Midsummer Bash

[puppy_lancer]

Characters: Lancer, the people he invited to the party, and everyone else who wants to stumble in
Setting: Floor 25, July 5, afternoon
Format: Open
Summary: Lancer throws a party for midsummer, since the Tower obviously needs a breather.
Warnings: None so far.

[To be honest, Lancer wanted to have the party in the evening, sometime around twilight. That would have been the most romantic time for it. Unfortunately, when in the Tower, one had to account for things like monsters. As a result, he had to hold it during the afternoon. But it wasn't too bad of a compromise.]

[This was, of course, a more simple affair than Diarmuid's birthday. For food, he had hauled a couple of tables up here and lined the table with dinner food. The centerpiece was a cake which had a heart drawn on it in red frosting. In one corner of the meadow, he had used some boxes and tarp to make some sort of booth where people could hide from the sun (and steal kisses off of each other). In the center of the meadow, he had piled a large stack of wood, perfect for lighting a bonfire by the party's end. The structures had all been surrounded with wreaths made from the meadow's flowers.]

[As soon as he's done with the setup, Lancer will sit down next to the firewood pile, waiting for people to come.]

Comments

[puppy_lancer]

Alright, you got a day for us to meet? Might take a while for you to learn.

[pinnaculum]

I can meet any day you would like.

I am willing to take the time to learn.

[Although he thinks of himself as a very fast learner.]

[puppy_lancer]

Then here's hoping you master all eighteen!

[He reaches out to fluff the child's hair.]

[pinnaculum]

I will.

[He's nothing if not confident. He's not used to having his hair ruffled, but he remains still while Lancer does so, looking up at him.]

[puppy_lancer]

So...how've you been lately, kid? Monsters haven't been giving you any trouble?

[Since apparently, people were turning into monsters last month.]

[pinnaculum]

I am well. No, I have been killing a great many of them.

[Even if Sephiroth did have some trouble, he wasn't likely to admit it. It wasn't as if all the monsters in the Tower were easy for him to kill, but with his arsenal and his healing magic, not to mention his ability to escape any battle, he was quite well-equipped to face them.]

I did not become a monster as others did. And you?

[puppy_lancer]

Ah, I was fine. Kinda...busy with some stuff.

[Busy moping, he means]

[pinnaculum]

Doing what?

[Sephiroth is too curious to let it drop.]

[puppy_lancer]

...Personal things. Dealing with a friend or two leaving. That sort of stuff.

[pinnaculum]

I am sorry your comrades have departed. It may be preferable not to grow attached, if it causes undue stress.

[puppy_lancer]

[He has to take a second to give the boy a very blank stare.]

Kid, when it comes to people...you can't help getting attached. Trying to force yourself not to makes things even worse.

[pinnaculum]

I do not find it difficult to remain detached.

[Sephiroth says this calmly. He doesn't see what the problem is. Emotional attachment would only be compromising in this situation.]

[puppy_lancer]

...You don't? How come?

[pinnaculum]

[He blinks. He doesn't know why he doesn't find it difficult, he just doesn't.]

What purpose would it serve?

In this situation, in which we are all frequently injured, tortured, killed, or disappear, to grow attached to another person would open one up to emotional stress, which would be counterproductive.

I am better able to defend the tower's residents than one with an emotional attachment to them.

[puppy_lancer]

Uh...it makes the downtime much more relaxing? And even when we're all getting hurt, we can comfort each other. Makes getting through loss a bit easier? And people are happier about getting protected by you when they know you're their friend?

[Why is he having this argument...?]

[pinnaculum]

When not fighting monsters, I train or sleep so that I can perform optimally.

I will not have to experience loss if I am not attached.

[So speaks the trained child supersoldier.]

I do my duty and protect people, and it does not matter if they are happy with me as long as they are safe. They will not worry for my safety, and I may do my work without interruption.

[puppy_lancer]

[Somehow, this child's words manage to impress him and make him sad at the same time.]

Not even heroes stand alone, kid.

...For the record, I like you pretty well. Dunno if that counts as attachment.

[pinnaculum]

No, I have comrades, and when I am a soldier, I will have men at my command. But to be attached to them would not benefit any of us.

[He pauses.]

You do?

[puppy_lancer]

Well, yeah. You're a good kid.

You know why comrades are so useful in battle, though?

[pinnaculum]

I see.

Yes, they can fight with you, assist you and provide support, and many battle maneuvers are not possible without multiple personnel.

[puppy_lancer]

And the reason they work together in the first place is because they're attached to you. You protect each other in battle and support each other in the lull between the violence. Everyone treasures their comrades for that those comrades mean to them.

[Hopefully this can persuade Sephiroth some what?]

[pinnaculum]

[Sephiroth considers these words carefully, and they do make an impression on him.]

It has a strategic advantage? But to be a leader, you cannot be too attached, or your reason will be compromised.

[He pauses, thoughtful. He finds it difficult to connect with people, but he doesn't like to think he may be missing some kind of military advantage.]

I had friends once.

[But his memory of them is confusing, hazy, and when he tries too hard to recall it, his head starts to ache.]

[puppy_lancer]

And you can't get too detached. Lest people dislike you and refuse to listen to you anymore.

[He grins as he hears the child say this.]

Really? What were they like?

[pinnaculum]

I would want my men to like me.

[He can admit that this would be desirable. If people follow a leader willingly, it is better, and they will be more effective in battle.

At Lancer's question, he tries to remember. Because of his hazy memories, he doesn't think of them often beyond the surety that he did have friends once.]

They were both skilled warriors. Angeal was--serious, patient, and Genesis was... He liked to read poetry, and he was confident and challenged me--

[But why do they seem older than he is in the brief memory that he manages to dredge up, and why does he remember fighting with them, when he's never been in any war? He feels a throbbing ache in his temple, which spikes when he envisions their faces. He flinches, in obvious pain.]

[puppy_lancer]

Woah, kid!

[Lancer crouches down, ready to catch and support Sephiroth if he shows any sign of falling over.]

What happened? You okay?