Places Beyond

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it was early in the afternoon as Lumi prepared the bare essentials in her room, and quite a bit more which wasn't quite as essential. Since their engagement, she had been given a new room to reside in. One with a bit more room for personal flourish. She suddenly felt treated like a goddess, ironically enough. This event had been discussed many times over between her and her betrothed. A little trip into the afterlives and explore their vast and sometimes absurd wonders. She had enchanted the picnic basket with a little enlargening spell to make it larger behind the lid and blanket. There was a canister of tea, some sandwiches, little cakes, sodas, fruits and little confectionaries. Everything needed and more. She had even decided to pack a canister of hot cocoa in case that Gwen would want to visit a somewhat colder area.

Excitedly packing their things, she almost failed to notice the knocking on the door. On the second knock, she felt thrilled. Early, but not unwanted, she thought as she assumed that it was Gwen arriving. "Come in, hun." She called out absentmindedly. She heard the door opening up behind her as she kept packinig. Once everything was all but done she turned her head to look at her beloved, only to see her future warden. "S-Sir Alistair." She exclaimed in surprise before turning around to face him straight on. "F-Forgive me. I thought it was Gwen coming... Silly, I guess. She is never early. Always on time." She chuckled nervously. "Is... Is there something you wanted of me?"

Alistair waved a hand toward the girl, a motion for her to calm herself as it only made him anxious when others seemed so frantic around him. "Please, it's just Alistair when speaking casually." He said with a half smile as he nervously scratched the back of his head, his slightly discolored red hair moving along with the motion as he did so.

"I'm... aware that you and Gwen plan to, well, I think travel is a good word? In the sense that, you'll be going far away." He spoke, entering the room and walking a bit closer to the girl, his future daughter in law if all worked out as intended. "You understand my concerns regarding this, right? Especially considering the uh, nature of your travels?"

Feeling a bit more at ease, Lumi nodded to he inquiry, softly smiling. "Yes, it is a bit of a trip, but I think she might enjoy it. And yes, I understand the concern of her traveling so far away. As any parent would. However, there is nothing to fear si- I mean, Alistair. I won't let her out of my sights, and as long as I am with her, nothing can happen to her." She said confidently before returning to the packing of the stuff.

Alistair crossed his arms at that, unsatisfied with her answer. "I do believe that something similar was said the last time you allowed others to join you within these...separate realms. A trip that nearly ended in a great deal of tragedy, so you see my concen isn't that of a regular parent whose child intends to travel to the next town over or even the next country over for that matter. But rather, a whole new set of worries weighs on me." He explained as he moved closer still under he stood beside Lumi.

"I apologize if I come off like a worry wart over all of this. I am aware of your... status, and I trust in Gwen's abilities to hande herself. It's simply..." He stopped himself, thinking carefully over what to say next.

"What I mean to say is, Gwen was a miracle... Her and her sister's. Carwen and I struggled for years to conceive children, something that weighed on Carwen heavily as it was her Draconic lineage that made such a thing difficult... nigh impossible depending on who you asked. And so, or daughters, and our newborn son, are rather precious to us. Not only as our children as of course they would be to any parent, but also as a living embodiment that truly anything is possible with enough love and effort. I know that trouble always has a way of finding those rying their hardest to avoid it and as such I ask that you swear it to me that no harm will come to her on your travels? That she will return safe?" He asked, for a moment thinking about extending his hand, of asking her to make his a genuine deal with him in some way or form but he did not.

Lumi felt ashamed at the mention of their previous endeavour and how her lack of foresight had almost screwed them over in a far too permanent manner. She took a deep breath before looking back up to her future warden and said; "Not a scratch on her forehead. She will be back to you safe, sound, and intact. She is... She is precious to me, and I wouldn't want her to come to harm any more than you. I... I am pretty sure I love her. I don't want another incident either. And this time, without all the secrets, I can ensure it at all times out there. I promise sir. She will be safe with me."

With a deep breath in through his nose he exhaled in a sigh from his mouth, as though her words did not bring him the comfort he'd desperately hoped they would. But he made no mention of that, instead allowing a small smile form on his face. "That's all I ask... Thank you," He said before turning away and moving to leave only for a knock at the door to come as he reached for the handle.

"Lulu, it's me." The voice spoke, calling out to Lumi by a nickname in spite of the rather formal tone of the person on the other side.

*"Speak of the devil..."* Alistair thought before opening the door much to the surprise of his daughter who was not expecting him to be there.

"Father? Is something amiss?" Gwen asked, looking past the man to Lumi who stood further into the room. Alistair responding with a shake of his head.

"Not at all, I simply smelled the food Lumi was packing and wanted to make sure she'd grabbed your favorites." He lied with a smile on his face, reaching forward to ruffle her hair gently. In the month since she'd made the decision to be a better person her father had become less fearful of upsetting her and thus his teasing had begun rather early in the process. Perhaps he meant to test her? Or maybe this was normal? Gwen wasn't sure to be honest but it did annoy her nonetheless.

Stepping out of the doorway, Gwen allowed Alistair through, the man leaving her with well wishes on their travels. Gwen waving goodbye to him before entering the room he'd just left. "Afternoon," She greeted Lumi as she walked up to the girl, stealing another glace over toward the door. "I won't ask what he had to say to you but I assume he didn't tell me the truth of your conversation."

"Hey, hun. You would be correct, but it is nothing big. Just good old fatherly concerns. Afraid to let his hatchling to leave the nest." Lumi said with a wave of the hand and a teasing look in her eye. Leaning up to steal a peck from Gwen's lips, she then turned around with a smile and presented the basket. "Everything should be in order. I asked around a bit to see what you would like to bring with you that was still fitting for a picnic. I hope I did a good job." She said playfully but still with a hint of nervousness as her tail began to curl ever so slightly. "Now then! Only one thing left on the agenda... What kind of place would you like to go to? There are a lot of places, and I want some inkling of an idea of what kind of location you'd like to see."

Gwen crossed her arms at the question of where she'd like to go, a difficult one to process for one such as herself as not only did Lumi know of these 'places' far better than she did but she was also a lot more comfortable with them. Their last encounter in the realm of the afterlife had all but confirmed Gwen's worries regarding the safety, or rather lack there of, of such places beyond her understanding. But she was trying to change for the better and thus, new experiences were in order. Raising a finger to her chin she took a moment longer to think, "I would suppose... someplace mirroring either the fall or spring climate we experience here in Hylion. I do believe that either of those two seasons would be best to picnic under, wouldn't you agree?" She asked, setting her nervous feelings to the side for now. What might they honestly have to worry about during a picnic, even if it were on some other plain of existence?

"Hm. Yes, I can see that. That sounds excellent. Although... I don't really know much about your springs. I heard of cherry blossoms, but I don't know what could properly substitute that... Fall can't be too different from our own, so... Yes. I think I have an idea. And if you hate it, you can just tell me and I'll take us somewhere else." Lumi spoke, grabbing the basket and sweeping open a gateway. She put her hand on her hip as if expecting Gwen to snake her arm through the opening it left, as if escorting her. "Let's begin."

Gwen's head tilted slightly as she looked to the portal in front of her, with a single step she could leave not just Firdaus itself but this realm entirely. The power was not new to her as she'd seen Lumi use it before but regardless it still remained a terrifying prospect to her. To think that if something went wrong going home wouldn't be anywhere near as simple as sprouting wings or finding a boat to carry them across an ocean. No, Lumi's portals, her gates, they were the only way home. With a deep breath, Gwen, with some degree of hesitation, interlocked her arm with Lumi's and allowed the woman to guide her.

Once they stepped in through the gateway, Lumi and Gwen would be transported to a brand new realm. The sun stood high in the sky, casting it's radiant light over the fields, clouds literally darkening spots of it, casting a dark hue in the azure, but it cast no shade over the vast landscape. These clouds also seemed to hold the very nightsky in its confines. Trees that looked very much like oak and birch trees, but their firs and leafs were completely different. Bright golden colors that eternally fell from the trees and disappeared minutes after littering the ground. The ground was of soft pink moss and protruding blue straws of grass. It wasn't obnoxiously bright like neon could be, but rather a soft hue, as if spun from candy. Wonderous critters and animals roamed the trees, some of them looking very much like animals of the lands of Hylion, and others more unique and, for a lack of a better word: Otherwordly. Snakes with clawed forelimbs and furry backs. Stags with gems as antlers and greeting them there stood a freakish abomination of what appeared to be a werewolf's body with a skeletal, monster stag's skull for a head with bright glowing eyes. It said something in a guttural language Gwen wouldn't be able to understand, to which Lumi curtsied and the creature walked away.

"A guardian. Makes sure intruders don't stay for long." Lumi whispered, hoping that she wasn't frightened off immeditely. Over the hill she was intending for them to rest and look over, one could see a city of giant buildings that resembled the likes of Hylion but ever so more grand and extraordinary. "Welcome to Grahvattha. A sibling of mine made it in the image of Hylion after having seen it once when being crowned a prime... What do you think? A bit much perhaps?" She asked cautiously, hoping that she hadn't already overwhelmed her beloved.

The mix of familiar and unearthly gave her a moment of vertigo, the sights, the sounds, the creatures too close for comfort in some cases saw her defensive, guarded, ready to attack if needed. Was that the old her? Was she living up to her promise? If not, why? Was it weakness? "I wasn't aware you had siblings... Unless you meant the other Loa that is... frankly, the buildings look a bit gaudy." She spoke in a facade of strength and courage, as though she could pretend that all of this wasn't out of the ordinary and as a result, out of her comfort zone.

"But the temperature and climate are agreeable, I think this place, this... realm. It will do just fine for what we intend to do here." She said, still allowing Lumi to guide, never letting go of her arm and certainly never wondering off. "What purpose does this realm serve? Is it merely a recreation of Hylion through the eyes in which your sibling saw it or does it serve a purpose beyond that?"

"My sister was a Loa of Adventure and Wanderers. She figured the afterlife should not only give her followers a new place to discover, but a sanctuary that would house them after their long travels. Also. There is nothing more boring in her mind than to be locked into a state of being you don't want to be in. Thus," She pointed back towards the wandering guardian. "They get to choose their own shapes when they enter here. This is one of the larger realms, baring the Wild Kings' realms." She explained, knowing full well that Gwen still found this uncomfortable, but pretended like nothing for her own comfort's sake. Just trying to not make a big thing about it. "So it is a recreation with the intent to be explored by the new arrivers. It is also constantly 'updated' so it does not grow stale for the long term explorers."

"Updated?" Gwen responded with another question, curious as to what she might have meant by that. "In the same sense that our own world is everchanging or much larger changes? Like the way the landscape looks when the plates beneath our feet shift?" She made her curiosity more clear to Lumi as to make it easier for her to answer the question. Or at least, that was the goal.

"More or less. Just... faster and no plates moving about. The realm expands on its own depending on however many there are here. If a million suddenly were to drop inside here, it would grow and change to accomodate the new arrivals. A new mountain range here, some new creatures there, a generally vaster area to explore when the borders grow. It's overall a really whacky experience to have. Especially if you are there to see it grow." She said, leading her forward towards the top of the hill. Once atop it, looking over vast fields, she began to place the stitched blanket down to be sat on. Sitting herself down, she patted the spot beside her and the basket in front of her.

"I see..." Gwen responded, looking around at the scene as though she expected to see the world itself around her change and shift. When no such thing occured she lowered herself down onto the blanket, sitting atop her knees with hands folded in her lap. A part of her wanted to ask more but knowing the fate of the other Loa she was sure talking about them, especially one she called her sister either biologically or otherwise, would no doubt be a stinging if not painful experience. "Well, the place is quite beautiful... if not a little strange. As though the colors have been somewhat inverted, I admit it strains the eyes until one gets used to it." She spoke softely with a small smile on her face. Though her eyes did not reflect that smile, still difficult to read as old habits died hard.

"A lovely choice of venue."

"I'm glad to hear that. I'm sure my sister would be too." She said with a smile. She opened up the basket and began to unpack some of the treats and snacks inside. "I know the colors are a bit out there. Not my choice of shades and nuances to use. She was... Pretty childish. Young in spirit." She said somewhat solemnly. "But I can share this moment with someone dear to my heart. Thank you for being accepting with this. Even if it is a bit unnerving." She finished with a bit of a joke.

Gwen nodded her head, "Please, I should be the one offering thanks. Most people would be thrilled to travel to such an exotic and unwalked place as this, I'm just... still getting used to this sort of thing." She spoke, resting her head against her own shoulder, not pleased that she couldn't be more positive about the experience for Lumi's sake at least.

"Regardless, mind you, I'm still happy to be here. I want to get to know more about, experience new things alongside you. If that means venturing into the multi-verse then... I suppose it's a small price to pay." She spoke in a much more subdued tone than her normal blunt and no nonsense one would allow, placing a hand gently against Lumi's upperback, a message to confirm to the girl that she was here in body and mind. And more than that, she wasn't going anywhere.

"So, what have we here?" She motioned toward the food stuffs that Lumi had pulled from the basket.

"A little bit of everything! I wasn't quite sure what you would like, and I wanted to keep it a surprise, so I didn't ask. I hope I did a well enough job." Lumi replied, hoping dearly that she had done good. She presented a collection of smaller sandwiches, some fruit, both ordinary and stragely exotic ones. Drinks that ranged everything from cider character drinks, soda, juice, water, and even a smaller bottle of wine that Lumi pulled out. "Your mom gave me this when she heard that we would be heading out. In case we wanted to get a bit fancy." She said somewhat sheepishly. Gwen would recognize the brand. It is the same one that her mother and father would always buy during their honeymoons.

Gwen tapped her chin, looking over the wide selection presented to her. The wine was of course tempting, quite so, but she was wary of losing any sense of mental faculties while within this separate realm. "You certainly don't seem to be a light packer," Gwen jested toward the girl as she took the bottle into her hand and turned it in her hands abit before reluctantly sitting it back down and instead grabbing an apple. "It's nice though, the selection. It almost feels homey, if only we had servants here at our beck and call." She joked once more, her thumb nail elongating to a point as she cut a wedge from the apple and held it up for Lumi to eat. "Say ahhh?"

"I felt I needed to be well prepared. Just in case to cover my bases, you know?" She replied, feeling a bit sheepish about having packed so much now. Hopefully it all paid off all the same. Looking to Gwen as she cut off a piece of the apple, Lumi was about to reach out for something herself until Gwen held out the wedge for her. Blushing softly, Lumi opened her mouth slightly to receive the apple, playfully making the 'Ahhh' sound as she so requested. Receiving the piece, chewing on it and savored the flavors. She wasn't quite used to the apple flavor. Quite different from anything she had ever tasted before. But she didn't mind it. It was quite good, strange as it may be. Swallowing the fruity treat, she gave her love a soft smile. "I could get used to that. It feels so sweet to be pampered by you." She teased a bit. "Then again, I feel great just being with you." She spoke, leaning into Gwen, wanting to feel closer.

"Indeed, I feel the same, even if it is such a strange place as this." Gwen motioned to the quite literally otherworldly realm around them. The woman spoke with a small but clear smile, still working up to outwardly expressing her emotions on her face. After so many years the blank expression was her default whether she wanted it to be or not and thus, it took effort to stray from it for more than a few moments at a time. But one goes through many trials and tribulations for those they love and Gwen would be no different. "Besides, it is the least I can do. The pampering that is, with all that has happened and Alice nearly barring you from our home. Putting up with my eccentricities, and much more."

Gwen tilted her head, as though taking a moment to think, "I also quite enjoy it, to be like this with someone. I've never had the chance to before, to give instead of take in a relationship." Gwen spoke of her shortcomings when it came to how she interacted with others, how little she did so in the first place beyond what she needed or wanted to in order to secure her own means and desires. It made her sad to think about, but looking to Lumi again, she carved another chuck from the apple and offered it to her. "Once more?"

"Yeah, well... I would not say that I blame her for that. It was quite the experience to say the least." Lumi said, a slightly forlorn look to her face even as she tried to brave through it with a smile. "I'd love to." She responded to the suggestion of receiving another wedge. Accepting it merrily, looking truly happy about all of this. It wasn't a matter of it only tasting nice, but the more important factor was the fact that it was Gwen. It was her dearest Gwen who was treating her like this, offering her attention and company. She had barely dared to dream of this moment, but it was even greater like this than in her imagination. "As for your eccentricities, I think I've made it clear already how much I care about you. The highs. The lows. The best parts of you and even the less flattering sides." She said, looking at Gwen right in the eyes. "I love you, Gwen. Everything with you is what encompasses you and made fall for the woman in front of me. The one and only Gwen Vroman. And it makes me happy to know that I can one day soon call you mine, and I yours." She said with a tilted head and a wide smile.

Gwen reached out, gently grazing the underside of Lumi's chin with the tips of her fingers. "A strange woman though I've come to expect that by this point. Were our positions reversed and were you to act like I then I would never have given you the time of day as I was before I met you. I would like to think that I have changed now. or rather, am in the process of changing. Either way, that the person that I want to be would be more open to such things, more willing to see the good in others. More willing to open my heart to them, as I have with you. Differently of course, you are to be my one and only in that regard. My sweet little icecream cone, all to myself. I suppose I will always be a little selfish no matter how hard I try won't I?" She let out an amused exhale from her nose as her lips turned upward into a slightly more genuine smile as she ticked the underside of Lumi's chin.

Lumi giggled softly at her words and her affections, enjoying the attention. "Yes well, if we had reversed positions in every regard, you would probably not have had it in you to criticize too harshly considering the deeds you would have inherited from me. As for being selfish," Lumi trailed off, leaning up and forward to Gwen. "If it is me you are selfish with, I don't mind in the slightest. Your icecream cone. Yours and no one elses. And speaking of being yours, with these teasing touches: Are you going to kiss me soon, or what? Or maybe you'd like some wine with together with your treat? Or any other drink or meal to embelish the moment first?" she teased in turn.

"That... isn't quite what I meant but yes, I suppose it would be difficult to judge in that case." Gwen spoke, unsure if Lumi were purposely misinterpreted her words or if something had simply been lost in translation. Either way, it didn't really matter.

With fingers still trailing under the woman's chin she tapped her fingers gently against the soft skin of her beloved.

"No, I prefer to make my decisions of sound mind. If it is a kiss you desire then I will give it to you. I can appreciate one who speaks their desires. Less guess-work on my part." With that she leaned forward, offering a kiss to the woman. But she did not press it beyond that, keen on making Lumi do some of the work.

Lumi understood what this meant. It seems like her dragon wanted her to work a bit for her own treats. She was more than happy to oblige, just careful not to overstep her bounds, lest she annoy the woman. She knew her enough to know that she was still getting used to tenderness and she was going to respect that. But now, with her for herself in this realm that no one living had ever seen before, she moved forward to press her lips against Gwen's.

Leaning closer with her body, she had her head tilted up to be able to do this in the first place, she rose from sitting to rising onto her knees. She hoped she wouldn't take things too quick for her, but she felt like it should be no harm, all things considered. For a couple of moments, she just held her lips against hers, moving her lips for shallow kisses, not deepening, but not just holding still either. By being on her knees, she had a bit more of a vantage point, giving her an elevated position. Moving forward, she didn't simply press her lips against her, she moved in such a way to make her intent clear, to which she then straddled Gwen's legs, essentially sitting in her lap now. Taking her hands and cupping her cheeks with them, she made it clear what she personally wanted, but made no intrusions just in case. She would be more than happy to just sit like this and have all her fiancée's attention to herself, but that didn't mean that she didn't think it could get better still.

For some reason Gwen was not surprised that Lumi went further than just the kiss she had offered. Perhaps she was coming to the understanding now that given the chance Lumi would always press her advantage. She understood the idea, though she never would have thought of such a tactic in this light before meeting the woman. Lumi was the sort of woman who knew what it was that she wanted, and Gwen could respect that even if she did not always give the woman those things in return. She was, after all, still hesitant to opening herself up in fear of being hurt.

But Lumi had a way of messing with her ability to think logically, not some mind trick or power over her but rather an aura or presence of sort that in certain situations made it difficult for Gwen to think beyond the moment. This was one such situation and as such she hugged Lumi's waist in return, holding their kiss and even offering to deepen it a bit.

Lumi all but jumped at the chance to do more than she was already doing when Gwen appeared to offer it. With her lips parting just a slight bit, teasing the reptilian woman with the offer, Lumi reached out to the woman, licking at her lips, slowly but steadily deepening the kiss until such a time where Gwen might protest, she was careful even now. Should there be no protest or objections, she would simply deepen their affection until the oral muscles graced each other. And almost like a surprise, there was none. The hands aorund her waist made her feel like it was a good feeling for her too. Closing the distance a bit between their bodies, she went right for the tongue action.

It was excuisite to the woman. She felt right at home being like this. Close and affectionate with this woman. Her woman. It almost felt like nothing could be better. Letting their tongues dance, she felt herself heating up. Not just from the warmer environment, but faster still. Her heart was racing and her mind feverishly thinking of when the time might come where this feeling could be more commonstance. As much as they both, hopefully, enjoyed this, she had a feeling it wouldn't be a common experience until a while longer. She could wait, it wasn't that. It is still a bit disappointing a thought when it was this lovely.

To the pale skinned, raven-haired woman the experience was indeed enjoyable though not wholly new the context of the situation most certainly was a first. Rather than try to dominate Lumi or exert some form of power over the girl she let things play out as equals if not let Lumi take the lead at least a bit. It was not by any means a fully comfortable situation, the worries of her mind still gnawed at her and the parts of her that wanted to shy away from any form of open expression of love or vulnerablility screamed for her to stop or at the very least to take the lead and have full control over the situation.

Yet, in spite of all of those things, in spite of her better judgement, and in spite of the fear that twisted in her heart like a knife plunged into her back she did not take control, not making even a single motion towards such and act. But rather, she let all control of the situation go, falling back partly on the grass and partly on the blanket. Like a cat exposing its stomach to those it trusted most Gwen laid on her back before Lumi, letting her arms reach out to her sides and leaving herself completely at the mercy of her beloved. "Your kisses taste of sweets, could you not contain yourself while packing for the picnic or perhaps that is merely how they naturally taste?" Gwen teased, more to calm herself than to truly tease the girl.