[ Inspire Me ] [ Shiro / Jace ]

[squabbel]

Shiro was sitting quietly in his living room, staring blankly at the floor, as one of his fingers traced the edges of a wine glass filled with water. He seemed to be deep in thought, and a sudden realization struck him, he looked up at a portrait of a beautiful woman he lightly muttered, "I'm lonely," then as if on queue there was a light rapping on the front door. Shiro looked in it's direction, and as if he had forgotten the events of yesterday he asked himself, "Now who could that be?"

He stood up and walked to the door and looked through the peep whole, seeing a familiar concerned face. "Jace," he whispered, and everything came back to him, the boy, the weakness, the thirst, and the murders, he remembered it all. The police must have found out by now... wait, was that Jace I saw last night? he contemplated on what to do. Eventually he grabbed the handle and opened the door, forgetfully standing in the direct path of the sun. His skin burned for a second when he hissed in pain and stumbled backwards, shielding his face with his wrists.

Shiro risked a peek to see Jace standing in the doorway, "Mr. Vicks? what are you doing here?"

[Ninia]

Jace let out the breath he didn’t know he’d been holding when the door opened, revealing Shiro on the other side. He grinned at the man and raised his hand in greeting “Hey, Shi-” He was cut short when Shiro suddenly stumbled back and clutched his wrist in pain. He was confused at first but then remembered what Shiro had said about him and the sun when they first met. He wasn’t left outside long before Shiro appeared in the doorway again, this time hidden from the sun.

Jace listened to Shiro’s question before laughing sheepishly “It’s kind of a stupid reason really. It’s really because of what was on the news. You’ve seen it right? The murders.” He paused for a moment, feeling a little uncomfortable speaking about it in the open. “Well one of the guys they described reminded me of you and for a second I thought…” He trailed of feeling a little silly. He shrugged his shoulders and grinned at Shiro again “Anyway, I let my mind run away from me and just wanted to check. It was stupid really.”

[squabbel]

Shiro didn't know what Jace was talking about for a minute until the faces of last night, 'it was on the news? I guess I didn't cover up too well by why did he suspect I was a victim? he wondered. He remembered one of the victims, a college student just about to graduate with long brown hair, much like his, 'He must have thought that was me,' he said to himself. He looked at Jace thoughtfully, "I don't watch television really, but it is heartwarming that someone cares to think about me, how about you come inside for a while, I mean you're already here," he offered, waving him inside.

He motioned for him to sit on the chair closest to his and sat down, "Would you like some thing to drink, or eat, it's early, I'm sure I could whip something up for you," he told him acting allot more accommodating, and generous than before, much different from yesterday, being very grouchy, and unsociable.

[Ninia]

Jace thought about the offer for moment before nodding “Sure, I’m not busy right now.” He’d had writers block for a while anyway so this was better than sitting I front of a computer doing nothing for the whole day. He followed Shiro inside and into the living room, sitting on the chair closest to Shiro. “A glass of water would be great thanks, no food for me I’m not that hungry.” He said flashing Shiro a smile, he’d lost his appetite after the news this morning. The man seemed livelier today, completely different from yesterday, speaking of yesterday.

“How are you Shiro? You seemed really ill yesterday and I was a little worried about you.” Ok, he’d been a more than a little worried but he didn’t want to make a big deal out of it especially since Shiro seemed completely fine now.

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Shiro nodded and walked away to the kitchen still within ears reach of the boy, a little cut out in the counter let him view the boy sitting in the living room. "It wasn't as bad as it seemed, but I'm actually feeling much better," he told him, tucking one of the long brown curls behind his ear. He poured some water into a wine glass much like his and turned back to the living room, setting it on the table next to Jace. "I apologize, I never meant to worry you," he told him as he settled in his chair.

"You know, you seemed very interested in my books the other day, I don't know if you'd have any way to store them, but, I have much much more in storage, that I'll probably never read again, if you'd like I could show you sometime and you're more than welcome to take a few," he told him looking up above the fireplace, where the portrait hung. "I've had allot of time on my hands over the years, reading's the only thing that seems to occupy enough time anymore, I think I still have a few shelves I could probably give to you as well," Shiro used to have a large library on his ship, and when he moved into his home he had taken a bit too many bookshelves and books to fit in the house.

[Ninia]

Jace glanced round the room before settling on the portrait of a women hanging above the fireplace, he watched her for a while studying her features as she stared back at him. He turned away when Shiro came back with a glass of water and placed it next to him. Jace took the glass slowly sipping it, before glancing up at Shiro as he spoke. “Really? You’ll let me take some books?” He grinned at Shiro “Thanks. Storage isn’t really a problem; I collect a lot of books anyway.” He listened to Shiro talk and watched as turned to look at the portrait that Jace had been looking at earlier.

“I’d love to take a look at them; maybe they’ll give me some inspiration.” He looked up at the portrait that held Shiro’s attention “She’s very beautiful. Is this a family heirloom or did you buy this somewhere?” The woman had a proud, elegant look to her.

[squabbel]

Shio nodded, "Well they're just wasting away in storage, you can come with me next time I go to dust them," he told him, sipping at his water, his eyes looking over the dirt old portrait. He looked over at Jace, when he addressed it, and asked him a question. He hesitated contemplating on whether he'd tell him the truth or not, inevitably he decided he's tell the truth, just leave out a few details. He sighed and sat down his drink, and began twirling one of his long curls.

"An old friend of mine did it for me a long time ago, or rather did it for himself and forced me to have it, He was never that good of a painter though, but when he painted her, he seemed to be a master, I've had it ever since I came here, it's just one of those things, that you can't just get rid of," he told him, looking over the painting, hating all the memories it brought back.

[Ninia]

Jace listened quietly as Shiro talked about the painting. When he’d finished they sat in silence for a while, Jace watching Shiro who looked deep in thought. “He must have been important to you, since you’ve kept it this long.” He finished his drink and placed the glass down on the table next to him before he stood and stretched his arms above his head.

“Well, I’m not really busy today so I don’t mind looking at the books now. Unless you’re busy today, then I’ll just come over later if you want.” He knew he was partially trying to stall getting back to work but he also wanted to spend some more tie with Shiro, he man interested him.

[squabbel]

Shiro nodded, twisting the same lock of hair, over and over. "Yeah, he was," he murmured, almost sadly. He lowered his hand and tapped at the wooden arm rests before looking at Jace, taking a moment to think about a visit. "Well I suppose they could use a light dusting, you wouldn't min helping me would you?" he asked standing up to get the supplies. "I have an ungodly amount of books there, I suppose I was stalling to take care of them," he told him putting a hand on his hip, and the other rubbed on the back of his neck.

He then left to grab the supplies before setting them on a chair and looking around for something. "I always hate going out, I look stupid since I have to cover myself so much.

[Ninia]

Jace smiled at Shiro “I don’t mind helping, it might help get your mind off whatever gave you that sad expression just then.” Jace watched Shiro leave to get the supplies they would need. Jace ran a hand through his still slightly damp hair and glanced back at the painting. “I wonder who you are…” He mumbled to himself as he studied the woman’s features. Jace didn’t have to wait long for Shiro to return carrying the supplies. He set them on a chair and went to look for something.

Jace remembered Shiro’s reaction to the sun when he’d accidently stood in it this morning. “It’s better in the long run, looking a bit silly is better than hurting yourself. Where do you keep your books anyway? I thought you would have kept them here.”

[squabbel]

Shiro nodded and sighed moving to one of the nearby side tables and pulled out a long black cloak with a chain that held it around him, and a hood that would easily cover his face. He clipped it on and pulled the hood over his face, grabbing a set of supplies and hiding them under his close. "That's the thing with this house, no storage space, and once you see how many books I have there, you'd understand why they're in storage," he told the boy, motioning for him to follow.

He opened the door and hissed at the heat, slowly making his way out to the sidewalk, "It's only a few blocks over, you don't mind walking do you?" he asked since he never did invest in an earthly town car. The only thing he had that resembled a car, was the JetKar he purchased along with his ship.

[Ninia]

Jace waited until Shiro was ready then followed him out of the house. He heard Shiro hiss at the sun and paused for a moment “We can take my car if you want? I don’t mind walking but if you’re in pain it will probably get us there quicker.” His car was parked in his drive. It was an old pickup truck that had been his dad’s old car. His dad had given it to Jace when he’d started Uni and so far the truck had been good to him, plus there was a lot of room for the books.

He turned back to look at Shiro “I mean we don’t have to, I just thought that it might be better for you if you’re not out in the sun as much.”

[squabbel]

Shiro looked to Jace, then to the truck in the driveway, he sighed, "Well, it's your care, if you're willing to waste the gas," he told him, instinctively walking towards the contraption. Of all the years he had spent on earth, he had never even seen a pickup truck, he knew nothing of it or how to get in or if there were seat belts. Really as he stood there waiting for Jace, he wouldn't have been surprised if the belts were made of weak rope.

The boy got in, and Shiro gave a mental sigh of relief when he realized it was just a bigger, ugly looking town car. He sat in the passenger seat and sat the supplies in the floorboard and bundled his cloak in his lap. "Thank you for your generosity Mr. Vicks, remind me to pay you back someday," he told him hiding from the sun.

[Ninia]

Jace grinned and walked over to his truck, pulling the keys out of his pocket on the way. “I don’t mind paying for gas, it’s better than you being in pain all the way there and back.” He opened the door and slid into the drivers set of the old blue truck. He waited for Shiro to put on his belt and get settled before he pulled out. “You don’t have to pay me back, it’s my pleasure. Besides I may be getting some books so it’s a fair trade.”

The roads were surprisingly clear as they drove in silence, Jace breaking it every once in a while to ask Shiro for directions. They’d been driving for a while when Jace decided to try and start a conversation with Shiro to find out more about him “So Shiro, wht do you do for living?”

[squabbel]

Shiro just looked down at his lap as they drove, only looking up when Jace asked for directions. "You're very kind Mr. Vicks," he told him, "I'll be sure you get at least a few books from my collection then." They were almost there when Jace asked him a question, he thought a bit, since he really didn't have a job, nor did he ever did. He tugged his hood down a bit lower. "Well, I don't really have a job at the moment, sometimes I spend my time making prints in my basement and book bindings, and that's how I earn most of my money," he answered, glancing over at the young boy.

"And what do you do Mr. Vicks? You must be doing well to be able move into a nice house all on your own," he asked curious, "You seem to have allot of time on your hands, so you couldn't be a store clerk or anything that requires you to be gone for the most of the day."