thenearshore | [Closed] Every Dog

Entry tags:

lance | voltron

[Closed] Every Dog

Who: Lance & Keith
What: Prayer answerin'
When: June 14
Where: Back alleys and streets in Tokyo
Warnings: Teenage boys being jerks mostly.

[It's taken a lot of convincing, but somehow Lance was able to get Keith to agree to answer a prayer with him. He's pretty grateful to get to spend some time with his teammate, honestly, and he can't help the delight that's oozing from him as a result, even as they start the search for a lost dog.]

Hey Keith, what was that guy's name again? Something... weird, I know.

[All pets have weird names usually. Lance knows that. But this one just keeps slipping his mind for some reason.]

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[Really, Keith doesn't mind the whole idea of going out and solving these strange happenings for people. It's the kind of thing, he thinks, that actually gives them some kind of purpose for sticking around in the afterlife.

It's just that Lance is so hard for him to get a read on! He seems like a harmless goofball, but there's an element of unpredictability that makes it difficult to really put his finger on him, and it's annoying. They'll get along well enough for the sake of fulfilling the prayer, he hopes, and then hopefully Lance won't push the issue much further afterward.]

'That guy'? You mean the dog?

[Lance points two finger-guns at Keith.]

That's the guy! I can't remember his name for some reason. Man, probably because people name their pets such weird things.

[He's really trying to play it as cool as he can right now. He doesn't wanna scare Keith off again...]

[Just as long as there are no totally unjustified surprises, Keith will probably stick around with little actual fuss.

Luckily for the both of them, Keith was the smart one who managed to snag one of the 'missing' flyers the owners had put up. Complete with a photo and name! How useful.]

... Clementina. [What a weird name for a dog?? It could be worse, but it's still not a very dog-like name.] Gone for about a week now, so we'll probably be lucky if we do find her.

[Not A Boy Dog, Lance.]

[The dog's a girl??? Lance takes a moment to be shocked about that before pulling a face and running a hand through his hair.]

Man, poor puppy. I bet she's scared, all alone... and with a really horrible name...

[He comes up next to Keith and peers at the picture of the dog.]

At least she's cute. Maybe someone else took her in?

[Dogs can be girls! Amazing!!]

I guess that's possible. [He didn't even think of it, astounding.] That'll make it even harder to find her, if that's the case.

[Should they hope for it? Shouldn't they? Wishing won't change the reality of the situation, but both options have pretty high win-lose potential.]

Let's start by checking around outside.

[He makes a face.]

Yeah, I guess you're right.

[Look at that, Lance admitting that Keith is right about something. Must be a cold day in hell.]

Well, that's one way to start. Make sure you call for her as loud as you can!

[And he cups a hand around his mouth...

And literally starts yelling for the dog.]

[Oh jeez well uh okay that's one way to do this

But, really that's the only way they're going to draw the dog out if she's outside, isn't it?]

I'm gonna check out over here. [Splitting up will let them cover more ground, and Keith jerks his thumb in the direction he intends to go off to before calling out for the dog, turning away from Lance to split up.]

[For some reason, Lance doesn't feel good about splitting up... but all the same, he lets Keith do his thing as he continues to yell loudly for the dog. Fortunately, nobody seems to be getting mad at him for the noise. That's nice.]

C'mon, girl! I promise I'll give you good treats!!

[A whining coming from the direction Keith walked off in stops Lance in his tracks. That sounds like a dog! And with that, he's bolting after his shinki.]

[You'd better believe that Keith is going off after that whimpering the second the second it reaches his ears...! What are the chances that they'd find the right dog right away? But it's still worth running toward, he thinks.]

Hey! Clementina! You there, girl?

[God what a stupid name for a dog]

[Lance doesn't take long to get back to Keith, skidding to a halt and panting softly as he looks around for where the whimpering might be coming from.]

Holy crow, is it seriously... somewhere in that creepy alley??

[He does not look pleased about this development.]

Seems like it.

[Hopefully it's their dog, and not some other dog. Still, it isn't like he'd want to just abandon it even if it isn't their target... So, not long after Lance catches up, he decides,] I'm going in. [And, the impulsive guy he is, runs right in to that alleyway. Nice.]

[...GOD DAMMIT KEITH. Lance tries to make a grab for him, but there he goes, into the dark, spooky alley. Thanks, Keith, now I'm gonna have to follow you in.

Lance takes a steadying breath... And then follows after Keith, albeit more cautiously and looking around every which way.]

O-ooookay, doggy. You've had your fun, so c'mon out...!

[And if you're a ghost, please stay hidden!!]

[That Keith, so slippery. Why'd you even bother making him your shinki??

But he slows when he catches sight of the dog, who is busy barking furiously at something a little further in the alley. Barking and whimpering, as if trying to scare something off while being frightened herself?]

I think it's her.

[Regardless, he's apparently having trouble getting her attention.]

Hey girl, come on, let's get out of here.

[Hearing Keith's voice actually helps to calm Lance down from his near ghost-panic. He rushes over to join his shinki and looks at the dog... why is she barking so much?]

Oh my god, oh MY GOD THERE REALLY IS A GHOST ISN'T THERE?!

[Welp, the ghost panic came back. Sorry.]

[Lance... don't be like this. Keith barely gives any recognition to the comment, other than a brief moment of pause where Lance probably can't see him rolling his eyes. Instead of dwelling on it, he moves to touch the dog's back gently.]

Hey, come on!

[But, no, the doggo is having none of this, and instead begins to back up as she barks, as if she's trying to herd the two of them back out of the alley while still trying to frighten off whatever's swimming around in those shadows...]

What are you making such a fuss over?

[It's really hard to see, but there has to be something, right?]

[Ohgodohgodohgodohgod this is terrifying! THIS IS JUST AS BAD AS WHEN THE CASTLE WAS HAUNTED!!! WHO LET THIS HAPPEN?!

Lance is quick to grab the back of Keith's jacket and tug.]

Keith. Keith, the dog wants us to leave. C'mon, she'll... she'll follow us out, okay?!

[TUG TUG]

[There's a brief moment where Keith lets himself get pulled along, but it quickly becomes apparent that the dog isn't actually following them out.]

Hey, she's not following us...!

[Dog... please....]

Clementina, come on! [But, it sounds like she's staying right where she is, raising a racket.]

[Oh for fuck's sake!! Lance promptly pushes Keith out of the alley and then runs back to BODILY PICK UP THE FUCKING DOG AND RUN.

It's like he can feel this presence behind him as he runs out and it is the creepiest thing, holy shit.]

QUIZNACK!

[Run run run!!]

[Okay do you think you're going to just get out of this without Keith intervening? Shortly after he's pushed out of the way, he darts on back in after Lance.]

What are you doing?! [Trying to get yourself killed? There's definitely something creepy crawling its way out of the alley, made even creepier by the fact that it's super hard to see what's going on. As soon as he reaches Lance again, he moves behind him, backing him up and helping to push him faster out of the confined space.] Let's go!!

[Oh come on!! Lance grumbles loudly at Keith as he darts the hell out of there.]

Darnit, Keith! I'm trying to protect you here, you idiot! You've already died once, don't you dare die again!

[He's going to pretend Keith has promised him that. Because the dog is going ballistic and it's taking everything in Lance to keep her in his arms and keep running.]

[For as much as he can while he's running, Keith gives a short huff at that remark.]

What? You think I'm gonna let myself get killed?

[But, uh, the dog fussing and writhing like that is making that possibility seem a little more... possible. He'll have to keep an eye on her while thye beat their retreat, just in case she slips out of Lance's grip.]

[Lance isn't about to let this dog go, though. He's used to squirming occupants in his arms. And usually they kick and bite. Sooo...]

Look, I'm just saying I wouldn't put it past you! You're reckless!

[He takes a moment to look over his shoulder. It feels... less bad, but still kind of creepy.]

[Hey. Dogs can bite.]

Well, I'm not gonna let you get killed, either.

[Is he trying to imply that he'd go down instead? Maybe]

[What the actual ????? ]

Just shut up, would you?!

[Please. Keith. Buddy.]

[Wow.

But he meant what he said, and after replying to that comment with an annoyed exhale, he devotes a moment to trying to figure out the best way to actually... you know. Keep them from getting killed by whatever is chasing them. The best thing he can really think of on the fly is,]

LINE!

[Turning sharply and casting a borderline behind them. It's big and flashy, but he knows it won't last for very long, but should hopefully buy them a little bit of extra time to escape.]

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