How he looks at her - and it stills her. Like a statue in her movement, but mercifully hidden away in the movements of the dance. She's drunk, she knows that surely. Her fingers are numb, her mouth feels full, and her limbs sluggish. But that doesn't change how his look strikes her, how it soothes in her heart some impossible ache she had learned to call companion. I have been alone too long. He must have a half dozen men and women that fall at his feet, so maybe there wasn't anything to be read into it other than he is kind enough to make her feel beautiful. Perhaps he's just toying with her the same. But for all her lessons in grace, weapons, song, dance and reading and writing - she never had those in flirting, teasing, in knowing how to respond. There had only ever been her husband. He had as surely swept her off her feet and she never had eyes for anyone else but him.
But he was gone now, and she was left unsure for a moment, looking at her Admiral from behind her hands. With how he looks at her, and the sudden realisation that she likes how he looks at her. Not with the difference of a General to Ruler. But right now, she is herself, and he...
Lakshmi swallows. "Love then. I have had enough of battle, for today."
( When had she started thinking of him as hers? )
Her word sticks a moment, rapidly blinking the realisation out of her gaze as she body turns into the next gesture. "She - " I, and she realises, she isn't quite sure if she's playing anymore. " - will invite you to look." It sweeps down herself - unsure, but practised, her eyes lowering, her fingers splaying wide - alapadma, a flower opening - as they fan out and around her chest, above her heart. Then curve back around her stomach, pinching her waist in with the movement, her head rolling back as her legs move. Suddenly, sweeping the other way in the flurry of skirts. The chime of her anklet that was suddenly the loudest sound in the room above her own breathing. To lean forward, far more directly into his space this time.
Her hand hovers, letting him see as she moves near to him. "She will push you, just the once." A demonstration, a playful swat against his shoulder. " -- and then you catch her by the wrist, and tug her in." Her mouth closes with the gesture of her teeth sinking into her bottom lip. Tipping her head just the once, go on then.
Tricky to keep down the fit of nervous giggles. Alone much, much too long. Maybe she ought to have taken up Jhalkari's offer years ago.
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But he was gone now, and she was left unsure for a moment, looking at her Admiral from behind her hands. With how he looks at her, and the sudden realisation that she likes how he looks at her. Not with the difference of a General to Ruler. But right now, she is herself, and he...
Lakshmi swallows. "Love then. I have had enough of battle, for today."
( When had she started thinking of him as hers? )
Her word sticks a moment, rapidly blinking the realisation out of her gaze as she body turns into the next gesture. "She - " I, and she realises, she isn't quite sure if she's playing anymore. " - will invite you to look." It sweeps down herself - unsure, but practised, her eyes lowering, her fingers splaying wide - alapadma, a flower opening - as they fan out and around her chest, above her heart. Then curve back around her stomach, pinching her waist in with the movement, her head rolling back as her legs move. Suddenly, sweeping the other way in the flurry of skirts. The chime of her anklet that was suddenly the loudest sound in the room above her own breathing. To lean forward, far more directly into his space this time.
Her hand hovers, letting him see as she moves near to him. "She will push you, just the once." A demonstration, a playful swat against his shoulder. " -- and then you catch her by the wrist, and tug her in." Her mouth closes with the gesture of her teeth sinking into her bottom lip. Tipping her head just the once, go on then.
Tricky to keep down the fit of nervous giggles. Alone much, much too long. Maybe she ought to have taken up Jhalkari's offer years ago.