towerofanimus | Midsummer Bash

Midsummer Bash

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.]

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Hello, Diarmuid. [he smiles, though he still feels awkward and slightly warm upon seeing the other man.]

Yes, sort of. I was very badly injured by one of them, and Lancelot had to perform an amputation.

[It had been traumatic both to be bitten, and then to have his arm hewn off by Lancelot, but he knows Lancelot had only been helping him, and he's grateful to his Servant. He would probably have died, otherwise.]

It wasn't his fault I was hurt. The monster was able to alter time. I should have been more careful.

[Diarmuid shakes his head, anger flashing in his eyes for a moment, though none of it is directed at Kariya.]

It is not Lancelot's fault and it's not yours. It's not even the fault of the poor soul that was turned into a monster. It was Ruana's fault. Place all blame there. None of it should fall on you, Kariya.

[He reaches out to gently squeeze the shoulder of the arm that has not been amputated in case that arm still pains Kariya any.]

How are you doing? Between your arm and...Sakura leaving... Rin told me a few days ago she was gone. I am so sorry. I know what she meant to you...

I don't want anyone to think that he didn't do his job as a Servant. He killed the monster, so Shinji and I didn't die. No, I'd never be angry at someone for being turned into a monster. It wasn't their fault at all.

You're right, it's her fault. [He looks downcast.] It's terrible, what they do to us. We're just toys to her.

[It reminds him of Zouken, who fortunately isn't here. He doesn't need that nightmare on top of everything else. It seems he's always someone's pawn, no matter where he goes.

He looks even more downcast as Sakura is mentioned, his gaze shifting toward the ground, as he all but forgets he's at a party that's supposed to be fun. Suddenly he doesn't feel like he's doing well at all.]

Yes, she's gone now. I--I didn't even get to say goodbye. But-- [He looks up again.] Don't say that. Don't say meant. She still means a lot to me, and she's still all right, I know it!

[Diarmuid's expression softens, both in reaction to Kariya's words, but also because he feels bad about having brought the other man's mood down.]

I don't think anyone will accuse Lancelot of not doing his duty to you and those you care about. If they do, not only will they have to face him and his friends, they will also have to face you. I expect all of that will quickly make them come to regret their foolish accusations.

[When Kariya points out his word choice in regards to Sakura, Diarmuid pales and drops his gaze in embarrassment.]

My apologies. I didn't mean it like that. Of course she is okay. She is going to be waiting just like everyone else who has been sent back. Waiting for us to find a way to fix the worlds so that everyone can go home and finish those things that are waiting to be finished.

[Diarmuid looks back up at Kariya.]

I am sure she knows her beloved uncle won't keep her waiting long.

I'm glad. If anyone besides Ruana is to blame for me getting hurt, it's me. I was so worried about Shinji, I couldn't stay out of the way like I should have. You're right--No one has any cause to doubt Lancelot. If they did, they'd be wrong, and I'd tell them so.

Oh no, it's fine. I know you didn't mean it, I'm sorry. I can't believe she'd be... gone. She can't be. Everyone must be fine.

I--

[At Diarmuid's last words, he breaks off. Won't keep her waiting long. That's what he wants, to return to her, to help her, but what if the same thing happens in his world that happened in Sakura's? What if he fails?]

I won't be able to see her like that again. All grown up. I never could--so I suppose I'm lucky, that I was able to see what a beautiful young woman she grew into. I'm not sure if I'll get to see her at all, when we go back...

[The thought of finishing things means the War to him, which means he'll lose all his friends here, and he'll die. He'll never see Claudia again. He wants to go back and do what he's supposed to, for Sakura's sake, but he doesn't want to die. And what about Shinji? He'll die, too. Along with all the other people who are supposed to be dead here.]

Kariya...stop.

[Maybe he shouldn't do it because things are still odd between them, but Diarmuid reaches out to pull the man into a gentle hug in hopes of stopping his rambling words.]

Our goal has always been to find a way that everyone here can go back to some kind of happy ending. Maybe that is just going back to whatever was left behind, but maybe that is going to a new home and a new chance at life. Much has changed and much will keep changing. Don't give up. For Lancelot, for Sakura and most importantly for yourself. The you who goes back to the war is going to be much different from the you who left it. Whatever his fate might have been does not have to be yours.

Oh--

[Kariya quiets at once when Diarmuid hugs him, his rambling ceasing at once. He blinks, blinking away the tears that had started to sting at his eyes. He leans against him. He probably shouldn't be enjoying this. No, he definitely shouldn't. But Diarmuid did hug him first, and there's nothing wrong with a friendly hug. It's just that he smells nice.]

I know that I'm going to win.

[He doesn't see how he could not die, not when there's nothing back home that can get rid of his worms, but he doesn't point that out. He could go back without the worms, somehow? But then he wouldn't have enough prana. It's all too confusing. Yet maybe there is some hope, somehow? Diarmuid sounds so convincing, and he finds himself nodding. He's always known that, that he can't give up, no matter what. Even if he dies. He has to keep fighting. That's what's important.]

You're right. I won't give up hope. I promise.

Good!

[Diarmuid hugs Kariya for a moment longer before stepping back to end the hug so that he doesn't overstep any bounds.]

I do apologize for that. If my brother keeps having these parties maybe someday I will learn to leave the more serious topics for a different time. Apparently, today wasn't that day.

[He smiles at Kariya.]

Speaking of my brother, he says I should congratulate you for something? Unfortunately, as much as I asked him what, he would not tell me what I should be congratulating you for. Would you mind letting me know so I can properly do so?

[He smiles, and he experiences a slight pang of regret as Diarmuid lets him go, but suppresses it. Diarmuid doesn't think about him that way. He shouldn't feel that way. He's getting better about these things.]

You don't have to apologize. I don't mind serious topics. I didn't mean to get so upset.

[At Diarmuid's question, Kariya looks incredibly embarrassed.]

He said that? Yes, it's true...

[He trails off, briefly. This is awkward to say, to Diarmuid of all people, but he did ask the question, and it's not as if Kariya isn't very happy about dating Claudia.]

I started dating someone. That's why Lancer wanted to throw a party in the first place, but I told him he shouldn't throw a party just for that.

[Kariya's answer to his question leaves Diarmuid in shocked silence for several moments. He's conflicted. On one hand, he is overjoyed to hear that his friend has found a way to move forward from the pain their mixed feelings toward each other had caused, but on the other hand Diarmuid knows how much the tower has messed with Kariya's feelings in the past.

Will that happen to him and whoever he is with now as well? What about if that person is sent away like so many have been so recently?

Diarmuid closes his eyes for a moment before opening them again and smiling at Kariya. Focusing on the negative will only encourage it to happen. For now, Kariya is happy and that is enough.]

I am very happy for you especially since I could not give you what you so deserve. I hope that you will be very happy. Do I know the person you are seeing?

[Kariya is startled and flustered when Diarmuid mentions the issue so frankly. He all but visibly starts. He's been trying to avoid the subject at all costs, and he glances away nervously. He's unsure of what to say. What if Diarmuid thinks that he didn't really like him, that he's frivolous or changeable?]

Diarmuid, I--I would have--

[He breaks off, deciding very definitively that he should not finish that statement, even if he wasn't entirely sure of what he was about to say. His face feels unusually hot, considering the fact that he's generally so pale and bloodless, but he manages to answer Diarmuid's question.]

Yes, it's Claudia. Claudia Kotomine.

[Diarmuid is glad that Kariya doesn't finish that sentence as well. It is best for both of them if the words stay unsaid. Especially since Kariya has found someone else. Someone who can love him the way he wants.]

I know. You don't have to say it... I know.

[He leaves it at that hoping that Kariya will realize that he doesn't doubt the strength or honesty of his feelings. That hadn't been the problem. It had been that Diarmuid could never return those feelings the way Kariya wanted him to.]

Claudia? Yes, I do know her. She is a very nice woman. I haven't been able to speak with her a lot yet, but somehow...

[He smiles.]

Yes, I can see you two getting along well.

[If nothing else, they were both people who deserved much more happiness than they thought they did.]

All right...

[He looks nervous again, hoping Diarmuid did know what he meant, yet at the same time, feeling mortified about it. He takes a moment to compose himself and to swallow down his anxiety and a faint feeling of hurt.

He manages to brighten as the subject changes to Claudia.]

Yes, I thought you knew her.

[He remembers that date Lancer had set the two of them up on. It's not a fond memory, but he doesn't linger on it.]

She's very nice. She's kind and generous. We have a lot in common, and we've been through a lot together. We're good friends.

[Since Kariya brightens so much when the topic changes back to Claudia, Diarmuid doesn't say anything else about what had happened between himself and Kariya. He wants the man to move forward and be happy and this seems like the perfect opportunity for him to do so.]

I am honestly glad that you two managed to find each other. My brother...

[Diarmuid shakes his head.]

Never mind. He was just being foolish. I am glad that it didn't come between you two. How long have you been together? Did it just happen or has it been going on for a while?

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Midsummer Bash

It's okay, he's used to it!

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