(no subject)

[hiddensword]

Hey, I'm back.

I think I took a wrong turn getting back from the whole merpeople and pirates... thing. I'm pretty sure it's been a while, so if everyone could help catch me up that would be great.

Oh, and if anyone knows where I can house a full grown gryphon and do some laundry that would be great.

[he sounds like he's done for a moment.]

Right.

This is Keith. I don't know who else is still around.

Comments

[vrepit_no]

Keith! [Someone's elated.]

[hiddensword]

I already said that.

[He sounds amused though.]

So, they got you too, huh? Got room on the team still?

[vrepit_no]

It is so good to hear your voice. Yeah, I'm here. Me and Matt, Pidge and Allura, and Thace. And there's always room for you. We've got some catching up to do!

[insidegalra]

Ke-- Red--

Keith!

[Thace doesn't even know how to refer to him at the moment, especially after Allura's dungeon, but he's very pleased to hear that voice and it shows.]

[hiddensword]

Just Keith is fine, Commander.

[He's not exactly the Red Paladin anymore.]

[insidegalra]

No-- Not. I'm a Blade; I never held that position with pride, only for my mission.

[That's said quickly, and the no is a little sharp. Thace is not proud of the things he did to keep his cover, and he's glad to shed as much of that as he can now.]

Call me Thace. Circumstances of our arrival here aside, I'm glad to get the chance to know you.

[This is the closest to actually emotional that he's been publicly in... ever.]

[verdeleonessa]

Okay, I feel like I should either shout 'Pidge!' in preparation for a movie reference of you and the two who got here first greeting with names... or join the chorus.

[hiddensword]

Someone had to be the combobreaker.

How long has everyone been here? Nobody was before.

[verdeleonessa]

Always ready for duty.

I've been here for two months. I'm the latest addition to the team.

[otomechapilot]

...Allura’s friend - Allura’s Paladin, right?

You should be proud of her. I’m Sara, and she’s been a friend since my first Jaunt.

...want some cake? I have chocolate cinnamon.

[hiddensword]

Former Paladin.

[And he is immediately derailed by cake.]

Actual Earth cake or... Space Cake?

[otomechapilot]

Actual cake not like. A glass of cake and a peice of coffee.

There were like four birthdays last week including Shiro’s.

[firstcreed]

That is a voice I had not thought I would hear again. I cannot fill you in on what happened as I was gone and only just returned myself, but I am glad you are well.

[The voice is familiar, but the warmth and good humor very much is not. Bayek spent most of his time displaying varying rations of helpless fury and broken grief when he was Traveling last, and he's certainly mellowed out from the sounds of it.]

[hiddensword]

I'm glad you survived.

You uh... Seem happier, have a good time in the desert?

[firstcreed]

[That gets an actual laugh out of Bayek. Everyone who chanced on him yelling at the Arcana would have at least figured out he'd just lost his son to a group of murderers back then, so context for what he says next.]

Desert born and raised, although I do not know if "good" quite qualifies for seeing to it that my son's ka finally found peace in the field of reeds.

But now I have been returned here again. It has been quite some time, years even. But this time, my good friend Senu came with me, so at least I will have a bit of home.

[amadine]

It's been almost four years. Catching up is going to take some time.

[hiddensword]

Four years... Damn. I think I'm old enough to drink.

I'm a quick study, so maybe the cliff notes version?

[amadine]

Fortunately, we keep to sensible rules regarding drinking. If you're old enough to hold the glass, someone will give you one.

The Arcana we'd heard mutterings about started making themselves known shortly after you departed. We're each marked by one now - if you haven't met the one holding your leash yet, I'd advise checking for any tattoos you don't remember getting. They'll either give you a hint of what you're in for, or give you a cautionary tale to tell. They've been squaring off against each other, two at a time, on the Jaunts we're sent on for the past year. It's raised the stakes a great deal.

...The first true match was a return to the Shoals, in fact. Did you know humans could become Stricken?

[reallymean]

It's good to hear your voice, Keith.

I've managed to recreate a portion of the Castle. It's not quite home, but there's room for you and your...gryphon?...if you want it.

[Wait a tick...]

Wait. You've been here before?

[hiddensword]

Good to hear you again too, Princess.

They're half bird, half cat. Min's some kind of vulture and a black cheetah. He's mostly nice.

And yeah, for a few jaunts. I probably just missed you.

[reallymean]

Ah. I think I've glimpsed one in Liminal Space before, then. He sounds quite impressive.

If I remember the logs I've read correctly, we missed each other by two.

[tookashirototheknee]

Forget about the dirt. That's what I do.

[A pause. As usual, Matt starts in the middle of things.]

Hey, Keith.

[hiddensword]

I still like not smelling like the backside of a camel though.

[wholeheaded]

...oh, wow, hey. [ the voice might be familiar-ish: it's that guy who was Violet/fellow Ivory Tower investigator/human sailor who studied the merfolk. yeah. ] I can walk someone through making another gryphon stable - I made one for Lady, she and Daneel are still here - and I can make horsemeat for for your guy if he's hungry.

[hiddensword]

Hey yourself. I can't make anything in Liminal, just get in and out of it, so any help would be appreciated.

...Lady being around explains why he's trying to color his feathers.