acatalepsy_rpg | Video - [Two Paladins for the Price of One]

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Video - [Two Paladins for the Price of One]

[The video opens to Keith’s face -- for those who know him, there are certainly obvious changes. He looks older, and a noticeable scar streaks across one cheek. His lips press into a line as he fiddles with his watch, and the video widens out to show that he’s in one of the rooms in the hostel, and that he is not alone.

Shiro is beside him and he too looks different. An unfamiliar arm more like the androids of the city’s own limbs replaces his old prosthetic. From the way his fabric of his white shirt rests on his shoulder more of his flesh and blood body is missing. He glances at Keith, white eyebrows furrowing. In fact, all of his hair is white.

Keith glances to Shiro for a wordless moment before he looks back to the video feed.]

We have a question.

[May as well jump straight to it. Keith continues,]

A few nights ago, something happened. To me, and to Shiro. We went to sleep and woke up… different, from a dream that definitely wasn’t just a dream.

[A quick glance to Shiro, as if waiting for him to add,]

We woke up looking different and we slept a lot longer than usual according to the alarms on my watch. Memories started to drift into my mind once I was awake. It felt..very surreal until I saw how different I looked. Then I knew it wasn’t a dream. The memories continued to come to me throughout the day.

[He casts a glance at Keith, waiting for him to chime in and make their point.]

In one night we went through… years. This has to have something to do with the Witch and how she grabbed us all from our worlds to begin with.

[Keith pauses for a moment, trying to keep his tone measured. He’s better at it than he used to be, even if he’s really agitated over the whole thing.]

Has this happened to anyone else? Did the Witch… did Astoria say anything about it, if it did?

[Shiro sets his hand on Keith’s shoulder, lightly squeezing it.]

If this has happened to others...that will confirm this might be tied to her.

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Hold that breath for a few seconds then let it out. [He tosses him a small sympathetic smile. Then does the same.]

You do it in the middle of a conversation too. It helps.

[Breathe in. Hold. Breathe out.

He still kind of wants to scream. But. You know. He won't now.]

Thanks.

[This is exhausting. Does Shiro do this all the time? How is Shiro not tired all the time? ...wait. Is Shiro tired all the time? Is this what being an adult is? Quiznak.]

Any time.

You'll get used to handling all sorts of people and navigating their viewpoints while bringing yours across. I know you'll do just fine given time.

[They're both irritated with Astoria. He knows it but his ire has been cooled a bit by the questions and discussion posted here. Like he'd thought this served as a good warning and reasonable discussion hour.]

Just look at it this way. It gave you a lot to consider when you decide to approach Astoria.

[Honestly Keith's irritation (and anger) at Astoria has been rekindled after this incident -- though admittedly he can't say for certain it was her doing. Yet.]

I guess I'll have to. And you've got a point. It's better to hear other people's viewpoints.

[And they're getting this out there if nothing else. That helps.]

It is. An informed approach is the best possible way to get an answer. [He pauses, thinking that over and nods. Yes, they have to take all the details into account.]

She did bring up a good point. Astoria could be used to doing this alone and is learning as she goes. Or her magic could have lasting effects none of us know. I think we should start our conversations with her by telling her what happened and asking for her thoughts on it.

...and not with telling her off.

[Keith flashes something of a grin to show he's mostly teasing. That hadn't actually been his plan. This time anyway. That's the foot he got off on with Astoria, so maybe it's time to try something a bit more diplomatic.]

But you're right. Get her to tell us what she knows without leading her to any particular direction. I think it's a solid start.

[And then if it comes to it, he tells her off??]

It's also a way to show her we're willing to work with her as teammates. Instead of against each other. [It doesn't always work out but, win some, lose some. He grabs his water bottle and takes a swig. Talking for a long while means keeping hydrated.]

...there's nothing alive here we can bring to her. It's a shame. I'd like to see how she does with any plants she gets.

...actually. I did pick up something.

[...he may not like the Witch, but she asked for a souvenir from El Minha. So he figured she'd want one from here too.

So Keith will go dig through his stuff to pull it out and show Shiro. It's a little sad, but probably not any worse than the cactus he picked out in the last place.]

[He stares at it then he laughs.]

I see where you're going with this. This is a great idea. We'll get her something plant themed from every place. [He'll pick up something before they leave too.]

Maybe we can talk to Jing and see about making a foreign plants garden.

[Keith flicks the little flower to set it rocking back and forth before looking back up to Shiro.]

It's a good plan. [Keith agrees before tucking the mechanical flower away.]

Foreign plants garden. That'd be something to see. I like it. ...as long as we don't pick any man-eating plants or anything.

[Though...] Even if I don't trust her -- at all -- I guess it makes the most sense to try to work with her as much as we can to figure all of this out. For now anyway.

Right. We can't change the situation right now. We just have to work with her until she proves an ally or we find out the opposite. Even then, [He grimaces and sighs, leaning into Keith.]

We'd still have to work with her to some degree to get home.

[A pause. This mood is heavy and he's still twenty-five.]

I'll match your gift and get a little sunflower with the big shades.

You're right. We're definitely at the wrong end of the power imbalance here.

[For now anyway. But they've got each other, Lance and Allura, the others here -- at least some of them anyway.]

...heh. [A short little laugh as he pictures that. Okay. A pair of plastic flowers.]

We are but that's never stopped us before. [They'll get through this. It will take some doing but when has hard work ever stopped them either.]

I just wish it was easier to figure out what's going on here.

You've got a point.

[Keith concedes with a tired smile. When aren't they fighting against all odds?]

Me too. It's frustrating to just be... waiting for everything to go wrong. [Because it will. Or something else strange will happen. But they can manage it; they have to. And they have each other, their friends. And that helps.]

Yes, it is. [He allows his expression to twist, his frustration at their helplessness plain on his face.]

We've found some things but nothing to point towards the problem. We're going to have to look into other things outside their computers.

Either they're hiding something, [Ten to one, they are.] Or it was forgotten in the data purge.

Forgotten seems awfully convenient, for a mass consciousness. My bet is they're hiding something. Or someone is. I guess it's possible we're not the only ones it's being hidden from.

[It could be hidden from Struxta at large depending on how it was stripped from their databases.]

Either way, yeah. Time to get out of the library.

[He nods. He was thinking along the same lines.]

We can start near the track. That's where we spotted the less 'new' looking androids.

[There's so much they need to know. Going to track and racing a few times might throw the city off their tail.]

It's the only thing that's really turned up as standing out, so yeah. Sounds like a good place to start.

[And he and Shiro have spent enough time down at the track racing that their presence there won't be anything that should draw much attention anyway. Until they start nosing around more anyway.]

Might help clear our heads to go a few laps too.

[He nods, then he grins with a glint in his eye.]

I agree. We could use the mental break. Which leads to the question. Racing the bikes or are you riding me?

[Keith can't help it. That expression on Shiro's face has an answering grin starting over his own features.]

I mean, it's hard to pass up a chance to ride you. We've gotten pretty good at it.

[Lots of practice?]

But going head to head is pretty tempting too.

It's up to you. [Keith's grin only makes his wider. He loves seeing that look on his face. It makes the slaps on the back no matter who wins all the more enjoyable.]

We'll enjoy the break no matter what you choose. And either way, we have things to test. I adjusted the harness and the response time of the bikes.

...bikes this time.

[Because they don't know how long they'll have the bikes, right? They may as well make the most of it while they still can. Besides, it's... he likes seeing Shiro look happy, especially after everything.]

We've still got a score to settle, right? Who's up?

[After the number of times they've taken the racers around the track, Keith may have lost count of wins and losses. But his competitive streak is still strong.]

I am. But only by a few points. [Keith is a talented racer and pilot. He has had to fight to keep any kind of lead. They’ve battled on the track over and over.]

Let’s see if you can climb up and take the lead. Hm? [He knows he can. He just needs a slight push to do it.]

You'll be able to see just fine from right behind me.

[Fighting words, spoken with the grin he can't shake still in place. It's been close enough that Keith certainly won't back down. Not that he ever would, especially where Shiro is concerned. There's still a bit of a showoff in him, in certain areas of his life. Racing is certainly one of those.]

I wouldn't count your win before we hit the track. You can count it when I'm actually behind you. [His grin hasn't let up. Keith is a showoff but he likes that. He's striving to be the best and if he can look a little flashy doing it? He has no room to talk.]

Video - [Two Paladins for the Price of One]

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