[Open] Cuddles and/or beets

[last_juniberry]

{ Inspired by The Vampire Meme. VLD-S3 references. Feel free to take prompts from there, or see if the below prompts could work for you :3a }


1) Known

Granted, Allura could just land the ship on the nearest planet, or get it near enough the next star, but she was drained -- sapped of her energy more than usual. It was different from having a lack of sleep and rest, like when they were relentlessly chased by Zarkon; and different still from being exhausted after replenishing the Balmera. Perhaps piloting the Blue Lion in addition to being the key to the castleship's ignition has something to do with it.

She could still walk thankfully, but she felt like she was in a perpetual state of insomnia and food goo wasn't cutting it anymore (far too processed, perhaps). Coran was usually the one she calls to for help -- but he had been away on an errand with two Paladins and it would take two more days before they could return. And by then, she must have enough energy to open up a wormhole and get the ship moving.

It was therefore with much reluctance that she approached the next inhabitant of the ship she came across, and with a tired smile she asked, "I need your help."


2) Secret

The hunger could not have come at a worse time -- not when so many people were around, not when someone important was with her. Allura was wrong to think that she could leave in a short time and so had not taken the quintessence drops with her.

She had had to excuse herself and find a secluded area were maybe there was a living plant that could give her enough to last the next hour at most, but all she found was a sitting room with books and decor. She at least had privacy maybe catching a cat nap would do the trick. Now if only sleep would come quickly and leave just as fast...

Comments

[tempredmental]

"I don't know," Keith admitted. "It's not like I didn't put myself in that spot in the first place. I basically told him to take over when I told him to go on the mission. The only reason I was in the Black Lion for it was because it didn't respond to him." It would be pretty dense of him not to acknowledge his own part in encouraging Shiro to step up and everyone to follow him again, even if it had ended up just frustrating him in the end. It wasn't like he hadn't made it abundantly clear all along that he hadn't wanted any of this dropped on his shoulder in the first place.

But, now that it was...? And then this? Keith wasn't sure of anything anymore. And here Lance had been the one worried about his spot on the team. It still surprised Keith that Lance had come to him about that, offering to step back. But Keith knew Lance was the better team player. And taking out another person from a support role would have been a bad tactical move. Hunk would have been their only gun, and having Lance as the sharpshooter was a strong benefit. He couldn't deny that.

"What if we really do have one Paladin too many?" Leave the math to Pidge, Keith. But he couldn't, and he really did understand where Lance was coming from with that.

[last_juniberry]

Something in Allura's throat tightened at Keith's question. It wasn't that she didn't know or see the dilemma Voltron had now: six Paladins, five Lions. The present situation only afforded their current lineup only because Shiro hadn't been welcomed back by the Black Lion -- and she was hoping that that situation would sort itself out soon. But that would mean that one of them would have to sit out...

Allura breathed in, wanting to say something again about Voltron being all about the 'good of the mission'; but she was convicted, and so halted from speaking, by her own desire to pilot the Red Lion. She bit her lip because she knew all to well with what motives she came with when she presented herself to the Red Lion. Sure, she wanted the Lions to be able to form Voltron and enable Keith to lead, but she had her selfish reasons as well.

Keith and the others, however... she hadn't given them much of a choice, did she? But they soldiered on despite her nattering at the beginning. They grew with their Lions, and their bonds were growing stronger every day. And then all these things happened. Allura took another breath --

"If it really comes to that," she hated to have to say it, but all things considered, she was the odd one out in the team. There was also no denying the very real possibility of things going back to the way they were. "I will sit out and resume my duties as the Castle's main operator. You five will be back with your respective Lions."

[tempredmental]

"Would the Lions even take us back that way?"

That was an interesting question, really. After all, the Black Lion had refused to work with Shiro, and Blue had locked Lance out. Keith couldn't help but wonder if Red would accept him back. And, at this point, with her statement, now all of the changed Paladins had expressed the willingness to step down for the sake of a stronger team. But, what difference would it all make in the long run? The important part was being able to form Voltron and use it to its highest potential. Whatever team could generate that would be the best team.

But, what was the best team? Keith frowned.

"I don't know what to think," he admitted. "I don't think any of really do. The Lions are still a mystery. I feel like there's a lot about them we don't know. Any of us." After all, they had done things that even Allura and Coran hadn't known they could do. Just how sentient were they? How aware of the situation were they and what did they know?

It was a lot to think about.