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

[livingimpaired]

Is that not only fair after massacring the ghosts?

[ He offers a small nod in understanding. ]

It may be, but you look happy in it. So does it matter?

[ Hm? Oh. ]

A knife.

[beneathmoonlight]

Haha, I suppose.

[Oh. That’s...an unusual gift, but not unheard of.]

Oh? What made you choose that? Just curious.

[livingimpaired]

[ A laugh. ]

So, she could slay monsters.

[ A better answer. ]

The world is becoming a little stranger... I merely wish to give her something to be a little safer.

[beneathmoonlight]

That’s actually not a bad reason.

[Considerong the stories he’s heard...]

She said there were ghosts in the subway tunnels...

[livingimpaired]

I didn't think so.

[ And it is also because Sakura wants to change the softness in herself to something else. To be someone that will no longer be protected by others. So he's doing what he can, but he feels like saying that much is betraying her trust. ]

There are. But they are not what you need to be afraid of, Atsushi.

[beneathmoonlight]

[Atsushi’s expression falls, his smile fading just a bit. He could deal with the idea of ghosts in the subway tunnels, but they’ve never been the real threat, have they?]

What...do you mean?

[This sounds incredibly ominous.]

[livingimpaired]

The ghosts don't realize they're waiting for something impossible.

[ Kei, stop sounding ominous. ]

It's the monsters that live within that darkness that one should be afraid of... not the spirits. Not the river that makes people forget. It's the monsters that should concern you. The ghosts have merely decided... it is where they wish to be and allow forgetfulness to drain them of purpose.

[ Take that as a "no" on not sounding ominous. ]

[beneathmoonlight]

Ah. Monsters...like the vines that grabbed me outside the subway tunnels...

[Yeah. Monsters are a thing. He doesn’t want to think about it.]

The one in my memories...that bit off my leg...I wonder where it is now. If it even exists in this time...

[livingimpaired]

Yes. There are apparently more down below.

[ Ah, that-- ]

There's no need to worry about something like that, Atsushi. If it existed in this time, it would have been made known -- what with how it tears the limbs off of others. No one has met such a gruesome fate. So it most likely does not exist here.

[beneathmoonlight]

You’re probably right...

[It still unsettles him that the beast could exist anywhere at all...]

Do you think a knife is good against monsters...? Usually swords are better, right?

[Anything is better than nothing, he supposes.]

[livingimpaired]

It's more of a final defense.

[ At least, that is how he is seeing it. He certainly doesn't expect her to snap out a pocket knife and go running at a monster. But if that is what she decides to do, he really can't dictate her decisions. ]

To make one feel like they have something else left.

[beneathmoonlight]

Oh...I guess that makes sense.

[Atsushi should get a weapon sometime too, so that he’s not completely helpless like that night the vines grabbed him.]

Well, anyway. Have you tried any of the games yet, Shigaraki-san? Or the dunk tank?

[livingimpaired]

It would be irresponsible to give her a sword. She needs to be trained with one first.

[ Which is to say if Sakura took up kendo even for a week, he would get her a sword and wish her the best of luck. ]

I am curious about that dunk tank. I feel my thoughts have been ... exhausting lately. I believe the rush of falling into water will give me the sensation of death that will calm them down.

[beneathmoonlight]

[Kei is such a responsible adult.]

...death??

[Atsushi’s eyes grow wide just then; the dunk tank is meant to be fun, not a drowning simulator!! Besides, seeing Kei trying to simulate that in front of a crowd full of people would certainly ruin the mood.]

I mean, you could try it...if it’ll make you feel better.

[A beat.]

Don’t drown, though!

[livingimpaired]

There is honestly no way to know until one tries.

[ Kei says with a little bit more cheer. ]

It certainly isn't what I hope to do. [ But it would be somewhat ironic to drown after all the metaphors he has been using for drowning to himself lately. Ha-ha, he is fine. ] It is mostly the feeling of exhaustion that is getting to me. Today has been a little more than what I thought, but I am here at this party... so I believe I should attempt to wake myself up, too.

[beneathmoonlight]

That’s true...

[At least Kei isn’t getting drunk, he supposes. God, what would a drunk Kei even look or sound like?]

Oh...did anything specific happen?

[He looks concerned. Maybe Kei just means exhaustion in general, but...if he can offer support, he definitely wants to.]

[livingimpaired]

[ A drunk person that only two people can handle -- Ai and Howard. ]

Yes, something did, but it is nothing I can share. I'm afraid it does not involve just myself, and so, I feel no right to spread someone else's affairs.

[ Tucking his hands into his jacket's pockets, he muses aloud: ] I suppose that is not true since I did bother someone with some of my thoughts about someone recently. I'll admit that I was in a panic at that time, not exhaustion. But it turned out to be a misunderstanding of my own feelings.

[ And so they draw closer to the dunk tank, but he pauses in walking to look to Atsushi. ] I, too, experience panic from time-to-time.

[beneathmoonlight]

Oh...okay. I understand.

[Atsushi would never pry when he’s been given clear boundaries, so he’ll respect Kei’s decision to not get into specifics right now. Of course he’s curious, but if and when Kei wants to talk about it, he will. Atsushi is happy to be a welcome distraction until then.]

That’s normal though! Panic is a natural reaction to stress sometimes!

[He glances at the dunk tank.]

If you need to be dunked, then I’ll dunk you!

[livingimpaired]

You aren't wrong.

[ He rests his hand over his chest. ] I merely am not one to panic. But it is all right. As I said, it was misunderstanding my own feelings. [ But he pauses before he completes the walk to the dunk tank. He turns so that he could lightly places his hand on Atsushi's shoulder, giving it a small pat. It is getting easier to reach out to others. Is that good or bad? ]

Thank you for worrying about me. [ A beat. ] I've experienced it sparingly, but I appreciate the gesture. [ He chuckles as he steps away to head toward the tank so that he could climb up to take his seat. ]

... this seat is a lot more uncomfortable than what I thought.

[beneathmoonlight]

Of course.

[Atsushi really does appreciate little gestures like that, and though it’s fleeting, he feels just a tiny bit closer to Kei in the moment that he touches his shoulder.

Ah. So they’re actually doing this, are they? Atsushi hesitates, blinking up at Kei with wide, curious eyes.]

Are you sure you want me to...?

[livingimpaired]

[ He lightly claps his hands. ]

Go right ahead. [ Making a gesture toward the target, he pauses as he lifts his chin up as he wonders if he should attempt to heckle Atsushi a little. ] Unless you do not believe that you can hit it. Perhaps, your throwing is something embarrassing.

[ He covers his mouth to lightly chuckle, but he drops it away. ] Don't worry. I'll just be a little damp. [ More than a little damp, he just caught sight of the towels. ]

[beneathmoonlight]

[Atsushi frowns. His aim probably does suck. That kind of tactic doesn’t work on Atsushi, sorry Kei. He’ll do it because you asked him to, though.]

Okay.

[He grabs one of the balls meant to be hurled at the target, and surprisingly enough, manages to hit it on the first try. Bye, Kei!]

[livingimpaired]

Well--

[ It's all that he is able to say before his seat drops from beneath him and he lands into the water. Get wrecked, Shigaraki.

It takes a second before he is up, coughing just a little. Pinching his nose, he shakes his head as he breathes out. ] Yes, that did the trick. [ So he says as he shakes his head again. It takes a short minute before he is out of the dunk tank and standing by it -- dripping wet. ]

It's a lot different in practice.

[beneathmoonlight]

[Get wrecked, indeed.

Atsushi immediately feels guilty when he sees Kei soaking wet and coughing. He’s quick to get a towel and hand it over to Kei with a sheepish look.]

Um. Did that help at all?

[livingimpaired]

[ He, at least, is able to use the small towel to wipe his face off. ]

Surprisingly, yes. [ He shakes his legs, and realizes he didn't take off his shoes. Well, okay. ] It's very hard to continue with your thoughts when you're suddenly underwater.