The craziest show in the galaxy, yup.

[balancingedge]

Who: Takashi Shirogane, Keith, Lance, Katie “Pidge” Holt, and whoever else gets dragged into this madness.
When: November 10th (with possible additions later for Curti Center run ins)
Where: the Dream Width, and see above
What: When all save the former Black Paladin get pulled into the Dream Width within the span of a morning, it becomes an Adventure retrieving them.
Warnings/Notes: Spoilers up to the end of Season 7 of Voltron: Legendary Defender. Also game shows. I’ll add more if anything shows up.

It’s shortly after midnight when all three signals are caught by the Curti Center’s radar. Prior to that, however, there is another sign: the barriers of both Red and Green go down as both mechanical lions stir, a low rumble of a growl echoing among the two of them. Black looks up and roars. They’re back, but in trouble. Yet like with the two disappearances among their team before, there is no sign whatsoever of what lies ahead.

Just a signal, and three lions that desperately want to get off the ground and fly to their paladins.

Comments

Post-Retrieval Mingle

[balancingedge]

It hadn't been easy for the others to bring them to awareness. Whether it be where they wound up in the shared memory, or the fact that when one awoke, they'd be forced back in until the others woke up, too. The reason why became obvious after Pidge wakes: the three of them drifted within the same nebula, arms linked together at the elbow...

[balancingedge]

[Keith in particular does... not look well, even as they boarded the airship. While he's still in the outfit he disappeared in, his body shows signs of the last thing he remembers. He looks pale and like he probably barely survived whatever attack left him in this state. It irritates him how unsteady he is on his feet, yet he still makes his way to the makeshift infirmary. Slowly.]

Same hat convo probably eventually

[promiselisting]

[ Keith why are you like this. She doesn't bother ducking under his arm or anything to try to support him. She knows she's probably not best at that and besides, Shiro would probably prefer to do it anyway.

Instead she quickly pulls out the iMog slate and flips over to jobs, swapping out her staple for Astrologian. Healbot time. ]

Y'know you could just stop in the lounge like we did last time.

Wheeeeee

[balancingedge]

[Because it's Keith. Though in all honesty, he's not really thinking straight. His head aches. His entire being does, but both injuries and about a year and a half's worth of new memories swirl in his head to add even more to the dull throbbing.

He stops when he hears Futaba's voice and leans against the wall. She'd come back out here for them, despite what happened the last time.]

Probably. [Except he needed to stop anyway.]

[promiselisting]

Good thing you've got a master Astrologian on your side.

[ She's already setting to work sending a pretty steady stream of healing energy into him. Keeping an eye out for the others too. It looks like they all needed it. Man, what had happened to put them all in this bad a shape? Like... she knew they were in a war but... ]

Just... slow down okay? You look like you're gonna fall over.

[balancingedge]

[He seems to mull on that for a moment as the magic seeps into him. Breathing comes easier and the throbbing in his skull becomes an ache instead.]

Do we? Could have sworn we had another menace.

[Well, at least the dry humor's back. He glances back to see if he can spot Lance or Pidge.]

Was still in the only remaining Garrison hospital before I woke up back there. No idea about the others.

[promiselisting]

[ Wow Keith, wow. See what she gets you for Starlight. ]

You say that like they're mutually exclusive.

[ Futaba glances back as well. ]

Well, you all came back linked at the elbows. Wouldn't be surprised if you came back close in other ways too.

[ ... that sounds so much like an innuendo but she means timeline-wise. For once. ]

[balancingedge]

[At least he knows what he's getting her for Starlight. A screen protector.]

True, but I more meant that we're all menaces here.

[He closes his eyes momentarily before he gently pushes himself from the wall.] Lance looks about as bad as I remember. Pidge looks better.

... Thanks, Futaba.

[promiselisting]

[ ... your offering will please Queen Futaba. And Futaba makes a mental note to check in on Lance next, definitely.

Ah... that.... ]

... you guys are my friends.

[ She wasn't just. Going to leave them out there. ]

[spaceforged]

[He steps up to his side and gently slings Keith's arm over his shoulders. He wraps an arm around him as pale light rolls down from his arm. He can't cure much but even a little is better than nothing.

Keith looks so pale. Between that and the vast shape of a ship that had loomed in the distance just beyond their swirling nexus of memories...he has a feeling a lot has happened. Will happen in his future.

The darkness of that time looms in his mind's eye. He keeps it locked up tight as he leads Keith to the infirmary.] Lean on me as much as you want to.

I've got you.

[balancingedge]

[The aches dull slightly; Keith holds on to him like a rock in the middle of a stormy sea.]

Back to the rescue again, huh. [The tease doesn't carry any bite; there's only warmth behind the exhaustion. It nags in the back of his mind that there's some missing context in those words, but he'll return to it later. There's a lot to catch up on, but he'll say this much as they make their way to the infirmary:]

Four and a half years for our reality. One and a half for us.

[spaceforged]

A week here. [It's not a long hallway. It feels too long when Keith's in this state. He's home but he's in such a condition all he wants to do is scoop him up and carry him to his infirmary bed.]

...and of course, you keep saving me. I thought I'd reverse that for a change. [He finally gives in to the urge and reaches to lift Keith up and carry him the rest of the way. No one is around to see.]

...I missed you. I'm glad you're back.

[balancingedge]

[A week. That parses from what he recalls from the haze of memories, yet it still hits him like the news of the three weeks they'd spent trying to restore power to the Lions and wait for Shiro to recover from, well, death... had been three decaphoebs. He keeps it locked up within him for now. He may be injured, but he is their leader.

Hazy memories of lying on the floor of Black's cockpit and hearing Shiro's voice before light pressure rested on his chest comes back to him as Shiro lifts him off the ground. He doesn't let go.]

You saved me first. [And kept doing it. His own paladin, regardless of if he flies a lion anymore or not. He has a bigger ship, now.] Glad to be back. Could have waited a couple weeks back home, though.

[Just so he could probably be walking on his own two feet to the lounge instead. He leans into his shoulder.]

[spaceforged]

Then you'd miss this. [Shiro smiles quietly as he leans in and presses a kiss to his forehead.] We saved each other.

[He murmurs as the door to the lounge looms ever closer. He subtly adjusts his hold to allow his lover to learn more of his weight against his chest. He catches sight of the massive ship outside collected up in colors he never thought he'd see again.

There's no mistaking the Garrison's mark on a ship.] ...and maybe you can explain this 'Atlas' outside.

[The Center had let him know something was in the dream width that resonated with him. They'd found Keith, Lance, and Pidge....just before the vast shape of the ship. He can feel it just at the edge of his thoughts. Exactly like the Black Lion.]

[balancingedge]

I would. [A quiet smile tugs at the corner of his lips as he leans more against his chest.] Using my own words, Takashi?

[It's not wrong, though. They have a habit of watching each other's backs. One that probably makes even more sense now to the others than before. He traces Shiro's jaw with a finger before his hand falls back over his abdomen and he turns his head to take a look outside.

... Oh.] The IGF-Atlas is the answer the Garrison built from melding Earthling and Altean tech into one ship to act as a deep space base of operations. It can house all the personnel and equipment, and has hanger bays designed to charge both Lion and MFEs in seconds. They finished it not long before we returned to Earth, save the power source. [He looks back to meet Shiro's gaze.] You become it's captain and figure out how to turn it into a giant mech. Voltron's the size of it's lower leg.

[spaceforged]

[He stares at the Atlas again. He hasn’t been wrong, it’s an Earth ship but. Silence falls as he comes to a stop and stands there. He always knew his days as a Paladin were over. But the idea that he got his own ship and served as their commander instead. Not just their commander but the heavy fire power support...

His eyes are bright as he turns away from the view and steps into the lounge.] The size of its lower leg.

...MFEs?

[Combat fighters. MFs he can recall but MFEs sounds like a second fighting force and that takes him by surprise. He carries Keith over to the lounge couch and he smiles down at him.]

Let’s get you patched up. Shall we?

[thegoofball]

[Lance...feels like shit. Everything aches, and...

Well.

That happened.

They're back in Vaikuntha, though, and Keith looks as ragged as Lance feels. There's a moment of hesitation, before Lance sighs and raises his bayard. It feels a little silly, but, well...No better time to test it than now, when he feels like he's been stretched apart like taffy.

Take your medicine, Keith.]

[balancingedge]

[Keith hears footsteps, but doesn't turn around to see who it is. He can tell by the footfalls it's probably Lance and he's been trying very hard to pretend he's asleep. Despite staring at the back of the couch he's currently laying down on.

Well.

That is.

Until suddenly he hears the sound of a bayard shifting forms. He almost turns around when suddenly he feels a bullet hit him in his backside????

He practically jumps a six inches off said couch from a laying down position, and turns to glare back at Lance.] What the...? [He starts to ask, before realizing he... feels better?

???

Quiznack, he's not awake enough for this shit.]

[thegoofball]

Feeling better?

[He manages to sound impossibly smug as he says it, before turning his bayard down and shooting himself in the leg.

The healing magic is strange, but it's...Good. He feels less like he's gone through hell, now.]

Little trick I picked up a while back. Figured now was a good time to test it out.

[balancingedge]

[Keith sits up, as if to state the fact without saying a word. To be fair, they kind of did go through hell. Repeatedly. In a conga line that ends with an explosion and a crash. Fun times!

He also scoots over so Lance can sit down. He has a Feeling where this conversation will turn.]

Somehow not as weird as the healing heels. Useful, though.

[And right on par with Lance's brand of weirdness.]

[thegoofball]

[It's been a Lot.

Lance doesn't sit down so much as sink into the couch. He's feeling better now, physically, but there's a lot of questions he has left. He doesn't know if now is a good time, but...

No time like the present.]

The healing heels aren't weird! They're great.

[Being able to kick someone back into good health? That's worth every bit of study as a white mage.

Lance leans back, sighing.]

But how about with everything else? You okay?

[balancingedge]

[It has, indeed, been a Lot. Lance will get no argument from him on that. He still leans back into the couch as he sighs.]

I'm still wrapping my mind around how you don't fall while spinning around in six inch heels.

[It boggles him, but it's impressive! Don't make this weirder, Lance!

But then he asks that, and he glances at him. He's had plenty of time to come to terms with what was shown and more. Lance didn't know that.]

Yeah. Saw most of that with Mom anyway.

[Most, just... not the...game show...]

How about you?

[thegoofball]

It's called skill.

[He stretches out his legs, as if to elaborate on his point, before he seems to deflate on himself.]

You saw it with your mom?

[What does that mean, Keith? Also, Lance is not as great of an actor as he wants to be, because he can't...keep the concern out of his voice.]

When you were on your mission together?

[ladytakamaki]

[ keith's already got people helping him out, so ann's mostly just...watching, making sure that he and lance and pidge make it out safely.

sometime during keith's recovery--and when he's more awake--ann goes to check up on him. she has a container with her filled with more fruit salad. ]

Keith?

[balancingedge]

[Thankfully it's still a long trek back to Vaikuntha, so he's at least taken a nap. If only to keep some wounds from reopening that have been stitched up and healed with magic. After a few hours, he's finally sitting up and checking the list of messages on his phone when he hears someone call his name.

He turns off the screen before anything that was shared with him in confidance can be seen.] Hey, Ann.