"I'm sure you can figure something out. You're a smart man, and you've had a lot of time."

He laughs. "Charmer," he accuses playfully. "Do you mind if I pick you up and carry you to bed - I have no intention of tearing your clothes off, at least not tonight, but this is shaping up to be a long conversation and I'd rather have it somewhere more comfortable than the floor."

"Oh." She peers at the floor. Yes, they're - definitely on the floor. She hadn't really noticed on account of mostly being in his lap. "... Yeah, go ahead, that's fine."

So he kisses her forehead and picks her up and carries her to bed and puts her down and snuggles in next to her, his arms wrapped around her and her head pillowed on his chest. It's very cozy.

"There, that's much better."

It's so very cozy.

"Yeah, it is," she agrees.

"Lady Rivethira," he says, amused, "do you like being picked up and carried?"

"... Kind of? Okay, yes?"

He laughs. "It is a very pleasant surprise how many of these things you're turning out to like!"

Happy squirm. "I can't promise I'll like everything, or that I'll even know all of the things I will or won't like? But yes, agreed."

"I'm sure you won't like everything," he says. "But I think I'm going to enjoy telling you about it."

"Well! Better get started, then, hm?"

"If you insist."

He kisses her forehead again.

"One of the reasons I don't want to get carried away is that I could do a lot of damage in a few forgetful seconds," he says. "People are fragile. I could break your fingers, your arms, your skull. I'd enjoy seeing you in pain."

Snuggle.

"I was definitely getting that impression, yes," she says, a little amused. On one hand, it's slightly scary to hear him say these things, on the other hand, hearing him treat it with the weight it deserves is very comforting. All in all, it balances out, and she'd rather know than not. "Though maybe try to shy away from head related injuries, we can fix everything that doesn't outright kill me, but some of those might."

Snuggle.

"Yes, that's what I'm afraid of," he says. "I'm afraid of forgetting to be careful and killing you by accident, or - doing worse to you than you want me to." With a slight smile, "How many bones would I have to break before I'd be doing worse than you wanted?"

"I'm not sure the answer is 'any,' but I'm not sure it's not, either. Depends on the where, probably. I bet a broken arm would hurt more than a broken finger, though I don't really have experience on the subject. I think I'd want to be sure of how I would handle it before giving you my blessings to break bones while we were otherwise indisposed."

"Very reasonable of you." Snuggle. "And now of course I'm thinking about all the ways I could hurt you... I'm going to be a very happy man if we find a way you like."

She snorts, slightly. "I bet. Look on the bright side, you can help with empirical testing."

He laughs. "I look forward to it."

"Not tonight, though, I. Sort of want to just relax and cuddle. Being strangled is stressful."

"Yes, of course."

Snuggle.

She hums contentedly, scootching slightly so she can tuck her head in the crook of his neck. Snuggles: very helpful after someone just tried to kill you.

He closes his eyes and holds her contentedly in his arms. Who'd have thought they'd end up like this?

They're not exactly polling people, but if she had to guess, it was probably somewhere in the realm of not many.

Still. This is nice.

It is! It's very nice. All cozy and snugglesome.

After a little while, she stirs slightly, and looks at him contemplatively.