miso tonight.”

That seemed to surprise her. “Y-You did? I’m sure everyone’s going to be elated with the news.”

After that, two more attendants filed into the kitchen as they helped Ayame carry the bowls, chopsticks, and other utensils needed for a full meal. Thoma engaged you in a lighthearted conversation about how he mixed his breading batter, but as the attendants left the room, you couldn’t help but feel Ayame’s eyes lingering on your form until the moment they departed.

“Miss Kira, did you get that?”

You blinked, turning to Thoma with a flabbergasted look. “Sorry, what was that?”

“I said,” he emphasized, plucking another katsu strip from the serving plate as he brought his chopsticks to your lips again. As absentminded as you were, you gladly ate it. “Milady and I are headed to one of our strongholds in Inazuma City to meet a certain contact of ours. For some reason, she wants you to come with.”

You frowned. “What does she need me for?”

“I have some idea, but you’re not going to like it if you hear it,” Thoma chuckled, scooping rice into individual bowls before layering three strips of pork on top. “So let’s just leave it as a surprise for tomorrow.”

“I haven’t even agreed to go yet.”

“I didn’t really say you had a choice~”

You shot him a grimace that would’ve petrified him on the spot. Archons, if only his cooking wasn’t as good as it was… 

“Fine,” you relented. “You better compensate me for my cooperation.” 

“Sure! I’ll treat you out for a drink at the end of the week,” Thoma proposed. “How’s that sound?”

Another scowl. First it had been Hina and her friends who’d invited you for drinks, and now Thoma? Okay, scratch what you said earlier. These people trusted you way too much. 

…But you’re no saint. Of course you’ll take advantage of that any way you could.

With a smile you prayed was convincing enough, you gave him your answer.

“Looking forward to it.”

You shouldn’t have come along.

Not only did walking back into Inazuma City unnerve you to hell, but the fact that you’re tailing one of the nation’s beloved sweethearts meant that all eyes were on your little semi-royal retinue. Ayaka greeted anyone and everyone who gave her the time of day with a quick nod and a heartwarming smile. It’s no wonder the Yashiro Commission was so close to the people. They had someone as naturally charismatic as Ayaka to keep up with public relations, after all. 

You didn’t really pay much mind to the princess’ popularity, though. You’re more concerned with the fact that an old client might recognize your face, see you with Ayaka, and put two and two together. 

The last thing you wanted to deal with was the possibility of your cover being blown. Of all the places you could be found out, the streets of the capital itself were the most troublesome of them all. If you got outed here, your credibility as a mercenary would wash down the drain, never to be restored aga—

“Miss Kira, you look a bit troubled.”

You turned to Thoma with a disgruntled look.

“You think?” you grumbled. “I’m not exactly used to being in the center of secondhand attention. Not my style.”

The chief retainer chuckled as the two of you watched Ayaka converse with a lady who sold patterned textile for a living. “Well, you have to get used to it if you’re going to be a Kamisato retainer.”

“Like hell I will.”

He let out another laugh before saying something about stubborn loners. Before you could inflict physical pain on him to retaliate, though… 

“Ah, but Miss Kira, before we arrive at our destination.” Thoma dropped his voice a few pitches lower, green eyes roving around as if to survey your surroundings.

Your brow arched. “What?”

“Can I ask you to stay true to your character? As Kira of the Sangonomiya resistance?”

No matter how you tried to process his words, you couldn’t really make sense of the intent behind them. So, with a sigh in defeat, you said, “Buy me two extra pints of beer from your original treat and I’ll do as you like.”

He grinned. “Deal.”

About half an hour later, the plan was in motion. 

“Taroumaru, this is Miss Kira, one of my new retainers.” Ayaka was currently introducing you to a puppy sitting on the counter of some niche teahouse. But as adorable as Taroumaru might be, it didn’t make the exchange any less ridiculous. “We’ll be meeting with someone here soon. Is that okay?”

“Woof!”

Gold conversation content right there.

Once Ayaka had sorted out her introductions to the owner (how did a mindless animal make it as a raging capitalist, though?), you joined both her and Thoma inside one of the vacant rooms. There was a small stage with a couple of drums tucked away up front, but you knew you weren’t here to watch a performance. Ayaka seated herself on the carved out seats in front of the hotpot, fidgeting with the hilt of her sword in quiet anticipation as both you and Thoma followed suit. 

You leaned closer to the chief retainer’s ear, observing Ayaka pour some tea into four separate cups. “Can I ask why I’ve been invited again? You know I can sell the information to the concerned parties, right?”

He grinned at the inquiry. “You won’t.”

“Well, mister, I’ll have you know that I—”

Your words were cut short when Thoma quickly shot back to his feet. You stared at him bizarrely before realizing that their contact had arrived.

“Lady Kamisato.”

The adopted daughter of the Kujou clan was as intimidating as the rumors suggested. Kujou Sara strode into the room with an air of confidence that was leagues away from Thoma’s boyish charm. This was the woman who dictated the tides of the war—a general in every sense of the word.

And…wait. Wasn’t she supposed to be your enemy, as Kira of the resistance?

“M-Milady.” You were quick to blend back into character, but still wholly unsure of what to make of the situation as you hovered to Ayaka’s side. “What is she doing here?” 

With pleading eyes, she whispered, “Trust me. Please?”

The situation was so ironic, you could cry. 

During the entirety of their conversation, you and Thoma merely sat in silence—letting Ayaka negotiate the terms of the Vision Hunt Decree as she seemed to have done countless times already. You knew the Yashiro Commission had long been contesting it, and constantly followed up on the concerns they’d raised for the Raiden Shogun to hear. But from the apathetic look on Kujou Sara’s face, you feared that Ayaka’s efforts were all for naught. 

“Lady Kamisato,” Sara breathed once the princess was done speaking, “I believe you’re aware that I am the general of the shogun's army, not the head of the Kujou clan. I don’t have the power to back up your claim to repeal the Vision Hunt Decree, even if I wished to do so.”

“So you do?” Ayaka asked hopefully. “You agree that this Decree must be retracted?” 

You barely caught it, but you could have sworn you’d spotted a hint of hesitation in the tengu commander’s sharp stare. “If the shogun wills it, then it shall be done. That’s all there is to it.”

“Even if dozens of lives and dreams are at stake? What would you do if the Raiden Shogun suddenly decided your Vision was worth taking as well, general?” The princess’ tone held not a single speck of animosity, but the firmness in her voice caught you off guard. “As a Vision-wielder myself, I know you know that this isn’t right. Something is amiss. Our pleas to have her reconsider have always been vetoed by the heads of the Kanjou and Tenryou Commissions, so you’re the only one who can inform Her Excellency of—”

“That’s enough.”

Sara’s shoulders shook with a sigh as she folded her hands across her lap. It was hard to tell what she exactly was thinking, but from the way her fingers curled into fists, you knew she wasn’t entirely against the Yashiro Commission’s plans.

“If Her Excellency deems my Vision worth taking, then I shall give it to her,” she said simply, her cold, gold irises unwavering. “Now, is there something else you wish to discuss, Lady Kamisato or am I allowed to take my leave now?”

Ayaka pursed her lips.

“No. But I’d like you to keep my words in mind. I’m certain that even if you spend most of your time with war tactics, you’ve at least gotten wind of mine and Brother’s sentiments on the matter.” 

“It’s normal for the heads of the Yashiro Commission to put the best interests of Inazuma’s citizens before anything else.” The general nodded, rising back to her full height. “I’ll take that into consideration. Thank you for having me.”

Kujou Sara made her swift leave, and not one person even touched their tea. 

Deciding that this was the perfect time to resume your world-class acting, you started, “Those Tenryou Commission scum… They never change. Milady, you should’ve let me—”

Thoma put a hand on your shoulder. “Remember, the Yashiro Commission is a neutral party in this war. If we revealed that you were a rebel, that would imply that the Kamisato clan has turned against Her Excellency.”

“But—”

“You saw it, too. Didn’t you, Miss Kira?” 

You turned to Ayaka with a surprised look as she raised her teacup to her lips. After taking a short sip, she spoke again. 

“Kujou Sara isn’t completely sold on the Raiden Shogun’s reasons,” she sighed, setting her cup back on its saucer. “Brother told me that whenever she’s on the front line, most of the soldiers from your faction are often spared.”

You’re so confused that Thoma had to look at you with that same, knowing look to remind you of your situation.

“T-That’s a lie,” you bluffed. “Kujou Sara is merciless on the battlefield. She even ordered her men to have my comrades killed at a battle in Nazuchi Beach. I’m sorry, milady, but I don’t believe a person like that is capable of mercy.” 

Something drifted slowly onto Ayaka’s face—a peal of sadness in her eyes. So fragile and brittle, you almost regretted the words. But something told you she wasn’t sad about your supposed skepticism about Kujou Sara’s integrity... 

“I see,” she murmured. “Yes, it’s normal for you to feel that way. I apologize.”

Worrying your bottom lip between your teeth, you tried to relieve the sudden tension. But of course, Thoma beat you to it before you could even utter a word.

“Miss Kira, the Commissioner placed an order for special fireworks for next week’s festival,” he began, giving you a strange looking slip of paper. “Could you confirm it with Yoimiya at Naganohara Fireworks? We passed by the shop earlier.”

He was trying to get rid of you to talk to Ayaka. Even if it came at the expense of leaving you unguarded in a place where you could very much leave them for good.

I’m going to run the hell away the moment I step out of this teahouse, you thought. 

But at the same time, you could read the message in Thoma’s eyes—clear as day.

You won’t.

The capital was just as peaceful as you remembered. 

Children running around without care, a bunch of vendors calling out for business in every corner, and the sound of the water running beneath the bridges scattered all around. You couldn’t believe you used to conduct most of your transactions in this same, serene city. But only a few people knew how the Inazuman underground operated, and most preferred for it to stay that way. 

Yoimiya was a chipper girl. Flashy accessories, cute accent, and a bubbly personality that had even you invested in a moment’s notice. You complimented her fireworks show a week earlier, and she clapped her hands together in delight.

“You’re Lady Ayaka’s new retainer, right?” she mused. “Glad you enjoyed it!”

“Uh,” you hesitated. “Something like that.”

You showed her the slip of paper that Thoma had given, and Yoimiya was quick on the uptake. She immediately informed that the fireworks Ayato had ordered will be delivered as scheduled, and that he had nothing to worry about. Then, she began talking animatedly about the whole process, though you got lost in the middle of her spiel. In the midst of Yoimiya’s storytelling though, you found your eyes transfixed on the glowing Vision at her side. 

You wondered… What would she do if it was taken against her will? 

The walk back to Komore Teahouse was silent as you pondered Ayaka’s meeting with Kujou Sara. You hadn’t really thought much of the Vision Hunt Decree, given that you weren’t directly affected by it. But the more you see Ayaka and the rest of the Yashiro Commission push for its renouncement in the shadows, the more you’re convinced that the peace in the capital was nothing but a farce.

In your contemplation, someone called your real name from the crowd.

“Hey! It’s been a while!”

Your chest seized into a panic as you felt someone drape a strong arm around your shoulders. Though, when you turned around to see who the perpetrator was—

“You…”

Setsuna Itsuki was a name you looked up to when you were still learning the ropes of being a mercenary. He was a few years your senior, but he’s always treated you like you were old buddies who met at an izakaya. Even now, months since you’d last shown your face around these parts, he still met you with the same familiarity. 

“Thought the cops finally snuffed you out,” Itsuki chuckled, ruffling your hair, much to your annoyance. “And that’s some fancy outfit you’re wearin’. Didn’t take you to be the stylish type.”

“I thought I’d switch things up a bit,” you laughed nervously, tugging on the sleeves of the yukata Ayaka had given. “Are you…still in the business?”

He shook his head. “Nah. I quit takin’ jobs around the same time you disappeared on us. I’ve made enough mora for a comfortable retirement. How ‘bout you? I remember you’re always the one scourin’ for jobs like a bloodhound.”

You didn’t know if you should answer truthfully. Telling him about your contract with the Tenryou Commission was a sure enough ego-booster, sure. But if you told him who you’d been paid to kill… 

“You over there.”

Your saving grace came in the form of a tall, stoic woman with a tengu mask tied to the side of her head. Kujou Sara emerged from a throng of passersby like the god of death descending from a column of smoke. 

“Ah, I just remembered I had to run a few errands,” Itsuki told you nervously, patting your shoulder a few times. “See ya ‘round!”

And then you were alone.

“L-Lady Kujou, I…” you stammered.

Sara held up a hand as if to silence you. “You don’t need to pretend around me. Your identity is no secret to those in the Tenryou Commission.”

Oh. Right. She’d been the one to issue the kill order. But if that was the case, then why did she go out of her way to meet Ayaka anyways?

“But whatever you’re plotting, I suggest you put a stop to it while you still can.”

…What?

She sighed, leaning towards the wooden rails nearby as she gazed at the lower levels of the city from her vantage point. There’s this…vulnerability in her gaze that you hadn’t seen back in the teahouse. 

“We might hail from two separate Commissions, but I am well aware of how Lady Ayaka has unknowingly kept the balance in the war,” the general murmured. “If she were to die by your hand, even I don’t know what fate will befall not only the Vision-bearers of Inazuma, but the rest of its people, too…”

She turned to you, her lips pressed into a thin line.

“I’m sure you know of the Tatarigami incident very well.”

Your eyes narrowed, senses suddenly on high alert. “What about it?”

“The slaying of the Orobashi happened centuries ago. It’s one of the very popular displays of the Raiden Shogun’s prowess in battle,” Sara spoke slowly. “Her Excellency could have done the same with the rebels of Sangonomiya if she so wished. But unlike the time she’d slain the Orobashi, she has someone to regulate the degree of violence she inflicts upon Inazuma now. That being the Yashiro Commission.”

The general turned around, walking closer as she placed both her hands on your shoulders—forcing you to meet her sharp gaze.

“The Tatarigami can only spread if there’s enough chaos and unrest in its vicinity. So in the event that you successfully kill Kamisato Ayaka, and the Raiden Shogun’s final voice of reason has been eliminated…”

Your eyes widened as the implications of her words dawned on you. Migraines. Nightmares. Blood, so much blood…  

You grit your teeth as you shook off Sara’s firm grip, fingers carding through your hair as you gave yourself a minute to think. That shouldn’t be possible, right? The Tatarigami has been contained on Yashiori Island all this time. And…why should you even care what happens after you finish the job? The Tenryou Commission is going to pay you handsomely for it! If worse comes to worst you could always just hop on a boat and leave Inazuma for good.

But then, a dozen faces flashed in the forefront of your mind. The villagers you failed to cure. The innocents you’d slain for money. The retainers at the estate. The princess.

…Thoma. 

Care is also a form of remedy. You care, don’t you, little one?

 “Shut up…” you muttered, squeezing your eyes shut. 

“Whoever your benefactor is, I suggest you terminate your contract with them as soon as you can.”

Sara gazed at you with the same expression she’d worn throughout the meeting earlier—that mask of indifference safely back in place. You thought she was going to leave it at that, but as the general slowly walked away, you managed to catch the rest of her words.

“No amount of money is worth the lives of thousands.”

Your heart felt like it was about to burst through your ribcage. And as Sara’s form faded into the distance, the million-mora question lit up in your disarrayed mind.

If she isn’t my benefactor…

Then who is it? 

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