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

[oathshackledbird]

I know, I know...

[Diarmuid gives him a grateful smile.]

But maybe not at parties where we are suppose to be having fun, yes?

[puppy_lancer]

How about you tell me a funny story then. To make up for all the sad ones you've told me? And I'll tell you a funny story too.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid's smile turns sheepish and he shakes his head.]

Maybe it would be better if you told the story. Every time I try to tell one, we end up talking about something sad.

[Probably because there were so many more tragic moments in his life than happy ones.]

[puppy_lancer]

[He scratches his head.]

Hm...well, you know most of my stories. Including the one where I killed a man with a stick, right?

[oathshackledbird]

Yes, of course.

[Diarmuid seems a little embarrassed for a moment before shaking it off.]

But there is a difference between hearing the stories from my father and hearing them from you.

[puppy_lancer]

Alright, then Fer Baeth's story it is!

[He clears his throat.]

As you know, we trained together under Scathach. We were supposed to be brothers. But for him, brothers were worth nothing. I trusted him and he could have sold out either me or my other brother just to marry into power and status. And that's what he did. One day, we were fighting on two sides of a war and got scheduled to fight each other in single combat. I met him before the battle. Gave him a way out. But he wouldn't have any of that. Told me to shut up and fuck off because I was an enemy.

[Here, his expression changes to something akin to that of a beast. A feral half-smile, half-snarl.]

I asked him to reconsider. He told me that I was lucky he wasn't cutting me down because if he took back my head he could marry Findabair, the princess of Connacht. So in the end, I just turned back and left. And of course, I was pissed. Then, as I was walking, I tripped over this one stick. Guess what I did?

[He doesn't wait for Diarmuid to answer.]

I rip it out of the ground and toss it over my shoulder. And wham. Skewers the treacherous fucker right in the throat.

[And now he has a contended grin.]

And that's the story of how I killed a man with a stick. Was an awesome throw, if I have to say so myself.

[oathshackledbird]

So it was a stick you just picked up off the ground? Some versions of the story changed what you threw. One I remember said you threw an arrow just to scare him...

[Diarmuid's expression grows serious.]

What it was doesn't really matter, though. Fate saw to it you killed him before he could betray those who trusted him. Accident or not, his death probably saved a lot of lives.

[puppy_lancer]

Yeah, awesome, wasn't it?

[Silly Diarmuid, Cu isn't smart enough to think of that.]

See! You get it. Nobody else does.

[oathshackledbird]

Really? That was the moral of the story when my father told it. Did they not see it that way in your day?

[puppy_lancer]

Well, a few people, the ladies especially, thought it was sad that I had to kill my brother. Shit like that.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid shakes his head.]

He was really no brother. Not if he was willing to give you up so easily. Did you try to explain it that way?

[puppy_lancer]

Of course I did.

[He shrugs.]

Too late to regret it now, anyways.

[oathshackledbird]

Yes...especially since these are suppose to be happy stories we're telling.

[Diarmuid gives him a sheepish smile.]

Looks like your luck telling them and having them stay that way is just about the same as mine.

[puppy_lancer]

Come on, that's not fair. You're the one who made it sad.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid laughs a little sadly.]

Yeah, I guess I am to blame for that. Sorry... Maybe we should talk about something other than our pasts if we want to stay more positive?

[puppy_lancer]

You wanna talk about our present, then? How have you and Waver been getting along? Either or you getting into big trouble?

[oathshackledbird]

[A very gentle and fond look crosses Diarmuid's face when his brother mentions Waver.]

We're doing okay. No real big trouble to report at the moment. However, you know us. That could change very quickly, but for now I will be content knowing that both he and I are safe.

[He pauses a moment to look around.]

We talked earlier, though I don't see him now. He's still around. I can sense him. Have you talked to him recently?

[puppy_lancer]

Once before I ran into you. He seemed to be doing fine. Though he wasn't really partying.

[oathshackledbird]

I would be more worried if he was partying. It's not his thing. Can you just imagine him trying to dance like most people do now?

[He smiles slightly.]

Don't tell anyone, but he can ballroom dance pretty well...

[puppy_lancer]

...When you put it like that, I just gotta see.

[He starts glancing at the crowd, hoping to find Waver.]

[oathshackledbird]

Wait! Wait! No!

[Diarmuid reaches out to stop his brother, even though the other servant hasn't started to move away yet.]

He'll kill me if he finds out I told you! He showed me how to do it, so I promise he is good. Isn't that enough?

[puppy_lancer]

[He shrugs.]

Alright, alright, I was kidding. Then, how about you show me what he showed you?

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid turns bright red.]

Y-you want me to show you how to dance?

[puppy_lancer]

I know how to dance. But I haven't seen much of ballroom dancing yet. So show me that.

[A pause.]

What, is it really such a weird request?

[oathshackledbird]

No, no!

[Diarmuid looks down at the ground for a moment.]

I just didn't know if you wanted to let people see you dancing with me...