towerofanimus | Happy Birthday, Ryoji

Characters: You know the drill. Lancer

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.]

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[Rick's lighthearted expression settles into something more somber.]

...I-I'm okay. [He frowns, flushing pink as his gaze drifts to the ground by his feet.] I...I-I w-wish I c-c-could've d-done more to h-help...

[Diarmuid shakes his head, voice insistent.]

No, you did nothing wrong. I shouldn't have drug all of you into that. Even if he would have killed me if I had fought him alone, that was my problem not yours. I'm...

[He bows his head deeply to Rick.]

...so sorry. Can you ever forgive me?

[He struggles for words but, unable to find them for some agonizing moments, instead shows his response in the form of a hug. The words come later.]

...D-Diarmuid...he's y-your son. I...w-would've done the s-same thing. I w-would do it a-again, if you n-need me to. Please...d-don't be s-sad for me.

[At first Diarmuid is startled by the hug, but after a moment he relaxes. It is nice to have his actions so easily accepted. Especially after how his brother had yelled at him.]

Rick... Thank you. I don't know what to say. You really are okay with what I did? Others...they haven't been so forgiving of me...

[And since Rick was there and witnessed Cu Chulainn's questions during the fight, it probably won't take him long to figure out who Diarmuid is talking about.]

[Rick nods, though he does take a bit longer than he should to figure out who it is Diarmuid is referencing. It seems odd that the people who fought alongside him wouldn't be willing to forgive his recklessness, so he doesn't even consider the combatants until he remembers--]

...Y-Your brother? [He blinks, rather confused.] I...d-don't understand. He's s-still mad?

Yes...

[There are a great many emotions in just that one word. Frustration. Anger. Sadness. Shame.]

He was waiting for me when I woke up, and we had a terrible fight about it. He just wouldn't understand...

[Aw Diarmuid, why do you make Rick want to hug you so much? He settles for putting a hand on his shoulder instead.]

...K-Knowing L-L-Lancer...I'm s-sure he was j-just w-w-worried a-about you. He, uh...d-doesn't t-take seeing the p-people he c-cares about g-getting hurt c-c-calmly. [If his reaction to Ryoji dying in the elevators was any indication.] ...I d-don't think he's a-angry at you...I think he's a-angry for you.

[Diarmuid shakes his head sadly.]

No, this time I think he is mad at me. He doesn't like that I used a 'grey' area to get Sephiroth there. He says it dishonors me. He doesn't understand that I have had my honor stripped away so often that at the moment, I do not mind losing it again if it will save my family and everyone else in the Tower.

They all put me on pedestals, Rick. The problem is sooner or later, people put on pedestals always fall.

[Without even skipping a beat: ]

...D-Dishonorable? You w-weren't d-d-dishonorable.

No...I was. The letter I wrote Sephiroth was written as it was because I knew he would make the wrong assumptions. It was the only way I could think of to get him there. I would have faced him alone, but you know Waver wouldn't let me do that and you know my brother wouldn't either.

[Diarmuid gives Rick a look that is a mix of pleading, desperation, and determination.]

I couldn't let anything happen to any of you. If I couldn't go alone, I had to give you all the best chance to survive the encounter I could!

[His eyes close then and his expression falls.]

And I failed. Everyone. Even though I gave up my honor to try and protect you all, I still failed. So many of you died...

...B-B-But you d-d-didn't. [He continues with stubborn, pig-headed persistence that is completely blind to any reason Diarmuid is throwing at him.] We...w-we d-did this b-because we w-wanted to h-help. P-Please, it...i-it w-w-wasn't your f-fault...w-we did what we h-had to, and...we w-won't ever b-blame you f-for that. Lancer m-might be, but...he's your b-brother. I p-promise, he'll f-forgive you.

...J-Just don't be s-sad.

[Diarmuid is quiet for several moments. He feels like he should keeps arguing, but...what good is it going to do? Rick is just getting more upset and that is the last thing Diarmuid wants to do. In addition, this is Ryoji's party. He can't risk ruining the mood of the event.]

You are right. I...shouldn't be sad. This is a happy day. I will try harder...

[If Rick finds himself not being convinced by those words...well, he isn't alone. Diarmuid isn't very convinced himself, but it's the best he can do right now.]

[And he isn't, of course--but Rick is more disappointed with himself than with anything else. He wants to help, and knowing that he can't do enough...because what else can he do, without Cu's own words to back him up? The blonde man hangs his head and looks away.]

...D-Diarmuid...things w-will get b-better. I...I-I w-w-wish I c-could m-make things b-better n-now, but...I'm s-sorry.

[Much like the fairy's curse, this is yet another problem that might only be cured by time and the hope that things will improve.]

Don't be sorry, Rick. I have been trying to fix myself ever since I arrived here. I don't expect you to fix me in five minutes. You try and for that I am grateful.

[Diarmuid smiles slightly, reaching out to bop Rick on the nose, hoping it will make the man look back at him and perhaps even make him laugh.]

I don't even think Waver could fix me that fast and no one knows me better than he does.

[Rick sighs, glances up--]

[--and promptly gets a tap on the nose for his troubles. Despite his best attempts to remain somber, the blonde man giggles and ducks, hiding his rapidly reddening face from further assault. Diarmuid is about to get a gentle (but very stern!) scolding for this when...]

...H-Have you t-t-talked to h-him yet? I-I m-mean, about...

Him?

[Diarmuid gives Rick a mildly confused look.]

You mean Waver? No. I think we need to, but we both agreed that maybe this isn't the place to talk of such things. Especially...since Ryoji died there too.

[Nod nod. Rick looks away again.]

...Y-You're r-r-right. I'm s-sorry, I...

[He shakes his head and forces a smile.]

...A-At l-least he l-looks like he's e-e-enjoying h-himself--uh, R-Ryoji, I mean.

[Diarmuid shakes his head.]

Rick, don't be sorry. It's okay.

[There is a pause as Diarmuid turns to look in Ryoji's direction. As he does, a soft smile crosses his face.]

Yes, he is. I am so glad what happened didn't ruin this for him.

Happy Birthday, Ryoji

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