video

[neurotoxicity]

[ The video feed initially just shows the entrance to the cemetery at dusk. There's some fluid movement as the camera moves past Grave Concoctions, the local alchemist, and then forward a few steps towards a small strip of somewhat rundown buildings. The camera stops in front of one of the buildings on the far left side and then just zooms up and down on it. There are lights on inside the building and it clearly looks like someone's been inside and cleaned it up. Overall it's small and the outside is in need of a bit of help.

Ivy turns the camera to face her. She's got a thick white scarf wrapped around her neck and a large silver cross can be seen dangling down. ]

I've fixed the inside into what I want for the most part. [ She's to the point, it's common for her when she's got a specific goal in mind. ]

But I need some help for a few other things. I need the outside fixed up, there's some loose brick, and it needs some paint. Inside I need six barstools in black. I don't care about the material, but they have to be black. There were booths in there already, but I want them painted red. [ She's very specific. ] The kitchen is basically just the woodfire oven but that's enough, I don't need much more fixed with that. I've gotten the décor down.

[ Wait she's forgetting something. ] It's going to be a pizzeria. [ Probably should explain that right? ] I also need help with a name. If you have any suggestions, let me know.

[ A pause ] I can pay anyone that's willing to help clean up the outside and do the few other things I mentioned. I might also need some help running the place. I don't need a resume, just proof you're competent.

[ And she just ends things there. Ivy has A+ asking people for help skills. ]

Comments

Voice;

[gadaboutdetective]

[ Well, consider the detective curious. And... A little relieved to see his friend as herself. ]

An uh- pizzeria? So you’ve decided to go through with that idea, hm? That’s great, Ivy.

[ Seriously, it is. Llewellyn is glad to see her reaching for something she wants after their conversation before the whole mirror fiasco. ]

I’m sure everyone will enjoy a new place to eat, especially with how popular your pizzas are at social events.

As for assistance locating things, I can’t say I’m sure...? Perhaps the carpenter in the city might be able to help.

[neurotoxicity]

It gave me something to do. [ Rather than think about that soulless version of herself and the nightmare that was. It's been a good distraction when there's not much here that works to distract her. ]

I'm still deciding what kinds to serve. [ Have an actual menu or just let people customize? It's a tough decision. ]

They might be if they have things available. I don't want to have to wait for someone to make somethng.

[gadaboutdetective]

[ Llewellyn could definitely understand that, having met her… She wasn’t the worst person he’d ever met, but she certainly wasn’t Ivy and he certainly hadn’t liked how she spoke of her. ]

Ah, it definitely looks like you’ve been busy with it. It already looks like it’s well on its way to being a restaurant.

Hmm… Pizza does give you a lot options, maybe some of the others here and locals might be interested in giving some input for that. Maybe you could, uh- even try a rotating menu to see what’s popular?

[ … Sure, maybe he just wants to try different kinds of pizzas, but he also thinks it might help her decide on her menu! ]

Mm… True, commissions do take time. In the meantime, I might be able to help you with the booths if you like. I did just paint the kitchen at the house?

[neurotoxicity]

It's got a long way to go. I should show you the inside. [ It's probably not his taste, but it's decidedly Ivy's. It was the first time in a long time she'd taken so much time to decorate something with her own interest. ]

Rotating might be a good idea. Seasonal and what's popular. Piscary also had a secret menu. [ But she wasn't sure if she wanted that. ] Maybe I'll just put that on an actual menu. [ Passive aggressiveness at it's finest. ]

Too much time. I'd take your help though. I'm a harsh judge though.

Video;

[ask_whydunit]

[ Huh... 1. Thank goodness, somewhere in the city that isn’t a tavern to eat. 2. This is an interesting coincidence.

The feed abruptly opens with a shot of a dimly lit room that looks like it might have once been a tavern, with all the bar stools and some tables stacked precariously in one corner. A voice very bluntly speaks up. He’s not great at being social. ]

Will these do?

[ The video finally pans to the speaker, a man with long hair that’s currently tied back messily and dust covered clothing as it appears he’d been cleaning the space up. Normally he looks a little more put together than this, but he’s been at it for a while and he hated cleaning. ]

They’re yours if so, but you need to send someone to collect them.

[neurotoxicity]

[ If Ivy wasn't a vampire she'd probably looked as disheveled as he did. Luckily for her she had cheat codes that allowed her to clean as much as possible without looking any different at all. It was an oddity about them that her partner never shut up about being jealous of.

The emotions on her face don't show it, but she's actually just a tiny bit excited that someone's offering some up. She hadn't expected that. ]

They'd work well enough. I hadn't actually expected anyone to have any. [ The only good coincidence she's ever experienced. ]

I can pick them up myself. I can pay you too.

[ask_whydunit]

[ Waver would also be jealous of her cheat codes if he knew about them. Cleaning up a mess was bad enough without dealing with the cleanup after the fact. Especially his hair, that tended towards unruly without proper attention. ]

Yeah? Great, then it’s yours to take. [ The mage is actually rather relieved despite his own tone to have heard someone actually needed this stuff. It seemed a waste to toss it and finding someone who actually needed it all seemed like a bit of a challenge before now. ] I honestly hadn’t expected to hear anyone needed them myself. Just happened to take this space and been trying to figure out what to do with it.

[ She could, huh? Well, that suited Waver just fine. He wasn’t up for lugging furniture across the city. ]

You can find me in the harbor district, then. Little further than the businesses, closer to the docks. There’s a… sign I think, still half hanging from when it was a tavern.

[neurotoxicity]

Thanks. I guess we both managed to find a positive coincidence. [ Those seemed rare. Most coincidence's seemed to lean more towards the negative side. Or maybe she just saw everything negatively. ]

If you're not rebuilding it as a tavern, what are you using the place for? [ She could ask him a question too, that seemed polite and like normal conversations people have. ]

Do you mind if I come in the evening? My kind keep afternoon and night hours and I've never adjusted. [ Or bothered to try. ]

Video;

[bufubulous]

Oh! What a wonderful idea, miss!

[ Yusuke likes the sound of this. How wonderful to think people are pursuing such ideas around this world. ]

A name, though... Names are quite important, I suppose!

[ God, it’s coming... Ivy, brace yourself. This will be terrible... A tragic first meeting with Yusuke. ]

Perhaps something like... “Pizza Aficionadoughs!” or hm... “The pizza doughmain?”

[ Is he serious or is he joking...? It’s hard to tell sometimes. ]

[neurotoxicity]

Ivy. [ She offers a name just to get out of being called miss. ]

They are. The place I worked at before had an important name. [ That she hated. It was to the point and god the message across about who owned it and why you should respect it.

His suggestions were...definitely the opposite of that. She arches an eyebrow while she's trying to figure out if he's being serious or not. ]

Are you making fun of me?

[bufubulous]

[ Yusuke offered a smile and a polite nod at the introduction, having only been trying to be polite before he knew her name. ]

It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ivy. I’m Yusuke!

[ He wondered what the place she had worked at was like, though… But in that case, he could definitely understand why choosing a good name was important. Something clever and attention grabbing! With just enough humor to put a smile on one’s face when thinking about it! Which was why the teen was a little startled by her response to what he thought were good suggestions.

So apparently, the answer to before would be that he was being serious. ]

No…? What gives you that idea? I thought they were rather clever!

[neurotoxicity]

Nice to meet you.

[ Sort of. Though she can't help but be a bit mystified that he was being serious. They were...interesting. Interesting was the only polite word that existed for those suggestions. ]

Rachel would tell me I need to lighten up. [ And for once her friend from back in her own world wouldn't have been wrong. ]

They were something interesting alright. Now that we've clarified you're serious...got any others?

Audio

[skyward_eyes]

Can't help all that much due to work and stuff. But I can promise to be a patron. I need more of that pizza. So much.

[neurotoxicity]

A customer is helping. It's good to know I'm guaranteed at least one. Would be embarrassing to open and have nobody show up.

[skyward_eyes]

We've already made it clear I'm so super into your pizza.

[neurotoxicity]

It's appreciated. It's been a while since I've worked in a pizzeria. Here's hoping I remember how it goes.

I hope you've been well.

Video

[harrythelizard]

It looks great.

[And if his smile is any indication, he means that.]

I can't wait to try your pizza. It comes highly recommended, you know, by you. [And that grin broadens somewhat.]

What about "Pie in the Sky"?

[neurotoxicity]

Haven't you had my pizza before?

[ She can't quite remember. There's been a lot that's happened in this place. ]

Pie in the Sky is the best you can come up with?

[harrythelizard]

Yeah, I did, at the potluck, but I figure a restaurant might be a little different.

And no, it was a start, though, right?

[He frowns, thoughtful.]

I don't know, Ivy. I'm not the best at naming things. My business is just my name. Maybe something like that?

[usestwohands]

It seems to have come along well.

[Not that he'd been aware she was working on food establishment. They'd only just met, after all.]

This is a specialized eatery, then?

[neurotoxicity]

Thanks. The inside looks better than the outside. [ But she hadn't been ready to show that yet. ]

Yeah. Have you never heard of a pizzeria?

[usestwohands]

I look forward to seeing it.

[He shook his head.]

I have not. What sort of food do you sell?

Video

[kree_soldieress]

[Well, have a blue-skinned woman taking the question at the end very seriously.]

Pizzeria. I am unfamiliar with this term, but it seems to share a root word with this baked bread with cheese and 'toppings' I learned of when I was on Earth. Is there perhaps a connection?

[If so, she'll have a loyal customer from day one in Lauri-Ell, as she much enjoyed the Earth Creation.]

While I cannot say I have ever painted before, I would be glad to render assistance when I am not at work, though I do not require reimbursement. Gili says it is is important to 'support local business' as what makes one stronger makes all of us stronger.

[neurotoxicity]

That's exactly what it refers to. Pizzeria is just a fancier way to say pizza parlor or restaurant.

[ She pauses and frowns. ]

I'd accept any help but I prefer paying anyone that helps me with something. What if I paid you in pizza?

[kree_soldieress]

[Her wide blue eyes go even wider. Pizza! She's in.]

Oh, being paid in pizza would be AMAZING!