[OTA]

[fourlevels]

WHO: Viktor + YOU
WHERE: Anywhere, though mostly in Heropa
WHEN: January
WHAT: Meeting new people and getting used to this crazy world
WARNINGS: None so far, will update as it goes

(( Catch-all log for the month of January. Various prompts forthcoming in comments, or feel free to make your own! Hit me up on Plurk if you want to discuss anything: shifting

ALSO: please see this post for details about Viktor's Eros power and its possible affects on others, which is 100% opt-in per player choice! ))

Comments

@Heropa! on her way home from the Lucky Cat Cafe

[sasaeru]

[Ulvida liked Heropa. Her home was the house in De Chima she shared with Gran, but Heropa was her favorite city. It was warm, it was lively, and it was honestly where the most of her friends were. This was the place she had most of her nicest meetings.

Today, the meeting isn't too much of a surprise because she sees him before he sees her. A tall, light-haired man she glimpsed at the cafe a few times. She was never the barista on duty when he ordered, but she remembers his sweet sweet sweet orders and gentle smile, especially at the Japanese man he was usually with. Today, they don't seem to be together.

Instead, the company he has today is, well, one of the most adorable dogs she has ever seen, and she has to pause and take a look. Not too obviously, of course! She tries to be discreet, a slight pause in her steps as she peers at the poodle, and when she makes eye contact with it she's delighted. Her heart skips a beat! She can't help but smile! And she does, pulling one hand away from the straps of her bag to give it a little wave.

Little does she know how excitable this particular dog can be...]

[fourlevels]

[ Makkachin is so excited omg. The poodle's tail starts to wag a mile a minute when this new person looks back at him. It starts to squirm and paw in place, suddenly impatient that its owner is standing still when it wants to go over to the nice girl right now, but its excitement gets the better of him and he bounds off towards Ulvida just as Viktor is turning to see what on earth his dog has gotten into. ]

Ah, Makkachin—!

[sasaeru]

Oh..!

[When you're a super (soldier) level soccer player, and you're used to training against other super (soldier) level soccer players, you tend to be used to things that come flying out of nowhere to tackle you. As it is, one large poodle tackling her for kisses isn't enough to knock her over!

That doesn't stop the surprised yelp she lets out as one furry body bounds right into her most unexpectedly. DOGGO.]

[fourlevels]

[ Makkachin just licks and sniffs all over her hands and arms and her face when he rears up high enough for it, wiggling excitedly for pettings. His owner is coming up close behind him with a huge grin. ]

Sorry, sorry! Makkachin gets overly excited sometimes.

[sasaeru]

Ah, it's--

[The sentence is lost as she leans down and her face is assaulted by licks, but the dog's unapologetic display of affection only gets her to smile more, finally crouching and giving it -- Makkachin -- the attention it desires. She runs her hands along its fur and ruffles it happily, giving it little scratches behind its ears.

It helps to keep her relaxes as she looks up at the approaching owner, shaking her head.]

It's all right, I don't mind. Makkachin? He's very sweet.

[fourlevels]

[ Makkachin is in heaven right now, oh yes. Viktor just laughs at his dog's blissed-out face, genuine mirth and kindness in the sound. ]

He must like you a lot to go off running like that.

[sasaeru]

Really?

[She's never played with a dog before, at least not one of this size. She's dealt with dog-like people though. She pets the poodle's head apologetically.]

Maybe I smell like snacks. I'm sorry, I don't have anything for dogs... [Then, straightening up, she bows her head politely to the adorable dog's owner.]

I'm sorry if you were on your way somewhere. Um, you're... Viktor, right? I remember hearing your name from the Lucky Cat Café.

[fourlevels]

[ When she's standing up, Makkachin choose to lean against her legs in place of pettings, as if his size wouldn't matter for such a thing. ]

Not at all, it's fine. I was mainly walking Makkachin anyway.

Ah, that's right! I've seen you there a few times. Do you go there often?

[sasaeru]

[Oh, he's leaning. That's so cute. She's just short enough to place her hand on the top of his head and scratch him gently while still talking to the man.]

I do. Wendy who runs it has been very good to me... I help out, when I have time.

You're usually with someone else, the Japanese man, right?

[fourlevels]

[ Viktor grins down at Makkachin, but doesn't move to remove him from his new friend. ]

That's right, Yuuri. He loves the café's pork cutlet dish so we come in there often.

I don't think I've caught your name though, Miss ... ?

[sasaeru]

Ah, the katsudon? [She's seen that on the menu. She hasn't tried it yet, but she nods.] I heard the woman who started the café made a lot of the menu for people who were more familiar with that cuisine. I'm glad to hear he found something he enjoys.

[and she bows again.] My name is Ulvida. I hope you've been able to find something you enjoy, too.

[fourlevels]

Yes, that's the one. Yuuri says I don't pronounce it very well so I stick with the English name, haha.

[ Viktor's eyes light up when she introduces herself, his grin growing wider. ] Ah! You're Gran's friend!

[sasaeru]

Huh?

[Now she's completely thrown off guard. But not in a bad way. If someone can speak about Gran with that much delight, well, she's not worried. Just surprised.]

Ah, you know him...?

[fourlevels]

Yeah! We spoke over the network when Yuuri and I first arrived, and he even brought us cookies from the cafe as a housewarming present. It's how we learned about the cafe in the first place.

[sasaeru]

... That sounds like him.

[She says it quietly, but there's a warmness to her expression as well as a flush to her cheeks as she pauses, chewing on her lower lip briefly.]

Yes, I know him. We're from the same place and he's -- he's my boyfriend.

[This is her first time saying that out loud and you can almost tell just from her expression. Her face matches the color of Gran's hair.]

[fourlevels]

[ Oh no they're so cute. Viktor's smile softens at the sight of her blush. ]

Ah, that's right, he did say you're his girlfriend. Is it a new development for you two?

[sasaeru]

[She nods now because that's an easier way to answer than talking. Gosh her face is so warm now, so much for being the cool-headed alien.]

Since the beginning of this month... the end of last month?

[fourlevels]

So really recent, hm? [ He chuckles, not unkindly. ] It's a nice feeling though, isn't it? To call someone that.

[sasaeru]

Mm. It's a warm feeling. [She goes back to petting Makkachin again. As flustered as she is, she feels very sincere.]

Gran and I've been close since we were younger, but this is new and different. I like it. [And looking up at him again.] Do you have someone like that, too?

[fourlevels]

[ Viktor leans down to pet Makkachin too, and there's a glint of light that catches on the ring he's wearing on the ring finger of his right hand. ]

I do, actually. We've known each other for just about a year, but we've recently become closer.

[sasaeru]

[She notices the ring. Of course she does! It makes her heart skip a beat, having never seen anybody with an engagement ring before but recognizing it for what it is immediately, and his answer just completes it.

It's real.

Real love.]

Congratulations, [she says, calmly somehow but with a slight glimmer in her eyes. Real! Love!] Are they -- are they with you? Here? [being torn apart would be terrible]

[fourlevels]

Thank you, [ he says softly, his whole expression softening into a tender contentment. ] You've actually seen him with me when we come into the cafe.

[sasaeru]

[Growing up, the stories she read with her elder sister, and her other sisters, were all about princesses and their princes. Their knights. A man and a woman. But those storybook "facts" are all pushed aside as one face comes to mind at Viktor's reply -- the man with the glasses and the soft expressions and large appetite she glimpsed on the other side of the counter. Someone who can make this person in front of her smile the way he does. He looks like Gran when he looks at her.]

... I think that's lovely. I'm glad you two are together. [even if the world they're in now is how it is.]

[fourlevels]

Me too. I'm lucky that he came here with me.

[ With one last fond smile thinking about Yuuri, it brightens into something less-private, more of his public goofball grin. ]

You should come visit us with Gran sometime. It was fun having him over, and I'm sure Makkachin would love to see you again too.

[sasaeru]

Me?

[That's such a kind invitation! But...] Would that be okay?

[It's still a little hard to shake off the foreignness of making friends outside of the Sun Garden, no matter how many people she actually meets and acquaints with.]