Fields Of Desire [Veralia/Stella]

Veralia chuckled as Stella seemed like a frightened rabbit bolting from place to place. Walking over to the tree to grab her dagger, Veralia pursued Stella; taking in the forest and enjoying herself. To her? The breeze felt wonderful and she was getting some exercise to boot. Gotta keep her figure somehow, eh?

By the time she reached Stella's location, her body would remain quiet as she used her pesquisa to scan the area and get a feel for where the vibrations of Stella's energy might be. And given the woman failed to mask her energy, it wasn't too hard for Veralia to discern her location.

"Do you even know how to mask your energy? Gotta do that if you are gonna hide."

Her tone was teasing, yet carried an undercurrent of genuine advice, highlighting a crucial aspect of stealth that Stella seemed to overlook. With another twirl of her dagger, she threw it in a random direction of where Stella might be and pondered if she could even do that.

"Or do you need me to teach you that, hm?"

As she mused aloud, her question hung in the air as both a challenge and an offer of guidance.

Veralia walked over to Stella and could tell the woman was exhausted from being pushed so hard. So, she gave her a tap on the back and offer some words of encouragement.

"Don't beat yourself up. That's why it's training: to toughen you up and kick your ass into high gear."

Seeing that there was a large rock nearby, now would probably be the time for a breather as she sat down on it and looked at Stella; mulling over how to teach her how to mask her power. After a few moments of silence, it started to come to her and she smiled.

"ou know, there might be a simpler way for you to blend in here. Try weaving the natural reishi around us into your spiritual pressure. It's like using the forest as a cloak."

Noticing Stella taking in the nature around them, Veralia took a moment herself to bask in the glow of the human world. Hueco Mundo was a dump in her opinion, so to see, feel, and smell the colors that this world has to offer brought the woman a sense of ease as she stretched her arms and toes out.

"Damn, this is beautiful."

Muttering to herself, Veralia's aura reflected a sense of calm before her gaze turned back to Stella as she tried to muster up the ability to conceal her presence. Yeah, it wasn't perfect, but she was getting the general idea of it. Thankfully, the breather they both took gave her a further idea to try and help Stella focus on this masking ability.

"Alright, you're getting the hang of it. Try focusing on your breathing, like belly breathing."

As Veralia patted her own gut, she started to provide some instruction. She breathed in deeply through her nose, letting her diaphragm expand fully, then exhaled slowly through her mouth. This methodical breathing helped her center herself, visibly dimming her energy signature.

"Inhale through your nose, fill those lungs up, and then let it out nice and slow. Just relax everything. That should do the trick"

After stretching and a groan from rubbing her neck, Veralia shared a bit of her insight, a hint of vulnerability in her voice.

"How do you think I keep my sin in check as an Arrancar? It wants to rear its ugly head out, but if I allowed it in every situation, I'd be dead by now."

"They still are udders, but I guess you aren't wrong."

Veralia's right eyebrow arched, reflecting a look of mild annoyance and amusement. The irritation stemming from the comparison was fleeting, overshadowed by her ability to find humor in the situation, leading to a returning smirk.

"Glad you're getting better, but keep at it. Remember, breathe, relax, and get that cloak going."

Watching the other woman diligently follow through with her stretches, Veralia couldn't help but nod in approval. Eventually, as Stella made her way over to where the smaller arrancar was, Veralia saw no reason to deny her hug and gave one back in return.

"Oh, I can tell. It has not been bad hanging around you either."

Responding with a gentle chuckle, her right hand patting the woman's back in a comforting manner.

"But what about me has made you feel that way?"

Her question was genuine, seeking to understand the impact of her presence and actions on their burgeoning relationship.

A look of intrigue washed over the face of Veralia as she listened to Stella express her feelings. There is such a constant noise of envy in the woman's head that it's hard to wrap her mind around the perception of relationships tethered to herself that isn't out of a need of power or lust; as sin is something more straight-forward to comprehend than the earnest feelings she spoke of.

Closing her eyes gave Veralia time to process this...uncomfortable feeling. Rubbing the other woman's back further, she hadn't realized how her actions came off. To be alone for so long and fend for oneself reflects a state of comfort in being alone, so Veralia's eyes opened and her gaze lingered on Stella for a moment while before she spoke.

"Any more mush like that and you'll give me diabetes with all that sweetness."

The comment was playful, a light chiding that masked her struggle to navigate these softer emotions. Still, she didn't want Stella gone or else she'd dispose of the woman herself. So, Veralia pushed through the static and held her cheek gingerly.

"I've never babied you. Being coddled and treated like an infant can be insufferable like the people from that village seem to think you are."

Pulling her hand back, she reclined against her rock, her eyes lingering on Stella a moment longer in silent reflection before she spoke once again in a softer voice.

"I don't know what it is, but something's pushing me to help you. Maybe I get a kick out of having someone rely on me, or perhaps I'm trying to pass on what I never got myself. But I gotta say, I don’t mind having you around and actually, I’ve come to enjoy it."