"Of course, my love. You're doing the same for me being here. I wouldn't survive a day out here without you, and we both know it. Well, if we were royal, we'd get to make the rules. And the first rule would be no rules!" Eleanor giggled.
Lorelei burst out laughing at the idea of making a rule to not have any. “That would be… incredible.” she smiled. “Though as Captain, I already make all the rules on this ship. But I don't ask anything of my crew that I wouldn't be willing to do myself.”
"Ah, I see," Eleanor murmured thoughtfully. "But you still would make a fabulous royal." She paused for a moment and looked at the door. "Should we get going soon?" she asked. "Wouldn't want to keep Charlie waiting."
“Thank you, love.” Lorelei smiled, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Yes, yes. We should get ready. You can go first, if you’d like.” she offered. “There’s a pitcher, basin, and some cloths on that table over there if you feel you need to wash up first.”
Eleanor nodded. "Yes, thank you," she murmured, rising up and walking gracefully over to the basin in a way that only a princess could.
Lorelei smiled and watched appreciatively as her lover walked. “Hmm… Looks like your sea legs got even better.” she called out playfully.
Eleanor looked over her shoulder quickly. "You're lucky they have," she teased, doing a spin before she continued the few short steps to reach the basin. "Uhm, darling? What am I supposed to do?"
“Ah! Sorry, love.” Lorelei said as she sat up. “You just pour the water from the pitcher into the basin. Get the cloth as damp as you want and use the cloth to clean yourself as much as you want.” she explained simply.
Eleanor nodded slowly, pointing at things as Lorelei explained. "Right. So, this into the basin?" she asked, holding up the pitcher and pouring the water in.
“Aye.” Lorelei nodded as she stood up and walked towards her. “Do you need any help?”
Eleanor blushed and nodded. "Yes," she agreed quietly. "I'm sorry, I don't know how to do simple things…"
“It’s ok, love.” she smiled softly as she took the pitcher and set it down next to the basin. “You can ask for help anytime you need it.” the dark-haired woman assured, picking up a clean cloth and dipping it in the water.
Eleanor watched, noting where Lorelei got the clean cloth from and what she did with it. "I'll learn, I swear it," she whispered. "I don't want to be a burden to you or your crew."
“You’re not a burden, Ellie.” Lorelei countered gently as she opened a drawer, grabbing a fresh bar of soap and a small vial. “And I know you’ll learn. Don't worry.”
Eleanor offered a small smile. "Thank you, darling… what have you got there?" she asked curiously, looking at the vial with great interest.
“Oh, just a little gift for you.” Lorelei smirked as she opened the small bottle. “It’s a scented oil I purchased on one of my ventures. It just… It reminded me of you and I thought you might like it.” she explained, holding it up so Eleanor could sample the soft fragrance of jasmine and magnolia.
Eleanor's features softened at Lorelei's words. "My love, you're too sweet to have thought of me," she murmured, inhaling the scent and sighing with pleasure. "How elegant… it reminds me of…" Her eyes met Lorelei's, and she grinned. "You."
“I haven’t stopped thinking about you for ten years, Ellie. And I knew I would come back to you, so buying this was the least I could do.” Lorelei smiled softly. “Me? Elegant?” she couldn't help but laugh. “My darling, those words are not often used to describe a pirate captain. But I'm taking the compliment to mean that you like it.” she smirked, playfully.
"Neither have I, darling," Eleanor murmured, pecking Lorelei's soft lips again. God, she was so irresistible now that the princess had her again. "You're elegant to me, my love," she continued, her eyes studying Lorelei's features. "Besides, before you were a pirate captain, you were the sweet commoner girl that I fell in love with in the first place."
Lorelei chuckled softly as she returned the gentle kiss. “Even though I don't own a single dress? Well, besides my nightgown, I mean.” she teased. Her eyes softened at Eleanor’s words and hugged her. “Very true, my darling. But I was also a thief.” she reminded her without a trace of regret. Before they had met, Lori had done what she needed to in order to survive.
"Elegance can present itself differently in different people," Eleanor pointed out. "I can see you as elegant even if others may not. And don't think I don't remember your past. That never stopped me from loving you before, did it?" She arched an eyebrow. "Even with you being a pirate now, I love you no less than I did before. In fact, I love you infinitely more."
Lorelei felt her face grow warmer with every word until she had to bury into Eleanor’s hair to hide. “I… No. I won't argue with that since you can disarm me like this with just your words.” she relented with a sigh, pulling back to kiss her forehead. “And I love you. More than anything in the whole world.”
"I have my words, and you have your touches, darling," Eleanor teased, laughing as Lorelei hid her face. "We both know how to disarm the other. Don't hide." She studied Lorelei with her light blue eyes and smiled even wider at the kiss. "I love you just the same," she murmured.
Lorelei laughed softly and tilted her head to meet her lover’s sky blue eyes. “Aye. That we do, though I still think your words are more elegant than my simple touches.” she smirked, squeezing Eleanor’s sides in a hug. “Now… We really should get a move on if we want to make it to dinner on time.” she reminded.
"My words may be elegant but your touches are glorious," Eleanor murmured. "Don't underestimate yourself, love." She gasped as Lorelei squeezed her, and her face flushed pink almost instantly. "R-Right," she stammered quietly as her blush deepened. "We wouldn't want to keep Charlie waiting, now would we?"