[After the emotional rollercoaster of the highest peaks the lowest valleys of Gilgamesh's party, Lycaon had all but collapsed after coming home. It took a day to really recover, having his fur tended to and remembering what having an appetite felt like, but he was mentally recovering.
And Zelos had thankfully passed along the message that Viktor had welcomed him to his house to decompress.
After sending a text beforehand to confirm the time, Lycaon stepped up to the door with a fabric reusable shopping bag slung on his elbow, carrying the cake slice he'd promised to bring (his stomach turning in knots at what its flavour could be) and ingredients for Flames of War. Cranberry juice would be good antioxidants for Viktor, and blood orange juice would give Vitamin C. Cinnamon had its benefits too, even if it was in candy form.
With a polite knock, he straightens his shoulders and steps back to allow the door to open.]
[Viktor had also needed a little time--both to come down from military-grade cough medicine and get some sleep, after both of which he reviewed his text messages to confirm that yes, all of that had actually transpired.]
[Janna's fucking mercy. He still wasn't sure if he believed it, but photographic evidence was a strong argument.]
[Either way, he was hesitant to let anyone come over in this state, but Lycaon seemed like he could use somewhere to hide out for a bit. Besides--there was much less fear of being judged for his inherent weakness in this case. Coughing up blood in front of someone tended to set the baseline fairly low, Viktor estimated.]
It's open. [The door handle seemed to tremble before unlocking and turning of its own volition, door creaking open; thank whatever higher power allowed him metal manipulation, even if it was more difficult to use right now.]
[Viktor himself was in loose-fitting clothes, half-lying half-sitting on the couch in a pile of cushions and blankets-- Rio partially lying on him like a medium-sized cat and not a bear-sized amphibian. Which was likely in part because Viktor looked much more pale and gaunt than usual, voice a little hoarse and quiet.]
My apologies--I would give you a better welcome, but Rio will be very annoyed if I move. Please, make yourself comfortable.
[It had definitely happened. A fever dream of a night that Lycaon would convinced he had personally taken some of Viktor's prescription had he not had witnesses and people to snap him out of a mental shutdown.
He lets himself in once he hears the door's lock click, his hand twisting the knob and sliding in with no more than just enough room to accommodate.
The image of Viktor curled up in what is essentially a blanket nest had only confirmed the worry he'd had when the man visited Random Play. Viktor had looked gaunt and ill before, but now he looked like a light breeze could knock him over. Lycaon holds back his urge to hurry over to his side, but it's clear there's worry in the way his tail stays close to his legs.
Thankfully, Rio was doing her job perfectly, making sure he was staying put and getting the rest he needs. Lycaon would simply make use of the man's kitchen to prepare something for him.]
I do not blame the lady. You have certainly seen better days, Viktor. You should've let me know--I would've made routine visits to help you with anything.
[He walks over to him, his smile warming as he reached out to pet Rio's smooth skinned head. If Viktor looked at Lycaon himself, the bags under his eyes were quite apparent, and the fatigue of such an event had certainly taken its toll on him. Not to mention the active stress of waiting for Gil's follow up on the event.]
You have done a great job, miss. Thank you for matching his stubbornness.
Perhaps not, but it does make things easier, does it not?
[His nails lightly scritch those scales as he sets the bag down on the coffee table.]
Ah. I suppose I do feel weathered by the experience. I would not necessarily say it was 'bad'. From what I could tell, Sir Gilgamesh and everyone had enjoyed the event. [Which in turn, made him pleased. That was his goal.] Perhaps it is because the responsibility lay on my shoulders, and Sir Gilgamesh's as well.
[He digs into that bag to pull out the cake slice he'd preserved from the event. It was part of Gilgamesh's tier, with the chocolate and gold leaf trim. He figured it'd be the...safest one. Crystalized Sugar and a mixture of M&Ms/Skittles were variables he could avoid.]
I will relay the full story, but I must warn you, I do not know what this cake will taste like. A god had tampered with it, so now each cake slice has quite a different flavour. For better or worse.
Perhaps I should not let you have it, in your condition.
[He seems more sad about that than anything else. He'd spent probably 10-15 hours on this thing.]
Edited (oh my god HTML please) 2025-09-18 17:57 (UTC)
Lycaon, if you could see what Zaun considers edible, you would faint on the spot. [A thin, tired smile.] Even with many things delicate regarding my constitution, I assure you my stomach is not one of them. Even if it were, I would not see your work go to waste.
[Lycaon pauses at that, words leaving his tongue as he slowly extends the plate over to him with the fork. It was neatly wrapped in clear plastic and chilled through the fingerless gloves he was wearing prior to arriving, so it should be relatively fresh still.
Even if he still does feel like he's throwing Viktor into the hands of fate.]
I have heard of results ranging from 'the best tiramisu' to 'toothpaste'.
[With the plate now in Viktor's hands, he holds his head high. Whatever the flavor, he'll take it with pride.]
I am still not sure how the events played out, but after mentally wracking my mind over it...I believe it started when Miss Belle had collapsed from lack of sleep.
The proverbial first domino, I presume. [Calmly unwrapping the slice of cake, while also gently pushing Rio's sizeable nose away from it. No, honey, this might kill a lesser man or waverider.]
[Lycaon takes the bag over to the counter of Viktor's kitchen to pull out the rest: Chilled cranberry juice, Blood orange juice, orange slices and cranberries, with the pop rocks. and a tiny piece of dry ice with the straw]
I had no more gotten Miss Belle settled and back to my position at the bar when the cake had erupted in flames. Sir Gilgamesh had taken control of the situation and called for people to evacuate.
Then, Dan Heng and Yusuke had doused it with water beyond recognition.
[He starts to methodically assemble the drink as it had been during the night of. By now he had it down to a science.]
[There's an audible sigh of relief from Lycaon at that. Thank the moon. Carrot Cake was normal. Not what chocolate SHOULD be, but he'll take it.]
I'm...glad. [His voice has a certain softness to it.]
As for how it caught fire, I am not entirely sure. Sir Gilgamesh came to the conclusion it was Vash's handiwork. I have worked with Vash for years--he is not someone who plays with fire. [Well. He DOES, just not LITERAL fire.]
[Gently putting the dry ice in the cup, there's a gentle smoke arising from it as he carries it over, bubbling like a miniature cauldron as he sets it down on the coffee table, straw and all.]
[He remembers prior to his app access when he heard Vash ranting about how mint wards away yokai, and his own futile attempt to sway the man otherwise.]
Extremely unlikely. Vash knew how important that night was to me. As for the real culprit...I cannot say. Any trace of a scent was wiped out. [Or didn't exist.]
So, in an effort to control the situation, I...froze the venue. [You may remember him freezing the Taco Bell, Viktor. It was like that.]
[he'd definitely seen a wayward gardening cryptid out his window a few times and decided that was simply not his business.]
Strange. Either deliberate sabotage, or a very well covered accident. Either way, I can't say that is an incorrect response to the situation as described.
In hindsight, I am ashamed to admit the pressure took over. But it did settle things. For a few seconds. [It got worse.]
[But to answer his earlier question, Lycaon goes to grab his own glass, moving to sit down beside him on the couch where Rio had not already occupied.]
It's a drink made from spiced cranberry and blood orange juice, along with some cinnamon popping candy along the edge. And a piece of dry ice to cause the bubbling effect.
I was inspired by my friend Lorenzo. Lighter, as I call him.
There are worse ways to deal with an emergency than freezing it. As kneejerk reactions go, it's better than more fire. Or just about any other magical calamity.
[Viktor muffled a cough against his hand as he set the empty plate aside, before picking up the glass in quiet fascination.]
Fascinating. I hope all your efforts as a bartender received the praise they deserved, yes?
[Viktor has a point. Out of most of the elements, ice was one of the least harmful when added to an environment. Electricity and Fire were not so kind.
At the question, his ears twitch, a genuine smile returning to his lips.]
They were very well received, all things considered. Despite the disaster regarding the cake, I did have that to fall back on.
[Seeing Viktor's eyes alight with a sip of the drink makes his own glitter, dancing among the warm lighting of the room.]
I did. Here. [He reaches into the bag to pull out one of the laminated menus, a souvenir from the party. He holds it between two fingers before providing it to Viktor to review.]
The theme was Greek Gods, but inspiration came from some of my acquaintances who also have connections to those gods.
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Action; After Gilgamesh's party
And Zelos had thankfully passed along the message that Viktor had welcomed him to his house to decompress.
After sending a text beforehand to confirm the time, Lycaon stepped up to the door with a fabric reusable shopping bag slung on his elbow, carrying the cake slice he'd promised to bring (his stomach turning in knots at what its flavour could be) and ingredients for Flames of War. Cranberry juice would be good antioxidants for Viktor, and blood orange juice would give Vitamin C. Cinnamon had its benefits too, even if it was in candy form.
With a polite knock, he straightens his shoulders and steps back to allow the door to open.]
Viktor?
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[Janna's fucking mercy. He still wasn't sure if he believed it, but photographic evidence was a strong argument.]
[Either way, he was hesitant to let anyone come over in this state, but Lycaon seemed like he could use somewhere to hide out for a bit. Besides--there was much less fear of being judged for his inherent weakness in this case. Coughing up blood in front of someone tended to set the baseline fairly low, Viktor estimated.]
It's open. [The door handle seemed to tremble before unlocking and turning of its own volition, door creaking open; thank whatever higher power allowed him metal manipulation, even if it was more difficult to use right now.]
[Viktor himself was in loose-fitting clothes, half-lying half-sitting on the couch in a pile of cushions and blankets-- Rio partially lying on him like a medium-sized cat and not a bear-sized amphibian. Which was likely in part because Viktor looked much more pale and gaunt than usual, voice a little hoarse and quiet.]
My apologies--I would give you a better welcome, but Rio will be very annoyed if I move. Please, make yourself comfortable.
no subject
He lets himself in once he hears the door's lock click, his hand twisting the knob and sliding in with no more than just enough room to accommodate.
The image of Viktor curled up in what is essentially a blanket nest had only confirmed the worry he'd had when the man visited Random Play. Viktor had looked gaunt and ill before, but now he looked like a light breeze could knock him over. Lycaon holds back his urge to hurry over to his side, but it's clear there's worry in the way his tail stays close to his legs.
Thankfully, Rio was doing her job perfectly, making sure he was staying put and getting the rest he needs. Lycaon would simply make use of the man's kitchen to prepare something for him.]
I do not blame the lady. You have certainly seen better days, Viktor. You should've let me know--I would've made routine visits to help you with anything.
[He walks over to him, his smile warming as he reached out to pet Rio's smooth skinned head. If Viktor looked at Lycaon himself, the bags under his eyes were quite apparent, and the fatigue of such an event had certainly taken its toll on him. Not to mention the active stress of waiting for Gil's follow up on the event.]
You have done a great job, miss. Thank you for matching his stubbornness.
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[Rio trilled happily at the attention, scales along her back wiggling with what was probably either pride or satisfaction.]
You look exhausted, yourself. Was the aftermath that bad?
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[His nails lightly scritch those scales as he sets the bag down on the coffee table.]
Ah. I suppose I do feel weathered by the experience. I would not necessarily say it was 'bad'. From what I could tell, Sir Gilgamesh and everyone had enjoyed the event. [Which in turn, made him pleased. That was his goal.] Perhaps it is because the responsibility lay on my shoulders, and Sir Gilgamesh's as well.
[He digs into that bag to pull out the cake slice he'd preserved from the event. It was part of Gilgamesh's tier, with the chocolate and gold leaf trim. He figured it'd be the...safest one. Crystalized Sugar and a mixture of M&Ms/Skittles were variables he could avoid.]
I will relay the full story, but I must warn you, I do not know what this cake will taste like. A god had tampered with it, so now each cake slice has quite a different flavour. For better or worse.
Perhaps I should not let you have it, in your condition.
[He seems more sad about that than anything else. He'd spent probably 10-15 hours on this thing.]
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Even if he still does feel like he's throwing Viktor into the hands of fate.]
I have heard of results ranging from 'the best tiramisu' to 'toothpaste'.
[With the plate now in Viktor's hands, he holds his head high. Whatever the flavor, he'll take it with pride.]
I am still not sure how the events played out, but after mentally wracking my mind over it...I believe it started when Miss Belle had collapsed from lack of sleep.
no subject
So, what happened after that?
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I had no more gotten Miss Belle settled and back to my position at the bar when the cake had erupted in flames. Sir Gilgamesh had taken control of the situation and called for people to evacuate.
Then, Dan Heng and Yusuke had doused it with water beyond recognition.
[He starts to methodically assemble the drink as it had been during the night of. By now he had it down to a science.]
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[He paused to take a bite of the slice in his hands, undaunted by the apparent risk-] ...mm. Carrot cake, and an excellent one at that. Interesting.
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I'm...glad. [His voice has a certain softness to it.]
As for how it caught fire, I am not entirely sure. Sir Gilgamesh came to the conclusion it was Vash's handiwork. I have worked with Vash for years--he is not someone who plays with fire. [Well. He DOES, just not LITERAL fire.]
[Gently putting the dry ice in the cup, there's a gentle smoke arising from it as he carries it over, bubbling like a miniature cauldron as he sets it down on the coffee table, straw and all.]
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[didn't need access to libra to hear about all that wild horseshit.]
Seems a bit unlikely, in that case. I wonder what actually happened. [When Lycaon set the glass down, Viktor raised an eyebrow curiously.]
That's quite the piece of artwork, Lycaon. What's in it?
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[He remembers prior to his app access when he heard Vash ranting about how mint wards away yokai, and his own futile attempt to sway the man otherwise.]
Extremely unlikely. Vash knew how important that night was to me. As for the real culprit...I cannot say. Any trace of a scent was wiped out. [Or didn't exist.]
So, in an effort to control the situation, I...froze the venue. [You may remember him freezing the Taco Bell, Viktor. It was like that.]
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Strange. Either deliberate sabotage, or a very well covered accident. Either way, I can't say that is an incorrect response to the situation as described.
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[But to answer his earlier question, Lycaon goes to grab his own glass, moving to sit down beside him on the couch where Rio had not already occupied.]
It's a drink made from spiced cranberry and blood orange juice, along with some cinnamon popping candy along the edge. And a piece of dry ice to cause the bubbling effect.
I was inspired by my friend Lorenzo. Lighter, as I call him.
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[Viktor muffled a cough against his hand as he set the empty plate aside, before picking up the glass in quiet fascination.]
Fascinating. I hope all your efforts as a bartender received the praise they deserved, yes?
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At the question, his ears twitch, a genuine smile returning to his lips.]
They were very well received, all things considered. Despite the disaster regarding the cake, I did have that to fall back on.
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[He took a drink, face lighting up just a little despite how tired he still looked.]
...And I can see why, this tastes amazing. Did you come up with it yourself?
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I did. Here. [He reaches into the bag to pull out one of the laminated menus, a souvenir from the party. He holds it between two fingers before providing it to Viktor to review.]
The theme was Greek Gods, but inspiration came from some of my acquaintances who also have connections to those gods.
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Incredibly clever, Lycaon. No wonder they went over so well, with such work put into them.
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Thank you. It was well worth the time I spent brainstorming it, and Sir Gilgamesh seemed quite impressed with them too.
[He takes a sip of his drink, leaning his head back as Viktor continues to browse. Oh right...the rest of the happenings at the event.]
After I froze the venue, something unexpected happened. It was as if the damage to my cake was...undone. It had returned to its normal state.