Video + Action

[the_tailor]

Who: Lance and you!
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Anywhere aboard the fleet
When: Not long after the ribbon glitches begin



[A - Broadcast]

[The Lance on the screen looks physically a lot better than last time, but his expression still isn't exactly positive. This time, he looks more exasperated than anything.]

Okay, I can weirdly enough sort of accept weird-ass glitches in the matrix that make us end up having superpowers or into a merman or suddenly a kid. But I seriously don't get this at all.

[Above his head pops a little thought bubble. Inside, this: . He gestures up at it.]

Am I the only one seeing this? Because it looks like there's stuff floating over my quiznaking head! Even for weird stuff happening around here, this is just extra bananas.

[There's a pause where he absently rubs his stomach. Above his head, ]

Anyone else suffering from sudden picture bubble syndrome?



[B - Elsewhere]

[Free for all! Go ahead and feel free to run into him on the Huntress, Iskaulit, visiting your ship, whatever. Marvel at the poor boy's glitch.]




[ooc: SOOO basically, Lance's glitch is that he has Sims-style thought bubbles over his head. As such, people will be able to see what he's thinking and feeling at pretty much any given time. Have fun with that. All pictures posted will be in said bubbles.]

Comments

[the_tailor]

Sulking-- Big baby--

[Lance clenches his fists. The bubbles over his head are flashing with various pictures representing anger, broken hearts...]

I was heartbroken, and you thought I was just being a "big baby" over it?! I couldn't get a damn word of "sorry buddy, shit's rough, want to sit down and gossip over a milkshake" or anything that an actual friend would have done?! I knew Allura was having a thing with Lotor! And it was breaking my heart! First I lose Keith, then I'm losing her to a guy I knew was bad news, but noooo no one listens to Lance because he's just jealous, and you think it's all a fucking joke?!

[pidge_out]

[Pidge's face goes hot at that, nails digging into the palms of her hands.] You never told us you were actually serious about Allura! Isn't that a thing friends are supposed to do?! We weren't trying to be mean about her and Lotor at you, we were just messing around like we always do and that was your big takeaway?! How were we supposed to know that you were actually hurting and not doing the same pining thing you've always done while thinking about her?! How'm I supposed to know what to do if you don't fucking say anything!!!

[the_tailor]

Maybe if you'd bothered to look at me for more than two seconds you'd be able to tell how fucked up I've been! What, didn't even notice I wasn't the big ol' joke you think I am anymore? Me not making stupid comments and acting like the clown like I'm expected to wasn't enough of a giveaway?! I--I--



I can barely think sometimes because every night I'm having nightmares, and--

[pidge_out]

[And there's another flash of rage, burning hotter than ever. She barely even registers that last thing he said, almost doesn't notice the tombstone floating over his head, verbally barreling through him.] You think I didn't?!?! I saw something was wrong when we got back, I left you alone because I figured that's what I was supposed to do, and then what happened? Nothing!! You never said a damn thing about what might be bothering you and I didn't ask 'cause I didn't wanna make it worse and then I find out from Keith that apparently you died so I tried to give you space and now suddenly you're telling me you thought I got sick of you when you're the one who's been avoiding me because-- because of some stupid joke Hunk and I made about Allura and Lotor?!? [She so mad there are tears pricking at the corner of her eyes, and her voice is shaking, but she pushes through anyway.] Well, FUCK YOU, Lance!! I know I've never been good at this whole friendship thing but at least I wasn't the one who went and gave up on ours over something idiotic!

[tempredmental]

[Okay... so a shouting match outside the Lion's Den was not something Keith was expecting to come upon today, but, sure enough... there it was... and he knew those voices, and he knew what was going on, and...

Well, quiznak.

Worried, he hurried toward them.]

Guys! GUYS! What the hey? Why are you screaming at each other?

[the_tailor]

[Lance's fists are clenched, nails digging into his palms hard enough to nearly draw blood.]

Apparently all I am is a "big fat baby" because I found it hard to approach people when I was hurt. Because I hoped someone might notice for a second how messed up I was! Because I wanted someone to look at me for a goddamn split second!

[pidge_out]

And I'm the insensitive bitch that thought teasing each other was just a thing that friends did to each other. [She spits the words out, turning away so she can scrub at her face - she's not crying, she won't cry, it's not a big deal that she's losing the first real friend she'd ever made - making sure neither of them can see her.] W-Whatever. I'm out. Good thing we don't need to form Voltron here, right?

[tempredmental]

Wait, now hang on a second!

[This apparently blew up. Keith wasn't sure he could pull this off, but... well, he had to at least try.]

Voltron or not, we're still a team. We're still stuck in a weird place and have to find a way to get home. And we still work better together.

[He took a deep breath.]

I know we're not all that great at communicating with each other, and misunderstandings happen. I'm one of the worst at that, but that doesn't mean we can't still work things out. You guys were a team before we even knew what Voltron was, right? Doesn't that mean anything?

[the_tailor]

Of course it means something! I thought we were friends! Pidge, I have always been there, making sure you didn't fall asleep on your laptop, making sure you didn't shut everyone out, that you'd never feel lonely-- Because I looked at you and I saw it-- Between you and Hunk, neither of you thought to even ask me once why I'd changed so much? Nobody asked, nobody bothered!

[pidge_out]

[She rounds back on Lance at that, eyes already reddening, shoulders shaking as she does her best to glare at him through her unshed tears.] How'm I supposed to know that shit?! I've never been good at people, you thought I was just gonna see something and know and be able to just ask you about it?? If we'd asked what happened, would you really have told us that you died in the middle of that mission?! [Then she turns to Keith, pointing a finger in Lance's direction, the hurt still written all over her face.] You tell him, Keith!! You tell him because he'll listen to you and clearly not me since apparently we're not friends. I'm done. People suck, and I'm done making all this effort to hang onto you guys when clearly no one wants me to.

[tempredmental]

[Keith flinched, closing his eyes for a second. What the heck did he just step into? But this wasn't right. It wasn't. He clenched his own fists as he listened, taking a deep breath.]

I want you to. I want you both to. [He hesitated a little, but then pushed forward with his thoughts.] I know... I haven't been around. And I wasn't a good leader. So, you don't have to stay around if you don't want to, but I just... I want you to at least hear me out, okay?

I don't know what happened, but we can't go back and change that. But I don't think either one of you wants to not be friends with the other. And you guys don't really hate each other... because, if you did, then thinking the other person hated you wouldn't hurt so much. You're both upset because you think the other person doesn't like you anymore, but why does it matter so much? Because it's not true.

You're both upset because you each feel like your friends are turning away from you. Think about that for a second.

Lance, would Pidge be upset if someone she hated was turning away from her?

Pidge, would Lance?

No. You care about each other, and that should mean something.

[This had to be weird... Keith, the team loner... trying to keep the team together.]

I came into this group from the outside and really didn't feel like I belonged, either. But we've come together and we've done things together that we couldn't do if we weren't friends.

[the_tailor]

[If he wasn't feeling so badly hurt right now, he'd be more impressed at Keith's maturity and words here. Well, he is, but that's not the most important thing right now. But he has a very good point.

Even so, Lance doesn't know what to say. His mouth opens and closes a few times but no response is managing to make its way out.

What the hell can he even say at this point?]

[pidge_out]

[Keith's words may be mature, and he may be making some really excellent points, but Pidge is still too upset to care. She folds her arms over her chest, fighting back more tears with a loud sniff.] That doesn't mean it's okay to brush me off and not tell me if I've done something wrong. Just because people are friends doesn't mean they're gonna magically be able to know that kind of thing.

[tempredmental]

[Keith frowned a little, but it wasn't his usual annoyed frown. He actually looked upset.]

No. It doesn't. But... we have the chance to fix it, right? Isn't it at least worth trying?

[the_tailor]

I...

[Lance hangs his head, unable to meet eye contact with either of them. A sense of shame is enveloping him, guilt, and he realizes now: this is his fault. This entire misunderstanding, Pidge's pain... It's because of him.]

I'm sorry. This...it's all because of me. I--I shouldn't have acted-- I'm sorry, I should... I've made a mess of things again.

[Ultimately, how can he blame Pidge, when it's simply him who's been acting like a fool?]

[pidge_out]

[Somewhere, Pidge accepts that apology. Somewhere. Not anywhere close to the surface at the moment, because there's still a lot of hurt in the way. But she does forgive him.]

It's just-- You're my first friend, Lance. I'm bad at this. You have to tell me if I fucked up.

[She sniffs again, not turning to look at either of them just yet. Part of what else hurts is that she knows that, if nothing else, Lance has Keith to turn to. Neither of them are alone or left out so long as they're here, together, and while Pidge is happy for them it still kind of leaves her at a loss.]

..I'm sorry we hurt your feelings. It won't happen again.

[tempredmental]

[Apologies were a good step, Keith supposed, but it still looked like everyone was upset. He scrambled mentally for a moment, wondering what Hunk would do, but Keith was not great in a kitchen.]

Are we okay now?

[Did he sound worried? He was worried. This might actually go into hug territory if he got desperate enough.]

[the_tailor]

...yeah. I know what a huge mess I singlehandedly caused. I won't--I won't do it again.

[He takes a deep, shaky breath, still unable to look up.]

[pidge_out]

[A hand comes up to wipe at her face, still turned away from the both of them. There's another sniffle or two, then a heavy breath, and only once that's all done does Pidge speak up again.] ..Yeah. [Sort of. She still sounds like she's just telling the school principal what they want to hear so they'll let her go, but hey.] We're okay.

[tempredmental]

[Keith managed to hold back a sigh. Lance was still shouldering the full blame here, and Pidge had that tone Keith remembered using on his teachers when he wanted to get them off his back about something he'd done wrong. This wasn't okay. Not at all. But, he was at a loss of what to do.]

Alright... fine.

Just... take some time. We can work more of this out later. Because I know we're not done. [He wanted them both to know that he was on to what was going on here, and was still determined to keep his found family together.]

[the_tailor]

Right.

[That's about as much as he can get out now. Lance takes a deep breath, rubbing at his face with his hands.]

I'm going to go to the pool.

[pidge_out]

Yeah.

[Pidge nods once, sniffs, then raises one hand in a gesture for Lance to stop.]

You guys stay. You both must've come here for something. [Then she lets out a sigh and goes back to walking toward the exit, the way she had been before this all started.] I was on my way out anyway.

[tempredmental]

[Keith just stood there watching them. This was almost painful, really. He frowned.]

Look... if you guys need more time, I can leave. I was only walking by when I heard you.

[the_tailor]

No, it's okay. I just came by to think for a while. I'd rather just do that at the pool.

[He gives a little shrug.]

[pidge_out]

[She's not even completely sure how to respond to any of that. So she just nods again before heading off her own way, letting her arms wrap around herself as she goes.

Bye guys, see you never. :D]