Video Open | un: blacklion

[lionunchained]

[The video opens with a rather hesitant looking Shiro. There's really nothing behind him as of the moment, but he does glance over at something almost right as the video kicks on]

So... it seems this place just keeps getting weirder. It seems we had some recent arrivals from our world and well... it's better to show you.

[He turned back to whatever he had been looking at]

Come here. You can come here.

[Faintly in the background there was the sound of metal moving off screen then something walked into view of the camera so others could see it. It was quite clearly a black robot lion with glowing yellow eyes, several panels glowing blue, and red wing like protrusions on its back. It's was larger than a normal lion. It walked over and sat down next to Shiro, leaning in as though trying to figure out what he was holding]

This is the Black Lion of Voltron. However, its usually not this... small.

[Yes, he is calling a robot that's larger than a normal lion small]

I'm usually shorter than Black's foot. Let me see it.

[This he says to the lion, which does raise one leg to let Shiro have its foot, but it basically drops all the weight into his hand which makes him flinch]

You are still made of metal and heavy.

[Someone might be able to faintly hear the snickering in the background, but then the next thing that happens is that Keith suddenly fell into the frame of the camera as though shoved by something, a vague red blur before it vanished. Shiro jumped when this happened and the Black Lion got up heading off camera again only to return a moment later carrying a smaller red lion by the "scruff" of the neck as Keith sat up. Shiro just put his chin in his free hand watching as Black carried Red off before he remembered this was still rolling and turned back]

They don't know their own strength.


[ooc: Meet your new neighbors, two of the lions from Voltron! Black is about the size of large liger and Red is the size of a small lion. They are... slightly more active than normal, but will probably be around their specific paladin for the most part.

Either Keith or Shiro is available to answer. If you have a preference or if your character is pinging a specific person, just let us know. It can even be both if you'd like! If no preference, random response.

The log where they arrive is still ongoing]

Comments

text @d.va

[bunnyhopped]

[ Hana had sat through the video with some confusion until Shiro made the introduction— at which point she'd pretty much rocketed off her and Genji's couch and started getting dressed, all while squealing and watching the video feed. In the end she could only offer a text response because she was already getting the hell into her mech. ]

IM COMING OVER RIGHT NOW

text - un: redpaladin

[tempredmental]

ok

text > action

[bunnyhopped]

[ Some number of minutes later, what could by now be the familiar sound of Hana's mech boosting through nearly echoed through the garage as she came down the entrance and then landed with its feet on the pavement. The boosters were out, momentarily, so she had to trudge through the rest of the way to make it to where she thought the two Paladins and their Lions were - she had recognized it as near the same spot that used to be allocated to her mech before she moved to a new place with Genji.

She didn't bother parking when she arrived, just kind of leaving the mech in the drive aisle as she ejected and landed on her feet with a little hop, hastily walking over and - yes, she did remember to put pants on - putting her hands on her hips. ]

... they look smaller in real life.

action

[tempredmental]

They're... actually, yeah. They're smaller here than they are back home.

[He shrugged.]

We can't figure out why.

[bunnyhopped]

[ Hana is just kind of. Staring at Red. She hasn't even spared Keith a glance since she arrived. ]

Huh. I guess maybe that portal did something weird to them.

So are you gonna like... ride on top of it or something?

[tempredmental]

That's the only thing we can think of.

[He shrugged.]

I don't know. I mean, she doesn't seem to mind the idea? It's not probably not going to be all that comfortable. She's kind of made of metal, you know? And I don't think they make saddles for robotic lions.

[There was a soft rumbling growl from Red, like she understood that was a joke.]

[bunnyhopped]

[ Well, Hana was about to suggest something like a saddle, but that idea was clearly out. She was surprised, though, at the growl coming from the lion. She'd known from talking with Keith and with Shiro that the lions were sentient, but somehow the fact that they'd be... vocal, too, that wasn't something she'd thought about until this very moment. ]

Whoa.

[ Neat. ]

I'm sure you'll figure it out. Maybe someone can make, like, a special chair for you to sit in or something. Anyway, are you going to introduce me to your lion or not?

[tempredmental]

[Actually, a small saddle might even work. But Red was really at the smaller end of being able to be ridden. If Keith hit a late growth spurt, there was a chance he'd be too big to ride her soon.]

Hm? [It him a bit to figure out introductions...? Oh, right. Yeah. Introductions.] Oh, yeah. Uh...

This is the Red Lion of Voltron. Red, meet Hana Song.

[The Lion definitely understood what Keith had said, and she stepped a bit closer, the soft mechanical whir of her workings audible in the underground garage. There was a metallic clang as she stepped forward on the cement floor, and she almost looked like she was going to sniff Hana. However, instead, she stared with those blank glowing eyes... stared like she could see right into Hana's soul. Creeped out, yet?]

[bunnyhopped]

[ Hana watched so, so intently when the Red Lion made her move, everything from the way the joints of her legs moved and sounded to the sound she made against the concrete and— her eyes. ]

It's nice to meet you, Red...?

[ She would sound more sure of herself like she usually did, if not for those eyes. They were creepy, yes, and Hana tilted her head to one side before she sort of shifted around, leaning to one side and then the other, trying to see if it still felt like she was staring right into Hana's soul from different angles... The answer, as it turns out, is yes. ]

Huh.

[tempredmental]

[When Hana tilted her head, so did Red. The Lion just watched as Hana moved around.

Keith was mildly confused as well.]

What's up?

[bunnyhopped]

[ She stopped moving around finally, ending right where she'd started in front of Red and now folding her arms and, again, tilting her head. ]

The eyes. They're kinda... you know? Intense. Like they're following me.

[tempredmental]

[Keith stared at her for a second, then looked at Red, then looked back at her.]

I guess. I've only noticed it with Red. Lance noticed it with Blue.

[He shrugged.]

Maybe she's judging you.

[bunnyhopped]

[ She quirked a brow at Keith. She didn't really understand what that meant, so... ]

What, you mean judging how awesome I am?

text; @blacklion

[lionunchained]

[Yep, recognizes the username all right]

See you soon then

text > action

[bunnyhopped]

[ Fortunately for all, there were no traffic accidents involved in Hana's endeavor to get to the communal housing garage as quickly as possible from her and Genji's new residence. By the time she arrived to the basement level her mech's boosters were on cool down and she covered the rest of the distance on mech foot. She didn't spare a moment once she found the "mech parking" area, ejecting out of her mech and leaving it in the driveway without regard to anyone who might need to pass through. Because, whatever, they could always drive around her mech and if they accidentally hit it, she'd be more worried about the other person's car than about her mech.

Regardless, once she'd landed on her feet and walked to Shiro, she was folding her arms and her eyes were glued right to the Black Lion. She wasn't wearing her flight suit, but her usual casual wear of pants, a shirt, and a jacket. She was silent for a long moment just looking at the robot... lion... thing before she finally spoke up: ]

Guess you can't really pilot it at that size, huh?

action

[lionunchained]

[Well, that was one way to make an entrance. Shiro had been waiting for her now standing up, Black standing beside him. When the mech came rather abruptly landing in the garage where they were, Black didn't even hesitate to get between Shiro and the mech. Yep, still protecting its Paladin.

But before she reached them, Shiro stepped around Black to walk over to her, the lion following after him only a step or two behind]

No, we can't considering the cockpit is in the head. But they seem to be the same otherwise... if more active.

[And because the lion is standing there and almost at his height and hard to ignore...]

This is Black. Black, this is Hana, a friend of mine.

[bunnyhopped]

[ Shiro at least got Hana's attention briefly as he spoke before she went right back to staring at the lion because, yes, it was hard to ignore. It didn't really have... pupils in its eyes, yet Hana felt very much like it was staring directly at her. Possibly into her soul. How would she know? She was slightly tense, but more curious than anything else. If its head was supposed to be the cockpit, then it really was just a fraction of its original size. Which meant... it was supposed to be huge.

Like, as big as the colossal omnic she would be fighting back home.

Yikes?

But then Shiro was introducing them, and clearly this was like, a robot lion and not a person, so holding her hand out for a handshake was out of the question. ]

Hello, Black. I've heard so much about you.

[ So instead Hana tilted her head and, slowly, tentatively, she reached out, thinking to touch the top of Black's head between the ears but at the last second she looked up at Shiro. ]

Is it okay if I—?

[lionunchained]

[Creepy wasn't it. Eyes that were simultaneously blank but also looking right into you. Lance had said it when they met Blue; it felt like the lions could watch you with those pupil-less eyes. Their paladin got it the worse, but really anyone they focused on could feel like the lion was staring right through them. Now they were closer to human height. It was easier for them to look a human in the eyes.

The Black Lion didn't move as Hana spoke, as she turned her head to the side, just kept staring at her. Even the tail didn't move. Shiro glanced from Hana back to the Black Lion before back at her, watching Black out of the corner of his eye.

Then she reached out. Shiro was about to answer her, but Black made the first move. The lion stepped forward, right over to her. The lion paused a pace or so from her before it moved in the rest of the way, bumping the top of its head against her hand. Shiro smiled]

Well, I guess you can do that.

[bunnyhopped]

[ After it had been so completely still in its response (or lack thereof) to her introduction, the sudden step forward took Hana by surprise and she couldn't help but gasp; but she didn't move or shy away from the lion, instead staying steady in her place which worked out fine when Black closed the gap and... let her pat it on the head. ]

Oh—

[ She blinked slowly a few times at what just took place, staring down at the lion which felt like it was staring back again. Then she looked up at Shiro, a little confused and amused at the same time. ]

That's a good thing, right?

[ Slowly she rubbed the top of Black's head with her hand. Good... robot kitty? ]

[lionunchained]

That's a good thing. The lions really do have minds of their own.

[As Hana pet Black on the top of the head, he continued]

Our ability to pilot them works when their pilot develops a bond with them. Not everyone will be allowed to pilot one and the lions don't always cooperate with a paladin they've chosen, but haven't bonded to.

Commanding your lion pretty much doesn't work at all.

[There was a rumble from Black as though it were saying "you got that right" in response to Shiro's comment]

[bunnyhopped]

[ Her hand paused in petting Black when she heard and felt the low rumble of the lion's response; she hadn't expected it to be vocal, too. She leaned down a little bit to level her eyes with Black's, although it honestly didn't take much given its stature and her size. She glanced up at Shiro momentarily just to ask, ]

So that means you've bonded with Black, then?

[ Before she continued her staring contest with the Black Lion. You know, the longer she looked at it... ]

... You know, it's pretty cute!

[lionunchained]

[Yep, they were focal. She hadn't heard the roar yet, but they purred, rumbled, everything. Black just stared back at her. It's impossible to tell what a robot lion is thinking so it just looks back]

I have bonded with Black. It took a lot of work, didn't it, buddy?

[At her comment, Shiro chuckled and Black may have opened its mouth a little. Was that a robot lion smile?]

[bunnyhopped]

[ The curiosity in her face melted away into something sweet, both at Shiro's words and especially the way Black opened its mouth a little. She couldn't help it, but she pulled her hand away so she could cover her cheeks and— ]

Awww!

That's so cute. You two are cute!

[lionunchained]

[That comment though surprised Shiro when she said that. Had she really just called him cute? The lion had been called cute multiple times today, but... she was probably the first person in a while to call him cute]

Thanks.

[And now Black looks over her shoulder at the mech. The lion moved around her, heading over towards it]

I think Black is curious about your Meka.

[bunnyhopped]

[ Yes, she really just called him cute, and she meant it too. And when Black maneuvered around her she easily made way for him to do so. Usually she was a little more cautious about people getting close to her MEKA, but... this was an ancient robot lion. She had to be a little gracious. So didn't do anything to hinder Black, instead stepping aside and then finding her way to Shiro's side so they could look on at Black's inspection together. Unfortunately, the MEKA unit wasn't sentient, but Hana was curious as to what Black's impression would be regardless. ]

Yeah? Well, the engineers back home would probably get a kick out of that, an ancient alien robot lion being interested in their work. Too bad the MEKA unit can't talk with Black.