And for a family, I guess that makes me some kind of space uncle?

[somekindofspaceuncle]

 

[Thread continuations. To avoid unnecessary captchas. And for new threads, too. Feel free to hit up with anything if we already threaded. Or even if we didn't, I'll reply if I've seen you around./ ]

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from 'two truths and a lie', with Shiro (everaegis)

[making_sacrifices]

Everyone in the Castle ship is still shocked, understandably so.

Lotor has to be persuaded that there's not going to be any killing done here right now, no matter what he thinks about Haggar and her puppets, because no one here is a puppet, as far as the Paladins are concerned.

Lance blames himself for not realising anything sooner. After all, Shiro had tried to tell him something, in the Voltron mindspace, and Kuro had tried to tell him, about not feeling like himself or whatever.

And they'll definitely have to explain everything to Keith when he gets back - he's on the Blade of Marmora mission right now.

They restrain Kuro just in case, though no one's happy about doing that. But they have to be ready for anything.

And then Allura, looking resolute and determined, touches Kuro's forehead. She can explain more later, but right now, she knows, she feels, what she can do. There's Haggar's Quintessence lurking inside this man, assaulting him, making him prone to listen to Haggar's commands. A forced connection almost from beginning of Kuro's existence. Allura manages to extract Haggar's quintessence.

What everyone else except Allura sees is just Allura touching Kuro, Kuro glowing, and then... his eyes are suddenly back to normal colour again. Kuro takes a deep breath, blinks rapidly, and then looks around quickly, in a mixture of utter confusion and fear, it seems.

"Don't be afraid, Haggar can't reach you now," Allura tells him. "You're safe."

Kuro for a second stops trying to look over everyone as if to check if they're real or hallucinated, and tries to focus on Allura.



"Allura...? I- I had nightmares... I--- need to know if I didn't hurt Shiro...! The real one..."

Kuro's breath hitches, and he's clearly in an utter panic now. The memories are coming back to him. All the memories.

"Shiro can tell you everything, if he's ready to," the princess replies calmly. "We don't even know the whole situation yet, so you can ask him. All I can say is that you're on our side, and you've been fighting very hard for us. Your spirit has been fighting for us the whole time. And it's still ready to do so. I didn't know about your battle. Thank you. You can rest a little."

Kuro seems to relax slightly at that, at least. And he at least seems slightly less confused. Very slightly. However, he doesn't seem ready to do any resting any time soon. Maybe still trying to sort through everything that happened. Looks at Shiro now. To make sure he didn't do anything to Shiro.

Lance was leaning closer to Kuro now, to apologise, and to take restrains off, but now Lance's not sure now's the right time, so he waits.

[everaegis]

It’d been more than strange to find himself retuning back to scenes he knew from Kuro’s memories yet had never “felt” like he personally experienced them himself. Of course, knowing what he did of things to come, Shiro couldn’t help but feel a surge of dislike for Lotor. Never having actually met the prince, he still knew what the man would do… did… one of those. Kuro hadn’t been himself during that time either. Kidnapping Lotor and then challenging Keith and everything else that led up to Allura fusing Shiro’s mind with his clone’s body. But just because he knew the future didn’t give him a right to change this one, so he forced himself to deal with it and keep his mouth shut. Try to smooth things over as best he can while he’s there.

Shiro knows this is only temporary. Eventually they’ll have to find a way to return him to his own timeline. But for now, he has no complaints about being here in this one. It gives him a chance to help all over again. Shiro stays by the Paladins as they work, going along with what they decide and only giving his opinion when he feels it’s safe to. From binding his brother to Allura’s work on removing the mental link Haggar’s created between herself and Kuro. Shiro gets to watch this time as she works, wondering if this was what it looked like when the Altean princess fused his consciousness with his cloned body. He knows she can do it, but he still stays beside Kuro for the time being, holding his hand even while he’s unconscious.

When Kuro finally comes to, Shiro keeps his hand in his, firm and warm but not locking him there if he jerks away. “It’s all right,” he offers as well, hoping to give Kuro another voice he recognizes. Even if it’s just his own. The confusion and fear on his face are expected, but he wants to be there in case they overwhelm. There’s a warmth in his chest when Kuro’s first concern is whether or not Shiro’s okay, though he has to sigh silently when he’s dubbed “the real one” in front of everyone else. Not exactly a fact he can run away from, but not one he wants to be referred to. Even if their lives are now and forever going to be “original” and “clone” because of who they are. He’ll simply have to get used to it.

“I’m okay, Kuro. I’m right here.” Shiro hope they can avoid a major panic attack or breakdown, but understands if either happens. He’s not sure what he’s filling the other man in on, but assumes it’s going to be their time in the station. If Haggar had been in control that entire time, despite Kuro’s fighting, then it’s probably not expected the other man remembers much of any of it. Shiro leans over him and looks down at his face, showing him he’s there and unharmed. “I’m proud of you. You never gave up.” He squeezes the man’s hand, offering a soft smile. When Lance apologizes and then makes to remove the restraints, Shiro nods, figuring it’d be the next best thing to do. Give Kuro his freedom. Let him make his own decisions from here on out.

He is in quite a difficult state of mind, Kuro is. Of course he'd jump at a possibility of

[somekindofspaceuncle]

[possibly righting the wrongs, in some sense, when an ally suggests... / ]




Lance has already hugged Shiro, whether Shiro wanted it or not, and he hopes Shiro wanted it just as much, when Shiro and Shi----Kuro (with Kuro with these strange eyes, and suddenly smirking at Lance like in some slasher movie, making him very uncomfortable) came home. (The Castle of the Lions was a home away from home.)

Lance wasn't the only one who hugged. Despite the strange situation.

He hoped Shiro - the not Kuro one - would get how sorry Lance was for not doing more, not listening more carefully (could he have?) in that magical weird space place in Lions.

Lance hasn't hugged Shi---- Kuro yet, though, since all the revelations. So he hugs Kuro now. Hunk seems ready to join. Pidge glances at Shiro instead, first, as if asking permission. Allura doesn't move yet, observing. Gently, as if everything was delicate right now.

"I'm not Shiro," Kuro says, when Lance unbinds him. "Lance, you don't understand. I'm not Shiro."

"I get you, Sh-- Kuro," Lance replies. "I'm not Shiro, either. I tried to have an affair with Black, but was soundly rejected, that's how nonshiro I am. It's a heavy burden, I know."

Lance smiles a little. This is all still weird and overwhelming, but he's trying.

"But I look like Shiro," Kuro whispers.

"I've been told I look like Matt," Pidge says, suddenly. "Do I look like Matt?"

Kuro stares, then utters, "Only a little! You're...you, Pidge!"

And then he stares, bewildered, again, as his thoughts catch up to his words.

Then Kuro turns to Shiro for.... support....? And asks,

"It's not like Pidge looks like she's a carbon copy of Matt! And this is all... not about the looka! Tell them, they don't understand the dangers, tell them how dangerous I am, I don't... I don't..."

And then he's crying. In Lance's shoulder. Oops.

"He says he's dangerous," Lotor, in the same room as everyone, but currently hanging back, says. "And he was made by Haggar, wasn't he? If everything is clear now, can I kill him? We can call that an execution. For treason."

Kuro tries to stop crying, and glances over at the prince.

"I guess that makes sense,"

Kuro says, clearly, even though he is free now, or perhaps because of it, in current state of mind, prone to agree with a suggestion that he, Kuro, should be executed.

The other Paladins stare at Kuro now, as if he just said the most absurd thing possible.

Then Hunk says,

"Allura, Shiro, Lance, hey, can anyone tell Kuro that he's not getting executed no matter what he says??!? That's not even a question!"

Kuro shakes his head at that, and whispers, "No, Lotor's right. I'm a traitor. I, I don't quite remember, but I'm sure I'm a traitor. That feels like it's true. Tell them, Shiro."

Kuro glances at Shiro. Expectant? Wary? Resigned? Trusting in whatever verdict he might hear, having appointed Shiro a supreme judge of Kuro's crimes of not-being-shiro, it seems? All that and more.

"Keith is my leader, but until Keith is here, and he's not here right now so I can't answer to him, until then, Shiro is the acting leader and will decide my fate," Kuro whispers.

Yes. Really.

He's tense. He doesn't yet seem to know that Haggar, Honerva, can't take over him right now.

"E-execution might seem-- logical. But that's up to Shiro.", Kuro adds, pushing words out, even as it's...

Obvious that he is scared.

2/2 it's still morning here, heh...xD

[somekindofspaceuncle]

But, despite all that, it feels wonderful to hear that his... brother...? Says he's proud of him.

Despite the fear, Kuro also feels immensely grateful. But he's not saying anything about that. Or that he's grateful to Lance for the hug, one that, despite Lance hugging Kuro briefly, Kuro doesn't reprocicate at all, not knowing if he should.

Let Keith and Lance and Allura and true Shiro decide, Kuro thinks.

(Yes, he knows Keith's not back yet. The principle remains.)

He looks at Shiro. What's the verdict?

[everaegis]

Of course he hugged Lance back, as welcoming and enjoying in it as he always did. It felt good to have his friends back with him again, felt good to physically hold them and know they were there. Yes, he tried to calm things down when they arrived. The fact there were two Shiro’s standing there, one of them with that slasher smirk and the other with a new arm and white hair. He couldn’t explain much—didn’t explain much—and said he’d answer those questions later. But he spent some personal time with Lance, wanting the other young man to know he wasn’t angry with him. Held him close and told him it was okay. Things were going to be okay, they were okay. He hadn’t been there in his world to accept that apology in person, but would do so now. And when it’s over, he stands back and watches the others react.

“Lance…” Shiro sighs at the way the Cuban puts it. Tsk, have an affair with Black. Seriously. Oh well. Lance would always be Lance. The eternal romantic. The way he comforts Kuro and tries to alleviate some of his fears is appreciated and admirable. The way they all come together and try to affirm Kuro’s difference from Shiro and his own person is heartwarming and there’s little Shiro can do but smile gently at the sight. It means a lot to him they’re accepting his brother.

When Kuro turns to him for support, Shiro moves over to stand beside him and rests a hand on his shoulder. Even as Kuro cries on Lance. “It’s okay, Kuro. They know the dangers. But those dangers are one now. Allura severed your link to Haggar. You’re not a danger to anyone anymore.” Unless he chooses to be of his own volition. Which would be helpful of that choice aims Kuro at their enemies. Just like the rest of them. As for the “I’m not Shiro” protest, well… he’ll have to talk to him later about twins and stuff like that. Which is how he’s looking at it. Something for another time, when Kuro’s not flustering in emotions right now.

Shiro turns a harder look at Lotor when the Galra hybrid speaks up. “So were you,” the Black Paladin reminds Lotor firmly. “On both accounts.” Because Lotor is dangerous and he’s said so himself. And in the technical sense, Haggar ‘created’ Lotor simply be the proxy of being his mother, while Zarkon influenced how the boy was raised into a man. There are more things he’d like to say to the prince, but forces himself to keep his mouth shut for the same reasons as he’s not saying anything else about the future. This has to play out at least similar to how it did in his world.

“No one’s killing anyone. If you have a problem with that, Lotor, you can take it up with me.” And promptly clenches his fist, the blue glow at his shoulder brightening slightly in a not-so-veiled threat. Touch him, and I’ll break you.

[somekindofspaceuncle]

The still very new Emperor glares at Shiro now. At this man he thought he knew, but apparently has never met before. Yet another time when Haggar would, so to speak, in a way, manipulate reality, at least as far as Lotor was concerned. Yet every Paladin, right now, Princess Allura included, seemed downright accepting of having been deceived?! So he glares, and...

Allura comes up to Lotor, takes his hand in his, and whispers something to him. He seems to relent.

"You all know how to contact me. It's just not useful nor pleasing to stay here and talk to a puppet of Haggar's," Lotor says, and leaves. Allura follows him, apparently ready to explain more to Lotor. Coran follows them.

Everyone else stays.

Kuro looks at Shiro, who apparently decided that Kuro doesn't deserve a death sentence, anytime soon. That's a relief. So much so that he relaxes a bit more and won't be stiff and unresponsive at any displays of affection now.

And he also tries to think of the situation right now. Coupled with all that he now suddenly knows, remembers, tries to process...

"Haggar," Kuro says, with a grimace, "is Lotor's mother and wants to see him, nowadays. Wants to see her son, more than anything. So she was watching him."

"Haggar is Honerva?" Pidge asks. "That makes sense. Although Lotor said that's impossible."

"Enough about Lotor! Hey," Lance says, turning to Shiro now, "I don't know what happened, but why are we ignoring that Kuro seems to think he, Kuro I mean, is a criminal? He's not!"

Lance turns back to Kuro, and says, loudly, "You're not. You never attacked any of us. What, you accidentally had some contact with Haggar? It's not like you wanted to!"

"Makes you think of mermaids' kingdom, right?" Hunk asks.

"We're NOT telling him about mermaids' kingdom, Hunk, there are things better left forgotten," Lance replies.

"Should I be wary of mermaids??" Kuro asks, confused. He then yawns, despite himself. The whole ordeal was very taxing on him, though not as much as it could've been, he is sure. Somewhere, deep down, he could feel that Allura was as gentle as possible. Still, he's exhausted. But he doesn't want to sleep. Maybe he just wants to be --- sure, of everything... before he sleeps.

It's impossible to be sure of everything.

Meanwhile, Pidge asks Shiro if Shiro's alright. Because Shiro surely has been through things, too, so Pidge is worried now. (She might even contact Matt later. Later. Right now is still time for the paladins to get understanding on this whole situation, first.)

"I'm not a criminal?" Kuro asks, after a few more seconds, outloud, but barely audibly, asking seemingly no one in particular.

Maybe he's just musing aloud.

Hunk tells him he'd have to have done some crimes.

Kuro was almost smiling, but now, he almost sighs.

"Attempted murder of Shiro when we were on the station," Kuro says. He looks at Shiro for... confirmation? Reaction? He might barely know what he's looking for.

Hunk, Lance, and Pidge gasp at that.

Kuro flinches. Right, there was that, even if he barely remembers... even so... there was. Memories are coming back to Kuro, now, still. Allura did something, he's sure, inside him, and now, memories are coming back. No, not coming back, that's not right - It's more as if something shone light at memories that were hidden and disconnected. Perhaps it had to be done, maybe a side effect of throwing Honerva's traces out.

"I'm glad I didn't kill him. You." Kuro adds, changing from talking about Shiro in third person to talking directly to him about him.

And then winces, because how does that even sound, to others?? He didn't think.

What sort of person even says such a thing?

Still...

"I'm glad I'm not dangerous anymore. If I ever am again, please..."

Kuro thinks back, on everything. He remembers more now than he ever has in his life, before.

"If I'm ever dangerous to any of you, just, if that hapoens, get rid of me."

"But if I'm safe--"

He yawns again. Sorry. Exhaustion.

Let me stay, he wanted to say. But perhaps, everyone knows, already.

[everaegis]

Shiro returns the glare. It’s strange to face the man who betrayed so many, from his friends to the Alteans to his own race, and yet despite all that history, never actually met him. He has Kuro’s memories from the time spent with Lotor, knows all about how the man works and the lies he’s spun. He can even see how he’d become friends with Lotor. The man is charismatic to an impressive degree. But unfortunately, knowing what his plans are and who he is on the inside, Shiro feels nothing but loathing for him. It takes supreme effort not to spill everything he knows. And puts the time-displaced Black Paladin in a very strange moral dilemma. He’ll have to deal with that on his own later. “Goodbye, Lotor.” How he wanted to retort something else when the Galra hybrid threw that barb at them. Lotor’s one to talk about puppets of Haggar…

At least the removal of his presence makes things easier for Shiro. For now. He looks back at Kuro, the firmness in his expression mirroring his resolve in his eyes. He made his choice and has no regrets over it. It’s the right choice to make and if he has the way to, he’ll save as many of the other clones as possible. But that’s an issue he and Kuro can tackle in the future. Seeing Kuro relax like that just reaffirms Shiro’s choice.

“It’s not impossible,” Shiro offers to Pidge, backing up his brother’s claim. “Lotor doesn’t know much of his family beyond what they want him to know. He’s as much a pawn to Zarkon and Haggar as he thinks they are to him. He is their son. And Haggar—Honerva—still has plans for him. Out of loyalty to Zarkon, herself, or some remaining love in her heart, I don’t know.”

The firmness in his tone fades a little when Lance launches into his own tirade to defend Kuro. It brings a small smile to his face. Good boy, Lance. “I think we’re all in agreement there,” he offers, looking from Lance to Kuro to tell the both of them that thought process is the one he’s supporting all the way. A small laugh rumbles in his chest at mentions of the mermaids’ kingdom. Yeah… something the Blue Paladin will never live down. Thanks, Hunk. He turns to Pidge next when she addresses him. “I’m fine, Pidge. Just a little tired from the event. We had a hard time getting out of that station.”

When Kuro’s question and Hunk’s innocent comment end up troweling the dirt again, so to speak, Shiro exhales in a tired manner. He knows Kuro has a lot of misplaced guilt to work through. Those feelings are still shared between them and Shiro’s been up plenty of times at night, trying—and sometimes failing—to convince himself he’s not at fault for the things Haggar forced his clone to do. Yet they sit in his mind as if he did them himself, from the memories through his eyes to the words coming out of his mouth. Every one of them he feels in his chest like he’d committed them personally; they are one and the same with him, part of him forever. There’s no separating them. The merger was seamless. For better and for worse.

Of course… this does raise the issue of “himself” in this timeline. The original Shiro still trapped within the Black Lion’s consciousness. They need to get him out as well. Shiro can’t stand in for himself in this timeline forever. It’s… a head-hurting quandary, that’s for sure. Again, something they can deal with later.

“Haggar took control of Kuro and we fought,” he explains to the other Paladins. Then to his brother. “You’re not to blame for that anymore than I am for providing the cells to create you.” Just going to try and nip that guilt in the bud before it grows too far out of control. Kuro and Shiro—neither of them had a choice in what Haggar forced them to do. And thus, neither of them should be held accountable for it. Shiro’s not blaming Kuro and he's going to do his best to keep the other man from blaming himself. No matter how many times he has to keep repeating the same logic. (Because he knows damn well how hard it is to accept his own advice.)

Shiro rests a hand on Kuro’s shoulder. “You aren’t a danger to us. You won’t be. I trust you. And Allura.” He offers a small squeeze to comfort him, then looks to the other Paladins. “Thank you, all of you, for taking care of him for all this time. I never got to say that to you before.”

from The ❤E X P A N D E D❤ Heart Meter Meme, with Ziggy (ziggyplayedguitar)

[somekindofspaceuncle]

[OOC: continued from here. /ooc]

"You win. You'd say something like this and there's no way I'd ever hurt you."

He'd stop himself somehow, he hopes.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"You win too. You are stuck with me loving you even if you protest."

[somekindofspaceuncle]

"Yea. I win."

Fully serious, there.

"Then I shall enjoy being stuck."

"I never fully told you, but-- I always hated the cold, because the planet I first landed on, it was snowing, but, you... you're so warm, even when you're cold. You feel like you warm me anyway. How do you do it, Ziggy?"

He nuzzles against Ziggy's cheek.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Ziggy kissed Hiroki's cheek. "How is that human saying... um.. Cold hands, warm heart?"

"I'll just be a ray of sunshine when it's cold."

[somekindofspaceuncle]

"Yeah, you're my Starlet... Comet... that's warm just on the inside..."

"So as long as you let me in-"

He giggles, a little flushed.

Continued from the random questions meme, with Ziggy (ziggyplayedguitar).

[somekindofspaceuncle]

[OOC: continued from here. /ooc]


[They could both use some optimism, nothing wrong with that. Besides, Shiro's never believed in anything being forever, not quite, and so, neither had Hiroki, but--]

Yeah, but there's proof your dad must've been great at the flirting with aliens and all. After a time, at least.

[He chuckles awkwardly.]

[And begins the dance. He knows how to, after all, probably better than he knows how to joke. He knows how to dance, but he himself has never danced much, not really. He, not Shiro. So now he wants to dance with Ziggy.

And yes, closeness is good. To him, it's perfect. Like any touch that doesn't hurt or at least not much. And... like air.Like the sky, out there to learn, explore, be free out there, be alive, forever, feeling like forever, that is, even if just for a moment. (Oh, if anybody ever asked Hiroki, not that anybody would, about Shiro's innermost feelings on stuff like that, Hiroki'd never, ever share those with anybody. That stuff's Shiro's quiznaking private stuff, like, half the time Hiroki'd gladly pretend to forget that he remembers feeling all that.

So, yeah, like that, and also, relatedly... Like breathing. Like Ziggy, as well. And he's not sure for a moment whether he wants to lead or whether he wants to lead or whether Ziggy does, but surely he'll feel it in a moment, and adjust to whichever, so he's not awkward about that at all. No, there's just warm longing (and, if one looked deep inside, an inherent awkwardness of feeling just a tiny teeny bit like a fraud whenever he does familiar that'd be far less familiar if he had no memories of being Shiro- er, had no Shiro memories. But that's just deep inside now, and no longer overwhelming everything he does. Just slight background noise that he can now put aside, usually.

And if anybody ever asked him if he wants not to have twenty five years of real Shiro memories, frankly, Hiroki'd be extremely horrified and would never opt for that. Who'd he even be?! Definitely not who he is now. It's like, yeah, somebody could say most of Hiroki's life was, unknowingly until death, a three dimensional watching of an extremely detailed documentary movie and having thought he actually had lived it, but, well, so what?? It was fine, now, he didn't want that erased. He'd just like to add more and more moments of his own memories, now, thanks. If he's going to always remember these in as much detail as he remembers Shiro's, better than Shiro himself does, he knows from the man himself - well, then, can't wait to make more of his real own!]

So let's dance.]

If you think I'm so great at flirting with aliens, you must be mistaking me with your Dad or with Keith's Dad - now those are true masters. I'd bow to their authority.

Alright, maybe that wasn't the best joke. Don't tell Keith, he could think I'm making light of his parents or something.

[It might've been just a few minutes before everything went to hell, but I'm still glad I've lived long enough to personally meet Keith's mother for a moment. Later I felt like that when meeting your whole family, too. 'I'm so glad I still exist and could meet them.' Something like that. Surely you understand. Hiroki thinks, not minding whether Ziggy hears or not. It's a bit embarassing, really. So many feelings.]

[He smiles.]

Continued from Manhattan's Diamond King , with Ziggy and possibly Jack when he's up

[somekindofspaceuncle]

"No, Ziggy. If you're unhappy, that'll make me unhappy, too, see? Whether I exist or not. So, please, when someday I get old or die, or whatever, find some happiness anyway, however you define it, whenever, wherever, with whomever you wish, I'm not gonna make any exceptions there--"

Closer. He pulls even closer to Ziggy, as closely as he can.

"And when you're happy, then know that's me being happy, too, even if you can no longer see me."

"Whenever you smile, and... with these wonderful eyes of yours... I'm glad, too, wherever I am. That's how it'll always be. You're the precious one to me, so if you like me, take care of yourself well, or you'll break my heart. Do whatever your heart desires, always - for you, and for me. Wherever you wish, with whomever you wish. If you need to. For yourself... for me... I think, for me, as long as you try to find satisfaction and joy and happiness and pleasure in the world, whether I'm there or not, as long as don't try to erase yourself-- that means I'm not bad for you. And that means I haven't betrayed your love, still. That means we're both still faithful to each other, wherever we might be. You can be with as many people as you like, that doesn't change the thing, I've realised. Just... just, what I've said before. That's faith, between you and me, beloved. Ziggy. Okay?"

"Otherwise..."
Hiroki smirks a little.
"Otherwise I might just haunt you to tell you to go out and have some fun, all your kinds of fun, just with right people, of course, no one that would break your heart, just with good people... and you don't want me haunting you, now, do you, Princess? I'm veeeeeery bad at haunting."

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"People have to mourn." Ziggy sighs because he doesn't really want to think about Hiroki dying. "It might take me a long time to find happiness like this again."

Ziggy laughs and folds his hands on Hiroki's chest. "Are you always happy? I am."

Ziggy leaned up and kissed him with a big smile. "MY love for you and faithfulness to you doesn't change. Nothing changes it. Even if I love other people that doesn't change how I feel for you."

Ziggy started giggling. "I want you to haunt me. Are you saying if I sit around sad that you'll come haunt me until I am happy again?" He stroked Hiroki's long hair and snuggled into him, relaxing on his chest. "I hope it's a long time before I have to think about you being away from me."

[somekindofspaceuncle]

"I hope so, too, love."

2/2

[somekindofspaceuncle]

And Ziggy asked if he's happy, huh?

"With you, Ziggy, I am."

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"I am glad you are happy with me." Ziggy pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Especially that you've stopped trying to send me away."

[somekindofspaceuncle]

Frowns.

"Hey, now. I wasn't sending you away, I'd've to be a god at least to have that kind of power; I knew that pretty quickly."

"I was sending myself away. Against my greatest desires."

Hiroki giggles slightly nervously.

"And even then, I wanted you to catch me. To pin me down and crush me and break me so that I couldn't run away from you anymore. I wanted you to ravish me, I wanted the wildest things, and all the same, if you had done exactly what I dreamt you'd do, I'd've feared you and I would have run away."

"I think... I might've been conditioned to want things I don't want. By Haggar. Not anymore, though. Now I'd just tell you if enough was enough."

[somekindofspaceuncle]

"I think... there was a time when we came a hair width to the things I hated to want. And then there would never be 'us', as a couple, possible, anymore."

"So.... thanks for being patient with me, Ziggy. I mean it."

Continued from two truths and a lie, with Mari (i_am_the_most_abnormal)

[somekindofspaceuncle]

[OOC: continued from over there. /ooc]

No wonder.

And, er, thank you. If you need anythin, I want to help.

*Friendly inexperienced world traveler appears* XD

[beyondthenorms]

[She smiles softly to him.]

I'll keep this in mind. Thank you.

[Did she really need anything from him? She's not sure on turning to him for help on any of her most difficult problems and worries. Yes, he's a very nice person. She feels overall at ease with him, but...

Well, she'll just casually ask him a question, changing the topic.]

How long have you been traveling in space?

Oh, right, we haven't introduced ourselves yet! [She offers her hand to shake.] I'm Mari Broderick.

:D

[somekindofspaceuncle]

No problem.

I've been away from Earth for a few years now.

You're right. [Handshake. He's got a prosthetic arm.] I'm Shiro. Nice to meet you.

[beyondthenorms]

[She's surprised to see the prosthetic arm.]

What happened there, Shiro? Did you lose your arm?

[Her voice lowers at the third question.]

Did it really hurt?

[somekindofspaceuncle]

[Since Mari's used her full name in introduction, Shiro now wonders if he should've said his, too.Takashi Shirogane.
Maybe later.]

[Her question catches the Paladin (and astronaut / soldier) offguard. Lance did stare at his fake arm once (and so did Keith once, subtly, but Keith was
basically younger brother of Shiro's, so, as a matter of course...) but never asked outloud. Because----]

There was an evil alien witch.

I suspect it did hurt. Unless they did have...used good anasthetics?

[He gives an awkward smile.]

Who knows, maybe they had. Not that I'd rememb-

[Ah. He suddenly touches his head.]

Not that I'd remember exactly, if they had.