inbox for victory_road

[onebetter]

username: LT.Griffin

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[marmoron]

[he raises an eyebrow, then looks at james over the top of his menu.]

You seriously haven't apologized to Pidge yet.

[james you are the most underwhelming person sometimes... all the time. though the mention of gifts from friends does have him eyeing his backpack. he sighs and tugs at the zipper.]

[onebetter]

We had a civil conversation a little while back.

[ So that's a no on the apologies. James also doesn't really feel that inclined to give one though, the conversation with Pidge hit a lot of nerves both ways. Glossing over it seems like the more agreeable choice. ]

I think we're cool now.

1/2

[marmoron]

[... can he just pretend to have given allura's gift to james. can he get away with that?

keith lets his expression do all the talking for him for a few seconds.]

2/2

[marmoron]

[wordlessly he hands over a wrapped gift.]

Speaking of people who are still willing to help you out. It's from Allura.

[should james open it, he'll find a tub of hair gel and a note that begins “Keith said you’d like this and I trust his judgment because he’s known you so long" and goes into a sweeter message.]

[onebetter]

... oh.

[ That makes the fourth christmas present he's received? James is starting to feel like he'll sink into the ground in shame sometime soon, but he swallows the sentiment down and carefully opens the package.

Against all conflicted feelings, the contents do make him smile. ]

I'll message her after we finished eating. This is sweet. Also I'm not sure if your gift recommendation was meant in entirely good faith, but you're absolutely correct that I have good use for this. Thanks.

[marmoron]

[the mild reaction gets a momentary look of surprise.]

Well she didn't believe me entirely anyway.

[he hands over a second wrapped gift, this one containing a grooming kit, a package of cookies and an orange fleece blanket.]

[onebetter]

[ WHY SO MUCH, he'd been having a good time believing at least somebody didn't go ALL OUT while he didn't even think of Christmas because he didn't consider anyone here a loved one.

James looks a little startled by this, but then he just shakes his head in mild exhaustion. ]

And I'll add her to the list of people who should be getting belated return gifts, good god. This is way too thoughtful.

[marmoron]

[that's what I thought, too -- a sentiment best kept to himself. but with presents handed over, keith zips up his bag and puts it back on the ground. he hoists the menu back up, apparently very preoccupied with that now.]

Yeah, well. That's Allura for you.

[VERY PREOCCUPIED INDEED.]

Okay, since we're on that topic. If you're gonna talk to her, don't be an ass.

[onebetter]

I have no desire not reason to disrespect her.

[ He'd be staring intently at Keith expect Keith is buried in his menu so the whole locking eyes dramatically thing falls flat. ]

She's been nothing but kind in the times I've met her and she's got nothing to do with the issues that are specific to Earth either. Also she's a Princess and I respect rank.

[marmoron]

You're seriously going to act like you don't have a track record of being an ass to the paladins?

[keith raises an eyebrow, glancing up over the menu. he'll let that question hang in the air for several beats before looking back down.]

Look, I'm just saying. [another beat. suddenly he's really starting to hate that he has to ask this, but he keeps his tone even despite gritting his teeth.]

And if you don't mind, do you think you could do me a favor and not talk about embarrassing middle school stories.

[onebetter]

[ The other Paladins are former classmates and he's never been an ass to Shiro so James thinks he's got a lot of counterargument here, but he bites it down. ]

Wait, there are middle school stories that would embarrass you? You always seemed pretty sure of yourself in everything you were doing.

Not that I mind not telling any middle school stories at all, it isn't my proudest time either. So you're safe there.

[marmoron]

[he breathes out, relieved.]

Great. I'm holding you to that.

[he relaxes and actually starts reading the menu.]

And look, I'm just not proud of the way I used to act out back then either.

[onebetter]

Okay, fair enough.

[ James has by now decided what he wants and is putting his own menu aside. Of course, he's got the home advantage of having read the menu yesterday already. ]

Do you have the other Paladins under gag order as well, regarding early Garrison days?

[marmoron]

No, but they weren't really there for the worst of it.

[having settled on a choice, he puts the menu down on the table.]

[onebetter]

[ James shrugs at that, only mildly convinced but not seeing the point in arguing any of this. They're interrupted by a friendly waiter taking their orders anyway, so it's a moment before James turns back to Keith. ]

Are you still traveling with the princess then?

[marmoron]

Yeah. We have a place together in Ecruteak now.

[that's stated so mildly it's obvious he has no idea how that comes off.]

[onebetter]

You... what?

[ Moved in? With a princess? Gotten a place? What.... What.

Give James a moment to reboot.

[marmoron]

[keith raises an eyebrow.]

Got a place in Ecruteak. Is something wrong with that?

[onebetter]

I'm just surprised that you and the princess would move in together. I didn't know you were that close.

[ James' expression normalized though. There is a lot he doesn't know about the Paladins, so what's one more absolutely baffling thing to add to the list.... ]

[marmoron]

We fought a war together for years.

[still in that same somewhat flat tone.]

It's not like I spent the war telling everyone to piss off.

[onebetter]

... I guess that's fair.

[ He does not look actually convinced. ]

Guess I didn't think princesses don't really move in with us mere mortals unless they're marrying into the family or something. But then again, I'd never met a princess before. You know the area better than I do.

[marmoron]

[aaaaaaaaand comprehension. it's fortunate that he wasn't drinking anything at the time otherwise james would have been treated to a very unwelcome shower.]

She has her own room!

[that's somewhere a yelp and a hiss. color rises to his cheeks.]

It's not like that, okay?

[onebetter]

[ James smiles bemusedly at the goofy reaction. It's not malicious in nature, it's just hard to remain stonefaced when Keith is offering such an uncharacteristic display. ]

Understood. I was a little quick to assume there - which I'm sure is no surprise, all things considered. Pardon the misunderstanding.

Are you giving up on the gym journey then?

[ He doesn't want to say it, but that's a pretty devastatingly lonely thought. ]

[marmoron]

Yeah? You'd think you'd have learned by now not to assume anything about me.

[god can he just reach over the table and slap the smile off of james. can he do that. keith takes a deep breath, bristling somewhat when the waiter returns with drinks for the table.]

Why does that matter to you?

[onebetter]

I'm just curious.

[ He takes a sip of his drink before continuing, trying to take the edge of with a nice little pause. ]

I kind of liked competing against you on this - in a friendly way, of course. It was just nice being on a comparable level to someone. Motivating.