thenearshore | 008

[Lance? ... Laaaannnce.........

?]

I've never met you. [It almost feels too weird to add on a 'before' to that, since his memory is. Very short at the moment. But he's feeling pretty confident that he'd at least recognize this face, wouldn't he? Probably. Yeah, definitely.

But, that leaves some. Questions. Frowning, he squints a little, and adds,] How do you know my name?

[What? What the hell, SERIOUSLY?! They're doing THIS SHIT again?!]

Are you kidding me?! What's your problem, man? I mean, ha ha, let's laugh at Lance he's so inferior to me, but it's not funny anymore after the stuff we've been through.

[At the end of that, he has to stop.

And sniffle lightly.]</small. C'mon. This is just mean...

[And, here, Keith actually looks kind of... taken aback? Why is this guy just unloading on him like this?]

What are you talking about? [Hopefully his confusion rings clear, because he is legitimately stumped here, and is starting to reach the end of his patience on top of it. The shock of such an unexpected encounter is only going to hold back his temper at the totally bizarre statements for so long, after all.] Look, if you're just going to be weird and difficult about this, I'm not going to put up with it.

[Answer his questions or he's going to make haste, dude.]

[Wait, wait! Why is Keith acting like this?! He's a jerk, sure, but not THIS much of a jerk! Lance knows that better than anyone!

Something is wrong. Something isn't right. Lance has to work through this in his head, c'mon Lance, you're smart enough to figure this out! COME ON!!

Unfortunately, his deep thought means that he doesn't respond to Keith at all. Oops.]

[O-.... okay?

He warned you about not answering so. Uh.

He's going to try and take leave now.

But not before shooting a kind of offended look at Lance because why would you come up to him, saying all of these bizarre things, and then just not answer him? What's the big deal you weirdo?]

[It all clicks together very suddenly and Lance snaps out of it to find Keith walking away.]

Wait! Keith!!

[But that's not good enough. Impulsively, Lance reaches out with a hand and starts drawing in the air.]

You, who have nowhere to go and cannot pass on, I’ll give you a place to stay.
My name is Lance. Lingering here gripping thine true name…
I make thou mine servant with thine alias… thy name is follower, thy vessel is sound…
obey mine order and become my shinki.

[The words spring from his lips without hesitation, like he's always known them, and his fingers draw an intricate symbol in the air. The symbol 勘 displays there for a moment before latching onto Keith's body.]

Come! Kanki!

[Lance holds his hand out for Keith to come to him in vessel form, holy crow that was cool!!]

[Whoa...

Whoa WHAT?]

What are you doi- [But, before Keith can finish blurting out an offended (and likely very rude) comment, the spell is finished, and the kanji affixes itself to his right thigh.] Did you - ?! [And, once more, his thought is interrupted, and he's honestly too taken by surprise by this whole turn of events to really resist being called.

In a flash of light, Keith's form gives way to a familiar little device, a blue bayard, which zips into Lance's open hand.

From there, a scene should play out in Lance's head, though the familiarity of it bight be a little less. A battle, a scuffle with a powerful Glara soldier, a setting where Lance is present but largely too out of sorts to really play a big part in it. Keith is grabbed at one point, and nearly crushed, but the fight continues the way it rightfully should. Their enemy is imprisoned, the battleground is reclaimed... and from there it all blacks out from Keith's point of view, leaving only mind-numbing pain.

So enjoy that.]

[The visions catch Lance off-guard. They shouldn't have, but they do. It only takes a few moments for them all to flash through his mind, but it feels like a lifetime of staring at the death of someone that was really important to him. It's so overwhelming, even, that he finds himself on his knees before he realizes what's happened.

When he comes back to himself, he's on his knees in the grass, clutching tightly to the bayard-shaped shinki, tears streaming steadily down his cheeks.

Before he can even properly think, he speaks.]

That… that's not what happened…!

What is wrong with you?

[Making wild claims, forcing a name on him like that, and then crying? That's not even touching on that last part he said, but at this point, Keith doesn't really care anymore. Seriously, Lance is probably able to feel the anger seeping off the weapon clutched so tightly in his hand.]

I never said you could just name me like that!

[Lance can barely register Keith's words right away. His grip on the bayard just grows tighter for a moment. But then he forces himself to take a few deep breaths, bringing an arm up to wipe his tears away, pretending like they were never there to begin with.]

Sorry, buddy. I didn't know what else to do. I don't think you understand how important you are to…

[HE STOPS HIMSELF. OHGOD.]

...my team??

[Fuck, no, oh my god.]

[That's bullshit Lance

but the kind of bullshit that's stupid enough to be believable. It ebbs his anger off a little bit, and in its place Keith is left with a good deal of confusion again.]

... You have a team here?

[That's the most reasonable conclusion to come to, right? It's better than trying to figure out what else he might mean.]

[Ah crud. Lance tries to cover quickly.]

Not here. Back home. Um... you're important... because... of... things?? Reasons... uh... fate!!

[That was hideous, Lance, please go die somewhere now.]

[You had an out! You could have lied! Keith would be impressed with the integrity if he was even a little aware of it.]

That's... [A lot of words, for sure.] You're being dodgy.

[Which he feels like he really shouldn't be putting up with out of someone who is effectively a stranger.]

I'm not being dodgy!!

[His response is immediate, but he does loosen his grip on the bayard slightly.]

Let's just say that you're important. Isn't that enough?

[Ugh, having to admit his rival is important. Brutal.]

You are!

[Sorry, he's not backing down on this one, and when Lance tries to end it at that, he can probably feel Keith bristling in his hand. Figuratively. Not literally. That would be weird for a bayard to do.

But, he remains silent for a few moments before huffing out a short,] Whatever. [Well then.]

[Ugh, Keith is always such a pain...!! Why did he even do this again? Oh, right. Teammates. Friends. Kind of. Boo.]

...sorry. I'm sure it seems really ridiculous, but... but I really don't know how else to explain it.

[Actually, it's less that he doesn't know how and more than he literally can't.]

[sry you have to be teammates with such a prickly loser gosh]

It is ridiculous. [He's... not trying to attack Lance or anything, not particularly, he's just trying really hard to reaffirm his stance, let the other know where his thought lie, and all that. He's still pretty steamed about this, but there's not a whole lot he can do when he's stuck as a weapon.] Are you just going to keep holding on to me like this?

[Put him down? Call him back?? Test out what he actually is??? Do something you weirdo.]

[... oh shit, right, he... should probably... yeah.]

O-oh! Right. Sorry!

[For a moment more, he hesitates, but then he calls Keith back to his human form.]

...sorry.

[YOU ALREADY SAID THAT DUDE.]

[And, in a flash, Keith is back to being Keith, a joyous day for everyone without a doubt (except for Lance). He gives a short huff as he reforms, checking himself over once (like he'd be incomplete after that ordeal somehow??) before looking back over to Lance.

This is... a pretty awkward situation to be in. Give him a second to think of something to say.]

You probably shouldn't be making a habit of naming people without warning, you know.

[Lance scratches the back of his head, purposely not looking at Keith. God, this really is awkward, why is this so awkward?]

Y-yeah, I guess you're right. I just kinda panicked. Sorry.

[Another apology, goddamn.]

Just... um... don't disappear on me, okay?

[Well, if nothing else, at least Keith isn't demanding he take it back, or anything. But, since Lance isn't offering the option either, he's kind of assuming that it's totally off the table anyway. He still looks pretty grouchy, but his expression softens just a tiny bit at the apology.]

Well... [Um.] You have my name, now. If you need me.

[MAKE SURE YOU GET USE OUT OF YOUR STUPID RASH DECISION BUDDY.]

[... ;; This is awful. Lance sighs softly.]

Yeah. Yeah, I'll... I'll definitely give you a shout if I need you...

[... he'll let Keith go now. ;; Weh.]

[Yeah okay this isn't awkward at all.]

Okay. [Nailed it.] I'll see you then.

[COLD. And, off he goes.]

008 | OVERFLOW

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