purusha | closed.

[ 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?

[ It is a curious feeling, her gaze dropping to her hands, and then to Lance when he speaks. ]

I--

[ And then something does.

Suddenly she's looking through the viewport of Atlas, ushering ship after ship through a portal in the sky. Then she's on the bridge of a different ship entirely, steering it away from an explosion that shakes the very framework.

Allura's eyes widen and she looks at her hands again, then up at the viewport of the ship. ]

It's my job to make gateways, isn't it? To...connect time and space at two different points.

[ There's a pause as he tries to understand her, approaching more closely and looking out the view port as well. ]

Uh... Yeah. Or. It used to be your job. Kind of. When Shiro was still the Black Paladin, you drove the Castle. That was our home before, remember? The picture Coran showed you with you and your father.

[ Allura nods, feeling a smile tug at the edges of her lips. ]

I believe that I do. I can feel it.

[ Then suddenly, a bright circle appears in the space in front of them. The lines are a little blurry, struggling to stay in focus, but little by little it starts to solidify into a very familiar pattern.

Space itself swirls within it, as if beckoning the ship forward. ]

[ Excitement rushes through the group, Pidge the first to shout: ] "We haven't been able to get the transport system working since wee installed it! This is incredible!"

"Nothing a little Royal Altean quintessence won't fix!"

[ Shiro smiles in the mean time, the only one of the group with nothing to say, yet. It's strange but exciting. He'd... thought he'd always felt another presence whenever he connected with the Atlas. ]

Think you can get us home, Allura? [ Lance smiles as he sets his hand on the small of her back.

Whatever she answers, Shiro is going to have to interrupt. Sorry folks, someone here has to have his head on straight. ] "Hold on, before we go through I need to inform the rest of the crew and redirect Keith and Hunk so they're not trying to meet us here after we teleport. Do you think you can keep it open for a little longer, Allura?"

[ Lance will oblige that translation. ]

[ The excitement in the room is more than enough to lift her own spirits, making the wormhole glow brightly along with her. She smiles at Lance, feeling as if the threads of her old life are starting to become visible.

She instinctively turns towards Shiro's voice, but looks to Lance as he translates. Sparing a glance towards the wormhole, Allura nods. ]

I will do my best.

[ Her memories may be foggy, but energy--quintessence is something that she understands inherently. It flows through her very easily. Maybe too easily. If anyone is close enough or paying attention, there might be an odd sparkling by her fingertips every now and then.

But she's all business, now, turning her attention to the wormhole and closes her eyes as she concentrates on keeping it open.

This, at least, feels wholly familiar. The ebb and flow of time and space is something she's come to know intimately. It feels naturally to follow it, but she realizes she needs to put a stop between herself and that urge lest the pull become too great. So she does, letting the hand on her back help ground her to the moment. ]

[ Shiro smiles and dismisses himself, asking that Coran follow to help get the word out quickly. Pidge lingers to talk and observe.

Lance remains by Allura's side, just as promised, though seeing that she has to stay focused to do this, opts to chat with Pidge for a bit; it's easy banter, over the years they've only gotten closer. She hasn't lost any of her edge, and her teases are sharper than ever. The tone of their conversation always matches the subject matter; and Lance leaves translations out of the mix unless Allura asks directly. Of course, his eyes move between Allura and Pidge as he talks, seeing her fingers sparkle and wonders if she's okay; but in so far as he can tell, she must be.

Pidge phone blares, and a message is passed from one to the next, Lance repeating it to Allura: ] We should be good to leave now. You doing alright?

[ Even if she doesn't understand it, she likes listening to him talk. Every once in a while a word will pop out to her that either Lance or Pidge utters and she'll either find herself getting the meaning or at least finding comfort in the sound. She lets a few out under her breath, quietly testing out the syllables.

Perhaps all she really does need is time.

When he finally speaks to her, she nods, but doesn't respond verbally right away. She pauses. ]

I can feel a pull through the portal, as if it's calling out to me. It's very strong. Is this home?

[ Lance has no clue; and worse, he has no way to explain how little of a clue he has. Even what she suggests feels abstract to him. So, he pauses, a small, contemplative frown on his face, before it curls into a smile as he takes his hand to the curve of her waist. ]

Let us find out?

[ His smiles gives her confidence and she nods again. The wormhole widens as if in welcoming and the Atlas disappears into the spiral of space time.

--But it's not Earth that waits for them on the other.

No, it's where the Allura Nebula used to be, though she wouldn't exactly realize it. Perhaps it shouldn't be surprising that she felt so connected to this region of space.

There's no planet nearby.

Allura frowns as the wormhole closes behind them. ]

...This doesn't seem right.

...

[ ... ]

[ Pidge, in accusation: ] "Lance, where are we?"

...

[ Lance, with concern: ] Allura, where are we?

Edited 2019-02-05 01:41 (UTC)

...

[ Allura removes her hands from the pedestals and the glow dies down. She looks at Lance with equal parts concern and confusion, before stepping forward to the viewport. The region is certainly beautiful and there are small flashes of stars being born in the distance. ]

I know this place...

[ But why? ]

But...I--I'm not sure if it has a name. This isn't home. I'm...I'm sorry.

[ She's just transported everyone to who knows where. That feels pretty awful.

But Allura is, if anything, stubborn, and she turns immediately back around to take her position again. ]

--I'll try again!

Woah, woah, woah, [ Lance catches her at the waist before she can take her place again. ]

We should figure out where we are first. Pidge, are you able to look at coordinates from here?

"Only slowly. Shiro will probably get to us before I can pin point our location. Aaand there he is now." [ Pidge pauses, thinking. ] Okay so we're in the Florian Quadrant, subsection Galak-Urlay, division-."

English, please. [ This is not said in Altean, but rather, Annoyance. ]

"We're in the Allura Nebula. About half the distance we were from Earth, but also on the nearly opposite side of Altea and Earth. I guess Allura's got the juice just not the accuracy to put us where we need to go."

...Okay, cool, how do I say like any of that in Altean.....

[ She's stopped, and looks at Lance with a frown. (Or a pout, it's a pout.)

Okay. Figure out where they are. Florian registers, but she can't really place where it is. She'd been part of all universes, which weren't all laid out the same way. Perhaps she shouldn't be too surprised that her alignment is a little off.

Allura Nebula. ]

What?

[ She looks back out the window. ]

Is this where I was?

[ The part of her that touched this universe? ]

I followed my own Quintessence signature...

[ Allura turns around in Lance's arms. ]

You are home. Perhaps I can follow yours instead?

[ Lance frowns a little. He's grown up a lot, learned his own strengths and weaknesses, understands himself better than ever, but.... there's creeping doubt in his belly. He's never done much with the quintessence left behind for him, he'd hardly believe he had any power over it. He turns to Pidge, who clearly has no idea what's going on, but asks, ] "Sounds like she picked it up, anyway?"

Yeah.... We've never warped in this ship before, right? Could it be the Atlas's fault that we ended up this far out?

"Seems likely. We can't calibrate something without any initial readings to go off of, so it could be a combination of the two. Coran and me can check it out together, see if there's anything we can adjust now that we actually have something to go off of. I think we're closer to Hunk's coordinates now too, so he'll be able to help. Whatever the case, it'll be at least a day."

[ Lance pauses, reluctant to deny Allura this, but... He's not sure he can be that much help. ] Pidge says it might be the ship. We should wait before we try again. You already brought us a lot closer to home now, anyway. [ He smiles, feeling guilty, but there's warmth there. ]

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