"Don't think of it as ravishment," he told her. "Think of it as an infraction of Article 55 of His Imperial Majesty's Imperial Navy's Imperial Regulations." He buried his face against her neck.

Elaine giggled and threw her hands up. "That's it," she said. "You just managed to make this sound completely and totally unappealing."

"It's not ravishment if you enjoy it." Starling propped himself up with his hands and made a face at her. "Meh, we'd better quit. We'll end up knockin' the bench over," he teased.

Elaine pushed herself up enough to kiss him, and then righted herself again. "You think maybe we should see if they're ready to let us back up on deck?" she asked. "I'm sort of...if we stick around down here, we're only going to be more likely to get ourselves into trouble."

Starling reluctantly hoisted himself off her and let her sit up. "Want me to run up and check? I'll find Gwydion."

She stood up and kissed him again. "You go," she agreed.

He smiled and kissed her back. "And no messin' with the middies until I get back," he warned, and ducked out of the galley.

"Then hurry up!" Elaine called back, teasing, before sitting back down on the bench.

Elaine shrieked and grabbed at her neck. "What the hell!?" she shouted, trying to tear the thing away.