It was incredibly tempting to bully Neda more when she had such an adorable response to his tickling. What could she have done, really, if he decided to hold her down and make her laugh against her will? If she wanted, there could be an adult element to this game, too, if they wanted to feel grown-up about it. He could pin her, he'd undress her, and suckle her swollen tits. Marlon was endlessly confident his lips would be more amicable and skilled than that sorry excuse for an husband of hers.<br/><br/>He was as amused by her longing for her own home as any brother could be. Perhaps he should go visit that man, and give him a talking to. Jordan liked to avoid uncomfortable things, and Marlon could make the guy very discontent. While Marlon was aware of his overprotective tendencies, he thought he was justified in this case. Jordan's weakness on the subject had rendered his sister homeless in a manner. His hard expression settled into something softer, but more determined.<br/><br/>He was pulled out of it when Neda was displeased with what he'd said about Teija's fertility. A little curl in one corner of his lips for it. He should keep the veneer up for his sister, he supposed, but their childlessness wasn't really a secret, and he was sure nobody doubted his health or contribution toward that goal. The way he liked to have at his wife, they should have had a litter by now. He saw how it affected Teija, and there was some dark satisfaction in him from that. He shrugged at about the same time as she did, and that'd be the amount of response Neda would get.<br/><br/>"Salace?" he asked, piqued, when she explained Ariela's lovelife in so many assumptions. Given the other twin's nature and tastes, meeting with a boy with a knife certainly registered with the brother as interesting. He wasn't as protective about Ariela, since she wasn't so attached to her own well-being either, not in a conventional way, but he was still plenty possessive about her. Salace had that squinty kind of smile and was still being eaten by his youthful metabolism, in that he was narrow as a stick. It made his bloody apron fit him strangely, and brought the image of a skeleton cutting meat when he handled the wares. He liked Salace much more than Jordan.<br/><br/>"I should ask her about it." he concluded shortly. Ariela and he had always had a good connection. He could be more honest about his other sides with her, since her condition invited it. Neda much preferred this kind of thing, conversations and niceties. He had no problem giving either to his sisters, but he had to admit the secrets he shared with Ariela was more of who he was inside. Her large eyes reflected him in a way Neda's kindness couldn't.<br/><br/>He was immediately happy about how he commanded Teija's attention with the bills, and the treasure they wrapped. It was like directing lights to play with a cat. He looked at his sister when she was quizzical about it all, and just winked. His wife was coming apart from her need for the medicine, but she held herself together impressively infront of the naive mother-to-be. He helped Neda up and watched the quick ruse Teija employed to usher Neda out. It was creative and astute. Teija was the queen of excuses. "You can come here any time. Teija's just being a baby. Some of that herbal tea you make and she'll be fine." he promised as he took the kiss. He laughed at how dramatic Neda was about contagion and watched her leave.<br/><br/>He turned his head slowly after Teija ran her fist into his shoulder, and then looked her over to see if she had any right to wear the attitude she'd chosen. It was satisfying to get her reactions like this. It was feminine. "Well, it's kind of mean of you not to give us children." he retorted and pulled her close. To anyone else, it might have looked like he was trying to mend what his words had done when he put his head to hers. It was probably done with a more domineering intent.<br/><br/>After a moment of this closeness and containment, he pushed her back sitting in the couch. No need to hide if there was no one in this house with them anymore, save for his newest woman, who wouldn't be interrupting or watching, anyway. He let the bills flutter to the ground, and held the bag with two pills between his thumb and index. He'd long since learned Teija was easier to wrangle if he gave her small tastes instead of hearty portions.<br/><br/>He moved closer, crowding her legs still hanging outside the couch's edge. While he was by no means as bulky as Salace's father, the mountain of a man who carried dead animals for the commune, Marlon was still the largest deer-like lad among the available bucks. It had always given him authority, and now it should be rather obvious he meant to use it to remind her of her position. It was part of their play, her insignificance in size. Teija was usually not deterred from her disobedience until he actually applied his strength, but he liked to think it made her feel a certain way, anyhow.<br/><br/>"Where do you want it, then? Show me." he said. It wasn't really a question he needed to pose, since she knew the two colors of the pills, and that they'd give her the right chemical treatment only if administered in her ass. She could either be very thorough about her next show of submission, or have an inferior experience about the rare treats, and hold only her tongue out. He wondered if he'd try to bind Emma to a chemical too, even if the plan was to keep her pure and wifely on her own merits. This was, after all, one of the better sides of Teija. He had been left without, when Neda had come to interrupt.