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

[heiroglyphs]

God, I don't know if there's anything I like so much to put on my body forever. Maybe... music notes?

[She steps closer to the birthday girl, letting her take the lead as she has no idea what she's doing in this booth right now.]

God, that's so boring, though. Maybe I need to pick out a flower that symbolizes my life.

[complementing]

Tattoos are supposed to be personally important to you, so I don't think it'd be boring. Maybe it could've been the music notes of a song you love.

[She pokes at the screen, picking some options for them.]

I chose flowers since they're a growing thing, like me.

[heiroglyphs]

[Sadly, Vera stopped growing a long time ago.]

I guess that's true. But... what if I got a knight, or a sword or something? You got your dragon, after all.

[complementing]

[Part of the reason why she got the dragon was for it to hopefully act as a memory trigger in case she ever went off Retrospec...but that seems a little depressing to talk about right now.]

Oh yeah, your knight was really cool. It'd be a symbol of your strength and determination!

[heiroglyphs]

[It's a sentiment that Vera understands entirely. The only thing is that she isn't sure if, should she forget, she'd want to remember all of this again.]

You know, it's really funny. Until recently, I'd never even considered myself strong.

[complementing]

Really?

[She tilts her head, brow furrowed.]

You're a very strong person, Vera. Or do you mean physically instead of mentally and emotionally?

[heiroglyphs]

Any of it, really. I don't exactly feel like I've been handling this "other life" thing very well.


[She bumps her friend's shoulder with her own.] But I shouldn't be dwelling on things like that at a party.

[complementing]

[Minako smiles gently and bumps her shoulder back.]

You know I wouldn't mind if you needed to talk.

[heiroglyphs]

[The heiress sighs, but she can't help but smile at her friend's caring nature. Today really isn't about her, and she hates getting caught up these emotions, but here we are.]

Is it too cliché to say "I don't know who I am anymore"?

[complementing]

Of course not.

[This seems like it's going to take a bit of time, so Minako cancels the photo booth session and takes Vera's hand, leading her up to the second story where there are couches and relative privacy.]

Okay, much better. So...you're feeling like your past self and current self are getting too similar?

[heiroglyphs]

[Vera feels bad about distracting so much from the photos, but surely there would be plenty of time for that later. For now, she'll follow Minako and settle down beside her.]

I'm just... having trouble knowing which "me" is the real one. There's been so many dreams and memories and... it all just feels so real. Like, I know I lived those things. I can feel it.

I guess I'm just worried that if I keep remembering this other life, that I'll start to disappear.

[complementing]

Vera...

[There are moments when she seriously doubts herself as well, but after a year, Minako has, for the most part, come to terms with the existence of her past self. She doesn't know if there's any advice she can give on how to go about it, though. It's all an internal battle of self-examination and acceptance that only Vera can wage and win.

But comfort is something she can offer in spades.]

The real you is here. Sitting with the real me. [She squeezes her friend's hand.] And the real me has memories that involve the real you. So you won't ever disappear, not if I can help it.