galratech | (no subject)

(no subject)

[Shiro doesn't remember falling, but it feels a little like he's been dropped off a high building and frankly, given the likelihood that he was teleported here, for whatever reason... he doubts, with his luck, that it was a gentle landing. He deeply considers lying prone for a few more minutes, but the sound of excited voices filter through to his awareness past the pain, talking about a 'beam of light'. Before he can think about how much he hurts, he's rolling into a tense, ready crouch, just in time for several large shapes to break through the foliage. Shiro can only gape at the variety of the figures that fan out to surround him, scales and vines and wings. He hasn't seen such a menagerie gathered in one place since, well... the coliseum.

It's not a comforting comparison.

Weary dread sluices through Shiro's body as they circle him, jeering. He seems weak! and King Darc will know just what to do with this one. and He'll be quite a prize, with this last line, an echo from the past again, ratcheting his pulse up until it feels like his chest will break. Though Shiro knows from their tone it won't do any good, he warns them to back off just once before lunging at the nearest one, hoping surprise will give him enough edge to run.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I want to make sure it works, first. Can you show me where one is?

[??]

Very well. Not far, this way. It's new. Deimos were unsure about taking on the habit from humans, but it's been pleasant.

I'll bet. This'll take me a few minutes, if you want to meet me back here.

[Suddenly, Darc realizes with some deep, reverberating alarm that he doesn't expect Shiro is going to pull anything. Which is when it always goes bad. He should be concerned about leaving Shiro alone, shouldn't he? After everything, hasn't he learned that it's when he finally lowers his guard that gets him struck in the back?

But it's, fine. He just has to brace himself. And Darc can take some comfort in getting the feeling that if Shiro tried to kill him now, it wouldn't be anything personal. He could handle it. He doesn't want to punish Shiro after all he's done. Maybe an assassination attempt could bring them closer if he played it right.]

...Alright. I'll get what we need and come back.

[Shiro waits until Darc is gone before dipping his prosthetic into one of the pools and reaching for the memory activating his arm. It's something he's only done in a fight, mostly on instinct. He's vaguely dreading that this won't work, that the prosthetic's not under his control, that it really is just a weapon—but after a bit of concentration, the arm thrums to life, pouring out heat into the water. It shouldn't feel like such a rush, just being able to use his arm for something as simple as a hot bath, but it makes him feel lighter.]

[darc comes back with some DRUGS and stuff. also he is READY TO FIGHT IF NEEDS BE]

... Shiro?

[He is testing the water with his human hand, pleased.]

Hey. Seems to have worked.

...What worked?

[Shiro shrugs, a little embarrassed.]

I wanted to see if I could heat the bath with my arm. I've never used it for... anything like that.

...?

Why would you heat the bath?

... Have you never had a hot bath?

Edited 2017-02-08 19:43 (UTC)

[grunts]

A bath instead of a rag in a lake is new to begin with.

Well—Give it a try and let me know what you think.

[he tilts his head slightly. BLITHE]

Get in yourself first and I'll join you.

[Hah. Well, that makes sense. Shiro climbs in without further preamble, leaning back into it with a sigh.]

[Darc swallows, not sure if his pulse calmed down or got faster. He has to be ready for it, he has to, no matter how much he hopes that for once. JUST for once, he won't have to deal with a knife in his back. The adrenaline from the possibility, and the sight of Shiro so attractively waiting for him, is a bit of a blur.

He climbs in with a careful waver, and gasps.]

Ah...

Not bad, huh?

[WHAT THE FUCK!!!]

This feels incredible! All you did was heat it up?!

That's all. I'm glad you like it.

[he laughs?! it feels so pleasant that his tense paranoia helplessly melts away all at once. The hot water, the soft, pleased look on Shiro's face. Darc feels a little out of his depth, embarrassed.

He sinks lower into the water and groans, the heat achingly pleasant on his battered back. At a loss for what else to say he just, grumbles]

If Kharg knew about this and didn't tell me I'm gonna throttle him.

It's hard to say. On my planet, humans have only had the technology widespread for a couple hundred years, which isn't much.

[purrs]

You should use your arm for your own simple ends more often.

[Shiro's expression is complicated. Wry, sad, resolved.]

... Yeah, I think you might be right. It's not going anywhere.

[Ah. "empathy," again. Darc remembers last night, too, even high Shiro didn't touch him often with that hand. If at all...]

It was forced on you by your enemies. It's natural that you would resent it. All the more reason to make it completely serve your will.

Well, this is a pretty good start.