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[tearsinajar]

I feel like, with everything that's going on, I've lost track of time.

I mean, we've been on a ship for so long, we've gone on a few planet trips, and then there was that whole— [ Elena waves a hand, dismissive. Only because that's a difficult one to process. ] —year thing. Or at least I think it was a year.

Not only that but we've gone and swapped out captains, most of us have survived a ship crash landing or two, and Lord knows what else.

But in all of that— and yes, there's a point to this— how are you supposed to celebrate a birthday when you've barely had any time to sit down and process everything? When you sit down and keep asking yourself, "What day is it?" or "What month are we at?" or better yet— "How old am I again?"

[ Like the song What's my age again? ]

I really doubt this place has a bar with decent male strippers.

[ A tiny pause. She makes a face. Oh god. ]

...what if they're alien male strippers? What am I supposed to do with that?

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[shiro2hero]

Part of my crew.

[He hesitates, ending up glancing away from her.]

You really, really don't want to know.

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[tearsinajar]

Are you a captain..?

[ Ah, hesitation, obvious discomfort. ]

If you don't want to talk about it, I won't push.

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[shiro2hero]

Something like that, yeah.

[He twitches a shoulder.]

... second time, I ended up "something like a captain". So there's that.

[You tried, Shiro.]

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[tearsinajar]

You don't exactly sound happy about the position you were put in...

We can talk about something else, if you'd like?

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[shiro2hero]

Oh, it's fine, really. It took me by surprise, more than anything.

[tearsinajar]

It does seem like it would come with a lot of responsibility. Especially the kind you didn't quite ask for to begin with.

[shiro2hero]

Yeah, but... someone's got to do it. Might as well be me.

[tearsinajar]

But why you? Do you think you're qualified?

[shiro2hero]

I've got to be.

[tearsinajar]

You need to be, yes, when you're put in a position you can't back out of.

Was there no one else?

[shiro2hero]

... there were four teenagers, an alien princess, and her... uncle?

[tearsinajar]

[ Now watch her lips slowly purse as she glances away. Yeah, yeah that would definitely back him into that corner of a position. ]

...yeah. Okay, I see your point.

But why couldn't the uncle step up?

[shiro2hero]

He's the only one who knows how the ship we're all on works, half the time.

... We'd probably be dead, if he wasn't running repairs while we're out on patrols, or in combat.

[As weird as Coran is, he's invaluable in his current position. Besides, the Lions might never have picked him.]

[tearsinajar]

So he's in charge of the ship and you're in charge of the four teenagers?

[shiro2hero]

He and Allura both.

I mean... it's a lot more than it sounds like. None of us have any idea how the place works. He's got a lot on his shoulders as it is.

[Sure, Pidge is figuring it out. And Hunk. But the majority of it is all Coran.]

[tearsinajar]

Not even the princess knows?

[shiro2hero]

Not as much as Coran.

[And Allura has other responsibilities, like... apparently powering the place with her life force.]

[tearsinajar]

I suppose he'd know more if he's her uncle and older.

Are any of them here with you now?

[shiro2hero]

I ... don't think he's actually related to her. That's just how they seem to act, to me.

[He could be, though??? Who knew how Altean families worked.]

Allura is, yeah.

[tearsinajar]

Oh... So maybe he's a family friend...?

That's good! Someone you know.

[shiro2hero]

Definitely that. He knew her father for a long time, I think. And Allura, too.

[Just. Gonna. Casually not mention they're also the last two of their people left......]

I'm grateful she's here, I won't lie.

[tearsinajar]

Family friends are a blessing, in hard times especially.

[ Yeah. Don't do that. ]

Really? Are you two...close?

[shiro2hero]

... yeah. They really are. [Case in point: Pidge being here.] Anyone from your world here?

[Wait what? Are they -- what kind of question is that.]

I -- uh. Kind of?

[tearsinajar]

A whackload of people. My husband, my father-in-law, a good friend, a...younger version of my husband? It's hard to explain, and by younger I mean he's sixteen? I think? I never actually asked— I should probably get that sorted out. And there's a few others.

[ One which she doesn't feel she should have to explain, aka the guy who almost got her killed. ]

Oh. That's good. So, like, a significant other?

[shiro2hero]

That's... I imagine that's really confusing. But at least you've got a lot of familiar faces to help. Right?

[And then. Please... hold, while he tries to process that question. And keep his face from spontaneously bursting into flame.]

I -- We -- No! No! We're friends! Teammates!

[Also she apparently thinks humans are hideous, and there's a metric ton of guilt in regards to her, so uh. There's that.]