Cisco Ramon (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
franciscoramon) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
riverviewlogs2017-11-25 03:38 pm
franciscoramon) wrote in riverviewlogs2017-11-25 03:38 pm
[open] try to tell the difference
who: cisco + anyone!
what: catch-all post
when: the rest of november through december
where: various places
warnings: will add as needed
[use a prompt from the tdm or come plot with me @![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
platoapproved. ]
what: catch-all post
when: the rest of november through december
where: various places
warnings: will add as needed
[use a prompt from the tdm or come plot with me @
no subject
Sorta figured that one. Doesn't mean she can't appreciate the ambiance, though.
[ If, that is, flying robotic lions from space have a sense of ambiance. In any case, she seems content to stay by her pilot's side, so Cisco leads the three of them in the direction of that cafe. When they walk inside, the barita does a bit of a small double-take at Red, but (probably wisely) chooses not to comment. Cisco orders himself something absurdly caffeinated, with a ludicrous amount of whipped cream on top, waits for Keith to order, and then the two of them get settled at a little table by the window, with plenty of room for Red to curl up nearby, in a patch of sun (maybe she has solar panels?). ]
So how long have you two been flying together?
[ Surely that's an easy, simple question to start with, right? ]
no subject
When they got there, Keith's drink of choice was definitely less milkshake like, but also loaded with caffeine... a salted caramel macchiato, light on the cream. He usually drank plain coffee with a little bit of sugar, but, hey... if someone else was going through the effort to make it, he'd go a little fancier than usual.
And he liked caramel.
He sat down, the Lion settling next to them at the table much like a dog would, loafing herself as much as she could on the floor. Robot lions didn't loaf extremely well. They weren't as flexible as their living counterparts.]
A couple of years now, I'd guess. Though, for the past few months back home, Lance has been flying with her after I took over for Shiro in the Black Lion. [Keith shrugged a little.] Shiro was missing for a while, and I was sort of his second, I guess. I had to pilot Black in a pinch when he was in trouble once, and maybe he took that to mean that the Black Lion trusted me enough to take over as leader if needed. [Keith stared down at his drink for a bit. There was something of a shadow over the topic, like Keith wasn't happy with how things had happened.] Which, when he went missing, the Black Lion accepted me as its pilot. Red accepted Lance. And Blue, Lance's Lion, accepted Allura, the Altean princess. Her father helped develop the Lions initially.
[He wrapped his hands around his cup, and looked down at Red, just sitting there quietly on the floor.]
I don't think the Lions really give up any of their bonds unless something actually happens to the Paladin, though. When we found Shiro again, he was able to go back to piloting the Black Lion again, and because the original Black Paladin kind of turned, we keep having to prevent that bond from reforming. When Lance started flying Red, I could still sort of feel things from her... especially as he tried to get used to her speed. She's the fastest one. Lance wasn't used to it because Blue isn't as quick.
[Keith had been surprised, especially after Red had essentially rejected Allura, but then got concerned when Lance had showed trouble controlling Red's speed. He got a handle on it, but still. It had been a little nerve-wracking. Keith still missed flying with her now and then. It seemed the reluctance to release a bond went both ways.]
no subject
Wouldn't it have been simpler for Allura to just take over the Black Lion, and for you and Lance to stay with Red and Blue?
[ From his perspective, it seems the clearer solution. Why shift three pilots, rather than merely swapping someone new in for Shiro when he went missing? If pilots were somewhat interchangeable, why not? ]
Wait, the original Black Paladin? And what do you mean... turned? Like, turned evil?
[ He's doing his best here, but apparently the question he'd believed was simple is a lot more complex than he'd thought. Had there been a whole set of other pilots, before Keith and his friends had come along? What had happened to the rest of them. ]
Also, sorry, did I hear you wrong, or did you say you're friends with a princess?
no subject
We all actually tried to take over with the Black Lion, but... well, you've seen how Red interacts with me. The choice has to go both ways. So, the Lion has to be okay with the person piloting it. I was the only one that Black was willing to respond to.
So, Allura tried Red. But Red didn't respond to her, either. And then, during our first mission after the Black Lion picked me, Blue locked Lance out. Which, was kind of odd, but I think the Lions might be more connected to each other than we know. Allura thinks that Blue locked Lance out because Red said to, because that was when Red actually called out to Lance for him to pilot her. And then, once Lance was in Red, Blue accepted Allura.
It was weird, and a lot of changing, and I'm not sure I even really understand it all. Sometimes, it's just better to go with it.
[There was a soft rumbling sound from Red, like she knew something, but wasn't saying.]
But, yeah... the original Black Paladin was Zarkon, who happens to be the emperor of the massive empire we're trying to defeat. He keeps trying to take the Black Lion back, and, for a while, still had his bond with it. Shiro managed to almost break it. I don't know if it's severed completely, but, while I could still sort of feel something in Black for Shiro, I couldn't feel Zarkon at all, so... maybe he did. It's still a risk, though, until we're completely sure.
Coran said it had something to do with handling too much quintessence or something, I think. But, he was corrupted by the power, and turned vengeful against the other Paladins. He took over the Galra, and then turned it into an empire, conquering and enslaving other races and planets. He holds most of the known galaxy. We're trying to build a coalition of rebels to take him down.
[Keith chuckled at the last bit, though, and nodded.]
Yeah. Allura is the daughter of King Alfor, who helped create the Lions. Apparently, he was a very talented Altean alchemist. Because of her royal line, though, she's really strong with using quintessence herself, and can do some pretty amazing stuff. But, she and Coran are two of the only three Alteans left in the galaxy. Zarkon almost wiped them out. The third, Honerva, was turned evil, too... with Zarkon. She works with him, using her quintessence and alchemy to do things to people. She was the one who replaced Shiro's arm. She was trying to make him into a living weapon.
[Talking about what had been done to Shiro was a sore point, too, and the small chuckle about Cisco's reaction to Allura being a princess was quickly wiped away by Keith's anger over how Shiro had been tortured and forced to fight like a gladiator slave.]
no subject
It's a strange experience, hearing Keith tell these fantastical stories about the world he comes from. It all sounds, to Cisco, like something from a movie he would have loved as a child. But, while he might have reacted to that story with wonder and excitement and a million questions, when he was new to the Quarantine, he's a little more circumspect, now. It's not that he's lost his enthusiasm or sense of wonder. Far from it. He merely knows that all of this isn't necessarily thrilling to Keith. For him, it's real. It's his life, and probably lots of it is terrifying and daunting and not safe and distant, the way a movie would be. ]
Damn. That's a lot. So, this Zarkon dude sounds epically messed up.
[ The whole wiping-out-an-entire-people thing, plus the trying-to-take-over-the-galaxy and enslaving-other-worlds things... that's a whole lot of evil for just one guy. ]
You guys got a plan to take him out? I mean... I know you're stuck here for now, but. You're going back eventually, sounds like.
[ When Keith mentions that this Honerva person had been doing experiments on Shiro, had amputated his arm from the sound of it and tried to turn him into some kind of weapon, his expression goes even more grave. Softly, he mutters: ]
That's so fucked, man.
no subject
Yeah. No one really knows exactly what happened, but he was a strong leader. He had to be, or the Black Lion wouldn't have agreed to work with him in the first place. But, he let himself get twisted, the way I understand it. And now, he just wants the power.
[Keith nodded.]
That's the goal... when we get back... to end the Galra Empire as it is and help rebuild the worlds they destroyed. It might be nice to stay here. [He had to think about Lola, but they'd gone into that relationship full well knowing that things might happen that would separate them here.] But, for now, it's important that we get back. Who knows? Maybe, once things are finished, we can come back here.
[He shrugged a little. He wouldn't hold his breath, though. He rarely got what he wanted in life.]
Yeah. He wasn't the only one they did it to, too. And prisoners were often sent to fight for their entertainment... like Roman gladiators or something. Somehow, he managed to survive.
no subject
[ Cisco has seen that progression play out in slow motion - hell, he's been a part of it, been one of the people who was duped. It's easy to imagine that it had been similar, with Zarkon. Nobody starts off with rants about conquering all the worlds in the sky, and betrayal and murder and megalomania. People generally built up to it gradually.
There's a hint of bitterness in the way Cisco spoke; he tries to make it sound neutral, but a little of that lingering anger shows through despite his efforts. ]
Hell, I don't see why it couldn't bring you back after. I've heard stories, about people who were here, then went back through the portals, only to come back again, years later from their point of view. If they've got the tech to bring you here once, they've got the tech to do it a second time, once you've saved the galaxy.
[ Cisco listens to the details about what had been done to Shiro, turning his mug between his hands and feeling a touch queasy. It never ceased to amaze him. How cruel people could be to one another. How deeply they could dehumanize and hurt each other. Gladiator fights? With prisoners? For entertainment? It was repulsive. ]
That's.... that's so awful. Has he got somebody he can talk to here? That kind of thing... even if you do survive, it affects you. Sometimes in ways that don't even pop up until you're somewhere safe to deal with all of it. I know the names of a couple good therapists, if he needs 'em.
[ Maybe it's a bit presumptuous, to make that offer, but Cisco would rather be rude than not offer to make those connections. ]
no subject
[Keith shrugged. He honestly wouldn't mind coming back to Riverview once he felt things were solid enough back home that he didn't need to be there. Right now, he had this huge obligation hanging over his head that he wasn't ready to let go of, and there were still questions about his past that he felt the need to get answered. Being in Riverview wasn't accomplishing any of those goals.]
I guess I'll find out someday.
[Though, the memory canister had did something weird. And it showed him that there was a chance that things were still happening back home for him. Things that had him involved. He wasn't sure how to feel about that.]
I've offered to listen, and I try to support him the best I can. He doesn't always tell me things, though, and he says that he doesn't remember all of it. Which, considering how traumatic it had to be, is entirely possible. He might have blocked a lot of it out. But, he could also be hiding things from me. I don't know.
It could be worth a shot... if he'd take it. Just... don't tell him you know. If you do meet up with him, and he does tell you things, that's fine, but I'm not sure how he'd feel about people knowing ahead of time.
no subject
Just taking a guess here, but Shiro's probably gonna be more willing to give it a shot if you're the one giving him the number, not me. I mean, I'm just some guy. You're his friend.
[ He tucks away the pen, sinking back in his chair and giving a little sigh. ]
I won't tell him any of that, if we meet. Which is probably bound to happen at some point, I mean. Not that big of a town. But trust me. I get you. I've had some pretty messed up shit happen to me. I mean- [ A little touch of dry humor, in that, as he pauses, gesturing at the number on the napkin. ] -so I get it. I'd feel awkward as hell if I met somebody and the first thing I found out was they knew about any of that stuff.
no subject
Yeah... I've seen some of his reactions to things, too. He's been through a lot... and I can only imagine where it's left him. I worry about him. He pulled me out of a really dark place when I was a kid. I want to do the same if I can, you know?
Thanks.