Entry tags:

August Event Log: Part I

Who: Everyone
When: August 9 and onward
Where: An unexpected destination
What: The newcomers go on a trip and end up far from where they expected
Warnings: Potential violence. Please label your content!

NOTE: PLEASE READ THIS OOC POST FIRST.

When the time comes for the travelers to go on the off-world trip that will help restore Thisavrou, they are not alone. Others who have settled on the planets longer and come to call them home are also prepared to travel; through the Ingress and do their part. Yet when the newcomers step through, whether they stepped through the Ingress seconds or hours apart, they will find that they have arrived at the same time, and only newcomers are in sight.

What awaits them is not a land of plenty. The land is barren, and dark storms in the sky resemble those held at bay by the Ingress complex—but much, much closer. Those who traveled on the Moira may recognize the landscape; though they have come through at a different point from the crash, they are on the Midway Hub. And there is no portal back. They are trapped.

hitting the road

Though some have been here before, the Midway Hub is not as they remember it. The storms fill the sky, leaving it dark and ominous even when they are not sweeping across the landscape—but they have clearly done so in recent times, and often. While never a lush land, large patches of ground an acre or more wide looking nothing more than utterly dead; the thistle that naturally grows is brittle, black and unable to be consumed even with the usual preparations to make it edible, and here and there animal corpses are found twisted into unnatural poses, but seemingly uninjured. These places are particularly concentrated near the broken Ingresses litter the landscape. While Midway Hub as a whole may seem naturally arid, these dead spots leave no hope that anything can possibly live there again.

The travelers have two options: stay where they are, or move on. While it might seem that they've been tricked into coming here and been left abandoned, those with the technological ability to do so may detect a sign of hope: a familiar energy source, far in the distance. Although none of the Ingresses they pass will ever work again, the faint energy shows that one still-functioning Ingress lies far in the distance, days away.

Although technological scanning or impressive memory of the landscape indicates that they are not separated from their destination by one of the gates that divide the land, they are also far from the shelter of the facility at the center of the Hub. Any attempt to travel in a direction other than that of the energy signal will result in a strange disorientation after several hours, bringing individuals back to their original path as though they've gone in circles. Meanwhile, though travelers will feel the need to slake their hunger and thirst through any natural water sources they discover, wildlife they can hunt for food and any supplies they have on them, if they don't find sustenance, they'll find that they will never pass out or reach the point of starvation. Instead, they'll be left alive and awake but feeling utterly hollow.

storm front

At regular intervals, the energy storms above descend onto the land, bringing not rain but violent clashes of negative energy and thunder so loud that nothing can be heard above it. The passing of the storms leaves some strange effects. The ground is warped and rotted by their touch, even solid stone degrading to a spongy surface. The air is tepid and oddly charged. Prolonged contact with air or ground will not supply energy, however — it drains it from organic and synthetic life alike.

Those who remember their last trip to the Hub, or simply explore in the right direction, may come across the cave complexes with their glowing surfaces and streams. The light is dimmer now, a sickly green, but drinking from the streams will still restore the energy lost, for a time. This time, however, the lethargy that inevitably follows is much more severe, and the drinkers are left with a raw, empty feeling leeching in from the wasteland around.

Those who are exposed to the storms, either by finding themselves in very close proximity or even closely observing them for too long as they approach, may lose their sight, or hearing, even much of the ability to feel touch — whatever sense they used in observation. What lingers in its place is a numbness. A hunger. And as time passes, the time between storms decreases; what seemed like hours between the storms becomes scarcely one, and their intensity grows.

wild life

Sentient beings are not the only ones affected by the storms; these creatures, attracted to sound and able to track by scent, and these panthers, which once looked normal but have been twisted by the storms into more monstrous forms, are numerous enough that travelers must be constantly alert for their presence. Though natural predators, the threat the creatures represent is not itself natural. They are also more aggressive. Some strange instinct drives them, not a need for food. While the panthers themselves can be caught and their meat cooked, it has little taste, offering nutrition but not satisfaction.

old familiar places

Although it's difficult to track the passage of time without day-night cycles, after what seems like more than a week of the travelers' unexpected trip, the storms abruptly come rushing in at the group of travelers, as if they're herding the group to move faster toward their destination and the Ingress energy that awaits them. The true nature of that destination becomes clear when debris appears on the horizon; the energy comes from the wreckage of the Moira, the interstellar ship that crashed here months ago.

Despite the trauma of impact, large sections of the ship remain surprisingly intact, though few of them are properly vertically oriented. If travelers are able to make their way inside the damaged sections of the ship, they'll find familiar territory, if they are one of those who traveled on the Moira, as well as shelter—something that's increasingly necessary as the storms seem to center over the ship, leaving little hope for survival outside. Useful items may be scavenged from the ship if they are willing to explore, but no personal items of any kind remain.

Strangely, the deeper travelers go into the crashed ship, the less familiar their surroundings will seem, regardless of their orientation. The inward-leading paths into the ship become generic metal, and as with the travel on the surface of the planet, they may find themselves back where they started. And no matter how far they go or how hard they try, they will find themselves unable to make it to the Ingress chamber itself...for now.

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[It's funny. Maybe 'funny' is the wrong word for it. Strange, unhealthy, maybe. But while he knows the others care -- he knows they're all some kind of cobbled-together, working it out, family -- for some reason, hearing those things from Hunk is making something in his chest twist up.]

[you're my friend]

[Maybe he's just too tired to be rational.]

It does a lot, Hunk. Thank you. [As he turns the package over in his hands. There's complete sincerity in the words, like always.] I -- guess I'm not doing a great job of this... taking it easy thing, huh?

Hmm. [Hunk mulls that over before crouching down to sit beside Shiro.]

I don't think it's that really. I mean, yeah, you're totally bad at taking care of yourself. But it's just... well, the way you said that is kinda the thing. You look at us all like.. [he gestures broadly] like we're your kids and it's your job to make sure we're all safe.

[He turned his head to look at Shiro again.] And it's like... we love you for looking out for us, man, we really do. But we're a team. We take care of each other. Which means sometimes you gotta lean on us, too. Let us help you out.

And yeah, we're gonna get hurt sometimes. You get hurt all the time. I'm pretty sure if me or Pidge or Lance or Keith got banged up as bad as you did all the time you'd.. I dunno, feel bad. Think it was your fault for not looking out for us.

[He hesitates again, and this time when he looks at Shiro it's a little sideways.] I feel like that sometimes too, I guess. We all have our .. things here, you know? I feel like part of mine is trying to get my friends to relax, to take care of themselves. I know it's not that you don't trust us. I just don't get what it is. Why it's so hard for you to let me take some of this on for you sometimes.

[Hunk grinned then, nodding down towards the cookies.] Even trying to get you to take my cookies, man. It's like if it's just to help you it's not worth taking or something, which is bologna.

.... [a wistful sigh.] I miss bologna.

[Hunk needs some kind of award. He really does. Or he needs to quit being a Paladin and go into therapy. Or counseling. Or something. It's surprising, how much he picks up, and how easily it seems like he puts it all into words.]

[His free hand curls a little. like we're your kids and it's your job to make sure we're all safe] I thought that's what I'm supposed to be doing, y'know? Take the lead, take the hits... so you guys can come through.

[There's a weak shrug of one shoulder. Pulling his helmet off to drag his hands over his face, the package balanced on a knee.]

I didn't know you felt that way, Hunk. I... it's not something I want any of you guys to feel. I'm sorry.

[It's a reflex. The words. He lets his head drop into his hands.]

... I don't know either. I -- [Why is it so hard. Why can't he just accept it? Just take it and go on like a normal person? Why could he take it from Angela, from Lucio, but not his own team?]

[Because they didn't look up to you like they do.]

[Because he didn't have to be the leader, the controlled one, surrogate family, the Black Paladin, for them. He's got to be so many things for the people following him. He always had. What room was there for anything else?]

I don't know, Hunk.

[It's very, very quiet. As if afraid someone is going to overhear. But it comes out.]

I don't want to let you down. You all... man, Lance thinks I'm a hero. And you know Keith. [If he breaks, isn't he stomping all over their image?]

[Hunk puts a hand on Shiro's shoulder, his smile softening.] You're our leader, man. It's totally your job to lead us. And you're really, really good at it. But it's not your job to do everything on your own, you know? You aren't supposed to take all the hits for us all the time. You know how tough Yellow is, she can take it.

[He's shaking his head now.] That's just it, though, yeah? I mean, you're my leader but you're my friend too. I'm gonna worry about you. It's just how that goes. It's not something you're making me feel, it's just something I'm feeling. Nothing you can do about it, and nothing you gotta be sorry for.

[Hunk can't imagine what Shiro's been through. He knows not even Shiro remembers everything, and he's pretty certain that he hasn't shared a lot of what he does know with the group. He takes a deep breath.] Man, you are a hero. Look at what you've done, what you've survived. Not everyone could do that. I almost lost it just riding the blue lion out of the Garrison in the first place.

[The corner of his lip twitches a little at the memory. Okay, maybe don't think about vomit right now. Let's not give his stomach any ideas.]

There's nothing you could do to let us down, Shiro. Nothing you could do or say would ever let me down. You're my friend, and you're a person. Nobody's gonna be perfect. Nobody's supposed to be perfect. And that's why we're all a team, isn't it? Because none of us can do it all on our own. We pick up each other's slack, make each other laugh when one of us is having a bad day. That's why we're here.

That's why I'm here for you. I'm the leg, right? I mean, a torso could probably get around on it's own. Maybe even a head. But it'd be weird, hopping around and like, not super effective when it came to fighting evil genocidal and kinda racist alien guys. I'm here to keep you propped up, man. Whenever you need it.

Yeah. Yeah, I... I know they can take it. I know all of you can. [Despite everything, there's a note of pride in the words. He's so proud of them. Of everything they've done. Everything they've been through and they're all still standing.]

[Maybe he shouldn't have used the word 'hero'. There's little flickers back to what the shadows had said, pieces of memory warring with each other. He's not a hero. He's just survived. That didn't take anything. Not while other people were still living in that same situation.]

[Nothing you could do or say would ever let me down. You're my friend, and you're a person]

[He doesn't know what to say. All of this, because he couldn't just take a pack of cookies like a normal person.]

[It isn't that he doesn't want to believe Hunk. Far from it. He wants to with everything in him. So bad it... it's a struggle to process it all. Dragging both hands down his face like that's going to help somehow. To keep it together.]

No one has to be perfect, but if we screw up, people suffer. If I screw up, the people who matter most get hurt, man... I...

[They all look up to him in some way, don't they, they -- You're my friend, and you're a person.]

... I'm really tired.

[That's about all the excuse he can muster for the way he drops his head into his hands, covering his face. But most telling is, likely, the way his shoulder dips a bit into the hand holding it.]

[It gives in. Just a bit.]

Edited (html B() 2017-08-14 06:37 (UTC)

[What Hunk really wants to do is pull Shiro in for a hug. He wants to physically reinforce his affection for this guy who constantly sacrifices pieces of himself for the people he cares about.

But there's this fragility in the air right now, a special kind of vulnerability that Hunk is afraid to shatter. Shiro's offered this small concession, this admission. A crack in the veneer that was hard won for both of them.

So instead he rubs his large thumb softly against Shiro's shoulder, accepting and acknolwedging the gesture. Shiro knows Hunk is here if he wants, or is capable of, more. Whether it's today or in five years. Hunk wasn't even sure how he knew it, but right now he knew what was important was making sure Shiro knew Hunk heard him without him having to use the words.

His voice is soft, and if it's a bit thick with emotion he hopes Shiro won't mind.] If you screw up, the people who matter the most will be here to help you out. Always. You don't even have to ask, man.

[He gives Shiro's shoulder a light squeeze.] Start thinking about when you can take breaks, maybe? I know it's not easy, so maybe just... start thinking about it. You wanted to train up the team, right? Maybe try to start thinking about stuff you can delegate to us. Let us take some of this off you when we can. You're just as important as everyone else to me, Shiro. To all of us.

[It's been so long since he cracked. Since he let anything out. The last time was in Angela's house. His hand tangled in her dog's fur, her voice assuring him it was all right, it was safe. Her steady assurance he'd done the right thing, he'd always done the right thing, You're not alone. It's like every ache and every twisted hurt compounded in his chest since then.]

[He just didn't realize they were there.]

[They look up to you, she'd said. And in the same breath asked what about you?]

[Here's Hunk. One of the people who look up to him. One of the people he would fight for, walk through a black hole for. Echoing her words. Echoing her concern and telling him it's fine, it's all right. You're a person too. You're my friend and what about you?]

[It's awkward. But he reaches to grasp the hand on his shoulder with his real one. Holding it fast. He's heard the others say it. Heard them assure him it's okay to delegate, and God he had tried. But there was always the problem -- they looked to him. They saw him as a dozen different things.]

[You're my friend and what about you?]

[Hunk... didn't even know him before this. Is still sitting here, doing his best to make him understand.]

I want to. [He's surprised how thick his voice comes out. Surprised the armored hand covering his face is a little damp.] I know... you will. All of you... I want to.

[He wants to try. His hand squeezes. That storm will pass, and life will settle. They're so important to him. All of them. So important, if he doesn't take care of them...]

Don't let me ... don't let me forget. All right?

[Hunk had only known about Shiro by way of whispered rumor, or right before they'd gone to rescue him and he and Lance had stumbled upon Pidge's research.

He knew Shiro was well thought of. A good student, a nice guy, a natural leader. But that's nothing that Hunk couldn't have picked up from being a member of Voltron.

He also knew Shiro had a lot of damage. A lot of stuff he didn't talk about, and now he knew a fraction of the pressure he put on himself to be this flawless leader.

It was .. humbling, flattering to know that not only had he let Hunk in on this, but he was inviting him to stay there. To keep him accountable to this kind of vulnerability at the very least.

Hunk had to clear his throat. He'd been struggling since he got here to figure out what it was exactly he contributed when they didn't have Voltron. Besides meals and the occasional laugh sometimes he felt like he didn't fit in, didn't really have a "thing," has Lance liked to put it.

He fit in. He belonged here. This was home. His team was his home.

He didn't bother to fight the instinct now. He leaned forward and pulled Shiro into a hug, resting his chin on his left shoulder. He was smiling even as his throat choked with emotion.]

Of course, man. Anything. Any time.

[Of course Hunk has a thing. He's like the heart of the whole team -- the person with the biggest one, the strongest one. They owe a lot to him. More than Hunk probably knows. If anyone asked him, he would defend that opinion to the death. Defend his whole team that way. And... that's probably part of the problem. They're the most important people in the world, in any universe.]

[He'd do anything for them.]

[Why is it so hard to accept the reverse?]

[It's a small step, admitting these things to Hunk, but it's a step. Like talking to Angela. Like accepting he was afraid. One more small step toward something like stability, in the end. That's what he needs, that's what everyone needs. It's better for everyone.]

[He doesn't fight it -- he even leans into it, gripping his teammate back just as fiercely. He was prepared for this, ready for this, for the relief of it. Just not for the emotion in Hunk's voice.]

[Or what it pulls out of him in return.]

[Probably the first actual tears since he woke up from what the shadows put them through. Pressed into Hunk's shoulder like it's a wall against the world.]

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August Event Log: Part I

hitting the road

storm front

wild life

old familiar places

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