[ As Eridanus says the word ignoramus, Lucius can't help the way his ears flatten in plain irritation. And she is nothing more than a child with an ego inflated beyond her merit—the most he can do is bite down the retort that rises his up in his throat like bile, filling his mouth with its bitter taste as it rests on his tongue.

What he manages instead is not quite so caustic, and what insult exists there remains in implication. ]

Not to worry. People far wiser have thought me stupider than I am.

[ And now they are all dead, and he is not.

Lucius does, in fact, make the attempt to withdraw his hand. Of course, his only intention had been to draw Eridanus' head down to rest upon his chest, so in the end, he supposes it makes no difference; the effect is the same. He listens to Eridanus' complaints, clicking his tongue in disapproval. ]

It sounds to me as though she expected you to enjoy the physical benefits of a lover, and none of the others. That was a mistake, of course—where one arises, the other is often enough not far behind. [ ...Look, he has seen. A lot of Slaaneshi relationship drama, simply by existing on ships filled with Slaaneshi cultists. He knows how often fucking leads to murder because someone decided they have feelings and murder-suicide suddenly looks reasonable because you worship a god of extremes and you don't want to share!

Finally, though, his hand is free, and Lucius guides his head down to rest gently on his shoulder—just like a normal and considerate lover does, probably. He pats his head. ]

Perhaps you are being punished, but we aren't speaking of some force of nature. We are talking about a woman who chose to punish you, over a relationship that has nothing to do with hers.

[ After all, Lucius has already said that he has no interest in tampering with Eridanus' marriage. It's as simple as that! ]