[open video, 4/20 squeaky voice] | Skill Sharing!

[chefbayardee]

[ The screen blips on to Hunk, reclined across a couch. Balmogra the moogle's pom-pom occasionally drifts into the top of the frame, and Hunk's eyes keep glancing towards it. As he starts talking, he's entirely oblivious to the fact that his voice is high-pitched and squeaky. ]

Hey, so with other people asking about things like our stories, our worlds, and our jobs, I realized that we don't actually know a lot about what we can all do! Like... I learned that some people have never been grocery shopping before! Or some can't cook! Or some people don't know how technology here works. Since we're all stuck here, we might as well try to help each other out, right? So what are some things you know or want to know?

Me, I know about cooking and engineering and mechanics. But I don't know anything about magic. Or how to defend yourself from a monster that's up close and trying to eat you. Or how to use a giant fork in a fight? Or why they use forks here to begin with.

[ He pauses for a moment, looking almost uncomfortable, and then- ]

And if you're embarrassed to say something you can't do, you can always send it to me and I'll mention it for you!

( This is super open and threadjacking is possible and totally okay! )

Comments

[fatefulprincess]

Your ship is a lion... You sail in the stars in an animal?

[chefbayardee]

So it started snowing and the knights didn't get any more charitable? [ He pouts, clearly annoyed by the revelation. He has no idea what those knights are even protecting, if not their people. ]

Ishgard sounds like a pretty bad place.

[chefbayardee]

[ Hunk giggles, but it's closer to his normal volume and therefore super muppety. And then he dons the deep voice once more. ]

That was kinda close! [ His voice cracks higher for a moment. This is ridiculous. ] Can you try again? [ He looks worried. ] This isn't hurting your throat, is it?

[ Hunk screams a lot, so he's pretty much fine. Yue doesn't seem like he screams at things often. ]

[chefbayardee]

Well, that's not a big deal. [ Honestly, he's just glad there weren't stronger mecha-pilot-wizards. That'd be weird. ] One of my friends ditched pilot school, and... [ He laughs, and starts scratching at his neck. ] Most of my team actually ditched our military school.

[ But he chuckles, hoping to break the discomfort. ] We're probably gonna get expelled if we ever go back.

[chefbayardee]

Yeah. [ And then he realizes the wackiness of what he just said. If she can't understand a starship, is she really gonna understand that the starship is a lion? ]

Or, it looks like one on the outside. On the inside, it's like the inner parts of a ship. Does that... make sense? [ And now he feels bad, because he's not doing a great job of explaining this. ]

[chefbayardee]

[ Shiro's the one who needs the support. That's what Hunk keeps telling himself as his friend promises that what happened in their home universe would never happen again. He got the apology- he's fine. It's water under the bridge, unless they learned what was going through angry Shiro's head.

So it hurt to see his friend so worried and penitent. If Hunk hadn't said anything, Shiro wouldn't be hurting like this... but then that burden would've stayed on his own shoulders. But right now? ]

Shiro... [ Is the one who needs the support. Hunk is still concerned, and his voice shows it even as his hand meets his friend's. But there's a stern sort of confidence now. He knows what's important. So he pulls on the hand with his own, using the momentum to close the distance and give Shiro a hug. A big one, even though it's just with one arm. ]

You don't have to earn my trust, you already have it. [ And Hunk laughs, because really, Shiro? ] Why else do you think I told you about what happens in the future? About what you did? I know you'll do the right thing, even if, y'know, it's weird. [ Weird in this case probably meaning a stable non-parallel time loop that they'll both laugh about when their timelines sync up after this mess. ]

It's gonna be okay. [ He gives one last squeeze for the hug, and starts to let go. There's a moment of hesitation, of slowness, just in case Shiro needs to pull him in for a longer hug. Shiro's the one who needs the support, after all. But Hunk's feeling better. There's even a smile; a real one. They can do this. They're both going to be okay. ]

[littlemhigan]

It's...

Ishgard's changin'. It'll take a while yet, but it's changin' for the good.

[fatefulprincess]

That sounds... Really weird, Hunk. How do you even get inside?

[spaceforged]

[He clasps Hunk's hand trying to convey with how careful his grip is that he won't bring him harm. He lets out a surprised sound as he's drawn into a hug. He stills for a second then he wraps his free arm around him and commits to the embrace. It's exactly what he needed. If he had to guess it does them both some good.]

This whole situation is weird. But, at least I get the opportunity to apologize for it. [It will be alright. He'd make sure of it. When Hunk lets go he slowly does the same. He'll really think about what he's been told and what it means later. Hunk looks to be doing better. Shiro smiles just a little.]

It will alright. We'll do everything to make it that way. Here and at home. Thank you for telling me all you could. Should...certain people arrive. I'll have to have some discussion with them as well. [He holds up both his hands before any protest can be uttered.]

I will be careful around Lotor.

[einspine]

[His eye sockets widen, and he quickly shakes his head.]

NO, NO! OF COURSE NOT!!! MOST MONSTERS ARE VERY PEACEFUL. AND THOSE WHO HAVE KILLED TYPICALLY ONLY DID SO IN SELF-DEFENSE.

[Although Undyne... even without LV, her intentions are rather hostile, and that's not good. So like Hunk, he's also shifting a bit awkwardly.]

ANYWAY! HUMAN SOULS. THEY ARE COLORFUL. AND VERY DETERMINED. THAT'S WHAT MAKES THEM SPECIAL.

[chefbayardee]

[ Castor seems like she has some pretty strong opinions about this place. About what's wrong with it, about the brighter future. It gets him wondering. ]

Was Ishgard where you grew up?

[chefbayardee]

There's a door in the back of the mouth, actually. So it's like you... get... eaten. [ He trails off, blinking a few times. He was so used to the Lions after all this time. ] Yeah, it's actually pretty weird. I just stopped asking questions about some of it.

[ And now he's laughing! Because his life is so, so weird. ]

[chefbayardee]

[ Of course, Shiro's right back to focusing on the task at hand. On surviving here. It's good to know that some things never change. But he's smiling. They know more about where the other stands, both in terms of adjustment and the timeline (who'd have thought?!) so... he's right. They can do this. ]

Thanks for just rolling with the fact that I'm from the future. [ And he laughs, though it's still awkward because this whole conversation is just a lot to take in. ] I have more stuff to tell you later, but right now?

[ He cracks a toothy grin. ] I think I'm gonna go for a walk- stop staring at the screen, maybe see if anything tasty's in the market. [ See: parse his thoughts so he doesn't gush on the Mognet and get the stuff for some catharsis baking. ] Unless you have any other questions?

[ Because Shiro seems good. But he might not be. Things might not be fine. So he'll leave the option open. He has to. ]

[spaceforged]

I'm good. If I think of anything I'll bring it up later. For now I'm going to think over everything you've told me. It's a lot to process.

[He smiles reassuringly and tilts his head to indicate his bedroom.]

And some exercise will put it all in order for me. As always, you're free to come to me at any time to tell me the rest of what you have to say. ...and thank you, for telling me how Commander Holt and Matt are.

I worried they- [He cuts himself off and shuts his eyes. No. He won't voice that.]

Nevermind. I'm happy they're alright. If I'm not here when you get back I went to the library. [There's so much he has to learn to keep them safe. Answers are eluding him and that never feels right. But he has to be patient. They're out there and scrambling for them will do him no good. So he'll study and gather knowledge. Waiting is never easy but he's done so much of it.]

There's a lot of research to do. Like being a cadet again in a way.

[twomeals]

[Yue screams at things literally never, he's generally pretty quiet? Trying again though!]

Booooooooo--it does a little, hehe.

[might've switched back partway through that, it's fine. He's still smiling, anyway!]

[euphemia]

[ She really has no excuse, she thinks. But there simply was no time for learning this, especially when there was no need to. Not when she had her meals prepared for her. Still ... this was an opportunity to be like her brother—independent. ]

Not gourmet but ... 'good'. [ A thoughtful look. ] What do you think is a 'good' recipe to learn?

[chefbayardee]

[ Okay, so monsters are peaceful most of the time. And Hunk knew that human souls had colors, although they couldn't tell what the colors were. That just left one thing: ]

What do you mean, "determined?" How's that special? Aren't monsters determined?

[littlemhigan]

Nah. Spent my girlhood in Thanalan. S' all desert and scrub and sun down there. Has its own set o' troubles but at least it's warm.

I jes...I spent a good deal o' time in Ishgard of late. It's grown close to my heart in a lot of ways.

[worldmother]

[ Well that manages to surprise her, as Elly blinks a few times into the camera. ]

I didn't realize you went to a military academy as well.

[ Sorry, Hunk, you just don't seem the type. She knows how badly bleeding hearts do in the military. But mentioning expulsion like that, especially in regards to ditching school... ]

...Were you all deserters, then?

[chefbayardee]

It... well... [ He fidgets a bit, clearly unsure how to respond. And so Hunk whines for a moment, closing his eyes and trying to figure out just how to explain everything quickly. He sighs, rests his chin on one of his palms, and then sighs again. ]

Shiro was on a groundbreaking mission, but he and the crew went MIA, and were said to have died, even though they didn't actually know what happened. Then he crash-landed back on Earth in an alien ship. [ A small breath. ] One of our friends, Pidge, faked her records and masqueraded as a boy to figure out the truth behind Shiro's squad's mission. [ Another sigh. ] Keith got expelled already due to disciplinary issues or something. [ And then he takes his other hand, and pinches the bridge of his nose. ] My friend Lance and I were just out after hours with Pidge, the girl in disguise, and then... [ A deep breath, but he cuts it short. ]

We went to check out Shiro after he crashed, ran into Keith, jumped on a hovercraft, ran from the Garrison staff, and then we got thrown to the other side of the universe. [ And he looks to the ground, defeated. ] They might not even know who we were. [ What did they tell his family, when he was missing for so long? ]

Team Voltron is great, but we're gonna have to go back some day. [ Gulp. ] I'm worried what'll be waiting for us.

[chefbayardee]

[ He just listens as Shiro speaks, as he talks about thinking over everything, coping with exercise. Hunk's heart catches in his chest the moment Shiro cuts himself off, because he knows what he almost said. And he couldn't blame him. But he shrugs it off. Finds a reason to be happy. And apparently he's looking to do some reading. ]

If you figure out how magic works, let me know! [ And he chuckles. ] People tell me it makes no sense. [ And with that, Hunk turns to put his slate safely inside his backpack. ]

Or, y'know, tell me whatever else you're working on. Two heads are better than one. [ And he starts to stroll towards the door, slinging the pack over his shoulder as he turns to look at Shiro. ]

So I guess it's like we're both cadets again. Huh, weird. [ Shiro was an ace pilot, but the idea of him poring over musty books was... unusual. Kind of funny. ] Good thing there's no tests.

[ But even as he opens the door and it rests a few inches ajar, Hunk still finds himself standing there. Hesitating. They're both saying it's fine, and Team Voltron means nothing if they don't trust each other. So Hunk glances back to Shiro, a smile on his face as he nods. And then he walks out the door and closes it behind him. It's time to put aside the tangled knots his gut and nerves had become, and trust that Shiro will be okay. ]

[worldmother]

[ Wow, there is a lot here for her to unpack. Alien ships, assumed identities, teenage anger issues disciplinary action. Elly nods through Hunk's lengthy explanation, crossing her arms over her chest more out of habit than anything else. Details of how it happened aside (this is probably the best explanation that she'll get from Hunk, she knows), it's one very big detail that sticks out the most. Never mind the mutual connection, she can ask about Shiro later.

Uncrossing her arms, her brow furrows gently. Huh. That's interesting, and not something she was expecting to hear. ]

What do you mean, "the other side of the universe?" You mean, this isn't the first time that something like this has happened to you?

[ There's something you're not telling her here, Hunk. ]

woo final taaag

[spaceforged]

Yeah, I'm pretty glad there's no tests. That was enough the first go around. [That they can see. He knows how quickly a test can happen from life itself. Shiro holds up his hand in farewell until the door closes and Hunk's footsteps fade away. He turns and walks into his room, closing and locking the door behind him. Once he's in his space away from prying eyes he leans back against the wall and scrubs at his face. The storm of questions and emotions churn inside him like a hurricane. The world doesn't feel quite so stable under his feet.

One wrong step and he'll plunge straight down into the future that yawns frighteningly wide before him.

Keith found a distress signal you left in a Galra fighter.

He knows the Blades are good people. They would have told Voltron if they found him. That leaves only the empire. He drops his hand from his face to stare at his hands. It takes him a second to realize they're shaking. It's such a faint tremor that anyone else would miss it. Keith will leave for the Blades.

And he will behave completely unlike himself. He should be grateful that Hunk missed one possibility that should have been right there at the front of the lot. Instead he's worried. So very worried. Shiro drops his hands and stares at the ceiling without really seeing it.]

Witch... [He whispers and pushes away from the wall, grabbing a black journal from where it lays, flipping it open. There's nothing he can do from here. Nothing he can fix. Even the theory itself can't be confirmed. But he can start a report and lay out plans for how to take him down. If he's wrong he'll burn it. If he's right...

He'll have done all he can.]

[fatefulprincess]

Hunk. Your realm sounds like it's weird. I can't even really begin to imagine it.

[chefbayardee]

[ He watches the arms cross and uncross, the movements of Elly's brow. Was she judging him? He hoped not. It was a difficult, complicated time for all of them, and that's not the sort of people they were! Or he was, at least. But then she asked that question. ]

This is... [ Hunk looks up towards the sky, arching an eyebrow in thought for just a second. ] My third time dealing with this, I think. [ He doesn't look down, but he raises a hand and starts counting on his fingers. ]

Leaving Earth was the first time. The second time, we went into another reality for a little while. [ And then his eyes go a little wide, he missed a detail. ] Shiro wasn't there for that, but we found an alternative universe Shiro named Sven. [ Then he giggles. Sven. Funny name. ] Which means Vaikuntha is the third time.

[ And then he just kinda laughs awkwardly. ] This was the first time I was by myself. [ The eyes dart back and forth, trying to figure out how to say he was terrified without his friends. ] Until I found Shiro, I mean.