IC INBOX (futurology)

[reverseengineer]

username: SOUTHPAW

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[twinpeak]

[ Bah, you're not even cracking this the fun way, Pidge. ]

You can get a decryption program on these things? [ Not that he needs it much, but news to him. ] Anyway, yeah. Didn't want to make a username I'd regret later, and your name's always a safe bet, right? I just gave it my own little flair too.

[reverseengineer]

I can build a decryption program for anything in my sleep.

[Though this one was actually one she'd built a while ago and stored in the computer in her suit, but that's irrelevant.]

[twinpeak]

Oh good, that's actually pretty promising for me.

Does that mean you're good with building things in general?

[competing]

[ BECAUSE YOU'RE LIKE THIS.

he doesn't look at her, like the terms state, and simply holds out his hand. ]

Hey. Headphones, please.

[reverseengineer]

You're being ridiculous. [But she holds out the headphones. She is not putting them in his hand. He has to either look up or grasp around like an idiot if he wants them.]

[reverseengineer]

Building computer programs isn't exactly the same as building other things. But yes, actually. I'm pretty great with anything electronic. Why?

[twinpeak]

Wellll you see
The other day I was just roaming around, as one does, and I just so happened to be passing by...
You know, as one does
And noticed you were tinkering with something and wouldn't you know it! I realized today I just so happen to have something in dire need of fixing!

[ The stream of text pauses for a moment. ]

So I have this thing called a magnet gun. Are you uh, open to repairing it?

video; un: redlion | post-event

[secondnature]

[While he and Lance have the most heated relationship of all the paladins, he knows he and Pidge aren't as close. But—still. They're both the arms of Voltron, and have worked pretty well in unison in handling that role.

And what he did—what his other self did—]

So ... I'm not sure if you've gotten over your bug sickness yet, but I wanted to let you know that's what happened to me, too.

[racking]

Pidge. It's Shiro.

[ there's a pause. there's a lot to cover, and somehow cover it delicately, but shiro settles on starting small. ]

Are you there?

[competing]

[ he frowns, turning now so that he is glaring at a spot right above her head. carefully, his hand starts clawing at the air between them, attempting to reach for the headphones without actually having to... look at them...

his hand bumps against her a couple of times. ]

—seriously?!

[reverseengineer]

[Ack, that was her face.]

It's easier when you use your eyes.

[reverseengineer]

Does it shoot magnets or generate a magnetic force?

[It seems important to establish.]

I'm in either way. But the more information I have the more I'll be able to do.

[reverseengineer]

I figured.

[Do they have to actually talk about this? She doesn't want to examine her feelings, either on her older self or on Keith or on how her older self reacted to Keith.

She doesn't want to wonder exactly how much truth there was to what they saw, or what she'd find if she had the proper equipment to run a DNA test on Keith.]

It was the only logical explanation. Some sort of... mass hallucination.

[reverseengineer]

Shiro? [Pidge straightens. All the weirdness of the past week melting away because finally, something not terrible is happening.]

You're back?

[twinpeak]

It generates an electromagnetic force, more specifically.
There's only two modes to it, so it's not a complex piece of tech. You've got one that does the usual attracting metal thing, and the other that produces a magnetic pulse.
But for as simple as it sounds, the force behind both modes is really strong. Could be kinda dangerous, actually.

[racking]

It looks like it.

[ His smile fades a little as he admits: ]

I don't remember being here before, Pidge.

[secondnature]

[He would really like to say it was a hallucination. The thing is, Keith doesn't think that's right, and he knows Pidge probably doesn't think that, either. Still, they're both better off going to Shiro with this. That's something Keith is certain about.]

Maybe not a hallucination, but—definitely not a sure thing. [He pauses.]

Did you see that Shiro's back? [See: eager to not talk about it. At all.]

[competing]

[ he finally looks down, but pointedly not at her eyes, and grabs the headphones. ]

Thanks.

[ he puts them around his neck. ]

Just let me know when you need 'em again. [ he peers into her room briefly, just getting a quick pan of it. ] You alright in here?

[reverseengineer]

[Anything can be a complex piece of tech if you modify it enough. But saying things like that sometimes make people less likely to let her play with their toys.]

I've dealt with dangerous. I can definitely take a look.

[reverseengineer]

[Her expression drops and she inhales sharply.]

You don't remember? But it... it just happened! How could you forget?

[Shiro's got a lot of memories missing from his time as a prisoner of the Galra, but he hasn't forgotten anything that happened since they became Paladins. This is... worrying.]

[reverseengineer]

Yeah. [He messaged her. She glances down.] He doesn't remember being here at all.

[reverseengineer]

Yeah, I'm fine. [As fine as she can be.] Could do with more stuff to take apart.

[secondnature]

I know. I think ALASTAIR did something to him when they claimed he was off with another team. I knew that whole thing was fishy.

[competing]

[ at this point, that's the best they can ask for, isn't it? ]

If I come across anything that looks even remotely mechanical and/or dangerous, I'll give you a call.

[ but for now, he'll just be taking these headphones with a little salute, and going on his way. ]

[reverseengineer]

[Oh good, conspiracy theories, this is way better than talking about how Keith was a freaking alien for a little while.]

Yeah, we all know he wouldn't leave without saying something. [He wouldn't leave period, but if he had to, he would have told them. Or took them with him. Something.] Do you think he learned something?