[Closed]

[padadin]

Who: Five lions and a rock
Broadcast: No
Action: On the Iskaulit
When: Beginning of the month

[Seeing the destruction of the planet has been hard on everyone, but it definitely has a specially bad effect on this particular group. Losing a planet like this is what the pilots fight to avoid, what Shay almost got through. It's incredibly frustrating.

So add that to the fact they aren't all living in the same ship like it happens at home, and well. These little family is some serious need of bonding time. Just making a pile of astroexplorers and letting them bask in each other's comfort.

That's how they end up having a sleepover on the Iskaulit, the lecture hall to be more precise. They push away tables and chairs, scatter all the pillows and blankets they brought from their own ships, and get comfy for a night with friends.

There are snacks (courtesy of Hunk of course), some non-alcoholic drinks (while Shiro wouldn't mind them drinking a bit, he thinks them being kinda down is not a good moment for that) and probably some games that could go funny enough... or an absolute mess when their augments decide to glitch.

Watch out for the pillow fight. Shiro plays to win.]

Comments

[padadin]

You don't even know-- [Oh, who is he trying to kid. Another sigh. He uncovers his face and grabs the glass again to frown at his reflection as if it had betrayed him. Stupid glitch.] I'm not embarrassed. [A tiny black mark appears - he is, a little bit.] Just frustrated.

[the_tailor]

I mean, it could be worse. It's not like there's ever been bad blood between you guys or anything. Not to mention, you're a heck of a catch, so I doubt she'd resist your charms for too long.

[Another pat!]

Though there's the whole "married to the job" vibe she has going, but not like you two don't have that in common either.

[padadin]

[Oh gosh, no. Nononono. He doesn't want to hear this, he can't.]

Nothing is going to happen, Lance. Drop it.

[the_tailor]

I'll drop it, but you know that suffering without taking a chance is stupid, don't you?

[padadin]

There are no chances. Sooner or later, it'll pass. [Keep telling yourself that, Shiro.] Are you taking any chances beyond your usual flirting?

[the_tailor]

What's that supposed to mean?

[Eyebrow raise.]

[padadin]

[Determined face to get attention off him!]

Exactly what I said. I guess that's my question. You flirt a lot, but there's nobody you want to take a chance with?

[the_tailor]

What? No! Please. As if a catch like this doesn't want to keep fishing himself.

[He says it defensively out of instinct. A mark appears on his own cheek, though--a line in bright red.]

[padadin]

[...ah. Well then.

The thought crossed his mind, he has to admit. But he didn't see it as possible - after being in Lance's mind during calibrations, he's been blaming the boy's weird mood on his issues.

This, though. It leaves no room for doubt. His eyes soften.]

...Red.

[the_tailor]

Red? What about red? Yes, that's a color, what--

[He feels his blood run cold.

Oh no.

Lance grabs his own glass, looking at his own reflection, and...yep. There's definitely a red mark on his face.]

...quiznak.

[padadin]

[And that reaction finishes confirming it - in the context of their group, red can only mean one thing.]

I guess this explains a few things.

[the_tailor]

Shiro...

[He huddles up a little in his blanket, as if trying to hide. Not that there's much hiding to do.]

Please don't tell him.

[padadin]

[He puts an arm around Lance's shoulders, bringing him closer.]

As long as you don't tell her.

[the_tailor]

'course I won't.

[He leans into the touch, giving a sigh. Lance didn't exactly want Shiro to find out, especially because he's still figuring this out himself, but...]

This sucks.

[padadin]

Tell me about it.

[He pats Lance's shoulder just like he did for him before.]

So you aren't going to try?

[the_tailor]

Come on, Shiro. Look at him. It's a friggen miracle we're even friends at this point. It'd be stupid of me to ruin what we already have going just because of a...a...

[He waves his hand, not even wanting to say it out loud.]

[padadin]

You don't have to ruin everything. [He says as he grabs Lance's hand and puts it down.] Just be patient. You used to hate him, now it's come to this. Why can't it develop more? Why can't another miracle happen?

[the_tailor]

I never actually hated him. Disliked, yeah, but never hated.

[Sigh.]

It doesn't just work like that. Sure, I know he's not disinterested in dudes, but that's not even a roadblock clear when I'm the dude in question. I wouldn't even know where to start! And I'm like, 150% positive he'd never like me in that way anyway. How could he?

[padadin]

The point still stands. [He also sighs. Unlike him, Lance is perfectly fine to enter a relationship, he wishes he didn't see himself like that. But he can't bring himself to correct him, even after calibrations, considering how he's feeling about this subject too. And he can't deny it being Keith doesn't make this easy.] He let you sleep in his bed with him. I can't promise he'll ever fall for you, but I think you underestimate how much he cares.

[the_tailor]

We just kind of passed out on each other, that doesn't...

[He trails off.]

...but a few days ago, he actually...willingly slept in my bed with me? Is that a good sign? That's a good sign, right?

[Lance groans and buries his head in his hands. Crushes often sucked, but this is way more than he bargained for. Way more than he knows how to deal with. Because it's Keith, the most complicated person this could have happened about.]

Out of all the people, it had to be him. It haaaaad to be him and those stupid eyes of his. My life is one cosmic joke.

[padadin]

Ah, so that's what he went to the Blameless for. [Guess who saw Keith before he join Lance for their "nap".] Of course it's a good sign, Lance. You should know that by now.

[The team may not know Keith as well as he does, but they are still good friends of his and know him well. Extra well for Lance, considering calibrations. Shiro squeezes Lance's shoulder again.]

Lance. Don't beat yourself so hard. The more you think about it, the worse you'll feel. Just let life go on naturally, alright? You've come a long way with him, don't throw that out of the window.

[the_tailor]

I can't let life go on naturally, that's the problem, man!

[He whines a little bit, but keeps his voice quiet so the others definitely don't hear any of this.]

The status quo was me looking at him and wanting to fight him. Not wanting to... I don't know, do sappy cute things with him! But I know, I can't throw away what we have, I won't. It'll go away. It has to.

[padadin]

Why do you want status quo? Your friendship with him has grown. Would you rather have it be angry strangers as it used to? Change can be a good thing.

[Of course, some times change is a very bad thing, like being tortured by aliens, but details, right?]

You can let life go on, just like you've been doing so far. Come on, we were having fun, weren't we? It's your turn to ask me a question.

[Hopefully a distraction will help...]

[the_tailor]

Do you think I actually have a chance at winning the fair maiden's heart?

[It's a question! So much for a distraction, though. Lance's mind keeps flitting back and forth between "squash it down and ignore it until it goes away" and "go for it, boy".]

[padadin]

[SIGH! Way to go, Lance.]

I don't know. It's not impossible, I can tell you that much. As I said, Keith cares. If that develops or not... only time will tell.