[Lance moves in, and Keith practically sinks; he's not sure what he was expecting, but his other hand semi-automatically makes a grab for his opposite shoulder -- this time purely to steady himself. He's not an expert floater...rather, he could last a while afloat on the ocean, but Lance is essentially Jaws and he's kind of losing focus.
If he were closer to the rocks, he wouldn't be in this predicament. His opposite hand's moved to grip the back of his head, too, abandoning his jaw and ruffling his hair backwards in the process so they both look funny. Him, moreso (probably) with his exposed forehead and all. This entire situation is suddenly way more embarrassing than getting your **** stuck in your wife's ******.]
Y...eah. So what?!
[If he's starting to sound edgy, it's because he's getting noivis.]
If he were closer to the rocks, he wouldn't be in this predicament. His opposite hand's moved to grip the back of his head, too, abandoning his jaw and ruffling his hair backwards in the process so they both look funny. Him, moreso (probably) with his exposed forehead and all. This entire situation is suddenly way more embarrassing than getting your **** stuck in your wife's ******.]
Y...eah. So what?!
[If he's starting to sound edgy, it's because he's getting noivis.]
[ why did you censor out "head"?????????
anyway, they definitely could have chosen a better setting for this particular line of conversation, yes, but it's too late now, they've come too far. though lance's ears pick up the hint of panic rising in keith's tone, a sort of sharp growl that rests on the back of his throat. where lance's voice tends to pitch higher in times of duress, keith's seem to go the opposite direction which is pretty fitting, considering their entire motif, but anyway i digress.
right now, they're a little too far away from any rocks to gain any kind of leverage, but with keith practically hanging onto lance now it's easier to drift along, even if he is essentially swimming for two. ]
Nothing, [ or so he says, because he's definitely looking at keith like it's not just nothing but he doesn't seem prepared to say anything but that. at least not right now. ] Just... you should tell them. When you do. [ get a load of dr. phil over here. ] I think they'd like to know.
[ keith will feel a bump at his back then, because somehow in the midst of lance's inane babbling, he'd managed to drift them both towards an edge of the lagoon, and finally lance's hands have somewhere to go — one at the side of keith's head, pressed flat against damp rocks; the other a brush of fingertips that trace his cheek, coming to tuck a lock of hair behind his ear. ]
anyway, they definitely could have chosen a better setting for this particular line of conversation, yes, but it's too late now, they've come too far. though lance's ears pick up the hint of panic rising in keith's tone, a sort of sharp growl that rests on the back of his throat. where lance's voice tends to pitch higher in times of duress, keith's seem to go the opposite direction which is pretty fitting, considering their entire motif, but anyway i digress.
right now, they're a little too far away from any rocks to gain any kind of leverage, but with keith practically hanging onto lance now it's easier to drift along, even if he is essentially swimming for two. ]
Nothing, [ or so he says, because he's definitely looking at keith like it's not just nothing but he doesn't seem prepared to say anything but that. at least not right now. ] Just... you should tell them. When you do. [ get a load of dr. phil over here. ] I think they'd like to know.
[ keith will feel a bump at his back then, because somehow in the midst of lance's inane babbling, he'd managed to drift them both towards an edge of the lagoon, and finally lance's hands have somewhere to go — one at the side of keith's head, pressed flat against damp rocks; the other a brush of fingertips that trace his cheek, coming to tuck a lock of hair behind his ear. ]
...this feels very ungainly.
[said as he is trying to get his weight over the board - if he situates himself wrong he feels unsteady, like he's pushing down against a resistance that is only going to fire the board back up again. Or else it squeaks against his dampened skin or costume. But he tries to get it right - hug it to his chest, Lance had said - and once he thinks he might be floating there, he carefully lifts one foot off the bottom.
Then... the other?
Is he doing it? Or is he simply clinging to the board for dear life?]
[said as he is trying to get his weight over the board - if he situates himself wrong he feels unsteady, like he's pushing down against a resistance that is only going to fire the board back up again. Or else it squeaks against his dampened skin or costume. But he tries to get it right - hug it to his chest, Lance had said - and once he thinks he might be floating there, he carefully lifts one foot off the bottom.
Then... the other?
Is he doing it? Or is he simply clinging to the board for dear life?]
[He's searching Lance's face all the while, prepared for him to outright call him on his shit; there's a sharp denial already sitting at the edge of his tongue...sitting, nesting, thawing back down into his throat in the form of a fake lump. In comes leverage, suddenly. A hard surface at his back, when Keith wasn't even aware that they were moving. Excuse the uke gasp, as well as the panicked leap from his shoulder. That hand finds a small stone to grip, acting all the while like he hadn't meant to bring all of this on while, also, at the same time, not rejecting him at all.
His eyes belatedly focus on the hand pressed to the rock by his templeish area. He's feigning preoccupation with it as Lance touches him in a way similar to what he'd just been doing himself. Being in the receiving end is completely different, however. It's scary, but exciting too. This is the same guy who flew off a mountain with a motorcycle-hoverbike btw.
How? Something else that threatens to prematurely escape his vocals. Maybe he hasn't seen enough romcoms for this sort of thing, or maybe he's just anticipating the worst? Why would Lance even like him like that? Even now, he's just -- being Lance. His other hand falls from the back of his head, shifting beyond his neck in the form of a fist, settling at his chest...prepared to spread and shove, but he does not. A drawn-in breath and a lead from Lance's earlier actions; he turns his head back toward Lance's, semi-nuzzling it, but the goal here's a bit different. His lips purse against his palm just slightly, just enough. He's insecure about the whole thing and yet, something's making him feel just courageous enough....]
His eyes belatedly focus on the hand pressed to the rock by his templeish area. He's feigning preoccupation with it as Lance touches him in a way similar to what he'd just been doing himself. Being in the receiving end is completely different, however. It's scary, but exciting too. This is the same guy who flew off a mountain with a motorcycle-hoverbike btw.
How? Something else that threatens to prematurely escape his vocals. Maybe he hasn't seen enough romcoms for this sort of thing, or maybe he's just anticipating the worst? Why would Lance even like him like that? Even now, he's just -- being Lance. His other hand falls from the back of his head, shifting beyond his neck in the form of a fist, settling at his chest...prepared to spread and shove, but he does not. A drawn-in breath and a lead from Lance's earlier actions; he turns his head back toward Lance's, semi-nuzzling it, but the goal here's a bit different. His lips purse against his palm just slightly, just enough. He's insecure about the whole thing and yet, something's making him feel just courageous enough....]
[ lance feels keith pull away and he feels something cold and heavy drop in his gut — disappointment, perhaps, or maybe even fear. his shoulder feels suddenly cold, and his head feels heavy without the support of keith's hand behind his neck, but before he can dwell too much on any immediate regret, his mind refocuses enough to realize he may have admitted defeat too soon.
there is still a hand on his chest, curled into a fist, sure, but considering this is keith, it's a pretty good sign that fist hasn't yet found his nose. it stays there, nestled just beneath his collar bone, where a single shark-tooth pendant rests, but more than that — surprisingly, miraculously — more than that, there are a pair of lips against his palm, pursing with too much intent to be an accident, and lance is surprised that fist remains from how hard his heart is hammering against his chest right now.
suddenly he hears his own words echoing back at him, you should tell them, they'd like to know and he almost laughs at himself because — man. what a hypocrite. how do you know, though, how can you be sure, and also, actually, is right now really a good time to be talking anyway?
but if you aren't talking, what are you doing...
he sucks in a sharp breath, head dropping so suddenly it's a wonder he doesn't accidentally clock keith with it. the hand he's got pressed against the rock clenches into a sudden fist, because oh god, oh god, maybe he was wrong about himself all along, oh god—
his hand and his head move simultaneously; palm shifting against those lips, reaching behind to hold the back of keith's head instead, angling his face towards; his head lifting back up just to time to catch whatever protest keith might make about the sudden manhandling. with his lips. using his lips. on keith's lips. oh god. ]
there is still a hand on his chest, curled into a fist, sure, but considering this is keith, it's a pretty good sign that fist hasn't yet found his nose. it stays there, nestled just beneath his collar bone, where a single shark-tooth pendant rests, but more than that — surprisingly, miraculously — more than that, there are a pair of lips against his palm, pursing with too much intent to be an accident, and lance is surprised that fist remains from how hard his heart is hammering against his chest right now.
suddenly he hears his own words echoing back at him, you should tell them, they'd like to know and he almost laughs at himself because — man. what a hypocrite. how do you know, though, how can you be sure, and also, actually, is right now really a good time to be talking anyway?
but if you aren't talking, what are you doing...
he sucks in a sharp breath, head dropping so suddenly it's a wonder he doesn't accidentally clock keith with it. the hand he's got pressed against the rock clenches into a sudden fist, because oh god, oh god, maybe he was wrong about himself all along, oh god—
his hand and his head move simultaneously; palm shifting against those lips, reaching behind to hold the back of keith's head instead, angling his face towards; his head lifting back up just to time to catch whatever protest keith might make about the sudden manhandling. with his lips. using his lips. on keith's lips. oh god. ]
[ i mean... tomato, tomahto.
should linneus glance up at lance in that moment, he will be treated to an encouraging smile and an even more encouraging (hopefully) thumbs up. ]
Looking good. [ as good as anyone clinging to a boogie board can look, anyway. but he's doing it, and that's all that matters! carefully, lance reaches down to grasp either side of the board, slowly trying to coax linneus to lay a little more horizontally against it. ]
Okay, now try sort of... laying down on it? You wanna let your body rest over the surface of the water just like your hand had been.
should linneus glance up at lance in that moment, he will be treated to an encouraging smile and an even more encouraging (hopefully) thumbs up. ]
Looking good. [ as good as anyone clinging to a boogie board can look, anyway. but he's doing it, and that's all that matters! carefully, lance reaches down to grasp either side of the board, slowly trying to coax linneus to lay a little more horizontally against it. ]
Okay, now try sort of... laying down on it? You wanna let your body rest over the surface of the water just like your hand had been.
[he can do this. He can manage. But Lance's hands, his help keep ing the board steady... it's reassuring to have. The boy doesn't mean him to hover, Linneus is pretty sure, but to use the board sort of as a... buffer?]
Like this?
[and, hesitantly]
It's not going to sink?
Like this?
[and, hesitantly]
It's not going to sink?
Nah, its entire purpose is to stay ride these waves.
[ once he's certain the other boy has a good hold on the board, he starts to slowly walk backwards, further out into the deeper ocean, keeping his hold along the foam steady, gentle. ]
There you go.. you're doing great! How're you feeling?
[ once he's certain the other boy has a good hold on the board, he starts to slowly walk backwards, further out into the deeper ocean, keeping his hold along the foam steady, gentle. ]
There you go.. you're doing great! How're you feeling?
[That's twice now that he's kissed...Lance...which is a weird thing to think aout -- which is why he isn't at all. Simultaneously, he can't decide whether or not his lips have lingered for too long -- he is pulling away rather quickly. There's not enough time to freak out about it or try to excuse himself from the matter at hand, as a new heaviness/warmth takes place of warm skin. It's a touch softer, wholly unfamiliar but just as warm...
Good thing he's wide-eyed when it occurs, otherwise he may've jerked away out of impulse. Not due to anything but the wait what factor of their liplock. He's borderline idle at first, only a slight extension of the handkiss lingers between the mouths...but his eyes close and he eases into the arrangement all too quickly. As if it'd been a long time coming.
His fingers unfurl, his hands turn and grip at the necklace, twisting it slightly, urging him nearer rather than trying to strangle him. He's not entirely sure how this ended up in his favor, but now he's maintaining it in his inexperience...somehow...]
Good thing he's wide-eyed when it occurs, otherwise he may've jerked away out of impulse. Not due to anything but the wait what factor of their liplock. He's borderline idle at first, only a slight extension of the handkiss lingers between the mouths...but his eyes close and he eases into the arrangement all too quickly. As if it'd been a long time coming.
His fingers unfurl, his hands turn and grip at the necklace, twisting it slightly, urging him nearer rather than trying to strangle him. He's not entirely sure how this ended up in his favor, but now he's maintaining it in his inexperience...somehow...]
Oh! [She's got short legs and she's running on the sand--she's clearly at a disadvantage here. It doesn't take long for him to not only catch up, but overcome her.
She goes as hard as she can, but alas. She's going to lose unless he deliberately lets her win, but when they reach the water she doubles over, hands on her knees and breathing hard.]
Next time... We can race in the water! [Then she'll win for sure.]
She goes as hard as she can, but alas. She's going to lose unless he deliberately lets her win, but when they reach the water she doubles over, hands on her knees and breathing hard.]
Next time... We can race in the water! [Then she'll win for sure.]
Eeeh, I bet the water would feel awesome when you're a little tispy though.
[Not that Shima is that interested in getting drunk. It's more the allure of the forbidden-ish.]
[Not that Shima is that interested in getting drunk. It's more the allure of the forbidden-ish.]
[ She can clearly see how important his home and his memories of it are just in the way he describes the similarities and differences, in the tone of his voice and the expression on his face. The little details he remembers, unworn by time and space. ]
Is that so very strange? [ It's a gentle question. In the context she knows, after all, all beaches look like this, or something similar. ]
I do admit that I know very little of the universe—only the world I knew. The beach near my family's summer villa... was not so different as this either.
[ There's a wistfulness in her voice when she mentions the villa... ]
Is that so very strange? [ It's a gentle question. In the context she knows, after all, all beaches look like this, or something similar. ]
I do admit that I know very little of the universe—only the world I knew. The beach near my family's summer villa... was not so different as this either.
[ There's a wistfulness in her voice when she mentions the villa... ]
[Huh. Wow, that's familiar. If he were smaller, female, and much much squeakier, he could be a clone of Ruby.] --ah! I'm sorry, I didn't think they were that hot!
H-hold on, I'll be right back with a drink!
[She scurries off, only to return with...
A watermelon. Half of one, at least. She drops to her knees and pretty much shoves it in his face.] It's not a drink, but it's cold! Eat it!
H-hold on, I'll be right back with a drink!
[She scurries off, only to return with...
A watermelon. Half of one, at least. She drops to her knees and pretty much shoves it in his face.] It's not a drink, but it's cold! Eat it!
[ rip. we knew you well etc etc ]
Thanks. I might not have that kind of job here, but I'll definitely have your back too!
[ She flashes him a peace sign, grinning widely. ] You can count on me.
[ Except she'll definitely need it more, most likely... ]
Thanks. I might not have that kind of job here, but I'll definitely have your back too!
[ She flashes him a peace sign, grinning widely. ] You can count on me.
[ Except she'll definitely need it more, most likely... ]
It's alright. It's not to be expected. There are just so many people here with so many different abilities, it's difficult to keep track.
[ He looks down at the offered support, eyes widening with surprise. Lance is truly proving himself to be a good bean, and he doesn't think himself above taking the offered help. He doesn't let much of his weight rest on him, but enough to take some of the pressure off his left leg. ]
Thank you. And no, nothing as official as that. Perhaps I'm sabotaging them by telling you, seeing as how you work for the law enforcement here, but think of it more as... an underground Colosseum.
[ He looks down at the offered support, eyes widening with surprise. Lance is truly proving himself to be a good bean, and he doesn't think himself above taking the offered help. He doesn't let much of his weight rest on him, but enough to take some of the pressure off his left leg. ]
Thank you. And no, nothing as official as that. Perhaps I'm sabotaging them by telling you, seeing as how you work for the law enforcement here, but think of it more as... an underground Colosseum.
asdjhfasdf SORRY NEW JOB LITERALLY ATE ME I'M TAGGING FROM THE GREAT BEYOND
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rememberher
2017-09-20 05:09 am (UTC)(link)
[ Because all girls are terrifying, Lance. This is a part of life you just have to learn to accept.
If she notices the twinge in his smile, then she certainly doesn't say anything about it. Even if she had a chance to question in, he so "deftly" (see: not at all) moves the conversation with a pun that it actually makes her stop.
Wait, did he just—
snrk ]
Two L's...
[ She brings a gloved hand up to her mouth, trying to disguise—wait, is she actually laughing at that terrible joke? Judging from the way her shoulders shake slightly, yeah she is........
whelp. ]
If she notices the twinge in his smile, then she certainly doesn't say anything about it. Even if she had a chance to question in, he so "deftly" (see: not at all) moves the conversation with a pun that it actually makes her stop.
Wait, did he just—
snrk ]
Two L's...
[ She brings a gloved hand up to her mouth, trying to disguise—wait, is she actually laughing at that terrible joke? Judging from the way her shoulders shake slightly, yeah she is........
whelp. ]
Edited 2017-09-20 05:09 (UTC)
[ "awkward" isn't really what they're aiming for here, but it definitely could be a lot worse. ]
Next is trying it on your own.
[ they've gotten far enough now that the water reaches up to lance's ribs. carefully, he moves over to where linneus floats, holding up his hand for the other to see, then slowly slipping that back down under water. the flat of his hand finds linneus' stomach then, holding him steady. ]
I want you to try and separate yourself from the board, okay? I've got a hold of you here, so don't worry about anything. Just concentrate on how your body feels with the water. Try and float on your own.
Next is trying it on your own.
[ they've gotten far enough now that the water reaches up to lance's ribs. carefully, he moves over to where linneus floats, holding up his hand for the other to see, then slowly slipping that back down under water. the flat of his hand finds linneus' stomach then, holding him steady. ]
I want you to try and separate yourself from the board, okay? I've got a hold of you here, so don't worry about anything. Just concentrate on how your body feels with the water. Try and float on your own.
[ where keith finds his comfort in not thinking, lance finds himself ping-ponging between the two. one second caught up in the press of lips and their journey towards synchronized breathing, the next hearing sirens blare between his ears because, um, hi, hello, are you aware you are kissing your teammate? locking lips with the so-called enemy, because they're rivals, except they were never really rivals were they, or maybe they were, and now they're not, they're friends, but also now they're kissing friends which means wait are they more than friends or does there have to be some kind of spoken agreement about it first?
again, speaking would probably help them both out here, or at the very least lance, who's gradually making himself dizzy running circles around in his mind. is this okay? how could it not be okay? am i doing this right? does he like it? do i like it? how could i not like it? are we going steady now? do people even still go steady? oh my god what am i gonna tell my mom—
the tug along his neck works both as a mental tug back to reality and enough of a force to draw him closer. his knees bump awkwardly against keith's, but all it takes is a slight shift and, okay, cool, legs entwined, hips aligned. both hands now buried in damp, dark hair, and, hey, what if he tugs too? ]
again, speaking would probably help them both out here, or at the very least lance, who's gradually making himself dizzy running circles around in his mind. is this okay? how could it not be okay? am i doing this right? does he like it? do i like it? how could i not like it? are we going steady now? do people even still go steady? oh my god what am i gonna tell my mom—
the tug along his neck works both as a mental tug back to reality and enough of a force to draw him closer. his knees bump awkwardly against keith's, but all it takes is a slight shift and, okay, cool, legs entwined, hips aligned. both hands now buried in damp, dark hair, and, hey, what if he tugs too? ]
All right..
[It's reassuring that he can just... stand, worst come to worse, but Lance's hand is a comfort as well. How to go about releasing the board, though... it's rather holding him up right now. If he pushes it away he is probably just going to sink.
He is probably overthinking this too much. So he makes a start easing the board away and... hoping he doesn't sink]
[It's reassuring that he can just... stand, worst come to worse, but Lance's hand is a comfort as well. How to go about releasing the board, though... it's rather holding him up right now. If he pushes it away he is probably just going to sink.
He is probably overthinking this too much. So he makes a start easing the board away and... hoping he doesn't sink]
[Yes to the last thing, not sure about the rest. sumimasen...
Speaking has actually never helped Keith do a single thing in his life. If urged to, he'd probably immediately deny kissing him or even thinking about doing that because not only is it weird to be kissing Lance -- as Keith, but it's weird to be thinking about crushes or any of that such nonsense. Where most teens spend their days pining for obscene forms of company, Keith can be found cracking Cicada 3301 or shitposting as 9MOTHER9HORSE9EYES9. No talking, no problem. Being as it were, the more he's not thinking about it (this must be what people on Fear Factor do when they have to eat tarantulas), the longer he just endure -- reciprocates, enjoys...
The more he feels like he's gonna freak the hell out. This is why we can't have nice things, so on and so forth. It doesn't happen, however, as they both seem to find comfort in violence. The tug isn't anything forceful; it's enough to compel his head a certain way, tilt his chin up. It prompts a soft gasp (™) and only then does he realize how out of breath he is.
There's hardly any space between his mouth and Lance's, even as he deliberately lets his chin sit at a particular angle where they aren't aligned enough to spur another liplock. A slight change could fix that, but right now he's just breathing, regarding Lance with half-lids. A leg outstretches underwater, bending behind the paladin's thigh in place of any encouraging (or discouraging) words. He's still not trusting himself to say anything...this is fine.]
Speaking has actually never helped Keith do a single thing in his life. If urged to, he'd probably immediately deny kissing him or even thinking about doing that because not only is it weird to be kissing Lance -- as Keith, but it's weird to be thinking about crushes or any of that such nonsense. Where most teens spend their days pining for obscene forms of company, Keith can be found cracking Cicada 3301 or shitposting as 9MOTHER9HORSE9EYES9. No talking, no problem. Being as it were, the more he's not thinking about it (this must be what people on Fear Factor do when they have to eat tarantulas), the longer he just endure -- reciprocates, enjoys...
The more he feels like he's gonna freak the hell out. This is why we can't have nice things, so on and so forth. It doesn't happen, however, as they both seem to find comfort in violence. The tug isn't anything forceful; it's enough to compel his head a certain way, tilt his chin up. It prompts a soft gasp (™) and only then does he realize how out of breath he is.
There's hardly any space between his mouth and Lance's, even as he deliberately lets his chin sit at a particular angle where they aren't aligned enough to spur another liplock. A slight change could fix that, but right now he's just breathing, regarding Lance with half-lids. A leg outstretches underwater, bending behind the paladin's thigh in place of any encouraging (or discouraging) words. He's still not trusting himself to say anything...this is fine.]
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