midnightstar | Shionne and Alphen in Menancia

They've all come a long way since Calaglia, both in terms of distance and... other things. Things Shionne was forcing herself not to acknowledge. Because what would the point be to acknowledge those thoughts when she couldn't act on them - when at the end of this journey, she had no future? Ah... but that was something she hadn't - couldn't - tell the others, who she's begun thinking of as more than just 'tools'.

Particularly Alphen.

It was the hardest to think of him when she knew how much she was keeping from him. Much to her frustration, however, the group had decided to take a break for a little while since Shionne's pace had been pushing the others quite a lot - and they did just gain two new companions. Shionne was avoiding them as much as possible, deciding to go for a walk through the city almost...baffled by how accepting the Dahnans and Renans were.

It was ... nice. But it felt so alien to her, at the same time.

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Even with the latest additions to the group, Alphen found his gaze inadvertently drifting in Shionne's direction. He couldn't tell anyone why but he just wasn't able to help himself in watching over her. Not due to a lack of trust or anything most would expect. That could not be further from the truth.

So as soon as it wasn't rude of him to do so, Alphen excused himself and went after Shionne finding her walking around on her own looking around the town.

"Shionne?" He called out as he rushed up to her from behind.

Instinctively Shionne tensed, not wanting him to accidentally bump into her when she stopped to see who called out to her. Seeing it was Alphen was ..actually not a surprise. He always seemed to be watching her, and that was a little unsettling, but at the same time, she couldn't help but feel a little happy. And then guilty. "Alphen, I thought you were talking with the others?" Why did he always come looking for her - it wasn't like she was a child that would get lost.

But also... she didn't mind it. She crossed her arms, turning to face him expectantly. Hopefully he couldn't see the buried happiness that he came looking for her in her expression.

The discrepancy between her words and the look in her eyes at times was such a confusing puzzle for Alphen who was still learning so much about the world beyond his walled home. Yet he also found the puzzle to be quite enjoyable. Once more though, he could not say WHY that was the case. It just simply was as if that was only natural.

"Oh I finished asking them everything I needed to. Kisara insisted to take the first watch for next time we make camp." Since there was no guarantee they'd make it to the next city before night hit.

"I thought you looked as if there was something on your mind so I wanted to check on you right after that."

Shionne looked thoughtful, "You didn't have to do that.." She didn't know what to think or feel when he came after her like that. SO many times she asked herself why she didn't walk away from him, from everything, and find someone else - but she kept telling herself it was because of his strength, because he was useful. "We still have to deal with two more Lords. We can't sit around here for long, wasting time." And this city... even after the chaos that happened, it was picking itself up again surprisingly well. Shionne could get comfortable in an environment like this, once things were back to normal.

Getting comfortable was dangerous.

"We do but we also have to make sure everything is settled before we set off. Kisara also noticed we were running a little low on supplies so she offered to do some shopping since she said she can get a good bargain for it." Honestly she seemed a little too enthusiastic about it. Saying something about making each coin count. Alphen didn't want to get in the way of such fiery determination so he just entrusted that to her.

He looked in the direction her gaze was pointed to earlier and crossed his arms over his chest.

"They're strong people. Dohalim has a lot to be proud of even if he doesn't feel he does."

Okay she couldn't begrudge Kisara that .. they DID need supplies. "Fine.." This WAS her home turf, so to speak, so she probably could get a good deal. It felt so strange to be traveling with more people at times. She hesitated a moment, and nodded slowly. "... you're not wrong. Despite the reasons he did it, the goal wasn't a bad one. But.. it still seems strange seeing Dahnan's and Renan's getting along like that." She hoped it'd last.

"I know what you mean. For me I had never seen a Renan outside of their armor. So it's been a bit of a troubling thing for me to keep track of. Since it's not like every Renan is going to be using Artes all the time for their eyes to glow." Alphen let out a faint sigh scratching the back of his head. Or as much of it as he could given the still half there helmet.

"But it's not a bad thing. Just something to get used to. In that regard those that stayed behind after everything that has happened, have a far easier time of it."

Edited Date: 2021-10-13 02:21 am (UTC)

She glanced towards him, watching him for a second, and partly wondering if the helmet bothered him still. The fact that something like that was so hard to damage, and it was clearly not something Dahnan in origin. But it also reminded her of when she first saw him, how she had wondered what he looked like under his mask. And now she had only half of the picture. And what a picture it was.

"No, but there are other tells to indicate when someone is casting. Hand movements, murmured incantations - some stop moving to focus on the spell casting."

She realized she was staring, and quickly glanced away, focusing on a Renan in armor talking to a small Danhan boy. "..do you think this will last?"

"Ah. Yeah I guess that's true. Though that's still not quite the point I was making." Alphen chuckled bashfully before his gaze too found the boy and the guard and a complicated look flashed over his face at that question.

"I'd like to believe it will. Because those who stayed are the ones who gave this kind of coexistance a chance and found something worthwhile in it. Otherwise they would have left with that Kelzawhatever." Alphen answered with a slight shrug.

Oh she knew - but far be it for her to make things easy for him. She didn't bother supplying the name of that traitorous dog that previously served Dohalim, and sighed instead, her gaze distant for a second. Renans and Dahnan's getting along. Another future she wouldn't be able to see.

"Probably." She agreed after a moment. "Although I wouldn't doubt some did leave with him, there are more that stayed behind that are still loyal to Dohalim too." That probably left him feeling conflicted too. "... it's good for them, that they can look past their differences." She'd done the same, hadn't she - no longer seeing Alphen and the others as 'inferior' after all. A small huff of amusement started to escape, but she quickly stifled it.

He caught it though. He caught so many little things about Shione that it was a good thing he didn't feel the need to bring most of them up in their conversations.

"Hmm yeah. They might have some bumps in the road along the way but I think they will turn out alright in the end." HE was not a naive optimist. Just an optimist. A hopeful for a future that would not have slaves or walls.

"Though to be honest, I think I could see that potential even before we reached Menancia." Given how well he and Shionne worked together and how right it felt, on a subconscious level the belief that coexistence was possible had existed the moment he got to know her a bit more.

She'd deny if it he had, so yes, it was a good thing he never mentioned it. "You could?" She glanced at him, this time more skeptically. Granted yes, they worked together and fought together ...frighteningly well, when she thought about it, but she wasn't exactly making their partnership EASY. "You're probably the only one who thought that way in our group."

Well not entirely true, Law probably also thought they way he did, but Law was also simple. In a good way.

"I don't think so." he shook his head softly. He'd like to think deep down SHionne might feel that way too but instead he brings up another dear name.

"I'm sure this was the kind of world Zephyr wanted to build too." Since the topic of Law came up, that choice of example worked very well indeed.

Deep down, Shionne did hope that things worked out for those people. When Alphen brought up Zephyr, she shot a surprised look at him before the expression shifted back to her neutral one. ..funny that he would think of Zephyr, when Shionne had been just musing about the man's son. If only they had caught on and rescued Zephyr sooner -- but this was a war. They can't save everyone. Shionne turned away from Alphen at that with a sigh. "... He would." She agreed after a moment. "... I'd like to see it." She murmured, even more quietly -- but probably not so quietly that he couldn't hear her.

Two Lords to go. Clearing her throat, her voice turned more casual. "I suppose, when everything is over, you're going to go back to Calaglia?" Kisara and Dohalim will probably go back to Menancia and Law and Rinwell... who knows.

"You will. I'll make it happen." Alphen insisted mostly out of reflex than an intent to reassure Shionne deliberately. While blissfully ignorant of what she actually meant with those ominous words she tried to conceal from his ears.

"Hm? I...don't think so. I've lived there for as long as I remember. Yes it feels like home at least now that's it's free. But I don't think I want to stay there just yet. I'll probably travel around for a while longer." 'With you' goes unsaid for the moment.

Shionne tensed at that. He always said things like that, she wished she could believe it. No, not that she couldn't believe it, she wished she'd be around to see it. She huffed softly, folding her arms tighter and hugging herself as she focused her attention away from him. "That's true. You've had to stay in one place for most of your life, it only makes sense that you'd want to see more of the world." She tightened her hands on her arms. She should change the subject - thinking about future opportunities was just... unpleasant. "And you'll be able to do so at your leisure, instead of having to hurry everywhere."

Yeah he was starting to grow more and more convinced there was something under the surface that Shionne was keeping from him but given how it took some work to get her to talk back even this much, he didn't want to push his luck.

"You know if there's something bothering you, you can always come to me. The least I can do is listen while you let whatever is gnawing at you, out in the open."

How did he always...

"Where did that come from?" Shionne frowned, glancing at him. "The only thing bothering me is knowing we have to wait around here to restock, and there's still two more Lord's we need to take care of. You know that."

Fingers start to drum against her arm as she sighed, "You worry too much."

"I don't know it just feels like something's weighing you down. Orr..no more like pushing you from behind? It's weird I can't really put it into words right I guess. In any case I'm always willing to hear you out so keep that in mind alright? Not like I can really force you to share those things or anything. Just wouldn't feel right if I didn't make it clear." Alphen was after all the type for whom the word NO did not exist in his vocabulary when it came to people in need and Shionne was above that already.

"Hahaha maybe I am. Though I don't think it's at the point of it being a bad thing just yet."

"...why are you always like this...?" Shionne muttered. Because he wasn't wrong - and that was the worst of it. The fact that he was right, that he knew her so well in the time they've been traveling together. That he watched her so closely.. but why? What did it matter? And why did he never look after himself to the same degree? "You should worry more about yourself, you know..!"

"I think I have. I do always come to you for healing whenever I overuse the sword don't I?" That was technically taking care of himself given the lack of pain would have made it easier for him to not realize he had gotten injured.

Looking out for himself and looking out for Shionne were not entirely exclusive things to keep in mind.

Augh. "That's not what I mean..!" Not just healing, but he was taking on the pressure and responsibility of a lot of things, not just freeing the Dahnans from the oppressive rule of several Lords. Although she was also the last person who should be offering a ..figurative shoulder to lean on. "Who do you confide in?"

"Hmmmm....I guess that used to be Zypher before really. Though I do find it easier to talk to you, I'm finding out. Well more like It's easier for me to tell you things I guess if you want to be more specific." He just never really felt the need to keep anything from Shionne. A complete opposite of what she was doing but he had no idea of that so Alphen felt quite content and certain with that answer.

She expected and understood he'd talked to Zephyr often - but that next part.. that he confided in -her- was not something she expected. She stared at him for a second, torn between being happy and being pained, wanting him closer but needing to keep him at a distance. "You..." Her lips pressed together slightly, and she glanced away, "You shouldn't get used to something like that. Do you think I'm going to always be around?" She forced the words out, scoffing.

That takes the wind out of his sails a bit and his smile slips.

"Ah...yeah I guess I shouldn't presume that would be the case... It's rude to think you'd want to stay just because you clearly didn't like where you were to begin with. I'm sorry. That was selfish of me" Leave it to Alphen to unintentionally guilt trip someone while looking a bit like a kicked puppy.