pidge_out | Victory Road IC Inbox

Hey, I never said "no fun allowed."

[Because she does actually really enjoy those dumb puns.

And then she's quiet again, staring at Porygon, thinking and frowning and disappointed in herself for not being better at naming things.]

...No. I'm probably just... gonna have to sit on it for a while.

Well, it's not going anywhere. I think until you can think of a good one, it'll answer to Porygon still.

[The Pokemon does that nifty foot spin again, clearly confirming Lance's statement. It's a strange little Pokemon, this Porygon, but at least it has some kind of sentience to it.]

Anyway, you doing anything later today?

Yeah, that's true. [Pidge tilts her head at it, only for it to head tilt right back and do that footspin again. And she smiles a little.] It's kinda cute, huh?

[It's a thought that's neither here nor there, but whatever. She thinks it's a cutie in its own funny way.]

I was gonna see if I could get any further on recreating Killbot, but that's all. Why?

Shiro gave me tickets to the aquarium for my birthday and I had asked him if he wanted to go with me, but then I realized how weird that is. He gave me a gift and I'm using it on him, you know?

[He's staring up at the ceiling, almost bashful when he probably shouldn't be.]

So, wanna go? I know this means you have to leave the clown party basement, but I mean... we haven't hung out in a while and with Hunk gone, it's just us left.

[Us, being the most recent Garrison cadets. Everybody else in this house has graduated or been expelled or aren't from their world to begin with.

Plus, Lance is lonely. That's why he's still hanging about in Pidge's room without admitting that out loud.]

Oh-- [Pidge immediately smacks herself on the forehead. Lance's birthday. How could she have forgotten?!] Quiznak, I didn't get you anything for your friggin' birthday. Some friend I am...

[She feels awful about it. If Hunk was still there he would've reminded her for sure, and then they all probably would've gone off somewhere and done something stupid to celebrate. They may not have been close when they were still cadets in the Garrison, but as the three youngest members of Team Voltron they always stuck together in their downtime. They would've celebrated. They should have celebrated something as major as Lance's birthday.

Which might be why she doesn't think, doesn't hesitate, doesn't second guess when she responds in the next second.]

Dude, of course I'll go with you.

It's cool. Don't worry about it.

[Lance wasn't too tilted about Shiro being the only one who remembered. Keith doesn't know anything and Matt isn't that acquainted with Lance to even know when his birthday is to begin with. He just assumed Pidge was tied up in settling in, catching up with her brother, and upset about losing her other tech buddy, Hunk. It also helps that Lance is still convinced he's the forgettable and replaceable guy on the team, so having people just bypass the day he came into existence seems part and parcel of the plan.

That's why he's surprised Pidge answers so quickly.]

Really? [Lance sits up to make sure she's not like trolling him or anything.] You really wanna go?

[She just rolls her eyes at him a little - though she's not sure why on Earth he sounds so damn surprised.] Yeah, I just said I'd go, didn't I?

[Lance is a lot of things, and sometimes he's definitely Too Much and more than Pidge can make herself deal with. But he's also one of her closest friends and completely irreplaceable. It's easy for her to forget that he's not from the same point in time as she is because he's still so Lance, but in a lot of ways it's a shame he doesn't remember all the stupid things they've done together on the castleship.]

When were you planning on going?

[Lance hasn't yet realized that the team needs him more than he'll ever know, that he's just as important to them as he wishes he could be. The future seems a little bleak to him, especially when he begins wondering if a new Paladin will come on the scene and even the Blue Lion will decide he's no longer the one it wants. Maybe everybody else is aware how his and Pidge's friendship grows deeper over time, but right now, Lance sees himself on the outside of the house relationships. Shiro has Matt and Keith, Keith has Shiro, Pidge has Matt. Jean and Armin and Sasha have each other. Lance has nothing now that Hunk is gone. The short stick is the one he seems to be pulling forever.]

Uh... today? If you're really not busy. Or tomorrow if you are. Or whenever you're not busy.

[Does he sound desperate for company? A little, but he hopes with enough options laid out on the table, Pidge will pick one.]

[Pidge takes on a thoughtful look for a moment, lips pursed slightly while she goes over her mental checklist of What To Do Today.

There's not much. No time like the present, then. Waiting any longer would just means Lance's birthday celebration is even more belated, and that sucks.]

Today works. Let me just get my shoes on first.

[And up she goes, onto her feet, walking past Porygon and Rover (giving the former a little pat on the head as she goes), picking her shoes up from where she'd simply abandoned them in a random spot near the door.]

Awesome.

[Lance can't restraint himself with all the excitement bubbling through him. It's just the aquarium, but he's finally getting out of the house for something other than work and Pokemon hunting. It's not until recently that he realized he fell into such a routine. Sure, after the insane last few months of constant war and unexpected almost fatal injuries a routine is great, but this one is lackluster and boring and the boy needs some shaking up.

He scoots to the end of Pidge's bed and slips his long feet into his shoes and sits here watching Pidge move around with the biggest smile on his face. She doesn't know how much she just made his day.]

You can bring your guys if you want. I think they let Pokemon in everywhere here.

[Pidge smirks over at him while she gets her shoes on, tying up the laces.] You seem way too excited about a trip to the aquarium.

[It's worth pointing out, but... Well, Lance is Lance. He's just kind of an excitable person.

She then turns her attention to the two Pokémon, who look right back at her when she does so.] You guys up for a trip?

[Rover lets out a shrill, excited noise, spreading his wings out and fluttering them just a bit. Porygon twirls its feet, its eyes closing in what looks like a smile. Looks like a unanimous "yes" to her, so that settles that.]

Okay, cool. Are you gonna brings yours too, Lance?

Hey, come on. When's the last time we saw fish in space? We didn't even get rain, much less tanks full of water. Don't blame me for being excited to see what the Pokemon version of Shamu is.

[And besides, when is Lance not excited? Be worried when he's not because he's probably just sick then.]

Nah. They're too big, I think, and Bruce probably doesn't want to see his friends in tanks.

[And mostly because Kaltenecker still doesn't know how to act and Lance is a little more than just embarrassed he hasn't gotten the hang of controlling his starter. Admitting that to Pidge just feels weird. He hasn't told anybody but Shiro about that and that's probably why Lance hasn't progressed. Asking for help is hard, okay?]

Didn't you see mermaids at some point? They'd be classified as marine life, technically.

[Not the same as fish maybe, but. Her point stands.

But whatever, Pidge continues going around to room to get ready, grabbing both Rover and Porygon's PokéBalls so the two can be returned to their little... trans-dimensional home pocket things. Once that's done she checks herself one last time - shoes, jacket, belt with Pokémon, 'gear - before turning to Lance again.]

In that case, I guess we're all set.

Those were babes, Pidge. Totally different form marine life.

[Somehow this works out in Lance's head as something that makes complete sense. Of course once it comes out his mouth it's nonsense, but what else is new?

Lance stands and moves toward the door, glancing at Pidge over his shoulder. He's still grinning, still excited, and nothing can bring him down from this high.]

Okay, cool. Let me just grab the tickets from my room. Meet you outside?

[She wrinkles her nose slightly and waves a hand with a snort.] Just because they were sentient doesn't make them not marine life.

[Obviously. Geez, Lance. Why are your hormones such a problem.

But whatever. They're gonna go have a fun time and Pidge will let him get away with more stupid comments than usual today because it's his birthday celebration. That's the least she can do.]

All right. But if you take too long I'm figuring out how to go without you.

Whatever, Pidge. Don't be jealous they got to swim all day and be safe and warm. Show me a fish that puts on a Vegas style show and then I'll believe you.

[Because he's eighteen and has only gotten a taste of sex twice in his entire life and he's already addicted?

Lance is halfway up the basement stairs when he begins laughing at her empty threat.]

Hey, I'm the one with the tickets and the money. You can try, but I'm sure they're gonna think you're some lost kid and turn you away to go get your parents.

[Pidge just rolls her eyes playfully. Swimming is overrated - Technically all of the outdoors in general is overrated - but Lance seems to enjoy that crap so-] Whatever.

[She then considers this scenario that Lance has put in her head, lost kid with no money or tickets to get in... Hmm. A mischievous grin spreads across her face.] ..I bet I could get that to work in my favor.

Edited (wtf EARLY POST) 2018-08-14 15:59 (UTC)

What? Passing as a kid?

[Well, she sure as hell passed as a boy to Lance, but then again, he was the only one who was completely fool. Nobody else was that dumb after hanging around Pidge for a while. Maybe she could pass for a kid to someone who's know her for all of five minutes.

Tickets stuck in his pocket and backpack slung over his shoulder, Lance leans against the doorfram leading down the basement and starts chuckling.]

Go ahead and try. When you get picked up for truancy, I'll send Shiro to come sign you out from the Jennies. Maybe he'll ground you too.

[She snorts loudly, rolling her eyes as she heads up and passes through the doorway ahead of him, aiming a very light smack for his shoulder.]

Shiro would never ground me, first of all. And second I don't think truancy is a thing around here. There are a lot of kids younger than us running around.

[In return for that smack, Lance reaches out and slams Pidge with a noogie. Take that, shortstuff.]

You mean all those little kids Keith is bullying for their money under the guise of him "battling Pokemon".

[He actually uses air quotes here because Lance is having a hard time believing jacking preschoolers for Pokedollars actually counts as training.]

Someone's mom is gonna kick his ass one day and I want to be there to laugh until I cry about it.

[You get a pass for that noogie today, Lance. The attempt to swat him away and get him to stop is barely even half-assed and is totally thwarted by a smile.]

Or all the kids he's been fighting are gonna gang up on him and get their revenge. Which would also be really funny to watch. [Sorry Keith. No offense.]

Why is that even a thing? Getting money from the loser? It sounds messed up.

Man, I sure hope that happens. Do you know how much dough we could make off of selling tickets watching Keith get mobbed by a bunch of crumbsnatchers?

[Lance is pretty sure that whenever they get back to Earth, he could set up a worldwide feed of his niece and nephew tackling Mullet Boy. He won't even need to share the financial proceeds, just give the kids some candy and they'll be satisfied.]

It sounds kind of like gambling? Or like cockfighting, only there's no blood, no one dies, no chickens, and it's legal. Plus the Pokemon enjoy it.

[Pidge snorts, amused by the thought.] Well technically we'd probably only get anything out of it if Keith decides not to fight back. And honestly? I have no idea where he'd draw the line on that.

[But whatever. Pidge figures that so long as Shiro doesn't catch them in the act and start lecturing them, it would still be worth a shot.]

That's what I think, too. But Rover keeps trying to fight all of Shiro's bigger Pokémon, so I'm really gonna have to let him go fight outside.

[Lance stop mid-stride to the front door and grimaces. There goes that bit of fun.]

Crap, you're right. Keith would probably take them on like they were grown adults. Let's abort that plan.

[Shiro can't watch them all 24/7. Imagine the shenanigans they can get up to here now that they aren't stuck in the Castle.]

Maybe he can fight Kaltenecker? She always wants to fight too so maybe they can tire each other out. Loser buys lunch?

[Pidge just nods sagely. She can already imagine Keith throwing small children off of him in every direction. Which would then probably get a bunch of angry parents on his case. Which would earn Pidge and Lance a lecture. Which just means that all the fun got sucked out of that plan.

Keith VS Kaltenecker, on the other hand...]

Huh. We could probably throw Rover in there, too. He keeps trying to fight everything three times his size anyway.

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