[center][b]Day 2 - 1:16 AM[/b][/center] Lucania hadn’t been able to sleep. Okay. Perhaps that wasn’t being completely candid, she certainly [i]could[/i] have slept, but in point of fact, she had [i]chosen[/i] not to. The atmosphere of the darkened room was a soothing one, and as she lay, occasionally shifting underneath her sheets, she could unquestionably feel the lull of sleep tugging at her. But her mind, admittedly under the influence, fought, if only to purchase a few more seconds of cognizance. She knew she was drunk, she didn’t care. Even in the low-light of the golden room, Evelina’s sleeping form was… pleasing. [i]’Dio... Lucy was right, you are creepy...’[/i] N-no! It wasn’t like that! Not entirely, at least. She found the ‘up and down’ of Evelina’s resting form pleasant. A relaxing, natural metronome came in the form of her breathing, carrying a melody that was like something pure and… [i]‘Hmmm?’[/i] She had fangs? Lucania, with willpower she wasn’t aware she possessed, forced herself out of her own bed to move to the edge of Evelina’s. It wasn’t intoxication that pushed her to lean over Evelina’s sleeping form, nor was it purely sexual. It was just as much a natural curiosity, and perhaps even moreso a certain… desire, to be closer to this virgin woman whom she knew nothing about. The red head rolled away from her, facing toward the ceiling of the room. Lucania adapted to the change, positioning herself precariously over Evelina’s body, she was practically all on the bed, arched awkwardly over the healer by that point. She couldn’t pretend that positioning wasn’t… [i]romantic[/i]? That was irrelevant, though, she had come with a purpose! Lucania looked at Evelina’s mouth, they way it curved ever so slightly, the beautiful contrast of the red against her freckled skin in the dark… [i]Stop it. Just look at her canines![/i] A slight parting in the lips exposed teeth that were, if she had ever seen any, fangs! Probably something to do with her being an Immortal. How had she not noticed them before? A drunk though came forth, [i]You didn’t use any tongue![/i] She flushed at her own thoughts. She wasn’t entirely wrong… but… should she? Lucania couldn’t shake the thought from her head, a head that [i]was[/i] subject to the influence of the intoxication... Her lips were [i]right there[/i], right? She shouldn’t go back to bed without stealing just [i]one more kiss[/i], the two may part ways forever in the morning! It’d be criminal [i]not[/i] to kiss her again. Lucania leaned in, her heart rate increased, blood left certain areas to travel to… [i]others[/i], her arms became weak at the thoughts-- too weak. One moment, she was balanced over her chest, the next, she had fallen face first into the... ample bosom of Miss Quinn, the space in between the fall and the landing was perhaps one of the fastest shifts Lucania’s eyes went from embarassed cyan to deep purple. She couldn’t pretend like, on some level, she hadn’t wanted just this. She hadn’t ever… [i]ever[/i]... seen breasts this big before! Lucania wasn’t the most subtle person in Dust, she couldn’t be, her eyes were the ultimate tell. But typically, she’d have shown much greater restraint than this, than to openly relish the opportunity... [i]’So soft...’[/i] Unfortunately, the alcohol still lingering in her system was more than enough to override any commands from her superego. For the now, she was completely content in throwing caution to the wind and falling asleep as she nuzzled against Evelina’s bust. [center]-----[/center] [i]Darkness. A Darkness that could not be penetrated no matter what she did. Her powers didn’t work, nor did any fire she started work. The sun was extinguished, the stars snuffed out like a tiny candle. “Who are you?” She asked. Her own voice was almost unrecognizable; a hollow quality to it like an echo. “What do you want?” The darkness didn’t reply. It was silent, absolute, and all-consuming. But it did take shape. A part of the Darkness solidified, gathering together in a hole in the very fabric of space. What had before been dark now seemed like a mid-day compared to the nothingness in front of her. “What are you?” The Dark Figure didn’t reply. It moved, then dissolved. Light returned.[/i] [center][b]8:43 AM[/b][/center] And Evelina woke up. She lay on her back, feeling well rested and oddly happy. The dream had been strange, but not frightening. Just… odd. Shifting her gaze to the side she noted the red-ish light peeking through the drapes, indicating an early morning. She yawned, and stretched her arms above her head, a motion which brought something else to her attention: The action of stretching her arms caused her bust to move slightly, and, as a direct result, reminded her brain of something touching her bare flesh. She looked down, a blush quickly forming on her cheeks. Lucania was lying halfway on top of her, head on her right breast, and one hand snaked up under her shirt and gently holding her left in the palm of her hand. For some reason it didn’t surprise her all that much that Lucania had snuggled up against her during the night, and it was this lack of surprise that—she told herself—was the reason why she didn’t immediately push her away out of shame. Instead she brought her left hand—the one not pinned underneath the Sleeping Beauty—to Lucania’s hair, running her fingers through it for a short while, then her cheek; nails dragging lightly across her skin. “Mmm… amă…” Lucania muttered something incoherent as the life returned to her. She had a pleasant dream, and despite the headache, she remembered having a pleasant night before it. Something was brushing against her cheek, something else very soft was cupped in her left hand. She remembered her drunken midnight excursion. Her awareness returned to her, and with it, Lucania recalled where she had fallen asleep the night before. Groggily, filled with equal parts fear, embarrassment, and shame, Lucania risked opening her eyes. Morning light blurred everything, the only thing that was clear to her, as she adjusted from where she had passed out, were those emerald cat eyes, and attached to them a face that seemed bashful, but still smiled. “Umm…” Lucania brought her hand from under Evelina’s shirt, but otherwise didn’t move. Lucania shuddered, she couldn’t even tell what exactly it was she felt, she just knew she needed to break that silence, “G-good morning...!” “Morning,” Evelina replied, her gentle smile growing into a teasing smirk. “Couldn’t keep your hands away after all?” She blushed a little deeper at her own comment, but kept at it. “Did you sleep well? Was the pillow soft enough?” She moved a stray lock of hair out of Lucania’s eyes, soon returning to caressing her cheek. Lucania’s face was probably a brighter red than Evelina’s hair. “I-I didn’t,” the stroke to her cheek made Lucania shudder further, “I-I mean, initially I was just…” The woman closed her eyes. She was babbling, and close to the point of hyperventilating. Taking in a deep breath, she took a second’s reprieve to regain her composure. With a sigh, she began again, “It was lovely, both the sleep and the pillow,” she returned Evelina’s smirk with one of her own, she shook her head, “I suppose this kind of thing is to be expected... you do have me hexxed, after all.” A small giggle was all the response Lucania got at first, though Evelina did wrap her right hand around her waist, holding her just a tiny bit closer. She was beginning to think that, maybe, Lucania wasn’t as brash as she sometimes seemed to pretend to be, and just being near someone whose company she enjoyed in a more-than-platonic manner, was sometimes enough to elicit reactions or various kinds. “Hexed... So you say. I can’t help but wonder if it was perhaps your own decision to come here and fondle me in my sleep, use my breasts as a pillow, and snuggle up against me? I don’t know about you, but I don’t really think I quite possess the powers to make you come into my bed while sleeping.” “No… you’re right.” Lucania sighed, savoring the warm fluttering that erupted in her chest as a result of Evelina, “I’m just very…” she searched her mind for the right word, finding herself still muddled with the ghosts of the drink of the night before, “...bold.” That wasn’t quite wrong, but it wasn’t entirely right, either. “I just…” Perhaps she could better articulate her thoughts once the hangover had passed? She doubted it. Typically, she could always rely on her eyes to tell the world how she felt, whether she liked it or not…The problem was, they didn’t always make it obvious to [i]her[/i] how she felt. There was something she wasn’t addressing. Something she had missed last night. What was it? Lucania ran a hand along Evelina’s skin, shifting her position slightly to nuzzle against her neck. “Please, don’t hesitate to tell me if I’ve been too forward…” she gave single laugh and a slight smile, “I understand it’s very odd to find yourself in the bed of a woman who kissed you under… less than ideal conditions.” Evelina sighed, shifting a little to get more comfortable, though she still let Lucania lie where she did. It was, after all, very comfortable to have someone snuggled up against her like that, even if she wasn’t going to openly admit it. “I won’t lie, Lucania. I think you are being quite forward, and perhaps a little too fast, but… I wouldn’t say that I regret anything from yesterday.” She let out a dry chuckle. “If anything, it actually answers a very old question of mine. See, I never knew what my sexuality was before yesterday, or today even. I had spent too little time with people in my teenage years to ever realise.” It was true, she told herself, that she hadn’t really known if she was straight, gay, or bisexual until yesterday. One thing was for certain, she wasn’t straight. [i]Bi, perhaps?[/i] She shifted again, turning so that she lay on her side, and face to face with Lucania, green and yellow peering at each other. “I wouldn’t mind if we take it slow, if there is to be anything that is, but I still have to ask… is there anything you regret? Or want?” At that, a teasing glint entered her eyes. “Except for a certain somethings underneath my shirt, that is.” “A pony.” Lucania answered, she hadn’t even completely registered the question, but her mind was ready to supply an answer. It wasn’t wrong, either, she supposed she [i]did[/i] rather want an infant equine. “That isn’t very possible though, is it?” Lucania said, “I don’t regret it so much as I… [i]lament[/i] the fact that I may have tried to use you as a release for all of the...” She tilted her head upward, observing the golden zig-zagging design on the ceiling, “Stress…” “I’ve been under a lot of pressure lately, and I think I just wanted to get lost in another person…” She sighed, “That’s unfair to you though, for that I would like to apologize.” Her eyes fell back into Evelina’s, cerulean irises became complemented by a clement smile. “A… pony?” Evelina’s brows bunched together in thought, nose scrunching up as well. “I suppose it isn’t,” she conceded at the end. [i]What’s a pony?[/i] She was silent for a while herself, idly watching Lucania’s near-perfect features, as she looked at the ceiling. Her face took on a hurt look, however, when the reason for the kiss and affection yesterday was brought to the light of day. Her lips pressed into a thin line and she sat up, perhaps a bit too abruptly. “I… get that you’ve been under stress,” she said, looking down at the other woman. She wasn’t angry, nor did she look like it. She looked more disappointed than anything. “And I know what it’s like to just want to get rid of it all, but…” She shook her head. “You’re right, it’s been very unfair of you, and yet.” She paused, stopping herself before she said anything she would regret. She continued after a short while, saying, “I won’t pretend to not be hurt that it was all because you wanted to let some steam out, and at the same time I won’t pretend that I honestly hoped—and still hopes—for something. You’re kind, beautiful, intelligent, and the first person I’ve met that hasn’t wanted me only for my body, I feel. Clingy as it may sound, I don’t want to just let you go.” “You’re sweet.” Lucania followed Evelina in sitting up, and listened to her response, feeling a wave of different emotions as she spoke. She felt, rightfully so, shame, but also hope, the word ‘kind’ had made her slightly downcast, but as Evelina finished speaking, Lucania felt a tinge of excitement. She hung on Evelina’s final words, ‘I don’t want to just let you go,’ and felt her response slip from her mind to her lips in perfect clarity, “I don’t want to let you go either.” Her accent perhaps gave the words a tinge of melodrama, the Castalias had a flair for dramatics, but they were also utterly sincere. Lucania [i]didn’t[/i] want their correspondence to end, plain and simple. She wanted to know more about the seemingly endless altruistic kindness she possesed. She was a drifter, and a doctor of sorts, she offered psychiatric help to distraught strangers in bars and she had the eyes of a cat! She was utterly unique and, quite frankly, dreamy. [i]Was it possible to be handsome and beautiful at the same time?[/i] Yes. Lucania decided, apparently she had already found it in a person. “I am sorry,” Lucania placed a hand atop Evelina’s, “I… Umm, I’m not very good at this, so I apologize if it comes out as garbled,” her heart was fluttering, “this hangover certainly isn’t helping…” she muttered, “Regardless! You seem… wondrous, Miss Quinn, and I would like nothing more than to be honored with the chance to further connect with you… and… to make this all up to you… somehow?” [i]So she realised her mistake,[/i] Evelina thought, fighting to not smile yet. [i]That’s good.[/i] It was a losing battle. A sentence made its way to the forefront of her mind, spoken just scant few moments ago: ‘I don’t want to let you go either’. Such a simple sentence, but a reply to her own statement which, at this point, had utterly defeated any attempt at not smiling. She kept her hand where it was, only turning it to grasp Lucania’s hand in a gentle grip. “My name is Evelina, you know. Not Miss anything. I’m only twenty six, and far too young to be called Miss. That aside… If you want to make it up to me,” she leaned closer, almost too little as to go unnoticed. Almost. “Then close your eyes.” “My…” Where there had once been only the electric sensation of Lucania’s skin laid atop Evelina, there was a grip. Fear? No, merely registering the new sensation. Evelina made it known she wasn’t a ‘Miss,’ in a manner that was playful, but also… forceful. Lucania’s heart palpitations only increased, she felt blood rush hot across her body. She knew Evelina could see it, that it was probably her whole intent; this was turning her on. [i]Alright, Evelina.[/i] Lucania wordlessly did as ordered, closing her eyes, transforming the vermillion dawn light into a self-imposed darkness. About a shade darker and Lucania’s cheeks would be the same shade as Evelina’s hair. Her smile widened and she leaned forward, bringing her unoccupied hand to the other woman’s cheek, and gently caressed it with her thumb. Her eyes fell on the lips now only a few centimetres from her own, pink and full. [i]Perfect for kissing.[/i] The distance continued to lessen until, finally, their lips met, Evelina pushing forward in a gentle but firm kiss. For an obsidian flicker, Lucania was faced with the void. She shuddered at the sensation that brushed its way across her cheek. For some reason, Lucania considered her appearance in the infinitesimal expanse of time that bridged the ecstasy between merely having her face touched and the vapor inducing experience that came next. The early light gleamed off messy brown hair, her closed eyes were framed with messy eyeliner, a black sleeping gown hung loosely off one shoulder, she didn’t actually remember when she put it on, her complexion, typically olive, was as crimson as the fire in-- Evelina, with a press as light as a feather, locked lips with Lucania. The soft press of skin against her own sent a shock through her being, her heart didn’t just stop-- it melted. Was this how heaven felt? All the time? It had been so long since a sensation filled her with this much giddiness. [i]Salem would be sad to hear that.[/i] Lucania’s mood softened. Why did that have to come up [i]now?[/i] She wanted to ignore the thought, like swatting away a fly. But she couldn’t stop once she had started, she felt guilt pour in-- as if spending a decade hunting down her killer hadn’t been enough. That feeling of being watched wouldn’t go away over night, no matter how much she drank. She was moving too fast. Lucania pulled away from the kiss, not abruptly, she was still beaming, her eyes were still golden, but there was a slight withdrawal painted across her, a whisper escaped her still parted lips, “...slow.” Evelina nodded, easily seeing the slight pain on Lucania’s face. For all her bravery and brashness, she was still just a small girl, even if she were more than old enough to be considered adult. The kiss had been just as she imagined it: Soft, warm, and thoroughly pleasant. “I know. I want to take it slow myself, but… I wanted to be selfish just this once.” A wry smirk pulled at her lips. “You don’t get to be that often when you’re a healer.” Her arms wrapped around Lucania and drew her into a comforting embrace, holding her in silence as one hand stroked her back. “You okay?” “Yes,” Lucania breathed deeply, taking in Evelina’s scent, she sighed. “I’m just a little haunted, I think,” she closed her eyes and gave herself fully into the embrace. She let her statement rest, and simply existed in the silence with her companion, eventually adding an addendum to her statement, “And perhaps a little hungry...”