Keith is confused as to whether or not James actually likes him bc prior to their kiss, Keith always assumed James disliked him. But Keith doesn’t think that James would risk being ostracized by their peers just to mess with him by kissing him. So a part of him begins growing more attached to James bc James liking him meant that James really liked him. As far as Keith is concerned, James has seen the worst sides of him atp (his intense anger, temper, and outbursts as well as his most vulnerable, a sobbing mess), and yet, James somehow still likes him.
[CW: internalized homophobia] James, on the other hand, is cursing himself for having kissed a boy, and sort of vows to never do it again, etc., etc. He blames his actions on the stressors of losing the Kerberos Mission.
James also views Keith's fleeing as a rejection of himself; he assumes Keith must hate him, now.
So this is kinda where my ideas diverge. I have like two different paths that I'm stuck between LOL
The first path, I think is probably more canon-compliant??:
After their kiss, Keith and James sort of keep away from each other, awkwardly pretending that nothing happened. I think Keith would purposefully avoid/ignore James, and James would pick up on that and do the same.
In Keith’s mind, interacting with James is dangerous, putting his heart at risk to break again. He acts cold, like nothing’s changed between them, and is stuck between the thought that James must actually like him vs. now that Keith has run away, James must hate him. He’s caught in the what-if’s and longs for connection, but refuses to act on it in order to protect himself
Meanwhile, James keeps his distance b/c he sees Keith's fleeing as a rejection of himself, so to protect himself, he doesn't engage with Keith, either.
The second path (CW: fwb situationship LOL, but nothing explicit):
sooo they become fwb LOL
Keith's desire for intimacy leads him to become more interested in James, who he sees as his only viable option to alleviate his loneliness.
But Keith, wanting intimacy, while simultaneously being afraid of it, knows that he doesn't want a relationship, but he can't help being drawn to James, who might actually like him despite his many flaws
and James, despite having vowed to never engage with another man romantically/sexually again, can't really deny his attraction to Keith, and can't really stop himself from engaging with Keith either
Any interaction with Keith is both a comfort and risk for James; interactions meant that maybe Keith didn't hate him, that maybe Keith hadn't rejected him, after all. Maybe James was good enough finally. But being with Keith was risky in that he could get hurt or outed for liking guys
They never have a formal arrangement/clarification of what their relationship is (b/c they both suck at clear communication); and they never really decide for themselves whether they want to pursue anything. It just sort of happens one day, where they're butting heads and then suddenly making out
They never tell the other that they like/love them in fear that the other doesn't really feel the same way. They're both getting attached, but won't let the relationship go further
They keep their relationship under wraps and act more distant from one another outside their alone time
They don’t really talk ever about anything deep or substantial; they’re both just in and out. Although both wish for more, they're both too scared.
Either path leads to this scene though, which I made art for:
Keith walks along the edge of a Garrison building; they’re not allowed up there but Keith is feeling reckless, contemplating his place at the garrison and in general. He’s contemplating whether to stay or go. He’s mourning the loss of Shiro, feeling meaningless, but invincible like nothing can hurt him more than he’s already been hurt. (More details on the post I linked)
James sees Keith walking along the edge of the roof through the window of a different building and feels a sense like he needs to see Keith. Against his better judgment, James finds himself sneaking past hall monitors and cameras to reach Keith. He’d never do this normally, but for some reason, he feels he needs to
When James arrives on the roof, Keith notices him, but doesn’t face him. Keith keeps his eyes on the sky. He sort of subconsciously tests James here, trying to subtly see if James truly cares for him. He opens up just the slightest, but James shifts focus. James is scared to open up, telling Keith to step away from the edge bc it’s dangerous.
Keith tells him he’s not afraid and moves closer to the edge to which James panics a bit more, calling out “Keith!”
James hasn’t called Keith by his first name since elementary school, and the way James said it with genuine concern and worry reminds Keith of Shiro, the only person Keith thought sorta cared for him. Keith finally turns to face James fully and James is taken aback by how beautiful Keith is. He doesn’t like that he's attracted to Keith and sorta goes back to being a bit hypercritical of Keith as a self-defense, questioning why Keith is even up here.
Keith shoots the question right back at James, and James doesn’t know what to say. Keith is secretly hoping James will admit that he likes Keith, looking for a reason to stay at the garrison, stay where he’s wanted.
But James is too scared to admit his feelings. Eventually, James just tells Keith to be careful and Keith takes it as a hint that James doesn't truly care for him. Keith tells him to be careful, too, and leaves James alone on the roof.
James gets the sense he'd never see Keith again after that.
I think this is a question Allura would often ask herself—is she still a princess after all of Altea was destroyed and her people were killed? She carries the burden of being both a princess and a soldier—it is her duty to protect her people, and she feels like she's failed.
But in reality, her people aren't all gone. Coran will always follow her, and she found her new people in the Paladins, who will always love and care for her as a person, not just a princess <3
GUYS ITS MEE!! I'm gonna be part of a jaith zine :DD (i have so much jaith content to post also LOL) Thank you to the wonderful mods <3 Love you guys <3 <3
OMGGGG HELLOOO!??!! THIS IS FREAKING GORGEOUSSSSSS I"M IN LOVE 😍😍😍😍😍😍 THE COLORS, THE POSE, THE HAIR, THE DRESS, THE EVERYTHING 😍😍😍😍😍 THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING, THIS IS STUNNING ❤️❤️❤️
I had the absolutely amazing opportunity this season to host an art collab for the holidays!! I’m super proud of all the hard work the participants put into it <3 Well done everyone, and amazing work!
Umm i am so late but uh I got to participate in this awesome collab with so many skilled and awesome people!!! it's currently June now, but Happy Holidays anyway!! LMAO
OMG THIS IS SO GORGEOUS!!!!! LOOK AT HER, SHE'S GLOWINGGGG!!! Absolutely STUNNING!!!!! Omg I love everything about this!!! The colors, the pose, the hair, the dress, her Altean markings, the background, the lighting, the halo around her head!!! EVERYTHING IS SO STUNNING!! She is truly a goddess <3333
Hey Jaith Nation! Do you want to do a Jaith Zine? Let us know! We are gauging interest and putting our minds together to get the ball rolling on something! Please fill out the survey, and let's see what we can do!
I am gauging interest on if we would want to do a Jaith [James Griffin x Keith Kogane] fanzine and what you guys might want it to be and if
UM HELLO?!?!?! THIS IS SO GORGEOUSSSSSSS!!!! Look at herrrrr, she's so beautiful <33 I am just overcome with a sense of awe, peace, and melancholy, and I love it so much!! The lighting, the expression, the pose, the background, the atmosphere — everything is just so perfect, I love it!!! I've already seen it over on instagram, but it still takes my breath away...I can't stop looking at it...I could just stare forever <333
Following the news of the Kerberos Mission failure:
Keith is an emotional wreck, trying to push down the immense grief of losing the only person who cared about him, yet again. Not to mention he's wrestling with the thought of letting Shiro down by leaving the Garrison vs. staying loyal to an institution that wasn't so loyal to Shiro. Either way, it feels like he's doing Shiro an injustice. And if he does choose to honor Shiro's efforts (after all, Shiro was loyal to the Garrison, maybe Keith should do the same), can he even manage to graduate without Shiro?
James is also struggling emotionally b/c he’s suddenly doubting his entire life plan, the thing that makes him unique and different and worth something to his parents (if the best pilot at the Garrison died on a mission, who was he to think he wouldn't do the same?).
Keith and James run into each other one night and basically take their emotions out on one another. James tries to remain composed, giving Keith his condolences in what he thinks is an appropriate gesture. But it triggers Keith, again reminding him of his father's death; Keith insists Shiro isn’t dead b/c he refuses to believe Shiro made a pilot error (although a part of him feels it must be true, he’d never admit it to himself), and it makes James feel even more inadequate (even dead, Shiro is always Keith's first choice; James isn’t enough); James lashes out, saying the mission ultimately failed one way or another. He tells Keith that for Keith’s own benefit, he must accept that truth.
Keith, hurt (scared that James is right) and confused (he doesn't understand why James is suddenly in his business), accuses James of benefiting from his suffering (since without Keith, James would be the best pilot of the cadets), to which James is hurt by (he thinks Keith sees him as a bad person, even though James been trying to help; how could Keith think that?), and insists otherwise. Keith yells to prove it, without really thinking; he's tired of what he perceives as lies (he feels that somehow Shiro’s death [and his father's death/Krolia's absence] was a rejection of himself; he wasn’t good enough to make Shiro stay; Shiro didn’t actually care about him, only said that he did), and wants to hear James just say that he hates Keith to make it plain and simple to leave and hate James back.
Atp James doesn’t know what to do other than kiss Keith in order to prove he does cares about Keith. It was a spur of the moment decision, but James is desperate at this point. He feels like his future is falling apart and he’s feeling reckless. He wants a win, he wants to do something that makes him feel good. His discipline and self-restraint aren’t paying off like he's been taught his entire life. This is his act of rebellion, his “fck it all”, him doing something he’s wanted to do for a long time. He wants to save Keith, be the one to make him happy. He wants to be first place to Keith. He can’t put his feelings into words, so he just acts. (I don't want to encourage this, please do ask first before kissing someone lol)
Keith is shocked, having thought that James hated him. But James’ gentle touch makes him doubt. Being touch-starved and lonely, Keith feels suddenly like maybe James could actually care about him. Keith kisses him back, emotional with the thought that someone loves him (he knows it’s probably not love-love, but it feels real in the moment; he suddenly feels whole). They spend some time like that before Keith realizes he’s scared that James might leave him, too. Getting attached to another person so quickly, it scares him. He blames the grief, and anticipates being abandoned again, so he pulls back and runs away in a panic
James is hurt, rejected and confused. Keith seemed to like the kiss, but then, he seemed to hate it. He questions himself, too, b/c he doesn’t want to like guys. His parents would be disappointed in him for so many different reasons. He questions what he's doing with his life.
Keith, on the other hand, is scared of what his loneliness is making him feel/do. He hadn’t ever considered James as a potential romantic partner before, but it suddenly clicks that what they did wasn’t unpleasant. The intimacy and desire for intimacy he feels scares him.
Part 5 will feature the aftermath and more complicated emotions >:3
And as always, lmk ur thoughts and hcs!! I love to read them :D
every time you add to this series(series????) i launch myself out of my chair and grip the table so hard it starts to crack while i shake so badly that my atoms begin to split
I always bump up against how to reply to tags and things like this HAHAHA but you're too sweet, I gotta respond XD
Thank you again for sharing in my excitement with me!! <3333 Glad I can expect you to stick around with atoms intact and to hold up this jaith community with me LOL may we pace around thinking of them together :)))
Omg I love your reaction images!! (Does this mean I can use them too?? [with credit of course])
And gotcha, completely valid XD Discord can be a scary place at times LOL
But omg thank you!! You are so sweet!! <3333 But yes of course, this community wouldn't be the same without you either!!! May we lose our minds over them together :DD
The ending of Voltron simply doesn’t exist and everyone is great :D Post-canon, let Allura enjoy a nice beach day 😌🩷🩵 I think a very special someone is looking at her, up to you who it is ;)
ALSO THANK YOU FOR 1K FOLLOWERS!! You guys are seriously so supportive and kind, thank you!! You guys are the best 🥹💖
In celebration, I present a DTIYS challenge!! (Rules Below!)
🩵💖 Rules 💖🩵
Draw this (or something inspired by this) in your own style!
Tag me @suitcasesoffeathers and use the hashtag #feathers1kdtiys so that I can share it! :D
No nsfw
No tracing or AI
No deadline :)
Thank you guys again, it means a lot!!! 💖🩵
I’m also doing this over on instagram if you also want to post there! :D
Following the news of the Kerberos Mission failure:
Keith is an emotional wreck, trying to push down the immense grief of losing the only person who cared about him, yet again. Not to mention he's wrestling with the thought of letting Shiro down by leaving the Garrison vs. staying loyal to an institution that wasn't so loyal to Shiro. Either way, it feels like he's doing Shiro an injustice. And if he does choose to honor Shiro's efforts (after all, Shiro was loyal to the Garrison, maybe Keith should do the same), can he even manage to graduate without Shiro?
James is also struggling emotionally b/c he’s suddenly doubting his entire life plan, the thing that makes him unique and different and worth something to his parents (if the best pilot at the Garrison died on a mission, who was he to think he wouldn't do the same?).
Keith and James run into each other one night and basically take their emotions out on one another. James tries to remain composed, giving Keith his condolences in what he thinks is an appropriate gesture. But it triggers Keith, again reminding him of his father's death; Keith insists Shiro isn’t dead b/c he refuses to believe Shiro made a pilot error (although a part of him feels it must be true, he’d never admit it to himself), and it makes James feel even more inadequate (even dead, Shiro is always Keith's first choice; James isn’t enough); James lashes out, saying the mission ultimately failed one way or another. He tells Keith that for Keith’s own benefit, he must accept that truth.
Keith, hurt (scared that James is right) and confused (he doesn't understand why James is suddenly in his business), accuses James of benefiting from his suffering (since without Keith, James would be the best pilot of the cadets), to which James is hurt by (he thinks Keith sees him as a bad person, even though James been trying to help; how could Keith think that?), and insists otherwise. Keith yells to prove it, without really thinking; he's tired of what he perceives as lies (he feels that somehow Shiro’s death [and his father's death/Krolia's absence] was a rejection of himself; he wasn’t good enough to make Shiro stay; Shiro didn’t actually care about him, only said that he did), and wants to hear James just say that he hates Keith to make it plain and simple to leave and hate James back.
Atp James doesn’t know what to do other than kiss Keith in order to prove he does cares about Keith. It was a spur of the moment decision, but James is desperate at this point. He feels like his future is falling apart and he’s feeling reckless. He wants a win, he wants to do something that makes him feel good. His discipline and self-restraint aren’t paying off like he's been taught his entire life. This is his act of rebellion, his “fck it all”, him doing something he’s wanted to do for a long time. He wants to save Keith, be the one to make him happy. He wants to be first place to Keith. He can’t put his feelings into words, so he just acts. (I don't want to encourage this, please do ask first before kissing someone lol)
Keith is shocked, having thought that James hated him. But James’ gentle touch makes him doubt. Being touch-starved and lonely, Keith feels suddenly like maybe James could actually care about him. Keith kisses him back, emotional with the thought that someone loves him (he knows it’s probably not love-love, but it feels real in the moment; he suddenly feels whole). They spend some time like that before Keith realizes he’s scared that James might leave him, too. Getting attached to another person so quickly, it scares him. He blames the grief, and anticipates being abandoned again, so he pulls back and runs away in a panic
James is hurt, rejected and confused. Keith seemed to like the kiss, but then, he seemed to hate it. He questions himself, too, b/c he doesn’t want to like guys. His parents would be disappointed in him for so many different reasons. He questions what he's doing with his life.
Keith, on the other hand, is scared of what his loneliness is making him feel/do. He hadn’t ever considered James as a potential romantic partner before, but it suddenly clicks that what they did wasn’t unpleasant. The intimacy and desire for intimacy he feels scares him.
Part 5 will feature the aftermath and more complicated emotions >:3
And as always, lmk ur thoughts and hcs!! I love to read them :D
every time you add to this series(series????) i launch myself out of my chair and grip the table so hard it starts to crack while i shake so badly that my atoms begin to split
(sorry for the late congrats but i had to say it!!)
CONGRATS ON WINNING!!!!!!!!! your'e an amazing artist and honestly, it's nice knowing that happened for you!!!
i loved your artwork alot 🩷 and i'm glad you participated!!!!!!
(AAHHHHHHHH I"M SO HAPPY FOR YAA)
OMG THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!! That really means so much to me!! <333 You are seriously too sweet!!!! Thank you!!!! <3333
Following the news of the Kerberos Mission failure:
Keith is an emotional wreck, trying to push down the immense grief of losing the only person who cared about him, yet again. Not to mention he's wrestling with the thought of letting Shiro down by leaving the Garrison vs. staying loyal to an institution that wasn't so loyal to Shiro. Either way, it feels like he's doing Shiro an injustice. And if he does choose to honor Shiro's efforts (after all, Shiro was loyal to the Garrison, maybe Keith should do the same), can he even manage to graduate without Shiro?
James is also struggling emotionally b/c he’s suddenly doubting his entire life plan, the thing that makes him unique and different and worth something to his parents (if the best pilot at the Garrison died on a mission, who was he to think he wouldn't do the same?).
Keith and James run into each other one night and basically take their emotions out on one another. James tries to remain composed, giving Keith his condolences in what he thinks is an appropriate gesture. But it triggers Keith, again reminding him of his father's death; Keith insists Shiro isn’t dead b/c he refuses to believe Shiro made a pilot error (although a part of him feels it must be true, he’d never admit it to himself), and it makes James feel even more inadequate (even dead, Shiro is always Keith's first choice; James isn’t enough); James lashes out, saying the mission ultimately failed one way or another. He tells Keith that for Keith’s own benefit, he must accept that truth.
Keith, hurt (scared that James is right) and confused (he doesn't understand why James is suddenly in his business), accuses James of benefiting from his suffering (since without Keith, James would be the best pilot of the cadets), to which James is hurt by (he thinks Keith sees him as a bad person, even though James been trying to help; how could Keith think that?), and insists otherwise. Keith yells to prove it, without really thinking; he's tired of what he perceives as lies (he feels that somehow Shiro’s death [and his father's death/Krolia's absence] was a rejection of himself; he wasn’t good enough to make Shiro stay; Shiro didn’t actually care about him, only said that he did), and wants to hear James just say that he hates Keith to make it plain and simple to leave and hate James back.
Atp James doesn’t know what to do other than kiss Keith in order to prove he does cares about Keith. It was a spur of the moment decision, but James is desperate at this point. He feels like his future is falling apart and he’s feeling reckless. He wants a win, he wants to do something that makes him feel good. His discipline and self-restraint aren’t paying off like he's been taught his entire life. This is his act of rebellion, his “fck it all”, him doing something he’s wanted to do for a long time. He wants to save Keith, be the one to make him happy. He wants to be first place to Keith. He can’t put his feelings into words, so he just acts. (I don't want to encourage this, please do ask first before kissing someone lol)
Keith is shocked, having thought that James hated him. But James’ gentle touch makes him doubt. Being touch-starved and lonely, Keith feels suddenly like maybe James could actually care about him. Keith kisses him back, emotional with the thought that someone loves him (he knows it’s probably not love-love, but it feels real in the moment; he suddenly feels whole). They spend some time like that before Keith realizes he’s scared that James might leave him, too. Getting attached to another person so quickly, it scares him. He blames the grief, and anticipates being abandoned again, so he pulls back and runs away in a panic
James is hurt, rejected and confused. Keith seemed to like the kiss, but then, he seemed to hate it. He questions himself, too, b/c he doesn’t want to like guys. His parents would be disappointed in him for so many different reasons. He questions what he's doing with his life.
Keith, on the other hand, is scared of what his loneliness is making him feel/do. He hadn’t ever considered James as a potential romantic partner before, but it suddenly clicks that what they did wasn’t unpleasant. The intimacy and desire for intimacy he feels scares him.
Part 5 will feature the aftermath and more complicated emotions >:3
And as always, lmk ur thoughts and hcs!! I love to read them :D
