recolle | 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

Yes! I hope you enjoy them!

[He’s so happy that Sakura seems pleased with her gift. He’s always willing to load people up on sugar.]

I won’t ask how old you’re turning, but I hope it’s been a good birthday!

[A pause as he looks around at the happenings below.]

I didn’t know you enjoyed arcades.

I don't mind sharing! I'm nineteen!

[SHE'S A BIG GIRL... who still can't drink in either Japan or America, but-- details!]

And this is actually my first time ever being in an American one. Minako suggested it.

Oh! Well, we’re not far apart then! I’m eighteen! I’ll be nineteen in May.

[He can’t drink either! God bless.]

Is it? Which games do you like the best?

[... Whoa, she's older than him? Sakura assumes she's the youngest of all of her friends, so color her surprised for an instant.]

Oh, good. It's not too far off. We'll have to throw you a party, too!

-- And, um... I really like the shooting games. There's one where you have to take out a hoard of zombies before the mass extinction of Earth.

[/SPARKLE]

I’d love that!

[No one has ever thrown a party for him before. He hopes that people would come!]

Oh! Do you like zombie games and movies? They’re exciting to me.

[He shudders.]

Ghosts are my real weakness. So creepy...

You don't like ghosts?

[She feels like he might've told her this at one point but can't remember to save her life]

Oh dear... I wouldn't go to the subways then.

They’re scary, but I do find them really interesting.

[He looks nervous as hell all of a sudden.]

I got grabbed by some vines outside the tunnels before...

[... It takes her a hot second to remember the tunnel vines were not John's doing, so she should close her mouth instead of staring at Atsushi like a dying fish]

Oh-- yes. I remember those.

[Haha]

I can't remember if those were ghosts, but I know there were some in the subway station underground!

O-oh...

[Watch him vibrate with nervousness.]

Only in the subway, right?

Those are the only ones I've met so far!

[LOOKING EXTREMELY PLEASED, sorry Atsushi]

But if I meet any others, I'll be sure to let you know -- so you can avoid them!

Oh...that would be great!

[A pause as he relaxes a bit.]

I do enjoy horror manga and books, though. And movies, of course.

Oh? Really?

[Leaning in with immediate eagerness.]

Which are your favorites? Most of mine are Japanese, but I'm always looking for American recommendations!

Oh! Well, for manga, I really love anything by Junji Ito. And of course the classic Japanese horror movies like Ringu.

[Hmmmm. American horror...]

Well, I really enjoy the classics. Like stuff by Edgar Allen Poe and Lovecraft.

[That's a respectable collection, and Sakura nods along, though her face does light up when Atsushi gets to the authors. Oh oh, she knows both of those names!]

Lovecraft is the person who came up with the concept for Cthulhu, correct? I've tried to draw my own versions, but they never come out looking very intimidating...

Yes! That’s definitely his most famous work!

[Oh yeah, Sakura is an artist! Atsushi’s face lights up when she mentions trying to draw Cthulhu.]

Oh! I’d still love to see them sometime! I bet they’re good, intimidating or not.

I don't mind showing you! You'll just have to grade me on a softer curve compared to the original.

I’d like that. We should hang out sometime. You’re always welcome to come by the bakery.

[A shy smile.]

Maybe I could get more comfortable with occult things eventually that way, haha.

I'd love to hang out with you! And if you're ever in the neighborhood, please come visit the Leviathan's Club.

[She gives a little wiggle of her fingers]

I can sense spirits, so that means I actually know which of our stock is possessed.

You mean you really have possessed objects?

[Atsushi looks intrigued.]

Shigaraki-san mentioned that he was looking for cursed dolls.

-- Oh! You know Shigaraki-san?

[What a pleasant surprise. She dwells on that reveal before turning back to the actual question]

Some of them, yes. A lot of things are admittedly more for horror enthusiasts who don't actually want to be cursed. But I can pick through which is which.

Yes! He’s given me a lot of great advice!

[Color Atsushi impressed! Sakura being able to sense spirits is so cool!]

I don’t think he’s afraid of getting one that’s actually cursed.

Edited 2018-03-25 17:47 (UTC)

I'm glad to hear it! He's very good at helping people talk through their dilemmas, it seems.

[And after a small giggle]

No, Shigaraki-san doesn't seem the type. I think he'd be disappointed to be given anything less than an actual cursed doll.

Yeah, he really is. How did you meet him, Sakura-san?

[He laughs along with her.]

Definitely. He was so miffed about losing that eBay auction for one.

Well... [She hums, trying to think of the best way to condense this long story, finally settling on:] He's my guardian.

And Howard-san told me he'll be looking to replace the doll Shigaraki-san lost, so hopefully he'll get one soon.

Oh! I had no idea! He seems like a good one.

[Oh Atsushi, you sweet summer child.

He’s a little surprised that Howard would bother with a haunted doll, but it does seem right up his alley.]

He did? I guess Howard-san does like those things.

[He’s heard tell of the creepypasta...]

Did Howard-san make it to the party?

(no subject)

imaginex - 2018-03-30 01:39 (UTC) - Expand

beneathmoonlight - 2018-04-01 19:48 (UTC) - Expand