video; un: shiro

[shiro2hero]

Hey, all - I see there's some new faces. I'm Shiro, longtime resident here.

[He's seated on a sofa - well, seated is probably the wrong word. He's propped up by a lot of soft things, thanks to being a Warmblood this month.]

If you have any questions, I'm happy to answer - usually I'm on the Waker team, but ah, didn't get a chance this time around.

[Because of feeling like speaking, like moving, is too much effort.]

Anyway, I had a question. I'm pretty good in a fight, usually prefer hand-to-hand. [He is. Hilarious.] Weapons are a little more rusty, and this thing...

[He turns the omni to face a sword propped against the couch.] ... showed up at our house yesterday. And I could use a few pointers in swinging it.

Comments

[shiro2hero]

... You're kidding. [Even though he knows Ryan is not kidding.] That's - adorable. And kind of ruins my theory on why we're getting these things.

Well - at least they're from the patron of promises and not. Something worse, I guess.

[Also that. Doorway had presided over weddings and family ceremonies. They can't be that bad.]

Maybe you guys can sign up with the Jedi apprentice. I'd suggest Keith, but he's more intermediate than beginner.

[chickenchoicejudy]

Not even a little! Same birthday, same year, and same hospital. Our dads met there and made friends and we've been attached at the hip ever since!

["Made friends" is a generous way of putting it. The East Asian community in Powell Lake is so small that it had to be consolidated into the East Asian community rather than Korean or Japanese or Chinese. But it worked out for Ryan and Min, and honestly that's all Ryan cares about here.]

Don't we need to be able to like, use the force for that? [He twiddles his fingers at the screen, as though that somehow conveys "use the force" in any understandable way.] Plus, I dunno. I super don't trust myself not to ask ten billion annoying questions and get all distracted. It's like training under a celebrity, you know?

[shiro2hero]

... I had no idea you guys were that connected.

[it's not a bad thing. Not even remotely. But it's also kind of a surprise. No wonder they were so close. And, well. Now more than just close - wait hold on.]

I have to ask since, apparently it's been epidemic lately. You two didn't get. Bonded. Last month, did you? [and not tell anyone about it??]

Apparently not. I sure can't, and he's offered to help me learn. And I don't know - you might not have to ask. Obi-wan has been pretty up front just volunteering Jedi information.

[chickenchoicejudy]

[Ryan flushes the deepest red that Shiro's probably ever seen on him and waves his hands at the camera, trying to protect himself with an awkward laugh.]

What?! No! I-- not that I wouldn't want t-- [He stumbles right over that attempt and just gives up on that sentence all together.] It's like waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too early for that! I mean, sure we've known each other since literally the day we were born, but. We just started going out like last month! And I promised we'd take it slow. So...we are.

[And he's been trying really hard to keep to that...even if he did just sort of babble about this on a public message. Whoops?]

[shiro2hero]

Okay.

That's - good to hear, actually. Everyone else seems to be doing it. I was starting to get offended no one was inviting me.

[That's - literally the issue. Except not really. But the teasing tone eases off, when he realizes how embarrassed the poor guy is.]

Ryan, I... wasn't entirely serious.

[chickenchoicejudy]

Ha. Right! Of course not. I wasn't either! Totally not!

[Ryan tries really hard to pull himself together and laugh it off. It's not like him to let anyone see him get this flustered over something - and wow, in public and everything.]

If we ever do, you're totally invited though. Wouldn't be a wedding of mine without you, dude.

[shiro2hero]

... Uh huh.

[Shiro tries very, very hard not to sound as skeptical as he feels right then. It's only marginally successful, but hey. Blame the fatigue.]

Well, that makes one of you guys, inviting me. [A beat.] Mako and Wu aside.

[chickenchoicejudy]

If it makes you feel better I wasn't invited to like, any weddings before Wu and Mako's?

[Not that he really knew anyone who was getting married. Maybe either of his sisters by now, but...they haven't been in touch for a long time.]

So this will bring your wedding invitation count up to two! You'll probably have to wait a while for it though.

[shiro2hero]

... Really?

[Oops.]

[Oops.]

[Now he feels bad he uh. Did not invite anyone to either of his weddings. Except the husband.]

No, no. You - You should really take your time. Both of you should.

[chickenchoicejudy]

[Ryan laughs.]

We will, we will. I promised him we'd take it slow. But uh, yeah. No weddings before that for me.

[How to put this in a way that won't raise too much alarm and suspicion...]

...I'm not really in touch with my family anymore, so if anyone's gotten married lately, I haven't heard about it.

[And he shrugs, because if he acts like he doesn't care about it then no one else has to care either.]

[shiro2hero]

Okay. Good. Do that. Very much do that.

[Because you're a teenager and your impulse control does not exist.]

Uh.

[Why is he like this. Why did he not. Say anything.]

About... people getting married...

[chickenchoicejudy]

[Excuse you, he is exerting every single bit of his impulse control to keep this promise. He tilts his head a little at Shiro though.]

Yeah...? What about it?

[shiro2hero]

You... know I am.

Right?

I am married.

1/2

[chickenchoicejudy]

[Ryan covers his mouth and lets out a horrified gasp! WHAT A BETRAYAL!]

What? No!

2/2

[chickenchoicejudy]

[--But then he drops the act and laughs.]

Kidding! You told me forever ago - you said you married him in that dream place right? Before you got here?

[shiro2hero]

You're hilarious.

[So... very... deadpan.]

Right, before we got here. [Pause.] And... last month.

[chickenchoicejudy]

[...okay that trips him up.]

Last month? I'm not following you, dude. You got married again? Did you like, get a divorce while I wasn't looking?

[shiro2hero]

Remember that bonding ritual? The one Doorway would appear for?

We did that.

[chickenchoicejudy]

...Oh.

Oh then yeah, I take back my joke from earlier, because you definitely didn't say anything about that.

How long have you guys been bonded anyway?!

[shiro2hero]

I - sorry. I am, apparently, spectacularly bad at talking about this. I just - I kind of figured the handprint on my face was a giveaway.

[No, really, he did.]

Just since mid-February.

[chickenchoicejudy]

Fair enough. But dude, you were literally just complaining about people not inviting you to weddings. Did you even invite anyone to yours?

[He's not mad exactly, just totally baffled. Shiro, what the hell?!]

[shiro2hero]

We... did not do that. No.

[Yeah he deserves this call-out.]

[chickenchoicejudy]

Tsk tsk. For shame, Shiro.

You'll just have to do it again so you can do it right this time, that's all. Third time's the charm anyway!

[shiro2hero]

Yeah, I'm going to have to run that by Adam before I agree to anything.

... and probably get laughed at.

[chickenchoicejudy]

You kiiiiinda deserve to be laughed at. But if it helps, being married means you're both equally at fault for not bothering to tell anyone.