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

[notsogrimreaper]

[Ryoji turns to face Rick, smiling brightly already. He's happy to see another familiar face, especially one who, as far as he's noticed, helped out a great deal in making sure this party was a success.]

Hey! I'm glad you could make it. Thanks so much for helping with everything...

[He can't contain his curiosity, and ends up trying to peek over Rick's shoulder. What's he hiding?]

[bashfulshifter]

[Rick chuckles lightly and backs away to hide his gift. Adorable shenanigans are apparently a good way to ease his anxiety!]

--A-Ah! H-Hold on! [He laughs, then pauses to see how long he can draw out the suspense--fails miserably because Ryoji's enthusiasm is contagious and he quickly gives in.] ...A-Alright, alright.

[With one last, bashful smile, Rick holds out a bundle of neatly-folded dark blue cloth, broken up with the occasional stripe of off-white, made of the best felt he could find. If Ryoji unfolds it, he'll find that it's a very warm-looking scarf.]

[Rick's eyes sink to the ground while he shuffles his feet.] I, a-a-ah, f-figured you c-could use s-s-something w-warm for n-n-next m-month, s-s-so...

[notsogrimreaper]

[And Ryoji is always happy to have adorable shenanigans! He usually would hold off if someone told him to be patient, but seeing how happy Rick has gotten at Ryoji's excitement means he'll keep it up, laughing himself.]

Come on, you can show me? Pleeeeease?

[Yeah, he really is that immature. But he accepts the cloth graciously, unfolding it until he realizes what it is... at which point his wide grin turns into a look of shock... almost teary-eyed shock. Rick hasn't done anything wrong of course but... Ryoji still gets a tad overwhelmed when someone is kind to him.]

This... This must have taken you ages... I... I don't know how to thank you.

[Besides removing his yellow scarf and wrapping the new one around his neck, smiling warmly.]

[bashfulshifter]

["Don't cry," he almost says, but obviously that would be extremely inconsiderate--and they don't seem like tears of distress, either, which is good. Rick's momentarily worried expression melts away to return a friendly grin.]

...I-It was...the l-l-least I c-could do. [...for the son of one of his best friends. Ryoji might as well be family to him, given that. Why wouldn't he make something nice for him?] ...I w-w-wish I c-could've done more.

[notsogrimreaper]

[Don't worry. Ryoji isn't one for crying, despite how often he looks to be on the verge of it. He blinks a few times before regaining his composure, and then gets to admiring his gift.]

Why would you need to do more? This is perfect... It's really warm and soft. I might confuse everyone, but this may end up being my favourite scarf!

[bashfulshifter]

[Rick quickly hides his face as a bright pink blush consumes him, jamming his hands in his pockets.]

I, ah...uh...th--thank you.

[notsogrimreaper]

There's no need to thank me! You're the one who gave me a gift when you didn't have to give me anything. And you helped out with making the food here, didn't you?

[bashfulshifter]

[He nods, still too bashful to acknowledge in words. Ryoji you are too much]

[notsogrimreaper]

[He kind of has to be too much. He doesn't have the knowledge to dial it down.]

That's great! Everything I've tried so far has been really good.

[bashfulshifter]

...Thank you.

[BLUSH BLUSH BLUSH]

...L-Lancer m-m-made the c-cake.

[notsogrimreaper]

Did he really? Well, I'll be looking forward to trying that...

Hey, why are you so embarrassed? Are you that surprised I liked your food?

[bashfulshifter]

--N-No--I-I-I m-mean, y-yes, b-but-- [Dammit Ryoji you are making it very difficult to be humble about this!] --s-s-sorry, I-I'm...n-not used to...

[His embarrassment reaches critical mass, a hand makes its way into his hair and, almost unconsciously, he starts scooting away in the opposite direction.]

...I-I'll just...k-keep m-making...s-stuff...

[notsogrimreaper]

[And Ryoji will just scoot closer! He really isn't sure why Rick is so bothered by this...]

I'd really like it if you did. I think you have a real talent, and talents are meant to be shared with the people you care about.

[He's never had a talent himself, but he thinks that's what they should be used for.]