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

[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.

[beneathmoonlight]

Oh. I see.

[Atsushi glances over at the dunk tank.]

Maybe I should try it too...

[His thoughts are absolute chaos right now, after all. He didn’t bring any clothes to change into, though...]

Um. Are you going to walk around wet for the rest of the party, or...?

[livingimpaired]

No, I am probably going to go home.

[ He shakes his foot, watching as water continues to drip off of it. Kei shudders as he realizes that the temperature isn't the best for this sort of silliness but he will be fine. ]

So, if you are planning on headed home, why bit just dunk yourself.

[beneathmoonlight]

I guess so...

[Atsushi takes a deep breath before daring to climb up into the dunk tank seat. Maybe the water will help him clear his head as well.]

Okay. Go ahead.

[livingimpaired]

All right.

[ He picks up the ball and steps forward to throw -- ah. It whiffs and hits the tank itself. Kei blinks as he looks down at his hands and just walks forward. ]

I don't have very good aim or arm strength. [ A calm explanation before he slams his fist against the target instead. ]

[beneathmoonlight]

That’s okay-

[Atsushi hardly has time to answer before he’s falling into the tank, and oh no, he should’ve pinched his nose or something because the frigid water goes right up his nose.

It does serve to distract him, at least.

He breaks the surface with a gasp, coughing and sputtering as he climbs out of the tank and flops to the ground.]

You didn’t say it was cold!!

[livingimpaired]

[ He pushes his bangs out of his face. The wet state of his hair allows for it to stay pushed out of his face, and he shakes his head to bring his bangs back. No, thank you. ]

I suppose I did forget that fact. [ A quick, little chuckle to himself. ]

[ Standing over him, he looks down at him with mild feigned concern. ] Are you going to be all right, Atsushi? Do you feel the cold grip of death?

[beneathmoonlight]

What?? No!! I didn’t drown or anything, just got a bit of water up my nose.

[Atsushi pushes himself to his feet with a little sniffle.]

I guess we should leave then, huh?

[No reason to hang around soaking wet.]

At least I got to forget my troubles for a few seconds.

[livingimpaired]

[ He lightly claps his hands. ]

Congratulations. You've allowed yourself to escape your thoughts, and should be able to find something better to focus on.

[ Kei turns, his jacket slapping against his leg as it hangs heavy on him. There is a small sigh at how weighted everything feels, but he starts walking. ]

A warm bath is in both of our futures. [ A pause as he turns back: ] Try not to allow your thoughts to ruin such a luxury. If anything, get as cold and as miserable as you can... so that what quiet thoughts come will be simple appreciation at escape from misery.

[beneathmoonlight]

[That’s a...unique way to look at it. Atsushi wrings out his shirt before heading for the door himself.]

Right. Good night, Shigaraki-san. I had a good time.

[In a manner of speaking, anyway.]

[livingimpaired]

Good night, Atsushi.

[ He gives a small wave as they begin to part. ]

May the next day offer even more hope to you. [ Even though I consider hope these days to be nothing more than sweet poison to continue suffering ]