𝚒𝚌 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚌𝚝;

[spazzed]

𝚟𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎 ♥ 𝚖𝚖𝚜 ♥ 𝚝𝚎𝚡𝚝 ♥ 𝚟𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚘 ♥ 𝚟𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎𝚖𝚊𝚒𝚕 ♥ 𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 ♥ 𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏𝚒𝚎𝚜

Comments

[vanishings]

( trust that he didn't want to be the most seasoned, but in the end, he's glad it's him and none of the others. it's a burden he can carry — even if he never wanted to.

anyway.

shiro knows that lance has done some maturing. that happens not only with age, but life experience. all of them have been thrust into this horrible thing and forced to grow up. shiro worries about all of them sometimes when he allows himself to really think about it.

he tries not to think about it. )

Or do you mean those of us that pretend we don't think?

( hey. he's on 2 u. )

[spazzed]

( sometimes the least wanted burdens are those we're best suited for — whether it's because no one else could weather the given storm or anything else, that's just how the cards have been dealt.

lance honestly couldn't picture anyone else having been through everything shiro had and still come out looking as good as he does; he's been held captive, made to fight for the amusement of others, fought in a war that wasn't his own and still come out on the other side swinging hard.

there is a reason shiro has always been a hero in his eyes. what he's weathered most recently just cements that further.

he gets a little flustered on his side of things, and it's a good thing shiro can't see him make the puffed-out-cheeks face he's currently making. )

no idea what you're talking about
what made you bring this up, anyway?

( deflection!!! )

[vanishings]

( how can he possibly slow down now? if he does, he has to think about everything. and thinking about everything — right now — isn't something he's really all that equipped to do. there are things hes just not equipped to handle just yet. he keeps himself together because everyone else needs him — and he needs them, too, whether he wants to admit it or not.

not that he thinks it's a weakness to rely on other people, but he feels like everyone else's wellbeing is more important. don't call him out, okay.

but, okay. he sees that deflection and won't push. ur lucky, boi. )

No real reason.

( except, almost immediately following, a picture comes through of a relatively small looking keyhole shirt on a hanger. pinned to it in coran's writing says: shiro, next appearance wardrobe! )

Just curious.

[spazzed]

( lance might have tried to convince himself in the very beginning that he hadn't needed any of them beyond the fact that they needed each other as a team — but you know what? that was never bound to last for long, and now every single one of them are a part of what he likes to call his found space family.

they're eccentric, and difficult at times, but so are those he's related to by blood; there's not a single thing different.

and, hey. you're accepting his deflection, he won't call you out. sometimes you just gotta let things go, yeah?

though. it takes him a second to dissect that picture, brows furrowed and a hand covering his mouth like he's trying too keep something in. a chuckle? maybe. )

the heck is he even thinking?
somebody needs to have a chat with him about human fashion

( not that you couldn't pull it off.

but that isn't the point. )

[vanishings]

( everybody needs somebody sometimes. even if it's hard to admit, even with all the struggles of dealing with each other. more often than not, it's worth every second of hardship when everyone comes out on the other side stronger than ever with a bond so tightly formed it's nary unbreakable. shiro knows all of them won't be together forever, but they'll always have a connection.

it's why he wants to make sure everyone knows he cares and values their thoughts and opinions. by now, shiro knows — or can at least guess — what kind of response he'll get from whomever he speaks to. lance, for all his showmanship and sometimes outlandish antics, actually puts thought into things and is a lot smarter than he gives himself credit. )

Somehow I don't think that would even help...

[spazzed]

( nothing ever really stays forever, and he knows that — but he's always had a terrible habit of getting attached, whether he lets anyone know it or not and it just makes it that much more difficult when that empty space is there again, regardless of what or who had filled it to begin with.

he knows they won't be together forever, the rational part of his brain supplying that the universe won't always need voltron and they'll have a chance to go back to the lives that got left behind, but.

there's something melancholy in that realization. something that sits u comfortably in his chest that he would rather ignore. and shiro …

shiro has always managed to see the bits of people they don't want to be seen, or acknowledged, if only because they've made a reputation for themselves they might as well keep up.

so what if he's not a whole dumbass sometimes. )

maybe … maybe not

( pause. )

does he really think you'll be able to squeeze into that?

[vanishings]

( it is kind of a heavy thought — not having this close knit family they've cobbled together anymore. shiro knows life goes on, even he wants to know what's out there for him, but he does feel a bit empty when those little golden things don't stay.

all the more reason to connect with each other, really.

he laughs quietly to himself — just an exhale from his nose — and feels a touch bashful over the question. leave him alone!!! )

Couldn't even get my arm all the way through the sleeve.

( shut up. he tried, ok??? )

[spazzed]

( nothing gold can stay, u know.

life will go on, that's for sure, and who even knows when it will happen? lance has done a pretty bang-up job of living in the moment and not thinking too much about the future, and he's going to attempt to keep doing so. for now.

and listen here, mister. it isn't anyone's fault you're built like some greek statue; but sometimes some things just won't fit, and you into that shirt is one of them. )

at least you tried
i wouldn't have even bothered
… but that's a little different, i mean
we can't all bring the big guns

( lance. jesus christ. can't take you anywhere. )

[vanishings]

( that's the thing about life, nobody really knows what's going to happen. that's part of the excitement, and also the anxiety. shiro never planned too far in advance of his life because he didn't know what was in store for him, when things might go south and all the plans he'd been looking forward to were just fever dreams of a sad man. so he got used to living in the moment and doing whatever he could to make his life everything it could be before it wasn't his anymore. )

Lance.

( *breathes* ....boi. )

I thought it might've stretched a little more.

[spazzed]

( lance … has never thought too far into his own future, really, besides how badly he'd wanted to be a garrison pilot — but so much, so much has happened since the dreams of a little boy started to unfold and he found himself a part of something so much bigger.

it puts things into perspective, for one thing. he's just not sure where he's supposed to go from here. )

sorry

( is he? not really. )

at least he isn't trying to make you parade around shirtless
think about that

[vanishings]

( where does anyone go from here? it's a hard thing to pick themselves back up from. but, shiro is confident in everyone that they'll find the path that they're meant to walk. and anything that shiro can do to help them along, he'll do everything in his power to see that their dreams are met. )

It's not really something I'd consider, let alone think about. I'm no prude, but I'm not comfortable with things like selling sex for views.

( farewell camboy career... )

[spazzed]

( they'll find a way forward from here, they all know it; even if none of them are sure how to proceed, what they're supposed to do now that things have died down a little … hell, it's not everyday you fight and fight and fight in a war you never signed up for and finally find it ended.

they'll figure it out, one way or another. )

i think literally everyone would be surprised if you were okay with that kind of thing
nothing wrong with showing some skin but for this it would be for all the wrong reasons
people might get the wrong idea

( it wouldn't be lance if he didn't say it like that, y'know? )

[vanishings]

( isn't that how all wars are? forcing innocents to fight for leaders who can't solve their problems diplomatically. )

Somehow I think he's alright with people getting the wrong idea.

[spazzed]

( that sounds about right, all things considered.

and that's just the way of things, isn't it? )

does he even know what kind of image he's trying to create?

[vanishings]

( unfortunately. )

At one time I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, but now I'm not so sure.

( how does he approach this delicately? those text bubbles pop up several times, then stop, start then stop, start then stop. )

Has your sister said anything?

[spazzed]

( he waits patiently for that question to finally come through, and even if he hadn't been able to phrase that delicately, the effort has been made and absolutely counts for something. )

not about that
but i think she's been too busy to pay attention to coran's interpretation of what passes for acceptable fashion statements

( read: she don't care that much. )

[vanishings]

( she might start caring when coran drops off something weird for her, too. )

Small mercies. I guess it's only me who needs the fashion makeover.

( 😔 )

[spazzed]

( oh she'll definitely start to care then. mark his words.

… maybe he should give that a little nudge in the right direction, see what happens. that would be pretty hilarious. )

i wouldn't say you NEED one
i think you're just the most versatile

[vanishings]

( yeah. he thought so. maybe he should because it would help shiro out a lot. )

I don't need one, but one wouldn't hurt, huh?

[spazzed]

( he's all for helping shiro out. he'll get on that pronto. )

i guess
kinda hard to improve on perfection though

( yeah, he said it. )

[vanishings]

( wot

.........wait.

wait. wait. wait. )

Lance, I'm hardly anything remotely close to that.

[spazzed]

( oh wow okay here we go. )

shiro
you were kind of a role model even before you left for kerberos
everyone looks up to you
you're kind, you're smart, you're fair
and anyone would tell you you're easy on the eyes
i think that's pretty close to perfect

[vanishings]

( pls don't do this to him. he doesn't really know how to handle this kind of thing. he's not equipped to handle this kind of attention. it actually takes him more than several minutes before he can formulate any kind of coherent reply. )

Thank you, Lance, I appreciate you think so highly of me. But, I'm really far from perfect. I wasn't always like that — honestly, I'm still not like that.

It's easy to build things up without knowing the reasons why someone presents themselves the way they do. Life isn't easy and sometimes it's hard to put your best face forward, but it makes things a little better when you do.

[spazzed]

( he knows shiro is humble — doesn't really like to draw attention to himself — and that just makes him even more worthy of adoration in lance's book. if he was a jerk? narcissistic? it would be a whole other story entirely.

he chews his lip, chest tightening as he thinks of all the things the other has been through — well, the ones he knows about, at least. he doesn't even know the half of it. )

i know you've been through a lot
and like i don't even know the half of it, i know i don't
and i know it can't be easy to put your best face forward when you're trying to be strong for everybody else
i guess what i'm trying to say is it takes a lot to make that effort
sorry if i made it weird

[vanishings]

( son!!!!! don't do this!!! stop!!! shiro has to make one thing clear before they go any further. )

You didn't make anything weird.

( as for the rest... give him a second. )

I've always felt that the things I do, anyone can so it's not really anything special.

( wait for it. )

You know, kind of how you like to lighten the mood when we all need it. Or talk to us when you know we need that, too.