.:01.:

[the_tailor]

Who: Lance and you!
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Marsiva
When: 6/6


[Life hasn't made sense in a long time for him. Ever since the day that Shiro returned to Earth and they found the Blue Lion, it had been one crazy thing after another to the point where he never knew what the next minute would bring. How long has it been? Months? How many?

And then, of course, this has to happen. He paces around the deck he's on, still clad in his armor, looking extremely worried.]

Quiznak. Not good, not good. This is a joke, right? Some really, really elaborate practical joke that Coran's playing on us. Which, dude, not the time or the place! But if this really is real and I didn't just hit my head super hard and went into another coma...

[He covers his face with his hands and groans.]

I gotta save the universe, not be in Big Brother in space! I have to find Blue somehow. I don't care what that dumb computer says, there's got to be some way out of here, or at least to get in contact with the others... There has to be.

[Lance stops, looking down, and mumbles to himself.]

I don't want to be here alone.

Comments

[the_tailor]

I was at the Galaxy Garrison, studying to be a pilot. Shiro went there too, and Keith was in my class--I guess if you know Shiro, you probably know Keith too.

[He'll leave out the while Keith getting kicked out thing, though. Not his story to tell.]

[ladybro]

We've not met. But I know he's around. I'm afraid I've only been exposed to Shiro so far.

[ a beat. ]

From how he tells it, you guys are kind of a handful.

[the_tailor]

I resent that insinuation! I mean, sure, Keith's a hothead, but I'm...totally cool in every way.

[Truly, he is.]

[ladybro]

-- You know, it's the guys who have to insist they're cool that are usually actually the least cool of all.

[the_tailor]

I'm not insisting, I'm just pointing it out! You'll know when we finally get to meet.

[ladybro]

I'm looking forward to it. [ ... ] It won't take you long to get assigned off the Marsiva. We can have you over for dinner.

[ -- which sounds a little too domestic, she realizes, so she's quick to clarify: ] I'm the ship cook.

[the_tailor]

Have me over for--oh. Oh, jeez, you scared me for a sec there, it sounded like the whole "couple inviting someone over for dinner" thing.

[He laughs a little.]

Cook, huh? You'd get along with my best bud Hunk. He's an incredible chef.

[ladybro]

Oh, God, no. We're not -- [ she waves her hands at the device. ]

There just aren't many tangible people on the Blameless. It gets a little lonely. I'm sure he'd love if you came over for a meal.

[padadin]

--Lance!

[That familiar way of scolding his name comes from her communicator. Because yeah, he's standing some steps behind her. He just wanted a glass of water, and this is what he finds!

And then she's saying... oh gosh. Blushing a little bit, Shiro grabs the bridge of his nose and mumbles to her.]

...sorry about him.

[ladybro]

[ -- at the sound of his voice, she nearly jumps out of her skin. not spooked, exactly, but somewhere approaching startled. and when she turns on a bare heel and sees him standing there kate puts a hand over her heart. gee, shiro... ]

You don't hafta apologize. Really. [ she gives her head a shake. ] I kinda brought it on myself.

[ but it's just their small crew -- some of which can't even be reliably seen. it's become second nature to talk about them like a narrow little family unit. ]

[the_tailor]

[Oh, hey leader dude. Lance grins, giving him a wave and....wait.

Hold up.

The grin slowly turns sly.]

Shiro, my man, you should see your face right now!

[padadin]

[He gives her an apologizing look for the spooking, and he would say sorry again if she wasn't asking him not to. He shakes his head too.]

It isn't your fault, he has the habit to-- [..twitch.] -that.

[Vague hand gesture to indicate Lance is being himself. Thank goodness he can't see that grin.

Look, it's the leader voice, just for Lance.] Behave.

[ladybro]

[ maybe shiro can't see the grin, but kate can. she tilts her head before glancing up at her crewmate. ]

Aw, cut him some slack. He's not that bad. [ a beat. ] No need to sound so chilling and stern.

[the_tailor]

Aw, c'mon, there's no need to be embarrassed. We all get flustered around pretty ladies sometimes, and Kate most definitely falls under that category.

[Wink!]

It's okay, I don't think a day's passed that he hasn't used that voice on me.

[padadin]

[Wow, excuse you, he's not flustered in front of-- did he just hit on her. This can't be happening. And she told him-- oh god, that's going straight to Lance's ego, and-- and now he's the bad guy? WHAT'S GOING ON ANYMORE?]

I'm not that bad either. [Every day? He doesn't scold Lance every day! Gee, don't make him look bad in front of her! Not that he cares. Lance totally needs scolding. Uh-huh!] ...dinner all together does sound nice. Keith can come too.

[There, see, he wants his family to meet her. And to like her. And she, them. And he's saying this with a perfect poker face, no flustering, thank you very much.]

[ladybro]

[ -- oh, brother. don't both of you make her roll her eyes. she'll do it; she really will. ]

Alright, alright. [ she waves a hand as though to ward off what otherwise feels like an inevitable them thing. if she at all noticed lance saying she was pretty, she seems to make no note of it. why should she? she's heard it all before. ] That's the important thing: dinner. I can probably put something together with what we've got on board -- hopefully they don't take too long to assign you to a ship, Lance.

[the_tailor]

I'm surprised Shiro hasn't introduced you to Keith yet, they're practically sort of brothers. And you two seem to be pretty good friends. Dinner sounds awesome, though, definitely! Once I can get off of this welcome wagon--or ship, whatever--we'll make some more concrete plans.

[Yay! Dinner party!]

[padadin]

[Someone should roll their eyes at Shiro. The scolder could do with some scolding himself! The hand gesture is enough for now though, it makes him clear his throat. It's not shame, but hey, close enough. It's not like he meant to hijack her conversation, but the need to Lance no is to strong some times.]

Yes, she's a very good friend, so I want you to get along. [He doesn't use his leader voice, but there's still weight in his words showing how important that is for him, silently asking Lance not to ruin it with his flirting.] I'm sure you two can give it a shot.

[...yeah that's his attempt to lighten the mood, don't mind him. A shrug.]

You know how Keith can be. They'll let you out of the Marsiva by the end of the week.

[ladybro]

[ a very good friend, shiro says. and maybe (just maybe) that catches kate off guard. her attention flickers off the device for a moment while she considers the upgrade. huh. ]

You know me -- [ her smile is light and playful. ] I always take the shot.

What do you say, Lance? [ kate holds the device up and offers it a wink. maybe it's mean! maybe it's unfair! but part of her wants to stress shiro out just a bit. ] Think we can play nice for for the sarge over here?

[ i mean, as long as he's talking like a drill sergeant... ]

[the_tailor]

Shot? You a ranged fighter too?

[He perks up even more at the thought. And--don't worry, Shiro. He'll keep the flirting to a bare minimum, because he's getting much, much better ideas now. Lance gives a wink right back.]

Yeah, I think we can manage somehow.

[padadin]

[...he's regretting this already.

Shiro isn't sulking. He's a Paladin of Voltron, Leader of the Team, he doesn't sulk. Except he may be right now. Just a little bit! Nothing noticeable. Not at all. (A sarge, seriously...)]

I think I'm going to the gym. [Because he needs to punch something right now. But he does add one thing before finally leaving the room.] ...try not to break anything, sharpshooters.

[That's not sarge-ing! Just teasing! Promise.]

1/2

[ladybro]

[ kate watches a space beyond where the device records. one beat, two beats, three... ]

2/2

[ladybro]

Coast is clear. [ she smiles. ] He's gone.

[ and to loop back around to lance's question? ] I'm an archer. Most of the time.

[the_tailor]

[He can't help but laugh, shaking his head. Honestly, it's really good to see Shiro making friends that aren't just his teammates. Lord knows the guy needs them.]

Pass along an apology for me, will ya? Shiro's a great guy, the greatest I've ever known, but I can be...uh, a bit of a brat sometimes, and he knows it.

[But on other matters, like their apparent shared awesomeness.]

That's awesome. I've always been a really good shot, so I'm the rifleman of the team, basically. The sharpshooter, Shiro called me.

[He's still preening over that, can you blame him?]

[ladybro]

[ what shiro needs is to relax and kate would be the first person to tell him so. hypocritically, of course, because she's not exactly practicing what she preaches. ]

Maybe you and I will have to have a friendly competition some time.