[video / text]

[the_tailor]

[Lance looks...well. Like he hasn't quite slept well for a few days. There's a big bag of candy next to him, though a good chunk of it is already gone. The candy wrappers in the background by his bed tell enough of what's happened to them.]

So. Uh. That masquerade! Yeah, that was a heck of a time. It was great to meet so many of you there. Nothing like a good old party to bring people together, right?

[He pauses. Looks thoughtful. Pops another piece of candy in his mouth.]

Those masks were...really something. Some of them were magic, weren't they? Yeah, that was...fascinating. And stuff.

[Another piece of candy.]

...My stomach hurts.


[Text - Private to Hunk]

bro. buddy. dude.

I am in some serious shit right now.

help me.

Comments

[the_tailor]

What?!

[This time, his head snaps up.]

Dude, that's---rude! What's that supposed to mean?!

[bigman]

[Ah, there we go. Got him to look up. Hunk held up both hands a moment, in surrender.] I'm not surprised that Keith ran away is all I meant. [Which is what he said, so really, he needs to elaborate. And he does.] I mean, not because of you. Or, well, yes, because of you but not in the rude way you must be thinking. [PAUSE. Hmm, OH! got it.] Just that he seems like the type that would try to brush it off and not make a big deal out of it. So... you know, turn and go instead of talk it out. Because I am guessing you two didn't talk about it.

[the_tailor]

Of course we didn't talk about it! He's practically avoiding me as it is! Damnit, he's probably all...disgusted or something that it was me, right?

[Lance isn't even sure the exact reason as to why he's upset.]

[bigman]

That's my point though. You didn't talk. You know, for a "Man of Action" [air quotes] he's not much of a "Man of Action." [air quotes]

And I doubt he's disgusted with you. Wait, you didn't insult him right after, did you?

[the_tailor]

I didn't! I was actually really nice, all things considering! Like--my brain was breaking, but no insults, none at all! I even tried to smooth things over.

[He groans, and not just because his stomach is hurting.]

He probably hates me now.

[bigman]

[Seriously, if you shove another candy in your mouth he's taking the rest away until you can eat responsibility.]

Okay, okay, okay. Tell me what happened, and what you both said, from... you know, after the masks came off. I can tell you if he hates you or not. Trust in the Hunk.

[the_tailor]

I think he tried to run, but I stopped him at first. And I said I was sorry if I freaked him out? And that I wasn't going to like...make fun of him or act like my usual self and call him names. I was behaving really well, okay?

[Sigh.]

It's all kind of a blue. He looked pretty uncomfortable but didn't say anything mean back. But then he just kind of...bolted afterward.

[bigman]

[...]

[...]

[... AWWWWWWW. His hands pressed to his cheeks and he was grinning. Oh no, boys, you are so cute! He grinned when Lance finished talking.]

He doesn't hate you! He was embarrassed! Oh, I bet his face got as red as his jacket... You were nice to him!

[the_tailor]

[Hunk WHAT ARE YOU EVEN DOING.]

Well--I wasn't--I mean, I didn't want him to think I was creeping on him or anything, and it'd be a crap move to insult him when it wasn't actually his fault for once!

[bigman]

[Being inspired and happy over his stupid BFF's sudden realization of the fact that You Pull Her Pigtails Because You Like Her thing. Or, well, maybe he hasn't realized it yet, but Hunk has, and he's sure the others have too. Idiot boys.]

Okay. Lance. Buddy. You have two things you can do. Either go out there, find him and talk to him. Face to face. No names or insults. Ooooor. Ignore it. Pretend it didn't happen, and keep pulling his pigtails until he notices.

[the_tailor]

Pull his...pigtails? What's that supposed to mean?

[No, it hasn't completely settled in yet. Lance has refused to think about it too hard and has been distracting himself with candy and the like.]

Yeah, you could probably put that stupid mullet of his into pigtails, but.

[bigman]

Okay, see, that right there is what I mean. You just pictured putting Keith's hair into pigtails.

But, on topic here, it's a saying. You know how little kids pull on someones hair or pick on them over and over? Call them names or tease them? [POINTED LOOK AT YOU HERE LANCE]

Nine times out of ten it means they like the other kid. You're mean to Keith because you ~Li-ike~ him. [tell him he's wrong. Fight me.] And he doesn't get it and flits off into the night all dark and mysterious like he is.

[the_tailor]

[There's a very, very long pause after Hunk speaks.]

BRO, WHAT THE HELL?!

[After the exclamation, Lance reaches into his bag of candy and grabs the closest thing (a bag of jellybeans) and throws it like a ninja star at Hunk's face.]

I do not like Keith! It's not--I'm--it's not like that at all!

[bigman]

[Hunk laughs, even as jelly beans hit him in the face. he scoops them up, and these are his now. Grinning at the other as he tears the small package, taking a bean.] I'm serious! You totally do. Or would you rather just kiss a stranger than admit it?

[the_tailor]

This is Keith we're talking about here, man! Keith! My rival! People do not get crushes on their rivals!

[bigman]

Don't they?

[come on man, Keith didn't even remember you as a rival.]

What are you rivals over now anyhow? You're both amazing pilots and now both paladins. And, I hate to break it to you, but Allura isn't interested in either of you, and I don't think Keith was into her anyhow. What... are you rivals of?

[Okay, THAT was a honestly unsure tone in his voice, because he really doesn't know, buddy.]

[the_tailor]

We're...

[He pauses, thinking it over. Honestly, he's never quite figured it out himself.]

Rivals in everything! Everything!

[That makes sense, Lance.]

[bigman]

Ooooooh.

That makes sense, Lance.

[No, not really. He frowns, popping another jelly bean into his mouth and chewed on it thoughtfully.]

Okay, so maybe you don't like him like that. You're still freaking out like you think he'll hate you. Give him a day then... I don't know, talk to him? I honestly don't think he CAN hate you.

No one can, Lance. You're a good guy.

[the_tailor]

It's not like he'd like me back even if I did like him, right?

[His vocabulary is absolutely spectacular right now.]

Seriously, I mean, look at him! Look at me! He thinks I'm an idiot, anyway.

[bigman]

[he sighs, tossing back another bean and leaning back on one hand, frowning at Lance. And there goes that fragile ego. So soft and easy to break. Lance, he adores you and you are his best friend, but damn do you have self esteem issues like Hunk has confidence issues.]

Lance. Come on. You're not an idiot. Not always, at least. When it comes down to it you're actually really smart. You're just.... loud and out going. He's very... not loud and withdrawn? He doesn't know how to deal with you.

[the_tailor]

[He really does. Lance does his best to hide it most of the time, but Hunk knows him better than anyone else, so he can at least let his more vulnerable and pathetic side show around him.]

We're opposites! Ice and fire! That's not compatible, right? Please, he'd never like me like that.

[bigman]

[It's okay. You can just be you around Hunk. He gets it.]

Opposites attract? that's common knowledge. Blue and Red. Ice and Fire. It makes sense on some level of absurdity. [He said, waving his hand off as if it really DID make some sense.]

But I think you missed my point. Or, a point in there somewhere. You said you guys were about to kiss? Like, take the mask off and "Oh handsome stranger, let's press our lips together and be hot" kind of smooch? But you both stopped when you realized who it was.

So... what I'm saying is, Keith was totally ready to kiss someone. Why not you?

[the_tailor]

I was ready to kiss him! I mean, not like makeout smooching, but. I was ready to kiss this guy I just met--which I normally don't do--but. I don't even know what I'm talking about anymore.

[He groans and puts his head in his hands.]

[bigman]

[he sighed. Leaning his chin in his hand and leaning on his knee, watching the other. He hated it when Lance was down on himself like this.]

You want me to give you an out? Because I have a logical out for this, if you want it.

[the_tailor]

An out? Okay, shoot.

[Because he's really not sure what to do.]