secondnature | IC CONTACT ( meadowlark )

I think I kinda get that.

So if you had to hurt to get something back, that'd be the one to get. Can I see it some time?

Yeah.

[Should he tell him it's not working properly, and that he's worried about his life force? About his mom's life force?

Maybe.

But he decides to keep it to himself.]

You didn't message me to ask about a knife. Because you didn't know.

So, what was it?

There's never any segue between hot and cold for you......

Fine, w/e, I thought you might wanna hang out. This just sounded like something more important you were dealing with so I wanted to talk about it first.

I can bring my knife?

[ ... oh, wait, does that mean he's agreeing that easily? Somehow Noctis expected to have to justify himself since so much with Keith has been a hard-won battle, but the fact that this is an easy win actually gets a hint of a smile out of him. ]

Are you asking permission or something? Yeah sure, bring it.

Okay ...

Bring it where?

[Keith does contain multitudes, Noctis. Look at that!]

[ A multitude of sharp objects doesn't count!! ]

Idk, you know any good spots? If not I've got something in mind and we could meet at a restaurant first if you're hungry. I had some vr stuff I wanted to do but then I wouldn't see the knife.

I like being outside but it's not a good idea with the heat and water rationing.

[One is definitely why the other is annoying him. If he could drink all the water he wanted ...]

A restaurant's fine. As long as they don't care about knives. Nowhere fancy. That would care.

Dw I'm not gonna let you melt or get you frisked.

Let's meet up at Blu's, it's pretty cheap but the dessert's good. I'll send you coords. Are you free rn?

[ Luckily his own shifts have been later and later in the evening to compensate for the unbearable changes in weather, and tonight's his night off on top of that. Good thing, too, since it shouldn't be too much longer before the sun's setting. ]

I'm free. I basically set my own schedule.

[Which works for Keith. He needs something that won't make him feel tied down.]

Just let me know where.

Okay I'm gonna shower then head over so ~15 minutes.

[ At least he knows his hair will dry instantly when he steps outside. But here he is sending the coordinates, as promised. ]

Don't be late.

[There is the contrary part of Keith—the part from before Voltron, before the space whale—that wants to be late just to be late. It's because Noctis told him not to be. But he's also surprisingly willing to be disciplined and on the ball. He just also likes to be difficult.

Either way, discipline wins out because he doesn't want Noctis to use it against him.

Keith turns up at the restaurant in a tank top and a pair of pants that has enough pockets to conceal his knife. Thanks to the weather—and Keith's unwillingness to go without being active, even if it doesn't cool down at night like the desert that he actually surprisingly misses a lot—he's sporting a tan.

His arms are crossed as he's waiting.

Oh, and he was two minutes early.

So take that, Noctis!]

[ Noctis is exactly eleven minutes late.

He has the audacity to stroll up at a meandering pace, no indication that he knows he's running behind or that Keith's been waiting on him, sporting his own designer white t-shirt and fitted black denim jeans because fashion is more important than punctuality. Always. ]

Ah, hey, you're here... You could've gone inside to get a table if you wanted to be out of the heat. It's been pretty gross out... Here, they've got one in the back I like.

[ With an actual momentary smile as a greeting, brushing past him into the restaurant to indeed secure that table near the rear. ]

[Noctis: You're bad at social situations, aren't you?
Also Noctis: Strolls up ten minutes late without a single apology.

What is the truth?

Keith grimaces as Noctis shoves past him. Yes, he's hot. It's hot outside! The moment he's inside, he actually feels a flood of relief from the air conditioning, but oddly enough, that doesn't cool his aggravation. Don't be late, Noctis said. Don't be late! Well, look at this. Keith was here, early, and Noctis wasn't. At all.

He's not even good about meeting people at places like this, and—

Ugh.

Fine.

Fine.

He sits down, crossing his arms over his chest.]

Does time work differently in your world?

[Just checking.]

[ Feel blessed. Blessed by this inconsiderate but well-meaning asshole.

Noctis slides into the booth first, already lifting his chin in greeting to the waiter who approaches their table--

and whose question about how they're doing is preempted by Keith's inquiry, which at least he was careful enough to ask before they had an audience that might overhear. He's smart. Noctis lifts his eyebrows, even exchanging a momentary look with the waiter before requesting two waters, smoothing back drying hair in vain. ]

Uh... is it supposed to? [ ... ]

Ah, was I late or something? Can't have been by very much. [ His voice lowers further, leaning slightly forward. ]

Your chest feeling better or...?

I'm—

[Not pleased that Noctis doesn't seem to understand about being on time! He said not to be late. Keith isn't good at this, and now Noctis is just dismissing it?

But then, it's really about focusing. Having patience.

Or, more accurately, picking a battle.

He huffs, not finishing his thought.]

My chest is fine. It would be better if you were on time. Which you weren't. By ten minutes.

[Okay. Now he'll let it go.]

... wow.

I was gonna' buy your food but now you're getting all hung up on this; I don't even know... [ Spoilers: he was not planning to buy Keith's food. ]

Talk about a pain. You wanna' get it all out of your system or can we move on?

[Somehow Noctis was way more patient with Angry Pizza Keith than this Keith. Maybe he needs to get sick. He grimaces, but decides he doesn't feel bad.

Noctis could've been on time! Like he implied they both should be!]

Can't you tell? It's already out of my system.

[A beat.]

I can buy my own food, anyway. It's fine.

[ He is learning to love again after losing Angry Pizza Keith, the wound is raw, okay. ]

Cool. [ ... but... why does he feel guilty, now. ]

Don't worry about it, I'll cover it. I asked you out here because I was curious about how you were doing and the dagger and stuff, so... it's all on me.

IC CONTACT ( meadowlark )

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