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]

He killed my nephew.

[Lancer's expression darkens.]

And not in honorable combat either. He mind controlled Ryoji into fighting against his friends and killing himself.

Keep that in mind in case anyone tries to tell you anything different about him.

[bowandblade]

[He hums with interest, though his nonchalant expression doesn't match his tone.]

Mind controlled to death. I see.

[A feat to be used on the weak. Just how powerful was this man?]

[puppy_lancer]

Yeah, pretty nasty way to go.

Good thing it might not work on us.

[Sephiroth had not tried it during their fight, after all. He had instead preferred to hurl things around with telekinesis.]

[bowandblade]

It will most definitely not work on me. My mind is impenetrable.

[For one reason or another.]

I will have to meet him. There must be some reason you are not continuously hunting him down.

[puppy_lancer]

Oh, that's because Waver locked him in a cell after the fight. I think he should still be there. On the prison floor. So go ahead, if you wanna see him.

[bowandblade]

Prison floor...? [He tilts his head at that. With so many floors to the tower and only so many he tended to frequent, it's probably no surprise he doesn't recall which one it is.]

No, do not tell me. I will look into it after the party.

[puppy_lancer]

Good luck.

[He hasn't gone to the cells at all. Even thinking of Sephiroth gives him a feeling of frustrating mixed with guilt. He hates Sephiroth, but he also hates the way that he and Diarmuid and dealt with him.]

[bowandblade]

[...Well. Archer reaches over to try and tug at Lancer's ponytail, if he can get a hold on it.]

Get that look off your face. You are supposed to be hosting.

[puppy_lancer]

[He sticks his tongue out at Archer and then goes back to grinning.]

You're right. No host should have a sour face at their own party!

[He catches sight of something out of the corner of his eye.]

Speaking of that, I really gotta take a peek at the rest of the guests. Especially the ones at the games.

[bowandblade]

[He nods in approval and smirks, waving in dismissal.]

Be on your way then, hound. Should I require something, I will come around to knock you in the head for forgetting it.