starlogs | ( OPEN ) don't let the sound of your own wheels make you crazy

[ after what happened on the last planet they visited, shiro is admittedly worried about how things will go on this one. the fleet is stranded in orbit and the team sent down is going to barter for materials, as far as he's aware, instead of stealing something none of them have any information about. hopefully, it won't hurt the planet and the people on it. hopefully, this won't be another oros—and hopefully, once the ships are up and running again, the murder series will be cleared up and stopped.

shiro feels like all his efforts to make a difference in that regard have been in vain. more bodies or body parts have been found, someone was attacked. it's disheartening, but he has to try not to let it get to him. he won't do any good to anyone if he gives up. maybe the self-defence lessons make a difference. maybe the patrolling stopped an attack before it could happen and they'll never know.

one way or another—shiro is tired.

maybe that's why he drags his feet a bit when lance comes to him, eyes alight with excitement, after a trip to the planet, telling shiro that he's "got to see this" and "it'll be great, trust me". he does trust lance, though, so despite his exhaustion and lance's excitability, he follows the blue paladin down to the planet and into the acedia district. ]

Are we doing anything in particular here? [ he asks, glancing at a store that sells—pillow, apparently. all kinds of pillows. fluffy pillows, soft pillows, pillows and only pillows. he doesn't manage to sound quite as alert as he would have liked. shiro can't quite pinpoint what it is, but everything seems a little warmer, comforting. hazy, almost. ]

Edited 2017-03-08 19:08 (UTC)

[ lance loves planets. it's something he'd noticed back when it was just them and voltron and the whole galra issue. it's a place to go outside of the ship, open air and a chance to explore, and you know what was even better? getting out of a really dangerous ship that might have dangerous people wandering around it? yeah. yeah lets escape the violence and explore a little bit, okay?

or at least, that's what lance thinks when they embark on the new planet. he can tell that some of the others who had been there for the previous planet - shiro and allura specifically - weren't nearly as excited about the chance to explore, but he pushes the thought away and goes.

and you know what? it was a great idea. so much of a great idea that lance gets right back up into space to grab shiro, because there's no way he's missing out on this, being the entirety of space's leader/big bro or no. so lance goes and gets him, going almost as far as to push him onto the shuttle down to the planet. and you know what? he's excited. because this idea is great. and if anyone should get to experience acedia, it's going to be shiro. ]

Just wait! [ the feeling is familiar as soon as he steps back into the district, something warm and safe and comforting. but they're not there yet. lance wants to find the very specific place he'd stumbled upon earlier. still, lance tugs at shiro's arm, though the warmth is sneaking up under his skin a little faster, knowing what's waiting for them. ]

I came down here earlier, with the first group and we wandered in here. This place is- [ he yawns, covering his mouth with his hand. ] Is great. Because see there's nothing really to- [ another yawn. ] Do here. Except!

[ as they were talking, lance has been looking around. checking for familiar buildings, landmarks, anything. as he reaches the end of what he's saying, he slows his general pulling to a stop, letting go of shiro to set his hands on his hips - triumphantly. they're standing in front of what looks like a pretty...normal area for this district. a section of the area they're in that's covered solely in blankets and pillows, some of the softest lance has seen. he steps out of his shoes after a second, before walking over closer to where the general area of the space is, turning back to shiro with a grin. ]

Nap. [ ta-da! ]

[ shiro would probably love planets more if they were just planets, if they didn't come with galra to fight, with genocide and nuclear bombs going off while they race to save as many of the indigenous peoples as they can. he'd like them more if there was less responsibility and saving to be done, if he could explore them just for the sake of exploring. it isn't those planets' fault at all that he doesn't love them as much as he could. circumstances are what they are.

this one doesn't seem to be exploding, no one is blowing anything up, at least for now, and shiro hasn't spotted any signs of oppression or slavery so far. he trusts lance's judgement, at least to some extent, but he can't help but feel wary, given all previous experiences.

but then lance suggests napping, and—those pillows look incredibly inviting. shiro doesn't remember the last night that he managed to sleep for more than five hours at a time or even at all. ]

You brought me here to nap. [ he states, a question that comes out so flatly that it barely even qualifies as a question anymore. ]

[ yes, well. lance hasn't quite gotten to experience that fun part of it just yet. as far as lance knows about this planet, it's all just fun and weird districts and some crazy...what. drugs? in the air? whatever it is, he's digging this whole nap area set-up and the fact that it can make even people who aren't into the idea into it? yes. yes please.

shiro can be as suspicious as he wants, but lance motions to the mountain of pillows around him looking unnecessarily proud of himself. ]

Uh, yeah? [ okay, so he deflates a little at shiro's tone but after a second he sets his hands on his hips. ] When was the last time you took a nap? For real. Not because exhaustion knocked you out for ten minutes. [ if shiro doesn't move, lance is going to s i g h and step forward, grabbing his arm and pulling him further into the space. ]

Listen, I know you against the whole sleeping for fun thing, but you should really try it. We're diplomats, right? Try the local culture. The local nap culture.

[ lance will walk behind him and push him onto the pillows if he has to. ]

If your heart is so set on it—

[ shiro doesn't like seeing lance deflate like that. there are moments when lance is loud and obnoxious and annoying, but shiro has never once doubted that his heart is in the right place. he cares, and shiro doesn't want to discourage that. and besides, he really feels like taking a nap right now, eyelids already growing heavy. ]

I guess there's no harm in a little nap.

[ he's not going to answer when he last took a nap. that's not an important question. at all. ]

Definitely set on it.

[ and lance is pushing him further in, over to a very comfortable set of pillows and blankets. if he were keith, he'd kick the back of shiro's knees and make him fall down into the feathery goodness that is this whole district. thankfully, he's not, so he will just wait for shiro to settle.

and if he doesn't, lance will grin brightly at him, yawn and stretch his arms over his head, before falling back onto the mountain of pillows. the second he hits them, the weight of this oncoming nap slams headfirst into him.

this was a great idea. ]

Just for a little bit, right? Not- [ another yawn. ] Very long. Just a nap.

[ lance pushes and shiro moves toward that set of pillows and blankets. it does look really inviting and after a moment and another glance at lance, he sits and slowly leans back into the pillows until he's half-lying. it feels a little odd for a moment, like he should be doing something else instead, but the sensation passes after few breaths.

it wasn't a terrible idea, shiro will give him that. ]

Yeah, all right.

[ a nap. sleep. the thought seems increasingly appealing, and shiro closes his eyes for a moment, but still mumbles: ] How did you even find this place?

[ the first time, shiro had only entered acedia because lance had all but dragged him along—but he'd slept. the whole time he'd been in the district, he'd been more relaxed than he had been in a long time and shiro knows it has to be something about the planet influencing him, but—if it's this kind of influence, he doesn't think he minds it.

so he returns to acedia more than once. at various times throughout the fleet's stay, shiro makes a trip into the district and feels warmth and comfort settle over him more with each breath he takes. someone also visiting acedia might find him sitting in a corner of a small cafe, eyes half-lidded and sipping tea, a hint of a smile on his face instead of frown lines. alternatively, shiro can be found stretched out fast asleep in one of the many open-plan spaces filled with pillows and blankets. if someone goes to sleep particularly close to him, they might even end with a prosthetic arm slung over their side at some point. ]

[Pidge also has sleeping habits that might be charitably described as unhealthy. Four or less hours are normal for her and she spends a lot of time just tinkering. So when she stumbles into Acedia, it's not a surprise that she ends up also getting in some nap time. It's happenstance (honest!) that she stumbles into the nearest pillow-space and flops down with ehr head resting against Shiro. She blinks, surprised that it wasn't actually a pillow she's landed on, then looks up.]

Oh. Hey, Shiro...

[She stifles a yawn.]

[ shiro doesn't recall the last time he slept as well as he slept during his first visit to acedia, and maybe it's the scent in the air, the comfort this district exudes, or maybe it's that his body has decided that now that some of the tension is gone, it can no longer maintain any at all. whatever the reason, shiro is already feeling sleepy again, eyelids heavy. he barely blinks when someone's head hits his shoulder, though he does smile when pidge's face enters his field of vision. ]

Hey, Pidge. You doing all right? [ the words come a little slower than usual, his tone warm. shiro shifts a little, making some space for pidge. ]

[Normally, Pidge is not the cuddliest person. She likes her personal space and she's determined to prove that she's able to stand on her own, especially when she's surrounded by all the guys on her team. This is nice, though. The relaxation and ease she feels here is enough to ease her feelings and she finds herself easily nestling up agaisnt Shiro. There's something comforting about him. Knowing that he did his best to help Matt, that he was friends with Matt and dad... She takes a breath, almost as if scenting Shiro.]

Yeah. Yeah, I'm doing okay. I just feel really... really sleepy.

[ during his first month on the eluvio, when it had been only allura and him, shiro had worried about all of the other paladins, about his new team, about losing them like he had the holts. he'd also thought that if allura and he couldn't find a way to get back to the others, surely pidge would figure out a way to get to them. she's so smart—he has no doubt that she can stand on her own.

right now, though, and right here, maybe neither one of them has to. ]

I think it's this place. [ he settles an arm—the human one—around her. ] It's like they figured out the cure for sleeplessness.

[Pidge's initial anxiety about the Eluvio has subsided to a duller sensation that occasionally flares up higher when she thinks about her brother and her father. Her eyes are mostly closed now, head nestled into the space where shoulder meets arm. Shiro is sturdy and solid and feels almost like an anchor. He's more solid than her brother or even her father, but the same feeling is there. She takes a breath.]

Yeah, I think they did...

[Her voice is a sleepy murmur now.]

...Were you and Matt close?

[It's a weird question, one she wouldn't ask normally but her curiosity, her anxiety, her muddled, fuzzy brain all contribute.]

[ he can't and wouldn't want to replace her father or her brother, but he'd still be pleased by the comparison if he knew. ] They must have. [ which is as good as admitting that he suffers from insomnia, but shiro is feeling far too sleepy and content to worry about that.

her question is a little surprising, but not enough so to startle him from his sleepy state. ]

Hm. Not like this. [ he closes his eyes, smiling a little at the memory of the holts. right now, it misses the emotional gut punch of losing his team that usually accompanies the memory. ] But I liked spending time with him. He was great to be around. A good friend.

[Pidge would never suggest such a thing. Ever. Ever. But he makes a good surrogate. A supplement. Someone else who knew them. Her face turns a little, pressing against him in an attempt to get closer. More comfortable. She reaches up and fumbles with her glasses, tugging them away so they stop digging into the side of her head.]

I wish I could've met you without all this. With you all back on Earth and. Normal. [She's quiet for a moment. Sleepy and thoughtful.]

I'm not sorry I met you or about being part of Voltron, but it would've been nice to just have you over for dinner instead of all this stuff...

Edited 2017-03-09 18:51 (UTC)

[ he wouldn't want her to suggest it or consider it. there's no replacing family, especially not one as closely-knit as hers had been. he remembers how fond sam and matt had talked about her. ]

We were going to, you know. After coming back from the mission. Sam said we should all celebrate at your place, that there'd be a big dinner. [ his tone grows a little wistful as he imagines it. he's too sleepy, too far removed from most emotion by the distance of near-sleep to really feel sad that none of them ever returned from kerberos, that they never got the opportunity. right now, with katie holt a warm weight against his side, it's just nice to imagine what could have been, the welcome of her family, the food and conversation. ]

[Pidge feels... safe. Normally she's too wound up to feel that way. There are Galra to worry about, things to work on. At this moment, though... Everything is great. She sighs quietly into Shiro's arm, drowsy. Pidge wavers in and out of sleep.]

I can just see you sitting at the kitchen table.

[She murmurs a happy, quiet little affirmation. The thought of them all together and happy buoys her spirit.]

When we get back, we'll do it for real.

[ even though this part of the universe is galra-free, if it's the same universe at all, there is so much to worry about still: not fighting the galra is on that list, the murders aboard the eluvio, too—but right now, shiro can't muster up the energy to be worried at all. he's warm and relaxed, eyes already closed even as he still mumbles his response. ]

We'll get them back, you know. We'll find them. And then we'll have that dinner.

Promise?

[Normally, she wouldn't ask. Normally, she's too withdrawn. Normally, she does her best to make sure she's self-reliant. But just in this moment, she can ask for reassurance, right? Her hand finds his and squeezes tight.]

Don't lose anymore arms, either.

[ normally, she wouldn't ask, and normally, shiro wouldn't promise anything that he isn't entirely sure he can keep. normally, he would promise to try his best—but right now, it feels like the most natural thing in the world to briefly tighten his arm around her. ] Yeah, I promise.

[ and, as rueful as one can sound while on the verge of falling asleep: ] Wasn't planning to.

Good. Good.

[Pidge yawns again. It a small, almost kittenish sound. Settles into the crook of his arm. It's so easy to just lay here and slowly drift off to sleep.]

We're gonna make it.

Hmhm. [ it's not shiro's most eloquent reply ever, just a hummed confirmation. they are going to make it. that's the last thought he has before sleep finally takes over, his warm settling more heavily over pidge's side as his muscles relax in sleep. ]

( not only is he down in this district, he's brought Makkachin. his dog is enjoying the chance to stretch his legs on world, though he doesn't like the teleportation process. Victor doesn't blame him. it's unsettling.

still, acedia is one of the easiest places to bring along his dog. lassitude doesn't lead toward violence for the most part, and he makes sure his best friend isn't eating anything he shouldn't. which, if he's honest, includes everything.

he and Makkachin end up running into Shiro when he's still partially awake at a cafe; Victor considering tea himself, but not quite sold either way. Makkachin is slowing down, more a sign of the effects of the area than anything else, he thinks. it's reason enough for mild concern. that he ends up spotting Shiro where he sits gives him a secondary focus, encouraging his dog into patting along with him as he claims a free chair. )

Shiro! How've you been? Finally getting a chance for a little uninterrupted rest down here?

[ shiro enjoys the relaxed atmosphere of acedia even when he isn't sleeping or close to it. right now, he's enjoying a cup of tea, his muscles loose and his mind light. sleep has done him well, and while he remains in acedia, the worries and responsibilities that weigh on him seem distant, kept at bay by sleepiness and relaxation. it's not an altogether unpleasant state of affairs, though shiro knows he'll have to return to the ship soon enough. just because his worries aren't weighing on him doesn't mean the cause of those worries has disappeared.

but for now, he's letting himself rest, and so it's with a relatively easy smile that he greets victor. ]

Exactly that. How are you? [ he leans down to let makkachin sniff at his hand (the left, human one). if the dog does, he might scratching him behind the ears, too. ] Have you seen much of the planet yet?

( makkachin beelines for the attention, giving a sniff and a lick of shiro's hand before settling down and shamelessly plopping his head in shiro's lap. never let it be said that makkachin wonted for attention.

victor smiles in turn, shrugging his shoulders and lifting his hands to show their empty palms. )

Yes and no? How much of the planet are any of us seeing beyond this city? Yuuri and I have been out to some of the islands on those boat tours.

[ shiro finds himself shrugging, scratching makkachin behind the ears happily enough. the dog is adorable and he seems to enjoy the attention, so shiro is glad to give it. ]

I haven't seen much of the city beyond this district, even. [ he's been catching up on sleep, and it has been wonderful. admittedly: he did venture out to luxuria with allura, but—ah, well. he's not going to think too hard about that one. it's a bit embarrassing, is all, even if he isn't overly embarrassed. ] Are the boat tours nice?

( thump, thump, thump goes makkachin's tail, a slow, measured mark of his contentment right now. victor smiles to himself, glad his dog is as shameless as ever, but in the better ways. )

Really? You should try the boat tours at least once. Bring your sunglasses. Maybe a hat, if you're worried about sunburn, but sunglasses for sure.

( the reflection off the water can be brutal, but then again, victor's got blue eyes. too much sunlight can set him off sneezing every so often. what a world to live in. )

You've really been enjoying this district. Not that it's difficult to understand why... it's refreshing to be able to turn off your mind and sleep when needed.

[ makkachin gets away with being shameless on account of being really cute. shiro doesn't remember the last time he's really petted a dog. he doesn't even remember the last time he last saw a dog before arriving on the eluvio. ]

I'll keep that in mind. [ the sunglasses at the very least. shiro's spent a great deal of time in the desert at the galaxy garrison, that's surely comparable?

but for a moment, he grows quiet. ] I think I had a lot of sleep to catch up on. [ is as close as he'll get to admitting that he has insomnia. ]

[ shiro's experiences with acedia have been pleasant, and despite early misgivings about what might happen on the planet or with the planet, despite his worries about the murders on board of the eluvio, despite it all, he finds himself curious about the other districts. so he heads into another one with a promising name, though he's a little wary of the fact that only those over eighteen are allowed to enter.

that wariness eases incrementally, and at the same time it becomes more and more obvious why there is an age-limit on this district. he's agreed to meet allura in one of the bars and so he makes his way there, growing a little light-headed on the way, throat turning dry.

a drink will be great. ] Have you been waiting long? [ he asks when he spots her in the bar, sliding into the booth next to her. it's a classy place, he thinks, expensive but understated about it, dimly lit without seeming seedy. it's a place befitting a princess. ]

[Despite her continuing distrust of the Eluvio and its crew, Allura is still admittedly miffed that she had been given the pass when it came to a proposed diplomatic mission to garner needed supplies from this planet for ship repairs. But still, she wasn't about to sit around the Castle worrying day in and out, especially not after being trapped aboard a barely-working vessel for nearly a month.

To stretch her legs and to feel the reassuring pull of a planet's natural gravity is a relief. Especially knowing that there will be no system failures, and coupled with the fact that this is a touristy place, and she's still remiss about not being able to go along with the others during their space mall excursion.

So she's set to explore the various districts, Luxuria being one of the earliest stops considering it seemed intriguing, but upon entry she's a bit...put off by the lewd atmosphere. Not to mention there's a heavy something in the air, a low buzz that makes her uncomfortably warm, which doesn't quite help when she finds herself walking into a shop, only to walk immediately out with her ears tipped pink at having seen things she's...probably not going to unsee.

But she's promised to meet Shiro at a bar, and for the most part, it feels much like a normal, high end bar, with plush seating, singles sitting at the bar being served drinks laced with pretty flowers, and of course the usual couple and triads enjoying themselves a bit too much. She's still feeling rather warm, but as she nurses her serving of complimentary pink Fairymoss tea she does find herself relaxing a bit. By the time Shiro does finally arrive to their agreed meeting place, she feels a lot less tense than she had been.]

Not too long...I will admit, I may have lost track of time people-watching. [There's an added comfort to his presence, and she turns up the spare teacup she had been given, beginning to pour Shiro a cup.] I've been drinking this while I wait, it is quite good, but there are others on the menu which seem interesting.

[A pause.]

What do you think of this planet so far?

[ shiro isn't sure he wouldn't have stayed aboard the eluvio and continued his patrols to try and keep whoever remained on board safe from whatever was killing people if lance hadn't dragged him to acedia that first time, but—it is good to be on a planet again, and one so hospitable and pleasant as this one. ]

Thank you. [ he takes the cup from her once she's finished pouring, taking a sip and almost immediately feeling relaxation spread through his limbs, not at odds with the low thrum of arousal that's settled under his skin and low in his stomach but easing it a little. ] It is good. [ but he smiles, more relaxed than he's been in a long while after several hours of uninterrupted and dreamless sleep, of lazing around on a pillow without feeling any sense of responsibility weighing on him. it shows, probably. he feels good. ] Honestly? I've been enjoying it.

[ he's not unaware of the fact that he's being affected by something in the air, at least in acedia and probably here, but—it doesn't bother him. in acedia, it means his insomnia is cured entirely and he's been catching up on sleep and right now? who knows. ]

What drinks were you thinking of? I'd be happy to try something. [ but also— ] What do you think of the planet so far?

[Her smile is similar; relaxed, sated in a way she hasn't felt in ages. Again, there is that warm pull deep in her gut, and despite the knowledge that this place is having an effect on her, through the air, the atmosphere, and perhaps even the drink, she is--

Well, too contented to properly think on the manner. And the look of satisfaction and calm on Shiro's face helps with that contentedness, and the presence of him physically being near. Which, perhaps, makes sense. He is a trusted ally, after all.

She takes another sip of tea, before reaching for the menu she had been looking at before he arrived. This place seems fond of using flowers, and she had been meaning to ask of the flowers she continues to see mentioned, but...well, she hasn't had the time just yet.]

It is...interesting. Different. The concept of districts does not surprise me, and I will admit I have yet to visit the others, but this place is rather...well, I can see why there is an age limit, I suppose.

[She continues to look at the menu, leaning closer into Shiro so he too can take a look.]

Usmela's Delight seems interesting to start with. [She points to a drink, deep red in colour, said to be fruity and infused with petals of crushed Usmela flower and fruits of various and promising names. Allura seems interested because the picture shows it coming in a martini-esque glass with one of those cute little paper umbrellas.

She then points to the small list of offered appetizers as well, recommended to be had with drinks. She seems keenly interested in a sort of meat-on-a-stick dish, garnished with cute white and pink flowers.] Perhaps we should also get something to eat.

[ shiro is aware that there's something in the air manipulating them as well, but the effect acedia has had on him during his visits has been too pleasant for him to worry overly much right now—or perhaps that lack of worry is a side effect of what is going on, too, he isn't so sure. one way or another, it doesn't seem to matter right now. ]

All of that sounds good to me.

[ appetizers and drinks. that's what people generally order in bars, isn't it? it's been a long time since shiro has been in one, since shiro has done something so normal—if being on a bar in a district with something in the air on a planet other than earth can be described as normal at all. it somehow feels like it, just as finally getting some sleep had reminded him of a time before the kerberos mission when he'd still been able to sleep for several hours without any problem at all.

but he finds himself nodding, finding that he doesn't want to move away from where he's leaned in toward allura as well. ] It makes sense that this place should have an age limit. At least that's somewhat universal?

[For what it is, and despite all that's going on with the Eluvio, the Castle, and the disappearances and...murders (which admittedly, seem foggy and distant and perhaps it has something to do with the atmosphere), a bit of normalcy is perhaps what they need--

Even in a bar patron walks by with an incredibly lowcut shirt, and strange bondage-like apparel around her neck.

But she clears her throat, meeting the gaze of the server who had brought her the pot of complimentary tea, and upon approach, Allura places her order. The look the server (a tall, tentacled alien of an indeterminate gender) gives Shiro, eyeing him up and down, and the wink Allura gets from them in turn, does not go unnoticed, and she feels herself flushing despite knowing it was utterly ridiculous.

Still, even as she sets the menu down, she remains sitting close to Shiro, nursing the cup of tea between her hands.]

Indeed. I think it is natural for all intelligent species to have a designated age where this sort of...atmosphere is deemed appropriate.

It is-- rather provocative, but this bar appears to be fine, and some of the jewelry shops I had looked at were...decent.

[Barring a few which sold necklaces that had removable, bullet-shaped vibrating pendants.]

This tea is certainly calming. [She leans forward, to lift the top of the teapot up. The leafy green bush, tipped in cute shades of pink, is visibly floating.] And Fairymoss is a particularly nice name for such a plant. I wonder if I can find it for sale somewhere.

[ shiro notices the once-over he gets and the wink in allura's direction as well, and it drives heat into his cheeks even as part of him is pleased—at the attention, at the recognition that it implies. he doesn't even know why that kind of recognition should matter, but right now, it does. ]

I guess as long as everyone's a consenting adult, there isn't really a problem with provocative. People like different things. [ being too forward, open or provocative has never been shiro's style and it isn't his preference in others, but that doesn't mean it isn't all right if other people like it, does it? he figures live and let live applies well enough here.

he wouldn't want to see allura uncomfortable, though. ] Does it bother you?

[ at her comment about fairymoss, he smiles a little. ] You probably can. And maybe it grows somewhere around here. We could go for a Fairymoss hunt later, if you want.

N-no! It is more that I am simply not used to this sort of atmosphere. I am not bothered.

[Her voice does crack a little despite her assurance that she's not bothered. Are her ears red? They certainly must be. She can feel them burning and she looks away, instead seemingly fascinated by the fairymoss in the teapot, until finally closing its lid and settling back. That small flair of an anxious, almost defensive outburst is countered by (unbeknownst to her) the effects of the tea.

A change of subject is in order. So she'll stick to the fairymoss.]

But I would enjoy looking for such a plant. If we can bring it back, we can brew our own tea back on the Castle-ship. I have been meaning to ask of the flowers in this District, actually.

[The drinks and appetizers arrive simultaneously, both looking as pictured, the flowers garnishing the meat looking cuter in person. The paper umbrellas in the drink are white and almost resemble lace, and Allura's attention turns from the tea. She first takes a sip of the drink, eyes widening and lips puckering a bit. She pulls back, letting out a light noise.]

Ah, it's tart. [She was hoping for something sweeter.] But not in a bad way.

[ she seems a little bothered, or at least flustered, and shiro thinks about pressing the point, but she changes the subject and he decides it's probably better just to accept that. especially when their drinks arrive and she tries it. the noise she makes goes straight to his groin, leaving him to imagine her sounding like that in a very different context.

this place is getting to him, and he reaches for his own drink, taking a large sip of it to help with his suddenly dry throat. ]

Sounds like a plan. We'll go flower-hunting after dinner.

Good. Perhaps, once repairs are done to all the ships, we can even bring some back to grow in the Eluvio's atrium.

[At least, now that she knows how the drink will taste, she's less surprised when taking another sip, idly playing with the lace umbrella for a moment. She seems to be mulling over something, thinking, but she shakes her head lightly, reaching for the skewer of meat instead.

The small flowers on it appear to be intended for consumption, and she wonders how they taste. However, as she takes a bite, bringing her hand up to her mouth as she chews, she realizes that the gravy-like glaze and the meat make up most of the flavour so she isn't certain how it tastes, or even if it should taste like anything. But the saltiness of the meat does help with the tartness of her drink.]

These flowers as well. [She glances at the menu again at what they ordered, to see what they're called.] Frosted Sugar?

[Again...a cute name.]

Let's hope the team they sent gets whatever is needed to make those repairs without any issue. [ shiro is not entirely inclined to be hopeful about it, but right now, he's not too worried, either. there are other things taking up more of his mental image, like the curve of allura's wrist when she lifts a hand to her mouth to hide her chewing, or the way she enjoys all the flowers.

it's—charming. maybe charming isn't entirely the word he's looking for, but it's something, and shiro feels increasingly drawn to her the longer they sit and talk. it's with some effort that he pulls his gaze away to try the meat and the flowers, too. ]

[She is still admittedly bothered by the fact that she had not been selected for that very mission, so she does look down at her drink when he mentions the team.]

I certainly hope so as well. It is certainly worrisome...I am glad we are able to escape whatever horrors had been happening aboard the Eluvio, and perhaps with repairs we will find those responsible for the murders and hold them accountable.

[She does return to eating, finishing up her skewer and setting it aside, still ignoring the flush of heat and strange...pulse that's beginning to stir deep in her core. Taking another sip of her drink, she does find herself inclined to sit even closer to him, crossing her legs as though to sooth...some sensation.

There is a desire stirring. She doesn't quite understand it, but she also feel as though she cannot help herself and says the first thing that comes to mind, after mulling it over for a bit.]

I know I have said this before, countless times, in fact, but...I truly am grateful that you are here, Shiro. [She brings one hand to rest at his thigh, looking at him, a strange intensity in her gaze as she feels the urge to continue speaking.] You are a good man, and it helps to know that I am truly not alone in this strange galaxy.

[ she would have been good for the mission, and shiro would have felt better about it knowing that she is part of it, instead of relying on people he doesn't know at all. as it is, they can only hope that the four actually selected will do a good job of it.

for a moment, he drops his hands onto allura's, intending only to squeeze hers briefly in an offer of comfort. he doesn't expect the touch of skin to skin to have any impact on him, but he'd be lying if he said that it doesn't still send a thrill through him that isn't in proportion to the chasteness of the touch. this district is definitely impacting him, he's beginning to see that, but—it's not so bad, and he'll just have to keep himself in check.

to distract himself, he removes his hand and tastes everything on the table again, one thing after the other: the skewer, the flowers, the drink. it doesn't really distract him from the tightness of his pants, the low thrum of arousal that's settled in his stomach.

her words and the hand on his thigh don't help, either, and he clears his throat before looking at allura again. his smile is entirely genuine, though. ] I'm not glad any of us are here, but if anyone has to be? I'm glad we're together, too.

[ he still regrets that she was here all alone that first month before he'd arrived. ]

[A small shiver rolls down her spine, beyond means of control, when she feels the warmth of his hand press atop hers. And when he removes it, the sensation of skin against skin still lingers, like a shadow, and she feels her pulse quicken, her cheeks beginning to glow slightly with a blush.

Is she...embarrassed? Flustered? It's difficult to think, so she moves her hand away from his leg despite longing to touch him more for no reason why beyond simply wanting that contact, instead balling her hands in her lap, shifting slightly to try to calm an embarrassing urge, to ignore the twine of tension pressing against her core.

It feels like she's an adolescent again in the midst of dealing with confusing feelings, so she reaches for her drink, taking a longer sip to clear her dry throat, and taking another skewer of meat decked with flowers as means of distraction.

But the way he smiles at her-- She smiles back, cheeks still flushed a dull pink. And her hand may have moved from him for the moment, but her thigh is still pressing flush against his, for the sake of contact.]

As loathe as I am to be here, I...am glad. Fate seems to continuously bring us together--

But it is for a reason, don't you think? We make a good partnership, you and I, even in the wake of chaos.

[ she moves her hand, and while her thigh remains pressed against his, shiro feels the absence of her touch, the sudden lack of warmth where her hand had been. he wants her hand back; he wants it higher up his thigh or between his legs where his cock is swelling at the thought of allura touching him.

shiro drags in a deep breath. keeping himself in check, right. it's not that he's unaware of the fact that allura is a beautiful woman, but until now, he hadn't really thought of her in that light, thought of her as anything but an ally, a commanding officer maybe, a fellow fighter in the war against the galra. he doesn't even remember the last time when he'd really thought of sex with anyone specific, and now he can't stop imagining it with her.

it's enough to leave his mouth dry, and so he takes another sip of her drink and then another, and forces his voice to remain even. ]

I'm not sure there's a reason for these things, or if there is, I doubt fate has anything to do with it. [ a malfunction, or the crew deliberately abducting them to the eluvio and lying about it. one of the two — after everything, shiro isn't so sure he believes in fate at all. ]

We do.

[ shiro visits each district to get a feel for the planet, to see if he enjoys any of them as much as he enjoys acedia. in ira, he finds people fighting in arenas instead—he finds keith and allura fighting in one, and shiro leaves before their fight is finished, anger that he realises isn't entirely his own warring with the oppressive memory of fighting in an arena himself, being forced to kill in order to survive.

keith finds him later, after shiro's texted him to make sure he's all right, at the outskirts of acedia where sleepiness is a distant thing but comfort still settles over shiro's frayed nerves, sitting on a small bay overlooking the ocean. there are a few beach chairs and now and again, a small cafe at the far end of the beach with a waiter who comes by now and again to see if his few guests want anything.

shiro's ordered something tangy with an umbrella and fruit as garnish and not enough alcohol to make his head swim. ]

Are you all right? [ he asks. keith knows what he's doing when it comes to a fight, but shiro knows just how strong allura is, and—he can't help but think back to the arena he's fought in, over and over again. the memory isn't quite as overwhelming now as it was in ira itself, but it still leaves a bitter taste at the back of his throat. ]

[ In truth, he likes being in Ira. He likes it because it's raw and unrestrained and right now he feels like he's casting about without a proper orbit. It's not something he knows how to fix. Certainly not anything he wants to talk about. So, the only way he can handle it is barbed remarks and talking with his fists.

Everything was great until he got too carried away. Now that he's away from that district and has a clearer head, he's glad Allura was there as his partner to knock him down a peg before he did something he might have regretted. Still, even with the knowledge of what he's done and what could happen to him there, he knows before they're meant to be back aboard the ship that he'll return to that district and fight again until his knuckles split open and his skin mottled with bruises.

Sort of like he is right now. An assortment of random injuries are scattered across his body like stars and Keith likes each and every one of them. His muscles are sore and being around sand probably isn't the smartest thing to do right now, but he doesn't really care. He practically throws himself into the chair beside Shiro, sprawling as he adjusts for the most comfortable position. ]

Yeah, I'm fine. [ He pauses to order one of those weird sparkling waters that tastes like a fruit cocktail and fades like a rainbow in a glass. ] Never better, why?

[ shiro's associations with unrestrained and raw anger and emotion is very different; to him, it's not something that makes sense but a loss of control, something that leads to death and destruction. it's a reminder of galra captivity and the darkness that's chained inside him, the weapon they made him. it's a reminder of the champion, and that isn't someone shiro wants to be. ]

You look like you should spend an hour in one of the Castle's pods. [ is his first answer, said lightly, almost but not quite a joke. but a moment later, he adds: ] I saw you fight in the arena, with Allura.

[ he's not sure how to explain what it made him think of, so he falls silent. ]

( OPEN ) don't let the sound of your own wheels make you crazy

— CLOSED TO LANCE

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— OPEN: ACEDIA (naps and cuddles)

Re: — OPEN: ACEDIA (naps and cuddles)

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— CLOSED TO ALLURA

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— KEITH

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