driftfleet

Who: Lotor and You!

Broadcast: Yes

Action: Yes

When: October 05-27

01 : VIDEO

[ The video pops on to reveal a man that may look familiar but at the same time...not. Lotor is glitched and he's all Altean, and despite how ....terribly his time here has gone he's looking somewhat content. He's had a lot of time to think. ]

Good evening Drift Fleet. I have to say that my first foray into glitching has been not all that unpleasant. I understand that this occurs because of a malfunction in the devices implanted into us, but has anyone discovered a way to extend or reduce the time affected?

02: ACTION : SCRAP HEAP

[ It is like getting back to his roots. If there is one title Lotor would give to himself, unrelated to his aspirations for the unverse, it would be a collector. He's prided himself on his ability find the amazing in the doldrums, and in 10,000 years he's built himself up quite a collection. He's never been above getting his hands dirty.

As such he can be found deep in a prime bit of trash, pulling out wires from some old shuttle.

Come join in! ]

03: ACTION: ARENA

[ Lotor misses being all Altean, but it is hard for him to resist the call to the Arena now that he's all back to normal. A little stress release that's all.

Care to take on a monster or two with him? Or a little bit of sparring? ]

04: VOICE: Private to Princess Allura

I wanted to make you aware that it seems Atroma has decided to transfer me to your ship. I imagine it has something to do with ratings, as I attempted to refuse the orders to no avail. I apologize for what ever inconvenience this may cause for you. I will do my utmost to give you your space.

04: ACTION: THE SS TOURIST

[ Your new pilot is on board. Lotor is particularly annoyed that he's lost all his work on the starstruck shuttle, and can be found anywhere on the ship. But he'll be off ship often to pick through the trash (and bring back a bunch of nonsense and good stuff as well) so you'll find him often in the cargo hold and late at night. ]

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...

[ Hearing that drives it home. Yes, that...is what she reduced it to, isn't it? Perhaps not all is lost, perhaps she can pick up his cause, but she understands that won't change his personal situation. And she doesn't like it.

She's silent for a long moment, forcing herself to watch him though her eyes would like to stray back to her helmet rather than admit how torn she is by their situation. But Allura also knows that it's...cowardly, to refuse to face her problems. And in so many other instances she tackles them head on, but this is...difficult.

Very difficult. ]

It does seem that way...but I do not believe that must be the way of things.

[ She has been doing plenty of thinking on her own. Not just for Lotor's sake, but for the Paladins as well, for the universe at large. ]

That the ramifications of events only have an effect on one universe when there is so much activity between realms is suspicious at best. It's my guess that the Atroma have something in place to try to seal off this reality's existence from our memory when we leave this place, however, it is also very common for it all to come back immediately upon re-entry. To me, that speaks of less that what we learn here is lost if or when we return, but that it just needs to be accessed.

[ He missed this, and it's a little bitter of a reminder; the ability to soundboard with her. He leans back against the shuttle, crossing his legs at the ankle at the same time he crosses his arms.]

That is all we need to do, yes. I have thought of this as well. But when no one has been able to gain access to that damn ship, that is far easier said than done.

[ He leans forward ever so slightly. ]

What would you do with that knowledge though Princess? With so much of your future ahead of you.

[ She has not been idle, even in her self-imposed solitude. And knowing that she can build off of the research and work of those who have been here much longer give her some hope, if motivation.

His question is a loaded one, for sure, but...understandable. And it isn't as if she doesn't have an answer.

She does look down at her helmet then. She had been lucky to arrive in her Paladin armor. ]

Assuming that we can only move forward from the time we were taken here...

[ Allura looks back up, brows in a hard line. ]

I could stop many catastrophes. I would know why Shiro and I had been so at odds and I could put an end to Haggar's plot. Perhaps we could save him sooner... The integrity of spacetime and the quintessence field would not need to be compromised, the Castle would not need to be sacrificed, and--I would not let the same fate befall you.

[ Haggar's plot. Shiro. Shiro and Haggar.

Lotor laughs, one empty sound that is more disbelief than surprise.

Of course.

Lotor palms his hand over his face again, shaking his head. Of course.

He's about to say something when Allura finishes her plans; wrapping up with the changing of his fate. The hand slips down over his mouth, and he watches her for a moment before lowering his fingers from his lips. ]

A different fate, princess? And would your Paladins be capable of coming to the same conclusion as you? To spare me, of all people?

[ She's not sure what reaction she was expecting, but laughter--well, it does hurt a little. But she accepted that this may not win her any favors. Allura reminds herself that assuaging her guilt is only a fringe benefit, but not the real purpose behind her actions. ]

They are also concerned about doing what is right and what is best for the universe. We can only act with the information we have and, I...acted swiftly here. It was, in part, retribution for the pain that was caused to a people I should serve but have failed to protect, and in part because I felt that my trust in you had been misplaced, that I had been used. I can only imagine that I would have acted the same in our universe.

[ Keith had confirmed that well enough. ]

I have put my trust in them even when I didn't agree with the situation. I would ask that they do the same. And given the apparent gap in time between when I arrive and when Keith returns with the news, there would be enough time for you and i to--discuss. And bring it before the others.

[ Allura takes a sharp breath in through her nose. ]

...You are not the enemy, Lotor. And I realize my apologies mean nothing in face of the weight of what happens, but I promise you that it is my every intention not to let those events come to pass. You are one of my people...those who I have failed to protect. I will not let that happen a second time.

[ He watches her carefully as she speaks, focuses on the little crinkles and lines around her eyes, the way her eyebrows furrow and move, the direction she looks. He's watching for a lapse in her honesty, for the weight of her truth. Her acceptance.

He can't find any lack of it, and his stomach feels tight, pressing against his lungs. Even when she had found out he was half Altean, it was the Galra she had held him as, deep inside. The way she looked at him. Her reactions when he glitched.

But here she called him her people. That means more than she could imagine.

He want's to believe her. ]

Your people.

[ He looks up and to the left, his lips down-turning. ]

I hope we can find that solution, more for our people than for myself. If the black paladin was truly a vector for the witch, they are lost without some kind of intervention. For that at least, I am willing to put some kind of faith in your team. If for nothing else.

[ He leans forward, taking a step towards her once his fingers no longer can reach the hull. His eyebrows pitch upwards, his voice softening. ]

If you find yourself capable of saving my life? Well, that would be nice too.

[ She holds her ground, watching him watch her and as he takes a step forward. ]

It's a complicated situation that goes beyond our...misunderstanding. Something that was deca-phoebs in the making, I imagine. I am confident that they will want to find that solution and avoid as much damage as possible. The events that transpired took something from everyone, on a personal level, as well as to the cause.

[ That she could not undo what happened then is a regret, but she can only use what she's learned to try and minimize the damage going forward. ]

It's not a matter of "if". I will. That is my promise to you, Lotor.

Your promise.

[ He echos her after a moment. There's something so conflicting to hear her say that. Hope, for many things. Doubt for just as many. He takes another step forward, his shoulders tense, and he tilts his head to the side, eyes crinkled up as he considers her. He runs his tongue over his bottom lip, dragging his teeth after before he takes a deep breath and exhales it along with the tension in his body.

The only thing he can do here is put his faith in her. One both unproven and proven. For better or worse.

He offers a hand out, long fingers and claws, palm turned slightly up. ]

I will hold you to that Princess. My life is literally in your hands.

[ Allura isn't exactly sure how he's going to take it--whether he will refute her right out or be too exhausted from the circumstances to find it worth arguing again. But, instead, he seems to give her a chance whether she has earned it or not. Allura looks a little beside herself as her gaze drops to Lotor's extended hand.

Whether or not it's a gesture to take it, she does and clasps his larger hand in her own, giving it a gentle shake. An agreement.

Her promise. ]

And I will not forget it.

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