Back in the gorgeous Nicelander apartment penthouse, a massive party was well underway. Disco lights spun crazily over happily chatting characters from almost every game in the arcade. Music pumped as people danced, drank, and ate hors d'oeuvres. Jay greeted guests happily, blushing humbly when they congratulated him for how long the Fix it game had been going.
Outside and far below, Cole arrived in the Fix it Jay Junior trolley. He tried to get out, but he was stuffed so tight he couldn't budge. He sighed and rolled his eyes.
Crack! Boom! Cole startled, staring up to the top of the apartment. Colorful fireworks were bursting above the penthouse in the shape of Jay's face. Another face exploded into existence and between the two a set of words sizzled up. 'WE LOVE YOU JAY!'
Cole frowned in confusion. "Huh?" He reached as far as he could out of the trolley and searched though a garbage can. His hands dug out a pair of empty bottles. Putting them up to his eyes to magnify his sight, Cole aimed his makeshift binoculars to look through a penthouse window.
His eyes widened as he saw the party. There was ice sculptures and dancing, flowers and a giant buffet table. A presentation congratulated Jay and the Nicelanders for thirty years of gameplay.
Cole read it aloud. "Happy thirtieth anniversary? They're having a party without me!"
Through the binoculars he saw Pac Ninja working his way across the buffet table.
"They invited Pac Ninja?! That cherry-chasing, dot-muncher isn't even part of this game!" Cole exploded, tossing away the bottles so they shattered on the ground. He rocked the trolley back and forth furiously, eventually popping out and scrambling unhappily towards the apartment.
Up in the penthouse and unaware of the impending doom-by-Cole, Jay wandered happily though the room.
"Great party, Jay," Roy greeted enthusiastically.
"Why thank you, friend," Jay chirped proudly, tipping his cap.
Deanna rushed over, grabbing his arm. "Jay, you're needed on the dance floor!"
Jay laughed giddily as Deanna pulled him onto the colorfully flashing dance floor. Together, an entire group of Nicelanders followed the fixer in his special dance, complete with arm motions and steps. "Woot! Woot! Fix it Jay Junior! Woot! Woot! Fix it Jay Junior!"
The doorbell rang abruptly. Jay stopped dancing and turned to the door. "I'll bet that's Mario. Fashionably late, per the norm."
"I'll get it, Jay," volunteered Gene, eager to make a good impression on the famous character. He danced to the door and open it to see Cole smiling awkwardly, his huge form filling the door frame.
Gene shrieked and slammed the door, pressing up against it as if his minuscule body could block it from opening to let Cole in. "IT'S COLE!"
The party goers gasped and murmured in shock and confusion.
"He'll crush the party," Norwood hissed in terror.
"Hide the stemware!" Deanna panicked, fanning herself.
"Get rid of him, Jay," whispered Roy fearfully.
"Hey, hey, I got it," Jay reassured, holding up his hands to calm them. "I'll go talk to him, if that's what you really want."
Nicelanders and assorted characters across the room nodded as one.
Jay blew out a long breath. "Carry on, everyone." Pulling out his hammer and twirling it absentmindedly, he slipped out into the hallway and shut the door behind him. Cole loomed high over him and the small blue-clad man gulped.
"Cole?" Jay tried. "Can I... Can I help you?"
Cole rolled his shoulders back anxiously. "Uh, hi, Jay. Um, I just wanted to check on you guys. I saw a big explosion, or something, it went over the building and, you know..."
"Ah, those were," Jay cleared his throat and edged back a step, "just fireworks. I taught Lucy and Brad how to make 'em. Pretty cool, right?"
"Fireworks, okay. Phew. That's reassuring." Cole coughed nervously, unsure of how to phrase the next bit. "So, is it like somebody's birthday or..."
"Well, it's more of an anniversary," Jay said slowly. "The thirtieth anniversary of our game, actually."
"What? Is that today?" Cole asked, over-exaggerating his fake surprise.
"I know, right! So hard to remember these things, am I correct?" Jay laughed, relieved that large man wasn't angry.
"Yeah, I'm such a dummy with dates!" exclaimed Cole. "Anyway, congratulations."
"Thank you, Cole," Jay approved. "And to you."
An awkward silence ensued. Cole played with his dark overall straps, tugging at the broken one. Jay looked anywhere but at the wrecker, absentmindedly fiddling with his gold hammer again.
Eventually the door to the penthouse opened and a Frogger turtle stuck his head out. "Just a heads up, Jay. They'll be taking out the cake in a few shakes."
"Hey, Glen," Cole greeted amiably.
Glen stared at him for a minute, cool and disapproving. "Cole." He shut the door, fast.
"Cake," Cole said, rolling the word around in his mouth. "I've heard about this cake stuff. Sounds good. Never had it. No one ever seems to throw it out, so it never ends up in the dump, you know?"
"No. What would trash and the dump have to do with you and eating cake?" Jay murmured, confused and a bit concerned.
Cole plowed right over him and just kept talking, one hand stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Never actually tasted it. I always wanted to try cake."
Jay looked uncertain. "I don't suppose... You'd like to come in and have a slice, would you?"