#anytime we get spams we get really giddy its like 'YES WE HAVE PLEASED THE COURT'

[mushtoons]

Ahahaha get spam reblogged!!!! Grraaah!!

[dispensemiracles]

Birthday Drabble 2019 

I’ve been away cuz we had a death in my immediate family and was also doing stuff for other fandoms because I was feeling them more 

Wanted her to do some self love so she’s alone like last year but its in a positive way (also i know its late now and idc its for me)

She crossed her feet on the numerous pillows and scrolled through her phone. The heat of June made the room swelter despite her fan’s efforts. It stood blowing hot air onto her face; rattling when she buried her face in the sheets and flailed. She groaned like a child threatening a tantrum. The ding of her message notifications continued ceaseless as a wave at tide. 

“I get it I get it you’re all very busy this year. Lady Luck has abandoned you, and there’s no way I can broker anything so suddenly.”

She flipped on her back to scrunch her face at the ceiling as if it ought to know a piece of her mind. It calmed into a parade of several funny expressions that came at random. After a time she laughed but most importantly she turned herself to contemplation. Eli would webcam her by evening over three thousand kilometers away in her grandmother’s spare bedroom. The other seven in their divided, hectic collective had, partially influenced by their shame, vowed to leave their lines of communication open. Extra emphasis had been given to spam her congratulations in the meanwhile. 

There were research papers due, some overdue, work to remain on to make rent, hay fever. Each felt given to expressing their regret unprompted until it drove her blistering mad by the flush darkening her face. She furiously typed replies on her keyboard and that was the end of it. For a pause of untold length she stared into space. Absentmindedly she groped for a pillow and cradled it, unable to fixate on any singular want. By the swift calculations of her brilliant mind she took comfort in above all else the assurance of companionship. 

It remained an odd concept to grasp that caught her examining its reality in spontaneous bursts. Though not always physical she could speak at anytime, shout into a void if she chose; an answer would be sent back. All at once she felt power surge within her. What a privilege, a delight social contact was, a gift few knew to know friends. Though years had passed since her emergence from the alien otherness of isolation its grip remained imprinted vividly. She sighed as frustration ebbed away from her. The others had not shunned her, had remained and would remain regardless of form. A word floated to the surface in her thoughts, stability. 

It had an air of the forbidden to consider herself approximate to the concept. For over a decade prior there’d been only wandering and loss, wandering and loss, indifference building in between. There was stability of status and it’s brotherhood but what then was left for the equally important self? This idea split her tangent in two and opened a new door. She made to get properly dressed then found herself gladly away. 

The intimate lighting, packed seating, and embedded scent of grilled meats was everything she’d hoped for. Patrons crowded around their tables centered by table grills and conversation. She examined them all with her curious eyes; salarymen attended their bosses with regret mounting beneath their over-enthusiasm, friends told jokes with years of layers, another birthday or two was being raucously celebrated. A smile came over her as her mouth watered spying the glistening meats served in passing. 

Without delay she was seated and handed a menu. An array of sliced beef in dazzling variety opened before her. The haze of smoking meat flooded her nose in renewed force. Her stomach growled in obnoxious protest. A beat passed before she remembered her surroundings and the saintly patience of the waitress. She blushed in embarrassment. At a glance she spied the prices and set the menu down.

“I’ll have everything you can bring me until I’ve finished.”

The waitress gave her a sharp look as her eyes widened. She appeared suddenly as if she’d swallowed a bee; in seconds her professionalism returned. Nozomi refrained from giggling.

“We are currently experiencing some delay due to rush hour. We’re sorry if this causes any inconvenience but we’ll serve you as best we can. Anything to drink?”

“Melon soda please.”

“To be refilled?”

“Yes.” Nozomi said with a grin.

She was left alone to wait. Ever restless her hands fiddled with the table grill’s heat level. She made a game of counting the speed at which she could eye something else, then snap to the red coals. When her drink was set beside her she thrust her hands on her lap; they remained their until her prize arrived.

A long plate of thin sliced raw beef piled generously was served. Hungrily she licked her lips to the nervous onlooking of the waitress. The moment she rushed to attend other guests Nozomi wasted no time lining the grill. She drummed her fingers as the beef cooked and not a smidgen of coals could be seen beneath. In this routine she passed the hour oblivious to that which did not concern stuffing her mouth. 

She took simple joy in every detail. There was magic in the meat crisping golden brown, in the fuzzy drinks; most of all she was too busy to feel alone. When at last she meandered onto the street full and carefree she stretched. Her attending waitress had watched her leave in awe and shook her head. The day continued into late noon. 

Her gait was slow though she hadn’t a worry. With her stomach sorted her mind now hungered for new excitement. She checked her phone, replied to her messages with a lightened heart, and began to whistle. The sun reflected off each skyscraper grander than the last. It made her suddenly want to skip without abandon as she framed one using her hands. Strangers threw cautionary stares her way; they failed when her newfound optimism deflected them all. A destination appeared in her mind’s eye as she spun then walked giddy. 

The arcade was lit brighter than day itself on ranks of machines. Some were bulky, others massively wide, a few slim. Some had stood where they were since the nineties. The wear and tear marking them hid subtly beneath well kept surfaces. She felt them put her at ease because they were things like her; because they were welcome distractions. Curious she wandered the floors eyeing everything like a kid in a candy store. What little restraint she still possessed came only out of courtesy until she settled on a taiko game. 

Before she could boot up a level a boy of twelve slunk near. He eyed everything he passed with a mix of scrutiny and inquiry. His hands were in his blue jacket pockets and his bag bent on his slouched back. A red baseball cap with ‘Get Smoked’ emblazoned across the forehead shadowed his face. He stopped beside her, examined the screen, then spoke flatly; his stare looked on as if he were seeing past her. It reminded her in an intimate way of herself at his age and her chest tightened.

“Hey sister I’ll bet you a thousand yen you can’t beat me at this one.”

“...Why?” She asked with her face knitting in confusion.

“‘Cuz you’re new blood here that’s all there is to it. You in?”

She stared him down critically sizing his appearance and shrugged. A thousand just once wouldn’t hurt on her birthday. A strange tingle in the back of her neck gave her premonition to keep caution on the backburner. Slowly she nodded and he registered as Player Two with the speed of familiarity. That detail made her stomach flip as if to steel herself against what was to come. There was however no time for regret as the screen changed.

“You can pick the song.” He said.

His borderline monotonous tone at this was another sign that made her regard him with suspicion. She chose something of medium level that would by her judgement confuse a child. No one ever said she had to play fair with money at stake, after-all. Today was a day she could afford a cheat. He said nothing though she swore she caught a smirk out the corner of her eye. 

They were thrown into the rhythm head first with a steady opener. Though she’d almost never played anything rhythmic extensively she nailed the first notes with a natural focus. That method had never failed her before, and she found little reason to doubt it now. In fact it inflated her confidence. When a short break appeared she grinned at the boy but his eyes were glued to the game. She heard the notes miss before she saw them, quickly recomposing herself. 

The notes ramped up speed and began to double layer. Her wrists burned in the struggle until at last they cleared. She groaned seeing the score tallied. The boy stuck out a hand, his expression largely blank.

“‘Fess up the cash I beat you fair and square.”

She made to reach for her wallet then stopped. 

“I’ll tell you what. Today’s my birthday so I’m feeling playful. Instead of paying you now how about you try beating me at every game here first?”

“Psh, no fuckin way. You’re just sore cuz you lost.”

His eyes widened just barely at his own words. He glanced away and shuffled his feet uncomfortably. It made her eye him with a curious look.

“Sorry I cursed. Still you totally lost and we never said anything about playing a bunch of stuff.”

“That’s true but how about this. Think of it as a game within a game. It looked to me like winning so easily made you bored. It’s not really winning if it doesn’t feel earned right?”

At last a look of surprise however faint brought life to him. She danced giddy in her thoughts; she’d guessed him right. The boy stood thoughtful in his silence. When he was ready to speak he no longer slouched and wore focused eyes. It was the most she’d seen from him since they’d played.

“You’re on.”

They carved a path marked by a few surprised onlookers through each new floor. They passed giddy onto each game in the manic focus children posses best. For every cluster he won at she’d break his streak by the next. She refrained from teasing at his losses. His eyes would narrow and his face scrunch severe; at times he sucked his teeth. In the heat of moments a barrage of curses would fly from his mouth; every outburst soon signed with an apology. 

Within the myriad labyrinth that comprised the arcade they lost time. It became a measurement felt only in their gradual tiring. The blur of their play quieted into a final contest at a shooting game. Neither said so out-loud however. When a noticeable crowd surrounded them her eyes widened. She looked to him and his expression was focused as ever. A low buzz of gossip circled around them from all directions.

“That’s him!”

“The Arcade King...”

“Didn’t he leave for that other place?”

“What’s he doing playing against a noob?”

She frowned and pressed harder on the trigger, aimed faster. The outside voices dimmed into white noise. Time passed like an abstract concept hinted at only by the increased sweat on their hands. Onscreen a zombie shambled towards her with grasping arms. One shot struck it clean through the head for an enthusiastic hundred point gain. Pride swelled her chest like an inflated balloon; she hissed a ‘Yes!’ through her teeth. More mounted up the pressure and for each she downed her grin grew. From the corner of her eye his effort intensified; head shots appeared in quick succession. 

Before she fully comprehended it the level faded into a clear screen. The information at a glance made her shoulders sag. She heard him sigh and felt an electricity through her when it was contented. The crowd gossiped a half minute longer then dispersed; she heard none of it. He reached out a fist in invitation and with a slow look down she bumped back. She watched him crack his first smile that carried innocence and when viewed beheld the innocence of seeing a rainbow for the first time. She sensed with painful clarity that indeed they had common ground. 

“Keep the money. That was the most fun I’ve had in a while. Mom usually can’t take me anywhere so I like hanging here alone. I normally come after school- if you’re ever around sometime we can play again.”

It was the most he’d spoken so that for a pause she stared incredulously. Without hesitation then she nodded. Her smile was easy, earnest.

“Sure. That’d be very nice.”

“See you around then, later.”

As abrupt and meandering as he’d first appeared he walked away. Soon he melded into the packed corridors. There was every chance they’d never meet again. She let that thought slip as her phone jingled. She smiled at the screen before leaving through the doors; her heart several degrees lighter.