Princess seeks Assassin for reasons of conspiracy

[reallymean]

[It's been a little over a day and a half since Allura was pulled from her Dungeon. Long enough to sleep the clock around, and to sort through some of the memories of the Jaunt - those that aren't so thorny that they've been packed away in a mental box labelled 'handle only if necessary'.

One of those memories stands out as particularly critical, and it's that which prompts her to dare the open network rather earlier than she might have preferred.]

Does anyone know where I can find a Traveler by the name of Altair? There are matters we needed to discuss, once we were both back to ourselves.

[She's tried hailing the man privately, to no effect, and while that could mean a Dungeon expedition, or a series of increasingly unlikely other scenarios, it's still enough to run streamers of ice through her veins.]

Comments

[loyalrebel]

He is not here.

I may be able to assist though, we are from the same place.

[reallymean]

Quiznak.

No, it was...an aborted conversation centered on the events in Questing Country. [Which is. Broadly true.] Do you know if he returned at all after the Jaunt?

[Please say yes. Please say yes. As horrible as Dungeons are, they're a solvable problem.

Being left behind on an alien world isn't, so much.]

[loyalrebel]

I do not know, but I still have access to the hammerspace we share which means he cannot be too far gone.


[It's not a yes or a no, but tentatively hopeful.]

He likely left some notes about whatever you were discussing, I know he left some for me at any rate. You are welcome to come review them.

Besides, I wanted to thank you properly for helping my overlay.

[reallymean]

You two are close.

[There's a hint of guilt there.]

I'm sorry I couldn't do more than make introductions. My skills in that world ran more to destruction than restoration.

[loyalrebel]

Yes, like brothers. Do not worry too much about him, he is... almost as stubborn about things as I am. If his dungeon appears I will inform you, if that would help.

[Whether it will let her in is debatable.]

It was more than most were able to do without swooping in to do it for him. Sometimes giving someone the tools to help themselves is more beneficial in the long run.

[reallymean]

I would appreciate that. And I think I'll take you up on that offer to review those notes.

[If information on that inadvisable experiment has been left somewhere, she dearly wants to know before someone tries to act on it.]

And you're not wrong. It can be a fine balance - giving people the help they need, without overriding their own efforts.

[vrepit_no]

Allura...? Is everything all right?

[reallymean]

Everything's fine, Shiro.

[vrepit_no]

[There's a long moment of quiet that says he's skeptical, but he understands.]

All right. Do you have any appetite? I have some chocolate cake saved for you.

[reallymean]

[Sorry, Shiro. But after that absolute disaster of a dungeon, the last thing she wants to do is damage his opinion of her even further by admitting she may have fucked up badly enough to leave someone stranded in an alien dimension.

Even if she wasn't herself at the time.]

I think I'm going to use the training deck for a while. I feel like I haven't moved in a month. But I'll come by after, if that's all right.

[vrepit_no]

Of course - any time. Make sure you have plenty of fluids, and work up to your usual level, okay?

[reallymean]

For a moment, I thought Coran had joined us.

[There's a hint of fond, if rueful, amusement in her voice.]

I promise I won't damage myself.

[vrepit_no]

Someone has to heckle you in his absence. [Gentle and a little teasing.]

Thanks, Princess. I'll see you when you're up to it.

[verdeleonessa]

Would you mind if I came over to visit you, Allura? I don't have anything to really report... I just want to spend some time with you, if that's alright.

[Well, okay, she might want to apologize for not coming to her dungeon, but mostly she just wants to hang out.]

[reallymean]

Not at all. You're always welcome, Pidge.

[verdeleonessa]

I'll come over soon then. I might grab some food from Aiya on the way. Do you want any?

[reallymean]

I would love some of those little dumplings, if there are any.

[She can't quite recall the name right now; she's awake and functional, but not quite back on her A game.]

[verdeleonessa]

If there aren't, I'm sure they'll make a few if I ask. I'll bring them over.


[Wanna make this into action or...?]

Action

[reallymean]

[The replica of the Castle Allura has created is quieter than the genuine item would be, between the absence of the background hum of a working ship's systems, and the absence of people - small as their group at home is, they can certainly fill a space when they put their minds to it.

The front hall has been done up as a small lounge, somewhere for unexpected guests retreating from a hostile manifestation of Liminal Space to retreat to, and it's there that Allura's seated, on a couch that's more than half taken up by a irridescent-furred lioness roughly the size of a german shepard. This isn't, notably, the familiar she'd been accompanied by in Questing Country.]

[verdeleonessa]

[Pidge is always accompanied by Roy, her spirit companion lion, wherever she goes. Even now, he's there with him as they walk inside the castle. There's a sense of familiarity and Pidge can't help but smile a bit. It's like coming home.

With her she has some dumplings and small snacks like chips, along with some actual Chinese take out.]

Hey Allura. [She greets.] Who is this?

[reallymean]

Her name's Lucina.

[The lioness stretches, then springs down from the couch to pad over and inspect the new arrivals.]

She came with me out of my dungeon. There must have been just enough of Questing Country left in me...

[She's not far behind her spirit animal, though she's less interested in deciding whether or not they pass muster than she is in pulling Pidge into a careful hug.]

[verdeleonessa]

[Meanwhile, Roy greets Lucina with a polite bow.]

She's different from the one your overlay had.

[She returns the hug.] I'm sorry I didn't come to your dungeon.

[reallymean]

Don't be sorry. I'm glad you didn't have to see that.

[Lucina bows her head in return, and issues a low, rumbling purr of approval.]

[verdeleonessa]

I still feel like I should have been there for you. Especially since I couldn't help ... couldn't save her.

[reallymean]

You helped. You all helped.

She knew what she was going into. She wanted to survive, but it was never the outcome she expected.