Where a kid can be a kid...or something

[ferries]

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

Comments

But the infantry is the cutest part of the army. He's just doing his job

[anonfantry]

[ He is dead to the world, Aerith.

Trying to shake this jerk on the red who won't stop ramming into him attempting to trade feathers and staring intently at the back of that black chocobo way out in front -- he clearly has no idea where Aerith is, beside him or in the context of the race.

He does manage to (kind of) nod at her question, but otherwise all of his precious concentration is completely occupied. Because the NPC in the lead is obviously cheating. And that makes this personal. ]

...true. Zack has to carry all the cute for SOLDIER on his lonesome

[rods]

[ That NPC must be holding all the shoulder buttons down.

It's okay that Cloud doesn't know where Aerith is in the context of the race; she doesn't either. It's not first place and it's not dead last, though it's probably in the lower half.

She does miss the nod though, since she's looking ahead at the screen--this is why we have words, Cloud! Given the seeming lack of response she looks over to her left curiously and...

...

...

Oooohhhh. (So this is the look of a man possessed by a video game...)

Of course, being distracted by Cloud's Intense Concentration actually does cause her to fall into last place, getting a yelp from her when she notices before she redoubles her efforts. She's not coming in last! Eat dirt, blue chocobo! ]

His burden is the greatest of all

[anonfantry]

[ Words, shmords. He's got a race to win!!

Or at least place second in, if he can only maneuver his belligerent fake chocobo up close enough to that bastard in the tacky sombrero.

He is still apparently conscious enough of the real world to actually glance over at Aerith's distressed noise, however, long enough to note that she isn't having any issues more pressing than being pretty terrible at this game. It's really too bad chocobos don't come equipped with boosters or anything, to save her efforts.

Or like a button to have your bird peck any enemies flanking you into submission. That'd be cool, right about now.

As it is, the last slow-motion, outer space leg of the race is maddening but over soon enough and Cloud's looking decidedly disappointed with third place as he looks over again to find out whether Aerith is making any headway with not being dead last. ]

[rods]

[ It is either a demonstration of Aerith's indomitable will, or simple rubber band AI, that she narrowly beats the blue chocobo at the finishing line. She's 7th! Not 8th!

There's no victory music, but she feels somewhat accomplished anyway as she takes a look at the results. ]

Oh, there's you. Hmph...you got really far ahead of me. It figures! You were so into the game, it was kind of funny. [ There's a brief moment where Aerith turns to the game again, mimicking Cloud's Intense Concentration^TM in both expression and pose, before looking back to him. ]

[anonfantry]

I don't look like that.

[ Only that is an eerily perfect impression and a part of him probably knows (but still won't acknowledge) it. No, he is just going to frown at her. Pointedly.

As he slides off his chocobo, which is a motion no one could make look graceful or poised. ]

[rods]

[ She can't laugh too much, as she herself is getting down from the chocobo in a long skirt. Good thing it is long.

Still, she's beaming at his frown. ]

Don't worry, Cloud. Some girls really like the serious type.

[ Someday she will! Right now she likes the fun-loving type. She also likes to tease, but that's a constant. ]

Besides, if you were into it that means you enjoyed yourself, right? Want to try another?

[anonfantry]

[ He doesn't exactly believe her, on that point, but he's almost convinced she isn't completely making fun of him with the seemingly innocent observation -- so he lets it slide without further belaboring. Accidentally inciting a frank and open discussion on girls with Aerith is definitely worth avoiding, in any case.

He nods, then, not quite as reluctant as he should probably be, if he wants to seem like he isn't having a good time (which he doesn't, so much, anymore, either). ]

Okay. What d'you want to play next?

[rods]

[ Save your capillaries, Cloud, because a frank and open discussion on girls with Aerith would probably set your cheeks aflame. She would have much too much fun with it.

But the thought that Cloud may actually be having some of his own fun has her happily distracted from that topic to scan the games. ] Let's try... Super Dunk.

[ Pooointing to the basketball game. And let's say this one is a slightly more forgiving version than the one in Gold Saucer. That one is an everliving pain in the neck. Time to shoot some hoops! ]