[ action ]

[tempredmental]

Who: Keith and everyone who comes across him
Broadcast: No
Action: Huntress, Iskaulit
When: From today until the end of the drift period (Sept 25)

=====

Sept 19 - 22

[SURPRISE... Keith was small again. Except... this time? He didn't remember the Fleet. He's not as young as last time, either. There was some panic and angry lashing out at a few people to start, but, once he settled down, he started to explore.

He stuck mostly to the Huntress and the Iskaulit. He'd look familiar to anyone who knew Keith, really, and especially to those who had seen him de-aged last time (though he was a bit older than before). However, be prepared for grumpy stares and lack of trust. Keith was not trusting by nature thanks to how things went for him after his dad died. Adults were especially the bane of his existence.

Care to meet a young emo teen? He might have just pick-pocketed you.]

=====

Sept 23 - 25

[Keith stalked along the corridor, his paws padding softly on the metal floor. He'd woken up as a panther, but he wasn't going to just stay put in his room until it wore off. It was annoying, because he didn't have hands and he couldn't speak to anyone. It also meant he couldn't do his assigned job, either.

So, he was trying to pass the time by strolling around the Iskaulit. He was relying on others to get him back and forth between ships, and had gotten Lance to help him over there that morning so he could jog around the ship with Shiro for their normal routine. Granted, a panther jogging with a man that had dog ears and a tail wasn't exactly normal, but here they were.

It was hard to resist the catlike traits and something at the edge of his peripheral vision shifted, getting his attention. He froze, his tail twitching sharply, before suddenly dashing off down the hall.

Look out, passerby! That panther is about to run you over!]

Comments

[tempredmental]

[Keith still wasn't sure why anyone would really want to be his friend, but his temper had calmed a bit for the moment... enough for him to listen. He still wasn't sure if he believed Lance, but he wanted to. He wanted to so badly. To think, someone out there saw him differently... not just some troubled kid doomed to failure. Someone thought he was more than his temper and acting out.

Someone wanted to help him.

It was almost too much to think about.]

And... I did it? I got in the Garrison?

[There might be a tiiiiiny bit of hope in that... like he was afraid to try.]

[the_tailor]

You did. You were the...the best pilot in our year. More than just our year. No one's blown everyone else away so much skill-wise since Shiro there.

[Lance is at the point in his life where he can admit that now without much jealousy at all.]

You're brilliant, and you've saved my butt on a ton of occasions, in so many ways. I know I can't just demand you trust me. All I can do is ask. I mean it, though. You're so important.

[tempredmental]

...

[Keith eyes were wide. It just... it sounded so crazy, and... good. Keith had all but given up on the idea of being able to fly in space. He wanted to. He followed mission reports in the news and researched space history in the library whenever he could. He knew all about the different crews, what they were doing up there...

And Shiro... Sure, he looked different, but he was here, and he had said similar things. And Keith wanted so badly to believe that Shiro wouldn't lie to him.

He bit his lip, holding back some rather sudden and strong emotions.]

It sounds impossible...

[He sniffed, not wanting to let Lance see how much this meant to him out of fear of having it taken away, but his wall had cracked a little. Lance got to a nerve.]

[the_tailor]

Our lives are one impossibility after another, man. But that, what you achieve? That's the most actual possible thing of it all.

[Very carefully and slowly, in case Keith wants to pull away, Lance reaches out to place a hand on his shoulder.]

[tempredmental]

[Keith does shrink a little bit away. Nope... not used to touching, yet. He wanted it, but didn't trust enough. It was moments like those that made him miss his dad.]

I... I don't know. [He pulled his legs up in front of himself, wrapping his arms around his knees.] Anything like that sounds really out of reach. [And just made his heart ache at the idea that it could be true.]

[the_tailor]

[Okay, that's fine. He pulls his hand back.]

I know. All I'm asking is to just think it over. And at least try to believe that you mean something to so many of us. Anything you need, Keith, you just ask.

[tempredmental]

[Keith watched Lance for a moment, and then hunched himself down a bit so his chin was on his knees.]

Okay.

[He still wasn't sure if he would, yet, but that didn't mean he had to say it. His gaze shifted back to the milkshake, still sitting on the table where he had slammed it down. Some had spilled, of course, but it wasn't all over the place, at least.]

Sorry I spilled some of the shake.

[Yeah... he was used to saying sorry for that kind of stuff. He didn't meet Lance's eyes as he said it, though, like he was kind of ashamed.]

[the_tailor]

[He glances over to where the glass is, and chuckles before turning back to Keith with a smile.]

It's alright, I'll clean it up. You just enjoy what's still in the glass.

[tempredmental]

[Blink blink. Keith was genuinely surprised.]

You're not... angry at me?

[the_tailor]

'course I'm not! No use crying, or getting angry, about a little spilled milk.

[Look how funny he is.]

I'm not gonna claim to understand what you're going through, but I can accept that you're going through it.

[tempredmental]

[The expression went right over Keith's head in the moment. Welp.]

Oh.

[He looked a little relieved.]

Well... I mean... I can clean it up. No big deal. I was the one that spilled it.

[He got up and started to head out like he was going to go find some paper towels or something.]

[the_tailor]

Hey, no, you enjoy your milkshake.

[He gets up as well, beelining for where he knows there's a towel he can use. Returning, he mops up what's spilled on the table. There we go. Good as new.]

[tempredmental]

[Keith froze as Lance headed off to get the towel. He should be in trouble. Part of him wondered just how long this would last. Everyone always tried to be nice when they first met him, but it always happened eventually. Something would snap, and he'd lose control, and they'd give up... sending him away.

For a second, he felt overwhelmed, his breathing getting a bit faster as he tried to reconcile what was going through his head. Stop. Just stop. Just drink the shake. And then... what? He didn't know. When Lance came back, Keith had sat himself on the floor next to the low table, the shake in front of him and away from the small mess, and he had taken a few sips. He watched Lance clean up and then put his head down on his knees.

He felt like he wanted to burst, and he didn't know why. How long had it been since someone hadn't judged him on his history? Hadn't assumed he was just some screwed up kid with issues? It had been a long time...]

[the_tailor]

[If only Lance could know what was going through Keith's mind. If only he knew exactly how to help him. But all he can do is what he's been doing.

God, he'd give anything to see him smile.]

...Do you want me to go? Or stay? Or... It's your choice, I don't mind.

[tempredmental]

[Keith rubbed his face and shook his head.]

'm okay...

[He sniffed. He wasn't going to cry. That just meant more problems anyway.]

I just... I'm fine. You don't have to go.

[He reached out and picked up the shake again. That was easier to focus on.]

Where did you get a shake in outerspace anyway?

[the_tailor]

We have a cow, actually, on this ship. A little cow, but she gives enough milk to make shakes and stuff on a decent basis. I'll take you to meet her later, if you want?

[Maybe she'll make him smile. Kaltenecker definitely makes Lance smile.]

[tempredmental]

A cow. In space.

[Okay... so that brought Keith back to himself pretty quick.]

You know how like... b-rated science movie that is?

[the_tailor]

Trust me, I know. [He snorts.] But she's great. Really friendly.

[tempredmental]

Where's there room for a cow on a ship this size anyway? I've been around most of it by now. [Trying to avoid people he didn't know, honestly... and looking for a way out, but obviously that didn't happen beyond getting himself to teleport between ships using the transporter. Thanks, pilot augment!]

[the_tailor]

Not all of it, then. There's a farm area, and that's where she is. I'll show her to you later, and the rest of anything you might not have seen yet. I can even show you around the Iskaulit properly, if you'd like.

[tempredmental]

A farm area.

[DO YOU FEEL HIS SKEPTICISM? Keith was having a lot of trouble believing things right now.]

[the_tailor]

A farm area. I'm not lying, you'll see it yourself.

[tempredmental]

Okay.

[He'd hold back further judgement until he actually saw it.

Siiip.]

So... you know me, yeah? What uh... well, are we still rivals or something? Like... why am I so important to you?

[the_tailor]

[...Oh.

Uh. How to...delicately answer this.]

We're not rivals anymore in a serious way. We get competitive, but in a friendly way. And, um... Well. Uh.

[He looks very, very sheepish.]

Me and your older self are...close?

[tempredmental]

[That was really evasive. Keith looked unimpressed and unconvinced.]

How close?