'Intimacy' however did not exclude physical contact. It purely meant, from Vitruvion's understanding, sexual acts and anything alluding to that. He would never touch her again in an area that would excite the erotic pleasure centres of a normal being. There was a fine line between an embrace and a deliberate brush against her breast. However he had spent a century on this world, and through his experiences learnt what was acceptable and what was not. And he had spent a long time doing what was not.

He pushed open the door to his townhouse bedroom. In it was a large, ornate four poster bed, with freshly made linens. A matching set of chestnut wood furniture was pushed up against the panelled walls. It avoided the double glass doors that led out to a small and narrow balcony, yet at the moment blinds were drawn across this. The room was quiet and empty, undisturbed. And there was certainly no Stare to be seen.

Vitruvion let out a short grunt. Turning around on his heel he headed back out to the corridor, leaving the door to the master bedroom open. He strode down the second floor hallway, edging two doors down from his room to one situated just before the bathroom. Without a moment's hesitation he pushed the door open, heading directly in.

A smaller, less decorated room. It held a cabinet, a double bed and a small painting on the wall of a landscape. A small trunk was on the floor beside the bed with a pile of clothes, chainmail and a thin bladed katana. And in the bed, with the blankets loosely around her, was his own kenku.

A small smile flickered across his face. Striding into the room Vitruvion went straight over to the bed. He wasted no time in leaning over and sliding a hand beneath her shoulders, and his other arm beneath her knees. Stare mumbled, peeking open a sleepy eye and gazing up at him as he lifted her into the air and pulled her right to his chest.

"Evening," he said quietly.

"Evening," she mumbled, but much smaller than before. In his arms she twisted, curling towards him and closing her eyes again. "Wanted to ... Try it."

"I noticed," he smirked lightly, as he turned and began to head back out. He kicked her door lightly behind him, using the end of his foot to tug at the edge.

"Hmm," she stilled as he carried her back down the corridor. He did not look at her as he headed back into the master bedroom, but rather shoved his door closed behind him in the same method. Making his way over to the bed he switched his hold to briefly grip her with one arm, leaning her body against his chest, and then twitching back the covers of the bed with his now spare hand. He moved down, lowering her to the bed.

She let out a small sigh, eyes peering open briefly, before she buried herself over further to the other side of the bed, deeper into the covers. Vitruvion took the time to pull off his boots and rid himself of everything but his under-trousers, still respectable. Then, ensuring there was enough room he slid under the covers himself and twitched them back over his body. Then his arms snaked out, one sliding around her waist, the other over her hips. As she lay still he pressed his forehead to the back of her shoulder, and took a moment before he breathed deeply, now able to privately hold her, but never any more.

"Mine," he reminded himself as he tightened his grip. And she willingly adjusted.

"Good night, Vitruvion," Stare whispered.

"Night, my darling," he whispered.