maskormenacelogs | nothing worse than having some fun

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nothing worse than having some fun

WHO: Annie Leonhart and Minako Aino
WHERE: living room of Residence 14
WHEN: afternoon of August 1st
WHAT: Minako teaches Annie the fun of being a teenager- an afternoon wasted with junk food and video games.
WARNINGS: None really!

[Friday afternoon found Minako doing what she usually did when she wasn't at work or out and about. She took over the living room of the house with her food spread out, the video game console hooked up to the tv. A few volumes of manga lay scattered about, she would clean up the mess later since she didn't want her older, more mature housemates she looked up to think she was so inconsiderate.

But for now she was sprawled out upon the floor after losing in the game she had been playing, lazily throwing some chip at the tv screen.] Stupid boss, came out of nowhere!

[She was about ready to restart when she heard what she assumed to be Annie knocking at the door. She jumped to her feet to throw open the door with a big smile to let the other girl in.]

Come in! I know just what games I think you'll like and not find too hard since it's your first time! [She chattered happily, glad that she could show Annie how great it was to be a teenager in these times, she really was so lucky to have someone like Minako to show her all this. At least, in Minako's view.]

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[ There's a moment where Annie stands on the outside of Minako's front door, blinking owlishly in at her, and thinks, This may be a mistake. She tamps down on the feeling, stepping inside and pausing to take off her shoes. ]

Are they such difficult things to handle?

[ She'd promised no pain... at least physically. Annie thinks back to the paintball "game" with an internal grimace. ]

It just takes some practice! Hand eye coordination but don't worry, it doesn't hurt like the paintball game did. [Minako assured her as she reached out grab Annie's arm to pull her into the living room eagerly.]

It's too bad we're not in Japan, you would love the Sailor V game! But I found some great ones for us so lets get started!

[ Why is she grabbing her arm Annie tries to politely pull herself away from Minako while moving along in the same direction, trying not to look surprised by the spontaneous contact. Hand eye coordination doesn't sound like it'll be a problem, and being here... maybe that's enough to make it fully separate from the paintball experience. ]

Sailor V game?

[ Is that about boating? ]

Sailor V is a pretty soldier who fights crime in the name of justice! She has her own video game where you can fight monsters as Sailor V, it's so much fun! [Minako wasn't above bragging about herself like this as she lead Annie into the living room. She let her pull away as she picked up a bag of chips,offering it to her as she took a seat in front of the tv where the controllers sat on the floor.]

Help yourself! I stocked up so we wouldn't go hungry since video games take a lot of concentration! Girls like us need to make sure we eat plenty!

[ Annie shakes her head, sitting with more exaggerated care, looking over what the living room holds. ]

Do you have anything... fresh?

[ Bread would be fine, but things like carrots, even the weird, tiny, pinky sized ones that were all slick and strange would do. ]

I didn't realize this was such an intense activity. You're sure it doesn't hurt?

[ This time actually teasing, in an almost too deadpan way. ]

Fresh? [Minako said curiosity before leading the way into the kitchen.]

I think there are some vegetables around, though I have to say the sugared fruit gummies are much better. [She said with a laugh as she dug through the fridge to find a bag of baby carrots. She's not sure whose they are but figures she can buy more.]

Positive! Unless you're playing with my friend Usagi who tends to throw the controller when she loses and starts crying. She's hit me a couple times by accident. [Minako assured her happily, maybe leaving out the other times she herself threw the controller or stomped around when she lost.]

Your friend sounds a little... emotional. Ah, and vegetables will be fine.

[ She likes to think that, trailing after Minako with more reluctance. Moving freely through another home when she's not there for anything of particular purpose feels invasive. Annie's not even sure she can pin down why, other than knowing she's there as a very tenuous guest.

The orange things look ... orange. Annie squints at the packaging. ]

How do they grow baby carrots?

She's definitely full of emotions but you would love her.

[Minako said with a happy smile at the mention of Usagi. She pulled out the carrots for Annie before they moved back toward the living room. She was surprised at the question, looking thoughtful as she flopped down on the couch to grab the controller.]

I think they have special trees for baby carrots actually! It's amazing the things that we can grow!

Special trees?

[ Annie finds that... about as reasonable as soy milk, so accepts this as a possibility in this strange, strange world. They're safe, at least. Annie's had them before. She takes a much more careful seat on the couch, examining the carrots with a keen eye for orange and water laden detail. ]

That's a high estimate of my ability to relate with others.

Definitely!

[Granted Minako doesn't know what she's talking about but that's ok! Minako offers Annie the other controller with a grin.]

I think you don't give yourself a lot of credit, Annie, I think you're capable of more than you think.

[ There's a dark sort of humor in hearing Minako say that. Annie doesn't want to respond to it, leaning forward and planting her elbows on her knees once she accepts the controller. Looking it over, she presses the joystick, twirling it with her index finger. ]

How do these things work?

It's really easy! See, you press this button to jump up, this one to go back and forth and this one to run. [Minako showed her on the controller before starting the game for them]

We can do an easy level so you can get used to it.

[ That's just a series of buttons that don't make sense and relate to nothing. Annie nods very slowly... then looks to the television with a impending sense of doom. ]

Whatever you think works best. What... kind... of game is this?

It's an action game, you have to fight bosses and avoid the obstacles. [Minako said as she gave Annie an encouraging grin.]

You'll do great! Come on! [Minako jumped to her feet the instant the game started, immediately starting to mash buttons with an intense look in her eyes.]

[ Minako, none of those words make sense! Annie tries not to grimace, staring at the screen, not understanding what it is she's supposed to do.

Then she starts pressing buttons to see what it is she can do, but mostly, she's getting whaled on. Fighting games??? This is crazy, how is she supposed to - Annie glances up at Minako. Does pressing buttons like that really work? How is this fun? How is this anything?

Point being, Annie is losing rather... terribly. ]

[Minako mashed buttons for a little bit longer, expressive at each hit and sometimes yelling at the screen that something wasn't far that totally shouldn't have hit! She looked over at Annie to see how the other girl was doing, glad that she was playing at least. She's at least not any worse than Usagi, she has to give her credit for that.]

GAHHH THAT TOTALLY CAME OUT OF NOWHERE! [Minako exclaimed as her character was killed on screen, dramatically sinking into the couch.]

[ Annie manages not to flinch as this button mashing round ends, giving Minako a strange look for all her exuberance over this game. ]

You can say that again...

[ Annie shares the opinion that Minako's outbursts are also out of nowhere. ]

I'm still not sure what the hell just happened.

We kind of lost to a boss, he's a tough character you have to beat in order to move forward in the game. [Minako explained with a groan. If she noticed Annie's strange look, she didn't mention it.]

You gotta get into it, just keep going, it's all about reflexes and thinking ahead. Ready for round two?

[ That still makes no sense... but Annie glances back to the screen, giving a nod of her head in resignation. Okay, this time, she's studying what responses she gets with what presses of what keys, how the joystick responds, the response time for the object moving on screen (she finally knew which one was hers to direct) and what else she'd need to study to turn games into...

... well studied games. She may be doing fun wrong for the moment, but she has to understand more of what's going on for it to be satisfying. ]

Round two it is. What's our end objective?

We have to beat the level and beat the boss. Then we can go to more places in the game, it's lots of fun!

[Minako explained as she started the second level for them. At least Annie seems to be into it, at least she hasn't given up. Minako reaches over to shove some potato chips in her mouth before the level starts, not caring that a few bits have clung to the corner of her mouth as she started mashing buttons once more, jumping up.]

[ What a messy way of eating... which is Annie's thought on grabbing the chips without looking, less on what clings to the corner of Minako's mouth. She takes out a carrot on her own, wondering again at modern miracles of baby carrot trees (didn't carrots grow in the ground?) and biting down with her molars.

She's being far more methodical, drawing her legs up so she's sitting almost cross-legged while she carefully tests out the responses different buttons and combinations of buttons produce. She has as many errors (some pretty hilarious, like failing to scale a ladder they came across, until she figured out how to engage it) but at least 15% of the time she's actually managing to join in with a useful function... she thinks. It kind of looks like she's letting Minako tank while she snipes in and takes out the trickier for Minako to handle enemies.

Is this how it's supposed to go, this is her version of teamwork, Minako! Annie intensely watches the screen as she gets more used to predicting AI actions. ]

Did that one explode?

[ Tortoises don't do that... ]

[Minako gives her a grin, impressed that Annie is picking it up so quickly now. It reminds her of when Ami plays video games with them, how precise she was and how good she was at games without trying.

She's startled by Annie suddenly coming in to save her, she's better than this! She mashed buttons, a determined look on her face.]

Yeah! You gotta watch those or they'll explode and knock you over!

But... why?

[ Annie retreated to watch what Minako's doing... button mashing still seems ridiculous to her, a little too imprecise. Her own assistance remains fairly minimal, and she keeps falling off things or not jumping far enough, misjudging the video game physics.

They're so annoying! ]

What's with that big laughing dark thing on screen?

Uh, don't worry about that right now, we're getting to the big boss soon, you ready for it?

[Minako said as she looked over at the other girl.] You gotta charge up your powers, we're going to blast it together, I know it!

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nothing worse than having some fun

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