I think we could use that to our advantage, if we can harvest at least a bit.

[The question does prompt a hum.] I've skill in enchanting, but it'll be a general ward unless I know the precise effects, which will make it a bit weaker than average.

[She feels... some kind of effect of it, but it's just making her feel warm and nostalgic for... what, she's not quite sure. Physical contact, perhaps. That's the worst it's doing to her so far - and though it might get progressively a bit worse, Maria isn't exactly very lusty.] It's not as bad as the roses, at least. Those robbed your mind entirely. Shall I get a bit of a barrier set up?

[And Maria steps back, trying to avoid the concentrated burst of pollen. Not that it's going to do her entirely any good, considering the sheer amount of it in the air, but she'd rather avoid being covered in it.

It smells... odd, now that she thinks about it. Not unpleasant. It must be doing something to her senses for what should sort of smell like floral pollen to have hints of spice and earthy tones that do not make her want to sneeze. In fact, it makes her face feel warm - and her whole body, as well. Not too bad, but the wildes are starting to heat up, and she's in way too many layers for this.

She squeezes her nose shut, pinching it between thumb and forefinger, then shakes her head.] ... I suppose we should start the culling now, then, before any more of them try anything else like that.

[Problem is, Maria feels it, too, light as it is, the little electric-like shock as Scathach passed her. It's not just the brief transference of mana between a Witch and a Monster, there's something else there. Something that brings up thoughts of touches - hands, whatever they may be - on more parts than just the elbow the other woman had brushed against.

It's almost perfectly timed when Scathach reaches up, and Maria begins to lean down until they both stop almost - almost - touching.

When she realizes what's going on, she tenses a bit, lips pressing into a line.] ... We can always try for another time, now that we know what we are up against. Unless you're enjoying luxuriating in the effects?

[The tone implies Maria's on pretty neutral ground. She's pretty sure she can handle it. She's also pretty sure she doesn't really care either way and wouldn't mind a bit more contact.

... Maybe that second one should be re-examined before she gets in trouble.]

You wanted this moment to be...? You think about me in this way a lot?

[What Maria can't do is read Scathach's mind. Her relationship with Zelda wasn't... nearly anything like what this other woman had with the Hylian princess, but Maria does miss Zelda and her... well, and the fact they both liked to watch goings-on with carefully raised eyebrows belying only a hint of the true judgement beneath the motion.

The touch is something her mind decides it wants more of - thing is, Scathach isn't the only one who'd lost a Bond recently, and feeling the strange sense of loss from it. But this... this is different. Maybe it is just the pollen.

She closes her eyes, breathes a soft sigh, and slowly draws back a little.] A field of flowers trying to compel us is not the time or place. No matter how good it feels. But you know that.

Then that was when it started...

[She raises an eyebrow. It makes sense. Scathach's always had a flirtatious streak toward her, but it was really after they'd fought together that it seemed to amp up. Maria hadn't been thinking much of it - though now the pollen thinks accepting the advances might just well be the best idea right now.

... And that's how she knows she should stop while she's ahead. Hard as it is to fight the pull.] Your admission certainly has given me something to think of, but... you are also right. I don't consider such intimacy with people often, that I am now is undoubtedly these flowers.

I prefer to ease into such things, anyway. Fervent, desperate encounters are things for youth, before you learn how to slow down and enjoy yourself and your partner. I'd like this not to be a trip in vain, however... what do you think would work best? Simply starting on opposite ends of this flower patch?

[Hm. Maria has very little inclination toward stopping Scathach at first. It not actually touching her, but the motion is... surprisingly intimate, and that's appealing to the part of her soaked in the pollen.

So she lets it go. For a moment, at least, and just when it seems like things are winding down a bit, she reaches up, delicately wrapping long fingers around Scathach's hands, touch quite delicate, before gently pulling her hands down. There's an urge to press her lips to the knuckles of the hands she holds, but she fights it down at the last moment.]

... We'll have to separate to do that.

[And it's a good thing he did - Maria was sure she'd be able to stop things before they got too far, but her mind couldn't help but play the scenarios over and over again of what would happen if she just... let... Scathach get a little closer.

She shakes her head, a tiny, fond smile edging up the corner of her lips, and she reaches down to give the wolf a pat, and a ruffle through the fluffy chrysanthemums adorning his back.]

Right. Let us harvest these and make our way back. If we're lucky, we'll be able to do it without needing to bathe in the icy streams.