Lucia had offered to show @Madison Freebird around her duchy, but very few knew just how little there was to truly see. Aside from Savannah, not many had stepped on the land she claimed for herself. Lucia's rank afforded her certain rights and liberties, a land to call her own and govern from Astorea's map, but the place she'd selected back then had caused a lot of curiosity and confusion. Astor had been perplexed, but eventually came to understand her goal after a few exchanges, others... well, others likely didn't even know the condition of the territory she picked in the first place. Madison would have heard talk if she'd hitched a ride or found a cart to tag along with to find it; her destination was a wasteland, a desolate place. Some called it a 'No Man's Land' but even a bit of questioning would explain that it wasn't because the land was particularly dangerous, but more because there was nothing out there. Plants didn't grow easy, it was frosty and cold, but snow rarely fell, it was truly a bizarre place, but Madison would perhaps be able to guess why Lucia picked it. It was land that couldn't facilitate life well, but that made it a place that could support undead. It was a large empty plot of land, with decaying twigs, branches or plants strewn about the ground, none ever really rising higher then the knee. All it would take is a simple touch or breath for them to break up into dust, any self-respecting Nature Magic user would be able to understand the ground was dead, it was not a place for life to grow any more. The reason was the only structure in the entire wasteland; A large pyramid-like structure. It was layered by floors, built from carved stones, the drag marks in the surrounding terrain were still there but weren't quite fresh any longer. It had been built up, as high as a three story building, each floor getting progressively smaller until the top end came to about the size of a studio apartment or master bedroom. From the top of the spire, as if it were an artificial volcano, there was a billowing purple smoke pouring out, occasionally there'd be lavender flakes of light shooting up as if it were struggling to connect the earth with the sky. If Madison were clever, she'd understand the reason it looked like that; The occasional lights were what was meant to be shooting up from the top floor, while the smoke was likely the left over, whether it was because there wasn't enough power to light up the whole thing or because it wasn't strong enough to focus everything properly. It was clearly a work in progress, even the front entrance only had a small wooden barricade rather then an actual door. While it might seem laughable compared to Roland's dutchy, the runes etched into the sides of the structure made it clear that work had gone into the building. They were cluttered but precise, clearly serving a purpose as each one facilitated and directed power to and from the Ziggaurat. Not far from the structure, Madison would be able to find the less impressive tent, the familiar tent she'd been welcomed to before, back when she first had a talk with Lucia. Within Lucia was simply passing the time reading, what she needed now wasn't any more work on the ziggaurat, but knowledge on how to get it going properly. Turning through pages idly passing the time to see if she couldn't find a new solution. She waited for Madison to arrive while musing over possible solutions, no doubt this was how she spent a bulk of her time playing the game; buried in books and tomes.
"This is as far as we'll take you, ma'am." Madison looked up from her perch on the back of the cart, peeking over the top of a dusty old tome at the cart's rotund driver. Sliding a ribbon into place to hold her page, she stuffed the book back into her inventory and gathered herself. Her boots hit the ground, kicking up dirt and snapping blades of ashen grass underfoot. "I appreciate the ride," she said warmly as she tossed a sack of gold the driver's way. It was a little heavier than he expected; Madison added a few extra coins in as a hey, thanks for going a day or so out of your way to drop me off in the ass end of Astorea, friendo. As the man nodded farewell and cracked the reins, the briar witch turned to see her destination off in the distance. She had been sitting on an open invitation from the necromancer/suspected philosopher Lucia Mierz to visit her duchy for a while now, and decided it was time to pay her a visit. Maddy had grown considerably since their last meeting, having taken the veteran's advice and done her best explore everything the world of Terrasphere had to offer and treat it as a living, breathing world rather than a video game where her actions had very little consequence for her to worry about. Madison's gaze was drawn towards a thin plume of dark purple smoke rising up in the distance, the only real feature in a sea of gray-brown death. It was understandable why she couldn't hitch a ride closer; a lot of those who she tried shoving money into the hands of considered the whole region cursed, some sort of retribution laid down on Astorea by the gods for reasons that they couldn't be bothered to think of at that particular moment. She squinted to try and get a better view, but whatever was causing the column of smoke was still miles off. Pursing her lips and stretching for a minute to get the kinks out after a day sitting in the cart, Madison set off in its direction. The plague mage's steps trailed visibly behind her as the dead grass marked her path through the duchy. The only sounds she could her were that of her own movement and the breeze that threatened to mess up her jet black hair even further than the ride up already had. Mile after mile she hiked, the pillar of smoke growing with time. Occasionally, she could catch a small flash of violet light. This must be the Ziggaurat, Madison thought to herself as a small lump appeared on the horizon, the apparent source of the towering cloud. It immediately explained the state of the earth around her, even though she didn't need the confirmation. Being attuned to nature after devoting nearly half of her time to studying Nature Magic, Madison could tell the moment she first closed her eyes and breathing deeply after crossing the border into Lucia's duchy. This place was cut off from the energy of the rest of the world, left to rot and become dust. Nothing could live here, nothing could survive here. This was a desolate wasteland best left alone by the rest of the world, for there was nothing here for them. Explained why Lucia valued it so much. Madison had been on foot for roughly three hours (including a small break against a few bleached, barkless trees to drink some water and shove some jerky down her throat) before a familiar canvas tent rose from the grass. "Huh," she found herself saying out loud, unsure of what to think. The witch always imagined Lucia living in a modest but slightly unremarkable mansion, essentially an over-sized version of the tent. A couple rooms on the first floor for living in and entertaining guests, with the rest of the space occupied by various rare tomes and artifacts that either caught the necromancer's fancy, were earned in battle, or could assist her on her quest to turn her lands into a sustainable place for the undead to live. But nah. Not even a double-decker yurt, or a shipping crate home, or even two pieces of big plywood leaned against one another to make a roof. Just that tent made from a pair of oversized canvas bags. Madison quietly promised herself to at the very least get a tiny home, like one of the ones she used to see on tumblr all the time--if she ever made it as far as Lucia had in the game, at least. Drawing closer to the tent, the Ziggaurat caught Maddy's eye for just a brief moment. Another flash of purple light, another burst of smoke rose from the top. She had all the time in the world to explore it later. Reaching towards the canvas flaps that served as a door of sorts for the tent, Madison cleared her throat. It was better than trying to knock on a bag, anyway. "Lucia, you in there? It's Maddy." As if she were expecting anyone else to visit her this far into her veritable no man's land. Madison quickly ran her hands over her outfit, smoothing out the wrinkles of the road. She also tried her best to make her ratty hair presentable, running her fingers through it like a comb. Gotta' look presentable and all.
Lucia glanced up, a warm smile cracking on her face as she heard Madison call out to her from the outside. She had invited Madison over, but wondered if the woman didn't rush to visit her so suddenly, she'd expected it to take a bit longer. "Ah, I am. I'm on my way." She spoke with a mellow smile. Though Madison noticed there was no mansion or castle for her to live in, Lucia had actually done so for s reason. She didn't want it to be built by humans or for humans; if she had one built for herself, it would no doubt be a human dwelling. Someday when the undead begin building their own homes, if they were inspired by her mansion that would only cripple the growth of an undead culture. She wanted her mansion to be built with Undead Architecture by the first Undead Artisans; for that, she could wait any amount of time. Like a strong and sturdy tree, her territory was growing steadily, one structure at a time. Pushing the tarp open to see Madison, Lucia flashed a mellow smile, reaching out towards Madison without reservations. Despite being a duchess, a priestess, or even just someone who was incredibly powerful, Lucia didn't have much of a bubble that separated her from others. With Madison as well who she felt very close to, Lucia didn't hesitate to reach out towards her and embrace her gingerly. Her soft delicate frame embraced Madison gently, a warm and refreshing hug, stroking the woman's back a few times, trying to rest her cheek on Madison's shoulder briefly while welcoming her. "Welcome home-- even if it is deeply lacking, this is our territory." She spoke, inclusively, after all, those who were on her side, a part of her team, even potential love interests were all a part of her territory, they were a part of her family and future. Naturally they'd have a role in her dream in one way or another. Welcoming Madison home was a natural course of action in Lucia's mind. Slipping back slowly, Lucia flashed a gentle smile as she pulled her hands back, far enough to give Madison's chest a gentle squeeze to wake her up before she continued with a soft tone. "It doesn't look like much now, but it will be eventually. You've heard a lot of my dream, but this is as far as I've been able to make it alone." She explained, turning towards the Ziggaurat. Letting Madison go to gesture in it's direction as she continued. "Naturally Undead have to have some means of sustaining themselves, the Ziggaurat was meant to play that role. In theory it would function like a 'well' providing the 'water' for the undead to drink with. While us living humans have 80% water content in our bodies, Undead rely on this type of resource much more then water. Unfortunately it's not efficient enough to operate at complete capacity just using the energy that naturally comes up from the Lagrange points. The Magic Veins here though aren't strong enough to support the structure though, the sigils and runes aren't efficient enough to convert that energy smoothly enough, there's too much waste in the conversion. That's why I feel like I need something more." She explained with a sigh.
Madison tensed up as the priestess drew closer and wrapped her arms around her. The last thing she was expecting was for Lucia to greet her with a hug. A handshake? Maybe. A warm smile and a wave? Absolutely. A curt nod and a motion to sit? What she ultimately thought she was going to get. But the constricting of her arms around the plagueslinger's twiggy frame? It would've never occurred to her. One thing she definitely wasn't expecting was the familiarity with which Lucia embraced her. As if she were and old friend or lover. Madison could feel the warmth of Lucia's body as it pressed against hers. As the veteran threw herself further into the hug, Madison said screw it and pulled herself in tighter. It was... weird, to say the least. Not that she didn't enjoy it, of course. When was the last time she was held like this? By anyone? Madison's heart fluttered. She closed her eyes and savored the moment, holding onto the fleeting feeling for as long as she could before Lucia pulled away, her thin fingers tracing their way across her top and lingering on her chest. She immediately felt her face turning red. She was lucky that Lucia carried the conversation from there, because anything she could've possibly said had been trapped behind the lump in her throat. The necromancer led her out of the tent and towards the structure emitting the dark purple smoke. While Madison could hear the woman explaining what was wrong with the ziggurat and how it wasn't operating as well or efficiently as she would've liked, her thoughts were elsewhere. So, uhhhh, am I supposed to reciprocate or something? Madison was consumed with confusion. The hug was quickly filed under "welcome surprise", but Lucia's lingering caress of her breasts...? It... wasn't unwelcome, she had to admit. Which only confused her all the more. For fuck's sake, she thought to herself. She isn't expecting me to do anything about it, right? Maybe it was just a playful gesture between friends?! Yeah--that's it! ...but what if it isn't...? Oh gods, what if she's looking for something more? ...I-I mean, me?! Seriously? I'm, like, a solid six, maybe six-point-five out of ten on a good day! Someone like her, interested in someone like me? Madison subconsciously cracked her knuckles as Lucia went on about the runes and sigils and runes that were converting mana pulled from the earth into energy that would fuel her dreams and make them reality. Stealing a quick glance to her side, Madison had to admit that the priestess was pretty cute, even if she looked like a better version of her real-world self. She carried her shapely figure well with each step she took, and the warmth in her smile-- Oh no-- Madison felt the heat rise in her neck as her eyes snapped straight forward. The poor thing was developing a little bit of a crush on the veteran player. As much of a disinterested hard-ass as she tried to be--and to be completely fair, she really was--the witch was starved for attention and kindness, and tended to fall just a little bit for anyone who showed her a little of either, even if she didn't know how to process it. Here goes nothing, Madison flatly mused to herself. A test to see what her host's intent was back in the tent. Lips pursed as she stood in the field of death, Madison steeled herself for what would come next. She had it all planned out--Lucia had come to a stop before the ziggurat, reveling in her work as she contemplated how it could be further improved. Moving closer to her, Madison took one step more than necessary, and bumped into her. Madison's hand lightly brushed against Lucia's backside. She almost immediately regretted it. The witch recoiled slightly, her cheeks only getting darker and fuller as the embarrassment seeped into her face. A thousand apologies sat bitterly on the tip of her tongue, just in case. Change the subject, you asshole! What are you waiting for, Elder Scrolls 6 to drop?! Madison decided that her subconscious was correct for a change, and plowed ahead. "If you're worried about efficiency, perhaps you only need something to supplement and streamline what you already have," she offered, desperately trying to hide the nervous stutter that had overtaken her. "It looks like your system is working, or at the very least is pretty damn close to it." She could feel a bit of her confidence returning, now that her mind was occupied with solving problems once more. "I think I can make a few valid suggestions, of course. Not a complete overhaul of what you have here; like I said, just something that can sort of slide into what you already have in place. Like another piece of the puzzle, or something." Madison took a notebook out of her traveling satchel and opened to a marked page. Scribbled in pencil were sketches of a pyramid-like structure, at the center of which grew a massive braid of vines as thick as a cart. The root system that wove through the ground stretched out for miles, drawing energy from the earth where it could and sending it back to the zigguraut. Several different chambers were drawn inside the building, where various functions necessary for the development of the undead civilization could take place. Whatever they were; she'd leave up to Lucia. One suggestion she had written down was that there was a separate root system that traveled further out than the one that drew in mana. It would be strong enough to grow in the dead ground of Lucia's duchy, poking up through the ground as sustainable resources for the undead to consume as they deemed necessary--trees for lumber, crops for eating and possibly trading, and the like.
Lucia contently nodded along with her explanation, even if Madison wasn't listening she didn't hesitate to keep talking. Lucia was very passionate about her ambition after all, and the efforts she put into things was extensive. When Madison firmed up her resolve to try and reciprocate in some way though, she'd find Lucia had a firm spring to her. Lucia wasn't the most voluptuous or curvaceous of women, but she had a great deal of feminine appeal, a soft delicateness to her exterior. That soft yet firm spring to her frame was something Madison could surely appreciate even if it was 'accidental'. If she glanced at Lucia to try and see if the woman minded, it would be hard to say, Lucia didn't seem to even pay much attention. If it weren't for the fact that her smile widened subtly in reaction to Madison's gentle bump, it might even make someone think Lucia hadn't noticed at all. "The source is plenty, but far too much of it is wasted traveling from point A to point B, that's why I thought your help would be very helpful." She confessed with a modest smile. Leaning closer to Madison as she started sketching, Lucia leaned over her shoulder to look with a soft hum. She slipped a hand around Madison's back, resting her hand on her opposite hip tenderly. Very content to just watch Madison sketch and Muse, Lucia gave her some quiet to think and imagine, but that soft hand on her hip remained. If Madison focused on it, she'd find Lucia was gingerly drawing a small circle into her hip with a fingertip, just idly humming while resting against her. Waiting until Madison was either happy with her drawing, or too distracted by Lucia's idling to continue, Lucia would finally nod as she spoke, her voice much softer since they were so close, Madison might even be able to feel the warmth of her breast at her neck as she looked over her shoulder. "See? I told you, aren't you really great at this?" She asserted with a reassuring expression, Madison after all seemed to have doubts, or at least reservations about her own value. She nodded looking at the girl's work as she continued. "And just think, this is just the first step. There's still so much more we'll be able to do with these kinds of skills. Working together, changing the world, one bit at a time."
"The first step, huh?" Madison gazed up from her notebook, pencil still in hand, tip hovering over the page. Before her, the towering ziggurat that Lucia constructed. The runes glowed, the smoke poured out from the top, flashes of brilliant light burst from it on occasion. Her mind was elsewhere, though. The woman was aware of Lucia's closeness. The hand on her hip, lightly tracing circles she could feel through the fabric of her dress. The soft, melodious humming. The aura of warmth and kindness emanating from her. The whispered words in her ear, sending a slight chill down her spine. Did Lucia really believe that she was that valuable and helpful? Madison wasn't sure if the priestess really thought that, or if she was just saying it to keep her around. Self-doubt's a hell of a drug. For all the studying and theorizing she had done on the subject, Maddy was merely taking stabs in the dark. She wasn't sure if any of this was even going to work, or if it was even possible. Not just her experiments with pushing Nature Magic to its limits--but Lucia's own dream of an undead kingdom. But if the veteran believed it could be done, then why shouldn't she? Besides, it felt... really good, really liberating to have a purpose in Terrasphere. Madison tried to hold onto that moment in the field as long as she could. She surprised herself once she realized she had leaned into Lucia's embrace, shifting her weight around so the woman could comfortably lay her hand on her hip. The witch could feel Lucia's body pressed lightly against her own. Despite her own ability to feel much of anything, her heart raced. Everything was new. Everything was confusing. But she would keep it for as long as she could. Eventually, the plagueslinger decided that it was best to try and get back to business. "So," she said quietly, still savoring the sensation of Lucia's hand on her hip. "Is this the only one? Or are there more?"
Lucia nodded, seeing that Madison might have a hard time forecasting her ambitions. She wanted a culture after all, the Ziggurat was naturally only the first step, finding a sustainable food source for undead to survive on was necessary for them to begin cultivating the land and building houses. "It all starts with food sources. Once this is completed, the undead raised will be able to survive without my supervision. Then those with intelligence can coach and lead those few stragglers who need help. As time goes on more will come to understand and work together to change and shape a city create a way of life. It all starts from the first step." She lectured with a soft gesture of her free hand. All great civilizations always began around a water source, but undead were different, they needed a crypt, a tomb, in Lucia's case who wanted them exposed to the outside world where they could grow and develop, a Ziggurat was needed. "It's a plan I would've had to suffer for if it hadn't been for you Madison. You're really helping me out here." She explained gently, her smile bright and thankful, there was a genuineness in her words that made it hard to doubt or disprove, the confidence in her gaze was hard to shut down at least. Even if Madison felt her role wasn't all that important, it might be hard to tell Lucia she was wrong for feeling the way she did. It was as she explained this, that Lucia raised the hand from Madison's hip to her shoulder suddenly. Draping an arm around her gingerly, her hand fell down to Madison's chest, still idly drawing a ginger circle into her skin through her clothes, but the location was a bit more dangerous now. Lucia though didn't seem to think much of it, as if it were an accident, as if it were something that wasn't a big deal, she was relaxed and friendly as ever. After taking in the sights a bit longer, Lucia couldn't help finally sighing. "Now, if only we could somehow push the schedule forward. I'm not afraid of others wanting to step in and take my duchy, but I'm afraid that we're not starting with the same level of resources. I can only hope this project moves through smoothly and effectively." She hoped with a burdened expression, though she seemed to brighten the longer she touched at Madison's chest, a sweetness in her smile even if her gaze was pessimistic.
Had this been any other game, or real life even, with any other person? Madison would've planted the tip of her boot into their privates. Hell, in the last VRMMO game she played she managed to manipulate some skill trees to transmit plagues mentally after a greasy, scuzzy, patchy-bearded, water bottle-chugging, sock-hiding Sephiroth-ass telepath winked at her and sent her explicit thoughts in vivid 16K definition from across the battlefield. But Lucia...? She didn't quite understand why, but despite how their friendship seemed to suddenly, uh, escalate... Maddy felt safe. The witch remembered feeling a small twinge of sadness after their first meeting, as she lingered in the doorway of her tent. Back then, she had no idea why. There was this odd charismatic aura that surrounded the priestess. When she was around Lucia, she felt like she could let her walls down and open up a little bit. Let the cracks in her shell widen, until they broke away. Maybe it was because Lucia was nice to her. That Lucia believed in her. It was her kind and tender hand that helped guide the woman through this strange and dangerous world they both devoted so much time to. It was a rare feeling for Madison--that feeling of self-worth, of having value to someone, anyone, really... She had nearly forgotten what it felt like. As Lucia's fingers delicately continued to dance across the skin of her breast, Madison considered what the priestess said. It sounded like she had everything figured out; a very hands-off approach, once the cycle got started. Once it got started, anyway. Very trusting, putting the development of an entire society in the hands of those who would live in it. Hands that might not be capable of doing the job--but that was Madison's own inexperience with the necromantic arts in Terrasphere talking. She'd only have to trust that Lucia's assumptions were correct on the matter. It wasn't her place to question; her role was to do. A role she was always better suited for, if she had to be honest with herself. Madison's gaze was still locked on the hypnotic pillar of smoke coming from the ziggurat when she stashed the notebook and pencil in her inventory. Slowly, she reached up with her hands and placed them on Lucia's before pressing it against the curve of her chest. If the necromancer wanted to, she could feel Maddy's heart racing inside her. "Don't worry," the briar witch finally spoke as she gave Lucia's hand a light squeeze. "We can do this as fast as you'd like." The odd timing of her statement wouldn't hit her until much later. Madison's voice slipped back into that familiar business-like tone as she continued. "I've been approaching this all wrong," she admitted with shake of her head. "My mindset is just so stuck in how things operated in other games I've played. Like, how every school of magic or ability or whatever can do one thing and that's it. But the system here... It's just so wide open." The woman shifted around enough to be able to see Lucia out of the corner of her eye. "It's quite overwhelming, really. I've spent enough time researching the limits of magic in Dunnstads, only to find out that there aren't really any." Madison quickly corrected herself. "Well, there are, obviously; it's just a matter of finding them. And being creative enough to get around them. Like how you sustain your undead, supplementing them with Spirit and Summoning Magics." She nodded towards her inventory. "The drawing in that notebook was me fiiinally figuring that out for myself. I've become more than capable in Nature Magic. I can make this happen--a sustainable resource for the undead in your duchy. Might take a minute to gather the energy I need and finalize the plans and prepare the ritual for the sheer amount of plant growth we'll need, but I can get it done." Madison gingerly lifted Lucia's hand from her breast and turned to face her, and awkward but earnest half-smile etched on her face. "Don't worry, we'll make your dream a reality yet." The witch's eyes briefly flickered towards Lucia's lips. Her hand raised in the air, reaching for the priestess's cheek, but hesitated. And in that moment, she froze.
Feeling Madison's hand on her own, for a moment Lucia was a little shocked, but after a time, simply smiled and just listened to her talk. When Madison squeezed her hand, she'd be able to feel Lucia give her chest a soft squeeze in return, the affectionate squeeze made Lucia close her eyes. By the time Madison glanced towards her, she'd find Lucia's eyes closed, a very small content and peaceful smile on her face as she felt the woman's heart beat in her palm, the softness against her fingers. It was such a peaceful and serene expression that could dominate the atmosphere making it warm and comfortable to match. Hearing Madison comment on the openness of the game and experimentation though, Lucia turned her head up for a moment, her hand on the woman's chest made her comfortable enough for her facade to crack at the corners. Her smile growing meeker, a faint sadness in her gaze slowly bubbling forth. That facade she kept up for people to seem and act gently and gracefully to everyone was something that could safely crack around Madison she believed as she spoke in a soft tone. "Mm, there's more to it then that as well." Lucia explained, if Madison looked her way while she tried explaining, Lucia would flash a faint smile at her. The intense melancholy in her gaze different from the usual gentleness that flowed from it. If nothing else, that melancholy and sadness was Lucia's most genuine state of 'natural'. "In this game, there are very few limits, but you can't become god simply because you want to be. There has to be 'something' behind it. I'm as strong as I am not necessarily because I know how to use my skills and synergize them properly. It certainly might play a role, but the magical strength I exert, my power to produce an army of undead, my ability to reach a Goddess in this game don't have much to do with knowledge alone." She offered an explanation, her fragile smile widening as she averted her gaze from Madison. Continuing in a softer voice. "Ideology and belief become a tool to flex and lift to turn good into great, and great into better." She explained clearly believing it was important that Madison knew she shouldn't just focus on the cold facts of researching her magic. There needed to also be an emotional element, a desire or a push to further it, a feeling or goal to push it past it's limitations. For a moment, Lucia considered just spilling her guts out for Madison, shouting about how someone as special as Madison shouldn't hold someone like her in high regard. Lucia who turned Envy and Sloth into arcane power wasn't really qualified to lecture other people on finding motivation to better themselves. It was very clear that she visibly desired to say more, but such pessimistic thought would no doubt be unwelcomed. Already, breaking her facade for this short amount of time was unsightly enough, truly Lucia hated herself and didn't want to reveal any more of that unsettling side. Swallowing back that melancholy until the gentleness returned to her expression she agreed with one thing, with Madison's help she'd definitely be able to achieve her dream. Giving Madison's hand a gentle squeeze when she moved it from her chest, Lucia nodded back, content, faithful in this person in front of her despite only having known her a short while. "Mm." She confirmed with a gentle nod. "I have faith in you." She spoke, offering Madison a dazzling smile. Yes, Lucia would believe that anyone who wasn't her could do fantastic and amazing things. Yes, this woman would no doubt accomplish great deeds in the future. Someday, Lucia thought, Madison would become grand, bright enough to shine like a dazzling star. At that time, she had no doubts that this spectacular person would move on, forgetting about someone as average as she was, find someone as dazzling and bright as her to continue to grow with. Even so though, Lucia was content that she could have Madison's support, even if it was just for now. She was happy, down to her heart of hearts for the time she could spend with special people like this-- Amazing people that would look at her almost like she was special too. Her faith was absolute, her confidence unerring. As long as they weren't her, they would never become a lost and unseen face in a crowd, they would find a way to shine. Naturally, Madison's gesture wasn't lost on Lucia though, watching the woman with a bright gaze, feeling the hand on her cheek, Lucia tilted her head gently into that hand. Batting her eyelashes briefly at Madison, a coy smile spreading on her face. She knew that look, this atmosphere, it was delightful, it made her heart soar. When Madison's gaze glanced at her lips, Lucia didn't hesitate to let her tongue round them slowly, moistening her lips under Madison's gaze. The action was brief, natural and simple, but made her soft lips glisten as she waited with anticipation. Though seeing Madison hesitate, Lucia let out a soft, nearly silent giggle. Slowly closing her eyes, she encouraged Madison to take her time waiting, not wanting Madison to feel like she was being watched or judged, she kept her eyes closed and patiently let Madison feel things out and try her own approach. She stretched a hand out to Madison's hip, comforting her by gently grabbing on, without holding her back or pushing away, letting her know that this wasn't an accident or a misunderstanding, she was definitely waiting for Madison. When the woman did finally lean forward for a kiss, Lucia wouldn't try too hard, exercising restraint, it seemed like Madison had just done so on a whim after all. Lucia didn't want to make the girl feel pressured or overwhelmed. The simple contact was sweet, the warmth of her plush lips met Madison's gingerly, with the faintest amount of pressure. The soft 'sound' of the kiss could be heard faintly, a very delicate and fragile sound before they parted, Lucia finally opening her eyes to gaze back at Madison, with only a simple and pleased smile.
Madison completely lost herself in the moment. It had been far too long since she embraced someone like this. She had truly forgotten how good it felt. The warmth rising in her face. The feel of Lucia's hand lightly resting on her hip, neither pushing her away or pulling her closer. The warmth of the priestess's lips. The silence that grew between them in the brief seconds that felt like hours. As much as she didn't want to, she eventually pulled away. Her hand still rested on Lucia's cheek, her thumb drawing small circles on her beautiful, sharp features. Madison could've started into her eyes for hours. A breath caught in her throat as the smile on Lucia's face grew. And while she enjoyed her soft, electric embrace... what the hell were they going to talk about next? A lot of work had to be done yet on the ziggurat. She'd need a tour of the interior to know how much space she had to work with, she had to write up a list of resources necessary for the ritual circle that would need to be drawn onto the dry, dead earth, she would need to notify Dunnstads Medial North that she would need to extend her leave of absence or put in her notice altogether, she'd need to do a bit more reading on the kinds of plants she was looking to grow and re-purpose into a giant living machine that would power an entire society of undead-- But even Madison--the awkward little woman who missed eleven social cues out of ten--knew not to ruin this kind of moment with silly work things. The plagueslinger draped her arms over Lucia's shoulders and slowly pulled herself closer, stopping mere inches away from her body. She began running her fingers through the priestess's black, wavy hair, twisting and teasing it with her forefinger. Madison felt the urge to go in for another kiss, but restrained herself. Can't seem too lonely and desperate now. "That was pretty nice," she said, her voice hushed. For the first time in a long time, the smile that crossed her face was genuine.
Lucia couldn't help but chuckle, despite Madison's silence, her struggle and thoughts were pretty clear by the anxiety and uncertainty in her expression. Was this her first kiss? Maybe not, Lucia couldn't judge her too harshly, instead she mused about whether or not Madison had any experience, she seemed too vanilla and innocent. Being held was nice and comforting though, Lucia enjoyed Madison's hug, wrapping her own arms around the woman's waist affectionately. Her soft hands resting at Madison's butt, gazing into her eyes contently, patiently waiting for her to speak when she's ready. Finally hearing her commenting on the kiss being nice though, seeing the smile on her face, Lucia couldn't help smiling back. Giving her a soft and simple shake of her head, it was nice certainly, but did Madison need to be so reserved? Lucia certainly wasn't opposed. Instead she tightened her soft hug on the girl's waist as she spoke in a matching hushed tone. "Well now, if it was that nice, there's no reason you can't try a few more times." She offered, watching Madison with a gentle and welcoming smile. If Madison leaned in for more, Lucia would certainly welcome her, matching and touching her lips tenderly to the other woman's as many times as she leaned in to meet her. Though if it seemed like Madison was growing uncomfortable or overly self-concious Lucia would finally exhale a soft breast, reaching for her hand to give it a tender squeeze, both at her hand and her backside. "Well, if you'd like, after we do some exploring, maybe you'd have fun curling up with a good book in my tent?" She offered, though it was naturally possible for all sorts of mature things to happen in such a situation, she essentially offered the medieval version of netflix and chill, she didn't have any real expectations for it. Madison was someone who was helping her out of the kindness of her heart, someone sweet who enjoyed being in her company. Lucia wouldn't pressure her into things she didn't welcome. Instead, she patiently tried to take Madison's hand to show her around. If more did end up happening, well, Lucia thought to herself with a mellow smile, she'd worry about that when it came to it.
The opening was there. It was right freaking there. And Madison didn't take it. As comfortable as she was around Lucia, as welcoming and friendly and receptive (and proactive) as the priestess had been, she wasn't sure if she could emotionally survive another soft, tender kiss. Not right now, anyway. When she pulled away slightly, Lucia gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. And her butt, too--which was also pretty nice, she supposed. Not the best butt, to be fair; but if this was going to be a common occurrence when in the duchy, then a few trips to whatever was Terrasphere's equivalent to McDonald's to make it a more comfortable thing to squeeze was probably in order. Lucia held out her hand, hoping that Madison would take it. The priestess offered to show her around her duchy some more, and then promised to finish the evening with books and conversation in her tent. The witch couldn't turn down an offer like that--and not because she had no way to leave, of course. And besides... The two women might get a chance to know each other a little better. She had a feeling she'd be happy here. "That'd be lovely," Madison said with a smile as she took Lucia's hand.
