Post by Solana on Aug 22, 2018 9:31:28 GMT -5
As always on her birthday, Solana was curious about what she would be in for this time. Aryn alone had been pretty creative over the years, and her potential for mayhem had only multiplied since she had married Eziban. Not to mention all of their friends now.
Most years had been great fun with different ideas. Some had been a bit embarrassing, some had been over-the-top, and most had been sheer brilliance.
Always, though, the best present that she received was being surrounded by a pod that she loved, and that loved her enough to come up with wacky shenanigans year after year.
Aryn and Eziban approached her, breaking her train of thought. Both were wearing matching smiles promising no mercy, and it seems that neither was the mastermind this year.
Aryn- HE wants to see you, Solana. Right away.
Solana- Who?
Eziban- You'll see. Just remember- this is for your own good.
Hoo, boy. They each took one of Solana's hands and led her through the Shrine hotel until they reached one of the gaming rooms. Aryn rapped on the door in a certain rhythm, until they were invited to come in.
Solana paused. She knew that voice...
As the door was opened, she saw that the room looked very... different. A heavy set of velvet drapes hastily rigged up hid most of the interior. In front of the drapes was a platform, holding the captain's chair borrowed from the Neo Yagami.
Sitting on the chair, hands folded and wearing a serious expression, was Caesar.
Caesar- Thanks, Auntie Aryn and Uncle Eziban.
They bowed and let go of Solana’s hands before stepping back. Solana was to face Caesar alone, it seemed.
Caesar (leaning forward intently)- Auntie Solana, do you know why you're here today?
Solana- I'm afraid not, siliquenitro.
Most of the time, the kids were pleased when she used Atlantean endearments such as the word for 'pod-nephew'.
Caesar didn't even crack a smile. This was serious.
He reached to an armrest of the chair to pick up a black briefcase, then methodically opened it and took out some papers.
Caesar- You're here today because an intervention was needed. You've been playing videogames wrong for too long, and we're here to correct that.
What? Solana bit back a smile, willing to see this through.
Caesar (reading the papers)- Yes, we have a dossier on your gaming history, thanks to Techno. 'Ace Attorney', 'Endless Ocean', lots of RPGs... all good things, but there are more. So many good things are missing, such as playing with other people.
Caesar shook his head in sorrow and tossed the report to Aryn.
Aryn- Not only that, but you've been drinking water and tea while playing. Not much else. You're doing it wrong.
Aryn handed the report to her husband, wagging her finger at Solana.
Eziban- And eating fruit and popcorn and nuts. Too much healthy stuff while gaming. Unacceptable.
Solana was having a harder time hiding her smile as Eziban chucked the report back to Caesar.
Solana (ducking her head in mock embarrassment)- You're right. I've... forgotten the way, forgotten what gaming could be like. What should I do?
Caesar (grinning)- I was hoping you'd ask that. Now!
Aryn and Eziban pulled on the drapes to display the rest of the room. Solana couldn't help a gasp.
The snack table was filled with goodies. Bags of corn chips and barbecue potato chips. Plates of chocolate chip, molasses, and peanut butter cookies and even kickass brownies. Bottles of Tahitian Treat, Dr. Pepper, imported Fanta and Sunkist orange soda with a bucket of ice and cups.
There was even a Sicilian style Pizza Hut pizza?! How...?
Solana glanced at the pizza, then at Aryn. Aryn just grinned smugly and made a small bow.
But there wasn't only food. Games were piled high- Double Dragon, Street Fighter, Smash Bros, Mutant League Football, Road Rash, Soul Calibur, Dead Or Alive, Guitar Hero, Dance Dance Revolution.
Solana felt tears come to her eyes. So much loving preparation in making or acquiring her favorites in terms of food and games. Beanbag chairs and even one of her papasan chairs sat ready.
Caesar- Here's your present, Auntie Solana. What do you want to play first?
Solana (smiling)- Smash Bros. Then all four of us can play.
Aryn (grabbing Solana a piece of pizza)- Atta girl.
Eziban (mixing 1/3 Dr. Pepper and 2/3 Sunkist to make a Dr. Orange)- Dibs on MetaKnight.
Caesar (leaping from his chair) - Loser cleans up!
Aryn- Crap! Dibs on Link!
Hours later…
Solana had crashed from both caffeine and sugar overloads, and was sleeping on one of the sofas. (Caesar had covered her with a blanket.) Aryn had conked out recently, her head pillowed on her husband’s lap. Eziban and Caesar had switched back to Smash Bros to fight one last battle, and neither was inclined to give in.
Eziban- C’mon, Link, my man, we can do it!
Caesar- Nope, get ready for second place!
Eziban- Aw, dammit! Pit and those wings!
With a smile and a shrug, Eziban reached over to shake hands with the victor.
Eziban- Well played. You were taught well.
Caesar- By the best.
Eziban- How did you think of this for a present, anyway?
Caesar- Auntie Solana could stay up later than almost anyone else, so she would often chaperone our gaming nights when we were kids. But she always played, too, and had a lot of fun. I think she needed to remember that it’s okay to play and eat junk food like that herself, even if she’s not a kid anymore.
Eziban- Are you sure you’re not just trying to corrupt your Auntie Solana?
Caesar- Nope, not me. Never. 0 : )
I look at birthdays as a time to reflect on the previous year and look forward to the next. Things are certainly rosier this year with this awesome university job, and I just aced the two month review yesterday. This next year will bring my Bali/Singapore trip, more gaming and gaming music goodness, and more writing.
I took off today to sleep in (well, when you’re used to getting up at 3:30, 6:30 is sleeping in), work on the Super Mario cross-stitch, play some games, and going to lunch at my favorite restaurant in the world, Satay 2 Go. (Tiny hole in the wall place that makes amazing fresh Malaysian and Chinese food, minus the sugary sauces I can’t have.)
Most years had been great fun with different ideas. Some had been a bit embarrassing, some had been over-the-top, and most had been sheer brilliance.
Always, though, the best present that she received was being surrounded by a pod that she loved, and that loved her enough to come up with wacky shenanigans year after year.
Aryn and Eziban approached her, breaking her train of thought. Both were wearing matching smiles promising no mercy, and it seems that neither was the mastermind this year.
Aryn- HE wants to see you, Solana. Right away.
Solana- Who?
Eziban- You'll see. Just remember- this is for your own good.
Hoo, boy. They each took one of Solana's hands and led her through the Shrine hotel until they reached one of the gaming rooms. Aryn rapped on the door in a certain rhythm, until they were invited to come in.
Solana paused. She knew that voice...
As the door was opened, she saw that the room looked very... different. A heavy set of velvet drapes hastily rigged up hid most of the interior. In front of the drapes was a platform, holding the captain's chair borrowed from the Neo Yagami.
Sitting on the chair, hands folded and wearing a serious expression, was Caesar.
Caesar- Thanks, Auntie Aryn and Uncle Eziban.
They bowed and let go of Solana’s hands before stepping back. Solana was to face Caesar alone, it seemed.
Caesar (leaning forward intently)- Auntie Solana, do you know why you're here today?
Solana- I'm afraid not, siliquenitro.
Most of the time, the kids were pleased when she used Atlantean endearments such as the word for 'pod-nephew'.
Caesar didn't even crack a smile. This was serious.
He reached to an armrest of the chair to pick up a black briefcase, then methodically opened it and took out some papers.
Caesar- You're here today because an intervention was needed. You've been playing videogames wrong for too long, and we're here to correct that.
What? Solana bit back a smile, willing to see this through.
Caesar (reading the papers)- Yes, we have a dossier on your gaming history, thanks to Techno. 'Ace Attorney', 'Endless Ocean', lots of RPGs... all good things, but there are more. So many good things are missing, such as playing with other people.
Caesar shook his head in sorrow and tossed the report to Aryn.
Aryn- Not only that, but you've been drinking water and tea while playing. Not much else. You're doing it wrong.
Aryn handed the report to her husband, wagging her finger at Solana.
Eziban- And eating fruit and popcorn and nuts. Too much healthy stuff while gaming. Unacceptable.
Solana was having a harder time hiding her smile as Eziban chucked the report back to Caesar.
Solana (ducking her head in mock embarrassment)- You're right. I've... forgotten the way, forgotten what gaming could be like. What should I do?
Caesar (grinning)- I was hoping you'd ask that. Now!
Aryn and Eziban pulled on the drapes to display the rest of the room. Solana couldn't help a gasp.
The snack table was filled with goodies. Bags of corn chips and barbecue potato chips. Plates of chocolate chip, molasses, and peanut butter cookies and even kickass brownies. Bottles of Tahitian Treat, Dr. Pepper, imported Fanta and Sunkist orange soda with a bucket of ice and cups.
There was even a Sicilian style Pizza Hut pizza?! How...?
Solana glanced at the pizza, then at Aryn. Aryn just grinned smugly and made a small bow.
But there wasn't only food. Games were piled high- Double Dragon, Street Fighter, Smash Bros, Mutant League Football, Road Rash, Soul Calibur, Dead Or Alive, Guitar Hero, Dance Dance Revolution.
Solana felt tears come to her eyes. So much loving preparation in making or acquiring her favorites in terms of food and games. Beanbag chairs and even one of her papasan chairs sat ready.
Caesar- Here's your present, Auntie Solana. What do you want to play first?
Solana (smiling)- Smash Bros. Then all four of us can play.
Aryn (grabbing Solana a piece of pizza)- Atta girl.
Eziban (mixing 1/3 Dr. Pepper and 2/3 Sunkist to make a Dr. Orange)- Dibs on MetaKnight.
Caesar (leaping from his chair) - Loser cleans up!
Aryn- Crap! Dibs on Link!
Hours later…
Solana had crashed from both caffeine and sugar overloads, and was sleeping on one of the sofas. (Caesar had covered her with a blanket.) Aryn had conked out recently, her head pillowed on her husband’s lap. Eziban and Caesar had switched back to Smash Bros to fight one last battle, and neither was inclined to give in.
Eziban- C’mon, Link, my man, we can do it!
Caesar- Nope, get ready for second place!
Eziban- Aw, dammit! Pit and those wings!
With a smile and a shrug, Eziban reached over to shake hands with the victor.
Eziban- Well played. You were taught well.
Caesar- By the best.
Eziban- How did you think of this for a present, anyway?
Caesar- Auntie Solana could stay up later than almost anyone else, so she would often chaperone our gaming nights when we were kids. But she always played, too, and had a lot of fun. I think she needed to remember that it’s okay to play and eat junk food like that herself, even if she’s not a kid anymore.
Eziban- Are you sure you’re not just trying to corrupt your Auntie Solana?
Caesar- Nope, not me. Never. 0 : )
I look at birthdays as a time to reflect on the previous year and look forward to the next. Things are certainly rosier this year with this awesome university job, and I just aced the two month review yesterday. This next year will bring my Bali/Singapore trip, more gaming and gaming music goodness, and more writing.
I took off today to sleep in (well, when you’re used to getting up at 3:30, 6:30 is sleeping in), work on the Super Mario cross-stitch, play some games, and going to lunch at my favorite restaurant in the world, Satay 2 Go. (Tiny hole in the wall place that makes amazing fresh Malaysian and Chinese food, minus the sugary sauces I can’t have.)
That sounds like a good way to spend it.
