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

[puppy_lancer]

...That was a dangerous thing to do, Brother.

[He feels a tinge of regret that he had not been alongside Diarmuid for that.]

I'm glad that it only had such light consequences.

[oathshackledbird]

Probably, but I needed to get my mind off a few things. It was some pretty good moonshine.

[Diarmuid smiles gently for a moment. Even if Reno had gotten him into this mess, he had to admit that the man made some good alcohol.]

It had to have been if it was good enough to get us off with just a 'warning.' It's a good thing the fairies here have a weakness for alcohol just like the ones back home.

[puppy_lancer]

[He gives a light chuckle as he hears that.]

Then remind me to carry some beer with me in case I ever run into fairies.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid raises a surprised eyebrow at his brother.]

You didn't know that? It was the first thing I thought of when I realized what had happened. Well...maybe I have the advantage because of Father's stories...

[puppy_lancer]

My first thought would've been to fight them off. That's what I usually did in my home. Nothing bad happened to me then.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid shakes his head.]

It wouldn't have worked. I don't think we could have hurt them even if we tried, and we couldn't leave the circle without their permission.

[puppy_lancer]

...Then they were some strong fairies.

[He stares at his brother's ears and tail. They seemed to be drooping. Almost unconsciously, his hand goes up to give Diarmuid a scratch behind his ear.]

[oathshackledbird]

[The action startles Diarmuid and he jumps slightly. Isn't Cu Chulainn still mad at him?]

Brother?

[Cautiously, his tail starts to wag. Someone apparently likes ear scratches even if he is a little confused at the moment.]

[puppy_lancer]

[He notices what he's doing and turns red.]

Y-yeah?

[He doesn't stop the headpats yet.]

Sorry. Couldn't help it. Do you want me to stop?

[He's not happy with Diarmuid. Nor does he approve of Diarmuid's decisions. But he still loves Diarmuid as a brother. And it's hard to say mad at those ears or that tail.]

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid shakes his head. Even though he is hurt by what his brother had said to him, it is difficult to remain mad for the simple reason that he knows that his brother loves him, and that is the only reason he had started that fight. Of course, because Diarmuid loves his brother, it is why he wanted him to understand so badly.

Maybe someday.]

No...you don't have to stop.

[puppy_lancer]

Alright. That's good to know.

[He starts changing up his petting style. He rubs the flat of his hand from the base of an ear down to Diarmuid's neck, smoothing Diarmuid's hair back in the process. All the while, he keeps a look on Diarmuid's tail, looking to see if it's wagging yet.]

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid's tail was wagging slowly before, but it starts wagging much harder once Cu Chulainn changes how he is petting him.]

You're watching that traitorous tail of mine, aren't you? It's not fair...

[puppy_lancer]

[He snickers.]

Hey, a tail can sometimes say more than a mouth. Like how excited you are. No drooping tails for you.

[oathshackledbird]

What if I don't want people to know?

[Diarmuid blushes lightly.]

It's embarrassing...

[puppy_lancer]

Is it that bad?

[He reaches to tap Diarmuid's other dog ear with his free hand.]

Maybe I can use my runes to hide them? If you want, anyway. I think they make you look kind of cute.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid shakes his head slightly as so not to knock his brother's hands away.]

Thank you, but I think the sooner I get used to this the better. I have no idea how long I am going to have them. It might even be until I die next whenever that is. Besides, Reno is stuck with them too. It wouldn't be fair to him for me to hide them like that when he can't.

[puppy_lancer]

Alright then, Bro.

[He continues to pet Diarmuid.]

Say, Bro, there's a friend here I want you to meet. If you're okay meeting them while like this.

[oathshackledbird]

A friend?

[Diarmuid gives his brother a curious look.]

Who?

[puppy_lancer]

[He points at Urotsuki, playing with the pinata.]

Her. The girl with the chainsaw. Urotsuki. She wants to learn to be a knight, and I figured we could get together to teach her.

[oathshackledbird]

The girl with the chainsaw? Who wants to be a knight?

[Diarmuid raises an eyebrow at his brother.]

Am I really the one you want teaching her to be a knight after...?

[puppy_lancer]

...Yes.

[Lancer still trust Diarmuid to be a good knight. If anything, working with Urotsuki might re-focus his brother on the path of chivalry.]

You've got a lot of experience with being a knight. And you're good with teaching.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid frowns slightly at that, but he does love teaching, and so he can't make himself say no. Especially after so looking forward to having a new student when he met Nesir, only to have that go so very wrong.]

All right, I will I do my best. I hope she doesn't mind if her teacher has puppy ears and a tail.

[puppy_lancer]

I'm pretty sure she won't mind. She can spout ears and a tail herself if she wants.

[oathshackledbird]

She can what?

[A disbelieving look crosses Diarmuid's face.]

She's not human?

[puppy_lancer]

She is. She just has...powers.

[Even he's not that sure what those power actually are.]