Had a slow work day and then a meeting in the evening, so this one got a little held up.
But here’s scarves.
“So,” Roland says, setting his bag on the table. “Beatrix has been teaching me how to knit. And, like, it’s not going to replace Alchemy or anything, but it’s great. Beatrix says it’s a great way to cultivate patience and discipline, plus, now I can help my friends stay warm in the winter.”
He grins.
“And I like the clackety sound the needles make.”
He reaches into the bad.
Lucia has a bad feeling about this.
“I’ve been practicing a lot lately,” he continues. “Beatrix says I’m improving, but I think she just might be saying that to make me feel better.”
Roland reaches into the bag.
“And, anyway, I made you all scarves.”
Lucia has a really bad feeling about this.
“We’ll match!” Alda says happily, wearing her own Roland scarf. Mostly, it looks she’s got a melting rainbow draped over her.
Lucia has a really, truly, enormously bad feeling about this.
“Alda’s was the first one I made,” Roland mutters.
“But it’s great, Roland,” Alda assures her brother. “It’s got all the colours of the rainbow. Sure. they’re not in order, but they’re all here.”
Lucia does not have the heart to question Alda’s assessment. But, hey, if she’s happy, that’s probably all that really matters.
“By the way, there’s a great way to remember the colours of the rainbow,” Roland tells Lucia, Apolline, and Petra, “Raphael of Yarborough Goes off to Battle Purple, Purple.”
“It’s Indigo and Violet,” Alda mutters.
“Right. Purple, Purple.”
He turns to Apolline.
“Anyways, this one’s for you, Apolline. It’s red and white, like the Aurorean colours.”
“Thank you, Roland,” Apolline says, accepting the scarf. “It’s lovely.”
“And this one’s for you, Petra,” Roland continues. “Those are, um, ducks, but I couldn’t quite get them right. The beaks are really hard.”
“Well,” Petra offers, remembering her own most valuable art lessons, “just keep practicing, Roland.”
“And this one,” the muscular Alchemist says, looming over Lucia, “is for you, Lucia.”
The reaches into the bag and takes out the last scarf, setting it in Lucia’s hands.
She cautiously examines the thing.
It doesn’t look like a melted rainbow. She can tell it’s supposed to be a scarf. It fits. It isn’t itchy. On the whole, she’s pleasantly surprised.
“It’s nice!” Lucia says.
“Hey, thanks!” Roland says happily.
His face falls as the realisations sets in.
“Wait. Lucia, why do you sound surprised?”
“N-no reason,” Lucia mutters.
“It’s hard, okay?” Roland protests. “And I just started.”
“I didn’t even say anything!” Lucia protests, protesting Roland’s protestation.
“Well, why don’t you show us all how it’s done?” Roland asks.
“Fine,” Lucia declares. “I will.”
“Fine,” Roland says.
He blinks.
“Wait. What? You can knit.”
“Of course I can knit!” Lucia says. “You think just because I’m a cat, all I do with yarn is play with it?”
“N-no?” Roland answers.
“My Nonna taught me! Hand me those needles and that yarn,” Lucia says hotly “and I’ll knit you the scarfiest scarf that ever scarfed!”
“Umm, guys,” Alda asks timidly. “Why are you fighting about this?
Incidentally that “Purple, Purple” thing about rainbows is from a episode of the British show Taskmaster, which I’ve mentioned in passing before.
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