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

[bashfulshifter]

[He holds up a hand and takes a few moments to wheeze the air back into his chest.]

...Y-Yeah...yeah, g-g-good... [Rick chuckles breathlessly, though it quickly devolves into coughing.] ...ah...m-m-maybe a-ah...a b-b-bit of...w-warning, next t-time?

[sunflowerfairy]

[Here, Yotsuba would just give Rick a puzzled look, even though she kept on smiling.]

For what, Rick? And are you okay?

[bashfulshifter]

[Rick is clearly not okay, but he nods anyways.]

...N-Nevermind. [No permanent damage, right? She meant well, it's fine.] ...W-What're you u-up to, sport?

Rick, if you don't scold her, she'll keep jumping on you..

[sunflowerfairy]

[Well, with that cleared up, Yotsuba just kept smiling happily as she clung lightly to Rick's tummy and spoke.]

I'm lying with you, Rick! This party's a lot of fun, and Yotsuba got to eat a lot of yummy cake and help Gilles and see Dia's cute ears and learn about fa..fairies, and I saw you lying there! Your tummy's super comfy so I wanted to lie on you! I lied on Daddy all the time back home!

No regrets!

[bashfulshifter]

[Rick chuckles and casually rests his hands under his head, any prior discomfort immediately forgotten because the cute.]

S-Sounds like y-you've had a fun t-time! [His smile grows somewhat sad; once again Yotsuba is relating him to her father, which isn't so unsettling as it is intimidating. He has a lot to live up to--being a nice pillow doesn't quite cut it.] Are you t-tired out already?

There might be later..^^;

[sunflowerfairy]

[Thankfully, Yotsuba was only telling him that she did similar things with her father. In her head, Daddy was Daddy and no one could quite compare to him, even if they became an honorary Daddy. Rick was a good person, but he wasn't Daddy.]

I have! I've had a super fun time! And Yotsuba's a little tired! Are you tired, Rick?!

[bashfulshifter]

[He nods, blinking with complacent slowness.]

...I've b-been very b-b-busy. I c-could use a n-nap. Is that w-what y-you would like to do?

[sunflowerfairy]

Yeah! That's what I wanna do! We can nap together again!

[And as Yotsuba said that, she would start moving about on Rick's stomach in an attempt to get a little bit more comfortable, eventually resting her head on his chest.]

[bashfulshifter]

...S-Sounds good. [Rick closes his eyes, letting Yotsuba shuffle around until she was comfortable before tucking her in--which he doesn't have a blanket to tuck her in with, so he settles for draping a steadying arm on her back so she doesn't fall off or something.] Good n-night, Yotsuba. D-Don't let the b-bed bugs bite.

[sunflowerfairy]

[Not that Yotsuba would really mind that arm. She liked being hugged and the like by good people, so she just smiled as Rick closed his eyes and said good night.]

Good night, Rick! Sleep tight! I won't let them bite!

[And with that, Yotsuba would close her eyes and try to get some rest. It would take about ten minutes for her to fall asleep, but she would eventually do so. The only problem here was what Rick might do when he woke up and found Yotsuba still on him.]