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[Closed] Fuck this shit I'm out...

Who: Shiro + Thor, Ulaz, Baku, Makie
Broadcast: No.
Action: Yes.
When: Beginning of April.

1. Thor + Reactor building on the planet

[Shiro has always been the kind of guy that keeps himself busy, especially when there's stuff in his mind he's escaping from... like the bunker. Two steps in have been enough to know what's inside, and he leaves before a panic attack could be triggered - he does see in his mind some flashes of cells. He knows where things could be going.

This is awful, just awful. There are lots of things to be said and discussed, about terraforming and people playing god. But he doesn't want to think about that right now, he just wants to make things right. Remembering the deformed animals Ulaz saw and the conversation about radioactive energy that followed it, Shiro makes his way to the reactor building... only to find someone doing the same.]

I see I'm not the only one worried about that uncontrolled machine. Hey, Thor.

2. Ulaz + SS Caprine

[He's moving by instinct right now, his mind a blurry mess of emotions. This can't be happening, it just can't! Damn Atroma, damn their enjoyment of their drama, damn allowing himself to relax in here. He isn't sure how he gets to the pod or how he ends up on the Caprine really, he's on automatic - why the Caprine anyway?

As he slams open the lab door, face white and panting, it becomes easy to understand why. He can't drop the bomb on the team, not yet. Here's the only man that understands.]

Ulaz... [A pause. Deep breath.] ...she's here.

3. Baku + SS Caprine

[After the talk with Ulaz, Shiro is... okay, maybe not fine, but okay enough. He should feel bad for taking the Caprine's doctor to his ship, but he can't deny the comfort that Ulaz's presence brings him. Speaking of the Caprine... there's someone else here that he's fond of. Someone who has also offered help. Shiro stops in his tracks, hands closing in tight, trembling fists. He went to Ulaz for help... his team have been nagging him about it too for how long now?

The subject of his dreams is still delicate... but not more than Haggar. He needs to learn to reach out.

So here he's now, going from the way to the exit to the way to the rooms, and knocks on certain friend's door, nervous but determined.]

Baku? Do you have a minute?

4. Makie + SS Blameless (backdated)

[The sound of the confetti and the musical tune are very familiar by now - Shiro has been in the fleet for a year, and the Blameless changes crew members all the time. So he makes his way to the new arrival, welcoming smile on his face as always.]

New member, huh. Welcome to the SS Blameless. I'm Shiro, captain and pilot of this ship.

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[Hearing that they fought only makes him more upset. He thought Haggar may be behaving under the circumstances, and it seems like she will, but now he has to wonder if it isn't more like "she will... mostly".

And oh yes, he does notice that flinch. Quiznak. Well, Shiro being Shiro, he takes this chance to worry about something else instead of his own problems. So when Ulaz hands him the glass of water, Shiro pretends to move to grab it but he grabs Ulaz's arm instead, moving the sleeve to find the bandage.]

She hurt you. [His voice and face go through so many emotions at once: worry, anger, frustration.] You need to see a healer. I know you have lab support as an augment, but some people have powers that will leave you as new in a seconds.

[If you could call her trying to defend herself thinking he was attacking her and him throwing a book cart at her as a distraction a fight. It's not something that he would consider a fight. Of course the fact he had run into fairly soon after she had arrived might have worked in their favor. She knew he was there and could blow whatever cover she decided to try and create here.

Normally Ulaz might have been able to evade Shiro's attempt to grab his arm or even pull it away once he had. But even if the injury was making that difficult now, he didn't exactly make the attempt, letting Shiro grab his arm and push his sleeve up to see the bandage]

It was actually the shelf that she fired at that did it. [Technicality... she hadn't directly done it though she had been intending for it to hit him] I have cleaned and bandaged it. [There was a pause. Yes, he's stubborn, but he can't exactly be the pot calling the kettle black when dealing with Shiro. If he would make Shiro do the same thing, he can't make the argument Shiro would] If you think someone should heal it, I will seek someone out.

[A fired shelf. Geez. Shiro sighs and shakes his head at that - he doesn't know if he should feel lucky or not for having missed that. He wants to be there for Ulaz and help him, but he doesn't know how useful he can be when it comes to going against Haggar.

And Ulaz has to go and-- wait. What? Shiro is surprised to hear the quick acceptance of the idea, he'd expect more of a Keith situation here.]

Good. No need to be bandaged up and taking care of a bruise if you can just heal it away. [He frowns a bit more at the bandaged arm and finally lets go when he decides to move on the topic at hand.] So you didn't only meet her, but you fought her.

[Ulaz certainly wasn't ready to allow a meeting between Shiro and Haggar to happen. There was only so long they would be able to restrict her from knowing about "Champion" being a member of the crew. Ulaz dreaded what she might try when she learned of this information. Luckily, she was limited here. She didn't have access to her technicians and druids, but she was still formidable on her own]

It is better for if I am needed sooner rather than later. [He could still yield his sword (shiny brand new sword!) but it would be more difficult with a limitation] If throwing a book cart at her counts as a fight, yes I fought her.

And it is better for your own health. [Geez, and then they call Shiro the hypocrite. What a bunch they make.] Tell me what happened. Did she attack you? Threaten you? She didn't try with me, but I don't trust her.

[His way of saying what the quiznak are we going to do with her.]

[Without any hesitation] Yes, it is better for that too.

[He's not used to having to consider that. The Empire didn't really care and the Blade philosophy was "knowledge or death". He's also not used to others thinking about his health either. But he can't be too much of a hypocrite because of Shiro]

Exactly what happened? I spotted her in the library, I dodged around to a different aisle to keep from being spotted, but she heard me. [Because of a quiznaking step stool!] She followed me. She only attempted to attack me when I tried to jump over to her get around her. [Yes, that was a thing that crossed Ulaz's mind for how to avoid people] I threw the book cart at her to distract her. No threats. No physical contact. No further attacks on either of our parts.

I don't trust her either. Whether she threatened me or not, she's still a danger to others if she wants something. At least she knows I'm here.

[He considers that a good thing. Yes, she could out him with what he'd had to do as a spy in the Galra fleet but he could also out her and what she'd done. It might make her less likely to provide a reason for him to share - even though he knew sharing her information would lead to his being out in the open too]

She has confronted you as well?

...so it wasn't a real fight. [He sounds and looks relieved. Thank god for small mercies. He would've thought she wanted to kill Ulaz after he ruined her experiment.] I hope her knowing about presence helps keeping her on her toes.

[Hearing about Ulaz's encounter with her and nagging him over his injury helps him distract from his own worries, but now they're back to him and it's just... quiznak. Shiro rests his butt against the edge of the lab table and crosses his arms, getting nervous again. He wants this to be over already.]

I tried to get away but she saw me. She didn't attack me, though. We just... talked, as weird as it sounds. She wanted a truce because of the circumstances, but to me it sounds like playing her game.

No, not what I would consider a fight. [No sword play. No injuries aside from his scratch. The closest actually coming to physical contact was still several feet away] That is my hope. I know information about her and if she wants to keep it hidden, not giving me a reason to let it out is in her best benefit.

[Ulaz let out a sigh after Shiro spoke tilting his head to look up at the ceiling as he processed that information]

First, I am sorry that you had to see her without being prepared she was here but it is good she didn't touch you. In regards to a truce, that is the most ideal to keep the peace for everyone. But I still contend that I do not trust her and a truce will not change that. She is used to getting her way and Zarkon did little to stop her. For decaphoebs, his generals have been complaining she uses her association with Zarkon to control from behind the scenes and that she is a parasite in the Galran Empire.

[~~Geeze, Ulaz say what you really think~~. He'd offer Shiro some water except he already had. Maybe something stronger was needed?]

Any truce we might make we'd have to be careful of the terms. She is dangerous and will use any loophole possible. We'd also have to get the other paladins to agree to it or risk causing issues.

[Haggar is a horrible being, Shiro knows that. First hand. But it's still a new, nerve wrecking experience listening to Ulaz talk about her. Not even Zarkon stopped her. A parasite in the Empire.

Shiro watches his feet while dark, blurry memories haunt him. He can't let anyone in the fleet go through the same things he did. He just can't.]

She didn't offer any terms, just... said that a truce would work best for everyone. But I did tell her that I don't trust her word and that I will act as soon as she gives me a reason too.

[A sigh.] I just wish there's something we could do...

[As Shiro's gave shifted towards the ground, Ulaz did step closer, reaching over to put a hand on his shoulder. It was probably strange considering Ulaz had never seemed like the type to do that, but he really did understand that physical contact was comforting. If it had ever been a Galra thing to do, it really wasn't anymore]

If she hasn't offered terms or insisted on any sort of meeting on the subject, we need to think about what we should do. We'll have to offer terms as well if we intend to actually go through with a truce. I'm sure she suspects you don't trust her. If you trusted her at her word, you'd be a fool. And I know that you are not.

There are reasons for it and against it which should be laid out and discussed with anyone agreeing to the truce. [In other words, they need to think about this before making a rash decision.

A moment of silence] In light of this, I'd feel better if you weren't alone on the Blameless, that someone else was there from our world.

[Shiro looks up in surprise when Ulaz puts a hand on his shoulder, and his lips quirk a little bit. The gesture is appreciated, especially for a guy like Shiro who can be super touchy. He needs this kind of support.

And he snorts when he's told he's not a fool. Oh, Ulaz.] Usually I'd agree with you - clear communication is important. But I can't say I mind that conversation staying as it was. If we put down rules, she'll find loopholes around them. The current way, she'll think twice before making any move.

[...hopefully, anyway. He isn't sure how seriously she took his threat, she's good at poker-facing too.]

Technically, I'm not alone on the Blameless. [Yeah, don't mind him being a bit silly.] I talked about that with my team when they arrived. As much as I would love to have them all with me in my ship, I don't want to leave their ships without those augments. Besides, they need the room to grow, to find their own paths.

[So sure he feels a bit lonely some times, but not gonna say that.]

[See? He really does understand this is important to others. It's just not something he often does, but if Shiro needs that contact, he'll give it to him]

I agree. She will break them anyway she can. The idea to keep the status quo where whether neither side as an upper hand is sound, but we still should be prepared for the request to make a truce. We don't want to be blindsided by it.

It is better that they have the space to develop more on their own. It is more beneficial to them as individuals.

[But... Ulaz was silent for a moment before he continued]

The lab support position is open on the Blameless? I could move there.

[As much as he hates to leave the Caprine in the lurch because they have been wonderful shipmates, Shiro needed him more]

[Nodnod!] Status quo yet prepared sounds good enough and something we can work on.

[He can talk about his team's development and growth for days, but then Ulaz throws that bomb, taking him by surprise. Eyes widen a bit before he speaks.]

It is, but... are you sure? I mean, I would love to have you on board, but I don't want to cause trouble for the Caprine.

[At the question, Ulaz nods]

I am sure. It would be better to have someone on board to reduce the likelihood she can move to the Blameless. And if she does, someone should be here to confront her if she tries to cause problems.

[And he's willing to throw himself headlong into that position]

My crew mates on the Caprine have been kind to me, but I need to be there more. If I did, I would like to be able to assist the Caprine if they needed it until lab support could be assigned for their ship.

[I need to be there more. Shiro has no words to describe how much that means to him. Usually he would argue he's perfectly fine, but Haggar is a weakness of his, and he has to admit, a friend he trusts from home would make for a comforting presence. Especially since she left.]

After everything that has happened, you still stick out for me, huh? Thank you, Ulaz. [A warm, sincere smile. Ulaz would make a great asset for the Blameless, Shiro thinks as he starts to accept the idea, he'll be someone to trust and rely on for-- ah. Sokka's voice suddenly rings in his head. Yeah, maybe it's time.] Of course you can still assist the Caprine. And maybe, you can assist me, too. Besides this, I mean. I've been in need of a first mate. [HINT HINT!]

[Ulaz wouldn't have offered the change so quickly unless he felt that it was a matter of so much importance. Loyalty was important to him and the crew of the Caprine had done nothing to warrant his immediate departure under normal circumstances. Haggar was not normal circumstances. Her presence in the fleet classified as an immediate threat to anyone who came across her and Shiro was at the top of the list. And of course, he was loyal]

Of course I would. [The request did take him by surprise] You would want me to be first mate on the Blameless?

[There was a long moment of pause and then what was clearly a smile crossed his face] If that is what you would like, then I will.

[That pause almost kills him - did he go too far? But then Ulaz smiles and that's just too precious for this universe. Shiro's smile also grows, and he nods.]

Of course I would. But only if you really would like that, too. No pressure, you hear me?

I accept the invitation to be the first mate. If I had a problem with it, I would have told you.

[Hopefully Ulaz has many more opportunities to smile in the future]

Luckily I don't have much so switching ships won't take much.

Thank you. This helps a lot.

[Ulaz is always helping him, every day that passes Shiro feels that he owes him more and more, and he feels like he'll never do enough to repay him.]

I'll help you out, even if it isn't much. Which is something we should fix, too. Whatever you need, please let me know, alright?

It's good that it does.

[He wants to help Shiro. If being able to help take some of the burden of being the ship's captain off of his shoulders helps, then he will do it. Of course Ulaz will never ask to be repaid for anything he does]

I do have a few small things. Having a hand to not make more than one trip would be helpful. I will let you know if I think of something I need.

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