( ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏ ) ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴛɪᴅɪɴɢs | ( ɴᴘᴄ ᴘᴏsᴛ )

[acatastoria]

[ there is a sudden sparking that emits from your magical watches and a hologram appears, showing a petit woman with dark hair. her eyes seem to hold a certain amount of mischief and light, and when she speaks, you listen. it's something about her; you are captivated by her presence, and you can't help but give her your attention. ]

Hello, hello, hello~! ♥

[ it's a trill of a voice, light and airy. ]

I know you've all just arrived~♥ but I wanted to introduce myself! To those who haven't met me, my name is Astoria! I know many of you are likely unhappy with being found here, and I understand. But the need is urgent, and dire, and I am in desperate need of your help, as is the universe in which we reside. There is much darkness, in this universe . . . plenty of worlds on the brink of collapse, or at the precipice of something great. It is my job -- our job -- to help where needed. Like superheroes, but a little less flashy!

[ she pauses. ]

No offense to the superheroes. -- but anyway! I want to let you know were we're going to go first.

[ she takes in a D E E P breath!! ]

There is a city, by the name of El Minha. It's beautiful, an oasis in the desert. There are many shops and stalls and the entire city is bustling, but El Minha is facing a difficult path. Transitions of power are hard, you know? And they have a new King, who is . . . probably nice, but the people there are suffering. Crime is at an all-time high, and King Kathashun can only do so much . . . if he's doing anything at all.

[ she brushes a loose piece of hair behind her ear, and astoria smiles a little. it is obvious, by now, that she's definitely bubbly and full of spirit, but she is deadly serious about her mission. ]

I truly believe that we have the ability to help those who need it most, and those people are in desperate need. So we're going to go there, explore, and talk to them! And maybe, just maybe, we can affect some good in this world, and change the tide for the better for these poor people.

[ she pauses. ]

So that's where we're going first! But before that, I'm here to greet you, to support you, and welcome you to my beautiful Temple. Please, please, please make yourselves at home! I'll be here if you have any questions. ♥

[ astoria pauses before lifting up a single finger, as if she's forgotten something important. ]

Oh, and please let me know if you find anything interesting or important or otherwise peculiar in the Temple! The Forest of the Fey is a magical place, and I'm keeping a careful eye on all of you explorers to make sure you don't get too lost, but my dear friends within the forest may like playing with you all, so be respectful of the wildlife! It may fight back. ♥

[ is she serious? the world may never know. ]

Comments

[acatastoria]

No. They shouldn't, anyway.

[ she pauses. ]

That's how this place works, unfortunately. Or fortunately? I'm not sure which would be better. But your friends won't worry for you.

[lonered]

Fortunately.

[Keith weighs in. Because that is the first thing that's been a relief since he wound up here.]

Okay. That almost helps. Still not super excited about being abducted, but okay.

[Let him get his head around this for a bit.]

[acatastoria]

I know it's a lot, and it's not ideal, and you don't trust me. I understand that.

[ she pauses. ]

I'll have to earn your trust, and I'm willing to do that. I think, in time, you'll believe my story. But I have to give you the time to do that. And who knows, I may be able to help you in return. In your universe, once this is all said and done.

[ she would love to try, at any rate. ]

[lonered]

I don't trust you. Words are easy, anyone can say the right things.

[And Keith is cynical by nature; it comes from being on his own most of his life. It's not easy to earn his trust, because he's learned how badly it hurts when it's misplaced.]

So yeah. It's gonna take time.

[That last bit gives him pause.] Huh.

[acatastoria]

[ she doesn't look insulted, at the first part. easy enough, and fair enough. keith can decide if he trusts her in time. but at his 'huh,' she squints a little, trying to place something in her mind . . . stretching her senses, and her eyes turn a slight shade of violet, energy crackling at the corners of her eyes. but when she speaks, it's as if nothing is happening at all. ]

You . . . have the big mechanical robot cats, right?

[ IS THAT YOUR WORLD a lot of them get meshed together in her head, it's all a blur. ]

[lonered]

[That is off putting, Astoria. Reminds him of various flashes of the energy he's seen the Galra druids use. But he doesn't say this, instead turns his attention to her question.]

Uh yeah, the Voltron lions.

[A nod of confirmation.]

[acatastoria]

Right . . . sorry, all of your worlds are a little mushed together for me right now. I have trouble keeping them all straight.

[ her eyes soon return to normal, with a blink, and she rubs her nose slightly. ]

So your job in that world is to defend your universe? That's an honorable title, and a massive undertaking. I don't envy your job there, just as I don't envy ours here.

[lonered]

Are you all right?

[Because while Keith may not trust her, and he may be an abrasive, cynical little monster, he does have a bad habit of caring. It's kind of a problem.]

I guess it is, yeah. But... whatever you want to call it, it's something we chose. No one forced our hands. [And here is Keith quoting Shiro, because that's a thing he does. Don't tell Shiro. It's bad enough he knows Keith's fondness for his "patience yields focus" advice.] And that's how a team works. People have to want to be a part of it. They can't be forced. That's your problem here. It's gonna be a steep climb getting over that.

[acatastoria]

I'm fine -- sorry! Sorry, I didn't mean to worry you, I just -- tapping into the magic of this world looks a little weird to someone who doesn't know what it looks like. I'm fine, I promise.

[ with a quick smile, and a wave of her hand. she's good!!! ]

And I know -- it's going to be difficult. But that weight is on me, to carry, I think. Trust is a two-way street, but I'm going to have to earn yours. I'm willing to meet that challenge; I have no other choice.

[lonered]

All right...

[Magic. Magic is still weird, even if he's basically used to space magic. It's still some of the odder part of everything he's dealt with.]

...good. I guess at least we understand each other at this point. That's a start.

[He's still intensely grumpy, but she's gone and humanized herself in his eyes so it's a lot harder to be full on raging at her at the moment. But he'll find reasons for that later. He's good at it.]

[acatastoria]

It's a start. And even though it's a start, can I ask a small favor of you, Keith? For when you go to El Minha.

[ she pauses for half a moment. ]

I would love something from that world. It doesn't have to be anything big. But the Temple is a lot of the same, and I haven't been out of it for quite some time. I'd like something new.

[lonered]

[Theasking for a favor thing has his expression changing, immediately on the defensive. But then, well, it's so harmless]

...you want me to bring you a souvenir?

[Is... she for real?] I think you might be crazy, you know. But yeah. Yeah, I'll bring you back something. I can do that.

[And then because. Well. Seems like the thing to ask.] What kind of things do you like?

[acatastoria]

Yes, please!

[ she's just skipping over the accusation of insanity, thank you very much!! ]

I'd love something alive -- a plant? Something unique that I can plant here, and add to the scenery.

[lonered]

A plant. Sure, yeah. I can do that.

[Everyone will be sorry when Keith brings back an invasive species but you know. No customs in magic land.]

[acatastoria]

Thank you!

[ brightly, and she clasps her hands together. ]

I'd love that, very much.

[lonered]

[Stay strong, Keith. Don't let her start to seem endearing. You're better than this.]

Okay. Then... I guess I'll come find you then.

[acatastoria]

All you need to do is call out to me on the network and I can come find you!

[ which might be disconcerting, but. you know. you are in her playground. ]

[lonered]

Of course you can.

[Did you lojack them. Has he been lojacked?]

[acatastoria]

I do live here, Keith.

[ she's not being CREEPY about it!!! ]

And because all of you are connected to this world as I am now, I can feel all of you. It's a little hard not to notice. But I promise I won't invade your privacy! I won't come find you unless you want me to come find you.

[lonered]

[He's not sure he buys that promise, but he nods.]

Okay. Fair enough. But you can hear us if he call for you? ...even from these worlds you're dropping us in?

[How far is her range?]

[acatastoria]

It's less hearing and more feeling -- trust me, I can keep tabs! But I may not be able to talk to you.

[ it's a little bit of make-it-work, but her speaking range isn't that far. ]