[Video]

[stitch_witch]

[As the video starts, Lark is clearly seated by a warm fire, the communicator pointed toward her, and her hands are busy with what is clearly a pair of knitting needles. She looks insanely comfortable doing this, even with the head of her dog in her lap, just barely on screen.]

Good afternoon all. I was hoping to request some assistance in assisting you. I'm trying to make mittens to help keep us warm when outside this winter. But I need hand sizes. Anyone who would like a pair is welcome to come visit me in the hotel so I can take measurements.

[Then she smiles, shaking her head. Chances were people might find that weird, but she moves on.]

Where I'm from, it's very common to work on projects like this in the winter, and it makes me feel at home to do such things. So I would like to do this, not only to pass the time, but to help you all keep your fingers warm and comfortable this winter.

Comments

text | anonymous

[quark_assassin]

Which hotel room?

[stitch_witch]

Second floor, there will be a door painted green. That is my work room.

-> action

[quark_assassin]

[Can't believe he's doing this, god fucking dammit, but Dustin is already fed up with his hands being too numb to do precision work and he doesn't trust the replicator anymore to make him proper gloves, so he's just going to have to compromise.]

[No more replies from the anonymous poster come through. Instead, about forty-five minutes later, there's a hesitant series of knocks on Lark's workroom door.]

[stitch_witch]

[The knock is met by the sound of an excited bark, then eager sniffing at the bottom of the door. A few moments later a soft voice can be heard chiding the animal, and the little tippy tap noises of an excited dog cavorting in place. Only then does the door open to a smiling Lark, and a large, pale cream dog that looks like a wolf hound with curly fur. The latter is walking eager circles, clearly wanting to meet the young visitor.]

You must be my anonymous friend. Please come in. Unless you have an issue with dogs, then we can move next door to my personal room for the work. Little Bear is rather energetic for being cooped up more due to the snow.

[quark_assassin]

[Lark probably doesn't see Dustin jump at the unexpected sound of a dog barking, but he definitely looks wary when she opens the door, having taken several steps away from the threshold so he has some room to run if he needs to. Thankfully the animal on the other side seems to be less interested in eating his face and more interested in licking it. Still, he doesn't accept the invitation immediately.]

As long as they're trained, I don't care. [Please don't jump on him big dog, he is not physically or emotionally prepared to deal with that. The extra layers of clothes can only do so much to cushion his ass on the way down.]

[stitch_witch]

He is trained. Little Bear, heel.

[And yes, the dog does come to her side and sit there, his tail thumping the floor.]

He's a good dear.

[quark_assassin]

[That's a good enough display to convince Dustin that he's not about to be mauled (playfully or otherwise). With a hunch of his shoulders and an anxious shuffle of his feet, Dustin makes his way into the room. His eyes quickly scan his surroundings while he offers a hand at his side, palm-up, for Little Bear to greet.]

What materials are you using?

[stitch_witch]

[Little Bear is quite happy to sniff at his hand, before licking it. Lark just chuckles and gestures to a small bowl of water and a towel nearby if Dustin wants it.]

I work primarily in Glownie wool and other materials I have gotten off planet. There is also silkthread spider silk, but I’ve less material for that because it takes more processing and I’ve not the time.”

[quark_assassin]

[Dustin crinkles his nose a little but doesn't seem terribly surprised. Why would he be? The dog clearly wanted to lick his whole face a minute ago, he'll take what he can get.]

I need something I can work in. [Dustin rewards Little Bear's good behavior (slobber included) with some scratches behind his ear.] Lightweight but warm. Convertible mittens, if possible.

[stitch_witch]

[Of course Little Bear wanted to lick his whole face. That didn’t mean he was going to. Not unless Dustin got down onto the floor.]

Lightweight, dexterous… Normally I’d suggest leather, perhaps lined with something. In this case, I could take out some of the silk to make gloves, and then have some mitten overs.

[quark_assassin]

[Dustin hums, looking vaguely displeased as he frowns at the floor. That does seem like the best option given the list, but it also involves using the most difficult to obtain of her materials, which he would prefer not to request of her without giving something back.]

Don't waste what little you have on something sub-par. [Stated as fact rather than derision; Dustin's expression hasn't changed, and he's still absently petting the dog.] Regular wool is fine for a stopgap. If I can find some leather, I can bring it to you for a more appropriate build with the silk.

[Easier said than done. He knows that a few of their number regularly hunt, which means there's hide, and he's at least conceptually aware of how to tan leather. It's not something he's likely to have access to until the end of the season, though.]

[stitch_witch]

I do not work leather. and I can do the silk easily enough.

[quark_assassin]

[Dustin glances up, arcing an eyebrow at her.]

You...don't mind using it for this?

[stitch_witch]

Why would I?

[She offers him a warm smile.]

You would not ask for something so precious were it not important, correct?

[quark_assassin]

[Dustin doesn't hide his emotions very well at the best of times, so his surprise should be written plain on his face when Lark doubles down.]

I mean...it is, yes. For me. [He blinks a couple of times.] But compared to the potential needs of everyone else? I can't justify it. Not without paying you back with something equally valuable.

[stitch_witch]

[Lark resists rolling her eyes.]

Can you make a cat door?

[quark_assassin]

A...cat door.

[Dustin passes a pointed look down at the large dog that he's still petting at his side, then back to Lark.]

Sure. Why?

[stitch_witch]

There is call for some to be installed in areas around here. Have you seen Salem about? The black cat?

[The poor guy needed help, and he refused to talk to Tommy to get into the Diner sooooo.]

[quark_assassin]

[Dustin ponders that for a moment. He has not spotted Salem around, actually, but--]

No, but I've heard of him.

[There was that message on the Network recently about a stray cat, which Dustin promptly ignored. Not his cat and not his problem was the thought process around that. He also hasn't checked the "Dictionary" for new arrivals lately, since there's been such a dearth of them, so the fact that Salem is actually one of the Agrii's new recruits has totally escaped him.]

I'll do it, but it sounds unnecessary. Most buildings around here don't have enough standing walls to stop a cat from finding a way into them for shelter.

[stitch_witch]

[Yes, Lark expects most people fail to notice that Salem is there and a proper He Row. Or that he talks. He'd got opinions on talking to 'mortals' after all. What a strange young man.]

The diner is rather secure, and so is the hotel. And he is cold. He is rather vocal in his annoyance of the cold. Perhaps also the library, Jon and his mothcats could benefit as well.

[quark_assassin]

[That feels like a weird choice of words, but Dustin can picture a normal cat being vocally upset about something well enough. Probably sits outside of buildings and yowls and annoys the piss out of whoever's inside.]

[Satisfied with that reasoning, Dustin shrugs and nods his agreement.]

Fair. I'll do it.

[A beat.]

...Is this something you just came up with, or do the people who upkeep those locations know it needs to be done? [He's mostly thinking about Jon - the last time Dustin tried to "modify" part of Jon's property, he'd gotten in very hot water for it. Such situations are to be avoided if at all possible.]

[stitch_witch]

[No, he chatters annoyingly when he is upset.]

You are probably right on the library. But the hotel is a communal space, and so is the diner, so those should absolutely be accessible to all of our residents.

[quark_assassin]

[Dustin's shoulders sag.]

Fuck.

[Said under his breath like an oath - he really doesn't want to make a Big Deal out of this, but, well, he told Lark he'll do it. No backing out now.]

I'll...check in with everyone. [Dustin's eyes roll to the ceiling just thinking about it. Ugh--people. What a pain.] When do you expect to have those gloves done?

[stitch_witch]

[Yes, people are the sort of people he should interact with. She’s doing him some good here too.]

Give me two days?

[quark_assassin]

[Dustin blinks at her.]

Don't you have... [The little snippets he remembers of their conversation during the most recent storm pop into his head. Oh, right - thread magic. Of course she could make clothes that quickly, even if she's working on several batches of them at once. He shakes his head with a small, anxious frown.] --Never mind. Two days. Got it.