ß⊕†αη (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ferries) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
bakerstreet2012-02-11 11:35 pm
ferries) wrote in bakerstreet2012-02-11 11:35 pm
Where a kid can be a kid...or something
The Discovery Zone / Chuck E. Cheese's / Arcade Meme
If you were a kid during the 80s or 90s, I don't have to explain. Everyone remembers those meccas of fun that were awesome, yet somehow still smelled vaguely of stale pizza and shame. Whether you're hanging out in the tubes, jumping in the moon bounce, or shooting some hoops, you're sure to have a blast.
Well, even if you don't, it's not like you can leave. As big as this place is, there seems to be no door. So you might as well just sit back and win some tickets.
HOW TO PLAY:
1. Comment with your characters.
2. Others will reply, rolling the RNG for the scenario.
3. Have shenanigans. Feel free to make wacky crossovers, since you're all stuck in here together.
SCENARIOS:
1. The slide
2. Ball pit
3. Climbing wall
4. Moon bounce
5. The tubes
6. The little viewing bubble
7. Skeeball
8. Hoop shooting
9. Arcade games
10. The claw machine
11. Laser tag
12. Harassing the poor guy in the mascot suit
13. It's your birthday party!
14. For some reason, you work here.
15. Wildcard
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He does manage to smile a bit at the encouragement (like a normal person probably would), watching Zack's demonstration carefully even as he steps over to take up the next machine over when the last player clears off with their handful of tickets. Simple enough. Right, okay.
Though he's a little suspicious of that completely casual dismissal of the not-quite-failure on Zack's first throw, there's no point calling him on it. So Cloud grabs one of the balls that've rolled down at the side of his own lane and begins to mimic that motion, just a practice swing--
That turns into a real one when Zack's last comment completely destroys his concentration, breaking his grip and sending the ball bouncing off the cage over the end of the lane, released way too late. ]
Wh-What-- [ WHAT. GIRLS. NO.
The face he makes is probably riotously funny to everyone who isn't him. There's nothing smooth about choking like that... ]
What are you talking about? Nobody's looking.
[ ...Hopefully. ]
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But Zack is rooting for him. To have fun in addition to winning skeeball. He's probably not going to win the skeeball portion of the contest, realistically, not his first time out. True, it doesn't exactly take supersoldier skills to triumph at skeeball, but Zack does have the advantage of experience. It's not as if he's going to let him win. That would just be an insult to Cloud.
Still, you never know--! Maybe Cloud's a natural. He sure is a natural at showing his reactions.
Oh god, that face. That face. Zack tries so hard not to laugh. Keep cool, Fair. Also, continue this line of conversation in the hope of more hilarious reactions.]
Settle down there, don't want any casualties. [He watches the ball go wide, hit the ground and roll harmlessly away, before dropping his voice into a lower, conspiratorial tone.]
That's right.
Cloud, you have got a lot to learn about girls. One thing you need to know is you can't always tell if they're looking. They're a lot smarter than you and me.
[If they weren't looking before, they might be now.]
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At this rate, no, he's definitely not going to win at the having fun or the skeeball competition. ]
...You don't know what you're talking about.
[ Huffy. So huffy.
But his face is still fairly red and now Zack's succeeded only in making him completely paranoid -- stealing glances back over one shoulder as he pretends to ignore the ridiculous nonsense still being spouted over the other.
Zack, girls aren't dinosaurs. Their vision isn't based on movement.
...And he doesn't see any over the age of approximately five, around here, anyway, so who cares if he's noticed? (Right, that's what he'll tell himself.) ]
Just knock it off and let's play, already.
[ So he can direct his sullenness at the machine, instead, as is only appropriate. ]
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It's a good thing he has super reflexes with all these violent, grumpy ball-wielding troopers around. Stop looking like a storm cloud over there.He knows, Cloud, he's just trolling. And they'll probably look at him now in case Cloud throws any more dangerous projectiles, in the interests of their own safety. He'd only been teasing, but then Cloud had reacted so violently, and how can Zack resist something like that?]
Trust me, if there's one thing I know about, it's girls. Of course they don't always want to seem like they're watching the guys. Throwing things at 'em is one way to get their attention, but I think you might want to work on your game there.
[And he means that in both senses of the word. There are some older girls around. Keep telling yourself there aren't, if it makes you feel better.]
All right, Strife. Think you can keep it in your lane this time?
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It's a dangerous world, Zack, full of disgruntled blond teenagers.And since being grouchy is like the one thing he does exceptionally well, Cloud is just going to go ahead and keep at it, thank you very much.He really doesn't think there's any dignified way to reply to that kind of statement, either, so he just endures the advice. It's really all anyone can do once Zack gets going, after all.
Besides, if Cloud wants to pick up girls by whipping sports equipment at them, that's his business and no one else's!! Not that. He does, or anything. But if he did, he certainly wouldn't consult Mr. Shameless Flirt on the matter.
Not at the risk of getting laughed at, again, anyhow. ]
Maybe. If you'll let me concentrate.
[ And Cloud shoots him A Look, at that, because there's no way he's turning down the challenge. Even if his doom is inevitable. ]
Zack saw you two saying he was right up there! Yep, you know it.
They're the ones you have to look out for.All right, Zack has to hand it to you, Cloud, in a grouchiness contest you would win, every time. He wouldn't have a chance.
That would be how Cloud tried to pick up girls for all the finesse he's got with the ladies. Sure, sure. Cloud doesn't need his advice at all. He's got it down.]
Oh, if I let you? Sorry I was causing you such a big problem, sir. Didn't mean to get in the way. [He is still smirking at the grouchiness, because it is more than a little amusing, so he doesn't even mind losing the grump contest so completely by displaying actual eagerness and enjoyment. (The horror!)] I'll just back right up and let you work.
[Though this is more teasing than earnest, and in response to that Look, he is going to give a distracting Look of his own, leaning in instead of backing up while Cloud is trying to focus.] How's the concentrating going, there?
Cloud pleads the fifth. That conversation never happened!
Though, completely in spite of himself, he can't fight the surprisingly good humor swiftly threatening to put his prestigious title in jeopardy -- what's to be done? Zack is just kind of contagious like that, and he's already (almost) starting to forget that he'll still have to go and collect the ball he chucked completely out of range, eventually.
Still, Cloud manages a halfway decent poker face as he leans down to pick up another ball, still frowning (if just a touch less severely) as he steps back into place. ]
Fine. Thanks.
[ And he's so focused that when he swings back his elbow, he doesn't bother checking to see if there's an idiot SOLDIER standing way too close.
Of course, he fully expects Zack to dodge the blow (and it's really no harder than he'd rib him for saying or doing something embarrassingly stupid, at any other time, anyway). It's totally just a warning shot. ]
Nope, Zack's rightness was acknowledged, and that's that!
Oh, getting ornery there! Well, Zack does step back out of the way at the last minute, and he likes your fighting spirit, if not your will to do him grievous harm with those fierce and fearsome elbows of yours.]
That's right. Teach me how it's done, Strife. Show all these girls here, too.
[Yes, maybe he is guilty of making the same joke one time too many, but if it was funny the first time...]
Oh dammit now he'll be twice as insufferable
UP
ZACK
!!!!
This time, at the very least, Cloud doesn't throw anything when he trips up, but he still has to shoot an exhausted glare at the innocent game in front of him as he flinches. Yup. Kind of regretting not actually trying to hurt him, now.
Not even beginning to acknowledge the return of that embarrassed flustered feeling, he takes his first (actual) throw -- fast enough that he won't get so disrupted again, but too quick to properly aim, either. The ball rebounds off the side of the lowest worthwhile goal and rolls into the hole at the bottom.
He reaches for another with no more than a skeptical glance to acknowledge Zack. He's definitely sworn off talking to you, now, man. It just never leads to anything good... ]
You brought this on yourself! And he can't help it he's so smart.
you
are
A RIOT.
He can't believe that really did work a second time. He tries not to laugh, really he does, but all that trying not to laugh does is turn his laugh into a stifled chortle.] Okay, okay, this time I'm gonna be quiet. Honest.
[Now, why would you want to hurt your dear friend Zack? Or not talk to him? He'd make a sad face at you, and then how would you feel? What with those puppy eyes and everything?
This time he'll be supportive and won't distract Mr. Needs Complete Silence to Concentrate. Though he's twisting up his lips while smiling, as if he does want to say something. But he is being good! Just this once. If in a really overdone way. But he believes in you, Cloud, you and the power of skeeball!]
Uh-huh. Yup. His genius is just unparalleled...
Do you really
Hopefully it was worth it, because you're going to get the cold shoulder for like ever. So there.
Except Cloud is sort of accidentally starting to enjoy this game a little -- now that he actually has a moment to recover from his hideous embarrassment. And that means he'll probably forget all about how or why he was so angry, before long.
Especially as soon as he actually manages to sink a couple. Oops, looks like somebody's almost completely forgotten to be glaring, although he is still feeling a little wary, with Zack making a face like that in the background. He pauses before taking another roll
and the ball in his hands is totally insurance in case Zack is still feeling cheeky okay]Aren't you going to play, too?
[ Instead of just standing there and staring. You big creeper. ]
Glad you finally admitted it! /IGNORES ALL SARCASM
Fantastic, in fact. It was all for Cloud's own good! Look, Cloud's already loosening up and having fun. Just as planned. Zack is so smart.
Wow, that's rude. He is not a creeper, he was teaching you how to play and then smilingly and sagely watching your progress like a good mentor does. But fine, be that way.]
Course I am, just wanted to make sure you were settled in there. Looking good.
[With that, he takes up one of the balls, rolls it so it banks off the side of the lane, then sails up into the smallest of the holes, right where he was aiming. Nice and smooth
in case any girls are watching.]Modest, too. /SARCASTS WANTONLY ANYWAY
The encouragement, no matter how brief, cheers him up considerably and is that almost kind of a smile?
Welp, maybe, but he's too busy being immediately in awe of Zack's far more masterful skeeball skills approximately three seconds later for anyone to get a final verdict in. At least in fanboy mode he's a lot more agreeable than when he's sulking.
More agreeable and far less threateny. ]
Hey, can you do that again?
[ Because even if there's no way in hell he'll be able to recreate a move like that, himself, if there's a trick to it, dammit, he's still going to try. ]
It's like it's praise Zack day today, or something. He (modestly) likes it.
Though Zack himself can't resist the chance to show off his skeeball skills, so he adapts easily to this change from grump to fanboy.]
Sure can. Nothing to it. If you hit it off the side, it gets a little spin.
[He does it again, a little slower as a demonstration, but this time, it bounces off the rim and goes in the next hole down. He laughs. Not bad, if not perfect.]
It doesn't always work. But it wouldn't be as fun if it did.
That or Opposite Day. They are celebrated in the same spirit, aren't they?
[ Somehow, Zack's laughter is way less grating when it isn't explicitly at his expense, and Cloud manages something like a chuckle, himself. Which is, really, the height of hilarity with him.
Mellowed out enough to risk embarrassing himself all over again, he picks up another ball (down to his last couple, already, excluding the absent one he's decided he probably just won't man up and retrieve). His attempt is careful, but fails miserably, anyway -- though this time when the heavy ball smacks against the cage, it only rolls harmlessly back down to him.
Yup, definitely harder than it looks. But Zack always does have to make everything look so easy. ]
Sure, sure, try to front, Zack knows how you REALLY feel!
Keep trying! It takes a bit to get it down.
[He does it again, and this time it works as intended--goes right in the right hole. Zack has faith in you, Cloud. Having SOLDIER reflexes might make it easier, but anyone can do it. In any case, Zack's going to get so many tokens. He's racking up the points.]
Just be careful not to injure any innocent bystanders.
[A little more teasing, but it's all in good fun.]
Would that we could all live in his beautiful world of delusion. ♥
[ And that still isn't funny.
But instead of getting angry, this time (because even he can't be pissy all the time), he is going to channel his annoyance into determination.
Which, as it turns out, is considerably more productive.
He very nearly seems to have gotten the hang of this -- you know, right as soon as he runs out of ammunition. His final score suffered pretty badly from all of the practice throws, but he's somewhat mollified by the token strip of tickets he's earned.
And it was pretty fun, but he doesn't know if he'll willingly admit to that, just yet. ]
You should come visit, the weather's great! ♥
[You mean it still is funny.
Zack would rather see him trying hard than being pissy, so that's a good thing. And look at all those token tickets he got for his trouble. Not as many as Zack has, but we can't all have as much as Zack does, right?]
You think we should cash these in, see what we can get?
[Surely there's an array of fabulous prizes to choose from.]
Or do you want to go another round?
Planning my vacation, already.
No, it's NOT funny. Not funny in the least!
He shakes his head to the second half of that question, admittedly pretty skeptical about what their winnings might net them, in such an obviously reputable and high class establishment -- but not really in the mood to be taunted further about his crappy first throw, either. ]
Nah, I'm good. And, uh, here--
[ His tickets alone are probably not enough to afford anything even passingly amusing as a prize, and he isn't really interested in nabbing one for himself, anyway -- so he offers them to Zack, instead. ]
Pack your bags and be ready to stay a while, you won't want to come back!
You don't mean it, right? You like your good friend Zack.
Zack doesn't refuse Cloud's hard won tickets.]
Good idea. Pool our resources.
[Zack heads over to the prize area. Obviously, Cloud is expected to come along; you can tell by the way Zack's herding Cloud over there.]
All right, you've gotta help me pick.
[So many things to choose from, Cloud, each more tacky than the last. Toys and balloons and stupid hats and various novelty items. Though there's no point looking toward the higher shelves: they don't have nearly enough for anything that nice--if "nice" is really the word to use in this situation.]
Aw, you make being delusional sound so exciting. I'll get my things.
He'll
immediatelynever forgive you for this.But that doesn't preclude being a good sport about all this pushy business. It's not like he was planning to take off at the first possible opportunity (he's not that embarrassed, yet), so the herding is not strictly necessary.
And nice definitely... Isn't the word he'd use, for the bright and garish clutter of stuff lining the walls and counter of the little shop. Each item looks even more useless than the last -- it's almost kind of impressive, in a sad way. ]
Do people really waste their money trying to win this junk?
[ There's not even like any materia or anything -- and yes he is looking up anyway, at this point he really can't help it. Giant stuffed animals are apparently the height of class, around here. And questionable-looking candy that he's almost entirely positive must be even older than he is. ]
It's all pretty bad...
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Sometimes you need to be herded, Cloud, due to your aversion to fun. And also good times and similar things. Don't worry, it's very subtle, friendly herding. Well, subtle for him.
Zack elbows Cloud in the ribs as he's looking up at one of the giant stuffed animals.] You want that one? You've got expensive tastes, I see, but we don't have enough for that.
Anyway, what are you talking about? Some of this stuff is great. [To illustrate, he picks up a novelty hat and puts it on his head, then takes up one of those cup-and-ball games and proceeds to swing it around, getting the ball in the cup every time. While looking ridiculous. Why do you allow yourself to be seen in public with him again?]
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Zack, you're an idiot and he sincerely hopes you know you're an idiot -- or that's pretty much what the look on his face says as he watches this display (maybe subtly inching away), all the while sullenly rubbing his side where he's barely been elbowed.
He is having none of this foolishness. ]
Then just pick something out already, and let's go.
[ And not be seen together in public, anymore. ]
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Or maybe you can, Cloud.]
All right, Mr. Serious. Obviously we have serious business to attend to somewhere else that I wasn't aware of, so I better sober up and get to it so we're not late for our serious business meeting.
[He takes the wacky hat off, but he very pointedly tosses the ball and catches it in the cup one more time before setting it down with his fellow cups attached to balls.
Most things here require about a million tokens, and they didn't play skeeball that long, but with the amount he has, Zack manages to obtain the world's tiniest stuffed chocobo (its face looks kind of weird, and it's a little lopsided) and gives it to Cloud with a smile.] There you go.
no subject
And you're damn straight this is serious why are you not more serious and
wha-at.
He's almost too busy rolling his eyes to realize that Zack's offering him something. The poor little (slightly misshapen) chocobo toy in his hand earns a startled little look, before he turns that only slightly wide-eyed gaze up to Zack's face. Is this another joke? How's he supposed to react?
He's hesitant to take it, scrutinizing that smile while the rest of him just sort of locks up, afraid of the obvious misstep he can't quite decipher, yet.
(I don't get it...)
But brushing it off seems like the best course of immediate action. ]
What's that for?
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