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Altean Diaspora thoughts

felt like babbling a bit about what a colony of lost Alteans must be like… this is going to run heavily into my own headcanons and fix-it-fic universe, but some of it is probably applicable to canon as well.

You’d think it’d be easy to hang onto a heritage when you’re on a planet with only your own people, isolated and hidden away, but it’s not. Time erodes everything. You have to come up with new Altean words for new inventions and new items that Lotor brings, new concepts and new philosophies. You start to lose words for more archaic objects and ideas.

You only have the tech that made it there with you. How much of Altea’s best and most astounding tech - like the teludav - is lost? Even if you had the actual machinery, do you have a Balmera crystal? Do you have a Sacred to interface with it and power it? At what point does something that was once considered special but still commonly-known tech become more like magic to the very race of people who built it?

What happens when that tech you do have breaks down? (I go into this somewhat in one of my fics, actually.) It’s not like you can get Altean replacement parts when your entire planet is gone.

And what about seasonal festivals? Are the seasons even the same on this new planet you live on? Do they last the same amount of time? Does this planet circuit its planet at a different rate of speed, does it rotate on its axis at a different rate? How much different? More moons? Fewer moons? Different plants - no more juniberries! - different animals. If you have a festival centered around a specific dish - sort of like Thanksgiving and turkey for Americans - what happens when that’s not available? For the first generation of diaspora, still reeling from Altea’s destruction, do they celebrate birthdays by the old Altean calendar or do they make a new one for their new planet and try to approximate?

Allura and Coran shouldn’t have been able to understand Romelle, and vice versa. It would be the equivalent of two people speaking Middle English showing up nowadays. Languages evolve and change, and the drift over 10,000 years must be astonishing. 

…unless, of course, there was some sort of slavish devotion to the original Altean language. Something like what France has with that council of old dudes people who rule on new French words and such. Even with that, there’d probably be some linguistic drift, but I could see it. (Lotor might even encourage it, given his own special interest in Altea.)

Two schools of thought: that they should hold onto their heritage as tightly as possible vs. they should move on and not dwell on the past. Their entire planet and all the rest of their people have been destroyed. How do you heal from that? (Ask the Native Americans/First Nations/Aboriginal People…)

And there are the people who still want to hold to the old religion(s) and the old traditions and some who turn their back. Their god/s didn’t help them out all that much, did they?! WHERE WERE YOU WHEN OUR PLANET WAS DESTROYED?!

Similarly, the number of alchemists starts to dwindle. The tech and materials needed to do alchemy is dwindling; if you go by VLD canon, no one can get to Oriande. In either VLD or V:LotD canon, you’re cut off from the rest of the universe, too, aside from Lotor’s visits and whatever he brings. 

It starts to get a little like in Onward, where you have occasional people who do want to preserve their culture and heritage of magic and alchemy, and everyone else is just going on about their days. (Romelle = Barley?!)

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#DOES ANYONE ELSE WANT AN AU WHERE MELENOR SURVIVED THE WAR AND LIVED ON IN LOTOR'S COLONY BC NOW I DO

Guys did Lotor scoop Allura’s mother Melenor up among the other refugees he took to the colonies or was the Voltron art staff just THIS determined to make Allura’s design the cookie cutter default?? bc I am pretty sure it’s not normal to use your lead character’s design for background randos

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Altea Headcanons

Hey y’all, sorry for the inactivity! I kinda became preoccupied with other fandoms. Buuuuuuuut while I was at my cabin, I came up with some headcanons for Altea and the Alteans. Also since I headcanon that Altea was two supercontinents, I am splitting this post into three categories, general headcanons that apply to all Alteans, headcanons for Southern Alteans and headcanons for Northern Alteans. 

General

Alteans have better hearing than humans. Their eyes also allow them to see in the dark (to an extent).

Alteans don’t get grey hair as they age as it messes with their shapeshifting abilities. The only way for an Altean to have grey/silver/white hair is to either be born with it or with dye. 

It was originally believed that more markings means more power with Quintessence, but that’s not the case. It’s just a genetic thing, like freckles. 

Alteans on average live to be around 200 years old. In regards to fertility, Alteans become fertile around 18-20 and stay that way until they reach the age of 140-150. 

Alteans can change their gender presentation and even their biology. However the process of changing biology is very time-consuming and requires the Altean in question to take medicine to ensure the results are permenant. 

There are multiple spoken langugues on Altea, the most common one being Altean. Most Alteans can speak three languages. 

Each continent is split up into multiple countries, run by a Lord or a Lady. They all swear fealty to Allura’s family. 

There are three pantheons of gods in Altean culture, with each god representing an idea. The Benevolent Gods represent ideas that are good like love and friendship and is lead by the Mother Goddess, The Malevolent Gods represent the evils of existence, like illness, hatred, and ignorance and is lead by a powerful demon. Lastly, there are the Gods in Between, who represent concepts that could be good or evil, like money and power. They aren’t worshipped as much but they’re are stories of them meddling in the affairs of mortals. Northerners recognize all three groups of gods, while Southerners only recognize the Good and Evil, or even just the Mother Goddess. 

Southern Alteans

Alteans from the southern continent have much brighter cheek marks and hair colors. On both continents, the range of skin tones is the same, from very light to very dark, but southern Alteans have more warmer undertones to their skin. 

They live in a very warm climate with little to no snow, (mostly just rain). 

Most Southern Alteans live on the coast, so seafood is a very popular food there. In terms of culture, Southern Altea is very similar to Mediterranean/Greek/East Asian cultures. 

Allura’s family rules Altea from the South. Coran is also from the South. 

Names are very melodic (Ex: Allura, Melenor, Asteria,) They are also more unusual and strange sounding. 

The culture in the South is more focused on the arts, science, and fashion. The clothes that Southerners wear involves bright colors and makeup. They often change their hair color constantly to keep up with the latest trends. 

Northern Alteans

Alteans from the North aren’t nearly as colorful as those from the South. Their cheekmarks and hair tend to be more muted and dark in color, and thier skin has more cooler undertones to it. 

The North is very cold, with lots of snow (think Skyrim or Winterfell). The North is also covered with mountains and filled with a number of dangerous predators. 

Because of the dangerous amount of predators, protection and strength are two important virtues in the North. Children are taught from a young how to fight and defend themselves. When the Galra attacked, the North was able to provide most of the weapons and armor. 

In regards, to the culture, the Northern Altea is very similar to Celtic/Eastern European/Scandinvian cultures. 

Names are a lot harsher sounding (Ex: Nikolina, Rosica, Iskra). They are also similar to human names. 

There used to be lots of animosity between the North and South, but in the centuries leading up to Nikolina’s birth, more trade and communication has opened up between them. 

Many Northerners like to casually fight to improve their skills and to bond. Nikolina has sparred with each of the paladins at least once to figure out their skills and weaknesses in order to help them fight better. Southerners think it’s abnormal, but Northerners think it’s very effective. 

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something silly as a break between projects💕

Keep reading

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Lotor's story vs Romelle’s story

two asks on Lotor, Romelle, and the Alteans:

I genuinely thought that the altean colony was the one Lotor spoke about back on Oriande. That we would learn Romelle is a survivor hiding among the rebels waiting to strike against Lotor for his (perceived) slaughter of alteans, and the situation isn’t helped when Lotor later attacks Shiro for the whole Kuron thing, and he’s pushed to the breaking point bc Haggar and Zarkon are STILL a poison to his image, making him appear the evil villain he’s not.

Clearly you’re not alone in making that connection… 

Until we got, you know, The Colony, I honestly thought that the altean colony was the one he spoke to Allura about on Oriande. That he was put in charge of captive Alteans, befriended them and got to learn about Altean culture, and then Zarkon forced him to watch in person as they were (mostly) destroyed. Because he does seem the guy who would “pick-and-choose” info and history to share. (Romelle’s EXACTLY the same as we saw, though)

Which actually would’ve been a wonderful twist, if you ask me. 

Skip the metaphorical concentration camp + gassing/de-quintessencing that paints Lotor as less gray and more just a single-minded manipulator with no redeeming qualities. Instead, use that earlier reference and bring it around into Romelle’s story? That could’ve been powerful stuff. 

Of course, you’d have to lay the groundwork much earlier: a story where Zarkon doesn’t actually care about decimating the Alteans, so long as he can claim the lions. Once he figured out none of them knew, he left them to their own devices in whatever rat-hole planet they’d claimed, and found some other means to track down the lions. (This would be the only way to make S1E11 work, too, because otherwise it’s notable that Zarkon – having supposedly found Allura as the ‘last’ Altean – doesn’t promptly kill her. If he wants the lions more than he cares about her being dead, then sure, keep her as bait.) 

With Lotor put in charge of various planets, and discovering the Alteans have found a way to harvest their planet for quintessence, then Zarkon could’ve reacted positively. There, Lotor would’ve faced a true dilemma, having finally achieved his father’s approval: force the Alteans to produce, or protect them and risk losing the approval he’s always sought. Perhaps Lotor had refused to force the Alteans to produce more, or been unable to reproduce it elsewhere, or perhaps Zarkon found out the origin was Altean. And the consequences were severe: Zarkon chose to teach Lotor a lesson. 

Lotor’s version would be that Zarkon had slaughtered the people and destroyed the planet; technically, he’d be right. It was Zarkon’s order. But then Romelle’s version – that Lotor turned on her people without warning and slaughtered them – would also be right, because it was Lotor who’d followed his father’s orders.  

Lotor’s off-hand comments wouldn’t necessarily come immediately to Allura’s mind as a point in his defense either, not with Romelle right there, eyewitness to Lotor’s flagship at the head of her planet’s destruction. For Lotor, New Altea would’ve been both a point of pride (for saving the Altean people) and a point of shame (for being unable to protect them, for wanting his father’s approval more) – and that ambivalence would’ve been taken as guilt by Allura et al. 

That change would cast Lotor as less the victim of circumstances – whether from his parents, his upbringing, or the rift’s influence – and more as someone who’d made a terrible, if comprehensible, choice. It would require groundwork for Lotor’s characterization, too: a few hints of when Zarkon had approved of thim, and a bit more personal fury and self-hatred in his vendetta. His focus would be less on the empire, so much as Zarkon’s tyranny.  

And then his insanity in the rift would be comprehensible, too: the breaking point of someone who has lost everything. He couldn’t please his father, he couldn’t save the Alteans, he couldn’t gain the paladins’ trust. It could be the desperate cry of someone chased by a mistake he can’t undo.

It could’ve been a bitterly tragic moment, to put the pieces together and see he’d acted out of a genuine (we might even say human) need that every creature has for a parents’ love and approval. To know he’s spent the time since trying to gain power to undo or ameliorate or just compensate for that mistake – there’s a potential for redemption, there. 

As things stand, Lotor is a brutal indictment of anyone raised in an abusive household, underscored by the EPs’ comments after S6 aired: a product of his upbringing; if only he’d had the ‘good influences’ that Keith might’ve had. There seems to be an implicit assumption that he was doomed from the start, as if kids from neglectful or abusive homes can only ever become abusers in turn.

Of all the ways in VLD delivers bleak messages, frankly, Lotor’s is one of the worst. Not only because it’s hopelessly fatalistic, but because it’s personally detrimental to all those in the audience who related to his struggles. And JDS’ dismissive responses on twitter were just insult on injury, spoken like someone who cannot empathize with either the villain he created or the fans who saw themselves in that villain. 

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Hey friend! I wandered over here to ask something but then was distracted by shiny things bc I am also an 80s child who loves mechas... Transformers was my jam. But seriously nevermind LotGH... every time I watch any show now, I’m just like, wtf vld. Saw Aladdin today. Wtf vld. Saw Wolf Children again last week. Wtf vld. Paw patrol. Wtf vld. So, Pollux. How does it compare and pls tell me more about the anti- monarchist separatist potential. Loquaciousness is appreciated.

Hi there, thank you for the Ask!

You had me dying at Paw Patrol. WTF VLD indeed.

Seriously though, Legend of the Galactic Heroes (LotGH) will shine a harsh light on all the “war story” flaws of the Voltron Coalition’s liberation of Galra territory. I’m totally here for a super robot taking down a universe-spanning empire b/c that’s what super robots do, but the second the story introduces a ragtag collection of scrappy rebels taking on that universe-spanning empire without supply lines, any sense of long-term strategy, discount GI Joe style special forces battle tactics, and unethical leadership, then I’m going to call that out when it tries to sell me on being a serious war story as justification for tragedy pr0n and character deaths.

Anyway, onto Pollux the Cliffs Notes Edition: (Some of this you already may know via fandom osmosis so bear with me)

Pollux in DotU is the ‘sister planet’ of Arus (Arus = Altea). Romelle is the princess of Pollux and is Allura’s cousin. They look almost exactly alike.

Romelle, her father King “Don’t Care About His Name”, her older brother Avok, and younger brother Bandor, are more-or-less supporters of Zarkon. Pollux is kind-of-sort-of an ally to Planet Doom. When they are introduced, Avok wants to be made into a Robeast to destroy Voltron and conquer Arus (for a better and deeper explanation of their introduction, read the Romelle meta by @crystal-rebellion here). 

Needless to say, Avok’s “Turn me into a Robeast” plan doesn’t go well, and Romelle and Bandor decide that working with Zarkon and Lotor was a bad idea. Romelle then gets Allura and Voltron to help them (without ever fessing up to her part in scheming against her cousin in the first place), thus beginning Pollux’s rebellion against Planet Doom.

So, right from the start, DotU provided plenty of political angles to work from for introducing Romelle and other Alteans in VLD (b/c of course there were going to be survivors of one kind or another). Between S1-S4, all of the sacred Altean + monarchy stuff, S3’s political introduction of Lotor along with the rumors stated by Throk and That Claw Guy about Lotor “letting planets he conquered rule themselves” had me thinking that if VLD were going to introduce Pollux, then they’d take from DotU’s introduction that Pollux might be made up of Alteans who supported Zarkon’s destruction of Altea based upon any number of reasons, but separatist or anti-monarchist sentiment interested me the most. Or they simply could have peaced out at some other point during Altea’s past and ahead of its destruction and war with Zarkon.

S4 showed Naxela as having Altean terraforming tech, which implied that Alteans were colonizing planets. Thus the idea of Alteans living away from Altea definitely wasn’t a stretch, and given Lotor’s background ahead of the Garbage Colony Plot, it made sense that he’d be involved with a hidden planet of Alteans either on the sly or in the open. At least two directions to take that as there would be plenty of reason for Pollux-Alteans to hate Alfor, either blaming him and Voltron for Altea’s destruction, or not liking the idea of a sacred Altean monarchy that keeps the secrets of Altean Alchemy to themselves. 

That VLD reduced Romelle into a character that could have easily been replaced by a strongly worded letter written in blood (or a sad-tragic hologram recording) is a bit of a shame, but not making the most of Pollux is even more so.

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An article worth reading:

Credit Twitter @bluerobokitty

Link to full article:

https://medium.com/@curt.words/the-harmful-utilization-of-trauma-disability-and-death-in-voltron-legendary-defender-18cc70f6ea7e

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If Matt didn’t cut his hair

From our Instagram @/bravepaladins

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I had to rewatch certain moments from S8 to gather as much N-7 shots as I can. I have one more thing to say…

SHE’S THICC

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This tribute brought tears to my eyes. He helped bring the story to life, and now he’s part of it.

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I’ve run across another Vld s7 post that calls Shiro rash and unable to look at how his decisions affect the people around him while, in comparison, Adam was the logical one trying to save dummy Shiro.

Long inhale.....

I disagree with this reading for several reasons but I’ll keep it as focused as I can and look mainly at:

Sam Holt.

In Shiro’s Story book we get the below excerpt where we learn that Sam hand picked Shiro to pilot the Kerberos mission.

We know Shiro’s extremely skilled from s1 but just looking at s7 in e1 straight off the bat we know when he goes to Keith’s school.

The teacher introduces Shiro and lists his accomplishments.

Then later he’s flying with Keith and explains the science behind the maneuver he pulled with his hovercycle.

And yet, Admiral Sanda comes by to take Shiro off the mission because, all of a sudden, Shiro’s mysterious condition is a hindrance.

Please note that Sam is the one standing up for Shiro.

It’s not Shiro trying to beg/whine/argue to still pilot for the mission.

There are two ultimatums given in this episode.

1) Sam won’t go on the mission if Shiro’s not the pilot.

2) Adam won’t stick around if Shiro goes on the mission.

Sam’s ultimatum is the one given on behalf of Shiro. Not Adam’s ultimatum.

Which is wild because usually the love interest is the main supporter in situations like these.

But Adam is one of the people that doubts Shiro’s capabilities.

So maybe they’re right and Sam is wrong to stick up for Shiro.

Except.

All of season 7 the Admiral, the head of the Garrison, her decisions are one upped by Sam Holt.

And his actions are the ones that help the Garrison (leaking footage of the Galra to the world gets them the aid to fortify the Garrison, sending out the MFEs and using the ion cannon makes Sendak back off from the Garrison, etc.)

By the way, we’re never given a reason as to why Shiro passing his physicals suddenly wasn’t enough for him to go to Kerberos.

As shown in a screenshot above, him and Sam have gone in deep space missions before.

Shiro’s still in his peak condition for some years still (in his own words). He’s the best “by far” according to Sam, so it doesn’t sound like there’s anyone close to Shiro’s piloting level.

Why wouldn’t Adam trust Shiro’s assessment of his own health if Sam Holt fully trusts Shiro?

- Sam, a man of science and with his own son going on the mission so would be more likely to be cautious about unnecessary risks?

And to address the claim of Shiro not thinking about how his decisions affect others:

Shiro doesn’t say “I’m going to follow my dreams and go to the stars.” While this may be a part of his dreams he still words it as “the mission.”

Because he has people counting on him.

It’s more than Shiro’s life at stake. He has Sam and Matt’s lives on his shoulders, to get them there safely and then back home.

Sam stuck out his neck for Shiro to fight a biased turn of events because he needs Shiro to get them there.

If there’s anyone that’s not looking at the bigger picture, it’s Adam. He’s looking at their relationship, how Shiro leaving and his illness affects them.

Shiro is the one thinking about how his decisions affect the people around him.

There’s more to look at but imma stop here. Just, please consider this.

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self care really is just ignoring a lot of other peoples opinions in whatever fandom you’re in

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I present shance with no context

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Shiro fanart cause he deserves it.

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To the anon who requested me a year ago this epilogue edit with Lotor, Allura and Adam, I hope it was worth your wait (I’m sorry for taking so long) and that you like Lotor’s and Allura’s new outfits as the new king and queen of Daibazaal and Altea, respectively

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I have a lot of Shiro feelings

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The Great Unknown

No, that wasn’t meant to be a Frozen 2 reference. XD

Differing from my typical posting schedule for a special post!⁠ Today is Shiro’s birthday, and to celebrate, I thought I’d bring out this piece I drew way back in 2018 (although the background was added much more recently. It’s an edited version of my space painting from a few months ago.) I think I originally drew it for Shallura Week 2018 but never ended up posting it. XD I figured this worked for Shiro’s birthday as well, since he’s always been fascinated by space, the mystery and discovery of it all. ⁠ Happy birthday, Takashi Shirogane!⁠