[Lance gives a horrified gasp, kicking his feet a little -- not much because there's a robot arm over them, wow, when did that happen -- and scowling at Shiro.]
It totally matters, dude! If you're only 23, then we've still got your 24th and 25th birthdays to plan! Those ones are super important, Shiro.
[ Shiro huffs out a laugh, leaning back into the arm of the couch. His legs stretch out on the ground, shoes on, laced precisely like he measured to make sure they'd be even. ]
I guess we should do something about birthdays, somehow, huh?
[ He...hadn't really considered it, but it was bad enough being away from home for a few weeks, a few months. Not having any pieces of home - even something as simple as a birthday party, that was a lot. Maybe they could figure something out while he neatly avoids answering the question. ]
[Gonna wiggle even more, just because he can, you can't tame him, he's a wild animal.]
Well, those are the next two, so those are the one's we need to start planning for. I'm a birthday expert, man, there was one like every week in my house growing up, and we went all-out for every single one.
[Groaning and waving his feet around as threateningly as he can.] That wasn't an answer! You better tell me or I'll take drastic measures, like....I'll ask Pidge to find out. Pidge'll hack your BRAIN.
[ Oh my GOD Lance, he's going to sit on them if you're not careful. All he does at this point is keep his metal arm braced over them near the ankle so they don't get too close to his head. ]
We'll ask everyone their birthdays during breakfast. So we can make sure everyone gets a party.
[Well, Lance will be satisfied and also brag about it for weeks. Have fun with that. Also the boot-pat gets some contented foot-wiggles. He's like a very large weird cat.]
Hey, I'm okay, I got crazy good birthdays all growing up. But what are we gonna do for Pidge, who's...y'know. Missing family and stuff. Or Hunk, who's gonna wanna help with everything? Or Keith who probably doesn't even have a birthday, because he was born under a rock in the desert?
Or you, who won't even tell me when your birthday is?
[ It's okay son you're his favorite squirmy weird cat. ]
Hunk can still help with everything, and I know Keith has a birthday. Pidge can probably dig it up from old Garrison files. I know they have to have some way to access that if they don't have it already.
[ It seems like a thing Pidge would do. Shiro sighs, fingers beating an idle rhythm out onto Lance's boot. ]
Pidge can still have a birthday party. We might not be their brother or dad, but we're still a team.
Pidge doesn't need to hack my birthday, I'll tell you guys when we talk about it at breakfast.
[ His head tips back against the couch and he frowns at the ceiling, wondering if Lance'd believe him if he said he didn't remember it so he could get out of them planning something. ]
[That gets a weird sort of squeaky shiver because oh snap, someone has ticklish toes. But that's not the point right now! The point is, dad doesn't know what day it is, oh no.]
Well, it's been like...several days since we did...the thing and then...before that it was like....thirty-something days on...y'know and then...the other place and....
...uh. Yeah. Let's ask Pidge.
oh god i will tag the keith thread later he's so much harder
[The toes will contentedly wiggle their thanks, dad.]
Yeah, when there's like a zillion suns you can't exactly use that as a way to measure time. ["A zillion" being the technical term, of course.
After a pause, during which Lance folds his arms under his head and just. Makes himself comfy here with his feet on Shiro's lap:] Do you think they're looking for us? Back on Earth?
[ Not all of them, given that he's missing and presumed dead, which is really not a comforting thought but yeah. Those of them that had families, he's sure they're looking for them. They have to be. ]
A whole group going missing like that - it's enough for some alarms to go off. Besides, friends and parents and everyone else - if they try to pull what they did with my mission, people won't believe it. Not when it was all three of you.
[ Hey cool exactly what he didn't want Lance worrying about. Good job, Shiro! ]
I doubt they did, or would. A whole team?
[ That's three sets of families demanding answers and no real way to avoid it. They'd have a hell of a time trying to deny it. ]
Think about it. You guys left your rooms with things still in them, in the middle of the night. You guys weren't tenured enough to be running SpecOps, so they can't say you went on a mission that was high-risk. Running away is something you can pin on one person, maybe, but not three.
[ He can't quite hug him or grab his shoulder from here, but he does rest a hand just below his knee and squeeze lightly. ]
Well, they did it to you guys. You'd be surprised the kind of dicks-- uh. Dudes they have in charge at the Garrison these days. [Have a sheepish look, because even semi-swearing in front of Shiro is like swearing in front of his mom.
But the logic makes sense, and even the reassuring knee-squeeze isn't quite enough to chase away all the worry from Lance's expression.]
[ He can remember that much. They'd likely found nothing but the crushed remains of what was there and no bodies. He can't exactly blame them for assuming they were dead, but the rest of it is what's insulting. ]
I don't think they will. [ All this does is solidify his desire to get them home, even for a little while. Long enough to make sure their families know they're alive, no matter how hard it is. ]
...they showed the footage for months. My mom wanted to pull me out of pilot training, but my tia talked her out of it. Said accidents happen all the time, and that if I wasn't flying, I'd be doing dumb stuff like all the other guys in town, like...base jumping from the water tower.
[There's a sad, wistful fondness in Lance's voice, like there always is whenever he mentions his family. Which isn't too often, these days.]
Me neither. I mean, if Pidge's mom is anything like Pidge, they won't. [Have a vague frown.] Hey, uh...tell me to shut up if this is too personal, but, uh...do you have family, Shiro?
[ Shiro flinches but doesn't say anything else. Some part of him wonders if it'd be better if none of them were involved, but no. Either the Lions would find someone else, or worse- they wouldn't, and Earth would have been attacked so much quicker, easier. ]
I don't see her giving up easily, no. [ Just like Pidge. Just like Matt. Shiro drapes his arm back over Lance's legs, fingers tapping idly against the line of his boot once more. ] It's not too personal. I do. They -- probably think I'm dead. If that was broadcast all over, it's -
[ God, they probably had a funeral and his family had to deal with that. It's nauseating. ]
It's a little different than you guys being whisked away in the night. Don't worry, okay?
[Lance is momentarily considering a taller, more-experienced Pidge. A MegaPidge. It's a sobering thought. He's glad Pidge's mom is on their side. Also he's never moving again because this is sort of...comforting? Nice? Like when he'd watch telenovelas on the TV at home with a sibling on one side and five of his little cousins draped all over him. It wasn't until they got into space that Lance realized how much he misses casual touchiness.]
...well, it's gonna be pretty awesome for them when we blast into Earth's atmosphere and shoot the Galra out of the sky and then the collected world leaders give us all medals and parties!
[This is said with a triumphant laugh and quite a few sound effects for the "shooting the Galra" part.]
[ Maybe if he says it enough, it'll start to feel like it. Thus far, it's been a lot less conquering heroes and a lot more like they're flying from issue to issue just trying to stop what they can. Putting bandaids on wounds rather than calling a doctor, but in this case they are the doctor. ]
What do you want to do after this?
[ Is there an after this? Do they stay with this forever, until they die and someone else is chosen? He doesn't know and the realization is vaguely terrifying. ]
[Lance whistles a lively sort of fanfare, stretching and crossing his arms behind his head, feet wiggling around in tune to his made-up theme music.] Think they'll name a high school after us? Or maybe a sports stadium?
[The question gets a momentary blank look.] Uh. Probably lunch? It's almost time for lunch, isn't it? [Bless the lack of long-term plans in teenagers.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
It totally matters, dude! If you're only 23, then we've still got your 24th and 25th birthdays to plan! Those ones are super important, Shiro.
...when is your birthday?
no subject
What, just those two?
[ Shiro huffs out a laugh, leaning back into the arm of the couch. His legs stretch out on the ground, shoes on, laced precisely like he measured to make sure they'd be even. ]
I guess we should do something about birthdays, somehow, huh?
[ He...hadn't really considered it, but it was bad enough being away from home for a few weeks, a few months. Not having any pieces of home - even something as simple as a birthday party, that was a lot. Maybe they could figure something out while he neatly avoids answering the question. ]
no subject
Well, those are the next two, so those are the one's we need to start planning for. I'm a birthday expert, man, there was one like every week in my house growing up, and we went all-out for every single one.
[Groaning and waving his feet around as threateningly as he can.] That wasn't an answer! You better tell me or I'll take drastic measures, like....I'll ask Pidge to find out. Pidge'll hack your BRAIN.
no subject
We'll ask everyone their birthdays during breakfast. So we can make sure everyone gets a party.
[ Even his, grudgingly. ]
no subject
-- yeah, 30 seconds of that is enough, flopping back exhausted.]
Mine's May 6th. Day after Cinco de Mayo when everyone's hungover and grouchy.
no subject
May 6th, huh.
[ That's the 'leader is plotting' voice, thanks. Shiro pats one of Lance's boots lightly. ]
We'll do something, alright? I promise.
no subject
Hey, I'm okay, I got crazy good birthdays all growing up. But what are we gonna do for Pidge, who's...y'know. Missing family and stuff. Or Hunk, who's gonna wanna help with everything? Or Keith who probably doesn't even have a birthday, because he was born under a rock in the desert?
Or you, who won't even tell me when your birthday is?
no subject
Hunk can still help with everything, and I know Keith has a birthday. Pidge can probably dig it up from old Garrison files. I know they have to have some way to access that if they don't have it already.
[ It seems like a thing Pidge would do. Shiro sighs, fingers beating an idle rhythm out onto Lance's boot. ]
Pidge can still have a birthday party. We might not be their brother or dad, but we're still a team.
[ We have to try. ]
no subject
Oh sweet! We should hack that stuff now in case anyone's birthday is soon. In fact, Pidge should hack your birthday first.
Unless you wanna tell me what it is...cause we're a team and all...
no subject
[ His head tips back against the couch and he frowns at the ceiling, wondering if Lance'd believe him if he said he didn't remember it so he could get out of them planning something. ]
Also, you can't use my own logic against me.
no subject
It's not as cool if everyone else finds out at the same time! Jeez, man.
Also I can use any logic I wanna! Cause I'm smart, yo.
googling hasn't yielded any answers about bdays whomp whomp
It was earlier this year. You don't have to worry about it for a while.
[ Uh, he thinks. There's a long pause and Shiro tries to remember what day it is, technically, on Earth. He...hasn't really paid attention. ]
I think. I'd have to ask Pidge what day it is, technically.
there's not enough info abt these guys :( i just made up lance's bday XD
Well, it's been like...several days since we did...the thing and then...before that it was like....thirty-something days on...y'know and then...the other place and....
...uh. Yeah. Let's ask Pidge.
oh god i will tag the keith thread later he's so much harder
Seems easiest. Tracking time when you're bouncing from system to system is nearly impossible.
[ He'd tried, on the ship, but when he couldn't make sense of the stars or the suns, he'd given up. ]
tragic emotional little bean
Yeah, when there's like a zillion suns you can't exactly use that as a way to measure time. ["A zillion" being the technical term, of course.
After a pause, during which Lance folds his arms under his head and just. Makes himself comfy here with his feet on Shiro's lap:] Do you think they're looking for us? Back on Earth?
lance is just so much for him
[ Not all of them, given that he's missing and presumed dead, which is really not a comforting thought but yeah. Those of them that had families, he's sure they're looking for them. They have to be. ]
A whole group going missing like that - it's enough for some alarms to go off. Besides, friends and parents and everyone else - if they try to pull what they did with my mission, people won't believe it. Not when it was all three of you.
lance is 2much for everyone tbh
I was wondering...maybe it'd be better if the Garrison told them we....y'know. Died. That way our families could...I dunno. Not wonder.
...that's probably a terrible thing to think, huh?
no subject
I doubt they did, or would. A whole team?
[ That's three sets of families demanding answers and no real way to avoid it. They'd have a hell of a time trying to deny it. ]
Think about it. You guys left your rooms with things still in them, in the middle of the night. You guys weren't tenured enough to be running SpecOps, so they can't say you went on a mission that was high-risk. Running away is something you can pin on one person, maybe, but not three.
[ He can't quite hug him or grab his shoulder from here, but he does rest a hand just below his knee and squeeze lightly. ]
Trust me. They're looking.
no subject
But the logic makes sense, and even the reassuring knee-squeeze isn't quite enough to chase away all the worry from Lance's expression.]
...when do you think they'll give up?
no subject
[ He can remember that much. They'd likely found nothing but the crushed remains of what was there and no bodies. He can't exactly blame them for assuming they were dead, but the rest of it is what's insulting. ]
I don't think they will. [ All this does is solidify his desire to get them home, even for a little while. Long enough to make sure their families know they're alive, no matter how hard it is. ]
no subject
[There's a sad, wistful fondness in Lance's voice, like there always is whenever he mentions his family. Which isn't too often, these days.]
Me neither. I mean, if Pidge's mom is anything like Pidge, they won't. [Have a vague frown.] Hey, uh...tell me to shut up if this is too personal, but, uh...do you have family, Shiro?
no subject
I don't see her giving up easily, no. [ Just like Pidge. Just like Matt. Shiro drapes his arm back over Lance's legs, fingers tapping idly against the line of his boot once more. ] It's not too personal. I do. They -- probably think I'm dead. If that was broadcast all over, it's -
[ God, they probably had a funeral and his family had to deal with that. It's nauseating. ]
It's a little different than you guys being whisked away in the night. Don't worry, okay?
no subject
...well, it's gonna be pretty awesome for them when we blast into Earth's atmosphere and shoot the Galra out of the sky and then the collected world leaders give us all medals and parties!
[This is said with a triumphant laugh and quite a few sound effects for the "shooting the Galra" part.]
no subject
[ Maybe if he says it enough, it'll start to feel like it. Thus far, it's been a lot less conquering heroes and a lot more like they're flying from issue to issue just trying to stop what they can. Putting bandaids on wounds rather than calling a doctor, but in this case they are the doctor. ]
What do you want to do after this?
[ Is there an after this? Do they stay with this forever, until they die and someone else is chosen? He doesn't know and the realization is vaguely terrifying. ]
no subject
[The question gets a momentary blank look.] Uh. Probably lunch? It's almost time for lunch, isn't it? [Bless the lack of long-term plans in teenagers.]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
I DON'T KNOW WHAT KEYBOARD SHORTCUT THAT WAS BUT :|
IT WAS A DAD SHORTCUT.
APPARENTLY
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)