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Getting resettled wasn't so hard, really; bar some clothes, Desdemona didn't really have anything she was immensely sentimental about. Photographs were, if anything, on phones (and she mostly took selfies for the benefit of one rather than her own hubris - there were mirrors for that), furniture could always be purchased, and it wasn't like she had long and treasured family heirlooms when she didn't know who the hell her family had even been.

At one point she had been very sentimental about her apartment, clutching the memory of the general who'd taken care of her when she'd been corrupted, but... all that really remained now was a fondness for tea, the warmth of the cup soothing against the palms of her hands as Desdemona settled on her new couch. Really, she mused, the most taxing thing about coming home was the networking aspect. Who was still here that she wanted to see? Who was still here that she wished she would never have to see again?

For all that, though, at least one of those reconnections should come easily - especially when she'd never abandoned the connection from the beginning. She leaned back as she pressed the phone to her ear, humming to herself already. "Morning sunshine~"

"Ah~ I woke you up, " Desdemona purred through the receiver with a soft little laugh. "Lucky me." Even if it was just a long-term ploy, or perhaps due to the very nature of the slow burn, there were certain things she found herself developing a fondness for in Ax. One of them was the way he sounded when he just woke up. Most people would apologize if they called too early; if it was Desdemona, though, it was a source of pure satisfaction. Could Ax really complain? Before and after she left Destiny City, it usually meant a fun morning for him.

She took a moment to sip at her tea. "You owe the fates for blowing me back to your shores, handsome - I wasn't sure when I'd make it back, but I'm here now. So if you're free today, " and she let the ending hang there, the insinuation more or less speaking for itself.

Desdemona smiled at the little assurance that the dynamic of their relationship was as it should be: that he adored her, was devoted to her like a good pet should be. "Good, " she cooed sweetly into the phone. "There's so much lost time to make up for..." There had been others, people she'd taken and wooed over here and there as she'd traveled. Her taste for power, in sensuality and in strength, had not diminished over time. There was nothing like it.

Still. For all that, there was also no one quite like Ax. She had to give him that much - and with all the fun back and forth they'd had with the distance between them, it had made for some delicious anticipation that she was relishing the taste of.

Her smile broadened. "Awhile, yes. For the foreseeable future. Unless something major comes up, I'm not going anywhere."

There was a pause at the other end; Desdemona was sipping her tea under the pretense of being deep in thought, even if she already knew exactly what she was going to say.

"Your apartment or mine?"

Wouldn't it be nice if all relationships could be so candid? - what a relief it was to have gotten to this point. "Visitor brings take-out, host handles ambiance. Unless you've got a better idea for an amazing day, handsome." To her, though, it couldn't have sounded more perfect.

Those words immediately tickled her, and an unholy little wicked smile slipped on, perfectly fitting. Not that Desdemona was really trying to be good in the first place, but, "Oh, is that so, handsome?" and she was laughing into the phone. "It has been awhile. You'll have to show me when I get there just how much bigger it is."

Lots of ideas for spending the day with her. Desdemona's smile was a little less nefarious than, whether she intended for it to happen or not. "Oh, do you? - I'd love to hear all about them when I come over, " while she was curled up next to him, spent and exhausted and delightfully satiated.

Then, of course, the obvious question: "Do you have a preference for what I bring over, or do you want a surprise?"

It didn't take seeing her to imagine the look of mirth that flashed across her face as she laughed, delighted by the wordplay. "Oh, I did miss you, " Desdemona chuckled out, unaware that she was mirroring him as she propped her phone between shoulder and cheek in much the same way. She stretched her arms high over her head, stretching out in one of those wholly satisfying ways with a soft sigh to punctuate it.

What she wanted. Desdemona did love hearing that, and she loved the thought that there was no one else that could make him soften his tone like that. "Forget want; being where are you is what I need today, handsome, " and she also knew men loved to hear a line like that. Not that she really needed to use it on Ax, she guessed. He was already her's without any doubt, but...

She still kind of wanted to say it.

Then, another laugh. "If you're out for surprises today, handsome, then you've got it, " and then a little more softly, as if she were whispering a secret instead of confirming plans, Desdemona added, "See you soon." And then she was gone.

It was nice to his trust in her was so implicit. This trust was made tangible by the coolness of the key to his apartment beneath her fingers, its weight already familiar and comfortable.

Chinese, in classic Americana style. A bit cliche, but a classic none the less, and she had a major craving for some hot, fresh eggrolls. Maybe she'd grabbed a few things extra from the grocery store, a little dessert - that would be a nice surprise for him, wouldn't it? (And fun for her.)

Desdemona went ahead and let herself in, listening for any signs of life. "Ax?"

The predator in her immediately thought this would be an ideal opportunity for an attack. The vision of it flowed through her mind alongside the tune of Ax's off-key song, as if set to music. It wouldn't take much. Power up. Surprise him. Plunge a hand into his chest and take control of his starseed. Bring someone in to corrupt it. He could be her's just that easily.

Except that he was already her's, for all intents and purposes. And she'd hate to let that Chinese food go to waste. Desdemona didn't really think she was procrastinating, just... she wanted to be completely settled and ready before changing him.

Was there anything so wrong with him thinking Desdemona was a real person for a little longer? - really, he was the only one that did. Even if sentiment was really beyond her, still...

Still, there was other ways to be a predator. She grinned slyly to herself, setting the food in place before slipping easily out of her clothes, stripping down to nothing. Desdemona ran her hands through her hair once before making her way towards the bathroom, opening the door as quietly as she could and only hoping Ax didn't pick up on it over the sound of rushing water and his own voice. Then she made her way over to the shower.

"Hey handsome~ need someone to scrub your - "

She peeled back the curtain, and then her eyes widened a fraction; it was rare she was caught off-guard. This would be one of those times.

" - back?"