HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

[vrdr_mods]

[Visitors to the Velvet Room are in for an unusual sight.

Gorb balloons. Streamers. Banners that not only read, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GORO AKECHI! but also...

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR FRIENDSHIP!

This particular banner has cutesy illustrations of a normal Akechi and Falcon. Yes, really.

There are multiple, multi-layered cakes. One is an angel food cake, decorated to resemble Robin Hood. Then there's another cake, fashioned after Loki, with lovingly decorated dazzle camouflage frosting. Inside is a heavenly red velvet.

Lastly, there's a purely chocolate delight, patterned after Hereward.

There are even little Gorb cupcakes, designed to look like the myriad Akechis resident in the Velvet Room. Fresh brewed coffee and Jazz Jin mocktails await those who seek a beverage, and there's even some curry. How thoughtful!

So... care to mingle?]

Comments

[lostgemini]

Maybe she could, but-- he'd rather not, really. He'd rather not much of anything right now, though.

As for her question... what kind of question is that? He sags a little, shrugging, looking away. He's not in the mood for mind games right now. Not... today, of all days.

"I don't know," he says. "I can go either way, I guess." Just... maybe not right now. "Why?"

[wipingallout]

"I have decided that today, I am picking you to be my hangout buddy. So are we gonna go sing together at the top of our lungs, or am I gonna kick your butt in the arcade fighting games??" Hamuko teased a bit, seeing if he had that bit of competitive spark in him, bouncing on her toes.

[lostgemini]

Maybe some other day, the words would've spurred him into a competition.

Today, however, he merely stares at her, and sighs.

"Sorry, I'm not in the mood," he says, and takes a drag of his cigarette. "Some other day, if it's all the same to you."

[wipingallout]

"I picked you because you aren't in a good mood. I understand the need for a mental and emotional getaway," Hamuko smiled at him, tilting her head before tugging on his sleeve. "Come on - wanna hear my metal growl? It's pretty good, I'd say, and I bet you're a fantastic singer. You've got a pretty voice."

[lostgemini]

"Hamuko-san, this really isn't--" he starts, but cuts himself off, frustrated and exhausted. She's tugging on his sleeve like he's a toddler refusing to follows his parents, and he sighs.

"If you must," he says, all the fight leaving him at once, "the arcade will do."

[wipingallout]

A win! Her puppy eyes haven't failed her yet!!!

"Perfect!! Do you wanna go to the Shibuya one, or should I drag you all the way to Paulownia Mall in Iwatodai?"

She'll start walking anyway, still smiling at Kou, expecting him to follow.

[lostgemini]

"I don't care," Kou sighs. He really doesn't, trudging after Hamuko like a hit dog.

[wipingallout]

Iwatodai then - much more likely to not have any memories with the people you've lost.

She doesn't say it, but... she understands, Kou. She smiles at him.

"Then I'll show you my favorite games in Paulownia Mall - and after I can treat you to some Chagall! It's admittedly not as god-tier as what Kira made us, but they also have great hot chocolates and teas."

[lostgemini]

"Sure."

He's distracted and downtrodden, not quite paying attention to what she's saying as he follows her on autopilot. It's clear his mind is somewhere else entirely, his silence and distant, misty eyes speaking volumes.

He always misses Goro. He always does. But today... today. His throat feels tight, and his muscles heavier than usual.

It's not fair. It's not fucking fair. He's turning 20 and his brother... isn't. He's changing and his brother-- his twin--

His face remains carefully neutral.

[wipingallout]

It's a pain she knows... Minato would be 17.

It's an older feeling, for her, but she remembers that pain sharply. She remembers how it hurt every year and it will probably hurt when October rolls around this year, too.

So he needs something. Just for a little while, some time with someone current, that's what would help her, even if only for an hour or so - the mind needs every moment of relief it can get.

She chatted with him, in the meantime - giving him a chance for his brain to cling onto something besides his grief. To the Velvet Room, through the Iwatodai door, onto the monorail, then the walk to the mall... after chattering at him about games she's played, friends she's dragged along, something about guys always being shocked that she's SO good at fighting games and her high score in the boxing machine-- they're finally there.

"There we go!! Have you been here yet?"

[lostgemini]

Kou let's her blab, only replying with a hum here and there out of politeness, but not quite taking in anything she says. She's putting in all this effort to distract him... and for what? He doesn't even appreciate it. He's just putting up with it because fighting it is too exhausting.

His stomach twists at the sight of the Velvet Room. A whole fucking birthday party for Goro Akechi. He pretends he didn't see anything the moment they go through the Iwatodai door.

Yet, it is the only part of the walk there that sticks to him like a piece of gum. Lovely. Another reminder of what he lost.

When she says they're there, he finally looks up properly-- he couldn't tell you what route they took if you asked.

"... No, I haven't," he replies honestly. "I don't know what to expect."

[wipingallout]

"Ooh, I get to be your first tour!! Excellent. This is such a little mall compared to some of the places in Shibuya, but this was my hub for a little over a year, I love this spot," she gushed a bit, tugging him gently by the wrist into the arcade. It wasn't a large one, but it also wasn't packed tight, thankfully - there was a decent variety on offer.

"Hmmmmm... got the energy for the dance pad game? I think getting your blood pumping might be a fun way to start!"