Taldeer/Liivi

A Warrior's Body

"Damn this world, damn Ulthwé, damn this wind, and triple damn this bloody sand!" Taldeer shouted as she kicked the metal slab of a door shut behind her. She shook sand off of her like rain. Despite her helmet's advanced filters, and the armor's form fitting seals, still the wind managed to blow in sand. One of those miracles of the universe designed purely to annoy her. This was her second outing on the planet's surface, and she was already sick of it. It was like this every day on Aritam, a world that only had two significant things about it- the first that it had been foreseen that a dreadful force arrive on it, the second that there was a webway gate upon it, left over from an old battle. The outpost was valueless, leftover from a glorious victory, kept around for a planned campaign that never manifested. Now, a vulnerable access point to the webway if things were let to pass as
planned. All that had to be done was a quick reconnaissance and a further prophesizing nearer to the source just to make sure. Pathetic busywork. She had begged for this task.

It was a disgraceful task for a Farseer. But it was the only chance she had to do SOMETHING other than rot on the craftworld. She leaned against the door, sighing the last of her frustration away. She winced, a knot in the back of her neck refusing to fade, her legs numb with ache, a stitch in her side. Everything ached. She had grown soft, while ostracized. Once, she mused, she had led armies to glory and victory. Now...

"Taldeer? You're hurt," Liivi's touch on her shoulder brought her out of her reverie. He was still dressed in his assassin's garb under the ranger's cloak, but had taken off his mask. His mussed black hair, and the sheen of wet on his skin told her that he had only just got back himself. She rested her hand on his for a moment, before gently pushing it off and walking further in to the bunker they resided in for this mission.

"I'm quite alright, Liivi, you needn't fret so frequently," She worked the catches on her helmet to pull it off shaking her hair free, "You're downright maternal at times, you know that?"
"Apologies, meant no offense," Liivi stepped carefully past her as she stripped off the last of her armor, "Returned from patrol only recently. Had only time to start rations cooking," At the word cooking, her stomach growled loudly. Liivi spared a grin at that, slightly annoying Taldeer.

"I can manage to cook for myself, you know. I haven't quite regressed to infancy yet," Taldeer knew she shouldn't needle at Liivi now, but walking on Aritam again set her off. She went for the table resting her helmet on it, and slumped in a chair, pulling off her boots. No, she had to resist the urge to be a bitch right now, "I can't have my only soldier serve as my adjutant as well," She offered a half hearted salute with a smile, "I hearby allow you to stand down, Liivi. You have done well on patrol, award yourself some slack," She put on a smile, as she undid the last buckle on her armor,

"Go wild."

She let go of her breastplate, and let it fall to the ground with a clatter.

Being alone with her lover on a distant mission to an unpleasant planet had its benefits. This had been only their first day on the planet- though her sense of time was thrown off by its irregular orbit. The bunker they had found and converted to their refuge was hardly luxurious, but it was cozy. Close quarters had to be kept. The furniture was all old imperial, uncomfortable and spartan. She leaned back in her chair, spreading her legs- just her sheer, thin sweat soaked clothing separating her body from the assassin. She bit her lip in anticipation, seeing Liivi's eyes cast a lingering gaze up and down her.

"Acknowledged," Liivi stepped away, "Food shall be prepared shortly."

He walked away to start cooking, making Taldeer roll her eyes, stand up and grab Liivi by the shoulder and dragging him closer, "That's not what I meant, and you know it," She looked up, and arched an eyebrow, one hand running down his side, the other she dragged back to her shirt, dragging down her collar, "Come on warrior. Take your prize."

Liivi audibly gulped, his eyes drawn down to Taldeer's breasts. She felt for a moment his facade break, his lust for her breaking through. All discipline and iron- she had seen him fighting the horrors of chaos with no more emotion than when he cleaned his rifle. She couldn't help but feel some pride whenever she broke that stony visage. She smiled, pressing herself closer in to him- and sure enough, she felt a gloved hand glide underneath her arm, fingers running down her shoulder blade, following angle down her back, palm resting on her hip, the whole while pressing himself in to her-

When there was a whistle and clatter from the stove that made the pair jump.

Liivi glanced for his cooking- and sure enough, the pot was running over. He looked to his cooking, then to her- clearly torn.
"It would burn."
He said it perhaps for himself as much as for her. With a sigh, Taldeer let go of him, sliding away from him. Alone on a planet, far, far from everyone and everything, she ruminated, and he found cooking more important than her. She sat heavily at the table, resting her chin in her hands. She hadn't expected this, with the way Liivi was at home.

The food was fine- no craft of the finest of Ulthwé, but Liivi had clearly not wasted his time at home. Some dully filling yellow mash drizzled in something yellow and savory, with a side of Paridol chunks, in a fine cream and salt sauce, and a side of some kind of green shoots which, while not having any flavor she could recognize, proved to have good texture and cleansed the palate wonderfully. Her joke about the fine vintage of the water that Liivi offered went over her husband's head, as usual.

"Where does an assassin learn how to cook?" Taldeer asked around a mouthful of mash, scooping up the last of the sauce in the green stuff, "I hope you're not trying that building up poison resistance idea of yours again."
"Negative," Liivi stood, cleaning the table. At a nod from Taldeer, he grabbed her plate and glass too, "Your objection to the process was not forgotten. Though-"
"We're not debating this again," Taldeer stretched, and winced again. This knot would not go away. It was only forty kilometers. She slumped in her seat. Eldanesh above, who was she kidding. After the defeat on Kronus, she had let herself go lax. The clank of dishes, the rustle of a cloak being taken off, then she glanced up to see Liivi before her again, dressed down to his undershirt, pulling off his gloves. She smiled, started to stand before Liivi set a bare hand on her shoulder.

"Please. Let me."

His fingers worked underneath her shirt, tugging one side and then the other down and over her shoulders, until her shirt barely covered her breasts.

She raised an eyebrow at that. His hand traveled up her neck, settled on her cheek- and then he gave one of his barely a grin, grins. He never smiled for anyone else. Well, one one else beside her and Lofn. Taldeer had to think, selfishly, how that made these moments so much more precious for her. He let his hand brush from her cheek, and draw off the other glove. Then he approached her again, both hands on her head, leaned in and gave her a deep kiss. His breath was cool, and tickled her nose as they parted. She tried to stand, but again, his hands gently pushed her back in the chair, as he stepped around, past her. She turned, a bit confused, but then his intentions became clear as his hands started to work in to her neck and shoulders. Despite herself, she leaned forward, responding to the massage.

Lilaeth above, where did he learn this? She felt him knuckle and work in the heel of his palm, finding every tightness across her back and shoulders, and with gentle force work it out. Very relaxing.

"Oh, Liivi...This is just what I needed."
"Saw fatigue. Muscular stress needed treating," A slightly chastising note, as Liivi worked down, "Taldeer, do not over exert."

She was about to object, but then he started performing slight tugs with his fingers, and any words that she had in her mouth turned in to a contented sigh. She decided, for now, her dignity could be put on hold. His hands ranged down, further down her back, causing her to lean forward and arc her back, fingers dancing, pulling, pushing, kneading her back. It was tender, as tender as sweat, dirt, and the uncomfortable metal chair allowed, and definitely not what she was expecting. She smiled to herself.

"Cooking and massage. The Officio Assassinorum can't be that bad."
"Culinary arts learned on Ulthwé. The second..." Liivi paused, then shrugged, "Learned from a callidus. Anatomy, and more esoteric killing arts. Reinterpreted, of course."

Taldeer laughed at that, as Liivi's hands wandered down her ribs, going to her stomach, and pulling her back to sitting up. She looked up at him, a smile on her face, "You are truly fortunate, to have a spouse so understanding," She chuckled, feeling Liivi's hands work her way back up her shirt, cupping her breasts. She rested her head against Liivi. Comfortable, warm, "We're a strange couple, aren't we?" A hand worked up to her chin, and Liivi bent over to kiss her again.

"I only know I am grateful for you," He whispered when he disconnected from her. He gave her breasts a soft squeeze, then slid his hands up and out of her shirt to her shoulders to turn back to the front of her. Taldeer slid down in the chair, back free of pain, as her assassin drew close again from the front, shoving the table out of the way with his foot.
"So, that's why you were so quick to clear the table?" Taldeer asked. Liivi shook his head.
"No. This is why."

He brought his hands behind her, lifting her from the chair to embrace her close, and breathed hot in her ear for a moment- sending another electric thrill down her- before gently lifting her up, and setting her to sit on the table. She lifted her legs, wrapping them around Liivi, drawing him close, grinding in to him, as their lips met together, again and again. This. This had been what she had been hoping for. She drew away from him, her breath starting to come in a bit harder, trying to fight her excitement. He leaned in, darted a quick kiss for her, as she worked the belt on his pants, fumbling with the catch. He stopped her, putting a hand on her hands- causing her to look up in his eyes quizzically. His partway grin came back again, as he put his hand between her breasts. She raised an eyebrow at that, but didn't resist as he pushed her down, flat on the table. With some reluctance, she brought her hands back from his pants, bringing them to her sides and stared up at the ceiling.

"What do you have planned?"
"Repaying your favors," She felt his hand wander down, tracing a line down to her pants with a pleasant warmth. Then she felt her skirt being dragged down to her knees, and she fidgeted, finding it quite difficult to stay still. Then, she felt his fingers brush across her slit experimentally, underneath her panties. She couldn't help but flinch and gasp at that, blushing. Isha help her, she got far too girlish for her comfort in these situations. Liivi continued to brush it, teasingly light touches stroking the edge, heightening Taldeer's sensitivty. One hand of her's came to her breast and the other reached for the table's edge, gripping it as she started to groan. Just as she wished Liivi would hurry up, she felt him grasp the edge of her underwear, and she obligingly raised her hips to let him tug them off- the chill on her thighs from the air and moisture made her blush again, and bite her lip. She spared a glance down over her breasts to Liivi. He was leaning in over her, and met her eye for a moment, before going back to his objective. She gasped again for breath as she felt the tip of his tongue slide between her lower lips.

"Li-Liivi, what are you-" The assassin ignored her, continuing his merciless attack with a quick stroke up, making her jump. He was tonguing her, she realized. A situation not at all unpleasant. He worked down, reversing the stroke of the tongue down, a strangely different sensation. Taldeer was starting to lose it a bit here, starting to pant harder, her hand on her breast, squeezing it, her thumb spinning her nipple around in little circles- oh Isha. Her uninvolved hand increased its grip on the edge of the table. Oh Isha, and Eldanesh, and Kurnous, and all the other gods living and dead. She had needed this. Her back arced as Liivi worked his tongue in deeper, going in little circles touching the edges of her womanhood. She was out and out gasping now, as Liivi grabbed her by the thighs, prising her open more to lap at her overflowing flower.

"Oh, oh, Isha, up, up, more, more," She hissed between gritted teeth. She glanced down, to see him looking up at her, eyes betraying amusement. He reached up to the top, and with a flick- oh, but he found it. Her breath caught in her throat, as she whimpered. She felt the lightest graze of his teeth upon it, before his lips settled over her clitoris, and his tongue circled it, with ever growing speed. She spasmed, her legs wrapping around Liivi's head, dragging him in further. Every pass was another warm shiver through her, once, twice, three times, and every pass was faster than the last, until they started blending together, her mind going blank, as suddenly thoughts of home, duty, mission, everything else faded away, and it was just her, and him, that ever increasing pressure, that precipice on the edge of orgasm. The pain in her legs, in her arms, in her muscles fade away, as she sets it aside, bucking more and more, hoping, begging for it.The swirling stopped- and just long enough for Taldeer to glance down- before he brought his tongue up, in her, pushing that magic button and causing her to jump. Just hard enough, just that perfect pressure- and she shivers, gasps, and cries out, jumping on the table with a clatter as the orgasm shot up and down her. Her legs, beyond her control wrap around Liivi's head, grinding him hard in to her, trying, trying to wring more of that wonderful, blissful sensation out- then she calms, slumping flat. Quite relieved. A wonderful afterglow. She stares up at the ceiling. All of a sudden, Aritam wasn't so bad.

"Mmdrr?" She feels the vibration through her hips, and then, with a blush, releases her husband. He brings himself up, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand- a not nearly as subtle grin on his face now, "Improved?"
"Immensely," She whispers as she draws her legs back, and gets to her hands and knees on the table- a mite hazardous, but Liivi is quick to grab her shaking hands, guiding her to solid ground. As soon as her feet reach the ground, she looks up coyly at him, "But, I have to repay the favor now, my dear."
"Unnecessary," Liivi brushes the hair out of her eyes, leaning in to give a kiss- but hesitating to raise an eyebrow. A silent request for permission. Taldeer chuckled, leaning in and grabbing his head and pushing her tongue deep inside. A little icky, but she could set it aside.
"Oh, but I insist, soldier," She draws back, her hands again ranging down to his belt, "We're in this together, and a general knows her unit's morale is the most important thing."

Again, his hands settle on hers, and she frowns looking up, "I have already had my satisfaction. If you would like, I could repeat services."
Taldeer narrows her eyes, "Oh, but I do insist."
"Oral stimulation insufficient?" Not for the first or last time, Taldeer reflected that Liivi's clinical description of their love making nearly always made things worse, "Know of other techniques. Could possibly-"
"Liivi, I am literally begging for your cock right now," Taldeer stepped away, crossing her arms- then rapidly required a chair. She sat down, took a few breaths, before glaring back up, "You should be happy. Be jumping all over this opportunity like a still target in an open field with no wind."
"Actually, not optimal shooting scenario, rather would-"
"Eurgh, you know what I mean. You're killing the mood, honey," She poked him accusingly in the groin, "You're hard. Come on. Out with it."
"...I apologize," Liivi stepped forward, placing a hand at her shoulder. Taldeer relaxed, approvingly leaning in to his hand, as it glided down- then gently squeezed her side. Her hurt side. She flinched at the sudden pain.

Immediately, Liivi removed his hand, but looked to her with sympathy, "You're tired from your exertions. I do not desire to aggravate your condition."

She stared up, unbelieving.

"What?"
"Your physical capabilities were impaired when you entered. I had hoped I had not left you unsatisfied, but if that's the case, perhaps I can-" Liivi's suggestion was cut short by Taldeer's fist grabbing his shirt and dragging him close. Liivi drew back instinctively at the look of rage in her eyes.
"Do you think me fragile, mon'keigh?"
"No I-"
"I am a warrior. I am a member of a species engineered to be warriors. My people fought a war that broke gods, while the rock your race would arise on was covered in a stew of filth and bacteria. While you were learning that your toys were inedible, I was mastering the power of the warp to deliver doom to the enemies of my species. When you had struggled through puberty, I had ascended to farseer, able to see the skeins of fate to guide the fate of millions. When you first sighted me in the snows of Kronus, you did not look upon a blushing girl in misfortune needing deliverance, you looked upon a warlord that had personally slain hundreds of lives at her hands," She twisted the shirt in her hand, and drew his face closer to hers, "You understand?"

"I can't let you get hurt-"
"I do," She hissed in to him, as he stared unbelieving at her, "I want to remember what I am, what the world has forgotten about me. That I can take it, that I didn't need special consideration for being Eldrad's daughter, that I could fight at the front lines as well as my soldiers, and that I wouldn't be broken by a mere defeat. I want you to give me everything you can."
"Taldeer-" Liivi looked down at her. Baffled. She shook her head.
"Remind me why I love you!" That was a poorly thought out choice of words, but she said it, and couldn't take them back, "I fell in love with a human, not just because he saved me, but because he was strong. This is what I want, damn it!"


"Very well," Liivi's grin was gone. The softness of his eyes had fled. His expression had once again turned stony. Just what Taldeer wanted. She smiled, while internally kicking herself. Poor timing was all. Right now she wasn't in the mood to be treated just as everyone else saw her- a soft, love sick sop. She was far from weak. And more than that, she wanted him to enjoy this too. She wanted him to let loose, was all. She wanted him as happy as her- and him being afraid of hurting her would not do.

And beside that, she had to admit she was getting aroused at the thought of it. She wanted this. Taldeer had wanted a walk on the wild side.

"Good. Then drop the act," She let go of his collar and stepped back. She spread her hands, "This is a warrior's body. Test it."

Liivi looked around. Looking for a threat? A witness? She knew he was hard, lusting for her. His hesitation infuriated her. He looked back at her, for a moment looking sad. Still had his self control up, "You are sure?"

Taldeer nodded. Liivi sighed. Then, she felt his lust bubble to the surface again, and he stepped forward. One step, two steps, and with each step, he let go a bit more. Three steps, four steps, and he was right in front of her. On the verge. His hand came up to her cheek, gentle. She could see he was on the cusp of it. One last hesitation. She reached out, stroked his cheek gently. Liivi closed his eyes. Then opened them again.

He grabbed her like a storm. He brought her in close, and forced his tongue in her mouth, gripping her close with one arm, the other tearing the shirt from her skin. She, for her part, grabbed at him to hold on. A wise choice. One arm crushing her against him, his other hurled the table out of the way, sending it bouncing to the side as he drove in to the wall. She winced, at that, but smiled. He was taking this seriously. Just what she needed. Liivi held her there, as he fumbled for his pants, loosening the belt and bringing out his member. Hard, already the tip slick with precum. Taldeer looked up with a smile at Liivi. He HAD wanted this. He hefted her up, hands grabbing on to her waist, shoved her flat against the wall, and brought her down on his cock, impaling her on half the shaft in one go. The sudden intrusion made Taldeer gasp and jump- and then he started slamming her against the wall, starting with short, quick jabs, filling her painfully and making her jump with each one. Gentleness was all well and good- but this, this was something else entirely. Sweating over him, as he panted to his fullest, back against the wall. Gentleness was all well and good, but right now- feeling her back against the cold stone, growing slick with her sweat. His hands, gripping her hips hard enough to bruise. Digging her nails in to his back. She flung her head back, struggling for starting to scream as she felt his head plunge deep, deep in to her, distending her.
"That's it! That's it, mon'keigh!" She started shouting, starting to lose it again, "Fuck me! Fuck me raw and bloody! Fuck me 'til I can't scream anymore, and fuck me past that!"

Liivi didn't provide a reply, just grunting and focusing on her hips. He leaned in, and wrapped his mouth around one of her bouncing breasts, and bit hard enough to hurt. In her state, Taldeer was having trouble distinguishing pleasure and pain, and screamed louder. Her hair hung over her face as she looked down, her yells turning in to a high pitched whine. The last orgasm snuck up on her. This one was a battering ram at her front gates. She felt it tearing, stirring, dwelling within her. She wasn't asking for it like last time, teased with the prospect of it. The pleasure of his force, of the pain and the strength, of being once again something not to be pitied, but to be desired and hungered for, all of these feelings within her conspired and sent her spasming as her body had enough.


She tensed up, shivering against the wall- and then felt something warm shoot in her. Almost immediately afterwards, Liivi had cum too. Thankfully, her breast had come free before he had done so as he strained against her, forcing his seed deep, deep within her. The smacking and dripping noise of their intermingled fluids collecting on the floor came to Taldeer's ears, making her laugh in exhiliration. As Liivi panted, she felt his member starting to soften within her.
"Is," She took a moment to pant, and brush sweat stained hair out of her eyes, "Is that...Is that all...human?" She smiled. Liivi didn't look in to her eyes, staring down, panting. Yet sure enough, she felt him hardening with in her again. Liivi nodded.
"Floor," was all the warning he gave her, before he lifted her from the wall, and swung her to the ground. She landed on the floor not too hard, but not gently either, wincing as he hands and knees scraped on the stone. Near insensate as she was, it proved difficulty to stay upright, but Liivi helped, lifting her ass up in the air, and lining up, placing the tip at the entrance.

She shivered as he pushed it in, slowly. Slick though it was, and though the two were hardly strangers to each other's bodies, Taldeer still always had trouble coping with Liivi shoving himself in. She winced, tensing at the feeling of his cock filling her up, stuffing her- she held her breath as it worked the final inch in, and he sheathed himself in to her up to his balls. She breathed in, resting her cheek on the cool stone- then relaxed, in confusion at Liivi stopping. Liivi seemed to be waiting for that. He suddenly drew himself near entirely out of her, the tip rounding the rim of her, and then slammed back in, pushing Taldeer across the stone with a gasp. Again, and again, and again he repeated this, rubbing her across the stone, and again Taldeer felt exhilirated by the mixture of pleasure and pain, him ravaging her on the floor, like a dog, hands on her ass cheeks spreading them apart, pulling in and out- his previously discharged semen, and her vaginal fluids pumped out with every thrust, spattering and pooling between her feet.

She got shaky hands underneath her shoulders, straightening up, then felt Liivi grab her, and draw her back. Before she knew it, Liivi was sitting down, hands underneath her breasts, bringing her up and down on his shaft. She got her legs underneath her, and tried to assist as well as she could on shaky legs, pumping him like a machine- and sure enough, she felt him tightening, and smiled. She couldn't even shout encouragement at this point. She felt herself going- as her exhausted body again was on the border of orgasm. With an incoherent cry, she flopped against Liivi as she shivered and spasmed against him, him still thrusting in her increasingly limper and limper body. She twitched, drooling, tongue hanging out, beyond reason- she didn't even notice Liivi shoot in to her again, warmth flooding with in her.

"Love you...Love you so much..." She whisper moaned against Liivi, as she felt him pulling out of her. She flopped against his chest and shoulder, panting, drooling on him. She hoped he didn't mind. She looked up, trying to get her eyes focused, "Hey...Why did you stop? Huh?" She twitched again, then frowned. God she hurt. She was sore, sore all over.

"You win," Liivi's voice sounded stretched as he leaned back against the floor, carrying Taldeer gently along with him, "I can't. Can't go on."

Taldeer was about to object, saying that the scale wasn't even- before she realized how sore she was. Even in the afterglow as she was, she suddenly felt every kilometer she had walked today, every wall slam, the grinding of her knees and elbows against the stone floor, and most importantly, good lord how hard he had been shoving it in to her. With a noise like a slowly deflating balloon, she fell limp on her husband. Oh, she thought. So this is what he had been worried about. And he was letting her save face too.

The two lay there on the floor, cooling in blessed relief. Taldeer snuggled in to Liivi closer.
"Thank you."

MEANINGLESS PLOT HERE. NO MORE PORN PAST THIS POINT. SORRY.

Liivi did not respond. Taldeer frowned, looked up at Liivi. He was just staring up.
"Liivi?" Liivi glanced down to Taldeer- and she saw emotion again in his eyes. She felt relief- and then, some regret. She couldn't keep up.
"Are you still unsatisfied?"
"What? Oh gods no, quite satisfied," Taldeer winced as she forced herself further up to Liivi, nestling in the crook of his arms, "Felt like I had Khaela Mensha Khaine riding up in me."
"Understood," Liivi's voice was muted. Taldeer frowned at that.
"Why are you feeling bad?" Taldeer chuckled, "You outpaced me. Shows I need more practice."
"You...Felt this was like a sparring session?" Liivi raised an eyebrow, "You prefer this?"
"Well," Taldeer frowned, "Sometimes? But, more importantly, only when you're up for it," She paused a moment. She knew she had done wrong, and she sighed, "But, I'm sorry for nagging you in to this. I mean," She raised a hand, waving it around, "I wanted you to have your turn, which by the way," She chuckled, "I think as commanding officer, I'm going to call off patrols tomorrow for recuperation."
"As predicted," Liivi said with a sigh.

There was some more silence. Taldeer huddled by him. She owed him this, she realized.

"...I'm sorry for nagging you in to this in the first place," Taldeer sighed. She felt Liivi tense a bit at that in surprise, perhaps. Taldeer pressed on, "I...I had felt inferior. Like I was being handled too gently. You didn't deserve to be pressured in to this. And you were right, I needed time to recover from the patrol, before we did this."
"I am an assassin."
Taldeer frowned at that, looked back up to Liivi. He was staring off to the side. His brow beetled, the way it did whenever he was trying to find the words.

"You are a warrior. You remember strategies. Victories. Tactics. Combats. Strength against strength. You remember respect you were accorded. You miss that, and I did not understand that- for that, I apologize," Liivi sighed, "But I am an assassin. Objectives were higher priorities than battles. I killed. That was all. If I fought, it was because a plan failed. I did not outwit, struck when my targets were weak. I did defeat them on fields of battle. I gunned them down in their streets, their homes, their private moments when they did not expect it. No glory, no honor. I feel no shame, but nor do I feel pride in my service. You miss your past. I do not miss mine. All I have is you," Liivi looked back to Taldeer, "My greatest glory was meeting you, and being able to spend my life with you. That is all. I find no thrill in the struggle. For me the objective is over. I have you. I would never want to hurt you."

Taldeer looked away, a bit ashamed. She had pushed him a bit too far. And despite everything, he still thought like an assassin, and didn't understand what Taldeer was looking for in the 'sparring' session they had had. She sighed as she stood away from Liivi. She had pushed him in to something he thought abhorrent: violating his objective of keeping her safe, by hurting her. As she tried to stand, she felt Liivi's arm wrap around her waist.

"Although..."

She looked at him in surprise. He pulled her in closer, bringing her over him, "You enjoyed it. I can learn how to enjoy it with you," He made a face, "Keep frequency rare though, please?"
"Naturally," She leaned in and gave him a quick peck on the lips, "We'll need to soundproof the bedroom."
"Reinforce furniture."
"Get a better lock on the door."
"Stock medical supplies," Liivi groaned. Taldeer grinned, and started wiggling her hips in to Liivi.
"Y'know, I've currently got one more orgasm than you...I think that needs redressing."
"Negatory," Liivi stated bluntly, closing his eyes.
"No, we don't have to do it rough, I was thinking I could put my mouth to work...?"
"Was not dissimulating when stated earlier I can not."
"What?"
"Look up definition of 'refractory period,' Taldeer," Liivi sat up, his barely a grin on his face, "I said you won earlier, and meant it. 40 kilometer hike across rough terrain to scout didn't help either."

The two stumbled to their cot together, and despite Liivi's earlier statement, Taldeer managed to even the scales.





REFUSE PILE

A relatively calm day on the tiny world of Aritam. A figure wrapped in full Eldar armor staggered through sixty kilometer an hour winds, leaning heavily on her spear to keep her upright. She cursed the wind she struggled against, cursed the wretched rock of a planet she was sent to, and cursed herself for jumping for the chance at a job off of the craftworld, but mostly she cursed. Her filters, vaunted eldar technology though they may be, still somehow let in individual grains of the yellow green sand whipping about her. The world mocked her, her present situation, what she had become. And the wind never stopped. She stopped at a crest of a rock outcropping amid the puke colored sand, and gazed back at the crater she had just inspected.

Weather worn though it was, Taldeer could still pick out the outcroppings of rusted and weather worn metal hanging where a base once stood.

Once, long ago back when she was still a Warlock, Aritam had played host to one of her first battles- a raid on a force of Chaos pirates using the world as a base to strike at a craft world to fund their campaign, waging war on...She couldn't remember the machinations that led her here, come to think of it. Oh, but she remembered the battle. Her spearhead, silently felling two full bunkers of the warband's guards, leaving an open shot for their stock piled fuel.

She was as a lethal goddess of fire, luring furious pirates to their doom as her precise timing detonated tanker after tanker, tearing apart what little security remained, and permitting the Ulthwé forces to take the base. They then lay a trap for when next the Chaos frigate arrived. A webway gate was established, and sufficient artillery brought in. When the frigate returned to resupply, unwary and too close, expecting supplies to be shuttled to it, it was disemboweled by lance fire and bombing runs, and sent spinning and lifeless in orbit around the planet. Months later, its decaying orbit sent it in to the world, a long delayed vengeance destroying what little ecology the planet had. By then, the Eldar were long gone, their webway gate and wraith bone residences the only proof that they had ever been there.

But that was long ago. Taldeer's days as a glorious goddess of fire were long behind her. Another grain of sand rattles its way through her filters, and by some cruel luck, direct in to her nose, causing a sneezing fit. Now though, this planet would be hit by some fell threat- Ulthwé put no value in Aritam, but they needed the webway removed. Any attempts to press for detail brought only vague responses, only that the farseers had seen that it had to be done. An ignominious job, to be done by the bonesingers only after a final sweep and check of Aritam proved the planet worthless and safe enough for the bonesingers to do their work. Taldeer jumped at the chance. Anything to prove that she was still a warrior.

Now though, she regretted it. Shaking off sand like it were rain, she slammed in to the door of the bunker she stayed in for the duration of her reconnaissance. It was secure, and kept out the wind, but definitely not comfortable. Hauling at the steel wheel, it popped- helpfully pushed by air pressure along with it, she stumbled in to the bunker, and started hauling on the door to bring it shut.



Taldeer never thought wearing armor would feel so good. In the humming craftworld Ulthwé, nearly alone in the pavilion before the Reaching Child webway gate. Her helmet in the crook of her arm, her singing spear slung to her back, her hand resting on a shuriken pistol holstered at her side- how long had it been since she was a warrior again?

How skeptical the council had been. Taldeer recalled bitterly the whispers and raised eyebrows as she set forth to volunteer for the task. A minor work- the seers had sensed that the world of Aritam would face a dreadful threat. A rational person might ask 'when,' but they would only receive stony silence as an answer. It would occur in the future- not immediately in the future, nor even soon, but 'eventually.' And eventually was good enough reason for Ulthwé to give up on the world, pack up all presence there, and sever the link to the webway, for the security of Eldar interests. It was a pathetic outpost, no maiden world, no secret artifacts left on it, no real value beyond it serving as an observation post, but nonetheless Taldeer internally bristled at the prospect- back when she was still a warlock, she had cut her teeth defending that world. She had bled for that world, that pathetic outpost. And now it would be torn down. At least let her do the deed. She was a warrior, she would not be denied their respect.

She had been given no duty, no charge ever since she had returned to Ulthwé with her savior. Even as low a task as this was preferable to a life of quiet spinsterdom. So she had stood before the council, had bitterly begged and argued her point, and finally had been granted leave. Go forth, perform reconnaissance, clear the area, send the all clear signal when it was confirmed that Aritam was secured.

No army would follow her, she wouldn't be saving her people, but she could leave the craftworld and bear arms again. Poor recompense, but still, she had that.

She had that, and him. Liivi was by her side, at the webway gate. His assassin's regalia still maintained as much as possible, underneath a ranger's cloak and equipment. The amount of maintenance and care he put in to his gear almost made Taldeer jealous at times. His spymask pulled up allowing his bare eyes to look at the webway. Rare thing for a human to walk the webway. Taldeer smiled at his impassive stare. It was hard, even for a psychic to tell, but she knew he was impressed by the honor given him.

"Ready, dear?" She glanced back, across the pavilion in front of the gate. She dimly heard Liivi's response, but gave none of her own. Was it so long ago that she had led armies through this gate? That the great and mighty of Ulthwé had gathered in this pavilion to wish her well? That she had been the pride of Ulthwé?

"Taldeer?" Liivi's touch breaks her reverie. She glances up at him. His brow slightly furrowed. She had worried him. He worried so easily. She spares a final glance across the empty pavilion. No point worrying now. She brings her helmet up, completing her transformation. With that last bit of armor, she need no longer dwell on the past, and instead focus on the future.

"I must apologize," With a few final adjustments of her helmet, her armor was seamless, "I indulged in nostalgia a moment there. We should focus on our mission."
"Your will shall be done," Liivi's voice turned flat and electronic, as he pulled on his mask. She nodded to the technician manning the controls, and the gate started to spring to life, to pierce the veil between dimensions.

Just as she was reciting an invocation for Kurnous's blessing, Liivi interrupted.

"