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]

She is. She just has...powers.

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

[oathshackledbird]

She has powers, uses a chainsaw, and wants to be a knight.

[Diarmuid grins at his brother.]

You sure know how to find the interesting ones, don't you?

[puppy_lancer]

That's because I make friends with the most awesome people. Besides, Bro, you're the one who adopted a death god. I'd say you know some pretty interesting people too.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid can't help but laugh at that.]

Well I can't really argue that, can I? Are you going to introduce us?

Okay jelle come on over

[puppy_lancer]

Yeah, come on.

[Lancer pulls his brother over to Urotsuki.]

Urotsuki, this is my brother Diarmuid.

c:!!

[chainsawn]

[ .. Oh, huh. There's Lancer again with another guy.. she stares back and forth between the two for a few moments, a completely blank look on her face like she isn't feeling anything in particular about all of this. ]

... Hi.

[ What an enthusiastic reaction, huh. Except not. ]

I'm Urotsuki.

[ There's another moment where her eyes linger on Diarmuid's puppy ears and tail, and in turn in the blink of an eye wolf ears and a fluffy tail appear on her as well as if it's nothing. Maybe she's trying to make him feel more normal.. or maybe she thinks it's some knight thing. ]

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid is about to return the greeting when Urotsuki's wolf ears and tail both manifest. That stops him cold and instead of talking, he just stares. After a moment, he seems to realize what he's doing and bows to her, blushing slightly in embarrassment.]

My name is Diarmuid Ua Duibhne. I am Cu Chulainn's brother. I hope this isn't too rude a question, but how did you do that? Is it a spell of some kind?

[puppy_lancer]

See, Bro? I told you she could do it?

[He grins at Diarmuid, and then Urotsuki, waiting to hear the girl's explanation.]

[chainsawn]

It's my effect.. [ Some other people might call it something like a spell, but since it's such a natural thing to her, she can't call it anything else but what she's been calling it all this time. Even further explanation probably won't really help, although she tries. ]

It just.. happens. If I want them to appear, they appear. Aren't yours the same?

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid shakes his head, pulling on one of the ears self-consciously.]

No. Believe me, if I could make them go away, I would. As far as I know, they are permanent until the curse wears off.

[He suddenly blushes lightly.]

Do you know how to control your tail? I really would like mine to stop giving things away about how I am feeling...

[Such important questions!]

[puppy_lancer]

[Lancer pouts.]

But I like your tail, Bro.

[As if to prove it, he reaches to pet Diarmuid's ears again.]

[chainsawn]

[ Oh no, now there's a conflict. She was about to tell him to try and help, but then Lancer said he likes it, so maybe she shouldn't say it.. decisions are hard when you just want to please other people all the time in order to make them like you. ]

Um.. if he likes your tail, then maybe you should just keep it the way it is now. It looks cute on you. [ She even says it in a genuinely nice way, like she thinks it's a perfectly acceptable compliment for a grown man. ]

[oathshackledbird]

Does it really, though?

[Diarmuid's question doesn't have much strength behind it. It's hard to object when his brother is petting his ears like that and, even if he could, his tail would give away how he really feels with all the wagging it is doing.]

Everyone keeps saying that, but...

[puppy_lancer]

It does. At least, it does when you're happy. Haven't seen you angry with them yet, but I'm betting you'll look fierce.

[chainsawn]

When you're angry, you've got to howl. Like a real wolf.

[ Granted, Urotsuki's are the ones that are more like a wolf than a puppy, but she's still willing to demonstrate! When she throws her head back and lets out a sound, it in fact actually sounds like a real wolf more than just a kid imitating one.. ]

[oathshackledbird]

[When she lets out that howl, Diarmuid jumps. Not for the reason one would expect though. Sure, he is startled, but what startles him more is just how realistic the sound is.

It's so realistic that his puppy ears instinctively draw down against his head.]

What are you? Part wolf?

[puppy_lancer]

Wow. That's...quite realistic.

[The oddly natural sound of the howl also puts Lancer on edge.]

[chainsawn]

I'm just human.. [ It's hard to notice since Urotsuki's expression is so permanently blank, but there's almost something a little awkward or shy in it as she says that.

The ears and tails vanish into thin air immediately. ]

.. Just normal. [ At the end she can't help but gaze at the Lancer she knows better, as if looking for reassurance. ] Right?

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid puppy dog ears quirk forward with worry at the sudden change in her attitude.]

If I said something to upset you, I apologize. It wasn't my intention. There is no reason to hide your skills from us. A knight should be proud of their abilities. It is what gives them the strength to fight.

[puppy_lancer]

Yeah, little lady. You're a normal human. You just have some cool talents.

[He reaches to try and pat Urotsuki on the head.]

It's like my brother said. Be proud of what you can do.

[chainsawn]

.. Be proud.. [ She's leaning a little into the headpat (she likes getting affection, okay) as she repeats the words, almost dreamily like she's still overthinking them. ]

Is that really what knights do..? I don't know much about it, but I want to learn so I can be a proper knight.

[oathshackledbird]

It is.

[Diarmuid reaches out to give her shoulder a gentle squeeze.]

Knights often serve as an example for others and they can't be that way if they are not proud of their skills and actions...

[As he says those last words, something shakes a bit in Diarmuid's voice, but he quickly pushes it away.]

No two knights have all of the same skills, but that is why knights work so well together. All of those different strengths make the whole stronger.

[puppy_lancer]

[One hand keeps patting Urotsuki's head. Lancer's other hand goes to take one of Diarmuid's hands and give it a little squeeze. He can hear the shaking and he wants to make sure his brother is alright.]

Yeah, that's why we band together and help each other.

[He grins and looks over at Diarmuid.]

This guy is good at almost everything, though. From swords to folding flowers.

[chainsawn]

[ Urotsuki is just staring at the two. Especially with the way Lancer grins at Diarmuid.. the two of them must be really close, huh? How nice. But on the other hand, they're petting her like that and squeezing her shoulder, and for a moment it almost feels like she's part of it too. Even though she's not sure if she should just believe in that, it could just be some stupid false hope, but she wishes so badly for it to be true. This is the first moment she's felt that way ever since Kidou disappeared months ago, and before him she never felt like it either..

Just.. feeling like having some sort of sense of belonging.

For once her expression isn't entirely blank, but it's more like there's something near-desperate in her eyes. ]

I.. can really be a knight with you guys..?

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid grins at her, after rolling his eyes at his brother. While there a joking tone to his first words, his voice soon grows serious. He has noticed that desperate look in her eyes and can't help but feel pain when he thinks of what must have driven her to feel that way. In a place like this, there are so many horrible things...]

Don't listen to this guy. He's biased. However, if you truly want to be a knight, I will be glad to teach you what I can. I won't lie, though. It is a long hard road, but if you are willing to fight and work for it, it is a road well worth walking. Knights are never alone, even when they are separated from each other.

Isn't that right, brother?