thenearshore | [closed]

Who: Lance & Shiro
When: Shortly after Hifumi’s departure.
Where: The remains of her temple, Serapis temple
What: After hearing so much about people up and leaving, Lance experiences someone up and disappearing, leaving him homeless.

[It happens one day, when Lance is out. He’d just intended to take a walk around the district, and when he gets back the temple is just...gone. In its place are ruins, like it’s been gone for centuries and not five minutes.

By now, he knows what this means. He’d met enough people willing to explain the way things work here. Hifumi is gone. She’s left. He doesn’t know where gods go to when they leave the Heavens, but he hopes she’s gone somewhere where she can be happy. That’s the least anyone deserves, and Hifumi seemed nothing but nice.

He slowly picks through the temple, amazed and despairing of how it was so immediately reduced to nothing both, until he comes across something salvageable. A shogi board. Hifumi had started teaching him how to play, and...he wants to take it. Bring it with him, wherever he goes.

The question is, now, where does he go? He stands in the middle of the ruins, holding the board, and....thinks.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He should have!! It's almost like he doesn't know Lance at all, smh.]

Food goo? [What the fuck.] And - maybe! But still. You don't have to worry so much about everyone else.

[Not a very successful deflection...]

[ dangit lance can't you leave him be to worry about everyone but himself

Shiro lets out a breath, running a hand through his hair. ]

It's always been instinct, honestly. I guess it's a bad habit, but I don't want to see thr people I care about hurt or wanting for anything.

[He can't, because he has to worry about everyone and that means you, Shiro.]

Well... [He sighs.] I can't fault you for that, but you're only going to hurt yourself if you try to pick everyone else's battles.

[ yeah just ask matt holt about shiro picking someone else's battles ]

I... can't argue with that. [ He starts up a bit of hot water for tea--enough for Lance and him, if Lance wants. ] I'd tell you not to worry, but you seem like the type to do that anyway.

[ It's said gently, at least. He's struck by how similar they really are, right now. Constantly worrying about others, pushing down their own feelings so as not to worry someone else... bad habits, but. They die hard. ]

[He will!!

Lance puts the finishing touches on his sandwich, before starting to make a second one. He could ask if Shiro wants on, but he doesn't get a choice.]

I don't know. Is there a reason I'd have to worry about you, besides from the fact you're trying to do everything yourself?

[He raises an eyebrow, giving Shiro an unimpressed look.]

[ stop calling him out like this ]

You don't pull any punches, do you?

[no]

Am I supposed to?

... Fair enough.

[ He pushes over a cup of tea. ]

Here. Hope green tea is okay.

[Yeah, that's what he thought.

He finishes up the second sandwich, nudging it towards Shiro.]

It's fine. [A beat.] Thank you.

[ People taking care of him? Weird. ]

Thanks to you, too. [ He gives Lance an easy smile. ] So... after we've eaten and had our tea, how do you feel about a tour?

[But more likely than you think!]

A tour would be great.

[He takes a sip of tea, before popping up onto the counter to eat. He could go find a chair like a reasonable person, but nah.]

[ He doesn't mind, at least! He takes a bite of his sandwich. ]

I've gotta say, your sandwich-making skills are impressive.

I'd hope they are. It'd be pretty sad if I couldn't even make a sandwich.

[He takes a bite of his own, nodding to himself. Yeah, that's not so bad.]