purusha | closed.

[ There's a part of him that knows if she ever collects all her memories, he's going to be teased so bad for this conversation.

Regardless, he smiles at her, a flush in his cheeks and a stutter in his heart. It's so sweet, and his lips part to return the words, but faintly Coran is humming a tune that Lance nor Allura is going to know or remember, but it's definitely the Altean equivalent of "Here Comes the Bride." Lance pouts, catching on all to quickly to the jubilant tune, but he knows he shouldn't be getting mushy. ]

"Sorry, sorry! Just having a bit of fun, Lance. I always knew you two were as destined as Kvarian Torelions are to the Hiusan ice fields. What's say we pick up on this later, princess? I have more than a few anecdotes about your youth I've been itching to reminisce on. I'd imagine seeing the rest of your family is more important right about now." [ The old man smiles to his eyes, wrinkles lined at the corners. ]

[ She's all fond smiles up at Lance until that humming, which catches her attention and her gaze. Allura tilts her head slightly, frowning at saying that she doesn't recall or recognize, but that's something she's going to encounter quite a bit for a while now, she feels.

Seeing her family, though... ]

Even though it's...much like seeing glimpses of someone else's life, it all still feels familiar...Yes. I would like that very much. May we see them, Lance?

[ He nods affirmatively. ] Hunk and Keith will be a few varga, but Shiro and Pidge are waiting.

Coran can you have them meet us in the observation deck? And clear it out. I don't want to overwhelm Allura. And can you repeat that for her so she knows what's up?

[ Coran agrees and, as requested, repeats the command for Allura; Lance chuckles at the few differences that Coran slips in there, but it's Coran; he's nothing if not eccentric. He steps back to allow the old man to embrace Allura one more time before bidding them well. Lance untucks the gown from his arm and offers it to Allura. ]

I know it's uncomfortable, but Earthlings prefer clothing. This should be very easier on you.

[ Allura listens to the explanation in Altean, quietly grateful. Not that she believe she would be upset in the presence of others--truthfully she doesn't have much opinion on it at all, each thought and feeling that she experiences seems new and old at the same time. A bit of processing may be necessary soon, but she's endlessly curious at the moment.

After Coran parts, she turns to Lance with a bright smile--that...diminishes a bit when he offers the gown.

Yes, she would rather just be. Naked right now. That's a phase that will surely pass.

Probably.

(The side effects of being ethereal and one with all of time and space for a few years/eternity. Depending on how you look at it.)

She huffs. ]

Very well...

[ Allura takes off the shirt he lent her and holds it out, before donning the new gown. It is more roomy, but also longer. ]

Is this acceptable?

[ Lance watches unabashedly as she undresses. It's not like they haven't been like this before; but he realizes that he'd been so swept up in happiness and relief the last hour or so that he had some how completely missed the beautiful body that she now occupied. He wonders if it's the same as she left with, even if all its perfections and flaws seem the same to his eyes. It's been so many years....

He smiles. ] You look good. [ he pulls the lent shirt back on and soon reaches out for both of her hands, taking them in his and holding them. The smile hasn't gone away. For a little while, he says nothing, his eyes soft and expression somewhat giddy. It's hard trying to summarize his feelings into his limited Altean, trying to find the word he wants. There's a light glow on his cheeks to match his thundering heart. ]

You look beautiful. I'm so lucky.

[ Some of the scars she had gathered over time--small though they were thanks to Altean healing technology--are gone entirely, as if someone forgot to add them when reconstructing her. A little softer since she hasn't been on a heavy training regiment and in the heat of battle. But she's still unmistakably Allura.

His compliment makes her smile. She holds his hands back, seemingly content to just stand there and stare up at him. Taking each moment by moment, second by second, letting his face become increasingly familiar. He's already easily the thing she understands most in the universe right now. ]

You found me...you made me whole again. Aren't I the one that's lucky?

[ Lance laughs a bit bitterly, shaking his head in answer. ] You made me whole. [ He shouldn't feel as if his whole life changed for the better when Allura came into his life, but she inspired him to grow. He wouldn't be who he is today if she hadn't been there and... her loss shaped his world just the same.

He leans in to kiss her innocently once more, overwhelmed with love still, before he he leads her away from the dark corridor. Outside it looks as if the ship has started moving again, slowly turning around to take them home. The observation deck isn't so far. A few of the crew look at Lance and Allura as they pass by, curious why there was a new woman on board, but only a select handful of them would remember who she is. As they walk, Lance hardly takes his eyes off of her, clasping her palm as they walk. ]

What do you think of the ship?

[ Allura is taking in the layout and architecture of the ship, stopping to pause every once in a while as she discovers something interesting. Sometimes she asks what it is, other times she enjoys the glow of lights and machinery.

She gives a soft hum, placing the flat of her free palm against the wall. ]

I feel the pulse of this ship. It's as if it's alive and familiar.

Yeah, that.... [ He mutters thoughtfully. He knows exactly what she's talking about, too, but having the right words.. ]

It's... another piece of you? It's hard to make clear. Our home before was the Castle from the picture. It worked because your... quintessence made it work? Honestly, I don't understand it all.

Something happened and it got, uh– [ he motions his hands together, "crushing" something in them. ] Like that?–to save the universe, and made a rock. Later that rock was put into this ship. Now it's our home. A little. Home when home is far.

We also have homes on Earth and Altea. Earth is mine and also the others'. You will have a home on both.

[ She doesn't quite understand what he's talking about. Not necessarily due to his mastery of Altean, but more so the situation is just so out of her realm to visualize and comprehend at the moment. But she does feel something, a connection to this ship. So whatever he says must be true. ]

A home.

[ That seems fitting, at least. Allura watches the metal beneath her fingers glow lightly as if in response and she smiles. ]

And we are going to see all of those?

[ She asks as she turns back to Lance, letting her hand fall from the wall. The glow dissipates. ]

Naturally, [ he answers with a grin, spoken as naturally as the word is what it is. ]

We'll go to Earth first for the people here, and then Coran and me will take you to Altea. Your home is beautiful.

I cannot wait to see it. When will we arrive?

[ The concept of how much time will need to pass for that to happen escapes her entirely. At the moment she's just excited by the prospect as well as meeting the others who are on this ship. She needs to speak with Coran again, she thinks. Maybe after this. (She has no idea how tiring it is to be alive again.) ]

Uhhh... Depends? The teleduv the Atlas uses is still very, uh.... not great.

It may be two weeks. Oriande is far, far away from home.

Two weeks?

[ She frowns slightly, trying to gather an idea of just how long that is. Her concepts of time have shifted greatly, spending both an eternity and a short while with the universe, depending on the reality. But by the way Lance describes it, it seems like it's no short while. ]

I see...but it will be worth it to return home. And you will be here the whole time, won't you?

[ Lance grins, realizing he's been leaning toward her all this time. Even after all these years, he finds he still gravitates toward her the same way. ]

Yes. Every tick of the way. I'll never leave your side. [ And he hopes Allura will never leave his. They stop in a moment outside the observation deck and he gathers up both her hands for a moment. ]

Our friends are here. They don't know Altean, so Coran and me will help. [ He kisses her softly again, holding both her hands in his between them, before pressing the button to open the deck. ]

[ Good. That's good. Not that she's necessarily nervous about her surroundings, but he's easily the most familiar thing around right now. She does not want to lose that.

So she smiles lightly into the kiss and gives a nod at his warning.

She isn't sure what she'll find when the doors open, but all eyes are already turned towards them. Allura scans the room, trying to find recognition in the faces. Coran is there, standing next to two people. Her gaze settles on them.

There's a woman with short brown hair, large glasses, and a wide smile. That smile does stir something in Allura. Next to her is a man, much taller, with white hair and a mechanical arm floating next to him. That stirs something in her as well, she feels...connected. ]

Hello--

[ Oh. Right. They don't speak Altean...

Except the girl returns the greeting in Altean and Allura immediately smiles. ]

[ There's a soft utterance of her name from Shiro, but tragically, he knows the least Altean of everyone here. His eyes dart toward Pidge, and he attempts to, very badly repeat the short phrase to her. Like an eldritch horror, it's impossible to repeat what atrocity Shiro has committed to this simple phrase.]

"Allura!" [ Coran announces: ] "These are Shiro, our former Black Paladin, and Pidge, our ever present green paladin. Pidge here was just flaunting a bit of her Altean for practice."

[ Pidge simpers and approaches, hugging her well missed friend: ] "It's good to have you back, Allura. Sorry, that's all the Altean I could squeeze out of Coran last minute." [ At least her pronunciation is good.

Shiro follows behind her, embarrassed but still with an air of confidence. ] "Allura, I..." [ He pauses and smiles. ] "It's amazing to see you again. Everyone's missed you so much. Coran said she doesn't remember anything?"

[ Lance repeats most of what Shiro said, but pauses to answer the question: ] Yeah. Bits and pieces have come back, so I think we just have to help her along with remembering anything. It could be a long process.

"That's fine. You brought all of us together, Allura. There's not a thing in all the universes any of us wouldn't do for you. I'm happy to help you in whatever way I can." [ And when those words are repeated to her, he hugs her as well. ]

[ Yes, they do seem familiar and Allura doesn't mind the hug at all. Pidge's Altean warms her heart--and her diction is pronunciation is perfect. But she manages in English, ]

Thank you.

[ Some phrases and words have come back to her just by listening to Lance speak, but not many.

Allura tilts her head as Shiro speaks, but there's a comfort and warmth in his voice that she trusts implicitly. She doesn't need to know the language to understand the meaning. Lance's translation is welcome regardless and she's happy to return that hug as well. ]

Thank you, everyone. So much in this place feels familiar to me. I can only hope that I'll come to understand it quickly. Even if I don't, I can already feel your warmth and kindness. That is enough.

[ It's much easier for Lance to repeat her words than go the other way, and he echos her flawlessly and happily. ]

"Whenever Hunk's around, I'm sure he'll want to make a big meal for everyone," [ Pidge chirps warmly as Shiro nods affirmingly. ]

Shiro, do you have any communication devices on board the ship?

[ Shiro wags his head, explaining that they would have brought some if they'd had any. Lance pouts, leaving the exchange untranslated out of sheer disappointment. Shiro waves them over, the group gathering to sit at a table in the center of the room, asking that Lance take a moment to explain everything that had happened since he left the ship. So he does; sitting close to Allura, he holds her hand and strokes his thumb over hers as he tells the tail. Coran, sitting close to Allura, translates as quickly as he can for her. He tells of his long walk, of the White Lion reborn on Oriande, and of opening his eyes to find Allura in them again. Certain, warmer, more private details are omitted, and their points are obvious enough to Allura as he pauses in the middle of the story to set his mouth in his hand and think quietly while Coran caught up.

But he relays most of the story. ]

"Do you think the White Lion and Allura are related?" [ Pidge asks when Coran has finished translating. Lance doesn't answer immediately, leaving the air to hang uneasily. His eyes turn toward Allura as he watches her thoughtfully, a brief pause of thought between everyone. ]

I don't know, [ He mutters, worry in his eyes, and carelessly lets Coran fill in the space. Outside, Oriande begins to grow small as they distance themselves from the white hole. ]

Edited 2019-02-03 04:46 (UTC)

[ Allura goes with the flow, taking a seat at the table and listening closely as Lance speaks. In part she wants to try and understand the words, but Coran eradicates any confusion she might have had. He tells the story, parts she hadn't been aware of up until their meeting. He had been searching for her truly, hadn't he? With his pause, she gives his hand a light squeeze.

The White Lion is certainly a curious topic. It's something that Allura inherently knows, is familiar with, and doesn't need to question. She glances at Lance, and then at Coran, before addressing the table, ]

The White Lion and I share the same energy, now.

[ She doesn't know if it's always been the case, but it's almost as if a piece of it is within her. Or maybe it is her, at this point. ]

Perhaps it was a conduit that allowed me to take this form. I'm not certain. I feel very...small right now. I feel as if I've experienced eons but I can't remember my time before awakening to Lance.

[ "Eons". The word came so easily, and yet just a moment ago she was struggling with the notion of weeks. Weeks are shorter than eons. Most definitely. ]

[ For a moment, Lance forgets his friends: ]

It could be just too much for you to remember. You were.... everything ever until today. I think that no one from us could even remember every moment of our own single lives. It's okay if you don't remember.

[ Allura's gaze settles on Lance as he speaks and she finds herself smiling easily. ]

I hope that I can. I would like to remember you.

[ Lance smiles back, caught up in a moment thinking how wonderful it is to see those eyes looking at him again. It'll be nice when She can remember, he thinks, but some how he feels that she already has. Pidge whistles for their attention ] "Yoo-hoo! Love birds. Clue us in?"

Oh, er, sorry, [ don't mind as Lance coughs to cover a blush. ] Allura was just saying she thinks she is the White Lion or, no, that they share the same energy? And uh.... we were just talking about how she can't remember things. Ugh... [ He covers his face as he realizes he's more embarrassed than he needs to be; the table chuckles at him together. ]

"Take your time, Lance," [ Shiro offers warmly. He gets it, at least. ]

Allura was saying earlier that the ship felt familiar. Coran, you said something about how the castle had Allura's energy stored in it, so that's why you could pilot it whenever right? And the Atlas is using the Crystal that the Castle was made from. Soooo.... Technically, part of Allura is in the ship.

"That's true, Lance! Though I'm not sure at this point we can differentiate the different energies that make up the crystal any more. We might only be putting the princess or the atlas at risk if we try anything with the two."

[ Lance pouts unsatisfactorily. ] Can you explain all that to Allura? I tried before but I don't think I made much sense.

[ In the mean time, Pidge comments: ] "You mentioned Allura started remembering things when she saw familiar stuff, right? Sooooo, maybe we just have to keep showing her stuff until she starts filling in gaps on her own!"

"It would be worth a shot. It's worked so far."

[ Allura watches the exchange between Lance and the others with a soft curiosity. Perhaps there is something about all this that strikes true...their calm around one another, their energy. It's all in sync and helps Allura be at peace. As odd as she feels in her current form, it certainly helps.

This is where I'm supposed to be. Isn't it?

Coran explains what's been discussed and Allura raises her brows. Well, now the seed has been planted...

She looks around the bridge when something catches her eye. Blinking, she tilts her head slightly, then wordlessly stands, slipping her hand out of Lance's as she steps away. She makes her way over to a platform in front of the large viewport. There are two pedestals about waist-high, wide enough apart for her to stand comfortably in between. Stand between them she does as she looks back and forth between each.

Something tingles at her fingertips and she places her hands over the top of the pedestals. They glow in response. ]

[ Lance's - well, everyone's - attention is drawn when Allura's hand leaves his and she moves away from the group, his gaze turning with worry and wonder. Both Shiro and Lance rise, but only Lance approaches.

He's seen her do this a million times; it always felt like such an admirable place for her to be. A few things cross his mind as he approaches and watches carefully; he remembers the day Lotor betrayed them and standing with Allura on the pedestal that flew the Castle of Lions, holding her and grieving for her pain. He'd felt a bit selfish then, loving her unconditionally already, but he supposes that's also when her own feelings started. Maybe not, but it felt that way.

And then he remembers the pedestals that also stood on Oriande. He'd scarcely known what they were for, but their familiarity had been so potent that he'd set his hands on them like an instinct - and so in this way he found Allura after seven long and lonely years.

It's interesting seeing her here like this now. He moves just slightly into her peripheral, watching for a quiet moment before speaking: ] Anything coming back to you?

this isnt even a lance tag its just all coran look at him go

bless coran tho

the better boy in this thread

THEY'RE BOTH GOOD BOYS

HMMMM debatable.

>:[

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