& OPEN NSFW POST ( i. )

[aeneia]

NSFW OPEN POST ( I. )
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[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.

[mahalakshmi]

[ She's nervous, he made all sorts of things sound... amazingly possible, sometimes. But this was all very... domestic. Which was one thing when it was easing the burden of being here with him by... cooking and cleaning and doing what she could to further his political aims. ]

I... well, [ She fiddles, trying to put it to direct words an idea that had settled. ] ... a few women I spoke with last night, they asked about whether I truly knew my way around weapons. I understand that they aren't allowed into the military here. [ Still strange, still not right with her at all. ] But many told me that they carry knives of their station, that they have them, but have no idea how to even use them. On themselves or otherwise.

[ It doesn't shock her that their intended use is for that, the same way she had been taught as a young woman, to throw herself to the flames rather than be dishonored. She's still fiddling, her eyes lowered pressing her lips together. ] I thought perhaps I could teach them... all uses of it.

[komarran]

[ He can tell her nerves are on fire and he wishes there was some way for him to quell them. He's frowning as he regards her, unsure if he should pull back or continue maintaining a close presence. ]

A trainer? [ he asks cautiously. That would be difficult to arrange, but Miles owes him. The man could help him figure out the political loops they might need to jump through to make this a possibility. ]

Would you want to hold a class or do one-on-one lessons?

[mahalakshmi]

[ She keeps her gaze levelled in the same spot, still fiddling with the material of his lapels as they talked. The contact helped, kept her grounded, shifting her weight to lean that little more against the curve of his hands where they're settled on her bare waist. ]

One on one. Exclusively. Find out what they wish to learn in particular so I may instruct it particularly. Anything else would feel... mercantile. [ Another little pull. ] It will be odd, I never accepted... payment in my life, outside of taxes I suppose but... Gifts are what is given, and I gift back.

[ Feels odd in that way to take something she learned in her whole mind and body and turn it to something traded. ]

[komarran]

[ The movement of her hands catches his attention enough that he glances down on occasion, but his gaze is never far from hers. ]

I wouldn't recommend operating on gifts, unless you truly don't care for money. [ He frowns, unsure if he should even be speaking like this when they only kissed the other night, but the words come out before he can stop them. ] I do make enough. For us to live as we have been.

[ So if she didn't want to worry about bringing in an income, she didn't need to. = ]

[mahalakshmi]

[ She shouldn't like that, shouldn't be encouraged by that and even as she knows that - he has never once left her wanting. Not for anything. As much that was his was shared with her. ]

I know. You have never left me wanting for anything, hospitality or otherwise.

[ Her fingers lift and sweep against his cheek, smiling softly, his reassurance means much. She never wanted to be a burden, not that way. ] It is just an idea, so far, I will need to work out the particulars of it.

[komarran]

[ Instinct has him pressing into her touch without a second thought. Any way he could help, he wants to. ]

Once you've made some decisions, I can help you. Or require Miles to since he'd know the political layout better. [ In case there would be any pushback against her approaching Barrayaran woman for weapons training. ]

[mahalakshmi]

I have some thoughts, aristocracy may have its quirks, but it has its same habits.

[ The beginnings of a plan, at least, and she pushes up to steal another kiss off of him, quick peck that it is. ]

Weren't you cooking? Or shall I steal you back to bed for a little longer?

[komarran]

I was, yes. [ He frowns and reluctantly pulls back from her. ]

I should continue. [ Lest the hot oil go to waste. He watches her for a moment longer before he steps back toward the pot and his prepared ingredients. ]

[mahalakshmi]

[ She watches him go, his light steps, and swallows that lump in her throat. She must remember that this isn't the life she has, this cannot be more than a dream, no matter how long it lasts. No matter how much she doesn't want it to end. Stifles a breath in her lung that stings. Should hate him, berate him, yell at him, until he was so far away from her she didn't feel guilty for the idea that she might disappear one day. Loathe her, please, that would be easier.

She does none of it, as she gets what she came for, the juice in one hand and steps behind him to kiss fondly between his shoulder blades in passing before she goes past him again. ]

[komarran]

[ His focus shifts primarily to cooking though part of it remains split toward her. What did she intend to do while he worked? He had hoped she would stay with him, the kiss pressed to his back seemed to hint at it. But then she's moving away. There's a frown as he glances at her moving form.

What had gone wrong in the last ten minutes that he hadn't realized? Hopefully the answer would come to him soon. ]

They're almost done, [ he calls to her. ]

[mahalakshmi]

[ Lakshmi does not go far, rather, just to finish setting the table for them both, pouring the juice into the cups, arranging the cutlery and plates. Time particularly spent to gather herself in, bound and deep as ever, easy habits from being Queen. When he calls her, she's used the breath to compose herself and when he calls back her voice is light, biting as ever like nothing particular has passed. ]

Any longer and I might have been forced to devour you instead.

[ It's teased, as she gathers up the length of her unbound hair and tosses it over her shoulder out of her way in a comfortable gesture. ]

[komarran]

[ At least she still seems at ease. That much is enough for him. There's sizzles as he drops the dough into the oil and waits patiently for his watch's timer to go off. ]

Then I am glad you didn't have to resort to that. Do I need to keep more food around the house?

[mahalakshmi]

[ One day, she'll undo her lifetime of restrictions enough to say more of what plagues her thoughts - but for now - now they're having breakfast, she pushes it aside. ]

Perhaps. Though I am going to have to start compiling ingredients for my gathering.

[ Because oh, she hasn't forgotten that yet. ]

[komarran]

You do have your own credit chit. [ With her own money to spend on whatever she so chose. He's noticed she doesn't spend excessively or frivolously. ]

Or you can wait until I can accompany you.

[mahalakshmi]

Oh, I didn't say buying yet, [ she corrects, mirth in tone and her eyes, biting at her lip with its mischief. ] I said compiling. I have to plan my dishes first. My entertainment around them.

[ A drum, and she happily rambles. ] I must find my performers as well, to see what they will dance before I select the dishes best to compliment them. It is not just a dinner. What sort of hostess would I be if it was just a dinner?

[ Silly man. ]

[komarran]

[ Right, she wanted to turn this into an affair to remember. He sighs lightly and keeps his attention on the hot oil. ]

...How large of a gathering are you planning? [ So he can prepare himself for what's to come. ]

[mahalakshmi]

[ she taps the number off on her fingers. ]

The komarran mothers and their families that have been kind to me. Those few members of your work that have taken care of me, intermittently - Ivan, was it? Lord Vorkosigan, his parents as well if they were so inclined. Perhaps some of the Vor I met last night that were not complete buffoons.

[to start with at least, who else? ] oh and of course, the woman down the hall from us that - [she reaches for her tea as she goes to speak, ] - thinks we are engaged.

[komarran]

[ Thank god Miles has offered to host this. He fully intends to shove most of this off on the other man if she finds she needs extensive help planning such a gathering though it's hard to ignore how good of a political hostess she would make if this is her first thought for entertaining.

That thought crashes in his mind at her final words. ]

--She thinks we're engaged? [ Suddenly all those strange looks she'd been giving them make sense. ] You haven't told her otherwise?

[mahalakshmi]

[with a mouthful of tea, she makes sure to look elsewhereas he catches up with what she just said. Giving him a almost sheepish ancestors out from under her eyes. Then shrugs as she swallows it like it wasnt so big of a deal. ]

Well, she enquired as to my living here. I did not wish to scandalised her about our arrangements, so...

[she makes a vague little hand gesture. ]