[D5 MA| Expecting, but open] Apparently games of good for socialisation.

[Soshi Kotori]

Kotori had found herself wandering about the city for most of the day after the fishy shenanigans. She hadn't done all too well - one out of three. The third one was a good one at the very least, but missing out on the second one had been a matter of frustration. What better way to rid ones self of such stress than avoiding responsibility and hitting the arcade!

She worea curiously modern interpretation of a hanfu. The black lace was trimmed with crimson silk and a wide belt secured with buckles.

Currently, Kotori stood on the fourth floor in front of The House of Maho-Tsukai, and well... Maho was winning. She squinted slightly at the screen as she shot again and missed, her game quickly coming to an end with a miserable downward cascade of notes signaling the loss of her third life. She stared, narrow eyed as she reached into her pocket for another coin.

[Hiruma Akito]

Kotori had found herself wandering about the city for most of the day after the fishy shenanigans. She hadn't done all too well - one out of three. The third one was a good one at the very least, but missing out on the second one had been a matter of frustration. What better way to rid ones self of such stress than avoiding responsibility and hitting the arcade!

She worea curiously modern interpretation of a hanfu. The black lace was trimmed with crimson silk and a wide belt secured with buckles.

Currently, Kotori stood on the fourth floor in front of The House of Maho-Tsukai, and well... Maho was winning. She squinted slightly at the screen as she shot again and missed, her game quickly coming to an end with a miserable downward cascade of notes signaling the loss of her third life. She stared, narrow eyed as she reached into her pocket for another coin.

The sound of a loss in The House of Maho-Tsukai was one that Akito was very familiar with. He paused as he was walking by. Turned, a resolute expression on his handsome features.

"Alright." Akito said, his tone exaggeratedly serious, as he picked up one of the other pistols, sliding in his own coin. For his part, he was dressed in standard Crab daywear, only slightly rumpled.

"We can't let those zombie bastards win." Akito said, making his voice rough. "Let's do this." He cast Kotori a quick smile. "Oh, and I'm Hiruma Akito, by the way." He added in a more normal tone.

[Soshi Kotori]

The sound of a loss in The House of Maho-Tsukai was one that Akito was very familiar with. He paused as he was walking by. Turned, a resolute expression on his handsome features.

"Alright." Akito said, his tone exaggeratedly serious, as he picked up one of the other pistols, sliding in his own coin. For his part, he was dressed in standard Crab daywear, only slightly rumpled.

"We can't let those zombie bastards win." Akito said, making his voice rough. "Let's do this." He cast Kotori a quick smile. "Oh, and I'm Hiruma Akito, by the way." He added in a more normal tone.

"Please to -meet you?" Kotori was a little surprised by the sudden addition but didn't complain - Kami knew she need to be carried and little did the stranger know but his back would be breaking under the burden by the end of the game (probably). She quickly put her own coin in, glancing over for only a moment. "Soshi Kotori-"

Her own introduction wasn't impolite as such, but it was a little rushed as the game began.

"Sorry in advance, I'm not... very good at this-"

[Hiruma Akito]

"Please to -meet you?" Kotori was a little surprised by the sudden addition but didn't complain - Kami knew she need to be carried and little did the stranger know but his back would be breaking under the burden by the end of the game (probably). She quickly put her own coin in, glancing over for only a moment. "Soshi Kotori-"

Her own introduction wasn't impolite as such, but it was a little rushed as the game began.

"Sorry in advance, I'm not... very good at this-"

"Pleased to meet you too, Soshi-san." Akito spoke as though he met someone like this every day, bonding over a game of shooting zombies. Maybe he did. He didn't.

He shrugged. "Hey, that's fine. Just a game, after all. If the zombies win, it won't be for lack of trying on our parts, right?" And, in fact, the first zombie popped up on the screen! Only to die in a hail of simulated gunfire from the two players.

Akito reloaded quickly, shooting off-screen, a move clearly well-practiced. "This your first time to Green Carp? You're part of the Scorpion delegation for the Governor's... thing, yeah?" He knew the right word to use, but words were sometimes hard when you were blowing away zombies.

[Soshi Kotori]

"Pleased to meet you too, Soshi-san." Akito spoke as though he met someone like this every day, bonding over a game of shooting zombies. Maybe he did. He didn't.

He shrugged. "Hey, that's fine. Just a game, after all. If the zombies win, it won't be for lack of trying on our parts, right?" And, in fact, the first zombie popped up on the screen! Only to die in a hail of simulated gunfire from the two players.

Akito reloaded quickly, shooting off-screen, a move clearly well-practiced. "This your first time to Green Carp? You're part of the Scorpion delegation for the Governor's... thing, yeah?" He knew the right word to use, but words were sometimes hard when you were blowing away zombies.

Kotori flinched slightly as another zombie dashed out form the edge of the screen and she fired haphazardly.

"Yes, it is-" She missed another zombie, squinting slightly at the screen before hazarding a glance towards Akito. "I've been here a few days now - you are from here?"

[Hiruma Akito]

Kotori flinched slightly as another zombie dashed out form the edge of the screen and she fired haphazardly.

"Yes, it is-" She missed another zombie, squinting slightly at the screen before hazarding a glance towards Akito. "I've been here a few days now - you are from here?"

Akito was pretty good. He had a realistic shooting stance... but he'd also played this game hundreds of times.

"Born and raised, as they say." He said cheerfully. "Spent a few years shipboard, and back here- whoops!" He paused to spray simulated fire at an approaching enemy, again reloading quickly. "Uh... back here for a spell. I'll probably ship out again when all this is done."

He spared a moment to glance at his gaming companion. "How'd'you like it so far? Seen the sights? The beach? The volcano?" He grinned. "The greatsharks?"

[Soshi Kotori]

Akito was pretty good. He had a realistic shooting stance... but he'd also played this game hundreds of times.

"Born and raised, as they say." He said cheerfully. "Spent a few years shipboard, and back here- whoops!" He paused to spray simulated fire at an approaching enemy, again reloading quickly. "Uh... back here for a spell. I'll probably ship out again when all this is done."

He spared a moment to glance at his gaming companion. "How'd'you like it so far? Seen the sights? The beach? The volcano?" He grinned. "The greatsharks?"

Kotori was terrible, it was almost like she'd never held a gun in her life, let alone aimed one with even a hint of accuracy.

"Only a little so far, I've been kept busy with matters of business. Although I've been told off a few times for not 'letting my hair down' enough. I saw... a Great Shark..." at a fish auction.

"And a monstrous sea serpent." Also at a fish auction - even bought it. "The wildlife is certainly diverse."

[Hiruma Akito]

Kotori was terrible, it was almost like she'd never held a gun in her life, let alone aimed one with even a hint of accuracy.

"Only a little so far, I've been kept busy with matters of business. Although I've been told off a few times for not 'letting my hair down' enough. I saw... a Great Shark..." at a fish auction.

"And a monstrous sea serpent." Also at a fish auction - even bought it. "The wildlife is certainly diverse."

"Really? Oop." Giving Kotori a surprised look, Akito glanced off the screen a moment, having to scramble to shoot a thrown zombie axe before it hit his character. "A great shark and a sea serpent? That's pretty good. You go on one of those sub expeditions or something?"

He glanced over again. "Try firing a bit faster." He suggested. "No recoil, infinite ammo so long as you remember to reload, and that's fast... the more you shoot, the more chances you have to hit!" He flashed her a quick grin.

Akito turned his attention back to the horde of zombies. And ooh, a hopping vampire! It took a moment to time their gunfire to its erratic hops. "So you're not very good at letting your hair down, huh?" He asked.

[Soshi Kotori]

"Really? Oop." Giving Kotori a surprised look, Akito glanced off the screen a moment, having to scramble to shoot a thrown zombie axe before it hit his character. "A great shark and a sea serpent? That's pretty good. You go on one of those sub expeditions or something?"

He glanced over again. "Try firing a bit faster." He suggested. "No recoil, infinite ammo so long as you remember to reload, and that's fast... the more you shoot, the more chances you have to hit!" He flashed her a quick grin.

Akito turned his attention back to the horde of zombies. And ooh, a hopping vampire! It took a moment to time their gunfire to its erratic hops. "So you're not very good at letting your hair down, huh?" He asked.

"Ahh, more like a shopping trip?" She said holding down the trigger and aiming in the general direction of a group of zombies until she ran out. She paused to reload quickly. "Ohh, that's neat."

She focused for a moment squinting as she tried to discern the difference between the vampire and the zombie - you think she'd know after last night.

"Mm, I'm all work no play apparently. Fun is a luxury the underachievers can't afford."

[Hiruma Akito]

"Ahh, more like a shopping trip?" She said holding down the trigger and aiming in the general direction of a group of zombies until she ran out. She paused to reload quickly. "Ohh, that's neat."

She focused for a moment squinting as she tried to discern the difference between the vampire and the zombie - you think she'd know after last night.

"Mm, I'm all work no play apparently. Fun is a luxury the underachievers can't afford."

Akito flashed her a quick grin. "There, you're getting it..."

A boss monster appeared! It was a giant zombie that would vomit damaging bile. "Shoot it in the gut to interrupt it!" Akito said, his voice strained with bossfight adrenaline.

He nodded. "And so here you are, at the arcade..." He shot her a quick look, frowning. "So... is that why you're here? I mean, this arcade, not Green Carp. To try to have fun?"

[Soshi Kotori]

Akito flashed her a quick grin. "There, you're getting it..."

A boss monster appeared! It was a giant zombie that would vomit damaging bile. "Shoot it in the gut to interrupt it!" Akito said, his voice strained with bossfight adrenaline.

He nodded. "And so here you are, at the arcade..." He shot her a quick look, frowning. "So... is that why you're here? I mean, this arcade, not Green Carp. To try to have fun?"

"It was coincidence for the most part, but people looked like they were having fun, so I thought I'd try." She said, spraying bullets at the giant zombie with a near non-existent accuracy rate. "Do something just because, without a reason, or a goal. Just to enjoy my time. But it seems I'm not much of a Zombie hunter..."

[Hiruma Akito]

"It was coincidence for the most part, but people looked like they were having fun, so I thought I'd try." She said, spraying bullets at the giant zombie with a near non-existent accuracy rate. "Do something just because, without a reason, or a goal. Just to enjoy my time. But it seems I'm not much of a Zombie hunter..."

Akito laughed. "Hey, you're doing alright for your first time. I grew up in Nakahama. I used to play this all the time when I was a kid." He was silent for a few moments. Nothing else was; instead of silence, they had ambient noise from the rest of the arcade, the laser sounds from the guns, and the occasional barfing of a virtual giant zombie.

"So... is it working? Maybe zombies aren't your thing. Or maybe games aren't your thing." Akito shrugged. "I don't know, I just shoot zombies."

[Soshi Kotori]

Akito laughed. "Hey, you're doing alright for your first time. I grew up in Nakahama. I used to play this all the time when I was a kid." He was silent for a few moments. Nothing else was; instead of silence, they had ambient noise from the rest of the arcade, the laser sounds from the guns, and the occasional barfing of a virtual giant zombie.

"So... is it working? Maybe zombies aren't your thing. Or maybe games aren't your thing." Akito shrugged. "I don't know, I just shoot zombies."

Kotori cringed a little at the barfing zombie. Gross.

"Hmmm, maybe not my thing I think." She said, flinching as a zombie jumped out suddenly from the side. Holding down the trigger bullets sprayed wildly across the screen. As it fell to the ground she let out a soft huff. "... stupid zombie..."


She hazarded a glance over, risking another zombie assault.

"So zombies are your thing?"

[Hiruma Akito]

Kotori cringed a little at the barfing zombie. Gross.

"Hmmm, maybe not my thing I think." She said, flinching as a zombie jumped out suddenly from the side. Holding down the trigger bullets sprayed wildly across the screen. As it fell to the ground she let out a soft huff. "... stupid zombie..."


She hazarded a glance over, risking another zombie assault.

"So zombies are your thing?"

Akito chuckled softly. "Alright. Let's try something else then. No sense in trying to force fun that's not working." He slid his simulated pistol back into the slot.

Crossing his arms over his chest, he turned to Kotori, smiling. "So, what else do you want to try? There's a dance one. There's a Starlight Miko Crusaders one, where you beat up badguys. There's one where you race a car..." His eyebrows went up in polite inquiry.

Glancing back at the game, Akito shrugged. "I guess. I've played them all. Or at least older versions; they update from time to time. I guess I was just kinda wandering in here for old time's sake. I haven't actually spent any time in here in years..."

[Soshi Kotori]

Akito chuckled softly. "Alright. Let's try something else then. No sense in trying to force fun that's not working." He slid his simulated pistol back into the slot.

Crossing his arms over his chest, he turned to Kotori, smiling. "So, what else do you want to try? There's a dance one. There's a Starlight Miko Crusaders one, where you beat up badguys. There's one where you race a car..." His eyebrows went up in polite inquiry.

Glancing back at the game, Akito shrugged. "I guess. I've played them all. Or at least older versions; they update from time to time. I guess I was just kinda wandering in here for old time's sake. I haven't actually spent any time in here in years..."

"Well, I've never driven before, and I think someone might think I'm having a medical episode if I try to dance." Kotori mused aloud. "Do you have a favourite - sans zombie shooting things?"

She contemplated his words for a moment.

"Duty can take you awfully far from home, can't it?"

[Hiruma Akito]

"Well, I've never driven before, and I think someone might think I'm having a medical episode if I try to dance." Kotori mused aloud. "Do you have a favourite - sans zombie shooting things?"

She contemplated his words for a moment.

"Duty can take you awfully far from home, can't it?"

Akito grinned. "Alright. Hmmm. Let me think." He considered a moment. "Don't suppose you're a Starlight Miko Crusaders fan, are you?" Regardless, he started to slowly lead the way through the arcade.

The question got a look from the handsome Hiruma, his smile turning gentle. "Yeah. It really does. I've been pretty far across the galaxy." He shrugged, his broad shoulders rising and falling. "Usually in one metal box or another. But I've seen some things."

"Where's home for you?" Akito asked as they slowly walked, accompanied by flashing lights and the sounds of games.

[Soshi Kotori]

Akito grinned. "Alright. Hmmm. Let me think." He considered a moment. "Don't suppose you're a Starlight Miko Crusaders fan, are you?" Regardless, he started to slowly lead the way through the arcade.

The question got a look from the handsome Hiruma, his smile turning gentle. "Yeah. It really does. I've been pretty far across the galaxy." He shrugged, his broad shoulders rising and falling. "Usually in one metal box or another. But I've seen some things."

"Where's home for you?" Akito asked as they slowly walked, accompanied by flashing lights and the sounds of games.

"I know of it, but I'm not sure I'd consider myself a fan as such..." Her voice trailed off as she returned the gun to the holder and followed after Akito, glancing over as she spoke. "I'm from the World of Dreams."

[Hiruma Akito]

"I know of it, but I'm not sure I'd consider myself a fan as such..." Her voice trailed off as she returned the gun to the holder and followed after Akito, glancing over as she spoke. "I'm from the World of Dreams."

"Worth a try, then." Akito said.

However, as she spoke again, he stopped, turning to look at her. "You're from the World of Dreams." He said. "Legendary resort and entertainment planet that probably sucks up nine-tenths of our potential tourist revenue. And you don't know how to have fun."

He blew out a puff of breath, then grinned. "Okay, well. This might be harder than I thought. I guess you'd know if you liked beaches. Or anything related to nightlife." He paused for a few moments, hands on his hips. "Maybe video games is the way to go. Something simple."

Akito continued to lead her along; the game cabinet proclaiming "STARLIGHT MIKO CRUSADERS!!!" was just up ahead, an exceptionally large one with many joysticks. The sound of some sort of actiony female yell emitted from it, rising and loud. It seemed to be some sort of super move of the Crab Miko.

"So what's it like, growing up on World of Dreams?" Akito said, one last ask before they reached the next game.

[Soshi Kotori]

"Worth a try, then." Akito said.

However, as she spoke again, he stopped, turning to look at her. "You're from the World of Dreams." He said. "Legendary resort and entertainment planet that probably sucks up nine-tenths of our potential tourist revenue. And you don't know how to have fun."

He blew out a puff of breath, then grinned. "Okay, well. This might be harder than I thought. I guess you'd know if you liked beaches. Or anything related to nightlife." He paused for a few moments, hands on his hips. "Maybe video games is the way to go. Something simple."

Akito continued to lead her along; the game cabinet proclaiming "STARLIGHT MIKO CRUSADERS!!!" was just up ahead, an exceptionally large one with many joysticks. The sound of some sort of actiony female yell emitted from it, rising and loud. It seemed to be some sort of super move of the Crab Miko.

"So what's it like, growing up on World of Dreams?" Akito said, one last ask before they reached the next game.

"Perhaps, but that that's also what makes us such valuable partners. Experience, resources, vision. We certainly know how to bring it to life." Kotori smiled, it wasn't as if what he said was wrong.

"As for growing up on the World of Dreams - well It was a dream, obviously." She chuckles softly at her own joke as she inspected the game's controls. It's not as light hearted as one might expect, there was almost an underlying bitterness to it.