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

[bowandblade]

[Archer had been far too amused to receive an invitation from the hound to not show up to the party; he had to get in the opportunity to say that Lancer was learning.

Of course, he tells Shinji about the invitation -- and the bit about the leash. So it should come as no surprise (to Lancer) that Archer arrives at the party idly swinging a short length of mushroom-laden rope.]

[puppy_lancer]

Yo, Archer. You came.

[He stares at the leash.]

...Where's your Master?

[bowandblade]

[He smirks as he swings the leather rope pointedly.]

I am sure he is around. Are you concerned he will cause a scene, hound?

[puppy_lancer]

Maybe. Or just run afoul of some other guest.

[No he is not having the mental image of Shinji getting dropkicked]

[bowandblade]

If he causes any trouble, I am sure you will be right on it.

[He seems amused by Lancer's displeasure. But that's not surprising.]

I see you have another bonfire stack set up. Are you actually going to light it at night this time?

[puppy_lancer]

Depends on if people are willing to stay up here until then. Not everyone wants to party with monsters.

[bowandblade]

Always with the precautions. There are enough people convened here to fight off a stray monster or two.

[puppy_lancer]

I'm the host. I should be the one caring for the safety of my guests.

[Hospitality is important!]

Speaking of guests, I've got a few I want you to meet.

[bowandblade]

Ah yes, and with your class luck...

[He smirks. That's almost cute, Lancer.

But. He'll mercifully go on to the next topic.]

Hm? What is this about meeting people?

[puppy_lancer]

There's a kid here interested in archery. Was wonder if you could teach me how to make a bow for her. Or show her some of your tricks.

[bowandblade]

[He tilts his head like he's skeptical of Lancer's skills. But that can't possibly be right.]

Do you even know how to use a bow, hound?

[puppy_lancer]

...If I did, do you think I'd ask you?

[He actually goes a little red.]

[bowandblade]

[He snorts, lips twitching into a smug smile immediately.]

I see! So of course you come running to me.

[Not that there was any running involved.]

I could use something new to do.

[puppy_lancer]

Great. Then, see that girl? The little one? In the pink dress?

[He points over at Tetra, currently chatting with Yotsuba.]

That's her.

[sunflowerfairy]

[While Yotsuba hadn't seen Archer in awhile, the man had made quite an impression on her, and she was happy to see him again after everything that had happened. So, smiling, she would run up to him, waving an arm to get his attention.]

Golden Man! How are you?! Yotsuba missed you!

[bowandblade]

[It takes a moment, as Yotsuba is a rather small girl in the presence of a good number of adult, but soon enough Archer notices her and brings his hands to rest on his hips while he addresses her.]

Ah, the little green girl! It has been quite some time.

[He's not even aware that she's been gone, considering they had only met once before.]

I am, of course, doing well. This party has been decently entertaining.

[sunflowerfairy]

[And Yotsuba didn't know if the 'Golden Man' knew of her disappearance. Still, it was nice to see him again, since he struck her as a good and very awesome person.]

It is! It's the bees knees, and it's good that you're alright! Yotsuba learned about video games awhile ago! So I know how to play now!

[..Granted, it had been 'Monster Crossing', a ripoff of Animal Crossing, and she had only played it for a few minutes when a Homestruck Troll had let her. Still, that little experience had convinced Yotsuba that she knew enough about them now to play with other people.]

[bowandblade]

[Bees knees. He's not sure what that saying is supposed to mean, but it must be a good thing, from the way the little girl continued to sound so cheerful.]

Ah, so you had a chance to learn another a form of solo entertainment! Did you enjoy yourself?

[He somehow doesn't expect her to have learned that much about video games. Her attention span was interesting.]

[sunflowerfairy]

[While it was a good thing to say, if Archer asked, Yotsuba wouldn't really be able to tell him what it meant either, other than that something was really good. Her Grandmother had a habit of using old sayings like that, and she just picked it up.]

I did! And it was a lot of fun! Yotsuba caught fish and some cicadas, and there was a tiny town full of animals! It was pretty! A good person let me play the game, and it was a lot of fun! We should play together later!

[..Archer would be pretty correct in his expectations.]

[bowandblade]

[Well, it seems like she did learn a fair amount, really -- at least, coming from someone who did more video game watching than actual playing. Shinji was entertaining to watch at play, but actually trying to beat him in a game...

Suffice it to say, he had yet to beat Shinji at a video game.]

Perhaps so. If we both find ourselves so bored, we might as well.

[notsogrimreaper]

[Someone else Ryoji doesn't know... he's actually wondering if there's more strangers at this party than friends. Not that it matters; meeting new people is exciting. So he'll come forward and offer a polite smile.]

Um, hey there! Thanks for coming.

[bowandblade]

[He tilts his head as he's approached by this new boy, pursing his lips as if in thought. If the hound was the host, and this boy was still coming forward...]

Ah, you must be the nephew!

[notsogrimreaper]

Yeah, I am! Ryoji Mochizuki. It's nice to meet you!

[He grins and extends a hand.]

[bowandblade]

[He looks at Ryoji's offered hand for a moment before smirking and taking it. Ah, these little customs.]

It is unfortunate that you must celebrate a birthday in this tower. But a well-wishing all the same, for this day.

[notsogrimreaper]

Oh, I didn’t have to celebrate. I never really had a birthday before, but my father said I should choose a day that was special to me and then make it my new birthday, so… here we are.