Sixth Curse

[bondsofsuffering]

[Video/Action for Cancer Ward Arcade]

[Hey guess who's calling during work at a game center? If you guess Hizumi, you are 100% correct. He's got an extremely excited!!! expression as he talks, having clearly made the most wonderful of discoveries and being eager to share them with the world.]

Great news Hinoto-Ri! According to studies, playing video games can reduce stress-- going off of that, if you happen to be suffering from stress due to unexpected demonic kidnappings, playing some video games to let off some steam is a fantastic solution. And it just so happens, the arcade is pretty much empty right now, so what better time to drop by and try to heal some of that trauma?

...Also, if anyone brings me snacks, I'll seriously owe you one.

[Please. He's hungry and bored and desperately needs someone to pester.]

Comments

[bondsofsuffering]

[Innocently:]

But I'm finishing off this one.

Also, wasabi isn't really my flavor.

[otakuro]

It's green it matches your hair.

[Atsuro's sinuses are very clear now so clear that he takes an almighty sniff to prevent them from emptying entirely.]

I hear it has all sorts of imaginary health benefits, too.

[bondsofsuffering]

Going by that logic, you should've brought me some mint ice cream instead!

[otakuro]

When I say imaginary health benefits, what I actually mean is that it'll keep your eardrums from rupturing when I stop whining about this.

[bondsofsuffering]

I can hold out for a little longer, I think.

[Munch crunch.]

If you hate it so much, why not just throw it out?

[otakuro]

Because then I'll end up like you. Eating other people's chips.

[Atsuro grins a bit cheekily and snatches the normal bag of chips again to grab a handful.]

[bondsofsuffering]

Hey-!

[That's not very nice!! Even if they're Atsuro's chips and all. In defiance, he grabs an extra large handful of the normal chips.

They're gonna be down to just the wasabi ones pretty quickly at this rate...]

[otakuro]

...OK, I think snacktime's gone on long enough. You can keep these.

[Atsuro generously slides the wasabi ones towards Hizumi first before pushing over the other bag as well.]

Want to play?

[bondsofsuffering]

[Alas, the poor wasabi ones will probably find themselves into the trash before long. But once he finishes off this particular mouthful, he'll nod excitedly.]

Yeah! Any preference on the game?

[otakuro]

Anything that's not Taiko Master, for one thing. ...Otherwise, not really.

[Atsuro gives a small shrug. Arcade games weren't his life's passion or anything; that honor went to video games computer games programming code never mind it was too hard to choose]

[bondsofsuffering]

Hmm... Then, what about Dance Blitz Revolution?

[Dancing can be fun, after all!]

[otakuro]

[Atsuro scowls at Hizumi with a suspicious eye.]

...I already know you've got rhythm. Does everyone from your planet take dance classes from birth, too?

[bondsofsuffering]

Not at all! And besides, dancing is much different from drumming!

[...Not that he's any less good at it.]

[otakuro]

[Suspicious eye does not let up.]

...Well. Alright, we can give it a try. I'm definitely not wearing the right shoes for this, though.

[bondsofsuffering]

Great! And that's fine-- if you lose, you can just blame it on your footwear.

[It's kind of amazing how quickly he walks over to the machine - he's like an overeager puppy, really.]

[otakuro]

...

[Suspicious eye progresses to scowling eye as Atsuro notes Hizumi's eagerness to step towards the machine. Something terrible was about to happen; he could feel it in his bones.]

OK! What song should we do?

[bondsofsuffering]

We can start with something easy...

How about Sandstorm?

[He's already scanned his card and is getting through the set up.]

[otakuro]

[Atsuro has never heard of this song.
It sounds like something that involves a lot of hectic motion though.
After a few moments of consideration, he gives a shrug and steps forward.

CHALLENGER ATSURO would like to battle!]

Bring it on.

[bondsofsuffering]

You asked for it!

[He's long since perfected this song, so he'll go ahead and challenge it at the highest setting. Hopefully Atsuro can keep up!]

[otakuro]

[They are exactly 32 notes in when Atsuro stops and gives Hizumi the stink-eye.]

You cheater you've played this song before.

Like a million times.

[bondsofsuffering]

I work here. What did you expect?

[Even speaking up like that, he keeps up with the song just fine.]

[otakuro]

You work here! You're not supposed to spend all your time playing, sheesh.

[bondsofsuffering]

You're the one who agreed to come play even though I'm in the middle of work!

[otakuro]

This is a special occasion because you have a special guest. Sheesh.

...The special guest is me, by the way. In case it wasn't clear.

[bondsofsuffering]

Haa, really? I thought it was one of the other customers.

[Especially since the arcade is currently empty save for Atsuro and Hizumi.]