voice | un: altea

[juniberries]

These rifts affecting a single guild member...do they happen often? I had found myself suddenly back in my own universe for some time, with no memory of having joined Hathaway, only to return before I-- nevermind.

[this is voice for a reason because while there is disappointment in her tone, she'd rather not show it to the rest of the guild. it's something she'll get to when her time with Hathaway feels like it's been completed.]

I realize I have been gone for only a handful of days, and merely wanted to inform everyone that I have returned.

[and because as A Leader Type she can't help herself:]

Hopefully we are all already thinking of our aliases for the upcoming mission.

Comments

[juniberries]

Twice? [her voice cracks a bit because hah hah dimension hopping is one thing but what feels akin to timetravel is still something to come to terms with.] And I am fine...just--er, concerned I may have missed something in my short absence that is not on the dossier.

[PLUS A LOT HAS CHANGED BACK HOME.]

[secondnature]

Twice. [He repeats it to affirm the fact. It's something he knew well. The second time had left him feeling ... out of place. Disoriented by the new possibilities of avoidance, when he had never wanted to avoid much before. It helped that he knew that he had that choice.]

Nothing's happened. Just more ... team bonding, I'd guess.

Do you have a plan for our next mission?

[juniberries]

...Have you been taking advantage of that?

[her way of awkwardly trying to initiate Small Talk with a guy she didn't get to talk to when she had been back home.]

And not yet. I have only read the dossier once, but this world seems much more similar to planets the Coalition has helped.

...though I do wonder if this will be a good opportunity to put my traveling circus of performing mice to the test.

[secondnature]

Of course! I know the importance of bonding exercises. [He's not new to this rodeo, Allura!]

Do you want to act as if you're a part of a ... circus?

[juniberries]

I would not be part of the circus, I would simply be their handler. I would assume I cannot pretend to be a visiting noble as I had done in Hanibara.

Mind you, their performance is much better when it is all four of them together instead of just two...

[secondnature]

I ... something tells me that two mice dancing around aren't going to impress anyone. You might need a less ... [Uh, what's the word for it?] ... weird? Cover.

[juniberries]

...what's weird about it?

1/3

[secondnature]

It's just ... most people think of mice as rodents. Having two you trained to do tricks is just—I dunno. Weird?

[secondnature]

[Wait. Even Keith knows that's rude.]

I don't think your mice are weird! I know they're not weird!

[secondnature]

[Okay. He thinks that covers it.]

It's just ... you have to consider how someone else sees it.

[juniberries]

If pitched right it could be a unique experience. The people of this world keep cats and dogs as pets, after all, much like Alteans. Mice being animal companions is not far fetched.

It could also prove to be a useful front for the rebellion.

[secondnature]

Nobody wants to act like they're in a circus.

[juniberries]

I am not--

[there's the sound of her giving a bit of a Huff because he's not getting it.]

Have you come up with anything for an alias?

[secondnature]

I—uh, well. I mostly just keep to myself for missions like these. Last time I lived with Shiro and pretended to be his brother, but ... well ...

[Anyway.]

It's good to see what jobs you can get when you get there.

[juniberries]

[this may be an audio conversation but she makes A Look when he audibly changes the topic.]

...what happened on that mission, Keith?

[secondnature]

I meant ... that Shiro's gone ...

[Uh.]

Though I guess that wasn't the easiest mission, either. Lance and Shiro got infected.

[A beat.]

A—a different Lance.

[juniberries]

The same Lance that Rey knew?

[a pause.]

...this is...similar to the Sven situation, correct?

[secondnature]

Yeah, only ... the two Lances I know are very similar. Or three? I'm not sure. Could be that the Lance here isn't my Lance, same way you might not be my Allura.

[Once upon a time, Keith hadn't found any of this easy to believe. Now it's at least somewhat reassuring. Only somewhat.]

I've never had any information just—not match up, you know? But obviously something happened. Something's different. Sven was just ... a more extreme case of it.

[juniberries]

[She's no Pidge, and she's certainly no Slav, so thinking too hard about the reality of alternate realities is still not something she really wants to do.

She knows there's a reality where her father had not hidden the lions. Where she as Empress was able to defeat Zarkon and-- well...

...it's not a reality she wishes to dwell on.]

Perhaps what is different is our decision to join Hathaway. Or, in your case, ALASTAIR.

All I know is, is that to me you're...well, Keith. And that Lance is Lance. Even if a Lance has been here before him.

[secondnature]

They didn't have control over who signed up before. We never had a say in it until now.

[That's ... part of why Keith feels guilty. He had a chance to go home, and he didn't take it.

He's certain Allura will read that into it.]

You're still Allura to me. It's just—when I tell Lance or you about stuff, I feel like it's easier to see it as a different person. Since you don't just forget. And everything at home waits for us.

[juniberries]

[She does read that part into it, but won't press it. She knows better, at least not to do it publicly over the network.

But Keith seeing the former 'Shiro' and 'Lance' as different people is-- well, maybe it's because she's not experienced it here herself, but it doesn't sit right with her.

Still...]

I understand. And everything remaining as it is at home is why it still feels right to remain here.

[a pause.]

A lot has changed for the Coalition. I joined Hathaway to seek new allies to join us to fight the Galra Empire, but--

[ANOTHER PAUSE]

May we speak privately?

[secondnature]

[Why is there a "but" there? Keith hesitates before responding.]

Come by my room, Princess. Something tells me this is better off the magitek.

[He knew she had experienced more than him. It's time he finds out what that is, especially if it involves the Galra.]

[juniberries]

I will see if Lance is available to join our conversation as well.

It is something both of you should know.

[secondnature]

All right. I'll stand by until you get here.