The Elephant in the Room

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Things were unbelievable. Ziggy was high on life, so much so that even his cocaine use diminished. Reduced to something at a recreation, instead of life sustaining. A mere week and his drinking was all but gone, except whiskey in his coffee, always. 

They'd come to a routine. Ziggy recording, Hiroki training, sharing meals together. They both could cook and that was unexpected, though Ziggy couldn't place why he found it odd. Importantly, Hiroki indulged Ziggy's craving for unending contact. And the sex! When they touched it didn't stop until they were falling asleep, worn out by the desperate need for each other. It was unrestrained as they abandoned themselves to each other. Someone was getting close to satiating his desire for sex and intimacy. It wasn't all day like Ziggy had imagined he would need, daily, perhaps but the idea that it didn't need to be so all consuming to be satisfying was new to the Anthean. 

And he didn't have to hide. Since Hiroki returned, Ziggy hadn't put his contacts back in. He could let the Anthean part of himself be exposed, be safe with it known, and, if he was honest with himself, it seemed that Hiroki treasured him more because of it. There was  perhaps something to be said for acceptance he could never find on Earth. That acceptance went both ways. Ziggy accepted the fact that his lover was a dead clone, but the Anthean had never seen him as just a clone anyway.

Those thoughts brought questions that had Ziggy glancing up at his lover from where they lay on the couch together. They needed to talk about the elephant, or rather giant robot, metaphorically in the room with them. 

"Hiroki?" He asked quietly, not really wanting to disturb him while he read. 

Comments

[making_sacrifices]

"I see. I'm not sure anything can be done about that."

Ziggy's a pilot now, so, indeed, he can get directions from Atlas. Instantly gets them. Not words, of course, but images, feelings, sense of orientation, so he can easily get around.

And since Ziggy's met Hiroki and the White Lion, he can probably feel that Atlas is somehow both, together. With some energy of Shiro, too.

And indeed, Ziggy can always find Hiroki in the spiritual space of Atlas.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"I might be able to." Ziggy is barely talking. His eyes are unfocused and staring off at the ceiling of the room. He's listening; to the Atlas, the lion, Hiroki... just feeling the flux of energy.

Allura will see it though, the bright golden glow from his forehead as he communes with the energy. He's wandering off and following the threads of energy in whichever way it is leading.

1/2

[making_sacrifices]

Allura can see and looks at it closely, intrigued but not worried, as, as she's quickly checked, there's nothing negative in this energy... this Quintessence? At least right now.

She smiles. If Atlas himself wants to this new pilot's tour guide, then her job here is done.

2/2

[somekindofspaceuncle]

Atlas, meanwhile, first nudges Ziggy Stardust towards the controls.

Come. Bond with him. This is the sole reason You're here.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Ziggy follows the lure, listening to all the threads if images and emotions. When he gets to the controls, he's a little lost. This doesn't look like what he's used to seeing but he wants the bond.

The pull to the bond is distinct strong as the one he has to bond with Hiroki in the physocal part of existence. With no other understanding, his emotions open wide to the presence he feels. Allura is likely to feel it too, the surge of emotions that fill up the space as Ziggy tries to feel out how to control the Atlas.

Ooc: thank you, Lance, or I'd never know how to put it. :) /

[somekindofspaceuncle]

Atlas now feeds images and ideas on how to pilot him directly into Ziggy's mind.

It's not an instruction manual. It's more like teaching in practice.

And Atlas responds to Ziggy. Like he's answering his particular questions that way, too.

Pointers.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

It is easier for Ziggy to understand because of the mental piloting of Anthean ships. He gets the gist quickly and then asks Hiroki/Atlas if it wants to go for a flight. He's curious how it handles because most take offs and landings make him pass out if he's awake. Human planes certainly do.

Woke up for a moment to drink water etc. Might as well write a tag or two. :)

[somekindofspaceuncle]

Atlas very much encourages Ziggy to take off, to take flight.

Allura's still in Atlas. She knows what's happening, but she's not leaving, no need to. She's a crewmember and will gladly help, here and now.

Back to rest for you. ;)

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Ziggy knows nothing about the controls so he simply uses his mind. He asks for as gentle a take off as possible, letting the Atlas feel his worry about fainting. Otherwise he is ready to follow the feelings and images that will get them airborne

:D

[somekindofspaceuncle]

Atlas's fine with that. Would even already be fine with Ziggy piloting from outside, if Ziggy wanted to.

(Or subconsciously. Accidents might happen. Ziggy might need some learning unless he wants to summon Atlas to his doors someday on accident.)

Suddenly, the robot transforms into the ship. IGF-Atlas. The take-off will be gentler that way. Ready to fly with Ziggy Stardust.

There's some shaking, but nothing one would need seatbelts for.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Ziggy has it airborne and then reaches out to Hiroki who he assumes is still with him in the Atlas.

"Hiroki, can we go to your world?"

If not, he would just fly around the Nexus.

[somekindofspaceuncle]

There should be some doors in Nexus that would lead to all his Realities.

They can look for those, Atlas feels. Let's!

Hiroki's unsure but excited to try.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Ziggy reaches out to comfort Hiroki, in the mental space, when he feels the uncertainty. However, he is happy to let the Atlas direct thier flight for now.

"Once I know your universe, I have a device that should let me open a portal anywhere."

Ziggy pauses and the questions the Atlas. "Can you be invisible? We have technology that makes it so ships can't be seen by others."

[somekindofspaceuncle]

Hiroki reaches out with affection. And also... nudging Ziggy to make a deeper bond. With Atlas, as the pilot... well, it's important, as a pilot, so... so yes. There should be no secrets between the pilot and his lio-- er, his robot, so, yes. And Atlas will definitely share-

Well, the bond with Hiroki is a part of it, and definitely helps.

Atlas will just find those doors. And if it can't, might make own. Also, at the talk of invisibility, Ziggy will see a memory of Pidge. Pidge can make all the cloaking, yes!

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Ziggy understands and after a moment longer of indulgent contact with Hiroki he pulls away. The focus turns solely to the presence of the Atlas. Ziggy is nervous about opening up completely to it. Truth is there are still secrets he has from Hiroki, things he needs to say on his own terms. He does let the Atlas feel those concerns in hopes that it understands and can keep those things to itself.

[somekindofspaceuncle]

Trust is crucial with the pilot. But yes, that's enough for now.

Of course there are doors to proper reality in Nexus, so they finally find it and Atlas goes through.

There's a bit of a... well, Hiroki's now completely in Atlas, spiritually of course, but he was also outside, by now, outside the place where Atlas had been parked, in Nexus, so now he's not outside anymore, only completely in Atlas... but that's fine, he will form again easily now when they're back in Nexus. So it's fine. So Hiroki's wholly spiritual now, only.

And they're home now... no, Nexus is also home, second home, by now, but still.

Where do you want to go? Hiroki sends the question, because, well, Atlas as a whole wouldn't think to ask. The pilot always knows where to go, doesn't he? so...

But Hiroki knows Ziggy's here for the first time.

There's so many planets I love to see... I'm not sure where first, Hiroki sends. He's not sure if all the words will get through, but, doesn't hurt to try. Maybe they will?

[ziggyplayedguitar]

In the spirit realm, Ziggy walks up to Hiroki smiling. He has enough mind power to pilot and be present, though in the physical realm he probably looks quite catatonic.

Ziggy takes a moment to decide and then asks both of them. "Do you know of a jungle planet that orbits a blue star? It'd be like seeing Anthea before it was destroyed."

There's another pause and then another question. "Can you and the Atlas come to my reality? I could show you Anthea."

[somekindofspaceuncle]

He knows jungle planets, and wants to suggest some, but next question catches his attention.

Voltron can cross the space between, but can Atlas? Hmm.

Thing is, Atlas isn't made from trans-reality comet.

Not sure... we could call Voltron and... Voltron can

Cross between Realities.

2/2

[somekindofspaceuncle]

And he grins at seeing Ziggy, in Spirit.

"Hey, Beautiful. Shall we dance?"

Well, they are right now, aren't they? Flying is like dancing. Heh.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Ziggy is excited to realize there is a planet to see.

"I thought because the ship can go to the Nexus it could but we can wait. Maybe Black would carry both of us?"

Ziggy goes to him and embraces him. He's bright with happiness. "I think this is more intimate and close than dancing."

He's learning to be happy with this kind of contact. Though he wishes desperately for them to have a life in the real world still.

[somekindofspaceuncle]

Sure Black can. I don't think Keith would mind if we took Black for a little ride.

Oh. I've never told you yet. Of Voltron and everything. Not much at least. I've told your father, but not you, yet. Wanna hear the story?

More intimate, huh? Yes...

He kisses Ziggy.

by the way. You should know. Like Zarkon told Shiro... if you die here, your body will also perish

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"Tell me later. I just want to be here with you."

Ziggy is happy to just be here with Hiroki and sail through space.

"... And if we make love here?" Ziggy grins. 'I'd rather not think about death right now. I've had enough time with those kinds of thoughts recently"

He's, of course, talking about the things that happened when he thought Hiroki was dead. This is better.

[somekindofspaceuncle]

Wh-what?? Ziggy, you--

No Paladin's ever made love inside their Lion, unless there's something spicy I don't know about the original Paladins. So why don't we experiment and find out for ourselves? Although... you do know I don't have a body right this moment? I have no idea what I'd feel-

He kissess Ziggy, passionately, now.

But I wouldn't mind finding out, Love.

Yes, let's not talk of death, now, not with Ziggy.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"There's never been a paladin like me." Ziggy grins brightly. "Well, here we can be and do anything. I've flown in mindscapes before."

All he can do is moan into that kiss. His hands slide down to Hiroki's ass, pulling thier spirits together.

"Your lips still feel perfect on mine."

[somekindofspaceuncle]

"True enough."

Besides, all the Paladins are incredible and special, each in their own way. It still surprises me nowadays that Black Lion let me be a Paladin, despite my origins.

"True."

"You have?"

The kiss feels incredible to Hiroki. The best one yet, maybe, somehow.

Suddenly, he shimmers and then he's naked, though functionally it makes no difference, anyway.

"Ziggy-"

I have no idea what'll happen! Let's find out?