[Open] Back in Black

[padadin]

Who: Shiro and you
Broadcast: Yes!
Action: Also yes (Blameless)
When: Saturday morning

1. Friday night - closed to Kate - action

[He leaves the same way he showed up in the Marsiva: with the blink of an eye, a poof. Time passes at home - a long time in fact, long and awful, and his memories of the fleet never visit him there. So when he finally returns (again, in the same way, just a poof) those two set of memories collapse, leaving him a bit shaken, and with a chill running through his body under his armor (which he's wearing right now, helmet included).

He doesn't realize where he is at first - doesn't notice that the place he's landed on it's too soft, doesn't notice the presence of a woman and a dog next to him. At first he just sits up on the bed and cries out--]

Guys! Keith!

[And it's then, sitting up and letting his eyes meet something else than a ceiling, that he realizes he's not in Voltron anymore.]

What-- [He takes his helmet off, showing his new haircut, and looks around, giving his mind a moment to put the memories together. Hard to do when he finally turns and sees her, though. His eyes widen and his heart skips a beat.] ...Kate?

2. Saturday morning - open - video (or action if you want)

[Ah yes, a video broadcast, which is... not what Shiro intended. He's trying for just voice here, but we all know Atroma. If someone is getting glitched, then that's getting recorded. Gotta take care of those ratings! So when the video starts, Shiro isn't looking at the screen of the communicator resting on the sink, he's looking at himself in the mirror, a little frown on his face. He's only wearing a white tanktop, which shows some of the scars and gashes on his shoulders and muscled arms (or more like arm), and his hair is... well. Different, to say the least.]

Good morning, fleet. This is Shiro. Me and my team came back last night. I wanted to rest before talking to everyone but-- [A sigh.] I don't think Atroma likes it when I take breaks. [To be fair, the universe doesn't like it when Shiro takes breaks. He looks down at the strands of hair in his hand (it seems he's tried to cut it with no luck) and throws them in a bin before picking up the communicator and leaving the bathroom. Sorry for the awkward angle there!] Has anyone ever tried to counter or stop an augment glitch before? Can it be done?

[He doubts it, but can't hurt to ask. Back in the hallway, there's something waiting for him - or more like someone. A someone that barks, and Shiro's expression finally softens before he crouches to pick up certain ball of black and purple fur.]

I suppose not all gifts are that bad if-- [Just like that, the feed is suddenly off. Guess who thinks the communicator is a chewing toy?]

Comments

[video for starts]

[the_tailor]

[Lance is just staring blankly at the camera for a little bit. Because--yep, he's seeing what he thinks he's seeing.]

You have long hair and a puppy. Expect company in like, t minus whenever I get on shoes and get back to the Blameless.

[padadin]

[A whispered huh? can be heard. When Lance appears on the screen, Shiro finally realizes what has been happening... great, just great. But he can't be mad when Procyon is being cute and barking at Lance.]

I thought you were on a Keith-comforting mission. [He says casually as he makes his way back to his room, puppy comfy on his wide shoulder.]

[the_tailor]

I am. That's my main goal now. But you know as well as I do that he needs a little him time, too... As much as I want to smother him to pieces, he's probably going to want to shove me out of an airlock eventually.

[padadin]

So you want to come over and smother me instead.

[It's said in a teasing tone! ...maybe. More like, 50-50. It's not like you can judge the nature of his comment through his facial expression, because the entire screen is now taken over by the puppy's nose.]

[the_tailor]

Something like that. Also, that pupper you have there, because holy quiznak you got a puppy..

[And Lance is gleeful at that.]

video;

[dreamvour]

[she usually texts, but she figures the dog would have an issue with that]

Hoooh, it's cute. [she could mean the dog or the new hair, who even knows with her] Welcome back?

[padadin]

He's cute, isn't he? I named him Procyon. [Yeah, he's just gonna assume here.] Thanks, Baku. Has it been a good week here?

[dreamvour]

Ha. That's a good name. [he's assuming correctly] It's been a fairly quiet one. You didn't miss anything that I know of.

[padadin]

Thanks. I almost went for Sirius, but I think that one is a bit overused. [Well, it was at the Garrison anyway. Bunch of space nerds.] So we've arrived to a peaceful planet? That's good to know. We may have happy holidays after all. I may visit after I find a way to deal with-- this.

[He runs his fingers through his hair, obviously annoyed. Ugh, thanks for nothing, Atroma.]

[dreamvour]

A little bit. I like Procyon better anyway. [nerds can and will reunite even in space Shiro] It's very peaceful. And covered in snow, if you like that. It tastes like marshmallow. A good stop for celebrating holidays, I think.

[she tilts her head, eyebrows raised] Is it a problem?

[ladybro]

[ -- kate's curled up on her side, cozy in her pajamas, but she's far from asleep. the light in her quarters is dim and soft and just illuminating enough to read by. she has a book propped open between her fingers and a pillow folded under her head. whatever she's reading, it's hardly earthly in origin. some dense high-brow lit piece picked up on a planet ages, ages, ages ago. truth be told, it's her third time trying to get through it. it reminds her of a thick russian novel in all its complexity, which is usually right up kate's street, except it's harder when you barely understand the alien nuance.

but there's nothing nuanced at all about a sudden shout behind her shoulder and -- futzing hell, she replies, and sits bolt upright beside... ] Shiro?

[ shiro. lucky, who up until now was curled up in a ball at the foot of the bed, suddenly stretches up onto four paws and bull-charges his way toward the blameless's other captain. it's hard to say whether he misses the man, or whether he's concerned about the sudden stranger in his hawkeye's bed. ]

You're back -- [ helpful, kate. she looks at him, stunned, while trying to sit up, keep her balance, and haul lucky back by his collar all at once. her messy bun flops while she shakes her head in disbelief. ]

[padadin]

[It takes him a moment to respond, because if someone can shake all his memories, it sure is her. Almost a year here plus around a year of being away collapse and gosh.

He's missed her. So much.

He isn't sure how that feeling is even forming, considering he didn't have his fleet memories at home, but it's there and he accepts it, the sight of her being even more welcome for that reason and helping scare the last chill away.]

...I am back. I-- I went home. It was... so long. Many months. I think maybe a year. So much happened. Kate, I--

[A gloved hand reaches out, as if to confirm she's real, but at the last second he goes for Lucky's head to calm him down. He doesn't know where she stands, after all, because--]

How long was I gone here? Is my team okay?

[As far as he knows, she could've gotten a new co-captain by now.]

[ladybro]

[ it occurs to her late (too late, really) to finally haul her ass out of bed and stand up. she's in long lounge pants and a loose tank -- nothing fancy, nothing notable, nothing beyond comfortable.

she touches her forehead with a pair of fingers, scratching idly as she considers what's happened. it's not the first time she's witnessed something like this. but it is the first time she's witnessed it from so close a proximity. kate exhales. ]

I -- I don't know. [ she answers the question about his team first. a flood of strange relief fighting with concern. ] They disappeared when you did. As far as I know, they haven't returned.

[ yet. that's an important distinction. ]

[padadin]

[She's standing up from her-- oh. OOOOH yeah this is awkward. Shiro hurries to stand up too, blushing a bit as he mumbles a sorry and moves to rest his body against a wall.]

I see. [That's... news, he supposes. He isn't sure if good or bad, so he better not think about it too hard.] I'll text them in a moment then.

[Because he just saw them, and he still isn't sure how to feel about them being dragged here again. How he feels about himself being dragged here again. He's needed at home but... here is Kate, and it'd be extremely dumb of him not to admit how happy he is to see her again. So his team can wait one more moment and he can do a little selfish thing for a change. She's good at making him do that.]

And how long have we be gone? Has it been months here too?

[Because he can't tell from her reaction. She's shocked, of course, so he needs to wait... but he's nervous.]

[ladybro]

Four days, more like.

[ she barely registers his blush, his mumble, his awkwardness. she's not embarrassed; she never was. and kate knows there's a bigger conversation to be had here. one that goes beyond the fact that she's in her pajamas, that he turned up in her bed, that lucky still seems inclined to make quiet unsettled boffs in the back of his throat. ]

Almost five. [ jesus. ] Have you really lived months? Oh my God, is everything alright?

video;

[selfhelp]

Welcome back. Um, nice hair?

[very tentatively- since shiro doesn't sound all that happy about it. he's at least glad to have them back, though, for kate's sake if nothing else.]

I can try to zap it, if you want. No promises, though. Magic gets twitchy when I try to interfere with what goes on around here.

[padadin]

Hey, Billy. Thanks.

[He actually offers a smile. The initial shock is slowly going away and he realizes he can deal with this. It's not like most people here know what the hair means.... he still wants it gone tho sooo-]

If it isn't too much trouble, I wouldn't mind giving your magic a try. Scissors didn't work.

[selfhelp]

Oof, yeah, sounds like Atroma magic. It might just end up being a temporary fix, but I'll give it a shot.

Over on the Blameless, I assume?

[padadin]

Temporary is better than nothing. Yes, I'm in my room. Thanks again.

[When Billy arrives, Shiro has tied his hair in a loose ponytail with a strip of clothe he tore off an old t-shirt. An old t-shirt that is now being chewed on by his new puppy. Isn't he adorable?]

[selfhelp]

[Billy gets a bit twitchy with the shuttles and prefers to teleport between ships, so it's very soon after hanging up that he arrives and knocks on Shiro's door. As soon as the door opens and he catches sight of the puppy he smiles. Definitely adorable.]

They decided to give you a dog, huh? He's a cutie.

video

[alwayscomeback]

Welcome back, glad you guys are coming back in one piece.

[Or you know, as much as they can given they're facing an intergalactic war and all. ]

Like what you did with your hair.

[padadin]

Thank you, Sokka. We're alright.

[Their bodies are in one piece, their minds... will deal.]

You mean what Atroma did to my hair.

[alwayscomeback]

Good to hear it.

...That too, sure. It's very distinguished.

[padadin]

[Raising an eyebrow at you, buddy.]

Distinguished?

[alwayscomeback]

I mean, I can think of another, less flattering synonym if you'd prefer.