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WHO: Allura & YOU!
WHERE: Nice Stems Flower Shop (and by extension the Shopping Centre) & the Atrium
WHEN: January 3rd-6th
WHAT: Allura's falling into a rhythm on the Eluvio.
WARNINGS: N/A so far

A. [NICE STEMS]
[Sure, Allura loves flowers...what woman doesn't? But she's never been a florist before, nor does she recognize any of the flora provided for sale in the shop. And this is clearly not a job suited for someone who expected to much more with herself than work retail. She's a Princess, for galaxy's sake! Taking care of plants is a hobby at most, not a job, especially when the role you had before all this was to save the galaxy.

A thought that still weighs heavy on her, frustratingly so, to the point where she's gotten herself accidentally kicked out of the back room for cutting the stems of a floral arrangement too short for a proper display.

As of now, she's out front, misting air plants hanging from glass bulbs. When she hears the familiar chime of someone entering the store, she turns, managing a smile in place of her frustration. Mainly because it's almost time for her to clock out.]

May I help you?

B. [Atrium]
[She realizes there's a bit of irony of going to the Atrium after work before heading to the hangar to return to the Castle-ship, but just because her job is a poor fit doesn't mean she still can't come and appreciate the outdoors...or what comes close to it on the ship, at least.

If there's one thing the Castle-ship is missing, its a place like this, where she can sit and act as though she's outside, actually feel the leaves and smell the sweet and fresh smells of vegetation all around.

It's nothing like Altea, of course. None of the plants are familiar, the artificial sun is simply wrong, and there's really no use pretending.

She's as out of place as she ever will be. Ten-thousand years into the future, her homeplanet gone, and no one familiar around...she truly is alone, and she wonders why it still bothers her even when the threat of the Galra Empire still looms ever in her thoughts.

Frustrating knowing that she has no way back to...wherever they had been headed. No way to return to a galaxy that needs her, needs Voltron, although...perhaps the paladins had managed to reconvene in her absence.

She can only hope...

She's brought her late lunch/early dinner here, for a sort of makeshift picnic, settling on a bench near the zen garden. The space mice are already playing around in the sand, drawing shapes and even pictures, climbing up on rocks and pushing each other off them.

Allura laughs, shaking her head.]

Come on, you're messing up the design. Someone worked hard on that.

CLOSED TO SHIRO [The Hangar]
[She has to go to the hangar to begin with, the Castle-ship being as large as it is, she's required to take a shuttle whenever she wishes to return to the Eluvio. But...there's something different about today. A pull, almost like someone or something calling out to her in a way that calls to her very quintessence.

When she exits the shuttle in the hangar bay, she follows that call almost as though she's physically being pulled towards it, stopping dead in her tracks when she finally sees what's been calling to her.

The Black Lion of Voltron.]

I...I don't believe it.

[She wonders how it got here, how it was found, when she's been reaching out to feel for the Lions almost every night ever since she could access the Castle-ship, finding none of their signatures for as far as she can reach into this unknown universe.

And here it is. Plain as day. The Black Lion itself, as though it's always been here.

She moves forward, looking up at the towering robotic lion, placing her hand on its paw.]

You're here. You're really here. [Which means...it's safe. That must be what it means. But...] Where's Shiro?

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[ if their roles were reversed, he might not believe her either, especially if she had the same issue with freezing up when memories of his time in galra captivity hit. that's the kind of thing that does impact his ability to be a paladin, and while she knows about it, while everyone does because he couldn't hide it if he tried, it isn't something he's talked about, something he's told anyone.

her grip tenses, and so does shiro. his shoulders and neck weren't relaxed to begin with, but the muscles there tighten now, as does his jaw. he doesn't like the memory of losing connection with the black lion, and it's not something that he's had the time to come to terms with yet, either. ]

Something interrupted our connection. [ what's worse — ] I think it was Zarkon. From what I heard via the comms, he was the Black Lion's original paladin.

[ he can't help but wonder — did allura know? ]

[There's a searing rush of dread that punches through her gut, and she feels her blood run cold. Almost immediately at his answer, she removes her hand from him, crossing her arms, an illegible expression casting a shadow over her face as she turns away, looking to the Black Lion behind her as it stands tall and familiar in the hangar...yet it now seems to cast a shadow it hadn't had before.

Her own posture is tense, and she's quiet for a tick.]

I...didn't want to think it were possible. It's something I feared, but...

[She hadn't known. Not until she had been brought to Zarkon himself, forcibly dropped at his feet. Something stirs in her, a small rancid feeling that her father had...kept things from her. Zarkon's own words echoing. Your father knew that as well as I...

She remains looking up at the Black Lion, feeling cold.]

When I was brought to him, what he had said to me...if it's true, then that means-- [She turns slightly, looking at Shiro.] Are you sure that's what you heard?

Edited 2017-01-11 19:36 (UTC)

[ shiro almost regrets saying it as soon as he sees the effect it has on her, the way she tenses, the expression on her face that he can't read. at least it tells him that she didn't know, or didn't know for sure. it's not an easy thing to believe, and yet — shiro's almost certain of it.

almost, but not quite. ] Not entirely. Keith would know better, he fought Zarkon.

[ he looks down, galra hand clenched into a fist by his side, just as his normal hand is. ] What did he tell you?

[Keith... She had caught snippets through the comms when Hunk had rescued her, but hearing Shiro say it out loud...she remains tense, brows furrowing in anger. She can hardly blame Keith, in a similar situation she may have even done the same-- not that she'd ever admit to it.

But still.]

He should not have engaged with Zarkon. He's lucky to have survived.

[But Keith's not here. And it's not Shiro's fault, so she'll leave it at that. She allows herself another tick to recover, although her voice does not lose that edge of anger.

But it's towards Zarkon. Towards the Empire. Like a barely healed wound reopening at the seams.]

What you'd expect from a monster like him. That Voltron will make him and his empire more powerful...that my father knew and lead him to believe that the Lions had been destroyed.

[ keith isn't here, and it was a stupid and foolish thing to do, in as far as shiro even knows what happened. he'd heard most of it via the comms only, and he'd seen the end of it. he'd still defend keith's actions, if need be. but allura's reaction seems at least partially borne from concern.

keith is lucky to have survived. shiro doesn't know what he'd have done, how he'd feel now if they'd lost someone in getting allura back. no, that isn't true. he knows how he'd feel; worse than he does about losing the holts. they aren't dead, but being in galra captivity is only fractionally better than that. ]

I'm sorry, Princess. [ is what he finally settles on, instead of any of the other sentences swirling around in his head, like keith did what any of us would have tried or what's done is done. this can't be easy for her, the reminder of her father, the helplessness of captivity, not having known about the previous black paladin.

he is sorry that she has to face all that. he's also too exhausted, suddenly, to engage with her anger. ]

[There's no denying the anger she feels, or the betrayal at the thought of there being certain things her father kept her from knowing. Her shoulders tense slightly, as though trying to keep something in, and she knows it's not Shiro's fault.

That he shouldn't be the one apologizing.]

One of the last memories I have of my father...my real father, is of him telling me it was too late to defeat Zarkon with Voltron. [She uncrosses her arms, posture straightening to keep her composure.] Now it makes sense why he would choose to send the lions away instead of trying to fight.

He must have been afraid. Zarkon, he...betrayed his fellow paladins. [She shakes her head, taking a deep breath.] I'm sorry Shiro, I know you've only just arrived, but we should take the Lion back to the Castle.

[.....oh right she forgot to mention that the Castle-ship is here.]

[ there are moments when shiro fears that he'll somehow betray his fellow paladins as well. that what the galra did to him goes deeper than just the arm, or that he'll freeze up in the midst of battle, that one day, it'll cost someone's life. he can't promise that he won't, that none of this can ever happen, and while he won't let himself act on those fears, won't show them to the team, they're there.

he can't let them down, but what if one day, he will? so when she mentions betrayal, he just draws in a breath, purposefully measured. ]

The Castle is here? [ that's - good news, isn't it? ]

[She looks at him owlishly for a tick, realizing that she hadn't mentioned the Castle being here. His question disrupts the tension, giving way to a reality that's a bit more pleasant to talk about.]

Ah...yes, it is! Apparently these anomalies have a habit of bringing much larger ships in. The Castle of Lions had arrived here with me.

[Granted, it was only recently she was able to access the Castle, considering how the hangar bay had been closed while the Eluvio was traveling through hyperspace. But that isn't anything worth mentioning.]

Obviously it's far to big to be stationed in the Eluvio's hangar.

Obviously. [ shiro echoes, nodding while he takes a moment to process all that. and allura hadn't been alone in the castle, so he asks, almost immediately: ] Is Coran here as well?

[ it still won't stop the empty feeling below his ribcage, dull pressure at the thought that he's lost another team, that he isn't in any position to help keith, pidge, lance or hunk any more than he could help the holts. it won't stop that feeling, but maybe it'll ease it a little. coran is closer to allura than to shiro, but shiro has a great deal of respect for the man. ]

[And...back to less pleasant topics. A part of her had been anticipating the question, but she's still thrown off by it regardless, clasping her hands together and looking down for a moment, gathering herself.]

You'd think he would have, considering we had been together when the wormhole was disrupted, but...he is not.

I've been trying to figure out why.

[Knowing Coran isn't here with her...it serves to make her feel even more alone. Even with Shiro now here, and with a glimmer of hope that they've managed to all escape Zarkon despite being separated, not having Coran here is like losing another family member.

And the Castle feels empty without him.]

I've been here alone...with the mice, of course, before you arrived.

( shiro knows what she's going to say before she does; he can figure out the answer just from the way she looks down and takes a moment to gather herself. she wouldn't have to do that if coran was here, then she'd be smiling and nodding almost immediately, he's sure. )

I'm sorry. ( he doesn't know what else to say to comfort her, so he latches on to finding a solution instead, or at least understanding what is happening. he can't make sense of any of it, but he can at least try. ) I guess that means the anomalies really are what brought us here, not just the wormhole.

( that's what he'd been hoping for, so far. )

It's fine. You're here now, and either that means the others may be brought here in the future, or more importantly we'll be able to find a way to return together.

[She's latching on to a solution as well, trying not to drown in the restlessness she's felt aboard a foreign ship in an unfamiliar part of the galaxy with no conclusive means of returning home.

And with time and space of anomalies being so unpredictable, the time spent here may not align with the time and space of...where they had been pulled from. But she doesn't want to think of the consequences of that, instead resuming to focus on the here and now.]

It seems that way. And perhaps the mice had been brought with me due to their close proximity when the anomaly took us. [She lets out a light laugh, running her fingers through her hair, still settling into a familiar composure of a leader.] If Pidge or Coran were here, perhaps they'd be able to have a better understanding of what may be happening.

But...let's return to the Castle, shall we?

I hope so.

( shiro is just as willing to latch on to a solution, to accept it. if the others don't get here and the two of them don't manage to return, there's always a chance that pidge will figure something out, that they'll be rescued. he wouldn't mind a rescue if it meant seeing his team again, if it meant returning and continuing their fight against the galra. )

Let's. ( he moves to stand closer to black, closing his eyes for a moment as the bond with his lion comes back into focus, a little shaken after what happened with zarkon but still there, still strong. it's steadying, and shiro takes in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. ) Can I offer you a ride, Princess?

[Allura moves towards the Black Lion as well, a small echo of her own connection with the lions and their quintessence signature warming beneath her skin, like a low familiar murmur of an old friend. The very same readings she had felt when waking up, the Black Lion having especially been close to what she can consider home.

It's something she's gotten used to, although she knows it's something her father had done before sending the lions off, her energy being the key, a further means of keeping these Lions in the right hands. And to know of the Black Lion's acceptance of Shiro, even following the truth of its original paladin, it has her calm, collected.

The mice seem eager to get a move on, jumping off of Shiro and already scurrying towards the Lion, up along its leg towards its mouth to reach the cockpit.]

Well, the mice certainly seem keen on riding with you. [She smiles, laughing for added levity despite the uncertainty, and nods.] Thank you Shiro, I'm more than happy to accept your offer.

( the lion's jaws open to let the mice inside, and a moment later it lowers its head to let allura and shiro into the cockpit as well. shiro is glad for it; he's already piloted black since zarkon took the lion out from under shiro's hands, but he'd still worried that the connection might be lost.

it isn't, and shiro moves gingerly to climb into the pilot's seat, the wound in his side aching and glowing when he puts his hands on the controls. he has to close his eyes against the pain for a moment, but he doesn't think it'll be a problem yet. he can still pilot black, especially if the castle isn't too far away. )

[The mice scurry on ahead, reaching the pilot's seat before shiro and taking their place on the headrest of the chair, knowing better than to mess with the controls inside the cockpit. Allura follows, eyes lingering on the glowing wound, and she settles behind the chair, bracing herself against its back.

Is it just her or does it appear...to be worse than she remembers? She had only gotten a passing glance but--

The way he pauses does not go unnoticed. Concerned, she places her hand carefully at his shoulder, leaning forward.]

Are you sure you are feeling all right?

[ the wound is getting worse, eating into his flesh bit by bit, a little more with each passing moment, even if its pace is too slow to really see it grow. shiro can feel it, and his shoulders hunch minutely under her touch. ]

Of course. [ he laughs, and it isn't entirely forced. there is a certain kind of irony to this, isn't there? they escaped and landed in a different dimension or universe or at the other end of the universe, and haggar is still with him like this.

it's not great. ] It takes more than a glowing wound to get rid of me.

[ he hopes. ] But if it'll make you feel better, you can put me into one of those pods on the Castle.

['If it'll make you feel better...' Allura frowns at that, hand tensing slightly at his shoulder. She can hear the irony in his voice, even perhaps the guise of a bit of lightheartedness to try to dissuade her concern.]

The moment we board the Castle we will head to the healing pods. We cannot let this wound go unattended.

[Perhaps asking to return via the Black Lion had been a bad idea...they could have gone back to fetch it once he was healed.]

We can take the shuttle system instead, if it would be easier.

[ he doesn't want her concerned. he also doesn't want to have a glowing wound in his side that keeps growing, eating into his flesh more and more. he already knows that he can't always get what he wants, but at least with regard to some things, he can try. ]

It's fine. I'll get us there. [ black promptly lifts off, shiro's hands steady on the controls by sheer force of will. getting out of black and into a shuttle would probably hurt more than sitting here and steering black does, anyway, and shiro wants, needs the reminder that the black lion is still his to pilot after what happened with zarkon. ]

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