dappledleaves | CICONIA: WHEN THEY CRY

[ In the meantime, Oria keeps up his pace of shooting bubbles really fast. He's cleared the bubbles off the screen except maybe two more color groups, but he's struggling to clear them without creating more color groups in the process. ]

You think so?

[ He's familiar with Sinclair not wanting the arcade to be crowded. Oria doesn't want that to happen either, so that's why he looks thoughtful. ]

Then maybe I shouldn't, hm?

[ He pauses for a second to wink over at Sinclair and resumes the gameplay. Heheeehehe. ]

Uh. Um...

[Why does Oria do that. It distracts Sinclair enough that he ends up sending bubbles in the wrong corner and has to frantically work to fix that. Come on luck!! give him the colours he needs!!! He needs blue, not red and green and purple!!]

...well, it'd be nice to have something to ourselves for a little longer.

I think so too.

[ Distraction successful! Sometimes multi-tasking is a double-edged sword. ]

Like a little private-public rendezvous.

[ He makes it sound so scandalous with how he says it. ]

[Let Sinclair process this for a second, his parallel processing power cannot handle this]

Wh-

[oops, more missed bubbles. Sinclair is now completely pouty]

Don't make it sound so weird.

It's only weird if you think it's weird.

[ That's not how it works, Oria. Anyway, he dramatically presses the button to launch one last bubble to clear the screen! ... For now. He can have several seconds of fame before more gets pushed from above. ]

Besides, it's true!

That is definitely not how words work!

[One last rescue keeps Sinclair dying, but he's definitely not out of the danger zone]

How so?

No one else is here and it's out in the open. That's how!

[ Sound logic to him. ]

But the word rendezvous is a bit...

[Aaaah he can't keep up anymore!! the bubbles reach the end of his screen and it turns to stone. His loss]

Good game!

[ Though Oria looks pretty smug about it anyway. ]

I'll let you pick the game again.

Mmm...if you're fine with that then...

[Looks around. Ah, there's the washing machine-like game]

Have you tried these kinds of rhythm games before?

[Brightening!!! Time to test his gloves on them. rest in pieces, oria's palms]

Edited 2024-10-27 00:16 (UTC)

I haven't played this before, but I saw someone play it. Actually, I saw a kid play it before. It looked pretty simple... so why not?

[ He's ready for a challenge with how his expression brightens. ]

Let's go!

Edited 2024-10-27 00:34 (UTC)

[Setting the game up for a proper match also jesus christ that kid putting everyone to shame.]

Simple, huh... I wonder how good that kid was.

[Because uh, Sinclair puts it on a hard mode and....it's a LOT]

[ I wish I was a rhythm game prodigy like that kid... damn... ]

I wouldn't waste my time watching a kid playing some tutorial level. You know that much!

[ He vaguely remembers what marks mean what and stands in front of the machine. Oria did mention finger sleeves before, so he's somewhat used to how rhythm games work...

It's just that, well, the screen doesn't feel like it comfortably matches his height. And slapping the buttons wear down on his palms...

Despite everything, he's not doing terribly, but he's not doing well either. ]

My hands hurt... this is because you have gloves, huh?

[ if only... Sinclair seems familiar and comfortable with this game but it probably helps he has gloves. He grins a little]

I don't know what you mean.

[look at Sinclair's score go... he's not much shorter than Oria but it seems to work in his favour]

[ Man. Oria glances at Sinclair's score soar and he is taking it easier on the buttons, but that leads to occasionally not registering because he pressed too softly, thinking he pressed the button when he didn't.

Still, he doesn't quit. He's trying his best over here. ]

I need an ice pack after this...

[ Dramatic boy. ]

I'll get you something later.

[ Leather gloves are the best for this apparently. Also if they were dating he'd offer to kiss them better but he'd die now before doing that]

Three minutes left.

How long is this song?! It's a crime for rhythm games to be longer than five minutes!

[ He says, fully aware there are modes that allow longer than five minute songs.

Still, he persists. He seems to be getting better... ]

Mmm...six minutes I think?

[ They're not even on expert mode. Sinclair misses a beat but regains it. Maracca lessons to move to the beat are coming in handy here]

[ He will never make fun of maracas ever again.

Oria manages to stabilize his score in the last thirty seconds of the song. When it finishes, he dramatically throws his arms up in the air and lets them flop to his sides. ]

We're done!

[ For a first time player, Oria's 71% isn't all too bad... ]

Ahaha. Give me a second...

[how is Oria this good already? Sinclair is sitting at 90% but he's not a first time player so it doesn't count.

Sinclair pops away to grab a cold canned popsi drink and puts it in Oria's hands]

There.

[ He holds the cold can with both hands. The nice chill soothes the hands, but he feels like they will go numb eventually if he keeps holding it like this. ]

Thanks.

[ Oria is good at taking experience and applying them to where they matter, making him highly adaptable to many situations (discovery channel voice). ]

Ahh, that feels better.

[ It must be an Oria thing. Sinclair is suitably impressed regardless]

Better than an icepack?

It's not like we have an ice pack right now, so this is good enough.

[ He smiles at Sinclair. ]

You always take care of me sooo well.

[ ??? Well it's a small thing so]

You're my friend. Of course I have to try.

You're so sweet.

[ Hehe. ]

Is there anything else you want to play? If not, I wanna play Tekken 1.

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