He nods a little, noting her struggle not to call him master. '<strong>Well, can't expect miracles overnight, I guess.</strong>' he thought, and watched her disappear into the kitchen. Part of him was tempted to follow, and make good on that kiss he had almost started. '<strong>Don't. It's bad enough that she seems ready to do you at the drop of a hat. No need to add your own fuel to the fire..</strong>' he reminded himself.<br/><br/>He turns down towards the cockpit, closing the hatch behind him as he enters. He breathes a small sigh as he sits at the pilot's chair. This is the one place, he's completely at peace. He starts by powering on the engines, the arcantric turbine stacks roaring to life as they begin to power the propellers. Every second they are on, ounces of that precious lucense oil are burned up. He seemed never to be able to find enough of the stuff. The payment he's meant to get from that bastard at the port should cover half a tank for each of the four stacks, at least..<br/><br/>But even as he realigned the ship with his destination, his thoughts would drift back to Malin. She was so much like his late wife, it was uncanny. There were enough differences, of course. But her simple mannerisms, her easy, contagious smile. Her very scent was enticingly similar. Not to mention her achingly attractive form, which was so close to hers, he ran the embarrassing chance of confusing her..<br/><br/>'<strong>No. I need to distract myself from her..</strong>' he thought, flipping on the radio. He smiled a bit, as a familiar song* played through, though with some static, due to their remote location. He laid back on the pilot's chair, letting his mind drift on the music. He would even sing softly along, until he heard the hallway hatch open again. He turned the volume down, as he looked around the chair, to see Malin once again, announcing the food was ready.<br/><br/>He grinned some, already smelling the food. "Wow. Its smell reaches even up here. That's an achievement in and of itself." he said, walking over and placing a hand on her shoulder. "Let us eat, then." he said, prompting her back down to the kitchen, his arm around her waist this time. '<strong>Careful. She might read too much into it..</strong>' he cautioned himself.<br/><br/>*<br/>http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cycXIYdFGsQ# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cycXIYdFGsQ#)