⚙ // redecorate

[hexcrafter]

WHO: Viktor, the DND squad, and Lycaon
WHERE: Viktor's house
WHEN: Late July, a few days after the Jumanji incident(s)
WHAT: Some of us almost died and we wanna play dolls about it.
WARNINGS: None likely.

[It would have been forgivable and even smart to cancel outright, with how Viktor was feeling. He didn't say as much (not being one to seriously complain in general), but on top of being deeply exhausted his pride had taken several hits in quick succession. The game itself had been, in his own mind, a mortifying example of how he was a liability at best in a tense situation. That self-loathing had doubled upon regaining consciousness in a hospital for not the first time in his life, and multiplied exponentially with the state he was currently in; getting around in a chair he had up to now utterly refused to let anyone see him using, which...oddly, seemed to be moving on its own.]

[But despite all that, despite how badly he wanted to just retreat into his metaphorical shell and not see or speak to anyone until he could move under his own power...well, it wasn't that simple anymore. It hadn't been that simple for years. He had friends, and they still wanted to get together despite the circumstances--or because of them. Obviously he couldn't deny any of them that, if it was the one thing he could do that was of even the smallest amount of help. That in itself would brighten a dismal outlook, more likely than not.]

I doubt I need to explain this will be a lighter and low-stakes session, particularly with the potential of a couple of us playing remotely. That said: I invited Lycaon to sit in and make a character to see if he would like to join us going forward.

[He'd address that, but not the giant axolotl curled up on the couch. Sure.]

I'll be a little longer setting up, so start any and all vicious conflicts over whatever we might be ordering now to get it out of the way.

Comments

[conseqweinces]

We've been due for a Long Rest anyway, right? [Said staring at Viktor for a long time as if saying someone else should also be due a long rest. But if this was how Viktor wanted to do things, Wei Wuxian wouldn't argue much further. Distractions were one way of coping.

He would just have to walk through his own pain and concern about the whole game night gone bad problem... where did these games come from? Was it a weird Spirit Realm thing or were these planted... he'd love a chance to investigate himself.

But right now he was in a chair next to the couch sitting bisexually (incorrectly) on it. He wanted to be next to the axolotl friend.]

If Lycaon's joining so quick after talking to Viktor, he must be something really special huh?

[Lycaon for the love of all things holy realize that Wei Wuxian is a shark who can smell blood in the water faster than your nose can pick up a disorganized room.]

[hexcrafter]

[Said axolotl did not seem to mind the shared space, blinking enormous eyes as she sniffed Wei Wuxian thoughtfully, nudging him with her entire sizeable head looking for pets.]

I can hear you, you realize. I assure you it's nothing like that.

[conseqweinces]

[Oh he will give her every single pets, she doesn't need to worry her pretty in pink giant little head about it.]

What? I wasn't even implying anything! [He was.] But if you're self reporting like that it must mean there is something there after all~?

[Wei Wuxian is being annoying on purpose, being more aware than Viktor of the man he's truly dedicated to.

But you know. Blood. Water. Snfsnfsnfsnf.]

[paraselenic]

[No one was more surprised at the invitation to DnD than Lycaon himself. He'd only just learned of the term from Caleb, and far from considered himself an expert on the topic. There was only so much time to research, so he did what any normal wolf would do.

Use his PTO to quickly study the Dungeons & Dragons Wiki while making bagels, muffins, and three different kinds of fruit chips (not store bought, you FREAKS) to bring to this. Please don't ask why he made so much--this is honestly normal for him.

This wolf really has no idea what he's getting into.]

Ah, hello everyone. M...r. Viktor has informed me that this is where the Dungeons and Dragons get together is being held. Am I at the right location? I have brought snacks for everyone to eat.

[Something instinctual tells him he shouldn't use the prefix he reserves for his engineers with this group. Fear+.]

[conseqweinces]

[Oh. Oh Lycaon was one of those types like Lan Zhan. One of those overly serious types that puts his all into literally everything even if he doesn't need to. The kind of stickler for the rules guy.

Oh this is going to be a fun series of sessions going forward.

Smelling that very delicious blood in the water, Wei Wuxian will approach Lycaon and immediately take the snacks from him.]

Yep, this is the place~! You're Lycaon, right? Come, come, make yourself comfortable! [This ain't your house, twink.] Has Viktor told you about me? Surely he has! I'm Wei Wuxian, now you've got a face to the name! Just Wuxian is fine, I don't like formalities.

I get the feeling you haven't heard of DnD before if you're calling it by its entire name. Am I right? I'm right aren't I?

[Run.]

[paraselenic]

[You got it in one, Wuxian. Lycaon's eyes widen a bit at the man's immediate friendliness. Both in surprise and also in...familiarity? There's a deep seeded feeling in his gut that he knows what this guy is kind of like.]

That I am. Thank you for hosting me. [This isn't his house, Lycaon.]


He has not mentioned you once, I'm afraid.

[That tone was practically instinctual. It just sort of came out. A stoic delivery that truly needs to be studied in a lab.]

But you are correct. I learned of the term through a DoorDash employee I was speaking with, and then Mr. Viktor offered me an invitation. We were well acquainted from our time during recent events, so of course I accepted. Though I cannot imagine I will be all too skilled at this.

[He is completely expecting to lose whatever the hell this is.]

[hexcrafter]

It is just Viktor, there is no need for such formality. [you poor thing.]

Please, make yourself comfortable--you did not have to make so much food, I hope it was not any trouble.

[paraselenic]

[Immediate tiny bit of tail wagging--please don't notice.]

Viktor. It warms my heart to see you doing much better after the events that unfolded. Your health has stabilized? You are not overexerting yourself, I hope.

The food is no trouble at all. I find it soothing to make it--and I have found myself with ample free time. [The man is a workaholic using PTO.]

[actnormal]

[Caleb comes out from the kitchen where he was getting some water. Please do not comment on the trio of weird cat creatures following him. Caleb wasn't in any games, but the Creations have decided he needs to be monitored until further notice.]

Oh, hey! Lycaon, right?

[He speaks so formally he has to be the guy who thought Viktor was a district manager.]

I'm Caleb.

[paraselenic]

[Oh wow. He truly is an almost spitting image of Wise. He can't help but blink, tail instinctively swishing in delight before he has to willfully stop it.]

Ah, you are the Doordash employee. [Or whatever big corpo overlord you serve.]

It is nice to meet you officially, Mr. Caleb. I was surprised at the coincidence when Viktor invited me to the same game you had mentioned to me.

[illucesco]

[Noctis is playing remotely for this session, because Cygnus was stressful enough that he spent the entire time as a cat and stayed that way for a few hours before it wore off enough for him to turn back. Right now, he's a sleepy-looking set of head and shoulders on an iPad screen, his apartment's kitchen as a backdrop.

Dryly:] Meat-lovers' pizza and French fries.

Hey, new guy. Don't be scared, we don't bite.

[paraselenic]

[So some players are being broadcast remotely. It makes sense, given the catastrophes that have unfolded. Not everyone is able bodied enough to attend in person, but they still long for the companionship.

Technology is incredible]

Ah, It is nice to make your acquaintance. There is no need to worry. I am not afraid--albeit I am out of my element. Whatever teeth you may bare, it cannot be worse than velociraptors.

[Most likely.]

[illucesco]

Lycaon, yeah? I'm Noctis. Ask me whatever you want about the game, I've been playing for years.

[There's a beat, then Noctis winces.]

I was in Cygnus. We rolled a tornado first thing, so I kinda get it.

[hexcrafter]

Do not make me take you seriously and pay Caleb to bring you a pizza.

[he will]

[illucesco]

You don't have to do that, I was kidding. I already have a pizza, and it's—Fluvius, no, the pizza is not for you.

[Off camera, a sheepish oshawoooooott can be heard.]

Maybe we should warn Lycaon about Wei Wuxian and the possibility of Squirrel Warfare the sequel.

Time to Help Lycaon Make a Super Cool OC

[paraselenic]

I have decided on a name.

[He's going to give this his all, and his tail is lightly thumping on the couch armrest as he pours over these documents. Please help him, he's so new to this.]

I will keep my personal name--I'm quite fond of it. But I will give myself a surname. [He has to think on this. He's never had one himself...so he has to pull from the experiences around him. Hugo had chosen a last name for himself...so surely he can make one up for this.

In his delicate handwriting, one finally comes to him: Europa.]

Does that look sufficient?

[actnormal]

[Peering over at the sheet.]

Oh, dude, Lycaon Europa sounds badass.

[paraselenic]

[Oh.

Oh cue that tail wagging. I'm so sorry for anyone who may get a light swat of it in passing. He's so excited.]

Do you truly think so? It came to me just now, and I felt a spark..as if it just fit.

[He just now notices said tail and wills it to behave once more. How embarrassing...]

I would like to make this Lycaon a monk, I've been fond of martial arts. But are there any race restrictions?

[illucesco]

Looks good. Did you roll the stats already or—if you're a monk you want a high Dexterity and Wisdom score. Hold on.

[Ducking out of the tablet's view, but you can still hear him muttering something:] Got a monk around here somewhere that I rolled up for Wuxian's husband's one-shot.

[paraselenic]

[Lycaon waits patiently, gleaning over the stats part of the sheet. He DID wonder how those were assigned...]

So it is by dice roll, then. One roll for each of the six categories, I assume?

[life_ethereal]

[Harumasa is also a remote player for today. Unfortunately, this also means everyone gets to see that he's surrounded by animals. His various Pokemon can be seen around the room, but they stay close to Harumasa. There's a big, black cat draped around his shoulders and she looks like she doesn't know where she is in space or time. A German Shepherd with a service dog vest on his sitting next to his chair.]

Stuffed crust cheese pizza.

[That's disturbingly normal. He really must be sick.]

I didn't know you recruited Ly--ow! Dusk!

[His recent addition to his Pokemon family is a Rockruff that has decided that Harumasa's lap is the best seat in the room. The problem is that the little guy doesn't know his own strength yet. Harumasa sighs as he picks up the Rockruff and places him on his lap. The cat is distinctly unruffled.]

Twenty pounds of rock dog should not feel this heavy.... Anyway, welcome to D&D, Lycaon! Wait, Wuxian, are we still on for Operation Squirrel Warfare 2 or are we going with The Backup Plan?

[Of course Harumasa is one of the co-coconspirators behind--wait, what did he just say about a backup plan????]

[hexcrafter]

...Do you want me dead? Because there are much less convoluted ways to do that.

[SO YOU HATE ME?????]

1/2

[illucesco]

[conseqweinces]

Rockruff is a Rock-Type, Harumasa. It's gonna be heavy!

[God, one of many reasons Wuxian will never go to that Fortress unless its to study the Asgard barrier again. And even then he'll ask Lan Zhan to come with...

As for their mischievous plan, well.]

Weeeeeeell, since Viktor's probably expecting Squirrel Warfare 2 I think it's best to go with the Backup Plan this time!

[WHAT ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT GOOD GOD.]

[paraselenic]

[Ah, the man of the hour, and he's surrounded by furry friends! Lycaon gives a two fingered little wave to him from the screen. Last they spoke, he spent an hour arranging baked goods.]

I believe twenty pounds of rock is the same as twenty pounds of feathers, Mr. Harumasa. Perhaps it is the twenty that is the issue.

[He smiles, his ears twitching contently.] I'm glad to see you've been discharged. I've just finished meeting everyone and was currently making my character.

I believe I am doing well so far.