[ 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

[ignoreher]

[ mm. her favorite part of celebrations... food and drink, though malkuth is being So Careful not to drink alcohol tonight. it's one thing to do it on a date with someone, it's another thing to do it in front of so many!

...

well, one cocktail can't hurt. it's such a pretty rainbow color too, malkuth humming happily as she kicks her feet. oh, right-- she'd slipped away to bring her camera back from her room, and she takes a picture of it before turning the viewfinder around on the people mingling in the post-celebration. hm, hm...! ]

Wanna take a picture? We oughta remember the good times we're working to protect!

[ and she'd like to add to her photo album, too. be it single shots, couples, selfies... malkuth's really down for anything.

and she might be taking some sneaky shots too anyway. trying her best not to be caught. she's gonna be caught. ]

[frostfist]

[ He neither makes an effort to get closer for said picture nor answers in any sort of affirmative. Actually, he's staying a nice ten feet away, thanks, nursing a glass of amber liquid in his hands (it's sparkling apple cider). ]

Spending so much time around March really rubbed off on you, I see.

[ Stay back, camera devil. ]

[ignoreher]

[ fool that you are. watch as her camera lens starts to protrude out. ]

She introduced me to it our first day, actually... I spent almost every Krypto we got as our starting stipend on this thing.

[ a squeeze, and she lowers the camera to look at her shot. hmmmmmm. a little shaky. raising it again, but this time she's trying to get an artsy shot of his drink instead. ]

I dunno. Marmar's really charming and friendly, I kinda got swept up by her when we first met and I've been caught in her current ever since.

[frostfist]

[ makes the sign of the cross (jk)

He will, however, take a protective step back. Perhaps he is even mentally calculating how far the exit is, who can say. ]

She has that effect on people. [ Y'all extroverts, man.... ] It's not a bad thing though. You seem to be enjoying yourself at least, both with this and all your other hobbies.

[ignoreher]

I've only got this life to live, hopefully! So I just wanna make sure I try everything I can until I can't.

[ ...

he's really backing away... fine, she'll set her camera down and sip at her drink. ]

I promise no pictures, so come sit down. I'd appreciate your company.

[frostfist]

[ It's called self-preservation, thanks. His gaze travels to her camera, the chair next to her, and the back to the loose crowd hanging around the bar area, and it's a good ten seconds before he finally relents and heads on over. ]

I'm surprised you're not already in the company of someone else, actually.

[ignoreher]

[ it's a CAMERA it won't suck out your soul. ]

Because I'm so forwardly friendly?

[frostfist]

[ The implants are already sucking out his soul by simply existing and flashing ads at him every six minutes. But hey, he is taking that seat and setting his glass on the counter. He'll stay put for the next fifteen minutes at least. ]

Something like that.

[ Whatever's going on between her and Verg is honestly none of his business. ]

Thanks for the bear, by the way. What made you decide on that particular animal?

[ignoreher]

[ if he's turning up to socialize that's his choice. malkuth did think about dragging him to come along... but she imagined just how awkward he might be at a series of birthday parties for people he didn't really know and decide to leave him be. ]

Oh, easy! Because you're big and scary-looking like one, but you also seem like you might give good hugs! It was just the first one I thought of when you said you didn't have a favorite to give me.

[frostfist]

[ What the hey. He can see where she's coming from, but he nonetheless has to raise an eyebrow and ask. ]

Am I really that scary looking?

[ignoreher]

You have very intense eyes. I think a wolf would've suited you too.

[ it's a compliment. promise. ]

[frostfist]

[ His eyes.........................he sees (he does not see). ]

Mm. [ Just that noise. ] I can't say I entirely agree with you on that point but I can say that I give terrible hugs, so you might wanna revise your opinion on that.

[ignoreher]

Isn't that for the other person to judge?

[ she wants a hug... ]

[yuwon]

[ his original plan was just to pass by wordlessly. normally, he would have preferred to stay back and avoid such public spaces, and yet here is is. he came briefly, but he decides he may as well just turn on his feet and leave. it's not like it was like him to attend more than one social event. but, as soon as he's about to leave, he catches sight of malkuth.

he walks up behind her, placing a hand over the lens of the camera as he asks: ] What are you doing?

[ who was she even trying to take a picture of? ]

[ignoreher]

[ mr and mrs noneya business.

it was march, it's always march when she has no one else to set her sights on... malkuth lowers the camera and tilts her head back, trying to decide if he's worth fussing at or... no it's not. ]

Just taking pictures. Candid shots are some of the best you can do, you know? I'd just like to make the night last a little longer.

[yuwon]

[ his eyes are still looking at what or who was on the other end of the viewfinder. he then gives a small huff, his hand also dropping back to his side. ] Are they? I wouldn't know.

[ he wasn't much for photos even when he lived a very ordinary life at one point in time. he seems to tilt his head a bit: ] Is this night that special to you?

[ignoreher]

It's my first ever birthday party, so yeah, it is.

[ no shame about it. she hasn't gone to one in this life it's fine. ]

[yuwon]

Oh. [ there's a brief pause of consideration. ]

When is your birthday?

[ignoreher]

Already passed, in March. Thankfully. I'd be so embarrassed if I had to wear a sash and crown like they did.

[ she's free... ]

I don't remember what day it is though, so I've been turning over what it should be. Oh, but I'm still accepting presents for anyone who wants to give me one.

[yuwon]

Should I grab you one? [ he's not serious for the record, but he does recall that there were moments before like calling herself "cute" in which she appeared kind of embarrassed. hence, he says and it moves on, not looking back to the topic.

free for now. ]

What kind of present would you want at this point? [ a pause. ] Or am I not allowed to ask that, either? [ is this another one of those "think for yourself" moments? ]

[ignoreher]

[ her tired look should be enough of an answer to the non-serious inquiry, which shifts into something a little sheepish at the rest. ]

No, that's... different, Yuwon. You can ask that. If I answered "Oh, anything would be good! Just pick something you think I'd like" then it'd be similar to what drove me up the wall before.

[ ....... even if she really would be fine with anything; malkuth isn't too picky, and seeing what someone might give her is fun. but he's asked, and she is not going to be the victim of hypocrisy today. ]

Let's see... I always like handmade things, and I won't turn down being treated to a drink or dine... It's less "at this point" and more whenever, you know? Um, I like cute stuff a lot -- a fr... coworker of mine [ please don't say anything about the slip yuwon she's trying so hard ] got me a pen with a duck head on it since I mentioned I liked ducks, and they know that I'm always writing things down too, so it was really thoughtful.

[ ... and it hurts sooooooooooo bad not to be able to do moooooore. ]

Things like that!

[yuwon]

[ the expression she wears is ... a little funny, especially when he recalls her apology. while puzzling, it's true that he bore no actual grudge about it. though, that isn't to state he's truly learned his lesson here. even as she explains, he's definitely thinking the distinction between the two different types of questions isn't nearly as clear as she may believe.

but, he also knows better than to try and touch that topic anymore than he already has. ] You really like ducks... [ is his main takeaway here, but her words do provide some food for thought. ]

But, did you mean coworker, or...? [ he got you, malkuth. ]

[ignoreher]

[ "he got you malkuth" BUD GOT SHIT ALL!!!!! BRO ON NOTHING!!!!!! ]

Just coworker! Yup! Nothing more, nothing less! Juuuuuust coworkers... That's all.

[ ...

nailed it!!!!!! totally natural!!!!!! it's not obvious at all that they aren't "just coworkers"!!!!!!! ]

A-Anyway, I do like ducks! A lot! What do you think of them?

[yuwon]

Hm, [ there's a distinct pause there that displays he absolutely does not believe her. there is not a single natural thing about that. after he feels like his silence has drilled in his point (does he actually have one, i don't know, work with me)— ]

You're a terrible liar. [ but, it's not like he doesn't know that people tended to be cautious with that word. he guesses he's a bit surprised she is, though. he wonders if this stems from a deeper reason, or if it's ... embarrassment? shame? ]

... Are you really asking me if I like ducks to change the subject?

[ignoreher]

[ he does, promise, she is an absolutely terrible liar, ]

I am. So let me change the subject.

[ at least she'll be upfront about it. ]