Makkachin was panting with happiness and exertion, although she waited patiently for Victor to remove the leash and towel the remaining snow off her legs before bounding into the flat and making a beeline for the water bowl. Victor smiled fondly as the poodle attacked the water, lapping at it with the same enthusiasm she had for everything else in her world.
He wasted no time in hanging up his coat and kicking off his boots into the drying tray by the door, knowing that he had a bare few minutes before Makka started whining for dinner. Victor's own meals during the competition season tended to be pre-packaged, perfectly balanced things that went from the freezer to the microwave to his stomach without concerning themselves with such trifles as flavor or texture along the way, but princesses were never meant to live like that.
"Tonight's supper is rabbit florentine," he informed her with the air of a maître d' reciting the day's specials. Makka wagged her tail and looked fascinated. The spinach wasn't actually fresh, but had been run through a juicer, along with half a bulb of garlic and a few other vegetables that provided necessary vitamins for an older dog's digestive health. It looked like swamp muck, but then so did Victor's protein shakes, so he supposed he couldn't judge the stuff too harshly. He spooned two large dollops into her bowl, noting that he'd need to make another batch soon.
The rabbit was just that; half a rabbit, raw, cut into chunks with the bones intact. Then came a series of supplement powders, some from the vitamin cupboard and some from the fridge, containing live cultures of healthy bacteria that needed the cold to keep them alive. A raw egg was next, and then the entire thing was crowned with a generous drizzle of fish oil for omega-3s and coat shine.
After a quick toss to ensure that everything was evenly coated with egg, oil, and vitamin powder, Victor set the bowl on the floor. Makkachin pounced on it almost before he could get his hands out of the way, and the kitchen was filled with the sounds of happy whines and crunching.
Ten minutes later, the bowl was licked clean of even the tiniest scrap of oil, and Victor's own dinner had been nuked and consumed. He assumed it had been chicken, being far too rubbery for fish.
Cleanup was quick, and Makka knew Victor's routine well. She was already on the couch by the time the plastic meal tray had been disposed of, and dog dish and flatware filed away into the dishwasher. Victor curled up next to her on the sofa, burying his fingers in the warmth of her fur, closed his eyes, and allowed himself to just be for the first time that day.
Several long moments later, he reached for his laptop.
* Joined channel #therapycouchfort
* Topic is 'Remember to get secret santa gifts in the mail no later than FRIDAY for domestic shipping'
* Set by SockPuppet on Dec 10 7:27:41 2012
mercyslovechild: and emmett knew which is y he left evrything to jerrica
lukewarm_mess: okay, but what about shana and aja?
mercyslovechild: dude hated one kid for not being his so much he didnt evn mention her in his will u think he cares abt fosters
KingElsa: Evening, everyone!
Small_Monster: hey king
iamworthy: *wave*
lukewarm_mess: king, tell mercy that kimber benton did not kill her own father
mercyslovechild: eric raymond is kimbers father hate to break it to u like dis luke
mercyslovechild: also hi king
KingElsa: … I'm sorry. What are we talking about?
mercyslovechild: jem
KingElsa: ?
lukewarm_mess: and the holograms?
KingElsa: ?
lukewarm_mess:
lukewarm_mess: go
lukewarm_mess: netflix it
lukewarm_mess: right now we'll wait
mercyslovechild: not the movie tho the cartoon
lukewarm_mess: oh, right. good call that movie was garbage
Small_Monster: It was good when it was called Josie and the Pussycats
He tabbed over to Google and did a quick search. The resulting wiki page was… very pink. Secret identity pop stars who traveled the world and had unlikely adventures? It looked ridiculous, but in a fun way.
KingElsa: Maybe later. Thanks for the tip, though!
KingElsa: More importantly, what are you doing here, Mess? You're never on at this time of day during the week.
lukewarm_mess: grr
lukewarm_mess: i sprained my ankle
lukewarm_mess: so i'm not allowed to work for at least a week, longer if the PT doesn't clear me right away
iamworthy: Sounds like your work is physically intensive?
lukewarm_mess: yeah
lukewarm_mess: we're in the middle of our busy season too
KingElsa: Things should lighten up after the holidays, though, right?
lukewarm_mess: not in my industry
KingElsa: What do you do?
Small_Monster: he works for the CIA
KingElsa: What, really?! O.O
lukewarm_mess: NO
lukewarm_mess: sorry i
lukewarm_mess: just don't feel comfortable giving out personal details like that
Small_Monster: you know it's not like anyone can track you down if you tell us you work in sales or IT or smthing
KingElsa: It's okay, Mess. I shouldn't have asked.
SockPuppet: Yellow card, Monster. 5 yard penalty for unnecessary roughness. Do it again and get a 1 day temp ban.
lukewarm_mess: nono it's fine to ask anything, just respect when i can't answer
Small_Monster: sry my bad
lukewarm_mess: np monster
KingElsa: Of course!
KingElsa: At least it sounds like your boss cares about your welfare, though?
lukewarm_mess: oh yeah
lukewarm_mess: i have the best boss
lukewarm_mess: i just usually dance out stress
lukewarm_mess: and i obvs can't do that either rn
KingElsa: G A S P
lukewarm_mess: so i'm stuck sitting around feeling sorry for myself
KingElsa: You dance?
KingElsa: Formally? What discipline?
Was it wrong to try to imagine someone when you had no physical reference for them at all? Victor knew that the other user identified as male and attended college somewhere in the States, but that was pretty much it. And now he knew that Mess danced. Maybe he was a redhead, small and lithe, with pale, freckle-dusted shoulders and cornflower eyes. Or a blond, perhaps; tanned and powerful but with a sweet, sweet smile. African-American, with long lashes framing shy eyes in a brown face?
I am definitely going to internet chatroom hell, Victor thought, and wondered what color that card was.
mercyslovechild: ths is relevnt to my intrests as well
lukewarm_mess: (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)
iamworthy: Please say morris
lukewarm_mess: haha, only the one time
lukewarm_mess: yes we were drunk, no there is no surviving evidence
iamworthy: Well obvs, if you're not completely pissed you're doing morris dancing wrong
lukewarm_mess: i stole p's phone and made sure of it
SockPuppet: Are you okay with this, mess? Say the word and I'll hand out more warnings.
lukewarm_mess: its fine i'm fine
lukewarm_mess: ballet since i was three
mercyslovechild: BALLERINA MESS 3 3 3
lukewarm_mess: ballroom, jazz, latin, freestyle, swing
iamworthy: It's danseur for boys
KingElsa: WOW! AMAZING! *swoon*
iamworthy: *is super impressed*
lukewarm_mess: some other stuff too
lukewarm_mess: dance is one of my majors so
Small_Monster: do u dance professionally
Small_Monster: ?
SockPuppet: Careful.
lukewarm_mess: no, and i really don't intend to
lukewarm_mess: my dancing is just for me
Small_Monster: so whats your other major then
lukewarm_mess: moving makes me happy
* Small_Monster Quit (Quit: Kicked by SockPuppet)
lukewarm_mess: anyway that's why i'm so off balance now
lukewarm_mess: i can't do what i normally do to clear my head
SockPuppet: *points two fingers at her eyes and one finger at y'all*
SockPuppet: *except mess because mess never does anything wrong*
mercyslovechild: mods pet
mercyslovechild: jk ilu
KingElsa: Is there anything I can do to help, Mess?
KingElsa: I mean, you're home alone, right? Your roommate is at work?
lukewarm_mess: not really but thx
lukewarm_mess: yeah but it's not like
lukewarm_mess: i'm not a danger or anything ┐('` )┌
lukewarm_mess: just crabby and bored
KingElsa: I just wish you didn't have to be alone ; ;
lukewarm_mess: …
lukewarm_mess: …
lukewarm_mess: watch jem with me?
lukewarm_mess: i mean, if you're not busy or anything
KingElsa: ! Mess is a genius!
KingElsa: Wait, how would that work?
iamworthy: Probably go set up your own temporary channel, lock it with a password if you don't want trolls bots or randos, and coordinate netflix so you start at the same time
mercyslovechild: can i join
mercyslovechild: or is it like a date thing
KingElsa: Of course! The more the merrier o~
lukewarm_mess: if you behave
lukewarm_mess: no crackpot conspiracy theories interrupting my musical adventuromance
mercyslovechild: how about I keep it to the credits
lukewarm_mess: …fine
KingElsa: Great! I'll go set things up. And make some popcorn! Meet back in 15?
mercyslovechild: k
lukewarm_mess: sounds good
lukewarm_mess: king?
KingElsa: Mess?
lukewarm_mess: thanks
KingElsa: Any time, Mess. 3