Happy Birthday, Ryoji

[puppy_lancer]

Characters: You know the drill. Lancer puppy_lancer, Ryoji notsogrimreaper, the people they invited between the two of them, and everybody else who just happens to stumble into the party.
Setting: Floor 25, November 17, morning-evening
Format: Open, anything goes
Summary: It's Ryoji's birthday, so Lancer is throwing him a big party. Anyone is welcome in! (And nobody is gonna kick out those who aren't so welcome)
Warnings: None for now

[It's been a long time since Lancer had thrown any parties. Therefore, he's making this bigger and grander than the last two parties he's thrown. It's a good way for him to distract himself from all the emotional turmoil that had popped up during the battle with Sephiroth, if anything.]

[There's two tables laden with food over at one side of the floor. The centerpiece for that is a big double-tier cake with "HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYOJI" written over the side of the bottom layer. The top layer is little more than a glorified candle holder, as several handfuls of candles have been jammed all over that second layer.]

[Over on the other side, there was a variety of party games. They're all old favorites like pin the tail on the piggy (pinning spiraling paper tails onto a "pig" with Ganon's face), apple bobbing (various fruits in a water-filled wooden barrel), and everyone's favorite--the pinata (a scarecrow with a berry-filled paper mache head supposed to represent Jason).]

[In the center of the floor, there is a stage nailed together from wooden boards. A ways behind that, a pile of wood stacks into a bonfire pyre. A turnip lantern leers at the party goers from one corner of the stage.]

[For decorations, there are black feathers and crude little paper doll cutouts resembling angels scattered around on the ground or in the corners of the dining tables. There are also a few more turnip lanterns.]

[And of course, Lancer, like a good host, stands on the stage, dressed like a hobby horse, waiting for people to show up. He's feeling pretty relaxed, if only because the major unwanted guest, Sephiroth, was locked up and in no danger of crashing this party.]

Comments

Pre-party mingle

[puppy_lancer]

[For those who came early or are here to help.]

[bashfulshifter]

[If anyone were to show up at an unreasonably early hour before the gathering (sans Lancer), it would definitely be this guy. He was asked to help anyways, wasn't he? It would be horribly rude of him not to show up in time to get things organized!]

[First things first: food. His hands are full on the first trip with several bowls of snacks, cooked and uncooked, several towels over his shoulder, and a small folding table tucked precariously under his arm. By time time Rick makes it from the cafeteria to the meadow he has realized how much of a mistake this was.]

[Someone might want to come take some of that stuff off his hands before it ends up on the ground.]

[puppy_lancer]

Whoa there.

[Lancer rushes over to help relieve Rick of some of his burden.]

You sure brought a lot of things. Thanks!

[bashfulshifter]

[Breathless from hiking up the flights of stairs that the elevator couldn't clear, Rick is more than happy to relinquish a few platters so he can properly set down the table.]

...Th--Thanks. Ah. [He flashes an apologetic smile between gasps.] ...F-F-First t-trip. G-Got...a c-c-couple more...

[puppy_lancer]

[Lancer pats Rick on the back.]

I'll help you get those, if you need.

[bashfulshifter]

That w-would--

[Rick cuts himself off, worrying his lip for a few silent moments.]

...N-Nah, I--I-I sh--should--I n-need the e-e-exercise.

[puppy_lancer]

Just don't tire yourself out and fall. That wouldn't be good.

[bashfulshifter]

I, ah... [nervous chuckling] ...I w-won't m-make any p-p-promises.

[puppy_lancer]

Take it as advice from someone who knows. Tiring yourself out doing anything isn't worth it. Whether it's repair work or saving people.

[bashfulshifter]

...I t-try to t-t-tell m-myself that, yeah. [A beat.] --Or uh--I should t-tell Reno. He's...g-got me w-working p-pretty hard.

[Not for the party, of course--but they've started training earlier that week. "Resting" is not a concept the man is aware of, apparently.]

[puppy_lancer]

Yeah, you probably should. Make sure he gives you the right amount of rest.

[irreverence]

[Having been asked to help with setting up, Asagi's there to make sure things get set up in a way that isn't likely to collapse on anyone- and to make sure nothing too terribly stupid is attempted.

She's also been asked to help with the food, so she's brought up a table from the cafeteria, hoisting it over one shoulder with surprising ease, for people to set food on. Eventually she'll be bringing up food too, but she's waiting for it to be closer to party time for that. But if you need someone who is unreasonably strong to help with anything, Asagi's your girl- and while she might grouse, she'll do it anyway.

Anything for Lancer, she supposes.]

[puppy_lancer]

Hey!

[Lancer turns to wave at her, in the process of setting up the pinata.]

Great work getting that table.

[irreverence]

Figured putting all the food on the ground probably wasn't the best idea.

[She shrugs, and drops the table off her shoulder carefully, looking up at him and raising an eyebrow.]

...where did you even get a pinata shaped like that?

[puppy_lancer]

Made it.

[He steps back to survey his handiwork.]

Do you like it?

[irreverence]

It's surprisingly accurate.

[She crosses her arms a little, tilting her head.]

Honestly, the things you get up to, Lancer.

[puppy_lancer]

They were all ideas other people in the Tower gave me. Too bad I couldn't find any drones to decorate this time around.

[irreverence]

It's probably better that way. Wouldn't want one of them malfunctioning or something and ruining the party.

[She rolls her shoulders then, and tilts her head at him, then at the table.]

Think I should grab another?

[puppy_lancer]

[He winces as she mentions malfunctioning drones, but goes back to his cheerful expression seconds afterwards.]

Depends on what food is gonna get brought up. You guys did make a lot.

[irreverence]

Eh, we should be good as long as no one goes making a mess of them. I can organize pretty well. Plus, we can bring things up in batches as they run out or something.

[Provided, of course, that she didn't get too lazy to do so in the long run.]

Gotta say, I'm pretty proud of that cake.

[puppy_lancer]

Sounds good. Two or three tables for the initial batch, then?

[He nods.]

It's a beautiful cake.

[irreverence]

Yeah, that should work.

[She shrugs, but it's easy to see she's pleased with the praise.]

Yeah, well- I did what I could with what I had.

[puppy_lancer]

Don't even think there was a recipe in the kitchen for it. Did you just remember one from your home?

[irreverence]

Cake is pretty simple, more or less- and most recipes are about the same. It's trying to get fancy with it that might give someone problems.

[puppy_lancer]

Really? Gotta remember that, then.