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

Well, there's nothing for it but to try, then!

[She sits down on the seat next to Elda and inserts her quarters.]

Okay, ummm...do you know which character might be good for a newbie?

Mmm, it's probably a matter of preference? I mean the blue girl there with the kicks is pretty easy? I've used her a lot. The big martial arts guys with the blonde hair and the red headband are sort of the standard ones.

[ So... basically shrug.

... Elda as she said is taking knock off Chun Li tho ]

[Minako is definitely one of those people who likes playing female characters if she can, so here she goes, choosing the blonde in braids.]

Alright, here we go. I'm ready to button smash.

Alright! Should we wager your birthday gift?

[ She said with perhaps too mean of a laugh as she starts the match by selecting her own character...?

... She's ready to spam the spin kicks. ]

[She pouts mightily in Elda's direction.]

On one game? Best two out of three, at least.

Okay, best two out of three and if I win too many of them... then you just get the gift I brought here! And if you manage to beat me... then...

[ Hmmm, what's pretty equal to that challenge...? ]

Do you need a new car?

[WHEEZES.]

No?? Elda.

[Even if she won she doesn't think she'd accept a whole new car...]

What?

[MENTALLY THROWS HER HANDS UP IN THE AIR.]

Let's discuss what I'll win if I win. And no going easy on me, I want you to come at me with everything you've got!

So I seem the sort to be soft?

[ Even if she's trying to sound arrogant she... actually seems flattered she does? It's odd. Either way, no way she is. She'll come at her with all of her knock off Chun Li might. Maximum the spin kicks. ]

[Minako button mashes furiously so that knock-off Cammy does a ton of leaps and mid-air splits in knock-off Chun Li's face whenever she can.]

Eat! My! Combat boots!!

[ Button mashing can be deadly though, it's certain! Particularly when it's been years and Elda can't quite recall all but the simplest combos. Thrown off there, this first match ends up attrition more than anything as Elda is trying to remember the specific controls she used to do back in the day.

As a result, she's a little quiet.

So really, this one's a coin toss who wins ]

[Minako only has beginner's luck, though. There's some moments when it seems like she can overcome Elda's character, but in the end, it's Elda's win, two to one. Minako heaves a sigh and nods solemnly.]

Congratulations on your win.

[ She grins, and then ... rummages in her bag to produce Minako's gift.

A small box and a card.

The card itself is on proper stationary, writing out a wish for a happy birthday, hoping that her next year treats her well and that she can find some happiness there. Sentimental and formal. Signed with her name, of course! Also the card has a 20 dollar bill in it.

... But then the little box itself? Inside of it is...! It's a new phone, actually. It's got a return receipt if that's not of use to Sakura, but it's a an "active" model for the newest samsung, designed to endure water up to a few meters and being dropped and such. It seems like everyone's lives are getting more rough. So enjoy the phone or return it and enjoy several hundred dollars - she paid for it in full, not through a payment plan. ]

And congratulations on the birthday.

[Minako goes for the card first, beaming at the message. Seeing the $20 has her a little suspicious, though. Normally that would be a nice enough of a gift, but there's still the box...bracing herself for some kind of expensive jewelry, she pops it open, and then gapes at the phone.

It's still a lot?! But it's perfect for the practical and ever busy Minako Arisato.]

Oh, Elda-- [She throws her arms around her friend to give her a tight hug.] Thank you!

[ Oh.

Oh, well, she's going to laugh and hug back here, perhaps a little forward and knocking her hat off a little. Either way, she giggles and, ]

No, of course! Of course!

[Please don't squeeze Minako too hard like in that icon, Elda, she doesn't want to die.

But she's happy her friend is returning the gesture, squeezing back as much as she can.]

You wanna do the honors of adding your number to my new phone?

What, you're not gonna just switch out the contacts? They can do that super easily these days!

[ That said, she'll definitely do the honors if she's going to be offered it. She'll even break the embrace - and don't worry, she can temper her strength - to offering out her hand for the thing. ]

[She hands the phone over!]

I know, but you're here and it's symbolic. [Or something.]

Yeah, that's fair!

[ But okay, time to get to work putting it in! She makes to turn it on, hum a little as she types in her cell number and puts it into contacts. As expected, she doesn't do anything particularly fancy with the naming there. Just Elda Marker. But hey, sure is a thing she's doing before handing it back to the other. ]

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

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