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

[complementing]

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.]

Comments

[beneathmoonlight]

[Atsushi is delighted to have been invited at all, really, and of course he brings two heaping gift baskets of cookies, cakes, and candies he’d baked himself as gifts for Minako and Sakura. They’re all decorated with ribbons and streamers, both with little notecards saying “Happy birthday! From Atsushi!” with adorable little smiley faces drawn on.

He can be found (dressed in a dark green, long-sleeved Henley and black jeans with white sneakers) stuffing his face with cake, pizza, and wings in the dining area, trying his hand at the old school arcade cabinets, trying to win a prize for his friends at the crane game (he looks so into it that he might jump if spoken to), and also at the purikura booth taking silly photos with whoever wants to join.

Eventually he’ll wander upstairs to chill on one of the couches and observe the party from above.]

I’m so glad I got to come!

[complementing]

[Minako is lounging on the couch upstairs, in a mild food coma after eating so much...she opens her eyes and gives him a tiny smile.]

Thanks for coming. Though I don't think we've been introduced yet. [She sticks her hand out to him, the other wrapped around her throw pillow.] I'm Minako.

[beneathmoonlight]

Nice to meet you, Minako-san! I’m Atsushi Nakajima,

[Atsushi, of course, is a perfect gentleman, and shakes her hand before taking a seat a respectable distance away from Minako on the couch.]

Sakura-san invited me. It’s a reallly great party. [A nervous laugh.] Though I think I ate too much.

[complementing]

Nice to meet you too, Atsushi-san! Though you really don't have to use honorifics with me.

[She giggles as she settles back into the couch.]

And I know what you mean, I always eat a lot but this time it hit way harder than usual. Maybe because of all that grease...oof. [She tilts her head back and closes her eyes.] So much grease.

[beneathmoonlight]

Yeah...and sugar, haha.

[He takes a sip of the soda he’d brought up with him to emphasize this.]

I work in a bakery, though, so I’m used to all the sugar.

[A soft, airy laugh.]

Shuji-kun did a great job on the cake.

[complementing]

Oh, me too! I work at a cupcake bakery, myself!

[And she loves sugar. The only reason why she's not more on a sugar high is because she was being polite and leaving some of the cake for others, otherwise she would've snagged a second, even bigger slice. Speaking of which.]

I think so too. I want the recipe from him...or just seconds. I would settle for seconds.

[beneathmoonlight]

You do? That’s so cool! Maybe we could share recipes sometime!

[Atsushi is very enthusiastic about baking, can you tell? It’s surprising that his blood isn’t made of pure sugar.]

What bakery is it?

[complementing]

I'd love to! I can give you the recipe for the lemon tea cakes I made today.

[THOSE ARE HER SPECIALTY aside from cupcakes.]

It's called the Confectionary. We're based in Tisse. Maybe you've seen our cupcake truck driving around sometime.

[beneathmoonlight]

Oh! I didn’t get to try those, unfortunately. They were all gone! But I’d love the recipe! I could give you one for triple chocolate cake if you’d like.

[He taps his chin in thought before it comes to him.]

Oh wait! Yes, I have! I haven’t gotten to try it yet, but now I have to! Do you work on the truck too?

[complementing]

[She makes an apologetic noise in her throat. She hopes nobody took seconds of her tea cakes...]

I'd love that. [And she laughs, shaking her head.] No, I'm kind of a senior part-timer at the storefront, they keep me there. Unless we have deliveries to make, in which case maybe you've seen me or one of my coworkers walking around in a super pink and frilly uniform.

[beneathmoonlight]

I don’t think I’ve seen it! That sounds really cute, though.

[He’s not afraid to call things cute.]

What are your favorite games at the arcade? I really like the crane game myself, even if I’m not great at it.

[complementing]

[A guy after her own heart.]

The crane game is one of my worst enemies. [She laughs and gestures to a little pile of plushies next to her.] All of these were won by friends for me today...otherwise I have terrible luck. But I'm pretty good at DDR!

[beneathmoonlight]

Oh, I’m not too great at it either, but I find it fun!

[He laughs at the mention of DDR.]

Shuji-kun beat me pretty badly at DDR earlier. I’m really not quick enough for it. It’s fun, though! And the songs are catchy.

[He glances over at the plushie pile.]

I hope you and Sakura-san enjoy the gift baskets I brought.

[complementing]

[Shuji does DDR? She might have to hunt him down later for a challenge.

And then she pauses, her brow furrowing.]

Gift baskets...no, I'm sorry, Atsushi, I didn't see those. [She gets up and peers over the railing.] Where did you leave it? I'll run down right now and get it!

[beneathmoonlight]

Oh! You don’t have to! There was a gift table up front and I left yours and Sakura-san’s there. There’s a bunch of baked goods inside! Though I guess I should’ve presented it directly...sorry about that!

[He looks a little sheepish.]

It’s not much, considering you work in a bakery, but I hope you enjoy it anyway!

[complementing]

[TOO LATE she's giving him a thumbs up as she zips down the stairs and weaves through the crowd to get to the gift table. How did she not see this earlier.

(She was too distracted by Shuji's cake, that's how.)

It takes her a moment to figure out which one is hers, but then she's making her way back up the stairs to him.]

Oh my gosh, you put so much into this one tiny gift basket!

[beneathmoonlight]

[Oh...Minako is fast! Atsushi is impressed, honestly.

He grins, nodding at the observation.]

Yes! I wanted to let you try some things from the bakery and ended up getting carried away.

[A sweet smile. There’s every kind of sweet imaginable in there...]

I’m just happy I got to come to the party.

[complementing]

[This is the mother lode of sweets and Minako loves it.]

Hehe, I'm glad you're having fun. It's just not a good birthday party unless friends and family are enjoying it too, you know? It's a celebration of our lives, after all, and they're a part of it.

[But that's her just being a little tipsy and sappy. She reaches into the gift basket and pulls out an eclair.]

Oh my god it even has whipped cream inside of it.

[NOM.]

[beneathmoonlight]

[Wasn’t she just stuffed a minute ago...

Ah well. Atsushi is just as much of a glutton.]

There’s a wide variety of stuff in there. If you don’t like anything please feel free to tell me and I can replace it.

[complementing]

[Her second stomach has made an appearance...]

Oh no no-- I'm sure I'll enjoy everything in it! Besides, this is your gift, it'd be rude to ask you to swap anything out.

[NOM.]

Would you like to share one with me, though?

[beneathmoonlight]

Oh! Sure...

[Even if he made them all, Atsushi still wants to try one of the chocolate cupcakes inside. He nibbles on one, humming in delight. Ah, it’s so tasty...this is the one he filled with raspberry...]

So do you attend college or anything?

[complementing]

[She beams at him with a chocolate-y smile, bobbing her head up and down as she swallows her bite.]

Mmmhm. I'mma senior at RU. What about you?

[beneathmoonlight]

I’m a freshman at Recolle university. I’m hoping to get a degree in social services.

[He smiles softly, happy that Minako is enjoying the treats he’d made.]

I was an orphan until age eleven, and I’d like to help other kids in the same situation find homes.