spaceforged | IC Contact (Mask or Menace)

[Shiro brings up the order tab and adds a large basket of hot wings to it then a bourbon with no ice.] Bourbon. I haven’t had it in a while.

I’ll sin and add ice to it. I have no idea what my tolerance is right now.

[Like Keith, Shiro can never fully settle. He can be utterly still or feel into a quiet state but fully relax? It isn’t in the cards anymore. He leans back and slides the kiosk over so Keith can reach it and look.] You didn’t like the beer we had just before Kerberos. They seem to have a little description for the alcohol.

[Each one has a little summary of the taste and feel of the beverage even what it mixes best with.]

[Keith reaches to take it from Shiro, leafing through curiously. It's been years since he's been on Earth, years since he's even had a chance to have a drink. So yeah, starting from zero here.

Hmm. No, the beer was bitter. He does remember that. Hmm. He considers the list, decides on an old-fashioned and then settles back in his seat.]

So. Our new roommate is... uh. Different.

They are but, I did make it clear we're all in this together. It seems like they get that.

[He won't even touch the god part. He doesn't want to. With their order placed a waiter drops by their table to drop off their drinks and tell them if they need anything, they're their waiter for the evening.

Shiro waits until they leave to add.] They called this world a cage.

Yeah? That's good. They uh... I can't tell if it was awkward phrasing or a threat, towards my wolf. I'm really hoping the former.

[But he's not one hundred percent sure, and he doesn't particularly like that thought. He reaches for his drink once it arrives, taking an experimental sip.

Oh. Strong. But just sweet enough. All right. This will do.]

A cage. [He considers that though, turning his arm over to look at the tattoo there.] They do keep track of us.

[Shiro closes his left hand around his glasss. The ice was a good idea. As much as he frowns at watering things down it's better this way. He draws it close to his mouth and breathes in. The scent is like he remembers and as he takes a sip it brings to mind times sitting at the bar just off the Garrison base. Some part of him that hasn't eased up since he left for space settles, and his shoulders relax.

He's on Earth. Truly on Earth and an old off switch he so rarely used flips just like that. He pauses to glance at his marked arm the 'registered' barely visible in the dimmer light.] I still don't like they're keeping track of us. But from how it sounds they understand doing more than that would be...bad for all of us.

[He says it quietly, then takes another sip. He holds it in his mouth for a moment. It's like turning down a dial. Shiro sets his drink down and stares into it.] He didn't seem to mind Black. He minded me more than the Lion until I made it clear I wasn't out to control him, just make sure things were fair.

Yeah, they seem aware of that. Or at least aware that we wouldn't like it if we knew.

[Keith is a paranoid sort at the best of times, but Shiro knows that. Still Keith wonders if there is more being noted and tracked about them than the government or Porter Authority or whatever term they want to use is letting on.]

He's not human either, so it could be some sort of lost in cultural translation thing too. [Maybe? They've certainly encountered that in their travels.]

It very well could be. He's also a god and what I saw as he talked on the network...

[He swirls his drink and sighs, leaning back in his chair. As if on cue, the massive basket of hot wings is set on their table. The wings are still sizzling and the sharp scent of hot sauce forces him to breathe a little shallower.

Shiro takes a drink, nods to the waiter, then speaks after they're gone.]

He had clearly lied and anyone using illusions to sell their stories... [He doesn't need to say watch out. Keith already will.]

We're in for a time with him.

Yeah. God seems a stretch. He's an alien.

[Which yeah, Keith gets it. Aliens have the sort of powers that seem downright godlike at times. Allura did sort of resurrect Shiro a little bit. But he keeps that to himself and instead looks appreciatively at the wings as they're set down.

Yup. That's an excellent decision for food, Shiro.]

We definitely are. Never mind the next roommates they assign us. [Another sip of his drink, a pleasant warmth starting to settle through him.] ...ever think of finding a new place?

[Shiro smiles and produces a pen from his pocket. He has gotten decent at keeping a pen on him at all times thanks to working as a waiter. He calmly writes out a number on a napkin then adds another smaller number on it. He sets the pen aside and looks at his best friend seriously. He had forgotten to tell Keith about this action. He pulls the basket of hot wings a little closer and loads one of the two plates set beside the basket full of chicken wings.] Since the chat with our last new roommate I’ve been putting money aside for relocating.

She didn’t really imply we had to, but I’ve seen that look before. She wasn’t going to be comfortable around us and home is,

[He gestures with his metal hand in a wide encompassing gesture. He sets his drink down and tucks into the wings. He has no worry Keith will oppose his thoughts. Since they got here they’ve been on the same page so often he has to wonder what a disagreement will be like. Knowing them, probably about their behavior towards themselves. He puts it out of his head and continues.] Home is where people feel safe. Or should. She couldn’t entirely switch off and neither could I. Felt better to just plan an exit. It slipped my mind to tell you right away. I’ve been meaning to discuss it with you since then.

Edited 2019-09-23 16:47 (UTC)

Yeah, I think you're right about that. Definitely not comfortable. But I get that.

[Keith could understand it. Being thrown in among new people is hard, especially in close quarters. And having new people cycle in and out is a challenge of its own.

He cracks a smile and leans over to look at what Shiro has written.] Yeah. Home should feel safe. Even if it's a temporary home.

[He piles a few wings on his plate as well, another sip of his drink as the warmth in his stomach settles and a pleasantly floaty feeling starts permeating throughout the whole of him.] I've been saving too.

[What he hasn't had to spend on food or basic essentials -- and a few toys for Kosmo because he'd never had a toy before -- Keith has tucked away to save.]

To relocate. [And then. Hopefully.] Together? [Yes?]

Together. [He agreed. A smile spreads across his face again. The wings are good and so is the drinks. A low heat is spreading through him already and taking some of his worries with it. He always hated that slightly disconnected feeling booze brings with it.

Right now it just feels peaceful to be slightly removed.] I like Dick.

[He adds,] I want to extend the offer to him to continue rooming with us. He’s a solid roommate.

[Keith's smile brightens at that answer and he nods, another sip of his drink -- thankfully finished by the time Shiro speaks again because Keith is blinking at him and...

Yeah, he's had just enough alcohol that it strikes him as entirely too funny. He means the laugh as a chuckle at best, but it comes out much closer to a giggle. Did you hear yourself, Shiro?

Keith clears his throat and composes himself. Okay. Sorry. Moving on.] I like him too. I think it's a good idea. I hope he wants to come along. He's a good guy.

[He gives Keith's shoulder a small shove in reply to the mirth. It's good to hear Keith laugh. It's a victory he will take every time and he's had just enough to drink he studies Keith a little too long and grinning a bit too much.] And he'd likely be farther from the zoo. Less friends trying to make their way inside to hang out with him.

These are good wings. I'd love to come back here again. [Good Bourbon too. He takes another sip and savors it this time.] If Dick, [He snorts because it is a little funny. He's probably close to tipsy.] wants to recommend a roommate to complete the setup, I'm all for it. I trust his judgment.

Edited 2019-09-25 19:29 (UTC)

[Keith laughs again at the shove, grinning right back. Yeah okay they're both clearly in a very mature mindset right now.]

At this point we should get a place with a dog door so they can come and go. I think Kosmo likes the company.

[He's accepted that's what the wolf gets named by now.]

Good point. I think he knows people here. [So. Makes extra sense. Another sip at his drink which is... yeah, just about gone. ]

And as we've seen having a roommate from home makes a difference. [He finishes his drink and the waiter smoothly sets down two more and whisks their finished glasses away. Shiro's smile is warm and fond as he says to Keith.] I really appreciate everything you've done since I got here.

I know it can't be easy knowing the future and keeping it back unless I ask. You've always let me decide how to approach things. You let me live as I want to live. Thank you, Keith.

[He shapes his name as softly as he always does but there's something warmer about it this time. Like he's naming something he treasures.] And yes, dog door. It will also make it easier on me if I need to scout around or come home in a hurry.

[Keith is reaching for his drink and wraps his fingers around the glass even as Shiro's words start to sink in. The smile on his face starts small and tentative, but broadens, soft and sure as the other man continues. The way Shiro says his name rushes through him, chasing the path of warmth the alcohol had mapped out earlier in his chest, in his veins.]

You don't have anything to thank me for, Shiro. I'm just glad that if we have to be stuck here, we're stuck here together.

[He's lost Shiro to the void one too many times to be up for doing it again so soon.
Then he's snickering and shaking his head.]

My best friend uses the dog door. ...did we ever have a normal life, or am I just fooling myself? [Asks the half-alien space ninja.]

[He has to take a moment to think about his answer. He doubts he had a normal life. And at one point he thought he wouldn't have that long of a life at all. There's a future and it's wide and vast just waiting to be explored.

The soft smile on Keith's face tugs at him. He leans a little closer and says,]

We've never been normal, no. [He lightly knocks the knuckles of right hand against Keith's as he says.] And me too. I'm glad we're stuck here together. I'm not sure what I would have done by myself. Nice to have you here and from the same page of clueless as I am.

[He draws back when he feels a bit too comfortable. He shouldn't invade Keith's space like that.] and I kind of have to wonder if my last form will even fit through a dog door. Black Panthers are usually leopards and jaguars. They're kind of big.

[There's just enough alcohol running through Keith's veins right now that he manages not to let his breath catch when Shiro leans closer -- and he'll blame any particular flush that might be starting to rise on his face on the liquor too.

But it's kind of nice too. Really nice.]

Normal's probably overrated anyway.

[Keith decides before laughing again.] Maybe you'll get stuck. Like you did in your pants when you were a bird.

[Sorry, Shiro. That was adorable.]

[He sighs and ducks his head, a red flush on his face. There's no way he will live this down. At least Keith had been the only one to see it. Or there would be video. There's enough alcohol in his system it makes talking a little easier and less thinking involved with it.] I thought I had it,

[Shiro complains and takes a sip of his drink. He flexes the fingers of his right hand like the talons of his red hawk shape.]

I forgot how sharp hawk talons are. I won't make that mistake again.
[His finger dips in his drink and runs over the edge of an ice cube. He pushes it down submerging the ice cube, saying,] I'll take my pants off next time.

I always wear boxers. It's no big deal.

[Keith had been taking a sip, and he manages somehow mostly not choke on it when Shiro goes and says that. Instead he swallows, hard, and sets the glass down. Hang on Shiro, give him a second here.]

Right yeah... probably a good idea.

[And then, tilting his glass back and forth as he adds, trying to sound totally helpful and with zero ulterior motives involved,] Talons might get caught up in the boxers too. May as well just take it all off.

[That's just logic, Shiro. You can't argue with logic.]

[Shiro lets the cube float back up and sucks the bourbon from his finger. No indication if he heard Keith's struggles. He pauses, sips his drink, and shakes his head.]

If I change in my room or the bathroom, maybe.

[He claims more hot wings. The basket has taken a hit. He'd been pretty hungry by the time they got here. Shiro glances at Keith and almost recognizes the look on Keith's face. He slightly narrows his eyes.]

Not in public. Public decency laws, Keith. [He says in the same tone he used to tell Keith not to break formation.]

[Yup. Keith remembers that tone. But at the moment it just makes him grin and shrug a shoulder.] Only counts if you're caught.

[You want to go back to Garrison days, Shiro? Because Keith may have left his delinquent ways behind him in favor of being responsible and trying to be the leader the team deserves, but he hasn't forgotten. He stole your car, remember?

And super got caught doing it, so that very much counted.

But he holds his hands up in a "okay surrendering" sort of gesture, even if the grin is still hanging around on his features, more in his eyes than anywhere else.]

But fine. You're right. But at least losing the pants will probably help. You'll probably get better with shifting and not getting tangled up with practice too.

[He has heard tha flippant tone before and narrows his eyes. The moment Keith surrenders he nods as if he expected the results. The grin on Keith’s face shouldn’t give him a tiny thrill.

He polishes off the wings on his plate and loads more onto it.] I do alright as a wolf. Hawk is new. It has instincts and movements I’m not used to yet. So for now, pants come off before a change.

[He sighs and sips his drink adding,] I’ll just have to learn to strip fast.

[And Keith has seen that look before -- though admittedly, it has been a while and he kind of missed it in a strange way. He sips his drink, nodding.]

It makes sense. It's a bird, that's gotta be a bigger difference than another mammal.

[Another sip of his drink that he chokes on. Nodding. Yup. Learn that, Shiro. Important life skill, that.] I'm sure there are classes. But they might involve poles. And probably more style than speed. So probably not helpful.

[He chokes on his drink and sets it down quickly. He forces himself to swallow. One breath in. One out. He gives Keith slightly exasperated look.]

That’s stripping for show. While I know how to do that, that’s not going to help here.

[He takes a long swig of his drink that isn’t his brightest idea but the burn distracts him from idle thoughts. Like Keith stripping. He knows how he would approach it.

And he shouldn’t think that way.] Anyway, we have a plan. Save up, I’ll approach Dick, depending on what he says we can go about getting a place sooner.

It’s something as we plot our way back into the air.

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