[ 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]

No one here. Though... Shiro's kinda familiar. I'd seen him around school a few times and he was on the news for winning some medals for heroism. He's the top pilot at the Galaxy Garrison, and they like to send him out to recruit students who have potential to be really good there. It's hard to get in.

[Not that Keith knew anything about that, you baka.]

[scalpelofmarmora]

[This was interesting information for Ulaz. He'd not known much about Shiro's life before being captured by the Galra. So hearing all of this about him was enlightening]

Impressive. I wasn't aware he had done so much. This Galaxy Garrison, is that a school you are in or want to get in?

[tempredmental]

Yeah. It's a space exploration team, and I was hoping to get in as a cadet... but I doubt they'd take me in. [Keith had been told too many times that he just wasn't going to cut it with his discipline problems.]

[scalpelofmarmora]

And why not?

[He's just going to kneel down now. It's hard looking down at Keith when he's this small]

[tempredmental]

[Keith shifted a little, conscious of Ulaz's movement.]

'Cuz... I'm just a troublemaker. No one's gonna wanna deal with that... None of the foster homes worked, so why would the Garrison? They'll just kick me out like everyone else.

[scalpelofmarmora]

[He's tall. You're short. It was awkward for him. No other reason behind it. He didn't make any other move, just kneeling now]

Are you now? I wouldn't have guessed. [Actually yes he would have, but not going to say that. Young Galra did tend to have stubborn streaks to them and half-bloods even with minimal Galra appearance seemed to have all the normal fight in them as pure bloods of similar age]

It might be something to try anyway. You never know what will happen until it does. Spending your life worrying about "might" is a disappointing way to live.

[tempredmental]

[Keith frowned.]

Living life hoping for "might" can be pretty disappointing, too.

[Spoken like a kid that had been trod on a few times by life.]

[scalpelofmarmora]

So then the option is that nothing changes in your life and you have no goals and nothing you are reaching for?

[tempredmental]

Why should it change? [Keith glared, an angry looking pout on his face.] It's not like anyone cares. All they know is that I'm trouble. Beyond that, anything else I do doesn't matter.

[scalpelofmarmora]

I doubt that no one cares. There is someone out there who won't think you are a troublemaker immediately.

[He sits there for a moment then says]

There were those who thought I was a troublemaker when I was younger. Probably even still do.

[tempredmental]

Mm.

[Keith huffed a sigh.]

I guess.

Did anyone ever believe you were more than just your record?

[scalpelofmarmora]

There were a few. I wish I could say there were more, but those who were thought I had potential and were willing to work with me even despite that.

[He was sure Kolivan regretted it at least once a week, but he still did]

[tempredmental]

Seems like there isn't that many people like that.

[He sighed.]

It's like all my teachers.

[scalpelofmarmora]

None of your instructors listen? That is a shame. It won't be all of them though. Besides, it sounds like you're assuming the Garrison will be the same just because the ones you have are that way. It doesn't work that way.

[tempredmental]

Why wouldn't it be? It's not like I've seen anything else.

[Keith might be pretty bitter for a young teen.]

[scalpelofmarmora]

But from the sounds of it, it's not the same as a regular school.

[He does see that he is remarkably bitter]

[tempredmental]

They still have teachers. And teachers seem to pretty much only care about their star students. [Like James Griffin...] And I'm definitely not one of those.

[scalpelofmarmora]

Then they are doing it wrong. They should care about each student. Would you believe I'm a teacher of sorts?

[tempredmental]

You don't look like a teacher. I've never had one with a mohawk cut before.

[Keith looked like he didn't believe him.]

[scalpelofmarmora]

Teachers come in all shapes and sizes. And hair styles.

[He doesn't seem at all phased by Keith's skepticism]

I have mainly trained others in physical arts, but being one of the older ones I also share the knowledge that I have learned so that others may benefit from it.

[tempredmental]

Yeah... but there's like a baseline or something. You don't exactly seem the type.

[He considered Ulaz's words for a bit.]

"Physical arts"? Is that like gym or something?

[scalpelofmarmora]

After talking with me only a few minutes?

Something like that. I have trained others in hand-to-hand and with swords.

[Sorry, Shiro, he's telling a kid about that]

[tempredmental]

[Keith kind of just stared. Yes... after talking with him only a few minutes. Human teachers are just... a thing.

But then... Oh... that got Keith's interest.]

Really? They don't teach that kind of gym class where I'm from.

[scalpelofmarmora]

Really? That is a shame. It is important. But that is what I do.

[tempredmental]

Where are you from that it's important to learn sword fighting?

[Keith was confused about this.]