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[mahalakshmi]

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[mahalakshmi]

[ She drums her fingers idly on his shoulder, thinking up a suitable pleasure for herself. ]

You have to come for a morning ride with me. Every day for a week.

[ Just the one, for she can be a merciful tyrant, at least sometimes. But good - better than good. Easier, slowly taken breaths like she dares not trust it. Not quite yet. ]

[vorrutyer]

Oh, so you'll try to kill me as soon as an heir is born. Ruthless, my lady.

[mahalakshmi]

[ And for that her head tilts back, a quick high bubble of laughter that settles her. ]

Or perhaps your daughter will save you from your wicked wife and you will count your blessings in her every day.

[vorrutyer]

For a mere month, though.

[mahalakshmi]

[ She wriggles, bracing her knees against his side. ]

They will want to toast with you at least once after it's announced. I am afraid there will be no escaping that one either.

[ She might not be able to stomach much alcohol - and thank God, no one will expecting her to touch a drop now - but the rest of her family? Oh he wouldn't be able to flee from their eager happiness, either. Down right prolish in their excitement, at times. ]

[vorrutyer]

Ah.

[ He lifts his finger to tap in his chin. ]

Will they bring out the good wine, do you suppose?

[mahalakshmi]

[ She brushes against his hair, smiling - glad that he looks, that little bit better. ]

For the first grandchild born of this generation? All of it, I suspect. Every last drop for a week.

[vorrutyer]

Hm.

[ He captures her hand, bringing it to press against the warmth of his neck. Her fingers seemed cool. He's helping. ]

Well, that is an intoxicating prospect, forgive the pun. And are they better drinkers than you, little lightweight?

[mahalakshmi]

[ A hum, sliding her fingers against into his hair with as little prompting as that, and her fingers are cooler. Light, if not quite as soft as they should be. But for his question, she reacts at odds to that steadiness, her nose turning up, turning away even as her hand doesn't even slightly detangle - a half bitten of protest that she isn't.

Except he had rather obvious proof that she couldn't make it half of what he did without ending up a giggling mess of too bold intentions - and even quicker to picks fights. ]

I used to watch them see who could down whole bottles of wine faster, if that serves as a measure?

[vorrutyer]

Hah. I married the wrong family member. They seem more fun than your sober self.

[ He taps the tip of her nose. ]

[mahalakshmi]

[ - Oh he is not getting away with that. As soon as he taps, she bites, lightly at least but a determined set of teeth around the tip of his finger before she lets go. ]

I could try to be more fun - shall I drink my through your next family gathering?

[ Which could only end as well as it did the last time she attempted to 'join in'. With someone bleeding, quite probably. ]

[vorrutyer]

[ He gives an exaggerated hiss of pain when she bites him, cradling his hand against his chest in a dramatic indication of just how wounded he is. ]

Oooh. Ouch. But in all honesty, could you please? You'll pass out within five minutes and I'll have an excuse to leave.

[mahalakshmi]

[ and like always, she happily takes the bait, even if she knows enough by now to know he seems to great joy out of teasing her endlessly. ]

I am not that bad!

[ Yes she is, but never mind that right now where she pokes him in the side. ]

[vorrutyer]

[ He jumps just a little - he is, unfortunately, a tad ticklish - but recovers admirably, pressing his hand to his heart. ]

My apologies, dear lady. It would take seven minutes. At least.

[mahalakshmi]

[ She makes a noise of indignation, a determined shove to take the higher ground as she pushes him back down. Her hands flat on his chest, leaning forward with all her weight. ]

I do not. I stay awake a perfectly decent time. You just want me to stay in bed all morning.

[mahalakshmi]

[ She dips her head again, agreement and thanks at once. ] Of course. Will we be joining you, the men, or shall we be confined to quarters?

[ She would not blame him if he kept them in here for the rest of the journey. They were both a threat, if in different ways. A woman on an all male crew always drew unwanted problems, and a child was nothing but mischief. Nothing that would help an otherwise smooth voyage. Not attention truthfully she wants, either. ]

[komarran]

I doubt you want to be with my men. [ There were some days even David did not want to be with his men. Oh how different matters would be if he had handpicked his crew instead of left to the whims of his father's budget. ]

Your quarters for now. It will be safer as news of you being on board spreads. [ It would take time for that to be normalized. ]

[vorrutyer]

[ He doesn't resist, merely cocking his eyebrow as he lets himself be pinned. ]

Like a sane person. Yes. All the fun is had at night, you know.

[mahalakshmi]

[ Soon enough, she won't be able to do this for awhile. Pity, it's just about the only way she's not pushing up on tiptoes to reach him evenly. Won't be so light in his lap, either.

But for now, she crawls up to keep her spot as long as she can have it. Settling herself over his hips. Planting her hands either side of his head. Grinning bright and quick in her oh so hard won victory, before she settles back. ]

Well I am Lady Vorrutyer, aren't I supposed to be mad by now?

[vorrutyer]

Mm. Seems awfully quick.

[ He reaches out to slide a hand up her leg. ]

You must have been half-mad to begin with if you're already completely gone.

[mahalakshmi]

[ She tenses briefly, that shiver on her skin - cold, outside of blankets, but his fingers were warm. Before she presses back into it. Sliding herself lower - a predator over prey, as she sinks down to press against him. ]

Well, I married you willingly, didn't I?

[ A worry still from most of those that cared for her, but not one that she ever lets come up near him - 'he will break your heart, Manu - he will leave you and your children that you were a fool to give him - what then?' - arguments she's had at length over him that she would never let him ever know about. ]

[mahalakshmi]

[ She hovers there, of being a woman used to being at the beck and call of the cruelties of men. But then - he already did not seem to fall for such put on airs, so instead, she nods, accepting it. ]

Will we be permitted come morning to walk on deck?

[ In the end, she had been shut in the dark with Devi in a small space for a day already. A walk in the light would be nice - but she was also aware it would be pushing her bounds if she asked for any more than that. ]

[vorrutyer]

So you did.

[ His hands come up to card through her hair, then settle in to scratch and massage her scalp. ]

My mad little fool. It's not too late to divorce me, you know. But you're too foolish for that, aren't you.

[mahalakshmi]

Far too foolish. [ Because yes, she is. His and a fool and never going anywhere. She shuts her eyes in a happy sigh. Tilting back into it. ]

I would give you a week before you came looking for me if I did.

[vorrutyer]

What arrogance, my lady!

[ His tone is lightly mocking. ]

I lived life as a happy bachelor before. What is it you've given me that I wouldn't be able to do without?