Voice | After the festival, before the world hop

[unrecovered]

[On one hand, Wash absolutely hates his power, and he is beyond angry with Astoria for saddling him with it. That's not going to change anytime soon.]

[On the other hand, odds are the group at large will need the use of his power at some point, and if they don't have it when they need it because he's been too busy bitching about it to learn how to use it effectively, that'll be his fault. The list of Things That Are Agent Washington's Fault is too long already; he doesn't need to add to it.]

[So here he is.]

If anyone's available, I could use some help getting a handle on my power.

Full disclosure: it's...invasive.

[And the sun is slightly warm.]

[OOC: Time to break in that permissions post!]

Comments

[Voice]

[spaceforged]

I wouldn't mind helping you. [He still feels guilty (mildly) for that mishap back at the temple.]

Tell me when and where.

[unrecovered]

[Honestly, he's still a little embarrassed that he freaked out all over Shiro, let alone multiple times - not that he'll admit it.]

The southernmost edge of the forest, as soon as you're available.

Voice --> Action

[spaceforged]

On my way.

[It isn't long at all before Shiro approaches on foot. He'd taken most of the way by Lion and changed back before he got in sight. Wash has had enough scares as it is.]

Alright. How do you want to do this?

[unrecovered]

[Wash is definitely doing better than last time. It helps that he's had time to come to terms with being pulled into the Circle, with his new location, and with magic existing at all. The conversation with Astoria was actually reassuring, which wasn't something he was expecting when the end result had still been, 'sorry but you're stuck with that power.']

[He's found a mostly-stripped fallen tree to perch on, and is currently trying to convince a small green wyvern to perch on his finger with absolutely no success. It's relaxing, and he hasn't been bitten yet, so as far as he's concerned, it's going just fine. He straightens up when Shiro approaches.]

Hopefully with less panic than last time.

[Ahaha. He gestures to the spot next to him on the log as the wyvern hops away, inexplicably offended by the sudden visitor.]

We should probably both be sitting, though.

[spaceforged]

New situations take time to get used to especially when your power is nothing like you wanted. [He guessed that much from how Wash reacted before. Shiro closes the distance between them and settles on the fallen tree beside him.]

It should be alright, this time. We're both prepared.

[Which is a far cry for most things Circle and Voltron he's ever dealt with. He raises an eyebrow at the wyvern but doesn't comment.]

So tell me exactly how this works. I might be able to help make this easier.

[unrecovered]

[He lets the Leadership Life Advice and the platitudes pass without reply, because there's too much he could say in response and it all sounds like excuses, which helps nobody. Might as well get to the subject at hand.]

That's the problem - I don't actually know how this works. It's- [Nope. Deep breath, in and out, and he gets a hold on himself and tries again.] It's memory related. When I touched you, I could see your memory. I saw you helping Sam figure out his power through your eyes.

[Talking about it doesn't exactly make it better, and he sighs. All the magic in the world and he gets stuck with this bullshit.]

That's all I've got so far.

[spaceforged]

[For a long moment his face is a complete mask. There are so many ways that could have gone wrong. He takes in a slow deep breath, holds it a few seconds and lets it out through his nose. It didn't happen. Focus on now.]

We'll have to take this carefully. At the time I was thinking back to Sam and his magic resistance. Before that, I was thinking...how to help.

[What if he focuses on a memory? Yes, he'll start there.]

...how much do you know about piloting aircraft?

[They're his safest and least jarring memories. He'd just have to select something that wouldn't be too hard to witnesses through his eyes.]

[unrecovered]

[...for whatever it's worth, Wash feels a lot less embarrassed over his breakdown now. Evidently nobody likes dealing with surprise memory powers, which makes things simultaneously better and worse.]

Eh.

[He makes a middling gesture with his hand. Wash and vehicles tend not to get along, though cars are definitely the biggest offenders.]

I'm usually the passenger.

[...which is fitting for their purposes, actually.]

[spaceforged]

[Perfect. He knows exactly what memory to focus on. Shiro holds up his arm.]

You've seen what it was like to be the Lion. How about I show you what it was like to fly it? It's nothing too stressful just the launch and the fight after we broke cloud cover.

[It's the easiest thing in the world to remember how it has always felt as the pilot seat clicks into place and systems turn on because of his presence. He focuses on their first mission, freeing the Balmera and the Balmerans a living world and its people. Wash will be new to seeing the inside of a Lion and it suits their test.

From the initial launch with its glint of sunlight at the end of the launch tunnel to the fire fight once they broke cloud cover.]

[unrecovered]

A fight is 'nothing stressful?'

[Shiro may be more like him than Wash initially realized...which may or may not be a good thing.]

[But Wash shrugs, puts his hand on Shiro's proffered arm, and concentrates.]

[For Shiro, the memory should change, sharpening and clarifying in his mind. The colors are brighter; the sounds are clearer; details he may have overlooked are now plain as day, but not so obtrusive as to be overwhelming. The memory is fresh, like it happened yesterday instead of months ago.]

[Wash...sees nothing. After a short while, he takes his hand off Shiro's arm and shrugs haplessly.]

I got nothing.

[spaceforged]

[He blinks and sits back. It feels like he fought on the Balmera yesterday. He can practically hear and feel the Lion. The real Black Lion.]

That memory was from months ago. After you touched me...it came into clear focus as if it happened not that long ago.

[Wash had seen the memory and this time he'd brought it forward. He stares at the grass for a long moment.]

...try it again. You now know how long ago it happened. Let's see if anything changes.

[unrecovered]

[...what.]

[So not only does he have a shitty power, he has a confusing shitty power. Because that's better.]

[He raises an eyebrow at Shiro's suggestion - there's something to be said for the definition of insanity, even if he'll never say it himself - but inwardly shrugs and puts his hand on Shiro's arm again, concentrating anew.]

[Much the same thing happens: Shiro experiences the same memory in heightened color and clarity; Wash sees nothing. The only difference is that Wash loses his patience a bit more quickly this time.]

I don't know about you, but I still have nothing.

[spaceforged]

It's okay. Let's take a break. I'm not used to focusing like this for so long and if my thoughts wander...

[He trails off. He would rather not figure out what would happen to him or to Wash. Shiro drops his arm and stares straight ahead in thought.]

We know a few things now. You won't always see the memory. Or least you won't always see it without the practice of that aspect of your power. Physical contact is probably a must.

Not only can you see a memory but bring it forward, make it clearer.

[They will need to cautious with that. He places both hands on his thighs and leans forward with eyes going dark.]

Whenever we do this again I'll keep picking memories that are safe. I think next time you should pick an aspect you want to focus on to train it. But that's up to you. It took me over a month to fly as the Black Lion.

[unrecovered]

Wait.

[There's something to be said for a pretty solid analysis, but that's not what Wash is focusing on right now. Between the poker face earlier, the comment about wandering thoughts, and "safe" memories implying Shiro has some memories that are definitely not "safe"...]

[He might actually be like Wash. Shit.]

Should I be practicing with someone else?

[It's the most delicate way Wash knows to ask Shiro if he's a fucking minefield.]

[spaceforged]

I’m rusty at holding memories to show other people. It’s been months since my time hooked up to a telepathic network. I’ll need to practice again and that I can do on my own.

But I know how to cut them off or control my own reactions.

[That has been a delicate way to ask if his head is a mess. He had carefully said yes but laid out the protections and safe guards he has against it. It does make him realize not for the first time that time in the Coven hadn’t been all bad.

He taps a few fingers against the metal of his right arm.]

You’re not the first ally I’ve had in my head here or back home. So, if we continue is entirely up to you. I’ll still practice that focus. We don’t know when we might need to share information without words.

[unrecovered]

[...so Shiro's a fucking minefield. He may have a fence around the dangerous parts, but still: minefield. Great.]

[There's something to be said for trusting your fellow man. There's also something to be said about Wash's difficulty doing so, mostly informed by a long string of near-fatal betrayals.]

[But very few other people volunteered to help, and Shiro seems levelheaded enough and knows how to take the necessary precautions. He's probably still the best choice.]

[Great.]

[He may have calmed down since last time, but that still doesn't mean Wash likes any of this.]

Let's stop for now. Let me know when you think you've practiced enough to start again.

[spaceforged]

Agreed. In the meantime, do you need me to shift shape around you? To get you used to it.

[He's clearly joking to lighten up the mood. They had just without words admitted he's a mess inside. Shiro draws away just enough they won't accidentally touch.

The last thing Wash needs is to experience being a fighter in an alien gladiator arena or experimented on.]

We might actually want to practice while I'm a Lion sometimes. All my memories of being the Lion aren't all that bad.

[unrecovered]

I'd be a lot more 'used to it' if you'd warn me ahead of time.

[But he's smirking, just a bit. Joking to ease away from rough subjects is something he does on the regular; nice to see he's not the only one.]

You don't actually need to be a lion to remember being a lion, do you?

[That would be inconvenient, to say the least.]

[spaceforged]

[Shiro snickers a bit and holds up his hands. How exactly could he have warned for giant metal lion without sounding crazy?]

I don't. But it makes visualizing it easier. [Having the senses distorted the way Lion distorts them could help pull the memories up. It makes him think.]

...When I'm the lion my senses are different. They're distorted. It's like walking in fog. Not unpleasant you just don't feel as much. That might make it easier on you to see. Or would that make it harder? [He glances at him, double checking. He shared this much to get a gauge on that.]

[unrecovered]

I don't know that it makes a difference. [He shrugs.] I mean, I'd need to practice more to find out, but not today.

[Give him a break, Shiro, he literally just started using magic.]

[spaceforged]

[He nods, accepting that without making any remark. Wash just started. His power is invasive and he’s clearly uncomfortable with it. He wouldn’t curiously explore it.

Probably ever.]

...well, now that you’ve been here a little bit. What do you think of it? Besides it being like a fancy prison. [He won’t deny it feels that way. No matter how high he flies there is that chain around his neck.]

[unrecovered]

Nah, prison's much worse.

[He shrugs, like he didn't just open up a huge can of worms with that admission.]

I miss modern amenities, but it's all doable. Honestly, the worst part of everything is getting magic, which you'd think would be amazing, and then finding out that it's...

[He trails off and flexes his hands. Horrifying? Dangerous? Traumatic? There's not a good word to fill that gap, so he settles for:]

...this.

[spaceforged]

Nothing you want to deal with. [Shiro finishes for him. There's a faint glint of sympathy in his eyes that's there and gone again. He flexes the fingers of his right hand and uses it push his white bangs out of his eyes.]

Yeah. Maybe somewhere along the line, we can find a way to fix that. Until then this is what we can do at a pace you're comfortable with.

[He leans back and pops his back with an audible crack. It feels great, he'd been slightly hunched over for too long. And like always trust for trust. He climbs to his feet as he adds.]

We went and looked through that forest behind us. I think we're mostly alright so long as whatever is large inside doesn't decide we're a good snack.

[unrecovered]

That's putting it lightly.

I talked with Astoria about it - she says she can't change it. Not enough strength right now. [He shakes his head.] She told me she thought it would be useful. She's not wrong, but...

[He trails off again. He's considered the various uses of his power, and they've all had the potential to down a very slippery slope very quickly.]

[People who can fly or make fire don't have to deal with these kinds of ethical dilemmas, the lucky bastards.]

[But Shiro has moved on, and it's easier to move on with him instead of dwelling on it. He stands and stretches.]

The biggest thing I've seen is the deer-birds, and they don't look like carnivores. Wrong teeth.

...though they might be good eating if we can catch one.

[spaceforged]

[He takes a long moment to consider that. They might be good eating and he could catch most things on four paws.]

Maybe. I’ve camped in there. It wasn’t too bad. [Says the guy that can shape shift in a massive lion. He pauses, realizing his version of not too bad and someone else’s probably won’t be the same.]

I know there’s bigger things in there but they didn’t come out to see us. Even when I was on four paws. Nothing challenged me for territory. I don’t really know what to make it in there. I think eventually we should ask Astoria more about it. But I also think a group recon would be a good idea. We do stay here at intervals.