[for Five] - Set for December 1st at Kagura

[fifthbeatle]

Even though Five won't go skiing with him, Viktor accompanies him to Kagura. Elio is the featured artist. Klaus and Luther are already there. Viktor would already be there himself, but an orchestra friend had a string-related emergency and Viktor bailed her out. The music shops are closed, but Viktor is a regular and kind customer -- and he's helped out nearly every musician in the city at one point or another. They're his community, responsible for a sizeable chunk of Viktor's happiness. 

The rest of it comes from his family and friends, his home, his rockin' bod and Five, now a category of his own. If you ask Viktor, the best part is that very little has changed at all. Things went back to the way they were before Five's last ill-fated jump. The long library talks are back -- a thing Viktor missed more than he knows how to express -- with some great upgrades. Instead of sitting in catty-corner on their respective couch and chair, they sit beside each other. Sometimes, instead of saying goodnight at the end of the day, they retire together.

Not like that. They haven't even kissed.

Viktor is untroubled by their glacial pace. He's grateful for it. It lacks the gnawing mania of his two most significant relationships, one a lying psychopath and the other a pipe dream, a fantasy. He doesn't worry about waking up tomorrow to a changed thing. Most of the time. Five does have a habit of taking off, but the man doesn't use his powers like he used to. Those three years alone in Empty Darrow fucked him up and good.

Obviously, when they arrive, they go straight for the alcohol. It's what they do. Viktor grabs two hot drinks and hands one over to Five. He looks out the mayhem, incredulous.

"Never a dull moment," he murmurs at the rim of his glass.

Comments

[number_five]

Five had visited Kagura, however briefly, every winter that he's been in Darrow so far. Mostly, it's for a lack of anything else to do, but he's found at least a little amusement at watching people realize the mistletoe seems to have a mind of its own.

This year, his attendance is all Viktor's fault. Five very quickly vetoed any suggestion of skiing-- he's been around too long and seen too many traumatic ski injuries, even wile jumping through timelines-- but the festivities in the hotel lobby are entertaining enough. Plus, as Viktor has helpfully reminded him, there's alcohol.

They should probably all rethink their relationship with it.

"I think you just described the city in general," Five replies, taking the glass from Viktor.

This has all come easy, a simple transition between them that feels like it should be more difficult. More than anything, it just seems like they're spending more time together these days. It's nice.