Deserving

Chapter forty-seven

"I wasn't aware the coalition had such a knowledgeable specimen such as yourself." The blue-haired lord smiled amicably, swirling the wine in his glass before sipping slowly. 

Lance maintained his own diplomatic smile, delicately replacing the elegant pendant in its box, "I visited your planet long ago in my youth. It's heartening to see that the knowledge has endured the test of time."

"You speak as if you are further along your lifeline than you look." The lord's companion - Lance believed she was perhaps some sort of elevated guard - had her arms crossed, absently playing with the jade, beaded bracelet on her wrist. 

"You flatter me," Lance replied easily, taking a cursory glance behind them back to the ballroom were the party would be continuing without him, "Although you are correct, I still quite young for my species."

The negotiations had recently come to a close, Lance would be leaving to return to the Castle shortly alone - he had been the only one entrusted with the mission due to its low risk level. He was only lingering for his own purposes. 

The lord sighed, his smile fading ever so slightly as he took another sip of his wine - the drink almost entirely non-alcoholic (a quality Lance had recently learned the need to recognise in substances). "Do you truly believe this... ripple system of yours shall be effective, young highness?"

"It relies on cooperation," the prince responded lightly, "I can promise you that I and the rest of Voltron will do our upmost to come your aid, should you need it. All you need to do is return the favour when possible." 

The ripple system was something Hunk had originally come up with. It was a method they had devised to reduce the amount of back-and-forth that would be required of them. Additionally, it promoted the other members of the coalition putting more effort into the war and expanding their fronts. Theoretically, Voltron was their most powerful fighter but it wasn't wise to leave so much responsibility on only one of their assets. As such, the ripple system encouraged each member to take action into their own hands with the promise of assistance, if necesary, always available. 

"You know I can make no such promise," The lord finished his glass, attempting to pass it to his guard only for her to brush him off with a roll of her eyes, "I am no leader, simply a noble. I am but a whisper in our elder's ears. There would be no use speaking to me of such a thing."

"Yet we talk nonetheless. Public opinion is more important than you give it credit for." Lance fixed the sleeves of his robes, "However, there is something else you can do to be of assistance." He fished out a communicator and offered it to the lord, who took it in a delicately manicured set of claws.

"What is this?" The lord raised an eyebrow, pinching it between his talons. 

"A communicator designed to contact me directly and no one else. I must admit I had an... ulterior motive in coming here today." A grin twitched onto his face, one of his ears jumping in enthusiasm, "I have been collecting informants to supply me with intelligence from across the coalition that the leaders of our allies may be... unwilling to supply." He raised his hands placatingly when the two before him stiffened, "Don't mistake me, I do not wish to unearth traitorous or forbidden knowledge, nor do I wish for my informants to place themselves in any danger. I would just like to know any information you feel I should or would like to know - no matter how brief or exhaustive it may be."  

The lord hummed, passing the communicator to his guard as he nodded curtly to the prince, "Very well, I shall be in contact with you when fate deems it time." With that, he returned to the ball, robes swirling around him as he did so. His guard bowed to him a moment later, perfectly disciplined in depth, and followed in his footsteps, never passing a backwards glance to the paladin.