closed | oh that trouble you've been looking for

[genice]

WHO: Eichi, Yuuri, & Vitya (+ Makkachin)
WHERE: Eluvio's Shopping Centre
WHEN: January 10th
WHAT: Victor insisted on taking Eichi out to dinner for his birthday; they are achieving Hamburgers.
WARNINGS: They're all ridiculous to different degrees.

( He'd done some research to back up what his own tastes hadn't provided him with information on yet; located in a bustling sector of the Shopping Centre is a small American-style burger joint. It has milkshakes (malted and not), it has burgers that are made on a grill that can be seen from the front windows; it has cheery employees and a simple menu, along with a surprisingly complex secret menu Victor had been reading up on late last night.

They're an odd group of four, all things considered: three young men and a standard poodle making their way through the shifting group of people to the restaurant proper. )

Eichi, we can either eat here, or take everything to eat over in the atrium. ( He gives an airy wave of his hand, smiling and unconcerned with whatever option's chosen. ) Ah, I already sent you the link to the secret menu, didn't I?

( Makkachin noses along and shoves his muzzle into Yuuri's side, looking for his own attention while his primary owner talks to their birthday companion. )

Comments

[finethanks]

I've had a burger before, but never quite like this! Steak, japanese made, or served on a fancy plate with the bun separated. It's such a fun experience to see it wrapped with paper like this. I've always wanted to try something like this.

[He's just honestly, genuinely excited about eating something more "common" and using the wrong words for it. Yep. He continues to smile happily, not commenting at all on Yuuri and Victor's moment there, but certainly passing them a glance. How nice. They are really cute, aren't they?]

Thank you very much. [He helps himself to one of the seats, watching Makkachin's pollen adventures.] All of you. I owe you a lot.

[yokunaru]

[That sounds so...unnecessarily complicated, Yuuri thinks, but doesn't say. For a moment, Yuuri wonders if it's the academy or his family background that had given him such experiences.]

First time for everything. Even if you're eating it on a spaceship instead of back in Japan. [Yuuri says lightly, plucking Eichi's food from the bag and setting it down in front of him. He pauses as he's rifling through the bag and doles out the rest of the burgers and fries to himself and Viktor, a little puzzled.] Owe us...? For what?

[genice]

( Ruffling the fur of Makkachin's head, Viktor listens and smiles to himself at the byplay. He takes his own seat, flashing a smile at Yuuri and Eichi in turn, before he settles back, relaxed. )

Oh? You're welcome. We're glad you were willing to come out and celebrate your birthday with us. It's nice getting to spend time with friends, isn't it?

( To him, it can be that simple. Getting to give someone he enjoys time, and sharing experiences. Plus food. That's the basis of friendships, isn't it? Makkachin lifts his head and sniffs at the edge of the table, wagging his tail slowly. Oh... Oh... Oh there is food there. Food. Viktor idly pats him on the head, scooping Makkachin's face his way and gently burying him in a slow moving headlock. )

[finethanks]

[Friends... friends friends friends. And he's not in a hospital or the medbay, so that makes things even nicer. Eichi reaches to grab his burger, clearly eager, and his only answer to Yuuri is a curve to his own smile. He's not going to say! It doesn't matter, don't worry.]

It really is. ♪ Ahh, what a happy feeling. If you were to check my heart rate right now, I'd be sent to medbay. Fufu, I can't get enough.

[Unwrapping his burger just enough to hold it up to his mouth, he tilts his head a little as he looks between the two of them.] Let's enjoy together.

[yokunaru]

[Automatically, Yuuri smiles back as he finally settles down on the bench and reaches for his fries.]

Let's. [He agrees, propping his chin on one hand and unabashedly watching Eichi's reaction with interest. He hopes Eichi likes this sloppier version of the burger, if only so that he isn't disappointed.]

[genice]

( Please explain why it is Viktor who ends up saying: )

Itadakimasu!

( Like he has any idea what he's saying? He's trying. Plus he's enthusiastic enough that it seems like it's both in the right spirit of expressed gratitude and on the same page of enjoying food with friends. He digs in regardless, not so hungry that he's not able to avoid blatantly stuffing his face.

He's not as obvious about watching Eichi as Yuuri, but he's as interested in his response. )

[finethanks]

[Victor gets an amused glance at that. How cute, this foreigner. He passes a look with Yuuri to express just that sentiment, then looks back down to his burger and takes a nice, big bite! It's clear from how his eyes light up that he enjoys it. His overall expression always manages to stay the same, like royalty trying to impress everyone in the room, but his eyes tell all.]

It's delicious! [He can admit this, too.] It's unlike any hamburger I've tasted before. Wow~. I'll have to come here again. ♪ Fufu, the flavor is so addicting that I'm hooked already.

[yokunaru]

[Yuuri catches the look Eichi gives him, and he has to duck his head to hide his grin. It is rather cute, the way Viktor's picked up random Japanese phrases like that while he stayed in Hasetsu.

Once Eichi's expressed his approval, Yuuri digs in, too, nabbing a fry from the little tray to pop into his mouth.]

Oh, they're good. [Even Yuuri's a little surprised. This tastes much better than whatever he and Phichit had had while in university.]

[genice]

Hm?

( Victor is actually sneaking Makkachin a fry right now, so he blinks before he smiles, nodding his head. )

Yes, exactly! Good. Every so often, at least.

( He beams... perhaps... or perhaps slyly looking toward Yuuri.

He loves you, but he has an idea of how easily you gain weight, Yuuri. Not that he precisely minds, but it... admittedly, he's not ready to give up on being in competitive shape quite yet. )

Makkachin agrees.

[finethanks]

[lol called the fuck out, he catches that stare from Victor to Yuuri.]

If something so special were to become habit, it might lose a bit of that spark. ♪ Things like this should be enjoyed in moderation. [Now, he sips at some of his soda, looking overly pleased at drinking from one like this. A paper cup...!! Fascinating!]

[yokunaru]

[He feels that stare alright, and resolutely ignores it!! While letting the slightest pout slip onto his face. He's aware how easily he gains weight, thank you very much.]

We can always look for healthier options the next time we eat together.

[Happy now, Viktor? While Yuuri knows that he has a point, and he doesn't exactly want to fall out of shape after he worked so hard this season either, that doesn't stop him from grabbing a fry and munching on it somewhat rebelliously. ]

i'm so sorry for this man

[genice]

( look, he'll even pick up a fry and offer it to Yuuri as a peacekeeping measure, vaguely hopeful that he'll even get his fiance (THIS HURTS TO WRITE EVERY TIME, IN CASE ANYONE WAS CURIOUS) to take it from him. )

Meaning we should fully enjoy what we're eating right now!

( sorry was Eichi here too because for this particular moment he's more interested in getting to see if Yuuri will eat a fry from his fingers

#lifegoals )

never be

[finethanks]

[French fry sharing in public, how erotic.]

He's right. There's no need to hold back. [In food or in public displays of affection. Go ahead, Eichi will watch as he tries a fry for himself.]

gross

[yokunaru]

[Eichi, no, don't encourage him.

Yuuri leans back a little when Viktor brings it closer, squinting at it almost suspiciously. Is Viktor...trying to feed him?]

I was enjoying it already.

[There's just a bit of a grumpiness to his words, but fine, he'll sigh and then eat the fry Viktor's holding out, and then go back to fiddling with his burger like nothing out of the ordinary just happened.]

wow at least one of you forgives me!!!

[genice]

( He's literally holding his breath here as he waits to see if Yuuri will take the fry. When he does, Viktor just beams and exhales, bringing his hand back to himself so he can lick the salt and grease off his fingers after.

Then, also like none of that happened, he turns his attention back to Eichi. )

Enjoying the fries?

winks

[finethanks]

Yes, but I feel as though you're enjoying them even more than I am, Victor.

[He smiles, of course. Just a small call out!! It's cute.] They are different than anything I've tasted before. So this is what a real "french fry" tastes like.

[yokunaru]

[Now the mortification sets in, a blush spreading across his cheeks as if he's just realized that Eichi was watching the whole thing. It's a delayed reaction as usual.]

Does that mean you've had fake french fries before?

[Change the subject, change the subject...]

[genice]

( Viktor, the shameless one here, simply allows himself to look faintly amused. Keeping his attention on Eichi, his eyes sparkle with amusement. )

They're different depending on what oil you use for making them, to an extent. Different spices on top of them can make for an interesting variety. Oh, Yuuri — have you ever had waffle-cut fries?

[finethanks]

French fries in Japan are never quite like this. Right, Yuuri?

[It's different! These are different, and he likes it. Go ahead, keep being cute. He'll eat his burger quietly.]

[yokunaru]

Mm it's a little different. Hasetsu doesn't have a lot of those big fast food chains, but the bigger cities do.

[Yuuri glances over at Viktor questioningly.]

What are waffle-cut fries?

[genice]

Apparently, they're what I'm taking you both out to next time. Say, after the mission?

( He grins, winking at Yuuri as he ruffles the fur on Makkachin's head. His dog rests his head in Viktor's lap, content to close his eyes and soak up the attention until another fry is brought to his level. )

One of those things better to experience than have described.

( Said with a firm nod of his head, like this is a Fact. (when the real fact is Viktor just enjoys feeding people different, tasty things.) )

[finethanks]

A post-mission celebration doesn't sound bad at all. Fufu, going out to food with you two like this will really make me feel like a normal person with friends.

[He sounds so thankful... He's not even kidding, wording it like that.] I can't wait.

[yokunaru]

[It’s the casual way that Eichi says those things that makes Yuuri worry about him.]

Getting together after the mission sounds great. [Yuuri says firmly, leaving no room for doubt that it’s going to happen.] I’ll make sure we have enough supplies when we leave tomorrow, but we definitely won’t have food like this while we’re down on Oros.

[genice]

No ready access to fast food?

( Victor smiles, straightening up as Makkachin settles down underneath their table. )

Sounds like we could all use some normal people with friends time post mission. We'll plan on it. Yuuri, why don't you pick out the cuisine next time?

( he winks, more amused at the thought and trusting that it's likely they can all find things that are of equal potential interest to each other. he's also filing away how thankful Eichi sounds. hm. hopefully Yuuri will remember this, just in case Victor forgets. he knows his memory is a tricky beast, time to time. often. based on what's distracting him at the time. )