IC Contact

[lionhandler]

If you want to get in touch with Shiro, through crystals, messenger bird, or in-person, this is the place to do so.

Comments

Ennea 12th; [December 12th]

[a_noble_flame]

[A messenger bird will find it's way to Shiro fairly early in the day. Alice is nothing if not prompt and the message itself is written in a neat, flowing script.]

When you have some free time, I would like to talk with you again either in person or via the crystals.

~ Alice Malvin

[... Well, the script was neat and flowing until what seems to be a hasty bit of an add in.]

I'm sorry if you didn't read this outside. The glitter isn't by choice!

[At least it's not exactly enough for a glitter bomb.]

[lionhandler]

[ Shiro is a disgustingly early riser, and by the time Alice's letter comes, he's already woken up, had breakfast, done his usual morning exercises, finished his usual early morning run, and eaten a second breakfast. He's cleaning up his dishes when the bird actually arrives.

And he's going to have more cleaning up to do after now. He's so sorry, Alice. Your coat made a noble sacrifice that day.

He sends a reply back immediately, written in blocky capital letters. ]

Yᴏᴜ'ʀᴇ sᴛɪʟʟ ʜᴀᴠɪɴɢ ɢʟɪᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴘʀᴏʙʟᴇᴍs? I'ᴍ sᴏʀʀʏ, I ᴡɪsʜ I ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ʜᴇʟᴘ.

[ His own coat is leather, so most of his glitter problems were solved with simply a wet cloth or a long, hot shower. ]

Wʜʏ ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴡᴇ ᴍᴇᴇᴛ sᴏᴍᴇᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ʟᴜɴᴄʜ? Dᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ Wʜɪᴛᴇ Cᴏᴛᴛᴀɢᴇ Cᴀꜰᴇ ɪs?

-Sʜɪʀᴏ

[a_noble_flame]

[Alas, such is the fate of those who sacrifice themselves. Her coat was very noble and by now at least a little cleaner. Bless the Ultimate Housekeeper and her efforts!

It takes Alice a moment to place exactly where The White Cottage might be and she reminds herself that a map may be in her best interests. Her good sense of direction though pays off and a messenger bird is relayed back once more.

This letter is nicely and distinctly glitter-free!]

I do, yes. I'll be there around two then if that time works well for you.

~ Alice Malvin

[lionhandler]

Yᴇᴀʜ, 2 ɪs ꜰɪɴᴇ. Sᴇᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʜᴇɴ.

-Sʜɪʀᴏ

[ Just like his letters, Shiro's arrival at the restaurant is prompt--he gets there a couple of minutes before two, in fact.

...Buuuuut he figures Alice to be the "at least fifteen minutes early" type, so he starts glancing around for her as soon as he gets there. ]

[Action - A couple of days after he returns from his canon update idek]

[futureprofessor]

[The heroic astronauts, as Bianca had started to call them in her head, told her one of the reasons why they didn't have much money to spend on clothes (besides being new) was the fact they were saving for a house. That was a perfectly understanding reason, and honestly, it made her a bit jealous - she only wished she could see her friends from home again. So she wished them good luck and promised a house warming gift for whenever they finally moved.

So here is she now, a basket of weird looking fruit in her hands, as she also remembers their comments about Hunk cooking and space food. Hopefully they will like it. They as in Lance, Hunk and Pidge. She doesn't expect certain face to appear when she knocks on the door.]

A-ah.... he-hello, Shiro.

[Getting all tense, she swallows. Why is she nervous? He had been nice to her, right? But she can't forget the horrifying emotions she got from him before he hanged up that one time. It sends a shiver down her spine, honestly.]

[lionhandler]

[ Shiro missed out on most of the packing for the move, but he's doing his best to make up for it with the unpacking. It's taking him longer than he expected, honestly, since he has no idea what's in which box, and other things keep popping up that need his attention. He's expecting it's another one of those when he hears the knock on the door--maybe one of their new neighbors stopping by to say hello or something.

He's not expecting to open the door to see Bianca. He would've been perfectly happy to never think about her again, much less see her face to face, but here she is, and the gust of wind that comes shortly after he opens the door makes it perfectly clear what he thinks of that.

It's a little tempting to just slam the door shut in her face, to be honest, but he has more self-control than that. She gets a cold, harsh stare, though, and it's a stark contrast from the gentle placation he gave her in their first meeting. ]

What do you want?

[futureprofessor]

[She isn't used to be treated like this. She's been called bothersome, or clingy, but this is just... contempt. What did she do to deserve this? Is it truly the idea of Pokémon battling enough to change the guy that was so helpful to her like this?

Intimidated by his tone and harsh stare, she takes a step back, the bright colors of her clothes wearing off.]

Th-the guys said they were moving soon and I, like, promised a house warming gift... [She can't meet his eyes - she keeps her head lowered as she fidgets, feeling absolutely unwelcome.] This is fruit. F-from my world. They complained about space food and Hunk said he was happy to cook with fresh ingredients again so...

[So what? She doesn't know anymore.]

[lionhandler]

[ The story checks out, but it's not as though he would've expected it not to. Just as before, he doesn't suspect her of holding any malice--at least, not any intentional malice. Hunk and Lance--he assumes Lance is the reason she's speaking in the plural--they're friendly guys, it makes sense that they'd make friends with a girl their age, mention they were moving, talk about food.

Not talk about making animals fight.

He'll have to tell them about that himself, he supposes, let them make their own decisions about her from there. He's already made up his mind on her, though, and he doesn't want her hanging around here any longer than she has to, so he holds his hand out demandingly. ]

OK. Hand it over.

Action, Dodeca (March) 9th

[heartofalioness]

[Well, it was now three quinta-- days since the day Allura had arrived in Verens. And honestly, hindsight shows Shiro had had a VERY good point about sharing this load. She obviously still had concerns about how he would react to certain information, but seeing this as seeking counsel, reminding herself that he wants to know and to help? Even if it doesn't completely erase the dread, it dulls quite a bit of it, the air around her only a degree or two cooler.

Still, no need to court prying eyes and ears, so Allura suggested that a nice little cafe new friends Usagi and Minako showed her the other day might be a good venue. It's small, quiet, and they have a very nice selection of teas. She's particularly fond of the rose blend.]

[lionhandler]

[ Shiro was in Verens for five months before Hunk arrived, and that combined with his friendship with Kevin (who went even longer without his resident cook and has more stringent requirements for what to stuff in his face than "is this recognizably a food") means that he's eaten at just about every restaurant in Verens worth eating at by now. So he recognizes the cafe Allura suggests and readily agrees to have their little chat there.

...If she was hoping to thusly avoid having this conversation within earshot of anyone who might be interested in hearing about Shiro's future uncertain well-being, though, she might be in for some disappointment. Because, well. Even with Hunk here, Shiro still eats out a lot, and, being Shiro, it seems he has a pretty good rapport with the staff here. Enough so that the waitress brings him a glass of water before they can even order anything and feels comfortable asking him to introduce her to his "lady friend." ]

This is my friend from home, Allura.

[ If Allura wants to specify more details than that, it's up to her. ]

She's a new arrival this month, so you might have to explain a few things on the menu to her.

[heartofalioness]

[Allura gives the waitress a smile and light nod.]

Pleased to meet you. I appreciate the staff's patience with me when I first visited two days ago; hopefully there'll be a little less I need to learn this time. I'll have a rose tea to start with, please.

A few days after the Elios event

[redpaladin]

[Seriously, fuck the entire month of June.]

[Keith didn't have a more eloquent way to put it. It seemed like since the start, this entire month had been out to get him. He thought, surely, it could only get better from here. No, he was wrong and naive and stupid and now everything was such a fucking mess he could barely wrap his head around it.]

[His team-mates were probably worried. He hadn't really come out of his room much in the last few days. Hadn't spoken to anyone, really. He didn't have the energy or the will to make words, not when his head was a buzzing mess of anger and hurt. Not when he had so much on his mind it was pressing down like a weight and any time he thought of trying to reach out, it just pressed harder, wrapped tighter around his chest. No, it didn't take long for him to feel constantly overstimulated and anxious by just being in the same space with four other people, even if they were people he cared out.]

[He needed some air. He needed to get out and go somewhere calm, quiet and all to himself. He needed to get out and do something on his own so he could think freely without having reminders all around him to rub in his face everything that he's lost this month.]

[So that's why at 2 am, Keith has a military style knapsack filled with clothing and supplies setting next to him on the floor while he laced up his boots by the front door.]

[lionhandler]

[ Keith probably thought everyone in the house would be asleep at this hour, but joke's on him, Shiro's barely slept at all since finding out his bff is a notorious serial killer. At this particular moment, he's just finished up a trip to the bathroom, and is both surprised and not surprised to find Keith at the door with a bag.

This is what he gets for being a bad example, probably.

Which is not a thought he's actually going to share out loud. He doesn't want Keith to take him seriously and feel guilty for needing some space. So instead he just plods up behind Keith, accompanied by that dark cloud that's become a near-permanent feature since that fateful day at Kevin's. ]

Hey.

[ OK, that was straight-up a croak. Uuuuuugh. He grimaces briefly at the sound of it, but the possibility of losing his voice is not the subject at hand here, so. Moving right along! ]

Where are you headed?

[redpaladin]

[It's not like he doesn't hear him leave the bathroom, and he quietly curses the fact that he might have gotten out scott free if he'd just left five minutes earlier. He does pause as Shiro approaches him, but he doesn't move, not until he speaks, at which he goes back to lacing his boots.]

[His voice sounded rough, though. He glances at him out of the corner of his eye with a deep frown.]

Out. I- left a note. It's on the table.

[You know, just in case he was worried he was about to just fuck off without a word.]

...Sharnaath. I'm going to Sharnaath. Not sure how long, yet.

[He doesn't think Shiro is going to try and stop him. Shiro knows when to give him space, he always has. This shouldn't be any different, he hopes.]

Lets talk Rage Whale (Some time after Elios Event)

[hadthehighground]

[Hopefully its not an inconvenient time when Shiro feels someone reaching out to him through his crystal. Either way, he may or may not recognize his voice as they've only properly spoken once.]

Hello, Shiro. This is Obi-Wan Kenobi, we spoke about Sosyne last month. I was hoping to have a moment of your time if it is not too much trouble.

[lionhandler]

[ It's not often that Shiro gets someone he's not already close with poking him on the amulets out of the blue, and it's with caution that he accepts the "call." But Obi-wan has nothing to do with Kevin, so that caution soon gives way to relief, but for the most part, the feeling that comes through the connection is tiredness, the kind of bone-deep exhaustion that comes from a freshly-broken fever.

Despite that, Shiro's actual tone is almost chipper. He is so very ready to have a conversation that doesn't involve getting Concerned at. ]

Hey! It's no trouble at all, I've got nothing but free time right now.

[ And it is basically the worst thing to have ever happened, s a v e h i m. ]

[hadthehighground]

Oh... well then.

[Maybe he can help!]

It's about Port Feiran. Since you seem to be particularly interested in the project, I was wondering how you would feel about possibly leading the effort?

I'm just one man you see, and with Edward gone, I can only spread myself so far.

[lionroll]

Please RSVP ASAP and don't tell Lance anything!

December, after Keith's canon update

[justpastdawn]

You know. In a weird troubling way, Kevin is glad that Shiro is taking Keith's...recent developments so very hard. On the one hand, yes, he's become a depressed lump and has barely left the house. On the other, he isn't faking anything. He isn't throwing himself at some work project or other in a desperate attempt to ignore his own feelings. He is just a very sad and upset Shiro, and somehow, even if it's terrible and might well be an indicator of some sort of rock bottom, Kevin is reassured by the honesty.

This doesn't stop him from hovering, mind. It just...makes the hovering a little easier. There is no need for Kevin to dig much.

Kevin once scolded Shiro for friendship speeching at him during a time when he was feeling troubled and private. As is his wont, the swordsman gives him that same courtesy he'd craved back then, idly refusing to nag him into speaking about his feelings. Instead, he just makes it a point to be around, to be where Shiro can see him and know that he is there, and to invade Shiro's space in such a way that whenever he feels like opening up he'll know Kevin will be willing to provide a shoulder. And, though he respects this sort of depression enough that he won't force the issue -- sometimes you've just got to give into the urge to sleep for a year, even if you only get a short nap out of it -- he makes it a point every time he's over to try and gently pry Shiro out of the house and into the world again.

"Mis-ter Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiro."

Often, this involves marching right into Shiro's bedroom and clambering onto the bed with him, though he does at least keep his feet off the coverlet, and he's somehow graceful about flopping onto his belly while wearing a sword. Go figure. His usual sing-song greeting is much more gentle than obnoxious just now, but he insists on delivering it every time. Familiar things are important, he thinks.

"Mister Shiro, did you know?" he asks, settling himself with his chin over his clasped hands as he regards his BFF. "If we were to go to the animal shelter, we could pet so many puppies."

If this doesn't work, Shiro has officially reached Gilbert levels of angst.

[lionhandler]

For Shiro, the days that have passed since Keith's return have varied between bad and worse. It's a narrow enough spectrum that he spends most of the day lying on his bed staring at the colors and lights that cover his ceiling either way, but at his best he can be coaxed out of the house and at his worst he can't even be bothered to change out of the tank top and sweatpants that serve as his pajamas.

Today is a "worse" day, and if Shiro's attire didn't make that clear enough already, the increased pressure of higher gravity Kevin experiences after flopping onto the bed probably would. Even on merely bad days the gravity around Shiro's been higher than normal, but it's especially intense on the worst days. Despite that, Shiro pushes himself up into a seated position after Kevin joins him.

"Do I really seem that pathetic?"

[justpastdawn]

"Yes," Kevin answers helpfully. He needs to be diplomatic towards princesses and also occasionally his bosses, but best friends are not included in this. "However, more importantly, the last time I said it might be good to go and pet puppies, Gilbert said nobody in the house had time for a dog and I shouldn't get ideas, and now he isn't here to tell me 'no'."

The swordsman can't be bothered to sit up when Shiro is feeling so heavy. He does roll to sprawl on his side, looking very like a cat with a sword as he peers up at Shiro. There isn't any judgement in his gaze, at least. He's just...stating how things are. And how things are really needs a pile of puppies.

"I did consider bringing some puppies to you here, so you wouldn't have to get out of bed," he adds kindly. "However, then we would be stuck with puppies, and puppies are forever. I'm afraid the sensible thing would be to go and volunteer our time to take them out for walkies. Fortunately, it's chilly out, so you can wear a jacket instead of bothering to find a shirt."

12/25

[lionroll]

[Christmas morning will find a big bag filled with a big, soft, and round Black Lion plush. Also included is a box of sweet mochi balls in an assortment of flavors, from chocolate to strawberry and matcha. They all have a relaxing vibe to them, and whenever Shiro eats one he will experience a nice, calming period of time. Attached is a card of Yellow and Black wear Santa hats, the inside reading:]

Merry Christmas Shiro!!

Thank you for all your help and support this year. I'm glad to have gotten this chance to spend time with you without Galra banging on our doorstep. You're an amazing dude and I'm so happy to have you as part of my family here.

Love,
HUNK

Endeca (February) 14

[heartofalioness]

[When Shiro goes to make his tea next, there’ll be a new canister of green tea with a sweet but crisp apple flavor waiting for him. There’s a note leaning against it.]

Dear Shiro,

I understand chocolate is more customary for today, but I thought this might suit your tastes a bit more. Happy Valentine’s Day to an excellent Black Paladin.

Allura

Action;

[a_noble_flame]

[At some point, whether it's during the Flower Festival or after it, Alice takes the time to present one of the many white flowers to Shiro - a garden rose to be precise. She admits as she does so with some awkward sheepishness:]

Allura reminded me... not that I wouldn't without prompting! If I remembered! I just...

[Aha, well. She's just no good at this, any of it. It's not for the first time she feels somewhat sorry about that.]

They say they change color in time.

Early June

[lionroll]

A certain fat, golden scaled wyvern is out on a special mission.

Gordon has come bearing a personal invitation to you!

Hunk and Keith are hosting an open house at the Golden Afternoon Bakery to celebrate summer!
There will be free food, drinks, and live music!

No reservations are required, but they do hope you'll attend!