The hivemind is conquering for me?

After the food arrived, the table got a couple of looks from those nearby as I had foods plated all around me. There was silence for a few minutes as I began to chow down. I had wolfed down all of my pasta, one of my steaks and half of the meat platter as well as fish in a citrusy sauce by the time Kathrine had eaten half of her meal.

She was using proper public etiquette to eat her food... I was not. You don’t live with hungry bugs your whole life without picking up their table manners, or lack thereof. Kathrine didn’t seem to mind my animalistic approach to eating, even in public, and watched with an amused expression on her face and on occasion, took one of the meats on the platter.

I eventually slowed down to allow my body to begin metabolising everything I ate. This suit I just bought before was stupid expensive for what was basically what I wore every day, but was a ’brand’ so it cost more... Still though, considering it was new, I wanted to avoid ruining it with the meat sweats.

Seeing that the beast had left, and Apollo returned, Kathrine smiled and asked rhetorically. ”Did you enjoy all that?” I blew air out my nose indicating my amusement before saying. ”You were right about the pasta. That stuff was delicious. Honestly, with this place, Elias and all the other places with just mouth watering food, I am seriously contemplating having Jewel whip up a new ’you know what’ with the sole purpose of becoming a cook. But it seems like a waste of her brain power so I’m not sure.”

Kathrine covered her mouth after taking a bite and responded. ”Well, you did complain a lot when we dreamt together about the bland meat blocks, I am sure Jewel would be fine, you know how strong she is, a little octopus looking thing cooking your breakfast wouldn’t be so bad would it?”

I smiled in my head as I could imagine the type of creature and how Jewel would make it, however, I quickly shook my head. ”No, it wouldn’t be bad, but I don’t want to be a burden to her. She already does so much for me. And honestly, now that I haven’t had them for a while, the mystery meat blocks aren’t actually bad, they just don’t taste like anything. Just chewing alone with no taste is kind of boring. I had contemplated going back on an Orchid exocrine diet while at home world, but If I started again at this age, I would be locked in for life as she wouldn’t take no for an answer anymore.”

Kathrine smirked. ” Is Orchids milk that nice? I remember tasting mine when I had Nathanos and Rhea, It just tasted slightly sweet.” I looked around for a second after Kathrine asked that, in all honestly I wasn’t expecting to talk about Orchids boob juice in the middle of my date, but hey, I roll with the punches.

”Well Orchids milk isn’t really milk. Not in the same way you produced it.” I stated, causing Kathrine to ask. ”Well what is it then?”

I took a moment to gather my thoughts for a moment before I began explaining. ”Well, Orchids milk is sort of a super drink, she doesn’t just develop it naturally, she literally alters it inside of her with her own nutrients that she has consumed and turns it into her ’milk.’ A good example of what it can do is the fact that my jaw should have been severely underdeveloped because I was sucking those things till I was twelve, but her super drink could target my jaw and make sure I was getting extra nutrition and such in order to keep it healthy. That plus my enhancements and I literally could not have come up with a better growing up environment if I could try.”

Kathrine looked at me and seemed genuinely fascinated at the topic of conversation, a little too fascinated ”However, If you want to know more about her boob juice, you might as well ask Orchid herself tomorrow. I know she is prickly to everyone that isn’t me, but if you ask her about her massive kink, I bet she won’t have a problem shutting up.”

Kathrine giggled. ”I might do just that. It would be nice to see her without a perpetual scowl on her face... Goodness, help anyone that tries to give her grief at the college.” I think at that moment the both of us thought about some pompous ass-wipe attempting to hit on my love bug and the possible aftermath, causing us to silently chuckle.

”So, are you looking forward to attending the college then? What are your aspirations for going?” Kathrine asked. I took a sip of my drink to gather my thoughts before replying. ”I am looking forward to attending. I think it will actually be a lot of fun. As for what I hope to achieve? Well, Jewel, as amazing as she is, is not an incredible teacher of Psionics, She gains her powers in a way I do not possess, as of now that is, who knows with all my random bullshit? I digress. In short, I am basically attending there to strengthen my roots, not necessarily build new power. Oh and the reading. So much Psionic lore! I am close to busting just thinking about all those books!”

Kathrine raised an eyebrow at my choice of words, but didn’t interrupt me. ”And then Ronnie mentioned that you could opt in for field expeditions and in return gain access to floors of the library previously restricted to you. And considering I want to explore, that sounds right up my alley. I just feel bad for the kid, as I’m pretty sure I got him poached.”

”Poached? what do you mean?” Kathrine twisted her head inquisitively, causing me to reply. ”Oh, do you remember that Jocasta techno mechanic? The one with the King no one told me about? Well I mentioned that Ronnie could speak with machines and she lost her marbles and said she would take him as her student. I am not sure if she is actually still planning on doing it or not, either way, Sophia has put Ronnie on gene suppressants for now to prevent any further changes, her poison is actually quite unique though as many don’t begin to show mutations for a long time, however with Ronnie’s recent strength gain, she isn’t taking any chances of sudden mutation and him being discovered.”

”Well why take the risk? If your goal is to blend in and ’populate.’ Surely pushing him onto an incredibly influential woman is a bad idea? Jocasta sort of has a reputation as well, there is a reason she gained the right hand of Sigismund.” Kathrine asked curiously.

Leaning on the table, I replied hushed. ”Well at the end of the day, it’s Ronnie’s choice, he feels honoured that he has a chance to become influential. The more well connected he gets, the more he can do for his family. He fully knows the risks, but is willing to do them as he loves his family more than he values his own life.”

Kathrine smiled awkwardly hearing that before saying. ”It still freaks me out, the whole scale of it all, and now one of them might be trained by one of the most powerful techno mechanics in the empire... Brbrbrbrr. Gives me the heebie-jeebies.”

Reaching out for Kathrine’s hand, I stroked it gently and asked. ”You aren’t having second thoughts about our ’agreement’ are you? You know you can tell me if you are, you are my woman no matter what your alignment is?

Feeling sweet after hearing that, Kathrine smiled and shook her head. ”No Apollo, I am still with you. As long as my family is safe, I don’t care in the slightest, my loyalty lies to my man and his family. I just get a bit freaked out by the whole brainwashing, manipulating and converting part of your cult. Being raised here, it just sends me the wrong way, just give me time darling, I will adapt.”

Squeezing Kathrine’s hand, I smiled lovingly at her perfect beauty. ”My Love, we have all the time in the universe.” The two of us practically swooned together as we held eye contact for a while until.

”Hello, did you enjoy your meals? Would you like to take any... Leftovers?” The waiter asked, confusion building up at the large amount of food he brought to the table had been completely devoured.

He looked at the purple haired man and was slightly intimidated by just how much he had eaten in one sitting.

”Oh, the food was amazing. Thank you so much, I think I made the right call not ordering more though, I was in dangerous territory of getting the meat sweats at one point.”

The waiter said nothing in response and just began picking up all the plates. Just as he was about to, I stopped him and asked.

”Do you have a dessert menu?” I asked, getting odd looks from both Kathrine and the waiter.

”What? There is always room for ice cream.”