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WHO: Everyone!
WHERE: Vkusno! Shaved Ice in the Shopping Centre
WHEN: 2/10 afternoon
WHAT: Valentine's Day Chocolate Workshop
WARNINGS: None so far

[After a handful of people expressed interest in learning how to make Valentine's Day chocolates, somehow what had started as tentative plans between a couple friends turned into a full on workshop.

The prep took a couple days, but in the end things were ready! The kitchens of Vkusno! Shaved Ice were secured for melting down the chocolates. The tables and chairs in the shop proper were all equipped with chocolate molds, decoration toppings, and other tools for anyone who stopped by to use. All that was left was to send out the invites via network:]

Chocolate making workshop at Vkusno! Shaved Ice is open now. We're on the 4th floor of the Shopping Centre if you want to join in.

(ooc: Please feel free to make your own top levels!)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Though Yuuri wants to work on his chocolates and finish up as quickly as possible, he also knows that as the person who apparently started the whole thing, he should stick around and make sure that things go smoothly. So he makes the rounds, moving between the kitchen and the shop proper to keep an eye on things. It's a little unbelievable when he stops to think about it. Him...organizing a social event like this. He can almost imagine both Phichit and Minako-sensei raising their brows at him from across the galaxy if they ever catch wind of this. Somehow Viktor is to blame for this, he knows it.

Yuuri's jolted out of his thoughts by a very distinct smell as he enters the kitchen again--the smell of something burning. He spies the smoking pan immediately.]

Someone's chocolate is burning! Um, you'll probably have to start over... [Yuuri immediately gets the pan into the sink and looks down at it, sighing. He hopes the owners of the store won't be too upset after all this. He does still work here, after all.]

[Once Yuuri feels a little better about leaving people to their own devices in the kitchen, he finally heads toward the tables with the intent to start his own chocolates, finally. There's a problem, though: he can't find the mold he'd picked up specifically for this anywhere.

Yuuri checks each group, eyes scanning the tools scattered across the table tops as he frets.]

Excuse me? [He doesn't want to be bothering anyone when they're all so focused on what they're, doing, but...] Have you seen the molds that look like pawprints around here?

[Wildcard! Let me know if you want something else!]

Edited 2017-02-10 23:31 (UTC)

( he sweeps in late because he's been practicing, taking advantage of Yuuri's workshop hours to workshop his own new program. it's exciting, and it's raw, and he's not going to have the polish that a season of perfecting would afford, but it will be genuine, and it will say what he wants to say with the whole of his body, skating there on the ice.

he looks to find Yuuri, a curious glance over the packed away and mostly clean area; he's happily exhausted, carrying his backpack slung over one shoulder and slipping around the counter to slide an arm around Yuuri's back, leaning in and pressing a kiss to his cheek. everything smells like chocolate, in a way he wouldn't call nostalgic, but a manner he does find fond. )

How's everything gone today?

The shop is still intact, so I think I’ll call it a success. [Yuuri turns his head, cheeks warm at the sudden act of affection. ] There were a few close calls in the kitchen, though.

[Closing his eyes, Yuuri allows himself to lean against Viktor for a second.] Didn’t think organizing a get together like this would be so tiring.

( He hums, not replying straight away. It's nice to have this moment of respite in lives that are otherwise made busy through obligations they gave themselves, and the ones given to them by others. The Fek have needs that are met and organised by three humans with no diplomatic experience; Viktor is orchestrating his program to propose to Yuuri, officially; he works, theoretically, but in running the rink in technicalities now more than in marketing for Vkusno!

he has no regrets. just a kitchen that smells like chocolate and his heart held in his arms. )

Sounds like it's been an adventure. Almost ready to head home? ( speaking by Yuuri's ear: ) I can think of at least one person I know who could benefit from a nice shoulder massage after a tiring day.

( Yuuri. he means Yuuri. )

[Though his face heats up immediately at the offer, Yuuri simply turns his head to shyly give Viktor an affectionate peck on the cheek.]

It’s too bad there’s no onsen here. We could both use it—you must’ve worked really hard at the rink today, too. [Now curiosity tickles at him again. Yuuri knows Viktor’s been working on something for the exhibition, though he hasn’t seen it yet.] How’s the choreography coming along?

( He makes a small noise of general pleasure when Yuuri kisses his cheek, giving Yuuri's shoulders a light squeeze as a promise for later even while he moves away, trailing through the kitchen. )

Better than I expected. Less than two weeks is a tough sell, but this is different. No judges, no scores, no future sponsorship deals...

( He smiles, less upset with this than he could be; this is him looking at his life being dismantled and unraveled with no callbacks to what it once was. )

Should be fun. I agree about the onsen... we could ask for one. Think they'd build it in the atrium if we filled out the right paperwork?

[That same smile is reflected on Yuuri's face as he goes back to the clean up. The shop is back to looking fairly clean and organized, but he still has a few things to put away before he can call it a day.]

Yeah... no judges, no scores. Just the choreography and the ice.

[It's the way he likes skating, of course, being able to express himself so freely without the pressure. But a part of him has always been competitive, too, and it's that part that mourns the loss of his career.]

( They're both competitive, as part of their basic natures; Viktor may actually be more laid back, but that's tempered by how often he has won, how he'd lost that edge because it'd been something he'd stopped having to prove, had stopped being able to surprise and inspire people with. Yuuri had given that back to him.

Yuuri had given him back his love for the ice, and that burns strong even now. Even before Yuuri had arrived. )

Love on the ice.

( Viktor quips, apropos of nothing. He sets a few rinsed and dried bowls up on their proper shelf, tucking them back to keep them away from the edge. It's small busywork, largely unnecessary; he takes the chance after to lean his hip against the counter, arms folded over his chest as he watches Yuuri. )

Seems appropriate to the spirit of the holiday, doesn't it?

[Looking up after he puts the last of the pans and bowls away, Yuuri catches Viktor's gaze and feels a surge of affection run through him.]

Very appropriate. [With one last look around the kitchen and shop proper, Yuuri finally decides that he's cleaned up enough to avoid the owner's wrath...hopefully. He reaches for his bag and slips the bags of chocolates he'd made into them before straightening up.] I think that's all of it. Let's go.

( He holds a hand out to Yuuri after moving away from the counter; time to head home. )

Feel up to taking a walk with Makkachin once we're back? It's been a long day.

( He understands if Yuuri would prefer otherwise, even as they head out of the store, leaving it locked up behind them. )

[It feels like second nature to fit his hand into Viktor's at this point.]

A walk sounds nice. I'd like that. [Yuuri adjusts his bag on his shoulder, smiling.] We can pick up dinner while we're out. I think I've seen enough of the kitchen for today.

Ah, good plan. What do you feel like? Noodles?

( there's at least a variety of noodles that can be found throughout the ship. Viktor gives his hand a squeeze, idly swinging their hands between them as they walk along, heading for the lifts between levels. )

If we're going with noodles, there's a place that makes something I've been wanting to try. It looks like yakisoba, but I'm not sure if it'll taste the same or not.

[Space food... always an adventure, even when you don't mean for it to be. Speaking of adventure, though, Yuuri perks up.] Hey, Viktor? Has Shiro or the princess mentioned anything about food goo to you?

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What? —oh.

[ Clearly looking away from his pan for longer than thirty seconds was not a good idea. Jim really had been paying close attention to what he was doing up until then, but he got so fascinated by the recipe book (printed on actual paper and everything) that he got lost reading through other recipes and is now staring at the bottom of a very burnt pan. Oops. ]

Sorry. I got distracted. [ He winces slightly and offers Yuuri an apologetic smile, taking off the glasses he was using to read. ] Think that'll come off? I'd hate to know I ruined the pan.

It'll be fine. [Yuuri's quick to reassure him, once he realizes who he's talking to.] We can just grab another pan to start over and leave this one in the hot water to soak.

[As he's filling the sink, he smiles over his shoulder at him.] It's good to see you, Jim.

Alright. You're the master here. [ Well he definitely knows more than Jim, although that's not saying much. He smiles back at Yuuri, tipping his head in a nod. ]

Likewise. I'm sorry I never got in touch, things just... kept getting in the way. [ And a month has gone by surprisingly quick. ] How've you been doing?

[For a second, Yuuri stands stock-still, then gives a soft, amused laugh.] Oh, no, I'm pretty new to this myself. I was just planning to figure out how to make chocolates for someone on my own, but a few other people wanted to try it out, too. That's how the workshop happened.

Ah, that's okay. [Yuuri shakes his head, waving away the apology without hesitation.] I don't blame you for being busy. Things have been really hectic here. [This time, he falters a little.] There's just... been a lot to process. I guess we all needed a break like this.

Well, you probably have used a stove before, at the very least. So you've got me beat there. [ He smiles and lifts a shoulder at Yuuri, helping him set up a new pan, going through the same steps he had the first time around. ]

Right. It hasn't been very peaceful, has it? [ And the whole outcome from visiting Oros hadn't been all that satisfying, either. Jim takes small comfort from the knowledge that he hadn't been involved with the events that led to the planet being attacked and destroyed, but that only makes him feel more helpless and useless when it comes down to it.

At least he managed to save some lives, even if it still felt like too little, and too late for that matter. But that's not a topic he's eager to discuss right now, so. ]

Valentine's is a big thing in your world too, then?

No… it hasn’t been. [Yuuri’s brows draw together in concern.] Did you run into anything like this before on your travels, Jim? [He figures with Jim’s experience, he would know if this I the norm or not.

Still, he’s grateful for the topic change.] Ah… yeah. It’s a pretty big deal in several countries. The traditions are a little different in the two I’ve lived in, though.

Not the exact same thing, but... close enough, yes. It's never an easy thing to deal with. [ But conflict, in whatever form, will always be an issue, no matter how peaceful a good portion of the galaxy might be. Accidents can happen too, and some natural phenomena are impossible to predict, stop or contain. So yes, things like this can happen, for a myriad of different reasons. ]

Yeah? [ Jim smiles, watching Yuuri a moment before making an educated guess. ] Japan and Russia, or am I too off the mark?

[The blush spreads on his face before he can't try to stop it. Aha, considering how often he and Viktor have been seen together, Yuuri shouldn't be surprised that people are making that assumption at all.]

Close. [Yuuri's hands fidget with his sleeve as he keeps half an eye on the chocolate that's melting on the stove now.] Japan and America, actually. I was in Detroit for training and university for a few years.

[ Actually Jim is drawing this conclusion from his first talk with Victor alone, not so much from having seen them together. Although Yuuri's reaction is sort of cute, and Jim can't help a small knowing smile, even if he doesn't say anything. ]

Not sure I'd call Russia and America 'close' but... well, it was just a guess. After talking to Victor and all. My bad. [ He shrugs a little, eyeing the chocolate too and moving to stir it so it won't burn like the last time. ] How are Valentine's traditions in both places different?

You got one out of two right. [Yuuri laughs a little, leaning back against the counter.]

Mmm well, in both, they're a big deal, but I guess the biggest difference is who gives the gifts. In Japan, there's a whole tradition for the girls. In America, I got the impression it was the men who did most of the giving that day.

Really? Huh. Didn't realize things were like that back in your century.

[ He'd watched movies and some shows from the late 20th and early 21st century, granted, but he hadn't gotten enough out of it to notice that kind of pattern. ]

I think it doesn't matter who gives the gifts, right? What matters is the feeling behind it. Or else Valentine's would be a thing for straight monogamous couples only. That's not very inclusive, and it takes the whole fun out of it. [ Says the guy who literally never celebrated a single Valentine's day with anyone. But anyway. ]

It's not so bad. Even though there's a lot of traditions like that, no one really bats an eye if you handle the chocolates differently in Japan now.

You're right, though. It should be the thought that counts. [Yuuri smiles at Jim, then glances at the chocolate melting in the pan again.] Ah, you should probably stir that and even it out.