middaeg | [closed] october catch-all

[ They've all dreamwalked before, but it was never quite like this. It's Aefenglom, but the planes of reality are distorted and structures that shouldn't be there are scattered throughout the city. Trying to navigate through it doesn't seem all that different from trying to navigate an Escher painting if you aren't paying attention to what should and shouldn't be possible.

This will be dangerous -- the coven witches had warned, and Keith doesn't plan on forgetting that any time soon. He has every intention of fighting shadows and gathering crystals with Allura, but that determination gets short circuited when the two of them pass through an inexplicable patch of desert that has a small cabin and a tree with a tire swing at its epicenter. Keith freezes. ]

That's... my house?

[ It can't be -- there's no coherent reason his dad's house would randomly be here, but all the same Keith is helplessly drawn towards the one place on Earth that still means something to him. ]

I'm ... I have to take a look.

[Compared to the impossible, winding staircases and structures that shouldn't exist, the tiny home barely counts as a blip on the radar of strange things they've confronted in here. If it wasn't for the stretch of desert around it, she might have just walked past it without even noticing it, for how mundane it was and Allura is just as eager to get to the other side of the mysterious desert until Keith voices just what it is.]

Your home?

[She echoes in disbelief, as she follows behind him, looking at the scene again for the first time. From the tree to the wooden cabin, back to Keith. Caught between reverence of a place she knew was so important to Keith, and the sort of dissonance that comes from a certain mental image she'd built up of Earth, and the place she saw before her.]

It's so... small.

[ Keith doesn't look at her as he heads towards the house at a pace between speed walking and outright jogging. Knowing that this is all part of a dreamscape doesn't make it any easier to come face to face with such a vivid facsimile of home. ]

Well yeah, we can't all grow up in a castle.

[ It's said almost distractedly as he reaches the tree. He goes around the side of it and kneels down to look at a spot where the trunk has several notches cut into the bark from when his dad had been tracking his height. Briefly, Keith bites his lip, fingers brushing over the highest notch which comes to just a little over half his height, then stands. ]

Look. [ Keith starts, then looks towards the house instead. It's stupid to be getting emotional about a house that isn't even real, but it's hard to keep some of the heaviness out of his expression. ] It's not much. I know that.

[Her head snaps up from where she'd been looking at the tracks in the sand at her feet, shame coloring her cheeks.]

I didn't- [-mean it that way. But she's not really sure how she meant it. She shakes her head, following him over to the tree. It's not unlike some of the trees that grow on Altea. Only unique in it's ability to grow in the middle of a desert. It turns out things on Earth are hardy.]

I was just surprised, is all. [She stops at the round hoop of rubber suspended from the branch and she touches it, making it turn gently.]

What is this for?

You didn't what? [ it's asked before he can think better of it. A beat later, he adds: ] Never mind.

[ It'd been obvious what Allura had meant, and Keith isn't interested in hearing a dissertation on why it wasn't so. In retrospect, this is something he should've foreseen. Allura's a princess with a luxurious castle equipped with advanced technology that allows it to fly all over the cosmos. Of course she was never going to view his home as anything other than quaint. Primitive.

He glances back over towards her when she asks a question, already feeling a speck of dread at having to answer. He can only imagine the kinds of things Allura had to play with as a child and just how plain a tire swing must be in comparison. Despite that though, Keith holds eye contact as he speaks. He isn't ashamed of being from Earth, nor is he ashamed of the things his dad has left him with. ]

Sit on it. I'll show you.

[It makes her feel odd – she considered herself well-travelled. She was used to visiting different planets with vastly different civilizations and technological levels and treating them like equals. But even then her experiences were unique. Catered to her status. She didn’t spend much time on the back roads of any planet, and seeing Keith’s childhood home brought context to something that has largely been hypothetical. She tried to imagine her own childhood, and how it didn’t fit in the house in front of her.

It made her think of how far apart she was from her friends, really.

She blinks, bringing herself back to ‘reality’.]

Oh, I have heard of swings before! [The descriptions were usually different, she didn’t add. Instead she sets to following his instruction. Almost gingerly, she sets one foot on the bottom of the tire-]

Woah! [The whole thing teeters, predictably, and she grabs for the rope to keep it from dumping her right onto the ground, a bubble of nervous, embarrassed laughter escaping her.]

[ Despite a growing number of complicated feelings, all of it gets shoved off the table as Allura wobbles on the swing. Keith immediately grabs the side of the tire to hold it steady, his other arm winding around her back. ]

You okay?

[ A moment later, he flushes. He's seen Allura pull off some crazy feats -- it's not like a swing of all things is going to be an actual problem. Clearing his throat, he adjusts his grip to hold the tire with both hands instead. ]

I'll just uh... hold this steady. No auto-stabilizers here so... it's not a proper childhood on Earth without getting a scrape or two.

[Her cheeks flush warm, caught for a moment in his arms - and she flashes back to the escape from the castleship for a second, a warm affectionate feeling pulsing through their bond, drowning out the embarrassment of her fumble in the first place.]

Right, it just surprised me, [She says, she realizes, for the second time since they came here. Who knew that in this dreamscape of impossible things, it would be the mundane that would throw her off so fully. Clearing her throat, she gives it another go. Carefully this time, putting one foot before the other through the hole until she's seated properly in the rubber loop. She's not sure what to do with her hands, so she just hugs the top of the tire, the whole thing bouncing gently with her weight.]

Now, what do we do? [Actually, she's a little bit excited now. Her lack of social graces aside, this is her first real experience with something from Earth. Not just that, but something important to Keith.]

[ Keith releases the tire when she's properly settled. Momentary awkwardness aside, it's hard not to wonder what his dad might've thought about him playing around on their swing with an alien princess. Show her something better. presumably.

The thought hits Keith at a weird place, somewhere between fond and wistful, but it makes him smile as he starts backing up a bit. ]

Well, you hold on, while I--

[ Keith charges towards the swing at a run and jumps to drape his torso over the top part of the tired, his forward momentum sending them both high up with the arc of the rope. ]

[Allura has accomplished some death-defying stunts. Plummeted from atmosphere to the ground of a Balmera with little more than her suit and a space scooter to keep her alive. Heights and speed did not scare her.

That doesn't stop her from letting out a small shriek when Keith launches them both high up in the air. Hands scrabble to hold onto Keith's arms, but she devolves into giggles when the swing reaches the peak of it's arc and the rope doesn't snap and Keith doesn't go launching off into the ground. She's still holding onto him, though. Just in case.]

Don't- Don't fall off!

[ Considering the multitude of places this could have gone wrong, Keith really should have known better. But as the rope holds and the two if them swing back and forth, he starts to laugh. ]

I'm not gonna fall!

[ It's the kind of sunny, bright confidence that's perfect for the moment as the wind musses up his hair and the surrounding desert blurs from the motion. It's certainly nothing like zipping through space at faster than light speed, but it's nice to share something like this with Allura. He's still grinning when the swing starts to slow to a gentle rocking motion. Curling up, he rests the tips of his toes on the back of the tire and pushes up to look at Allura upside down. ]

There are more exciting things to do on Earth. I wish I could show you.

[It feels a little silly, to be fooling around like this, but... it's nice. And it's a dream, isn't it? There's not really any time that they're wasting here. And it's the closest she can come to visiting Earth.

The tire spins a little when Keith leans over, and she laughs a little breathlessly, letting her hands relax on the sides of the tire. A warm fondnes curling through their bond, more obviously than before.]

More exciting than swinging on a rubber hoop with you? [She teases, using her tip toes to push the swing into a gentle sway. Then, more seriously,] I would like to see it. Someday.

[ The warmth is returned on Keith's end of the bond, expression shifting from playful to affectionate. Keeping his grip tight on the top of the tire, he tentatively lets go with one hand to touch Allura's cheek. ]

It's not going to be the most impressive planet you've ever visited. Especially with so many pairs of hideous ears walking around.

[ A beat. ]

In all seriousness, I haven't seen a lot of places on Earth either. Didn't have the money to travel. So maybe we could go sightsee and stuff together when the war is over.

[She smiles, leaning her face into the touch. There’s a familiar flutter in her stomach at the warmth between them, especially when she remembers their conversation after her (frankly embarrassing) post on the network. And how their relationship has changed since.]

I would like that. I would like to see your oceans and… the movies? [Things she remembers Lance and the others talking about. It’s not something she’s thought a lot about – what she’ll do after the war. There seems to be so many steps between that it seemed like a fool’s errand to try and plan. But travelling with Keith? Yes… she can imagine that just fine.

She grins up at him, reaching up with a hand to brush some hair away from his face, where it’s hanging wild, stopping to tug gently on an exposed ear.] And… I think I am becoming quite accustomed to human ears.

[ His stomach does a little flip entirely unrelated to being partly upside down as she smiles and tugs his ear. Vaguely, he wonders if this plan to sightsee constitutes a date, but decides not to think about that. ]

Can you believe the first time I'd seen Earth's oceans was when the Blue Lion flew out into orbit?

[ It makes him laugh just a little. Everything had happened so quickly that day and unpacking it even a little feels about as unreal as the dream. Gently, he curls two fingers under her chin to bring Allura's face up. ]

But that sounds great.

[ Adding to the list of dumb maneuvers for the day, he leans a little further down to kiss her lips. ]

Then the ocean will be our first stop, when we visit.

[Her eyes turn soft when he tips her chin up, face flushing warm when she realizes that he’s leaning in to kiss her. That’s right. This is a thing they do now. She bites her lip.]

You’re going to fall. [She teases, leaning in to meet him halfway. The whole swing sways and her lips meet his haphazardly at first, nose bumping against his chin. She giggles before cupping the sides of his face in her hands, holding him steady as she tilts her head, kissing him more fully.]

[ Allura isn't wrong about that, though it doesn't stop Keith kissing her back in earnest. It's weird doing this upside down with their faces aligning differently than usual, but it makes him skip an excited beat or three to even think that a "usual" exists between them.

Technically he realizes they have an objective they're meant to be focusing on, but what's the harm in enjoying a few moments like these? Carefully, he traces the line of her jaw, not quite deepening the kiss but prolonging it. ]

I'm not gonna fall.

[ He says with all the misplaced confidence of a boy trying to impress a girl he likes but maybe isn't dating. He shifts his weight on top of the tire, making it spin slowly in place. The effect could've been romantic, if his foot didn't slide off the tire and do exactly as she predicted. ]

Woah--

[ But before he falls backwards, there's a small puff of smoke and where Keith used to be is a small bat with a mullet, laughing in Keith's voice. ]

Fall and hurt myself anyway.

[It’s nice while it lasts, and there’s plenty of butterflies in her stomach by the time the tire jolts and tips and she has grab on to keep from tipping onto the ground herself. She’s not going to say she told him so but-]

Look at you-!

[Her voice takes a higher octave, and she hops off of the swing, bending down to scoop the tinier version of Keith off of the ground. He’s so….. cute. Oh no. She definitely can’t resist giving him a little scritch on the top of his head.]

You’re not hurt are you? It’s been some time since you appeared like this.

[ Keith makes an attempt to sit up in her hand, but seeing as bats just aren't made to do that he instead cranes his head up as she skritches his head. It's still a little weird having this ability now, but he's certainly not going to complain if Allura thinks its cute. ]

I'm fine. I just thought if I was fast enough I could fly instead of hitting the ground.

[ .... which reasoned out like that probably sounds a little silly, but he gives his arms (wings?) an experimental stretch. ]

Anyway, did you want to go inside the house? I'm warning you now though, it's probably gonna be messy. [ ... ] And I had to improvise some of the furniture.

Of course I do.

[The fact that it's Keith's makes it that much more exciting, but she'll keep that to herself.

Lifting her hand up to gently place him on her head,] That is, if you don't mind me visiting. I'd very much like to see it. This is the first time I've been able to see the inside of an earth home.

[So, luckily for him, she won't have anything to judge his weird cinderblock furniture by.]

[ Admittedly, the thought makes him nervous. His house is far from being presentable to royalty, and though he wouldn't have it any other way he can't help a twinge of self consciousness. But at the end of the day, he doesn't want to feel like he has anything to hide from her. ]

I don't mind.

[ Settling on her soft cloud hair, he shakes off the tiny anxious knot in his stomach. ]

First thing to know about an Earth style home is that the doors don't open automatically, so let's see if we're gonna have to break in first.

[ It's an attempt at a joke, really. With no neighbors around for miles, it's not like he seriously needed to lock the doors ever. ]

I have visited planets with manual doors.

[She teases, although as she approaches the entry to the house, it really strikes her how out of place she feels. The scent of the cut wood that makes up the walls of the home is far different from the sterilized atmosphere that made up the scenery of her childhood. It felt less like she was a visitor and more like an intruder.

It’s an uncomfortable feeling that she pushes down when she reaches for the door handle, giving it a tug, and then - remembering that doors like these had latching mechanisms – a twist. It clicks easily and she pulls the door open slowly, feeling some kind of anxiety bubbling in her stomach.]

It looks like we won’t have to become criminals, [She jokes trying to shake off the mix of feelings. It’s exciting but foreboding at the same time.]

[ As far as quests go, this one genuinely doesn't seem nearly as bad as some of the ones Keith has taken on before so agreeing to help out some farmers with Shiro seemed like it'd just be a fun time. A bonding moment, some might even call it.

Of course, he doesn't plan on letting some aggro pumpkins snack on his fingers any time soon, so he is taking the quest seriously, even if there's a decidedly casual air about him as they enter the pumpkin patch. ]

Alright, so what's the plan? Poke 'em with sticks and see if they bite?

[ Quite honestly, Shiro isn't sure the best plan of action here. Aggressive pumpkins? That's sure a new one. At least he's not the only one taking this on, and he and Keith have always been pretty good about bouncing ideas off each other.

.... Nevermind that some of those ideas have been... questionable. Still, nothing like pumpkins to ring in the fall spirit. ]

I don't see why we can't start with that. We can get a good idea of their disposition that way, too.

[ Trial and error! ]

Sounds like a p-

[ Plan. He'd been meaning to say, but a loud yelp coming from one of the farmers nearby cuts Keith off mid-word. Turning to look, Keith spots a farmer who's gotten himself caught in vines as a pumpkin opens its maw, eager to take a chomp.

Keith gives Shiro a a look as if to say Okay, so much for that before barreling across the pumpkin patch, launching himself over a fence to aim a kick to the side of the attacking pumpkin. The plant bursts upon impact, bits of pumpkin goo spattering the ground. Keith straightens up, pulling the farmer to his feet.]

Hey, are you okay?

[ But it's maybe just a lil early to be celebrating because those bits of goo sure are...melding back together. Hmmmmmm. ]

[ Okay, unexpected. This is fine, surely. They've faced more dangerous, and at least the poor farmer seems to be okay. Shiro's close behind Keith, and as the goo starts to stitch itself together.... ]

We've got this--you should get somewhere safer, [ he says to the farmer. His hand's starting to glow purple--he's prepared for a fight, since the pumpkins seem horribly and distinctly unfriendly. ]

[ The farmer absolutely does not need to be told a second time, running off before the vines can wrap themselves around his legs again. Keith turns his attention back to Shiro, reaching for his knife as he speaks. ]

Okay, I didn't know that these things can regenerate.

[ ANd boy do they regenerate fast. While Keith is distracted by the clumps of pumpkin reforming, another disguised pumpkin shoots out vines and snags him by the ankle. ]

Shiro, watch out! There's more of them in this cluster!

[ Bending low to the ground, Keith cuts the vine with his knife, just as another looop of vine snags his wrist and pins it to the soil. ]

Edited 2020-10-18 21:41 (UTC)

[ Ah, they're definitely a little in over their heads here--but, then again, they've faced down worse. There's no doubt in Shiro's mind that they can definitely handle this.

Uh, once they're not ensnared by vines. ]

Keith! I've got you!

[ Which is all he calls out before he slices through the vine holding Keith's wrist to the ground; he's careful not to get too close to Keith's very vulnerable skin. ]

Okay, so slicing through these things is probably a bad idea!

[ he says, after slicing through another. ]

[ As soon as Keith is free, he leaps back up onto his feet and takes several steps back. ]

Okay so then what?

[ As another wayward vine tries to grab and hold him steady, Keith cuts through it with his knife only to be grabbed by another one. Frustrated, Keith grits his teeth and in a puff of smoke turns into a small mulleted bat. Flapping up above Shiro's head, he calls: ]

Can you hit it with magic?

[ Okay--at least it'll be harder to snag Keith now. Shiro's pretty thankful for that. And Keith's idea definitely has merit. ]

Right! Let's see how they like fire!

[ Admittedly, he isn't the strongest with magic still, but... he's definitely sending a small fireball right at the pumpkins.

They, in fact, do not like fire. ]

[ Eyyyy that's a good turn of events. Keith carefully lands on top of Shiro's head. ]

Nice shot! Lemme try and give you a boost so you can take out the rest of these things.

[ Focusing on their bond, Keith tries to funnel some additional energy back to Shiro. ]

That's definitely working!

[ Okay, so maybe someone is a little unreasonably hype about this? He manages to keep it fairly lowkey, at least, but instead of feeling dread when he looks at the betoothed plants, he feels pretty confident they can do this.

Another fireball? Another fireball, right at another one of the weird pumpkins. ]

Just a few more, looks like!

You got it.

[ Focusing hard, Keith tries to keep their magical energies synchronized, giving Shiro more of a boost to his fire. Honestly, the enthusiasm is infectious as all hell, and Keith is reminded of the days back when Shiro was styling on him with that hoverbike trick down the canyons. Days from before all this crazy space war stuff when his biggest dream in life was to explore space with his best friend some day. ]

Get 'em, Shiro!

[ He gives Shiro's head a light pat with his wing. It's like a pseudo-high five. ]

[ It's definitely refreshing, being able to wield his magic like this. He's not the most magically inclined, and he has a long way to go, but honestly? With Keith at his side--or, rather, on his head in bat form--it's definitely easier to manage.

The boost works like a charm, and Shiro can't help but grin as he sends a solid fireball at the last of the pumpkins. When he's sure that no other pumpkins are going to rear up and try to make a snack out of them, he raises a hand for Keith to give a winged high five. ]

Nice job, buddy!

[ And a winged high five Shiro gets!! When the coast is clear, Keith spreads his wings and flaps down on top of a safe pumpkin. A quiet poof later, and Keith is back in human form with a wide-ass grin on his face. ]

You did it!

[ He reaches quickly for his knife, putting that away before someone steps on it and makes a mess of themsleves. ]

That was awesome.

[ And in a way, it tugs at his heartstrings all over again. Shiro always deserves to be this happy, goddamn it. Not... lost somewhere in space. But not wanting to dwell on it any more than he already does, Keith stands up and claps his hand on Shiro's shoulder. ]

Not as cool as that hoverbike trick though. That one changed my life.

[ It's good to see Keith grinning like that. Shiro's admittedly seen this side of him pretty often, but it never ceases to please him. He nudges Keith with his elbow, his grin as wide as Keith's. ]

Good to know we still make a great team. [ And something softens when Keith mentions the hoverbike trick. ] Seems like that was forever ago, huh? Almost like a whole other life.

Really does seem that way.

[ The smile on Keith's face turns slightly nostalgic as he gives the surrounding area a final glance to make sure there aren't any wayward evil pumpkins, then dusts off his hands and clothes. ]

I miss those days sometimes. Things were simpler. [ To put it suuuuuper mildly. ] ... heh. Weird thinking back to how getting chewed out by Iverson was the worst thing that could happen. [ ... ] Adam, in your case, I guess.

Way simpler. Simulations, exercises, curfews....

[ He gives a quiet chuckle. ]

Chewed out, huh... What, you think I'm a troublemaker? [ He tries valiantly to keep a straight, stern face, but he doesn't have too much luck. ] It's like you don't know me at all, Keith.

[ Keith rolls his eyes a little, but there's a grin on his face. ]

I don't think it. I know you're a troublemaker. Don't make me do a callout.

[closed] october catch-all

ALLURA

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SHIRO

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