(no subject)

[whatsacactus]

Who: Keith & Co
Where: Sevii Islands 4 and 5
When: Throughout July!
Summary: Keith coming back to Island 4, getting to know new friendships, getting to possibly repair and old one.
Rating: Y7

A
[The sun's already reaching its mid-day position when Keith gets to Island Four. He takes a deep, deliberate breath and exhales it slowly. Espurr is safely in her ball so there won't be anymore psychic mishaps, Torracat and pressed against his leg protectively, the sun is really hot. It's a different kind of heat than the desert. He'll get used to it eventually, he figures.

When he gets to the house, Keith focuses on getting things put away. Namely, the large bag of food he brought back from the mainland. He'd managed gto score an insulated bag so it'd stay good on the trip. He figures Hunk would be happy with the variety.

Next up is measuring the space in the room he was given. There's still the old beat up mattress and whatever else was left. He messages over a few numbers and then plops down onto the mattress, Torracat coming to press paws to his knees and Torrra concerned.]

B
[Once he's settled in to the island again, has a bed delivered and set up in that room, Keith is easily found around the beach or just on the edge of the foliage. He's full of nervous energy. usually when he gets like this, he's easily goaded into a fight, but there aren't any Garrison assholes around to provoke him.

He looks a mess sitting on the beach, throwing pieces of shells. At the water? Into the sand? Doesn't really matter where. He does manage to attract the attention of the local wildlife, a few Magikarp that come up to the water's surface. He stares for a second, then throws a piece of shell directly onto one of their foreheads.]

Thought you could at least dodge.

C: Closed to Voltrons
[It's closer to the end of July but he managed to get everyone from his world together to go out. Not far, just to wherever was close that they could pay someone else to cook and get drinks. (Island Five, it turns out, with its resort.)

He's quiet for most of the ride over, happy to listen as they ferry over to it. He's only brought Ralts and Torracat with him, keeping them in their pokeballs for now. The ferry is nice enough, and the resort restaurant is a little more upscale than he'd ever consider going by himself, but with the whole lot of them? Sure. Normally where he'd hesitate stepping foot into it, he knows he needs to make things right with Shiro. And he can at least test the waters there in a group setting with people Shiro's familiar with.]

Comments

C

[spacebaloney]

[Lance really doesn't want to be here. He wants to be anywhere but right here with the rest of the crew when the crew includes Keith. Heck, Lance even said as much to Shiro, that he didn't see the sense in going when Keith would just rather not have a thing to do with him. But Shiro got that look in his eyes, the one where his right eye twitches just a little like it does when he's gotten fed up with the clowning around and Lance knew right then that arguing his case any further would end with both of Shiro's eyes twitching and nobody wants that.

So here he is. Far too close to his birthday and has to spend the lead up to it with that other guy. Not Lance's idea of a good time in case anybody forgot about that. But he's here in the restaurant, standing off to the side with his hands shoved into his pockets as soon as they enter and looking all the miserable for it. Lance will just eat, speak when he's spoken to, and suffer through this as fast as he can. As long as he reminds himself that he's doing this because Shiro said so, he won't open his mouth and say anything stupid.

Hopefully.]

[whatsacactus]

[He may not be the most socially adept one of their group, but he's been well aware he fucked up for days now. With Shiro, but also with Lance. They didn't talk the whole ferry ride over, and he's got an idea of something tangible he can do to try and make up for it. But people usually... like words... with these things.

While they're waiting for a table, Keith steps a little closer. Then a little closer, to arm's length away. He tries to sound sure of himself, but it comes out a little quiet, so he doesn't disturb anyone.]

...Look... About before.

[spacebaloney]

[It feels like the seconds tick by like molasses in winter with how long it takes a table to free up. The faster they get one, the faster they eat, and the faster Lance has his freedom back. But it's like everything is working against his favor and to make things worse, Keith is creeping closer to him and then closer and Lance can't help the tensing of his shoulders.]

Don't worry. I got the message loud and clear. I'm just here because Shiro made me come.

[A little defensive, but can anybody truly blame him? He wasn't planning on bringing up Voltron. It's not here and Keith doesn't care a bit about it. Lance has to remember that.]

[whatsacactus]

[Something in him tenses at that - his whole body actually. He's keeping his hands folded in his arms so Lance doesn't see how they instinctively curl into fists. That's not what they need right now.

I was going to apologize.

How do people just say that out loud? Before the thought of saying it made him nervous. Now his entire mind balks at it.

Maybe he can apologize in a more tangible, word-free way.]

...Right. Loud and clear. [He almost ... sounds sad, parroting the words back to Lance.

Being so completely and utterly alone for over a year in the desert, then here has made him almost miss being around other people that aren't Shiro and Matt.]

B - start of the month

[schachmeister]

[After a month away in Kanto, it's good to see their house again.

Armin enjoyed the travelling, the chance to stretch his legs again and to see a few new sights, but it's surprising how much he has grown attached to their little sea-side house too. It really feels like home.

This will just be a short visit though. Soon, it'll be off to Johto to try and find a few more people there. For now, though, he has a few days to catch up with the things going on on the islands, visit his whales, and the Lapras pod to show them the new egg he has.

He isn't particularly searching for Keith, but when he spots his familiar shape on the beach, he can't pass him by either.]

They probably thought you had something to eat for them.

[whatsacactus]

[He isn't surprised to see Armin. He's a little grateful for it actually, but he doesn't look up.]

Oh.

...what do those things eat?

[He never did get to see Noct's entire zoo of Magikarp, he never got to ask.]

[schachmeister]

[Armin leans down to look at the fish, resting his hands on his knees.]

Just about anything, actually. Weeds, insects, they are not picky at all.

We always think of Magikarp as really weak, but actually, they are a pretty hardy pokemon. They can survive in water of any quality. There are few other pokemon who can do that.

[They are just also really stupid. Or maybe that was just the Magikarp Armin owned for a short time.]

B

[lordofthefries]

[Sasha's thrown herself head first into the scavenger hunt so she hasn't stopped by the little island in a fair amount of time. But today she was near the ferry and she wanted to check in on the boys and see how are they holding up. And how their fridge was holding up. Have to taste the cheese to make sure the fridge is working right. And taste everything else too.

Leading the pack that makes up a little trio is her Electrode with a Togepi not too far behind it and Sasha even farther back for the moment. Meatball rolls right by the man sitting on the shore, not even paying him any attention on the way to meet up with his crackling ball brethren, but Omelette waddles up to the stranger and trills as he raises his little arms.

Hey, hey! Hi! Pick me up! it seems to be saying, the needy egg that he is. Everybody is here to give Omelette attention, at least in his eyes. Including you, Mr. Hot Mess.]

[whatsacactus]

Uh.

[Oh this is awkward. What's with this small walking egg? It seems harmless enough so he - doesn't exactly pick it up so much as he holds his hands out to it. Is that what you're wanting, strange walking egg?]

Hi? I think.

[lordofthefries]

[Yes, good. That's exactly what he wants. Even if the man doesn't pick him up outright, the hands are low enough that Omelette can attempt to climb into them. His round body doesn't make it as easy as it should be, but after a couple of wobbly false starts, he finds himself standing in the palms of the man's hand.

One hop. Then two hops. Then the Togepi is outright jumping, waving those arms again, chirping and trilling.

Do you have any food? A berry? I like the dry kind! I'll even take a Pokepuff!

There's no sense of stranger danger with this one, not one bit. Just hunger. Wonder who he learned that one from.]

A

[shiro2hero]

[He... sort of owes several people several favors for everything. For going through this right along with him. For listening -- advising. People he didn't feel like he had to stand strong for. He hasn't slept since their talk, despite everything Luna and Haunter had done.]

[Speaking of Luna...]

[She's taking this into her own paws, and trotting down the hall. Yowling her trademark greeting. She hears you in there, Torracat! Let her in! Open the door, stop having it be closed!]

[whatsacactus]

[Torracat's head perks up at the door. Her friend! She headbunts Keith's leg one more time before going to the door and pawing it open. She's gotten too smart for her own good watching Keith. He exhales in a huff watching Luna on the other side of the door.]

Guess you'd wanna see Torracat, huh.

[shiro2hero]

[Prrt!! says Luna. And then promptly headbutts Torracat, purring loudly. She is so happy! But now she has to begin the process of intently sniffing her friend, all over. Where have you been? You look different!!]

[Don't worry, Keith, she'll get to you.]

C

[lionroll]

[Hunk manages to make his way back to the Sevii Islands sometime after Keith does, thanks in part to Lance coming to meet him. While he's physically refreshed after the weird sleeping spell he got caught in, mentally he's still working himself through it. There was just something super unsettling about missing an entire month of life, you know?

Thankfully, the Sevii Islands are familiar enough that he finds some measure of calm after arriving. A feeling that probably has to do with spending several months exploring, and adjusting to life in this world when he first arrived. With his friends around him, Hunk eventually finds some part of his old cheerful self once again.

When Keith invited them to a fancy dinner at the resort, Hunk eagerly accepted. Even if the last time he had been there had been during prom, with the weird alien Pokemon. For this particular adventure Hunk has only brought along Shay and Tamah, who are are standing beside him as he looks out over the rail of the ferry.

He jumps a bit, having gotten lost in his thoughts, when he feels Shay tug at the hem of his pants. Once he looks down at her, she points her nose in the direction of Keith, and Hunk decides to go chat him up.]

Hey man, how's it going?

[whatsacactus]

[Keith is sort of pacing 2 steps in his little space while they travel. He doesn't want to go too far away from everyone, but Lance is still mad at him and he's barely made things right with Shiro. The ferry's still nice at least, and it's not that far to the island.

Hunk comes up though, and he visibly relaxes. A little bit of relief is in his eyes. He knows Hunk is really good friends with Lance and wasn't sure how that would go.]

Hey-- It's good. It's... yeah.

[Small talk still isn't really his thing, and he maybe went a little out of his league asking them to come to dinner.]

Been a while.

[lionroll]

[Hunk gives Keith a warm smile. While he knows there's been some difficulties between him and Lance, he knows this is a weird situation for all of them and that Lance and Keith have always had a rocky relationship. So, he's not too disgruntled by their current awkward tiff.]

Yeah, it has been, huh? It's nice to be around you guys again though. Even when I wasn't down in some weird coma, I missed you guys while I was traveling. I think it'll definitely be awhile before I go exploring again. How did your journey go? Did you ruin the training lives of every child or spoiled brat you came across?

NOW FOR C

[shiro2hero]

["Everything happens so much" is a great saying. It really, really is. It perfectly describes everything that's happened since Lance arrived and... since Shiro's attempted reassurance and support just sort of imploded everywhere. Hopefully, things are getting smoothed out with Keith and Lance. Hopefully, Hunk's getting oriented and all of them can start functioning as friends again.]

[Hopefully.]

[Now, though, there is a suspiciously familiar menu of drinks. And... he is sorely tempted to at least take one of them. One can't hurt.]

[Ford said so. He trusted the man. But his teammates are here... they need to see him as someone in control. Right? Yes? The indecision leaves him scowling faintly at the pictures, trying to make a choice and failing.]

[whatsacactus]

[Keith is looking through the drink menu next to him; the staff around keep never asking for his ID or age, they just assume. Which is fine by him at any rate. But he sees Shiro mulling it over and leans to look at it.]

...You could just pick one, y'know.

[shiro2hero]

I'm trying to remember which one did me in last time.

[Spoilers, it would have been any of them. Considering his tolerance is actually that of a six year old.]

[So it was both.]

I'd like to avoid Haunter carrying me to a Pokemon Center again.

C

[tookashirototheknee]

[Matt's never been the best at fancy functions. Sure, he's been hauled to them since his was little with his parents, but he doesn't like them. He feels out of place, and like he's an afterthought. However, when they finally get to the resort, Matt plunks down next to Keith.]

Hey. Thanks for this. Really.

[whatsacactus]

[Good Matt. Blessed Matt, sitting with him and being a calm island in this sea of bullshit going on in his head. He takes a breath, leaning back and staring upward a bit.]

Yeah... Yeah, of course. Thought it'd be good to get all of us together for a while.

[Nevermind his guilt, being so far behind everyone he doesn't even really know the team. Ignore that he plans to pay for the entire meal with his hustled money.]

[tookashirototheknee]

Yeah. I've been meaning to find a way for us all to do things together more often. I keep getting distracted with other things, though.

[Matt glances over to Keith, obviously worried.]

Keith, you know you can talk to me no matter what, right? No matter what you remember or don't, I'm still your friend. I want to help.

C

[pidge_out]

[Honestly, Pidge is kind of surprised that she's been invited as well. Not that she thinks she should stay away from the rest of the team, just because she's apparently from further ahead of them all in the timeline. Nothing like that. She's grateful, though. The Paladins are her family, even if they don't remember the same things she does. It's hard to think of reasons not to come to dinner with them all.

Which is why she makes sure to find Keith while they're on the ferry. With Rover in his favorite perch on top of her head, she comes up next to him with what she hopes is an easy smile and a wave.]

Hey. Thanks for inviting me along, too.

[whatsacactus]

[There was no way Keith was going to round up all the people from their world and not invite Matt's little sister. Not when she's a part of this team.

(He's pretty sure Shiro and Matt would never have forgiven him.)

He smiles a little at her.]

Yeah, of course. Didn't think you'd get out of a welcome dinner, did you?

[Okay so maybe that's not what it started out as, but it's what he'll call it.]

[pidge_out]

[She smirks a little at that, letting out a breath through her nostrils.] Is that what it is? A welcome dinner?

[She's honestly curious, since no one mentioned there being any specific reason for the gathering. It would be more nerve wracking if it weren't for the fact that this is a group of people that she knows and loves. And it's of course not the first time they've all had a meal together.]