Triple Birthday Trouble

## Premise

Birthdays are a common occurrence at the PartyPlex—heck, they’re what it was built for! But it’s not every day you have three parties at once! Tyler is turning twelve, Katie is turning nine, Matthew is turning five—and they’re all here at the same time! Someone need to make sure these three parties have a fun time and don’t step on each other’s toes; will Ajax, Benji, and the Harlequinette be up to the task?

## Cast

* Zen (DM)
* The Harlequinette (MJ)
* Ajax (Doll)
* Benjamin "Benji" Sickle (Vegan Bear)

## Notable NPCs

* Marie (Manager who gave the party their tasks for the day)
* Cici (ice cream animatronic)

## Plot Summary

It's an especially busy Saturday at the PartyPlex, and Ajax and Harlequinette are called into a staff room. The two arrive at the same time and see the day shift manager Marie as well as Benji waiting there. Marie introduces Benji as a new hire that Ajax and Harlequinette will be working with as they manage today's birthday parties. Harlequinette is excited, but Benji is taken aback and asks if he has to work with kids. Marie confirms this and Ajax asks why he applied for the job if he doesn't want to work with kids, but Benji actually didn't apply for the job; he broke in and was mistaken for an employee. Marie gives Benji a Razwatch, and Ajax shows him how to use some of its basic features.

Marie reads off a short speech from corporate for Benji's benefit, then explains that there are three birthday parties today, and the group needs to chaperone them from activity to activity. She also makes a point that no two parties should be in the atrium getting the birthday song and cake at the same time. Marie heads out to deal with a guest issue and tells the group to get to the Atrium to meet the parties as they arrive. Ajax lays claim to Katie's party, since they're going to be visiting DJAM's Dance Floor, and Benji wants to take Matthew's party since they'll be getting sung the birthday song first, even though they're the biggest party with 25 kids.

Ajax and Harlequinette head for the Atrium, but Benji doesn't follow them and winds up getting lost and walking to the bowling alley. When Benji takes a while to arrive in the lobby, Ajax sends the mini music men triplets to go find him, but they aren't successful in getting him to the Atrium. Harlequinette messages Benji's Razwatch, which he pulls out of his hammerspace and finally uses the map to reach the Atrium, where he straps the Razwatch around his neck like a choker.

Katie's party of nine-year-old girls arrives first, and Ajax greets them with the scripted welcome for birthday kids and leads them to the arcade. Matthew's party arrives, and Harlequinette asks if Benji is sure he wants to handle it. Benji fakes being confident and claims he can handle it, so Harlequinette hangs back while Benji tries to come up with a welcome greeting for the party. The kids aren't impressed with Benji, so Harlequinette tries to help and also fails. Harlequinette messages Ajax for help, and Benji turns into silhouettes of various animatronics, finally getting the kids' attention. Ajax arrives and uses his voicebox to accompany Benji's performance, and the two lead the kids to the bowling alley. Tyler's party arrives, and Harlequinette leads them to the maze.

While the kids are occupied, the group head to the Atrium to set up for Matthew's party. Ajax finds the cake in the kitchen while Benji moves some tables together and Harlequinette decorates them. Ajax drags Benji to the bowling alley to fetch Matthew's party and bring them to the Atrium. Benji does a headcount of the kids, which Ajax confirms. Ajax also notices that Security Officer Bailey, who usually works nights, is on duty. Ajax and Harlequinette head to move Katie's party out of the arcade, leaving Benji in the Atrium. Ajax brings up Bailey working today, saying they didn't know she was on schedule, and Harlequinette tries to check the schedule for the day but can't find a paper copy. The triplets overhear the conversation and tell Harlequinette she was added to the schedule last night, and Harlequinette gives them some candy and passes this info on to Ajax. Harlequinette heads to the Prize Counter and cashes out tickets for Katie's party and some other kids.

Ajax takes Katie's party over to the go-karts and Harlequinette takes Tyler's party to laser tag. After seeing him perform, Benji mimics Archie's voice and leads Matthew's party to mini golf. Benji bumps into Archie while still mimicking his voice and the two are confused for a minute before Benji hands off the kids while Harlequinette watches the encounter from a vent. The group head back to the Atrium to prepare for Katie's party. Ajax finds Katie's unfinished cake in the kitchen and finishes putting it together and decorating it with Senora. Benji tries and fails to clear the table by pulling the tablecloth off, then just knocks everything onto the floor instead. Harlequinette scruffs Benji with mage hand and starts picking up trash, then drops Benji into the trash bag and throws the bag into the kitchen dumpster. Ajax saves Benji from the dumpster and Harlequinette tells Benji to take a shower. Benji hits Harlequinette with a spell, but they barely react.

Benji refuses to go take a shower, so Ajax hauls him into the industrial kitchen sink to clean him off, and Benji struggles and fights against it. Cici pushes open the door to the kitchen, sees this, and turns around and leaves. Ajax finishes washing Benji off and dries him off by putting him in front of an open pizza oven. Benji attacks Ajax in retaliation, Ajax headbutts him back and goes to fetch the cake while Benji clings to and bites at his leg. Meanwhile, Harlequinette decorates the table. Ajax goes to bring Katie's party to the Atrium with Benji still attached to his leg. Ajax spins on his skates to entertain the kids, Benji continuing to bite on his leg, and when that doesn't work Ajax offers tickets to whichever kid can pull him off. Harlequinette watches this from the vents with some popcorn (though they don't eat it). Two girls pull Benji off of Ajax and leave him on the floor as the party heads to the Atrium, and then the triplets (mad at Benji attacking their dad) climb over Harlequinette in the vents, then drag Benji into the vents as well. Benji casts Darkness and tries to get away from the triplets, but fails, and the triplets keep dragging him through the vents. The triplets throw Benji out of the vents into the Atrium just as Katie's party arrives.

While Benji was in the vents, Harlequinette moved Tyler's party over to the go-kart track. Ajax gives Benji a healing cupcake by smashing it in his face, and Benji doesn't respond. Ajax drags Benji to a first-aid station in the utility tunnels and apologizes for how his first day is going, then offers him a break. Benji is left alone in the medical station as Ajax heads back to the parties. Ajax and Harlequinette go to take Matthew's party to the arcade, but Harlequinette notices one of the kids is missing. Ajax brings the rest of the party to the arcade while Harlequinette tries to find the missing child. Harlequinette asks Archie about the missing kid, and finds the missing kid's golf club, but doesn't see the kid. The triplets go looking and find the missing kid in a corner of the room, hiding behind the fake plants in the room. The triplets reassure the kid and send him to go find Harlequinette and rejoin the party.

Meanwhile, Benji finishes moping and crawls out of the employee maintenance tunnels to rejoin the others. Ajax leads Katie's party to the bowling alley, walking past Benji on the way, with the kids laughing at Benji as they pass. Benji gets up and heads for the Atrium, where he slowly pulls the tablecloth and all the decorations off the party table. Harlequinette tries to find Tyler's birthday cake, but doesn't see it in the kitchen. Harlequinette messages Cici to ask about the cake since it's an ice cream cake, and Cici tells it she tried to bring the cake down earlier but two employees were fighting in the kitchen so she gave up. Harlequinette commiserates, then messages Ajax to pick up the cake since the ice cream parlor is inside the bowling alley. Cici ignores Ajax, but does hand over Tyler's cake, which Ajax brings back to the Atrium.

Benji checks with Harlequinette to see whose party is next, then runs off trying to find Tyler's party. He gets lost in the employee tunnels and runs into Jackie, but tries to walk past her. Jackie asks where Benji is supposed to be and leads him to the go-kart track. Benji whistles to try to draw the kids' attention. Some of the kids are reluctant to leave the go-karts, but Benji persuades them to move on (with Senora's help) and leads them to the Atrium. With Tyler's party situated, Ajax heads out to bring Katie's party to the dance floor, and enthusiastically greets DJAM. Some of the girls tease him for having a crush and he slinks off. Harlequinette gathers Matthew's party at the Prize Counter, then it and Benji move the kids over to the maze. Benji winds up getting lost in the maze, but finds his way out fairly easily. Harlequinette watches this, and Benji kicks them when he makes it out of the maze. Harlequinette tries to pick Benji up with Mage Hand to put him up in the rafters, but Benji Counterspells it, and Harlequinette mimes kicking him instead.

A little while later, Harlequinette and Benji lead Tyler's party to the arcade while Ajax cleans up the birthday table. Benji seems worn out, and Harlequinette is concerned about him. Harlequinette goes back to their box in the Prize Counter and tries to pull Benji over; Benji runs but Ajax blocks his escape and guides him over. Harlequinette gives Benji a present box with 5G and a nice note; Benji takes the money but ignores the note. Harlequinette ducks into their box until the kids are ready to get prizes. Benji tries to run away but smacks into an arcade cabinet and falls down. Ajax helps Benji up and leads him to a break room.

Ajax fetches Katie's party and convinces them to head back to the Atrium and leave for the day by doing a conga line. Harlequinette tries to get Tyler's party to head out, and they're initially resistant until it bribes them with tickets. Benji goes to get Matthew's party to leave and summons his familiar Archibald to get the kids out of the maze. Benji rounds all the kids up and leads them to the Atrium. The trio see the kids off, and once they're gone, Benji tries to cast Mind Sliver on the other two. The other two make the save, and Harlequinette casts Sleep on Benji in retaliation, though it doesn't hit. Harlequinette and Ajax head back into the PartyPlex, leaving Benji in the Atrium.

## Notes

The Harlequinette has to duck to fit through doorways

The triplets were built by Ajax and are kept secret except from Ajax and the animatronics

Benji is excited to see the animatronic band sing the birthday song for the kids

Harlequinette is not hooked up to the PartyPlex's computer network to the same degree as most of the animatronics, since they weren't built by the company's technicians

Ajax sticks gold star stickers on the staff bots as thanks for their work

* He gives Benji a sticker at the end of the game, too

After hours, the triplets brag to Cici about beating up Benji, and she gives them free ice cream

The Maze is not a popular attraction, and Lexy has been petitioning to replace it with something else

* MJ suggests it might be replaced as a future plot point
* It is not food themed, at least

Harlequinette only mimed their kick because children were around; they wanted to actually kick Benji

## Art Gallery

Benji's PartyPlex outfitBenji sufferingPOV: you're just a little haterBenji wearing custom Harlequinette-themed shoes (as seen in the break)