Oh look it's another mingle

[padadin]

Who: The Blameless crew and anyone that wants to visit! You don't need established cr, just come by and say hello!
Broadcast: If anyone wants to, sure.
Action: Yes!
When: Through July.

[Welcome to the SS Blameless! The crew is small and two of them will be invisible to most people, but hey, we have a dog. That alone makes us the best ship. No, really.

Come in, come in! Congratulate the two new captains! (Marriage jokes? Oh, those go on that table over there, thank you.) Also we have a motherfucking lounge now, which will come with all the games bought in a waystation.

It's time for strip poker. Or, you know, space Uno. Whichever is less dangerous.]

Comments

[padadin]

[He raises an eyebrow. He doesn't know if being concerned or amused at Keith's conclusions. Probably 50-50.

...but since calibrations left him confused as hell and he doesn't want to think about that, let's go with amused.]

Yes, just like I did back home.

[tempredmental]

[Wait.

Processing.

What?

Keith blinked.]

Who were you sleeping with back home- Wait! You didn't tell me you slept with her!

[padadin]

[Shiro sighs. It seems today it's not the day for his revenge. He puts a hand on Keith's shoulder and nudges him to make him follow him to the lounge, where he makes a gesture towards the couch.

A couch where an one eye dog now lies down quite comfortably.]

[tempredmental]

[Keith was definitely confused and almost resisted Shiro guiding him out and to the lounge. He still had an annoyed pout on his face, though, as they walked, but then stared at the dog.

It took a second, as his head had been so stuck in the whole, "Shiro might have a girlfriend" loop that he needed a moment to switch gears.]

Lucky's a dog.

[Like Shiro's dog back home. Keith let his head mull around that for a moment, a few troubled thoughts about how he probably should have checked to see if the people watching her had decided to keep her after the news of Shiro's apparent death broke. Keith wouldn't have been allowed to have a dog in the dorms at the time, and, after he got booted, his head had been a good mess. He sighed.]

[padadin]

Yes, Lucky's a dog. [Said dog raises his head when he hears his name, and Shiro of course can't let the chance to pet him pass. A lazily wagging tail says he appreciates it.] So next time try not to reach such a Lance-type of conclusion.

[It's supposed to be teasing, and it does sound like it, but there's also a bit of scolding hidden behind it. In fact, he opens his mouth to say more (and even if he wasn't a dog, it would be none of our business) but decides against it - he would probably make it worse.]

[tempredmental]

Did you seriously just compare me to Lance?

[Wow, Shiro. Wow.]

This last month has been stupidly insane, and you're really going to be like that over a misunderstanding?

Look, if you don't want to talk about Kate, then fine. Whatever. I'll stop asking.

[He turned to go.]

[padadin]

[He raises an eyebrow.] It was the kind of comment I usually get from him, not you. It wasn't an insult, Keith, just an observation.

[WOW RIGHT BACK AT YOU, BUDDY. The rest makes him frown. He doesn't want to talk about Kate? That's not-- well, honestly, stupidly insane sounds about right, but that doesn't mean that... that... he doesn't even know anymore.]

Be like what? Keith! [Yeah, no, not going anywhere, buddy. Shiro grabs his arm to keep him in place.] Talk to me, please.

[tempredmental]

What comment? I wasn't implying anything or being all "Lance" about it. I was asking a question. You've been awfully defensive for something you claim isn't anything at all. I don't know how to take that.

[He pulled his arm free, but didn't continue to leave.]

[padadin]

You did imply something. If Lucky wasn't a dog, it would be none of our business. [He pinches his nose.] ...have I?

[Quiznak. He's supposed to be at control at all times, not... whatever Keith is seeing. I don't know how to take that. Has he really made Keith that uncomfortable? Damn. He can't let this happen. Whatever is trying to get out (as if he didn't know) needs to go back to the deeps of his mind like it was before calibrations.]

...sorry. "Stupidly insane" is probably right.

[tempredmental]

I don't need details. And you already knew about Lucky. You were the one who brought him up in the first place.

[Argh. Keith clenched his fists in frustration, trying really hard not to blow up. This wasn't exactly a private area or a big ship. He didn't want to get in a fight in front of Shiro's crew. And, yup... there it was. Keith felt like Shiro shut him out again.]

Yeah. Probably. [His tone was sharp when he said that, but then turned a little more disappointed as he continued.] I'm just going to go back to the Huntress. We probably need some rest. We can do the dinner thing another night. [Plus, after their "discussion", he wasn't sure he wanted to hang around right now.]

[padadin]

What?

[Keith not feeling like being in a social situation isn't new, and Shiro usually respects that. But him being the cause of it? This can't be happening.]

Keith... [It's his turn to be a little hurt and frustrated.] I'm not trying to push you away. I don't know what I did to get you angry at me like this, but I'm sorry, alright?

[tempredmental]

[Keith scrunched his brow a bit and bit his lip. He was angry now, sure, but it was more hurt than anything else.]

I don't know what else to say. [He looked away.] I didn't meant to push any boundaries, okay? I just... I wanted to know what was going on. I didn't think that comparing Kate to your ex was going to make you think I was being like Lance. If it's that big of a deal, then I won't ask anymore, okay?

[padadin]

Huh? [Blink, blink.] I never thought you were comparing them.

[Thank goodness because that would have bothered him too, probably. Geez, is there something to compare? Of course not! Totally not the same thing. ...he should probably stop thinking about that now.]

It was the first thing. I was talking about the room and you went for the watch and assuming Lucky was-- [Some dude. He can't say it.] It was weird. [Because it sounded like Keith was implying she was-- what? Cheating? There's nothing to cheat on.] But you're allowed to ask about my life, Keith. I like it when you do that. We're friends that we care about each other, and we should share. That's what we learned from the crazy month, right?

[tempredmental]

That's what I thought.

[Keith considered things for a moment.]

Do you like her? [He looked back at Shiro now.] Kate, I mean. Like... you know. Like her.

[padadin]

[Keith is the person that knows Shiro the best. They can communicate with each other with just one look, that strong is their bond. But right now? You don't need to be a genius or a close friend to notice how tense Shiro becomes at the question.

And that little annoying thought that has been trying to escape from the deep back of his mind? Well, let's just say that if this was a calibration room and that thought were to take form like his darkness did, it would be kissing Keith right now. Finally, someone acknowledges it.

That someone isn't Shiro. Because he can't. He shouldn't. No matter how fine Keith and Lance told him it is back in his memories, he just... He can't. It would incredibly selfish of him. How he allowed himself to get to this point is already pretty irresponsible of him.]

Does it matter? [He says as he rubs his eyes with his human hand.] Nothing is going to happen.

[That's not an answer, Shiro.]

[tempredmental]

Why would you think not?

[Keith looked concerned at Shiro's reaction to the question.]

Obviously she likes you if she's giving you things. What's wrong with potentially looking for something a little more?

[It was probably a good thing they weren't in that situation, because getting kissed by some weird astral imagination dream projection thing would probably freak Keith out.]

[padadin]

[He really, really doesn't want to answer those questions. An usual thing from him, but made worse by calibrations. He promised he would try but... it's just too hard. Irresponsible in his eyes, even. He's not exactly proud of himself at the moment.

A sigh.] Friends give each other gifts too - why are you so fixed on that? [And he uses this chance to finally ask and avoid Keith's questions at the same time:] Is that why you went to talk to her?

[tempredmental]

[Keith's voice lowered a little. He was calm as he responded, but confused.]

You just seemed to act differently about it... like it was more than just a gift from a friend.

[He shook his head, looking surprised that Shiro would think that.]

No. I went to thank her for helping you. You said she had supported you when... well, after that video thing. I felt bad that I hadn't been there. I wanted to let her know I appreciated her being there for you so you didn't have to go through it alone.

[padadin]

[He did? Wow, he's really been failing at this. What has happened to his excellent poker face? Maybe ignoring that little thought at the back of his mind has made it easier for it to slip through his every day life. Maybe acknowledging it is the only way to control it. But it's still hard...

So he'll accept the talk about his panic attack, perfect subject change.]

You shouldn't feel bad for not being there, Keith. Even in the castle, we weren't together 24/7. [After a pause, though, he knows he has to add.] But thanks for that appreciation.

[tempredmental]

[Keith nodded a little.]

I'm sorry if you didn't want me to talk to her about it. [Or at all...] When you said she helped you, I felt like I should say something to her.

[padadin]

--no! No, that's... not what I meant. I don't mind. You meant well, and-- [a deep breath.] It would actually be great if you and the others could be friends with her.

[He shrugs. Not big deal! Just... a thought. Yeah, that's all. Better move on the conversation before he says because she's important.]

I should've expected that, now I think about it. I told you that I told her about that one year and-- that's a big deal, isn't it? It's been just the seven of us for months now and before that-- [Yeah, let's not go there. But it's obvious what he means anyway - his lonely year with the Galra. Keith alone in the desert.] We're making friends again, and relating to people for more than saving their planets. I understand why you're curious and want to ask.

[This may not be Pidge's rambling, Shiro, but you're still talking a lot. It seems Keith has pushed a button on his mind and now Shiro has many thoughts to put in order.]

[tempredmental]

So... [He looked down for a moment.] You're not mad at me for asking about her?

[padadin]

[He pauses for a moment, considering the question carefully, before he finally answers with confidence.]

No. You can ask me about my new friends, Keith. [Yeah, trying not to put all the attention on her and what he may be finally accepting right now.] I just thought part of your comment was inappropriate, that's all.

[tempredmental]

[Keith frowned. He still didn't understand why it was inappropriate to essentially ask if the girl who was showing interest in Shiro was potentially also seeing someone else. It would be good to know. But, whatever. He wasn't going to argue about this again.]

Fine.

[He was still a little confused. Clearly his line of appropriate vs inappropriate was different than Shiro's, and he was thinking that it wasn't going to be easy to figure out where that line was, so he just dropped it for now.]

[padadin]

[Oh boy. A frown and back to one word sentences. Never a good sign. After a pause, waiting to see if Keith would say or do anything, he puts a hand on Keith's shoulder, his face showing he feels kinda bad about this.]

Are you still angry with me? ...are you still leaving?

[B-but family dinner...]