[ only keith would be this disappointed over a carnival game handing out blunt knives. it’s called safety, keith. foolishly, it has shiro hopeful that this particular game won’t come with any hidden surprises. if this carnie cares enough to keep the equipment safe for the participants, surely he won’t try to frighten keith in the process -- right?

unable to issue his own reassurance, shiro lets the thought go and hugs the hippo tighter into his side, one armed looped around it there on his left. next, his voice comes out in an amused huff. ]

That would make it too easy.

[ shiro can only assume keith takes exceptional care of that knife. it goes without saying that keith’s placed immense value on it. so keith wouldn’t even have to get a direct hit; the barest graze of that knife and it would have any of those balloons popping. smiling in his continued amusement for keith’s nitpicking, shiro watches him go through his scrutinizing and then he sidelongs his gaze to peek at the carnie. ah, okay, someone isn’t sharing in the amusement. ]

Let’s be honest -- [ and he glances back to keith. time to get this knife snob moving? ] -- it’s easy for you either way. So, let’s make it more of a challenge, shall we? [ rhetorical. he’s not asking for keith’s actual input. now let’s see: how to make it harder? keith close his eyes and throw? dangerous. keith take a spin and then throw? still dangerous.

simple challenge it is. he nods to the board of attached balloons. ] Hit the purple one, two in from the top right.