earthshine | ⊚ noctium ic contact.

[ apparently, the weirdo’s problem is them scarring children. shiro doesn’t fully buy that explanation anymore though. he’s beginning to think the interruption was more a result of envy. or at the very least, the unicorn wanted to get closer to keith specifically. the whole time he was here, the dude could barely look away from keith. annoyed at the reminder and from the fact that he can’t fully figure this out, shiro bids the unicorn one last glance, who is now far, far away, and drops his gaze to his handfuls.

he really needs to do something about these popsicles. however, before he get too far into finding a solution to that, keith throws out that last comment and… hold up, what? his head snaps up and then he pivots his weight, quarter turning to get a look at keith. ]

Flirting with me? [ brow furrows, confusion filling his face. ] He was flirting with you.

[ another short-stop, one that has his frown deepening, almost to the point of him being comically distressed. ] He winked at you!

[ the lil turn in his direction makes the dire state of drooping popsicles hard to miss, but shiro's indignation redirects keith's attention pretty quickly. ]

Was he? [ keith gives shiro a doubtful sort of look. what even are the odds of two unicorns being into him anyway? seems low. especially when there are a plethora of better explanations for this. exhibit a: ] You sure that wasn't just a twitch from the sun being in his eye?

[ assuming that shiro's right about who the winking was even directed at in the first place which doesn't seem likely because... ]

I'm pretty sure the guy was threatening me somehow. [ ... ] Are some people into that?

[ … okay. shiro is no stranger to keith’s lack of social awareness. there’s a gap; no, a gaping hole in keith’s understanding. shiro loves the boy but he has to admit, keith is borderline oblivious, at least in terms of people being interested in him. shiro was there at the garrison too. he saw a little of it firsthand. to this day, shiro is still fairly certain that griffin boy was playing too hard at the if-he’s-mean-to-you-he-likes-you. keith, apparently, only read it as he’s-mean-so-he’s-an-asshole-and-should-be-punched. shiro can’t fault keith for that.

for now, keith will earn himself a flat look for the sun comment. and as for the rest? ]

Probably. [ fucking griffin. he frowns, pursing his lips in thought and then huffing as he tosses a glance the other way, double-checking that the unicorn is very much keeping his distance. ]

Some people have trouble verbalizing their interest. So they tease you… or in this case, threaten you for allowing yourself to be corrupted? [ it sounds so preposterous that he can’t even prevent his voice from pitching higher as a question. still: ] I think he wasn’t a fan of you having a boyfriend.

[ okay. the perplexed expression ain't budging, but shiro obviously has way more experience with the whole flirting and dating scene so keith isn't about to dismiss that offhand. except shiro doesn't even sound all that sure about it either? keith loooks from shiro to the unicorn off in the distance then back to shiro. ]

..and they think making me mad will make me like them more?

[ as crap as he may be at reading people, keith is pretty fucking sure that's not how things work at all, even if the part about difficulty verbalizing feelings is at least relatable. brow furrowed and looking contemplative, keith sprawls out onto the grass.

maybe there's half a kernel of sense somewhere in that. after all, keith was pretty pissed off at shiro when they kissed the first time. unsure what to think about this, he frowns up at the sun,
raising one arm to partly shield his face. ]

I dunno. Maybe it's just a unicorn thing.

[ that's obvioously the safe conclusion to draw here. ]

[ listen. shiro never said it made sense. it is a thing though. supposedly. more so a pubescent thing, he would think, but well, some people never mature beyond fourteen. ]

… Yeah?

[ goddammit. he can’t seem to get rid of that questioning tilt to his answers. frowning at his own inability, shiro swings his gaze back around to keith, just in time to see him flop onto the grass. it almost has him smiling but not quite. his frown does relax slightly, so there is that. soon enough, his attention drifts and he’s back to the popsicles, contemplating what to do with them.

trashcan? shiro doesn’t remember seeing one close by. drop on the ground? probably not. pawn one off on keith? he’s comfortably laid out now. eat them? guess so. ]

Why would it be a unicorn thing? [ it comes out mildly distracted. still, the statement doesn’t make sense to him. why base shitty behavior on one bad experience? in the meantime, shiro will start working on his popsicle, the licking significantly less suggestive, especially when he bites off a portion of red. ]

Uhh....

[ ah fuck, maybe he shouldn't have said that. not that his prior encounter with the apartment unicorn is a secret, but he'd rather have a nice day outside with his boyfriend rather than dwell oon people who think he's into pony play. ]

... no reason?

[ if keith doesn't sound remotely convincing, well... let's just say his bad acting is probably a feature and not a bug. before shiro can ask questions, keith hurriedly tacks on: ]

Do you intentionally piss people off to make them like you?

[ yeah okay. that’s not suspicious at all. shiro narrows his gaze and finishes crunching away at the red portion, however, before he can swallow and get in a counter, keith tries to pivot the conversation. right. that’s really not suspicious.

shiro doesn’t buy it for a second. ]

You know I don’t. [ and he’ll just be padding over now, coming to stand near keith’s hip. stares down at the bird-boy, frown still firmly in place. ]

But I’m not a unicorn and apparently, this is a unicorn thing for reasons that have yet to be explained.

[ in other words: spill. ]

[ keith bites the inside of his lip, trying not to look guilty.... which invariably means he isn't succeeding. gaze shifts lower at the frown on shiro's face before flitting back up to an oddly shaped cloud, chokes on surprise then has to sit up until the coughing subsides. ]

I don't ... [ one sec, he holds up his hand and clears his throat. ] Okay. I don't know if it's actually a unicorn thing, but uh... you haven't noticed that they're kinda hoorny? [ .... ] ...And I don't mean literally.

[ oblivious to the cloud -- and how he’s been dwarfed yet again -- shiro’s features slack on shock, momentarily going stock still before his brain catches up. help him comes quickly but not quickly enough. he’s half a second from dropping down to a knee when there’s an i don’t and then a hand being held up in the equivalent of a dismissal. frowning again, he watches keith closely and…

okay. horny? that was a good one.

he laughs despite the concern; first as an amused huff and then a more fully formed chuckle. ]

Can’t say that I have… [ a smile overtakes the urge to frown and he looks considerably less suspicious as he finally gets around to sitting down on the grass beside keith, still facing toward him. however, it’s all a guise because of course evading shiro isn’t that easy. nice try with the unintentional pun though. ]

… How many horny unicorns have you run into?

[ with shiro no longer scowling from above, this at least feels less like an inquisition? keith sighs, bringing his knees up to rest his chin on. shifting his gaze from shiro's face down to his melting, unbitten popsicle first: ]

Hold that up for me?

[ which isn't an answer to the question, but seeing the way rainbow syrup is dribbling down shiro's hand that matter seemed slightly more pressing. in any case, shiro only has to wait a moment later for an actual answer. ]

But uh... this is the second one. I don't really get it. [ a beat, then frowning: ] Could just be this month, I guess. Can't seem to go anywhere without being reminded of dick.

[ once again, keith is not pouting. so not sulking, in fact, that he leans across, head dipped to lick the top of his popsicle. ]

[ ask and he shall receive: shiro holds the popsicle up, the rest of him useless as he waits out an answer. it doesn’t take long. what takes long is for shiro to come to a decision on how he feels about it. first it’s a pique in annoyance, a feeling only derived from protectiveness, because what? second one? what happened with the first? when, where? all of which only blends into the second: confusion. and then right onto the third: concern.

annoyance, confusion, concern and a dash of uneasiness -- yeah, that’s where he is after all that. he’s just beginning to wonder if this dick on the brain problem has something to do with his inability to satisfy when keith licks the popsicle.

… okay. maybe shiro has dick playing in his mind too much too. that’s not his fault though! keith just said he can’t get away from being reminded of dick and then he licks a very phallic looking popsicle. did he do that on purpose? forcing his attention away, he pulls his own popsicle close and nibbles some off of orange, just to show that he’s not thinking of these things as anything other than a snack. ]

Is this about what we talked about the other night?

[ shiro knows the transformations put a swift end to any plans of addressing the -- more or less -- sexual frustration that’s built between them. but is it bothering keith that much? ]

[ keith straightens up slightly, licking the cherry syrup off his lips. expression sheepish, he doesn’t quite make eye contact. ]

I was thinking more that it’s on everyone’s mind because … [ he raises his arm skyward. he doesn’t have fingers to pinpoint a precise locale, but just generally getting shiro’s attention up towards the great phallus in the sky is probably good enough. you could even call it hard to miss. ]

And you know.

[ the dick popsicle is what he means, but can’t bring himself to actually voice right as he’s trying to eat one. still not making eye contact, he leans in and bites off what remains of the red about half way into the orange.

all that said, yes, of course that talk with shiro hadn’t exactly helped. not like it’d finally spurred keith onto doing some uh.. research. keeping his head bowed, keith hopes shiro misses the light dusting of pink over his cheeks — with any luck maybe shiro’s forgotten all about what had gotten him stuck in the doorway in the first place…. ]

[ oh gee, thanks for pointing that out. head tipped back, shiro stares up at the great dick in the sky and… squints. hard. he supposes they can’t exactly fault weather patterns for dick advertising, unless malachite is fucking with them for the fun of it. as for and you know -- shiro glances back to keith, only to then regard the popsicle. well then, if keith is stuck picturing this as a rainbow, frozen dick ( too ), then shiro is just going to have to put some effort into disassociating the image of keith chomping off a good inch of it.

… on second thought. ]

Wait.

[ he eyes keith, taking note of his bowed head and how he’s been shying his gaze away even before that. was that a barely veiled confession of sorts? sadly, shiro isn’t backtracking far enough to delve into keith’s suspicious yelling earlier this afternoon, but for the last couple of minutes… ]

Were you picturing it as, uh -- not a popsicle when you downed it earlier?

[ afterall, keith is a bit of a show-off with certain things or at the very least, competitive. shiro doesn’t even know what to think of that possibility. ]

....

[ mouth full of bitten off popsicle, keith keeps his head bowed. does he really have to answer this? probably. if only because "no comment" seems like an incriminating answer all onto itself. ]

I mean.... not at first? I thought they were partly melted or something. But then licking it made me feel weird cuz it's all y'know... curved. [ like a dick will go unsaid. ] So I thought sucking on it would look less weird in public?

[ said aloud, it sommehow manages to sound even more ridiculous. flushed, keith speaks a little faster. ]T

hen you started looking at me funny -- [ ah yes. "funny." excellent euphemism for the way shiro'd turned wanting. ] ...And I liked it. So.

[ SO. he concludes the story with another nom of popsicle. ]

[ okay. reaction pending. shiro still doesn’t know what to think of that possibility turned fact. keith more or less blaming shiro for his deepthroating stunt though -- huh, that’s an interesting spin. ]

Oh.

[ dumbly, that’s how it sounds. he’s staring again, but he’s fairly certain he doesn’t look funny, or at the very least, this funny has nothing to do with risqué thoughts. why’d keith dub it that anyway? did shiro actually look funny? weird? sure, becoming flushed an’ bothered over a rainbow popsicle is pathetic in some sense -- in many ways, let’s be real -- but now shiro is wondering what kind of expression he was making.

which is why he turns self-conscious enough to try to explain it. good grief. ]

… It was kinda impressive, is all. [ keith’s nomming away now. it does nothing to tarnish shiro’s snap-shot memory of keith bent over, every color swallowed down to purple. ] You made it seem so effortless. That’s why I looked… funny.

[ okay, keith definitely didn't ask for an explanation, but getting one makes him laugh. sure,, there's a healthy dose of self consciousness sprinkled in, but mostly he's tickled. ]

Wouldn't have called it effortless. Started giving me brain freeze and all.....

[ though now that he's thinking about it removed from the experinece of having basically having a chunk of ice in his throat, maybe it is kinda off that he didn't exactly choke? hm. putting a pin in that thought. ]

Worth it though. [ here he bites the tip of the popsicle stick to reposition shiro's hand so that it's held parallel to the ground. he releases with a teasing smile. ] So if you've got something less cold in mind next time....

[ then, sinking his teeth into the green and blue ice, he bites off the bottom half of the popsicle. ]

[ shiro’s listening, of course he is, but while he registers everything keith is saying, his attention is split. it’s just -- it’s kind of fascinating to watch keith fiddle around with the popsicle. being without hands calls for some hefty improvising; shiro gets that. but, uh, okay? keith’s pretty good with his mouth. shiro’s hopeless and takes the directional hints to reposition the popsicle. by the end of it, a good portion of the popsicle is missing and well… is it weird that he’s somewhat disappointed by that?

of course, with keith’s promise for next time hanging between them… that disappointment is a barely felt thing. his face warms and that’s what has him remembering the melting popsicle in his other hand. he licks at it, just needing something to cool the flush heating from his cheeks to his ears. it doesn’t help much at all. ]

I might have something in mind… [ and judging by the way keith took the popsicle earlier, he can probably handle this certain something. with that thought, he licks again at his popsicle, soon chewing at orange -- getting most of it, but a small portion of it falling to the grass. oops? ]

Do you now....

[ the blush spreading across shiro's face is a delight to see. keith is very easily charmed by it, even if the subject matter is far from pure. actually, the fact that it's not fit for the ears of small children and apparently unicorns drives at least a quarter of the appeal. he laughs when a little chonk of shiro's popsicle falls onto the gras. ]

You're burning up, babe. Do you want to go for a dip in the lake to cool off?

[ etiquette 101: don’t draw attention to someone suffering heat stroke from the inside out. called out as he is though, shiro has to admit there is some saving grace in keith doing him the courtesy of not teasing him directly about the impurity of his thoughts. self-consciously, he chews on the inside of his lip for a beat and then smiles shy. ]

And further traumatize the children? [ he chuckles briefly, ending with a tilt of his head and a half shrug. ] I didn’t think to wear swim trunks.

[ he came as is; more focused on how to successfully get out of the apartment building, rather than anticipating what they’d get up to at the park. nonetheless, the words are barely out before he shifts onto his knees an’ then gets to his feet. he glances down toward the lake, smile widening. ]

But I guess I can put my feet in.

[ keith laughs, shifting up onto his taloned feet. ]

Hey now, I never said anything about you going in naked.

[ but there’s a mischievous glint in his eyes as he gives shiro a quick look over his shoulder. filia doesn’t go mentioned directly, but it’s pretty clear that’s where keith’s mind has gone when: ]

Even if that’d make the view better.

[ that part’s spoken more in hushed tones with a shyer kind of smile. and then keith starts heading off to the waterfront where he stops at few steps from where the lake laps at the ground. the water is pristine, clear as far down as the sunlight illuminates, and full of brightly colored koi fish. it takes all of three seconds for an impulsive idea to take root. ]

I’m going in.

[ announced and then no time is wasted before keith starts shrinking again. within moments, a familiar penguin shaped mass is struggling to get out of a puddle of clothes. ]

[ ah yes. their little skinny dipping adventure. it takes up a good portion of brain real estate in shiro’s head. he can’t say he’s surprised by keith’s approval toward the prospect of seeing some bare skin but it warms shiro anyway. fantastic; go ahead and make shiro’s overheated state worse. the unvoiced joke is promptly forgotten in the wake of seeing keith’s smile turn shy and shiro merely hums, part dreamy, part smitten, as he obediently follows after keith.

halfway to the lake’s edge, he does remember his popsicle and despite the risk of brain freeze, he’s quick to finish off the rest of it. he’ll likely regret it come laundry day, but for now, he stuffs both popsicle sticks in his pocket and then taps into his manna to wet his hands, saturating the drips of syrup, only to clean them completely with a quick wipe at his pants.

shiro slows to a stop beside keith, a good arm’s length between them and he’s just barely begun to scan the landscape of the lake when keith… penguinifies himself. again. shiro can’t help it, he has to laugh. bending down, he helps keith find the hem and then freedom and -- goodness, he really is such a cute little ball of feathers. he runs his palm over that silly, penguin mullet and gently nudges keith toward the water. ]

Have fun. [ and don’t get into too much trouble, is the silent tag-along. with that, he sits himself down and starts working on the buckles of his boots. ] I’ll wait for you here and cool off my toes.

[ once freed, keith chirps happily and stands as tall as he can when shiro ruffles his head. it isn't very tall, mind you, but the effort is made and then he toddles off to the water. one look back just to say: ]

Okay. I'll bring you something nice.

[ not that keith's worked out what that something nice would even be just yet, but he holds up one flipper in some facsimile of waving before plopping bellyfirst into the shallows and paddling away. in contrast to all that waddling around he was doing on land that was all clunky and awkward, being in water is a joy.

he does a drive by swim past shiro, bobbing along the surface before splashing water at him with his feet. shiro might hear some telepathic laughter as keith dives deeper in the water. he chases a school of startled koi, making them scatter in a shower of orange and gold, and then he's off to the bottom of the lake. at some point though, penguin instinct may have kicked in because instead of looking for something shiro may genuinely find cool, like a shark tooth?? -- he comes across a cluster of smooth rocks at the bottom and thinks perfect.

keith takes his sweet time trying to pick one out because of course, it's gotta be the prettiest, shiniest, smoothest rock in all the land. a treasure any penguin would envy. really, he should be questioning that if only because shiro isn't a penguin?? it becomes a bit of an afterthought though because when he finds the pebble to beat all other pebbles, he snatches it up in his beak and swims all the way back up to the surface. ]

Shiro! Shiro, I got it! Hold out your hand and close your eyes.

[ keith makes sure not to come any closer until shiro does as asked. no ruining the surprise, obviously! but with shiro humoring the request, keith paddles up closer and kicks out of the water to carefully deposit the treasure in shiro's extended hand. the black pebble is smooth and held the right way shines an iridescent shade of purples and reds. chest out and again, standing as tall as he can, keith waits for a verdict. ]

Edited (forgot to change the subkect line because i tabbed out so fast.... LOL) 2021-06-27 02:14 (UTC)

[ shiro plays the part of the doting boyfriend extremely well. after folding up keith’s abandoned clothes and setting them safely aside, shiro goes about getting ready for his front row seat of some showboating he knows is coming. boots off, socks off, pant legs rolled up mid-calf and sitting as close to the lake’s edge as he can without water seeping into his pants’ seat, shiro leans back on his palms set behind himself, simply waiting for any glimpse of black an’ white. he smiles as keith bobs on by and gives a scandalized yelp to that splash of water. truthfully, the only casualty is the bottom half of his pants, but even then, it’s mere drops. still, he plays it up by shouting a hey that’s just as soon riddled with laughter.

and then keith is gone… for awhile.

initially, he doesn’t think much of it. keith’s exploring and having fun; shiro wouldn’t even be surprised if he’s racing from one edge of the lake to the other, just to time himself for some arbitrary sense of beating a record. but even as he strains his eyes and scans the surface, he doesn’t see any hint of a mullet anywhere. how long can penguins hold their breath underwater? shocker -- shiro doesn’t know much of anything about penguins. he assumes its got to be for a good chunk of time and yet, the longer he doesn’t see keith or hear him in his head…

he’s just beginning to consider drenching himself to… what? go looking for him? when there’s an excited shiro sounding off. immediately, he feels ridiculous for being even the slightest bit worried, but he sighs in relief anyway, fixing a smile to his face right before keith breaks the surface. ]

Okay, okay… closing them.

[ and look, both closed and left hand extended, just as ordered. it’s right around then that he thinks, oh, he actually meant it about getting him something. shiro thought that was simply a throwaway tease but now there’s something smooth and cool in his palm, and when he opens his eyes, he finds… a rock? he tilts his head and brings his other hand up, twirling the rock between his fingertips. one beat and then he glances over to keith, seeing him puffed up and waiting and… -- oh. getting the drift that he’s supposed to be reacting with more enthusiasm, rather than with a befuddled look on his face, shiro grins and looks again to the very thoughtful and very cool gift. ]

Oh wow. That’s pretty. Look how it catches the light…

[ it isn’t all feigned. it is pretty. and it’s from keith, so rock or not, there’s value in it from that fact alone. wordlessly, he holds out his right hand, wriggling his fingers in a come here, all the while saying: ]

Thank you. I love it.

[ keith holds that theoretically impressive pose -- straight backed and as broad as he can manage un a tiny penguin body. he couldn't really begin to explain to himself why the pebble has to be presented with such formality, but acceptance comes with a very giddying uptick of his mood. effort translating into a smiling shiro? nice. he gives another happy chirp, waddling up to place a flipper in shiro's outstretched hand. ]

Heh. I'm glad you love it, big guy. I wanted you to have the smoothest and prettiest one around.

[ not that shiro's ever made any kind of comment that would lead keith to believe he collects rocks or would find either of those properties important, but... ]

You're the best, so you deserve the best things.

[ flawless logic, obvioously. ]

[ … shiro is an idiot. he really should have been recording keith this whole time. why’d he leave his phone at the apartment? just -- the sweet chirp and the waddling and the tiny flipper in his hand. is it weird to think his boyfriend is absolutely precious as a penguin? he bites the corner of his lip to keep himself from laughing, although it does nothing to keep the wide, very wide smile at bay. gripping keith’s flipper and rubbing his thumb over the end of it for three, four passes and then he huffs an amused sound. ]

Well you did good. I’ve never seen one like it.

[ which is true, but considering he’s never put a lot of stock in geology, that’s not saying much. nonetheless, keith seems particularly proud of this rock, so of course shiro is going to lay on thick his support and interest. ]

Where do you think I should keep it? It’s far too nice to stuff in a drawer.

⊚ noctium ic contact.

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The griffin hate is now game canon. I'm so proud.

j can't believe this

i await the day a griffin player joins, so i have to properly deal w this terrible idea

crushing a young man's hero worship. tut tut.

that's what he gets for being the worst.

he's trying his best ok

his best is shit l:

does he get an A for effort...

no. he gets a F for being a fker. l:

so harsh, so unforgiving..!

can't coddle him forever. he must learn.

he KINDA learns. eventually.

until shiro gets back to earth + sees it w his own eyes... griffin is >|

i love how this implies shiro does more thinking about griffin than keith does

maybe shiro's the one mistaking hate with thirst :/

shiffin... the one ship keith did not see coming.

i just can't take shiffin seriously w a name like that.

it sounds like a hobbit name

.... omfg it really does. silbo shiffins. i'm leaving.

i think you should make an oc.

watch it, i just might.

does shilbo shiffins have a best friend named holdo shattins

.......... i think i said i was leaving.

wait no come back :c

i keep being suckered back by how cute penguin keith is.

as yoou should