Mingle Log: Mizuki's Birthday Party

[mooninthewater]

Who: The whole Grove!
What: Birthday Party Mingle
When: March 22
Where: The Therapy Building
Warnings: Drugs (weed specifically)

Happy Birthday Mizuki!

It's cut out in letters that Mizuki probably did himself. He knows that these sort of parties are usually done by other people for the birthday haver, but Mizuki wants a party. Not just for him, but just in general. There's been so much happening lately and people seem so much worse for wear, it's depressing. They have every right to be upset, of course, but Mizuki thinks it's about time to do something that'll put a smile on people's face.

So what's better than a party? One with little balloons with too many strings so they look like jellyfish, and games. So, so many games. Board games, party games, video games — the works. He's even got a table with very questionable looking (but, if you're willing to brave how very gross it looks and eat it, very delicious) food on it. Oh, and the pot brownies. Those are there, too. Next to the food are an assortment of handmade party hats covered in stickers.

One of the party games is a deck of cards with ice breaker questions written on them, and everyone's being given a handful as they walk in. Some of them completely normal and others… maybe less normal.

There's also music playing! From Mizuki's phone, so it sits by the video game consoles and such. It's all personal playlists of his, so a lot of it is video game music, but you can probably fiddle with it to change the playlist if you're looking for something fun to dance to.

Mizuki wants everyone to have a good time, and he lets everyone know about the event personally. One by one! He invites you tonight around dinner to come to the therapy building to celebrate his birthday. You don't wanna leave the little guy hanging, do you?

Comments

[sesa]

I have good news for you, if playing with others is what you would like.

[Sesa folds his legs criss-cross underneath himself, taking the controller in one hand as he reaches over to pick up a second with his other, offering it to Pure Vanilla.]

You and I can play together at the same time. We can race each other!

[purevanillacookie]

[ That is a delighted soft baa from Pure Vanilla as he takes the other controller, tail swirling around like a copter. ]

Oh yes, please!

[ Of course Pure Vanilla will let Sesa decide the level and things this time... once again picking Toadette cause it's very cute. ]

[sesa]

[Sesa in contrast will pick Bowser, because of-fucking-course he does. Dry Bowser to be specific, meaning he'll be a lot heavier and slower which means it might give Pure Vanilla a better chance to win??? Sesa isn't like, the BEST at the game or anything, so.

He decides to pick Moo Moo Meadows for their level because....he just has a feeling Pure Vanilla will enjoy it.]

Are you ready? Just do the same thing you did before, I'll be racing right alongside you.

[And, sure enough, the screen is split so that they can both see what they're doing on their respective sides.]

[purevanillacookie]

[ Sesa is spot on the money. Pure Vanilla is absolutely enraptured with Moo Moo Meadows. It's so very idyllic, look at the Windmill. He admires Bowser - looks very powerful! - and nods to doing everything the same.

Then oh's in delight that they can see each other. ]

I am ready, my friend!

[ He doesn't know about the rev up so he'll just ready up... and yes, though he understands the point is to race and come in first, he maaaay end up taking his time a little to admire the course properly for a lap, and to ... to watch Sesa play.

He's a Grandpa, hush. ]

[sesa]

[Honestly, Grandpa is more than welcome to Grandpa. Sesa isn't going to let him win, but he also isn't going to try to beat him horribly either. The AI will probably do that easily on its own if he's taking his time to admire the scenery...but who knows, maybe he'll get lucky if he gets the right items by accident?]

And the race is on!! Don't let me leave you too far behind, Pure Vanilla!

[purevanillacookie]

O-oh! Yes!

[ While Pure Vanilla isn't competitive in the traditional sense, he IS an old Adventurer. There's a strong desire to win, that helps him play a little with actual intent. The first item he picks up - or manages to pick up at any rate - is a green shell. Ah! He knows what to do with that! He throws it!

That thing gets rocketed out and does as a proper green shell should do, and begin to ping maniacally around the lap with ill intent. He somehow manages, at least for now, to not get hit by it as it ricochets. ]

[sesa]

[He manages to avoid the green shell...but Sesa isn't so lucky. Sesa, in fact, gets hit with the shell square in the back of his kart, sending it spinning out as several of the npc racers, INCLUDING Pure Vanilla with Toadette, go whizzing past him.]

Ah! You've dealt me a mighty blow! Well, two can play at that game!

[Because there are plenty of item blocks to be had, and Sesa's...is a red shell! I swear to god I spun the wheel and that's what it gave me-]

[purevanillacookie]

Oh! I'm sorry! My apologies, my friend!

[ Though his tone does sound quite contrite, there is no way he's slowing down. The red shell makes Pure Vanilla tilt his head - he forgot what that one does. You know what the game doesn't teach you? How to put items behind you to protect yourself from being hit.

Besides his next item is a golden mushroom and he learns it makes you zoom a little faster than controllable when it careens into corners with it, laughing a soft oops! ]

[sesa]

[Sesa is still behind...but he's gaining ground, slowly. The next item block he grabs ends up popping out a Boo, which means he's going to steal an item from someone else. Maybe it's just one of the NPCs...or unlucky enough to be Pure Vanilla himself? Who knows!!]

Do not apologize, to win is in line with the spirit of the race!

[purevanillacookie]

[ Thankfully it bypasses Pure Vanilla, and he's oh's! that that's what it does. ]

I thought that was just a little friend!

[ He does slow down a little because it's actually very difficult to race when you're fascinated by what's happening on the split screen, plus the red shell from before, so Sesa will have no problem zooming right past the startled sheep, PV bleating softly in surprise. ]

Oh!

[ That won't do and PV concentrates to try and catch back up. His next item? A bullet bill. He has no idea what it does until he uses it and bleats when his character is suddenly gone and he's off. Incoming! ]

[sesa]

[Sesa can't help but let out a triumphant laugh as he goes speeding past. He's quick to rocket to first place from here, since generally NPC players aren't all that hard to beat. Victory is in his grasp-!!

But wait. What's that sound...approaching...

By the time he's hit, he has no idea what even hit him. He and several racers clustered at the front go spinning out as Pure Vanilla just

Flies past all of them, propelling himself into the top slot instead.]

What-!

[purevanillacookie]

[ Oh NO, he KILLED TH- oh they're all right, a glance at Sesa's screen shows they're all fine, they just got knocked about. ]

I'm sorry! I did not know what it would do!

[ And he fumbles a bit when he's suddenly back in control when it ends, getting his fingers properly onto buttons. He's in first now, but at what cost! He feels so bad, he shot them! Should he stop? Allow them to catch up?

Oh, he won.

Pure Vanilla takes no joy in that victory, even as Toadette cheers to finishing first. ]

[sesa]

[Alas...Pure Vanilla wins, and Sesa ends up in 6th place after that untimely spin-out. The tragedy!!

For what it's worth though, he doesn't seem upset at all. In fact, he's clapping Pure Vanilla on the shoulder with a laugh.]

Congratulations, my friend! It seems I may have underestimated your driving skills, heh.

[purevanillacookie]

[ At least Sesa is all right with it, which goes a long way to relaxing Pure Vanilla. He sighs gently, pillowing his chin on his fingers thoughtfully, frowning at the screen. ]

That did not feel like a very good win, my friend. I shot you all with a... bullet? Yes, a bullet, I believe it is. It was truly not a test of my skills. I got lucky.

[sesa]

A Bullet Bill, yes! But that is the point, in these races, you receive items that give those in last place a better chance at winning. I've found that this game rarely ever is fair, in that way. But that's what makes it fun!

[Mario Kart, and Mario Party for that matter, are rng bullshit hellscapes and that's why people love them so much.]

[purevanillacookie]

[ He's silent for a moment as he ponders Sesa's words, tapping his fingers against the controller with a little tilt of his head. ]

So it is less skill, and more Chaos in an everything goes sort of manner?

[ Fascinating, it's almost like the Triple Cup Cone Tournament. Eventually his tail waggles and he beams a smile at Sesa. ]

May we play again?

[sesa]

That's right. While I wouldn't say there is no skill involved whatsoever, since you do still need to know how to drive around the track...just being able to navigate it is merely half the battle.

[He's glad to see Pure Vanilla's smile return. See, it's all in good fun! Nothing to get too worked up over, even if you're the competitive sort.]

We may play as many times as you'd like. Perhaps we can even get some of the others on board, and make this into a real tournament!

[purevanillacookie]

Oh! Yes, please! Let's bring more people in!

[ Down goes the controller and up goes Peepaw, somehow elegantly despite his hooves needing a moment to catch on the floor proper enough to stand. He has the perfect man for this, and he's off.

He will bring back Dark Cacao Cookie, the worlds most Stoic Cookie, force him to sit down, drop the controller into his hands and proceed to give the same explanation Sesa gave him. ]