driftfleet | selvin-9 system mingle

[Thankfully for Keith, Lance is easily distracted, and was busy looking over the restaurant when said secret conversation was going on. He follows Keith to their table and sits down, opening his own menu and perusing it.]

Hoo boy... It's gonna be tough picking something out. I don't know what half these things are, but they sound good anyway.

Yeah... same.

[He recognized some of the names of the items from the reviews, though.]

I heard this was good when I was looking the place up. [He pointed out something that was like a shrimp dish, he supposed. Small prawn seafood things over what looked like a grain similar to rice.]

Oooh... Seafood. Can't go wrong with seafood. Maybe I'll try that.

[He smiles. Part of him still can't believe he's having a nice romantic dinner with Keith, the part of him that's still surprised they're actually dating. Not a bad surprised, of course, but just...unexpected.]

Okay.

[Keith debated just getting the same thing, but then there had been something else he'd seen on the reviews, so he thought maybe getting the other dish and they could try both.]

What about this one, too? [He showed Lance something that looked like a poultry dish with citrus dressing.] Seems like it might be lemon chicken or something. We can share.

Looks good to me! Good idea, too.

[Sharing dishes. So romantic! You're doing a great job at this date thing, Keith.]

[Keith smiled a bit sheepishly, and nodded, putting the menu aside. The waitress came back and got their orders then, and they were left to their own devices for a bit.

Aaaaaaand this was where Keith was terrible company. He just didn't do small talk. He did, however, reach across the table and take Lance's hand in his own.]

[It's okay. Lance is fine filling up the space with conversation on his end, talkative as he is. Keith holding his hand just makes him happier. He tells Keith all about what he's been doing on the Fleet lately, the things he's seen on this planet... Lance is pretty good at small talk.]

[Keith let him ramble and chatter. It was amusing, really, and he just listened, rubbing his thumb on the back of Lance's hand with an absent motion. They really weren't interrupted, either. The waitress came by with their drink order, and then headed off again.

But, after a bit, the hostess that had shown them to the table returned. She was carrying a box... it looked to be about the size of a shoebox. Keith perked up, almost brightening a little that she had it. His plan had worked! He gave her a quick smile as she handed it over, thanking her, and she headed off.]

So... while I was planning all this out, I found these, and I thought you might like them.

[He handed Lance the box.

Inside was a pair of matching glass lions... one in blue and one in red. Keith was a little nervous because the lion switching hadn't exactly been easy or smooth going, but he kind of hoped that Lance would understand the symbolism for the two. It had a couple of meanings, really...]

[He's more than a little confused when the waitress brings by a box. He can't remember them ordering anything that would show up like that. Lance takes the box when Keith gives it to him, realizing that...oh! It's a present! He smiles brightly at Keith before getting down to opening it, carefully pulling out the two glass figures inside.

Lions. Red and blue.

The switching really hadn't been easy, and everything that had come from it...had only made it harder, but... He didn't want to think of it like that. Didn't really want to think too hard on that as it was. Instead, he preferred to see it as what he's always seen it as before, and still wants to see it as.

He smiles gently at Keith.]

Hey...it's me and you.

[Keith smiled and nodded.]

I thought so, too.

Also... it's more than that. Because they're both you, too. When you were with Blue, you were a leg. And it's a supportive role. You're a good friend, always holding people up. And, with Red, you were there for me when I was in the Black Lion. And I wanted to thank you for being my right hand.

Plus, it takes a lot to get on Red's good side. You definitely did something right to get her to accept you. [He chuckled a little.]

Keith...

[No. No, you're not allowed to make him want to cry in the middle of the restaurant. Hearing that from him... It doesn't exactly change how hard the situation was and is, and how badly he wishes things were different back home just so he could keep Keith at his side, but hearing this? It makes things a little easier. More than that, though, are the kind words and compliments Keith is providing.

Lance soaks them up like a sponge.

He moves to take Keith's hands, giving them a squeeze.]

I'll be your leg and your arm and your any limb you want me to be. Thank you, Keith... I mean it, thank you, it...means the world to me to hear you say all that.

[Keith squeezed back, glad Lance liked them. It really wasn't about the figures or the lions or any of it, but the meaning behind it. That was the important part, and Keith was glad he'd been able to tell Lance what he had.

And the timing was really good, because they're food was arriving, so Keith helped Lance pack the lions carefully back in their box to be put aside for now until they were ready to leave.]

[You're going to get all the kisses later, Keith. All of them. Every single one.

For now, though, Lance starts tucking into his food. He's gotten used to trying different food from different planets by now, so any strangeness doesn't affect his enjoyment of the meal. And it actually tastes really good.]

Mmm.. Good call on this dish.

[Keith looked glad.]

Yeah?

[His own was pretty good, too, so he pushed the plate a little bit towards Lance.]

Here... want some? It's good, too.

[He nods, taking a bite of Keith's food, which is just as delicious. He moves his own plate more towards the center so Keith can have some of that, too.

Success.]

Gonna suck going back to the gels and stuff.

[Keith smiled a bit more, and took some of Lance's dish. He nodded.]

Yeah. It is.

[He chuckled a little.]

Real food definitely has something that goo, gel, and weird solid stuff just doesn't have.

Definitely. We're going to have to do a bunch of grocery shopping before we drift again. Maybe I'll whip up a nice homecooked meal for you one day, how's that sound?

[Look at him, Keith, you've definitely got a keeper here!]

[Keith nodded.]

That sounds good.

[He considered it for a moment.]

Think you can figure out what's a good substitute for what?

[Keith knew Hunk was up to the challenge, but he hadn't really seen Lance cook before.]

I'm sure I can figure it out. I mean, I'm no Hunk, but I used to help my mom in the kitchen a lot! I'm a pretty good cook, but I'm kind of out of practice. Not like I could cook back in the Garrison or on the castle ship or anything.

Well, maybe next time we go back, you'll suddenly be inspired to help Hunk out a few times in the Castle kitchen.

[Keith smiled a bit.]

Either way, I'm up for trying something. Let's see what you can do.

[It wasn't like Keith could do better. He had the basics, and could get by on his own, but he was no gourmet.]

Just you wait. I'll knock the socks off of you.

[He shoots him one of his patented charming Lance smiles before going back to his food. So far, this is definitely the best date he's ever been on.]

[That got a small chuckle out of Keith.]

Even with my shoes on?

Even with. My cooking's gonna be that good.

[Congrats, Lance. Keith was laughing.]

You're setting my expectations pretty high here.

[Good! Keith laughter is awesome laughter.]

Only 'cause I know I'll be able to smash right through them.

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