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.]

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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...

[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.]

...would you?

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

Please?

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.]

Okay.

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

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

[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.]

[He immediately curls up with his head on Shuji’s lap, eyelids fluttering closed as he slowly begins to relax.]

Thank you, Shuji-kun.

You're welcome. Have a good sleep.

[Shuji gently strokes Atsushi's hair. If it helps Atsushi relax and fall asleep, then that's what he'll do.]

[It does indeed help him relax, and he falls asleep quickly, warm and happy in Shuji’s lap. Maybe there’s no chance for romance between them, but Atsushi is happy for just this much.

If Shuji is still there in the morning he’ll wake to a very sick Atsushi clutching his head and groaning.]

Ugh...this is a hangover, isn’t it?

[He's still here, still with Atsushi's head in his lap.]

Good morning, and yes it is. Having some water will help.

...I hate to ask, but could you get me some? I’m not sure I can stand...

[What a pitiful thing he is right now.]

Edited 2018-03-21 05:33 (UTC)

I can, but I'm going to have to ask you to move your head off my lap first. I don't want to dump you on the floor.

[That would be counter-productive to the whole 'make pain go away' thing.]

Okay...

[Atsushi sits up and immediately regrets it, his head swimming and stomach churning with nausea. Ugh, what did he do to deserve this??]

Thank you...

It's nothing, I wasn't just going to abandon you.

[Shuji ducks into the kitchen, then returns with a glass of water.]

Drink slowly.

Okay...

[Atsushi sits up slowly and sips at the water, his body feeling far too heavy.]

Why would someone do that? Spike the drinks? That’s really cruel...

Because some asshole thought it would be funny.

[No one died at that party, so it can be assumed that Shuji didn't find the culprit.]

I guess so...

[Atsushi looks like he’s about to cry, and he feels incredibly ashamed for it.]

I’m sorry, Shuji-kun. For everything. For confessing to you when you have a boyfriend. Everything.

Edited 2018-03-24 03:39 (UTC)

[He should have known this was coming.

Shuji sits down next to Atsushi and, very gently, pulls him into a hug.]

You didn't do anything wrong. I'd rather know.

[Atsushi hugs Shuji tight, tears welling in the corners of his eyes.]

Thank you...even if I shouldn’t have let myself feel that way when I knew you were taken...

[Shuji only hugs him tighter after hearing that.]

It's not as easy as just 'not letting yourself feel that way'. I'd be a hypocrite if I told you to just get over it.

I guess...

[He buries his face in Shuji’s shoulder with a shuddering sigh.]

You’re just so wonderful, Shuji-kun. Falling for you was really easy.

You're at least as wonderful as I am.

[If he'd been single, then he would have asked Atsushi out ages ago, and he wouldn't be sitting here petting Atsushi's hair now.]

Thank you...

[He’s so tired...]

You can go soon if you have things to do...

I should really get home.

[He doesn't want his boyfriend to worry.]

Okay.

[A sad smile.]

Thank you for everything, Shuji-kun.

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thesettingsun - 2018-04-01 19:07 (UTC) - Expand