[ video ]

[tempredmental]

Who: Keith, Open
Broadcast: Yes
Action: Huntress, Blameless, or Iskaulit
When: starting August 17 and through the rest of the month

=====

VIDEO

[The feed was a little shaky as Keith got settled. His voice was a little quiet for a moment.]

...how these happened so close together...

[He was definitely muttering to himself. The picture spun until it was facing him. He looked different. Tired, a little bruised up, older... he'd visibly aged further than Lance, Pidge, or Shiro. His hair was longer and even more grown out than before, and, when he turned to face the camera for real, there was a large burn scar along the right side of his face.]

Hey... just letting everyone know I'm back, I guess. It's weird how close this happened this time. But, yeah. In case you guys were wondering...

Oh, and, uh... thanks to whoever looked after Snow while I was gone. I appreciate it.

[And with that, he clicked off.]

=====

ACTION

[Keith could be found around the Huntress, the Iskaulit, or the Blameless. There might be a stop or two to the Bishop and the Tourist as well to check up on Pidge and Allura respectively. In person, he was a bit taller, and his shoulders were wider. Guess who's jacket didn't fit him anymore. His shirts were all a bit tight across the top now, too. He was going to need some new clothes when they get to the next system.]

=====

{OOC: Keith is back! Unlike his buddies, returning home dumped him into a quantum abyss that caused him to age two years faster than anyone else on the team. Once he got back from that trip to the team, he fought Shiro, and the two of them are pretty beat up because of it (hence Keith's new facial scar).}

Comments

[airily]

[ Zaveid, luckily, isn't the kinda guy to push; he did his own sleeping and he knows what it's like. Waking up with sixty years between when he fell asleep and coming to the fleet again, so he knows the disorientation is sometimes intense. At least Keith seems to be handling it well. ]

Yeah, you didn't miss a whole lot.

[ He shifts, moving to lean back against the wall and give the man his space. ]

Lucky for you. You feeling alright?

[tempredmental]

I uh... I've been better, I guess, but I'm alright.

[No, not really. He was sore and bruised, and the burn on his face itched... but, really, was that worse than losing an arm? Keith didn't think so.]

Shiro's worse off than me.

[airily]

... Yeah. That's how it's gonna be sometimes.

[ Zaveid hesitates for a moment, but he shakes his head. ]

I've never met him. Think he can see me?

[tempredmental]

Probably. He's on the Blameless, which Edna was there for a while. And he could see her. So, I think he can probably see all of you guys by now.

[Keith shrugged.]

[airily]

If he can see Edna I'll bet you he can see me. [ Edna is as reclusive as he is, after all. ] Maybe I'll check in on him.

[tempredmental]

He'd probably like that.

[Keith gave Zaveid a small smile.]

It might be awkward for him for a while overall. Some, uh... some stuff happened back home. It was pretty intense.

[airily]

He like making new friends?

[ Reminds him of someone else he knows. ]

That's kinda how it always is. We never go home and have a break.

[tempredmental]

Yeah. Shiro's a pretty social guy. [Keith smiled a little at that, and then shook his head a little at the second part.]

No... doesn't seem like it. I feel like we have more of a break here than back home.

[airily]

I'll see if I can make my way over, if someone new will cheer him up. [ But... Yeah.

Zaveid gets that. ] Depends on the planet, right?

[tempredmental]

[Keith nodded at both comments.]

Yeah, I guess that, too. There have been some pretty crazy things happening here, too. [He shrugged a little.] It's been pretty non-stop back home, though. Every time I've been back, it's just... constant.

[He wasn't sure if the others were having any downtime, but he sure felt like wasn't with the Blades. Though, now that he was back with Team Voltron, he supposed that might change? A long trip like they had ahead of them would likely provide opportunities for breaks. In a way, it might not be so bad.]

Maybe things'll settle a bit now. I think a lot of stuff came to a head back home, and we're getting ready for a long trip, so... we'll see how it goes.

[airily]

... That's rough.

[ What else is he meant to say? When he went home the one time the humans he cared about were dead and he and his friends were going their separate ways. That had been more than enough for him and he doesn't want to consider what might happen if he slept again, waiting to see if Sorey woke up. ]

You guys gonna be alright? Nothing we need to worry about?

[tempredmental]

I think so. We're gonna try to be.

[What else could they do, right? Keith shrugged a little.]

I just hope Shiro's going to be okay.

[Because why would he worry about himself, right?]

[airily]

[ Zaveid hums, watching him. ]

He as tough as you?

[tempredmental]

Shiro?

[Keith almost looked surprised at the idea of being called tough. He supposed he was... on some level or another. But...]

Even more so.

[airily]

Then I bet he's gonna be okay.

[tempredmental]

[That got a small smile in response.]

Yeah. You're probably right.

[airily]

Then he'll be alright, in time.

[tempredmental]

[Keith sighed.]

Thanks.

[Of course, there was still the issue of Keith's own guilt over just how Shiro ended up in that condition...]

[airily]

Sure. [ He shrugs, as if dad-ing people isn't a big deal. ] You can see me, so I oughta help.

[tempredmental]

Oh... [Keith quirked an eyebrow.] So you're saying you wouldn't try if I couldn't see you? [Smirk.]

[airily]

If you couldn't see me what would be the point?

[tempredmental]

[Keith blinked and then chuckled a little.]

Yeah. I guess you're right.

[He smiled.]

Thanks.