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It turns out that, for all the fuss that was made about it, this dance is actually very boring.
This is only just barely a surprise; any event that requires chaperones is an event that Lindsay generally doesn't look forward to. But it is true. Lindsay has had maybe a bit too much to drink, by now — he's accustomed to Bacchanal rites; the feeling is hardly unfamiliar — and successfully slipped away from his chaperone, and yet it is still boring.
In lieu of an answer Lindsay pulls him down and kisses him, long and languid, and strips him down to his shirtsleeves.
"Get some sleep," he says when he pulls away. (From the way he holds his back and shoulders and the way he looks at Ash and the tone of his voice he is obviously, unmistakably dominant.)
"Of course I'm going to ask, but it can wait until he's slept and doesn't look like he's going to fall asleep halfway through explaining."
Kiss. "I respect your ability to be faced with a mystery and not immediately try to solve it."
Lindsay considers it.
"I dont think so," he says, thoughtful, "he told me he hadn't been owned by anyone since he left Thule and given what we know about each other I wouldn't expect him to have been lying."
"It could be, but I said to be safe and he said he would try — I think it's something else. I just, don't know what."
"Yes. We are."
He cuddles up to Leo instead of speculating further.
"But war isn't the only thing that's dangerous-- maybe it's criminal activity? He doesn't exactly have a sterling reputation. --I can stop speculating if you want."
"I don't mind the speculation but I don't think it'll lead to anything particularly useful."
Leo is very bad at not trying to figure out puzzles. His list of explanations ranges from the prosaic (Leo was misinformed about how often captains work when they're not at sea, Ash is particularly bad at being a naval captain) to the implausible (intelligence agent, gambling debts make him a pawn of criminals) to the very unlikely (member of the cult of Cybele, secretive patron who has ensured his military success but at what cost?).
"We have both observed that he is not a member of the cult of Cybele, and most of the rest seems rather unlikely." He kisses Leo.
"Actually, that's a common myth! Only the priests of the cult of Cybele are castrated, you can be initiated into the mystery cult without castration if you sacrifice a bull and bathe in its blood. I like our orgiastic mystery cult better."
"...I'm just not going to ask why you know that. I much prefer ours as well."
"Good evening." He kisses Ash's temple.
He debates asking where he was for a split second. "Did you manage staying safe?"
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