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]

[He joins in Waver's laughter.]

Glad to see I finally got you to loosen up! But watch out. If you turn into my exact duplicate, Waver's head is gonna explode!

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid shakes his head.]

Don't worry. I don't know if that will ever happen. Besides, I embarrass him enough already. I don't know if I want to risk what might happen if I became any better at teasing than I already am.

f*ck I typed Waver instead of Diarmuid; last time I do a tag while low on caffeine

[puppy_lancer]

[He reaches out to ruffle his brother's hair.]

...Well, you'll always be smart enough to know not to prank people that you shouldn't prank.

LOL! It's okay. :-)

[oathshackledbird]

Hey! Knock it off!

[Diarmuid reaches up to smooth his hair back down as much as he can. Though he might sound a little annoyed with his brother's actions, he's smiling.]

You know, that is something you could stand to learn. When to leave people be.

[puppy_lancer]

[He clasps his hands behind his back.]

...Well, I guess you're right about that.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid laughs.]

I'm really more worried about you bugging other people than me. I'm pretty patient generally.

[puppy_lancer]

I know. I've seen. I only tease the people I like, though. They're all more patient than they should be.

[oathshackledbird]

It's because we like you, idiot.

[Diarmuid smiles at his brother, nudging him slightly.]

It is amazing what people will put up with when they like someone else.

[puppy_lancer]

I know. In the end, it's always worth it.

[He throws an arm over his brother's shoulder.]

...But I'm still curious. How the hell did it end up like this, with you always watching out for me?

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid shrugs.]

Does it really matter? Though, to be honest, I think the answer is pretty simple. I always repay my debts. Especially to those I care about. You did a lot for me when I first arrived here and you didn't have to. Now, I repay that favor.

Besides, isn't that what brothers are for?

[puppy_lancer]

[He leans his head against his brother's shoulder.]

Exactly that. But you're wrong when you say I didn't have to do anything for you. I'm your hero, so I have to live up to that, don't I?

[oathshackledbird]

You're a man, brother. Just because I grew up listening to stories about the things you did, doesn't mean you have some kind of obligation to me. If nothing else, I would say inspiring me like you did was more than you ever needed to do.

[He laughs.]

After all, it's not like you asked to be admired by a wavy-haired little boy who wanted to be the best knight ever.

[puppy_lancer]

I didn't ask, but it's still awesome to know that. Especially now that the wavy haired little boy has become a splendid wavy haired knight.

[There's a moment of silence as he focuses on Diarmuid's hair.]

...But how did your hair get so wavy in the first place?

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid is embarrassed enough at the compliment considering who it is from that he almost misses the question. Once he realizes one has been asked, he shrugs.]

I could be all mysterious and just say magic, but really it came from mom. Most of my looks did, father always said. The only thing I got from...him...was my coloring.

[puppy_lancer]

[He nods.]

Then your mother was a beautiful woman. I'm sure she must have given you your personality too.

[oathshackledbird]

She was beautiful, though it is hard for me to remember what she was like personality-wise.

[His expression suddenly saddens.]

She...was sad so much. I didn't understand back then because my memories were blocked, but I know now why. She suffered so much loss. He killed the son of the man she did love and then that man turn around and cursed the only son she had left to death. Father sent Roc away after that and we never saw him again.

I was all she had left and I every time she looked at me she remembered what happened...and I didn't...

[puppy_lancer]

[He frowns.]

And that...that was also part of your legend? I'm sorry that happened to you. And to your mother.

Did you ever know him? Your mother's other son?

[oathshackledbird]

Yeah...

[Diarmuid looks down at his hands, expression actually brightening a little. While what happened to them had been sad, he actually likes talking about his half-brother. It's not something he gets to do a lot.]

I didn't know he was my half-brother until after I was brought back as a servant, though. It was a detail the Grail gave me. Back then, he was just my friend. My first friend. My best friend. We trained together. We were going to join the Fianna together...

Then he took that all away from me. And...I wasn't allowed to remember what I had lost for a long time. I just knew I had lost something very important to me.

[He pauses and then turns a small smile up at Cu Chulainn.]

He...was a lot like you actually. Or at least what I expect you were like as a child. You two probably would have gotten along very well.

[puppy_lancer]

[He listens, not speaking until Diarmuid finishes his story. Then, he pr]

...Really? No wonder you always know what to say to get me in line. You've got a lot of experience, haven't you?

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid chuckles lightly, but shakes his head.]

I don't know if I would say that. Everyone is different and I only knew him for a very short time. Still...there are times even now that I miss him. I wonder what he would have been like if things hadn't turned out as they did. I know I will never know, but I still wonder.

[puppy_lancer]

...He wouldn't have turned out too bad. After all, you're his brother.

[He falls silent for a second, and then suddenly his eyes light up.]

Hey, maybe someday you can ask him yourself! Humans aren't the only things that get stored in the Throne!

[oathshackledbird]

Maybe...

[Cu Chulainn's sudden exclamation startles Diarmuid and his words only confused the other servant.]

What do you mean the Throne holds things other than humans?

[puppy_lancer]

Well, uh, we're not the only heroes inside the Throne. Like, I hear monsters count as heroes too. Not that I've seen any getting summoned. But hey, sooner or later they'll run out of humans for the Berserker class.

[oathshackledbird]

Are you suggesting...?

[Diarmuid pales but then shakes his head.]

No. It can't be. Even if... He never got a chance to live let alone be a hero...

Besides, I know what that class does to people. I wouldn't want him to be called into it.

[puppy_lancer]

...Right, forget it.

[He mutters, averting his eyes. He had suggested the possibility to cheer his brother up, but it seemed to have the opposite effect.