acatalepsy_rpg | [Video]

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[Video]

[Keith spent a long time debating whether to bother with video for this or just go with text. But the truth is, for what he's aiming for, it's better to do this virtual-face to virtual-face. Or something. He's even done bothering with the frankly ridiculous mask. For now.

The video opens to a fairly normal looking teenager (aside from the fact that what's visible of him is definitely dressed in a skin-tight vaguely glowy futuristic space suit), hesitating a moment like he's still debating on how to begin.]

So. Uh.

[Good start, Keith. Solid.]

I guess all of us are stuck in the same boat whether we want to be or not. And apparently that boat is headed for some other world before we know it.

I'll be honest. I don't know if we can trust this Astoria as far as we can throw her. [And he knows she can hear this, but he's said as much to her face, so there's that.] But for now I guess I plan on going along to see how things play out. [Which after discussing with Shiro, he feels pretty okay about, as plans go.]

But... just waltzing into other worlds, and potentially meddling in them... that could go bad really quickly if someone makes an enemy of the wrong person. If that happens, it might not be a terrible idea to know what we've got on our side.

Not just magic either. Because... that's really new to me at least. But we all bring some experience or skills or knowledge or something to the table, right? If we're gonna be any sort of team, we may as well know our strengths. And what we might be lacking.

[Maybe? Keith is now wondering if it was a bad idea to give him a way to talk to so many people at once. But he's committed now, no help for it. So he'll even go first.]

I'm Keith. Uh... I guess I'm pretty good with a sword. Pretty good in anything that flies. And I'm mostly used to being in space, lately. But it does't sound like that'll be helpful in this El Minha place. Also apparently I can fly now. So... there's that.

Anyone else feel like sharing?

(( hit him up, hit each other up, threadjack as you like! ))

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[Okay so see, Keith is really glad to know this. But he's also concerned because honestly it sounds more than a little frightening. Like Shiro is half losing himself to his other form. And he knows full well how closely and deeply Shiro's managed to bond to the Black Lion. And now to be in that form.]

Definitely not a good idea to push it then.

[But now Keith has something to keep an eye out for.

A nod, distracted really, at the comment about his powers. If he's just worrying about exhaustion, it's less concerning. He's pushed himself to the point of collapse before; he knows what it feels like and how to recover.]

I'll make sure I keep my strength up.

And don't worry too hard about my limits. I know how to pace myself. [He reminds him, as gently as he can manage to sound. Keith had been distracted the moment he brought up his own side effects.]

I rest more often myself. Shapeshifting is pretty taxing and it took a while to get used to it. All in all, I do believe we're on better footing with powers here than we were in the Coven.

Hopefully we have more healers than we had. [He's probably said that before. Honestly he's saying it to distract Keith in a different way.]

I know. You've always got a handle on things.

[But of course Keith is distracted by it. He wonders if Shiro realizes the extent of it. After the Kerberos mission went missing, well, Keith learned what it was like to try to go on without the only person who'd ever believed in him, the only person he'd ever trusted enough to rely on. Since then he's had to go through it again, and that had nearly broken him too. He knows what it's like to lose someone, and he's not going to go through that again if he can do anything to avoid it.

He wonders if Shiro is aware how instantly Keith will drop everything for his sake. Like he had been ready to throw the entire Blade mission at the Kral Zera. Like he'd been willing to ram his fighter into Galra cruiser (for everyone, for Voltron and the resistance, but for Shiro, too). Maybe not. Shiro hasn't lived through those things yet. And even the Shiro in his own time, well, Keith doubts he knows about those things.]

More healers... so you think we'll need them? [Magical healing could come in handy, of course, especially if the errands Astoria sends them on lead to combat of one form or another.]

...Possibly. [He speaks slowly, feeling the word out and that neutral expression is back. He should talk to Keith about Shehui. But the shadow of it hangs over his head because it was barely a week ago by his own time clock. He needs time to mull it over. But it reminds him to loosen up just a hair.

If it had been Keith who had been captured then...it made him understand just a little how hard losing him must have been to Keith. He smiles tiredly, but there's that faith again in his eyes.]

I do keep a handle on myself, but that's because I have to. And because I know you're watching my back just like I watch yours. We'll make it through this. Somehow.

[There's something Shiro isn't talking about. Keith can tell, or at least thinks he can, thinks he knows Shiro well enough. Of course he has no idea what that could be, and for the moment at least he's not going to start pushing. He trusts Shiro enough to tell him when he's ready.

That tired smile on the older man's face draws an answering smile over Keith's face, small though it is.]

Of course we will. Whatever happens, we'll figure it out. You're right. I've got your back, Shiro. And you've got mine.

[And that's enough.]

I think we’ve covered just about anything I can think of. [He glances off to the side as he adds, quietly.]

For now. It hasn’t been more than a week since my time with the Coven. I’m still processing that. We’ll talk about it when I have my thoughts in order.

[He pauses and nods to himself.] Can you think of anything else I might have missed? Anything you would want to know or have covered.

For now.

[Keith agrees, and it's meaningful. He's giving Shiro space -- because part of him still worries that this Shiro doesn't know how badly Keith is going to let him down in a future he hasn't experienced yet. There's a bit of guilt in him for that. But eventually he'll have to press for the things that aren't getting said.

That can wait for now though.]

Not right now. It's a lot to process anyway... trying to get a handle on everything.

Take your time. We’re all right here with you. [He has been giving Keith space to process the difference in their timelines and to Circle life. ...but he has noticed Keith doing the same for him. He knows there’s far more to what Keith said then he lead then he didn’t.

Until Keith is ready to discuss it he won’t push. His smile grows, the tiredness vanishing in an instant.]

And in that time adjusting, we can keep practicing your flying. And riding, once that harness is rigged up. Shouldn’t take too long. I think I can even just set it down so everything slides into place when I shift.

[They're circling each other. Eventually one or the other will ask the questions. And Keith knows he needs to talk about... a lot.

But for now he's happy to go with that subject change, expression brightening.]

Good. I definitely want to practice. Flying. And riding. So you've got the harness figured out?

I think so. I might need something more elaborate for continued use...but for starting out straps and belts forming the harness should work.

[He briefly looks thoughtful. Then he nods. The subject change had settled both of them. He's worried about what the future holds.] Yeah.

We'll know once we test it.

Then, let's test it.

[Shockingly, Keith is fully into trying this out whether or not the seatbelts work. There's his life, there's now he's got where he is.

Though in this case he's pretty confident he can catch himself with the flying trick so it's not really a risk.]

I have everything ready. [He angles the watch so it can see the make shift harness of straps laid out as if to be put on.]

Same place as last time, just outside the temple walls.

Be there in a few ticks.

[Because he is already in motion. There will likely never be day that Keith is not entirely up for flying, especially flying with Shiro, no matter which form that happens to come in.

And as promised, he's outside and finding Shiro not long after, walking up to take a look at the straps that Shiro has laid out.] Huh. Not bad. Looks like it'll work.

[He shuts off the call on the watch and sits in the clear area in the center of the straps. Shiro looks up at Keith's approach and rolls his shoulders back. When he'd cobbled the harness together he'd had a thought of how it should be put on.

For the ease of the rider and himself...] It should. I tested the strength the straps.

I had an idea when I considered this design. Let's see if it works.

[He changes shape in the familiar swirl of purple light. As the magic expands into the lion, the straps are caught by the changed body and slip into place. He lifts himself up on his back paws and flexes. The harness holds. Shiro drops back onto four paws and feels more than a little pleased.]

Thought so. The magic is solid once I'm in the lion's shape. Check the straps to make sure they're secure. It feels that way but we have to be sure.

[Keith steps back without intending to at the first flash of the magic. It's still kind of shocking to watch, to see his closest friend just plain change shapes. But he's quick to step in closer once the transformation is done, walking around Shiro halfway, reaching up to tug at one of the straps, nodding.]

Not bad.

[But yes he will check them out. Another tug before he makes his way to the other side and then without thinking too much about it, just floats himself up to land lightly on Shiro's back, checking the harness there as well.]

Seems pretty secure to me. But we should really test it out to be sure. Put it through the wringer.

[He adds,] I mean if it's gonna get shaken loose or fall off we should find out. And it should be me. [Since chances are he should be able to catch and right himself without issue.

In theory.]

Of course it will be you. I asked you to go flying.

[Technically he suggested it but details. Shiro chuffs a laugh at Keith's eagerness to fly. He likes chuffing better than the rolling growls that was an attempt at human laughter. Probably sounds less disturbing too.

He's not used to someone climbing up on his back without warning but it's Keith. He lifts his great head and peers back over his shoulder.]

Strap yourself in and we'll take off.

[A series of straps serve as a safety line for the rider. The ground is going to be a long ways away and it won't always be Keith riding him.]

Yeah yeah. And here I am.

[Ready and absolutely willing. Eager is right. Keith is always happy to jump into a cockpit, never mind this, where he gets to actually hit the sky with nothing between him and the open air.

Doing it with Shiro is even better somehow.

Keith takes a moment to figure the straps out, making sure that he's secured -- as secure as he's going to be anyway.]

Okay. I'm strapped in. Go for it, Shiro.

[He bursts into motion and races across the ground with a low pleased rumble in his chest. He's always happy to fly but doing it with a friend who has known him a long time is better somehow. He's never been the sharing his troubles sort.

But sharing something like this? He launches into the sky and steadily pours on the speed in their upward climb. He levels off when they clear the trees and the walls of the temple.]

Holding up okay?

[Shiro slows down to adjust himself and circles the temple, giving Keith time to get used to being strapped in before they test just how fast he can go now.]

[Keith grips at the straps, ducking low to keep his profile down and along Shiro's, cut down on drag as they rise up. He straightens just slightly when Shiro levels out.]

Doing great. It's an easier grip with these.

[So far anyway. ...and well.]

So... let's see if you can shake me. [A challenge.]

[He answers by making a hard turn and blasting towards the forest. It puts the speed of their flight to shame. He can feel his speed increasing like he's got an internal console to keep watch of. Shiro misses being a pilot and feeling united with the Lion but being the Lion is an experience in of itself. It's freedom in an odd way he couldn't ever experience before.

He stops trying to play anything safe. It's like letting chains slip through his fingers. Keith can handle it. The boosters in his legs and wings fire, sending them tearing through the sky as faster than a hoverbike. Enough to notice before their speed levels off and can't ramp up any further.]

You're the rider. What does our speed feel like?

[A momentary jerk, but Keith holds on, leaning down closer to Shiro's back, trying not to grin like a maniac as he does it, but it's kind of hard to keep that expression off his face.

Once it seems they're done accelerating at least, he leans up.

And the only answer that Shiro will get at first is a laugh. An entirely pleased adrenaline-filled laugh.]

Fast. Real fast. Faster than anything open-air I've flown in before. But the harness is holding. ...you might knock someone loose who isn't ready for it though.

So slow acceleration and a lot of warnings. Got it.

[He can't smile with metal jaws but he can still sound amused. ...after months of moving at the speed of a wild animal the increase is so welcome he laughs. It's a rolling series of growls just like the last time he tried to laugh like a human being.]

I still think a special harness is in order. A few more safety straps to make it safe for people not used to riding or the speed we might have to go in emergencies.

[He can't put more speed into a turn so he just warns Keith with the words 'turning left' and puts them in a smooth turn to sweep over the left side of the forest that stretches below them in seemingly endless miles.]

[It may be an odd sound, but Keith has at least figured out that it's laughter, which is... good. Definitely good. The little he's seen of Shiro back home has been missions and briefings and seriousness, so it's a relief to hear him laugh.

Keith ducks down low as they turn, a laugh of his own escaping. He waits until they've leveled out again to answer, so his voice isn't blown away by the wind.]

Probably a good idea, yeah. I mean, even with this you're not going to lose anyone entirely at least. [Someone not ready for it might slip from their place, but not all the way to the ground.]

Good. I can work on things like comfort levels for long rides and things like that later. These intial tests will serve as the framework.

So, where would you store supplies on this rig? Up with the rider?

[He hasn't heard Keith laugh in a while even back home. He'd closed off then...the trial. Something loosens up in his chest as he calls he's descending for a closer look at the tree tops. He dives once he gives his warning, slowly and pulling out of it so his claws skim the tree tops.

He slows to the speed of a hover bike and a little further to peer curiously below them.]

I haven't been in the forest yet. Have you?

[A brief glance around and Keith nods, drawing his legs up (a precarious perch, but with the harness and his own magic, he's not worried about falling off.]

Yeah. Depending on what you want, up here would give whoever was riding the best access. And there's enough room it shouldn't interfere with your movement...

[In theory.]

Only for a few minutes when I first got here. I had to get out of the temple... try to get my head together. But then I heard your voice on the communicator and exploration got cut short. You?

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