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[When the video clicks on, it's not to the confused face of a newcomer, to the concern of someone who has just been plucked out of their universe and thrown to another. It's not of anger, fear, annoyance, none of that. When the video focuses, it's on a man wearing a strange dark coat, twirling one end of a ginger mustache between his fingers. He has light blue markings on his face, pointed ears, wild hair, a patch over his right eye, and looks entirely nonplussed by this entire situation.

In fact, this particular newcomer seems settled enough that he's able to hold the TAB in a steady hand at the perfect MySpace angle. No, seriously, he has this selfie stuff on lock.]

You know, this reminds me of that time I was on the coast of Melharoo, on the planet Yaluk of the Fifth Nebula. There was an entertainment city -- Va Harn, I believe the name was -- with a resort that operated kind of like this. Woke up there without a clue of what I'd been doing the past week! Turns out I'd had a particularly nasty run in with a few Wabbernocks! [Here, he laughs. As if everything he's saying makes complete and total sense.] Last time I went there during a waning metra.

[He lets go of the edge of his mustache, letting it bounce back into place as he regards the lens of the TAB.]

It's been a good while since I've had the time to learn about a new culture, so go ahead fellow visitors and Thisavrounians! Give me your best stories. Tell me about your culture, your technology, your holidays-- anything you could possibly think of!

[And, almost as if it's an afterthought, rather than the whole point of this broadcast Coran come on]

Oh! And if anyone's heard some rumors about flying robotic lions -- particularly a colored set -- I'd appreciate the information.

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[Coran, buddy, half the time you sound like you're making up words.]

[But still, it's good to see him again. They're really all back together now, aren't they?]

Sounds fake, but... all right. If you say so, I guess I'll buy it.

[ALL JOKING ASIDE...]

... did something happen to your eye?

Good, good! Because if you didn't, then I'd have to take a crack at piloting-- actually, I do already have a uniform put together. And the Black Lion is much more polite than the Red Lion...

[THANKFULLY, Shiro's changing the subject. And distracting Coran from the thoughts of capes and helmet designs.]

No, no, no, nothing happened to it! [He flicks up the patch, winking as he does so.] Just wanted to fit in a bit more on the swap moon! Didn't want to be an easy target for anyone with sticky fingers, so I decided we should go full pirate to fit in! [Look how proud he is, Shiro. Showing off his pirate get up as if that makes him look even slightly threatening.]

I... really don't think that's a good idea. On any level.

[Coran, no. Don't do that, please.]

Swap... moon? Is that real? [Guess who's even further behind than Allura? That's right, this guy.] And "we"? Who's all turning pirate?

... did anyone tell you what's going on here?

[CORAN, YES]

I'll have you know, I'm a perfectly capable pilot! I spent a few decafeebs of my youth flying! [Is he defensive? He's 100% defensive. How rude, Shiro.]

Of course it's real! The Unilu swap meets were immensely popular, even if they were hard to pin down. I still don't know how King Alfor got the coordinates to the last one we went to, but-- [Oh, wait, right.

The whole confusing issue of what the heck is happening.]

I've gotten a basic run down, but nothing too in depth.

[You know it says a lot about the current state of everything that even Coran's indignation is good to hear.]

Flying one of the Lions, Coran?

[Come on let him tease a little. You're a sight for sore eyes.] So you found another one, and had to go ... in disguise. As a pirate.

[Well that seems legit, honestly.]

It's complicated. Allura thinks something happened with the timelines after the Castle went through a corrupt wormhole? But, short version is, the rest of you are way ahead of me.

We've all got to have dreams!

[He's entirely kidding, though. As evidenced by how much he's grinning. He's honestly glad that the paladins seem to be in such good moods. It's a nice difference from the constant background of stress and exhaustion they'd all been dealing with.]

Hmm... that'd be a good theory if that wasn't such a long time ago for me-- and ahead of you, from the sounds of it. If it was the common thread for most of us, it'd be more likely, but otherwise...

If any of the Lions show up, maybe we'll get the chance to let you copilot.

[It really is good to have some time to ... well. Relax isn't the right word. To not worry about being attacked every five minutes. It's been good. Plus, you know, being glad to see people.]

So far, the common thread is none of us are on the same page. I know Pidge was looking into this place's Ingress tech when we first got here. But I don't know how much she was able to find out.

[As much as he wants to continue on the more lighthearted thread, there's a time and a place for all that. Even for Coran, believe it or not.

So, he hums under his breath, letting what Shiro's telling him sink in and turning it around in his head for a moment as he tries to think of the best thing to do.]

I'll have to ask her how far she got before looking into it myself. So far the technology here only seems similar to Altean technology in a general sense. The more practical parts of it are going to take some time to get used to.

[He lets out a breath. Might as well start small and work his way up. Get a lay of the land, so to speak.]

So, if we're all on different pages, where were you?

I know there's a lot more to get into, now that we're here. When we first were taken, we were on board a ship. No one really seemed to know anything, and their Ingress was malfunctioning.

[And then they ended up here. Where the people seemed to make the Ingress. Or at least, have a much better understanding of it.]

Getting her and Hunk's input on it is probably a good idea.

[It's his turn, then, to blow out a breath. This is... not something he wants to admit. Not to Coran. Because, as clear as it is things turned out all right, it still happened. It's still bothering him.]

[And this is part of the reason.]

... infiltrating the Galra ship with Allura. She'd just thrown me out of it. And stayed behind.

[... ah, so that's why Shiro suddenly got all uncomfortable and serious.

Coran had been wondering, biting his tongue and holding back his more lighthearted responses the moment the paladin leader had let out that breath, and now he has to glance away for a moment, a frown pulling at his lips.

He's not mad at Shiro, not anymore -- honestly, he never had been. Not really. Allura made her own decisions, he knew that better than anyone -- but that period of time still hits hard. Lodges itself deep in his chest and aches like a festering wound.]

She can be stubborn, sometimes. [He finally says, a small smile pulling at his lips again.] Not exactly the best page to be on, but the chapter did have a good ending! [You know, not counting Shiro getting hurt, them all getting separated, and Zarkon getting even more of a grip on the Black Lion...]

[He's bracing for the worst, honestly. Even if he knows the outcome, even if he knows Allura came out of it all right, he's prepared for the worst. For anger. For blame.]

[Something to verify one of the things he's been beating himself up about ever since he got here. That he was right to be so angry with himself. That he deserves it. But it doesn't come.]

[Instead there's just... Coran being Coran. Like it wasn't even an issue.]

I... heard that, yeah. [What does he say. What can he even say now? When he was prepared for something completely different, had prepared for something different.]

Sorry, I, don't know what to say. I guess it's been a while for you. But -- it's been on my mind.

[Understatement of the century right there.]

[Say what you will about Coran and his tendency to be aloof and ridiculous, but when push comes to shove... there's a reason Alfor trusted him as an adviser all those years. There's a reason he was placed in cryosleep next to Allura.

And that reason shows now, as Coran places the TAB down and crosses his arms, staring at a point a few feet above the device, mulling over his words and trying to think back to everything they were feeling back then.]

It wasn't that long ago. [He finally says, tone a bit quieter than it is normally.] And I was angry, but I don't think hearing that's going to make you feel any better about it.

I said it then, and I'll say it again now: it wasn't your fault, Shiro.

[If he was surprised before, he's... stunned, now. Even more speechless than before. Maybe some part of him wanted Coran to be angry. To have that guilt chewing in his chest validated. Wanted it, because Allura refused it.]

[How else is he supposed to justify carrying it so long?]

[Maybe he shouldn't have expected anger, when it's not as fresh for everyone as it is him.]

No, I... don't think it would have. [It's true, anyway. He wouldn't have felt better. Just validated.] That's what Allura said.

A few times now. Probably should have listened the first time... huh?

Probably! [And there it is, that Coran Cheerfulness™ just flooding right back into his voice, re-energizing him in an instant.] But if there's one thing I've learned about humans, it's that you're just as stubborn as any Altean. Maybe even more-so.

[He grins, snatching up the TAB again so he's not limited to sitting still during the conversation.]

Though in the future, I would definitely recommend listening to Allura, first. She's always had a good eye for these sorts of things.

[Something about the sudden change in demeanor is... oddly reassuring. Like if Coran held the serious expression any longer it would be wrong. Not to mention, the confirmation he should have gone with her original statement.]

[Because, really. He should have listened to her on a lot of things, lately.]

Yeah I... wish you'd have been here a week ago to say that.

We're not the best at being logical when emotions are tense.

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