& OPEN NSFW POST ( i. )

[aeneia]

NSFW OPEN POST ( I. )
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[mahalakshmi]

[ he lifts a hand to sweep against his cheek, the back of her knuckles to trace over the plains of his face before she lets it drop. ]

As you should. You will be a very great man, even someone as new to this place and its politics as myself can see that.

[komarran]

[ Such a simple action and kind words manage to bring a flush to his face. Flattery never did anything for him except in these intimate moments. ]

I only do what is needed. [ And to repay his planet for the crimes of his family. ]

[mahalakshmi]

You do what your people need of you.

[ She pushes up a little, where he's facing her, to steal another kiss. The giddy liberty of that is enough to make it all worth it. ]

If I knew nothing else of you, that would be enough.

[ It's murmured to his mouth, her eyes meeting his as she sinks back again into the pillows. Warm and content, she stretches. ]

Besides, it was quite enjoyable, to watch them chase after me and to go straight back to you. It served them right.

[komarran]

[ The kiss catches him off-guard. He's not sure if he'll ever get used to anyone doing that so freely. He finds it a surprise he doesn't mind and he smiles softly. ]

How many murmured comments did you hear about your choice in company?

[ He wants to know how creative they got with their insults. ]

[mahalakshmi]

[ That makes her frown, her eyes down - oh she heard quite a few, nothing polite. Nothing that she wanted to recall. It struck too close, things she had heard about her own people just the same. Distasteful, ugly twist in her mouth for it. ]

Nothing worth repeating. That you weren't worth your uniform, that progressives made such awful choices, that it wasn't right for you to be there. I should have struck them for it.

[komarran]

That's all? [ he muses. ] They've gotten lazier.

[ He's heard far worse in his time as a graduate student in a Barrayaran university and as a member of the Imperial Service. It's an unpleasant topic and he doesn't wish it to taint their time any further. ]

You're sure you want me to sleep here? Instead of the living room?

[mahalakshmi]

[ She rolls her eyes when he goes and - checks again, always checking, always courteous to her. That response is easy, gleeful, as she rolls - straight into him, catching her hands flat to his shoulders, pushing him back into the bed and - not all the way on top of him, but perches just that little above him. Her hair falling over her shoulders to curtain them in. Her legs tangling with him. ]

Yes. [ And for that she kisses him soundly before he can question her again about it. ] I do nothing, say nothing I would not follow through with all of myself. I would not have any of this if I wasn't willing to do it.

[komarran]

Ah-- [ is about all he manages before she pushes him back against the bed. More than okay with this if her actions were anything to go by. He sighs into the kiss and lets himself relax. The day has been long and he would be a damn liar if he said there was no appeal in sharing a bed with someone else. ]

Then I would be happy to share this with you.

[mahalakshmi]

[ She could stay there settled there like for an age, she thinks. Leans down again to kiss him, more a peck. ] Good, if you had kept asking I would have thought maybe I was wrong and you did not desire me after all.

[ Which is an idle threat, as it goes, and hardly even one she has a thought of acting on as she shifts down that little lower, to lay her head on his chest. Settling there, draping against him comfortably. ]

[komarran]

[ She's a pleasant weight against him. That hesitation is back again before he wraps an arm loosely around her shoulders. With how quickly this was happening, he's grateful he has needed to think. ]

Are you busy tomorrow? [ He would be at least part of the day with work, but he hopes there will be some overlap in free time. ]

[mahalakshmi]

[ She nods against his chest, her eyes falling shut. ] Mm, might take awhile to get out of bed, but I thought to give myself some time to recover from the party.

[ Either from being drunk or getting herself in trouble, one or the other. ]

[komarran]

[ When was the last time he had slept in? It must have been a late morning start sometime during his undergraduate years because he certainly hadn't done it anytime recently.

He strokes her hair absently and nods. ] I'll be here when you wake.

[mahalakshmi]

[ She hums contently with the thought, to have him right there. It was nice enough when he was the room beside her. Could hear him moving about to get ready when he left for work, sometimes. Her own habits of rising with dawn that left her strangely out of rhythm on this planet. Could share her morning with him properly and then -

Her eyes snap open, oh. ]

One moment.

[ She reaches up behind his head and under the pillow, and from underneath it, she fishes out her knife. The long curved, gold embossed blade. Far cleaner than the day she had first come in wearing it to his office. The blood all but gone from it now.

Not so strange, by itself, she supposed. But it wasn't by itself, as she digs around a little bit further, to pull out what looks to be one of his steak knives she had collected. Then a butcher's knife from another corner of the bed that she had bought out one of her shopping trips. All stored away carefully within arm's reach of where they were sat in the bed. ]

[komarran]

[ He stares at her for a long moment, considering the weapons. He had known about the first one, but the other two are a surprise. ]

So that's what happened to my kitchen knife, [ he remarks dryly. ]

That came with a set. [ One he greatly enjoyed using when he had time to cook. ]

[mahalakshmi]

[ She manages to look a little - guilty. Leaning over him to place them on the bedside table, neatly as possible. ]

I - thought just one wouldn't be... too missed.

[ Settles back, perching back on his chest, pressing her face into his chest a moment with a guilty laugh. ]

[komarran]

I thought it was misplaced after it was cleaned. [ He glances over at it, but he doesn't reach. That could be replaced in the kitchen later. If-- ]

Do you need it? Or are your others sufficient?

[ Because if he's judging this right, she took it to feel safer. ]

[mahalakshmi]

It was the... first day you went back to work. [ Alone in the house with not so much to do. Her own paranoia had gotten to her, she did not suit being idle. Glances over at them and considers. A moment to double check it's range. ]

It will be better with you here - but no good if you didn't know they were there.

[ She draws her fingers in an idle pattern in his shirt. ] I think when we have the time. I should like to use the other weapons they keep.

[komarran]

[ He finally admits after a small moment of hesitation, ] I keep my own weapons nearby.

[ He reaches into the drawer on his side of the bed and withdraws a stunner, holding it up to show it to her. Nonlethal and easy to use. It was the easiest way to ensure he'd have the upper hand in a fight. ]

I can show you how to use it.

[mahalakshmi]

[ She watches him reach for it. Watching him dig around for the weapon and - she's seen them, on many of the guards at the party this evening. Been explained how they worked - "nonlethal" however that was meant. It wasn't something she completely understood - but then, that seemed to be much a product of her own time. ]

I would like that. I'm told that they are far more efficient than any firearm I know.

[komarran]

[ He offers her the stunner carefully to let her get a better look at it. ]

Its goal is to incapacitate. Whoever you aim and fire that at, it should knock them on their asses.

[mahalakshmi]

[ She pulls herself up a little. Not far, her legs still tangled with his, hair still tumbling over her shoulders to settle around her in a mess. But it's enough that she can take it from him and test it properly in her hand. Turning it over in scarred fingers, testing the weight and grip of the thing. The first time she's been permitted to touch one, in truth. Tosses it from one hand to the other and sighs a little mournfully. ]

I cannot argue with that but... [ a little frown, as she tries to figure out what doesn't sit right with her. ] It just does... not feel right. There's no... weight to it.

[komarran]

[ He frowns. A lighter weight was meant to be a good thing, not a mark against them. He watches her as she examines it and hopes that won't be so off-putting that she won't want to learn it. ]

It's meant to be easy to use. What weight are you used to?

[mahalakshmi]

[she let's it settle in one hand, and like anyone used to handling something made it injure, she keeps her finger off the trigger and directed away from him. Nevermind that she doesn't know the first thing about using the damn thing. ]

More than this. It feels almost deceiving. Any weapon I know, I pick it up and know it's cost in that moment. Whether it was a... blade like my shamsher or a Enfield rifle, like my soldiers used. It was a good weight to have, I think. Just in handling it, you would begin to understand how to use it.

But this? [ she shifts her grip suddenly, all her fingers around it, angling it and gripping hard. The tense line of muscles that stand out in her arm. Testing what it could hold up to. If she used it to punch someone, would it break under that force. ] It gives you nothing.

[komarran]

Perhaps not in the way you're used to. It makes it easier to wield for those unaccustomed to weaponry, meaning more have access to protection should they desire it. [ Not that many walk around carrying stunners, but they were the allowed nonlethal option to be carried.

He shrugs and holds out his hand to take the stunner back. ] I can show you a vid tomorrow that demonstrates what happens when it's used.

[mahalakshmi]

There is not much argument to be made against that, is there?

[ It's said in grim satisfaction, more protection for people so that they don't have to rely on people like her, or him. Were she younger, there might be a tip of objection to it. But time hadn't left her that naive anymore. ]

Tomorrow then. [ She gives it back to him, before she settles back to his chest, her eyes shutting and finally it seems, she yawns a little. Exhaustion catching up to her. ]