driftfleet | Calibration Post 1, "Daytime"

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Calibration Post 1, "Daytime"

[ Not long after the shuffle, there's a ripple of static over the network - loud, sudden, and seemingly with no origin. It's puzzling, but there's no indication that it's going to happen again...

Until a minute later. Another surge of static comes in over the speakers, and then a voice - one some may find familiar, though not necessarily welcome, after all of this time... It's Diamond. Long time no speak, hmm?

Clearly, not all is well. She sounds very far away, for one. For another, she sounds... skeptical, almost alarmed. There may actually be real concern in her voice. ]

Again? Twice in one c--

[ Her sentence is cut short with a strangled gasp, followed by a moment of silence. What follows may be the sound of metal dragged across metal, but it's hard to place. When she speaks again, it's uncharacteristically monotonous. ]

... Bring them in.

[ A blip of lost time passes right after those words, before every passenger mysteriously wakes alone in their own unfamiliar room. The style of decor resembles that of the Marsiva's Hospitality Deck, if any passengers should remember what that's like. It sounds and smells the same as the host ship as well, all clean and chrome, but this set of rooms has only been used once, and for the very same purpose that befalls the fleet contestants now.

As for their hosts, there is no immediate sign of them, though some may recall a series of hideous, half-electronic screams before their memories begin to blur upon arrival...

Welcome back to the Marsiva, dear passengers. It's time for round two of calibrations. ]

[ This mingle will cover all non-calibration room interactions. Please continue to come back to it for the duration of the plot! You are, of course, free to post any other mingles/posts/etc. that you'd like. ]

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Our life here so far has been-- very vacation like, to be honest. [Yeah, he hates the cameras, and yeah, he wants to go back. But he still must admit what a break the Fleet has been for them.] I noticed the shuffling happened earlier, probably because of... this. [Whatever "this" is.] Did you get a ship assigned, Lance?

[Keith just rolled his eyes a little.]

You would think that.

[He crossed his arms again as he listened to the other two talk.]

I know that.

[He sighs.]

I don't think I've heard much yet about ship assignments. Now we've got this whole thingy going on, anyway.

[That sounds like the beginning of an argument so Shiro gives them both a look in warning already. So not the time.]

We should find out what "this wole thingy" is about. We aren't supposed to return to the Marsiva, this is very strange. Neither of you got any kind of message before waking up here?

[Keith quirked an eyebrow at Lance, but, even if Shiro hadn't glared at them, he managed to bite his tongue and keep back a snappy retort.]

No. Nothing on my end.

[He frowned.]

I'm guessing you didn't, either.

I was talking to Sokka earlier, and he was telling me something about calibration rooms.

[There's a bit of a pause. Lance almost doesn't want to tell them, because he knows that they're going to like it even less than he does. Don't shoot the messenger, guys.]

Projections based on our minds that people can go through.

[He starts shaking his head to Keith, but he immediately freezes when he hears Lance's comment, just standing there in the middle of the hallway with his eyebrows raised.]

What? Our minds?

[BIGGEST. NOPE. EVER.]

[Keith visibly cringed. He wasn't exactly thrilled with that, either. It probably didn't mean as much here as it might back home, but he wasn't exactly being open with certain things about himself at the moment. Only Lance and Shiro knew.]

That sounds invasive.

How long does it last?

I don't know. Hopefully not too long. Because...yeah, no offense guys, but that little psychic crown thingy we used for bonding exercises is about as far as I want anyone in there.

You aren't alone in that feeling, Lance. [Shiro being upset by this is an understatement, and it's hard to keep the poker face, but he tries his best.] We should start by investigating.

[A plan of action, something they can concentrate on, is a good idea to keep their minds busy. But it's useless. There's nothing in the Marsiva other than normal housing, and whatever sleeping options they think of don't work, because they automatically fall asleep when the time comes.

Shiro is shaking when he wakes up.

That... has been intense. The boys, they-- they know. They felt it. And they don't care, apparently. He is still confused about the whole deal-- annoyed, for sure, he's been trying to protect them but--

Also touched. Because they still accept him.

It's hard to get off bed. Even knowing it's ok, the very thought of meeting them face to face is pretty scary. But he promised he would try better for them, so he slowly makes his way out of is room, intending to find them both.]

[Keith was right there with Shiro and Lance about people probing around in his head. Bonding over Voltron was one thing, but this was a whole different level, and a lot more people than just a few people trying to make five large robot lions make a giant robot fighter. This was going to suck.

And it was all just as intrusive as Keith had expected. Having people poking around his head and ended up being moved around in other people's heads, and finally it was too much. When he woke up, he was disoriented and more than a little freaked out. He needed a moment to come down.

When he was able to, Keith got himself moving and headed out, both worried and scared to see anyone else, even his own teammates. He wanted to make sure they were okay, but he also wasn't sure if he wanted to face anyone.]

[While his interactions in his own calibration room and that of his teammates had ultimately been eye opening and led to no small amount of understanding, Lance also felt awkward about seeing them again. Not scared, really, but almost a little ashamed of himself for them having gotten caught up in his stuff.

(But he tries to remind himself that in the end, they supported him.)

The ship is crowded, but it doesn't take him too long to spot his fellow paladins, and he puts on a smile as he strolls over.]

Uh, hey guys.

[It's kinda funny, how the three of them come together from their rooms just like that, everyone's intend obvious. They're still working as a family in some way, Shiro thinks, and that's a good sign.

There's another good sign: the fact they aren't looking at him with disgust or rejection. They're still here, worried about him. It makes him a bit braver to face them.]

Hey yourself. We probably should find a place to talk, huh.

[Keith was pretty sure they'd done enough talking, but sure. He'd go along with it. He held his arms crossed in front of him, feeling oddly insecure and desperately wanting to just shut everyone out, but it was too late for that. This "calibrations" thing had really sort of forced all the doors and windows wide open for the entire Fleet.

Keith was very unhappy.]

There are some little booth type spots over in the main living area.

[Seemed like a private enough place unless they went back to one of the sleeping rooms.]

[It's definitely too late for all of them in regards to that. Lance gives a nod at the suggestion, leading the other two paladins over to the area in question. There's an awkward silence as they walk, unsurprisingly, even Lance finding it difficult to find the right joke to crack.

He's not sure yet if it's the joke cracking kind of time.

As soon as he spots a booth that's kind of circular, letting them all sit next to each other, he beelines for it, sliding in to the center and patting the seats to either side of him.]

Alrighty, here we go.

[He quickly takes a seat next to Lance with a sigh, not meeting their eyes. Now that they're alone, there's no point in dancing around the issue. They already had big conversations in their heads, starting slow would be dumb.]

...I'm sorry. For what you had to see. And-- thank you. For staying.

[Keith took a little longer than Shiro to sit down. He'd kind of wanted to sit next to Shiro, but he wasn't going to make a fuss right now. He shook his head at Shiro's apology.]

You don't have to hide it from us. You're not a monster. Those Galra did terrible things to you and made you do terrible things. You were just trying to survive. There's nothing wrong with that.

[Still, though, Keith had subconsciously put his left hand over his right arm, like he was remembering the pain from the memories. He didn't seem like he was aware he'd done it.]

Don't apologize, Shiro. Like Keith said... You were trying to survive, and we don't blame you for it. You're still the same guy we look up to, and I think I can speak for Keith when I say that we look up to you and believe in you not an ounce less even after seeing all that.

[He leans against Shiro's shoulder a little.]

And you don't have to thank us, either. We're friends. That's what friends do. They help each other. You helped me too... And so did you, Keith.

[He shifts again, now leaning against Keith.]

[Thank goodness he's not looking at them, because Keith grabbing his arm would make him feel guilty as fuck. The leaning in makes him smile a bit - he still doesn't feel he should be looked up to but... at least he doesn't reject Lance's words. He did promise he would try, didn't he?]

You're right, we're friends, and we'll be there for each other. As awkward and uncomfortable being in each other's heads was... I want to believe our bond is stronger now.

[Keith gave both of them a weak smile, nodding a little.]

It was definitely a lot deeper than Coran's training exercises.

[People had seen things he was pretty sure he had never wanted to share with anyone, more than just his two teammates. And this still had some time to go on for, too.]

I... appreciate your support, though... both of you.

[Pushing someone else about their issues was a lot easier than actually working on his own, though. Oddly enough...]

You'll always have it.

[And...damnit. He's feeling kind of sappy right now, and before he can stop himself, he's got arms around both of their shoulders and is dragging them in for a group hug.

You're even getting hugged, Keith, deal with it.]

[Shiro chuckles, Keith's comment on Coran and Lance's need for a hug just getting to him. Yeah, they'll be just fine. Closer than ever.

Speaking of closer, it's not just the bond. Closer physically too, it looks like, and really, he could do with a hug right now. So here, Lance, let big bro and his beefy arms help. He turns to them and embraces both, squeeze included.]

Lance is right. You'll always have my support. Both of you.

[Wait... squishy hugs? Keith was caught a bit off guard and took a moment to pull himself out of his initial surprise and respond. It was a shorter delay, though. He was getting better at dealing with surprise hugs. He leaned in and put his arms around them, too, closing his eyes.]

Same from me.

[They were a team... a family. Supporting each other was important. It wasn't a foreign concept to Keith. He just took a bit longer than most people to get to the "family" stage with others. But it was pretty safe to say he was there now.

Of course, "support" for Keith also meant disagreeing with someone when he felt strongly enough, so be prepared for some push back on his part if he thought an idea was a bad one... >.>]

Awwww, guys...

[He almost tears up, honestly, emotional of a guy as he is. Even Keith is hugging, and isn't actually awful at it, which adds an extra level of touching to it all.

(Though oh, indeed; family wasn't going to stop him from pushing back as well. His fights with Keith might have decreased, but they're eternal.)]

Seriously, thank you. Thank you both.

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Calibration Post 1, "Daytime"

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