riverview | audio | un:blacklion

[Youta looked at the offered hand, even standing to look at it closer before looking up at Shiro. Almost like "daddy, is it safe to go?" Shiro just smiled, crouching down]

It's okay, Youta.

[Finally Youta leaves Shiro's side and trots over to Keith, looking cautiously up at the wolf on the couch. HIS couch]

[Good thing for Youta that Kosmo was pretty in tune with Keith. The wolf stayed put as Youta approached, then started to wag his tail, thumping it on the couch. Keith smiled a little, waiting for Youta to get close and sniff before moving his hand gently to pet him while Kosmo was watching.]

That's it. He's not gonna hurt you, buddy.

[He smirked a little at Shiro.] I'll probably have to have this guy cool it on the teleporting for a little while as not to spook Youta too much.

[Okay, at least the wolf didn't approach him first and the tail thumping on the couch was a good sign. Youta looked up at Kosmo leaning up to sniff in his direction as Keith gave him a pet]

Probably a good idea. He's been around a lot of things, but a teleporting wolf is not one of them.

[Shiro gave Black a nudge and the lion grumbled but finally left his side, walking around the couch and over towards Red.

Youta in the meantime, put his front feet on the couch to "stand up" and get a better look at the wolf]

[Kosmo continued to wag his tail, leaning his head down to sniff at Youta in greeting.]

Yeah. Then again, a teleporting wolf isn't exactly normal. [Keith chuckled a little.]

It's good to have him, though. I was starting to miss him.

[Youta was still hesitant to jump up on the couch with him, lightly batting in Kosmo's direction, wanting up on the couch too]

No, not quite. I didn't expect it.

I'm glad that you have him now. Looks like these two are getting along. Hopefully they'll keep each other company.

Yeah. That'll be good.

[Keith was used to the idea of some sort of companion following him around town now. Between the two Lions and now the wolf, he certainly wasn't going to be lacking in that.]

Youta could use it. The Lions are good, but I think Kosmo will be better for him.

[Less metal for Youta to potentially be injured by... not that it had been an issue up to this point, but it was still something Keith worried about on occasion.]

[Yep, Keith was going to have a lot of companions. Black had been mainly sticking around Shiro at the moment, but the bond was not as strong as it once was. Shiro was having a harder time hearing him. He had a feeling its only staying as strong as it was because of his disability at the moment. He hoped that it wouldn't end so quickly once he got a replacement, but it was hard to tell.

He wasn't Black's paladin anymore]

Yeah, Kosmo would be better. Black treats him like a younger sibling and copies Black. Red likes to play with him. But they are both robots and much bigger. Kosmo's at least closer to his size and not quite as potentially damaging.

[The heck with it. Youta jumped up on the couch, moving over to lay down next to Kosmo]

[Keith was fine with it. After all, without Lance in the city, Red didn't have another companion. Never having had a bond with Shiro in the first place made it so that she couldn't pair with him. They were both relying on weakened bonds, going against the bond Black had with Keith, but the Lions had made their choice for the current situation. Keith understood why, and he would do what was needed to make sure things worked.

Kosmo tilted his head as Youta jumped up with him, and then stretched his nose towards the dog in greeting.]

Yeah. Definitely.

[Keith smiled a bit as he watched them interact, stepping back to give them space now that they seemed to have accepted one another.]

[Youta sniffed back and then wagged his tail happily, happy dog look on his face before curling up next to Kosmo.

Shiro’s heading for the kitchen to get some water]

Also Youta was found with another dog. So he’s probably longing to be around another animal again.

That wouldn't really surprise me. If he'd been alone for a while, he might not have taken to Kosmo so easily.

[Thankfully, even though Kosmo had been alone with Krolia and Keith for the first two years of his life, the level of intuition in the dog was high enough that he understood that Youta belonged here, too. He didn't seem all that bothered by the idea of another canine.

Feeling a little more confident that the two were going to be okay, Keith headed into the kitchen as well.]

Yeah. I always wondered if he missed having a canine friend. Seems like he might have.

[And Youta really just wanted to cuddle with large wolf. Who could object to that.

Shiro headed over to get a glass. Yes, everything is taking more time than it needs to with one arm, but he seemed determined to do it himself]

[Kosmo was definitely not objecting to cuddles. He settled in with Youta, resting with him on the couch... which was basically now a no-human-zone.

Keith watched Shiro doing his thing, though. He had a feeling he was trying purposefully to do things on his own and without help, and, well, that was pretty admirable. Keith knew there was a chance that Shiro might end up alone at some point here, such as if Keith suddenly disappeared.

So, he tried really hard to not interfere for now.]

It's possible. I've heard those stories about animals missing their companions, human or otherwise, when they lose them.

[Yep, the couch is now off limits to humans as Youta cuddles up against Kosmo, even though he’s laying down, his tail thumping happily.

Yes, Shiro is trying to do this himself without help. He doesn’t like being so dependent on someone else. He can’t even open the microwave on his own if the door doesn’t pop open enough to not latch again when he releases the button without being creative]

I’ve heard that too. I don’t think he actively missed him, but likely still wants to have a companion he can play with easier. I think it'll do both of them good. They can play together and Youta can help him get settled.

Yeah. I hope he takes to this place okay.

[Keith glanced over at them again as they settled together on the couch, and then back at Shiro. He debated offering help, but wasn't sure if Shiro would get annoyed at him for it, so he waited..]

I'm sure he will. It just may take some time.

[Shiro has to put the glass down in the sink so that he could turn the water on and then off again and shut the cabinet when he's not holding the cabinet, but he gets his own glass of water. Success!]

[Good... success. Keith took that moment to look back over at the dogs.]

I think we're already making progress.

[Kosmo certainly didn't look like he was suffering, curled up on the couch with Youta. If anything, it was probably good that Kosmo was used to traveling.]

[It's just horribly convoluted when he wanted to something, but Shiro's not one to give up on it. He wanted to be independent so he was going to do that]

Yeah, I think we are too. He seems happy. And he's used to new things happening because of you.

With us having been on that whale for so long, he took to traveling really well, so I'm glad for that.

[Though, it helped that the Lions were essentially ships, and that Kosmo could hang out inside like it was a house and a familiar place.]

Though, I don't think I'd get very far without him at this point. He's used to being around me all the time.

It never gets any less weird, hearing about you being on a whale for two years.

Probably not. He'll likely follow you wherever you go. Like Youta most of the time.

It never gets any less weird talking about it. If it hadn't happened to me, I probably wouldn't believe it.

[Keith gave Shiro a sheepish smile.]

And yeah... I'd be surprised if he didn't.

But, if anything, this means that Black can hang around to help you out for a while if you need it.

If it was anyone except you, I probably wouldn't believe it honestly.

Yeah, I feel like it would be helpful to have him around, at least for a bit until I have a new arm.

[Can't very well defend himself like this]

[Keith smiled a bit. At least Shiro was okay with acknowledging that. Keith knew he wanted to be independent and do things on his own, but knowing he might still need help with certain things for a while was good. He could be sure now that Shiro wouldn't unnecessarily push things.]

Yeah. It'll be good. And, if I need one of the Lions for something, I can still take Red for now.

[As much as he really doesn't want to admit that he needs help, there's really no option for it. He can't do everything he wants to with only one hand]

Yeah, I'm sure they won't have a problem continuing as normal for the moment.

audio | un:blacklion

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