Secret Admirer

[byok]

SECRET ADMIRER meme

You're in love with them, but they don't know it and you have no real intention of changing this. Whether it's because you don't want to admit anything to yourself, can't handle rejection, don't think you're good enough, or have no real experience with this kind of thing, your lips are sealed...for now. And maybe forever, if you're contented to love them from afar.

That is, if the object of your affection doesn't figure you out first.

HOW TO PLAY

• Comment with your character, preferences, and whether they'd be the admirer or the admired.
• Reply to others.
• RNG it or not.

PROMPTS

1. Meeting: How do you meet? Is it love at first sight?
2. Falling: You learn to love them, even if you never have before.
3. From Afar: You're not too close to them - they may not know you at all - but you still admire them. Whether "afar" means something like a different school, a different team, or a different world or walk of life is up to you.
4. Notice Me: You actually do want to be noticed. Please, senpai!~
5. Right in Front of You: The two of you are friends or allies, yet you're hiding your emotions in plain sight.
6. Denial: You? Love? No! Especially not with them...no, you weren't looking at them!
7. Jealousy: They don't know you're attracted to them, so you shouldn't feel mad when they're getting attention from others.
8. Too Shy Shy: The words just won't come out. Besides, you're too flustered by their presence in general.
9. Don't Deserve Them: You wouldn't want to subject them to you, anyway. They're too good.
10. Favors: Your love may not be known; still, you can do things for them or get them gifts, and they'll wonder who's doing all this. Their happiness is all you want, not their recognition.
11. Bad at This: So, about all those gifts or favors? You're not the sort to know about kindness and because of this, your shows of affection tend to be you offing their rivals or giving them stolen items.
12. Adorkable: You're awkward but it's endearing!
13. Never Expect the Quiet Ones: You barely speak, much less show how you feel. How could they know what you really think?
14. Lash Out: It's frustrating to have a crush you can't act on, so you've decided to act out...towards the one you love, perhaps to push them away.
15. Admission: Finally, you've decided to admit what you've felt all along.
16. Outed: Someone else has told your secret.
17. Caught: Maybe you were caught looking at them too much, speaking about your love out loud, or leaving them a gift. No matter what, the jig is up.
18. Content with Secrecy: You can admire them without saying a word. You're not conflicted in the least with living this life!
19. Requited: No more harboring secrets, as your feelings are returned.
20. Unrequited: ....ouch. Just ouch.
21. WILD CARD

Comments

[redpaladin]

I do.

[Before he lets Lance go on a rant about that, he tries to follow up with-]

But, sure. You can show me how to wear the ear cuff you got to go with it, too.

[the_tailor]

It's an ear cuff! How hard is it to figure out? It's kind of self explanatory! You just--

[Wait. Rewind a bit. "You got to go with it".]

Excuse me?! Y-you can't be seriously accusing me of...!

[redpaladin]

[He just keeps giving him the same look, arms crossed, eyebrow slightly raised.]

I didn't say anything, I think you did a pretty good job of outing yourself all on your own.

[the_tailor]

I can't out myself if I'm definitely not the guy getting you all these things! Nice one, Keith--wishful thinking?

[Crud. Crud, crud, crud. He's just floundering right now, and it's pathetically obvious.]

[redpaladin]

[Yeah, he's totally caught him. Keith sighs and ...looks away kind of uncertain.]

Lance. You really don't have to do that.

[He gets it. Of course now, he's starting to wonder if maybe this was just some prank. That makes him feel incredibly hollow all of a sudden.]

[the_tailor]

Do what?

[He groans, flopping down to sit on his bed with a sigh. There's no way he's getting out of this now.]

Listen, okay. This is why it was a secret admirer thing. It was supposed to be...secret.

[redpaladin]

[There, at least the denial stopped. He watches him for a moment before he uncrosses his arms. He's not sure what to say now. After some debate he decides to get the important part out of the way first.]

Why? This wasn't some prank was it?

[Because there's still a big part of him that finds it hard to believe that Lance would sincerely say all those things to him and not say Allura or any other pretty alien he flirted with.]

[the_tailor]

What? No!

[He looks up, personally offended that Keith would even think such a thing. Honestly, considering their often rocky relationship, it isn't surprising, but...]

Do you really think I'm the kind of guy who would do that? Feelings--actual feelings--are serious business! I wouldn't prank someone on something like this. Yeah, I'm a huge flirt, but this is a completely different ball game!

[redpaladin]

[A part of him is really relieved to hear that. More than he expected. In fact his heart does a funny flutter and its hard to breathe for a moment.]

[He gets himself together and looks back at Lance, eyes narrowed.]

I don't know, okay! I thought I knew what kind of guy you were. You're always arguing and fighting with me, it's hard to tell if you even like me at all! And now I find out you're writing me love letters and you mean them? Just what am I supposed to think?

[the_tailor]

I don't know! That's why I didn't want to just come out and tell you. Either you wouldn't believe me, or you'd shut me down, and I didn't want that to happen, okay? I just...figured this was my only real option.

[He grumbles, rubbing his face with his hands.]

Ever think that one of the reasons I argue with you so much is that I just kind of maybe like it when you give me attention?

[redpaladin]

[Oh. He guessed he really didn't think that. The surprise is pretty evident on his face for a moment before he fumbles with what to say now.]

Look- I'm glad, okay? I'm glad this wasn't a stupid prank.

[He takes a deep breath, but his face is definitely heating up.]

I wish you would have said something ages ago.

[the_tailor]

You're...glad? Wait, what?

[That Keith might actually be able to return these feelings has never actually occurred to him. Lance just looks baffled now.]

I already told you. I didn't want to be rejected. I was trying to play it safe. Why would I have told you before?

[redpaladin]

Because- I don't know. Isn't it better to be honest?

[He looks away, suddenly not sure how to proceed.]

Maybe I wasn't planning to reject you.

[the_tailor]

Usually, but this is kind of a...weird case. And what do you mean? What were you planning to do, then?

[redpaladin]

[Are you kidding him, Lance. Are yo going to make him actually spell it out.]

Look. I was telling the truth when I said I didn't know what to do about someone feeling that way about me. It's not like I've spent a lot of time wondering about that kind of thing.

[Which ...kind of sounds like a rejection, so he continues.]

I didn't really think that way about anyone on the ship but. The letters ... Every time I found one in my room they, I don't know. They made me really happy. So much so that I had to find who wrote them, because I... sort of... started to...

[He swallows, which feels like swallowing a rock, and-]

...fall for them.

[the_tailor]

[Yes, he was going to make him spell it out. The thought of Keith returning his feelings was too unbelievable for him to put it together and believe himself. When Keith finally admits that last part, he feels his mouth go dry.]

You...wait. Keith, are you saying... I mean, since I was the one who wrote all those letters and gave you all that stuff, that you...?

[redpaladin]

[He's definitely not looking at him, but he's as red as his paladin armor as he nods.]

[the_tailor]

[He hadn't thought that this was going to be a way to win Keith over. Just something to make him happy, feel appreciated and loved, and let out some steam re: his own feelings.]

I--holy quiznak. You like me. You actually like me back.

[redpaladin]

[It's amazing what making someone feel loved and appreciated could do, Lance.]

Yeah. I guess I do.

[WELP. He sure did come here to get to the bottom of this and that is SURE what he just did. Holy shit.]

[the_tailor]

[He gets up, walking over to Keith and lightly puts his hands on his shoulders in order to turn him around.]

Say it again.

[redpaladin]

[He actually turns to look at him, this time. he wasn't about to not give him the right to look him in the eye. Especially if he was preaching about honesty earlier. He takes a breath and smiles, hopeful and kind of nervous.]

I like you, Lance.

[the_tailor]

[Lance can't help it. He smiles brightly and leans in, giving him a brief kiss. Keith's lips are slightly chapped and yet soft underneath his own, and--oh.

He pulls away sheepishly.]

I, um, I'm sorry. I totally should have asked first, not cool of me.

[redpaladin]

[Oh, indeed. Keith jolts in surprise at Lance suddenly leaning in to kiss him. It's- not bad, just really surprising. He'll never let him know that was his first.]

[When he pulls away, stammering and apologizing he just reaches up to touch his lips where Lance had been for a moment before looking up at him. He opens his mouth to say something before he looks thoughtful, shrugs and then grabs Lance by the coat to pull him into a kiss of his own.]

[the_tailor]

[Just as Lance is starting to panic that he messed up, he's being grabbed and dragged in for another kiss. He barely holds back a small 'eep' of surprise, but how can he complain? Carefully, he wraps an arm around Keith's waist, pulling his body closer to his as they lock lips.

He really has hit a home run with this.]