[And again for several long suspended moments he says nothing, just holds her that bet tighter, takes in the scent of her hair and the comforting, grounding nearness of her. To think of all the times he's kept away, convinced - utterly - of how much better off she is without him. And whilst he isn't exactly unconvinced of that now, he's glad to have her here, even if he would rather she was back in Vesuvia and away from all this strangeness. Believes, for once, that she's glad to have him here, too.

And she's managing here, isn't she? Quite brilliantly.]

Do you think they'd let me stay here, tonight? Or is that one of the rules I'm not supposed to break.

[He vaguely recalls something about not overstaying in the homes of dominants one has no contract with, but it's been an awful lot of information to take in in so short a time.]

I mean, uh. If I won't be in your way. I think I may be on my way towards too drunk to find my way back again.