Lucia shook her head, a wide smile on her face, the poor girl wasn't understanding the difference, it was natural-- or probably just prejudice? Lucia couldn't quite decipher but in the end it wasn't something so crazy. "That's right-- I drain out of necessity, you have to kill to eat after all~ But would you eat undead? I not, why would you kill them? Because they attacked you first? Were they seeking you out though or just defending their territory? Killing them is only as valuable as the XP you could get from anything, so why keep focusing on the Undead just because you think they're 'ghastly' or 'horrors'?" Lucia tried to enlighten the girl to the differences. Despite that Lucia could certainly drain the undead for energy, there was no reason she wouldn't either, but food and thirst only came from things that ate or drank which undead weren't. There were no conflicts of interests between her and the undead, so there wasn't much value in chasing them down. If Dempsey were a priestess or Nun who needed to kill them to pander to another power, she might understand, but without that connection she found it a little odd. The talk about five inch long sword wounds, Lucia mused a little on the topic. "Well, if it was real life making a medicine that would do that would be hard-- a Salve would probably be much easier to make, maybe you could specialize in those instead? Alchemy seems like something with broad and open ended possibilities, there's no reason to limit yourself to generic potions right?" Lucia spoke, but as usual it came from a point of wanting to be special or unique. There was no reason to stick with the standard when you could do something exceptional. "It might be a bit harder to use then potions, but I imagine they'd be more useful?" She offered and explained with a hum. Naturally when talk of the next step in her nefarious plans, Lucia couldn't help rubbing her temples in frustration. She had all of the know how but none of the tools to take the next step. It was infuriating but she didn't have a solution. "There's nothing I really can do-- I have a lot of grandiose ambitions but the first step needs tools that are hard to acquire. If I could make that step though, it would be a lot easier to think of my next move." She couldn't help sighing heavily.
Dempsey paused for a moment and dug through her pack until she found what she was looking for, her initiates scroll of Mudras. She regraded the hefty document thoughtfully before offering it to Lucia for inspection, as it was very important to her. She'd found a plethora of other sources for the obscure art, but none as compact, focused, and concise. "This is why I was a bit annoyed earlier, when i wasn't given warning as to how dangerous that skeleton thing actually was. I've learned a new technique that allows me to bolster my power significantly, but it takes time. Eventually, I'll be able to invoke them as naturally as breathing and blinking though." She paused for a thoughtful second before taking two double-time steps to catch up with Lucia so she could excitedly explain herself and her newfound interest. "It's like magic, but for... not magical people. I can do all sorts of amazing things with it, but they only work on me. I couldn't recite a Mudra and make you stronger or faster... only myself. Point being, If I'd been able to prepare, that whole fight would have been a lot safer and easier, and I'd have looked way cooler... Like this!" forgetting her almost serious injuries for the time being, she leapt ahead of Lucia and began preformed a chant punctuated by a series of hand gestures and poses. When she was finished, however, there was no immediately apparent effect, besides Dempsey looking exceedingly pleased with herself. "That was the strength Mudra. I used it to concentrate and shape my body's naturally occurring energies, and make myself stronger. It's a very basic one, but it's the only one I'm really good with so far. There are a ton of things I can do, like make myself faster, heal myself, make myself resistant to damage, deflect spells... It's an incredibly powerful skillset once you get the hang of it. But again, I'm not quite there yet." @Lucia Mierz
Lucia couldn't help chuckling a little at the girl's eagerness to show off, Lucia found it cute, but those types of antics were amateur hour efforts at usurping attention!-- Wait, Lucia thought, her brow furrowed briefly, that wasn't what she was meant to be judging. With a small smile, she nodded, her closest representation for such an art was some type of ninja magic. It looked interesting, it was sure to be a hit she thought. "That seems really nifty-- is there any need for the scroll though? It doesn't really do anything does it?" She mused cocking her head curiously. It was likely a quest item, whatever 'research' came from it, Lucia couldn't quite follow. It seemed different to her type of research that merely pushed and pulled energy to see what it would do when it interacted with other things. This seemed more like books and studying which was a strange mechanic in a game world. "It sounds very nice though, I'm sure you'll be able to use it really well soon." She spoke encouragingly, a bright and sunny smile on her face as she urged Dempsey to do her best oblivious to the girl's desires to fight her in the future for some reason. Lucia instead only admired the girl's enthusiasm and love for her path, it was very much like her own in a lot of ways after all. Different paths, but same drive, Lucia couldn't disapprove or fault that. Instead, she lifted a hand to scratch behind Dempsey's ears affectionately. Though seeing her so excited and energetic made her a touch worried, Dempsey had been attacked and injured earlier after all. Unsure if Dempsey was making her injuries worse, Lucia was gentler with her. "Are you okay though? Should we patch you up quickly?" She asked as they began to feel the light of the sun after leaving the cave. Lucia would stretch as if unwilling to give up the sudden flash of light on her skin.
She took her scroll back and replaced it in her pack She shrugged casually and replied; "Thought you might to take a look is all. I know it's not real magic or anything of the sort, but i thought maybe you'd find it interesting is all. You're always open with me about what all you have going on, or what you want or need and all that. I figured I'd go ahead and share some of what I have going on. Wouldn't want you to think I haven't been doing anything besides beating on trees and stealing things, right?" Dempsey was a little annoyed at her latest and greatest achievement being called 'nifty' but she dismissed that as just her own ego looking for things to take exception to. Either way, as was customary at this point, she flinched slightly and then craned her head back slightly as Lucia worked her magic fingers against her scalp. It was a wonderful sensation akin to scratching an itch, but without the initial irritation to sully the experience. Afterwards, she turned to face Lucia as the two reemerged from the cave and Dempsey addressed Lucias concern with a smile. "I never meant to imply that I was on the verge of death, just that I need a little patching up. It's pretty common for me to get banged up, and if I let it ruin my day every time it happened, I'd never get anything done. In all honesty, I'm more worried about some kind of gross undead infection or a status effect from blood loss. that sort of thing. It's really nice how we just magically heal up after a good nights sleep, and it's way too early to just call it a day already, right?" Dempsey was already removing her pack to sort out the basic medical supplies she always kept on her as she looked up and asked "Do you want to do it, or are we just going to go back to boring old town and let some random NPC take all my clothes off and sew me up?" Which reminded her that she's also have to find somewhere o repair her clothes and armor at some point. She'd gotten by this long without giving it much thought, but her once shiny new gear was starting to get battered and frayed from almost daily abuse. @Lucia Mierz
Lucia chuckled a little, her laughter a little dry and wry from the faint prick she detected in Dempsey's tone. It wasn't as if she were trying to dismiss it, in truth, Lucia felt Dempsey's achievement was wonderful, and did indeed feel greatly proud of the girl for her effort. She only cursed her own inability to acquire the tool she needed to begin her evolution as well. The reason she could so quickly look past it though was because Dempsey's desires and goals were very well placed, Lucia wouldn't call them typical, but they weren't things that would be challenged by others. "You were strong enough to acquire it all on your own, I'd feel bad profiting from your effort as well. Plus-- you don't have as much to prove as I do either right?" Lucia asked with a warm mellow smile, feeling that Lucia's own goals were easier to call into question then Dempsey's. Lucia felt the need to be open and forthright in what she needed and wanted because of how they were viewed as evil or cruel, she didn't think Dempsey needed to be as honest or revealing about her own goals that were a touch more pure then her own. When talk of toxicity or bleeding effects came up though, Lucia couldn't help a more melodious and sweet chuckle. "Hehe, if you did have one wouldn't you see something in your Hud about it?" Lucia explained with a warm grin, while she did have some experience with the rot and plague status, bleed was one she hadn't seen yet. It made her wonder with a stroke of her chin if it was something she could achieve with Arrows. "It is really convenient though... Like you said before, I only ever needed to drain something to come back from it myself though." Lucia added with a coy wink. When talk of getting undressed by random people came up though, Lucia moistened her lips shaking her head as she accepted Dempsey's medical pack. "Of course it's going to be me~ Don't regret it though~" She teased giving her lap a pet offering it to Dempsey for sitting so she could try and stitch her back up. If Dempsey did let her though she'd find Lucia's words were pretty accurate. It wasn't as if she was god awful, she did some small sewing before so with that knowledge she wasn't grossly incompetent, but an occasional painful prick would come through upon stitching Dempsey up making it clear she wasn't used to working with people; at least living ones.
Dempsey replied with a shrug as she worked at unbuckling her armor and tugging off the flimsy under shirt she wore beneath as she spoke "This game is realistic enough that maybe something might crop up later if I don't get this taken care of is all. Better safe than sorry, right? I mean, what if we get half way back to Stokbon, and all of a sudden I'm too sick to walk anymore or something. that would be troublesome to say the least, right?" She sat carefully in Lucias lap, and pulled her hair to the side, reveling her pale, bare back and neck. She quietly thrilled, remembering how things went last time the two wound up in this situation, but maintained her composure save for a slight flush of her cheeks. She flinched once or twice at Lucias rough handling, but it was nothing she wasn't used to nor was it something she wasn't prepared for. If she wanted things done perfectly, she knew more than a few great medics back in Stokbon, but to her this was more of a chance to spend some time alone with Lucia than any dire need for medical attention. Despite the discomfort of being stitched up, Dempsey was able to enter a sort of trance like state and simply disassociate herself from the pain of the procedure, instead focusing on the beautiful scenery of the forest and the tantalizing feeling of Lucias breath on her skin. It would be easy to just give in to Lucias words, and accept everything she'd said today as fact and truth, but she just couldn't shake her gut feeling that something about Lucias chosen path was just somehow wrong. When Lucia finished, Dempsey scooted until she was straddling the woman, and offered an appreciative peck on her lips, then stood and stretched, enjoying the scant forest sunlight on her bare skin for a moment. @Lucia Mierz
Lucia chuckled a little at Dempsey's words. That was true, the game was deeply realistic, but there were a great many things that also weren't that realistic. Lucia wasn't exactly certain what to expect any more, but being careful was better in a lot of ways. Lucia couldn't argue that. "Alright alright, just leave it to me." She spoke as she continued. Knowing full well she was far from a great medic, she made an effort at least. When she finished she leaned down to give Dempsey's ear a soft kiss to let her know everything was settled. She didn't want to do anything too rough after all despite her best efforts though. When Lucia finished, she didn't hesitate to tenderly stroke Dempsey's bare back affectionately, not aware that Dempsey's thoughts were still somewhat irked in regards to her choices. Lucia was naturally determined to continue on down this path, the undead weren't inherently evil, she felt that in her heart of hearts. There were only evil masters, but not evil animals-- The undead themselves only desired to eat and survive like many others, any lingering resentment for the living she thought would surely come from a grievance they suffered and couldn't associate with properly from life. Lucia did accept the peck with a smile, turning her head down to meet her. Letting Dempsey slide out of her lap, she stood as well, brushing herself off before giving Dempsey's butt a gentle slap of encouragement. "Good though-- we got what I came here for, you said you had something you wanted to do in a place nicer then this?" She asked with a warm grin wondering what Dempsey might have going on. Lucia didn't mind helping the girl accomplish her own goals if she could, after all they'd all be working together someday soon. She waited with a sweet smile wondering what Dempsey's plan was.
Dempsey stood and stretched experimentally, testing her stitches. they pulled a little, but the bleeding had stopped, and she felt confident that as long as she was careful they'd hold until she could take some time tomorrow morning to see a proper healer. She let out a little squeak as Lucia gave her butt a pat, and responded with a playful swat of her tail and a a smile that she flashed over her left shoulder. "When I said 'let's go somewhere nicer', I just meant I'd like to be away from that strange ziggeraut thing. I know all of that is important to you, but I think I've been fairly clear on where I stand as far as all that is concerned." she gestured with her left hand to their surroundings before adding "I meant like this. This is nice, isn't it? Sunlight, fresh air, beautiful view" She looked directly at Lucia at the mention of a beautiful view, but continued without missing a beat "...And I didn't have anything terribly important going on before you got a hold of me. Just out for a stroll, gathering ingredients and doing some light training. You know how I can be when I feel like taking the day off. Do you have any other plans for the day?" the turned and winked to Lucia before taking her time in replacing her undershirt, opting to simply sling her armor over her shoulder because she was quite enjoying being free of it for the time being. She was far from exhausted, but after her experience in the cave, she felt that she's had enough excitement for one day, and was now simply fishing for something to spend the rest of her day with. Tempting Lucia into another intimate encounter would be a great way to cap off her day, but at the same time she didn't want to come across as too eager. She figured the best thing to do would be to play things casually and see how that went. @Lucia Mierz
Lucia only chuckled a little reaching up to ruffle Dempsey's hair, as well as stroke her ears in reply as she spoke about the Ziggeraut. "Naturally~ Even I wouldn't want to hang around it too often, like being surrounded by ears of corn." Lucia couldn't help sighing a little knowing that being in such a place was never really pleasant whether it was a farm or the ziggeraut, she felt there wasn't much difference, but they were both discomforting in their own rite. Though she grinned when talk of the sunlight was referenced. Lucia definitely felt like no matter what, she wouldn't get tired of sunlight either, it was one of those 'simple things' that Lucia could appreciate even after she changed. Whether or not she'd feel sunlight the same way, would be a different story, but that wouldn't stop her from trying to experience it in her body. Though when asked if she had other plans, Lucia only shook her head, leaning down to bite the girl's ear and give it a brief tug before draping an arm around her shoulder. Thinking about what to do though, Lucia herself didn't have many plans outside of maybe collecting a weapon, but there was no reason she couldn't curl up with Dempsey for a while. "I've nothing terribly important. Maybe try some fishing together by a lake in the sun?" Lucia proposed thinking it would be nice on a warm day to be by the water, perhaps in something more comfortable. It wasn't as if she had naturally thought of the same things as Dempsey, but it wasn't like the possibility wasn't there either.
Dempsey listened to Lucias explanation with interest. Comparing the ziggeraut she'd just seen to a corn farm was a bit of a stretch, but she was not the type to argue semantics for the sake of arguing, and the comparison was legitimate in the context Lucia had presented it. It helped that Dempsey also had a strong dislike for corn, and vegetables in general, so the comparison of the two resonated more strongly with her than it might with someone else. She flinched slightly as Lucia bit down on her sensitive ear, but put up no resistance whatsoever, and was rewarded with the comfortable familiarity of an arm around her shoulder. She wiggled a little closer and paused to enjoy the idyllic moment until Lucia suggested they go to the lake and do some fishing. That struck her a certian way; not because it seemed unpleasant, but because even with ten guesses and a few hints would she ever guess that Lucia enjoyed fishing. It clicked in her mind that there was a great likelihood that at some point or another, the conversation would circle around to how the morality of killing and eating fish was comparable to the undead attacking humans for the sake of their own self preservation, but she simply dismissed the notion, realizing that she was in a situation where she could either walk away right here and now, or simply agree to disagree on the matter. She toyed with both options for a moment, realizing that no matter what she ultimately choose, she would look back on today as the turning point where whatever happened next between the two really began. The reasoning that brought about her decision was the simple realization that she had no use for enemies; there were enough things out there more than happy to kill her without going out of her way to make more. She didn't walk away, nor did she refute lucia, deny her ideals and cut ties. She did the opposite, and hoped she wouldn't regret her decision later on. She let out a long sigh that the other woman would hopefully interpret as simple contentment, and leaned her head to the left to rest on Lucias shoulder. "I'm terrible at fishing, and I don't have any proper poles anywhere, but if you want to do that, we can figure something out, right?" She spoke with bright eyes and a smile, and stretched upwards to plant a quick peck on the corner of Lucias jaw closest to her before falling silent once again. @Lucia Mierz
Lucia chuckled softly ruffling the girl's hair affectionately, largely oblivious to a bulk of Dempsey's thoughts. She wasn't really one to philosophize such silly things. She'd already made her view point clear she thought, any need to go further into detail would only harm her efforts to be convincing. Instead she only shook her head rubbing the girl's shoulder reassuringly. Whether there was a pole or not wasn't an issue for Lucia who found catching them with her hands to be easy enough. "Don't worry, I know a way to do it right." She urged and reassured, it wouldn't be too hard to catch them by hand, Dempsey might even be able to do it without her help if she was nimble enough. "We'll just catch them by hand, after all, you don't seem to mind getting wet with me right?" She asked with a faint wink and a warm grin before trying to lead Dempsey off on a stroll to find a good destination. One that would be close enough for them to reach while it was still day time. If Dempsey didn't mind going to one of Lucia's usual spots, it would be a small pond, you could call it a small lake perhaps, but it was still small enough to see the other side and reach it with a vigorous swim. The water was a little deep towards the center but the shallows were crystal clear and easy to see into making it a nice spot as the water flowed down into the basin that acted as the lake. It was a place Lucia spent time before, with her bag tent, she would come to the lake if she was hungry to drain things, usually letting the other fish eat the left overs making it a place that was thriving from her contributions to offering the bottom feeders a steady food source. "What do you think? Pretty enough?" She asked, leaning her head against Dempsey's while clinging to her with a happy smile. She first wanted to know her opinion of the location, after all if it was nice enough there wasn't a reason for them to leave, spending the night here by the water was one of the things Lucia enjoyed about this magical virtual world. There was a certain freedom to listening to the occasional fish splashing.
Dempsey silently nodded her approval after being asked her opinion. She wrapped an arm around Lucia and rested her head against the womans shoulder just long enough to take in a bit of her warmth and scent before letting go. She knew how much the woman hated being touched, and she doubted she'd ever completely understand that about her. For now she simply accepted things for what they were, so long as her brief and somewhat selfish displays of affection were tolerated. She was almost shocked when Lucia not only accepted the gesture, but returned her embrace. This surprising turn of events was met with an affectionate nuzzle and a quiet purr from Dempsey. she was almost afraid to move or speak, lest the tranquil moment be shattered and lost forever. After enjoying the close silence for long enough, her sense of mischief took over and she leaned up to spill a sultry whisper in Lucias ear; "I thought you'd never ask... I'd love to get wet for you..." punctuated by a soft nip to the womans earlobe and a salacious giggle. Before Lucia could react however, she slipped form the womans arm and turned to face her with a bright smile and hands clasped eagerly "I never had you pegged for a hand fisher though, unless you cheat and use magic.. that's it, isn't it? I mean, I don't suppose it's REALLY cheating, but you know what I mean. I've done it once or twice as a training thing though. Oh! We should spend the night here! Can we? do you have your tent thingy with you, or we could just cram into my bed roll and sleep under the stars?" Dempsey was already dead set on the idea, and scanning the surroundings for a good place to hang her pack and armor, suddenly energized and excited about wasting the rest of the day in with Lucia all to herself. @Lucia Mierz
