Lucia had a soft smile, after the chaos of the world boss, Lucia couldn't help wanting some kind of relief and relaxation. 12 hours of constant and persistent gaming wasn't uncommon for Lucia but 12 hours of fighting and being pressured was something that hadn't happened since her first Raid. It made her wipe her head and forehead a few times once she was free from the tragedy of an adventure. For the rest and relaxation, Lucia retreated to her territory, knowing she wouldn't be able to unwind while looking over her shoulder as a dark mage. Once she'd escaped the mess of an interrogation that was called a debriefing, she returned contently looking for her usual relaxation place. It was a nice small place, a pond in the eyes of some, but the water simmered and boiled with warmth, though not quite roiling, it was very warm and good for soaking. Lucia looked down at the waters, even as her tent was being built for her, with a mellow smile, she felt at home as she watched the water's surface. Surely even when her duchy does become large and popular, this would be a place she would keep for herself she asserted. Peeling the cloth armor from her body, she revealed smooth alabaster skin, soft supple skin that had not a single blemish or scar left behind from all of the conflicts she'd participated in. Instead, she slipped her legs into the water, not worried about how exposed she was in a place where no one else would come. There wasn't a living soul in her duchy after all, if there were, it wouldn't be hard for her to find out. With a smile, she knew she wasn't the only one who'd appreciate this, She'd met with @Luna Avalbane and @Madison Freebird earlier on her way home, both of them seemed equally beaten up, either emotionally or physically. She didn't doubt they'd both appreciate the gesture as well. Giving them a message, inviting them to a nice party, providing the location, she punctuated her playful offer with a firm 'And no Swimsuits~' to try and tease them. A sweet smile on her face as she hoped they'd both come to join her for some relaxation. Lucia even went out of the way to get some salts from her territory. A smile on her face as she looked towards the bucket of colored granules. The little crystals had a pink and red tint to them from the scents that were mixed in. They were sweet scents, fruity, flowery, something to stimulate the senses a little. It would make the water warmer and let that warmth reach deeper at least. Letting her legs kick as she swayed, feeling a little chilled from the waist up, Lucia didn't want to jump in alone after all, her bare pale back exposed to the sun over head, she waited with a tender gaze thinking of those two who fought so hard. Even if they'd been thrust apart by the circumstances, Lucia'd kept an eye on them, and certainly couldn't be more proud. Even if she'd said so already once or maybe even twice, it bared repeating, her companions were truly special.
Madison really could've used a vacation. So, when the offer showed up on her UI, she immediately jumped at the opportunity. Another stay in Lucia's duchy? At some natural hot springs? Hell yeah, she'd go! The break from the daily Terrasphere grind would be good for her, especially since she hadn't quite recovered from the war against Titanius yet. Her body still ached, her mind was still disturbed from the visions the eldritch monster gave her. A long soak in some hot water with a good friend would do wonders for her. The witch arrived as soon as she could, following the waypoints on the map until she arrived. It was a small, secluded little pond. Privacy was guaranteed for any who might decide to relax here, even though nothing alive lived there in the first place. As soon as Madison laid eyes on it, she could see why the priestess called her there. She approached dressed in a long robe and a pair of sandals. Her jet black hair was pulled back in a loose bun--or what little of it she could stuff into the hair band, anyway. "Hello, Lucia. It was nice of you--" Madison stopped in her tracks as she approached the spring. "Oh, shit, um--" The woman averted her gaze the moment she realized that Lucia was stark naked. She immediately felt the heat rise in her neck and her cheeks turn a deep crimson, the only hint of any color around for miles. She fumbled for her words, her tongue caught in her throat. "Sorry, I, uh--" Holy fuck. "I didn't know you were serious." Madison was referring to the veteran's last words in the message she sent--"And no swimsuits~" The plagueslinger thought she was just being a tease. Well, apparently not! At least she came partially prepared for such a turn of events. Moving closer to the edge of the springs, still trying to find something, anything other than Lucia's exposed breast, she began to untie her robe. With a shift of her shoulders, she allowed the garment to fall to the ground, revealing her ensemble. It was a fine demonstration of Nature Magic but an underwhelming piece of fashion. The briar witch crafted herself a one-piece bathing suit out of thick, wide pieces of dried seaweed. Its design was conservative, much like herself; any part of her that could've been considered scandalous was completely covered. Strangely enough, it didn't feel slimy against her skin; whether or not that (or it, even) would hold up as soon as it touched the water of the springs would be another matter entirely. "Technically it's not a swimsuit," she muttered as she tested the waters of the spring. It was hot, but not uncomfortably so. Slowly, Maddy eased herself into the bubbling pond, wincing and grunting with each inch as she tried to acclimate herself to the water. It didn't take long for her to get used to the sensation as her muscles relaxed from the heat. Madison leaned back against the incline of the shore and sunk herself up to her neck. Closing her eyes, she sighed with contentment. This had been a good idea.
Arriving at where she'd been told to meet @Lucia Mierz Luna was shocked and fairly worried to discover another person there, or at least she would've been, had she noticed the woman before she'd started to take off her clothes. Slowly peeling her dress up, having taken Lucia's teasing command as having been genuine, she'd planned to not wear a swimsuit of any kind whilst she was in the hot springs. Seeing @Madison Freebird there obviously threw one of the largest wrenches imaginable into the works. She blushed and immediately ducked out of sight again, squeaking. "Lucia! Who is t-that!?" She called out, hidden behind a rather large rock as she flicked through her inventory, looking for a swimsuit of some kind. Eventually, she came across a two piece bikini, chocolate brown in color, which she quickly changed into out of the view of Madison and anybody else that might've been there. Once she was in her bathing suit, and only once she was sure that she was fully covered, did Luna even dare to think of stepping out from behind the rock, blushing as she made quickly for the water, sitting down close to Lucia and practically throwing herself into it, up to her shoulders, to try to hide her body from view a little more. "S-sorry Lucia. I um, I can't not wear something with somebody else here."
Lucia couldn't help an uncharacteristically adorable pout, it wasn't often that she got cute, but seeing both Madison and Luna so particular about covering up, she just couldn't help it. Deep down into her heart she'd thought maybe these girls might bond in a traditional onsen-like atmosphere, but it clearly hadn't occurred to her that not only were both of these women on the shy side, they were both removed from such a culture to understand it. That pouting lip quivered as she crossed her arms over her perky chest causing it to jiggle from the abrupt movement and pressure. "You guys! This was supposed to be relaxation time..." She couldn't help sighing a little. After all despite her pouting and optimistic hopes that things would just work out, she did somewhat expect things to not go her own way, she couldn't blame these two for just being themselves after all. She tried to seem as if she were having a hard time dealing with it before finally reaching out to grab Luna and tug her closer. She was less shy with Luna, the girl who was already used to her playful and whimsical side from time to time. Trying to pull the girl into her lap since she seemed worried about Madison, Lucia thought it was a good move to make at least. Madison didn't seem like the type to enjoy her handsy nature too much and Luna didn't seem to mind as long as she was covered? Lucia didn't know, but tried her best to keep everyone comfortable. With one last joking sigh, she flashed a gentle smile, nodding at Luna's concerns and Madison's surprise. "I like this kind of thing-- At least, it makes me feel more comfortable, specially with people who I can trust... Maybe not men though." Lucia admitted to Madison who seemed alarmed and surprised all at the same time. If they were women Lucia would feel comfortable without much covering her among them. Like a locker room or a spa, it wasn't too uncommon among those who were bold enough. That said, Luna was someone who she'd cared for and loved for a long time, and Madison was someone who she was getting closer to, it was no contest that she'd be fine with them. Luna's fright and alarm though was also something she'd have to settle though. Brushing the girl's hair with a hand, she explained with a reassuring tone. "This is Madison, I met her with Vivian during the TBK quest and I ended up teaching her a few magic tricks. At Titanius, she gave me a hand, so I ended up looking after her until we got back. She went through a lot in that quest too-- The NPCs there tried to kill us after all... So I thought it'd be nice if she had some more friends." Lucia admitted with a gentle smile. Trying to make them both comfortable enough with each other to at least exchange greetings. That'd be the first step before truly relaxing.
Madison remained completely still as the new arrival slowly dipped herself into the steaming pool. The witch immediately recognized her--the last time the two women met, it did not end well for either of them. Luna viewed Madison as an intruder to Lucia's territory and took an immediate dislike to her; Madison did not appreciate Luna threatening to blow Hyperion sky-high with her arcanamancy. And now, here she was, interrupting Maddy's alone time with the necromancer. How the hell was she expected to relax when someone who wanted to kill her was only a handful of feet away? To think that moments after Luna climbed into the pool that Madison's world bottomed out underneath her. She watched on as Lucia reached out for the girl with the flower for an eye and pulled her closer and closer until she was seated comfortably on the priestess's lap. Madison's heart began to race as the fires of jealous began to burn in her stomach. She barely heard Lucia say the words, "...ended up looking after her until we got back... thought it'd be nice if she had some more friends..." ...as if what she did for Madison was out of pity more than anything. ...was this all too good to be true? It crushed her. As much of a hard-ass as she made herself out to be, Madison was always very lonely, very insecure, very sensitive. There was a reason she never opened up to anyone like she did with Lucia; they'd always end up tossing her away the moment something better came along. That's what happened with tools, right? Once they have fulfilled their purpose, they're discarded. And to think, Madison gleefully threw herself at Lucia, so desperate for attention and affection that she blindly agreed to help her with so many things. The ziggurat. The undead society. Her transformation into something... more. Her heart raced faster and faster, threatening to explode out of her chest as she tried to break her gaze away from Lucia and Luna snuggling together. Ever since the battle with Titanius, Madison thought that gondola ride back to the world of the living was something special between the two women; something that would've been the spark that ignited the flames of something greater. No, of course it was too good to be true; one look at the white-haired woman showed that she was far more attractive and desirable to the necromancer. That perfect face of hers, the more luscious curves of her body accentuated by her swimwear, the way Lucia smiled brightly when she pulled the woman closer... And here the plagueslinger sat, motionless, shaken, already feeling everything she worked so hard for slipping from her grasp. Madison began fidgeting with the leaves of her bathing suit. Looking down into the rippling, steaming water, focusing her gaze on the distorted shape of her own ugly body. The body she knew to be ugly and unappealing, no matter what the priestess had said to her, no matter how much of it she explored with her fingers that evening in the gondola. She was withdrawing into herself once more. Her eyes began to sting with the threat of tears. The witch couldn't bear to look at Lucia right now. All she wanted to do was to disappear. Quietly stand up from the pool, dry off, and retreat back to Dunnstads. Chances were good that neither Luna nor Lucia would notice her leaving; and that would be fine. Let them enjoy their time together. And yet... she couldn't move.
