I actually had to do a lot of research (and by research i mean asking people on anime discord servers) bc the american education system is a mystery to me. So feel free to correct me if I got anything wrong lol.

The car comes to a stop on a somewhat dingy street,but neither of them get out- even after he pulls it into a parking space and cuts the engine.

"Lance, do I seriously have to wear this? All night?"

"You know the rules, Keith; the date starts now and ends at midnight. I decide what you wear, what you eat, and where we go. Oh and there is one more rule- no matter what happens, you're not allowed to fall in love with me."

Keith snorts, "Won't be a problem."

Unsurprisingly, they're the first ones there. They are an hour early after all.

"I'm going to the bathroom."

"Use it wisely, that's your first of three," Lance calls in response.

He sits down at the bar, flips out his phone with one hand, and begins absently picking at a bowl of pretzels with the other.

The Hunk: hey lance hows your alone time with keith? ( ͡°( ͡° ͜ʖ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)ʖ ͡°) ͡°)

Lance Mclance: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)╭∩╮

Quizsnacc: ᕕ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)ᕗ

Lance Mclance: dont yall have anything better to do

Pidgeon: no

The Hunk: lenny faces are all i have

Lance Mclance: buddy pal are you okay

The Hunk: sadly uwus

Lance Mclance: i take it back suffer

The rest of the team are there by the time the bowl is empty. Shiro of course arrives first, along with Adam. Lance has never really had much opportunity to talk to the guy, but he seemed nice enough. Adam shoots him a smile from the doorway.

Shiro comes up behind Lance and places his prosthetic hand on his shoulder. He can practically taste the upcoming dad lecture.

"I know this bet is important to you. I also know that this friendly competition has encouraged both of you to work hard in order to win, which is always an important skill to learn. But just remember that we're all a part of a team and the fallout from this bet has the potential to put a strain on your relationship. So just.. go easy on him, okay Lance?"

"I know, Shiro. I'm not trying to do anything to compromise the project."

"I know you aren't. We could all just do with a reminder sometime."

With that, he walks over to Keith- no doubt about to give him the same pep talk.

The project... They'd all met during their shared robotics course in university. Pidge was few years younger, having graduated school early in order to follow in the Holt Family footsteps as soon as possible. He and Hunk were the same age. Keith was a tad older, but was roped into the whole project for extra credit after his academic probation. Shiro, Allura, and Coran were all fourth years who'd been assigned to help guide the four of them for their end-of-year project. It'd been Pidge's idea to work on a series of robotic lions. They'd yet to come up for a name for the whole thing, despite the countless hours and sleepless nights they'd collectively put into the assignment.

The rest arrive over the next few minutes, finishing with Matt and Pidge. Lance takes the opportunity to take a knee and pull out the ring pop he'd been keeping in his costume pants.

"Keith Kogane, will you make me the happiest man alive and spend the world's worst date with me? You have to say yes."

He mumbles a yes and Lance slips the sour raspberry lemonade ring pop- which in his professional opinion, sucks ass- onto Keith's ring finger.

"Now, Keith, if you'll join me on the dance floor-"

"This is a dive bar. There is no dance floor."

"-We are going to perform the YMCA dance, which we have prepared for in no way, shape, or form."

Quizsnacc: video

Quizsnacc: ur welcome yall

Pidgeon: Still can't believe Coran joined in

Lance mclance: tbh he looked like he was enjoying it

The hunk: where are you guys btw

Pidgeon: ( ͡o ͜ʖ ͡o)

Matthaeus: ( ͡ʘ ͜ʖ ͡ʘ)

Lance mclance: matt buddy pal why would you betray me like this

Mattaeus: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Lance mclance: also omw to the mall to take a terrible photobooth picture for blackmail purposes

The hunk: don't text and drive

Pidgeon: image

Lance mclance: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)╭∩╮

Lance mclance: also im not i made keith drive but ty 3

The hunk: 3

Matthaeus: honestly change your name to the incredible hunk bc youre gr9

Quizsnacc: seconded

The hunk: awww ty

The hunk has changed their name to "The incredible hunk"

The incredible hunk: :')

Not trying to start any Ring Pop Discourse, I just spent longer than I'd like to admit researching ring pop flavours and that one sounded the most extra so.

Also the link to the image pidge sent: drive. google file/d/ 1RKxqUARUMSJtV_2nNmWId5Hf7W7mRLvh/view