Lunchtime Conversations

Allura came into lunch late the next day, and said hello to everyone. She saw Daniel and Vince at the end of the table eating, under Academy protocol. This involved moving the fork from the plate to the mouth, but with a sharp angle motion. At random times they would be asked to answer questions that dealt with the history and traditions of the Academy.

She had been appalled at the treatment, but when she spoke privately, after breakfast, to Keith about it, he informed her that it was standard policy at the Academy, and had been since its founding several hundred years earlier. Allura had mentioned it to Coran and Fredericks when she had gone upstairs, sure they would agree with her opinion.

Both gentlemen had graduated from the Arusian Military Academy, and it turned out that they had almost the same tradition there. Fredericks informed her that the boys needed that kind of discipline, and that it was about time that someone cracked down on them. Allura saw irony in that, considering that he had no problem giving Larmina champagne and approving of that indecent dress! Coran had said again that he did not agree with the decision she had made, and that she needed to trust Keith and Lance in dealing with the cadets.

Allura felt like everyone was closing ranks on her again! Allura had not gone to a military academy, and was starting to wonder if she would send her sons to one. She knew that her older brother, Crown Prince Eammon had not gone, but her other brother, Prince Andrei, Larmina's Father had.

As she thought that she thought about Larmina, and their conversation last night. Allura had been frustrated that she had not been able to make her niece see the need for compassion in dealing with Daniel and Vince. Allura did hope that Larmina had understood her discussion of the other matters they had talked about. Allura also wished that everyone could understand her point of view, about Daniel and Vince. She was going to have to talk to her Father, she sighed to herself, hoping he could help her.

Allura was brought out of the thoughts by Keith asking "I thought Larmina was going to be back in time for lunch?" She smiled and said "Oh, she is done teaching but said she was going to stay and have lunch with the kids."

Lance heard this and said "Larmina, teaching kids?" Everyone laughed and Allura said "Several times a month she goes into town and teaches at one of the preschools we fund. She is wonderful with the kids!" Lance was flabbergasted by now and said "What does she teach them? Martial arts for toddlers?"

"Actually, she teaches art. She is very good and the kids all adore her!" Allura said, giving Lance a glare. Hunk said "Larmina is a kind, generous person!" When he heard about the preschool he had no problems picturing Larmina with kids.

Daniel thought to Vince 'if only he knew the truth about Larmina! Kind, generous my ass!' Vince thought back 'So true!' They heard Allura asking where Pidge was, and listened carefully, as they had been wondering that too.

"Officially he is out at Green's Den, beta testing some system upgrade." Lance said, grinning at Allura, and going on "In reality, he was not happy with your response to his memo!" Hunk chuckled and said "Oh, you should have heard his response! Even though he said it in Baltan, it was pretty nasty! Lance, I think he knows more curse words than you do!" Lance laughed and said "He knows them in more languages than I do, that is for sure!"

Keith was frowning at Lance and Hunk, who were ignoring him. Allura got a cool look on her face and said "I appreciated his suggestions, and told him such, but that I wasn't going to implement them." She had in fact been surprised at the memo Pidge had sent.

Lance looked down the table at Daniel and Vince, and got a wicked gleam in his eyes. The boys saw it and inwardly sighed. "Drone 1 and Drone 2?" Lance said, and they stopped eating and turned to look at him. "Do you want to know what was in Pidge's memo? It concerned you two!" The boys knew that no matter what response they gave it would wrong, so they kept quiet.

"Just so you know, none of us appreciate having to play First Cadet and tuck you in at night! I especially do not enjoy getting up at 0500 hours to run you two drones through an obstacle course. Pidge, our resident genius." He stopped and said in a questioning tone "Drone 2, are you aware that Pidge is a genius? He graduated from the Academy, top of his class, at age 10, and holds several advanced degrees!"

Vince knew what Lance was doing and thought to Daniel 'I wonder what rank Lance graduated?' He heard Daniel laughing in his mind. Lance was going on "Anyway, Pidge came up with the idea of transferring you two to the Arusian Military Academy!" He stopped, and then said "The curriculum is similar to the one on earth, and they have some lovely ways of handling underclass cadets! Count Fredericks and I had a long talk all about it. I especially enjoyed the idea of you doing pushups under running water!"

Keith, Lance, and Hunk all laughed at that thought, while Allura tried to pretend she wasn't hearing this. 'If this is what goes on, my sons will never set foot in a military academy' she thought to herself. Lance, still sounding pleased said "Just so you know your benefactress." He inclined his head in Allura's direction and going on said "Allura vetoed the idea."

"Oh, wait a minute! I almost forgot Pidge's other request, from the memo!" Lance was enjoying this greatly, as Daniel and Vince looked at him with scared eyes. "As you know, he has been teaching your science and math courses. He wants to flunk you both in science, and make you take the whole class again from the beginning!"

Lance went on "It seems that Drone 1 is barely passing anyway, and that per Pidge, Drone 2 seems incapable of following the protocols of basic scientific research techniques. Since Pidge only teaches the advance level of the course that means that you would have to take the lower level again, from one of us!"

Vince heard that and seethed inside, which Daniel picked up on 'boy, Pidge really has it out for you!' Daniel thought to Vince, who thought 'I never should have hacked into his accounts!' Hunk said "I really don't have the time to teach the whole basic class again right now! I guess I could get to it in a couple of months!"

Lance said "That would mean that you two would not graduate on time! Luckily for you, again, Allura turned Pidge's request down. He will continue to teach your class until you both pass it! Of course he is not going to be happy about teaching, but that is your problem!" Vince and Daniel both felt their heart sink when Lance said that.

Hunk asked "Isn't he supposed to teach this afternoon?" Keith had been listening to Lance with pleasure. He had to hand it to his friend; no one could rack a cadet's ass better than Lance. Keith said "He knows, and he said he will be back in plenty of time to make the class."

Pidge was waiting for Larmina, and spending the time telling Green what he had done to Vince and Daniel. Green thought it quite funny for a minute, and then thought 'that was rather mean to do to Vince. He is special.' Pidge thought 'it doesn't matter about his special powers; he was willing to endanger the team because of Daniel.' Pidge heard Green humph and then think 'you would not have cared so much if they had not involved your mate in their scheme.'

He smiled at Green's thought and replied 'she is not my mate.' Green sighed 'but you want to mate with her.' Pidge thought 'yes, I do but she is going to make me work for it!' He could feel Green's approval as the thought came 'as it should be. A lioness wants to know that her mate is worthy of her; especially that lioness!'

Pidge thought 'thanks for taking my side!' Green laughed in his brain and thought 'oh, you will be successful! Of course you will have to deal with the queen lioness!' Pidge snorted and thought 'the queen lioness really needs to find herself a mate!' Green sighed again and said 'you are not the only one in the kingdom who thinks that! Red and Black's pilots would like to mate with her.'

'The infinite triangle!' Pidge thought, and Green's response was 'is that mathematically probable? Oh, Blue's pilot is here.' He felt Green go silent in his brain, as he went out to meet Larmina. He smiled when she saw her, she looked so pretty. Larmina had on a purple skirt that was scattered with a print of cream flowers with green leaves. Her blouse was soft lavender, and showed off her hair and skin beautifully.

Pidge put his arms around her and kissed her, enjoying how she wrapped her arms around him and snuggled closer. "You look very pretty! Did you dress up for me?" He asked her when he stopped kissing her. Larmina was feeling breathless from the way Pidge had kissed her, and she had butterflies from being held so close to him.

Larmina managed to say "Partially for you, and partially because I was teaching this morning!" Pidge had noticed her hair was braided up, and the sunlight was making the shades of red glow, like a fire. He really wanted to see her hair down! He said instead "That's right, I forgot that you were teaching. How did you manage to get away to have lunch with me?"

She laughed and said "Everyone at the castle thinks I'm having lunch at the school, and of course the school thinks I went back to the castle!" She tossed her head as she said it, pleased with how she had worked it out. Larmina said "I am really hungry though!"

Pidge took her hand, and they walked over to a clearing, where he had set everything up. Larmina saw a blanket had been spread out, and there was a basket waiting to be unpacked. He said "Let's enjoy our lunch and talk about anything besides that mess at the castle. Afterwards we can go for a walk and talk about it then. I don't want to ruin my appetite thinking about Daniel and Vince!"

Larmina agreed, so they ate and talked about music and happenings on Arus. The food was all delicious, and Pidge said that he had gotten the kitchen staff to pack the basket. When they were done Pidge asked "Do you want to see the stream? I think I found the flowers you smell like?" He had a smile on his face as he said it.

"Oh, so you decided to do some exploring?" Lamina asked giggling, and he replied "Actually I asked Green if he might know what they were!" She thought about that and then said "You are talking to Green about me? What does he say?" Larmina was really curious, since she had not talked to Blue yet about Pidge.

Pidge thought about Green's remark and said "He told me that I would have to prove myself worthy of you!" Larmina tilted her head and said "Please tell Green that he is very smart!" Pidge sighed and said "I knew that! Come along!" He took her hand and led her over a small hill and to a grove of Arusian willow trees.

Once they walked through the branches Larmina saw a clearing with a gurgling stream running through it. On the other side of the stream, over a small embankment she could see an open field filled with soft purple flowers! She turned to him and put her arms around him saying "This is so beautiful! And those are the flowers!"

Larmina kissed him quickly, and then went over to the stream, and bending down put her hand in the water. "Oh, it feels so cool!" She was in fact a little hot, after walking in the sun. She sat down, saying "I want to stick my feet in the water; I bet it will feel good!"

Pidge watched as she lifted her skirt and took off her stockings and shoes. He thought it interesting that her stockings looked like they were made out of lace. Once again he was surprised at finding something so feminine on her. Without meaning to, he wondered what kind of underwear she wore, but decided to put that thought away before he got into trouble.

Instead he went over and sat next to her, taking off his boots, and rolling up the legs of his flight suit. "Doesn't that feel good?" She asked, as he put his feet in the water. He agreed with her, as he watched her move her feet around.

Pidge saw that she still had the blue polish on her toes, and he noticed what small feet she had. Feeling one of her feet with his, he could tell that it was very soft too. "I think I told you the other night, but you have adorable feet!" Larmina laughed and said "DJ Prong told me that I had sexy feet!" Pidge smiled and said "I think you have sexy feet too!"

Thinking about the party reminded him that she had spent time with her Aunt last night. "Larmina, how did your meeting with your Aunt go?" She sighed, and leaned against him as he put his arm around her shoulders. "Well she summoned me to her bedroom, so I knew that it was serious and personal. If she wants to lecture me that is where she does it!" Pidge found this nugget of information interesting, and Larmina went on "We first discussed my reaction to what Daniel and Vince had done."

Pidge had no problems imagining how that went and he said "I really admired you for standing up to your Aunt. I know that it took a lot for you to do it." She looked up at him and said "Pidge, you were right, what they were doing was wrong." Larmina paused and then said "I feel a little guilty, because I did go along with them for a while."

He had been wondering if she would be bothered by that fact, and told her now "Larmina, you really didn't go along with it! They put you in a bad position, you thought about it, and you resolved it! You gave Daniel the chance to fix the situation, or you would report them to Keith. I don't see that as going along with it!"

Larmina gave him a grateful smile and said "I will remember that! Do you think Daniel would have told on his own, if Vince hadn't turned him orange?" Pidge shook his head and said "I rather doubt it!" Larmina had another thought "Has Vince figured out that you set him up?"

"I'm sure he has! And since Daniel and Vince are reading each other's minds, Daniel knows it to. I'm stuck teaching them this afternoon! I can hardly wait to see what Vince has to say to me!" Pidge said, thinking about how miserable he could make the class.

Larmina said "I am sure then that they know that I told you about the haggerium poisoning." Pidge said "Does that bother you?" She shook her head and said "No, if they ask me I would tell them. It would just be a little too personal to tell them why I told you!" Pidge understood that, and said "If it comes up, I'll present it that you told me because I mentioned it first." She smiled gratefully at him, and as he was thinking how much he adored her, he had another thought.

"Did you Aunt say anything about me?" Larmina smiled and said "Well once she got done trying to lay the guilt on about not siding with her, and not having compassion for Daniel and Vince, we got on the subject of the party!" Pidge chuckled, having no problem figuring out what Allura had said about that.

"She was kind enough to point out that the fabric and color of my dress was pretty, but it was way too revealing! To quote her 'it is in bad taste to show so much skin!'" Pidge squeezed her a little tighter and said "I think everyone else thought it was in perfect taste, especially Count Fredericks. I thought it was perfect!"

That made her laugh, and then she said "My Aunt was really annoyed with Fredericks too, for letting me have champagne!" They laughed and then Pidge asked "What did she say about DJ Prong? Is he banned from the castle?" Larmina sighed and said "Oh, that spiel was almost too much!"

"It seems she was concerned that I got so carried away by having my favorite rock group play that I forgot who DJ Prong really was. My Aunt is worried that I sent you the wrong message, because of the way I behaved with DJ Prong." Larmina stopped and the smiled, saying "It was in bad taste for me to have let DJ Prong touch me like that, and that it was inappropriate of me to have encouraged him. Per her, people made comments!"

Pidge laughed, and said "Vince was the only one who commented and it was because you were not cuddling with him!" He saw Larmina look at him and said "Daniel's eyes might be purple, but Vince's are green!" The laughed and then he asked "What else did she say?"

"She is worried that you are going to think I am interested in you!" Larmina giggled, and put her arms around his chest as she nuzzled his neck. She recognized the way he smelled from the other night, and it mixed with the scent of the sun and grass that was around them.

"So you didn't tell her about the message you sent me, about your wearing something hot and sexy?" Pidge asked, trying to imagine Allura's response! He was enjoying Larmina nuzzling against his neck and the sensations it was causing in his body. "As if! My Aunt wouldn't know hot and sexy if it came right up to her!" Larmina replied.

Pidge had to smile at that and said "But she is very concerned with bad taste!" Larmina giggled again, and then said "At the party I tried to get Lance to dance with my Aunt. I think he would be good for her!" Pidge said "I think Keith is more her speed, being as high minded as she is."

"Are you kidding? They would do nothing but stare at each other!" Larmina said, and Pidge had no problems seeing that in his mind. He moved his head against hers, smelling that soft floral scent. "Did she say anything else about us?" Pidge was curious to see what Allura's thoughts on the matter were.

Larmina snuggled against him and said "If, by some chance, you have the wrong impression of my actions, I am to explain to you that I am too young for a relationship. And if you persist, I am to tell her and she will talk to you!"

Pidge was relieved to hear that Allura's only objection was age. He asked Larmina "Do you think you are too young?" Larmina looked up at him and said "You heard what Fredericks said 'I'm officially out!' I know better than to argue with the Court Marshall!"

He reached down and started kissing her very slowly, letting his tongue explore her mouth before hers started exploring his. One of his hands was lightly stroking her hair, while the other was cradling her head. Larmina let her hands explore his back, enjoying the way it felt.

Larmina felt Pidge's legs, in the water, intertwine with hers, and she was aware of tingly sensations going up her legs. She broke off the kiss to get some air, and to enjoy the way he was making her feet and legs feels. Pidge looked at her and said "Have I told you that I love you?"

She turned to look at him intently, and knew that he meant it. "Pidge, I love you to!" She felt an incredible welling up of happiness in her as he looked at her. "You are so special! I am very lucky!" Pidge told her, and she shook her head saying "I'm very lucky!"

They stayed at the stream for a while, just cuddling, and then Larmina realized how late it was getting. "I wish I could stay here, but I need to get back." Pidge noticed the time and groaned, saying "I have to teach Drone 1 and 2 in half an hour!" Larmina looked at him with a puzzled look, and he explained the terminology of the Academy to her.

She laughed and then asked "We didn't discuss where you are going to take me so I can dance and wear something hot and sexy!" Pidge had a plan all set to go, and said to her "What do you think of the Ghost Bar, then Club Xenon, and maybe the Nether Lounge?"

Larmina opened her eyes wide at the mention of those and said "In my dreams! Those are the hottest clubs in the galaxy! And they are not on Arus!" Pidge said "They are on Dradin actually! Don't you want to go? I'm good friends with DJ Prong, who will get me some passes! But the condition is that you wear your hair down!"

"I don't see my Aunt letting you take me to Dradin, to go clubbing!" Larmina was looking at him incredulously! Pidge got a mischievous smile on his face "By the time I am done, she will be asking me to take you!" Larmina gave him a big grin and said "You pull that off and I will gladly wear my hair down!"