@bladechosen | karaoke night team bonding
Karaoke night was as close to a sacred tradition as the MFE pilots had ever gotten - and likely would ever get.
During the Galra occupation, they’d all been stressed and stretched too thin, fighting for not only their own survival but that of their families, their species, their planet. There hadn’t been much time for fun, but that had made it even more important that they find the time to relax and unwind; they, as people, had to learn to bend before they broke, and that they could only take so much without allowing themselves something lighthearted before they lost themselves entirely.
That was what the psychologist had told him, anyway, and James tended to listen to people with letters behind their name when it came to his mental health.
Karaoke night had been born before they were the MFE squadron, but they’d been a team nonetheless. He’s not sure whose idea it was initially (probably Rizavi’s, or maybe even Leifsdottir’s - it certainly had been James’) and he’d been initially surprised that they all took to it so well, but at the end of the day, he supposed that could be credited to one thing: alcohol.
Karaoke night took place in a bar, and a little bit of booze could smooth away a whole lot of things, he’d come to find out.
Now, it’s something he looks forward to without even pretending otherwise. The entire team gets into it, and the bar hosts karaoke contests - winner getting free drinks on their next visit as a pretty little cash prize - and, unless there’s some kind of mission or obligation otherwise, James and his squad try to show up for all of them. Tonight’s no different, except this time, he’s extended the invitation to another team.
Turning, several bottles of beer hooked between his fingers, he glances past the pool table that Rizavi and Kinkade are already busy setting up and focuses on Keith. He’s a little surprised that Keith had actually shown up, and a little annoyed at what he’d shown up wearing - not because it looked out of place or bad on him, but because of the exact opposite - but he’s determined to relax, unwind, and at least try to strengthen the bonds between the Voltron and MFE squads.
“Lead by example,” he mutters to himself, swinging by the pool table to pass out most of the beers.
When he’s down to two, he turns back and approaches Keith, tilting one toward him with an eyebrow arched in friendly question. “I’m not sure what you’re drinking, but this is a good place to start. You’ll need something under your belt before the main event starts, anyway,” he adds, a smile flickering over his face.
He can’t wait to get behind a mic.