VIDEO | 01

[patchricide]

[Is it safe to say by now that the heroes here are used to the introductions by new arrivals? And while this one doesn't promise to be especially weird, the camera takes a moment to adjust on the subject — just a moment of suspense before you can see a beautiful woman sitting on the screen.]

[Some of you might recognize her face, which is going to make the responses interesting, to say the least. But as far as she knows, the vast majority of you are complete strangers.]

[Also, she looks a lot like an elf out of someone's fantasy novel, an image that's only reinforced when she starts speaking in a lofty British accent.]

Hello! I'm actually very excited to be meeting all of you — I didn't expect that I would have an opportunity to visit Earth, nevermind under these circumstances. I'm Allura, originally from the planet Altea. I would be surprised if many of you are familiar with it, but it's not entirely unlike Earth. The similarities are refreshing.

... and some of the differences! I've heard that water falls from the sky here, rather than stone showers? I've also heard a lot about cookies and tacos, and video games, and... well, suffice it to say, from what the other paladins have told me? This world sounds delightful.

[She gives a beaming smile at the prospect of being a space tourist. It's sickeningly sweet. But enough with the pleasantries, let's get down to business.]

Now, I've been given the assignment to start helping others with conflict mediation. And while I'll gladly lend my aid to the larger conflicts, it sounds as though many others here have those situations in hand. So, I would like to start by turning my attention to the little conflicts. The rifts that may be straining your friendships, or families, or teams.

Please, feel free to send me a message if you'd like to talk to someone about your problems. Any problems.

Comments

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[onlydoubts]

Hello Allura. Welcome to Earth. [ He's not particularly phased by the fact that she doesn't look human - his question is very important, from someone else who came from another galaxy to another. ]

Has anyone told you about pizza yet? You have to try it.

[patchricide]

Let me think, because it sounds familiar... oh! Is it the flat one, that no one can actually agree what should go on it?

[Those are the most important facts about a pizza, obviously.]

I have yet to try it! One of my paladins used to rave about all the food so much — and now, I can hardly remember them all. And there weren't many he was able to properly recreate!

[onlydoubts]

Yes, that's the one. Cheese and sauce are a given, but people are adamant that certain things don't belong on top of it. I don't understand why pineapple is so offensive to people, but...

[ A shrug. Really, she's not wrong about that. ]

Seriously. I was a little overwhelmed by the different foods and flavors when I got here, most I'd never heard of. But hey, now you can try them for yourself.

[VIDEO]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Any problems, huh. Any at all.

[patchricide]

... yes? I mean, I tried to help you with yours, didn't I? As long as it makes the lives of others better.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

You didn't help me with mine at all. You actually didn't listen to what it was I wanted.

How can you claim you want to help people if you don't listen to what they want in the first place?

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[legionnaires]

[ Things Allura is probably not used to seeing: relief in Keith's expression. He's actually glad to see she's back but -- something was different. Something he couldn't place, but for now? Now he was glad. ]

Allura! It's good to see you.

[ He's trying not to be over enthusiastic (well as far as Keith's standards of over enthusiastic entails) but there's so much he wants to ask her. ]

[patchricide]

[Feel free to curb your enthusiasm. On the other hand, Allura's whole expression lights up:]

Keith! I'm so glad to see you, too!

Actually, I wasn't sure if I'd be seeing any of you here, given the circumstances...? [Not just a normal trip across the universe, clearly.] Are the other paladins with you, as well?

[legionnaires]

Lance and Shiro are here. We're down in Heorpa. [ Wait she would have known that.
So he looks a little confused before asking--]

You...don't remember being here?

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[ghoulking]

I hope you'll like it - our world I mean. Some people are actually rather disappointed after awhile.

[patchricide]

Disappointed? What for?

[... wow, that sounds naive.] I'm sure every planet has a few problems, but thinking badly about all of it seems a bit harsh.

[ghoulking]

I'd say it's because the novelty passes. People start missing their homes and what they knew, and eventually they can't see all that amazement anymore.

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[itssacrifice]

While I'd agree that cookies, tacos, and video games are some good highlights, just wait until you try coffee, doughnuts, and amusement parks.

[patchricide]

Coffee, donuts... [She says that to herself quietly, as if she's adding them to a list. Her teammate would want her to try every kind of food, surely. But then, there's the last thing.]

... and... amusement parks, you said? The name sounds promising, but what makes them so amusing?

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[lasersounds]

Allura!

[Things that should not come as a surprise: Lance's over-enthusiastic greeting, complete with a beaming grin. Things that might be a bit of a surprise: the actually lion-sized Red nosing up to get a peek at the screen.]

Quiznak, it'll be good to have you back. [Right. That word "back" might bring up some questions.]

[1/2]

[patchricide]

[Maybe more surprising is that Allura looks thrilled to see him, too. Especially with his 'heart of the team' speech still fresh in her mind. So... while the word choice is certainly odd, it's not too hard to jump to a wrong conclusion:]

Lance! I'm glad to be back with the team, too. ... although I'm having a bit of trouble wrapping my head around what the pamphlet was talking about, I think I get the basics. You haven't just come from Naxzela, have you? And — well, I hope you haven't been waiting too lo—

[2/2]

[patchricide]

—ooooong what happened to the Red Lion?!

[Oh, hey, there's an advantage to not having this sorted out yet. This should be fun, right?]

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[storyseeker]

Hold on, rocks fall from the sky where you're from? That's pretty severe weather.

[patchricide]

Oh, it's not quite as bad as it sounds. I mean, the large ones could hurt quite a lot, but the smaller ones were mostly burnt up by the time they reached the ground.

[So not just falling rocks, but burning hot falling rocks.]

But it was usually recommended to stay indoors when the showers started.

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[fireandhoney]

I can vouch for tacos. I recommend trying them with hot sauce.

[patchricide]

[Forgive her, she's looking... a little surprised? This doesn't appear to be another Altean. But on the other hand, whoever this is — he seems to look closer to Altean in ways that she wasn't expecting to see here.]

[Honest question: why do humans have such stubby-looking ears?]

[Anyway. Light conversation is good, let's keep at that.]

I'll be sure to! Actually, would you believe I've heard more about their shape than what goes in them? Apparently they're a useful analogy for pockets created by folds in the fabric of space.

[... that wasn't her best shot at light conversation.]

[izanyagi]

It is nice to meet you, Allura-sama! I'm Yu Narukami from Japan. If you need anyone to try out all the things you have mentioned, please let me know! I'd also be happy to talk with you if YOU need someone to talk about your problems, or just have a cup of coffee.

[He snaps his fingers and tarot cards appear.]

If you want me to read your fortune, I can do that too!

[patchricide]

Oh, well, thank you! I'll keep you in mind... Yu? [Well, that's peculiar to say, isn't it.] I should be all right, though. Even though I've come without my advisor, it's not as though I'll have as much to manage here.

[She does give a curious look at the cards, though.]

My fortune? How does this work, exactly? [Let's face it, there's bound to be fortune telling somewhere in Altean magic — but everything is weird and alien with them, so nothing with cards.]

video; slams into you late with a starbucks refresher

[articulations]

Allura. I believe a 'welcome to Earth' greeting is in order. My name is Leia. It's a pleasure to meet you. Like you, I come from another planet— Alderaan. My time here on Earth has been...interesting.

As you've heard much about the food and games, has anyone introduced you to Disney cinematics? Or they're called 'movies'. There's also a nice little cafe where I spend a lot of my time when I'm not working, you might also enjoy their services.

I have never needed anything as much as I need this

[patchricide]

Thank you, and the pleasure is all mine. ... are there many like us? I was starting to think not, but — if you hadn't told me, I would have thought you were from Earth as well. Really, I didn't think anyone looked more like Earthlings than our kind.

[So, you know. Maybe some of these humans are from other planets as well? You really can never judge a book by its cover.]

Oh! I did get to enjoy a movie night back on the ship, actually. Two of our paladins found some interesting records in the archives, and decided that kind of research was best done on a giant screen. And they made these delicious crunchy snacks? It was all so much fun.

Are those common here, then? [If this something she'll have to schedule a trip for, like the amusement parks, she will make time.]