The Devil's Nest, Monday evening

[texted3times]

Well, Eric supposed it had only been a matter of time before Tiny was back on his bullshit. Today Eric came into the bar to find Tiny putting the finishing touches on a scale model of a prototype of a newly renovated Luke's made entirely out of cocktail hot dogs.

"I'm pretty sure Duke has already finalized his plans," Eric said when he could finally form a sentence that didn't include the words "what the tap dancing hell." "He probably doesn't need to see your, um, vision of his diner rendered in pork."

Tiny rumbled a response.

"Oh, you think the restaurant should be constructed out of hot dogs," Eric said.

Another rumble.

"Well, naturally, they should be kosher."

Eric was in his usual place, hitting the vodka slightly heavier than strictly necessary, and the Devil's Nest smelled a little like canned meat juice. Hopefully that would air out before Annie's shift on Thursday?

Comments

[sword_chocobro]

Gladio had always been a big supporter of Tiny being able to really stretch his creative legs, but he may have lost even him on this one.

Now, a restaurant made out of Cup Noodles^TM, on the other hand....that would have his attention.

Well, the cocktail hot dog model did, too, in passing, on his way to his usual spot at the bar.

"Eric." There was sympathy in his nod there.

"Tiny." Reluctance in his nod there.

And then back to Eric. "How's it going?"

He figured he'd open it to the option of just entirely ignoring it.

[texted3times]

"It's been a trying evening," Eric said with a tiny glare at the model.

[sword_chocobro]

"I'll bet," said Gladio, who, to his credit, did try to keep his grin down.

Not very hard, mind you, but a modicum of effort had been made.

"I'd offer to buy you a drink, but, well, seems a little superfluous."

Considering he owned the place and everything.

[texted3times]

"It is, but the gesture is noted," Eric said with a grin.

[okteiviakom]

The smell had definitely not aired out yet by the time Octavia showed up. The closer she got to the bar, the more disturbed the expression on her face got.

(On a scale of Octavia, anyway. It was not that drastic of a look by most other people's standards.)

[texted3times]

"He's trying to impress Duke," Eric said, looking 200 percent over everything. "With hot dogs."

[okteiviakom]

"... Why?"

'How?' would also have been a good question, but Octavia felt like that was about to become all too apparent any second now.

[texted3times]

"I'm honestly afraid to find out the thought process," Eric admitted.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia did not seem inclined to disagree.

"Duke's not going to go for a sausage diner," she told Tiny. Paused, breathed in -- and immediately regretted it. "And it smells disgusting in here."

[sword_chocobro]

"I do what I can," said Gladio, nodding a little with his own grin. "Good weekend, at least?"

[texted3times]

"It really does," Eric agreed. "Vodka helps."

[texted3times]

Eric nodded. "I have no complaints. And you?"

[okteiviakom]

"So would going outside."

Which she was now seriously considering, yes.

[sword_chocobro]

"Not bad." Gladio shrugged a shoulder. "Quiet. But not in a bad way."

The pendulum had continued swinging, this time back toward the middle, for a little while, anyway.

"Caught up on some reading."

[texted3times]

"We could also just move downwind of the bar," Eric said, "and throw axes."

[okteiviakom]

"'We'?" Octavia rasped.

As if she'd shown up here completely by accident, yes. Shush.

[texted3times]

"Or I could throw axes alone and you could stand here inhaling Eau de Saucisse," Eric said, with a very terrible attempt at French.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia only barely knew French (or France, for that matteer) existed, and even she knew it was bad.

She rolled her eyes. It seemed to land her gaze right on Tiny's latest monstrosity again, though she was quick to avert her eyes.

"Fine."

[texted3times]

Eric beamed sunnily at her. "I'm overwhelmed by your enthusiasm."

[okteiviakom]

"Can you be that in the direction of the ax range?" Octavia rasped, nodding in said direction.

[texted3times]

Eric smirked as he picked up his drink and ambled towards the axe range. "I suppose I can be."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia eyed the bar for a second longer, trying to decide whether she wanted to brave it long enough to snatch a drink for herself. But, no, Tiny's hot dog construct was too off-putting.

She followed.

[texted3times]

Eric grinned at her. "Nothing to drink today?" he asked, heading over to inspect the axes.

[okteiviakom]

"Not while Tiny's holding everything hostage," Octavia drawled, watching him. "It's fine, I don't drink a lot anyway."

[texted3times]

"Drinking and throwing axes probably shouldn't mix anyway," said the Viking doing vodka shots.