bakerstreet | the family that slays together stays together

the family that slays together stays together

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Lance really could cry. Shiro's touch is tender and kind, and it's relieving. He's not over what happened, but he's not as upset about it. It's interesting to Lance; when he's in trouble, he keeps trying to make things turn into shouting matches and bickering, but just having someone listen... it's nice. Especially because he knows Shiro believes in him, and he's helping out. Lance will bounce back, probably tomorrow once he's rested and has his backpack and can just sit around and veg in the comfort of home... Well, for the first few hours.

He finally lifts his head when he hears Shiro's chair move, actually missing the extra contact on his hair. He doesn't look nearly as miserable, though he's a little curious when it comes to where Shiro's headed. His stomach just growls in appreciation.]

Dumplings and the couch? Am I lucky?!

[Lance's eyes widen, but he just grins and stands up. Picking up the bag of peas, he carries it over to the fridge, then just leans against Shiro and smiles.]

Thanks. Like... a lot, yeah?

[His lips soften into something close to a smile at Lance's enthusiasm. Just about anyone else would consider reheated food and the couch punishment but... they wouldn't be part of this family if they did. At Lance's lean though -

Shiro exhales and wraps one arm firmly around the leaner youth. Turns his head and rests his chin over the top of Lance's head and for just a minute he just hold him. His kids don't disappear. Of course he'd been worried when he hadn't heard from Lance by midnight. That kind of fear isn't something you get over quickly just because said kid turns up.

Then he exhales again and reaches up to scruff the back of Lance's head gently. His voice is gentle too, without any of the tight control or anger of before.]

You're still in trouble. But we'll work out what that means tomorrow. Just... stop taking so long to tell me when something goes wrong, okay? [He draws back, rests his hand on Lance's shoulder and waits until the boy meets his eyes.] There is nothing, nothing, you could ever do that will make me love you less, Lance. No matter what happens, don't you ever forget that.

[Shiro's hugs are reassuring. It feels like solid support that Shiro's still okay with him, not just being back but even just being here. The bigger the fight, the more Lance wonders if he'll get booted, shipped off. If Shiro would even want to be his dad anymore. He's heard about it before, kids getting kicked out for just being too much of a burden.

It adds to why Lance tries to hold on to his own problems, tries to internalize and take care of things on his own. It's not because he can't rely on Shiro, but he's nervous on being too much. His gaze turns up to Shiro when he speaks, eyes growing misty. Shiro is too good to him.]

I won't... I just... It scares me sometimes. [His head drops again and his gaze finds the floor.] But I'll. I'll try, okay?

[Shiro knows.

He knows because sometimes he wonders if he's made a mistake as the guardian of this ragtag family. Sometimes he wonders if he's blown something irreparably or damaged one of his kids beyond recovery or just generally not been what they need him to be. What if he does one day? What if he messes them up so badly somehow that it ruins their lives? What if they get taken away from him?

But all he can do is the best he can. It's all any of them can do. And be grateful that love covers so much. His hand leaves Lance's shoulder to cup his cheek and he ducks his head to look at the boy.

He can't think of anything more important to him or that he loves more than his little mismatched family. He can't think of anything more frightening than losing them. He gets that. So his voice is soft.]

Thanks, Lance. For trying. But remember, I get scared sometimes too. That I'm going to make a mistake with one of you that's so bad it can't be fixed. But you wouldn't ditch me if I made a mistake, even if it was a huge one, even if it was one that hurt you. I know you. What makes you think I love you any less than that?

[To Lance, Shiro is as close to invincible as they come. Shiro has always been this miraculous wonder, who's gone through so much himself and bounced back so strongly he's able to raise four ridiculous kids from their own strange and varying walks of life. He's never let himself get down for too long, and no matter what the odds, he's always been able to power through it all.

So, this mistake? Lance is extremely loyal to his family, despite all of their shouting matches and door slamming and pranks, and he wouldn't trade any of them for the world. Especially not Shiro, who he thinks wouldn't even be able to make a mistake so badly he couldn't be forgiven. There's no way. Shiro isn't perfect, not by any means, but he's a genuine person, and one so earnest and strong he can't destroy Lance's faith in him unless he literally stopped being the person he was. But that was Shiro's point, wasn't it?

Lance has to blink back the watery fog that's been gathering in his eyes as he looks at Shiro.]

You can't make a mistake that big. It's kind of impossible, you know? But... I get it. I just... I'm not as awesome as you are. I might make that mistake, and one day you'll just... It's stupid.

Lance...

[It breaks his heart - but he understands where the younger boy is coming from. He's already lost one family. The fear of losing a second one -

with an exhale he pulls Lance into his arms and wraps him tight and close. They're all so brave, so strong, but he doesn't forget that they're kids. They're kids and they're fighting so much more than most kids their age do.]

There's nothing stupid about being afraid. Being afraid means you've got something important enough to matter. Stupid is letting that fear control you and your choices. Never let fear make your decisions for you, Lance. It will always chose the worst way. It will always make things worse. You aren't capable of making a mistake so horrible I would ever stop loving you. [His prosthetic hand came up to cup the back of Lance's head.] Get that through this thick skull of yours. You're not going to lose me. I'm not going to let you.

[As he's pulled in, Lance can't help but wrap his arms around Shiro, holding onto him tightly. The one thing he doesn't want to do, ever, is lose him, and that's what worries him the most. This is his family, and it's the only one he's got. He clings to hold back his tears, but that's the most reassuring thing he's heard today.]

Thanks... Thanks about just everything, okay? I just... You're my dad and I don't want that to ever change even if I mess up everything.

[His grip tightens a little, and he lets out an involuntary sniffle. Trying to hold back is getting harder.] I'm not crying, okay?!

[Shiro responds to Lance's tightening hold, his own arms closing a little closer too. Like he's going to hold on forever. Like he's not going to let anything take Lance away.

Being called dad... he doesn't know if he's ever going to take that for granted. It's not something his kids usually call him, at least not seriously, but when they do, he knows what it means and -

and there's no feeling in the world like it.]

It's never going to change. [His own voice is a little gruff.] I promise that, Lance. I will always your dad. No matter what.

[He has to swallow, throat tight and he huffs out a sound and scrubs his hand gently against the back of Lance's head.] Okay. But if you were, crying would be okay too. You know?

[It's not going to change. Lance clings to every word from Shiro, taking in every consoling feeling that comes from this. It's a good feeling to have, and just something he's wanted to hear. Shiro could tell him over and over and it just gets better and nicer every time. Lance is sure he's got the best dad in the universe.

He wants to blame having emotions on the fact that he's tired and miserable and hungry, but who's he kidding? He's always been easy to cry. There's another sniffle as he feels that hand ruffling his hair, and Lance moves one arm up to wipe away falling tears from his cheek. He gives up trying to stop them by will of squeezing his eyes; they're falling regardless.]

Yeah... B-but I'm not.

[He's totally crying. Sorry about your shoulder there, Shiro.]

[Shiro's got big shoulders. They can handle a little salt water.

So he just rests the side of his cheek against Lance's head and lets his boy cry. Because there's nothing wrong with tears and the fact Lance lets them out is actually something he thinks is incredibly healthy. He worries about the others that hold theirs in. Better to lance the wound and let it out. There's not rush to try to hurry Lance through and he's had worse that snot on him from the kids so he doesn't mind. It's a good thing. When Lance starts to finish though, Shiro's hand that's been stroking the back of his head stops moving again. Give a light ruffle. Gives him an out and a distraction the way only a dork like Shiro can. With a conversational:]

If I remember right, the Fourth Hokage in Naruto cried too. And he was a total bad ass. Just sayin'.

[Lance just tries to keep himself from sobbing. Usually, he tries not to cry around his other siblings or around Shiro, but it's not exactly rare that he does. But he's glad Shiro doesn't mind, and seeing as Shiro hasn't forced him away, Lance doesn't let go at all. He isn't ready to, not until he's feeling a little calmer from everything. Moving his hand back up, he pulls on his sleeve to cover his hand and uses that to wipe away his face, grimacing a little. Crying makes his eyes all puffy, and that's totally uncute.

But Shiro's little joke gets a laugh out of Lance, and he hides his face against Shiro's shoulder as he whacks him gently with his hand.]

Really, Shiro?! We're having a moment here, and you're ruining it with Naruto references? Do you want me to keep crying on your shoulder? [But when he lifts his head finally, he grins.] Now I know what I'm watching this weekend. [Assuming he doesn't lose TV time. He hasn't forgotten that he's still eventually in trouble.]

[Shiro gives a little amused grunt and lets himself sway the slightest bit at Lance's hit even if it really isn't hard enough to warrant it. This -

this is better. Whatever Lance has been going through this past month, Shiro thinks, maybe, they've finally hit the turning point of it. Not the end. And certainly not the end of all the issues that simply being a teenager brings up but... maybe a shift in the wind to this one part. Emotions don't need a reason to happen. They just do. Sometimes you get a break though. He reaches up and cups the side of Lance's head when the boy smiles at him and he can't help but smile back.]

Hey now. Naruto is super cool. Believe it. [His smile softens and he gives Lance another little hair ruffle before letting go.] Go on, kiddo. Go get that shower. I'll throw the dumplings in the microwave and be up with your pjs in a minute. [Light, his fingertips touch his son's cheek and his voice softens.] We're gonna be okay, Lance. I promise.

Aaaaand you're embarrassing again.

[But there's no bite to his words as he moves back, chuckling a little at the ruffle. It feels like a weight has been lifted from his shoulders. Sure, they'll probably go back to Lance trying to forge Shiro's signature to get out of trouble, or the school calling about skipping detentions in favor of suspicious library excursions again soon, but right now, everything feels nice and fitting. He'll get his backpack, and he's got the best dad on earth who's getting him a late-night dinner and the best ruffles a brat like him could ask for.

But more than that, it feels like everything will be okay. Lance's grin grows and he nods.]

I'm holding you to it. Guess you're still stuck with me this time, huh.

For all times, Lance.

[And there's actually a small chuckle afterward as Shiro turns back to the fridge to put the bag of peas away and start getting a late night meal ready.]

For all times and then some, huh! Don't blame me if I end up staying here after college.

[He grins back, but wastes no time in skipping off to the shower in the bathroom with most of his face products. He's giving himself a face mask after late dinner, Shiro can't stop him.]

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the family that slays together stays together

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good place to wrap it up?

Sounds good~ ;A; another feels thread, how does this keep happening?!

our two just gravitate that way apparently! seriously I love threading with you :D

fluffy feels, it's kind of amazing. 8D Thread with me always~