sad space dad had a bad (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
shiro2hero) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
victory_road2023-07-02 03:51 pm
shiro2hero) wrote in victory_road2023-07-02 03:51 pm
video; backdated to June 30th
We got it?
[There's a squeak from the camera holder, who's pointing the 'gear temporarily at the ground. Those who know Shiro probably know that voice too - his Gallade, Blue.]
Okay! Okay, hold it steady... Ready?
[Slowly, the camera pans up. One would expect this to be Sevii Island Four, right? Because that's where Shiro lives. But it's not. It's Goldenrod. And there's a long flight of stairs in the middle of the city, probably some official building.]
[The stairs have been covered with plywood, in makeshift ramps.]
[It keeps panning up, to see a teenager perched in a pilfered shopping cart, at the top of the stairs. The teen looks an awful lot like Shiro, if his hair were all black, if his face were missing its scar, and if he lost about thirty pounds of muscle.]
Great! Okay!
... Hi network! We're about to test my first roller coaster! It's gonna rule. Oh - right! Uh. Pilot Shirogane, signing on for test pilot duty!
[Did his voice crack a couple times there? It sure did. This dork is probably 16. And therefore, invincible.]
[This surely won't go wrong.]
[There's a squeak from the camera holder, who's pointing the 'gear temporarily at the ground. Those who know Shiro probably know that voice too - his Gallade, Blue.]
Okay! Okay, hold it steady... Ready?
[Slowly, the camera pans up. One would expect this to be Sevii Island Four, right? Because that's where Shiro lives. But it's not. It's Goldenrod. And there's a long flight of stairs in the middle of the city, probably some official building.]
[The stairs have been covered with plywood, in makeshift ramps.]
[It keeps panning up, to see a teenager perched in a pilfered shopping cart, at the top of the stairs. The teen looks an awful lot like Shiro, if his hair were all black, if his face were missing its scar, and if he lost about thirty pounds of muscle.]
Great! Okay!
... Hi network! We're about to test my first roller coaster! It's gonna rule. Oh - right! Uh. Pilot Shirogane, signing on for test pilot duty!
[Did his voice crack a couple times there? It sure did. This dork is probably 16. And therefore, invincible.]
[This surely won't go wrong.]
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[A Mandalorian knows his name. Just gave him some kind of future fortune. How...? Do...?]
I uh. Thank... thank you?
[That's so weird. It's so touching. And so weird. But not enough to where Shiro doesn't sputter out a teenage protest at the hair fluff.]
Yeah - yeah, okay. You sure? I dunno if I can pay you back...
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[But all right, enough being weird and telling the poor kid cryptic things about his future. Mando knows it won't matter, that this kid won't remember what's been said when he goes off to the war that turns his hair white and scars more than his face, but Mando wants it to matter. He wants Shiro to be able to remember so bad.]
Don't worry about it. What kind of food do you want?
[Mando is half-expecting Shiro to suggest a liquid lunch of caffeine in the Starmiebucks.]
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[He's so confused, but he really doesn't want to offend the cool Mandalorian who seems to actually like him. He fidgets a bit. It's so tempting to say that yes, he wants the biggest, sugary drink possible, but... he also doesn't want Mando to judge him!]
[So he just points. To a cafe. One with actual food that isn't Starmiebucks. It's like a sandwich shop or something.]
There?
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[Mando won't judge. Well, he'll judge a little, but Shiro surviving on caffeine is something he's accepted over the years, and sugar will seem like the lesser of two evils.]
Looks like they have milkshakes, too.
[There, Mando has put it out there that he's going to get something sugary, so it won't be awkward if Shiro does too.]
C'mon, let's get you fed.
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[Listen, this is a Shiro from before Sam Holt bumped into him, sponsored him, believed in him. Before he found that role model. For all the bright-eyed eagerness and energy, there's that kind of childish desperation to please someone. To get that good adult praise.]
[The fact this is a Mandalorian is just icing on the cake.]
I mean, I was gonna - but I kinda forgot. There was all that plywood and the cart, and this blue onion guy... I got really distracted.
[See, he's not a disaster, Mando, please don't say he is.]
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Yeah, Blue. He's one of your Pokemon, and he's always up to something.
[Mando could never think Shiro is a disaster, and he starts leading him towards the sandwich shop.]
What did he have you build? I didn't see it, just heard Spicy making noise about it afterwards.
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[He's quick to dart after Mando, keeping pace a little too easily - he accidentally gets ahead a couple times, then ducks back again.]
Oh, no that was my idea. I found a bunch of plywood in a shopping cart when I got here, and I asked the guy if he knew where there was a stairway... [His cheeks pink a bit.] So I uh.
I made a roller coaster.
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[Yeah, yeah, enjoy it while you can, kid! Soon you'll be elderly and hobbling like poor old Mando here, constantly trying to keep up with youngsters with fast legs and backs that don't hurt constantly.]
Was it a good roller coaster?
[No judgment! If Shiro had fun and didn't hurt himself, then it's all good.]
We can work on improving it after lunch, if you want.
[But first, food! The sandwich shop is fairly quiet, and they get served right away. Mando orders himself a milkshake and some soup, and gestures Shiro to the counter when it's his turn.]
Go ahead, and don't be shy. Order whatever you want.
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[He's looking around now. Legitimately worried he's forgotten someone. But he doesn't see anything. Chances are the gang is back on the island.]
[His cheeks turn even brighter red.] Uh. It worked? I didn't crash the cart so... uh. It's probably um. Okay? You don't have to look.
[It's embarrassing! You're a childhood hero! He doesn't want to be found Lacking.]
[... What's also embarrassing is the size of the sandwich he orders. And an ice tea.]
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[Mando reaches over to squeeze Shiro's shoulder.]
And it's very cool that it worked the first time out. But together, we could make it bigger, and even more fun.
[Not for Mando, he's way too old and delicate for homemade roller coasters. But he's willing to put in some sweat equity so Shiro can enjoy himself.]
[Were there fries or chips included with that sandwich? If not, Mando is going to insist on adding them, under the pretence that he wants some but not a full order, so he'll just steal some of Shiro's. Once they're seated and have their food, Mando busts out his eating straw and tucks it in under his helmet.]
So what else are you up to today?
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[IF YOU SAY SO, MANDO. Look at this dumbass teenager, trusting you like this. You're so cool. And the hand on his shoulder only makes him brighten even more.]
[Best day of his life so far.]
[Plus, if he has any questions or weird feels about that eating straw, he doesn't voice them. Just focusing on inhaling that sandwich with usual teenage boy vigor. That's something he never grows out of.]
Um. I dunno? Probably try and figure out a way back home? 'Cause this is - this is so awesome, but... I've got class and I gotta keep my grades up.
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I wouldn't worry about that too much today. Time passes differently here, so I'm sure you'll get back home in time to finish your homework.
[He shrugs with one shoulder.]
If you're working on anything that has to do with space flight, I can help with it as much as I can. I'm not great at the mechanics, but I can tell you about practical applications.
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[But hey, if a Mandalorian says so? Okay then. Time to cram the rest of the sandwich in his mouth.]
[Don't choke on that, buddy. Which, frankly, he almost does. Given what Mando says then.]
You could? That - I mean - it's just physics and I don't have my homework here, but I - I mean. I want to be a pilot someday.
Space pilot! So that's why I have to study so much.
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[He leans in and lowers his voice.]
Because the studying will pay off, and you do become a space pilot. We've never flown together but that's because nothing in this world can break the atmosphere.
[Mando shakes his head and chuckles as he leans back.]
It drives my husband crazy. He's a space pilot too.
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[He absolutely will. Even if he has to write these notes on a napkin.]
[But for now, his eyes look like they're going to pop out of his head entirely. He does? He's a pilot? And - ]
[Wait what.]
... Mandalorians can get married? [Wait no back up.] You're married? You've got...?
[Look at the expression on this face. This gangly teen who has barely registered guys are cute.]
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Yes. [Mando's voice is amused as he watches Shiro's reaction.] I've been married for over twenty years now. How do you think we make more Mandalorians?
[He kids, he kids.]
My husband and I adopted them. But the point still stands.
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Uh. I don't know? I guess I - I never thought about it...?
[He picks at the mostly empty plate. The bits of lettuce.]
Do you uh. Like it? [Wait hold on--] Is that - am I allowed to ask that?
The computer is put away for the night, the phone emerges
“Of course I do. Getting married was one of the best decisions of my life.”
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"S-sorry, I uh. I've never..." Well, great. Now he's turning red. "Met someone who's married to..."
Oh my god Shiro.
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Mando, you absolute troll, you know that isn’t what he means!
“Or two men who are married?” Mando shrugs. “It’s fairly common here. We’re certain not the only same-sex couple around.”
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"I know it's dumb!" The words are muffled. And mortified. "I - Just. Don't know anyone..."
Can he crawl under the table and disappear now?
"Can we forget I asked. Please."
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Mando gives Shiro a moment or two to stew before reaching across the table and patting his shoulder. “Then I’m honoured to be the first one you met.”
And okay! He’s done! He’ll leave it at that!
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Shiro shifts a bit, slowly peeking up over the edge of his arm. There are questions... Should he? He's already met a hero. And the guy likes him. Enough to humor an awkward nerd-jock.
"Did... you uh. Always. Like him?"
oh god, how DID they meet?
"I found him really interesting when we first met. It took awhile before we started dating." Mando laughs quietly. "Turns out neither of us was very good at it at first. But we figured it out."
fingerguns
"So... you didn't. Date before?"
God please let the ground swallow him right here.
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