He visibly starts to say something a couple of times but restrains himself.

She doesn't ask what he was going to say the first time, but the second time she does.

"Oh, uh, I was - curious about whether that actually helped or if it would have taken only about this long to wear off either way, but I don't know that you'd know."

"I think it helped? At the very least it made the experience considerably less... difficult."

"Okay, that's good."

"Mhm. I apologize for putting you in such a difficult situation."

"I'm fine. Not - exactly this, but - similar-enough things come up for espers."

"Oh... are there dungeons with similar abilities?"

"No, but guiding away backlash usually doesn't mean just holding hands."

"Are other activities more effective or just considered preferable for other reasons?"

"Faster. Skin contact and fluids originating with one person winding up in the other person, the more the quicker. And also guiding feels good and more of it moreso."

"I see... forgive me for my ignorance, but can I check again that nothing we did stands a chance of leaving me with child?"

"Unless people here reproduce in a completely different way than humans from my universe, no risk of that at all."

"I am willing to trust in that similarity, absent contradictory evidence."

"Haven't encountered contradictory evidence so far."

Lucette nods, trying to smooth out and assemble her clothes as if that can possibly leave them in a remotely appropriate state.

"I apologize for putting you in such a difficult situation, on your first time out on patrol no less."

"Not your fault, it was Lord Asshole-with-mind-control-eyes."

"Quite. I hope the young woman he harassed are willing to make statements against him... and that he does not have powerful family or friends, I suppose."

"Is it safe for them to make statements?"

"Usually, though not always."

"He and his pal clearly already know where they live and I doubt witness protection has been invented."

"It is not unknown for commoners to attempt to live elsewhere in the city during the season, but yes. However, it would be considered particularly shameful for empowered to retaliate against commoners when they were justly apprehended."

"...fine to just break into a house to rape a bunch of random women but not fine to go back again after they got caught??"

"Approximately."

"Eugh."