bakerstreet | THE BAR FIGHT MEME

THE BAR FIGHT MEME

THE BAR FIGHT MEME

HOW TO PLAY
1) Post a blank comment with your character, or post with your preferences
2) Reply to others by rolling the RNG between 1-10 to pick a prompt, or just grab one you want.
3) Are you two the ones fighting? Are you teamed up? Or are you just a bystander? Decide!
4) Have fun and don’t cause too much collateral damage.

PROMPTS
1) RAGING DRUNK WHO’S THAT ASSHOLE STARING AT ME? I’M-I’M, GUYS I’M GONNA FIH….I’M GONNA FIGHT HIM. I’M GONNA….GUYS BACK ME UP. GUYS

2) RELUCTANT All you wanted is a quiet drink alone or a nice night with your friends. You really didn’t mean to knock that person’s drink over. Now they wanna go and you just wanna go home.

3) DISRESPECT Someone’s been talking shit about someone, and you’ve got some honor to defend or a score to settle.

4) START SOME SHIT Literally the only reason you’re out tonight is to fuck shit up.

5) YOU ASSHOLE You've hustled someone at pool, or said some rude things pretty loud, or hit on someone too aggressively. Doesn't matter, you’ve been a jerk and now karma’s gonna kick your ass.

6) BLOODBATH You didn’t start the fight. You have no idea who started the fight. But now everyone’s fighting and it’s throw a punch or cower behind the bar time.

7) VENDETTA You’ve got history with this person and now they’re here in the bar with you. It doesn’t matter if they’ve actually done anything to you tonight, you’re still gonna brawl.

8) NOT MY CIRCUS Someone else actually tarted some shit. The shit his happening in your general vicinity and is threatening to get you into it like some kind of booze fuled blood katamari. You getting involved?

8) WILD Go nuts

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[Lance is tall. Out of all the paladins, he's probably the closest to Shiro's height. But he's also lean and even with all their training, he's light compared. So when he stumbles and tries to dig in his heels and just ends up stumbling some more -

Shiro simply reaches one arm down, hooks it around Lance's waist, and lifts.

It lifts Lance right off his feet. And Shiro is almost to the door. Shiro's doing his best but his chest feels tight and the back of his head is starting to tighten as well. Which means there's something worming its way up that really wants him to remember or relive or simply have the horrible feeling of remembering without remembering and here is not the time or place for it. His voice is a mutter.]

You're half a tick away from just being tucked up under my arm, Lance. Move your boots, cadet.

[The moment his feet leave the ground, Lance yelps a little, though he's quick to realize it's Shiro lifting him and not him just stumbling. His protests die off pretty quickly, but it's Shiro's words that drive it home. The downside about being so twiggy is that he's easy to lift, and no matter how much he eats or trains, he's still all lean muscle at best.

So of course he's no match for Shiro. And he knows Shiro will hold true to his threat--the man could probably throw him, quite literally, out the door. His gaze turns down as his feet touch the floor, and he cooperates.]

Yessir. [He frowns, feeling almost like a scolded child, but does his best to walk along as Shiro leads him out. He's quiet for the next few seconds. And then...

A sniffle.] But I wanted moooore...

[Lance is still a kid. An older kid but still a kid all the same. His body won't start filling out bulk, with the body type he has, until he's in his twenties. In the meantime, its mostly upward when it comes to growth, though his shoulders say he'll grow into that the older he gets. Right now though - no, he's no match for Shiro and while Shiro would never throw him, he had been getting awfully close to dragging.

Because he needs to get out of the confines of that bar and all that rowdy noise and -

the inhale he sucks in the second they clear the building and are out in the open again sounds a little like someone drowning and trying not to be obvious about it. Even his helmet feels claustrophobic but he refuses to take it off where he might be recognized. The small ground plane is still waiting not that far away and Shiro's glad there aren't any locals around it. Just a little bit more and he's in the clear.

He does hear the sniffle. And he even feels the stab of guilt for it. But even if he wasn't riding the hard edge of a break he still wouldn't let Lance stay. He digs deep and goes for humor, hoping it will serve as a distraction.]

That better not be the beginning of a Little Mermaid song.

[Lance catches the inhale and turns to glance at Shiro--or tries, really. Coordination is completely shot, along with his focus, so the most he has is his distant thoughts wondering if maybe Shiro held his breath in there. But it feels nice outside, and as Lance drops his head against Shiro's as they walk, and even though he's miserable that he's outside, he's okay with the nice breeze.

Except he still wants to drink. He was having fun in there, and walking--or doing his best moving his feet in the direction of walking, he's sure, he thinks--back to the ship is not fun.

But, singing?

Lance sniffles again. And he does just that.]

I'unna be where the... people are... Wanna be--no, um. Wanna see them dancin'! [There's a hiccup.] Walkin' around on those, whadda'um... feeeeeeet! [With the hand not around Shiro's arm, he lifts it and flops it around pathetically.] Flippin' fins, y'don't get far, legs, you need 'em for jumpin', and daaaancin'! And stroooooollin' on the uh... streeeeet--

[Sorry, Shiro. Lance isn't even quiet about it. But he trips again, and grabs for Shiro again to catch his balance.]

[That -

is not at all what he intended when he brought it up.

If he'd been focused, paying attention to the situation, maybe but -

when Lance bursts into sudden song, Shiro almost drops him.

...

and it jars him right out of the creeping feeling of memories better forgotten.

He doesn't drop Lance but after the first surprise jerk he does readjust his hold on him before he keeps going.

Lance may have a nice singing voice - but maudlin drunk singing is definitely not the way to showcase it if he does. The fact that he's seriously butchering a Little Mermaid song somehow makes the whole situation even more surreal.

- all right. And funny.

Shiro knows he shouldn't laugh. He shouldn't laugh because it might hurt Lance's feelings, which are already hurt because he's being dragged away from his fun. And he shouldn't laugh because there's probably going to be the edge of relieved hysteria to it and that's never a good sign. So he chokes it down but - Lance flapping his hand doesn't really help and its a relief when they get to the vehicle and Shiro can bodily pick Lance up without opening the door and just deposit him inside. As he reaches for the harness to strap his teammate in place, he mutters:]

What I wouldn't do for a recording of this.

[Lance doesn't miss a beat even with their combined stumbling. He doesn't even notice Shiro almost lose his grip, thinking it's more him losing his own footing than anything else. Because it keeps happening. His feet don't agree with him, especially not as he tries to focus on singing too.

It's a good thing Lance knows this song by heart and in two languages already. Makes it easier to keep going.

There's a pause as he feels himself dropped into the seat, and he stares, a little surprised they made it this distance in that amount of time. As Shiro moves in to strap him into the seat, Lance brings both hands up to his shoulders, dropping them down. And he looks serious..

But then--

He lifts a hand up.]

Up where they waaaalk, up where they ruuuunnn, I wanna stay away in thaaa suuuunnnn!!

Wond'rin' free, Lance wants to beeee...

Part of yooooouuurrr woooorrrlllddd!!!

[And he nods, like he's just told Shiro a very quiet, serious secret, and not belting out drunken song lyrics at him. He decides he's good, taking a deep breath, and then tries to stand back up.]

[Shiro's eyes go wide when Lance claps his hands on his shoulder and he freezes, still feeling - a little disembodied really. Because - this has to be one of the strangest nights of his life and, given his abduction by aliens, he thinks that should count for a lot. And he's got the feeling that Lance is either going to announce the need to puke -

or deliver some kind of deep Earth changing revelation and Shiro's honestly not sure he'd ready for that currently.

Except - oh thank God -

and what a bizarre thing to feel relief over -

Lance bursts into song again.

Somebody really needs to come be the adult here. Because Shiro's done.

The desire to laugh wells up again and it really is edged with hysteria this time so Shiro swallows it down hard.

Lance wants to be, huh?

Tomorrow he's going to enjoy reminding Lance of this moment. Tomorrow.]

Nope. [His hand comes down firm on Lance's shoulder as the song finishes and Lance tries to get back up. He's got more than enough strength to hold the other paladin down but he doesn't apply it yet. Instead he uses his other hand to reach around and finish latching down the harness.] We've got people waiting for us back at the Castle. Hunk already took Keith. Now I'm taking you. Karaoke night can continue there.

[He whines as he's pushed back, but Shiro manages to strap him in completely before Lance realizes what's happening. He pulls against the harness, frowning when he realizes he's completely trapped, and, without seeing where the harness connects, he's sure it's forever. Reaching over to grab Shiro's hand, he just pouts at him.]

Hunk took Keith?! He, he left me?!

[He isn't sure on the explanation of why, but he really doesn't care. His breath hitches, eyes wide, and they grow watery immediately.] Can't b'liiiieeeve him! My bestest best friend! Just... just ditched me!

[There's another sniffle. Then those dreaded things--the start of tears.]

Shiro, let's stay out here. I'm upseeeet! I'm not gonna be part of Hunk's world no more, oooonly Shiro's.

[oh.

oh God.

oh God, no.

He's not ready for this. Shiro's really not ready for this. Lance grabs his head and the tears well up and - Shiro feels a small swell of panic inside his own chest. He's not -

he's not emotionally stable himself right now thanks to the bar and if Lance's singing has somehow managed to snap him out of an impending flashback the damage from it is still there. He can't -

Except his paladin needs him.

Even if only in a soppy, drunken, illogical way and Shiro can't ignore that. So he sits on the edge of the door, balancing as he pulls Lance's head against his shoulder with one hand, trying not to mash anything that's already mashed on the teen's face.]

Hunk had to go back. You were in a fight and he might have gotten hurt. That's what I'm for. You - trust me, [it was a low mutter, for himself not Lance's ears.] You really don't want to be part of my world, kiddo.

[Light he scrubbed his hands over the back of Lance's head. Spoke in a more normal tone.] Come one, buddy. I need to get you back to base before you start feeling what's been done to your face.

[Lance sways into Shiro's hold, forehead resting against Shiro's shoulder as he just whines. His tears aren't even normally upset, as they've taken on an edge of misery and hysteria of his own. He's on some sort of emotional high that's riding with the high level of alcohol in his system, and waning from the adrenaline of the fight, he just feels like whining. He's used to Hunk's pats on the back and logic to get him to stop being illogical.

But Shiro? He gives hugs. Lance lets out another pathetic whine.]

Tha's 'cause Shiro's the best. Best best best...

[But when Shiro mentions his face, Lance sits up, eyes wide as he looks at Shiro.] Huh? Wh'appened? It's just my nose...

[He doesn't even know that. But he touches his nose again, then looks at his gloves, which are already a mess, and his expression takes on a tone of surprise. He glances back at Shiro. And then makes another startling revelation:]

He punched me... Shiiiiirooo, I gotta punch him back! I gotta--gonna go back inside. [He tries to pull the harness off... by just tugging at the straps. It's not very effective.]

[Good thing its not very effective but watching Lance struggle at it does lighten Shiro's mood a little. There's something about someone that's all arms and legs at this point of their life flailing that just - well, it's probably not the kind of thing he's supposed to find a mix of funny and endearing as an adult but it's helping. He plants a hand firmly in the center of Lance's chest, not needing to apply pressure to keep him in place thanks to the harness.]

Not today, Lance. He's not conscious right now away. We already took care of that, remember?

[And, hopefully Lance will need to deal with trying to remember because Shiro needs a bit of time as he strands up and walks over to the other side of the craft, slipping into the drivers seat and pulling the door shut. And then, and only then, does he finally reach up and take his helmet off, pulling in a deep breath as he does.]

[Lance halts in his wiggling movements when he sees Shiro's hand, and he stares at it for a moment before looking back at Shiro. He's amazed--Shiro stopped him from getting up really fast, with just a touch. Nevermind the actual harnesses, but this is just a magical move to him. He listens quietly, but doesn't seem quite like he can believe it.

So they already beat up the guy... Lance doesn't remember punching anyone. But he also doesn't quite remember the entire sequence of events leading to himself getting punched, so he's sure there's some story out there. He just mulls on it while Shiro lets himself into the craft next to him, but finds himself facing it with a small whine.]

Shiiiiiroooo... I wanna go baaaack.

['We' is probably pretty generous of Shiro in his story but currently, he thinks that's fine. His heart rate is finally starting to come back down and the longer he's out of the bar and away from a cheering crowd the more the rising worms in the back of his memory quiet down. Lance is helping ground him in his own way, even if its simply by being... Lance.

A Lance that's currently pretty unhappy with the situation and Shiro is kind of glad there isn't a rear view or side mirrors on this thing because if Lance could see how bad his face looks it would be even worse. He starts the craft and turns it, heading back for the Castle. And he stays quiet for a long moment before simply, quietly, asking:]

Why?

[And Shiro is still leading them forward. Lance lets out a whine, leaning back in his seat as they drift forward. The idea of returning to the castle means his eventful evening returns to somewhat normalcy that they've found on their journey.

Lance just wanted another evening out. He's been having fun with them, even though his many trips have started getting him into more trouble than what they're worth. But he finds he can't pout as hard as he wants to--his face feels a little stiff. That's weird... Shiro's question surprises him though, and he thinks about it for a moment. He's just making up justification now.]

Castle's gonna be booooring. Coran's gonna make me clean.

[His hands grip at the harness again, but then his face turns a little pale and he reaches a hand out to pat Shiro's arm as his stomach lurches uncomfortably.] S-stop, stop! [He's getting a little nauseous from wiggling around so much.]

[Shiro's about to comment that he's pretty sure Coran's not going to make Lance clean. Not with a face like that and still mostly drunk. That sounds like a recipe for disaster. But before he can get it out, Lance is wiggling more dramatically than he had been before and -

Right. He doesn't have to tell Shiro twice. The pod pulls over to the side of what passes for a road here and Shiro triggers the door on Lance's side open in almost the same motion, reaching over to press a hand to the kid's back and guide him into a lean that will take him over the side of the door's lip.]

Keep it outside the car if you can -

[Lance's stomach lurches again when Shiro moves the pod to the side, and he manages to clamp a hand over his mouth to avoid letting anything spill out. Shiro barely gets him situated before he leans over, immediately expelling a mouthful of barely-digested alcohol and bile. He keeps one hand gripped on the side of the pod to steady himself, though he he seems all but steady as he does his best to avoid getting sick all over the side of the pod.

It takes Lance a few long minutes before he manages to pull back, and he merely leans on the side of the door, trying to catch his breath. He hadn't quite regretted his evening out until this moment. There's a soft groan.]

Quiznak... I drank a lot.

[Shiro has to fight down his own sympathy gag as Lance empties his stomach on the side of the road. Apparently his time with the Galra got him better at it though because its not as much of a struggle as it used to be when he was at the Garrison. Probably - hopefully - something to do with food being important and necessary to keep down.

He hopes.

But he keeps his hand on Lance's back, more for moral support, and - wow. That - is a lot coming out. Which is probably a good thing. He's not sure what alien alcohol does to the human body, though nothing too detrimental or Coran would have warned them off it before the ship had even landed but - its probably better to get as much of it out of Lance's body as possible.

He still feels bad for the kid and his hand shifts from simple support to a rub once Lance is groaning.

He's worried about Lance's drinking. Not just because the kid tends to get in trouble when he is, though there is that. But he worries that Lance is using it to escape or hide and that the more it happens, the more he's going to turn that direction. Lance, all of his team, have plenty of reasons to want to escape and hide sometimes. They're teenagers that had been ripped from their homes and everything they know about normality and their lives and they're fighting a war, just five of them, seven if you count the Alteans, against an empire that literally spans the entire universe.

No one in their right mind would agree to something like that.

But his team had to, because there was no other option, because none of them are the kind that can stand aside and not take action against something like that. And - its got to eat at them. He knows it does. His hand keeps rubbing soothing circles and he turns off the pod's power, letting it settle gently down.]

Yeah. You did. [The pods all come with small survival gear packs and Shiro fishes this one's out with his other hand, digging around in the small bag until he finds something that's probably not supposed to be used that way but hands it over to Lance like a handkerchief or small towel.] Here. Be careful with your nose.

[This is the part of 'drunk' that Lance doesn't like. The part that comes with emotional lows and pity, on top of just being overly disoriented to where he can't do much. He likes the fun atmosphere of the space raves and the cute people he meets at bars, but this?

This feels like the pits. But if there's anyone outside of Hunk to sit with moping with the taste of acidic regret still lingering in his mouth, it's Shiro, especially because the older Paladin's presence is comforting. Adrenaline waning, he just mumbles pitifully, soaking in the backrub. It's keeping him calm, and it feels like his stomach is settling at least a bit more. Tomorrow will probably be a day full of many regrets, but at least he can prolong thinking about that too. Lance mopes at the cloth, but he takes it anyway, bringing it to his face--

Or rather, whapping himself in the nose with it. He whimpers, but manages to move the cloth to hold his nose and leans back, grimacing as he tries to settle back. And his stomach rolls, which has him moving right back to lean against the door. Gonna take him a few more minutes.]

Don't let 'Lura see me til my face is pretty again, okay? Gotta... wash it first. And... and... [And he leans forward and retches again. Give him another minute.]

[Shiro hums an agreeing sound, hand right back on Lance's back rubbing circles as the poor kid leans back out the door so his stomach can make a few more attempts at seeing if there's anything left it can get rid of. No, he doesn't intend to get Allura involved in this. She's a compassionate woman but when it comes to the paladins she can been a little... black and white on things. And frankly Shiro doesn't know her well enough yet to be able to tell if this is one of those compassionate situations or whether she'd be recommending a round with the Gladiator for Lance instead. So, for now, he's just not going to risk finding out.

Coran though, he has an idea that letting Coran help would be a good idea. Once they get back to the castle.

When they get back to the castle he thinks, wincing in sympathy as Lance retches again.]

[It takes Lance another moment, but it isn't as productive so much as it's just noise. Residual nausea, the other worst of the night. He takes a few deep breaths and just grumbles, moving himself back slowly. He's definitely going to feel this in the morning, as he can already feel a forming headache. Leaning back into the pod, he wipes his mouth off with the back of his hand and moves the cloth back to his nose, another hand moving to his head.

Even with all of that and he still feels all out of sorts. Still way too much space alcohol in his system, and he's reached the next stage of Drunken Misery: regret.]

I hope I'm done, I wanna be done. [And then, a whine.] Shiiiiiroooo, can I take this off and lie in the back? [He isn't even sure if the pod has backseats, he didn't really get a good look at the pod. But he'd like to, it'd be much nicer.] This planet's meeeean, it hurt my face. B-but not your face, yooour face is perfect.

[Shiro's eyebrow arches at the commentary on his own face, not at all sure that the massive scar across his nose counts as perfect but not really thinking that now is the time or place to point that out. Instead he goes with priorities.]

There's no backseat. I don't think the seats even tip back. Why don't we leave the windshield [for lack of a better word to call the dissolving protective front panel] down so you can at least get some fresh air. We'll take it slow. You can lay down once we're back at the castle. You'll feel better once you're not upright.

[And he waits for the answer. Because, while he's very sure he could just start driving again without Lance's okay or no... there's that whole vomit thing and he's not in any rush to take more of a risk with it ending up inside the cab with them than he has to.]

[No backseat, no leaning the seat back... Which just means sucking it up and dealing with it. Well, going slow will probably help, especially since the route is... well. As scenic as this place can make it. Lance doesn't reply just yet, setting a hand down on his stomach to try and gauge if he's still nauseous enough to keep going or not. But he's feeling mostly settled, so he drops his hand and just goes back to fiddling with the harness.]

I'm good now. Fresh air 'n just go slow, aaaaand I'm good!

[Lance sends Shiro a smile, bright and pleasant given his current state, and he nods.]

Let's go back! An' we'll come back t'morrow! I wanna sing. Can I sing? It's a good distrack... astrack...shun... It works, okay?

[Not for the fist time, Shiro really wishes he had his camera.

Because Lance's face is utterly horrifying when he's trying to smile around the mess of it that dried blood, booze and snot has made of it.

And he's pretty sure that if he recorded it he could put Lance off ever drinking again.

Instead he just reaches over and, very gently, ruffled Lance's hair. Poor kid is going to feel this so bad in the morning.

Then he puts down the screen so its just fresh air and eases back onto the 'road', pointing the pod back toward the castle. He shakes his head though, frowning, more to himself than at Lance.]

I don't think me making a second appearance would be a good idea. [Absent his hand drifts up to the scar over his nose - and then he glances over at Lance since the pod practically drives itself and raises his eyebrows.] You want to sing now?

[The ruffling has Lance grinning a bit more, but the gesture pacifies him into sitting back in his seat as they move forward. He dabs at his nose with the cloth, though he smiles when he realizes the bleeding has mostly stopped. It's just... messy. But he waves a hand at Shiro, dismissing that concern with ease.]

Naaahh, they liked ya. Liked ya a lot.

[Of course, he isn't thinking of a potential fight do-over that could happen tomorrow, or anything outside of the blast. Not to mention how much he might not want that tomorrow once tomorrow actually comes. He's already starting to feel the growing buds of a headache, but he's determined to ignore them.

So, instead of answering directly, he responds... in song.]

LET IT GOOOOOO, LET IT GOOOOO! Can't hold it back anymoooore! Let it gooooo! Let it goooo!! Turn awaaaayyy and slam tha doooorrr!! [And with the slam, he reaches over to grab Shiro's shoulder. He's getting into it.]

[Shiro thinks keeping them all out of town, possibly for good, but definitely for a few days, might be a good call. If fighting is the national past time - and he's just earned accolades for his skill at it -

it doesn't seem to him that that's something the town needs a chance to test out on anyone else. And he knows he certainly doesn't want to show up for a rematch.

It's - hard not to kill someone by accident when you've got a hand made of Galra metal...

But before that thought can carry though -

oh God.

...

It's going to be a long ride home.

But Shiro's lips still twitch up a little at their edges as he asks:]

Know any old school songs? Like Oliver and Company?

THE BAR FIGHT MEME

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good place to wrap?

Sure thing!

I just had to add it

ooc

Re: ooc

(no subject)