03 - Birthday Tribute to a Demon King!

[belfire]

Who: Kazuya, Atsuro (otakuro) & Naoya (meaningdies)
Where: Cancer Ward
Summary: BACKDATED TO 24th NOVEMBER yeah I'm late. It's Kazuya's birthday! He wants tribute.
Warnings: Spoilt Demon King ahoy.

It was Kazuya's birthday, and he actually felt somewhat happy over this. There was none of the excitement that was normally felt on this day, but it was enough to put him into a peppy mood despite the cold weather.

Of course he sent his friend and cousin where they could find him to give him presents, and, if they wanted to, to hang out. Kazuya had squirrelled away enough money to splurge on this day of fun, and he was spending some of that money on one of the crane machines outside of the Growlanser Arcade.

Although Kazuya wasn't alone. His demon, Okuninushi, was standing beside him, holding what seemed to be a plastic bag full of boxed food (cakes and sweets, most likely) with an expression of grand patience. A great misuse of a Kishin, but it was Kazuya's birthday, and everyone loved arcades!

"Lord, I think that should be more to the left."

"I've got it, I've got- oh fucking hell."

Well, that love was being tested at the moment. Kazuya glared at the empty crane, before his gaze dropped back down to the Jack Frost toy that it had failed to grab. He swore this damned game cheated...

Comments

[otakuro]

"Hah!"

An amused voice sounds from behind Kazuya as Atsuro calls out, vindicated. "And you were making fun of my Halloween costume." Good thing Atsuro had purchased him a perfect replica of the costume for his birthday so they could be matching twins next year. ...Or not. He holds a poorly-wrapped package in his hands as he approaches with a cheerful smile.

"Happy birthday, Kazunya! What are you now, a million and two?"

[belfire]

Kazuya turned away from the crane to raise an eyebrow at Atsuro. But not even he could feign an irritated expression for long, a small smile appearing on his face at the sight of his (poorly wrapped geeze what happened to good presentation Atsuro) present in his friend's hands.

"A million and three thank you very much," Kazuya corrected with a playful grin. "I see you have brought your King tribute~ Is it chocolate?"

Kazuya could always go for some chocolate, man, even if Okuninushi was carrying a bagload of it already.

[otakuro]

Poor Presentation was called away at the last minute and had to send his understudy, Why Are Scissors So User Unfriendly Oh God Is That Blood I Think That's Blood I Just Cut Myself Oh My God Wait Wait No That's a Holly Berry False Alarm Guys Everything's Cool. Thankfully, Atsuro had persevered and had only managed to make four of the corners lumpy instead of all eight.

"Open it and see!"

Atsuro thrusts it forward. His poor wrapping skills would be forgotten when it was all unwrapped anyway. "I thought it was something you could keep around for the next million years."

It's a life-size portrait of Atsuro, of course. The bill is included inside.

[belfire]

"It better not be a gag present again. You owe me from last year's abomination," Kazuya warned, taking the lumpy, poorly wrapped thing with a suspicious squint slanted towards his friend. That expression quickly lightened into one of childish anticipation though, his fingers quickly picking away at the sellotape and multiple layers of wrapping pap- goddammit.

"How much paper did you use? I feel like I'm playing pass the parcel here," Kazuya grumbled, shoving another layer of wrapping paper into Okuninushi's waiting hand.

[otakuro]

"Hey! How was I supposed to know you had a bad childhood experience with kitsune udon?"

Atsuro may or may not have completely forgotten what he'd purchased Kazuya for his birthday last year. It was so long ago, anyway, it definitely didn't matter at all. He smiles brightly as Kazuya continues to work through the layers of paper...

"Keep going...!"

And layers. And layers. And layers. Until, finally, there's only a very thin box left on the inside.

"It's, uh, special so I put extra care into wrapping it."

It's a mug with #1 Demon King printed on it. It's a T-shirt featuring Atsuro's favorite video game characters that Kazuya has probably never heard of before. It's a kitty litter box. It's blue hair dye with built in dandruff remover.

Alternatively, it's a deep navy-blue cloak that could be mistaken for black under the wrong lighting conditions.

"I thought you could use a spare. And I had some pockets sewn in - useful and fashionable."

Whenever Kazuya gets around to checking all the pockets, he'll find that one of them contains a flash drive. But perhaps that won't come until later.

[belfire]

It hadn't been kitsune udon - but Kazuya had learned on his last birthday that he had a severe allergy to bush daisies. It was better not to remember. He wasn't sure if being a Demon King null and voided that allergy now, but, better to err on the side of caution...

Thankfully it seemed Atsuro didn't bring him another hideous plant for him to nearly die from. Kazuya let out a little curious noise at the thin box, examining it from multiple angles before lifting up the lid - to reveal a neatly folded up cape.

"--..." Kazuya stared at it while Atsuro spoke, somewhat taken aback by the gift. His friend normally trolled him when it came to gift-giving (and, admittedly, Kazuya did the same), but when he did give a genuine present, Atsuro normally hit the sentimental nail on its head. Yeah, it was just a spare cape, but, still...

In his world...

Kazuya shook off the sudden flare of emotion (it's just a present Jesus Christ) and slipped the lid back on the box, glancing up at his friend with a small smile. "Hah, feeding my unhealthy love for capes... for shame, Atsuro," he quipped, but there was an undeniable trace of warmth in his tone.

[otakuro]

"I'm an enabler." Atsuro agrees readily with a smile that's a little more sincerely friendly than the normal affair. "'Cause if you're going to wear anything 24/7, it might as well be something you didn't pick up off the street somewhere." Seriously, Kazuya, where had you even gotten that thing during the end of the world, anyway?

The more sentimental part would come later, given that the contents of the flashdrive would hopefully be a flash from the past.

Let's play 'Where's Kazuya?' Don't ask me how I got these pictures; you probably don't want to know.

Followed by relatively decently clear shots of Kazuya from various time frames. Quite a few were of Atsuro, Yoohoo, and Kazuya during their high school days but there would also be a few unusual ones, including one of a teeny elementary school age demon lord.

I actually found this on Naoya's computer one day and I made a copy without him knowing. Don't say anything.

In the meantime, Atsuro begins to pick up the wrapping to throw away.

"But if I'd known you wanted a Jack Frost doll so badly, I would have just bought you one of those."

[belfire]

Sadly, Atsuro was correct regarding his cape. He had picked it up off the street, but, man, he had to look imposing there and then when he had been facing the SDF at the barricade, and that had been the closest thing on hand. He just grew attached to it afterwards...

But like hell he'd tell Atsuro that. He'd never hear the end of it.

"Or you could've bought me both," Kazuya said cheekily, handing his present to his faithful Kishin for him to hold onto. Later, when he would find the flashdrive, Kazuya would embarrass himself by curling up into the new cape, filled with nostalgia and other emotions that were weird and confusing, but for now...

Kazuya snatched the wrapping from Atsuro's hands, screwing it up into a small ball and setting it aflame with a bit of effort. It crumpled to ash within seconds, and a small shake of his hand sent the ash scattering onto the floor, the flames extinguishing immediately. He icked at the soot on his hand though, wiping it clean on his sweater.

"Anyway, we should go and party, or something. Arcade or strip club?" he asked, waggling his eyebrows at his friend in an over the top manner.

[otakuro]

((Sorry for the wait! This weekend was super hectic.))

He'd always suspected as much, honestly. Eau de hobo had added an interesting new texture to Kazuya's normal aura. ...Not that he went around sniffing his friend or anything.

"Or I could've bought you nothing and let you bask in the pleasure of our friendship." Atsuro considers for a moment that he was spending too much time around Demon King!Kazuya as he cheerfully shoots back with his own retort. He was getting pretty sarcastic here. This thought is forgotten as Kazuya decides to dispose of the trash by setting it alight.

"Hey! Don't mess up the cape before you even wear it, alright? Wash your hands before you put it on later. ......And, uh, let me think about that for a mom -- arcade."

[belfire]

((It's fine! I've made you wait longer for replies oTL))

"Yeah, yeah," Kazuya said dismissively, settling his hands on his hips once he finished wiping his palm clean. It was only a bit of soot, and the fabric was dark! It wouldn't turn up on his new cape!

Hearing Atsuro's decision though, Kazuya couldn't help but laugh, pitching his body forwards a little as he chuckled. "Hah! So even when presented with opportunity for a 3D girl, the 2D ones always catch your attention first... m'kay. I actually haven't played in an arcade in a while anyway," he admitted, straightening up.

[otakuro]

((My horrific lateness knows no bounds. I'm very sorry for the wait! Holiday madness happened. Feel free to drop the thread if you'd rather not go on.))

"Hey. It's 2.5D now. We've progressed far enough that we don't use sprites in arcade machines anymore, right?"

Atsuro's making a strong case for himself here, though to be fair, Yuzu was as much flesh-and-blood as either of them.

"But, uh... It's your birthday, right? If you want to go do something else, be my guest."

[belfire]

((s'fine!))

"It's fine. The Strip Club thing was more of a joke," Kazuya said flippantly, grinning as he lightly punched Atsuro in the shoulder. "I'm not interested in that stuff anyway... so!"

He turned to face the arcade, planting his hands on his hips as he stared into the flashy, multicoloured interior. "Say goodbye to the sun, Atsuro. We won't be seeing it again where we're going."

[otakuro]

"Sun?" Atsuro blinks innocently. "Oh, yeah, the bright light? It's fine; it hurts my eyes, anyway. And I took a multivitamin this morning." He shrugs casually as he turns his back on the nurturer of all life. Amaterasu probably wasn't listening. Probably.

"While we're talking about clubs, though..." Atsuro keeps his tone deliberately casual as he follows Kazuya into paradise the arcade. "I hear we actually do have one of those around town - Nixie's Nightclub or something like that."

[meaningdies]

Naoya comes up behind Kazuya, watching him play. Oh Kazuya. Why can't you get over your love of crane games? You always lose. ... He'll just stand here like a creeper until you turn around.

[belfire]

Alas, gone were the days where Naoya would ninja behind Kazuya without his knowing. The Demon King's enhanced ears picked up the clack of geta against pavement, and he rolled his eyes, slotting in another coin into the crane machine. Never change your creeper ways, cousin.

"Hey, Naoya. Stop trying to ogle my ass through the cape. That's illegal, y'know."

[meaningdies]

"I'm not, you know that."

He looks over at Okuninushi, rolling his eyes a little bit. He's not going to complain on his brother's birthday, at least.

[belfire]

"Oh, I'm not too sure~" Kazuya half sang, nudging the crane this way and that. "Oh~ let yourself be caught, my precious lil' Jack Frost, the King demands it~ ah~ wai- OH SON OF A BITCH!"

The crane, obviously, failed him, and Kazuya kicked the machine hard enough for it to rock dangerously, letting out a few irritated growls in the process. The Demon King was clearly pouting, and the Okuninushi wisely delved a hand into the plastic bag and held out what seemed to be a wrapped up chocolate bar.

Kazuya grabbed it from his demon's hand and tore it open, angrily shoving it into his mouth as he turned to his cousin at last.

"Gnn...so what'd you get me?"

[meaningdies]

He bit back a laugh at Kazuya's little temper tantrum, and drew a small package out of a pocket in his haori. He handed it to Kazuya, grinning.

"It's not much, but I thought it would be useful soon."

When he unwraps it, he'll find a pair of earmuffs designed to fit over and around his headphones.

[belfire]

"Hm..." Chocolate bar sticking out of his mouth, Kazuya carefully unwrapped the present to reveal the earmuffs. He made a small curious noise, lifting it up outside of its package.

"Mmnnff," he said around his chocolate bar. He paused, and after some juggling, shoved the empty box into Okuninushi's hand and crunched the end of the chocolate bar off. "Mngh. Thanks, Naoya. Heh, this'll save me from the horrible, horrible cold."

Hate the cold. Haaaaate it.

[meaningdies]

"Heh. Anything for my little brother, right?" He may be the king of demons, but he was still getting a birthday hairruffle.

"What do you want for dinner, as well?" Within reason, hopefully... his budget wasn't that extensive.

[belfire]

"Argh-!" Kazuya whined at that hair ruffle, swatting at his cousin's hands with a little growl before ducking out of range, smoothing down his hair and readjusting his headphones.

"Hrmph, I dunno, something with lots of meat," Kazuya grumbled, carefully putting on the earmuffs on his headphones. It was sunny, but there was that winter chill hovering in the air as well. "Steak."

[meaningdies]

"I'll see what I can do." It wasn't as if he had much money to spare... but whatever. He'd get it for Kazuya, because it wasn't as if he splurged on this kind of thing often.

"Do you plan on being here all day?" You're going to run out of money eventually, little bro.

[belfire]

"You celebrate birthdays in arcades, right?" Kazuya said, lifting his shoulders up into a careless shrug. "But if you want somewhere less strobey, we can wander about the shops or something."

[meaningdies]

"I just wanted to know where to find you." Honestly though, Kazuya would probably find him first.

[belfire]

"Eh?" Kazuya blinked a little. "You don't wanna come with me?"

That's what he was getting anyway. Ah, fine, he can hang out with his demons, and then pick up Atsuro to party on down in a strip club or something. Naoya could meet them there.