voice | un: RocketMan

[vrepit_no]

Hi, Camelot: this is Shiro speaking...

Ah, I'm new in the area, and I understand that I'm going to be here a while. Couple of questions I was hoping someone could help me out with.

I heard a rumor that you can get paid for going to school here: true or false?
Is there a certain process, or form I should be filling out to get housing other than the hotel?

And. [The voice hesitates a moment before carrying on at a slightly different pitch.] Is there anyone here who specializes in prosthetics?

I appreciate you listening, and I'd be grateful for any help given.

Thanks.

Shiro out.

Comments

video; un: adler

[disasdeer]

Housing I can help you with. The main thing you need is money, to be honest. So do quests, get a job.

After that, as long as you're not too disruptive, they don't really care where you live. I personally just obtained a house of my own. There's a little mini stream and a few trees going through it.

What sort of prosthetic do you have? I guess that it can depend.

video; un: RocketMan

[vrepit_no]

[That... is a stag. Like, a straight-up stag. Okay then. Cool. Well now he knows that.]

[The camera comes on at an unflattering angle before he fixes it and gives the stag a smile.]

The biggest issue is that I don't have a prosthetic at the moment.

[He angles the camera just enough to show that his right arm is missing from the shoulder, his sleeve pinned up.]

So I'm in the market for a full sleeve. I'm not sure if anyone here has that knowledge, but I'd like to find out.

I did see that there was a pre-installed app on here... A quest board? Is there a particular protocol for that, or can I just claim one and go handle it?

[disasdeer]

You got that right. The protocol is claim one and do the work. Many of the jobs require a lot of us to perform them. Some of them pay really well.

[ If you're okay with doing a little bit of sketchy things, like...uh, he is. ]

So you came without it? Oh, I see. Then the person who said 'alchemist' is right. If you don't mind me asking, what do you need it for?

I came with mine, so it's weird yours got left behind if you need it for day-to-day functions.

[vrepit_no]

[Shiro shrugs slightly, a wry twist to his smile.]

Need is a strong term. I can get by without it. It's just handy is all. And that was my weapon hand, so it would be nice to not have to relearn everything.

Mine was made of an unusual material, was able to become a weapon, and could be a laser pointer.

[He chuckles and shakes his head.]

My friends made it for me before I wound up here. It's possible that whatever powers brought us here decided it was too much of a risk. I can't fault them for that.

Have you gotten yours tuned up since you got here?

[disasdeer]

[ Did this guy just make a joke -- ? Blinks, shrugs. Ok. ]

Maybe it couldn't cross through whatever brought us here. Mine is just wood and metal, and won't need any upgrades. Probably won't make any adjustments, though. I don't want to have to readjust to one if I don't have to because it is part of my leg.

You have pretty clever friends.

voice; un: hello

[luminatus]

Prosthetics would probably come from a uh wossname.

Alchemist.

Yeah?

...Are you okay?

voice; un: RocketMan

[vrepit_no]

Heh... Yeah, I'm fine. It was a few years back, now. I"ve found that having a prosthetic arm comes in quite handy, that's all.

Do alchemists branch out into mechanics here? Not just manipulation of energies in a physical medium?

[luminatus]

Uhm...maybe?

I once drop-kicked my mum's groceries off a bridge by accident so I'm not exactly a smart guy, I just know it's the alchemists who make stuff.

I saw this one lady pick up some fallen branches and turn them into a chair by...I think just lookin' at em. It was wild.

Someone like that's gotta know how to make a prosthetic arm... I dunno about the mechanical part, though.

[vrepit_no]

Impressive! Thanks! Do you know if they keep shops, or should I just go looking until I find someone?

[There's a warm grin in his voice.]

[luminatus]

There must be shops, right?

I dunno where they'd be, I just got here.

...Y'think the hospitals and whatnot would have alchemists around?

VIDEO | un: sparklythings

[patchricide]

['New'? Well, it has only been a few Earth months. From a certain perspective, that qualifies as new, doesn't it?]

[So no, she doesn't realize that Shiro had left and returned. There was probably some other reason why they hadn't crossed paths in quite a while, right? Besides that...]

Oh! You've begun looking into getting it replaced?

[The one she last met had also been in need of a new prosthetic.]

Video

[vrepit_no]

[There's a pause of several minutes before Shiro gets the video turned on. He's pale, as if he's had a shock, but there's the warm smile reserved just for her. From the angle she can see that he's lacking his entire right arm, not just below mid-bicep. And his hair has the shaved sides and trimmed forelock as when she first assigned him to the Black Lion.]

Princess - it's good to see you. I think it's possible that I'm actually from an alternate timeline than you, but either way, you're looking well. Is anyone else here? Coran? The Paladins? ...Matt?

[patchricide]

[Oh, boy. The hair alone give her a start. Didn't he just change it from what she remembered? And now it's back!]

[But this time, we can skip several steps of confusion, because he volunteers the explanation:]

Wait, alternate timeline? [Which isn't a problem itself. She's somewhat more familiar with alternate timelines than most. But...] So you aren't the same Shiro that I met with before?

[The evidence is quickly mounting, too. She had already mentioned Pidge, at the very least!] Yes, there's Pidge and Keith. To my knowledge, Lance and Hunk remain missing. And Matt has shown up here as well.

[Is there also a second Shiro? Perhaps she should look into this.]

[vrepit_no]

[He brightens, relief plain where he would normally be restrained. But of course he briefs her first.]

It's a long story, Princess, but if we get a chance to see one another I promise, I'll do my best to explain it from my end.

But since the Allura I knew was from an earlier time point than I was, she was surprised to see me like this. And you knew to expect it missing. So I'm guessing, different timeline.

Matt's here? I thought I'd lost him. And Pidge.. and Keith? I haven't seen Keith in...

[Wait. Mental math. No, surely not. Recalculate. Okay, he knows his memory's off, but, even if he hedges his bets... He quiets, a small frown appearing between his brows.]

...four years. There was a brief visit once, but then he and Lance were gone again.

[A small sigh escapes him.]

Which they won't remember either, I'm guessing. Not that Lance is here to corraborate.

[patchricide]

Well... I was surprised to see you this way, before you... before a Shiro explained it to me. Back in my original reality, you did still have your arm!

[But also, that was supposedly not the actual Shiro? Also, what's going on with the hair? She's going to need to start making a diagram to keep track of Shiros. Are any of them named Sven?]

[And what's this talk of four years passing, and Lance showing up, and spontaneous amnesia? She heaves a sigh.] It sounds as though I'm missing more story than I realized. I'll look forward to that explanation.

Voice; un: Yoon

[handsome_genius]

[ Yoon's voice is dry, kind of weary and musing aloud like he didn't mean to turn his phone's audio on. ]

School, form, hotel, prosthetics... So many words I don't know are getting tossed around here.

Video

[vrepit_no]

[The video clicks on to show square-jawed face with a fantastic scar across the nose and a shock of white hair hanging in his eyes like a horse's forelock. The gentleman is wearing a gentle smile.]

Hey, I think you might have accidentally recorded that. But If you want, I'd be glad to explain what I mean.

1/3

[handsome_genius]

-Ah!

2/3

[handsome_genius]

Rrrr... AGAIN?!

3/3

[handsome_genius]

[ He sighs and puts a hand to his forehead, before releasing it with a slight toss of his bangs to clear his mind. ]

Yes, absolutely sir, I would appreciate learning those words.

[vrepit_no]

No problem.

[Look! Big, friendly, easygoing smile! No patronizing here!]

Why don't we start with school.

In some cultures people have decided that everyone - especially children - should learn certain things to make life easier for them as they grow up and become a part of society. One or more people who are considered good resources on certain topics are hired to come and teach others about their subjects in a certain place at a certain time. Those individuals are called teachers. The people they are teaching are called students. And the place in which they teach is called a school.

Did that make sense?

Video; un: SpaceHobo

[tookashirototheknee]

[The video is of what is obviously a basement apartment. There's no person, just a very familiar voice.]

Heck yes, you can get paid to go to school. It's why I'm not completely broke.

Video; un: RocketMan

[vrepit_no]

[Sorry, Mysterious Voice, you're going to have to wait a few minutes while Shiro fetches his phone from behind the desk where he's dropped it. And then has to get out from under the desk without breaking it.]

[When Shiro manages to get the video on, the camera is shaking like the beginning of a bad starship battle animation, and his hair is all over the place. But his eyes are wide and shining and full of a strange mixture of hope and dread.]

Matt....? You're really here?

[tookashirototheknee]

[Unfortunately, Mysterious Voice isn't paying attention to the video at the moment, and is off-camera, so he doesn't get to see Shiro's expression.]

Yup. I'm really here. It's... good to hear from you, Shiro. I've missed you.

[He knew Shiro was alive, Pidge told him that much.]

So, now I'm wondering how long it'll be until you're teaching the classes you're going to be taking.

[vrepit_no]

[Nope, not taking that segue. Too hyperfocused. He has to swallow a second and his voice goes soft and intent and a little hoarse.]

Matt... Where are you? Can I see you?