Their stiff little doll needed to be oiled at her joints, it seemed, but she could still perform her music box dance of tartly moving to the little sister and then kiss the expensive shoe. Engel was absolutely made in stone when she bowed. He'd usually only get to see from above, but now he got the show from a theater spectator's view. What an engaging pose. He sighed in admiration when Lyra stood, and laughed quietly at Merci's delight at the situation. She was coming along well, the littlest.<br/><br/>Loell was perhaps more flexed than Lyra underneath his tailoring, but would be lying if he said he wasn't also hypnotized by the significance and visual appeal of Lyra's submission. Loell didn't have the taste for this kind of thing, not usually, but he was starting to understand the point of having one's proud enemy to bully, all day long. He was still at the ready though, if Lyra should think hurting Merci was at all a good idea. The Bremmington did not try anything.<br/><br/>"Do you suppose you'll loan her to me? I think I'm intrigued." Loell confessed as Lyra returned to her master's lap. Engel looked at his brother while he hosted his pet on his leg and then pulled her closer with the hand not holding the book. He had her sitting sidesaddel over his lap and stroked her pale hair, as though she really was a cat, and mulled Loell's request over. Had she been an animal, this would be a very normal request. He sucked his lip.<br/><br/>"Let me think about it." he said and nuzzled her in contemplation, as though her taste and scent would give him a clue as to what he might decide. "It is a little intimate, isn't it, us sharing holes?" he presented. Loell shrugged, always patient. "But it has happened before." Engel continued. "I don't know why I feel possessive about her. I guess I'll know more if I can trust her." he went on. Loell was already back to the game.<br/><br/>"What I need?" Engel echoed, finally, and then touched her now clean cheek. "I think I'd like to hear you read for me. But do it quietly so as to not disturb the game over there." he said. He put the book in her lap, and wrapped his arms around her gingerly. It is not unheard of for a master to love his pet in such a way. Perhaps the likeness soured when he started wandering his lips over her neck. Out of view from Merci and Loell, he even started massaging that sensitive skin with his tongue.