[ lance's eyes narrow at the grin, but it's more in a "how can you smile about this, isn't this pretty heavy stuff?" kind of way than anything suspicious. ]
So now you know you're half-Galra and you have a magical shape-shifting knife-sword.
[ god you're such an anime protag.
he looks down at their linked hands, his own fingers absently flexing. ]
...Did you really have no clue about your parents before that?
[ it's that thing again, the glaring difference between them. lance tries to imagine how he'd feel if he didn't have any clue about his family, where he came from... or to grow up without the kind of love and support he'd grown up with.
honestly he wonders if he'd grow up to be even half the man keith is. ]
[He kinda wishes he understood a bit more about his knife; it reacts well enough, but no one's really...explained why. Maybe there's no need for an intricate explanation -- like piloting the lions. Just one basic, all-encompassing thing.
He's half-Galran and the knife's his, that's why it works the way it does, and he can't deny it being a Magical Shape-shifting Knife Sword.]
I still don't know much about my mother.
[It's different for him, since that's how it's always been. Like people who're born blind, they don't necessarily know what they're missing. He's adapted well...enough...look how well he's getting along with Lance. All the paladins.
They're long out of the marsh by now, but his boots are still squelching with every step. There's a passageway separating the forest, which is what he'll take back to their house. Fuck the actual forest.]
[ once they're out of the forest, away from the shadows of the trees, there's enough light by the moon that there's really no need to keep holding onto each other like they do; certainly less of a chance of being separated and/or losing each other now that there's a clearer path home, but.
correcting that isn't really that high in lance's list of priorities at the moment.
instead he makes it a conscious effort not to stare, but cannot help the occasional glance towards the other, as if to gauge by expression alone.
his mother. the galra half of this equation, lance assumes. maybe even another blade member? but then they would have said something about that, wouldn't they? then again, it's not like there was all that much time to chat, as this belated conversation is proving...
he wonders if she's in one of those stasis pods... was she with the empire? did she know her son was still out there? or was she like his own mother, who wondered and worried about the possibility of his death?
he wonders, too, what he should say now. he can't exactly nope out of this conversation, since he's the one that started it. but he doesn't know if there's anything he could say that would.. make it better? did keith even want it made better? does it even need to be made better? keith's expression is unreadable, perhaps because of how little there is to be seen. he seems fine about it, as if he were merely stating a fact, and not some thing he's spent time agonizing over.
maybe... maybe the best thing he can say is nothing at all? ]
[It's much lighter once they've left the wilderness behind, but it isn't any warmer. If anything, it may be a bit chillier without any tree trunks to buffer the wind. There's his reasoning for leaving their hands linked -- not that he's particularly bothered by it at this point. If Lance happens to fuss, he'd just attribute it to his fingers being frozen in place.
The thought of his mother trying to find out more about him does, occasionally, cross his mind. He's doubtful, as they probably would have found eachother by now. Two people making a conscious effort toward the same goal and all...but the universe is enormous and there's no reason for him to build a preemptive grudge over something he doesn't have the full scoop on. All he really knows is that he's found a place to exist, more or less, among Paladins and Alteans, rebels and mice.
A lingering silence falls between them. Maybe he should call dibs on the shower, or just shut up and enjoy the chilly air. He did nearly drown for a second back there.
Not...nearly, actually, but the potential was there. Per protocol, Lance's life was way further at stake, but.]
It was part of the trial. [He heaves a sigh; talking at length isn't his forte. Talking at length about himself? Bad idea.] Ulaz had a dagger that looked like mine. That's why I wanted to learn more about mine. That's where the trial came in, I had to earn it.
[There's a slight pause; is he even painting a picture here?]
I kept having to fight more and more Blade of Marmora guys. [And girls.] It didn't really work out.
[ maybe if lance were a little nicer, he would have eased off at keith's obvious sign of discomfort. but he knows, too, (or at least he highly suspects) that for as much as keith might not like to talk or divulge information about himself, he kind of sort of needs to because of that. something something bottled up something. maybe it's why the guy's so dang explosive all the time.
in any case, there is a long, pregnant pause at keith's admission, in which lance seems to be waiting for some punchline that never really comes up.
honestly, he can't even say he's surprised... he pretty much predicted as much right before the missions, hadn't he? still... he's a little disappointed. ]
[That's the Whole Thing in simplest terms. It's a good thing he went with Shiro, who let him get his ass kicked, than Lance, who would've...overreacted, apparently. He can feel that judgy air -- something about phrasing.]
It wasn't Shiro's fault. [He's giving Lance's hand a brief squeeze, something to reinforce his words. They're already acting like they're on a honeymoon, ah.] It was something I had to do. He didn't even know it was gonna turn out like that.
[Like that, in the sense he kinda sprung the whole MUH KNIFE thing on him -- on everyone, out of the blue.]
I got to see my dad in the end. That's when Red went crazy.
[He was still out of it at the time, but that's how goes the story.]
I guess we really didn't mention much.
[None of it's really relevant to anyone anyway...]
[ lance wasn't trying to blame shiro here, at least not entirely. if anything, it was the petty part of him that wanted to highlight the fact he'd been right, that putting keith in that position was a recipe for disaster, as the boy is now so kindly confirming, even if, in the end, it wound up working out for them.
did they get what they needed in the end? yes.
could they have done it better, with less damage done? probably. maybe. we'll never know now will we.
all in all, it seems the combination of keith and shiro and the blade of marmora was a bad mix for a number of reasons, all of which can be boiled down to all parties having too much personal investment in things that were completely separate from their actual mission and that, if nothing else, is what lance can't quite let go of.
but it worked out, didn't it... why beat a horse that's already won its race. ]
[There's something about the energy their conversation began with versus what it's become. Not that began from a high point. Could just be him.
Everything did work out, for the most part. Their mission, more specifically, even if it almost failed from the start. It's fine and dandy, water under the bridge, hakuna matata.]
I learned how to use my dagger.
[Which probably isn't what Lance is trying to get at. He's no closer to understanding how it came to be in his possession, though it likely has to do with his mother. The experience may've narrowed one thing down, confirmed an unfortunate(?) bit of heritage (only bad in certain context...s..), but overall: it was a lot of horseshit for little reward.
He's not about to complain, however.]
You don't sound impressed.
[In place of Why Do You Sound Pissed Off. He doesn't, actually, but Keith can only surmise emotions as: okay, annoyed, pissed. Lance isn't coming off as annoyed, par se, bothered? Just a bit -- maybe. Again, he could use more practice in reading feelings. Maybe Lance just feels bad for him?
[ lance feels... something. but it's definitely not pity. he's not sure what it is, or what to do with it, but he can feel it there, simmering in his gut, mingling with the pettiness and disappointment that is, quite frankly, already beginning to dissipate.
because? honestly? what's the point. what's done is done, and things worked out for the best, and there is always the hope that next time something like this happens (will that chance even happen, displaced as they are now?) someone... will be there to make sure it doesn't get so bad.
so let's forget all this glum, shall we? with a faint squeeze and tug of his hand, lance prompts keith to glance over, just so he can see the smile on his lips, just in case he wouldn't be able to hear it. ]
I'm more of a firearms kind of guy anyway.
Edited (too many franks here) 2017-09-04 16:13 (UTC)
[ lance doesn't quite sigh, but he at least recognizes he cannot just gloss over this like he'd wanted to... at least not entirely.
so stopping in his own tracks, he faces keith, and fixes him with a serious expression. somber enough, at least, to emphasize his sincerity here. ]
Next time, try not to be so bullheaded that you get yourself that hurt again.
[ because as confused and shocked as they'd all been by the revelation of his secret alien heritage, seeing shiro walk keith back onto the ship as beat up as he had been was infinitely more worrying. ]
[His brows lift at Lance being up in arms over his state of....being, not that it should be surprising at all. It's just. Peculiar that that's what he's decided to fuss about.
Though, if it had to be something, it may as well be something that doesn't matter anymore.]
--What?!
[But then that gets said, wtf. Way to project.]
Why would Pidge cry about anything?!
[Unless it had to do with her brother. There's the start of an eyeroll...but he opts to just turn back and head on his merry way...still pulling Lance along by their joined hands.]
[ tension: successfully eased! chalk another victory point for ol' lancey lance. ]
Because Pidge has feelings, okay, I swear. I've totally seen them.
[ and lance will let himself get tugged along, but only till he catches up to match pace. (it doesn't take too long; his legs are longer. heh.) anyway, they should be getting to the house soon, shouldn't they? he can't wait — he's pretty sure swamp has just caked into his pores. ]
[Another example of something coming out completely wrong...]
Fine, whatever.
[Because he's not gonna deny that; it isn't like Pidge has ever done anything to suggest otherwise...they did have that one hiccup way back when, but it's fine now.
Houses are, in fact, coming into view...which is great, because their lack of serious conversation has made him extra-aware of how cold he is and how much he probably stinks. He's actively trying not to smell himself, nose held high..focused entirely on bath time. Hopefully they haven't run out of shampoo. The length of Lance's showers are sometimes concerning. How many times do you have to shampoo your hair lol.]
[ shampooing your hair isn't the only thing to do in a shower?? (stop, keep this pg.)
anyway, the house comes into view soon enough, and so comes, too, lance's sigh of relief. ]
Sweet euphoria!
[ the honeymoon over, lance finally disengages from keith to jog up those last few steps, hands in the air like he were running across the beach at sunset about to embrace the love of his life. ]
I'm coming for you, ol' tub-a-dub!
[ he's already started tugging off his shirt because, honestly, the less gross stuff they take in with them will probably be for the better... ]
There it is. Morgenstimmung by Edvard Grieg starts playing in his head, except there's an internal music rip when Lance bolts forward, essentially calling dibs on the tub.]
No you aren't-!
[And he's sprinting up behind him like the roadrunner, hopefully surpassing him as he decides to start stripping which...he cant just run blindly ok.]
[ to be fair, he didn't think he'd have to fight for the thing, because between the two of them keith was way more likely to be content to be all gunky for a few more hours, right?
so his shirt is already up and over his face by the time keith shouts out, meaning his own shout of contempt is swallowed up in wet, gunky cloth. ]
Hey! You better not—!
[ instinct has him shooting forward despite not knowing where the heck he's actually going. fortunately, he was in a steady beeline for the door anyway, so he gets there just as keith gets there, meaning they totally just shoved themselves into that poor doorframe together.
okay lancey lance, time to use your impressive body to muscle your way into the house first— ]
[It's a wonder how they didn't break the door down. In his defense, he did go to twist the knob, but his hands are slimy and gross and this entire night is going TERRIBLY.]
We both nearly died!
[He's working on the knob again.]
Don't follow me next time.
[It opens, he nearly trips his way in...between weighing against the door and trying to keep Lance out of the opening...]
[ lance doesn't even know what keith is talking about at this point. he's got his elbow stuck in the hole of his shirt like some kind of sling, and even if keith hadn't tripped on the way inside, lance certainly does, and considering how close they were that just means it's one knocking over the other.
they both go down, and pretty hard, and honestly poor allura why does she had to deal with all of this. ]
We can't both use it.
[ he twists over keith, trying to pin the boy down with his free hand, while also trying to scramble back up just in case he needs to rush for the bathroom again, just in case this last-ditch attempt at diplomacy doesn't work. ]
Keith falls pretty hard, and thus enters his tenth concussion since arriving here. There's a groan, he's kinda squinting at Lance, but he's not so injured he'd overlook SEIZING HIM BY THE SHOULDER to prevent a quick escape.]
You're not using it first! By the time you're done, you'll have used all the warm water. It takes you hours!
[He's sitting up and trying to roll Lance onto his back at the same time.]
[ the hand on his shoulder is pretty effective on keeping him still, even as keith surges to sit up straight. he falls back a little just out of reflex, meaning his weight winds up on the tops of keith's thighs instead of his own calves, but he's still trying (in vain) to keep his upper hand (assuming he ever had it) by curling that hand he had pinning keith down around the boy's shirt. ]
First of all, that's disgusting. How the heck are you gonna wash all this junk off in just five minutes? You have so much dumb hair. And second of all, in five minutes alone all my pores are gonna get clogged up and suffocate! Do you want me to get space acne, Keith? Do you? [ no one should, they'll never hear the end of it. ]
You're dirty like 80% of the time anyway — why do you care now!
[Lance is more versed in the art of Shower Care and After Care and During The Bath Care. He knows little about pores and lotion and all of that nonsense. Hearing Lance talk at length about it (yes, this is at length) is tiring. He's not at all interested in hearing about acne, but he is making him feel...a bit...self-conscious.
He's fairly sure he's never carried an odor before, and he's unaware of any skin problems? Fucking animated cartoons.]
We'll have to go in together.
[That's it. That's the only solution. If it weren't, he wouldn't even bring it up.]
[ to be fair, "dirty" to lance can range anywhere from being caked in swamp water and having a light sheen of sweat from a workout. so by those terms, keith is always dirty
in any case, lance just stares at the other boy like he's just grown a second head, and the suggested that they all go clean up together. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no, its not,
No, it was just a coincidence.
[He may've had a hunch pre-dating the mall escapade...]
They all thought I stole my knife from them when I got there.
[Just to eliminate any confusion about his weird origins...anyway, he's grinning just a bit, distantly, glad that shit's over.]
yes it's in the queue
So now you know you're half-Galra and you have a magical shape-shifting knife-sword.
[ god you're such an anime protag.
he looks down at their linked hands, his own fingers absently flexing. ]
...Did you really have no clue about your parents before that?
[ it's that thing again, the glaring difference between them. lance tries to imagine how he'd feel if he didn't have any clue about his family, where he came from... or to grow up without the kind of love and support he'd grown up with.
honestly he wonders if he'd grow up to be even half the man keith is. ]
i'll delete it
He's half-Galran and the knife's his, that's why it works the way it does, and he can't deny it being a Magical Shape-shifting Knife Sword.]
I still don't know much about my mother.
[It's different for him, since that's how it's always been. Like people who're born blind, they don't necessarily know what they're missing. He's adapted well...enough...look how well he's getting along with Lance. All the paladins.
They're long out of the marsh by now, but his boots are still squelching with every step. There's a passageway separating the forest, which is what he'll take back to their house. Fuck the actual forest.]
i'll delete you...
correcting that isn't really that high in lance's list of priorities at the moment.
instead he makes it a conscious effort not to stare, but cannot help the occasional glance towards the other, as if to gauge by expression alone.
his mother. the galra half of this equation, lance assumes. maybe even another blade member? but then they would have said something about that, wouldn't they? then again, it's not like there was all that much time to chat, as this belated conversation is proving...
he wonders if she's in one of those stasis pods... was she with the empire? did she know her son was still out there? or was she like his own mother, who wondered and worried about the possibility of his death?
he wonders, too, what he should say now. he can't exactly nope out of this conversation, since he's the one that started it. but he doesn't know if there's anything he could say that would.. make it better? did keith even want it made better? does it even need to be made better? keith's expression is unreadable, perhaps because of how little there is to be seen. he seems fine about it, as if he were merely stating a fact, and not some thing he's spent time agonizing over.
maybe... maybe the best thing he can say is nothing at all? ]
So...
Who beat you up?
try it
The thought of his mother trying to find out more about him does, occasionally, cross his mind. He's doubtful, as they probably would have found eachother by now. Two people making a conscious effort toward the same goal and all...but the universe is enormous and there's no reason for him to build a preemptive grudge over something he doesn't have the full scoop on. All he really knows is that he's found a place to exist, more or less, among Paladins and Alteans, rebels and mice.
A lingering silence falls between them. Maybe he should call dibs on the shower, or just shut up and enjoy the chilly air. He did nearly drown for a second back there.
Not...nearly, actually, but the potential was there. Per protocol, Lance's life was way further at stake, but.]
It was part of the trial. [He heaves a sigh; talking at length isn't his forte. Talking at length about himself? Bad idea.] Ulaz had a dagger that looked like mine. That's why I wanted to learn more about mine. That's where the trial came in, I had to earn it.
[There's a slight pause; is he even painting a picture here?]
I kept having to fight more and more Blade of Marmora guys. [And girls.] It didn't really work out.
right clicks you
in any case, there is a long, pregnant pause at keith's admission, in which lance seems to be waiting for some punchline that never really comes up.
honestly, he can't even say he's surprised... he pretty much predicted as much right before the missions, hadn't he? still... he's a little disappointed. ]
And... Shiro just. Let you?
[ he's not judging or anything but
he's totally judging. ]
delete your account
It wasn't Shiro's fault. [He's giving Lance's hand a brief squeeze, something to reinforce his words. They're already acting like they're on a honeymoon, ah.] It was something I had to do. He didn't even know it was gonna turn out like that.
[Like that, in the sense he kinda sprung the whole MUH KNIFE thing on him -- on everyone, out of the blue.]
I got to see my dad in the end. That's when Red went crazy.
[He was still out of it at the time, but that's how goes the story.]
I guess we really didn't mention much.
[None of it's really relevant to anyone anyway...]
puts in trash
did they get what they needed in the end? yes.
could they have done it better, with less damage done? probably. maybe. we'll never know now will we.
all in all, it seems the combination of keith and shiro and the blade of marmora was a bad mix for a number of reasons, all of which can be boiled down to all parties having too much personal investment in things that were completely separate from their actual mission and that, if nothing else, is what lance can't quite let go of.
but it worked out, didn't it... why beat a horse that's already won its race. ]
...Was it worth it?
watch out for raccoons
Everything did work out, for the most part. Their mission, more specifically, even if it almost failed from the start. It's fine and dandy, water under the bridge, hakuna matata.]
I learned how to use my dagger.
[Which probably isn't what Lance is trying to get at. He's no closer to understanding how it came to be in his possession, though it likely has to do with his mother. The experience may've narrowed one thing down, confirmed an unfortunate(?) bit of heritage (only bad in certain context...s..), but overall: it was a lot of horseshit for little reward.
He's not about to complain, however.]
You don't sound impressed.
[In place of Why Do You Sound Pissed Off. He doesn't, actually, but Keith can only surmise emotions as: okay, annoyed, pissed. Lance isn't coming off as annoyed, par se, bothered? Just a bit -- maybe. Again, he could use more practice in reading feelings. Maybe Lance just feels bad for him?
That's embarrassing....]
you're the only pest here...
because? honestly? what's the point. what's done is done, and things worked out for the best, and there is always the hope that next time something like this happens (will that chance even happen, displaced as they are now?) someone... will be there to make sure it doesn't get so bad.
so let's forget all this glum, shall we? with a faint squeeze and tug of his hand, lance prompts keith to glance over, just so he can see the smile on his lips, just in case he wouldn't be able to hear it. ]
I'm more of a firearms kind of guy anyway.
8^<
He's prompted to do just that, look his way, but stops in his tracks...just in case there's more to it. What a weird guy, what a weird expression.]
That's not what I meant.
[In turn, he knows Lance is being a fart. There's another distant smile, in turn.]
But, one of us has to be.
gross get that out of here
so stopping in his own tracks, he faces keith, and fixes him with a serious expression. somber enough, at least, to emphasize his sincerity here. ]
Next time, try not to be so bullheaded that you get yourself that hurt again.
[ because as confused and shocked as they'd all been by the revelation of his secret alien heritage, seeing shiro walk keith back onto the ship as beat up as he had been was infinitely more worrying. ]
You'll just make Pidge cry.
[ he tried to be 100% serious ok he truly did ]
thats my face uh
Though, if it had to be something, it may as well be something that doesn't matter anymore.]
--What?!
[But then that gets said, wtf. Way to project.]
Why would Pidge cry about anything?!
[Unless it had to do with her brother. There's the start of an eyeroll...but he opts to just turn back and head on his merry way...still pulling Lance along by their joined hands.]
yeah go on
Because Pidge has feelings, okay, I swear. I've totally seen them.
[ and lance will let himself get tugged along, but only till he catches up to match pace. (it doesn't take too long; his legs are longer. heh.) anyway, they should be getting to the house soon, shouldn't they? he can't wait — he's pretty sure swamp has just caked into his pores. ]
https://i.gyazo.com/4ed4f6b343c1ac1a87b2b8bc2e6de516.png
Fine, whatever.
[Because he's not gonna deny that; it isn't like Pidge has ever done anything to suggest otherwise...they did have that one hiccup way back when, but it's fine now.
Houses are, in fact, coming into view...which is great, because their lack of serious conversation has made him extra-aware of how cold he is and how much he probably stinks. He's actively trying not to smell himself, nose held high..focused entirely on bath time. Hopefully they haven't run out of shampoo. The length of Lance's showers are sometimes concerning. How many times do you have to shampoo your hair lol.]
who's lena she sounds needy
anyway, the house comes into view soon enough, and so comes, too, lance's sigh of relief. ]
Sweet euphoria!
[ the honeymoon over, lance finally disengages from keith to jog up those last few steps, hands in the air like he were running across the beach at sunset about to embrace the love of his life. ]
I'm coming for you, ol' tub-a-dub!
[ he's already started tugging off his shirt because, honestly, the less gross stuff they take in with them will probably be for the better... ]
shes the woist
There it is. Morgenstimmung by Edvard Grieg starts playing in his head, except there's an internal music rip when Lance bolts forward, essentially calling dibs on the tub.]
No you aren't-!
[And he's sprinting up behind him like the roadrunner, hopefully surpassing him as he decides to start stripping which...he cant just run blindly ok.]
cut her loose
so his shirt is already up and over his face by the time keith shouts out, meaning his own shout of contempt is swallowed up in wet, gunky cloth. ]
Hey! You better not—!
[ instinct has him shooting forward despite not knowing where the heck he's actually going. fortunately, he was in a steady beeline for the door anyway, so he gets there just as keith gets there, meaning they totally just shoved themselves into that poor doorframe together.
okay lancey lance, time to use your impressive body to muscle your way into the house first— ]
I definitely got dibs! I nearly died back there!
i plan on it
We both nearly died!
[He's working on the knob again.]
Don't follow me next time.
[It opens, he nearly trips his way in...between weighing against the door and trying to keep Lance out of the opening...]
✂
they both go down, and pretty hard, and honestly poor allura why does she had to deal with all of this. ]
We can't both use it.
[ he twists over keith, trying to pin the boy down with his free hand, while also trying to scramble back up just in case he needs to rush for the bathroom again, just in case this last-ditch attempt at diplomacy doesn't work. ]
Okay, okay, how's this — rock, paper, scissors?
snip ya balls off
Keith falls pretty hard, and thus enters his tenth concussion since arriving here. There's a groan, he's kinda squinting at Lance, but he's not so injured he'd overlook SEIZING HIM BY THE SHOULDER to prevent a quick escape.]
You're not using it first! By the time you're done, you'll have used all the warm water. It takes you hours!
[He's sitting up and trying to roll Lance onto his back at the same time.]
I'll only be five minutes.
my blueballs
First of all, that's disgusting. How the heck are you gonna wash all this junk off in just five minutes? You have so much dumb hair. And second of all, in five minutes alone all my pores are gonna get clogged up and suffocate! Do you want me to get space acne, Keith? Do you? [ no one should, they'll never hear the end of it. ]
You're dirty like 80% of the time anyway — why do you care now!
away they go
He's fairly sure he's never carried an odor before, and he's unaware of any skin problems? Fucking animated cartoons.]
We'll have to go in together.
[That's it. That's the only solution. If it weren't, he wouldn't even bring it up.]
bye...
in any case, lance just stares at the other boy like he's just grown a second head, and the suggested that they all go clean up together. ]
I'm not taking a bath with you! We're not six!
[ because that's the main issue here.......... ]
oyasumi
I didn't say we were gonna take a bath together!
[Baths and showers are TOTALLY DIFFERENT. Taking a bath would be weird. Lance would hate it at first, then try to compare weenie sizes.]
I meant we could just shower at the same time and get it over with....at the same time.
[Hmph.]
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