[ video | action ]

[tempredmental]

Who: Keith, open to anyone (party section is open to positive CR by invite from Shiro and/or Lance who got the list from Keith, but negative CR can crash if you're willing to deal with IC fallout from annoyed and protective Voltrons and friends... LOL / party section is also mingle style and will have a special header in the comments, so feel free to mingle and threadjack each other)
Broadcast: yes, video
Action: Huntress, planetside (including birthday camping trip near Alkaline Lake), open to coming to visit other ships if wanted or random encounters on the Iskaulit
When: Mostly Oct 23! This is his b-day post and late-October/early-November catch-all.

=====

[When the video came up, Keith was adjusting the angle, and then he sat back to better address the camera. He was sitting in the lounge on the Huntress, and looked super awkward. He didn't like it when Coran thought this was a good thing to try with the team back home, and he didn't really like it now, either. But, he knew it was good for them to be able to get what they needed and wanted here in the Fleet.]

So, I was curious finally, and I looked at that kiosk thing with the fanmail stuff. Apparently, I had some messages, so I'm going to answer a couple.

[He scrolled through the screen until he found one. The way he read them was kind of flat. There was no attempt at acting here.]

happy birthday, keith! if you could ask for three wishes today, what would they be?

Does getting back home count? [He shrugged.] Not that here is bad. A lot's happened here that has been good, and I wish I didn't have to leave behind. But what I do back home? That's important, too. And I always thought of that as more important than anything else I might have wanted. [Mostly. Things with Lance were good, and he really wanted to just stop the whole mission and ask his questions when he found his mom, but neither of those things happened back home. The situation with Lance was a regret, for sure. But, he was glad he finally got his answers about his mom, at least.

He scrolled again, repeating a question he saw more because he was weirded out that someone even thought to ask than any other reason.]

when will you show us your Galra transformation? I think purple would look super duper cute on you

I... I don't have one? [That he knew of. He wasn't even really aware of things that had happened back home.] I mean, at least, I don't think so. I've never turned purple, anyway. [He grimaced a little, definitely not comfortable with that, and moved on quickly.]

Is it true you’re secretly afraid of a cucumber ambushing you?

[He stared for a second.]

I have no idea what that means.

[Moving on...]

Dear Keith, since your armor suit and your pants are so tight, have you considered going commando? I bet your parts and Lance would really appreciate it!

My... parts? [He shook his head.] I'm not even going to answer that one. Honestly... [Annoyed look.] ...that's no one else's business.

[Respond to the video here!]

=====

[Of course... there was a crate in the cargo bay with Keith's name on it. He was wary, but he finally gave in and opened it. Inside were a few small things in a smaller box packed together, and then two larger boxes, one item each.

In the one smaller box, a few items were packed together:
panther plush
pink hippo cat costume for Snow
leadership for dummies book
hair gel (a hint?)

Then two other larger boxes packed in with the first, each with one item:
voltron cat condo (some assembly required)
red hippo trash can

Keith was not impressed...

Care to find him opening the "gift"?]

======

[Shiro and Lance sent out a mass group texts to anyone Keith was friends with (that Keith told them about, but that's pretty much his entire friends list). The afternoon started off with a costume birthday party for Halloween, and eventually turned into a night of relaxation near the lake, camping around a bonfire with spooky stories, s'mores, and other nice fun stuff throughout the two parties. And, because it was a costume party, Keith actually did have a costume.

Mingle in this thread!]

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{OOC: Wildcard option! Hit me up on plurk at duches77 or PM my journal here if you have ideas that aren't in the post and want to try something else and plot it out, but it's not necessary. I'm open! You don't have to stick with a header if you think something doesn't fit! I can roll with the punches. Have fun!}

Comments

[tempredmental]

So that means I can just wear it normal for the next fancy event, right?

[Keith gave Shiro a knowing look, and then smiled a bit.]

Thanks.

[He raised his eyebrows a bit at the color choice, but took the gift to open it. His face softened slightly as he ran a hand over the cover of the book, feeling the imprinted constellations... noting the Leo and Scorpio ones being most prominent. He smiled a bit, as the Leo one had a bit of a double meaning for Keith now. Not only did they have the Lions, but Leo was Lance's zodiac sign.

He opened it up, and, of course, there was something written there. He almost chuckled, but then read what Shiro had written. Keith gave Shiro a quick smile.]

Thanks. [He turned gave Shiro a hug.] That means a lot.

[padadin]

That will depend on the event dress code.

[Just because Shiro is ok with the wilderness, it doesn't mean others will. Sorry, buddy.

He watches Keith's reactions closely, eager to see if he's chosen right - Keith has always been hard to shop for, after all. Time hasn't changed that. The color choice gets a shrug because hey, where is the lie? But he smiles back when he notices his friend liking it. Success! Hooray!

The hug is, of course, return.]

You're welcome, Keith. Have you thought of what you want to do to celebrate yet?

[tempredmental]

[Keith shook his head.]

Not really, to be honest. I feel kind of bad that I don't have Mom here to celebrate with me, you know? I mean, if I think about it, with the two years in the abyss, it's kind of a big birthday. And she's already missed so many.

[And Keith didn't seem angry about that... just sad.]

[padadin]

I get what you mean. I would've liked to have the whole team with me to celebrate my birthday too, and not only because Hunk makes the best cakes. [Shiro please, not the time for these comments.] But there isn't much we can do about it. It's not like you're leaving her out on purpose, Keith. We're trapped by the circumstances. I'm sure she would be flattered you thought of her and would like you to celebrate anyway. She only wants you to be happy, right?

[tempredmental]

[Keith managed a small smile and nodded.]

Yeah.

[He shrugged a little.]

Something small, I guess. A lot of the people who were there last year aren't around anymore anyway, so... I guess it would have to be small anyway. [Weak chuckle.] Maybe we could do something on the planet.

[padadin]

[For a short second, his expression falls, but he quickly brings back the poker face.] Yeah, we lost many people recently.

[He tries to tell himself it's for the best, that they're back in their worlds. It doesn't always work.]

Something small and on the planet? Mmh. [He thinks for a second.] How about a small camping party? Next to the lake, and at night. We could bring marshmallows and scary stories. People are probably already getting in the mood for Halloween.

[tempredmental]

Okay, yeah. That sounds cool.

[Keith smiled at the idea.]

Thanks.

[padadin]

You're welcome, buddy. [He ruffles Keith hair. Even if he's a grown man now, some things never change.] Want to try the costume on Snow? I'm curious what she'll think of it.

[tempredmental]

She'll probably hate it. [Keith reached up and smoothed his hair. Grumble, grumble.] I'm not sure I want to battle those claws to find out.

[padadin]

Battle the claws? [A chuckle.] You don't have to take it that far. If as soon as the costume touches her, she reacts badly, you drop the idea. No need to oblige her into it.

[tempredmental]

I guess. [He shrugged.] I'm still a little wary. [He got up.] I should probably figure out what to do with this stuff in the meantime.

[padadin]

Fair enough. [He takes a new look at the things in the box, since Keith says he wants to know what to do with them.] I'll leave the gel up to Lance...

[...wait. Frown.]

What are these pieces for? [He asks as he picks up an arm of the Voltron cat tree.]

[tempredmental]

[Keith grumbled about the gel for a moment, and then reached in the box again when Shiro asked about the arm piece. He found the picture of the assembled product.]

It's for this.

If they think it's supposed to look like Voltron, it doesn't.

[Yeah, Keith wasn't impressed.]

[padadin]

[He grabs the piece of paper with instructions and the picture... looks at it with raised eyebrows... and laughs. Oh, this is amazing, sorry Keith.]

It kind of does. I like it. Will you put it in your room? Maybe Oliver can join Snow on it.

[tempredmental]

Well, it's not a very good representation. [Keith definitely wasn't impressed.]

Maybe. I don't know. I'll have to ask Lance.

I mean, it's not like they need it. They climb all over us instead.

[padadin]

They did take some liberties. [He can't deny that. But he still thinks it's funny and well done.] That's nice, but what about when you and Lance are busy? They may want to climb something else to have fun by their own.

[tempredmental]

I don't know. It just seems like it would take up a lot of space, and I don't want to set it up in like... the lounge or something without other people on the crew being okay with it. [Keith shrugged.] And... it just... bugs me that it's not accurate.

[padadin]

I see the real problem now. [And he's very amused by it. Keith, please.] It's your gift, but if you want, we can make it a project to make it more accurate and put it in the Lion's Den.

[A Voltron for their little cave is fitting, right?]

[tempredmental]

Mm... that... I guess. Doesn't sound bad...

[He shrugged, and, well, yeah... it was kind of fitting. He couldn't deny that.]

[padadin]

Is that a yes? We can look for some art supplies in the planet if it is.

[Group project! BONDING! He really likes the idea.]

[tempredmental]

[Keith smiled a bit. Okay, maybe it wasn't so bad, after all.]

Yeah. It's a yes.