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

[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?

[puppy_lancer]

[Lancer is just the opposite. His tone starts out serious, but lightens as he progresses.]

Yes, exactly right. We knights are not alone, for we'll always carry the friends who fought alongside us and helped us endure any hardship in our hearts. So long as you have the strength and will, you can be a knight with us, and with all those other knights.

[chainsawn]

I.. really want to be a knight then..

[ There is determination in her words despite the tone, but there's something troubled too - it ties in with the desperation from before. Being a knight sounds perfect for her. Never being alone again is exactly what she wants, what she's been looking for all this time.. but what if she won't make it? What if she doesn't has what you need to have to become a knight? Will she have to be forever alone then? ]

I'll try my best. So.. [ She bows her head. ] Please teach me..

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid moves his hand from her shoulder to pat her on the head in order to try and drive away some of that silent doubt he is sensing in her.]

All I ever ask from someone is that they try. Now, stand up and why don't you tell me some more about yourself? In order to train you, I will need to know more about your strengths and weaknesses.

[puppy_lancer]

[Cu Chulainn nods as he hears his brother's suggestion.]

Go ahead, Urotsuki. Tell him as much as you can.

[chainsawn]

[ It doesn't take long for her to do as he says - she's probably even near exaggerating the standing up part here since she's trying to stand as straight as she can (and maybe even a little on her toes). ]

.. I don't really know what to say.. [ Since Urotsuki mostly has no idea of what parts of her are weird and which aren't. She's been starting to feel like most are. ] I mean.. I'm.. just human. I think. But I like to dream a whole lot, that's my hobby..

The "powers" I have are my effects. I got them from my dreams, and I can just make them appear out of nowhere, like those ears just now and a lot of other stuff. Also a chainsaw, I like to use that when I need to fight since it's a fun weapon.

[oathshackledbird]

[That effort, exaggerated as it is, makes a gentle look enter Diarmuid's eyes. Her excitement and wish to please reminds him of when he was little and how hard he tried to become a good knight.]

Dreams hold great power. You are fortunate to have access to such power.

[And that explained that chainsaw at least...]

Have you fought with anything besides the chainsaw?

[puppy_lancer]

[Cu Chulainn is silent, only smiling and nodding here. He's waiting for Urotsuki to answer Diarmuid.]

[chainsawn]

[ He even said that she has great power and that she's fortunate.. she's practically soaking in the compliments here. It's not too often that she gets them, so she's more than just a little desperate to hear them.

The question results in her shaking her head though. ]

I didn't really have to fight much back home. It wasn't.. like here.

[oathshackledbird]

And what little you did fight, was it tied to your power of dreams or was it something else?

[Diarmuid turns to his brother for a moment.]

How long have you known each other? Have you fought with her yet?

[puppy_lancer]

I've known her for a few months. Sadly, I haven't had the good fortune to fight with her. At least, not much.

[chainsawn]

I fought.. lots of things. [ She doesn't know how else to sum it up. The creatures in her dreams aren't exactly material to shove under one header and call it a day.. ] In this place too, sometimes. A few of the monsters. The big ones look like they're hard though, so I usually just hide from them.

.. That's also why we haven't fought together yet. [ Glancing at Lancer as she says it. ]

[oathshackledbird]

Oh! This one has a good head on her shoulders.

[Diarmuid means this as a compliment of the highest order since sometimes his brother's hotheadedness makes Diarmuid grit his teeth in frustration.]

There is no shame in escaping from something too big to handle. You cannot protect those you care about if you are dead.

[puppy_lancer]

[Lancer crosses his arms and pouts once he senses that they're talking about him.]

Well, if she trains, she should be able to take on stronger monsters too, right?

[chainsawn]

[ It's only a slightly good head, Diarmuid. Because the moment the other man suggests that, her eyes are almost lighting up again, and she's looking at them with excitement. ]

Can we fight stronger monsters together when I've trained? Doing it together sounds like fun.

[oathshackledbird]

[She's excited about them fighting together. That Diarmuid cannot find fault with, though.]

Fighting those monsters as a group is the best way to do it. In fact, you can considering it a test for a little later on to see how well you have learned. How does that sound to everyone?

[puppy_lancer]

[Lancer gives both of them two thumbs up.]

I think it's an awesome idea. Count me in!

[chainsawn]

It sounds great.

[ Fighting together is the whole reason she wants to become a knight to begin with, after all. Never having to be alone again, whether it's during battle or outside of it, that's all she wants. ]

I'm so glad..

[oathshackledbird]

Excellent! Then it is decided.

[An excited look crosses Diarmuid's face. And if that isn't enough to show he's kind of looking forward to this, his tail is wagging too.]

When would be a good time for us to meet up for our first lesson? Brother, will you come too?

[puppy_lancer]

You bet I will! You're my bro, and this little knight here is my friend, so name whatever time and I'll be there.

[chainsawn]

[ She seems a little cheery (in her own way) at the thought that both of them will be there even during training. ]

Any time is good for me.. I don't have a whole lot to do. [ And even when she has a duty, she forgets it half of the time and then only shows up when she randomly remembers.. ] So whenever works best for you works for me.