Saffron, after Cubefall

[scots_wolf]

There are just a few candles flickering in Urquhart's room; the rest is darkened and quiet.

He comes in backwards, pulling Saffron with him, and kicks the door shut in a hurry.

Comments

[scots_wolf]

"Yes, they make good food here," Urquhart says, leaning back and giving her a deep look.

[yosafbridge]

She catches him watching her, giving him a look of her own.

"What is it?"

[scots_wolf]

"People in the orient imagined their paradise just like this, you know," Urquhart says, smiling.

Who wants 72 virgins if he can have a handful of really interesting women, one of them Saffron?

Come to it, who wants 72 virgins if he can have Saffron, full stop.

[yosafbridge]

"Just like this?" she asks, eyeing him, her own smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

"You mean you, me, a tray of good food and a room to enjoy together? Sounds like a pretty simple version of paradise."

[scots_wolf]

"A lovely place with no war and lots of water and greenery, good food and drink, and lovely women," Urquhart says. "But yes, basically, just like this."

[yosafbridge]

"You need to take another trip to my world, then," she adds.

"It has all of those things. People don't bother with war on a planet for thieves."

[scots_wolf]

"Oh yes, I'd like to," Urquhart says. "Any work, or just play?"

[yosafbridge]

"Why don't I see if I can work out a little bit of both for us?" she offers, nibbling at another piece of bread.

"I imagine I could find a way for your talents to be put to good use."

[scots_wolf]

"That would be fun, like hunting together," Urquhart says. He fishes a bit of meat from the bowl with a small piece of bread, and eats both.

[yosafbridge]

"Hunting in a different way, perhaps."

She's filled by this point, and leans back against the divan, stretching her legs out.

"But still hunting."

[scots_wolf]

Urquhart picks up her foot, and massages the ankle again.

"Hunting as humans," he says.

[yosafbridge]

She gasps, his touch briefly ticklish on her foot until he starts massaging - and then, then she leans back and sighs, watching his hands work on her skin.

"Exactly," she agrees, eyeing him.

[scots_wolf]

"That would be fun!" Urquhart agrees.

And profitable for them both, most likely.

[yosafbridge]

"I'll have to scout the city," she muses out loud.

"Find someone who'll make an easy mark."

[scots_wolf]

"Someone with money," Urquhart adds. "More money than brains, that is."

The ideal client. Or mark.

[yosafbridge]

"More money than any one person could need and lacking the brains to realize that we mean for them to part with it," she murmurs, resting her feet in his lap as one begins to slide up the inside of his thigh, teasing.

[scots_wolf]

"A wonderful combination," Urquhart sighs, happily.

Beat.

"Bath first, repeat performance first, or both at once?"

[yosafbridge]

She pretends to consider her options, tapping her index finger against her lips.

"Both," she decides, hopping up from the divan and peeling off his shirt.

"Who said we can't enjoy getting clean?"

[scots_wolf]

He drops the cloak. "I didn't say that!" he says. "I know we can!"

[yosafbridge]

"I'm only teasing," she says, glancing at him over one bare shoulder, grinning wickedly before she moves toward the small pool.

[scots_wolf]

It's so wonderfully comfortable to have that right in his room, Urquhart muses as he follows her in.

[yosafbridge]

"Now this," she decides, sinking into the water and relaxing back with a sigh.

"This is paradise."

[scots_wolf]

"Yes," Urquhart says, sliding in beside her, "it is. One aspect of it, at least."

[yosafbridge]

"Would you add anything?" she asks, out of curiosity, scooping up a handful of water and letting it trickle over his skin.

"Or take anything away?"

[scots_wolf]

"Not really," Urquhart says, enjoying the touch and the trickle. "This is a very nice paradise. It even has a worm in its apple, in the shape of that Security Goth."