[ open ] birthday time!

[picky]

WHO: Marcille, Ryoji, and YOU!
WHAT: A party for the April (and May) birthdays!
WHERE: LILICO Game Center in Akihabara
WHEN: April 20th
WARNINGS: TBA

No matter who you are, you receive a text early in the morning from Ryoji (memors):

Good morning! Did you know it's a special someone's birthday today? Actually, we have several birthdays to celebrate, so join us today at the LILICO Game Center! There will be cake! Lots and *lots* of cake. Hope to see you there!

This is an open log, so feel free to tag out or top level or respond to the prompts below. Have fun!

Comments

[icyspicy]

[ You know, even with alcohol involved, that's not a reaction he expected. ]

Only... have to? Marcille, what are you talking about?

[picky]

[ That invitation to talk makes her chest twist a little. She must look so weird to him right now, drunk and bursting into tears. She blinks hard, feels tears rolling, and quickly mops them up on her sleeve. Quietly: ]

Sorry. I'm sorry. Just one second...

[ She sniffs, sits up taller, straightens her neck. With her hands in her lap and her voice a little more nasally: ]

It sounds like it might just be different in my world. [ She wipes the edge of her eye. ] So it's not like this anymore, but in ancient times, all of the races on my world used to live until they were around one thousand years old.

[ She holds up two separate fingers ☝️☝️ and brings them together. ]

When you mix the blood of a long-lived race and a short-lived race, it makes the— [ give her a second to drunk person buffer and remember her words ] —the average lifespan of that person revert to how it used to be.

[memors]

[ Look, he's not wrong, Ryoji wants to be treated like a princess with a sash too! ]

Maybe you're right. Maybe we'll simply reach a date that will hit me as the day meant to celebrate myself. [ Or will delaying his choice make it harder to choose than it already is? ] As strange as that sounds...

[ Is that something he even really wants? Perhaps that's the first question that needs answering. ]

Would you tell me...what do you enjoy doing on your birthday? Or maybe...what's the most special birthday celebration you've ever had?

[icyspicy]

Better luck next year.

[ A shrug. ]

I didn't know when my birthday even was until recently, so I could never fully participate.

[icyspicy]

It might have, once upon a time. I've a family I found for myself now, and that alone is worth its weight in gold.

[ He plops a hand on the top of Ryoji's head. ]

So, don't feel sad for me. I have everything I could ever need.

[wheft]

[ mm, makes sense. she's going to fill this pause with a sip of her grape juice first. ]

Then we'll just have to try and not die. Of course, that's easier said than done. [ she exhales. ] I can't... feel my connection with my Manager right now, so I'm also at a risk of dying here. I'm also trying to wrap my head around the idea of being able to die permanently now, but...

[ she turns to marcille. ]

At the moment, there's just nothing we can do but survive. Maybe it's about time you learn how to deal with it while we're here.

[ignoreher]

[ dark hour........................ what a funny name, ]

Is it like a beacon or something? I'd like to go by the way, if it exists.

[frostfist]

[ Why is it always fake dating.....? After his own fake dating experiences he's of the mind that he never wants to engage in any sort of couple-themed espionage again. Archons forbid he catch feelings for another person.

But voluntary fake dating is probably better than government-mandated fake dating, so he merely offers up a nod. ]

Best of luck to you two then on procuring your prize waterfowl.

[ Though, while they're on the subject: ]

Did Vergilius ever speak to you?

[ignoreher]

[ it's fine. she can't catch feelings she already has (?).

at the topic change her face colors though, and she siiiiiiips at her drink. does. does everyone know. what is with this. why is he asking. did vergilius spill in his drunken fervor. he must hate himself. ]

Yeah. March gave him a real talking to, and he ended up coming over later on to apologize. It was much appreciated.

[ toooooooooo say the least about that particular encounter! ]

[frostfist]

[ Sometimes you get drunk and make Mistakes and this why Wriothesley has chosen never to overimbibe on alcohol again. But also: sasuga March. ]

I see. [ Please hold while he mirrors her and also takes a sip of his drink. ] I'm glad the two of you were able to resolve matters.

[ That's it, that's the extent of his nosiness. ]

[ignoreher]

[ ... ]

Your discretion is one of my favorite things about you.

[ just so he knows. okay. ]

Would you call your life particularly exciting, Wriothesley? Here, back home...

[cranekin]

Time complicates things when you travel, doesn't it...

(He hums to himself, thinking about how the missions back home can take literal lifetimes but they always return back home to only a short time having past.)

Well, your time is what you make of it. You're as old as you feel in this case.

[cranekin]

In that case... not for long, I hope.

(You know, when you're a spirit summoned to fight in a war... Well, maybe you just want the war to end.)

But you know, a lot of things don't need to breathe to live.

[cranekin]

How stingy.

(He's so disappointed.)

I would give twice the surprises. (But he's generous like that.) Oh, but that's a good idea... then you could keep getting presents all month.

[cranekin]

(Wow... he looks disappointed.)

I can't wait that long. I'd go crazy.

(Seriously lame.)

Hm? You didn't have one before?

[ignoreher]

Exactly! And no one'd feel pressured to get it by a certain day either, just by the end of the month.

[ wait. she's such a genius actually. all birthdays should be like this. ]

Do you have a season you like best? Let's start there and work our way down, it'll be a fun exercise.

[likemybooks]

[The boy seems so embarrassed at this idea. It doesn't make sense...but would Taryon feel the same way when he was young? Who knows, right now, Raidou needs to have fun at a party about him.]

Let's just say this is repayment for you making dinner for everyone. Now everyone's giving you dinner...and cake. And an arcade. So some extra stuff for your birthday.

[icyspicy]

I had one. I just didn't know when it was.

[icyspicy]

[ He doesn't find her weird in the least, and there's a gentle curiosity to his demeanor that hopefully dulls the sting of whatever she's feeling. He just wants to know more, as is his wont (and that of his patron), not judge her for anything. ]

Does that make your lifespan longer than most elves of your world, too?

[the_fourteenth]

[He scoffs quietly at that, amused.]

If that's the case, I definitely don't have an answer.

[spoken as a teenager who's only gotten to be anything resembling a teenager in the last few months.]

[memors]

[ Ah, so his family isn't forged in blood, but one he chose for himself...

A reminiscent smile. ]

Will you tell me about them? Your family.

[eyescar]

[ Yuji smiles, nodding his head. ]

You got it! We're all working together, so there's definitely going to be a good outcome. I have to save him, so I will, no matter what I have to eat.

[ Ah, a bit much, but - ]

... Onee-san, do you want to talk about her?

[the_fourteenth]

[He manages a little bit of a smile at that, and nods.]

Alright. If you insist. So when is your birthday then? Do we need to get you a hat? And crown? And sash?

[He holds out his sash a little towards Taryon. You can have it, bud.]

[eyescar]

[ Yuji being used to the game doesn't mean he's used to the level of experience the new technology brings: it had been the same when he had been out here on his 'date' with Bakugo. It's incredible, as they let themselves slip into something a little more innocent than fighting real life monsters.

Turning his head to Ryoji, he beams, all bright smile and warmth. ]

I don't know if I'm ready to head back there just yet... The factory might be cool?

[likemybooks]

[He holds up a hand.] It's in the winter, sorry. But next year, I'll be the star of the party.

[He does adjust the crow to be more sturdy on Raidou's head.] Just wear these, it adds some color to your outfit.