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]

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.

[oathshackledbird]

How about after lunch in the gym? I do some patrolling in the mornings and train a few others on occasion then as well. However, if we meet in the afternoon, we can spend the whole rest of the day training if you wish to.

[puppy_lancer]

I've also got a lot of free time in the day. So I'll be good for either the morning or the afternoon. Though...uh...I've got a date at night.

[chainsawn]

[ She's already eagerly nodding at Diarmuid, completely fine with the idea of training after lunch. Although when she hears that last line from Lancer, she can't help but glance at him and tilt her head a little.. ]

.. Date..? [ She does know what that is, at least, it's just that she didn't know he had dates in this place. Urotsuki glances at the other man too, like she's wondering if he knew about that too. The two of them seemed close, after all. ]

[oathshackledbird]

Things are going well with Asagi, are they?

[Diarmuid winks at his brother and then turns back to Urotsuki.]

Well, I think we can make sure he is free to go see her, can't we Little Knight? And perhaps sometime my brother can ask his lady friend to join us. She is quite the talented fighter herself.

[puppy_lancer]

Yeah, it's going pretty well! In fact, she's the one who made the cake over there!

[He points at the buffet table. Then, he looks back at Diarmuid after hearing his brother's suggestion.]

Yeah, she is. She has some pretty cool spikes she can use. I'll tell her not to take it too fast, though. I don't think she's ever taught anyone before.

[chainsawn]

.. Uh-huh. If she's important to him, then he has to go see her for sure..

[ She nods back at Diarmuid, her fingers moving up to subconsciously touch the pair of goggles hanging around her neck, fretting with it a little as she speaks on. ]

Is your lady friend nice..? [ Directed at Lancer. ]

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid notices the gesture, but doesn't comment on it. Obviously, whoever gave her those goggles meant a lot to her.]

Well, is she nice, brother?

[Oh...this might or might not be a trap...]

[puppy_lancer]

[He feels a drop of sweat trickled down his face.]

She's...pretty nice when I'm around. But sometimes she can be harsh to other people. If she's mean to either of you, though, I'll tell her to stop it.

[chainsawn]

[ Oh. Urotsuki doesn't know if she entirely likes the sound of that - it's almost like she's shrinking on the spot when she looks down. ]

So she's an unpleasant person.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid shakes his head.]

I would not say 'unpleasant.'

[Mostly, because he doesn't want her to kill him.]

I think a better word would be 'passionate.' Also, 'open.' Maybe too much so, but that doesn't make her a bad person. It just means she cares a lot and doesn't hide that from anyone.

[She still might kill him...]

[puppy_lancer]

[Lancer nods eagerly.]

Exactly! And we're, like, her first friends, so it's up to us to teach her things like not being harsh!

[At this rate, she might kill both of them...]

[chainsawn]

[ You two, be careful with all that E-rank luck around here.. ]

.. So she just doesn't understand that if you like someone, you're supposed to be nice to them instead of being harsh? I don't think people like people who are harsh a whole lot, so if she just doesn't get it, then that's sort of sad.. [ At least it makes her nod along with them a little, even if it's still a little hesitant. ]

[oathshackledbird]

Hopefully, as she comes to know more people, she won't be so harsh all the time. I believe in her, and she really is an excellent fighter whether or not you like her attitude.

[Diarmuid reaches out to ruffle his brother's hair.]

After all, she puts up with my brother here. She can't be all bad.

[puppy_lancer]

Hey, what's that supposed to mean?

[He pushes at Diarmuid playfully.]

I'm supposed to be the one who has experience dealing with her type!

[He turns toward Urotsuki.]

She's special that way. Maybe it is a little sad, but that's why I wanna help her.

[chainsawn]

That's kind of you..

[ For a moment she's quiet, like she's thinking, and her gaze turns towards the floor. ]

.. I'm sure she must like you two deep down.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid laughs at his brother's reaction, returning the push lightly.]

I am sure she does or else she wouldn't put up with us, but I think that is enough talk of her. If we aren't careful, we will get ourselves into trouble. We won't be able to train our new Little Knight if we are recovering from being beaten up.

[puppy_lancer]

[Lancer is already looking from side to side, weary of Asagi possibly walking by and hearing something.]

Yeah...she's at the party, you know. She might just...come creeping up on me or something.

[He laughs nervously.]

[chainsawn]

[ She blinks for a moment, but then her mouth drops open to form an "o" kind of shape before she looks back and forth between the two men. ]

She can't come and beat you two up. I won't let her. You're too nice to get beaten up by anyone.

[oathshackledbird]

Thank you, Little Knight.

[A gentle look crosses Diarmuid's face.]

It seems you already know a lot about being a good knight and protector. It's going to be a great pleasure teaching you.

[puppy_lancer]

...I'm glad you think that, little knight.

[He looks toward Diarmuid, and then toward Urotsuki, and then decides to just place one hand on either of their backs and gather both of them into a hug.]

[chainsawn]

[ The compliments and then the hug following it fill her heart with a strange kind of warmth. It's been a while since she felt it - how long? Did she even truly feel it ever since Kidou disappeared from this place? Probably not. But that's why she'll gladly take advantage of the situation to get as much of the feeling as she can get, and when she's leaning into the hug and snuggling a little closer, Urotsuki almost seems like a normal girl instead of the weird way she usually is. Just for a moment. ]

I'm.. really, really happy too..

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid returns the hug making sure they both get it in equal measure.]

That's good, because this is a party and we should be enjoying ourselves here. Are either of you hungry? I haven't eaten yet and some of the food really smells good...

[puppy_lancer]

[He snuggles them both tightly, not even pulling away as he answers.]

Yeah, a little bit! We should get some food to celebrate the fact that we've got another comrade.

...What do you say, little knight?