& OPEN NSFW POST ( i. )

[aeneia]

NSFW OPEN POST ( I. )
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[mahalakshmi]

And they use the drinking to excuse whatever insults might be inadvertently slung?

[ But put in that light, well, she could forgive it some, even if it still wasn't what she liked at all. ] Tell me what you are seeing then?

[ Through his own looking glass, then, bemused as ever with his observations. Not just that he taught a great deal, she quite enjoyed his humor. Liked its bleakness, it was calming in its way. Her fingers still resting on his shoulder, waiting there patiently for him. ]

[komarran]

I see two Vor families taking the opportunity to let out aggression outside of the Council chambers, [ he says and motions towards two men speaking across the room. Their body language is closed and tense, each one trying to get the upper hand through veiled insults. ]

They have disputes over trade and where their borders lay, each family claiming to have documents that support them possessing more than they do.

Whatever they say here will be excused by morning as drunken fervor.

[mahalakshmi]

[ She's barely watching them, more watching the curve of his mouth as he talks in flicked gestures. Miles had said obvious but - ] Mm? [ she flicks her gaze, back up to his eyes. ]

I suppose that's better than out and out battle. But isn't that the point of the council chambers?

[komarran]

[ Oblivious and he continues to be, his gaze still locked on the pair of Vor. ] They share other disputes there in more subtle tones. It took me years to understand this planet and its workings along with a great deal of studying.

[mahalakshmi]

[ It was almost comical at this point - did she need canons? Apparently, yes. Her head tilting in a sigh, that she keeps light. Nothing too much, merely like she was tired. It had been a long night, after all. ]

Oh, I can see why it would take that long.

[ Since apparently subtle hints did not always work so well on him. She bites her tongue at that. ] Well, at least I can take solace that they would completely miss my own, then.

[komarran]

Ah-- [ He frowns and takes more notice of her at the sigh. Was he keeping her out too long? These parties did go into the wee hours of the morning and they didn't need to be here until it ended. He had put in his appearance, spoken with several that he needed to build relationships and network with.

Leaving now would do no harm to his efforts to climb the social ladder and he'd rather focus on her comfort than drag this out. ] Are you ready to leave?

[mahalakshmi]

[ She steps back from him, nodding the once. It's not entirely a lie, she is tired of it. The half whispers behind her back, were manageable - the ones she heard about him, less so. Already had the one barked conversation out of his hearing that she wore her sword openly for a reason, and it wasn't because she liked to play games about it. ]

There is only so much gossip one can stomach in the evening.

[komarran]

[ He pats her arm lightly in apology. He should have thought about her comfort more when he had asked her to join him this evening. It was trying even for him and he had been on planet for years nows. She was still new.

With that decided, he begins to lead her out. It should be easy enough to commandeer a vehicle to take them back to his--their?--flat. ]

We'll leave them to gossip to the winds. Without their easy targets around, they'll find themselves growing bored quickly. [ A dry joke. He's not oblivious to the comments and whisperings. A younger him would have started a fight over it far earlier in the evening. ]

[mahalakshmi]

[ It does follow, and at least she could trade insults when they came fairly directly. Wasn't young and wasn't a fool, it made it easier than another might. But she was out of practice in dealing with it at anything else but at sword tip. Biting at the proverbial bit to end it the way she likes. ]

If that's the case, I've been remiss. I was informed by one young man that I was the most interesting thing he's seen all year. Here I thought I had made an impression.

[ She shifts though, as they go to leave, tugging up her veil once more, to draw it down over herself where it settles just that little below her chin. Hidden, but only so much. ]

[komarran]

You have, [ it's a quick reassurance. She made a scene whenever she showed up, a strange foreigner that was becoming a permanent feature on Barrayar. For however long she decided to stay, in any case. ]

But as you've pointed out, the alcohol is flowing freely and it's getting late.

[ Meaning their attentions would go elsewhere once they were no longer in sight. ]

[mahalakshmi]

[ She laughs for that, and it's a brief thing as they reach the door, she stops and - when in Rome, as the saying goes. Before they're out of sight of the waiters, she puts what is left of her drink to her lips - most of glass as it turns out, she was a moderate creature - and tilted her head back to scull the rest of it in a long gulp of the champagne flute.

Puts the back of her hand to her mouth to cough quickly before she turned back to him. The glass given back to one of the young servants that she'd procured it from. ] Alright. I am all yours, my keeper.

[komarran]

[ That nickname of hers for him always made him frown. She didn't mean it, he knew that, but the thought that even a tiny part of her would think that true has him wanting to tell her otherwise. ]

I doubt anyone could keep you. You did come armed to a Vor party. [ Thank god dueling had been outlawed. ]

[mahalakshmi]

Given what I have seen of the young men, I know how to use my sword better than they.

[ If only because she had used the blasted thing to defend herself most of her life, and didn't have the luxury of the weapons she had seen them use. Oh, envy wasn't becoming on anyone, she knew but all the same. ]

But I do not mind at all being in your keeping, you know that. [ Or well, she was going to make him very aware how little she did mind at all. ]

[komarran]

[ He declines to mention that many are likely equipped with other weaponry that worked faster than swords. The guards at least were along with those undercover in the crowd to make sure peace reigned. Her sword skills weren't in question, but times had changed and moved forward since she learned how to fight. ]

I'm aware, but it's an insult to you to consider that I would be keeping you.

[mahalakshmi]

[ She blinks a little, she has called him it on and off since the first. Teasing when she wants to be, and when she's frustrated, to keep him at an arm's length when she craved what little space could be afforded, or when he was broaching a topic she did not wish to discuss. That veiled use of nobility. Titles rather than names to ensure some lines that the small space didn't give them.

But sometimes, now she knew, it was simply to call him hers. ]

That truly bothers you so much?

[komarran]

Enough that I would prefer you didn't. If you think I am keeping you then... [ He frowns because what he's thinking of suggesting was far from what he actually wanted. He had grown used to her company, enjoyed having it around his home. But had she stayed too long? Did she think she had no other options? ]

You are free to find another place to stay that's more suited to you if your current arrangements are not to your liking.

[mahalakshmi]

No, not at all - [ Eve if it probably wasn't to his liking either. But oh she didn't want him to think that at all.

She steps in again, where they're outside, waiting briefly, her fingers lifting and they sweep against his jaw. Curling around softly, all smoothed callouses of her fingertips. ] - But it does make me very sure of something.

[komarran]

[ Her fingertips on him have him stop. His breath catches in his throat as he watches her. What could she possibly-- ]

It made you sure of something? [ he repeats, cautiously. ]

[mahalakshmi]

[ Ah - it's so little a thing. To stop someone with just a touch. To have that look etched on his features. Hadn't been sure, until Miles corrected her notions. That he wasn't an obvious man at all. Subtle and oblivious were a frustrating mix. ]

Yes.

[ Her fingers don't move away, then slip. up to the corner of his mouth, so very close to him. Feel the warmth of his breath, barely has to shut her eyes to draw up how his fingers felt on the curve of her spine. Her forefinger settled there, at the edge of his lip, her mouth parting in some unconscious response before as suddenly she steps away from him like nothing at all had happened.

To do as he had done for her the first day she had appeared tumbled on his proverbial door step. The way she had learned to with his help, she raises an arm to hail down a cab for them both. Easy thing about being glittering and strange, it doesn't take too long before she catches one. ]

[komarran]

[ His gaze lingers on her, unable to pull himself away. Had she been about to--?

No. That couldn't be possible. If she had any interest in him beyond friendship, he hadn't seen it. Not that he had ever figured out the romance/dating game with how spectacularly he had failed with Laisa. That would still stung and had put him off from trying.

He keeps himself a step back as he watches her hail a cab and he moves to open the door for her. That was simple, it was easy and made sense unlike her touch from moments before. ]

[mahalakshmi]

[ She shifts in, and she still isn't sure if she likes them, but at least she's gotten used to the feeling of moving without moving. Arranging her skirts neatly around her and not saying anything. Let him just sit there wondering what she was going to do, then. That warm giddiness for seeing the look on his face was - enough she thinks, and turns her face away to bite at her lip in an odd sort of prickling feeling. ]

[komarran]

[ The silence is worrisome. Had he misstepped somewhere else this evening? He frowns as he keeps his eyes forward though he's watching her in his peripheral vision. ]

Did I do something wrong?

[mahalakshmi]

[ She turns back to him, the soft fall of material not lifted and she smiles behind it. Barely kept mirth in her voice. Oh, he worried so, sometimes. Far be it for her to alleviate him straight away. ]

I've had a wonderful evening.

[komarran]

[ Reassuring or a brush off so he would feel better until they returned home. Duv's not sure which would be better. He sighs as he slumps heavily in his seat. ]

I'm glad. I was worried the Vor would be too much.

[mahalakshmi]

[ She smooths her fingers along the material of her skirt. Feeling the bumps of embroidery between the set of her rings and chains. Letting the material be its own comfort. His worry though, makes her laugh. ]

Them? [ She laughs, quickly come as gone. ] I've met thousands of them. They do not bother me.