un: jMan93 | video

[critpei]

[ The video starts with a boy in a baseball cap, wearing a bright grin and lifting a hand in greeting. An I-come-in-peace kind of greeting. He's in his bedroom, sitting on his unmade bed and while his room isn't messy per se (he hasn't been here long enough to accumulate a mess), there are a few shirts haphazardly draped over the back of his headboard. ]

S'up, Etraya? The name's Junpei Iori! I'm pretty new here. Still getting the lay of the land and all, but uh...

[ He rubs the back of his neck, glancing past the camera for a moment. ]

My birthday's on the 16th. Which I guess is operation day? So I'm thinking of celebrating early. Anyone wanna maybe...hang?

[ God. That feels so pathetic. Like coming on here and pretty much announcing he's a friendless loser. Junpei quickly pivots: ]

Or I guess you could just give some recommendations of good places to check out and party it up? What place has the best food or where can a guy get a good cake...that kinda thing? Yeah, sure. I can probably go find somewhere on my own, but the best reviews are usually word of mouth!

[ Junpei shifts, palms planted on his knees as he leans forward. ]

Sooo, lay it on me, folks. Where would you spend your sweet seventeen in this place?

Comments

UN: Knuckles&Kisses

[joke_o]

Oh we are absolutely having a party before then!

[She taps her chin for a second.]

Hmm... We're definitely gonna need to find a pizza place. And a bakery for a cake... hmm... wonder if there's any good arcades around...

[critpei]

[ Ahhh, Kyoko! Coming in with the win! ]

Heck yeah. That sounds great! That's exactly the type of party plans I'm looking for! You know me so well, Kyoko-chan...

[ He sighs dreamily. She's truly the best! ]

If there isn't a good arcade, though, there oughta be. It's literally the best place to hang out!

[joke_o]

I gotta say though, I'm surprised I'm older than you, even if it's not by much. I'll take care of the cake though for sure!

[She grins smugly as she nods. Gotta take care of her kohai after all.]

I know, right!? It's not a party if there's not a marathon run on a dance game! We can skip the part of putting someone through an air hockey table like what happened at my seventeenth party.

[critpei]

You da best, Kyoko-senpai~

[ Junpei says with an exaggerated wink and then branches off into a laugh. ]

But, yeah. Maybe let's not start a brawl at my party? We'd probably have a hell of a time running into enough people to piss off anyway. I'm talking to some British guy who said something about a place called Mall of America here? It's apparently got an arcade. We should check it out!

UN: Ignis | Video

[cheffeur]

I doubt you'd like suggestions for where I would spend my seventeenth birthday.

[There's a wry bit of amusement as he says that-- though the guy on the video doesn't look like he's too much older. He just looks and dresses like he can't decide if he's a salaryman or a fashion model.]

There's a number of entertainment areas I've noticed in exploring. One of the largest is called 'Mall of America'. It seemed to be some sort of shopping and entertainment megacenter. Movie theatres, arcades, various food and shops.

I expect having free reign of that sort of place might make for an exciting afternoon for you.

There's another establishment with an old-style arcade in the basement, but the main floor is more of a bar. I'm not sure what's available there to eat or drink.

[local nerd takes notes, news at 11]

[critpei]

Oh ho?

[ His eyebrows raise at that little comment at the start. These suggestions are great. Particularly that bit about the Mall of America and Junpei makes a note to check it out the first chance he gets! But this dude can't come in here with that juicy opening statement and not spill the deets! ]

Annnnnd these aren't up to your brand of sweet seventeen fun? Gonna give all these good suggestions and not even one single hint about what sorta things you got up to back in ye olden days of yore?

[ Seriously! The dude can't be much older than twenty-five if Junpei had to guess. ]

[cheffeur]

I'm fairly certain I was working most of the day.

[at..... seventeen....... look some us us have had our jobs since we were literally six years old.]

Though, some friends did manage to pry me away for some horribly burnt cake they had spent all afternoon on.

audio | un: crusher

[fieldtrip]

[ Despite the username, the voice that comes over is sweet and young and girlish. ]

People really are crazy about birthdays, huh? I don't know about partying, but you can come check out the farm if you want.

We don't let adults in unless they're cool.

[critpei]

[ Crusher? With that voice?? Intriguing. ]

It sounds to me like you got some fine taste! Only the coolest of the cool should be allowed into this farm of yours.

[ And since she just invited Junpei, no take backs! He is officially cool now. ]

But you....don't celebrate your birthday?

[fieldtrip]

It's just really not a thing where I'm from.

[ Toph's tone of voice is that of a shrug. She isn't bothered by it; she's had to get used to being the odd one out in basically every cultural context. ]

The farm isn't mine, but it's supposed to be a place kids can get away from everybody else. You can check it out if you want. [ It has nothing to do with being cool if you're a kid, and accordingly, Toph sounds like she is completely ambivalent to it despite the fact that she more or less lives there now. ]

un: Wolfman | video

[will_chase_balls]

Harry's Hidaway has some nice food. I don't know about cake, but they've got some decent beers and ciders there.

[What's a drinking age?]

[critpei]

[ That is the question!!! Fortunately, Junpei's not the sort to go con himself a beer. So he offers a smile. ]

Well, if they got good food, they gotta have some kinda dessert! What's the place like? Sounds like it's got a dark and mysterious vibe, made for the weary adventurer.

[ Harry's Hidaway is giving video game tavern 100% ]

[will_chase_balls]

It's nice. It would be a good place for a weary adventurer, and it's got an enchanted box that plays music.

[It's a normal jukebox, but all the items like that in Dwayne's world would be magic.]

[the_infiltrator]

I like birthdays. I can bring you a cake.

How old are you going to be?

[critpei]

[ OH. Oh. A cute girl. Offering to bring him a cake. This is Junpei's lucky day!! ]

W-well! I'm gonna be seventeen. But you don't have to go to all the trouble of putting seventeen candles on it! Just the cake and the company is fine.

[the_infiltrator]

[she smiles. It's good she won't have to find candles; she can make cake, she can't make candles.]

Do you want chocolate or vanilla?

video; un: shades

[laserguy]

[A sunglasses teen soon appears on video, almost looking exasperated.]

At least one person suggested the Mall of America and I'm doubling down on that. You can go for food and whatever shit you want, while jumping to the arcade and movies right after. What's not to like?

[critpei]

Yeah, dude! That's definitely on my to-do list. Bonus points if they got a karaoke bar somewhere in there!

Are the shops pretty normal? Or do they got some specialty things like....I dunno, swords?

[ Because Junpei's thinking it's probably a pretty damn good idea to arm himself before this mission. Maybe it could be a birthday present to himself. ]

[laserguy]

Yeah, I think I've seen something like that inside the mall. It's a new addition to me and I've never tried it, but whatever it's your birthday man. Do whatever.

[He's not stopping him. There's an arch of an eyebrow above his glasses hearing that second question though.] Uh, maybe? There's so many stores in there man, but I never went looking to get a sword for myself. What do you actually use one without hurting yourself?

video; un: MAXIMUMLEGEND

[maximumlegend]

[ Does Fabian know Junpei? No.

But it still doesn't stop him from accosting this total stranger with an immediate message of: ]

Dude, you have to throw the biggest party possible. If we have to go on another dumb mission, we at least have to go out partying before then! Surely you are thinking about something on a very, very large scale, right?

[critpei]

[ One does not need to know Junpei Iori to become an instant best friend!!! And this guy? Junpei's loving this guy already. ]

Well, far be it from me to deny the good people of Etraya what they dearly want. This could totally be the party to end all parties!! And I'm thinking...since it's been recommended a few times, we use the Mall of America as the backdrop?? It sounds like it's plenty big enough to fit everyone from this place if they wanted to come hang.

[maximumlegend]

That definitely sounds like the scale we should be working on.

[ Who knows when this went to a we situation.. Yet the word flows so naturally out of Fabian's mouth, like he isn't even thinking about it.

Which might actually be the problem here. ]

A big venue, lots of decorations, good music-- Please tell me that you are arranging good music. We need a dance floor for sure!

Video; UN: Oleander

[sacrificialpawn]

[This stranger doesn't know Junpei either, but he heard the magic word. Or multiple magic words, to be more precise, and so he is obligated to weigh in with an offer.]

Bakin' isn't really my specialty, but name your favorite food and I can at least make that much happen.

[critpei]

[ Why yes. It's another new, instant best friend!! Junpei beams at the offer. ]

Oh, dude! The question is more what's not my favorite food?? I will eat pretty much everything!

[ He thinks for a moment. ]

But I guess since I'm feeling a little homesick and have yet to find a place to replicate it....I'd love a good bowl of Shoyu Ramen? Is that something you can do?

[sacrificialpawn]

[Junpei, you're speaking Oscar's language here. Simple, filling food that doesn't require a ton of ingredients? That's his specialty.]

Y'mean the kind with pork that melts in your mouth and broth that's just salty enough without being too salty? [He laughs.] You bet I can do that, though it's gonna take me some time to make it properly. Can't rush those things an' all, not if you want 'em to come out right.

Just leave it to Big Bro and I'll have that all ready for your birthday. You can even come over if you wanna make sure I'm makin' it right.