If I can live through this [Open]

[spaceforged]

Who: Shiro, Adrien, Hunk, and you!
When: July 7th
Where: House B-02
What: The Black Lion wakes up at last and Team Cat makes plans to move.
Warnings/Notes: Nothing yet! Will match format.



1. Welcome back (open)

He wakes with the urge to walk outside. Shiro slaps on clean clothes and walks out into the backyard. He has a suspicion about what's about to happen and sets it iMog up against the window. He sets it up to record and hits the button then steps away. He doesn't have to wait long. The red wings that have jutted up over the houses for months now, shift as the mechanical beast they're attached to rises behind B-02.

The Black Lion has always been sprawled like a broken toy behind the house, one paw before the body and the other folded up against it. The enormous metal paw raises up and pivots forward to slam into the ground beside the first. Blue accents on the wings and body flare to life. The gaping metal jaws slide closed and the Black Lion rises up, eyes burning with yellow light high over the houses. A massive, pale purple barrier spreads from the crown of its head down to the area surrounding the Lion, encompassing a portion of the backyard. It raises its head visible over the tops of the houses and roars.

The familiar sound he hasn't heard in so long brings a smile to his face. "Hey, glad to see you're feeling better." The barrier recedes and the Black Lion lowers its face down to the ground, opening its mouth for him. He slips back to the iMog and stops the recording.

The Lion rumbles and he looks back at it. "Just a minute, okay? Then I'll check you over."


2. (closed) Housing decisions

Shiro slaps together a sandwich. He'd come back from another trip as a co-pilot. It's good work but it isn't being a Paladin of Voltron. He misses that more than he wants to put into words. He studies his meat and cheese sandwich. Their time in this housing is running out. He takes his slate from the counter. He'd sent texts to Adrien and Hunk to meet him when he got home for a talk about where they were moving too.

Nothing to do but wait. He thinks over their progress. They're no closer to the answer of why they're here. But they have been getting stronger. He'll have to satisfied with that for now. Yet when either arrives or both, he's on his third sandwich and reviewing notes on his slate.

3. Closed to Prompto and Noctis.

It starts with a text from Shiro. Turn your volume down before you watch this. With the text is the recorded video of the Black Lion waking up and roaring. The camera had been tilted to allow the viewer to see the Black Lion's face when it roars. The feed ends after it settles and opens its mouth.

Comments

1

[garyoutensei]

-Honestly, she had only intended to stop in and grab some breakfast like she did at times, especially since she was back in town to get her clothes mended anyways. What she had not been expecting, by any stretch of the imagination, when she approached good ol' B-02, was. well.

that.-

Uh... Do you guys know you got a giant metal cat in your yard?

-They probably knew. She needed a drink.-

[spaceforged]

[Shiro looks up from running his hand over Black's jaw. He grins.]

Yes, Black's been parked back here for months. Did you ever wonder what the red was attached to that could be seen over the houses?

[He points to the red wings.]

[garyoutensei]

I'll be completely honest with you.

I never noticed.


-Baiken had a talent for sorting things not immediately important to her into the "somebody else's problem" field, rendering them practically invisible.-

[spaceforged]

[He ducks into the mouth of the lion briefly to check for how much dust and dirt accumulated. Well. He’ll have to wash him off. He drops back to the yard and heads over to the hose. He unwinds it, turning it on.]

Well, I’ll introduce you. This is the Black Lion. I’m his Paladin. He’s just as alive as we are but...not capable of talking. He can communicate but only with his chosen Paladin.

[He turns the hose on the Lion. Bath time!]

[garyoutensei]

So this is one of those lions Hunk mentioned. -Now his story made a little more sense. A sentient weapon, huh... That didn't sit very well with her, given her experiences, but she trusted Shiro and Hunk pretty thoroughly. They wouldn't associate with something like Gears...-

[spaceforged]

Yes. This is a Lion of Voltron. [The lion opens its mouth wider at its paladin's thoughts. Shiro steps closer and washes out all the months of dirt.]

They were made from a comet over ten thousand years ago by an ancient race to defend our reality.

[garyoutensei]

No kidding. Sounds pretty wild. -That... was an understatement. But the gravity of what he was saying was largely lost on her, anyways.-

So what all can this big guy do?

[spaceforged]

A lot of things. Most of it he can't do right now. Something about this reality disables tech and magic that didn't come from here.

...maybe there's a way around there somehow. [Shiro guides the hose to use the water pressure to force the dirt out through a side of Black's jaw.]

[garyoutensei]

You could always take him to the magitech guild and see what they can do to outfit him more functionality for this world. I've considered doing that myself...

[spaceforged]

I've considered it but I want to find a way to use Black as he's intended to be used. He agrees with me. [In answer, the lion snarls. They'd had a small bit of a thought wave about it.]

We'll see what comes up. For now, I can guard him and grow stronger as a Paladin of this world.

[garyoutensei]

Suit yourself. -No sardonic tone there, she had no reason not to trust that Shiro knew what was best for himself and the lion.-

You need any help getting this guy clean?

[spaceforged]

Yes, if you don't mind.

I can move Black to turn him to get at all the harder to reach areas. [He holds out the hose to her with the water pointed towards the lion.]

[garyoutensei]

Easy enough. Just point me were to spray. -Baiken shrugged, taking the hose and giving it a few test sprays with a squeeze of her thumb. One of which might have accidentally been aimed at Shiro. Accident, really!-

[spaceforged]

[Luckily he's in armor and it slides right off. He sighs and walks up into the lion. At first, nothing happens. The eyes flare yellow and the beast shuts its mouth, turning its head to the side to expose the side of its face and neck to her.

Shiro's voice comes out of speakers.]

Okay, let's get the sides of his head and his neck. We'll do his paws and chest after that.

[garyoutensei]

Kind of like washing a giant dog... -Baiken mostly mumbled to herself, spraying where directed.-

No offense, I mean.

[spaceforged]

[The Lion doesn't seem to really care. Shiro laughs from inside as he carefully guides the head to turn the other way for a washing.]

He doesn't take any offense. And you can ask more questions about him if you want to.

[garyoutensei]

I'll be honest with you, I don't even really know where to start. Plus I'm the kind of person who feels like the less I know about something I'm probably not gonna understand anyways, the better.

The important thing is you two are connected, and I trust you, so I know this guy won't go on some killer rampage for me to stop.

[spaceforged]

He won’t. Without a pilot present he goes behind his barrier and waits for someone worthy. [He draws the head back and sets a foot forward. If Black could fly he’d just fly the lion through a waterfall. Ah well.]

Only people who match his life force can even be considered.

[garyoutensei]

Yeah, see, that's what I mean. I didn't need to know any of that. I just had faith it'd be alright.

[spaceforged]

I like to be upfront and honest with anyone I work with. It saves misunderstandings and time.

[garyoutensei]

Yeah, yeah, but no offense? You're kind of a boyscout. We're gonna have different philosophies on that kind of thing. -Not that she minded. He reminded her a lot of Ky, to be sure, but he was a hell of a lot less sanctimonious. Plus Hunk vouched for him pretty heavily.-

[spaceforged]

[He snorts audibly over the Lion’s com. He switches which leg is exposed for washing.]

It has nothing to do with Boy Scouts. I was trained to rely on my teammates. I flew and they watched my back. If you lied or didn’t give much information from any seat in that cockpit everyone in it could be killed.

[In a very messy fireball. Not the best way to go.]

[garyoutensei]

I dunno. Sounds pretty boyscouty to me. -Baiken chuckled, adjusting her spray slightly.-

Point is, you come from a background like that. Military. Rigid. Lots of rules and expectations of conduct between yourself and your fellows.

Me, on the other hand, I've been on my own pretty much my entire life. And I dunno if you've noticed, but I don't like talking to most people. Trust comes from action, not words, for me.

[spaceforged]

I'm still going to tell you what to expect from me. But you're right, you're used to being on your own.

...and it's not just about conduit and expectations. I respect you and care about your well being. I'll be honest with those I want to keep breathing.

[garyoutensei]

I'm not exactly trying to change your mind. -Though... knowing he cared about her well being sat a little strangely with her. It wasn't particularly surprising, given all that had happened, but even so...-

But I'm not really someone worth worrying about, either.