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

open

[vermicompost]

Oh. Right.

[That's right, Lancer hadn't seen him since the monster attack. He glances down at his arm, a little apologetically. He's still upset about losing it--it's not an easy trauma to recover from--but he doesn't want to worry anyone else.]

I was attacked by a monster. Lancelot had to cut it off. It wasn't his fault. [He doesn't want anyone to think Lancelot wasn't doing his job as a Servant.] The monster was able to move faster than anyone could have expected. It was like it stopped time.

Re: open

[puppy_lancer]

[He lets out a breath of relief.]

Ah, one of those new monsters Ruana made. Were you alright after that? How about now? Everything's fine except for that arm?

[vermicompost]

Right. I know they were all real people, but I'm not sure who it was. Though it wasn't their fault, of course, they'd been changed. I wouldn't blame them for that.

I'm fine...

[Though he doesn't sound entirely convinced. What worries him more than the arm is the fact that Sakura's gone, and when Lancer asks him if everything's fine, it's hard not to think about that.]

[puppy_lancer]

[He steps closer to Kariya and slings an arm over the man's shoulder.]

Yeah, that was just one really fucked up month.

[vermicompost]

[Kariya sway a little, unsteady on his feet and even less balanced than usual, but he holds up under Lancer's affection.]

That's one way to put it. I'm glad that all that's over. At least we're all right now. I stayed with Lancelot and Shinji most of the time, and Lancelot protected us.

[puppy_lancer]

Cool. Lancelot's a great guy to have at your side.

[A pause.]

Shinji's...uh...got his own Servant now.

[vermicompost]

He is. I'm lucky to have him. [He smiles.]

Yes, I know. [Kariya's smile turns into scowl.] I don't approve at all. That man is a bad influence. I tried to talk to them...

[He sighs, still scowling.]

Archer has no respect for anyone.

[puppy_lancer]

Actually, Archer is better than some other guys. But yeah, he can be a huge ass. Still, I don't think he'd hurt Shinji. Two of them get along pretty fine.

[vermicompost]

He's insulting and cruel, and I don't like him. [Kariya has opinions on Archer.] I know they get along well, but that's part of the problem.

[puppy_lancer]

...Afraid he'll be a bad influence?

[vermicompost]

That's right. Shinji isn't very understanding of other people, or considerate--he's a lonely child, and he's so eager to prove himself. I know he has a good heart, but he usually doesn't act that way. I don't want him, or anyone else, to be hurt.

[puppy_lancer]

...

[Shinji having a big heart. He'll...try to take Kariya's work for it.]

Well...he and Archer are sort of...the same in that way. Archer usually isn't bad if you can stand his jeers and fire back with some of your own.

[vermicompost]

You want me to insult him? He could kill me.

Shinji's just a child, he's not like that Servant. He doesn't have to be that way. He can change. He needs rules, structure--not what Archer's going to give him.

[puppy_lancer]

As long as you don't go overboard? Worst thing he'll do is whack you upside the head.

[A pause.]

Okay, maybe something lighter if it's a human, but still. Look, you can just focus on his hair. Tell him he's got stupid hair.

I'll go talk to Archer. See if I can have him leave Shinji alone for a while.