[open]

[marmoron]

Who: Keith and YOU
What: August catch-all
Where: Infirmary, The Arena of Trials, various
When: August 4th - end of August
Warnings: None anticipated


1. Infirmary - July 31st - August 8thth

A. Wake Up - closed to James
[Well after a slightly disastrous mission that did not go as planned, Keith's been knocked out cold in the infirmary for the last couple of days. His head is wrapped in bandages and though his vitals are alright, he still hasn't regained consciousness from his run-in with the necromancer. On August 4th though, he finally stirs and immediately attempts to get up, despite feeling disoriented and dizzy as all hell.]

What... happened? She dead?

[Important questions first, apparently.]

B. Contemplating
[Well just cuz you're awake doesn't mean you're allowed to leave the infirmary, apparently. Keith's still got a few more days to spend in here, looking bored as shit though he doesn't actually complain about being here. He's been doing a lot of staring out the window, looking glum as he fidgets with various items in his hands. He'tenses up immediately if anyone comes to stop by for a visit.

C. Why is this happening
[But when he's not reflecting on his life choices, he's got his space doggo nestled on his lap. The wolf absolutely should not be in there, but good luck telling a teleporting concerned doggo to stay out of the room. That said though, there are definitely moments when anyone passing through the infirmary can overhear:]

C'mon buddy. Get me out of here and I'll get you some peanut butter.

[The response to this is just a disgruntled noise.]

2.The Arena of Trials

A. A Bonding Moment (??)
[After he's been discharged from the infirmary on afternoon of the 8th, Keith's wasting absolutely no time heading towards the Arena of Trials. He's quiet for a long moment as he stands outside the complex, eyes shut, frowning and muttering under his breath.]

Come on. We have a connection. I know it.

[And for a long ass time, it looks and sounds like he's just been stood up by a date or whatever. It probably looks very silly.]

B. Patience yields focus
[Who knows how long he's been out here, but apparently Keith hasn't budged from his spot at the arena for quite some time. He's determined and won't let the Red Lion get the better of him, damn it. Whatever it is that made it work, be it the frustrated shout he lets out (that probably echoes hilariously down the Alps) or the punch he throws at the ground, something seems to have heard him.

A Lion shaped something.

Keith looks up as the mecha lion roars, and it's probably the first time he's smiled in days.]

3. Wildcard
[If you've got another idea, go for it!]

Comments

1 B

[notbornguilty]

Keith Black, you have a lot of explaining to do.

[Weiss is here, and she is PISSED.]

Re: 1 B

[marmoron]

[WELP. Funny how the room got sub-Arctic in 0.02 seconds. He tenses up but doesn't look away.]

What do you want me to explain?

[notbornguilty]

Oh, I don't know, why you thought any of that was a good idea?! There were a plethora of better ways you could have handled that. Such as, say, actually going to the school with what you'd discovered!

1B because you know

[ahew_kha]

[Hey, hey Keith. You know who hears about news pretty quickly because she's real good at blending into the background? Kisara.

Who is none too pleased to find out that he's in the infirmary and is just going to make her way in there with Hosni perched on her shoulder. Not the best of signs.]

What did you do.

welp

[marmoron]

[....yikes. Well Kisara and Hoshi are getting a guilty ass expression before Keith quickly looks away again.]

Nothing that ultimately accomplished anything.

[He's not bitter at all.]

Safety dragon is displeased

[ahew_kha]

[Luckily for him, she can't really stay mad for long and is just sighing as she grabs a chair to drag over towards him.]

Want to talk about it, then?

1B

[rwbyrose]

[ ruby's been released before keith, obviously, but it doesn't mean she's not going to hang out with him!! she has a bandage wrapped around her head as she enters the infirmary. she seems really happy to see him. ]

Keith! You're awake!

[marmoron]

[Keith, on the other hand, seems a lot less enthused about seeing Ruby. He's relieved that she's okay, that she's okay -- more relieved than he knows how to put words to, but he looks down at the end of his bed instead of looking at her.]

... shouldn't you be really mad at me?

[rwbyrose]

...Mad?

[ she sounds genuinely confused. ]

Why would I be mad at you?

2A

[stavros]

[Kokoro stares for a little while and scratches her head.]

A misbehaving familiar? Or equipment? Tell me you didn't make a contract with something dangerous.

[marmoron]

[Blink.]

What... why would I make a contract with something dangerous?

[The utterly sad thing is that Keith is still able to say that utterly straight faced and with no trace of self awareness....]

[stavros]

I'm simply checking. There seems to be a rash of that these days. ...So who were you speaking with?

1c!

[highelves]

[ ana's here with yet another pot of flowers (keith probably has at least 4 of them by now). she walks by his room when she hears him talking and a familiar huff from a certain puppy. ah! he must be awake!

ana breathes out a sigh of relief when she enters the infirmary. and...sees the hairdo. ]

...Have you suddenly decided to live as a pineapple, Keith?

[marmoron]

[if the absolutely serious expression on his face is anything to go by, Keith has forgotten that Ruby did this to his hair and when he looks up to see a familiar face and another potted plant in her hands, he blinks.]

As a what now?

[highelves]

Your hair!

[ she makes a motion with her hand over her head to suggest he's got some kind of ponytail. in the meantime, she sets her flowers alongside the other ones she's left for him. ]

You look like a pineapple.

1C

[spelleton]

Your companion has the right idea.

[ He hasn't even attempted to shoo Keith's pet out of the infirmary; he simply cleans up afterwards. He has a soft spot for dogs. ]

After a stunt like that, you're lucky that all you have to deal with is a little more bed rest than usual.

[marmoron]

[And just as soon as Keith can see that it's Ekkehardt that's coming in, he's immediately making the world's least subtle jerking motion as he tries to shove the wolf pup under his blanket. This is questionably effective as the wolf's fur is silvery and slightly glow in the dark. The wolf also whines in obvious indignation for these efforts as well.

Meanwhile, Keith's just sitting up straighter and acting like none of this just happened.]

... I haven't left, have I?

[spelleton]

Don't think I didn't hear your attempts at bribery. [ There's a faintly amused tone to his voice. He doesn't seem particularly angry about it.

He just shakes his head at Keith's attempt to hide his friend. ] Don't bother. It's obvious when your pet has paid you a visit. And I don't mind.

He's quite loyal to you. You have quite the bond.

[ Rather than lecture him - pain and mistakes are both more effective teachers than most lectures - he's content to talk about the wolf instead. ]

A

[onebetter]

[ James has been having what is plausibly the worst week of his entire life. There's been bad weeks this summer, like the week of the Herald, but some parts of them had included good or at least passable events. This week is nothing but horrifying.

The first night, James tries to sleep in his room. He tries to take Cosmo with him, too. For propriety. Cosmo is gone within the first hour. James stays awake for another six, before he makes his way back to the infirmary, tired and yet highly wired, nearly panicked. He sleeps on the bedside chair for most of the morning. It helps. By the evening of the second day, he brings the glow toad over. And a few books that he can at least pretend to be reading while he listens to Keith's breathing.

One of those books, he drops when Keith suddenly speaks by his side on August 4th, causing him to practically jump out of his chair in joy--- only to revert to panic as he realizes he has to push Keith down onto the bed again. ]

K-keith, you're... oh god, you're awake... I'm so glad....

[ Keith might have to repeat his question, because James seems a) exhausted to the bone b) a little disoriented and c) on the verge of tears. ]

[marmoron]

[Keith offers next to no resistance when pushed back down on the bed, still weak and confused to boot. A lot of information's pouring in at once, like his whereabouts not being what he remembers last, amongst so many other things. As his head hits the pillow again, he looks up blearily at James' face.]

...huh? What happened?

[onebetter]

[ There's a sigh of relief when Keith rests back against the pillow. And then before James can answer, there is a wolf nose pushing up the side of the bed. ]

Cosmo no, it's a hospital bed, don't climb it.

[ This at least stops Cosmo from full on jumping on top of Keith, but he remains on his hind legs looking up.

James focuses back on Keith. ]

The necromancer knocked you and Ruby out. We had to run.

2B

[quintessent]

[It's a mystery how long Allura has been there as well. It's not so much a desire to follow Keith but there's a certain obligation to watch over him, given his potential connection to the Red Lion. And his apparent magnetism for trouble.

She's been quietly waiting and watching from a distance. Hoping. Both cheering him on but also feeling the keen sort of anxiety of what it means for him to succeed.

The wind picks up and she nearly is staggered by the rush of air as a familiar red figure blows past. A familiar roar shakes the ground and, despite everything, she smiles.]

I can't believe it. [There's no small amount of awe in her voice as she approaches, neck craning up towards the Red Lion.] Congratulations are in order, Keith.

[marmoron]

[Red lands on the ground before them, yellow eyes watching the pair before lowering its head. Keith's smile fades a little as the princess approaches. Not that he dislikes her or anything, but he hasn't fully shaken the vaguely guarded feeling her presence inspires in him.]

Oh... hey, Princess.

[He doesn't ask "how long have you been there" like he wants to right off the bat, if only because he wants to avoid a reverse interrogation about his recent life choices. He takes a deep breath, then takes a step closer to Red.]

Didn't think this was actually going to work for a bit.

2B

[buddinghopes]

[Lia's been planning on getting in some training but... well.

There are some things that just make you stop in your tracks and a big ol' mecha lion is one of them.

Lia openly gapes for a few moments before a she grins widely.]

That is the coolest thing I've ever seen.

[marmoron]

[There are a whole slew of feelings happening at once right now, mooooostly relief over seeing the familiar mecha appearing after he wasn't sure if Red had decided to find a less reckless paladin. With that doubt cast aside for now, Keith's looking up towards Red who lands on the ground, tail swishing before ducking down to a crouch.

Keith's still smiling when he hears Lia's comment.]

Wish I could claim credit for making it.