HAPPY BIRTHDAY 1 [Video]

[happybirthdaytoyou]

[Eugene has chosen to write his numbers in frosting on a shiny reflective worktable in the back of the main branch of MAGNIFICENT BAKERY. Mort and Rhonda are lucky he didn't do the same thing on the living room coffee table. Because of this, the first thing anyone sees is the bakery ceiling while a deep voice shouts from off to the side:]

SO! By way of these secret numbers, I have gained access to an equally secret supernatural network! MAGNIFICENT!

[And now the owner of that voice is leaning over the table. He appears to be a middle-aged Japanese-American man, wearing chef's whites, with a streak of flour on his cheek and a very manic expression covering the rest of his face. It's a face that many people in the numbers club have probably seen before on bus shelter advertisements.]

I look forward to learning more about this secret numbers club! However, there is one thing I must know first!

… when are your birthdays?

[How else is he going to know when to make the cakes?]

Comments

[text; ipad]

[amberhearted]

[ wowowow he's like a japanese arthur. maybe they're friends?

-- hey wait a minute. ]

Are you the owner of magnificent bakery??

[VIDEO]

[happybirthdaytoyou]

[Recognition only makes Eugene grin wider.]

YES! Yes, I am! Eugene Yokugawa, at your service!

video

[testsonseashells]

[Mordin sniffs.]

Hardly supernatural. Simply not understood well enough.

...June 29

Video

[happybirthdaytoyou]

[Thoughtful nod.]

What kind of cakes do you like?

[Audio]

[talktothedoll]

[There's a long, familiar-sounding sigh. Mort can't say he was expecting to see Eugene on the network, but now that he has? Well, it's not like he's completely surprised that frosting was involved. The man did love his work.]

You know when my birthday is, Eugene.

VIDEO

[happybirthdaytoyou]

[Man, Eugene is so psyched to hear Mort's voice coming from his table.]

OF COURSE I DO. And don't think you're going to get away without sufficient cake, Mort. You can bring them to the office and give them to your clients if you're being Dr But What About My Cholesterol again.

WHICH REMINDS ME! Do you want me to bring something home for supper or do you and Rhonda have that covered?

[Text]

[thepiisatruth]

1st: Signups 4 free cake, +/-?

[VIDEO]

[happybirthdaytoyou]

[Wow, this guy is loud.]

YES! FREE BIRTHDAY CAKES FOR EVERYONE IN THE SECRET NUMBERS CLUB!

[Text]

[shiromadoushi]

[[Looks like the name is official now. Heh.]]

Why did you want to know something like that?

VIDEO

[happybirthdaytoyou]

Free birthday cake!

[Duh.]

text; phone

[controlsdesire]

[Wow he has no idea who this guy is, but for a minute he's feeling like he's run into him before... somehow. It's close to the feeling he had when talking to the psychiatrist, though this feeling is less uncomfortable and more... like a memory, almost.]

Have we met?

[Not that he's saying who he is or giving any hint at all, but it's the first thing that comes to mind to send back to the man.]

[VIDEO]

[happybirthdaytoyou]

Perhaps! If you live in Japantown, I've likely seen you around!

When is your birthday?

[handwritten]

[darkhourdear]

[You sound weird. Phillip likes you so far.]

Are you a baker?

[VIDEO]

[happybirthdaytoyou]

Yes! I run MAGNIFICENT BAKERY!

[video]

[skickpowered]

[Aaand another familiar face! Wow he's been meeting so many familiar faces lately.]

Heeey! It's Mr. Magnificent!

[VIDEO]

[happybirthdaytoyou]

[It's great, isn't it?]

HEY AL!

voice {iphone}

[ursoreckless]

But what if you don't like cake?

VIDEO

[happybirthdaytoyou]

Then I feel very sorry for you.

Voice

[reckless_fire]

'Bout time somebody with a useful talent got sucked into here.

VIDEO

[happybirthdaytoyou]

Have you met my brother? He's the numbers club psychiatrist! It's a VERY useful talent!

[Video]

[destinedforrock]

[She wonders... Although she'll keep herself out of sight until her "business" is done to ensure that it stays on target; listening in on the other conversations this fellow's having she'll reserve her patience on any exuberant first reactions to one of the network's English-speaking non-humans.

Therefore, all that's in the transmission is the watery image of the interior of a wooden structure - and a pair of white ears, and a tuft of gray hair.]

Excu~use me -- good sir... Did you say that you're a baker?

[Video]

[happybirthdaytoyou]

YES! Yes I am!

[ text | cellphone ]

[hoennmaihime]

[After skimming his conversations with the others:]

The 8th of July. [no it isn't]

What an ingenious way to gather information on the identities of those here, though - if one were so inclined.

[she doesn't trust you one iota, old man.]

[VIDEO]

[happybirthdaytoyou]

[Really, that's just secondary to the all important reason of CAKE.

Even so, he's not going to address that.]

Magnificent! Any preference in flavors?

[depolarized]

[What. Wai is this the first thing he sees on the network.] You haven't gone through the guides yet, huh?

[happybirthdaytoyou]

I skimmed it.

[Lies. He went through it fairly thoroughly and then decided to throw out whatever didn't matter for the purposes of giving everyone cake. SO THERE.]

[ text ] ((HERE IS MR. HAPPY.))

[fatherssins]

You're happy about this?

25/12.

[VIDEO]

[happybirthdaytoyou]

Why not?

Since your birthday is Christmas, would you like a Christmas cake?

( text )

[handcuff]

Children's Day.

... The Japanese one.

VIDEO

[happybirthdaytoyou]

May fifth. [Notes this down. In frosting.] Any preferences as to the cake?

[handwritten]

[moarnomsplz]

You're on this thing, no way!

My birthday's November 2.

Re: [handwritten]

[happybirthdaytoyou]

Magnificent! And what kind of cake would YOU like?

video;

[hollowleg]

[Shiro is actually cooking as he checks the network on his iPad, sautéing some veggies and meat for curry]

Wow, you're kind of weird. But your bakery is gorgeous! I think I've seen you around, before. Do you ever do demos at the culinary school?

Re: video;

[happybirthdaytoyou]

[Eugene looks thrilled to be recognized.]

YES! Yes, I have! The wedding cake class had me do a lecture back in April and I've been a guest presenter for Basic Baking every semester this last three years!

[voice]

[sinningsaint]

You're seriously going to just give away cake? [...Well, his secret sweet tooth is getting the best of him.]

Um, then my birthday's April 10th.

VIDEO

[happybirthdaytoyou]

Yes! We're all working together now, after all!

[kingofthetoybox]

Oh, hey, it's the cake ma, err... Mr. Yokugawa.

[Oh boy. Is this a chance for free cake? Pokey thinks it is.]

My birthday is everyday. I wake up as a whole new me every day.

[happybirthdaytoyou]

[Nice try. Eugene smiles indulgently.]

That is a MAGNIFICENT philosophy! However, not really useful for my purposes.

[earnedmystripes]

[Kotetsu loves cake as much as the next guy, but suddenly he has an Idea.]

...Are you making cakes only for us, or can I get one for my kid?

VIDEO

[happybirthdaytoyou]

Yes! You can totally give yours to your kid!