[Open]

[padadin]

Who: Shiro and you
What: Arrival and exploring
Where: Southern Shore, cabins, the forest around them
When: Throughout the month
Warnings: is reusing some of my tdm a warning For the wolf prompt, mentions of blood and imprisonment, PTSD.


1. Awakening | Southern Shores

[Leaves. He wakes up on a pile of leaves, and at first Shiro thinks he's dreaming. The smell of the sea assaults him, too, and he hasn't been to the sea in forever. The Garrison was in the desert, and he spent time in space after that... only to return to more desert. So lying down on the ground, feeling the breeze through his military uniform, brings back memories of his young life in Japan. Of his grandfather, taking him to the beach because the sky is much more clear there, perfect for his new telescope. Or his dog, digging in the sand to bury her ball. Of building sand forts against imaginary aliens.

This definitely isn't home, though. One quick look around tells him as much. Has he been wormholed here by accident? Has he been kidnapped? But a kidnapper wouldn't leave a bag with supplies, now would they? Shiro only takes a superficial look into the bag to check what is before throwing it over his good shoulder. He can see some houses in the distance, so it's time to do some exploring and try to find other people.

He moves slowly, and carefully, always keeping an eye on his surroundings. He doesn't know if there are enemies around, or dangerous wild animals. But sooner or later, Shiro feels hungry, and the stuff in his bag should be saved for emergencies. So sorry, random person who happens to be in the area, for the metal arm that flies past you to grab an apple from a nearby tree, or to catch that little rabbit over there. Shiro is concentrated on the task and doesn't mean to startle.]

2. Cabin area

[Shiro wants answers, and he wants them now. Usually he's a very patient man - the most patient person in the universe, some would even say. But he's also a workaholic, someone that needs to be active all the time. Adding to that the fact he's apparently been kidnapped? Yeah, not a happy camper at the moment. So you can find all over the place:

A. Investigating the cabins. He's leaving no house untouched, no room unseen. Will he find your character in an awkward situation or just chilling? Or maybe a fellow explorer? If that's the case, then he'll mumble-] Sorry. [Before quickly regaining his serious attitude to ask.] Were you brought here as well?

[B. At the shore of the lake, the sleeves and pants of his military uniform rolled up as he tries to fish with his bare hands. Except there's nothing to catch in the first place. Frustration obviously shows on Shiro's face.] I'm not seeing things, am I? Those are fish in the distance. It's almost as if there's an invisible force keeping them away from the shore.

[C. A bit of a wildcard! Shiro will be doing all the things required to survive: hunting, gathering wood, taking water, testing the things found in the cabins, etc. Feel free to find him during any of these activities! He'll be observing the tree carvings as well, mumbling the name of the animal under his breath as he goes from one to the other, in case you wanna chat about them.]

3. Exploring / big bad wolf (mentions of blood and imprisonment, PTSD)

[Something -someone- is watching him. Following. And it's getting on his nerves, making the paranoia that usually haunts his nightmares worse. The first day he can ignore it, but as time passes, he gets more and more jumpy, and the signs he's finding are not helping. Blurry memories of blood on the walls of the room where he was kept try to leave the back of his brain and assault his senses, the smell of death almost pushing him to the edge of a panic attack--

Crack. It's just someone stepping on some twigs, but it's enough to make him snap, and Shiro sends his arm flying to punch the trunk of the tree next to the poor random that has found Shiro like this - aka you. Sorry about that, this (a bit over) six foot beefy man is usually gentler than this.]

Who are you? Are you the one that has been following me?

Comments

2B. Or not 2B. (More like 2A/2C.)

[sinistral]

[Routine is as important as anything else. While it might not be one of the more obvious survival priorities — certainly obtaining food and shelter are of paramount importance — a regular routine does help provide stability for the mind, a vector for clear thinking. For Bucky, it’s something he doesn’t take at all for granted anymore.

Mornings see him up for a run at or around sunrise, sometimes making a circuit of the lakeshore, sometimes venturing into the forest. Almost always he’s dressed in his tactical gear, and he’s always armed, still somewhat mistrustful of what might be in residence here. This island, or whatever it is, hasn’t yielded up any answers to the question of its purpose, and Bucky’s trust doesn’t run very deep.

Still, the daily runs are a welcome exercise and — for all the strangeness associated with arriving here — he certainly has no complaints about having a gorgeous landscape in which to take them.]

[padadin]

[Routine is definitely important, Shiro has expressed this thought himself too. It's what kept him sane (well, as sane as he could be) during his year as a prisoner and the months his soul spent in the nothingness of the Black Lion.

He's slowly getting into one here, but a morning run isn't pat of it yet, even if he's dying for one. He doesn't know the area well enough yet, doesn't know if there are any dangers he should look out for. He's doing the necessary exploring first, getting to memorize all twists and turns before going back to being the gym rat he is.

Nightmares mean he sleeps like shit, so he's up before sunrise, already washing his face at the lake and starting a fire to cook... something. Meat, probably, since fish seem not to be coming over any time soon. And it's simple enough, it doesn't require mixing, which means Shiro won't screw it up. Because guess which smart strategist leader sucks at cooking?

This morning he's so concentrated on following that rabbit that he's startled by the sudden steps on leaves that come his way. Out of instinct, he raises his arm ready to defend himself against-- ah! A person.

...who also has a metal arm. Huh. Shiro quickly lowers his.]

Sorry, you took me by surprise. [And a surprised soldier with certain reflexes is never a good thing.] You aren't a native, are you?

[That would too much to hope for...]

[sinistral]

[It’s actually a pretty nice morning, if one takes the whole still-kidnapped-to-a-strange-place thing as being normal. Bucky pushes himself as he normally does, enjoying the feeling of pushing his body, the exercise of his muscles. He’s most certainly not expecting to run into someone, if only because his morning runs have been pretty solitary things, then again, there doesn’t seem to be much of a population here so even if he was inclined to look for a running partner, there isn’t really anyone.

Suits him just fine though.

Coming through a break in the brush though brings him up short; on top of not expecting to run into anyone, he’s definitel not expecting to run into someone who immediately drops into a defensive stance with arms raised — one of which is distinctly not a human appendage. It immediately sends him into his own half-crouch, arms raised though he doesn’t go for either the gun or the knives at his hip and back.

The idea of being able to wait for some sort of introductory move and not needing to immediately attack is a luxury indeed.]

No. [There’s wariness in this voice because running into another person with a high tech prosthetic arm isn’t how Bucky had anticipated his morning to go. But it seems pretty clear to him that whoever this guy is, he’s new.

Or he’s a really good actor, but it probably says something that the possibility is the least likely of occurrences.

Bucky straightens slowly, arms returning to his sides, albeit a little warily.] New here?

[padadin]

[Shiro doesn't blame the guy for being wary, honestly. But he figures that, being as distracted as he had been with the rabbit, this man could've already killed him if he wanted. So while he doesn't come closer to Bucky, not yet, he does that straighten up without hesitation, especially when he hears that question.]

Yes. I woke up near some rivers, then made my way here by foot. I found two friends of mine in one of the cabins, but not sight of other person in miles. [He sounds incredibly frustrated, and it shows on his frown.] Let me guess, you have no idea of what is going on either.

[sinistral]

[Well, it’s a familiar enough statement, and that certainly says something, doesn’t it? Bucky doesn’t bother to hide how he gives the other man a once-over, eyes lingering just for a moment on that artificial arm. But hey, at least he knows how the scrutiny feels, and his gaze returns to his face not long after.]

Hate to tell you this, but that’s becoming pretty common around here. [He glances past the guy to the fire — just out of curiosity; a fire gone wild could be disastrous — but it looks well made and contained. Clearly this guy has some grasp of survival skills or common sense (or both).]

I’ve no objection to sharing what I know, but it’s not much.

[padadin]

[Once-overs usually get on his nerves - it is of course impossible for people to know what has happened to him by just looking, but their gazes feel heavy on him. This time though, it feels a bit less uncomfortable. Two strangers in the wild, trying to make sense of possible danger... yeah, this man is just doing the same thing he is. Being careful, gathering information.

The fellow metal arm helps a bit too, he must admit. And what he says... well, it matches what Lance and Keith have said so far too. Shiro nods.]

Any information you can share would be welcome. Something is better than nothing. [He takes a couple of steps towards the guy, not coming to his side yet but showing some friendliness to start with, since it seems they're all stuck together in this.] I'm Shiro, by the way. I suppose the word "Voltron" doesn't mean anything to you, does it?

[sinistral]

Information and a drink, if you want it. I mean, it's just water, but still.

[The newcomer takes a few steps and Bucky shifts to meet him halfway. They really do have to start somewhere, and it'd be nice for it to not be steeped in suspicion and mistrust. Besides, he does trust his own instincts to react to an attack, should one be coming.

He shakes his head at the question though.] Bucky. And it doesn't, sorry. But I'm going to guess that the word "HYDRA" doesn't mean much to you?

[Which is actually okay with him, truth be told. There are more questions he wants to ask, sure, but they have to start somewhere. And while Bucky still doesn't think he's the best at disseminating information, he sees no reason not to share what little he does have. Just because this place hasn't shown itself to be overly dangerous just yet — at least not to him — doesn't mean that it isn't coming.]

[padadin]

Water is great, thank you.

[He isn't expecting any more than the basics, although it would be nice if one of these random house had a hidden stash of snacks. Maybe a can of beer, but that's too much to ask for.

The word "hydra" does ring a bell but obviously it's not what this guy is going for, or he wouldn't ask like that.]

Nice to meet you, Bucky. Circumstances aside. [Having more people around is good. Shiro doesn't like isolation. Also shaking his head now.] I take it you don't mean the creature. No, it doesn't. This would be confirming the alternative reality theory I was discussing with my friends.

[His teammates... who come from his past. Still wrapping his head around that.]

[sinistral]

Don't mention it.

[Really it'd been a lucky find, the water skin he'd scavenged out of a hut. But Bucky is definitely thankful for it, and doesn't mind sharing it. It's forcing him out of his comfort zone sure, but he's found it's easier than anticipated in a place where most of the people he's met don't know who he is and where HYDRA's influence isn't present. It's more freedom than he'd ever anticipated having.]

Circumstances could be worse. [Which is true enough, sadly. Bucky's shoulders do relax a little bit at the mention of the mythological creature though. If that's the only way Shiro knows HYDRA, it's more than fine with him.] I don't, and trust me, it's a relief. [A beat.] You know, a few weeks ago I would have laughed at a theory like that. Now I'm not so sure.

[padadin]

I get it, trust me too. Not recognition means the bad guys haven't followed me here.

[It also means they weren't the ones to do this... probably. Too subtle for their style, although considering the witch... No. It wouldn't make sense. Especially since they apparently there are people from other worlds here. This wouldn't be their use for such a power.

Sympathy appears on Shiro's eyes when he hears that last part. There isn't much that can surprise him nowadays, but he understands what is like to have your world turned upside down.]

So if I ask if you're human and if you've only encountered humans so far that will be weird too, huh.

[sinistral]

Exactly.

[Shiro might notice the knowing way that Bucky says it, but he's not trying to hide it. And he's getting the feeling that he's not the only one with so-called "bad guys" back home. He's still not sure how much he'd feel comfortable about sharing though. Maybe this conversation will go a ways to figuring that out.

The question though makes him laugh. Sure, it should be strange, but after his conversation with Peter? Well, maybe Bucky isn't the strangest thing in a room at a given time. It's an odd comfort (and probably an odd thing in which to find comfort).]

I'm human, don't worry. That question isn't as strange as it was before I got here.

[What he doesn't say — and probably doesn't need to say — is that he's a modified human. That's probably pretty obvious from his arm alone.]

[padadin]

[Oh, he notices for sure. Some things are universal it seems... well, multi-universal to be more exact. It'd be an interesting talk for sure, but right now he's more interested to know what's going on.

Not that he expects good answers for that anyway...

The fact the question makes the man laugh is encouraging and welcome, to say the least. It seems Shiro can talk about The Weird (TM) without much trouble and that, he must admit, it's one less thing to worry about.]

It's not a worry. I'm surprised it's only been humans so far. What have you found in his place besides a couple of people? Any clues?

[sinistral]

[Since they might be talking for a while, Bucky moves to sit by that fire Shiro had started. Might as well get comfortable, he figures. He sits down easily enough, folding his legs under him with a casual ease. It lets him keep his eyes both on the fire (because an unattended fire can be dangerous) and on the newcomer (because he's interesting).]

Human-looking anyway, but it's probably a safe bet to say that we're all human. Unless someone's hiding something, but if so they're doing a very good job of it.

[And if so it's not like he or she would be the first person to hide something about themselves. Bucky's hiding quite a bit, and he's probably not the only one.

He does shake his head at the next statement though, clearly a little annoyed by having to admit the negative.]

Sadly, no. No clues about what might have brought us here or why. No one who seems native to this place, unless they're very good at pretending. [A beat.] I was told that some time ago a girl's voice was heard in the mirror — you were told about the mirror, right? — but that she couldn't be found. There's not even any proof that she was a native here, and it happened before I got here.

[padadin]

[Human looking... funny how Bucky comments on the possible hiding some people may be doing, considering Keith is half-Galra and nobody would be able to tell. Shiro nods at the information, keeping that bit to himself. So there's no way to know for sure on that aspect... got it.]

Fair enough. Human or human-looking is still pretty specific.

[As he listens to what else Bucky has to say, Shiro turns around for a moment to send his arm after the rabbit he had been chasing before - rustling of leaves tells him it is back. And this time he manages to catch it, hooray! So he returns to the fire with something to roast, and he takes a seat across from his new acquaintance.]

Yes, my teammates told me about the mirror. So this girl's voice, do you know what she say? The matter of natives is extremely weird. I would almost say the island hasn't been dwelt on, but those cabins say a different story... and yet there are no signs of fighting or traveling. It's like whoever used to live here just... vanished.

[sinistral]

Mmm.

[The fact that aliens are, in fact, a thing? Something that Bucky is still processing. It's not that he doubts it in any way, it's more that he just really doesn't know what to think. Then again, it's probably not the craziest thing, considering that they're all somehow here with no explanation, and that time displacement — for lack of a better word — is apparently a thing as well.]

Okay, I'll bite, because mine definitely doesn't do that. [He nods to Shiro's rabbit-fetching arm, even as he's pulling a combat knife from its place at his back. He'll offer it hilt-first, if the rabbit is still alive, as a way to quickly put it down.] Voluntary, or not?

[There's no judgement in his voice, but because Bucky's own hadn't been a consensual thing, he's not sure where the line is with others. He's surprised that he hasn't been asked more direct questions himself, but those most likely to have asked had shied away from it.

He does shake his head though, agreement with Shiro's observations and just frustrated at the lack of direction or explanation.]

From what I was told, just a lot of screaming. And that they never found her. [There's a small hum of agreement about the cabins though; that's been Bucky's observation as well.] Yeah. I can't believe an entire, I don't know, society would just up and vanish, but what other explanation is there? Everything's too lived-in, while at the same time looking untouched.

Unless it was prepared specifically for us, but there's no evidence of that either.

[padadin]

[The rabbit isn't alive anymore, but Shiro appreciates the gesture. The question, though, makes him chuckle. His arm gets some time to get used to, he knows.]

Yes, it's voluntary. I control it. [He pats the glowing piece on his shoulder.] It's connected to my brain through my nervous system. I used to have one like yours, though. It wasn't detachable, but it glowed like some kind of energy blade.

[That one hadn't been consensual at all, but hey, details. The how of his arm loss is not something he likes to think about, but he can deal with some chatting about prosthetics.

Both of Shiro's eyebrows go up as soon as he hears "screaming" - that's never a good sign. The fact she hasn't been found doesn't help either. That theory though...]

For us. Like a reality show, you mean. Not impossible, but like you said, it looks lived-in.

[...]

Unless the previous occupants also were brought here just for this?

[sinistral]

[It's not quite the question he'd meant to ask, but the answer is taken in kind as Bucky returns his knife to its sheath. He's not really going to dig further though, and definitely not in a first meeting.]

Yeah, took some getting used to at first. But it's been useful.

[Which seems to be a neutral enough statement, and a good way to transition away from talks about strange metal grafted onto one's body. Easier to focus on the bigger question: why they're here, and where here even is.]

Possibly, though who's watching us? And how? I haven't been able to find any evidence of any kind of monitoring system.

[Though that's not to say that anything of the sort would be anything he'd recognize. After all, they're communicating with magic mirrors.]

Maybe? For all we know, we could have been the previous occupants and had our memories wiped to start whatever this is over again. There's probably a dozen more possibilities and no concrete answers.