Shionne and Alphen in Menancia

[silentsuffering]

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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[painlesssuffering]

"That depends. Do you feel like that wouldn't bother you to do so?" Because to be quite frank, Alphen was quite fine with things going on like this a little longer even if a part of him was absolutely curious to see what part of her gorgeous attire she would choose to shed first.

[silentsuffering]

"Well.. it's only fair I remove something...right?" After all he had taken his shirt off for her. Though she would probably just remove the chest armor and her gloves first. She still had to work her way up to something more risque like..taking her entire dress off. Even though she knew full well that was definitely the way things were leading. "A little at a time is okay, right?"

[painlesssuffering]

He smiles without a word and puts both hands against her cheek as he pulls her in for another kiss before leaning his forehead against hers after breaking the kiss, nothing but adoration and love burning in his eyes as he breathed out his answer.

"Of course it's okay~"

[silentsuffering]

Has she said recently how much she loves him? Of course it was unspoken and understood by both parties, but saying it was surprisingly hard for her. And probably him as well. That said she couldn't bring herself to say it again yet - but she could easily show him her feelings, as she leaned into his kiss with a contented, happy sigh. Nuzzling gently, affectionately against him with his forehead against hers, she smiled. She never once thought he would rush her or anything, no matter how much they wanted each other. Taking their time was half the enjoyment - giving them more time to really feel each other.

With a soft breath she pulled away again, though this time with purpose as she carefully tugged her gloves off, and proceeded to unfasten and remove the chest piece - well to be fair, all of the remaining metal armor, leaving her in a much more breathable dress. "There..." It wasn't quite enough but it was good for a start. If only because she had no idea where to start when it did come to her dress.

[painlesssuffering]

Alphen would likely be the one to take to expressing those feelings out loud the first. IT was just how they both were in the end of the day. Alphen lived in the now. Because the now had Shionne in it and his past had been more or less settled once and for all.

"Oh...wow. I always thought your dress was so elegant it was made for you even with the armor part on. But even without it...I can't take my eyes off of you." Though that's not the end of it as his hands move in place to tug her down so that her now softer upper body would press against his own.

[silentsuffering]

Shionne laughed, a little embarrassed by his praise, "It's funny, I thought it was so archaic at the time.. but now it will always be a reminder.." Of him. Not that she needed it to remind her of him, though. Still blushing, she paused for a second feeling his body much more against her body even through the thin material.

She relaxed, "If I remember... you had the same reaction when I first put this on, back then.."

[painlesssuffering]

I did. That outfit you had on when you jumped into the train cart was good at hiding how beautiful you really were so when you got changed into this...My mind just stopped working for a second. Which is what led to your misunderstanding." Alphen admitted with a chuckle, that memory a fond one in hindsight regardless.

[silentsuffering]

She chuckled softly, raising a hand to gently pet his hair- why she liked playing with it so much now, she didn't know. "It was ..much more simple and plain than this one," she agreed, "..but we won't have any more misunderstandings between us now.. I hope."

[painlesssuffering]

He didn't know why nor did he want to know anything aside from the fact that it felt so right and comfortable to have her do it.

That was a very generous way to describe her prison dress that was clearly meant to humiliate and demean her. Though ALphen didn't know that.

"I hope so too. Because making you smile is my permanent mission now that we're done freeing everyone."

[silentsuffering]

He didnt' know that, and Shionne didn't want him to know it. Not because she thought he would be ashamed of her or angry or anything, but because it was long in her past. Now her only worry ..frivolous as it was..was wondering if he had had feelings for her ancestor, and saw her in Shionne.

No, he saw Shionne for Shionne, certainly. "We've definitely earned those smiles," she murmured softly, "You especially." She leaned over, sneaking in a kiss along the corner of his lips to forestall any protest.

[painlesssuffering]

HE would always feel a great debt and gratitude towards her ancestor given how much she sacrificed to give him his freedom. But those feelings of love and burgeoning passion. Those were entirely focused on Shionne and SHionne alone. A fact he would never hesitate to express the moment he caught a whiff of her being worried about that.

"You were right at the start. We. That means you should have nothing but smiles too~" Alphen chuckled as she peppered his face wiht light teasing kisses.

[silentsuffering]

She grinned, "..I know. And I will, as long as you.." Always love me. She shifted that slightly. "..'re always with me." She hummed, pressing her ilps against his briefly, "Mmmh..but...maybe you should try not smiling, so I know how many times it'll take to put a smile back on your face." She teased. How many kisses WOULD it take to make him smile? ... probably one. Unless he was having a very bad day.

[painlesssuffering]

"After all the fighting I had to do to get you, there's no way I'm ever leaving you." Alphen shook his head with a chuckle before hearing Shionne's...reasoning.

"That's going to be hard when I just end up smiling just whenever I look at you being happy too~"

[silentsuffering]

Shionne nuzzled his neck, "It still amazes me the lengths you went for..for me." Carefully omitting the 'someone like' from that sentence. She knew he hated it when she spoke ill of herself, and with him, she found it hard to even believe anything negative about herself. "Whether it's fighting for me physically or speaking up in my defense.." She smiled softly - oh she was never going to forget when he actually punched that douchebag who was badmouthing her. "That i'm lucky to have someone like you in my life."

[painlesssuffering]

He was never going to forget how absolutely livid he felt when he heard someone talking such foulness about her. Frankly he'd done a lot worse to that bastard in his head but alas before he could get to do it, he had to go any get melted along with a majority of the fools who believed the trash he peddled.

"I would do it all over a thousand times over if I had to. Because it would be the truth. You deserve so much more than you've gotten throughout your life. And I'm going to give it to you."

[silentsuffering]

"I believe you would," She half whispered against his ear - not to get a reaction out of him, but just because her head was that close to it. She sighed softly, "And I was going to say the same.. I'm not the only one who had a burden to bear. I want to give you everything you could possibly want and dream of." Did he dream of a nip to his ear by any chance? She'd not actually planned that, it just...sort of happened though...

[painlesssuffering]

He didn't dream of that specifically no but he was going to after that sudden and new sensation that made his entire body shudder and stiffen up a little underneath her but not in a way that suggested he had hated it. No quite the opposite if that increase in heat coming off of his body was any clue.

"You're...the source of a lot of my dreams as it is so I don't think that's going to be a challenge for you." He smiled bashfully before he decided to surprise her with a sudden kiss as well since it felt like his lips had been left away from hers for too long as is.

[silentsuffering]

Shionne marked that reaction, mentally noting to do that again. For research. Yeah. She wants to be sure that was a positive reaction and surprise him again. Except he got to surprise her first. "I-" is as far as she gets, before her words were muffled against his lips. The surprise melted into pleasure though, a smile curving her lips as she purred a soft sigh. Come to think of it, her lips -had- been feeling a bit dry and in need of drinking in that Vitamin Alphen, her hand finding its way to curl into his hair. She rather liked the feeling of running her fingers through his hair when they were intimate like this. Well technically this was the first time they were THIS intimate..

[painlesssuffering]

The first time yet it felt like coming home levels of right. As if this was something that they had every right of doing so long ago. Well if not for the whole touch = pain aspect they might have started exploring this whole new world much sooner. That being said...Alphen was more than happy to start now and he felt Shionne would agree as he put his hands on the small of her back and pressed her flush down on top of him as he hummed into the kiss.

[silentsuffering]

If Alphen had ever suggested that, Shionne would.. have agreed. They'd pushed the bar on the touches they could get away with when they both had their respective 'curses' after all. But she'd also agree that it felt like she'd finally come home to the one she'd dreamed of. Feeling him pull her closer to his body, she leaned more into the kiss, sinking into the sensation and encouraging a deeper kiss herself as she closed her eyes, her hand threading more into his hair. Even if she could feel him closer, she didn't pull away - if anything she craved more.

[painlesssuffering]

The concept of a deeper kiss came to him almost instantly, his instinct guiding him for now since it had not failed Alphen up to this point. But rather than just part his lips for her, he took charge this time, his tongue pushing past her lips and into her mouth as he closed his eyes to sink into the new sensation that brought an even greater closeness between the two of them. EVen if it still was not enough.

[silentsuffering]

She flinches only for a second, surprised by the feel of his tongue pushing into her mouth, her eyes opening briefly. Although the idea of asking anything was easily dismissed, as she decided to follow his lead this time, a jolt running up her spine when she tentatively brushed her tongue against his. An audible exhalation through her nose followed before she hesitantly relaxed, growing more and more comfortable with this level of a kiss - like it was just part of what they both were craving so desperately.

Though she did jerk back for a second when she needed air, staring blankly at Alphen and finding her thoughts had come to a screeching halt, her free hand brushing affectionately along his cheek.

Well, once she caught her breath, one thought did pop up: Again.

[painlesssuffering]

He absolutely wanted another kiss like that. Though this time he wanted to feel her in his mouth as well. THe look in his eyes could not contain more love and adoration than this moment, his hand slowly raising to press against her cheek, the warmth and softness almost filling his heart to the brim with love.

"I...love you so much, Shionne." He spoke the first words he could think of, from the bottom of his heart and nothing less.

[silentsuffering]

Even though she knew his feelings, without him having to say anything, hearing him utter those words had her catch her breath for a second. Those words and that look on his face - who know she would ever have someone who would say that while looking at her like that..? The smile on her face easily replaced the surprise, as she leaned in against him, "I love you too, Alphen." It was so freeing to see the words, she said them again, in a loving whisper as she tilted her head to press her lips to his in a kiss, tender at first, though after a second her tongue gently pressed forward to return the favor and deepen the kiss.

[painlesssuffering]

Seeing how happy it made her, Alphen would make sure to say it as often as to prevent it getting too stifling or annoying. Because if he could get such a smile out of her every time then rationing it out was absolutely something he'd go with.

He kissed her back and this time allowed her to explore him, his lips parting when he felt her nudge to deepen the kiss as he purred and tilted his head to the side to make his lips match together to hers that much better.