takashi shirogane (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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sheidiocy2025-04-18 05:12 pm
earthshine) wrote in sheidiocy2025-04-18 05:12 pm
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space con is a very educational experience
[ adam has impeccable timing. in other words, it's a catastrophe.
it isn't at first. he and keith are in santa monica, with sun, beach, and a march heatwave that has graciously granted them warm weather. it's space symposium this weekend; they've had this on the books long enough that even an overly eventful birthday – and the awkwardness that's followed – can't keep them from following through. the fact that galaxy garrison is sponsoring the trip helps with the incentive.
shiro's speech goes well. the crowd seemed engaged and eager to hear him monologue about his flights, as well as the future endeavors of galaxy garrison. keith even gave him a smile every time shiro sought him out among the many faces. so – success. yeah. it sets the tone for the rest of the afternoon and it feels good, normal even, to check out the booths with keith. like old times. like before a fake marriage certificate and promise after promise, all sealed with distinctly unplatonic kisses. they spend most of the day there, sitting in on other speeches, meeting people, visiting exhibits; it’s late afternoon and quickly approaching dinner when they decide to head out. the hotel is a walkable, eight blocks away, with restaurants along the way, one of which they’ll surely hit for pick-up, to take back to the room.
but then adam calls. and shiro, idiot that he is, picks up.
as far as shiro is concerned, the engagement is off. the relationship, too, honestly. adam insists that shiro isn’t thinking straight; that he’s stressed out and confused, getting cold feet over what’s best for him. because apparently he does that: he always fights what’s best for him. shiro didn’t tell adam about what happened on his birthday. not the long drawn out details. he even left out keith’s name when he confessed to having kissed someone else. adam guessed keith right away and it all deteriorated from there. he’s surprised, actually, that adam hasn’t been ringing him constantly, just to be a firm presence as shiro is out of state with the so-called usurper. adam says something over the phone along those lines and shiro sighs, telling him it’s not like that…
and it’s right around then that keith bolts.
fucking hell. stunned for two precious seconds, shiro then gives chase because seriously, what the fuck, keith? ] Gotta go. [ and whether or not adam is accepting of that, shiro doesn’t care. he ends the call and pockets his phone, closing in on keith… except keith beats him across the street on a yellow light and shiro skids to the stop as the side traffic begins moving. he tracks keith as best he can, watching him head down the slope near the pier that’ll take him to the sand. the light changes and then shiro is running across, following to where he last saw keith.
the pathway opens to a boardwalk that runs along the sand. at first glance, shiro thinks playground, but upon closer inspection, he realizes it’s an array of fitness equipment: pull-up bars, rope-climbing, rings, balance bars. the last one is where he spots a familiar someone. vaguely annoyed by keith’s antics, shiro takes an extra pause, to breathe and relax, hoping to avoid making things worse. he succeeds, somewhat, but there is still a trace of exasperation in his voice when he walks over, rounding the balance bar to see keith from the front. ] What was that all about?
it isn't at first. he and keith are in santa monica, with sun, beach, and a march heatwave that has graciously granted them warm weather. it's space symposium this weekend; they've had this on the books long enough that even an overly eventful birthday – and the awkwardness that's followed – can't keep them from following through. the fact that galaxy garrison is sponsoring the trip helps with the incentive.
shiro's speech goes well. the crowd seemed engaged and eager to hear him monologue about his flights, as well as the future endeavors of galaxy garrison. keith even gave him a smile every time shiro sought him out among the many faces. so – success. yeah. it sets the tone for the rest of the afternoon and it feels good, normal even, to check out the booths with keith. like old times. like before a fake marriage certificate and promise after promise, all sealed with distinctly unplatonic kisses. they spend most of the day there, sitting in on other speeches, meeting people, visiting exhibits; it’s late afternoon and quickly approaching dinner when they decide to head out. the hotel is a walkable, eight blocks away, with restaurants along the way, one of which they’ll surely hit for pick-up, to take back to the room.
but then adam calls. and shiro, idiot that he is, picks up.
as far as shiro is concerned, the engagement is off. the relationship, too, honestly. adam insists that shiro isn’t thinking straight; that he’s stressed out and confused, getting cold feet over what’s best for him. because apparently he does that: he always fights what’s best for him. shiro didn’t tell adam about what happened on his birthday. not the long drawn out details. he even left out keith’s name when he confessed to having kissed someone else. adam guessed keith right away and it all deteriorated from there. he’s surprised, actually, that adam hasn’t been ringing him constantly, just to be a firm presence as shiro is out of state with the so-called usurper. adam says something over the phone along those lines and shiro sighs, telling him it’s not like that…
and it’s right around then that keith bolts.
fucking hell. stunned for two precious seconds, shiro then gives chase because seriously, what the fuck, keith? ] Gotta go. [ and whether or not adam is accepting of that, shiro doesn’t care. he ends the call and pockets his phone, closing in on keith… except keith beats him across the street on a yellow light and shiro skids to the stop as the side traffic begins moving. he tracks keith as best he can, watching him head down the slope near the pier that’ll take him to the sand. the light changes and then shiro is running across, following to where he last saw keith.
the pathway opens to a boardwalk that runs along the sand. at first glance, shiro thinks playground, but upon closer inspection, he realizes it’s an array of fitness equipment: pull-up bars, rope-climbing, rings, balance bars. the last one is where he spots a familiar someone. vaguely annoyed by keith’s antics, shiro takes an extra pause, to breathe and relax, hoping to avoid making things worse. he succeeds, somewhat, but there is still a trace of exasperation in his voice when he walks over, rounding the balance bar to see keith from the front. ] What was that all about?
gosh i can't believ space con i s real LOL
if it weren't for the fact that shiro had been hyping up attending space symposium together months ago, keith suspects this trip wouldn't even be happening. if he knows anything about his best friend though, it's that shiro is stubborn as hell and part of that means clinging to the notion that nothing has fundamentally changed between them.
marriage license, marriage vows, promises and kisses aside, of course.
keith isn't surprised. everything about the night of shiro's birthday is virtually indistinguishable from a fever dream, so how can he possibly be surprised by the fact that it's largely being treated like one?
i need time to think, keith has become shiro's way of saying quit harassing me and that's... just fne. the promises, the kisses, the joy that came with the prospect of being together are the anomalies here, not the requests for emotional space and reason.
why should a guy completely upend the trajectory of his life over a fake marriage license and some drunken kisses?
especially when old faithful, proper husband material adam is still a fixture in shiro's life?
it's an uncharitable thought, sure, but keith is barely thinking. the knowledge that even at space symposium, adam's existence still casts a long shadow is enough for keith to just bolt down the street.
really, he'd have kept going if the pacific weren't in the way. so, as it stands, keith just plops himself down on a balance bar, looking but not seeing a shirtless guy with bulging muscles doing a set of pull ups several feet ahead. it could almost be mesmerizing if keith were paying attention, but his view is obscured within minutes anyway by a very unimpressed shiro.
here is where decorum demands keith offer up an apology, but keith continues to stare forward, as though determined to see right through his best friend. ]
Giving you privacy. Figured you'd both appreciate it.
[ not that being considerate of adam's feelings has ever been a priority or a concern, but it at least sounds less petulant. ]
AFTER A YEAR OF TALKING ABOUT IT LOL
it's like the mmon landing
i'm guessing that's moon
yes that was supposed to be moon, my typos continue to be atrocious
ROFL my decoder must always remain ready