Relaxing at home (Open to Nexus people)

[hellomajortom]

It had been a crazy few weeks. Learning about a place with so many aliens, reuniting with his wife, and finding a house. It was a lot, nevermind his son being the usual tornado of chaos. The house they had eventually settled on was human built but the style had given his wife a jolt of nostalgia. He hadn't been to Anthea, but he could only imagine this architecture was similar to her home. It was a beautiful house, small, minimalist, and warm with all the sunlight. Right now thin bluish curtains were drawn on most of the windows, another thing his wife had insisted on. He cared little about it though now that they were in place he could appreciate the beauty. Tom imagined at one time Anthea must have been beautiful with its open air houses and sheer colored curtains.

He turned his mind away from Anthea as he sat on the porch swing reading. The past of his wife's people always felt hopeless and depressing. Instead he smiled to himself. His son had been here earlier, high on more than drugs. The stream of Anthean had been welcome to hear as Ziggy spoke to his mother. Truth was they were both talking too fast and high pitched for Tom to keep up from across the room. He got the gist though from human culture. His son had someone or several someones with how his son was, what kind of someone in a place like this Tom could only guess but the signs were there.

That had been a few hours ago. The two of them had left, giddy like school girls, for the plaza and shopping. Tom had been invited but he had so little time to relax during the recent NASA projects that he was going to take his time to do nothing. What was the use of retiring, semi-retiring, if you didn't enjoy it. He took a moment to look at the cats laying on the porch at his feet. There were six now that his wife brought in from wherever she had found them. Most of them looked Earthly though one, one Tom was sure hadn't hailed from an Earth. Still he barely gave it a passing thought.

With one of the cats now settling in his lap on the porch swing, Tom went back to reading and listening to the sounds of people occasionally walking by.


[More images of the house here]

Comments

[hellomajortom]

"I've noticed. People either love him or want him dead. There's no middle ground."

Tom was sort of resolute about the fact that there were always going to be people who wanted to kill his son.

"I'm glad to see he's moving toward some stability."

[somekindofspaceuncle]

"Only beasts could want him dead, not real people. And I'll protect him from any."

Shiro, no, Hiroki, tilts his head wondering why the Major would think Ziggy was going towards any kind of stability.

"I don't think he is, why would he? Ziggy's... wild. Pure. Raw. He's a supernova. Why'd you think he's moving towards any stability?"

...and... Hiroki gulps. Stability, would mean...

"...with whom...? I hope they're a good person. And that he's happy with..."

[hellomajortom]

"He needs it, sometimes." Tom knew more people watching out for his son was better. This was even more true because his own band had turned on him last time.

Tom shrugs a little at the questions. "Ziggy's never invited anyone to stay with him. He usually throws everyone out in the morning. I don't think he's going to be any less wild. Nothing is going to tame that down."

It's starting to sink in to Tom how new to relationships this man must be. Nothing like jumping right into the thick of it.

[somekindofspaceuncle]

"Never invited...?"

With a bubbling hope, Sh---Hiroki looks at the Major, quiet now, for a moment.

And suddenly, he's glowing. Literally. Blue-white, with shining small lights around him, also, like blue and white fireflies. He doesn't seem to notice it himself, yet, busy looking at Tom.

It doesn't seem to be doing anything.

[hellomajortom]

Tom's brow goes up and his instant thought is that this man is alien or part alien. It wouldn't surprise Tom that his son had found another alien to cling to. Especially if he was half alien. There would be an understanding there that no one else could have. Hiroki didn't react surprised to it so Tom assumed it was normal to his.. happiness? Joy? Love, maybe?

"Not that I know of."

[somekindofspaceuncle]

"I had no idea. I'm - it's an honour!"

And then, he notices. He looks at himself, slightly perplexed. But he's not freaking out.

"I thought I was human," he says, finally, "and these days, I no longer know. Not that it's surprising that I don't know myself. I only thought I'm a human because Shiro is one."

Oh, right, he should explain.

"Shiro. Takashi Shirogane, the Black Paladin, pilot of the Black Lion of Voltron... Voltron consists of five Lions, they merge together to form him... all the Lions, they're sentient, of course, they're good, great, really, there's no one like them, and their Paladins, you should meet... well..."

"One evil witch wanted Shiro so much that once he's escaped, she's cloned him. Hundreds upon hundreds of copies--"

He stops glowing. And after a moment, he looks slightly sick, and it's probably obvious that it's not from glowing, but from what he's just said.

[hellomajortom]

"You must've done something to get his attention."

Tom watches Hiroki stare at himself and considered what he is talking about. "Human isn't as defined as I once thought."

"The treatment that saved my life made me less human, genetically anyway." But then he sees the change in his demeanor and sighs at the sick look. He knows it too well from Ziggy getting ill. Tom shifts to lay a gentle and supportive hand on Hiroki's shoulder.

[somekindofspaceuncle]

"Dunno, man."

Half-shrug.

Hiroki readily accepts the hand. He even leans into this, a little, as if he desperately wants to hug, but will never ask for that unless the other person needs a hug.

"Genes don't matter. Why'd you worry about such trifles?"

[hellomajortom]

Tom is used to the hint for a hug and easily slips into a single armed hug. He'll fully hug the young man of he wants one.

"Maybe they should?" Tom offers. "Those small changes to my genetics... Humans are not genetically compatable with Antheans. It was those genetic changes that let Ziggy be born. I think about genetics alot sometimes."

[somekindofspaceuncle]

Shiro-- Hiroki wasn't expecting any affection, the man's just met him, after all. He hugs back, as much as he can. It's different to do that with just one arm, but he can get used to it.

"Maybe so. I wouldn't wish to live in a universe where Ziggy wasn't born," he whispers.

[hellomajortom]

Tom comfortably holds the young man allowing for Hiroki to dictated how mush of a hug they shared. He had to do this so much for his own son so often

"I wouldn't either." Tom comments with obvious affection. "You're madly in love with him, aren't you?"

There was something about the tone, the word choice even, that told Tom this might not be just a casual love but a head over heels, all in type of love.

[somekindofspaceuncle]

Hiroki Shirogane, born not much earlier than yesteryear, truly, smiles. Softly, warmly, with hope.

"How did you know, Major?" he asks.

Then, Hiroki giggles. And he glows a little, again, for a tick and a half. This time, he notices it and doesn't seem too surprised, as if he simply sneezed or whatever.

[hellomajortom]

Tom laughs quietly at the glowing. "It wasn't this obvious. I didn't glow."

He's good natured about it though and shrugs. "I don't know exactly. I was terrified of her and thought she was ugly when we first met but overtime we became friends. Then.." Tom's words trail off as he thinks. "I think I noticed when the idea of going home, back to Earth, was something I didn't want to do because it would mean never seeing her again. I was married back on Earth, and after over a year missing I started hoping she'd moved on to someone else. It was selfish in a way. I imagined my first wife moving on so I could be free of guilt for falling in love with someone else."

net is wonky so one tag till it resets (on other net) XD

[somekindofspaceuncle]

Didn't... well, it's not like he can control this, whatever 'this' is, his Quintessence, probably, maybe the witch had done something to it, long ago.

He should learn how not to shine like some gadget.

"Ugly? Never tell a girl that," Shiro--- Hiroki utters. "Or a woman. They're scary."

He listens attentively to the rest.

"So... what about your wife? Later?" Hiroki asks, concerned.

"And yes, I'm in love with Ziggy. I was wondering how to leave him, but I can't, so perhaps, I don't love him enough. Until I know I'm not some kind of a dangerous weapon, still, leaving Ziggy would be for the best, for him. I hoped... you might give me some advice. Or-- tell Ziggy why I'm not the right man for him."

DW has been giving me the 504 too.

[hellomajortom]

Tom shakes his head. "We called each other ugly, and maybe we are by the other species' standards, but I'm not sure it was ever serious. I found her physically ugly for awhile but her mind and heart have always been beautiful."

Truth was Tom had fallen in love with who she was and liking what Aletayria looked like had come later.

"That's complicated because of space time folding." Tom pauses and sighs heavily. "I had lived 20 years away from Earth, by my perception, but when I returned only two weeks had passed. The wife who was the last thoughts in my mind when I was dying, that I worried about hurting.... she'd already remarried after only two weeks. I don't think I was ever as important to her as she was to me."

Tom can't help but laugh quietly and give Hiroki a little squeeze in the embrace. "I don't know if you've noticed but he isn't great at listening to no. I think unwillingness to leave can be a sign of love, but either way neither of us have the power to change my son's mind if he's set on something. He got that from his mom's people. They're willfully stubborn and I think it's let them survive."

1/2

[somekindofspaceuncle]

"Mhm. That's all that matters. The beautiful spirit."

If only Hiroki's own could be, too, to much. But he had a feeling it had to be ugly, surely twisted into some unholy montrosity by Haggar. It was probably no better than a Robeast.

He tries not to shudder at the thought.

Shiro had been absolutely sure that the evil witch was trying to turn him into a Robeast.

Hiroki, however, is absolutely certain that Honerva had turned Hiroki into a Robeast of some kind, completely.

He has no idea he's wrong.
"After two weeks? There's a longer period of mourning on the Earth I come from. Yours must be different. That'd be unusual in my home."

"I'm sorry."

2/2

[somekindofspaceuncle]

But...

"Now you are being obtuse and you know it! I don't want to kill Ziggy if I'm ever under Honerva's control again!! For all I know, I should just kill myself right now. But... Ziggy asked me not to do that."

[hellomajortom]

"It's longer on my Earth, too." Tom shrugs because she doesn't really matter anymore in his life. "She was probably cheating with him before the mission. It doesn't bother me, never has much. By the time I returned I was in love with someone else."

Tom knew depression when he heard it. He'd been there when he was in the asylum after returning, and even more so with the addiction.

"Are you talking about mind control?" Tom is curious. He'd read Anthean history about it but they never did it any longer. Tom sighs heavily at the suicide comment. "You must be important. He rarely asks others for things."

[somekindofspaceuncle]

"I see."

He wants to say he's sorry, again, but stops himself.

He shudders upon hearing the very words mind control, even, then steadies himself. Hiroki knows he has to keep focused.

"Yes. Mind control. The witch, she... that."

"Really? I thought he'd ask everyone he loves, and he - I think he loves everyone. It's, sort of - it's pure, really. And with such intensity. But I just know I'm surely, for him, a shiny new toy he'll soon grow bored of and throw away, and. I. I'm fine with that, truly. An hour with Ziggy is more than I've ever deserved or could deserve. That's why - I'll make the most of it. I know... I'm selfish. I'm sorry. And I'll love him - forever. After he leaves me, after he forgets me. It makes no difference to me. When someday I'm probably no longer myself, I'll still love him. Even when I won't exist anymore."

[hellomajortom]

"Ziggy will know if something is wrong with your mind, before you do." Tom knew this from how quickly both the Antheans picked up on any slide toward depression. Once they learned a mind, any deviation was noted quite quickly.

"He does love openly. I can't say about the future but you made it passed the 24-hour boredom test. Usually people don't make it to the morning." Tom loosens the hug a little to look at the man carefully. "You should probably stop wasting time worrying when it will end and enjoy now. Give yourself a chance to be hopeful for the best instead of dwelling on the worst."

[somekindofspaceuncle]

"There's no 'the best'. I've died, sir. My existence here is probably temporary at best. Shorter than that, even, at worst."

"But, that's exactly why - I'm truly blessed. Beyond measure. And, you're right. I'll stop worrying."

"I am hoping."

[hellomajortom]

"She's never said it, but I'm almost certain I was dead when Aletayria pulled me out of the capsule."

Tom pats the boy on the back encouraging. "Ziggy has as much hope as he has love. I think he'd be glad to see you be hopeful about your future, whatever amount of time that is."

[somekindofspaceuncle]

"That reminds me of - well. My first near-death experience? If the Black Lion and Keith were slightly late, I wouldn't be here, now."

There's lots of affection, there, one needs no skill to see that, truly.

"The Lions are Volron. That reminds me, I haven't finished explaining Voltron to you. Where should I even begin? It starts with a comet. The Lions of Voltron were created from it, by a brilliant Altean Alchemist, Allura's father, Alfor. The first Red Paladin."

"Hope... yeah. Thanks."

The back pat is welcomed, with a smile. Any normal touch is, he might notice.

[hellomajortom]

"Something we have in common then." Tom comments with a reassuring affection.

"You can tell me if you want." Tom smiles. "Or another time. I'm sure we'll see each other again." He's a dad and knows quite well what is going on between the two boys, more than they probably know themselves at this point.

[somekindofspaceuncle]

"I should hope not so much. I wouldn't wish a week in a shuttle with no food and no water on my worst enemy."

"No, I want to tell you about Voltron, Major. Where should I even begin?"