[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]

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.]

[bigman]

Magic.

[he said it so simply. As if this were true fact or something. Even had a hand wave to accent the word. u_u]

You said yourself, the masks made it so you couldn't tell who it was, right? Magic? So what if, and hear me out here, what if they made you want to [he made kissy sounds here, lips drawn together!]. If, by some chance Keith really IS upset with you about it, that's your out. Your excuse. Magic.

Though honestly, I think you have a thing for him, or you wouldn't be this down over it. Since when are you worried if he's upset or not?

[the_tailor]

[Hunk does have a very good point. Magic is a wonderful excuse, if everything goes to hell. Hunk, this is one of the many reasons why you're one of Lance's best friends. You can think of solutions to almost anything.]

Yeah. Yeah, magic sounds like a good excuse.

[He's quiet for a little while at the last part.]

Because he's my friend? And...I don't understand what's going on with any of this. I never... Okay, so I may have thought about it before, but I mean, who wouldn't?

[bigman]

[He tries to help, or at least find work arounds. Lance is his oldest friend and closest thing he's had to family since leaving home for the Academy. Of course he'll try his best for him.]

It makes sense too. 'But Keith, those masks were messing with us!' See? And easy out.

[he did smile a bit at the confession of having thought about it before. Hunk's smile was a bit lopsided, but he didn't say he thought the guy had. It was transparent, to him at least. or, he could just be making it up in his mind because he's a filthy shipper and Lance deserves something good.]

[he did raise his hand though, giving him a half frown at 'who wouldn't?'.]

Me. I wouldn't. Not Keith. Too brooding. He's got good eyes though, but I'll totally leave that one for you to think about.

[the_tailor]

Don't mention his eyes. Who even has purple eyes like that? They're so big too, like not in a bad way, and I'm totally screwed, aren't I.

[He's still not fully admitting it, but the thought is firmly implanted in there now. Much more than it ever was.]

[bigman]

[That's admitting it enough, really. Hunk nods, yep. He agrees.]

Yeah, sounds like it. But, look... if he's really, really weird over it, just explain that you weren't sure what you were doing. that you didn't mean to upset him, and that this place is major crazy sometimes. I mean, man, I have a rock that lives in a ball and is awesome. I can completely believe as mask tried to make you two kiss.

But... [he reached out and pressed his fist to the others knee, a small bump, being serious.] If we know Keith at all, he's not mad at you. the world isn't upside down, just a bit sideways.

[the_tailor]

[Lance takes a deep breath. It's going to take some time to sort through all of this. He's thought about it before, but never considered it to be an actual possibility. And now? With how close it was?

The one thing he can admit, though, is that he feels better after Hunk's talk to him. Lance nods before launching right into a tight hug.]

Hunk. I seriously, seriously don't know what I'd do without you.

[bigman]

[Let's be honest here. Hunk wouldn't be HALF as out going as he was with out Lance. He would have been that good student that did nothing bad and... might not have gotten too far for it. Or so he'll continue to tell himself.]

[When the other latched into a hug he was only surprised for a moment, and then looped his arms around the Blue Paladin and best friend, giving him a warm, tight hug. Mostly he though the other just really needed it.]

I know. You'd be lost without me. [He said with a smile and a squeeze, then spoke softer.] Someone's got to be your voice of reason.