Shura's birthday party, backdated to the 26th

[demifemme]

Who: Shura, a bunch of friends and you?
Where: Growlanser Arcade, Cancer Ward. Will later move to the Taurus Ward.
Summary: Shura celebrates her birthday with friends and strangers alike.
Warnings: Taurus Ward, underage(?) drinking, Nyx's Club

The day was much better since she had decided to celebrate. After joining with Yamato in Virgo and getting a thick hoodie to keep herself warm in the snow, they had travelled across the river to the Cancer Ward to pick up Elizabeth at the station before heading to the arcade.

The Growlanser arcade was as loud and bright as ever, even in the middle of a quiet Monday afternoon. It was still time for school, so Shura and her group almost had the arcade to themselves, and they were going to take full advantage of it. And Shura was gonna begin by finding that table flipping game she had seen on the Network.

Comments

[drakenguard]

Yamato was utterly unused to such loud, flashing lights - well, those outside of a battlefield setting, in any case. He squinted at the excitable atmosphere of the Growlanser arcade, crossing his arms before him with a small scowl. He hated it already.

"...you want to spend your day here?"

[demifemme]

"Yes! Well, as long as I still have money." She smiled. "Don't make that face, it'll be fun! There's so much to do here... crane games, fighting games, DDR, shooting games, purikura... hell, I can probably win you some sweets!"

[drakenguard]

Yamato continued to make 'that face', pressing his lips together in what could be tentatively called a pout. Bribing him with confectionery, Shura was far more conniving than he thought!

...well, he promised her an hour. An hour of suffering would be worth the offering of sweets he would gain.

But first: "I do not know what half of those things are..."

[demifemme]

"That's all right, I can explain."

She took his gloved hand and pulled him toward one of the numerous crane machines lined by the entrance, one that contained a 5 to 1 ratio of ugly demons, but also contained the ultimate prize, the legendary hee-ro Frost Ace in plush form! And look, an Arioch on top of the pile.

"This is a crane machine! You insert money to gain a limited time to operate the crane and grab a plushie to bring it to the chute. You win if you manage to fish one out and let it fall in the chute before the crane resets. This is a machine that gives its own reward."

[drakenguard]

Yamato pulled his hand away when they reached the crane machine, flexing his fingers slightly in discomfort. He still wasn't used to casual physical contact - especially if it was without warning.

"I see..." Yamato muttered, peering inside of the machine at the 'rewards' inside. Stuffed toys? Yamato didn't have a use for them, and it seemed a bit wasteful and pointless to pay for an attempt to try and win one. Wouldn't it be more economically sound to purchase the toy in a store instead of blowing large amounts of money in trying to win one instead?

"Toys are useless rewards, though."

[demifemme]

You silly boy, it's because they're not available in store that you get them from a crane machine! Speaking of, Shura was hard at work manipulating the Frost Ace closer and closer to the chute.

"Well, I like plush toys. Don't worry though, I'll get you some candy as soon as YES!!!" One Frost Ace get! Shura opens the little door on the front of the machine to pick up her reward. When you squeeze the toy, it says "hee-ho!". Shura is beside herself with cute. "Fuck yeah, I've been eyeing this one for a long time! Anyway, let's go inside, we're getting snowy." And there was no chance that Yamato would want photo stickers of himself and Shura anyway, she was certain.

[drakenguard]

Despite Yamato thinking the rewards were useless, he did watch Shura with obvious curiosity. He supposed he could see the use in playing a game, if the rewards weren't your cup of tea. Learning to use this crane could help one to judge distances, as well as develop hand-eye coordination.

Still, perhaps a better reward system, like food.

Yamato almost jumped at Shura's joyous cry at grasping a Frost Ace, blinking a little at her as she claimed her price and cuddled it shamelessly. That excited over a bit of fluff and cotton?

"...hm, yes," Yamato said reluctantly. It was cold outside, but, the inside of the arcade was so bright and loud, he could already feel himself get a headache just from looking inside of it. "You will show me these other 'games' you mentioned."

Only an hour. And then sweets. Endure, Yamato.

[meaningdies]

Naoya arrived promptly on time, a square wrapped package tucked under his arm. He stomped the snow off of his boots, and looked around for her. She shouldn't be too hard to find.

[demifemme]

She wasn't, no. Even with a hoodie on, she still had the marks in her face, and one could probably hear her once inside the actual arcade. She might be a bit loud.

[meaningdies]

He headed over towards her, squashing his internal dialogue about 'kids these days'.

[demifemme]

Focused on her game as she was, she didn't see Naoya approach until he was right by her. "Naoya!" Visibly, she was happy to see him.

[meaningdies]

He chuckled, and held out the package. "Here. I'd advise you to ah... wait until you get back to your room until you open it." He'd taken note of her conversations with others on that post, and gotten her a book of lesbian erotic fiction involving demons.

... Which was a bit awkward to explain to the cashier, but never mind.

[demifemme]

"Oooo..." Shura actually blushed as she took the box with both hands and held it close. Her first reflex would have been to tell Naoya that he shouldn't have, but now she had a feeling that she was gonna enjoy this little gift too much (maybe it was a toy?) to say that.

"Thank you."

[ghost_shield]

All of his amazing powers of perception, all of his intellect, and he STILL can't get that damn coin to flick into the winning slot. "Damnit!" He fishes in his pocket for another coin. Considering all he'll probably win is some candy, this is pretty freaking addicting.

[demifemme]

Shura chuckled behind him, her presents in a bag with the logo of the arcade on it.

[ghost_shield]

Flick clack. Flick clack. Flick clack. He's gonna get this "car" in the finish line if it kills -- awwww. "One more, I swear." It's hard to tell if he's just bad at this game, or if he's bad at games in general.

[demifemme]

"Don't blow your budget..." She was a bit concerned by how fast he was burning through coins.

[ghost_shield]

"Just... a little... ah HA!" The coin FINALLY flips into the winning slot. His little "you win" token prints out as he dances a dance that seems directly disproportionate to the amount of effort and money he put in versus the reward. Games are dangerously additive, man.

[demifemme]

They certainly are. "So, what are you gonna redeem your tickets for?"

[ineedthemforanalyzing]

Latooni - having had to bundle up for the cold in spite of her Persona's resistances - was later in arriving than Shura's other guests. Still, she arrived excited and happy to see the arcade, if only because of memories she associated with it. And maybe the opportunity to practice her aim. That's what arcades were for, right...?

I'm so, so sorry ;;

[demifemme]

The non-rigged games, sure. Shura waved Latooni in from the depths of the arcade, easily recognizable thanks to her facial markings. "Latooni!" she shouted over the cacophony of the arcade.

For what? Waiting two days to respond? 'cause uh...

[ineedthemforanalyzing]

Latooni waved in greeting and hurried over, opening her coat now that she was inside.

"Happy birthday, Shura," she said. "I...didn't get anything, but I can head back out if I should. I wasn't really sure what the protocol was..."

XD good point...

[demifemme]

"There's no need! It's been so long since I last celebrated my birthday, just being surrounded by people who like me is more than enough!" she assured her, grinning widely. "Welcome! Wanna play with me?"

[ineedthemforanalyzing]

Latooni nodded, happy she'd gone with 'get here as quickly as possible' as her main goal.

"Definitely! Have you found anything good here?"

[demifemme]

"Table-flipping game!"