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[pidge_out]

 


Hey, it's Pidge. Can't answer right now-- Rover quit it! --so leave a message and I'll get back to you when I can.
Rover, what did I say--?!?!

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[spacebaloney]

[Thump. Thump. That's the sound of two big old honker of shoes falling to the ground.]

Well, for starters, that's what the girl at the counter told me. I didn't have any reason not to trust her, [because she had a pretty face, of course] but I checked it with the 'gear and yup, level 30.

[The Porygon spins it feet around as if to confirm it is indeed the level Lance claims.]

And levels work just like in video games, Pidge. You gain a level, you get stronger. With Pokemon, they might gain a new move or evolve into a different form. Kaltenecker is a level twenty-two but she won't evolve into anything and Bruce Whalis is only level 15. Him being a shiny doesn't give him any special perks other than color, but he'll evolve later on.

[Wait, did Lance actually learn something in his time here? And now knows more than Pidge? Someone look out the window and check for airborne pigs.]

[pidge_out]

[Two thumps and Pidge is swiveling around to see what the quiznak that was. And guess what she stops paying attention to once she sees that Lance is getting all comfy on her damn bed.]

Hey!! What're you doing-- Holy crow, is that smell coming from your feet?!

[Usually this is the point where Rover swoops in to back her up, but this time he's distracted. Because Porygon just did a nifty foot spinning thing and he likes it and now he's busy chatting the other Pokémon up like no one else is around.

Clearly a trait he shares with his trainer.]

Lance, in case you hadn't noticed, we're not in a video game, and you're in my room, not yours!

[spacebaloney]

Please, Pidge. My feet smell better than your room on the ship.

[Sure, Lance will admit his feet do get sweaty, but does anyone really think the King of Luxury Bath Products wouldn't take care of his feet? Little it may be know, but there's a weekly pedicure in his schedule.]

And?

[If anything, Pidge's complaining just makes him relax into her bed even more. She could stand to get a few more pillows, by the way.]

I was just using video games as an example of levels. Got a better example? Throw it at me.

[pidge_out]

[Pidge narrows her eyes at him slightly, lips pursing to one side in a frustrated pout. How dare. She knows she sweats a lot and it's stupid but she's just a little self-conscious about it.]

It might've been a good example but it doesn't make any sense. It also doesn't explain why I should be forcing Rover to get into battles.

[Besides the fact that Rover always wants to jump into a battle and picks fights with all the Pokémon in the house.]

Also why can't you wait to take your shoes off in someplace that's not my room?

[spacebaloney]

Some of them want to fight. I don't exactly know how it works, but from what Shiro told me, it's like a sport to them. Some of them just like to wrestle with each other, so let them. They thinks it's fun and you get money out of it. And those who don't want to battle, don't have to. No one's getting forced into anything.

[Lance rolls his eyes, not moving a bit from her bed.]

Because Pidge, I'm in here talking to you and not in Keith's room. Stop making a big deal about my feet and name your Porygon.

[And just because Lance can, he swings a leg out and touches her with his socked foot. This asshole.]

[pidge_out]

[As though in agreement, Rover hoots loudly from where he's hopping around in circles around Porygon. Poor Porygon just spins in place slowly, following his movement, totally bewildered.]

It all still seems weird to me.

[And she's totally smacking that foot away from her before it can even make contact. Ew.]

Dude, cut it out! And why do I have to name it?

[spacebaloney]

See? Rover's got the idea. Let the dude fight. Don't be an overprotective Pokemom.

[Heh. Get it? Pokemom? Lance thinks that's his best pun today.

And don't hit him or else you'll get The Toe.]

Because everybody names their Pokemon. It belongs to you, so you name it. Didn't you have a dog at home? Did you name it or did you just call it Dog?

[pidge_out]

[Pidge glances over at Rover, who simply puffs up his feathers excitedly at the idea of FINALLY being allowed to go beat up some losers, then just lets out a sigh and rolls her eyes.] Fine, geez. It all still seems like some stupid, testosterone driven bullshit to me, but fine.

[Rover looks so pleased, though. So does Porygon, actually.]

Of course we named him, but that's-- I don't know, that just seems different.

[spacebaloney]

Well, Kaltenecker's a girl and she wants to fight everything she sees, but if you want to tell her she's full of testosterone, be my guest. Just make sure to call me when you want me to drag you to the Pokecenter for healing.

[See, kids! Uncle Lance is looking out for you and your Pokemon battles. He'll convince your mom to allow anything!]

Not that different. These guys live with you. You feed them and take care of them. It's like a pet. Or Allura's mice. They've got names.

[pidge_out]

[She rolls her eyes and waves a hand dismissively.] That's not what I mean. It just feels like this whole situation... this whole world is like a manifestation of some guy's aggressive desires. [Anyway. Pidge is just gonna scoot back a bit so she's sitting with her back up against the edge of the bed, staring at Porygon like doing so will give her a great epiphany.] ...I'm not that great at naming things, though.

[spacebaloney]

Are you gonna go all rawr girl power on me now?

[Because Lance is just not ready to argue the theory of some guy's male ego creating this world. For starters, that is not his wheelhouse and secondly, it's an argument Lance would promptly lose. He ain't that smart to try.

He reaches out and playfully ruffles Pidge's hair, knowing she'll fuss about him noogying her.]

Just think over it. You don't have to do it right now. Just get to know it and see what comes to mind. You did it for Rover, you can do it again. I got faith in you, Pidge,

[pidge_out]

[She snorts.] I do that all the time, Lance.

[It's not her problem that he doesn't notice.

Also, RUDE. She reaches up to bat his hand away. He's lucky her brain is split into a few more directions than usual. Lance has to go and give her a Faith In You speech like Shiro does, and now it's like the pressure is on.]

Rover was easy. He reminds me of him. This one is... different.

[spacebaloney]

[Of course he had to. He learned those kinds of speeches from the best. Who knew they actually did listen to Shiro's speeches (except for ones pertaining to them not having to pay anything towards the house, apparently.)]

And this one doesn't remind you of anything?

[Lance peers over Pidge's shoulder at the Porygon, squinting until he comes up with a similar likeness.]

What about Quackie Chan? Duck Norris?

[It's now obvious what the Porygon reminds Lance of.]

[pidge_out]

[Speak for yourself, sir. Pidge is not a Leader type, so she doesn't actually learn Shiro's speeches. She just listens to them.

But now she's giving Porygon such a critical look, ignoring Lance's invasion of space for the time being. Porygon is mostly just standing there watching Rover, who is still hopping around in circles and hooting like he's explaining what's what around here.]

...I guess it does kind of resemble a duck. Like a really low-poly digital model of a duck.

[spacebaloney]

[Rover is so not helping with this naming decision thing, mainly because neither of the humans understand his racket.]

Quacker Jack? Cheese and Quackers? Quack Efron? I'm giving you all my best puns here, Pidge.

[If those are his best, then his best will never be good enough.]

I can't come up with any that roll with "a really low-poly digital model of a duck."

[pidge_out]

[She snorts, cracking a slight, amused smirk.]

As much as I appreciate them, I'd rather not get too puntastic when it comes to naming these guys.

[God, Lance, what the hell did you name your pets on Earth?]

[spacebaloney]

Oh right. No fun allowed. I forgot.

[Well, fine then, Pidge. He'll take his super cool names and go home. Or just flop back on the bed, hands tucked behind his head, one leg propped up on the other.]

Do you have any ideas of your own so far?

[pidge_out]

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.

[spacebaloney]

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?

[pidge_out]

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?

[spacebaloney]

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.]

[pidge_out]

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.

[spacebaloney]

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?

[pidge_out]

[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?

[spacebaloney]

[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.]