[ Hey, Vogue peeps, it's your fearless leader! He has his voice back and he's using it to his full advantage now. Is he yelling? You better believe it! ]
MY BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE!! I decided we needed a little group chat of our OWN because we're special but also YOUR GIRL NEEDS HELP!! Because I got something from the Goodwill. It was in the grab bag!!
[The camera turns down to a membership card. It's in Zulius' name.
It's for Olive Garden. ]
I need someone to do me a SOLID and take this away from me. If Vergil sees this I am looking at the business end of at LEAST a four hour Italian rant and I don't want that for me! He can never know I even HAD this!!! I don't mind if you guys even share it among yourselves and like, PRETEND you're me! This just needs to be taken, far, far away from here like, very soon!!! Please help!
Thank you so much, Ed!! It gives you unlimited breadsticks- you can totes use that to see how many they'll consider "unlimited" before the kick you out! That sounds like something you'd have fun with!
Well, so be it. Takame must assist his boss even if Vittore will look at him with scorn.]
I am unsure how convincing I will be acting as you given that you are, ah, one of a kind. But I will take it from your hands so that Vittore does not become angry with you.
I'm sorry, Honey, I know it's like, an Anti-Power Word for you guys. I genuinely DID NOT pick it for myself. I would never! I like my boyfriend not being mad at me, actually! This is just that shopkeeper being weird and catty for NO reason!
[It's the worst!! It's like he's TRYING to ruin Zulius' life!!! ]
That's what I thought! He never has to know about it.
It's okay, Babe. I've not been into an Olive Garden for YEARS. No one there knows who I am. You just need to smile and tell them you're me and you'll be fine! Thank you SO much. He would be so mad about it and I just don't need that in my life right now, y'know? You get free breadsticks with it! Much as you can eat!
Okay in hindsight I did NOT know what a selling point the breadsticks would be! And he won't go near there. It's an insult to Italy apparently! he gave me like, a GIANT rant on it one day when I suggested we go eat there. He did the little hand thing and everything.
[Hello fellow Vogue coworkers. Don't mind if Lycaon makes a little post here. He's certainly seen better days, but at least he is alive!]
Sir Zulius. Everyone. I apologize for any complications with staffing that my absence caused. I should be back to work as soon as I hear from my engineer about repairs for my leg.
Takame, I hope my absence did not shift too much of the workflow onto you.
[He is SO SORRY EVERYONE HE DIDN'T EVEN CALL OUT.]
Oh my goose, Sweetie, it's FINE. I'm just glad you're okay!!! You ARE okay, right? Aside from the leg thing?! Offer's still TOTES on the table to pay for any damages BTW!
I've been so worried about you!!! I'm gonna hug you when you get in!
Your concern warms my heart, Sir. Mentally, I am fine. [For the most part, his wolf side of him has helped him compartmentalize the animal attacks and calamities of nature. Circle of Life blah blah. It's when you throw humans into the mix that makes things harder to process.] I did sustain injuries, but the healers have all done stellar work in patching myself up.
[As if to prove it, he'll hold up his arm which..sure does have scabbed over and giant teeth marks that run up his forearm to just below his shoulder. There's some bruising too, if you can see it under his fur.]
As for my leg, I will let you know as soon as I hear from him if the cost is anything astronomical. He is a bit hyperfocused, so he may have locked himself in his lab. One must simply wait until he exits.
I mean, IDK honey, I've dealt with this city being weird, I don't think anyone is okay mentally after going through one of those. [ X to doubt sir!!!! ] But good! I'm super glad that the healers have fix-OH MY GOOSE WAS THAT THE RABBIT?!!!!!!!!
[ SIR??? Sir that is a worrying scab right there??? SIR!! ]
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh one of those types! He'll be done when he's ready, like a fancy cake.
Hm. I did let someone down on a promise I made. That has been weighing on me... [Keeping Luke safe was something he'd assured Jun, and things sure didn't go according to plan. He was physically stable, but that boy would never be the same again. And Lycaon's track record with being unable to uphold his oaths is. A thing.] But I assure you I'm--
Ahem. Rabbit-like creature. [He WILL correct that.] And no, sir. That was just my leg, fortunately. This was from the first instance of velociraptors that ambushed us. My leg had technical issues when it was attacking and it sunk its teeth into my arm. So I simply froze the saliva in its mouth to cement itself to me so my comrade could dispose of it. It is...not as elegant as freezing ice cubes in a drink on command.
...I truly realize how outlandish this all sounds.
[Sorry, he honestly thinks this is reassuring.]
I do have some scars on my back from the second instance, and some minor scrapes from the pack of hyenas. A colleague of mine has suggested I take time off to recover, but should I be needed, this will not affect my performance.
[Truly 'dog gets attacked and still wags its tail' energy.]
You did? [And for a moment, Zulius' obnoxious outward demeanour lessens. Genuine concern flits across his expression as he folds his arms, his long ears pinning back on his head.] Do you wanna talk about it? You can come over and have some tea- the real kind! I'm a great listener if you need it. Door's always open, Sweetie.
[ He snorts at the correction.]
Okay, okay rabbit-like creature. And OMG what??? Like the DINOSAURS??? You got chewed on by dinosaurs?!! I mean, super clever on the fighting tactic there but also maybe don't use our own arms to do it with?? Maybe?? Let's not give Mama Zu a heart attack here! You need your arms!
[ Honey PLEASE. Please why are you like this. ]
UH? Yeah okay so you are gonna take some time off to rest and heal??? Like, OMG?? Honey? I love you but oh my god. Just take some paid time off, okay? I want you to be healed and rested more than ANYthing!
[Zulius's gentle demeanor always get him.] I would very much like the tea, and the advice. In so many ways you seem more worldly than I am.
And yes, the dinosaurs. We suffered a few nature based calamities as well, but the wildlife posed the most danger. [His eyes go back to his arms, an apologetic smile escaping.] I admit I am a bit...how do you say. Melee focused. It's something I'm going to work on after this learning experience. [He needs to do more than just freeze ice, or coat his arms in it.] I will also double my efforts at the gym.
[THANK YOU ZU. HE PRACTICALLY NEEDS TO BE TOLD TO USE IT.]
Then... I will use my PTO. [Everyone in this chat just witnessed something akin to Haley's Comet, I hope you know.] Thank you for your kindness, Sir Zulius.
I will also use that time to see if I can find a language pack online for creatures from the late Cretaceous period. I had thought my practice with Humphrey made me sufficient in amphibious and reptilian creatures, but I am clearly lacking. [He apparently didn't understand the Movie(tm) dinosaurs and is taking this personally.]
[Takame missed basically everything that happened with the game night from hell as Yusuke has been under the weather for most of the month. But he's gotten the gist of the situation from back reading on the network.
He couldn't help wishing he did more to prevent this, though logically he knew that neither he nor those involved expected a thing.]
You needn't concern yourself with my workflow, Lycaon-san. Only your recovery and repair. While I understand the desire to return to work and normalcy as soon as possible, I am certain Zulius will advise you take all the time that you need.
[Honestly, the fact that Takame missed everything brings this dog peace. Not that he can't imagine Takame holding up his own in a fight, but you never want your comrades to experience hardship if they don't have to.]
Ah... Thank you. As much as I would love to return to normalcy, I've been strongly recommended to rest--not including the repairs I need to schedule.
It is both frustrating and humbling to see your weaknesses displayed so easily in front of you when these moments happen. But I suppose that is how we adapt and survive.
[Takame had more than enough in his arsenal to rip any enemy apart. But the more time spent with Lycaon... avoiding that side of him, the better. Even accepting the shadow of himself, even when forced to indulge in that side of himself by the God of Revelry... he preferred not showing it.
And hardship was just a fact of life for him. Hardship was normalcy when one was used to carrying the world's weight.]
Mm. It is. And I understand. I have been advised many a time to rest when I wished for nothing more than to work. Especially after harrowing incidents.
Forgive me for only being partially aware of what has occurred this month. My beloved has been ill with a cold until this week where he has since recovered. Still, you may rely on me to continue the work that must be done. You'll not return to a deluge of missed objectives.
[He'd be so elated that you equate him with peace, Takame. It's something that he's learning may be few and far in between.]
Do not concern yourself, Takame. We all have our priorities, and if it provides you relief, I have selfishly acted upon my own as well. I appreciate your support as always, and on my return I will provide you with some treats for the trouble.
...I am so sorry your beloved was ill, as well. Yusuke, I believe his name was? The common cold is nothing too serious in the grand scheme of things, but it does its best to cling to you for as long as possible.
That's because I am so wise Lycaon! People do NOT appreciate me enough for the WIDE range of knowledge I have. But it's okay. I gotchu!
[ Hmmmmm it sounds like a terrible time all round, honestly. Zulius is deeply glad he is not someone who plays board games. ]
That's a big yikes-aroonie, Sweetie! I think the learning experience is maybe to try avoid being bitten by dinosaurs! But how about before you do all your gym and training, you make sure you rest. That's the PTO rules, I know because I made them. You gotta take some time to relax first- I super promise that it will not kill you!
[ Because he knows, oh he KNOWS, that this man will keep working himself into unconsciousness if he has half a chance. ]
Good boy! And you are welcome! I look after my people! [ Even if that entails strong arming them into resting. ] Soooooo what I'm hearing from that is that you wanna brush up on your dinosaurs? You can always ask Ed! He punched a dinosaur once.
[He punched a man in a Barney costume, it's not the same thing, but Zulius is gonna let Lycaon learn that the fun way! ]
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