& OPEN NSFW POST ( i. )

[aeneia]

NSFW OPEN POST ( I. )
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[komarran]

[ His gaze is distracted, focusing on her lips before he forces himself to drag it upwards and meet her eyes. ]

Partially. It kept me awake during graduate school. [ Far easier to prepare and cheaper, back when money was an issue for him. ] I could make us breakfast.

[mahalakshmi]

[ She does not notice so much, fiddling to set herself so much. Reaching across him, to the bedside table to fish for a clip to keep the stray bits of hair from her face. ]

I do like watching you cook. [ A purred contemplation. By far her favourite novelty of sharing her mornings with him. ] You should shower, I can't make you the coffee in the mean time.

[ She should get off him, too, for that matter. But well, when he asked and not a minute before hand. ]

[komarran]

[ There's a soft smile playing at his lips as he reaches to tuck a strand of hair she missed into her hold. ]

I should, [ he says with some hesitation. Asking her to get off of him is not a priority, but... ] Quickly if I'm too cook.

[ Which he would like to do if only to ensure she has something to eat beyond ratbars and whatever else she could throw together in his kitchen. ]

[mahalakshmi]

If you say so.

[ She looks down in contemplation, a slow rock of her hips before she leans down the rest of the way to kiss him, and sink her teeth into his bottom lip in a firm tug. The once with her eyes up on his face before she swings her other leg over and off the side of the bed. Scampering off out of the bedroom with laughter to leave him there. ]

[komarran]

[ The groan that slips out of him is unbidden and causes his cheeks to turn flush. If his body hadn't reacted before, that rock had been enough to get his attention though he's eager to get into the shower and make it no longer an issue.

His shower takes longer than intended because of it, but when he exits the bedroom he's fully dressed in uniform and heading for the kitchen. ]

[mahalakshmi]

[ she keeps her laughter muffled to herself, her fingers pressed to her lips. Happy to give him some pleasant to think of during the day. Certainly made hers better.

After that, makes his coffee, her tea, and taking out what he proffered for breakfast. Preparing it absently humming to herself. The shared work of it, was pleasant, domestic. ]

[komarran]

Thank you, [ he says, motioning to his coffee. She's the first to offer to prepare his rather than be ordered to. He reaches to take the ingredients from her, ready to prepare their meal. ]

Do you have a request?

[mahalakshmi]

[For a second she does nothing else but enjoy the sight of him in his uniform. He wears it well. Her fingers curling around her cup of tea as she steps away from the bench to let him have at. Normally she's up and dressed for the day before she presents herself out of his room. But there's something wonderful to just being in her nightgown, even if she'd been told the pick the laciest bits of frippery.

She stretches in a roll in the last vestiges of sleep. Taking a sip after as she leans her hip against the bench. ] The one with the sweet bread - and cheese. The riccotta.

[A meticulous pronunciation to make sure she gets it right. He'd given her a taste for komarran food. ]

[komarran]

[ A nightgown he's trying to only steal subtle glances at. Childish in a way, he chides himself. It's not as if she wasn't up against him in it all night or over him this morning while wearing it.

Instead he focuses his attention on the dish he wants made, recognition donning his face with a small smile. ] You enjoyed that?

[mahalakshmi]

[ She smiles at him as she nods, ] I did. Your food suits me better than the Barrayarans.

[ grinned widely as she finishes. Oblivious to his gaze, she leans into his side briefly, burrowing her nose against his shoulder again. This time just to watch him cook. Content, but - still, she has work to get to, she remembers happily. ]

Anything you need of me to do?

[komarran]

[ That his planet's cuisine caught her interest has him swell with pride. He enjoyed cooking it, having a small taste of home, and having someone to share it with was still strange.

He's smiling as he busies himself, leaning slightly toward her in welcoming of her contact. ]

For you to keep me company. [ Otherwise the act of cooking was something he found relaxing. All she had to do was stay there with him. ]

[mahalakshmi]

[ She keeps grinning at him, laying her cheek against the material. That is something she can gladly do. ]

I'll just go clean up, and then I'm all yours.

[komarran]

[ He manages to keep himself from frowning. ]

Yes, of course. [ Though that doesn't mean he's happy to see her go elsewhere even for a moment. He nods and busies himself with his cooking. ] They should be ready to fry soon.

[mahalakshmi]

[ She leans up briefly, kissing him on the cheek before she goes.

Doesn't take too long in the shower, in any case. Though she has something on her mind - had it for awhile. Cleans herself up, gets dressed after - still singing inside of her skin. Content, somehow, still half laughing at being a reckless idiot. But it had certainly paid off. He definitely didn't seem to mind.

Not going anywhere today, so she picks something comfortable before she comes back out. Towel in hand as she runs it through her hair before she hangs it up on the back of the door. Heads to the cabinet as he cooks, fishing out cutlery and plates. Takes a breath briefly before she goes to speak. Had to have this conversation eventually she supposed. ]

Duv.

[ Setting the plates, it's ventured as firm as she can. ]

[komarran]

[ He's checking the temperature on the oil when she reappears. Something about her tone has him immediately shifting, giving her his full attention. ]

Is something the matter? [ he asks carefully.

What in the world could have happened in the limited time they've been apart. ]

[mahalakshmi]

[ She keeps setting the forks down, then goes to get them something else to drink. ]

No, but rather... all of this makes something very clear. I am not... going to go home very soon.

[ Juice - then, she fishes it out of a fridge. It still amuses her some, how normal they found this all. Sometimes she thinks she would be happier in the slums, where they were still linking up electricity to those areas. Knows how to live like that.

But, however, she feels about that she cannot get back isn't... isn't something she wants to talk about right now. If ever. She kept all of that as deeply as she could, and nor was it the problem now. ]

If I am, I need to consider what that means.

[komarran]

[ Ah. His grip on the edge of the counter tightens for a brief moment before he pushes himself away from it, taking a few steps toward her. ]

I wish I could bring you better news about returning you home. [ A sentiment he truly means. As much as he's fond of her, he'd rather she be happy where she belongs than trapped in a time and planet that are not her own. He watches her for a moment longer before closing the distance between them. ]

I do enjoy your company. [ In case that is in doubt. ]

[mahalakshmi]

[ She turns to face him, closing the fridge behind her. Leaning back into it, cool and solid against her skin. A quip there that - shouldn't he be focusing on the cooking? She isn't sure how to deal with his - want to comfort her. She hadn't had anyone do so for years. Hard to know those curve, that art to bending anymore. To swallow and just accept that in return.

Hovers, uncertain, before she lifts her hands up to brace on his shoulders. ] And I, you. I owe your men much, for the day that they delivered me unto you.

[ She smoothes across his uniform, against the bumps of rank and the stiff straight lines of duty that he wore so well. ]

[komarran]

[ His own hands go to rest on her waist and he keeps his eyes locked on her. Comforting people has never been a specialty of his, but he finds himself desperately wanting to try. Maybe if he could make this somewhere she wanted to be, she wouldn't mind being here, with him, as much. ]

Is there anything I can do? [ And he does mean anything. Whatever will make her more comfortable with this situation. ]

[mahalakshmi]

[ She stills herself as she forms the words, forms the plan. Her eyes lowered to watch his throat as she brings them up from the thud of her heart in her chest to her mouth in slow inhales and exhales before she finally looks back up to him. ]

I want to speak to the Emperor.

[komarran]

[ That... is not at all what he expected her to say. He blinks back his surprise and loosens his hold. ]

That can be arranged. How soon?

[mahalakshmi]

[ She smoothes across his shoulders, to settle to the tops of his shoulders, holding fast there. Some part of her was expecting his refusal. But when she doesn't get it, she lets out a slower breath and carries on. ]

Within the next month, if at all possible. I wish to ask as a Queen to a King.

[ Because she is not his subject, and this has to be done equally. A few important truths to tell him. Even if she is only it as a vassal of his liberty, for the time being. But nor was her want to achieve the position she had before. ]

But I do not want to put you in a position to speak for me or be held answerable for my actions. If you can direct me to where I can, I will put my request to Captain Illyan myself. [ Then she carries. ] Depending on ... how that goes. I wish... I wish to find work of my own. I think we can both agree being idle does not suit me much.

[komarran]

[ He nods. He can understand that desire to tie up loose ends, to start fresh if that is what she must do. ]

You would have better luck requesting it with his hostess, Lady Alys Vorpatril, and her office rather than Captain Illyan. [ And he could get her in touch with them easily enough. ]

For work--is there anything that holds your interests that you wish to learn?

[mahalakshmi]

Lady Vorpatril? I have heard her spoken of... last night. Though I did not make her acquaintance. [ But she nods, she trusts him to see her well on that regard. To help her with what she did not know. He makes it easier. Not in a definable way, not something so held onto and yet - he made it worth trying to hold on properly at all. Even if her instinct is to slip away.

As to his second question. That takes a little more thought, and in the end, she shakes her head. ] I have not done anything but fight my whole life. Nor do women take up professions, truthfully for me to have even the beginnings of training. I was hoping you would.... have an idea. [ Which is what she really wanted to ask. Despite all this. ]

[komarran]

No, I did not think to introduce you. [ Nor was he on good enough speaking terms with the woman despite knowing her son. He got the impression she was progressive, but still held out on her views concerning Komarrans.

As for her future, he's reluctant to make any decisions concerning that, particularly because she had less agency in her own time. ] I would want you to come to that decision yourself. I would recommend taking classes of interests to see if anything caught your eye.