dear_mun | Test Test Testing

Are your friends also around here?

I'm...not quite sure, actually. I feel like if they were, I would have seen them by now.

I suppose I could try looking for them, but considering the size of this place, it might take a while to find them. Are you alone here as well?

For now, I think. I do see my friends around here sometimes but... perhaps not as often as I would like, to be quite honest.

I do hope you'll find them!

Thank you.

Likewise, I hope that you're able to reunite with your friends as well. As strange as this place is, I'm sure your paths are bound to cross again.

We'd be fine without you, Princess.

Or at least as fine as we ever are because we do tend to get into trouble on our own. Well, that's mostly Keith and Lance, but the rest of us do sometimes...

What I'm saying, Princess, is that if you go somewhere, we'll be ok.

Pidge! I'm so glad to see you're all right!

Are the others not with you?

No. Not right now. At least not that I've seen.

Really shows me that waiting to be found actually works, though! Although, I am terrible at waiting. And this time, there's no fuzzy round creatures to keep me company.

Fuzzy round creatures? Sounds like rather pleasant company to have, when compared to infant Coran.

But, I am happy to see you're safe. When the castle wasn't able to locate any of the lions, I feared the worst.

Um, actually, ma'am, time stands still in your world, while you're here. I know what it's like to worry about other people - I can't seem to turn that off - but for whatever it's worth, they'll be fine until you get back. I promise. It's just one of the rules of how this place works.

[He's a chronic people-pleaser, he can't just not tell someone things will be okay, especially when he knows it will be.] Besides, you might run into them, here. This place can be pretty kind to folks, that way.

I suppose that does provide a bit of comfort...

Though that does further bring into question just where we are exactly. If you're knowledgeable in the way things work around here, I'm guessing you must have been here for while.

I have, although it's been on and off, ma'am. [He sighs, quietly, a little exasperated with himself.] I wish my brother were here to give the full scientific explanation with all the trimmings. Mine is going to sound like a less plausible explanation without the details. Basically, if every place someone is from here is a world or alternate dimension, and everyone's experiences suggest time stops for as long as we're here, then the only way this exists is if it's a pocket dimension removed from linear time entirely. So technically, we're not anywhere, at least not anywhere that could appear on any map. We're existing outside standard existence. That's why nobody needs food or water and I can be as solid as a regular human would and ghosts can be here: without standard rules of time and physics applying, none of the normal restraints apply. We may not actually be here physically at all, it might just be our consciousnesses here, but there's not a way to really test that theory.

...sorry. In addition to being the less intelligent brother in my family I, um. I ramble, a lot. Did any of that make sense? [He looks a bit sheepish, realizing how long he was just talking.]

I think so... [ Give her a sec, as she tries to wrap her head around everything he just said. ]

A dimension that exists outside of normal space and time, hm? I suppose it's not as bad as being stuck in an infinite time-loop. I would hate to have to go through that again...

[ She shudders at the thought, but quickly recovers. ] At least now I have an understanding of just where I am. Thank you for your help, Mr...?

It wouldn't be without precedent. There's been a few pocket dimensions SHIELD - that's an organization my, uh, family, has connections to in my world - discovered that have warped relations to time and space as we know it. This just takes the concept up to another level and removes us from any relation to time and space as we know it, period.

Oh, sorry. [He holds out a hand for her to shake, hoping she won't mind he perpetually feels cold to the touch.] My name is Saul Harel-Navidson. I'm glad I could help, Miss...?

Thank you, Saul. [ The lack of warmth from his hand is startling, but she doesn't pull back right away. Only after they've shared a proper handshake. ] I am Princess Allura of Altea, but you are welcomed to just call me Allura.

I don't suppose you would happen to know why we were brought here, would you?

If that's what you prefer, Allura. [It feels a little disrespectful not to use her title, but she made the request, so he'll roll with it. He makes sure not let the handshake last long. Much as his mother liked to tell him 'cold hands, warm heart', it was still usually jarring to people.]

The answer to that varies a lot. Sometimes people get brought here seemingly just to see what would happen, sometimes it's to deliberately put them through emotional stress, sometimes it's to give people a chance to continue on after death without going onto the afterlife, sometimes it's to give people a better life than what they were living. No one can really say. Whatever the reason is, though, a lot of this is what you make of it, in the end. I've had my share of the more emotionally disheartening aspects, especially since my friends and family aren't around here anymore - but I would never have been able to see my dead father again if it weren't for this place, either, and that was really good, for both of us.

My mother always said life was what we make of it. So even though without the passage of time I can't say for sure if this qualifies as life, any purpose here, we have to find on our own, I think.

So no one is brought here for one specific reason then? Not quite the answer I had hope to hear, but at least it's something to go on.

...I apologize for all the questions. I'm sure you must be growing tired of all these explanations, but you have been of a great help to me, Saul. Mysterious as this place may be, at least now I understand it just a little more than before.

Not that most us are aware of, although a lot of people like to make guesses and theorize. I sort of think we find our own purpose here, but that's just my philosophy, it's not a proven fact.

No, no, you're fine. I like being able to help where and when I can. I, uh, I've been told I'm kind of a chronic people pleaser in that regard. I just wish I knew more about this place. But the longer I'm here, the more I know I don't know.

If you do find a way to wander from your new spacious prison, I'd ask you inform me how you did it.

[He's not upset that he hasn't puzzled a way out.

Not even a little.

Not even slightly!

~~hesveryupset~~]

'Prison'? Why do you say that?

[ He's joking. He has to be. There's no way this place could possibly be a 'prison', right?

...right? ]

A place you cannot escape from is by any other name a prison, isn't it?

Even as spacious and comfortable as this one is, you cannot leave it.

Nonsense. If there is way in to this place, then it's only natural that there also exists a way out.

Perhaps you just haven't looked hard enough.

Maybe!

After all, I haven't found it yet, it could be entirely possible I haven't yet looked hard enough.

But there are such things as dimensions with entrances and no exit.

Unless you find a way to make one yourself.

Fine. If that's what I must do to get back to everyone, then so be it.

I can't just very well abandon them!

...Though the only question now is where to start...

Aww, what's the rush? You just got here!

While that is true, abandoning the others during such dangerous times is not something I'm comfortable with.

I'd rather get back to them as soon as possible.

Oh... a serious type, huh? Well, okay. I can be serious every now and then too.

If they're like most people, then chances are they're going to wind up here as well. You might be pretty sure that they're back where you left them, but chances are they're probably here as well getting caught up in all sorts of trouble. Who knows? They could be getting caught up in a murder game, or even a torture hotel or something awful like that. After all, you were able to get here, right?

Oh, and nevermind the sex games! [She grins, waiting to see what Allura's reaction to that would be.]

Murder game?? Torture hotel??? [ And there goes the color, draining from her face-- ]

S-sex games?! [ --only to return moments later in a furious glow of red across her cheeks. ]

What...what sort of mad place is this?? Where are my friends?

This place is the metaspace.

And, wait just a minute. I want to help you, princess, really I do. But I'm afraid to know that I don't know who your friends are. In fact, I don't think we've even been properly introduced.

So help me help you a little, huh?

Oh, yes... Of course. [ How could she forget her manners? ]

I am Princess Allura of Altea. Forgive my late introduction, but I really must find my friends. I would greatly appreciate any help that you could offer, Miss...?

Rottytops! Or just Rotty. I hope you don't mind, but I think I'll just call you Allura. Princess Alura of uh... well, that's a mouthful. Hehe.

But yeah, I get you. You're worried for your friends! They must mean a lot to you. And I'll help you any way I can, but I can only do so much too.

Especially without important stuff like their names, what they look like, whether or not they'd be interested in something like a sex game...

[She really ought to move to the next thought. She really, REALLY should.]

[She isn't.]

You can take a breather, Allura. We could survive a day or two without you. [Maybe. You know what, it's probably better if she doesn't disappear for a prolonged time.]

Shiro...?

[ There flashes a bit of confusion in her gaze, before she realizes that the paladin before her was indeed real. ]

You're here. Thank goodness... I'm so glad you're safe.

Of course I am safe. Why wouldn't I be? [Is from just slightly before the end of season 2.]

When a lion returns without its paladin, naturally I assumed the worst.

If only the others were here as well... You had us all worried!

[He's just a bit confused. He's sure the Black Lion didn't go anywhere without him. He knew some of them could be flighty, but they never abandoned their Paladins.]

I'm sorry if I had you worried, Allura. But I don't remember my Lion leaving me.

You don't...? [ And now it's her turn to look confused. ]

But I saw it, we all did. The cockpit was empty. When the Lions returned after our battle with Zarkon, we went to look for you but you were...gone.

[That's strange. And very troubling. He tries not to let it get to him.]

Then I don't know what to say. [Because he doesn't think she would lie about something like that.] Whatever happened, I'm sure things will work out.

...Yes, of course.

[ Perhaps in time he would remember. All that mattered was that he was safe and in one piece. ]

What about the others? Have you seen any of them around?

Unfortunately I haven't. If the two of us are here, they could be too. Maybe we should dtick together.

I suppose that would be best. Considering how big this place is, we might get lost if we split up.

...Where are we, by the way?

I'm not entirely certain. Where ever we are, we don't seem to be in danger at the moment.

At the moment. [ She's not willing to let her guard down just yet. ]

I'm still unsure how I even got here. One minute I'm with the Coran and the others, then before I know it, I find myself here, alone. It just doesn't make sense...

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Are you ok with S2 spoilers?

I'm all caught up so it's fine!

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