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

[thesettingsun]

[They're both barnacles.]

I could never be angry with you, and definitely not for something like that.

[beneathmoonlight]

I’m so glad.

[Finally he detaches, smiling sheepishly.]

Do you wanna play some games? I saw you doing DDR earlier.

[He wasn’t very good.]

[thesettingsun]

[No, he wasn't very good, but he still grins when Atsushi brings it up.]

Do you want to challenge me at DDR? I won't go easy on you, you know.

[beneathmoonlight]

I won’t be any good at it, but yes!

[Atsushi is now dragging Shuji over to the machine, but he has no idea what song to pick.]

Um...whichever one you want is fine!

[thesettingsun]

How about... this one?

[Shuji picks a song that he's played before, on easy mode of course.]

[beneathmoonlight]

Okay!

[Atsushi steps into the machine beside Shuji and...isn’t prepared when it starts. Oh no, he’s already failing!!]

H-how am I supposed to keep up??

[thesettingsun]

Practice!

[Even Shuji, who can't really make much of a combo, still hits most of the notes.]

[beneathmoonlight]

Right!

[He’s so bad, but he’s having fun, and that’s all that matters.

When the song is over he falls back against the machine, exhausted but smiling.]

You win.

[thesettingsun]

You did really well.

[Or they're both kind of bad, either one. Shuji props himself up on the railing.]

I'd challenge you to a second round if I could move.

[beneathmoonlight]

Thank you!

[He’s way too tired for that. And his head is spinning a lot. He’s just going to take a drink of juice to try and get himself grounded...

But then he hits a pocket of pure booze at the bottom and realization dawns on him.]

This is spiked!

[thesettingsun]

...What? Who would have done that?

[Who dared to spike the punch at Minako and Sakura's birthday party, because he is going to murder them.]

[beneathmoonlight]

I don’t know...I don’t want to be drunk though!

[Well, that explains everything.]

We should warn the others. What a terrible thing to do!

[Atsushi is really feeling the alcohol’s effects now, and he stumbles over the nearest couch to flop down on it.]

Ugh...my head.

[thesettingsun]

[Shuji follows him to make sure he's at least sort of semi-comfortable.]

You need to sit down for a while. Just rest. I'll find out who's responsible.

[And kill them.]

[beneathmoonlight]

Okay.

[Whenever Shuji goes to do that he’ll sink further and further into the couch until he falls asleep. It’s amazing that anyone could fall asleep in an arcade, but Atsushi could sleep through a hurricane if left undisturbed, so there’s that.

Shuji will have to wake him up and somehow get him home, because the arcade is closing soon.]

[thesettingsun]

[The arcade's about to close and Atsushi's still on the couch... He wanted to let Atsushi sleep it off completely, but it can't be helped.

Shuji gently sets a hand on his shoulder.]

Atsushi. Wake up.

[beneathmoonlight]

Mmhhnn?

[Atsushi finally stirs, blinking groggily a few times before he realizes what’s going on.]

Are you going to take me home...?

[thesettingsun]

Yeah. I need to make sure you get home safe. Do you want to lean on my shoulder, or should I carry you?

[Literally the same day as he rejects Atsushi's feelings, he offers to carry him.]

[beneathmoonlight]

I can lean on your shoulder.

[He can’t just ask Shuji to carry him. That’s absurd.

He stands on shaky legs, ready to go whenever Shuji is.]

[thesettingsun]

Okay, but if you fall I'm carrying you.

[Shuji offers his shoulder for Atsushi to lean on.]

[beneathmoonlight]

Thank you.

[Luckily Atsushi will be able to balance enough to get back to his apartment, and once they’re there, he immediately collapses into his couch, clutching his head.]

I should just sleep...but I’m afraid...

[thesettingsun]

[That can happen the first time you drink.]

Would it help if I stay with you? I won't let anything hurt you, I promise.

[He'd sooner die.]

[beneathmoonlight]

...would you?

[Atsushi looks so helpless as he curls up on the couch...]

Please?

[thesettingsun]

Of course. I'll be here until you wake up, so you can rest easy.

[Sometimes he's reminded that Atsushi is younger than him. More often than that, he wants to protect Atsushi and destroy anyone who would dare to hurt him.]

[beneathmoonlight]

Okay.

[He glances over at Shuji, looking a little guilty.]

I shouldn’t ask but...can I lay my head in your lap?

[thesettingsun]

[Shuji's watched too much anime to agree to this.

Except he does anyway.]

If it helps you feel better, you can.

[He slides to the end of the couch and pats his lap. C'mere.]