[ 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

[cranekin]

Eh? The equinox, really?!

(It isn't missed on him.)

How fitting! And easy to remember, too.

02

[cranekin]

(Spoilers OK!

Tsurumaru is nursing a drink, one that he's had quite a bit of but slowly over time-- just enough to look like he's keeping up with others but anyone really watching will see that he only drinks when others are watching or expect him to. When no one is around, he just keeps it to himself.)

It depends on what you mean by "live."

(He could explain. But he chooses to say it like this.)

[cranekin]

(He'll take that fork, thank you because clearly he was offering it, right? He'll also go ahead and help himself to another slice of cake now.)

Thank you.

(For the fork. He needed this to eat.)

You have quite the sweet tooth, don't you?

[cranekin]

(He'll help himself to cake but as for the survey itself... he eats a piece of strawberry and hums,)

If you could choose any birth date, which would you choose?

(Birthdayless questions.)

[rikugan]

[ he already ate with that, fork stealer. ]

I could say the same for you. [ he's going to take that next slice too since he took his fork. it's only fair. it is not fair ]

[cranekin]

(And now he can't eat any cake so...

But he watches Gojo take another slice.

Looks at Gojo.

Looks at the cake.

Back at Gojo.

And hands him another slice of cake.)

Of course, sweet things are the best.

(And another slice for Gojo...)

But I don't mind sharing.

(And one more.)

[icyspicy]

It really is quite fitting, isn't it? In my home world, it's the day after Simril, a stargazing festival.

[ So, aesthetically perfect all around. ]

[yormama]

[ She did it. She actually did it. Her palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy, and she's pretty sure her body will be too sore to even function properly tomorrow but! She! Did! It! Ten million points!

...on one song. But that's okay! She's so proud of herself that she's still smiling as she lumbers off the machine on shaking legs and has to take a moment to just relax. Her legs are so used to being in motion that every step feels bizarrely light. Maybe she should just sit down for a bit...

That's the thought before her head perks up, catching sight of a very familiar man-wall and a thistle-headed boy. Huh. Now that they're in the same place, the resemblance between them is even stronger. Instantly her fatigue melts off and she trots over to the pair, beaming despite being soaked with sweat and flushed from the exercise. ]

Toji! Megumi! It's nice to see you!

[cranekin]

Simril...

(He's testing it out to make sure he says it right.)

Ah, the stars would be clear at that time of year, wouldn't they?

[rikugan]

[ tsuru, you can't give him all of the cakes. they're for other people too?????

but gojo continues to stack each slice handed to him on top of one another, until there's just a steadily growing pile of cakes in one hand — while still upside down. ]

I don't either. [ at a certain point, gojo is just gonna start passing them out to whoever walks by them. ] Can I have my fork back?

[cranekin]

(This fork is his hostage now.)

Tell me how you do this first.

(Keep all of these cakes from falling, float in the air, like he's following another set of laws than the one in this world. A set that feels familiar to him.)

[rikugan]

I just take one [ he picks up one of the slices— ] and hand it over. [ see clear demonstration of him dropping it into an unsuspecting person's hands. ]

Like that~ [ that's totally what he meant, right? right. ]

[cranekin]

(THIS FORK IS HIS HOSTAGE, GOJO

But he's going to reach out and try to poke him now. If Gojo won't tell him then he'll theory test.)

You're real.

[rikugan]

[ lol BLOCKED

his poking privileges have been revoked by infinity until gojo's inventory has +1 fork back in it. he does draw closer to him though. ]

Or you're dreamin'. Want me to pinch ya?

[memors]

[ That's right! What's a pack of zombies compared to fighting actual kaiju? He survived the apocalyptic Small World, this will be a walk in the park. ]

Right! This is nothing. Let's do this!

[ Puffing out his chest, he steps through the doorway into the arcade machine. Inside, it's dark, but eerie music plays, and there's some glow in the dark guns attached to the machine. Tentatively, Ryoji picks one up. ]

Have you ever played one of these before?

[memors]

[ Even if she doesn't know the date and it might've happened before he arrived, that means he totally missed celebrating her birthday!!! He blew it...

The new year, though...a thoughtful hum. ]

New Year's Day... [ Ironically enough, a day he would never get to see as Ryoji. Not back home, anyway. ] That day holds some personal significance for me, too, though...not necessarily for a good reason. That said, maybe here, it can come to mean something different to me.

[ He'd like that. ]

[memors]

[ He's doing his best March impression, bless you, Wriothesley. ]

November 4th was the day I incarnated into this form. [ Normal!! ] December 2nd was the day I regained my memories...December 31st holds a lot of significance as well.

[ Yet all those dates also have negative connotations, too. Maybe he could reclaim them, in a sense? But also: ]

Hang on, you didn't answer my question!

[ignoreher]

[ stop... just give her a belated birthday date now. she'd love it. ]

I hope so! I'll make it mean something different when it wraps back around, whether you make it your birthday or not. We can go on a date then.

[ future date... that's so far, ]

[cranekin]

(the way he does not expect this and it makes him want to try even harder now... he's so confused.)

You can try if you want.

[memors]

[ ...At this point, he's got to ask. ]

Is Winter your real name? Just curious.

[ Because looking at that date...BRO... ]

[rikugan]

[ good luck tsuru

gojo reaches out to pinch him on the cheek, stretching it out a little. ]

Does it hurt? [ tug tuuug ]

[cranekin]

(He really did it... He'll let him tug for a bit and then swat at him.)

It really hurt. (Emphasis on the really because while e holds his cheek, he adds,) You're human.

[memors]

[ Ryoji is still currently Man Solving World's Hardest Riddle deciding on a birthday date and has left his cake neglected on the table next to him, ripe for the taking. Only belated when Gojo takes it— ]

Okay, just put it back when you're done.

[ ...hol up. ]

...Wait. There's plenty of cake to go around!!

[memors]

[ It's SO FAR...but also, it's nice to have something far into the future to look forward to? That's pretty new to him. ]

Really? That would definitely make it something far more special. If I can look forward to dates with you, I'll want to have a birthday every month.

[ Every week? He's shameless. ]

1/2

[rikugan]

[ —and there's that pesky infinity blocking that swat too, but at least he does let go of him. ]

WHAT? I'M HUMAN?!