[right][sub]...Later[/sub][/right]

The dinner didn't wait for tardy ones, so Astolfo could hear the chatting and the clatter of plates. Once upon a time, he would have said that arriving late was fashionable, but now, he just wanted to spare everyone at least one moment of respite before the storm that was brewing. The drinks had been delivered, but the guest...was about to enter.

Lieutenant Bugatti had decided to show off her best wiles in her suit. Astolfo could not help but admit that even in one of those Federation uniforms, she cut a figure that even Lieutenant Kaname or Senior Ava would be envious of. She prowled with catlike steps, her gaze and smarm dousing everyone who met her gaze with a cold, unflinching feeling of harsh reality. 

"I kept you people waiting, huh? Well, I do apologize for the incovenience..." Bug tried to break the ice, as his elder and superior said very little, instead wryly smiling as she prowled in a certain direction. Bug was not sure why Lucrezia had refrained to use her tongue and barbs to get the centre of attention.

"...sorry Arrish." He muttered under his breath, as the princess made a beeline for the womanizing chef, making the girls look at her and suddenly have urges to go somewhere else. Lucrezia just smiled.

"We meet again, lord Duval...Sorry, it's Cadet Duval now?" Lucrezia said, leaning onto Arrish as if a venomous snake was trying to strangle a little mouse. "Surprised to see me?" The third Princess of Yatalia said, a wry smile. "Did you...like the drinks I sent? You made such gourmet food it did need a response."

Bug in the meantime, got ahold of his sister's obsession. Arrish was lost, but not the rest of the team. "So, uh, that is my sister." He said to the others but not mentioning anything in particular. "Our guest." He announced. "Please...be nice." He answered through gritted teeth. [i]And for the love of, don't draw her attention upon you.[/i]

It was then when he registered a voice. It was a tall woman in a rather...revealing night dress. Incongruously holding a big strawberry cake. That was no woman. That was Stella. She was looking...awfully skin-like today? The look was eye catching for sure, almost making  Astolfo doubt for a second if it was a clanker.

"Bugatti. Lucrezia. Princess." She said. "Shall I...present cake to her too?" She said to Astolfo, questioning like a lost child. "Cake is meant for Liu'un, Elora, Cadet. But more friends more fun." She said, in her monotone voice.

"Just...deliver it to Liu'un. And stick around her." Astolfo said. It was a remote chance, but a bully like Lucrezia would never resist picking on a mousy geek like the younger pilot.

He'd rather be fighting the Cruxi Fister than handling this. He wondered if this was punishment for his hubris of pretending to throw a welcome party.

[@Ravion the Red]