Hand-Eye Coordination

[quintessent]

[Missions go awry. That much is predictable. The nature of what they do makes the unexpected pretty much a given and it’s why group cohesion is so important. Because when everything else fails, it’s vital to know that there will always be a constant in the form of teammates — the other paladins.

She’d given a speech like that a long time ago. Long before she became one in the same with the other paladins, thrust into the position of a rebellious right hand and sent on a mission to build trust with the new head of Voltron. (Building ‘eye-hand coordination’, as Hunk put it)

Things didn’t go awry as much as they went completely disastrous. What started as basic formation drills (that were already going poorly, with Allura growing increasingly frustrated) turned into an unfortunate run into a space storm, and ended with an emergency landing.

Allura sat in silence, hands on Red’s controls. But no matter how much she willed it, the systems stayed dark. (And, as much as she knows it isn’t, it felt just a little bit personal, given how Red’s been behaving with her). With no sign of a response, she finally releases her grip on the controls, fingers sore from how she’d been white-knuckling them, and she massages her wrists in her lap for a moment before finally pushing herself up from the pilot’s seat.

Keith is already out of his lion by the time Allura joins him, red dust kicking up when her boots hit the ground.]

Is there any response from the Black Lion?

[The answer is obvious enough, but it feels important to ask.]

Comments

[quintessent]

[Talking with Keith is always a little haphazard, like running full-tilt across a field — sometimes exhilarating yet prone to stop suddenly and painfully the moment you set your foot down wrong. And it tended towards the painful more often than not these days, especially since she'd taken control of Red and they very quickly found themselves in a joint position of leadership.

Keith was the new leader, she insisted on that as much as anyone else, but actively following his leadership was a task easier said than done. Especially when she was already feeling so insecure about her role as a paladin, and perhaps it's poetic justice that she's struggling with meshing with the team and her lion, after she'd trained the others so relentlessly. Still, because of this, it was easier for her to default into old habits, and the role of Princess was far more comfortable than Paladin.

Although the way Keith was using her title now got her hackles up, though she couldn't put her finger on why. She grits her teeth, resisting biting back. Because they needed each other. Now more than ever. When she speaks, it's carefully worded, her voice tense but decidedly neutral,]

And there's a chance that our lions may be able to reset their own systems in the time that it takes for the storm to pass. [or there's a chance that the storm is still having a long term effect on them.] Either way, I believe that finding shelter and waiting may be our best option.

[There's a beat of silence.]

...Unless you think you might have better luck with getting Red to respond.

[It's a genuine suggestion but she can't help but sound a little bitter, but despite how it sounds, it's directed inward, frustrated at herself for her inability to immediately bond with her lion so easily. Impostor syndrome is a hell of a thing.]

[marmoron]

[The suggestion makes his expression lift with a little surprise. He genuinely wasn't expecting Allura to put her pride aside and offer to let him try with Red. Unthinking, he looks away from the princess and uptowars the Red Lion. It's weird to think that only a couple of days ago, this wouldn't have even been a question; who else would be piloting the right arm of Voltron?

Maybe if he's being honest, he misses piloting Red. Black's different in ways that only serve to emphasize how weird this all is, and ultimately -- how much better suited Shiro was to be leader. But Shiro's gone now and no amount of wishing that things could just go back to the way they were has accomplished much of anything. Keith's expression falters for a moment, then he grits his teeth and shifts his gaze back to Allura.\

No. [His voice is firm, the word comes out a little sharper than intended. A beat, then he tries again.] You are Red's paladin. If Red won't listen to you, Red won't listen to anyone else, Princess. Let's not waste time with what-ifs. It's not going to help you build a stronger bond with Red if you keep doing that.

[It's stated like advice for her, but really... it's applicable to the both of them.]

[quintessent]

[Her expression is a mirror of his- surprised at first. Because somewhere inside she knew that Keith was struggling in his role, that he misses the security of knowing his place in the group, just the same as her. And she wouldn’t blame him for an instant, if he took her up on her offer, wouldn’t blame Red for responding to him where it rejected her, even if it meant that she had no business being a paladin, that she would never follow in her father’s footsteps. Because at the end of the day, the fate of the team and the lions always came before her pride.

But he doesn’t. Even if she’s sure he wants to.

You are Red’s paladin. There’s an unexpected tightness behind her ribs that she can’t identify, and she almost opens her mouth to argue, insists that it’s worth a try if it means they get back to the others sooner. But he’s the leader. And she’s supposed to be his right hand. Even if their mission went on a detour, the lesson still remained.

Swallowing her disagreement, she nods, moving to stand to his right, turning her attention, next, to the scenery around them.]

Then I suppose what’s next is finding some shelter. The planet seems quiet enough, at least.

[…Cue the ground trembling, once, than twice. Footsteps. Of something big. She spoke too soon.]

[marmoron]

[Great. Something probably big and lumbering is headed their way, and if there's one other thing they absolutely did not need right now it's for the planet they're on to have a sense of comedic irony. Keith turns away from Allura, hand immediately reaching for his bayard. Even in this moment of uncertainty a voice in his head still points out that Allura has his bayard, but he doesn't give that thought any room to grow. He's supposed to be the leader now. He has to make a call and he hates that he doesn't know if it's gonna be the right one.]

Let's get out of here.

[It's not his style. Not remotely. But it feels like what Shiro would have chosen.]

Whatever's coming, it's big. Might not notice we're here if we're able to find a place to hide quickly. Let's move!

[And with that, Keith's giving the surroundings a quick scan to see if there's anything remotely promising, but seeing as whatever's causing the ground to shake is getting closer and closer, he's not all that picky.]