"Oh, this is terrible! Simply terrible."
"Forgive me, Princess, but is something wrong?" Shiro asked the clearly distressed Altean princess who has been pacing back and forth in the bridge. As soon as the Castle of Lions warped to the star system where their next host planet is located, Allura has called for the Paladins to assemble in the bridge. Judging from her body language, she has some bad news.
Allura paused from her pacing and addressed the Paladins congregated before her. "Do any of you remember the invitation we received from the planet Hyperia?" There was a collective nod from the Paladins. "Yes, well…" Allura fidgeted a bit which was unusual for her usually decisive stance. "I might have forgotten a teeny-whimsy, important detail."
Hunk raised his hand politely. "Uhhh…how important are we talking about?"
"Well…" Allura paused for a moment, as if wondering how she would break it down to them.
"THIS IS AWFUL!" Everyone jumped in surprise as Coran bursted out from the doors. "We are doomed. I tell you, doomed! I cannot believe I have forgotten about the most important Hyperian custom."
Shiro spoke what everyone else was asking. "Wait…what custom?"
Allura cleared her throat before answering. "Well, the dwellers of Hyperia are known to have the ability to read emotions. The royalty can do more than that. They can read emotions as well as the memories that accompanied it. This is how they gauge a visitor to their planet. In their first time of setting foot in their home, they are mandated to present themselves to the royal court. One of the royalty will touch a part of their clothing and see where their intentions to Hyperia and its residents lie. This is how they judge whether they should be allowed to stay or not."
"So…you're saying that they touch a part of our clothes and then decide whether to yeet us back to space or not?" Lance asked.
"I do not know what yeet means but I suppose yes."
"What for?" Keith asked, rising off the corner he previously occupied. "They know we're the Paladins of Voltron and they're the ones who invited us. Isn't that enough to know that we're in the good side?"
"Yes, they are aware of who we are." Allura nodded. "But the purpose of it is to know each of you as individual beings. Not just as the Paladins of Voltron."
"How about our Paladin uniforms?" Shiro suggested. "Should we wear them in the ball? I mean, it won't be the first time-"
Allura looked mortified. "Goodness, no! This is a formal function, a ball no less. You must wear proper attire and not just any proper attire. It must be woven by hand. Either by your own or by the hands of others. How it was woven, as well as the feelings and memories that accompanied it, will be embedded on each thread. It is from these very threads that the Hyperian royalty will have a glimpse of who you are."
"That's pretty complicated." Shiro frowned. "But we can't turn down a chance to forge an alliance with Hyperia either."
"Yeah, well, I don't have any problem with sewing and knitting." Lance announced, jumping off his chair. "I've patched up clothes and made tiny, keychain dolls and sweaters for my nieces and nephews, but making a full suit is something out of my hands. It will take weeks to months to make one."
"I'm more of a cook than a tailor." Hunk admitted. "Sorry."
"I'm with Lance this one." Keith said. "I know the occasional patching but not making clothes. Plus, the ball is just two weeks from now. There won't be enough time."
Pidge hummed her agreement. The Green Paladin laid sprawled on her chair – legs draped over one its arms. Her eyes remained glued on the screen as her fingers tapped on the keys at practiced speed.
"I…I have clothes that my mother had woven for me when I was a child." Allura admitted. "But I doubt it would fit me now. Pidge perhaps, but the memories…" She trailed off and pursed her lips. The others shared worried glances, but Allura shook her head and waved it off. "Listen, everyone. I know we are in quite a debacle right now, but our duty demands we must go. The potential alliance we may forge with Hyperia will be another step to victory against Zarkon. We have to find a way to make it happen."
"If that's the case then," Shiro turned to the blue-eyed Cuban. "Lance, you know more than any of us when it comes to sewing. I'm appointing you as the head of operations."
"Oh, yeah!" Lance pumped his fist and whooped excitedly. "Team Bonding Operation: Sewing is on!"
Team Bonding Operation: Sewing? Definitely not!
Pidge has half the heart to not immediately shoot down Lance's enthusiasm yesterday and no heart to climb up the vents the next quintant just to avoid getting dragged into the stupid sewing circle the Blue Paladin has formed almost immediately the moment the meeting was concluded yesterday. It has been two vargas since the first sewing session started and the others have scourge the whole ship just to find the wayward Green Paladin. Thankfully, they have given up around the first-hour mark and Shiro announced that once she's found, they will have long talk about the importance of the operation.
Nope! Definitely not gonna happen.
Pidge crouched near the grating overlooking the lounge as she strained to hear and see through the bars. They tried to find her in the vents, but without anyone else except the mice and her capable of worming their way in such narrow spaces, it was nothing short of futile (she had to bribe the mice to not tell once they found her sneaking her way above the residential corridor). From what she can see, they have done such smooth job on making their own formal wear. None of them even have started to piece the basic cuts of the fabric. It seemed that only Lance was doing an acceptable job on his future suit.
"Am I doing this right?" Shiro has his eyebrows bunched together as he inspected the cut he made on the roll of fabric. Right after the meeting, Lance and Coran took it to themselves to buy the necessary sewing supplies they will need. They even managed to buy an electrical sewing machine that is similar to those in Earth in the early decades of the 2000s.
"No offense, Shiro, but the right sleeve is shorter than the left one."
"Oh…oh, right." Shiro scratched the back of nape sheepishly. "Sorry. I'll just cut another one."
"I think made mine a little too big." Keith said as he lifted up the cut-out. "Maybe you should take this, Shiro. I think this will be in your size."
"Thanks, Keith."
"Oh my! This is so much fun!" Allura was practically bouncing in energy right now. "I have not touched the art of sewing and fashion for more than ten thousand years."
It shows. Pidge thought as she winced at the splay of colors on the Princess' lap. She wondered if Allura's planning to make use of all of that in one formal dress. Talk about an overkill. Coran and Hunk were not any better. Hunk has already a pile of cut-outs behind him - all which by some quiznaking sorcery did not match his size despite taking measurements beforehand. Pidge wondered if they actually got the sizes right. Coran, on the other hand, was taking a bit too long on picking what color he should wear and Pidge could only pinch her nose at his selection. She did not even know that such horrendous colors exist. Maybe it's an Altean thing.
Pidge decided she has seen more than enough and for the sake of her eyes and her sanity, she retreated further in the vents and out to Green's hangar where she stayed for the duration of the day.
On the third quintant, she almost got caught. Sort of.
Pidge barely had any decent sleep the night before due to the slow progress on the modifications for Green's cloaking ability (and partly because of her trying to avoid her own teammates all day). She was on her way to sneak into the kitchen for early breakfast when she bumped into Allura. Sure, she expected that the Altean princess would be awake by now but she assumed that she will be at the bridge waiting for the right time to call in a fake drill. There was a brief moment of surprise before Allura's eyes lighted up and Pidge knew she fucked up.
"Oh, Pidge! Just the person I wanted to see."
"Uhhh…good morning?" Pidge smiled sheepishly. Her mind ten steps behind her mouth. "What do you need from me?"
"Well, it is more of a favor actually." Allura answered. She has that familiar glimmer in her eyes when she tried to make her come out about her gender. "You see…I am looking for a design for my dress. I wanted it to perfect so I looked into my closet. There is a lot to choose from and I cannot settle on one. I was hoping you could help me, considering you are a girl like me. It would be a bonding moment for us."
Pidge blinked blearily at her. What time is it? Are the others already awake? "Sorry, Princess. I can't. Not now."
Allura seemingly deflated. "But…but why? Are you not going to the ball?"
"I plan not to." Pidge admitted. "Not really my type of setting."
Allura placed her hands on her shoulders. "But Pidge!" She insisted. "You are the Green Paladin. Your presence is a must just as much as the other four. You need to go with us and have fun."
"I think you can all do fine without me." She gently removed the Princess' hands off her shoulders. "I'll just watch over the ship and act as backup if things get rough on your side."
"Pidge…" Allura looked worried. "What's wrong? Did something happen? Did I do something to make you upset?"
The tone in her voice made her feel guilty. Both of them started at the wrong footing and the first few weeks were the most strained between the only two girls in the Castle of Lions. Since that food goo war on the second day, Allura has been careful in treading around the Green Paladin and became an elusive presence to Pidge for quintants after the capture of the castleship on the planet Arus. They barely spoke with each other and Pidge felt responsible for it.
The Princess might be pushy at times but she has changed her ways since then. Both Alteans have been trying to understand human culture more and teaching them their own culture at the same time. Allura has put aside her wariness of the Green Paladin and has been trying to reach out to her – from simple greetings when they met in the hallways to attempting bonding moments for just the two of them. Pidge, at most times, will return the same but considered only a very few of those bonding moments. Allura didn't insist which she appreciated, but it did nothing to curb her guilt of giving the Princess a cold shoulder too many times she would have liked.
And she's doing it again.
Pidge wrapped her arms around herself and looked away. "Just…" She shook her head. "It's nothing." Allura tried to reach her but she took a step back. "Look, Allura. I know you're worried but I'm fine." She tried to placate her but it did not sound convincing even to her own ears. "I'm just tired and was hoping to get through the day without a hitch. Maybe we can speak about this when I'm feeling chipper."
It wasn't a suggestion but a plea, and Pidge could only thank whatever gods the Alteans are worshipping that Allura understood and backed off. They exchanged quiet goodbyes before parting ways. Pidge could only wait for her to round at the corner before slamming her head on the wall and reprimanding herself in the cold corridor.