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raitrolling · 1 year

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Something Quite Peculiar

[Easy reading version on Toyhou.se]

Recovery was a long, boring process. Ullane had told Viltau to not use his right hand at all while the wound was healing, and that a minor surgery to reconstruct the bone will follow after a week of rest. But Viltau does not do rest. He still had work that needed doing: A few clients had to be turned down as he would be unable to provide any catering for their events if he could not cook, but his personal projects were still fair game. The 12th Perigees Ball was something he hardly needed to worry about, he had his suit prepared (albeit with a last-minute order for a pair of gloves) and for once he finally had a date lined up. A date who he has become incredibly and undeniably close with, and who he was also incredibly and undeniably in love with.

The time felt like it was right, but the conditions were not. If he was going to confess to Jikiro soon, it cannot be at the ball where absolutely everyone who’s anyone is around to see him. It needed to be private, personal, but still perfectly in line with the indigoblood’s sensibilities as to not arouse suspicion for his true intentions. He would have to put together his own event especially for this moment - and what better moment than New Sweep’s Eve?

He has thrown events during this time before: when one is known for throwing large parties at their own hive, a New Sweep’s Eve event is basically a given. He could hand out invitations to whoever he felt like, and encourage them to pass them along to friends who may also be interested in attending. It would be a grand spectacle of live music, dancing, exquisite food, and a fun themed gimmick.

The party itself, of course, would be a mere front for what Viltau would consider to be his main event. There will be at least a hundred people invited to this party, but he only had eyes for the one troll who truly meant everything to him.

The indigoblood sat down at his desk, and opened up his laptop. He much preferred to write down his ideas for upcoming parties in notebooks as he felt that the physical action of writing helped the ideas flow better (and he had a growing collection of beautiful gifted fountain pens he could use), so the laptop was used solely for research and contacting suppliers. However, with his hand being obviously out of commission writing was out of the question, and he could not type anywhere near as quickly as his mind moves whenever he had a burst of inspiration. He considered taking a voice memo on his phone, but at this time of sweep it would be simply too risky. Undoubtedly his dear kismesis would be doing everything possible to try and get a leg up on him for their inevitable 12th Perigees game of ruining each other’s planned occasions, and discovering a recording of his plans to court someone in another quadrant would be a holy grail. Viltau uttered a quiet apology to Kitaer despite knowing that there was no feasible way he could be listening, if he made things too easy for the blueblood then their game would be no fun for either of them, don’t you think?

For now, he will simply have to brainstorm and hope he can remember it all later.

First, there was the obvious: Fireworks. A New Sweep’s Eve party is incomplete without them. They were also the least of Viltau’s worries, as he already had contractors in mind to take care of the light show. The main issue would be finding someone who both produced high-quality fireworks that also had not already been completely booked out for the night. Knowing that he would have to get them ordered as soon as possible, he opened up his emails and sent a request to all the fireworks suppliers he knew. He could pick someone to utilise for the event once he had received quotes from those who were available. There, one part was already sorted.

The rest of the event planning would not go as smoothly.

Typically, he would start with the theme of the party first, and then work his way outwards. This time, it’s not as if he has no ideas for a theme, but… He wanted it to be special. It’s hard to theme an event after pop culture when the only things Jikiro seems to have been exposed to are any movies Viltau has convinced him to watch together, or the novels picked out by himself and Jamie during their book club meetings. He drummed his fingers on his left hand against the table. Perhaps something outdoorsy? The party would have to be moved outdoors at some point so the guests could watch the fireworks show, so he would need to make preparations for at least a partially-outdoor event. Figuring out how the gardens on the estate should be redesigned, how much of the grounds should be open to the public, whether any waivers will need to be signed by the guests in case they get too close to the crocodile-infested lake… The weather will also have to be accounted for, at this time of sweep it can become rather cold, but he does own outdoor heaters and the pool is capable of being rewired to additionally become heated.

He thought of the garden that Jikiro had tidied up, just for him. There was no way he could do something like the waterfalls and the lanterns (not that he’d want to, he wouldn’t want to steal the tealblood’s thunder), but the combination of plum blossoms and peonies mixed in with the carnations and other flowers… Viltau was certain Eichio would be able to arrange something nice to make the tiled area pop. How easy would it be to get a couple wisteria trees planted in such short notice? The flowers would look beautiful with the branches extending over the pool, and he could rig fairy lights to wrap around the trunk and hang between the branches. It looked nice in his head, but that would also obscure the view of the night sky for the guests wishing to see the fireworks. Or would it look even more aesthetically pleasing to see them through the flowers? It would be difficult to tell at this point in time, not without first checking if the idea is even feasible. He clicked open a couple tabs of plant and flowers suppliers he had bookmarked, and put the thought aside for later.

There was also the matter of what food should be provided at the event. Drinks were never a concern as he always had a surplus of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and once the theming of the event was more concrete he could pass some ideas onto Eichio for him to come up with some specialty cocktails. Viltau stood up from his desk and walked over to a nearby bookshelf where he kept all his cookbooks. As he stared at the spines to see if anything was jumping out at him, the gears in his head began to turn. Jikiro liked Eastern cuisines, but was not picky when it came to food. He could definitely prepare some sushi, perhaps some finger foods with eel and crab, and then he could not also forget some ink-related dishes for him as well. And what better option that is delectable for all guests than using squid ink?

… Ah, that’s it! Viltau clicked his fingers and grinned. The theme of the event could be the ocean! It perfectly combines the outdoorsy vibe with a fun variety of seafood dishes. He picked a couple cookbooks from the bookshelf that matched the now-chosen theme, and returned to his desk, mind now brimming with inspiration.

He spread out the cookbooks across his desk, flipping through them one at a time until he found a recipe that interested him. It wasn’t just about picking food that matched the theme and tasted good, they also had to look cohesive when spread out on a table next to one another. With each book next to each other, he could compare the colours of each dish, picture how he could display them on every catering table, and arrange them to flavour and serving size.

One book on Eastern Alternian cuisine contained pages of various sushi types - maki rolls, nigiri, gunkan, and chirashi. Could squid ink be mixed into soy sauce to use as a garnish? Viltau grabbed a set of sticky note tabs from a shelf above his desk, and began to mark the pages with appealing recipes. Unagi nigiri would be a must given Jikiro’s love for eel, and other types were selected based on their flavours and presentation. Other cookbooks received the same treatment of pages covered in tabs. A number of seafood appetisers were considered, including Eastern Alternian-styled grilled squid, mini bowls of squid ink paella and pasta with baby octopi, fresh garlic king prawns and lobster thermidor, scallops with caviar sauce. He should also throw in some fresh fruit platters and sweet treats to expand the overall palate of the catering… Perhaps the dishes should also be laid out on the tables on a bed of banana leaves?

He then stops on a page in one of his dessert books featuring a coconut cake. While somewhat simplistic compared to his other cakes, the flavour would be just right. He could make it multi-tiered to account for the number of guests who would want dessert, and use a combination of blue icing to represent water and yellow icing covered in shaved coconut for the sand. Shells could be made using piped icing, and silver ball sprinkles for pearls to line the ocean floor at the bottom of the cake. And for those who do not like coconut, he could also prepare a simple vanilla buttercream cake with similar decorations as an alternative.

The centrepiece should be a giant squid, the other primary inspiration for this theme aside from the troll he is putting this party together for. But, would an ice sculpture or a chocolate sculpture be more appealing? Ice would match the cooler weather outside, but screams more ‘arctic’ than ‘beachy / deep sea’, and a chocolate sculpture is something he could create himself so he would not need to outsource any of the food, but it also isn’t exactly on theme. That will be another thing to consider later.

Outside, the food could be more of a casual affair. Perhaps more of a street food edge to them, as if one was attending a festival on the beach. Fruit skewers or grilled kebabs for something light, small beef sliders with pineapple for the tropical flair, and while the weather may not be the most ideal, shaved ice is a must. He could provide a number of different syrups and flavourings for the desserts, based on what he has learned from Jikiro’s explanations about edible inks. He’s sure the tealblood would get a kick out of that.

In regards to the interior design, there was only one thing on his mind: Aquarium tanks. Viltau was no stranger to having such things installed as setpieces in his hive, and what better way to decorate an oceanic-themed ballroom than with tanks lining the walls? It would also mean he would not have to worry about curtains or natural lighting, as he’d want all eyes on the sea creatures swimming around. He had a contact who specialised in tropical fish, and despite the movie being at almost two decades old, trolls are still delighted by the sight of clownfish and regal blue tangs. Perhaps some jellyfish may also be ideal, utilising their natural bioluminescence against the blue light of the aquariums for stunning effect. And in this case, he did not wish to have his guests witness the food chain in action, so he would have to account for separating sea creatures as necessary. To top it all off, he could decorate the tanks with a mixture of colourful corals, both real and artificial. He could envision this in his head perfectly.

Not to mention, Jikiro seemed quite amused when he mentioned he once installed a shark tank in his hive solely for an event. He couldn’t not go for the opportunity to show him what he can do with his aquarium displays.

Returning to his flower-related tabs, he decided that frangipanis and hibiscus would be more suitable for the now-solidifying theme. He could even bring in some sand and seashells for further decorations, perhaps also a palm tree or two for the fairy lights? He was losing the idea of making this event to purely cater to Jikiro, but he knew that the tealblood would much prefer something that was solely Viltau’s idea. He would still tell him that he was the inspiration behind it, though.

At the very least, he didn’t have to think of specific activities. The night itself would go as normal, for the most part anyway. Viltau would have to engage in the usual small talk with other guests that bored him to tears, but once those pleasantries were out of the way he could spend the rest of his time with Jikiro. He wanted to dance with him, that’s for sure, but what song should he request the band to play? As much as he loved Somebody To Love it might be a little too on the nose. Any songs from his favourite musicals might not fit the theme or the tone for what he wants. He picked up his phone and began to scroll through the songs on his personal playlists. Perhaps Under The Milky Way? It was not a love song, but picturing the atmosphere in his head felt otherworldly. He could repaint the roof of the ballroom and remove the chandeliers in favour of installing clusters of tiny lights, creating a sea of stars above them while surrounded by the soft blue lights from the aquarium displays.

The rest of the music choices would have to follow the same theme, soft and atmospheric that slowly ramps up over the course of the night to hype people up for the coming of the new sweep. The event still needed to be fun for the regular guests, so he could not abandon them in favour of pursuing his own fancies. He’d also need to figure out the timing of each chosen song and when he will have to swap out the live performance for regular music to give the musicians a break. Perhaps around eleven, when guests would be starting to get more intoxicated and losing whatever inhibition was holding them back from dancing hard, which was also conveniently around the time Viltau would usually retreat somewhere quiet to spend the rest of the night. A perfect moment to spend time with Jikiro and subtly prepare him for the next part of the plan.

As the clock ticks closer to midnight, he would lead the tealblood upstairs to his private quarters, hand in hand, past the security guards who would not allow anyone else to approach the staircase. Down the hall, through his respiteblock, and onto the balcony. They will have a perfect view of the crowds below, some may have already spent the hours dancing in the garden or swimming in the pool, while the rest will be ushered out of the ballroom by waitstaff moving the catering tables outdoors, so they could all witness the upcoming light show.

And he will wait for Jikiro to take in the atmosphere of the party below compared to the quiet of the balcony, the fairy lights weaved through the ivy that climbs up the barriers, the soft mood lighting of the respiteblock behind them, no one on the ground floor knowing of the two trolls gazing into each other’s eyes far above them. Jikiro would most likely comment on how beautiful the scene was, and - taking a leaf out of the tealblood’s book - Viltau could fire back saying that he could think of something that is even more beautiful.

It would provide him an opportunity to tell him all the things he liked about Jikiro, just as the other troll had said to him once before. The way he is so unabashedly confident in himself and his endearing earnestness, the way he acts when unfiltered and no longer held back by social conventions, his dedication to his work and passion for his crafts but also the lengths he goes to understand other people’s hobbies to enjoy them together, the way he always makes him laugh. He would then reach up and cup the tealblood’s cheek in his hand - isn’t it nice how his head fits so perfectly in his hands? Viltau could even mention how he likes his hair, his cute little tanuki ear-shaped horns, the way his tattoos artfully wrap around his arms, and how he looks damn good in a suit, if he felt like he hadn’t already said enough. But, what matters most to him is how he is completely and utterly entranced by him, and he could not think of anyone else in his world who he would rather spend the rest of his life with.

Then, when the clock strikes midnight and the sky is alight with fireworks, he will wrap his arms lightly around Jikiro’s neck, pull him in close, and…

Well, what happens next will have to be a surprise, won’t it? Viltau chuckled lightly to himself, feeling the heat on his face as an indigo blush dusted his cheeks. If he thought about it too much it might ruin the impact when it actually happens, no matter how much thinking about it made him feel positively giddy. He hasn’t felt this way since back when he was courting Kitaer.

But, he still had three weeks to fine-tune his plans and make something truly special for both himself and Jikiro - essentially all the time in the world to think about it. He stood up from his desk, collecting all the cookbooks to return them to their correct location on the bookshelves. While he may not have had far to walk, he still did so with a skip in his step, mind afire with even more party ideas.

Absolutely nothing was going to stand in his way from making this confession perfect.

#drabble #viltau espino #dressed to impress #god this is so fucking long i dont even know how it happened #vil confirmed Too Gay To Be Confined To A Decently Sized Drabble #anyways enjoy 3k words worth of thinking about parties to woo your crush #but also love vil being like 'i cant confess to ji at the 12th perigee ball therell be too many people there. ive gotta throw my #own big event instead'. amazing logic there buddy

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