[Open]

[shroudedsecrets]

Who: Haggar (and you!)
Broadcast: n/a
Action: SS First Breath, Planetside, Iskaulit
When: probably up until the 13th? Or later for the Iskaulit threads, if needed! Should be flexible!

A.

[First Breath]

[...She'd had barely enough time to examine the Marvisa after her disoriented waking up, in an attempt to figure it out before she found herself on the bridge of The First Breath instead. Cloaked and hooded of course, eyes glowing a bright yellow as her gaze flits around the area, seeming altogether too tense for some supposed celebration.

The music and confetti is unamusing, of course. Haggar's first instinct is to examine the bridge, and question the first person she sees if they don't approach her first.

Otherwise most of the time she'll be poking about the rest of the ship, seeing what it has and doesn't have available, observing the other crew with some suspicion, sometimes giving withering looks to the exposed wires and pipes, and, coming across her own supposed "station", trying to compare what she knows--what she thought she knew, to the new information that she had overriding it in her brain. Disorienting. She hates it already.]



B.

[Planetside]

[ After the first few days of acclimating to the ship and the situation, as much as it displeases her, well, there's a whole unknown planet with secrets down there to explore. Or at least to study and see if it can provide any clues to anything.

Most of her time ends up being drawn to going through books in the library, and after that, briefly checking out the other areas which seem to have drawn particular extensive attention. If someone's around, she might inquire as to what their investigation showed... or simply just watch and see what she can glean from listening and observing. The old fashioned way.

She likely draws some attention, wherever she shows up, garbed up as she is. Sometimes, though, she might be distracted, trying to find places to meditate or discern the nature of the planet herself. ]



C.

[Iskaulit]

[ After doing enough examining of the planet, and finding herself tired out from the process, she decides that regrouping and learning more about the fleet itself again is the higher priority. Besides, there are some other pressing concerns she has to be wary about...

In any case, the best way to do that seems to be by examining this ship that seems to be the main area for the fleeters to gather. Too many people, frankly, most of her time is spent skulking in the shadows, observing when she can, unless she happens to get caught. Which is certainly possible. She's not infallible.

But there are other times when certain rooms catch her interest. The lecture hall, the library, the labs, those seem to be where she gravitates toward on her own, whether to read or find clues. In one instance she finds the study room, where in a point of... some agitation, she sets a few of the globes rotating all at once and glares at them. How completely unproductive. ]


*[CR meme and permissions just in case, otherwise let's YOLO and see how it goes!]

Comments

B

[padadin]

[Oh, she draws some attention, alright.

Shiro drops the book he's looking at as soon as he sees her, having no trouble recognizing her. Quiznak, this can't be happening, it can'tcan'tcan't. The possibility has always been there but he's avoided thinking too hard about it, the thought simply too much to deal with.

But now she's here. During his so-called "break from home".

He hits a shelf when he starts making his way out, more books falling to the floor.]

[shroudedsecrets]

[Let her guard down again, did she... at the sound of the noise, she turns around abruptly, eyes quickly scanning. Really, the people she had come across had been much too friendly. For the opposite to happen... it was suspicious, and bore investigating.

And that's when she sees him. Of course...]

So you are here... Champion.

[padadin]

[He instantly freezes, the word coming to him like a kick to the gut. He hasn't heard outside dreams and flashbacks, and that's supposed to be one of the pros of this place.

Of all the people Atroma could bring, why her?

Shiro doesn't turn around when he answers, his tone as cold as it can be.]

Stay away from me.

[shroudedsecrets]

Hmmph. Don't worry...

[She hasn't moved from her position, though she's continuing to watch him.]

I'm well aware of the situation we find ourselves in... and have come to the conclusion that it is in our best interests not to engage in hostilities here. Don't you agree, Champion?

[padadin]

[He gives in and turns his head to glare at her, almost feeling insulted by her comment. Oh, sure, it's not convenient for her having the fleet knowing, now is it? Luckily for her, Shiro doesn't want to create mob panic.

But he may still be salty...]

And since when do you care about my thoughts on your actions?

[shroudedsecrets]

These circumstances are not ideal.

[It's not really an answer; frankly, it's hard to care for his indignation on the matter.]

However... they are the circumstances, and I've made my decision.

[padadin]

[Her words make sense, and the rational part of his mind knows it. But when it comes to Haggar and what she brings out in Shiro... there's nothing rational about it.]

I hope you don't expect me to just take your word for it.

[shroudedsecrets]

[Such animosity... well, it's earned, she knows that. Her plans for him weren't exactly for this place, but there was almost something amusing about the aggression and perhaps even authority that he held here.]

All I expect... is that as a leader, you'd do well to consider my words. As for the rest, that is for you to determine. Neither of us wants to be here, after all.

[padadin]

[Oh, she has to pull the leader card, doesn't she? Always so manipulative, always trying to get to him. But she's being logical, too, and he knows it. Still, it feels wrong to just accept any proposition that comes from her so easily.]

I won't be starting a witch hunt, that only starts fear and chaos. [So he can agree on the "no hostilities" thing so far, unless-] But I won't hesitate to act if you give me a reason to.

[And he thinks sooner or later, she will, therefor: not trusting her word.]

[shroudedsecrets]

[It's understandable; they're on opposite sides of the war, and personally, she doesn't think she's done anything wrong. Certainly she was powerful, but there's no one else from the empire around, she has no allies; really, what was she going to do? Silly children.]

And what are you quantifying as such a reason?

[Because that was as good as issuing a threat, so knowing what he would consider provocation to use against her potentially was reasonable. As much as she didn't appreciate it.]

[padadin]

[Everything you stand for, he wants to answer, because yes, that was pretty much a threat. But he can see what she's doing, what kind of information she's asking for. Limits, and how far she can go without breaking them. Shiro thinks about the right way to word the answer to cover as much as possible.]

Anything that results in harm or manipulation of innocents.

[shroudedsecrets]

[Hm. Most of that was all in the name of running the Empire smoothly, and doing what was necessary to get such jobs done. Perhaps the lives of the innocent didn't matter... or perhaps they weren't all that innocent at all, in the eyes of the Empire. Running it meant that they did what they had to. No empathy where those lives were concerned.

But here, in a place where her authority meant nothing--and even less so, knowing that the paladins of Voltron were here and established; really it was a burden, having enemies so close and untouchable--everything she did was on herself, not wholly as an extension of the empire in a war that didn't even touch these far off galaxies without any strong allies on her side. Certainly, she could keep an eye on her enemies to be aware or gain new insights, but in the end...

What a thoroughly undesirable situation. She tilts her head at his response, considering it, trying to think of what would ... quantify under such a broad statement. So much of what she did was second nature, even, especially after not being in check for so long a time.]

Being given such a broad order by the champion... [She can't help but chuckle darkly at the levels of irony here.] I think you will find that there will be no such issue.

[padadin]

Don't call me that.

[He's usually much calmer than this, better at keeping a poker face and not letting something so silly as a word get him. But she's a weakness in his iron will - his nerves are on fire, and he just wants to run out of here, but he won't go that far. He can't show her how much he dislikes her presence. He must at least keep the illusion of control, to make his threat valid... and for the sake of his own peace of mind, too. (Ha, peace of mind, good one.)

He still doesn't trust her word, but hey, for now? He'll take what he can.]

I hope I'll find so. For the sake of everyone. [Yes, even hers, he means. He decides to add before turning away from her again.] There are people here with greater powers than yours.

[He has friends and he isn't afraid to use them! (I mean, have you seen Thor's abs?)]

[shroudedsecrets]

Is that so...

[That last line has her raising an eyebrow. How would he know to compare her amount of power to anyone else's? It was clear he was trying to maintain the upper level here. Granted, Loki was aboard her ship and was certainly an enigma in his own right.

But she can acquiesce to that; she had left it to him to decide boundaries, for what it was worth. Perhaps even in the name of her own interests.

As for what to call him; well, she certainly had played a part in naming him champion, or rather, he had been a current one for the Empire and she stuck with it; and perhaps something else too, but for the moment, she'll be a little generous, in the name of this "truce" in war:]

Then what would you have me call you?

[padadin]

[He'd love to ask her not to speak to him at all, but that will only backfire in the future and he knows it. The mere idea of her speaking her name though... ugh. So it the end, he decides to keep it simple.]

Just "Paladin" works.

[With no color, because who knows if Keith won't have to cover for him again some day.]

[shroudedsecrets]

[There was an irony in him choosing another title that had been bestowed upon him by another. Easy enough to tell that he had no great joy in this decision, if there was any satisfaction to be had from that.

And frankly it was best that there's no color, considering who the original owner of that particular title was to her. An acceptable... compromise.]

Paladin it is.

[She says it now, because she suspects their paths may not intentionally cross for a while. Little need to poke a lion with a stick, just yet.]

[padadin]

[Definitely not if he can help it, and that starts now. He acknowledges her "compromise" with a nod before turning and properly leaving this time. If he doesn't see her ever again, it'll be too soon.

Now to internally scream for a day or two...]