Chapter 62: Chapter 61
David smiled warmly as he watched the members of the Loki Familia and Hephaestus savor the delicious meal prepared by Lunamon and the Minions. He could see the delight and appreciation written across their faces as they indulged in the unique flavors.
Hephaestus, in particular, seemed captivated by the culinary creations before her. She leaned in, studying the intricate presentation of each dish with a keen eye. "These dishes are truly remarkable," she mused, her voice filled with wonder. "The level of skill and innovation required to craft such delectable fare is truly impressive."
Beside her, Tsubaki nodded in agreement, her own plate nearly cleared. "I've never encountered flavors quite like these," she said, her brow furrowed in concentration. "It's as if each bite transports one to a different realm of culinary delight."
Loki, who had been uncharacteristically silent, leaned forward, her gaze fixed on David. "Tell me, young adventurer," she said, a hint of curiosity in her voice. "Did you have a hand in the creation of these magnificent dishes?"
David shook his head, a sheepish smile on his face. "No, the credit for these dishes doesn't belong to me. They're from my home country, and I simply tried to recreate them with the help of my companions."
As if on cue, a group of Minions scurried into the room, their little hands quickly gathering up the empty plates and utensils. They moved with a synchronized efficiency that left the Loki Familia and Hephaestus members watching in fascination.
Once the table had been cleared, David turned to the group, his expression brimming with excitement. "Now that you've had a chance to sample the culinary delights, shall we continue the tour of our headquarters?"
Without waiting for a response, he gestured for the others to follow, leading them deeper into the expansive building. The Minions trailed behind, their high-pitched chatter filling the air as they eagerly accompanied the group.
As they walked, David pointed out various features of the headquarters – the state-of-the-art training facilities, the well-stocked armory, and the cozy living quarters. The Loki Familia members listened intently, their curiosity piqued by the level of detail and organization within the Hestia Familia's domain.
David led the group into a large, brightly lit room filled with an assortment of strange devices. Loki's eyes widened as she surveyed the unfamiliar equipment, her curiosity piqued.
"And what is this room, exactly?" she asked, her gaze settling on David.
David smiled, eager to share the wonders of this space. "This is our game room," he explained, gesturing around the area. "These are what we call 'arcade games' – interactive entertainment devices that allow you to play all sorts of different challenges and competitions."
Hephaestus stepped forward, her keen eyes examining one of the machines more closely. "Fascinating," she murmured, tracing her fingers along the intricate buttons and joystick. "I've never encountered anything quite like this before."
"Allow me to demonstrate," David offered, leading Hephaestus and the Loki Familia members to a vibrant game called "Street Fighter." He quickly explained the objective and controls, his enthusiasm infectious as the others listened with rapt attention.
Loki, never one to back down from a challenge, stepped forward with a mischievous grin. "In that case, I challenge you, Hestia, to a match on this 'Street Fighter' game," she declared, her eyes sparkling with competitive spirit.
Hestia, never one to shy away from Loki's antics, felt a surge of determination. "Very well, Loki," she replied, her voice laced with confidence. "Prepare to be vanquished!"
The two goddesses took their places in front of the game, their fingers poised on the buttons and joysticks. The rest of the group gathered around, eagerly anticipating the outcome of this divine showdown.
Hestia's fingers danced across the arcade cabinet's buttons, her eyes narrowed in fierce concentration. Loki, on the other hand, was mashing the controls haphazardly, her brow furrowed in frustration.
"Hadoken!" Hestia cried, her character unleashing a powerful energy blast that slammed into Loki's fighter, knocking them back.
Loki let out an indignant huff. "Hey, no fair! You can't just spam the same move over and over!" she protested, her fingers flying across the buttons in a desperate attempt to retaliate.
Hestia couldn't help but smirk. "All's fair in love and Street Fighter, Loki," she quipped, her character delivering a flurry of swift kicks and punches.
Loki's eyes narrowed as she watched her character's health bar dwindle. "Oh, it's on now, Hestia," she growled, her competitive spirit ignited. With renewed vigor, she mashed the buttons, her character unleashing a series of frenzied attacks.
The two goddesses were so engrossed in their battle that they failed to notice the rest of the Loki Familia and Hephaestus watching with rapt attention.
"Wow, Hestia is really good at this game," Tiona marveled, her eyes wide with admiration.
Beside her, Aiz nodded, her gaze fixed on the screen. "She's quite skilled," she observed, her voice soft and thoughtful.
Bete, on the other hand, scoffed. "Tch, it's just a stupid game. Who cares who's better?" he grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest.
Finn chuckled, placing a hand on Bete's shoulder. "Now, now, Bete. Let's not underestimate the power of a little friendly competition," he said, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
Loki's character launched a devastating combo, and Hestia's health bar dropped perilously low. "Aha! Take that, Hestia!" Loki crowed, a triumphant grin spreading across her face.
Hestia's brow furrowed in concentration as she rapidly tapped the buttons, her character unleashing a flurry of Hadokens. "Not so fast, Loki!" she exclaimed, her eyes gleaming with determination.
The two goddesses were so engrossed in their match that they failed to notice the Minions who had gathered around, their wide eyes fixed on the screen in fascination.
"Bana-na!" one of the Minions squeaked, his hands clutching the edge of the arcade cabinet as he watched the battle unfold.
David chuckled, placing a hand on the Minion's head. "Easy there, little guy. This is just the beginning of the excitement," he said, his gaze filled with anticipation.
Hestia's character delivered a devastating final blow, and Loki's character crumpled to the ground, defeated. Loki let out a frustrated growl, her hands clenching into fists.
"No! How could I lose to you, Hestia?" she cried, her voice laced with indignation.
Hestia couldn't help but gloat, a triumphant grin spreading across her face. "In your face, Loki!" she said, her tone dripping with smugness.
Loki opened her mouth to retort, but before she could, Hephaestus stepped forward, her expression thoughtful.
"Now, now, you two. Let's not let a simple game of Street Fighter ruin our evening," she said, her voice calm and soothing. "Why don't we try another game? I'm quite curious to see what other wonders this 'game room' has to offer."
Loki huffed, but the fire in her eyes had dimmed. "Fine," she grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest.
David turned to the two feuding goddesses, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Say, I think I have just the game to get your competitive juices flowing again," he said, leading them to a large platform with an array of colorful arrows.
"This, my friends, is Dance Dance Revolution," he announced, gesturing grandly. "It's a game that tests your agility and rhythm as you try to match the steps shown on the screen."
Loki eyed the platform with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. "Dance, you say? Hmpf, well, I suppose I could give it a try," she said, a confident smirk playing on her lips.
Hestia, on the other hand, looked positively giddy. "Oh, this sounds like fun! I can't wait to show you up, Loki," she said, eagerly stepping onto the platform.
David quickly explained the controls and objective to the two goddesses, demonstrating a few steps to get them started. Loki watched intently, her brow furrowed in concentration, while Hestia bounced on the balls of her feet, eager to begin.
With a press of a button, the music started, and the arrows began flashing on the screen. Hestia and Loki immediately sprang into action, their feet moving in a blur as they tried to keep up with the rhythm.
Loki's movements were initially hesitant, but as the song progressed, her confidence grew. She began to anticipate the steps, her body moving with a natural grace that surprised even herself.
Hestia, on the other hand, was a natural. Her feet seemed to know exactly where to land, and she effortlessly executed the intricate dance steps, her expression one of pure joy.
The other members of the Loki Familia and Hephaestus watched in fascination, their eyes glued to the display. Tiona and Tione cheered enthusiastically, while Bete scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Tch, this is just a waste of time," he grumbled, his gaze shifting to the side.
Finn, ever the observant leader, noticed Bete's disinterest and approached him with a friendly smile. "Come now, Bete, why don't you give it a try?" he suggested, gesturing to the game.
Bete's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, it seemed like he would refuse. But then, a spark of curiosity flickered in his gaze, and he slowly made his way to the platform.
David greeted him with a grin. "Ah, Bete, I'm glad you decided to join us. Let me show you how to play this game," he said, quickly explaining the controls.
Bete listened intently, his expression unreadable. When the music started, he tentatively placed his feet on the arrows, his movements stiff and uncertain at first.
But as the song progressed, something shifted. Bete's body began to loosen, and his steps became more fluid, his eyes narrowing in concentration. The other Loki Familia members watched in stunned silence as Bete's performance on the game began to rival even Hestia's.
Loki and Hestia, their own dance battle momentarily forgotten, turned to observe Bete, their expressions mirroring the same surprise and admiration.
"Well, well, look at that," Loki murmured, a hint of amusement in her voice. "Seems our dear Bete has a hidden talent."
Hestia nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "I must admit, I'm impressed," she said, her gaze fixed on the werewolf's nimble movements.
As the song came to an end, Bete stepped off the platform, his chest heaving slightly. The others watched in stunned silence, unsure of how to react to this unexpected display of skill.
David, ever the gracious host, stepped forward and clapped Bete on the back. "Nicely done, my friend!" he exclaimed, his voice brimming with genuine admiration. "I didn't know you had it in you."
Bete grunted, a hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Tch, it was nothing," he said, though the pride in his voice was unmistakable.
Loki and Hestia exchanged a glance, their rivalry momentarily forgotten as they both recognized the unexpected talent they had just witnessed.
The group continued to explore the game room, with Tiona and Tione eagerly trying their hand at various titles. Lefiya, on the other hand, seemed more hesitant, her gaze often drifting towards Aiz, who observed the proceedings with her usual stoic expression.
David watched the interactions with a satisfied smile, pleased to see his guests enjoying the wonders of the Hestia Familia's headquarters. As the tour continued, he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement for the future, knowing that this was just the beginning of their shared adventures.
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