FanFic100: #056 Breakfast
She always was a good observer. She has always liked to observe. People like to take her for a person interested in action and a “doer” as the Earth people sometimes like to say and she may very well be that person… but all the movement and action wouldn’t be as good as they are if she wouldn’t have taken long hours of simply observing, looking, learning.
In fact… learning is what she set out to do today as well. Of course, for the records this is just another monthly visit to New Athos, to see if her people need anything, if everything is in order. But there had been a reason why she had suggested that Major Lorne and Lieutenant Cadman of all people accompany her. She had wanted to learn something from them… or rather from observing them.
And as she had hoped it would be, even back in Atlantis she had been able to learn a bit by watching Major Lorne and Lieutenant Cadman prepare themselves before walking through the Stargate. She had, for example, found it very interesting that Lieutenant Cadman hadn't reacted to one of Major Lorne’s jibes about this mission not being one that seems like something she would have fun at like she usually reacted to this kind of jokes at her expense - with a snide remark of her own - but rather with a grin and a good-natured return jibe at Major Lorne always mysteriously getting the missions that involve food.
The light banter had continued when they had gotten to New Athos and walked to the village. Occasionally, she had joined in but mainly she had kept to watching them. Yes, the banter in itself had been a telltale sign but what had been really interesting had been all the little non-verbal signals.
For example the thing with Lieutenant Cadman and her hair and her hands. By now she’s sure that Lieutenant Cadman is doing it merely unintentionally but nevertheless it doesn’t fail to have an effect on Major Lorne every time she moves a - often enough non-existing - stray strand behind her ear. She can see Major Lorne’s eyes following the movement of Lieutenant Cadman’s hands just a little too closely to be casual and coincidental.
Also the way Lieutenant Cadman ever so often does not look at Major Lorne when he smiles or raises his eyebrows tells her the Lieutenant is not unaffected by the Major either. It’s amazing, she thinks, that these two can still tell anyone - including themselves - convincingly that they are nothing more than fellow soldiers and don’t want to be more, either.
But this seems to be typical of Earth people. On Athos - or well, in Athosian culture - when a woman likes a man and vice versa they make themselves known to the object of their desire as soon as they can, to see if their affections are reciprocated because in case they are… why should they wait with any longer than they have to? Life in the Pegasus galaxy is short so wasting time is about the last thing its inhabitants can afford.
Earth people though… they dance around each other, give each other ever so subtle signals; purposefully ignore them, sometimes for an excruciatingly long period of time. She has no idea why they do it but maybe it has to do something with being used to having so much more time to form attachments, make life-changing decisions… and having all kinds of strange taboos that sometimes make sense and often enough do not.
In theory she understands why Major Lorne and Lieutenant Cadman have obviously chosen to ignore the attraction between them because John did explain the concept of non-fraternization regulations to her after she had overheard Sergeant Eliza Cunnings talk to one of the new technicians about “having the hots” for “one of those hunky new Lieutenants” but thinking following through with it was not “worth all the hassle with the regs” and had asked him about it. So from a certain point of view, Lieutenant Cadman and Major Lorne just don’t have a choice about acting on the attraction.
However… she isn't sure if doing the lawful thing is always the right thing. After all that she has learned about Earth flirting rituals and the ways Earth people express themselves when they like someone… Lieutenant Cadman and Major Lorne are on their way to becoming “head over heels” for each other. She just fails to see why it should be better for them to try and hide it from the world, each other and most importantly from themselves than to openly admit it.
Secrets come out eventually anyway and… “Teyla?” She looks up to find Lieutenant Cadman and Major Lorne looking at her. “We’re almost there. You seemed a little… zoned out. Everything okay?”
She smiles apologetically at Lieutenant Cadman. “Yes. I was just… oh, never mind.” The Lieutenant just shrugs and takes a step aside to let her lead the team into the settlement but she can see that Lieutenant Cadman and Major Lorne exchange a short confused look. A little amused she wonders what they would say if they knew what exactly she’d been thinking about. But yes, it would be better to focus on the present now so she walks up to the village and greets her fellow Athosians.
After they have all exchanged greetings and well-wishes, they are led towards the main square in the middle of the settlement. It’s a sunny day that promises to become warm and so the welcome breakfast is held out in the open. She watches her two companions again and is surprised to detect a certain shyness in Lieutenant Cadman as she settles down among the Athosians, even though the Lieutenant does her best to hide it.
She is also surprised to see that Major Lorne seems to have noticed the Lieutenant’s slight discomfort and does his best to distract her with a little more banter. And yes, after a few minutes she relaxes visibly in his presence and can enjoy a lively breakfast with the people of the settlement.
The interaction between Lieutenant and Major is slowly starting to give her headaches because it’s so painfully obvious that they are attracted to each other that she catches herself wondering when they will start stealing food from each other’s plates or feeding each other bits of food at any moment.
Actually… Lieutenant Cadman just looked like she was about doing exactly that before remembering her and Major Lorne’s positions. It’s this moment when she decides that something needs to be done. Nothing drastic, though, because she isn't really keen on having to explain to John why two of his officers have gotten themselves in conflict with the law on a very simple mission with her. Just… a little push towards each other, that’s all these two need. She clears her throat.
“Say… Adeena…” The young woman in question lifts her head and she hopes this will really get where she intends it to. “I hear that Daban has given his blessing?” At this Adeena blushes heavily… and Major Lorne and Lieutenant Cadman throw each other little amused grins. Just you wait, she thinks, but keeps her outward interest fully on Adeena.
“Yes, he has. We are… overjoyed.” Of course she is really glad for Adeena and Teron but today she is also glad that out of a very lucky coincidence they can serve to illustrate a pressing matter to another couple where both are, as the Earth people say, “playing hard to get”.
“You deserve to be. It took enough time. My congratulations.” As she had hoped, Major Lorne and Lieutenant Cadman have both realized very fast what this is about so they both join in the congratulations and Adeena blushes even more.
She is about to ask Adeena if it really took them all of two New Athos months - if she is right, a little more than four Earth months - from becoming interested in each other to getting betrothed but Lieutenant Cadman does her a favor and says, “Hope you don’t mind me asking… but how long did it take you two to become enga… betrothed?”
At first Major Lorne frowns at the Lieutenant’s inquisitiveness but when Adeena doesn’t give him cause to believe that she is irritated he relaxes a bit. “About two months. That is, New Athos months.” Both officers look like they are doing quick calculations in their heads but the expected surprise… doesn’t appear on their faces. Well… maybe they need another little push.
She turns towards Laura and says with a smile, “That is two months from becoming interested in each other to becoming betrothed.” Now she sees the expected sentiment clearly on the Lieutenant’s face… and a little less prominent on Major Lorne’s face, as well. And here she had thought that practically nothing could faze John’s second in command.
Lieutenant Cadman clears her throat. “Wow. That’s… um… uh… pretty fast.” This confuses Adeena a little and she is about to explain to her about Earth people and the sometimes unbearably long periods of time they need to commit themselves to their significant others.
But Major Lorne is faster than her and tells the Lieutenant, “Actually, it’s not. By Athosian standards, I mean. Right, Teyla?” She simply nods and because Lieutenant Cadman doesn’t look convinced, he adds, “It’s got something to do with the Wraith threat, if I remember it right. People… they don’t have time for the whole dating circus here.”
Now understanding dawns on Lieutenant Cadman’s face. “Oh… oh, I see. Well, then… congratulations, Adeena.” She smiles at Adeena and the young woman smiles back a little shyly.
“Thank you.” For a moment it looks like the topic is finished with this but then Adeena does her an unexpected favor and adds, in the direction of Lieutenant Cadman, “I hope you do not mind me asking but… what is the usual period of time on Earth for a betrothal?”
This catches both the Lieutenant and the Major unaware as she can see in their slightly clueless and surprised faces. They look at each other and the Major gives Lieutenant Cadman only the slightest non-verbal indication that he expects her to answer this since Adeena addressed her. And did she just imagine it or did Lieutenant Cadman express a certain amount of displeasure at this… otherwise known as grimacing.
However, she does what politeness dictates and answers, “Well, uh… that… depends. On culture and tradition and nationality and all that.”
Adeena does not seem very satisfied by this answer but before she can intervene and explain a few of the things the Lieutenant just named, she asks, “Can you give me an example, please?” The Lieutenant shrugs her shoulders in agreement and Adeena continues, “How long did it take you two to become betrothed?” Oh… oh that is not what she had intended when starting this conversation.
And judging from the looks on Major Lorne’s and Lieutenant Cadman’s faces - Rodney would call them “priceless” and they would have made his day - she better stop where it is headed before Adeena unwittingly complicates the relationship between Major Lorne and Lieutenant Cadman to the degree that it will take much more than just a little push to make them realize what is going on between them and act on it accordingly. She clears her throat. “I am sorry, Adeena. We will have to continue this conversation some other time because for today, our visiting time is up. We really have to get back to Atlantis.”
At first, both the Major and the Lieutenant throw her a wary look, since they both clearly know that John gave them at least two more hours here but when they realize that she just saved them from a possibly embarrassing situation, they seem relieved and a little thankful. Adeena, on the other hand, does look a little disappointed but she has decided to explain everything to her the next time she comes to New Athos and she is sure that Adeena will understand then. She also does not intend to let Major Lorne and Lieutenant Cadman dance around each other until the next visit to her people anyway.
So in the end Adeena concedes and they take their leave. On the walk back to the Stargate, both Major Lorne and Lieutenant Cadman are uncharacteristically quiet but she is sure that she caught them sneaking a few secret looks at the other when they thought he or she wouldn’t notice.
Of course this is nothing new but these looks… they have a new quality to them. Before, they were mostly telling her that the Major and the Lieutenant simply liked to watch the other because they found them aesthetically pleasing but now… it feels as if they… are considering something.
Could it be that… Adeena had been helpful after all, she wonders when they step through the Stargate and all the way back to the locker room. Still Major Lorne and Lieutenant Cadman don’t talk much… until they are all done and the Lieutenant is about to leave the room, that is. “Well… that was nice, huh?” Major Lorne only raises his eyebrows, as if he were about to ask her if she had been in the same conversation that he had and she adds, “The food was nice, anyway. So, uh… I… have some… stuff to do and uh…” When the Lieutenant realizes that she is stuttering, she clears her throat and for some reason… she is really, really curious about what will come next. “But I’m still free for lunch. Anyone care to join me? Seeing as we should make the best of the time we have and all that…”
The last sentence is accompanied by a wink and… a pointed look in the direction of Major Lorne. Who… suddenly exhibits signs of a faint blush on his cheeks. That certainly is something new and so she holds back, eager to observe this new development. Of course she would love to give him a push - this time a real one - but then her part in this would become much more obvious and she really prefers staying on the sidelines in this. Thankfully, he finally manages to clear his throat and says, “I think I could manage, Lieutenant. 1300 in the mess hall?”
Lieutenant Cadman simply smiles - looking just a little bit smug - and replies, “Sounds good. Teyla?”
“Oh… I think I have to pass. Some of the female zoologists asked me if I could give them self-defense lessons… I am sorry. Maybe another time?” This is stretching the truth just a little… but she has this feeling that it would help her cause much more if she stayed away this time.
Lieutenant Cadman simply shrugs her shoulders and takes her leave. When the Lieutenant is gone… she can’t help smirking at Major Lorne and saying, “See, that wasn’t so hard, was it?”
“Whatever do you… Teyla?” Oh… oh, it seems like Major Lorne realized what part she just played at the breakfast, or at least part of that and decides that now is really a good time to go, seeing as she has finished changing anyway.
So she decides to put on her enigmatic smile - the one that always serves so well to confuse John and lead him off-track - and says, “I am sure you can figure that out on your own. After all, you are this city’s military second in command and a very sharp soldier.”
She gives herself one last moment to enjoy his slightly disturbed, shocked and really confused face and then simply bids him goodbye and leaves the room, confident that she did manage to speed up a few things considerably. Now, how to prepare John for having to deal with two of his officers violating regulations because it was the right thing to do…
~*~
“Oh Aurelie, love takes time in Germany
Here people need days to get ready for the first step
The next weeks there’s only talk
Thoroughly getting to know each other
And only then you see each other somewhere alone.”
Wir sind Helden, “Aurelie”
Oh, and LJ? Since you decided not to bother me with the HTML editor going all wonky today... could you maybe do the same with the notifications? Thanks a bunch.