"You would've gone to the collector, I suppose."

 "Would you have done anything about it, after the fact?"

"Yes."

"I'm glad. Are you okay?"

...he hugs her.

"...I really don't like thinking about you with him. I don't - I recognize that most people would still probably rather him than me, but I don't specifically punish my slaves for acting like people, it's... I don't like it."

Snuggle.

"Maybe something should be done about him."

Sigh. "Maybe."

"Maybe I'll talk to Alemar, see if he has any bright ideas." Snuggle.

"What sorts of ideas is Alemar likely to have?"

"Ways to ruin him where the takeaway isn't just 'the Emperor sometimes decides to murder a bitch.'"

Snicker.

"What did the last one do, anyway?"

"The one I threw off a roof? He was one of those people - I thankfully don't get this type worming their way into the palace very often, but it happens - who thinks that because I don't like to do the actual work of ruling and would rather wallow in luxury all day, I must be stupid and easy to manipulate. I told him a couple of times to either stop being so condescending or get the fuck out of my life, but he kept coming back, so eventually I lost my temper."

"Man, why can't more of the people who are sufficiently unscared of you be people you befriend instead of slimeballs."

"He was scared of me, he was just - very very driven by his vision of the Emperor-shaped pry bar he could use to rearrange the world into a more convenient shape."

"I promise if I try to use my connection to you for my own advantage I'll be upfront about it."

"Thank you!" Kiss.

Kiss. "Although you've rather been rearranging the world into a shape more convenient for me of your own accord."

"I love you and I want you to be happy." Kiss.

"You have made me so, so happy." Kiss.

"Good!" Kiss. Snuggle.

Snuggle. Deeper kiss.

Ooh.

Mmmm.

Mmm indeed.