Shiro's March Exploring (OTA)(no, really)

[vrepit_no]

🧙 WHO: Shiro and you!
⚔️️ WHAT: Generalized shenannigans like exploring the town, practicing magic, fetching the rest of his stuff out of the wardrobe and figuring what to do about it, meeting people, etc.
🕒 WHEN: Mmmmmmarch. Whenever fits best in your personal timeline.
🗺️ WHERE: Around the city and nearby surroundings. Perhaps Red Spring and the sea cliffs.
⚠️ WARNINGS: missing limb, scars, really bad dad joke level puns


I. Liminal spaces are weird.
Being in a hotel after all this time is weird enough on its own, but having a roommate he doesn't know is even weirder, and not altogether comfortable. There's way too high a risk of accidents. So Shiro spends a lot of his time wandering around the town, listening and occasionally talking to people. Lending a hand if someone looks like they're in trouble. (But only one hand at the moment because, well. That's it's a whole other thing.)

At some point or other Shiro finds himself sitting crosslegged on the ground in a grassier area, bemusedly perusing an honest to god pamphlet someone had handed him entitled So You're New to Elementalism. You know... he'll take whatever help he can get.

II. Who needs an arm when you've got metalbending?
"Ha!"

....Nope. The iron bar hasn't budged.

Shiro sighs and frowns, rubbing the back of his neck. He's heard it explained so many times he could recite it by heart, but that doesn't mean performing magic is easy. Maybe it's because he's done something similar but different?

"Okay, try again. Here we go." Focus... reach out... move it. "Come o~n, move!" he mutters under his breath.

III. Wardrobe, wardrobe, by the wall...
Shiro patiently waits his turn, and is visibly relieved to find a pile of black and white armor in there with a necklace and a bracelet on top. Immediately, he scoops up the necklace and pulls it one-handed over his head, touching the dogtags where they rest on his chest as if he's afraid they'll vanish. Turns out that there are two rings that were hiding under the necklace, and he pulls them out with an exclamation. "Oh good!" Wait a minute. "Ah." Hm. Putting rings on is a little more complicated, but with the help of his chest and some ingenuity, he's soon got a gold wedding band and a brilliant different ring on atop it on his left ring finger. Bracelet next - a series of differently colored V shapes in wood and a metal squiggle holding them together. Then it's armor time. Plop the helmet on and picking up the rest of the main portions, he tilts his head. Turning to the others around, he asks, "Would someone mind setting the boots on top of my stack, here?"

IV. Wildcard!
[Where did you find him? Wherever you want to!]

Comments

I

[seasoflight]

Felih is nothing if not curious, and an eternal social butterfly. Spying a handsome face resting out in the open surprises him- not many folk just sit out in the open like this. It's still too chilly in his mind, the Miqo'te better suited for warmer climes, but the man appears Hyuran, and they've always been a bit hardier in the cold, haven't they?

He goes and peeks over the man's shoulder before plopping down beside him.

"New here, then?" he chirps, noting the pamphlet in the man's hand. "I'm Felih- I've only been here a short while, all things considered... but I like to help new folk when I can."

Re: I

[vrepit_no]

Shiro starts and his head whips up so fast there's an audible crack in his neck. "Felih...?" Shock and disbelief rapidly give way to purest joy. "Felih!" He scrambles to his feet, leaving his poor familiar looking up indignantly as his cozy lap space vanishes.

Shiro reaches for the Mi'qote as if to embrace him. "I'm so glad to see you! Did the Arcana mess up? Doesn't matter - you're here."

[seasoflight]

Felih is... incredibly spooked when this- oh wow he's very big- man just stands and reaches for him, especially because the sound of his neck cracking is disconcerting and concerning. His tail poofs up and his hands come up, frozen in the air a moment before he decides to accept the embrace.

It's just like before- a few times before, now... Someone he doesn't know, but who clearly knows him. On the one hand, it's almost a relief to know that his various other selves are still just as good at gathering allies as he is, but on the other hand, it means he never knows the people who so clearly care about him so dearly.

"I... ah... I'm safe and well, darling," he murmurs, at a brief loss. He never does know how to break the news... "The thing is... I don't recall having met you before...? My sincerest apologies. 'Tis not the first time I've met a stranger who knew me in another realm."

[vrepit_no]

Shiro visibly relaxes when he hears the term of endearment, but... Immediately he releases Felih and steps back, raising his hand palm outward in apology.

"Oh... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have assumed." Dismay tightens around his eyes and mouth, and tension fills his broad shoulders. Felih doesn't remember him? After. After everything they were to each other? A hard lump gathers at the base of his throat, but he swallows it down and ruthlessly crushes his anguish back into a tight corner of his mind. Instead he presses his palm over his chest and half bows. He won't touch Felih without permission ever again. Not with his history. He must have terrified him.

"I'm Shiro. I knew a... a version of you, I suppose. An alternate you. I apologize for my actions. You're right - I'm new to this world. I was just trying to get my bearings." He gestures to the pamphlet his familiar is idly chewing on.

[seasoflight]

Felih is equally startled by just how quickly Shiro removes himself from his space, ears pinning back slightly from the suddenness of it all. It's incredibly confusing, and upsetting- this situation. Shiro's heartbreak is visible, easy to read, and Felih suddenly feels very much as if he doesn't deserve the bow and formalities and courtesies the man is offering.

"It's- it's alright, darling," he murmurs quietly, faltering for a moment. "So you do know me. I... I'm truly sorry. It's not the first time this has happened. Apparently there are many realms I- or some other me- have been pulled into. To my knowledge, I can only recall one other before this place, a city called Duplicity."

"But that's not important. I wish to know you, Shiro. Will you sit with me? I can offer you knowledge of this realm, in exchange for your company and conversation."

[vrepit_no]

"It's all right," Shiro says softly with a smile. "If you don't remember then it must have been another version of you. It's okay. It's not like you have any control over this either."

"I'd appreciate your insight, if you're willing, but don't feel obligated to. This was just as much of a shock for you as it was for me. If I've made you uncomfortable, you really don't have to stay."

He'll be okay. Besides. Felih is never short on companions. He'd probably rather be in his nest with someone he cares for now.

[seasoflight]

Felih blinks at this man for a moment, watching his face so carefully, tilting his head in the process as an ear twitches.

The way Shiro behaves... as if trying to soothe a skittish animal. So gentle, so polite, his voice so soft. Keeping his distance, waiting for him to make the first move. It's odd, and it makes him curious- enough that Felih simply steps back into Shiro's space and meets his gaze.

"Shiro, it feels very much as if you're convinced yourself you've done something wrong here," he chirps softly. "That's not it at all. Come, sit with me. I'm fine, truly. You've not done a thing to harm me." He reaches out and takes Shiro's hand, although he briefly glances over at the situation with his other... limb. He's no stranger to folk missing limbs, after all- it's common in his world. Still, he knows it's usually better not to ask about how someone lost their limb.

[vrepit_no]

Shiro catches himself before he tries to chirp back, thank everything. He lets Felih take his hand, gently wrapping his fingers around the soft, smaller hand. Felih's still so beautiful. He moves the same. Speaks the same way. Shiro's chest aches.

"I never, ever want to bring you harm," he says, adamant in his conviction. "But if you're sure, I'd be grateful for your help. This place is a lot different from my universe."

[seasoflight]

Shiro's touch is warm, Felih learns. It's surprisingly gentle, for the strength he can clearly tell the man possesses. He decides he likes it, and squeezes his hand reassuringly as he tugs his new companion down into the grass with him, at which point he carefully reaches over to try and tug the pamphlet from Shiro's familiar with his free hand.

"I'm sure, darling. And I appreciate your kindness. You clearly must have known me well, to wish to defend me so... I feel honored. I hope that I can return the favor in time," he says with a little laugh, relaxing. "Please convince your familiar to let go of this."

[vrepit_no]

He's honored...? Somehow that makes it worse. Nope. Not thinking about it. Push it away. Focus.

Shiro settles crosslegged next to Felih, taking the opportunity to bow his shoulders and try to look smaller and less intimidating. He wonders if this Felih can feel his aether as well, or if that was ripped from him when he arrived.

The little lung dragon, currently shimmering with ripples of amused pinks and purples, growls playfully, but does let go. "You could have just asked, you know," it says in a surprisingly deep voice for one so small, but it doesn't sound upset at all. Just entertained.

Shiro sighs. "Shinryu..."

III

[doctorintern]

Fenton just happens to be wandering by when the request catches his attention. Looking over, he smiles. "Here, I gotcha!" he says, quickly heading over to scoop up the boots. "Where did you say you want 'em?"

Re: III

[vrepit_no]

Shiro blinks once then smiles and lowers his armor stack within reach. "Just up on top of the pile here, please."

Trust him to run into a duck. There have got to be a million jokes in there somewhere. But it's not like he hasn't seen animal-people or talking animals before. Maybe not a duck per se, but still.

"Thanks, sir. I'm Shiro. May I know the name of my rescuer?" he grins.

[doctorintern]

Walking over, he places the boots on top of the pile. "There you go!" he replies with a smile of his own. "Pleased to meet you, Shiro. Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera, always happy to lend a hand."

It's only at that moment that he realizes that that might not have been the best way to phrase that.

"Oh, uh...sorry. I didn't mean to, uh..."

[vrepit_no]

Shiro laughs, not at all forced. "Don't be! I make jokes like that all the time. You haven't offended me, don't worry." He grins. "Great to meet you, Mr. Cabrera. Would you mind closing the wardrobe? I don't want to get in other people's way."

Putting action to words, he scoots sideways out of the immediate range of those who are waiting their turn at the magic box. "Have you been here long?"

[doctorintern]

He manages a laugh as well, relieved, as he makes his way to the wardrobe to shut it. "Oh good! And please, call me Fenton."

Though he can't help inspecting the wardrobe for a moment, trying to figure out how it works. More magitech? Pure magic? What makes it function?

"Not too long, actually! I just arrived a few days ago."

[vrepit_no]

"Mm, me too. Welcome," he says wryly. "There's a lot to take in. Apparently we all can use magic. That's a new one."

[seasoflight]

Felih gets cozy beside Shiro, only to be startled when the dragon actually speaks, eyes going a bit wide.

"Twelve," he says to himself in shock, "I- my familiar hardly ever speaks, so you startled me just now..." It's the familiar's name that makes Felih tense up considerably, however, because his memories of a Shinryu are unpleasant at best and harrowing at worst. He tries to shove it aside, however- this little thing is clearly not the beast and primal he had faced before.

"Mine is also a ball of mischief, however, so that may be part of it..." Felih says with a little sigh, before perusing the pamphlet, and then smiling softly. "Elementalism? Is that your magic, then, Shiro? I've only been allowed to keep my healing magics."

[doctorintern]

"Tell me about it! I'm not entirely unfamiliar with magic, but this is the first time I've ever been able to wield it myself. I'm more of a man of science, so this is all quite new to me."

[vrepit_no]

"Exactly!" The lift in Shiro's spirits translates into a positively dazzling grin. "I'm an astrophysicist and shuttle pilot, back home, but I've run into magic before. I'm just not usually the one using it. Have you discovered what you've wound up with?"

II

[bendless]

Sokka looks at Shiro trying to move metal. This would probably be normal for someone practicing metalbending. However, Sokka has experience on how most of the elements work so he might as well try and save him some time.

"You know, with most of the elements, you don't control the existing element. You create it."

Re: II

[vrepit_no]

Shiro straightens, running his hand through his forelock. "Really? I'm not really familiar with these things." His smile tweaks up wryly. "Last time I tried to create an element I wound up mangling the candleholder instead."

[doctorintern]

Fenton's own smile brightens. "An astrophysicist? That's outstanding! I think my magic runs in the Elemental vein, although so far all I've been able to do is create a few sparks of electricity. How about you?"

[vrepit_no]

A small shadow passes through Shiro's eyes, but vanishes almost immediately as he chuckles. "I'm told I have elemental magic too. It seems like I can effect metal." He ducks his head guiltily. "I ah. Crushed a candleholder instead of lighting the candle. Electricity is useful stuff, though. It's a broad spectrum of applications you have to play with."

[doctorintern]

Fenton laughs a little. "Working with metal is still really impressive! I'm an inventor, so being able to harness both metal and electricity would be pretty ideal." He shrugs a bit. "But accidents are part of the learning process, right?"

[vrepit_no]

"It will he impressive - when I can master it," Shiro corrects. "I don't really mind making accidents so long as they don't hurt anybody. I'd rather do them privately, but eh." He shrugs. "An inventor, though. What sorts of inventions?"