[ frivolous. yeah, okay. that's not the word keith would use to describe spending about ten bucks on hair dye if it makes shiro more comfortable in his own body, but the message underlying the pragmatism is clear: no more discussion. maybe he'd overstepped by suggesting he could give shiro the extra money? whatever the case may be, keith merely raises one eyebrow and gives a noncommittal shrug. ]

Save the money for a flight down to Phoenix when the stress from the apocalypse gets overwhelming. Got it. [ it's stated a little wryly, but it's not meant to be incendiary. unfolding his arms to shove his hands into his pockets, keith's pace gets a pinch more brisk as he files away this tidbit about shiro's state of mind. ]

Have you ever been to a ghost town before?

[ he figures shiro's probably more well traveled on earth than he himself ever was. consequence of being raised in a single parent home with a busy dad and then getting dumped into state custody? not a whole lot of vacationing out of state. add the fact that keith's objectively seen more of space than he's seen of earth to the ever growing list of shit he will not be unpacking any time soon.

or well -- maybe this whole ghost conversation's gonna have to be put on hold another tick? as the distance between them and the foundations of the nearest house dwindles, there's a breeze in the air that's curiously salty. weird, considering they're not by the beach or anything. keith wrinkles his brow slightly, but doesn't know what to actually make of it.

even better (or worse) is the fact that they get closer to the rundown walls, it's clear that there's someone just crouching there with her back turned to them by the staircase leading to nowhere. long dark hair that's matted in places obscures most of her appearance, but even so the following gentle breeze makes keith stammer in the middle of his sentence. ]

Was she always-- I think I just saw her ass.