vidya game time

[retraced]

Who: Yosuke and Gilbert
When: Backdated to the 17th of March
Where: Arcade in the underground mall
Summary: Bros playing video games. Only one of them is probably any good at it.
Warning: Warnings for embarrassing DDR failure.

This place is too loud. Too bright. There are too many flashing lights that still confuse him and fill him with anxiety. But two years living in this 'modern' world and Gilbert still hasn't assimilated properly when it comes to all of this technology.

He's been in this arcade a few times before. The first time he'd left with a migraine that he thought would never go away, and the second time he'd embarrassed himself by tripping over a stray power cord and nearly shoving an entire rack of stuffed animals on a small child. He'd caught it before it could do damage, but he'd still fled and promised never to show his face in this place again.

But he can't say no to a friend either. Especially a friend who 1 - he owes, and 2 - wants to continue helping his antiquated way of thinking expand a bit more.

Luckily, no one recognizes him as he stands just inside the entrance waiting for Yosuke to show up, staring down at his feet and trying not to bump into anything or anyone.

Comments

[inthejunk]

See? It's not hard at all.

[Youske approves, once Gilbert figures out that the arrows are timed. he dude may not be great at what he's doing yet, and little does he know it's hilarious to watch him trying, but hey at least he's trying.]

[For his part, Yosuke bounces lightly and easily on the dance pad. He's been playing this game for years, since the beginning of middle school or so. He can even incorporate a few silly moves to show off. A spin here, a moonwalk step there, drop and slap an arrow on his side while playfully kicking one on Gilbert's side, too. Just this once, he feels pretty damned cool.]

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[No no, it's still hard. Especially with Yosuke over there doing all of his silly moves! He's having enough trouble concentrating on when to hit the stupid arrows at the right times without this kid doing it for him!]

Hey! Stay on your own side!

[inthejunk]

[Yosuke just laughs at Gilbert's exasperation, but he keeps himself busy with his own arrows after that. Even if it's not going to be really easy to Gilbert, hopefully the guy will at least have a little fun. While getting his butt kicked, of course.]

It's a game, not a chore! Have some fun.

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[How can you have fun when this game requires so much concentration?! But he tries to follow Yosuke's lead, loosening his stance and trying to put more bounce and less stomp into his steps. It helps, but...

Wow, this is embarrassing. So embarrassing. How long is this song going to go on for because he's just fighting not to ragequit out of it right this minute.]

[inthejunk]

[Bounce bounce hop bounce! What are you talking about? This is awesome! There are girls!]

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[The song starts to come to a finish, and Gilbert couldn't be happier. He considers himself a guy who is pretty well in shape, but he's finding himself exhausted playing this game. With an explosion of light and digital applause on the screen, it's over, and he falls back against the short railing with a loud sigh.

That was worse than he thought it would be. Not just the act itself, but the hideous score of F that pops up on the screen to let him know that he failed his half of this song, miserably.]

Ugh...

[inthejunk]

[Yosuke flinched a little at that score, too. He claps Gilbert on the shoulder reassuringly.]

To tell you the truth I didn't expect you to be that bad at it. But don't worry, I think I know something to cheer you up.

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[He gives him a disgruntled look that clearly says, "NOT HELPING."

But he bites.]

What?

[inthejunk]

C'mon, it's this way.

[Yosuke throws one last wink at the girls, and a wave, before he leads Gilbert away. There's only a bit of regret, because they're going to play racing games next!]

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[The girls giggle at the both of them and then start towards the other end of the arcade. Gil doesn't even notice as he follows behind his friend, wondering just what's supposed to make him feel better. He can't think of a single one of these games that will cheer him up, so maybe he's talking about getting food...]

[inthejunk]

[Oh, right. Food exists. Maybe later, dude. What you need right now is a motorbike game!]

Here it is. There are cars too, but this ones the best. You can pick highway or off road or mountains or race track or desert...

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[And then his levels of UNSURE??? went up a thousandfold.]

This is supposed to cheer me up?

[inthejunk]

[Kicked puppy face, dude. This game is his favorite. How could anyone not love it?]

Uh...right, you hate [fun] trains and cars, so I guess...I guess maybe you'd rather throw darts or something.

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[......................................Shit.]

No! No. We can...try this. [LIFE IS HARD.]

[inthejunk]

[He lights up again at that. The polite thing is to offer an alternative twice more, but instead he hops up on the closest bike. You'll love it when you try it, just wait and see.]

Great! Just get on like it's a horse or something. You had horses back in ancient times, right?

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[He watches Yosuke get on his before attempting to get on his own. Oh geez, this thing moves around. He almost falls off, but manages to regain his balance before hoisting himself onto it, awkwardly.]

Of course we did. But usually I rode in a carriage that horses pulled...

[Fancy noble stuff, you understand.]

[inthejunk]

[Amused snort.]

No way. Then again, I guess I can see that. What track do you like?

[Already dropping tokens in. Better find your seat, Gil.]

[retraced]

[He's getting to it! Still teetering a bit, but he's up there.]

Whichever is easiest.

[Which means Yosuke should choose the most difficult.]

[inthejunk]

[Easy is definitely the wrong way to pick. You're supposed to go by fun. Highway is the easy one, and no one ever gets a motorbike to ride it on boring old higways. What you want is the jump track.]

This one is pretty cool...

[retraced]

[Just like jumping with horses, right? He's watched that happen before, at least. Okay, he can do this...he can!

Except just as he makes this decision, the fake game-motorcycle starts to shake beneath him, to give the effect of actually being on a real road while the screen shows them their gameplay. Oh good god, what has he done.]

Is it supposed to move?!

[inthejunk]

Uh. Yeah.

[Jeez, dude, how big was the rock you crawled out of? Oh, well. He taps the screen.]

Keep an eye on your speed and your acceleration, right there.

[retraced]

[Okay, he'll keep an eye on it.

Even though he doesn't understand what he's reading.]

Okay...

[And there goes the game, counting down to the start of the race. BEGIN.]

[inthejunk]

[VROOM! Yosuke revs his bike and shoots off down the imaginary track, assuming Gilbert will figure it out easily. Everyone knows how these things work, right?]

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[And while Yosuke takes off into a good, clean start, Gilbert's fake bike on the screen just sort of...teeters. Just as he does. He kicks it, but it still doesn't move forward.]

How do you make it move?! [He doesn't even have his feet up in the right place, let alone putting enough pressure on them to make it go.]

[inthejunk]

...That isn't how you kickstart it.

[Yosuke rolls his eyes, and doesn't even take them off the screen as he reaches over and demonstrates the throttle.]

Use that, and the pedal.