Eternal thoughts

Professor Tiki tells her some words of encouragement she doesn't know how to respond to.

Only flashing a quick smile before making her way to the task ahead.

The roof glows a soft warm light of the runes activating

There's a strange feeling of pride that washes over Tine as she makes her way down.

Yes, she made a mistake, but she can fix it before any meaningful damage is done.

And in some small way, she makes the lives of those in the monastery better.

It's actually quite easy; it almost feels like the magic casts itself on its own.

It feels

Correct.

She cannot shoulder the burdens of the whole world, but she can do this.

The final runes glow as they connect; it seems truly over. She carefully makes her way back to Professor Tiki.

"I believe it would make sense for us to hold the coat over our heads and make our way to some heated building of the monastery; the lightning still seems far away enough for that to be quite safe. "

But there is something more important to say.

The repairs successful, Tiki reels in the young mage. She sweeps an arm around the smaller hooded figure, guiding her to the ladder first. The cloak tents easily above the both of their heads, but Tiki knows that they cannot both descend at once.

"Go ahead. A little rain is doing me some good."

Tine's legs off of the roof, Tiki then unties the rope at her waist. She watches Tine's silver hair, thoroughly drenched by the rain, disappear past the edge.

Tiki spends an extra moment perched alone. The grey skies reflect in her milky green eyes. The shadows of clouds above gather and darken. She lets the downpour coat her scales.

Could her Naga see her even here in Fodlan? It mattered not the true answer; for Tiki, her eyes would always look upon her. Not as a guide, but as any mother would.

She calls down from the roof, though her keen eyes can no longer make out the cloaked thunder mage. "I shall be there!"

...It all hurts his head, being honest with himself. Makes him a little nervous.

"Well, I dunno..." Tiki's little comment almost comes off like a joke, from where he's standing, but he's got the nagging feeling she's really serious. "I've never thought about it before... Settlin' down with anyone, I mean."

Then, he has to ask himself whose features she'd be looking for to begin with, if he really has had a kid in her future...

She does not pretend to be overly familiar with the genealogy of the last 2,000 years of her life, nor with even the humans of her days in Marth's Archanea. She replies steadily nontheless.

"Of course. But anyways, surely you must be here on some sort of professional business? You are still a mercenary, yes?"

Tiki's weight does not shift between her legs; rather, she stands straight, staring attentively. Her eyes are unblinking in the afternoon light, and seem to peer beyond her Samto's physique, into his psyche. The only indication that she is not an actual statue of stone is the way her cloak flutters about her, the dark navy of the monastery flapping in the breeze.

Tiki sidles along the wall, rising up to meet her. Tenderly, her hands rest on Tana's legs. She thumbs the supple skin there, sliding up her thighs. Thin scars dot even here, Tiki makes every effort to touch as many as she can.

It's daunting, going all the way herself, this time. Her eyes flit up to Tana's lips again, considering a kiss or anything to slow her pace. Heh. She hadn't considered that the other woman would also be tickled so pink! Privately, Tiki's glad the anticipation goes both ways; but even so, she can't help but comment on how much it complements her complexion.

"You are a beautiful woman, you know," she mumbles, breaths heavy.

Her hands, having climbed ever higher in the meanwhile, creep inwards to where she can begin to feel Tana's wetness. She traces Tana's pubic hair down to her opening, and Tiki licks her lips before planting a firm kiss down there.

It's not what she expected, for taste. She hesitates, licking her lips again, this time taking Tana's slick to her tongue. It's salty, it's sweet, it's burning, and Tiki decides that if this must be the taste of true mortal euphoria.

"I shall not turn you down, my lady!" his voice cracked like thunder, a little too proud, a little too amicable. since she had not the pleasure of meeting other dragons, he supposed she did not know Alear, Rafal, or Dheginsea? (hello? was anyone listening out there? Seiros, if you were, could you tell him how many dragons were just walking the earth like it was no one else's business?)

he could not pretend to grasp the weight of thousands of years without companionship—such a thought eclipsed even the grandest tragedies recorded in the histories of Fodlan. Tiki's bright smile, her fanged earnestness, carried no malice, only a desperate kind of hope that made Ferdinand's chest tighten.

for a moment, the whole world around them seemed quieter, softer, as if it too wished to listen.

he set a gloved hand lightly over his chest, bowing his head, the gesture reverent but not overly formal.

"if it is within my power to ease such a burden," he said, voice warmer now, stripped of its earlier fluster, "then by all means, Lady Tiki. I grant you permission."

he chuckled lightly, more to ease the tension that lingered like mist between them. "I merely ask you not to judge me too harshly. should you detect a hint of saddle leather or dust, it is only the evidence of honest work."

straightening, Ferdinand even tilted his wrist slightly to the side, inviting—though still not without a flicker of anticipation sparking behind his eyes.

"come, then," he invited, "let us see what your extraordinary senses make of a son of Aegir."

"Yes," she chuckles, "I am dragon. Though, do not distance yourself too much. I promise that I am mortal as well. I feel, I sense, I taste, I laugh, all in the same ways humans do."

She takes a moment while his thought process spills from his lips. His enthusiasm is clear as day, but so too is a larger fact: this man is obviously nothing more than human. There really is no reason to get a closer sense, to his dismay.

Nevertheless, she does get close, her nose rising to his collarbone, the gap little between them. Instead of her nose, though, her eyes search like small lanterns across his features. Just what kind of person someone is is often hidden in their features, she reasons. To her surprise, there is something that prompts a question.

She steps back from his aura of sandalwood and cologne, shaking her face from his pleasant smells. "Your eyes," she starts, still blinking her own. "They are different. I wonder..."

"Here. Come, come." Not far from them is a booth, decorated with all manner of trinkets and prizes; yet in some of the netting situated near the top, several obnoxiously large plushies with stupidly adorable designs are displayed for those who dare to challenge the games presented... and Say'ri is nothing if not persistent, her pride driving her to make the mental vow to win for Tiki anything that she wants. She'd give her the world, if she asked for it. She'd give her all of her tomorrows, and she only wished she could give her her yesterdays as well.

"Yes; well," she starts, before realizing that Say'ri is right. It is not that she has yet to attend something of this import, but rather, that she has yet to do so as an adult. Of course, she remembers faintly, fondly, of Marth's ascension, his marriage, the infectious joy of his halls.

But she has yet to walk them hand in hand with someone of her own. As a woman, no longer little.

"It is my first celebration alongside a most esteemed guest. It will not be wasted," she giggles.

Her guardian's intent is clear - she's uncharacteristically excited about all this. Normally it is Tiki who leads them on such whimsical quests. Perhaps, she's rubbed off on Say'ri more than she knows.

Say'ri touch guides her gently. The game stall is filled out with bright prizes, and she can't help but want to win them all. It is not as if she has played many games in the long centuries since her childhood - but to do so now feels appropriate, after all. Instinctively, she hooks her arm through Say'ri's, their matching bracelets clinking delicately, jerking her closer to the bright colors. Her gaze catches on a red dragon, then a blue bear, then a white pegasus.

"Oh, these are simply wonderful, Say'ri! Look, look!" Tiki is practically jumping with excitement, pointing at the prospective prizes. "Such craftsmanship! They are adorable, aren't they?" Her eyes tear away to set quizzically on her princess.

"And here I thought I'd have to win these myself. You are truly a kind friend, Say'ri. Come, won't you obtain these, for me?"

The high energy of the party infectious, her skin is practically buzzing, cheeks pink. Giddy, adrenaline making the most of the hour, she presses forward, pulling on Say'ri's arm for leverage, raising herself on the tips of her toes. A brief kiss alights on the princess's cheek.

Beyond that, they had been comrades, once; not particularly close, but he sometimes found her snoozing in odd places, and he learned early on that she had a sweet tooth.

"Tiki!" Feels good to be able to address someone properly, truth be told. People should really wear nametags to these things. "Good to see ya!" He eagle-eyes the seshell on her bracelet, jingling the turtle on his own. "You wanna trade?"

"Yes, of course!" Almost too hastily, Tiki reaches out for the offering, slipping it hastily on her wrist. She's like a small child at harvest, with beautiful crops are far as the eye can see, excited enough to run several laps around the village.

A small handbag is opened, and a seashell bracelet is procured. Squeezed tight in her hand, motions for Gaius to outstretch his palm.

"Much obliged," he tells her - then realizes, with horror, that he has no good answer for her question. "Sweets? Yeah. I'm gonna tell you a secret." He leans in close, lowers his voice. "I haven't gotten far enough to find 'em yet. I got a little distracted. But what I do know is I came locked and loaded. You want lollipops? Gumdrops? Caramels? Malted milk balls? I've got 'em."

Truthfully, candy smuggled into a clump inside a jacket were not the sort of sweets she was looking for. Tiki thinks a moment, then offers a sugary offer of her own.

After all, she nearly met her doom by slipping off this roof.

And now the downpour is even more intense.

And yet her mind is calm. She knows what her job is and that someone is watching over her.

As she carefully climbs the ladder, the rain disrupts her vision.

She repeats the runes over and over within her mind to rely on her memory instead of sight.

It's going to be alright

Tine will do her best.

She reaches the top and says

"Thank you, professor.

Let's get this over before either of us catches a cold."

"Do not rush your work," she advises, eyelashes heavy with raindrops. "I am tasked with your safety. Your enchantment takes priority."

Were this a sturdier roof, perhaps one wing might ease the rain from their heads. Unfortunately, Tiki knew too well that such brash things were no longer becoming of her. Perhaps, as a child, she could get away with squashing a shed, a stall, an outhouse; but she is no child, anymore. She knows the man who she would answer to, and Seteth is not someone she strives to antagonize. Sadly, at the moment, her grubby cloak, wrapped looksely around Tine's small shoulders, would have to do.

Aaaaand she’s at it again, he notes as she uses literal handiwork to tame the ground. Oh well. She looks to be older than Alm, so he’s probably in no place to lecture her on tidiness. Better for him to work on his own planting project than to gawk, anyway.

“Sure thing,” he settles his mouth and chirps, bringing along his makeshift jug to the plant he was directed to. A foreign one, not like that should surprise him. After settling it into another pot, he pours a fair stream into it, stopping once the dirt is a rich, dark color.

Satisfied with his first step, Alm circles around Tiki’s impromptu swamp and leaves the fruit plant with ones that appear similarly-coded. As if on cue, she speaks up to ask another question. Though it feels awkward to speak to one’s back, even if she is clearly pre-occupied.

It must be a plant with sentimental value to him, she reasons. Perhaps he is from a wooded village, filled with trees that are tall and stout enough to withstand a cold environment. She had not given him a thorough sniff, after she had felt as if he was no dragon. But maybe, they had something in common after all?

Tiki's own home, in her childhood, had not been a particularly wooded place. Pine trees were a rarity, then, seen only towards the confines of the icy temple. Now, caves -- that was much more familiar.

Curiosity wins out. She pauses her slutching to turn to him, wringing her hands of water and soil.

For how similar her body reacts, one would be hard pressed to state that Tiki is anything but human.

"No..." she starts, eyeing Tana between shallow breaths. "It was brilliant. I had no idea it was so different were I touched by someone else."

The cool floor is a nice contrast to her overheated backside. She wants nothing more than to lay down, and sizzle a little. But the moment that Tana joins her on the ground, her chin lifts again.

"Did you also feel... good? I would like you to know such joys as well."

Tiki's hand crawls forward meekly towards her warmth. Once again. It rests against her thigh. An afterthought mumbles through. "Are you as sensitive as I?"

Her gaze flits up from Tana's legs, to her stomach, her chest, then to her lips. All these sensitive spots... But, which does she find the most pleasing? Tiki thinks.

It's agonizingly slow, but it's a start, and she needs to start at somewhat of a distance from the prior intensity. Tana's caress helps ease her back into the mood. Her breath catches, each repetition growing more and more pleasurable. Both of her palms find Tana's shoulders, and she eases herself back into a wet kiss to soothe her concern fully.

Though it's less intense, the feeling builds eventually, and Tiki finds herself practically shaking with each new rotation. Her legs that have stood for centuries, cut down but just one finger... "Something's... close... I'm close..."

Her eyes roll back, and she presses one last desperate kiss as she cums. If Tana's hand wasn't soaked before, it is now, and her fluid continues to spray in spurts as she moans into Tana's mouth. Overheated thighs shiver and shake; Tiki practically throws herself into her arms just to stay any semblance of upright, nose nestling the other's breasts.

"That felt good..." Tiki whispers the words, but they might as well be another exhale for how winded she's become. Her cunt still aching, she manages small words. "I cannot stand any - ah! ... longer..."

Her touch sends a shiver up her spine. Instinctively, her other hand drops from Tana's, grabbing her wrist in a shaky grip. Fear stains the edges of her eyes. Truly, Tiki realizes, it is one thing to touch herself than to have another do it. There is a degree of trust that she has not considered that now makes itself apparent. To trust someone else with her delicate regions felt incredibly vulnerable, and that was scary.

Realizing what she's done, Tiki's eyes flit up back to Tana's. She pants quietly, breaths shaky. "W-wait, I..."

But she doesn't want the woman to wait. Brushing against her clit had simply felt so stimulating, that she had retaliated, defended herself in kind. But the truth of it was that it had felt good. It felt good, but it had overwhelmed her, in a different way than the sensation of their breasts hugging had been. It had been as if Tana had managed to make Tiki feel her whole body, all at once.

Still, a tingle of curiosity remained. There was no harm in learning what formed and shaped this land. It would surely aid her in future endeavors and understanding others. So she made way to the imposing cathedral above ground. This was likely the first place to start. 

A crowd gathered afront there. Azura peeked her head around, wondering to whom they cried. A lone figure stood out and answered their calls. The songstress watched and waited. This person claimed to answer for the Goddess herself. And then green eyes turned to her.

"I...." Azura was startled. She had only intended to watch. But perhaps....this was the foremost way to learn - with someone who represented the monastery. As Azura got closer, she couldn't help but notice the woman's long, dragon-like ears. There was no way. 

"I am called the Voice," she says. Perhaps it is not terribly safe to admit herself in front of followers of a different goddess, but her partner deservers her proper introduction. "In my homeland, I am similar to our Archbishop of Garreg Mach - though, my connection is with the divine dragon Naga instead."

Raising her voice again, she turns to the crowd once more. "My partner and I shall aid you as best we can."

-- -- --

Over the course of an hour, two hours, Tiki answers the worries of the commonfolk in measured phrases. Her eyes remain wide and kind, throughout, as if there is no fatigue for such listening. She's sympathetic, really; to have such a tragedy befall them in their short lifetimes is quite difficult.

As the sun rises directly overhead, the crowd thins. Very soon, there are only a few people left, awaiting admittance to the cathedral for prayer. Finally, Tiki rests back on her haunches, and sets upon the stone steps.

Finally, she can speak with her new friend. She yawns, and wipes sweat from her brow. Eyes sparkle at Azura.

Tiki mentions that kissing another woman is quite pleasurable, but Tana has found that all of this has been exactly that. Tiki is soft in ways Tana is not, she has different slopes to her curves, different patterns to her skin.

In a show of boldness that monetarily surprises herself, Tana uses her hand currently grabbing Tiki's ass, and pulls her flush against her. "I haven't kissed anyone before, but...I am certainly not against changing that."

Tana imagines that her tutors might have been scandalized to hear her say something like that, to find out that Tana has thought a lot about things like this before. But that is alright; this is not for them, this is for her and Tiki.

Surprised at Tana's quick motion, she squeaks as her chest presses up against her. Her nipples, sensitive in her haze, brush against the other woman's breasts, and oh. It feels amazing. Who knew that such things could be so pleasurable?

Tiki's hand cups around Tana's breast. She wants more of their contact, she wants to feel herself against Tana, and she wants Tana to feel that same pleasure. It's a rush, and Tiki's unsure exactly of what it is that makes her feel so good - but she has no time to think, as Tana makes her next move.

As soon as her lips make contact, Tiki's usual urge for physical touch takes over. Usually, it's not so bad; clutching a friend's arm, or leaning more into a hug. But in this situation, she's greedy. She's hungry.

Just as Tana licks her lips, her own tongue pushes through into her mouth, looking to feel more, more, as much as she can. The sensation of her warmth, rooting around greedily in Tana's saliva, is addicting; each kiss flows into another, and another, and another. The tongues dance together. Tana's hand, hovering above her backside, sears this delicious wanting into Tiki's pleasure-addled brain. And oh, Tiki wants the good feeling to continue, like she's wanted nothing more in her long life. She shivers, moaning under Tana's touch, still constant on her nipples.

"Hahhhh," Tiki groans. Spittle drips from her mouth as she pulls away, briefly. It's barely a moment before she goes back in for more.

As much as she wants to just kiss the woman until she passes out, a different feeling is slowly emanating from further down her body. At first, she merely ignored the tingling. But now, her cunt was practically drooling as much as her mouth. Tiki rubs her thighs together, just wanting more contact, and is surprised to feel her slick.

She manages to unhook her claw from Tana's breast, sending two fingers to rub herself. She doesn't care if Tana notices. She doesn't want to lose this feeling.

As a result, her tongue is more hesitant, but her moans become more frequent. Eyes clamped shut, Tiki moans,