recolle | open || ain't no party like a birthday party

Entry tags:

open || ain't no party like a birthday party

WHO: Minako, Sakura, Ragna, and you!
WHERE: One of the arcade bars in the city.
WHEN: March 10th
WHAT: BIRTHDAY PARTY!
WARNINGS: None foreseen! Feel free to threadjack for Minako's Hot Potato Categories game.

[Welcome to the Emporium, an arcade bar that Minako and Sakura have decided to host their joint birthday party at! Come on in and have some fun playing games, eating junk food, and just hanging out with the birthday girls (and guy, if he decides to come).

There are, of course, the numerous arcade games that the place is known for, ranging from the old school 2v2 fighters to the shooting gallery kinds. But there are a smattering of other games as well, like DDR, darts, mini hoops, skeeball, and the pool table, too. There's also a wall of crane games in the back, with plenty of random and mostly cute prizes to win.

Make a stop by the purikura booth if you have time. Make some duck lips at the camera and then take the snaps home! (Or give them to the birthday girls for the memories.)

Oh, and be sure to exchange your money for tokens before you play all these games. The token machine seems kind of finicky, though. Maybe a strong (and hopefully discrete?) kick will help jumpstart it.

Walk to the dining area, and there'll be a feast waiting you! The arcade is providing a ton of pizza and wings, as well as alcohol, if you can show your ID. For dessert, there's the cake that Shuji made for the girls, as well as Minako's lemon tea cakes. Those are limited supply, though, so snag one before everyone eats it up.

Next to the dining area, there's a big sign that says "DUNK TANK OUTSIDE". Maybe take a look? Just be reaaaally sure you want to climb in before you do it, though. The towels provided by the arcade are pretty small.

And finally, if you need a break from the chaos, there's a couple of couches on the second floor. Take a load off and watch from above.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It’s alright.

[ he’s only gone to smoke twice in the past hour and a half, of course, but things could be much worse. they could always be worse.

odasaku shrugs. ]

What I don’t get is why you had to dress me like this.

Dress you like what? Stylishly?

[What's the problem??]

Sure, that.

[ he’ll take another sip of the drink, wishing that he a. didn’t have to drive so he could have alcohol b. that it was alcohol. ]

It feels strange to be... better dressed than most people.

I guess it does take getting used to. You're the most handsome man at this party today.

I doubt it.

[ he not only says that because he has a very low opinion of himself, but because he thinks that shuji looks a dozen times better than he does. ]

[Oda has a very low opinion of himself, so Shuji doesn't suspect the second part.]

The lady at the ticket counter was checking you out earlier.

She was checking you out, Shuji.

[ she was most likely checking the both of them out, but odasaku can’t realize that someone would actually find him attractive. ]

Definitely you.

[...But that reminds him of an earlier conversation, and Shuji's expression falls.]

Can I confide in you a little about something?

[ the way shuji’s expression falls so suddenly rings some warning bells in odasaku’s head, and he quickly nods. ]

What’s wrong?

I was talking to Atsushi earlier and he told me he liked me. Romantically. I had no idea.

[Shuji is staring at the ceiling, so Oda's free to have any reaction he wants to this.]

And now I'm thinking back on all our interactions and how I might have hurt him with some of the things I did, and - I really hate that idea. Hurting a friend of mine because I don't realize they feel that way about me. Even if I can't return their feelings, I don't want to drive a knife in the wound.

[ odasaku’s glad that shuji’s not waiting for his reaction, because, outwardly, he has none. he nods quietly, taking every word in, as if each one weighed a ton.

when he finishes speaking, he feels as if his shoulders are going to collapse under the weight, his chest tight with a feeling that he can’t describe. it’s a mix of heart break, resignation and something else— decisiveness. seeing shuji so hurt because of this made him realize how it would be if he confessed his own feelings.

that suffering...it’s unbearable.

he doesn’t want shuji to hurt like that; he can’t be the one to hurt him like that.

so he swallows his feelings, keeping them locked behind a deadpan expression. ]

At least he told you, though, before it became unbearable. It’s not your fault.

But if I picked up on it earlier, at least I wouldn't do so many things without realizing the way they came off. We'd still be friends, I just wouldn't be as oblivious to the ways I was hurting him.

I'd rather know.

[So this is literally the opposite conclusion from what Shuji would have liked him to conclude!!]

[ well too bad shuji! because oda doesn’t think he’s capable of having someone else confess to him today, at least. and odasaku’s quite aware that after today there will probably be no good moment to confess.

so he would rather not confess at all, if that’s the case. ]

Well, you’re not a mind reader. Sometimes people are too good at hiding things—speakin’ from experience. I don’t think Atsushi would want you to blame yourself either, y’know? If anything, that might just make him feel worse.

You're probably right.

[And he doesn't want to make Atsushi feel worse.

So, if there isn't anything he could have done, it's time to change the subject a little.]

Speaking from experience? As the crushed on, or the other way around?

[ the chance is right there. he can say it and get over his feelings in one false swoop. just one bit of selfishness would be enough to sever what’s been making his chest ache dully for months.

all he needs is to be selfish. ]

Just... just hiding things. You know, like when my leg was broken and I kept sneaking out or keeping memories away from you.

And you hate it when I blame myself for that stuff.

[He knows. They've had this talk. It's just hard not to wonder if he could have done something more.]

I don't hate it.

[ he's not sure if he would be able to feel hatred towards something like this. it's a different feeling...something like guilt and regret and a shitton of worry. ]

I just worry about you. 'Bout you and Atsushi. There's nothing you could've done about it, but you're still regretting that you didn't do anything more. [ with a bit of hesitation, he lifts a hand and places it on shuji's head, ruffling his hair. ] It's gonna be okay.

[Oda's hand is warm. Shuji finds himself leaning into his palm.]

...Thank you, Odasaku. I don't know what I'd do without you.

[Worry himself into the hospital, probably.]

[ you'd probably find someone else. that's all anyone would do.

the thought comes to him like a dark cloud, but odasaku's expression doesn't change on the outside. he merely sighs. ]

Don't mention it. No use being sad during a birthday party. Sakura's gonna get angry.

Sakura's not going to get mad. I still can't believe you thought she didn't want you here when she specifically sent you an invitation.

[At least that's a change of subject?]

I'm not exactly the life of the party, either. She'd be fine with or without me.

[ he gestures to how he's sitting on the couch instead of socializing. what is socializing? is that a food? ]

Just because you're not a social butterfly doesn't mean she doesn't want you there. You're her friend and she wants to see you, if only for a little while.

If you don't want to go to a birthday party, don't make up secret intentions for the guest of honor as your excuse.

[It's rude to her and it's blatantly untrue.]

[ oda’s eyes widen slightly at that, suddenly feeling admonished over what might just be a misinterpretation of his feelings. he’s tempted to not say anything, to not refute shuji’s comment, but... didn’t someone tell him that misunderstandings should always be solved?

he gulps, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. ]

I didn’t mean that.

[Shuji's expression softens. Yes, he did mean to scold Oda a little, but he doesn't want Oda to take it too harshly. It's just a bad habit, not a stain on his character.]

I know you didn't. But I think it would be good for you to be a little more honest. Telling yourself that your friends secretly don't want to see you isn't going to make you or them feel any better.

[ oda nods, looking at drink with a somewhat faraway look. ]

I know. But sometimes, it's difficult not to think that it doesn't matter whether I'm here or not.

[ and that 'here' doesn't just refer to the party ]

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