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[shiroics]

username: SHIROGANE

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@keith | voice

[secondnature]

[There are certain names that would get his attention. And then there are some that would almost intuitively draw his eye.

Shiro's one of those.

Keith wastes no time here:]

Shiro? Shiro, it's Keith.

[As if the name and the voice and the everything didn't give it away.]

[shiroics]

Keith!

[It looks like Keith’s Shiro-finding abilities are growing exponentially. Shiro only just chose his username and started fiddling around.]

I didn’t know they’d talked to anyone else. Have you heard from the rest of the team?

[secondnature]

[Shiro ... of course he doesn't remember. Those words make it clear. He knew how much not remembering had bothered him before. Now, he has to find out it's happened twice.

At least Keith knows about the whole "multiples" thing now. It makes more sense. It's easier to swallow.]

Lance and Allura have been here since Hathaway started.

[So, there's that.]

My case is different. It's a lot to explain.

[shiroics]

[Shiro may not remember, but you don't become an astronaut -- or befriend a Holt -- without picking up a little genre savvy along the way.]

So...you're saying that time passes differently here than in our own universe.

[Since he never noticed any of the other three going missing.]

It's just the four of us? How is your case different?

[A slight emphasis on "your." Shiro hasn't quite slipped from his professional Paladin Voice to his Keith Voice, but he's getting there.]

[secondnature]

That's ... one way of putting it. [That's if they're even from the same universe.]

I doubt you've had the chance to look at all the information, but Hathaway is a newer organization. They branched off an old one called ALASTAIR. That change happened four months ago. But I've been here for almost two years. [Three more months and that would be exactly two years.]

I—a lot's happened. Where were you before you came here?

[shiroics]

Two years. Keith...I don’t know what to say.

[That’s almost as long as Shiro’s been out in space, minus that single day on Earth. And he’s had the team for a good part of that.

It takes him a second to reorient.]

We were fighting Zarkon. He was trying to take over the Black Lion, but I’d just gotten my bayard back—that’s when the, uh...the dog showed up.

1/2

[secondnature]

[Oh.

Keith probably would've noticed it when he saw him, but now ...]

There's something else ...

[Keith wants to hold it in. He wants to keep it from him.]

I have the Black bayard now.

[secondnature]

[Wait. That's ...]

You're not dead! Everyone thought you were but I never believed it! [There's a frantic nature to his voice here.]

You were gone for a while after the fight with Zarkon. I had to step up.

[He breathes out.]

[shiroics]

[A lot of emotions run through Shiro in very quick succession. Regret and relief are definitely two of them, but he prefers not to think too hard about which one came first and which second.

As always, it's easier for Shiro to express how he feels about Keith than about himself.]

I knew the Black Lion saw the same potential in you that I do. I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you, but I'm proud of you, Keith.

[secondnature]

Right ... thanks. [He hadn't ever said that before. Not to Shiro, not to any of them, not really. He felt shoved into the role, like he never had a choice in the matter. Only now, he knows of ... his future. Or what could be his future.

Not only does he disappoint himself, he's willing to bet that Shiro felt the same way.

Revealing that so soon after—

He's trying to be truthful about everything. Every mistake. But this one ...]

I'm not sure I'll always be piloting Black. We found you, you know.

[shiroics]

I wouldn't worry about it. We can trust Black to make the best decision for the team.

[secondnature]

—Are you really okay just giving up Black like that? You were the one to force Zarkon out of Black's head. You forged the bond, not me!

[shiroics]

We don't call dibs on the Lions, Keith. If it was about who did what first, Zarkon would still be the Black Paladin.

[No, he's not okay with it. But that's his problem to work through, not Keith's, the Black Lion's, or the rest of the team's.]

[secondnature]

[Honestly, the only thing keeping him from telling Shiro the whole truth is knowing about Shiro giving Lotor the Black Bayard. With the mission up ahead announced, it might be better to just ... leave the Bayard behind. They have alternative solutions on both of them.]

Fine. [Not fine. But it's said in that sullen kind of voice that says that he knows he has nothing to argue against it.]

Allura and Lance haven't been here as long as me. But Allura's from the future. My future. I think.

[shiroics]

All right. [They need to come back to this at some point, but it’s not their highest priority right now.]

You’re not sure? [Honestly baffled, not chiding. That seems like an important detail not to have worked out already.] What did she say about it? The, uh, time where she’s from.

[secondnature]

It's not ... what she said. It's more—if I left now and chose to go home, I wouldn't make the same decisions I did in her world. But sometimes a glitch happens, and it turns out that in a weird way, the time stasis ... isn't?

I know that doesn't make sense.

[shiroics]

Why don’t you run that past me one more time, a little slower.

[Shiro has had conversations with Pidge post-all night science bender that were easier to follow.]

[secondnature]

When we go home and get caught up, there's a glitch in what's keeping us here. Something to do with the dimensional thing. [Keith wishes Shiro were there when they met Sven. That would've ... helped a lot. Though thinking about it:]

Do you remember Slav? With all his stupid possibilities?

[shiroics]

I wish I didn’t, but go on.

[secondnature]

Yeah, well ... turns out he had a point. There are infinite possibilities. There are just less because of the work ALASTAIR did before.

@sharpshooter - voice

[ceruleo]

Hey, look who showed up! What's shakin', Shiro?

[shiroics]

It’s good to hear your voice, Lance. Keith said you’ve been here about four months?

[ceruleo]

Sounds about right! We got sent to this place called Hanabira, where the idea was to figure out which of these two Empresses was legit so their countries wouldn't go to war. Turns out, after we convinced them to get hitched, it was both! [ He sounds pretty pleased with those results, as though the idea of 'love conquering war' appeals to his inner romantic. He had nothing to do with the politicking, of course. ]

[shiroics]

[Suppressing a laugh as he says it:] Sounds like congratulations are in order for the Empresses of Hanabira. But I'm more interested in hearing how you've been doing.

[Although it is nice to know that giant lion robots are optional for the kinds of missions they run here.]

[ceruleo]

[ The honest answer is--things are weird. Lance has had to reckon with the effects of choices made by an 'alternate' version of himself who'd been here previously, friends he doesn't remember having, and with Keith...it's been complicated. And that's on top of how far out of his wheelhouse he feels here with Hathaway: just a few days ago, he nearly vomited after stitching up another agent's wounds on Azeria. It's been a ride.

Of course, he's not about to tell Shiro that. He's got a reputation to maintain!! ]

Eh, you know me, cool as a cucumber! Keeping our favourite hothead outta trouble, takin' care care of business, makin' the ladies swoon. [ Shiro can't see it, but he totally winked at his magitek. Some things always stay the same. (There has been absolutely zero swooning.) ] What did they bribe you with to get you to sign on, huh?

[shiroics]

[Shiro can't see it, but he knows Lance well enough to imagine it.

Although he wasn't expecting that question.]

I asked for more intel on the Galra Empire.

[That was a broad, leaderly statement, and not at all suspiciously vague, right?]

what a good face??? dang

[ceruleo]

[ He almost asks if Shiro's talked to Allura yet, but thinks better of it. He doesn't know what Keith said, either. So instead: ]

Uh, hey, d'you mind if I ask what the last thing you remember is...? Like, when did you get recruited?

Shiro pouts are my favorite thing

[shiroics]

[It's a good thing he only has to go through this spiel three times.]

We were fighting Zarkon in his giant robot suit. [Said the pilot of a giant robot lion, scornfully.] I'd just gotten my bayard back when the Hathaway agent showed up, right in the Black Lion's cockpit.

[Which would have been an even more intimidating display of Hathaway's abilities than it already was if said agent hadn't been a dog.]

Did your recruiter look like a dog, too?

[ceruleo]

[ Record scratch. ]

You let yourself get recruited by a dog?

[shiroics]

[Hey now--]

I chose to sign on after speaking to a Hathaway recruiter who happens to look like a dog. We've met aliens who just happen to look like Earth species before, Lance, you know better than that.

[A teasing note in his voice:] Unless you're from so far in the future that you've forgotten the "hideous ears" incident.

[Is Shiro ruthlessly bringing that up to throw him off track? Yes. Yes he is.]

[ceruleo]

[ WOW. You're not getting off that easy!!! ]

Hey, I read Mr Wiggles' file too, he's definitely a good boy. I'm just saying, if I saw a talking Earth dog on some random planet? I'd get myself checked into the medbay, stat, and I definitely wouldn't follow him into another dimension.

[ A pause. ]

And my ears still work perfectly, thanks!

btw thank you belatedly for letting me inaugurate my "LANCE." icon

[shiroics]

--His name is Mr. Wiggles?

i'm honoured

[ceruleo]

[ Shiro's magitek dings with an attached link. FILE - MR WIGGLES, it says. ]

S'that your man?

[shiroics]

[...Oh no.]

Uh, that's the one. I figured he was just an alien -- you're saying he's an Earth dog? How'd that happen?

[Maybe he can just bluff his way through this.]

[ceruleo]

Well technically not since he's from a different dimension that apparently doesn't have an Earth-analogue, but. He's "biologically indistinguishable".

It's okay to be a dog person, Shiro. I won't tell anybody.

[shiroics]

[Shiro’s clearly not wriggling out of this one, so he sighs and offers:]

Just don’t tell the Lions. I’m not sure how Black would take it.

[ceruleo]

[ Lance's smile turns from mischievous to gentle. ]

Your secret's safe with me, bud. I'm just really glad you're here.

[ Please take your Voice of Reason job back, dude??? ]

@altea | voice

[juniberries]

I assume I am hardly the first to welcome you.

[a pause. she’s...tentative??? for some reason???]

It is good to have you here, Shiro.

[shiroics]

[Why does she sound so...hesitant? That's not like her. Maybe he can smooth it over..]

Princess! Sorry I'm late.

[juniberries]

I do not think you can be late to joining Hathaway.

[it's at least said with a small smidge of humour. enough to take the edge off. but.]

This may sound odd, but what had you been doing before you agreed to join? Timelines here can get a bit...er, wobbly, so to speak.

[shiroics]

We were fighting Zarkon -- I'd just gotten the Black Lion's bayard back from him.

Keith already told me you were here, but...I'm glad you're okay, Allura. [The last time he heard her voice was her screaming over the comms.]

[juniberries]

[she's quiet for a long moment. strange to think how that feels like ages ago...but it also helps, in a way, to know where Shiro is coming from.

but something twists in her gut. this is so soon after she's told Lance and Keith what has happened to her when she returned home, and knowing that Keith has spoken to Shiro--]

A lot has changed since then...although I'm sure Keith has already told you that.

I am glad you're okay too, Shiro. I cannot imagine what it must be like to be here following such a battle.

[shiroics]

[Shiro doesn't know what's gotten to Allura, but he can recognize a diplomatic evasion when he hears it.

He can't blame his team for being careful with information from his future. But being treated with kid gloves by all three of them leaves him with a weightless, yet twisted up sensation in his gut.

As a champion evader himself, all he says is:]

He's told me a little, not much. Just that I went missing for a while but came back, and he took over as Black Paladin in the interim. [And really didn't like the idea that he might stay the Black Paladin even after Shiro had been found.] He also said that you might be from further in the future than him?

It's...strange, I don't mind telling you. [And maybe an impulse to try and breach the gap between them has him adding:] Not as strange as the day I started with a hike into the desert and ended as a paladin of Voltron.

[juniberries]

[there’s a light laugh over the audio line.]

It is incredibly bizarre. All of it is.

A lot has changed where I am from, and we cannot know for certain if my reality is the same as yours...not to sound like Slav.

[another joke!! she’s loosening up a bit. this isn’t the Shiro she’s been struggling with back home. well, it is him but he sounds a lot less hardened....

does that even make sense?]

I will have to get you caught up on certain changes. But I would prefer to do so in person.