[ 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

[the_tailor]

[Huh. Maybe this might be a little even after all. Lance hadn't taken account the fact that Keith was very much unused to this new form. It'd only been some hours, after all. Lance manages a few chance glances aside at him, unable to help a chuckle when he sees his boyfriend taking an obstacle a little clumsily.]

C'mon, kitty! You can do it!

[Wait, why is he cheering his opponent on.]

[tempredmental]

[Keith gave a soft growl of frustration, but he kept pushing himself. He wasn't the type to give up when it came to physical feats... until he got to the rope ladder. Well, damn. He didn't have opposable thumbs! He growled again, pacing impatiently as he attempted to figure it out.

Then, it clicked. The rope was tied to wooden poles. He crouched at the bottom of one of the poles and jumped, scrambling his way up to the top to race along that upper level for the next part.]

[the_tailor]

Whoa--hey, that--I don't know if that's cheating or just cool!

[He chances another glance back at him, grinning before he slides under a low netting, crawling the rest of the way through it. If he focuses more on winning than providing color commentary for Keith's progress, maybe he can actually take this...]

[tempredmental]

[It worked, didn't it? The point of the course was to make it through, and Keith was using what he had to do just that. Panthers weren't exactly equipped to handle ladders, especially ones made of rope.

At the netting, Keith ran into another awkward situation. Crawling. It was too low for him to just run underneath, and squirming along on his belly with digitigrade hindlegs made it crazy difficult. He was just too stubborn to give up.]

[the_tailor]

[He manages to make his way through it. The next section is a straight sprint, though, so if Keith can manage to get through the netting, he can very likely gain some on Lance there. After all, he's definitely faster than him like this.

Lance can't help but laugh even as he runs, albeit breathlessly. This is insane and he loves it.]

[tempredmental]

[He eventually gets through, frustrated and winded, and shakes himself off once free before continuing to push himself along. This was definitely an easy section, and he bounded as fast as he could, even tired, in order to attempt catching up.]

[the_tailor]

[Keith's just about caught up by the end of that stretch. And speaking of stretches, they're in the home one--some more climbing, but easier for Keith to handle than the last one. It's more of a very steep hill than anything.

He's so close, damnit. Lance is winded, but he does his best to scramble up as fast as he can...]

[tempredmental]

[Steep hill? Keith could do that. And there was just enough grip that he didn't need his claws. Only a few more long strides and he'd be at the top.]

[the_tailor]

[He's so... So very close...

Lance doesn't waste time in looking behind him to see how close Keith is to him, but he does hear him scrabbling up the same hill. Before long, Lance finds himself collapsing over the finish line, gasping as he topples over. He's never taken the obstacle course this seriously before.]

[tempredmental]

[Keith circled Lance once before flopping down on top of him, just as exhausted and worn out.

Then... he started to purr.]

[the_tailor]

[Lance is in the middle of trying to catch his breath when it's forced right out of him via a panther boyfriend collapsing right on top of him.

Oof.

He'd be more annoyed if it wasn't for the cute purring.]

I can't...even tell...who won.

[tempredmental]

[Of course, Keith couldn't answer. And he wasn't sure how to express that he honestly wasn't sure, either. So, he just stretched his forelegs out, flexing his paws in contentment while trying to be conscious of not stabbing Lance with the knives nature seemed to have attached to panther paws...]

[the_tailor]

I'mma tell you right now, Keith, if you start kneading and end up stabbing me all over, I'm going to be really cross with you.

[He huffs, but there's still laughter on his lips, even as he's still a little out of breath.]

[tempredmental]

[Keith rumbled a little in response, but he didn't get up or stop. Don't worry, Lance. The claws weren't close enough to do anything. Some of the cat-like urges were a little hard to resist, but he was still able to think about it.]

[the_tailor]

[Even so...]

Hey, how about you let me roll over so you can kitty snuggle me properly and not just paw at my back or whatever?

[tempredmental]

[Keith stretched and yawned before finally standing up again. He stood next to Lance, shoving against his side with his forehead.]

[the_tailor]

[Alright, kitty. Lance rolls over so he's on his back and reaches out.]

No crushing me, but I'll give you some snuggles.

[tempredmental]

[Keith whined a little, shoving against Lance again with his head. Snuggles in the obstacle course? What if someone wanted to use it?]

[the_tailor]

[He gets the picture after a bit.]

Okay, okay. Back to our room, then snuggles.

[Lance gets up with a bit of a groan; he's sore from really going nutso on the obstacle course this time.]

[tempredmental]

[Keith rubbed against Lance's legs once the other Paladin was back on his feet, purring softly. He was definitely more sedate, having expelled a good amount of his nervous energy. Plus, felines tended to be most active at dawn and dusk, and it was getting almost to mid-day. It was almost nap time, and that cat urge to sleep was getting pretty hard to resist.]

[the_tailor]

[It doesn't escape Lance's notice. He gives Keith a scratch behind the ears before the two begin their journey back to the Huntress.

Once they're back in their room, Lance changes into a t-shirt and pajama pants before flopping onto the bed.]

Mmmghhhh so sooooooore...

[tempredmental]

[Keith jumped up next to Lance, kneading on the bed a bit before finally settling down next to him. He rubbed his face against the blanket, rolling a bit to press his back against Lance so he could stretch out his legs.]

[the_tailor]

Hey, kitty.

[A little yawn, and he rolls over, starting to pet his fur again.]

You always manage to wear me out one way or another, even when you're a cat.

[tempredmental]

[Keith purred softly in response, his front paws flexing in the air where he'd stretched out his forelegs. His tail flicked lazily in contentment. He turned his head, reaching just far enough that he was able to lick Lance's hand.]

[the_tailor]

Tickleeeees.

[He gives a little giggle.]

You've got, like, sandpaper tongue. I mean, not too bad, but it definitely tickles.