[ 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

[gimu]

[ with hands and sleeves up over his face, choso coughs and coughs, trying to bark out something like accusation, but it's hard when his lungs aren't listening to his earnest attempts. ]

You- [ hack ] -cheat- [ gack ] -cheating- [ huegh ] -you--!!!

[memors]

[ So for her, it's something of a landmark, is it? Each birthday passed is another year lived, for a warrior. He may not consider himself one in the strictest sense, but he would certainly consider it an accomplishment if he lives to see more than a year in this form. ]

So it's important for you to celebrate yourselves. I like looking at it that way...in that case, I'll chose a day I won't come to regret later.

[ Not any of those dates fraught with turmoil, caused by himself to his friends. ]

Malkuth suggested January 1st, so...maybe that's the way to go. A day that means new life.

[memors]

[ It may be overkill, but it's definitely satisfying — Ryoji has never much liked this guy, anyway...

When the dust settles, the Reaper disappears, leaving a pile of loot behind, some coins and a handful of tarot cards. Ryoji stoops to pick up the cards, sorting through them and examining their sides. ]

We really did! We make quite the team, don't we?

[yormama]

[ She'd be blushing if she wasn't already flushed from exercise. Does she really look so tired? She must've gone harder than she thought. ]

I did! It's a lot more challenging than you'd think for a game.

[ She finally notices the plush Megumi's holding. ]

What a cute doll! Did you win that, Megumi?

[ignoreher]

I know what you mean! I'm pretty much the same way, but... I think there's situational ice creams. A light matcha would pair well with some afternoon sweets as it warms up, but nothing beats the richness of chocolate or cookies and cream when it's dark out! I haven't found a circumstance for all of them, but it's been really helpful to make the most out of them!

[ she's a lover of lists. ]

And that's not even getting into this like frozen yogurt or sorbets... I'd like to try squid ink ice cream too, or maybe pineapple...

[eyescar]

[ Yuji goes right to the coins, turning them this way and that before he starts to gather them up and trying to find somewhere to shove them all. Pockets? Ryoji's pockets? Do they have a bag?

This is harder than he thought it would be. ]

Yeah! That guy never stood a chance.

[ignoreher]

You don't look like you enjoy much, visually speaking. So I'll take my shot and say sure, I think you could.

[ she's blunt as always, too... sorry yuwon. ]

Besides, there's always little boys chasing after each other holding a bug or two... so you probably like them at least.

[ignoreher]

"Only in the base, I think, past the greenhouse. It seems this place really digitizes everything of worth... which is really putting down the things they don't process like that, since every book, magazine, and pamphlet has something to offer in my opinion. Like a look into the time and minds of the people it was meant for."

Whether it was the word choice or the topic matter, it always spoke to something of the era and its inhabitants -- that's important, to her. Though she knows most might not feel the same, or even understand why. It is what it is, continuing her clean up.

[assassinsgreed]

_{[ Goddammit. He's so angry. She thinks it's cute, but he got too nervous and now he can't take back the gift, right? He's so mad at himself. Toji groans, then gestures oddly at the plushie. ]}

I won it.
For him.

'Cause.. you know... we're father and son, so.. it's just what you do... when you have a kid. Yeah.

_{[ He sounds so awkward talking like this, when really, he probably would not have won a toy for Megumi. At least, not in this point in his life. ]}

You win them things.. especially when .... they beg for it and won't be quiet.

_{[ ??? ]}

[heir_conditioned]

Maybe not most, but Shoto does have a moment with it, eyes focused on something in his hand but the way his eyebrows are together says he's thinking about what she said. That he's flipping it over and begins to nod his head. "I understand what you mean." He doesn't think he ever considered it, but he can understand it. "A glimpse into the past if the book or media is old enough." Huh. Yeah he's never thought of that.

What's in his hands gets put into a bag. "What kinds of books do you like?" She seems to have such a good insight. "Informational? Science? History?"

1/2

[seaurchin]

[ It isn't that he doesn't appreciate this cute plush toy, but he's so confused by the vibe and the conversation right now. ]

What in the world are you talking about ... [ He didn't beg. That's obviously a lie. Why would his father lie about this? He's about to further correct him when ... ]

[seaurchin]

[ It dawns on him. His father is trying to impress Yor. There's no other reason for how stiff he's looking, and how he's trying to come off like a good father who would do something like this on their own.

So it's like that.

What should Megumi do in this situation? He could send the whole facade crumbling down, but somehow, he doesn't want to. It feels sort of mean, even if there still are things that irritate him about this man. ]

I ... didn't beg. But, yeah, he got it for me.

[yuwon]

[ he wants to say that it isn't true, but it isn't false, either. what a conundrum... ] Are you comparing me to a little boy?

[ this disrespect after he let you change the subject, malkuth!?! ]

Sorry to say I've outgrown most things. [ but, bringing the subject back to the matter at hand. ]

[yormama]

[ Her eyes light up more, if it's even possible. Her gaze flits from Megumi to Toji to the doll, then back again to Toji. He won that for his boy? ]

Oh!! That's so sweet of you, Toji!

[ Her gaze keeps bouncing between the two, a hand covering the grin threatening to just eat up the rest of her face.

Mission accomplished, it seems. ]

Maybe I should try one of those machines next to see if I can win something.

1/2

[assassinsgreed]

Tch. Yeah.

<sub>[ what the fuck, what the fuck, is that a SMILE on his face? Just vaguely? Right before Megumi can get a good look at it, though, he turns away. Then, he kind of leans into this little warm feeling he's having, amping it up to really make himself look good.

Once he's looking back at Yor, he slings his arm around Megumi, half-hugging him.. right into his tit. ]</sub>

2/2

[assassinsgreed]

Megumi is the only kid I have with my blood. Don't we look alike?

_{[ what the FUCK toji you're creeping me out.. also the hold he has on Megumi is tight.. as if.. threatening... don't say anything about him being an absent father, you... ]}

[assassinsgreed]

_{[ And, the laughter is back. That's three times! But this time, it's accompanied by Toji planting the strength of his hand on Choso's head and patting him a little. ]}

Didn't say cheating wasn't allowed, did I? You did really good though.

_{[ A beat. ]}

Good boy.

[gimu]

[ Toji positively fucking squishes choso a good few inches shorter with his big goddamn paw, but for three whole instances of laughter, choso finds he can let it slide for now.

it's a good price, after all.

luckily, choso can't snap back about it just yet, being so busy with his coughs and his snorts and his watering eyes, but nothing can really hide how his ears go beet red when Toji's praise hits them. ]

Menace.

[ why bother with a speech when he can just pack all his force into one word? the red's all the way in his cheeks now. ]

That is the worst game. But now I understand its parameters. [ does he!? ]

[picky]

[ Marcille quiets down, deflating as Ishmael meets her eye. She folds both of her arms over the bar, making a little nest for her head. Any mirth escapes out of her like a tide pulling back. Exhaustion rushes in. ]

S'not like we really have a choice...

[ She murmurs, petulant. Her gaze slides off to a corner of the bar. ]

You would if you could though, right? Live a longer life.

1/2

[picky]

How can it be fun to get scared on purpose?!

[ This has to be one of the worst decisions she's ever made, she thinks, but she's also no stranger to actual zombies and ghosts. These monsters are exceptionally gory, but if she were a squeamish person, she'd never have gotten this far in her studies.

She is also weak to pouts and puppy eyes and earnestness. She makes this face for a second. ]

2/2

[picky]

F-Fine. Don't blame me if we lose!

[ There's like a 50/50 chance she will die right away, but fine! Fine!! She pulls the gun from the dock and turns to face the screen, looking nervously determined. ]

So you just— [ She looks at Ryoji, (badly) tries to mimic the way he holds his gun, and taps her finger on the trigger. ] Like this? That's how you hit them?

[picky]

[ (i'm listening)

That last comment surprises her, but it lights a little fire in her chest. Her mouth breaks into a (slightly snide) smile. ]

Oh, we'll see who ends up last. I'm a fast learner, you know!

[ But she is going to be bad at this, help. I'm giving her disadvantage on these dice rolls.....

She slides into her seat and drops her tokens in; Ryoji's at least taught her how the coin slots work. The rest of it, though, she's totally lost. She furrows her brow and turns the wheel, gasping a little as it flips through the characters onscreen. ]

So... you choose one of these? [ She oscillates between Peach and Toad. ] What are these things on the floor, though? Small levers for your feet?

[picky]

[ HOW DO BANANAS NOT EXIST IN THE OWL HOUSE? Anyway, she squints at the screen too, watching the characters flail and yell and spin as they're hit with seemingly random objects. ]

It looks like it, doesn't it? [ Squinting harder. ] There's so much going on, though... There are all these colors and lights. Are those monsters driving those machines? Cars, right?

[ She points to the screen of the chair beside them. ]

This just looks like a beach, though. It seems way calmer and easier.

[picky]

[ Marcille considers it for a second, her eyes searching over the menu once more. Then she looks back up at Luc and nods determinedly. ]

I'd feel bad wasting it if I didn't like it... but I'll try it anyway. [ She smiles a little. ] You should do that on your birthday, right?

[picky]

[ She slowly lowers her hands and gaze back down to her lap. The moment of silence that follows is probably answer enough, but she quietly responds, her voice wavering in her throat. ]

Elves... They live somewhere around- 'round four hundred years. Me... People like me...

[ She sniffs hard, wipes her eyes. Her voice is tight, kept between the two of them. This bar is filled with mostly Outsiders, but even drunk, Marcille is trying to keep her Deep Lore to herself. ]

I'm going to-... to live longer than all of them.