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The Scheherazade / Harem Shipping Meme

Straight out of the Arabian Nights, or any variety of the spin-offs and spoofs since, in a beautiful and fantastical realm of magic and djinn. You may be the great ruler, prince, or sultana of the realm, or you may be the tribute, captive, or arranged marriage spouse brought before that ruler.

Scenarios:

1. Arranged Marriage - You’re both royals or nobles of some variety, but one of you has been sent far from home to be wedded to a stranger in a foreign land.
2. Ambition - You’re just one beauty in a harem of dozens—or hundreds—but you’re determined to stand out, to earn the exclusive attention of the ruler, and to take your place by their side as the ruler of this land.
3. Scheherazade - One night with the king (or queen). Perhaps your one-night spouse had their heart broken, like in the story. Perhaps they’re simply a monster, or they have other motives. They may kill you in the morning, unless you can convince them to delay, by at least one more day.
4. Tribute - Perhaps your land was conquered, or perhaps you’ve been sent here to secure an alliance. Either way, this wasn’t your idea, and you aren’t particularly happy about it.
5. Within the Harem - Both characters are residents of the harem. You hardly see the ruler, and they don’t matter. What does matter is the friendship—or love—that you have found within the harem, and, possibly, your plans for escape.
6. Outside the Harem - You’ve fallen in love with someone you shouldn’t. A guard, a servant, or someone outside the palace entirely. But in order to be with them, you’re going to have to break all the rules.
7. Arabian Nights - Wildcard scenario, play any elements from the Arabian Nights that you please. Magic carpets, powerful djinn, curses and treasure!

How to play:

-Post with your character, preferred role (ruler, harem, other), and any other relevant info
-Reply to others. Use RNG or choose your favourite scenario!

--

originally posted by marlowe_tops

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[ Seeing as Shiro has somewhat recovered, and at the same time in that state she had wanted him to initially act out, Allura picks up the restraints. ]

These. Then we go see the Black Lion.

[ Allura stands, and waits for him to set the cup down and for any cue to see that he's ready, already feeding the restraints, including the chain, with her quintessence. Once he is set, upon Allura's command, the cords and straps will bind him once more -- his arms first, then his neck, and finally his face. Her grip will be secured around the chain, ready to lead him out of the room and into the darkened halls of the Castle of Lions. ]

[His eyes tighten at the restraints, particularly at the muzzle, but he doesn't say anything. And, a moment later, they're bearable. Because -

stars.

And the ship that she talks about as if its more than a ship to the point that even if he wasn't a pilot desperate for flight, he'd still want to see it just to understand. He exhales, letting all the air out of his lungs and then inhales through his nose. His eyebrows come down. And then he forces himself to his feet, feeling the weakness in his legs, in his knees, feeling the way all his muscles protest and scream at him.

But he's felt worse.

So he stands still when the restraints close around him again, steal his freedom from him again, and he follows after her, steps becoming just a bit unsteady and faltering looking without truly stopping or slowing them down.]

[ Good. Good. Game face on, Allura... As she heads to her door, Allura straightens her back, lifts her head, and wears the face of a girl who just got candy for the holidays. She totally doesn't mind her bruised forehead nor the nasty wound on her chin that required bandaging. As far as the act is concerned, she has a sweet treat that she is tugging by its chains.

Castle staff bow their heads low when she passes them. Guards salute and make no outward remark. Allura just gives them a passing glance and a self-satisfied smile, a quiet little show as if she were parading her conquered little toy around.

One person bids her to stop however: a tall Galra soldier, whose looks were less bestial than his counterparts. He gives Allura a curt salute. ] "Your Highness. What might bring you out and about?"

[ Allura inclines her head in greeting. ] Commander Thace. I do appreciate your kindness; but can't a queen be allowed to play outside her room?

[ His eyes trace to her hand holding the chains, then follows the line to Shiro's face. Allura's wounds do not escape his sharp eyes. ] "Your Highness plays with dangerous toys. Might I suggest... supervision?"

[ Giggles bubble up her lips, and she brings up her left wrist. ] This other toy has come in handy. I can handle myself well enough, thank you.

[ Allura hopes that Thace would leave it at that. But her blood freezes when he walks past her, stops in front of Shiro to make a grab of his chin to look into his face, threat in his voice. ] "What makes you think you can raise a hand to a queen of the Galra empire, slave? You may have been Champion, but your time ends here."

[ What Thace cannot see is Allura pursing her lips, willing her thoughts to fly over to Shiro except that she has no capacity for telepathy. Don't take his bait. Keep still. Don't even look at him...!]

[He hates being paraded. Loathes it down to the core of himself. It happened far too often during his time as Champion. But - he can do it this time. He can swallow it down. And its not hard at all to let his head hang and follow with slow, unsteady steps where she leads. All he has to do is concentrate on how badly he aches, how much his body screams at him each time he moves it. The strength is feeding back into him again but - twice in an hour. He's got plenty of pain to let fill his mind and steal his concentration. Habit though has him counting steps, marking turns, memorizing the path and the guard points. He's not free of his prison yet. He won't be until he's back between the stars.

Still, focusing on other things, he almost stumbles when the queen stops, catching the change in movement slower than he should. He lets it play though, doesn't try to right himself, lets the weakness show even though his instincts say not to. He recognizes the familiar timbre of a Galra voice and he shuts his eyes, as if he's simply concentrating on recovering his strength. He is. He's just got more strength recovered already than he should or that he's letting on.

A Galra commander questioning the queen of a planet's right to something as simple as what should appear to be a childish whim. In front of her own people no less. That more than anything else tells him just how thin her illusion of control over her planet is and what a careful line she must balance. If he were her bodyguard instead of her slave he would have already had the creature on the floor with his boot at its throat. He's fought Galra in the Arena before. He knows exactly what they're capable of. And what he's capable of.

He's not her body guard though, and not her Champion. He's just a sex toy and one that's been abused badly in recent history. He pretends he isn't aware of the Galra's approach even if he can smell the musk like a taint in the air and when his chin gets jerked up, he keeps his neck loose, let's it. Focus on the pain, focus on the pain, focus on the -

he slits his eyes open, as if opening them fully is too much and the look isn't of recognition. There's no anger or defense there, just - tired. He's so God damned tired. He doesn't have to pretend that, only let it swell up inside him and stop fighting it for a moment. He's tired of playing games, he's tired of being a toy, he's tired of this entire mad, mad universe and he's tired, so damn tired, of fighting to survive in it. His eyes move as if he's trying to focus beyond that. He's the Champion. No one that had ever seen him fight would believe he's broken already. But - exhausted and unable to fight? It's not as if he always left the Arena willingly. There were times the guards had to use their electric staffs to take him down. Not a muscle in his body tenses despite the fact a Galra is breathing down on him, claws on his muzzle. Shiro lets his eyelids drop as if he's given up trying to focus them. Fuck them all. But not today. He's too tired to fight today. Wait until tomorrow. If the Galra monster wants a fight he'll have to wait until tomorrow.]

[ Thace lets out an amused huff. Had he been looking for a fight, or any reason to say that he had been provoked? Allura couldn't tell. She looks over her shoulder, brow raised. She was about to her open her mouth to tell the Galra Commander to knock it off, but with a flick of his wrist, Thace releases his hold on Shiro. ] "Your charms certainly are infallible, Your Grace, and your hands stronger. My worry was misplaced."

[ The exchange was familiar territory, but it never ceases to cause Allura much stress and humiliation. Those who witness the exchange do not see a dignified monarch, but Zarkon's little doll -- a pretty decoration who is unfit to rule. ] Thank you for your concern, Commander. I will make sure to put in a good word for you with His Excellence. You may leave.

[ At the dismissal, Thace gives a gracious bow, and Allura tugs at the chain to signal Shiro to move.

Thankfully, anyone with warm blood thins out as they approach the Black Lion's tomb. Incidentally, it was also where the body of the former king Alfor was buried. Drones patrol the area, but pay no mind to the queen and her "pet", like whoever is controlling them know what to expect. Once they arrive at the door however, the drones bar their way with crossed rifles. ] Oh, spare me you pile of junk. I'm introducing him to my father.

[ There is a few seconds delay, as the word recognition registers into the drone's systems. Eventually, they clear the way, allowing Allura to open the large double doors with her handprint. She steps in pulling Shiro along, and for a time, the only source of light had been the inverted purple glow coming from the halls, shining through the space of the doors. The doors soon close, leaving them in darkness for a few seconds...

Until a golden yellow ray beams through the high ceiling to cast its light on a rectangular coffin, topped with a relief replica of King Alfor in his prime, lying down in his Paladin armor with a sword placed in his crossed arms. His name and epitaph are etched on the floor in High Altean around the coffin glow with yellow light.

Allura drops her mask, as she places her hands atop that of the metal ones of her father's figure. ]

I wasn't lying when I said I'd introduce you to my father. He was king, and was also the Yellow Paladin of Voltron.

[ She closes her hand over the hilt if the sword, and king Alfor's figure dissolves in light particles, revealing a Paladin's suit of armor. She takes to undoing Shiro's restraints and holds onto them. ]

Wear this armor. You will need it.

[Shiro's never been much for pride. He takes pride in his accomplishments, he takes pride in his abilities - but the kind of pride that requires you to brag about or defend - its never been his style. He knows who he is and what he's capable of. If someone else feels as if they can take it away or belittle it - well, they didn't earn him what he is. They haven't got the ability to take it back. So its easy to play along that he's weak and exhausted and helpless because as long as he gets what he wants at the end, he doesn't care if someone, a beast, thinks less of him in the process. The beast's opinion doesn't matter. Shiro knows better and that's all he relies on.

So the huff and the dismissal doesn't mean anything to him and he's already ignoring it when he feels the tug on his chain and stumbles to follow.

Between his shoulder blades does itch though, long after they're out of that hall and deeper into the castle's depths. He may not care about its opinion, but he hates having enemy at his back.

Soon though its only drones and while Shiro keeps his head down and his steps slow, his half slit eyes sharpen. Drones are all but useless against him, only good in overwhelming numbers thanks to their slow response time. The ones at the door that challenge her would tear apart like tissue paper for him if she needs it. Except they're still supposed to be sneaking and he has no idea how far away the ship she's taking him to still is.

The constant vibration he's starting to feel in his chest though must mean they're near some heavy machinery. Maybe the air system from the way he can faintly feel it almost through his entire body. When she starts talking and moving normally again though he lifts his head, blinks. Does his best to shake off the exhaustion and apathy he's let settle across him, drawing in long, deep breaths and letting them out to a timed count, clearing his mind. By the time the last restraint comes off - and he hasn't noticed before that her touch is surprisingly soft - he's feeling clearer and he stretches, rolling his shoulders and back. One last very deep inhale and exhale and he follows her over to the tomb. Her father. He thinks that must lay heavy on her but he doesn't say anything. Instead he reaches out and touches the yellow edged white armor. It's a little fancier than he'd chose for himself but - it was for a king. And its not as if he's going to let a few extra frills keep him from practicality. Her warning that he's going to need it just makes that all the more obvious.]

Thank you.

[Even Galra captivity can't drive all his manners out of him and he doesn't waste any time in getting into first the body suit and then the overlaying armor. She's already seen most of him anyway and he has no modesty left. It's a relief to get out of his Galra rags and into something that both fits more comfortably - and covers his scars completely. All but the one on his nose but - its a quiet relief he won't admit to, to not be on display anymore. A few moves to test the fit and he turns back to her with a nod. He can feel the energy seeping into him and he welcomes it completely. The man standing in front of her isn't a slave or even the Champion. He's the beginning of someone else. Someone he might once have been and he's straighter and taller than before.]

All right. I'm ready.

[ The tomb is surprisingly airy, despite it being set so deep in the castle. Allura does realize that the hum -- something between a rumble and a purr -- is no longer confined to her head. It is real, and it is being picked up by her sharp ears.

Not one to forget her manners, Allura has her back turned to Shiro as he changed. Besides, the sword had turned into its default bayard form. She is holding on to that. Once Shiro signals that he's ready, she turns around and --

She's never really believed that the clothes make the man, but seeing Shiro in her father's armor, in the armor of a Paladin, has her see in her mind's eye that he is made to wear it. His veneer is of course, far from that of her gentler father, and the colors not a match for the lion he is going to pilot. Nevertheless, she does not see a scarred slave nor the savage Champion, but someone she knows she can place her confidence in.

Allura does catch herself looking at him a couple of ticks too long without speaking, and her eyes briefly take on the flecks of green of earlier. Her gaze is soft however, as opposed to the wilder, drug-induced reaction the second time she has had to torture him. Self-consciously, she chooses to blame the yellow lights by their feet, as she turns back to lead the way. ]

Good. Let's meet the Black Lion.

[ Soon as they move, the path that leads from the tomb of Alfor to the Black Lion light up with ancient runes and figures -- carvings of five robotic cats each with a distinct design. They are shown in fight, in flight, and at rest alongside humanoid figures. Stylized stars and planets and other celestial bodies turns the tomb into a sort of planetarium with white lights with the colors of red, blue, green, and yellow dancing over them. Whatever humming they had heard from earlier, the sound comes louder along with a something like a musical chord.

No turning back now... They eventually arrive at the door where Allura, once more, places her hand over the center of a runic circle. Streams of light run at the contact, connecting the lit figures and carvings, and heavy stone-metal doors open with a loud rumble.

Illuminated by the carved symbols looms a larger than life robotic lion. Allura and Shiro barely stand up to the height of its claws. The main body in itself is already impressive, but its red wings give the impression of it having a red mane. Its eyes look straight ahead, as if waiting for the guardian to come wake it up. A glowing white particle barrier surrounds it. Allura touches it, and this time, nothing happens. And for her, the lion had fallen deathly quiet, as if to signal that this time, it will only call and roar for its Paladin.

She turns to face him, expectant. ]

It's your turn now, Shiro.

[He notices her stare and he thinks it must be hard, seeing someone else in your father's armor, wearing something he once did. He isn't going to mar that by saying anything foolish about 'living up to it' or 'being worthy'. He's not. He's going to do the best he can as Shiro. No one will ever match or meet her father's memory in her mind.

He still wishes he knew a way to make sure it didn't hurt her, seeing him in someone else's birthright.

But she doesn't say anything about it and so he doesn't either and he turns to follow her when she leads. The signs light up on the walls and he sees them all but -

but his heart is beating hard, a quick, unsteady flutter, like the body of a small bird throwing itself against the walls of its cage again and again.

Freedom.

His freedom is somewhere close to here.

He hasn't been free in a year. And, after Earth fell, he gave up hope of ever being free.

Now its ahead of him, somewhere close, maybe even at the end of the hallway, and - its terrifying. It's terrifying because he wants it so badly that he's not sure how he'll manage if it's taken away from him when he's so close. When he's willing to believe again.

He's lived a year that might as well be a lifetime of having everything good or important snatched away from him and being helpless to stop it. He's never felt so fragile as he does right now.

But even that gets swept away when they step through the door and into the room with the glowing orb and Shiro looks up. And up. And up. And, despite himself, his eyes go wide and his lips part because -

its like being a little boy. No barriers, no jadedness, no guards. Just - wonder. Pure, complete wonder and he's sorry for every small thing he's ever tried to imagine when she explained the lion to him. Because what's in front of him, so huge its head almost disappears into the darkness of the ceiling above is -

He steps forward automatically, only catches himself at the last moment from running nose first into the barrier. The universe has been such an ugly place for such a very long time. In front of him is -

Her words break him out of it and he looks over at her and the little boy inside of him lingers on his face. His turn? His turn to -

to pilot the lion. That's what she said. It's what she brought him down here for. But, when she's said she needed a pilot, he'd had no idea...

He looks back at the ship and - and the longing flows over him so strongly it makes his throat tight, makes his eyes sting. His heart aches and twists in his chest. It's an entire lifetime of wanting the stars all forced into one moment and when his hand comes up its not a reach so much as a slow stroke across the barrier. Everything he's ever wanted is on the other side of the netting of light and his fingers pull up clouds of it like a hand passing through smoke.

What if he's not right for it? What if wanting isn't enough? What if he's not enough? What if this is just another thing he's never going to be able to have no matter how much he longs for it -

But the barrier of light melts down around him and as it does something washes out of it, as if only the bubble had been holding it back and Shiro inhales, drowning, as his mind and chest fill up with a needy, quiet, forever deep, impossibly old and lonely and waiting welcome.

It smells like starlight.

The sound Shiro makes is choked.

And there's a sound that hasn't been heard in ten thousand years as the giant lion shifts and lowers its huge head to the ground at his feet and opens its mouth wide for him.

And Shiro walks in.]

[ Allura's thoughts race with what-ifs and plans that run through several different alphabetical systems in the time Shiro takes in the view in front of him, but her mind and her heart are appeased, if only by watching Shiro in his unguardedness and boyish wonder.

She doesn't feel sadness in seeing him wear her father's armor. An armor isn't meant to be a shroud, but to be used by a warrior. Allura is certain that her gentle father-king would approve of her decision. Her heart is glad to see it being used again.

Her own eyes widen as she sees the barrier dissolve. How many times had she sneaked out to find comfort by her father's tomb, or even pray to the lion to tell her what she is to do, when she couldn't make out its purr in her mind? Never had the barrier come down for her, much less for the lion to have moved a hair. But her quintessence, coupled with that of Shiro's brings the great lion to life.

She follows in Shiro's footsteps this time, and soon as both of them are inside, the great head closes around them and its interiors light up, humming and thrumming, not quite like an engine, but more like a great creature. Allura is certain that the lion is already telling him where to go and what to do next. She can no longer hear its rumbling and purring, as that communication is now exclusive to its paladin. She could be jealous, but her spirit dances at the thought that all her waiting had not been in vain.

And the fight starts now.

Soon as Shiro finds himself at the controls, Galra alarms blare loudly around the castle. ]

[When she said the lion was aware he had thought it was an AI of some sort. This... wasn't an AI. This was a living thing, ancient and deep and -

and incredibly beautiful.

It's consciousness swept softly in to his, so gentle he almost wasn't aware of it, a circling, nudging, welcoming warmth of complete acceptance and - it knew. It knew what he was. It knew what he'd done. What had been done to him. His mind didn't have any barriers against it, feeding back to the flow it was gently pouring into him. He'd never -

He'd just never.

Never.

His feet knew where to go and the cockpit lit up for him as he stepped inside of it and - it was familiar. He'd never been here before but it felt so damned familiar that he almost felt tears in his eyes again. The seat was his and he settled into it and it felt... right. It felt perfect and just exactly the way things should be. The display sprang to life for him, clearer than crystal and the controls moved, fit themselves exactly to his arm length and height. The desire to grin like an idiot was almost overwhelming and he felt the bone deep relief the lion felt to have him there, right there, just where he belonged. His hands curled around the controls, Galra and human and there was no alarm over the one or the other. He was what he was and he was exactly what had been waited so long for. Common sense said one thing but it was impossible to disagree with that knowing feeling inside of his head.

When the alarms blared, the lion lifted its head and roared.

And the light jumped into Shiro's eyes.]

Hang on.

[A warning to the woman he hadn't forgotten and then - he knows this. The feeling of what needs to be done feeds into him and the controls respond and the lion is on its feet, charging forward, leaping into the air. There are stars above and freedom and -

others...

But first there's a long sealed door and castle defenses and Galra cruisers and - fight. There's an eagerness to fight. To finally - after all this time - fight back.

The hanger door, sealed as much by time as purpose, is the first to go, a sharp blast from the lion's tail making it crumble and they're through. Shiro's heart lifts, soars with the lion's. There are stars in the sky above and if some of them are Galra cruisers, some of them aren't. They may have bigger weapons and more of them and time to see him coming but Shiro has one thing that surpasses it all.

Two.

One, he has the lion.

And two - Shiro can fly.]

Tell me where the guns on the ground are -

[ It takes a great deal of effort for Allura not to break down in tears of joy in seeing the Black Lion's controls light up, figures and numbers dancing across the panel, what is considered to be mystical brings forth numerical sense. The figures are good, the readings are good. For a moment, Allura is brought back to a memory of riding the Yellow Lion with her father, moments where she had felt both joy and power.

Foregoing a verbal answer, Allura reaches towards a display, her fingers expertly dancing over controls as she briefly glows with quintessence. ]

I've entered their coordinates. Fire at will.

[ So far, what she had feared has not happened and she hopes beyond all hope that it never does. But now, she feels confident about the bond between Shiro and the Black Lion. She trusts the lion to not be fooled again. If it had shut out Galran quintessence for thousands of years... ]

Our priority is to get to Arus. Head to open space and a wormhole should open for us to take us there. We have to be quick. Zarkon will not delay in giving chase.

[ Feeding into her earring are communications from her allies. Galra-colored castle staff have been neutralized, the drones in the castle have been disabled en masse, and Alteans have started to bear arms. Allura is painfully aware that it spells trouble for her people, but she has to place her trust in their resilience. They have not survived millennia of Galra rule for nothing.

The swarm of Galra fighters are kept in check, as the castle's defenses have been activated, shooting them out of the sky so as to clear a path for the Black Lion. A few counts and a beam shoots into the sky to form a silver-ringed portal. ]

[The targets are pinpoints in the black of his mind. He can see them even before they light up on the screen and -

and it feels to good to twist and turn and fly again and he knows its not just him. Black has been trapped away from what it was born for just as long, longer, and the energy and joy at being free is from both of them. The beam from the tail picks off the targets easily and the lion dodges and all but dances across the sky between the beams. Shiro can feel his entire chest feeling as if it can open up again. As if he can breathe -

But there are still priorities and if he feels like he could take on the entire Galra armada, he knows he's not that experienced yet with Black no matter how close they are in this moment. It would feel good, to stay and fight, to give just a little payback for what they've all lost, what they will lose yet, for the lion to show its claws -

not now. Time for that later. Time for that with the others. Whoever the others are because even Black is vague and their minds are on the immediate, both of them. So he bolts for the wormhole, not about to waste the sacrifice the people below have given him in clearing his way -

and the Black Lion slips through the wormhole and leaves the past behind.]

[ Allura doesn't realize she had been holding their breath as the cosmos rushes past them in the wormhole. Only does she realize she can breathe once she sees the planet that will be her new home -- a temporary one, but home nonetheless.

A familiar, but grizzled face with blue cheek markings appears on the communications display: silver hair that was once reddish, bushy eyebrows and a well-groomed mustache over a longish beard. The energy in his voice belie his advanced age, however. ]

"Princess? Is that really you?" [ And his look locks onto Shiro, disbelief drawn on his face. ] "And who are you?"

[ Allura quickly leans in to make sure she is visible through the feed. ] It's me, Coran. Oh it is good to see you-- this is Shiro and he is our Black Paladin.

[ Soon as Allura finishes speaking, four other faces squish into Coran's feed: young faces, but their eyes bear the permanent shadow of hardship. Save for one who seems to economize on his words, the other three get into a babble of, "Hey look, that's our head! Hey man!", "Get out of the way, I can't see!", "That armor's hot-- hey Coran, how come I can't have that one?"

Allura smiles, seeing how her former gifts have fared, and how her investment is paying off. She looks to Shiro as Coran clears them for landing. Her worry over his arm has not gone away, but she will take whatever pieces of victory they can have. For now, it is good enough to know that they live to fight another day. ]

Welcome to Arus, Shiro.

[Shiro doesn't recognize this kind of wormhole - but Black does and the rush of relief and familiar joy is enough to squeeze his chest tight as it echoes through him.

He wonders if he's ever going to get used to that, the power of the lion's emotions, the way the relief in them matches his own so often and the rumble he feels in his chest is gentle and understanding.

In no time though, they're out the other side and there's a planet in front of him and as much as Black's sensors feed him information - the lion gives him as much directly. It's incredible and again, he apologizes silently for ever thinking of the creature as just an AI when the queen had tried to explain it to him. All he feels in return is easy amusement. Nothing is like Black and its sisters. He would never have anything to compare.

His eyes focus and narrow when a side monitor flicks to life and he guides almost automatically following the path his lion feeds into his head as he sorts through what's happening on the small screen. Coran. He recognizes that name. Her advisor. That's a good sign. And then the faces crowd on the screen and he takes them in, vaguely aware that this - is Voltron, a concept he's still having only a hazy idea about and then his eyes focus on - ]

Keith?

[It comes out of his suddenly tight throat, not sure he believes what he sees because - no. No, he's not that lucky. The universe isn't that kind.]

[ It is said that surprises come in small packages, but in the vastness of the universe, their significance is all the more amplified. ]

You know Keith? You-- you know each other?

[ The dark-haired Paladin finally looks to the feed upon hearing Shiro's voice, and if he had been economizing his voice, the recognition is enough to draw sound out of him -- and he looks as if he is seeing a ghost. ]

"Shiro?" [ The others once again "jam" the feed with their reactions, talking at the same time at the sudden revelation. Keith looks flustered being put on the spot like that, but he pulls his attention from his peers and just looks to Shiro, tight little smile on his lips like he's fighting a grin, and speaks above the other voices. ] "Talk to you when you land!"

[ Coran then unceremoniously decides to monopolize the feed. ] "There's a lot of work to do, Princess. Zarkon isn't going to take his sweet time after that stunt you pulled.

[ The universe can be kind, if one knows where to look. Allura acknowledges Coran's advice before cutting the feed. She turns her attention to Shiro. ] What are the chances, hm?

[There's a little burst of annoyance when the feed cuts because - no. He wasn't done with that yet. He had -

The irritation disappears as quickly as it flared. Because Coran was right. Zarkon isn't going to sit still for this and he tends toward immediate and overwhelming as opposed to subtle. Subtle is Haggar's department. Zarkon - the only good thing about fighting an empire that stretches as vast as the Galra one is that mobilizing even a portion of its far flung war ships will take time. Not much - but maybe enough. If they move quickly enough. And that doesn't mean putzing around on a communications screen.

He still feels shaken to see that face again and its a good thing he's the pilot he is and that Black is so intuitive because he can pilot down to the planet without having to completely focus on the task. He glances at the woman next to him and there's something vulnerable in his eyes.]

I never thought I'd see him again.

[ In the time between the communications being cut, and the Black Lion touching ground, Allura takes the time to sort out her own emotions. She had spent a certain amount of time with each gift-- no: Paladin, but never had she realized that all of them somehow knew each other, or of each other, if their interactions over the comm channel had been any indication.

She meets his gaze and she takes her turn in being the source of (possible) stability for him. ]

My people believe in destiny, that people are destined to meet regardless of how the universe twists and turns. I do not believe that the five of you have become Paladins out of sheer coincidence.

[ That thing about destiny stings to think about, however. It's like saying that her being torn away from her father, to have her people and countless others suffer, to have Zarkon and the Galra rule over a great portion of the universe and become cause for strife. had been in the capricious hand of destiny. ]

You will have time to speak with them, to get your proper suits of armor... [ Allura allows herself a hopeful smile. ] and you will form Voltron.

[He steadies himself because he has to.

But it would be a lie if he didn't say it was easier with her calm voice in his ears.

Destiny... That was a tricky thing. He wasn't sure he believed in it.

But he wasn't sure he didn't.

Because the chances of Keith being there once Shiro found his freedom... at this exact spot in this exact time when the contents of their homeworld had been scattered like beach sand across thousands of starts and millions of planets...]

He's like a brother to me. One I always tried to watch out for.

[And there was guilt in that. Because how well had Shiro managed that last part if he'd been captured before Earth had even been aware of the Galra or aliens at all for that matter? But - he was here now. There was time. Shiro focused on the present, which was guiding the lion in to the port he saw lighting up. And maybe, just maybe, there was that memory of a smile at the edges of his lips.]

New armor, huh? [And then, focusing on what was important:] How do we - form Voltron?

[ Most of the surface of Arus is grassland and forests. The side of an oddly large hill (flanked by oddly symmetrical hills) opens up, landing guides lighting up to lead the Black Lion in. A sound akin to a musical note, signaling that the five lions are present in one place. ]

Keith doesn't talk much, does he? But he is stubborn. I'm thinking now that he probably gets that from you.

[ There is kindly affection when she speaks of the younger man. She has had to spend a fair amount of time with him, between the time he had been presented as a gift until she found a way to send him over to Arus. She can say more, but Allura decides that it's Keith's story to tell, and not hers. ]

Voltron is formed out of five lions. Two arms, two legs, and this one, the Black Lion, is the head. That would make you their leader. The five Paladins therefore must be of one mind and one heart for the lions to come together as one.

[Shiro's eyes shift sideways to look at the queen from the corners of them without turning his head. Because - she sounds familiar with Keith

which makes him wonder how they ended up together and the first answer that comes to mind is how he ended up in her keeping. He's - not sure that's a comfortable thought. In fact - he's pretty sure its not. But he also has to put that aside because she's still talking and now its about Voltron and -

and everything seems to hinge on that. So he focuses on her words and... and they don't make a lot of sense. Inside his head the Black Lion is just about as helpful, treating the entire act as something that's already been done. And, he's sure, for both the queen and the lion it has but -]

Is there a button for that? Or an implant?

[ The question that had been posed to her is one that she had encountered a few times already, and Allura still finds herself mildly stumped over how to explain it. It doesn't help that she hasn't come to pilot a lion herself. ]

I only have information that came from my father and our scientists. Forming Voltron is... more of a matter of the heart than pure mechanics. It forms out of a unified will of the Paladins.

[ She lets out a small sigh -- a mixture of mild frustration, and great relief in that they finally touch land. ]

I wish I could explain better; but the power of Voltron does not lie on science alone. It's something that is rather... experienced, than gained as knowledge.

[ Allura waits for Black Lion to finally settle and to open up. ]

[It's even less helpful than he'd hoped but he doesn't ask any more. Because he's sure if she could explain it she would. He just hopes its like the Lions, something he can't understand until its happening. Which, doesn't offer a lot of hope but, at the moment, its all he's got to go on.

It wouldn't be the first time he had to make something up as he went.

Black touches down so gently there's not even a jar in the cockpit to prove it and the great head lowers. Shiro feels the withdraw - but not the withdraw as the lights dim and - he's reluctant. He's reluctant to get up and leave, reluctant to go. He doesn't -

he's had so much taken away from him. If he takes his eyes off Black for a second -

the soothing thrumming rumble is in his head and his chest and he would swear its almost touched with amusement. As if the lion would ever let anyone take its paladin away from it...

It's the nudge he needs to stand up and he inhales. Exhales. Counts the beats between.

And he follows her out of the lion and into the hanger.

The others, his team he supposes, are already there and his face changes as he sees Keith, feeling torn between laughing and weeping, tears and joy and he's just taking a step forward, one arm out when - ]

Matt?

[Because there's a second face in the group that he recognizes and - no. No, it's not possible. He feels a knee buckle and goes down on it hard, heart suddenly beating too fast in his chest, mouth dry. Because - ]

Matt?

[ As Allura steps out of the lion, her pace is notably quicker than Shiro's as she doesn't hold back in running into the arms of Coran. While she is glad to see all of her Paladins in one place -- safe, alive, and she would dare say looking healthier than last she had seen them -- Coran is family to her, and the last connection she has to her late father.

The moment is halted, however, when she hears a familiar name. Little Katie had mentioned that name a few times, along with the name of her father. Allura looks over her shoulder from Coran's embrace, worried over what's unfolding. She had been about to approach Shiro, but Coran holds her back, shaking his head. ]

[ Katie's face turns from anticipation to shock in a matter of ticks. She doesn't wear glasses like her brother, but she gets where the confusion may be coming from because of her hair. There's a darkness in her eyes when she regards the larger man on his knees, and her small clenched fists show a network of scarring from recovering burns. Her voice is eerily controlled when she speaks -- the voice of a young girl, and not that of a teenage boy. ]

I'm not Matt. I'm Katie, his little sister.

[ Does Katie know Shiro too? Allura doesn't recall her talking about him. Katie seems to recognize him, but she shows no familiarity with Shiro; or at least not yet, not when she snaps her mind to what had been plaguing her ever since she got separated from her family. ]

Do you know what happened to him? Or to Samuel Holt?

[Past and present war in the back of Shiro's mind and he swears it's Matt. But - Katie. Katie, Matt's sister. His chest feels too tight to breathe properly but - its not Matt's voice. He exhales through his lips, counts off the beats of it. Forces himself to look beyond the overlay his mind is giving him.

Not Matt.

Shorter. Slighter. Same eyes though. Same hair. And Matt had lost his glasses early into their captivity. But - the face was rounder, younger, more feminine. The way she was holding herself was different. The voice was different. His heart started to slow down even if his chest didn't relax. He didn't move to stand up.]

Katie. [His voice came out throaty and he swallowed, eyes watching her closely. There were parts of his memory that were closed to him, parts that were only shadows and screams but he was still living in it, there had been no break of an escape to give him a way to slip sideways in his mind and try to forget. Not while the bracelet was still a part of things, not while he was still so close to being Champion again. Another exhale and he shook his head.] They were never in the Arena. [Did she know what that meant? I want blood! He should have done more. Somehow - he should have done more.] They went out to work camps. I tried - I think they were in the same group. They'll still be together if they did.

[ It's awkward to say the least, specially for Katie. She's never considered herself to be good around people, so seeing this big guy freak out in front of her, to say that he's supposed to be their leader -- she doesn't know what to do. She glances towards Allura in a silent plea for help, but figures she should at least try and... say something. Self-consciously, she tugs at the sleeve with her opposite arm, as if to try and conceal the burns on her left hand. ]

I was supposed to work in the mines too -- started off there. But I got caught messing with the machines so, they sent me over to-- to be a companion to Allura. [ She rubs at her arm self-consciously. ] I know dad and Matt went to a different camp, but after that, I've lost track of them.

[ Her face twitches in that same manner that Shiro's does -- a halted smile, and one that doesn't really reach her eyes. Finally, she recognizes him: Matt's colleague and friend, the ace pilot her father won't shut up about... ]

Thanks. For looking out for them.

[ Katie might not know the details, but if Shiro had been able to keep track of them, at the least, then that would mean he had an eye out for them. It's easy to become self-centered in this messed-up world, but she'll take what she can. She holds out her right hand to Shiro. ]

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idk if I got the correct arm reference here, but lemme know if I need to change this up!

works for me!

Re: works for me!