Scene #8490: The Ultimate Birthday

Owner	Pose
Timespace Riders	Area 52 is an arcade with laser tag, physical obstacle courses and more traditional arcade cabinets, plus a fairly decent in-house kitchen. Sougo's Concord card has reserved the facility and its dedicated staff for the purpose of a birthday party, for Shadow. Admission, per Rouge, is open, with a caveat--a gift for Shadow is the price of admission. The dining area-slash-arcade is the first thing you'll see on the way in. Theming is part 'space,' part 'secret facility,' with the walls done up to resemble stained concrete. painted with occasional caution lines and denotations marking 'sectors' of the establishment. Overhead lights are a mixture of neon and bog-standard lightbulbs, giving colorful hues without being dark or headache inducing. Music is piped in from a local hits station, though a jukebox is plugged in and available. Woz is nowhere to be seen as of yet, but Sougo is standing, smiling brightly, at a table that's been moved close to the door/ That table is serving as the spot to drop off presents. Two wrapped packages--one from the Demon King and another from his retainer, are there already.
Arcadia	Being a speedster herself it should be no shock that Arcadia is one of the first guests to arrive. Doing so in the usual blur of red orange and gold that is her accelerated movement until she stops at the entry table, actually setting her feet on the floor instead of her usual at-ready hover. Because this is suppose to be an event to relax and celebrate, not be ready to leap into action at any moment. "Interesting venue. Its like someone took the turbofauna xenobiology research facilities and domesticated it for public entertainment and ingestion of pretend dietary substances." Her tail flicks back and forth a bit, then she ohs softly. "Right, right, don't want to forget!" She reachs into her sub-dimensional pocket and pulls out a wrapped package. "Oddly this actually fits the theme... not that anyone can tell because, nyaa, gift-wrapping." The package is set on the table with the others and the sphinx swiftly scoots out of the way so she's not blocking up the doorway.
Shadow	Being the partner of the Ultimate Lifeform has mostly so far consisted of attempting to stop the endless balcony brooding sessions. It's all he ever seems to want to do, if left to his own devices. It's as if there's an undiscovered law of motion: a Shadow at rest tends to go out to the balcony and brood. Rouge is secretly very glad for an excuse to drag Shadow out to a social activity that doesn't involve his usual default choice if she forces him to pick something to do. A birthday party is some welcome variety, since it won't end the same way every other social outing does. ... Though of course, welcome or not, Rouge is enterprising and thus she's mandated gifts be brought, not least because Shadow likely won't end up using them much and thus she can keep or quietly pawn them off for herself. "Hi - yes, welcome, gifts go right there, thank you." She's hovering (not literally) near the gift table near the entrance, making sure everyone puts theirs in the right spot, and also so that she can get a count. Shadow's sitting at another table, arms crossed and a neutral expression on his face, sulking. Someone's put a party hat on him.
Kukuru	Kukuru always has presents. Or food, at least, but today's different because it's a birthday party! With the little she knows about Shadow and others vaguely similar to Shadow, Kukuru's prepared something special for today's birthday boy. When she arrives at Area 52, she's dressed in her Sunday best: White, green, brown, the usual. Since it's a party, though, her glasses have been replaced with novelty heart-shaped shades that might make it just a little bit harder to see inside the building even with its inoffensive lighting, but it's worth it to add to the festive feeling. Plus, it's a little easier to hide behind them if she needs to. Plus, it makes it a little bit harder to see her face. She's still smiling broadly as she spots Sougo near the door, though, waving lightly at him with her free hand while her mystery box (that's about as large her head and wrapped in dark red paper) is tucked safely under the other. "He-llo, Sougo! Hi, Rouge-y. You did a real good job setting all this up... Oh! Do you need water or anything? I've got plenty in case you or anyone else needs it." She sets the box down with the other gifts, then offers them some water bottles from her pocket. They're still fridge-fresh! Spotting Shadow over at The Other Table, she eventually beelines right towards him, leaning over the table to give him her patented bright smile (with the shades on, but still). "He-llo, Shadow dear~ And happy birthday! Is today going okay?"
Bowser	ABOVE AREA 52 hovers A BOWSER AIRSHIP. There's also just a few small airships that are just like one stick floating around it slowly. INSIDE THE KITCHEN Kammy paces back and forth in front of a multiverse of sweaty teenagers and bored young adults. "Alright, you will be NICE and ACCOMODATING. If Shadow wants to punch you in the stomach, you will take it like a champ. If one of the Concord tilts that stupid machine where you get tickets based on how many coins drop when you drop a coin in, you will ignore it. This is STILL a consent based evening, we are not MONSTERS, so if there are any problems with someone taking no to any advances, please call immediately to one of the security Thwomps. I don't think we'll have that problem, but I run a tight ship. If you are in danger of being PUMMELED TO DEATH, we have plenty of mushrooms and chicken wings to keep you from dying, be sure to fill out the next of kin cards." Kammy spins around, waving her huge magic wand threatening, "AND EVERYONE HERE HATES SONIC, DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?! Alright. Go microwave... pizza or whatever the sam hell you children do in this place." INSIDE THE ARCADE Inside one of the party areas, a half pipe has been installed. A goomba rides a koopa down the side of it as speakers overhead blare. 'Well, I took a walk around the world to ease my troubled mind I left my body lying somewhere in the sands of time But I watched the world float to the dark side of the moon I feel there's nothing I can do, yeah' Approximately thirteen thousand Pizza Hut boxes are stacked nearby on a groaning fold out table. Another table suffers under the weight of 80 3 liter bottles of Pepsi. Both tables are equipped with Harry Potter paper ware. 12 video game displays that have an XBox and Halo: Combat Evolved dot the landscape. Bowser sets a box down on the table before he makes his up to Shadow. "HEY! IT'S THE BIRTHDAY KIIIING! WE GOT ALL YOUR FAVORITE THINGS!"
Timespace Riders	"Hi, Arcadia!" Sougo beams. "Thanks for coming. I really liked the decor, when I looked this place up! I hope Shadow will, too--" Sougo looks over his shoulder, at Shadow sitting by himself. It's hard for Sougo to tell if Shadow likes anything, with the grumpy energy his crossed arms are giving off. But maybe he's like a few other people Sougo knows, and just isn't very good at showing it? ...the party hat might not be helping. Kukuru arrives! "Hi Kukuru! Thanks!" He accepts then shortly twists open his bottle, taking a sip. "Honestly, Woz and the employees here did most of the work. Nice sunglasses, by the way!" Sougo, who doesn't even know who Sonic is, much less hate him, is there to welcome Bowser from across the arcade with a spirited wave, before joining Shadow at his table. Woz exits from the kitchen, head held high, carrying a covered platter. "Happy Birthday," he proclaims, lifting the lid to reveal an extravagant strawberry cake, frosting perfectly applied. The top of the cake "To the Ultimate Lifeform, having altered the very course of history with his advent." Six candles flank a field of chocolate shell, upon which rest freshly cut strawberries arranged in a spiral pattern. "Let this cake be the first of many milestones of his journey through time." Woz flicks his scarf, and after it passes over the candles, they are all lit at once. "Make a wish and blow out the candles," says Sougo excitedly.
Shadow	Shadow remains looking in the same direction for about a second, before his head ever so slightly turns towards her. "No," he says. "A-hem," says Rouge (who has good hearing) from across the room. "What I mean to say is hello Kukuru, today has been swell, and it's going even better with you brightening up the room," says Shadow in a completely natural and not forced tone of voice. Bowser approaches. "Birthday 'King'? Why would I be a Birthday 'King', when I am already a Birthday God?" He does take some greasy pizza, though. Shadow has impeccable table manners. There's not so much as a single drop of pizza grease leaving the containment of his paper plate and napkin. He even finishes the crust. "Make a wish... hmmmf. It won't come true," Shadow says, but he obligingly blows out the candles none the less.
Kukuru	"Aw, you don't have to be that modest. I'm sure you did a lot more than you're giving yourself credit for." Kukuru declares reassuringly to Sougo, grinning a bit more when he comments on the glasses. "I found these on sale a while back! I've got more if you want a pair, too." Woz's arrival gets some excited clapping from Kukuru, and she gawks a bit at the cake being presented. It takes her a while to read all of that, and she's slowly leaning forward to get a better look right up until he does his scarf-candle-lighting trick. Backing up briefly in reflex, she eventually laughs again and claps some more before turning to Shadow and Bowser. "A birthday /king/? Oooh... Then he should have a crown, too, right?" She encourages the two with a playful chuckle. It's hard not to let the mood raise her spirits, even if she can tell Shadow's probably faking his tone with that compliment. Nevertheless, that's still enough to get Kukuru to brighten up anyway. "Aw, thanks, Shadooow~ Oh! Lemme..." She digs around in her pockets for a phone as he goes to blow out the candles, but she doesn't figure out where the icon for the camera is before he's already blown them out. At least she got to see it happen! "What did you... Oh. Wait. Never mind." She can't ask him that, or it won't come true!
Arcadia	Arcadia bounds over to the table with exhuberance. Or it is just normal for her, but she's remaining at an observable pace for the time being. What fun is the party if she speeds right through it? The responce to Bowser gets a slight snicker out of her. "He's got a point... but wouldn't be the first time in history for a God to also be considered a King, sooooo..." But she's distracted by the cake and the presentation, rocking on her heels as she watch's Woz make a flashy display of lighting the candles for Shadow to blow out. Now it's properly a birthday party. "The probability of actual occurance is irrelevant to the action of wish making, it is part of the ceremony ritual of birthdays," she rattles off.
Bowser	"HAH! HAHAH! That's good! A BIRTHDAY GOD! Come on, you should be having FUN! We got all the most fun stuff here for you! LOOK!" Bowser points at two Dry Bones who are driving pitchforks at a caged green scottish ogre. This is YOUR day! Just for you!" 'J-j-j-j-JADED!' "There has to be SOMETHING you want to do. Anything!"
Eggman	"Happy birthday, Shadow!" Ivo Robotnik does not belong in an arcade. Ivo Robotnik does not belong in laser tag. It is jarring as hell to see the Bad Doctor arrive, arms spread wide, with a robot trundling behind him. "In honor of your special day, I've brought you a gift." Eggman holds out his hand. The robot hands over a box, and Eggman promptly hands it to Shadow. "I think...it will probably be a gift you will cherish quite a bit, Shadow. I think you should open it."
Shadow	Shadow speeds up the candle-blowing process once Kukuru gets the phone out, really. Arcadia gets a look. "This isn't a contest. You aren't going to win a prize for being more of a downer than I am." Shadow weighs his options, at Bowser's enthusiasm. He's not entirely heartless, despite appearances. Plus, a little bit of indulgence will result in dividends of 'leaving me alone', he figures. "Fine. We'll play the laser tag. After cake." Rouge looks mildly affronted that Eggman's present hasn't gone on the table with the rest, but she doesn't speak up about it. Shadow, for his part, takes it and examines it... and then curiosity gets the better of him, and he goes to open it.
Eggman	Inside the box is a photograph. It's a picture of Gerald and Maria Robotnik, probably taken some time before Shadow was born. The photograph has been restored and blown-up with great care, and then placed in a beautiful wooden frame. Eggman pats Shadow on the shoulder. "Happy birthday, Shadow. I'm still somewhat new at this whole 'family' thing, but I do believe you qualify by any stretch of the imagination."
Timespace Riders	"It might," says Sougo to Shadow, grinning. After Shadow blows out the cake, Woz cuts neat slices out. There's enough for everyone--he made sure the cake would be large enough! Okay, maybe not everyone, but enough for everyone, minus Bowser's myriad guests. It's really good. "I'd love a pair," says the Demon King to Kukuru. Following Bowser's pointed finger, Sougo blinks in confusion. "Eh? What a costume..." Assuming that the ogre is a man in a costume doesn't make it make any more sense. "Ah, our esteemed Doctor." Woz's catlike smile is on full display. "You're just in time for cake," says the retainer. Sougo smiles sunnily at Eggman's gift for Shadow, then takes a slice of cake.
Eggman	"Oh, I do love cake," Eggman admits, fingers wiggling eagerly before he takes a slice, moustache twitching delightedly.
Arcadia	Arcadia might of been about to say something else, but pauses. Tilts her head at Shadow's remark, and looks confused. Like she can't tell if he was actually calling her the downer, or if it was some manner of edgelord sarcasm. And in the end as is usual for her, just decides it's not worth taking the extra time to sit and figure it out. Also because there is cake to consider instead. "Thank you~" she trills, back to full cheer as she accepts her piece. And eats. Perhaps surprising to some, she eats it at a normal pace with proper manners. Because that is the proper way to enjoy it. Food is part of culture, which means it should be experienced and enjoyed. Someone will probably have to remind her that laser tag isn't played with the actual combat lasers.
Bowser	'I'm a Survivor I'm not gon' give up I'm not gon stop I'm gon work harder Bowser lets out a hoot as Shadow agrees to ACTUALLY do something. He grabs a huge slice of cake, upending it onto a Zoolander plate. "GREAT!" He grins at Sougo. Who CLEARLY is a person of taste and skill for helping here. "You picked a good spot! This has to be the best birthday party this place has ever seen! We are BIRTHDAY GENIUSES!" He just sort of lobs the entire slice into his mouth at once, chewing it. Shortly behind, a Pokey is playing 'pin the cowlick on Jimmy Neutron.'
Shadow	Rouge's breath catches when she sees just what it is Shadow has in his hands. This is... not something she has a bead on Shadow enough, to know how he'll react. In her mind, the best case scenario right now is Shadow just blips away, and there aren't any explosions (figurative or otherwise). She considers the pile of presents on the table, calculating how much she can carry away to the getaway vehicle in one trip... ... Shadow, though, doesn't explode. He doesn't react much either, at least at first. A few seconds pass as he gazes at the framed photo. "You asked what I'd like to do, Bowser..." He carefully sets the framed photo on the table, where everyone can see it. "Gerald Robotnik. The world's foremost genius, decades ahead of his time. Brought down by a jealous world who feared him. And Maria Robotnik, who was just... inconveniently in the way of the world, before and after its betrayal." "I'd quite like, in this esteemed Concord, to plan some revenge today." He pauses. "That, and the laser tag. I guess."
Bowser	"YEAAAA! Alright, who are we getting revenge on." Bowser immediately pulls up a chair. "Okay, we can steal their entire home, and then... lock them out. And then SEND THEIR HOME TO THE MOON!" "AND THEN BEAT THEM UP!" And then he knocks back his entire Spy Kids cup of Pepsi."
Kukuru	Turtle skeletons! A caged green thing! Kukuru's not sure what it is Bowser's offering, but she does look over at Shadow to see his reaction. She's also just mildly disappointed when he gets those candles extinguished before she can figure out her camera. At least she probably didn't notice! Sougo's request for heart-shades gets a shiny new pair from Kukuru's special pocket stash! It's still got the layer of sticky-ish plastic on both sides to protect it from scratches, too. Eggman's arrival doesn't jar Kukuru in the slightest, and she even breaks into a bigger smile than before (and alleviating some of the pain from elsewhere). "Oh, Eggy! It's good to see you here, too~ Aw, what did you get?" It doesn't take long for her to get a peek on it even from way over there, and she tries not to let the smile cover her face too much when she sees Shadow's reaction. Even when he announces his plans, it's enough to get her to tear up considerably, and she lets out a lazy sigh before clapping her hands together. "Laser tag revenge?" Wait, how's that supposed to work?
Eggman	"Hello, Kukuru. I'm hearing you're having some trouble on the radio," Eggman says politely in between bites of cake, "Do let me know if you want any assistance, would you?" "And, of course I'm here. As I said. I'm still somewhat new at 'family' but Shadow counts by all metrics. He was made by my grandfather - that picture, there, is of my grandfather and my cousin, as Shadow's story would imply." "And you know perfectly well," Eggman says to Shadow, "That I am happy to back you in revenge against our world."
Arcadia	Once cake has been eating Arcadia moves on to getting some of the cheap as much grease as it is cheese pizza places like this always serve. It is likely averagely edible at best, but it is part of the experience. It's a good thing she doesn't need to eat as an actual dietary requirement because she'd be getting no nutrition at all from any of this. "That's a nice picture." Which Shadow explains who it was, and why it was important. Why it was possibly important to him. Which gets her nodding her head along. "Scorned by the world the genius is trying to help in misunderstood jealousy. Sounds like revenge is long overdo." She is the guardian of a floating city full of such scholars and idealists, being one of what many would consider their finest creation. So she can symphasize with most of this on some level; she's not reason for her to not agree this is a fine idea.
Kukuru	Despite her apparent cheer at the party, Kukuru's feeling better and better about picking these shades today. While attention is going towards various spills and shouts, she takes a moment to chill off to the side, glancing around every now and then to not make it too obvious she's having a bit of a time. Naturally, that makes it even easier for Eggman to notice that she's having a time. "E-Eggy! Oh, um. I... I-it's just a little friendly.. Er. Unfriendly..." She's really having a time, but she's holding it together juuust enough to get some cake. The food actually helps settle her mood quite a bit more than expected. "S-so! That's how you know Shadow... That's lovely. I'm sure you'll have plenty of nicer years together, too." She smiles sweetly at that, actually letting some of that stress off her face and shoulders for a few moments at least.
Eggman	Eggman's moustache twitches. He's obviously still listening to the radio because he just kind of Does That. Then, "I don't know," he admits to Kukuru, "I can't say I'm an expert in this kind of subject. I may be a genius, but even a genius doesn't know everything immediately. Something people tend to forget." Cake bite. "But I do believe that the Concord is your real and proper family. And I feel, perhaps, that there is a point in that you cannot possibly care about everyone at once - it will drive you mad." Eggman's hand hovers after a moment, and then, he reaches out and pats her on the shoulder. "Otherwise...you would not be able to stop yourself from caring about, say, the people we are planning to take revenge on. And when you helped us, it would hurt you, very badly." "It's something to consider."
Shadow	"It's not just a few people," says Shadow to Bowser. Shadow nods to Eggman. "She was... effectively, my sister, as well," he says. "I wasn't created to be a family member, that wasn't my purpose, and I didn't expect to be treated as such, but Maria didn't have many kids her age on the station, and she needed someone to play dolls with." Shadow was the best at playing dolls. He was truly the ultimate dollhouse enjoyer, and he'll end anyone who says otherwise. "I suppose that makes you my cousin as well," he says to Eggman.
Eggman	"Technically I do believe you're my uncle, and I'd rather not contemplate those specifics overmuch, were it all the same to everyone here," Eggman says. "It's enough to be family."
Shadow	"As you wish, little baby nephew," says Shadow, who can't help himself when he smells blood in the water.
Eggman	"Eugh. I hope you felt the shiver run down your spine at that as well, Shadow."
Bowser	This is happening in two different realities at two different moments or else Bowser would be throwing things through a window. "Oh yea, gotta get back at an entire group of people? We can do that. We can make every TV tell them that they smell!"
Arcadia	"Yeah, totally get the whole not being created as 'a family member'. If it wasn't for being a sentient lifeform most of the Elders would probably think of me more as a pet." Arcadia chimes in on the somber moment.
Kukuru	"Really? Oh, I'm sure you've probably forgotten more things than I'd ever know." Kukuru chimes in after Eggman, still trembling a bit, but looking a bit more dull in the face than before. She doesn't even react immediately as he speaks, just nodding slowly as she tries to put that together with everything else that's been told to her. It's not until that pat on the shoulder does she finally jolt up in her... Stance? Seat? She was just kind of awkwardly slouched over, and the stage direction is vague enough that she's looking up at him either way. Even though she has those doofy shades on, it's still clear enough thatKukuru's tearing up a lot. "... Y-you're right. It's... Not fair to anyone if I keep doing that, right? If I can't commit to... The family that's with me now." She takes off her heart-shades for a moment to dab at her face with a napkin, then blows her nose messily into it and... Her mood's brighter. "You're right. I've been too... I wanted to get more people into our family, but I guess I've been too... Um." She attempts to snap her fingers several times to try coming up with the right words. "... Obsessed!" She heard that word earlier. "With trying to get more people into our family even if they didn't fit that I didn't think about the fit. That..." She gets up (from slouching or sitting, whichever), and she throws her arms around Eggman in a wide hug. "I'm sorry I haven't been as good to you as I could've been. But... I'll do better for all of you and the Concord from now on!" Thankfully, she waits until after pulling away to blow her nose again, and she finishes first before going to Shadow for a hug, then Bowser, then Sougo and Woz, then Rouge, then Arcadia, then every single one of Bowser's minions. And then she bawls. At least she waited until nobody's in front of her face for that.
Timespace Riders	Sougo, now equipped with heart-shades, startles in his seat at Bowser, but relaxes slightly and beams at him, in light of his praise. "I know how to delegate," says the Demon King, smiling slyly at Woz. Sougo removes the sunglasses and nods, solemnly, when Shadow mentions what he'd like to do. "It hurts, when people get away with something like that, doesn't it. It's like... the same as saying it was okay to do, in the first place. But it wasn't. ...If that'd make you happy, Shadow," says the Demon King, "Then that's what we'll do. But, first... Woz, would you bring the presents over?" "At once, sire," says Woz, standing, hand over heart and bowing at the waist. The retainer's scarf flies across the establishment, sweeping up everyone's presents And depositing them on an empty section of table within Shadow's reach. "Esteemed Shadow, open them at your leisure," says Woz, with an accomodating sweep of his hand and a bow of his head. Sougo's present is long and slim--it's a skateboard! The grip tape has been done up in black and red, with stripes reminiscent of Shadow's red streaks. It's made not of wood, but of some sort of space-age polymer that can withstand the level of speed and punishment Shadow is capable of dishing out. Woz's, meanwhile, is of a similar profile, if longer and slimmer. His is a 19th century officer's cavalry sabre, in pristine condition. The design emphasizes cuts made at high speed from a position atop a horse. Or, perhaps, in Shadow's case, a motorcycle. Sougo hugs Kukuru back. Woz does, too, begrdugingly.
Eggman	Eggman, who is not used to this at all, simply stands there as he's hugged. Very awkwardly, he goes to return it, but by that point, Kukuru has already wandered away to hug the rest of the Concord. With a bit of hemming and hawwing, Eggman does indeed twirl his moustache thoughtfully, and then, once she starts bawling, he sort of walks over to her and hugs her. "There, there. It's quite alright."
Kukuru	The titles exchanged between Eggman and Shadow have Kukuru tapping her finger on her chin. "Does that mean... I can call you my kids, too? Or..." She pauses, recalling the words of a certain wolfy person. "If you don't like that, then... Brothers instead? Then..." Another chinstroke, and then she smushes her thumb against a table. Lightly, of course, because she doesn't want to actually break it. She's just flattening a spoon out completely instead. "We can get revenge on the people that hurt Shadow's family, as a family." The returns hugs have her beaming even more brightly, too, even if her eyes are still a little bloodshot. Kukuru's present: A gun-shaped clock! It's a MAC-10 machine pistol, to be precise, with a digital clockface directly on the side of the weapon. On closer inspection, it's something that was probably made as a custom gag gift, as the whole thing can be taken off the wooden stand it's on. It's also a completely functional gun. Thankfully, no bullets inside, so it's safe to hold right now!
Arcadia	The somber moment is turned into hugging time. Which Arcadia accepts. Also partially because she just likes attention too. But she's being good and not trying to draw it away from the point of the party being Shadow. Speaking of, there's the matter of presents. One which is from her, that upon being unwrapped is revealed to be... a case of energy drinks. Because this is what you get when speedsters are giving gifts to speedsters, even if they don't necessarily need the extra caffiene and other additives to maintain their speed. It is at least in an attempt to be appropriate to Shadow's interests. The tall cans have a decor meant to resemble shotgun shells, to go with the name 'NITRO SHOT' labeled on them.
Eggman	"I think that might be a bridge too far," Eggman says to Kukuru, "Not to dissuade you from the thought, but family doesn't have to be...that literal, you know. And it would be strange for a lady so much younger than me to call me her son." Eggman is weirdly innocent about this.
Timespace Riders	"I think," Sougo says, to Bowser, "There are some people who like to say that they speak for the world--not because they actually do, but because they can leverage 'the world' against whatever they don't like." He pauses thoughtfully, setting down his fork after finishing his cake. "And because then, whatever they don't like is 'against the world.' Ask them to make it better, though, or take care of the people in it, and suddenly you're being unrealistic." He glances over at Shadow. "Is that the kind of people we'll be dealing with, Shadow?"
Shadow	> "Eugh. I hope you felt the shiver run down your spine at that as well, Shadow." He did. It was worth it. Shadow fails the QTE to avoid getting hugged by Kukuru. Dang it. She's just too fast. Oddly, when Woz goes to get the presents, there's one extra on the table - about the size of a baseball - that wasn't there before and isn't accounted for if we're assuming everyone brought one gift (Rouge included, minions not included). Rouge, who's been watching the table like a hawk, doesn't seem to have noticed? Or at least she isn't acting like there's anything strange. Gifts begin being opened. "A skateboard?" He examines it. "You have good taste in color schemes, at least..." That translates to 'I love it' on the Shadohmeter. The saber is reacted to by Shadow attempting to swing it at Woz, in proper overlord-receiving-a-gift-from-a-retainer fashion. (Sougo doesn't deserve you, Woz.) If Woz doesn't react, Shadow stops the blade an inch short of actually hitting him with it. "Hmm. Acceptable." Shadow appreciates Kukuru's gift next. "Hrm. You forgot to include the bullets." "It's fine though, I have some with me." He loads it and then sets it aside. Rouge's gift is next. "... A laptop?" "If you're going to be brooding all day, maybe you can at least go brood online with other people and be sort of social. Also, yes, it has Quiplash installed."
Bowser	Bowser's gift is badly wrapped. Not haphazardly, but wrapped badly in the way someone wrapped it themselves and has huge hands. But, it is in his CUSTOM BOWSER WRAPPING PAPER. It is a Nintendo Switch Animal Crossing Edition.
Kukuru	"Really? Aw.... Okay. And I guess it would be weird to call you 'daddy'..." Kukuru relents with a defeated sigh, but she's taking it far better than she might have moments earlier. She also doesn't realize how that might have sounded, but it's okay. She's just glad to be here, especially after all that on the radio. "Bullets...? Oh yeah. THese things do need those, don't they?" She watches Shadow loading her present, and then she starts tapping her chin lightly. "I'll have to pick you up some later. I think know just the place, too~" Before she can elaborate, though: "Quiplash? What's that?"
Shadow	Energy drinks. "I like that they're shaped like bullets." This is 'pretty good' when translated to the Shadohmeter. Shadow looks at Bowser's gift disdainfully. "This looks... neat," he says, without much sincerity. But with that one action, Bowser manages to save untold billions of lives, since Shadow will now be too busy seeking out the best turnip prices to actually get around to taking his revenge. And then the last gift, which... doesn't have a name tag on it, and nobody speaks up to claim it when it's brought out. Where'd it come from? Shadow opens it regardless. It looks vaguely like an oversized toy plastic stopwatch. He clicks the button on top. < SHADOW > "Is... that all it does?" He clicks it again. < SHADOW > "... Some sort of weird gag gift. Hey, you two like clock stuff, I don't want this," says Shadow, pitching it vaguely in the direction of Sougo and Woz.
Timespace Riders	Woz doesn't react to the sword--or at least, he doesn't make an effort to avoid it. He does make a coy little smile, at the edge of the saber. He tilts his chin, that he might bear a little of his throat for Shadow, before ever so gently pressing his finger against the blade (carefully, so as not to smudge it, of course). "You honor me with your kind words, esteeemed Shadow," the retainer says. Sougo is the one who catches the Ridewatch, albeit awkwardly and with surprise. "Thanks, Shadow," he says, clearly confused. He glances over at Woz. The look of coy smugness on the retainer's face indicates that this temporal trickery was his doing. Somehow.
Kukuru	Kukuru blinks slowly at the funny stopwatch that makes a noise. She watches shadow fiddle with it, then raises her head and lowers it slightly with the path of that toss. "Isn't that...? Um. Something like what Sougo and Woz use?" Looking over at the indicated duo, she finishes her slice of cake before getting up to get a better look at that Ridewatch. "Hmm... Well? Does it look like something you two could use?"
Arcadia	Presents are for most part a success it seems! Even if some of them ended in shenanigans and pranks. Maybe that's part of the birthday ritual. Arcadia helps herself to more greasy pizza, keeping up with the party experience. No one really expects Shadow to change his edgy loner ways, but maybe he'll see just a little bit of social interaction doesn't hurt.
Bowser	Bowser frowns at the watch. "A watch that just says your name? What would they have to do with it?" He looks over at Woz, but shrugs, figuring it is some sort of 'weird royal thing' because we are like that. 'It's Driven Me Before, and it seems to be the way That everyone else gets around But lately, I'm beginning to find that When I drive myself, my light is found "ALRIGHT, TIME FOR REVENGE AND LASER TAG!!!"
Timespace Riders	"It's a Ridewatch," says Sougo to Kukuru, in a tone that indicates he can indeed use it. "I guess... one that I'll make in the future, since I definitely didn't make this just now..." He furrows his brow thoughtfully. In the mean time... LASER TAG! The main attraction doesn't disappoint, and there's a reason Area 52 takes up a whole block. The arena is broken up into four quadrants, with target dummies set up to spring out at random, and shifting points of cover and high ground rigged to motors. Thus, the battlefield is always changing, with extra points occasionally around the corner. The lasers themselves come in one- and two-hand variations for user comfort, and the vests provide different scores depending on which section is hit--the least for the easiest shot (front center mass), the most for catching someone by surprise (back, center mass). Occasionally, high-value targets (UFOS) appear overhead, to encourage more firefights, moving faster the more they're hit. By the end of it, one thing is certain: Sougo is in dead last place. It seems his poor skill at video games translates even to laser tag.
Kukuru	"Really? And it was making interesting sounds before, too... Well! Maybe this'll give you a good idea, then~" Kukuru replies with a pleasant noise, putting away a bit more extra food before passing around wet napkins to everyone. After all... Nobody wants to play on dirty gear, right? Luckily for Kukuru, she's actually played with these kinds of game guns! Sort of. Granted, it was in the context of a light gun game, but it certainly helps her aim with the one-handed type of gun! This is easily balanced out by how terrible she is at actual movement and positioning. She's not going to go too crazy after eating,
Arcadia	Yay, game time! Arcadia quickly stuffs the rest of her pizza in her mouth and wipes her hands off on a napkin before hustling off to join in! ... After the attendant politely reminds her to use the actual guns for the game and not her own lasers. Still, her skills from constantly living a high speed bullet hell should help her to do pretty good. The only thing really holding her back is that the laser tag maze doesn't give her the space to fully use her speed, though she is by no means slow either.