2023-04-05: Queen's Game
- Log: Queen's Game
- Cast: Kaworu Nagisa, Asuka Shikinami Langley, Rei Ayanami, Gridman, Liam 7-020, Mari Makinami Illustrious, Zan
- Where: Studio Smile, Tokyo-3
- OOC - IC Date: U.C. 0097-04-05
- Summary: It's birthday time for Rei Ayanami and Mari Makinami Illustrious (allegedly!). With their birthdays a mere day apart, a party to celebrate both is had at a karaoke bar in Tokyo-3... where Mari takes opportunity to drag all unsuspecting partygoers into a fiendish game...! FEATURING: Gridman proposing to Kaworu?! Could it possibly be--!? You'll have to read to find out! nyohoho~
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
March 30. Is that the actual day that Rei Ayanami was born, or is it simply the date on her records? And why is it that, of all the days of the year, Mari Makinami Illustrious's birthday just happens to be the very next day?
It's a mystery. But for now, it's not really one in need of solving. Sometimes, things are just like that.
Having learned his lesson from the last time he attempted to arrange a celebration for someone's birth, Kaworu first asked both Rei and Mari if they wanted an open celebration to begin with, then asked where they would want it to be. Both agreed on karaoke, and so a local venue was chosen. It's nowhere fancy--just a normal karaoke place in downtown Tokyo-3. Kaworu is footing the bill. His expenses are all optional.
The booth is party-sized and soundproof, and they have three hours in which to use it. That first hour included buffet ordering--in other words, all you can eat and drink from a variety of sodas, teas, and assorted junk foods, though of course that's priced per head. The lights are colorful, a U-shaped couch hugs the wall, a table in the center is littered with the refuse of snacks and drinks from the aforementioned buffet hour (some of them haven't been fully consumed yet!), and the back of the room is a full-on stage with a karaoke machine, a microphone stand with extras on the wall in case of any group songs, and a screen both behind the singer and on the machine itself that shows a fun little video with synchronized lyrics to each song. The wall screen has connections to outside lines, which means an A.I. lifeform could absolutely plug in, quite literally, and join in the fun that way. The party itself is in approximately halfway through its second hour.
Shinji had to leave early, sadly, but he's already given Rei and Mari their gifts: to Rei, a set of multicolored gel pens; and to Mari, a romance novel. Kaworu left with him to walk him to the train station, but he'll be back presently.
In other words, right now, the night is firmly in the birthday girls's control right now.
<Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed.
Asuka has an opinion on whether it's actually Rei and Mari's birthdays or not. Take three guesses on what that opinion is and the first two don't count. Karaoke though. The thought makes her squirm a little. Assuredly that Catty Four Eyes is gonna FORCE her to sing.
And she doesn't know the lyrics of almost any song out there. Like yeah sure she'd heard songs played as parts of advertising campaigns, and she's listened to a lot of classical music, instrumentals... Video Game BGMs, but she doesn't have a leg to stand on when it comes to most songs.
Still, after much grumbling around her apartment, she does show up. And she shows up with two small shopping bags in addition that she sets down. They're unwrapped of course.
"Should have figured you'd want to spend your birthday caterwauling and forcing everyone to join in, you catty four eyes." She grumbles, before grabbing the menu, and ordering just some basic Takoyaki and Yakisoba. An eye suspiciously settles upon Rei, and... "This the kind of birthday setting you had in mind Ultra Girl?"
Apparently the nickname stuck?
Has, Mari Makinami Illustrious infected Rei to the degree where she went from singing at the recital to wanting THIS as her birthday setting? A dire outcome.
<Pose Tracker> Rei Ayanami has posed.
Rei Ayanami came to party.
Well, that's a little bit of an exaggeration. She is wearing a nice dress -- though not the same one that she wore to the prom, but rather the colorful wool dress she had worn prior. (You can see it here: https://i.imgur.com/0Ah0hRW.png)
Even so, she has been... perhaps less reticient than usual. Perhaps it is the context, perhaps it is a growing spirit. Perhaps it is simply because it is indoors, and in the strangely nostalgiac confines of a karaoke space.
"Yes," Rei answers the Second's question.
(She had accepted the gel pens with reverence and put them into her familiar black nylon bag, in among about seven different pill bottles and a packet of enigmatic blue substance.)
"Karaoke is pleasant," Rei continues.
<Pose Tracker> Gridman has posed.
Another important occasion, and another battle between Gridman and his comrades.
"After what Kaworu told me, I can't leave! Not even for things like this! One of you can deliver my gifts." Gridman insists, knuckles white as he clings to the edge of the bar at Aya.
The Neon Genesis Junior High Students look at each other. Then, in eerie unison, three of them fold their arms over their chests (Calibur simply continues to stare).
"No."
"If you want Rei to get a birthday gift, you're doing it yourself!"
"That's the way it's gonna be, Gridman."
A shake of a mop of dark, messy hair.
Flabbergasted, the Giant of Light blinks. Once, then twice. "Wh-- you all--?!"
---
Gridman arrives in a stylish coat, a gift bag looped around one wrist and a sweetly-wrapped package tucked under his arm. There's a certain shell-shocked energy to his gaze, at first, but as the party goes on...
He starts to smile. He laughs. He sings.
Tension eases from his shoulders. And, once Gridman is assured the buffet is all you can eat, Gridman eats with the gusto of a teenage boy who hasn't seen junk food in a fortnight.
As Kaworu leaves to walk Shinji back to the train station, Gridman watches them with a soft look in his eyes.
"Rei is great at karaoke. Besides, what other games can you play with this many people?" Gridman backs up his girlfriend with a bright smile, squeezing her hand in his own. "You know, it's weird there's a singing game, but not a dancing game. I think a dancing game would be great."
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
This may be the last time Liam ever gets to see his comrades--his friends--in NERV. It's a terrible thought to have hanging over one's head at any time, much less at a party. But that means Liam is not going to miss it. He shows up on time, clean-shaven and wearing the outfit from the bag Rei gave him when they first met. The white suit and red blazer makes, shall we say, a Look, but Liam's demeanor is polite, accommodating, and kind--if tremendously, understandably worried.
It's an hour in. Liam ate his fill from the buffet, mostly delicious fried foods and ramune. He's seated next to Gridman, his own carefully-wrapped presents at his feet. "Are we... all going to sing?"
That's the one remaining potential problem.
<Pose Tracker> Mari Makinami Illustrious has posed.
There's a few karoake clubs in Tokyo-3. Not many, but enough for options.
Mari Makinami Illustrious was very insistent that they go to a place called 'Studio Smile.' "It's my wish as the birthday girl," she had insisted.
If anyone asked if it was -actually- her birthday, Mari, of course, just shrugged and smiled a dazzling smile.
"All that meowtters is that it's the right time to celebrate it, don't you think?"
She did not accept any further questions about birthdays or whether she just said "meowtters" after this answer.
Regardless! That brings us to
~ <3 N o w ! <3 ~
where Mari Makinami Illustrious, Birthday (Co-)Queen, currently finds herself where she belongs: on the stage of their designated Party Booth at Studio Smile, pouring her heart out into song as others indulge in junk food and drinks and takoyaki plus yakisoba for some more refined, princessly palates.
Today, the birthday girl is dressed for the warming weather of spring, a daring short, sleeveless black vest coupling with red plaid skirt and the floofiest of matching plaid berets fitted over her mane of reddish-brown hair, worn loose for today. It evokes the feeling of some strange uniform of some academy that certainly doesn't exist as any part of the GUTS roster, at the least.
Also, the thigh-high boots she wears with them probably aren't school-sanctioned, either.
But none of that stops her from singing with shameless delight; right now, it's a rather song with a relaxing, vibing melody that stands at odds with its lyrics, the song something from an era long before the Universal Century came to be; how this place has something like that is anyone's guess:
o/` "Awkward ores collide
I choose destinations from my worries
My curiosity unstoppable
I'd like to know what lies ahead, ah~
I show you my spicy heart
I believe in myself
I show you my spicy heart~" o/`
Which really is just... painfully appropriate.
The music slowly comes to an end, though, a minute or two after Kaworu's exit with Shinji. As it ends, Mari smiles her cattish smile and leeeeans herself against the microphone stand until she's practically at a forty five degree angle, peering with lidded eyes at a certain, grumbling Evangelion pilot.
"Ufu," she begins, as is customary in her place of power, "My heart and Vanilla Bean's are at their most united this day, Princess. You won't win~. In fact..." Somehow, she leans in further. S o m e h o w .
"... I predict you'll succumb too, before the end of the night."
And here, Mari fingerguns at Asuka with a most 'I'm gonna getcha' face that has ever existed.
This is, of course, when a certain Hyper Agent conveniently brings up something, using his Hyper Powers to summon Mari's attention with one simple, innocent question:
Besides, what other games can you play with this many people?
"Oho."
And slowly, bright blue eyes slide Gridman's way. Her smile blooms ominously.
"I'm glad you asked!" A smile becomes a grin -- even more ominously as she reaches behind her...
"Have any of you ever heard of the King's Game~?"
... and pulls forth a full hand of innocent white paper slips.
(where was she keeping those, even--)
<Pose Tracker> Zan has posed.
There's a small beep from the AI screen before Zan's digital image appears. With a party hat on, no less, "Happy birthday Rei and Mari!"
Seriously, it's for all the AIs so digital space makes the most sense there.
"I hope you two have a good one!" He peers out of the screen, looking around, trying to figure out what is going on. It's a wall screen so visual's pretty limited for him.
Then again, he's probably just happy to see a birthday. Yep.
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
The door opens and shuts discreetly, barely a noise in its wake. Kaworu has returned. He's wearing a white shirt with gray sleeves, pushed up just under her elbows; hints of a black-and-white striped undershirt peek out near his collar and at his waist. A belt holds beige slacks in place, the pockets of which he's tucked his hands as he is wont. A silver snowflake necklace hangs from his neck while a metal wristwatch adorns his left wrist. His usual sneakers cover his feet. He has eschewed eating anything, but he did order some iced tea.
He smiles at the group, his gaze lingering briefly on Gridman. He seems to be more relaxed compared to when everyone arrived, which is good. Kaworu hadn't meant to upset him, only forewarn him...
"There is a dancing game," he comments, placid as ever. He looks to Liam next and says congenially, "That is the purpose of karaoke, isn't it?" He chuckles at Zan's appearance on the back screen, and gives Asuka a courtesy nod. This is also Mari's party, after all.
He pauses, though, at Mari's grin and the white slips of paper. "King's Game? I can't say I have." That alone seems to have piqued his interest.
He does not seem at all alarmed. Shinji, by contrast, escaped at just the right time.
<Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed.
Asuka for what it's worth is wearing a pair of high waisted flared brown pants with belt, a flowy red blouse, and a blue-grey jacket. On her feet are a pair of flare-heeled shoes, hinting at Misato's interference in her wardrobe choices again.
She gives Rei a dubious look, but she seems to accept that if she's saying it, she's not LYING. Though part of her wonders of Mari twisted her arm in a form of catty brain washing.
"If you say so." A beat, before she assesses Gridman, Rei's boyfriend? As she backs up Kaworu there."Yeah, of course there's a dancing game. Dog Drug Reinforcement."
A moment later, he receives a nod of courtesy, and just the smallest amount of acknowledgement.
Stopping to look upon the stage at Mari's performance, Asuka rolls her eyes at the words 'spicy heart.' probably BECAUSE it's painfully appropriate.
"United huh? Well if she's at a two, and you're at a ten, two of you together would be at about a six." She offers her mathematical logic to refute Mari's prophecy of her submission. "Pretty sure I can handle that."
The fingerguns though, that face, Asuka's briefly put on the back foot, as she looks away, a little pink cheeked. "Tck." She clucks her tongue. And then Mari asks about the King's Game?
"I've heard of it."
(She has never once in her life heard of it.)
However, Asuka has enough logic and reason to assume that the slips of white paper have something to do with it.
"Of course you'd want to play something weird."
Asuka steps forward and, takes a slip of paper with a confidence that she can't back up, only feign.
<Pose Tracker> Rei Ayanami has posed.
At the sight of Liam, Rei had been briefly surprised - but there had been a look of recognition and that sort of pleasant acceptance even if you'd be stretching it to call it more than a ghost of a smile.
Rei's hand is taken by the Hyper Agent. She seems to beam, just a little, at the grasp. She returns the squeeze.
She answers Liam's question in present time: "If you want to."
To Zan, though, Rei focuses for a moment. She blinks several times and then raises a hand to wave back-and-forth three times. It has the relevant interface, and so all seems well on that front.
Mari finishes her rich and spicy curry of musical delight, and offers a second dish.
"No," Rei answers Mari, which is probably predictable.
Rei turns her attention to the presented series of slips.
Democracy?
Rei shifts forwards, leaning forth to reach out and collect one, even as Kaworu returns and she looks towards him with that same not-quite-a-smile.
<Pose Tracker> Gridman has posed.
Liam is met with warmth. "I'm so glad you could make it. It's been too long since we caught up." An appraising look over the older man's outfit, and another smile. "You look great tonight, by the way! I think bold colors do a lot for your skin."
Well, he hopes so. Gridman still is a little baffled by which colors go with which.
Gridman is utterly charmed by the party hat atop Zan's head. "You look so festive. I don't think we've actually met. My name is Gridman. It's nice to meet you!"
How thoughtful to have accommodations for even computerized friends to join the party!
Kaworu's return earns a brilliant smile from Gridman. He waves his boyfriend over. "Welcome back! Let's play that dancing game together sometime, I'm really curious about it. I'm sure I'd impress you!"
That last sentence is said with a soft flush. Gridman has worked hard in the dance club, after all! He wants to show off a little!
"Er... Dog Drug Reinforcement... That sounds pretty weird." Gridman scratches the side of his cheek as he speaks, not quite looking Asuka in the eyes. "It's not some kind of adult game, is it?"
Kings Game is an entirely new concept to Gridman. But it seems some people don't want to sing, so maybe this is the best option for everyone to feel included. How thoughtful! Mari really cares about her friends.
"Let's all play together." Gridman says, innocently, grabbing a paper as Rei does the same. "Are there teams? Liam and I will be undefeated, if there are!"
It's only fair to let Kaworu and Rei team up, after all.
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
'If you want to'.
Wiggle room is introduced. The weight of expectation still hangs heavy. Liam's brow furrows as Asuka mentions a dancing game, and he turns to Kaworu. "...I'm... not sure if I want to." Once upon a time, he was in a childrens' choir. So much has changed since then.
"Thank you, Gridman," Liam says, with a gentle smile.
But then Mari offers the papers. Liam takes one, before he thinks to mention: "I haven't heard of that game."
<Pose Tracker> Mari Makinami Illustrious has posed.
Behold, the power of phrasing:
Well if she's at a two, and you're at a ten--
"Awwww. You think I'm a ten, Your Highness?"
The ability to COMPLETELY IGNORE Asuka's entire point in favor of twisting one part of it for the sake of undue flattery...!!
<3 "I feel like I'm going to blush!" <3
It's worth noting Mari Makinami Illustrious is not even close to blushing.
Instead, she's smoothly tugging the microphone free from its stand as she makes a light and bouncy hop from the karaoke stage, white slips of paper in hand. There's a little flash of the papers' undersides as she lands, revealing what looks like markings -- numbers? -- and a single flash of red -- before Mari straightens primly, whatever those paper slips hold hidden once more.
"Aha! The princess proves herself a princess of the world once more," remarks Mari first and foremost, flashing Asuka a smile that borders dangerously upon the Knowing without -quite- tipping over complete. "I should have known~. For all you babes in the woods, however, fear not! Your Birthday Queen-the-Second is here to be your guide as you take this journey with her one step closer to adulthood~."
Papers are taken, one by one. For Zan's benefit, Mari selects a slip of paper for him, waving its contents in front of the screen before tucking it with airy ease into the crease of the screen -- taking care, of course, to make sure it doesn't obstruct his vision too much.
As she passes the slips out, she explains,
"The King's Game is an ancient tradition" technically it is, it's not Mari's fault 'ancient' evokes certain ideas more than what it technically means "of parties since time immemorial!" also not her fault if this makes it feel more serious than it should-- "It's a game to expand one's horizons, and bond with others in a way they never thought possible." <3
this sounds more ominous than thoughtful with her inflection at this point--
"The rules are very simple. We all have a slip of paper, distributed at random, I so solemnly swear. The papers are numbered, one through six," and indeed, if they turn over their papers, they'll find those numbers written down... and...
"... And one, with a single, red mark."
Somehow, Mari's glasses glint right at this moment.
"That person is the King. For a single round, their word is law~. For one round, whoever has the King slip must give an order, and call out a number. They are not allowed to know who has what number -- and whoever has the number called must follow the order given, or face..."
And here, Mari lifts the microphone to her lips with a devilish smile.
"... dire consequences. <3"
w-why is there a heart
"There's no teams! No partnerships! Only the King - or Queen - and their order, which must be taken as an absolute! Now! Turn over your papers, and whomsoever has the King's slip -- make your word law~!"
<Pose Tracker> Zan has posed.
Zan looks over the audio logs, then tilts his head as he waves back at Rei. Then a few others.
That brings him to having caught up a little on the audio and he turns his digital attention towards Mari. "What is the King's Game?"
He seems to consider, "And am I able to play it, or should I just watch?" He asks.
A game was meant to be fun. Zan wanted to join in, but he seriously lacked a body. He wondered if he could fix that somehow.
The fun part about digital space, though? You don't have to obey physics so much. Especially as Zan is floating around like one of the really old pong balls right now, bouncing harmlessly off the edges of the screen and rolling around.
Gravity is no fun sometimes, after all, and he normally works in space! He was the only one present so he planned to have a little fun!
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
Kaworu's silently glad that Asuka named the game in question. He remembers it from when she played it with Shinji, but to bring that up would be to admit that he'd borne witness to it. Mari would probably not mind the chaos that would ensue, but it would certainly be too much for Rei.
"Dance is a primeval form of human expression, after all," he instead comments to Asuka's 'of course.' He smiles warmly at Gridman and walks over to join him and Rei, sitting down and crossing his legs. "I'm certain you would. Your dance is a splendor to behold."
He looks then as Asuka claims to know what the King's Game is and takes a slip of paper with confidence; this seems to be good enough for Rei, as she follows her lead, though she says she hasn't heard of it either.
When their red eyes meet, though, he shares that subtle, tender look with Rei. They'll talk quietly later, perhaps late into the night back home. For now, to share a gaze in the middle of a crowd is its own understated pleasure.
"Oh? It seems as though we're doing something else now, so it seems you don't need to be sure," he remarks to Liam. His smile grows as Gridman declares himself on a team with Liam--he certainly would not mind being on a team with Rei--but after chuckling at Mari's shameless twisting of Asuka's words, he looks to Mari for an explanation of the rules.
It seems there won't be teams: only commands.
"Oh dear," he says with still not a hint of alarm, only his usual smile that's more amused than usual. He looks to Zan. "Mary showed you a slip of paper, didn't she? If you wish to join the game, I expect you may if you wish."
Then he looks at his own slip. He chuckles a little, then tucks it into his pocket.
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
Liam's expression turns... a shade conflicted, as Kaworu says they might not be singing anymore. He's relieved, yes, but also more than a little... disappointed? "Mm," he says, as he holds the slip between thumb and forefinger, facing the ground.
Mari has her :3 sights firmly set on another target for now, so Liam settles in and listens in relative comfort. His eyes widen as she explains the rules. A game of commands and obedience. A test of impulse and restraint. Liam played Truth or Dare maybe once as a child. It didn't end badly, but...
Liam turns the slip over, looks, and then slips it between his palms. A bit of the old 'at attention' posture settles into him.
<Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed.
Gridman thinks that he'll impress Kaworu, playing a game he didn't even know existed moments ago the first time. Asuka gives him a look like it beggars belief.
"What? No. You think they could put it at an arcade with kids around if it was something pervy?" She says, It's just a dance game. The name has to do with the mascots."
Whereas to Mari ignoring her point, "You can't just TWIST what I meant like that!" Asuka says, aghast, as she definitely meant energy levels! "What I said had nothing to do with looks."
She sideeyes Mari at her smile. Does she know? She knows things! But maybe this time, this time she doesn't know anything. Asuka checks her slip of paper and its...
... VERY RED.
Asuka stares at it for a moment, as Mari explains the rules and the papers get handed out. There's sudden relief out of her. And then all of a sudden...
... Asuka sits down, on the couch, and nonchalantly crosses one leg over the other. "There are two Birthday Co-Queens tonight, but for now." She turns the slip of paper over deadpan, "I am your King."
Is she actually getting into this?
"Number two." Did she pick that just because she's the Second Child? Because she pilots Eva-02? "I command you to sit on both Birthday Co-Queens laps..."
A beat.
"... simultaneously."
<Pose Tracker> Rei Ayanami has posed.
Rei has no opinion on Dog Drug Reinforcement, although she's at least familiar with two out of three parts of this. She does glance momentarily at Asuka at the idea.
But then the topic is revealed, and Mari explains the rules of the game, and no doubt, the smell of the game as well.
Rei unfolds her paper and looks at it. Her eyes turn towards Kaworu for a moment, then up towards Mari. Then -
Did she just grimace at this revelation?
The face of ULTIMATE SUPREMACY?
At the awarding of the red spot of justice to the reddest of pilots?
When Asuka gives her order, Rei seems obscurely relieved, although she glances towards Gridman (with a certain affirming subtlety) and towards Liam (with mild alarm because he is the size of a small ox, relative to Rei)
<Pose Tracker> Gridman has posed.
"An ancient game, wow." Gridman says, quietly, as Mari explains. Expanding one's horizons and bonding with others... That's been Gridman's secondary mission since he arrived in Tsutsujidai. "This sounds perfect, Mari!"
But as Mari goes on, Gridman's face grows... concerned. This sounds a little suspicious. Is this going to be something shady? Would Mari do that at her own birthday party? Dire consequences...
Glancing to his partners, Gridman gauges their reactions. Kaworu seems pretty calm, as usual. That amused smile could mean anything. But since Kaworu isn't putting a stop to this, Gridman feels reassured. Rei doesn't have a large reaction either... It's her birthday, so if she doesn't like it, she could put a stop to it. Gridman squeezes her hand once more.
Furtively, the Hyper Agent checks his own slip of paper, then stuffs it in a pocket of his jeans. Zan's ping-ponging across the screen is funny, and somewhat calming. Yeah, if this is a game an AI can play too, it can't be too shady.
Kaworu's praise of Gridman's dance abilities sends his heart fluttering, and a silly grin crosses his face. Those brilliant yellow eyes seem to reflect more light than ever. "T--thank you, Kaworu! It's a date, then. I'll find this game somewhere, and we can play it, all three of us."
"Well -- it's a weird name!" Gridman replies to Asuka, holding his ground ever so slightly. "I'm glad it's normal, though.. Have you played it, Asuka?"
Noticing Liam's tension, Gridman gives him a little smile. "It's okay. I'm sure this will be fun. And you don't have to do anything you don't want to. You can relax, we're all playing together."
Asuka is King. Gridman goes a little pale. At least he wasn't chosen, but... Is Rei going to be okay with someone in her lap? She gives him a nod, and he nods in response, relaxing. Alright. If she doesn't mind, he doesn't mind either.
For now... he's safe.
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
Liam remains where he is, to his (and likely Rei's) great relief. Instead, he looks at Gridman, and nods. "All right," he says. "As long as it's... silly."
But whomst among them is Number Two?
<Pose Tracker> Mari Makinami Illustrious has posed.
What I said had nothing to do with looks.
"It must be my charming swagger," she asides to Zan, conversationally, as she deposits to the Super AI his fateful slip.
"All are welcome to partake! Though of course, we'll have to think a little outside the box for anything that demands physical substance for our robot friend." Mari offers Zan a little 'ok' sign and the flash of a smile that assures, 'we'll figure it out!'; how Mari can manage to be both so simultaneously ominous AND so reassuring is a gift that shall remain forever a mystery.
But it's mostly reassurance that enters Mari's smile as she offers a look Liam's way. She even offers him a thumbs up! He's got this! She believes in him!
Now: is this reassuring to Liam's perspective, or the opposite? Only one person can answer that--
--After all, Mari's a little bit busy looking sidelong as Asuka reclines luxuriously leg-crossed upon the couch.
I am your King.
"Oho?"
Asuka is becoming the role...!
She makes her command. And Mari's brows lift above the red rim of her glasses.
"Oho~."
And with that, Mari...
... dips in a deep, graceful bow that looks SUSPICIOUSLY like an Elezan bow animation just -- just, shot-for-shot. How could she possess such ancient knowledge--?!
"Very well, your majesty~."
And with that, NUMBER TWO is revealed as Mari quite calmly and primly makes her way over to the couch --
--and nonchalantly to settle down next to Rei, take her by the waist -- and just sort of --
"Hup!"
Lift!
And!
"Yohp!"
Plop!
The smaller Evangelion pilot into her lap with a beaming smile.
"I can't accomplish noneuclidean things even on my birthday, so I hope this shall suffice, your majesty~" coos Mari, effortlessly deferential, because Mari dives into the role, too.
Just ignore the cat smile.
"Hmmm." She cranes her head around Rei, brows furrowing. "Some noble hero will have to redistribute the paper slips, though--"
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
So the King is Asuka. This is such a predictable turn of events, given that the game's organizer was Mari, that Kaworu can only sigh in resignation. Still, he listens to her number and her command, and does nothing. Apparently he isn't number two.
For the time being, he smiles fondly at Gridman, though with him suggesting they make a date of it with Rei, that smile includes her too. "It can be found in arcades. There's one in the area that we could visit."
Liam, meanwhile, doesn't seem reassured. Kaworu gives him a curious look, but doesn't say anything for now. After all, Mari is rising up to do Asuka's bidding--pulling Rei into her lap, as she can't very well lay in her own lap. If Asuka meant to humiliate someone, it seems to have backfired quite splendidly.
"Very well," he says, rising to his feet. "I'll handle it, Mary." He'll gather up the paper slips, shuffle them in his hands without looking at them, and hand them out in short order; Zan is shown his, and then the slip is set face-down on the karaoke machine nearby. At the end, he returns to his seat on the couch, looks at his own slip, and tucks it away.
<Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed.
"I haven't just played it. I've mastered it." Is her anything but nonchalant response to Gridman.
Asuka glowers over Mari's CHARMING SWAGGER comment to Zan, as she, in her King's pose, takes up a Takoyaki toothpick, and dabbing it into the sauce, pops it into her mouth.
The act is anything but dainty, its carried like she just doesn't care much about who sees her eating what.
And #2 is revealed to be... "You!?" Asuka squints, wondering if Mari set this up somehow, as Rei is sat down on Mari's lap.
There's a momentary glower of... jealousy, perhaps? It was meant to set both of them up for embarrassment and now it's just Rei on Mari's lap like the car ride.
Asuka's probably the only one who feels embarrassed here. Still, despite the momentary jealous eye, she nods, "It will suffice... for a Catty Four Eyes like yourself." She offers with an imperious tone.
As the slips are redistributed, she checks her number, and folds it away in her pocket. And...
... pops another two Takoyaki in her mouth. She's NOT getting up from her luxurious King's Pose despite the fact she's no longer the King.
<Pose Tracker> Rei Ayanami has posed.
Rei's hand is warm and soft in Gridman's grasp. She seems to have been cool towards Asuka -- Gridman has no doubt inferred there is not much love lost between her and the Second -- but the game itself appears to be interesting.
Asuka's order is not physically impossible. Is it? Rei glances towards Zan, but it's not him, either. She's considering for a moment on where to look next when she is abruptly raised upwards and placed in the lap of Mari Makinami Illustrious, who is, of course, well suited to be...
The bigger spoon.
"Yes, your highness," Rei says to Asuka, in English, even. (You learn these things from films and television.)
"It's good that you did not do it the other way," Rei tells Mari as she surrenders her slip. She seems to be in no hurry to leave, even if this did break her handclasp with Gridman.
When slips are redistributed, she inspects it, and then holds it in the palm of her hand. No royal declaration? Or would she be observing noble silence?
<Pose Tracker> Gridman has posed.
Mari was number two! Gridman can't help but laugh as Rei is lifted and plopped into Mari's lap, gently releasing her hand. "I'd say that's a successful attempt!"
Kaworu takes the slips to redistribute them, and Gridman smiles at his thoughtfulness. "I'd like that. I'm sure we'll have a fantastic time. Sometime soon, as soon as all three of us have a free day."
"And after our date..." Gridman says, looking up to Asuka. "I'll challenge you! It's only fair that I get a little practice, first."
Gridman takes a slip. Yellow eyes widen -- it's red! He's the new King! The Hyper Agent's heart thuds in his chest. This is way more pressure than he thought it would be. It doesn't seem like Asuka is going to give up the chair, but-- Gridman feels like he should move anyway.
Standing, he clears his throat. "I'm the King this time!" Gridman just kind of continues standing, looking over the people assembled. "And I say..."
Gridman puts on what he hopes is an imperious smile. "Numbers one and three, dance together for thirty seconds!"
All this talk of dancing! It'd be fun to see what people come up with. There's plenty of music around, should the chosen two want accompaniment.
<Pose Tracker> Zan has posed.
Zan eyed the number, then commented, "Not me."
His optics give a comical blink before he comments towards the others, "That is inventive." He says as he watches it.
He considers recording this and sending it to Shinji. Then decides to just do so. He hits the record and smiles as he continues to bounce around in his digital space. "Heh."
He shakes his head, making sure to figure out Shinji's resident mobile device.
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
Liam cracks a smile as Mari scoops Rei onto her lap. He offers some gentle applause as encouragement, and hands his slip back to Kaworu in exchange for another. This one is...
Liam makes note of the number, and then hides it again.
The King makes his pronouncement. Liam rises from his seat, and steps forward. His gaze moves from player to player; he's calmer than he was, and even a little curious. Who's his partner?
<Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed.
Hearing Rei say 'Yes, your highness,' in English does take the sting of jealousy off. That's a pleasing thing to hear from Rei in any setting.
Gridman challenges her, and Asuka's eyebrows loft at the challenge, "Oh? Spend as much time preparing as you'd like. The result will be the same." As she implies his complete and utter defeat.
She truly does have a high opinion of her skills, doesn't she?
Unfortunately GRIDMAN is the King. And Asuka looks up as he calls Numbers one and three. Asuka grabs a napkin, then stands up, wiping off her hands, then balling it up. A short toss and its send towards a trash receptacle in the corner.
She steps up to Liam, two, almost three whole heads shorter than him. There's something embarrassing about this, but she tries her best to be stone faced, other than a brief cluck of the tongue and a spasm of an eyebrow.
She's trying not to give anyone the satisfaction.
Holding her arms out as if in the hand position for a slow dance, she offers for Liam to lead the dance with a simple, "Well? It's..." Then lower, and more brusquely, "...the King's Command." If he doesn't respond within five seconds though, she'll lose patience.
And just take one of his hands and put the other around his shoulders, and starts to dance. Whether she leads or follows though, she's so STIFF! Like she's never done this before. Yet it's not like she's utterly hopeless...
... she must know at least enough for the basic dance steps...
And that's not like Asuka. Was she hoping SOMEONE ELSE would ask her to dance?
No that'd be stupid.
<Pose Tracker> Mari Makinami Illustrious has posed.
Asuka glowers. Is it jealousy...?!
It will suffice... for a Catty Four Eyes like yourself.
If she's wondering if she's the only one who feels embarrassed now, well --
The fact that Mari peeks over Rei's shoulder just enough to blow the Second Child a kiss probably says it all, doesn't it?
Still, in fulfilling her duty, the Birthday Girls are both relatively indisposed for redistribution purposes. When Kaworu volunteers to take up the slack, Mari offers a chipper "Cheers, Tabby Cat!" before looking sidelong Rei's way.
"Right?" she wonders to her Birthday Partner, eyes alight. "You wouldn't have had to worry, though. I'm as light as a feather. It's just one of my many positive qualities."
Mari could go on forever about how remarkable she is, and she would have every right to, seeing as how she is the Birthday Princess today. Fortunately, though, Kaworu passes out those papers, and Mari takes hers. As Gridman's eyes alight, so too does Mari's. As Gridman makes his proclamation, Mari's brows climb again...!
"Ara..."
She begins to shift, as if she's going to move Rei out of the way and rise with Liam, damning him to a dance with Mari Oh No Makinami--
--and then it ends up she's just moving to stretch her arms languidly over her head with a luxurious sigh, a catty smile,
and a wink.
<3 f a k e o u t <3
Instead, she finishes her stretch just in time to turn a lidded gaze Asuka's way just as she stands -- a small smile on her lips that seems more fond than anything else as she starts that deathly-stiff dance, growing all the fonder as it begins in earnest.
She watches, for a moment. And then --
if there's a little whistle about twenty two seconds into their dance well it couldn't possibly be innocent Mari
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
Liam has never danced with anyone in his life. As Mari stretches, fear, curiosity, and excitement bubble up inside him. But no--
His actual partner is grumpier. Liam mimics Asuka's gesture, holding her hand and settling his other hand on her shoulder. If she has little experience, he has even less: he more or less bobs from foot to foot before he gets the tempo of Asuka's steps, and matches it. The seconds tick on. Liam feels... far less awkward than he thought he would, and even manages to smile.
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
"You're welcome, Mary," Kaworu tells her, ever smiling. To Rei, though, he gives a curious, assessing look. It seems she doesn't mind sitting on another's lap at all... Something to remember for the future.
For the time being, it seems her deadpan English has appeased Asuka. That's something else to remember, for a different reason. He chuckles at Gridman's attempt at being imperious, bidding one and three to dance together. "That's an interesting command. I wonder if your subjects will meet your standards?"
Liam is the first to rise, and the second... is the Second. Kaworu gives Liam a sympathetic smile, as Asuka's body language screams that she does not want to do this (or perhaps just doesn't want to do it with Liam), but this, too, is fate. At least Liam seems as though he's starting to enjoy himself, which is a good thing indeed.
Mari, though, acts as first like she's the chosen second, seeming to rise before folding her arms behind her head. "You do love to play tricks, don't you?" he remarks to her in mild amusement.
All the same, he gets up again to re-redistribute the slips. And the next King is...
<Pose Tracker> Rei Ayanami has posed.
Even a Gridman may be King. All hail the reign of King Gridman the 1.0! Rei does not speak this aloud, but she does look at him, and then he makes his order. She does not respond, though; she is not one of those Chosen.
She answers Mari, however. "Is that so?"
The dance, though, is almost heartwarming. Liam seems to draw the lion's share of Rei's attention. Watching how he moves, what he's doing. He does not seem so much older than the others, yet he is so enormous and powerfully built. Not alien, but somewhat other. But so is Zan, is he not? Liam is simply a different sort of human.
Isn't she?
The slips are turned in and redistributed.
Rei looks at hers.
Rei is silent for long enough for others to check their slips. For unease, perhaps, to begin to dawn. Maybe even for someone to ask a question of one another: Is it you? Who is it? Did that slip get dropped?
"Number Three," Rei says (again in English).
"Number Five," Rei says.
"In the name of imperial authority," she continues, this time talking normally* again and turning around her slip to show the Red Dot of Authority, "you will perform a duet song together."
"Number Two will select the song."
<Pose Tracker> Gridman has posed.
"I'll prove you wrong!" Gridman says, at Asuka's doubt. He grins, clearly not taking this too seriously. It's just a fun challenge, right?
Liam is revealed as one of the chosen numbers. Gridman's eyes wide, and he grins in excitement. And his partner is...
Asuka!
Gridman looks shocked, watching her stand and walk up to Liam. Next to him, she looks... really small. Why has he thought of Asuka as so intimidating, anyway? She's a teen girl, just like a lot of his friends. Maybe she could even be one of his friends.
A smile. As the dance goes forward, it's clear Asuka is unsure of herself, but she's giving it her all. Definitely respectable. All that matters in dancing is doing your best and having fun.
The dance comes to a close, heralded by Mari's innocent whistle. Gridman claps enthusiastically. "That was great! I'm definitely satisfied."
Seeing Liam smile makes it feel like this was the right choice. With his duties fulfilled, Gridman sits back down next to the Mari-Rei lapstack.
Strips are redistributed, and Gridman breathes a little sigh of relief when his slip comes back without a red dot. His eyes light up as Rei is revealed as King, and makes her proclamation.
"King Rei." Gridman says, a whimsical smile on his face. "May I kiss your royal hand?"
That's something he saw in a movie once.
<Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed.
A kiss is blown, Asuka offers a sour face, but maybe it's a pout? It's hard to tell in the moment.
Asuka once the dance starts, doesn't seem actually that perturbed by it. Her steps are stiff but she's not yelling at Liam. Her blue eyes seem focused at about chest level.
She's intense, serious, focused, but she's not actively angry about the situation. It's like she's more worried about embarrassing herself.
Then a whistle is made, and there's a momentary stumble, as she just GLARES at Mari. Once the dance is finished, she says, drily to Gridman.
"The King's will be done." She offers, as if addressing some military commander than actually offering true respect. More paper slips are passed out and... Asuka moves to sit back down...
'Three'
Asuka hesitates in mid-air. And despite Rei calling it out, Asuka just gives Mari a second glare as if to say YOU DID THIS! YOU SET ME UP!
Since Mari promised to GET HER!
Either way, Asuka moves to the stage. Waiting to see who Number Five is... and Number Two. She crosses her arms, waiting to see what her FATE will be.
Asuka can't sing at all, and she knows barely any songs at all.
She may be sweating a little over this one.
"Well? Are we going to keep the King waiting?" Asuka asks, impatiently.
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
Once the dance is done, Liam bows to Asuka, and sits back down for the next round of slip-passing. This is... actually helping him process, he thinks. Just playing a silly game with a bunch of other teenagers in a karaoke booth. Nothing is at stake.
'Number Two will select the song.'
Oh. A duet, that's... Liam takes his lip between his teeth, picks up the remote, and starts scrolling through the song menu. Sheryl might be duet-able, but there was this one other song he heard on a public playlist that got stuck in his head, and:
Liam taps in the numbers. A song starts playing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xB9asO5tOg&ab_channel=TheFAZZ
Liam settles back down, smiling.
<Pose Tracker> Rei Ayanami has posed.
"You may," Rei asides to Gridman, holding her hand out a little tentatively.
<Pose Tracker> Mari Makinami Illustrious has posed.
Asuka GLARES at Mari.
Mari blinks, lashes-a-flutter with pure guilelessness, and points to herself.
'Me? How could you think that??' the entire expression seems to ooze.
But the slips are redistributed, and Mari takes hers. She eyes her number, lips curling -- and as Rei takes a look at hers, her bespectacled birthday partner looks sidelong to see the flash of red.
"My liege~" coos Mari, very discretely. She knows Rei's knack for silent suspense, after all. And she honors it --
--just until those orders are given.
Number Three and Five to perform a duet, determined by Number Two.
Asuka makes clear which role she's been chosen for. Liam soon follows after, looking for a song. Mari's brows climb. She looks between Gridman and Kaworu expectantly. And Gridman shifts--
--to ask to kiss the royal hand.
Mari Makinami Illustrious' brows are at their zenith. Her gaze is lidded. Her smile is a moon's crescent.
"Heh."
is her single exhalation of revelation as her expression reaches smug perfection.
(she also, obligingly, shifts just enough to turn herself and Rei towards Gridman to enable the hand kissing; her expression does not shift in the slightest)
(it's ominous)
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
Gridman beholds Liam and Asuka's dance, and is indeed pleased. Kaworu watches him more than he watches the dance, though he does take it in from the corner of his eye, with a fond smile. Slips are redistributed it, and once again he smiles at his.
A short quiet follows. Kaworu is never bothered by this. Indeed, he regards Rei when she issues her royal decree, then holds out her hand to allow it to be kissed by Gridman. Kaworu himself...
Well, his smile fades a hair or two when Asuka steps up to the stage. He sighs faintly, almost noiselessly.
Then he steps up onto stage with her.
"If it must be so," he says simply, and stands with her in front of the microphone. Liam's choice of song is at least fine indeed--Kaworu is quite a fan of Fire Bomber's, or rather Basara Nekki's. It's a bit of an honor to fill in as his voice, really.
It's just a shame that Asuka must be his Mylene.
He sings first, although 'sing' is a strong word for it; it's more like rhythmic chanting, which is wholly inappropriate for a high-energy rock song, but what can you do? His voice isn't unpleasant, and he is on-key and on-rhythm, at least. It helps that he's well-acquainted with the song and the band--and even moreso that this, in the end, the will of his love. As he sings/chants, he peeks at Rei and smiles a little more warmly.
"Now, let's get started this Saturday night
"How're you doing? Let's stand up
"Can you feel the beat...?"
...and onward the song goes, with or without Asuka, until its close.
<Pose Tracker> Gridman has posed.
Gridman bows his head to Asuka in respect, only to cover his mouth with a hand to keep from laughing as she is immediately called on again. Poor Asuka... Twice in a row, and seemingly activities she doesn't care for.
"Do your best!" Gridman calls, supportively.
Oh, Liam is also called again. Gridman watches him stand -- but he goes to select a song. "Nice choice." A fist is extended to the older teen -- hopefully Liam will know what a fist bump is.
If his fist is bumped or not, Gridman's attention snaps back to Rei as she gives him permission. With a sweet smile, he picks up her hand in his own and presses a kiss to her knuckles. Just like that foppy man in the movie.
"Thanks." A smile, and he releases her from his grasp.
Kaworu is the second choice, making Gridman wince. Even he's noticed the chill between Kaworu and Asuka. At least it's a song Kaworu enjoys. In an effort to show his support, Gridman claps along to the beat.
"Kaworu!" Gridman cheers. "That was great! You too, Asuka!"
<Pose Tracker> Rei Ayanami has posed.
*chu*
Somehow, lips on her knuckle makes Rei blush, just the smallest bit.
Liam is revealed to be NUMBER TWO.
He selects the song; a rather recent piece, one in the classic rockerboy mold. Rei neither adores the song nor deplores it. It is a piece of music, as are many others. Perhaps importantly, it is a duet.
One of the other ones is revealed to be the Second. (Is the Second the Third? That might be irony.) Rei looks towards her and towards Kaworu as he shows himself as well.
Rei's expression to Kaworu is faintly - but only faintly - apologetic.
For he is, after all, an excellent singer.
At the conclusion, Rei dips her head and says, "We are satisfied," as she surrenders her slip anew. When the time comes, she examines her own, impassive as always.
<Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed.
The 'Heh.' only briefly drawing her eye with a glower that in no way admits defeat.
(Even if she has been defeated, repeatedly tonight).
Asuka glances sidelong at Kaworu as if the two were up on the gallows platform together. She has no doubt that Kaworu has a wonderful voice. He's great at EVERYTHING. Asuka's eyes are GLUED to the screen, as she doesn't know the lyrics at all. And when the song starts, Kaworu starts to speak the lyrics in a sort of rhythmic chanting. On key at least!
Oh no, that means its up for Asuka to save this effort. Asuka remembers every lesson Mari taught her about playing an instrument. Passion. PASSION! She must salvage this effort.
"This is a paradise flying through the sky, with energy that's being forgotten
"Now hurry up and bring it back."
"No more wastin' time, before everything,
"Flows on by you just like a dream."
"Hey everybody, wake up the light,
"And let's dance, dancin' on the planet dance.
"Liars sing a sad song of giving up,
"No thanks! We don't want them around.
"The constellations that keep on changing and the unseen sweat and tears,
"Bring courage into my heart.
No Asuka just is yelling out the lyrics, top of her lungs, and that's her definition of passion. She's not on key at all, causing a horrible contrast between Kaworu and herself.
The room is a cacophony of unpleasantness, not because Kaworu is unpleasant, but the total lack of harmony. Like a Biblical catastrophe is in progress.
The two open their mouths and sing the song that ends the ears in the room.
And then Asuka promptly gets off the stage, and takes her next slip of paper, head slightly bowed in mute embarrassment.
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
Liam smiles, and extends a (much larger) hand, matching Gridman's fistbump with one of his own. He sits back, and waits. Surely this will be listenable, at least; these two did perform together at the Christmas concert, right?
It takes him until the first verse to realize that he remembered wrong. Kaworu was instrumentals when Asuka was singing. Oh. Oh no.
Liam sits there, expression pleasantly neutral as a perfectly good song is taken out back and murdered by a complete lack of harmony. He applauds, politely.
"Magnanimous," he says, to Rei. A joke??
<Pose Tracker> Mari Makinami Illustrious has posed.
It is a match of oil and water. Mari knows full well how poorly Kaworu and Asuka interact.
Did she make this happen? Did she somehow subvert Physical Laws to manipulate causality to get Asuka to sing, in fulfillment of her prophecy, in the most apocalyptic way possible...?!
Well, probably (?) not.
But she is still avidly dedicated to watching what unfolds next. She doesn't look away. Not for a second. Not even as Kaworu begins to sing-chant as if in preparation for a sacred ritual, and Asuka just POURS SONIC FIRE into the song as if doubling down to make up for it to create an unholy study in utter contrasts.
She does not look away from this sight, not for one. Second.
She doesn't even blink.
She's just...
"Oh me oh my...!"
... Enthralled.
She's silent, for exactly three point three three seconds after. And then--
she claps. Delightfully. It's not even sarcastic. She loved every second, unironically.
Is that worse, or better?
Perhaps that's up for the viewer to decide.
Regardless: soon after, Mari is patting her hand on Rei's shoulder, and offering a sweet, earnest, "You earned that kiss, Birthday Bean," before very carefully sliding the tinier Child off her lap so that she can languidly streeeeetch all her way up onto her feet.
And then, she gathers and redistributes those slips, announcing, "This will be our final, official round~" as she goes. She also, in no particular order:
1) offers Liam a giddy thumbs up of approval because he helped give her a wonderful birthday gift,
2) offers a cheery-yet-sincere "sorry, sorry" into Kaworu's ear as she gives him his slip, and,
3) offers an embarrassingly heartfelt, "I loved it, your highness," as she offers that final slip to her.
And with that? Mari eyes her one remaining slip, tucks it against her ear, and dusts her hands.
"Well then! Let's begin~."
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
Kaworu is aware that Asuka is capable of singing more or less well. Maybe not from this time around, but this time isn't the only one there is. But though the broad strokes are the same, many of the details are not, and this apparently is one of them. He shuts his eyes as Asuka screams out her share of the song, completely out of sync with him--is it his imagination? does she actually slide further out of sync when he tries to align himself with her??--but he maintains his smile and his composure.
He's not great at everything, as Asuka silently accuses him, but he is skilled at that, at least.
Once the song is done, Kaworu looks to the King of the round. 'We are satisfied,' Rei states, and he chuckles, openly and deeply fond. "Then I am as well, my King," he states, dipping into a courtly bow.
He gives Gridman a rueful smile as he claps and expresses his support for both of them. "That's very kind of you," he says graciously. A similar smile, now back to amused, shifts his lips as he enjoys Mari and her wholly unironic, fully enthusiastic clapping. This sort of thing really is to her taste.
Soon, though, it's time for one last round of the game. "Are you?" he wonders at Mari as she hands him his slip. The slip itself, he inspects. He tucks it away, considering the ceiling for a moment. The next moment, he considers Mari. "I really don't think you're sorry at all. You love playing tricks too much," he comments. He tilts his head slightly to one side, eyes shutting as he smiles. "But that's the true purpose of this game, isn't it? Though the King may give out decrees, ultimately, this chaos is one of your making, Queen Mary. Any who would wear that crown merely carry out your will in a small form of divine providence. Perhaps, then, you are no queen, but God Herself?"
He laughs a little and opens his eyes to regard her. "Very well. As the one who has been chosen, I shall carry out Your divine will." He turns his gaze across the room, his smile serene. Benevolent, even. Kaworu is a kind Angel. But...
"Number Four.
"Reach out to the one you love, and express to them in whatever manner you wish that you love them."
...he serves a cruel, cruel God.
<Pose Tracker> Rei Ayanami has posed.
The song is raucous. In the end, though, it does end; and at least there was a saving grace.
("... yes," she answers Liam, perhaps more gnomically.)
Mari tells her something sincere, and Rei turns her head slightly. "?" she says, perhaps hearing some depth she does not understand. She will understand, but not for some time, and she does not resist being slid down to plop in her seat.
But the challenge is heavy, and a question hangs in the haze.
When will you --
Wrong question.
Who is Number Four?
It doesn't seem to be Rei!
<Pose Tracker> Gridman has posed.
Rei's little blush warms Gridman's heart, and inspires a blush of his own in return. Unfortunately, it quickly fades as the duet begins. For all his enthusiastic support (which does not falter!) Gridman... winces. Just a bit.
This is not a good sound. But Asuka's giving it her all, and that... counts. It counts! It's worth clapping for!
At least Mari joins him in his applause -- Liam manages to keep a straight face. Nobody wants Asuka to feel bad.
And so, the final round begins. Gridman accepts his number with a smile.
Kaworu's bow is lovely, graceful and coordinated. Kaworu really is good at everything... Gridman sighs softly.
At his boyfriend's speech, the Hyper Agent blinks in surprise. Once, then twice. He takes a sip of his soda as Kaworu goes on -- oh, he's king! That should be interesting.
Until--
Yellow eyes widen. He coughs on his soda, quickly putting down the can so it doesn't spill all over the nice party space. Oh no. Oh no.
In his pocket is a slip with the number four. Gridman's mind goes blank for a long moment, like a malfunctioning computer. Nothing in or out. His eyes even go faraway.
But, wait. Kaworu did talk about chaos, right? And if that's the point of the game, then maybe the most fun option is...
To turn it back around on him.
A deep, deep, deep breath. A kiss to Rei's cheek. A little murmur of "fight bravely", to himself. Gridman stands, his hands shaking by his sides. He walks to Kaworu and gets down to one knee.
In his defense, Gridman has only existed about a year. He doesn't understand the exclusive meaning to this pose.
"Kaworu." Yellow eyes lock onto red ones. If Gridman's going to do this, he's going to do it all the way. Gently, he reaches for his boyfriend's hand with both of his own. "I love you."
A breath. "When I was lost in a kaiju's dream, your voice is the one I could hear the clearest. When I woke up after being stabbed, after losing my best friend, you were there to catch me. When my city is in danger, you're always fighting by my side."
"You make me feel like a person. You made me a person. A -- lilim." A shy, wobbly smile. "You make me want to be here. To live. To stay. I want to be with you always."
<Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed.
It is not his imagination at all. Asuka was absolutely sliding further out of sync with him.
Asuka looks momentarily startled as Mari says she likes it, suspecting she's being made fun of. Yet, she doesn't get that vibe. She loved it???
Asuka's not... certain what to make of that. She was absolutely awful. Though at the same time Mari still helped her when she was awful at the Violin.
She squints, suspicious, but ultimately, grudgingly accepts it. "You can be a real weirdo sometimes." And yet when Asuka says it it doesn't feel... insulting, was what she was going for?
Like weirdo isn't such a bad thing just because it means 'different' in her eyes, not categorized with the rest. Still Kaworu makes his request, and Asuka is aghast.
And immediately double checks her slip of paper in horror, like a riff from an ancient axe murderer thriller was playing through her head.
In the end, it is not her, and relief floods her.
Her eyes trail to Rei, and it's not her, but it is... Kaworu's BOYFRIEND?
Asuka doesn't say anything, listening to the confession, and it's shockingly sweet, her eyes turn away like... she shouldn't be watching this. Shouldn't be listening to this. She feels like she's encroaching on something she shouldn't be hearing.
You can't just... person a not person, can you?
Well, Asuka wishes one could, and sometimes... when with certain people, it's easy enough to forget for a while.
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
The slips are exchanged once more. Liam notes the number and tucks it into his palm, ready and waiting further instructions.
Number Four. Liam's face flushes, but it's subtle; clearly he is not Number Four either. Who is?
Liam gives Gridman a gentle back pat as his soda nearly goes down the wrong pipe. Once he's recovered, Liam watches. How is he going to do this?
Gridman kneels. Liam's eyes shoot open. Wait. Does he know? There's no way he knows. He glances at Asuka, and then at Mari, and in that moment he... actually looks like a teenager getting excited over a silly game revealing something deep. Because he is.
<Pose Tracker> Mari Makinami Illustrious has posed.
Asuka declares Mari a Weirdo. Mari's response is a pearly white flash of a grin.
"It's number three on my top ten best qualities~."
She knows.
It's a compliment.
But...
Is she sorry?
Is she -really-?
It's a study in contrasts, the way Mari smiles so brightly and bows her head with the clap of her hands so contritely.
"It can be two things!"
This is her absolutely not denying any of Kaworu's assessments -- not a single solitary one.
Just that she can also be apologetic about it!
She even peeks her head up at Kaworu's final commentary, a sparkle in her eye.
"Birthday God, huh? Hmmmmm..." she rubs her chin, thoughtful.
"... it's got a nice ring..."
Oh no. Is Mari truly aspiring to godhood--?! Or, perhaps, she truly is God--?!
"... but I like my depraved human heart too much to ever give it up~."
--
Hoo... ray?
And so, absolutely not denying any of the rest (and even offering a salute and a solemn "go with your God, my child" for Kaworu at his grand declaration), Mari's smile is like the brightest beacon as she listens to Kaworu's declaration. No -- she is very satisfied by this. She also doesn't make a move to fulfill the order -- but, well, even if she -was- selected, her reaction likely wouldn't be much different, would it? She might just look happier, if it were possible. She slowly slips away as she listens, covertly gathering the slips one last time. And as she does, as she shuffles them, Gridman stands up. She blinks, and discretely and slowly shuffles her way Asuka-wards as the Hyper Agent approaches Kaworu.
And whatever her insidious (??) plan is with the slips, they're put on pause for one beautiful moment as Gridman confesses earnestly, lovingly--
--on one knee-ingly--
The slips of paper snap up to cover the bottom of Mari's face as she gasps out an "Oh my! Scandaleux!" in the face of Gridman's heartfelt love as Liam looks her way. Is she -- blushing--?
She's blushing!
This has been a -wonderful day-.
The only thing that really stirs her is catching Asuka from her peripherals. Looking away. Mari blinks. And, with one more sidelong step...
... Mari, holding only one of those paper slips, -still- watching the unfolding confession taps her finger on Asuka's shoulder to quietly get her attention.
The birthday girl has one final request--! She's just. ... Absorbing the moment a bit, right now.
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
A cruel god indeed. Kaworu grins at Mari, too in love with humanity to make any real aspirations towards Godhood. "That's very you," he remarks, and it too is a compliment. So, too, are the compliments Asuka and Mari share between each other. He watches them for a moment, but says nothing there, either.
The command is perhaps a little more difficult, as evidenced when Gridman nearly chokes on his drink. Kaworu had designated only one admission of love when he knows full well that there are at least two people with two datemates that he might be calling upon. When Gridman rises, then kneels before him, he glances at Rei--but she seems unbothered by the display. Perhaps he shouldn't have worried; after all, Gridman made sure to kiss her first.
To bend at the knee and make such proclamations... Perhaps it's just because it seems more knightly that way, as if he were swearing fealty to his King. But it does have another meaning in this context, doesn't it?
Kaworu listens. He curls his fingers as Gridman takes his hand into both of his. At the end, he smiles softly. "I didn't make you a person. You were always a person yourself, from the start," he tells them, perhaps missing the point a little bit. "Still... thank you. It truly makes me happy to hear that."
He bends down and, just as softly, presses a kiss on Gridman's crown, as if it were he who were the King.
Thus ends King Kaworu's reign, and the end of the King's Game... but there's still a lot of celebration left to go, isn't there?
<Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed.
Is Mari blushing!?
She's blushing!
Asuka doesn't know how to handle this. Who knew that Mari Makinami had actual limits to her shame. Still, she's not looking at Kaworu and Gridman, until the moment...
... Mari taps on her shoulder to get her attention. And arms still crossed, she leans her head in to hear the Birthday Co-Queen's request.
<Pose Tracker> Mari Makinami Illustrious has posed.
Arms crossed, Asuka leans her head in.
Hands behind her back, Mari leans her body in.
Shoulders bump.
"I have the King's Slip," she confides, gravely, as she watches Kaworu and Gridman's exchange.
The paper is in her hands, behind her back. There's no way to really tell if she's telling the truth.
"... And the Birthday King requests a single dance from her highness."
This is not how the rules of the game work.
She's also technically a birthday queen.
She might not even have the King's Slip!
She's just blatantly flouting all tradition and norms right now!
... But really, in the end, her request boils down to a simple question:
Is Asuka willing to just ignore all that,
and play the teensiest, tiniest bit of pretend?
Either way...
... this has been a wonderful birthday.
<Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed.
<poem>
Shoulders make contact. Asuka's eyes slide down to the slip. Mari doesn't sound like she's lying once again and yet...
... she makes a request. Asuka is stone faced for many long moments. They're not the rules of the game. Not as presented before.
She could easily refuse it. Easily. And noone would bat an eye at Asuka refusing anyone something, especially on something that blatantly breaks all traditions and rules.
Those sky blue eyes peer at Mari for several interminably long seconds as she recalls all the times that Mari Makinami Illustrious sought her out. When she helped her despite having no reason to. When Asuka made it difficult for her every step of the way.
After a moment her eyes break contact, her shoulders lift as she takes a breath and... without looking at her, she holds out a hand, palm up in her direction.
"Would your majesty prefer to lead or follow?"
She asks, without impatience, as she plays pretend. And then dances with her for a full five minutes without complaint.
Happy Birthday, Mari Makinami Illustrious.