[Open] Fuck superstitions tbh.

[padadin]

Who: Shiro and you!
Broadcast: Nope, but you can still reach him through the communicator if you want.
Action: On the planet + the asteroid field.
When: First two weeks of the month, before metaplot hits us.
This got longer than I expected, sorry for all the cuts!

A. The fortune tellers

[Shiro doesn't believe in superstitions or fortune tellers, and whatever amulets he may've had at home was kept because they were gifts, not because he thought they would give him good luck. But he also knows the importance of respecting other cultures and not judging others for their beliefs - that's key in diplomacy. Besides, there are so many races with varied powers, who says they can't actually predict the future?]

TWENTY-NINTH?! [A particular reader exclaims after Shiro mumbles his birthday - February 29th.] You're living a cursed life! A kid trapped in an adult body!

[Shiro is used to leap baby jokes, but this is new. Keeping his poker face is getting more and more difficult right now, and anyone can see his eyebrow twitching...]

Let me see your hands, I beg you, sir, we must determine if--

[The alien screeches when he sees his metal hand, and Shiro is just DONE. He steps back, bumping into you. Help please? The reader is following him...]

B. Exploring + zip-lining

[He's been avoiding the city as much as possible after the fortune incident, so exploring it is! He loves space and all, but he has to admit, it's nice to see some real nature again, especially when it's so similar to Earth.

He visits both Yanti Rock and Eynewa’s Bow, climbing those "thousand steps" and going through the ravine with a smile on his face and barely sweating. Considering how buff he is, it shouldn't be surprising, now is it? Obviously he likes exercise.]

Are you okay there? [If he sees you tired, fellow explorer, he'll offer you his own water bottle, or even an arm to rest against to carry you somewhere when you can sit and rest. That's important too! While his expression during the exploring has been relaxed and content, that changes to very excited when they arrive to the zip-lining area.] Nervous? It can be done in pairs, if you want company.

[The company of a tall, beefy man that who knows how much he weights, yep...]

C. Job: bodyguard (bar area)

[A bodyguard job? Why not! He's patient enough for this, and safety of citizens is important to him. So he puts on his armor from home (sans helmet) and stands by some curtains at the back of the most popular bar in the city. If someone tries to get in, he's quick to put an arm in front of them.]

Sorry, VIP only.

D. Astronomy

[Oh yes, this captain is getting his chart updated, thank you. But he doesn't leave after he's done with that, no. He stays and talks with the scientist, definitely showing knowledge of the subject himself - passion, too. This is his element, and it shows. He waits patiently for his turn at the amazing, giant observatory telescopes, and handles them like a pro. He'll offer his help too if you need it, fellow space nerd or curious tourist!]

I'm glad places like this exist across the universe, [He comments with an eye on the lens.] I don't want this reality show to ruin people's interest in space.

[There's a raw honesty behind that statement. His own interest hasn't died even after space has broken him, after all.]

E. Asteroid field

[Shiro is wiping the floor with the locals.

And honestly? He doesn't feel bad about it. Well, maybe a liiiiitle bit. But mostly, he doesn't. This is his skill, his training, his years of work, his element. He won't apologize for being good at what he does. Shiro doesn't stop grinning and there's a gleam in his eyes - ask him for a race or a game of chicken. He dares you!

Or maybe you're just in the audience? That's fine too, because he has too many prizes and he doesn't need them all. He's doing this for fun.]

Do you want this? I don't need it. [He asks with a raise of his eyebrow as he hands you an amulet for "bad karma". Ugh, he doesn't want to be anywhere near this thing.]

F. Stargazing - closed to Kate

[He asks her on a whim.

It's not even a proper "asking her". He just mentions where he's going, and tells her she's free to come along. She accepts and well, if he smiles like an idiot then, that's just a coincidence. Yeah.

He finds the tour incredibly interesting, even the ghost stories. Sure, he doesn't believe in superstitions, but he likes old legends that tie in how people in the old days tried to understand space. The local story of the moon being the huntress guardian of the planet/prince definitely touches a fighter like him, especially when he's enjoying the company of someone he wishes to protect with every limb of his.]

Did you enjoy that? [He asks when they finally reach break time, getting comfy on the ground of the outskirts. He looks pretty content with the experience, and she definitely has to do with it.] Or was it too much space talk for you?

Comments

stargazing »

[ladybro]

I don't know if you noticed, Shiro, but we live in space. [ kate grips, good-natured, while she grabs a seat beside him. she draws her knees up to her chin. ] I'm not certain there can ever be too much space talk when that's the case. It all seems like the right amount of space-talk.

[ it's not what he meant, of course. but she deflects a little of the implication. kate might not come across as the nerdiest of the nerds, but she was always a strong student. brains, coupled with the bishop name, probably would have let her have her pick of the ivy leagues if she'd bothered with college after graduation. would 'space talk' have ever been a part of that? probably not. but it's not as though she can't stomach the stuff. she's got curiosity in spades.

and the tour was kinda nice. when shiro expresses his disbelief in ghosts, kate warns him that she's seen a few herself -- ben franklin, for one. but it's a long story. ]

Besides, I can appreciate a starry view or three.

[padadin]

[Ah, but he likes those good-natured grips. He chuckles as he lays down on the grass, hands on his belly, head a bit to the side so he can look at both her and the stars. A great combo.]

There can't ever be too much space talk? I've been doing my job wrong. I hope you aren't challenging me, co-captain.

[He can throw a grip or two too. Especially now - he's in a pretty good mood. Just like the day of the wedding - it's getting easier and easier to relax around here with every day that passes. There was a moment when he thought he would lose that, with all the creepy dreams going around and the annoying fortune tellers, but thankfully that has quickly passed.

(Well, her world is different, he would tell her. There is magic and stuff. He can buy ghosts there.)

Big smile for the starry view comment!] I'm actually glad to hear that. I'm pretty sure many people in the show are sick of the stars after they became the only view for so long.

[ladybro]

Maybe. Probably. I can see why they might get sick of it.

[ her head turns and she smiles at shiro instead. ] But if I try really hard then the stars remind me just a little bit of New York at night. Especially when you see her from high up. A penthouse view.

[ i see sodium lights burning against the darkness and i feel like i'm falling in love. that's what she told a man, once, that she'd met at one of her father's parties. and by contrast he'd been dark and dour and spoke of a hellish childhood. it was the sort of fire she shouldn't have been playing with; she knows it now. ]

[padadin]

[The sky, her, and now her smile, her eyes on him. The combo just got better.]

I can tell you the name of every single star above New York, but I've never been there. What is it like? Are the stories about the big apple all true?

[He's been to Tokyo, which (from what he's heard) can be similar, but it's different when the story comes from a native. Especially from someone like Kate, that as a hero, probably knows every dark passage and every abandoned alley.]

[ladybro]

I think that depends a lot on what stories you've heard.

[ she scrubs a hand into her hair before draping arms over her knees. maybe they'd come out here to watch the sky, but she can't help but turn her attention more fully onto him so long as they're talking. it's the polite thing to do, right? ]

A

[tempredmental]

[It was one thing to tease Shiro about his birthday a little once in a while, but this teller's reaction to both the date and his arm hit Keith completely the wrong way. He felt Shiro back into him, saw the teller following, and he stepped in between, stopping the teller's forward progress.

His entire stance and posture screamed for her to back off from his pseudo-brother.]

Leave him alone.

[padadin]

[Oh, the irony of Keith being the one who has to step in to stop Shiro from losing like that dreadful day with Slav. Role reversal much? s3 jokes goes here It would've worked, too, if the fortune teller wasn't putting his attention on Keith instead, having some comments on red, the color of blood, and the length of his hair.

Shiro's eyebrow twitches for the last time.]

ENOUGH! We don't need your fortunes, we don't need your hand reading, and we don't need your bad omens! So leave us alone and go ruin someone else's day with your bad news!

[tempredmental]

[Keith pulled back from the teller's ranting, suddenly wondering just what the heck he'd walked into, but figuring, at first, that it was okay and he could deal with it if it meant Shiro didn't have to, but-

WOAH!

He was not expecting that blow up. In fact, Keith was pretty sure he'd never seen Shiro lose his cool like that before. He stared, wide-eyed, until he finished. The teller looked somewhat put out and startled, mumbling something about 'just warning you no big deal' before turning and walking away.

Keith blinked, frozen and speechless for a moment.]

Uh... are you... okay?

[padadin]

Yes.

[His answer definitely doesn't match his body language. He's tense, annoyed, his eyebrow still does that twitch every now and then. But Shiro is Shiro and he carries on, a hand going to Keith's shoulder in a familiar gesture.]

Let's get out of here.

[tempredmental]

Yeah... sure.

[Keith shot a glare over his shoulder back at the retreating teller before moving along with Shiro away from the area.]

Hey... you know what?

[Because this was totally the best time for a distraction, right?]

We should head up to the asteroid belt. I heard there's shuttle racing and stuff up there.

B!

[sylphid]

[While Shiro's stopping to try and help another climber, he'll likely see a familiar, smaller figure casually walking up the steps past him like it's simply a stroll in the park.

They're far enough from the top that whenever he's finished, he can probably catch up her to if he wants to.]

[padadin]

[He definitely notices the familiar white hair pass by! Hard to miss a young human girl among all he aliens. So yes, Shiro does indeed catch up with her when he has the chance.]

Hello, Fie. Enjoying the climb?

[sylphid]

It's okay. [That's not a no.

She spares him a glance, something akin to a calm smile on her face.]

Not a bad walk. I'm more interested in what's at the end.

[Zip-lining.]

[padadin]

[Indeed, it's not a no, and he's slowly accepting than in Fie speech, that's a good sign. A bit like Keith, really, so he should be speaking her language soon.]

The zip-lining, huh? [Nodding! He's excited to get to that too.] Have you ever done that kind of thing before?

[sylphid]

Sure, plenty of times on missions. [Fie pauses, realizing he probably meant just recreationally.] And similar feats with grappling hooks.

But never just for fun. Maybe it'll be different somehow.

[Trying things for recreation and amusement isn't that new to her anymore, but she's still getting used to it overall.]

A

[alwayscomeback]

[Sokka hates fortunate tellers. He hates them so much. They're nothing but a bunch of hacks, in his honest opinion, who really need to be stopped, lest people actually listen to what the spout and base their lives around it. Look, he's still mad about that one village, okay.

And so, Sokka very quickly comes to Shiro's defence, stepping in front of him and trying to steer him away.]

Oooookay, I think we're done with our slice of crazy today. Me and my buddy are just gonna walk away, doom-free, while you keep screeching, okay? Okay.

[padadin]

[The fortune teller gasps when he hears Sokka use the d-word (doom, of course, what were you thinking?) and tries to tell him about his bad karma, too. Which means he's trying to mess with his friend, and so Shiro finally loses it. Enjoy the show, Sokka.]

Any bad fortune you may have for us, we are not! Interested! So take your rambling and search for an ear that will actually care, because we're done here!

[alwayscomeback]

[Sokka was quite happy to just give the guy the fingers and walk away. Turns out Shiro is more fight-y than he anticipated. Sokka gives a nervous laugh, trying to steer Shiro away. Sweet lord this guy has BICEPS. ]

Yeeeeeeeeeep, we sure are. OH HEY LOOK, SHIRO, OVER THERE! IT'S A....thing. Let's go see it.

[padadin]

[Hey now, he isn't fight-y! Who do you think he is? Keith? He's just... stressed. And annoyed, and snappy, and... let's just keep it at stressed. Sure, that works. But hey, Sokka, don't feel too bad about dem guns. Shiro actually follows when his friend pulls from his arm.]

Yeah, let's go. I've had enough city for today. [And for ever again, really.]

[alwayscomeback]

[He's not about to take any chances. ]

This whole place is so dumb. It reminds me of a village back on my home world. They were all fortunes this, omens that. Ugh.

[He casts Shiro a sideways glance as they walk. ]

You okay?

E

[mongoosecrow]

[Gil chuckles as he takes the amulet, then, in a joking tone:] Oh sure, give your engineer bad karma. I'm sure that couldn't possibly go bad.

[padadin]

I thought it protected you against bad karma. [For once in his life, Shiro wasn't paying attention. Because seriously, fuck superstitions.] Does my engineer believe in this stuff?

[His tone isn't judging, just curious. He doesn't want to offend anyone.]

[mongoosecrow]

Not even a little bit. We make our own luck.

Still, the symbolism there is hilarious.

[padadin]

That's a view I can agree with. [Making their own luck, building their own path. That's the way to go.] I've been finding it more annoying than hilarious...

[mongoosecrow]

Not a fan of the locals and their quirks?