[ His own breath catches as he pulls away, letting the hand on her waist slip away from her in the same movement.
All right. He only had to survive an entire work day knowing she would be happy to see him at the end of it. Now if he could just shake the image of her in her night gown out of his mind...
He nods and reluctantly heads for the door. ] Thank you, I hope you do the same.
[ She misses the shape of him as quickly as he goes. Lovesick daze of beginnings to be sure, but she is far too sure about it to pretend it's girlish fantasy. They're both a little beyond such things. ]
I will. See you soon.
[ She watches him go over her shoulder as he heads out the door, before she goes back to finish the rest of her breakfast. After that, she does as she said - practices for another hour with her sword. Sweeping in long movements until she's gone over her patterns twice and kept herself as sharp as her blade. After that, she cleans, straightens the house up after having gone out the night before, and how much she has distracted him from doing it either last night or this morning.
It was all... pleasantly domestic. To devote herself to simple tasks until she gets ready to meet him later on. Changes from indoor clothes to outdoor ones. But in the thought that she might be training in any kind of weaponry, it's sensible.
So far as these weapons were so... clean. She's not ever going to like them, she thinks, but war doesn't require anyone to like them. Besides, more than anything, she's looking forward to seeing him. Hadn't seen him there since they dropped her in his office like so much unwanted confusion. As different could be - now that she wasn't blood-soaked and armoured. Ready to jump out the window if someone stepped even a little too close. Now when she gets in the ground car and goes towards ImpSec headquarters, it's far more comfortable.
Because she's marvellously good at talking to Vor Lords like they are beneath her. Ordering them about when she steps forward to the front desk those hours later. 'Yes, Captain Duv Galeni is expecting me. Yes, I expect you to speak with him. Are you really going to keep me waiting? Yes, you need to guide me, do I look like I know the way around here?'
Terrorising them really shouldn't be so enjoyable, but she waits patiently as the stiff-backed officer leads her through the winding corridors. Stepping to follow him like she belonged there. ]
[ Her day is far more exciting than his though he prefers this lifestyle to the one he held in his childhood. Desk work, but important ones. The reports he crafted from the data he analyzed or the ones he cobbled together from various reports he was sent meant he had a better understanding of Komarr than he's ever possessed. Imperial Security cast a far and wide net and anyone who underestimated it would be caught off-guard by the sheer amount of knowledge they had hidden in their databases.
It was nice having the security clearance to actually know what the hell was going on. Particularly on his home planet. Never mind the pangs of homesickness he got occasionally when reading overviews. One day he would be back there, perhaps even with a partner to join him. But that was a thought for another time when that was closer to being a reality.
He hears the chime of his wrist comm alerting him that someone is on the way to his office and that it's a personal visitor. He's smiling faintly as he moves to wait by his office door, ready to greet her as soon as she is escorted to him. ]
[ SHe doesn't know how he does it - trapped in these polite walls layered in intention. Yes - it felt more like the palace than what he had told her the royal palace did. Full, people moving, an utter sense of current. But she had loved her palace for the love in the walls. Warm and full of so many good memories. Here, was something else completely. It didn't have any of that. It wasn't home. She did not think she would ever get used to it.
Luckily, she did not have to, as she's presented to his door. Bowing her head politely and contrary to the treatment she gave him earlier when he turns to go, she touches his hand and says thank you with that same wide beatific smile she always gives, before she turns back to Duv with it still in place. ]
Captain. [ Her head lowers, polite and the easy decorum she slips into. ]
[ He motions for her to step inside, all-too-eager to close his door. He'd grown comfortable with those in this office. The analysts that worked at his level showed him far more respect than he had seen previously in his career. It had been refreshing.
That did not mean, however, he wanted to flaunt his newfound relationship in front of them. He was a private man and while he didn't intend to do anything untoward, he wanted a moment alone with her before duty called him away again. ]
Lakshmi, [ he returns, smiling. ] Did you travel well?
[ She follows, arranging her clothes over herself as ever. Her hands painted still, a few days until the designs would begin to fade on her skin, the left over glamour of the party the night before. ]
Quite well. I am used to it now, I promise.
[ She watches the door shut behind them, smiling still. But it's bright for another way as she doesn't so much look to his staff that are otherwise watching them in peering gestures that they scurry away behind their reports. Instead, her eyes follow him and only him, pleased already to see him again. ]
[ He doesn't expect her hand to suddenly be in his and he pauses as he blinks down at it. All right. There's a second of hesitation before he decides he likes her right where she is and squeezes her hand close. ]
Are you certain? I was about to request a cup of coffee before you came in.
[ She watches it - that odd person he talks to in his wrist. So strange - but ah well. It nags him so terribly, sometimes, she's thought about stealing it so it can't interrupt. Maybe she might, one she's decided she wants time alone with him. ]
Like most things, yes. Though we have yet to bother getting a machine to bring it. [ No, that's what the lower ranking captains were for at ImpSec HQ. ]
The height of French sophistication? I was unaware the concept had originated there. [ Or perhaps the French perfected it. It explained much about the French restaurants here.
He motions for her to take a seat as he moves to lean against the desk. ]
No, because it is not about food. It is about service. The act of being served is reserved for nobility. After their revolution, the French did not think that should be reserved for the nobility alone.
[ A shrug, her fingers curl around his as she lets him lead her to sit. Settling in a sweep of her skirts, comfortably so. ]
Thus, restaurants were born. It is very novel. Quite unheard of in my father's time. To simply go and enjoy that pleasure for even the lowest class to expect service.
[ Was this how others felt when he launched into history lessons? He can't help but smile as he listens politely. It was a history he had not looked into previously though now he wonders if he could find research on the topic. ]
Have they spread much since then? In your time, I mean.
[ Since the idea had clearly gone intergalactic. ]
When I moved through France, yes, I saw many of them. I never got to enjoy one until I came here. But they're to be found in many places now.
[ She nods happily. Hadn't gone in, being on the run didn't let you sit and just bask and eat, besides - she was a Queen after all. It wasn't new to her. ]
The - I believe they call them department stores. Where all manner of items can be found in one place. That I had never heard of before.
Your experience sounds similar to what Barrayar experienced as they were reintroduced to the rest of the Nexus, [ he says thoughtfully. ]
Modernity in a way that was far from reach without the influence of others. Their stores and dining habits prior to that were closer to what you were used to before these trends caught on.
Do they complain it's awful that they cannot tell a street whore from a proper lady anymore?
[ Tries not to be so withering, but it's a hard battle. It's not a secret now at least - she happily beats her head against Vor Lords as hard as she can over their notions. Duv had shown her so much through their discussions, the books he'd shown her, the plays on that small screen at length, as much as she understood that slowness, how hard it could be for people to change. That their own Lords don't look for the betterment of their people drove her utterly mad. So much, so much to be had, more than she could comprehend and she saw a bunch of doddering old men twiddling their thumbs.
Easy breath, Lakshmi, it wasn't the time to go on a familiar rant at him. He must have heard it half a dozen times from her by now. ]
The older ones who refuse to see change. [ The younger ones however...
It had amazed him at how progressive and taken in by galactic values the younger generation of Barrayarans was. A wealth of opportunities opening up to them, mixing with their local traditions and culture. With the focus of his dissertation ever present in his mind, it was fascinating to watch and why he would never lose interest in his research.
Still. That does not improve matters for the woman in front of him and he frowns thoughtfully. ] Who has been giving you trouble?
[ She toys on saying nothing. She does need her help - but ultimately, what is she? Just one woman, not a small thing in and of itself, to be fair. Even if she did not go about throwing her title about, she still held herself with utter authority. It did not mean without any power to go with it.
But Duv - ? ]
The man that took my query as to your location in the office. He thinks my Russian is poor enough that I do not understand 'whore' when I hear it.
[ His eyes narrow. The man was in Imperial Security and knew better than to insult someone so brazenly. His hold on her hand tightens, protective, as he mentally runs through the list of superior officers to find this particular man's CO. ]
Did he, [ he says flatly. ] I will make sure it's not forgotten.
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All right. He only had to survive an entire work day knowing she would be happy to see him at the end of it. Now if he could just shake the image of her in her night gown out of his mind...
He nods and reluctantly heads for the door. ] Thank you, I hope you do the same.
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I will. See you soon.
[ She watches him go over her shoulder as he heads out the door, before she goes back to finish the rest of her breakfast. After that, she does as she said - practices for another hour with her sword. Sweeping in long movements until she's gone over her patterns twice and kept herself as sharp as her blade. After that, she cleans, straightens the house up after having gone out the night before, and how much she has distracted him from doing it either last night or this morning.
It was all... pleasantly domestic. To devote herself to simple tasks until she gets ready to meet him later on. Changes from indoor clothes to outdoor ones. But in the thought that she might be training in any kind of weaponry, it's sensible.
So far as these weapons were so... clean. She's not ever going to like them, she thinks, but war doesn't require anyone to like them. Besides, more than anything, she's looking forward to seeing him. Hadn't seen him there since they dropped her in his office like so much unwanted confusion. As different could be - now that she wasn't blood-soaked and armoured. Ready to jump out the window if someone stepped even a little too close. Now when she gets in the ground car and goes towards ImpSec headquarters, it's far more comfortable.
Because she's marvellously good at talking to Vor Lords like they are beneath her. Ordering them about when she steps forward to the front desk those hours later. 'Yes, Captain Duv Galeni is expecting me. Yes, I expect you to speak with him. Are you really going to keep me waiting? Yes, you need to guide me, do I look like I know the way around here?'
Terrorising them really shouldn't be so enjoyable, but she waits patiently as the stiff-backed officer leads her through the winding corridors. Stepping to follow him like she belonged there. ]
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It was nice having the security clearance to actually know what the hell was going on. Particularly on his home planet. Never mind the pangs of homesickness he got occasionally when reading overviews. One day he would be back there, perhaps even with a partner to join him. But that was a thought for another time when that was closer to being a reality.
He hears the chime of his wrist comm alerting him that someone is on the way to his office and that it's a personal visitor. He's smiling faintly as he moves to wait by his office door, ready to greet her as soon as she is escorted to him. ]
I'm glad you made it.
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Luckily, she did not have to, as she's presented to his door. Bowing her head politely and contrary to the treatment she gave him earlier when he turns to go, she touches his hand and says thank you with that same wide beatific smile she always gives, before she turns back to Duv with it still in place. ]
Captain. [ Her head lowers, polite and the easy decorum she slips into. ]
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That did not mean, however, he wanted to flaunt his newfound relationship in front of them. He was a private man and while he didn't intend to do anything untoward, he wanted a moment alone with her before duty called him away again. ]
Lakshmi, [ he returns, smiling. ] Did you travel well?
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Quite well. I am used to it now, I promise.
[ She watches the door shut behind them, smiling still. But it's bright for another way as she doesn't so much look to his staff that are otherwise watching them in peering gestures that they scurry away behind their reports. Instead, her eyes follow him and only him, pleased already to see him again. ]
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Is there anything I can get you? Tea, coffee?
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Oh, no, nothing at all.
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Are you certain? I was about to request a cup of coffee before you came in.
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Well, if you were going too.
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It will only be a moment.
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Will it be coming out of a machine too?
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Like most things, yes. Though we have yet to bother getting a machine to bring it. [ No, that's what the lower ranking captains were for at ImpSec HQ. ]
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Sending your staff about for you?
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I did hear of some restaurants we could try, for dinner one evening... [ If she was interested, and god he hoped she was. ]
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I would love too. I have never been to a restaurant until I came here. Everyone gossips about them being the height of French sophistication.
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He motions for her to take a seat as he moves to lean against the desk. ]
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[ A shrug, her fingers curl around his as she lets him lead her to sit. Settling in a sweep of her skirts, comfortably so. ]
Thus, restaurants were born. It is very novel. Quite unheard of in my father's time. To simply go and enjoy that pleasure for even the lowest class to expect service.
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Have they spread much since then? In your time, I mean.
[ Since the idea had clearly gone intergalactic. ]
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[ She nods happily. Hadn't gone in, being on the run didn't let you sit and just bask and eat, besides - she was a Queen after all. It wasn't new to her. ]
The - I believe they call them department stores. Where all manner of items can be found in one place. That I had never heard of before.
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Modernity in a way that was far from reach without the influence of others. Their stores and dining habits prior to that were closer to what you were used to before these trends caught on.
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[ Tries not to be so withering, but it's a hard battle. It's not a secret now at least - she happily beats her head against Vor Lords as hard as she can over their notions. Duv had shown her so much through their discussions, the books he'd shown her, the plays on that small screen at length, as much as she understood that slowness, how hard it could be for people to change. That their own Lords don't look for the betterment of their people drove her utterly mad. So much, so much to be had, more than she could comprehend and she saw a bunch of doddering old men twiddling their thumbs.
Easy breath, Lakshmi, it wasn't the time to go on a familiar rant at him. He must have heard it half a dozen times from her by now. ]
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It had amazed him at how progressive and taken in by galactic values the younger generation of Barrayarans was. A wealth of opportunities opening up to them, mixing with their local traditions and culture. With the focus of his dissertation ever present in his mind, it was fascinating to watch and why he would never lose interest in his research.
Still. That does not improve matters for the woman in front of him and he frowns thoughtfully. ] Who has been giving you trouble?
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But Duv - ? ]
The man that took my query as to your location in the office. He thinks my Russian is poor enough that I do not understand 'whore' when I hear it.
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Did he, [ he says flatly. ] I will make sure it's not forgotten.
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