the family that slays together stays together

[possiblybeokay]

FAMILY MEME



( ganked from this post )

How does it work? Simple! Choose a relationship (or roll for one, if it suits your fancy), and then RNG for a situation! That, or just go straight for whatever situation appeals to you. These are all fairly vague: just something to start you off!




PARENT-CHILD
1 - ROCK-A-BYE How do you get a fussy child to sleep? Read them a story, sing them a lullaby, or just let them stay up until they exhaust themselves? Whatever the choice, it is time for bed.

2 - FOR THE FIRST TIME You've never met this person in your life, but it turns out they're one of the two reasons you exist. Maybe they walked out when you were young. Maybe they never knew you were born. Whatever the reason, it is now time to meet them.

3 - PAST MIDNIGHT That curfew was set for a reason. Now it's two AM, and your kid is just now dragging in. Maybe they're drunk. Or got into a fight. Or just had way too much fun snogging their new love interest. It's time for them to face the music.

4 - NEW HOME It's the first day of your new life together, as parent and child. Whether it's through adoption, a basket on the front steps, or a wish come true, both of you are going to have to learn to take your steps together.

5 - HOLIDAY It could be Christmas, Easter, or just a birthday, but it is time to celebrate! Get together for some good old-fashioned family fun.

6 - TAKE TO WORK DAY What your parents do for a living is the quickest thing that can turn a kid from boring to the coolest on the block. So whatever the job, from accountant to zookeeper, go to work!

7 - YOU'RE NOT MY REAL DAD Being a step-parent (or step-child, for that matter) can be tough. Problem is, you're stuck with each other. So whether you're yelling or just having an awkward conversation, it is time to work things out.

8 - UNEXPECTED GUARDIAN So you're not the parenting type. Too bad. Situation calls for someone to step up to the plate and look out for this kid, and you're the only one near base. Have fun with that.

SIBLINGS
1 - PROTECTIVE BIG SIBLING Okay, look. No one gets to mess with your sibling but you. Your little brother or sister is in trouble; let them know you're going to be the one to take care of it.

2 - RUINING THE NIGHT So your sibling has a hot date. You know what that calls for? Making their lives a living hell.

3 - NEWCOMER Who is this new kid in your house? Your family has adopted, and now you have to call this stranger family. Welcome them into the house, or let them know how much they aren't wanted.

4 - BLOOD BROTHERS So maybe you aren't really related to this person. That doesn't matter. You're going to change that, right now. In this moment, you will become family. Nothing can break this bond.

5 - MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT It's the middle of the night. Your car is broken down, or you're drunk, or you need bailed out, or you just got beat up, or someone just broke up with you. Whatever just happened, it's time to call your sibling and hope they can bail you out.

6 - SIBLING RIVALRY Nobody understands what jerks siblings can be! Always in your stuff, messing up your relationships, getting in your way — it's time for an all out brawl, whether that means yelling, pranking, or fists flying.

7 - LONG-LOST...? Maybe you've heard of this person. Or maybe they are entirely new to you. However, you've gotten the information that you're more than strangers: you're family. Welcome to each other's lives.

8 - ALL ALONE Once your family was whole. Or maybe it never truly was. Whatever the case, the world is a big, dangerous place, and you've only got one person left to rely on: your sibling.

UNCLE/AUNT/NIECE/NEPHEW
1 - SENT AWAY There's something bad going on at home, and you've been sent away to "safety." Problem is, how safe is this relative really? Are they the kooky, cool kind of aunt, or are they a crazed uncle after your fortune? Time to find out.

2 - TAKING YOU IN Something's happened to your niece/nephew's parents, and it's time to step up and do your family duty. They've got nowhere else to go, after all.

3 - THE ONE WE DON'T TALK ABOUT So maybe the family is a little bit... ashamed of you. You're a bit mad, or you've done something they just don't like. Yet you want to be part of your niece/nephew's life, and whatever their parents say, you'll find a way.

4 - GRAND ADVENTURE Maybe you came out of nowhere, or maybe you've just been keeping secrets. But you aren't an ordinary aunt/uncle, and it's time to take your niece or nephew on a very wild ride.

5 - LIKE A PARENT TO ME Sure, you have parents, but this person is who your parents should be like — or maybe who you feel should be your parent in the first place. Let them know how you feel about them.

6 - DON'T TELL MOM Aunts and Uncles have special qualities. Like, sometimes, being a bit more lenient than Mom and Dad might be. So you have a, er, sensitive problem? It's time to run to them.

OTHER
Of course, you are free to make up your own scenario, or do a relationship not done here!

Comments

Shiro | Voltron: LD

[headspacedad]

[ngl, I would love to do just about any of these adult rolls with Shiro so send me ALL the kidlings/teens. Open to cross-canon/fandom as well as crew. Halloweenish hijinks especially loved.]

[shigeo]

((Some form of Shiro taking Shigeo in? Shige here is a psychic and gets into all sorts of trouble, so he could be hiding out at family's house, or something could've happened to canon family. Or just AUing, obviously.))

[headspacedad]

[hey there! I don't know Shigeo's canon at all but I'm good with giving it a shot. Put up a starter and we can see where things go! AU is fine by me if that's easiest.]

oh man I definitely recommend it, Mob Psycho 100 is a charming show

[shigeo]

[With his parents and brother gone for a while to try and get Ritsu into a summer school in a different city entirely, Shigeo was entrusted to a relative instead - after all, Shigeo had a job even at his age, and he didn't mind living with someone else for a few weeks while the rest of his family was away.

His mother promises Shiro that Shigeo is a very well behaved and quiet kid, though she definitely recommends that Shiro gets a spare silverware set because he will bend them when he's eating and she does go off on a minor tirade about how much of her good silver was ruined.

After school, Shigeo walks to his normal house first, out of habit, before calling Shiro.]

Uhm... how do I get to your home from here...?

I'll have to check it out when I get some free time! The summary sounds interesting

[headspacedad]

[Shiro's not quite sure what he's getting into. He's only a distant relative so he hasn't really been involved before but - how can he turn down family when they need him? Training is supposed to be stationary this month and he's got enough room in his apartment for someone else and no reason not to share. It's just... the excessive amount of reassurances coming from Shigeo's mother had started to worry him a little after a while.

And he really wasn't sure if he was supposed to take the silverware comments seriously or not.

But he's gone out and gotten some of the food that he was told the kid liked and made up the bed couch with fresh clean sheets and otherwise done what he could to make the place seem welcoming. He's just putting the groceries away in fact when his phone rings.

The question makes him blink. And then make a little face at himself. He really should have thought of that. Still:]

It's fine. I'm just a block down from Inu station. Take the street that starts with the corner grocer and go until you see the building with the orchids out front. That's mine. Second floor. Apartment 2. [A pause.] You want me to just come get you?

[shigeo]

[He could probably navigate that, but being certain would help.]

Can I meet you at Inu station? That's usually where I meet my master when I go to work anyway.

["Master"...]

[headspacedad]

[Shiro's eyebrows do twitch a little in surprise at 'master' but its more because he hadn't been aware the younger boy had a teacher than at the term itself. He assumes martial arts of some sort, though he's aware that's only a vague assumption. And he wonders if he should be prepared to drop Shigeo off at a dojo or something on a regular basis.

All of which he can clear up later so he simply hums.]

No problem. I'll be there when your train gets in. We can pick up something to eat for dinner on the way back.

[shigeo]

Oh, thank you. Where will we be going?

[He sounds pretty excited!]

[headspacedad]

[He has to smile at that and now he wishes he had something better to offer.]

I thought either something at the grocer or there's a noodle stand just past that. If you've got a preference.

[shigeo]

I like ramen, that sounds nice. Thank you, Shiro. I'm at the station, I'll be there soon.

[headspacedad]

Sounds good. I'll see you there.

[And then Shiro will hang up and head down to the station. It's not a long walk but its a relaxing one and he doesn't rush, showing up at the station and settling down on the platform on one of the benches where he can catch the last of the afternoon sun. It's been a long week. He just hopes he can provide whatever his guest needs to make him comfortable while his family is out of town.]

[shigeo]

[Mob leaves the train once it arrives, stiff and awkward as he usually is around strangers. He still only vaguely recognizes Shiro, and meanders closer before he relaxes.]

Shiro?

[He's got his school bag and a smaller gym bag in hand.]

[headspacedad]

[The wait hasn't been long and its been nice to be off his feet. Shiro watches the passengers that disembark as the right train comes to a soft stop. He's seen pictures, he's fairly sure he recognizes one of the kids that gets off. So he's already pulling his long legs back in and standing up when the teen wanders over.

It's a relief to know he guessed right. He offers a smile.]

You got it. And you're Shigeo. Nice to meet you. You need a hand with anything? [It's polite to ask even if the kid looks like he's got everything under control.]

HI AGAIN I KNOW IT'S BEEN LIKE 20 MINUTES

[unfaltering]

[So Shiro isn't Lance's father, but he's the one who's been raising him for the past eight years. And while Lance loves and reveres and respects Shiro above literally everyone else in his life, he's also a hormonal and cranky teenage boy who's just against the idea of discipline, especially when he can write a meme-filled dissertation full of emojis in six text messages on why it's not even fair. Normally, Lance takes punishments with stride, but today it's really the entire world against him.

Today is also one of those days where he's sure he completely fucked up and should own up to it, but... doesn't quite want to do that at one in the morning.

So his day had started off normally. He's been grounded for two weeks because of a week-long set of detentions for being in the wrong place at the wrong time--also known as being Pidge's cohort when she accidentally blew up the lab--in which he neglected to tell Shiro about it. Granted, he would have probably still been in trouble, but... less? He still thinks it's unfair. It's bad enough he spent the first week of being grounded without his game systems and comics, but he's basically restless this second week.

Which was what brought him to that Fateful Friday in which he dun goofed so hard he'll be surprised if Shiro doesn't enroll him into military academy by Monday. His cell phone has been dead for the better part of four hours, and he figures he can have Hunk grab his backpack for him from Rolo tomorrow morning. But today all he's got is his house key, and he's concerned Shiro is going to still be up. Probably waiting for him.

...So, instead of just being up front, he decides to try and sneak in from the back. And, of course, he doesn't actually have a key to the kitchen door so he tries the next best thing: trying to open the window by jimmying the lock. He does his best to be quiet about it, but he doesn't quite realize how suspicious this even looks. Thankfully, Shiro's got good neighbors--including a nice man next door who tells him to check his backyard. Lance, who figures all their neighbors have gone to bed, just continues trying to use his key to push the lock open so he can slip inside. It only looks mildly suspicious.]

20 minutes too long is what you mean!

[headspacedad]

[Technically, Shiro's not anyone's father. He's definitely not the father of four teenagers with more brains than most and a penchant for mischief when they get bored. Which is to say - a lot. But he's doing the best he can to at least be a good dad to them, even if, at twenty-five, he doesn't think he's even always got his own shit figured out, much less any right to try to figure it out for other people. His salvation is that they're good kids. They are really, really good kids. Somehow he lucked out in that area. They all have huge hearts and driving desires to do what's right even if it costs them.

Granted, they all have their own ways of going about that but Shiro really does believe they're all destined for amazing things and that he's lucky to have them in his life.

Some days though... some weeks really, are a lot harder than others.

Lance isn't the problem child. Truth be known, his kids take turns trading that one around between them fairly evenly. But this past month...

What bothers him most is that Lance won't just tell him when things go south. Shiro likes to think he's fair and he tries his hardest to lay down the law and its punishment without cutting off their outlets or natural talents and personalities. Lance's punishment if he'd just confessed to the detentions would have just been some manual labor around the neighborhood. Not fun or easy but certainly something he could have finished taking care of and been done with in a single weekend. But he hadn't confessed to the detentions and, working, Shiro had had to find out about it from the school when they'd called him. The way they always called him. And he'd had to ground the kid, even though he knew the enforced inactivity was going to drive him nuts. And here he was so close to being finished with his grounding period and -

and of course Shiro had checked his bedroom earlier. He's been expecting Lance to go AWOL for a while now and is actually impressed he'd held off as long as he had. But - dammit. So close to the end of his punishment period. Just a few more days of restraint and he would have been in the clear and there wouldn't have needed to be any sneaking at all.

Well, if he came home at one in the morning, grounded or no, there was only going to be sneaking. Everyone knew household curfew was midnight or you'd better have been kidnapped by aliens and be calling from Betelgeuse with an ETA on when they were going to bring you home.

Just as a note, Shiro had already called the local hospital. The police station would have called him if Lance had been there. It was a fairly small town, thank God, and everyone knew Shiro and his kids.

Including Mr. Lawson who lived in the house behind Shiro's and liked his Perry Mason marathons. Which is why Shiro's standing, leaning against the side of his own house, arms folded across his chest, watching Lance try to break into a back window with his keys. And all Shiro can think is -

how much trouble could have been avoided if, yet again, Lance had just admitted to what was going on in the first place. He exhales silently to himself -

and uses the toes of his boot to casually kick on the sprinklers.]

INSTANT TAGS FROM BRAIN lolol

[unfaltering]

[Lance barely gets the clasp to turn on the window before the water hits him, soaking into his shirt and pouring against his spine. It's cold and sharp, and he yelps at the sudden shock of the feeling against him--

And clamps a hand over his mouth to keep from being loud as he tries to jump out of the angle of the spray. His mind drifts then to the fact that the sprinklers were on in the first place. Shiro didn't turn them on in the middle of the night, which meant... he was busted.

Again. Of course.

It's been a rough month for Lance. School hasn't been the easiest, not just in workload but with his ever-budding social life, and the punishment really hasn't done much for his mood. Lance has tried, and by the evening when everything had gone south, he gave up. He was bound to crack eventually, and he was sure Shiro was expecting it.

He just thought it would be the final day, and involving actual food, and not the four cups of coffee, a snickers and chaos. And now wet clothing and probably The Look of Disappointment he's probably getting even in the dark. His eyes scan through the darkness until he catches the shadow that is Shiro and just huffs at him.]

Turn it off! I get it, you caught me! Jeez, what are you trying to do, get me sick?

one day, mabye one day science will catch up with us

[headspacedad]

[Shiro can admit - the yelp is a little satisfying. And he can all but watch the gears grinding in Lance's head as he puts two and two together and realizes he's busted.

Shiro is a responsible home owner. He rarely uses the sprinklers and never in the middle of the night.

He doesn't turn them off right away either though, giving a long pause between when Lance spots him and huffs and when he finally shifts one long leg casually to turn off the water. And then he just lets the silence linger. Let's it roll. Lets it get heavy and uncomfortable. And just before he knows Lance is going to pop he straightens up and strolls over.

He's angry. Of course he's angry. He's angry at Lance for sneaking out when he knows better. He's more angry that Lance hasn't bothered call to tell him where he was after midnight though. And he's angry at himself too. Because he can't help but feel like he's not doing whatever it is he should, that Lance apparently needs, and he's missing it somewhere along the way in a way that's going to hurt the younger kid in the long run. He's angry because he can't figure out what it goddamn is. Only a little of it shows in his voice, which is low and calm when he says:]

Would that keep you home?

[And he reaches past Lance to push open the window next to the one he was working on and reaches through it to unlock the kitchen door.]

we will be legends... and probably science experiments

[unfaltering]

[Even Lance's new spot on the lawn doesn't get much reprieve from the water, the sprinkler's jet hitting his left leg at the knee, and he frowns more. It's better than hitting his shirt, but either way he's still pretty boned. Everything about this is too planned, well-timed, like Shiro knew where, when Lance would be back there--and it's Shiro using that dad magic Lance doesn't understand how he has. Was he waiting outside this entire time? Did he just know? A magical security system they didn't know of?

As the water soaks through his jeans, growing cold and miserable, Lance begins to hate this more. He knows he royally screwed himself over, along with the strange activities of the night. He's still trying to see just how screwed he is, how much Shiro's angry. And it's hard because he can't see the scowl from here, and Shiro hasn't spoken yet. And Lance knows this means nothing good. He shifts wait to his right leg, though he goes from looking at the faint figure of Shiro to glancing around at everything else. It's working him up to a successful level of "frustrated". He's not happy about this either, and he doesn't want to have the inevitable conversation.

And knowing the window was open next to the one Lance has been messing with is just icing on the cake. If he'd freaking tried it it...

But when Shiro speaks again, a cold chill runs down Lance's spine. It's harsh and unreadable, but it riles Lance up immediately. Lance lets his protests die on his throat. Trying to start a shouting match outside will disturb their entire quiet neighborhood, and at least one of his three siblings. And it would probably put him in worse trouble, it would make Shiro even angrier, harder to figure out. Lance takes up scowling, shoving his keys in his pocket. His sassing already begins in a whisper, as poorly timed as it is.]

Not going to even let me try to explain before chewing me out? Fine. I should have stayed out, that would've been better.

[He knows it wouldn't. There's no way in hell this would have ended with only sprinklers and not a police search. He's glad he came home, but that doesn't mean Shiro needs to know that.]

according to Voltron that could turn out awesome!

[headspacedad]

[Not raising his voice to Shiro is a good move. It's a brilliant move. Nothing good has ever come of the very few times one of the kids has dared raise their voice to Shiro and it usually starts, terrifyingly enough, with the fact that Shiro's voice tends to get softer in response. Shiro's voice getting softer when he's angry is a Very Not Good Thing.

It's not soft yet. But it's not expressive either. Which means he's being very carefully controlled as he pushes the door open and steps in, flicking on the single light to the kitchen as he goes past. He doesn't turn around as he heads for the table to pull out a chair. So all Lance gets is the back of his head when he flatly asks:]

Is letting you explain things going to change anything?

[He ignores the rest. They both know it would have been the opposite of 'better'.]

do you think that means we'd also get cool metal limbs?

[unfaltering]

[Oh no. Shiro is unreadable right now, and as Lance can get a good view of his form, he knows this isn't good. Shiro is too calculating, too cautious, watchful. He's waiting, and it's unnerving. Lance sometimes wishes Shiro would yell, because even though his voice is strong and terrifying, it feels like something easier to handle than this. He's dealt with yelling before, he's used to noise and loud anger. But Shiro? He hates dealing with an angry Shiro.

He stands right in the doorway, waiting for Shiro to make the first decision, and shoots that final hope of 'we will talk in the morning' out the window for favor of the kitchen table. It's not until he speaks that has Lance moving.

And Lance is furious. Shiro hasn't said no, but Lance takes it as Shiro refusing to hear him out at all. His eyes widen as he looks at the back of Shiro's head and he scowls more, as he finally walks in and shuts the door quietky. He doesn't talk as he wipes his shoes on the mat and then trudges over to the seat across from him. He drops himself in, crosses his arms, and slouches. It brings the bright, large bruise on Lance's cheek in full view in the light. A fight? Did he fall? It takes him a little longer to find words, trying to mimic Shiro's calm attitude--and it's not working very well.]

Fine. Forget it. Chew me out, tell me how big a fuck-up I am. How long am I grounded for this time?

we might lose our minds too but - hey! cool metal glowy arm!

[headspacedad]

[He hears Lance wipe his feet and -

and something inside his anger wobbles.

It shouldn't. Lance is far beyond way out of line and they both know it. At any point during this downhill slope he could have stopped it if he'd just spoken up but each time he hasn't and the ditch has just gotten deeper.

But - the kids still wipes his feet on the mat before he comes into the house.

He's not about to let himself get sidetracked. This needs to stop. Not just this particular ditch of Lance's but the reason it ended up that way in the first place. He knows, exactly, why Lance is forever trying to get away with things instead of just fessing up to them. He gets why. But it still needs to stop.

And then the teen slouches down in front of him, all attitude and defiance - and Shiro sees the shiner he's sporting. Shiro's got kids. He's got four kids. He's got four teens in fact. And the amount of damage they manage to do to their bodies is astonishing. Makes him really, really glad everyone in town knows them or he's sure he'd be on some list with child services long ago just based off of one of them. Well, not Pidge. But any of the boys. So he's willing to believe that Lance hurt himself knocking into something.

Except his knee jerk, gut reaction is that someone hurt his boy and nobody gets away with that kind of stunt.

Shiro puts a hand over his mouth and nose. Shuts his eyes and blows out air. Another, slower exhale and he lets his hand drop and opens his eyes.

Standing up he heads to the fridge, pulling open the freezer.]

Not a chance. You don't get off the hook with a standard issue grounding until I know what you did. [He comes back with a bag of frozen peas and offers it.] You wanted to explain things. Explain.

who needs a crazy cool mind when you can have a glowy metal arm?!

[unfaltering]

[Lance just waits, hoping the death to the end of his social life is swift and painless. Standard issue groundings are easy to handle: it just means more chores and no fun, and if you've been particularly suffering, a day of reprieve. Lance likes dealing with those, because he can pass notes in lockers. Six months of that? Probably even doable, if he plans it. He's spent half a summer grounded before. He could do it again.

But of course Shiro doesn't just make this easy. He never does, and it's as admirable as it is aggravating. He's giving Lance the opportunity to explain after all, and peas. Wait--

Lance takes the peas with one hand, mumbling a thank you, before touching his cheek.] I didn't know it bruised...

[He places the bag gingerly against the side of his face and slouches again. The easiest solution here would be to just explain what happened. It's been a long, tiring, adrenaline-driven few hours, and Lance even wants to vent about it, but his mind goes back to what Shiro said easier, and that defiance comes back.]

I thought you said it wouldn't make a difference if I explained. What made you change your mind?

EXACTLY!

[headspacedad]

[That's why he can never stay mad at any of the kids. Or come down too hard on them. Because - they're good kids. Even when they're in the middle of being bad, they're still good kids. And Lance mutters thanks to him no matter how irritated and unfair he feels his guardian is being.

He also knows Lance. And right now the kid is probably torn between wanting to sulk and wanting to spill everything. Shiro just wishes he could find a way to get to the second one sooner than it usually shows up. He sits down in his seat across from the boy and folds his hands on the table, human and prosthetic. He also shakes his head, watching Lance patiently. Most of the anger is gone. He's just - he's tired of hitting this wall over and over again with the kid. There has to be a way around or through it. And Shiro doesn't intend to give up until he finds it. But first - ]

You weren't listening. I asked if explaining would make a difference. I'm willing to find out.

it would be so cool! we should do it one day

[unfaltering]

[Lance is ready to mope his way through the rest of the night. Shiro threw it back in his court far too easily, and Lance has his own arguments on fighting back or just giving up. Both will still end pretty badly--but honesty is the best policy in the end. Shiro is willing to hear him out, and that says something.

He lets out a heavy sigh, teaching a hand into his pocket to pull out his phone, and he sets it on the table.] It's been dead. And where we were, it didn't have reception anyway.

[But of course, that's not all. He's introduced a 'we' now. Lance just looks down at the table. And the start of the recount of Fateful Friday begins.]

Remember Nyma? My spring fling date from last year? [The one a year his senior who ditched him halfway through the dance and he came home early? Lance swears she's changed--or rather, had sworn, until that night. The girl probably is nothing but trouble, but Lance is forgiving, and believing, and far too kind.] She asked to hang out with me after school for a little... her dog died and she's been sad about it, she said I was good at making her laugh so she wanted me to help cheer her up.

So then she asked if I'd go with her to her boyfriend's friend's house because she needed to get something important back and she was afraid to go alone because she didn't know the friend really well. She said it was only ten minutes away but it took like an hour. [He takes another pause just to huff, leaning forward. Propping one elbow on the table, he rests his head on his hand and just looks at the table.] It was stupid, Shiro. I'm so stupid. She was gonna just ditch me out there.

er... squad goals?

[headspacedad]

[He watches Lance's resistance just - kind of collapse. They always have that going for them at least, no matter how messed up things become. His kids aren't stupid.

And then he sits there quietly, only his eyebrows moving to indicate that he's feeling any reactions as Lance starts to tell his story and - okay, maybe they're stupid about certain things. Like their emotions and how generous they are with their hearts. But - that hurts Shiro more than anything. Being generous with your heart should never be something you have to guard against - except it is. Especially when a troublemaker realizes it and uses it against you. Repeatedly.

He tries to let his kids make their own calls when it comes to romance. God knows, Shiro is probably the last person on earth that should be pretending he's got any right to give advice. He understands that you have to learn some things through experience. But Lance - oh, Lance. Shiro sometimes wishes he could bubble wrap his son's heart until he's somewhere around thirty and then give it back to him. Except that would take away so much of what makes Lance who he is and such a good person.

The thought of his son ending up an hour away in a dead phone zone with strangers he's been, from the sounds of it, lured into being with does send a bad chill down his spine. How would Shiro have known where to look for him? What if Lance had gotten in more trouble than just a swollen cheek and a rebroken heart? He swallows down the helpless feeling and his voice is soft, gentle, as he simply prompts:]

Keep going.