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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He shakes his head and stands a little closer to Shionne but not touching her since he knows how big of a deal that is to her so he would never take it for granted. Though he definitely felt the urge to take her in his arms without warning.

"It's fine. As long as you're not being too weighed down by it, I can wait for a moment when you're comfortable with telling me whatever it is that's troubling you.":

It was an urge she wouldn't have minded at the least. Though she would have pushed him away mostly out of instinct and habit. Still the way he moved closer, she rubbed her arms slightly, pushing thoughts of moving closer herself, or worse, stepping into his arm - ah, dreams that would never come true. She'd never want to leave them.

"...what if that never happens?" She ventured hesitantly. He'd leave for sure then, right?

"I don't think that's going to happen." He's not even entertaining the possibility. After all if it had been up to her alone they wouldn't even be talk9ing like this right now. She'd still be the aloof and distant one whenever they broke camp.

Okay that was true, but she still looked uncertain. He really didn't have a single doubt in his mind, which was - to her - insanity. Why not prepare for the worst with this? Where did that confidence come from? But it did intrigue her - no, more than intrigue. She couldn't take her eyes off of him most of the time when they walked together - it was easiest when she was covering their rear because she could watch him as much as she wanted then.

Maybe it wouldn't be that bad to tell them? Or maybe she should keep them in the dark until the last minute. Knowing Alphen he'd try to stop her from leaving even though it was the only way. ... and if she were completely honest, she would want him to. "You.." she paused, "You are so strange.." are all Dahnan's like him? .. probably not.

"Heh! I don't think being strange is a bad thing. Besides I never really had the option to be normal" he taps the helmet still encasing his head partially.

"So I'd rather just look at it as me being myself."

He would see it that way. She couldn't help but laugh a little, shaking her head. "... I suppose that is a very 'Alphen' way of thinking." She teased lightly. ".. its getting late though. You should probably head back... the others are probably getting worried." Maybe they'll think Shionne got fed up and shot him.

"You're coming too. " He said crossing his arms over his chest after almost taking her hand but remembering how that might be more than she could handle right now.

... Shionne flexed her fingers slightly, before cupping them in front of her almost shyly at that insistence. "... alright." She had planned on doing a little stargazing and ..a LOT of thinking, but she could do that in her room at the Inn too. And ..it did feel a bit like some of the some of the awkwardness between them had been cleared up. She hoped.

For now. He would not stop looking out for her, watching over her wellbeing in and out of battle. Even if they didn't clear the awkward air he'd still do that. Because seeing Shionne safe had become something of a private mission to him.

She worried he was wasting his time, or worse, setting himself up for disappointment. She didn't think she could bear seeing him look upset - even if she could only see half his face ~~and what a face!~~, it felt like she saw all of it when she spoke with him. As they walked back to the Inn together, she couldn't shake the feeling of wanting to reach out to touch him. A glance here, a glance there, everytime he seemed to not be looking in her direction, her gaze would slide towards his hand, her own twitching slightly.

Then all too soon, the Inn came into view, and she lost her opportunity. "... We're here."

Honestly he could HEAR the disappointment even if she didn't. If only he hadn't walked so quickly. Not that he knew to blame himself for her slight dip in mood.

"I guess we better let everyone know we're alright." Though Law and Kisara and Dohalim would likely not be too worried. Shionne's curse made it hard for anyone to put the moves on her and Alphen had proven himself a competent warrior. More so than a mere slave had any right being.

She'd been trying to hide it too. Not successfully mind, but she did try. Hand half raised, she quickly dropped it when Alphen mentioned the others. ".... I suppose so." Game face on Shionne, Game Face! She folded her arms again, stepping into the Inn - and to the common area where the others had been waiting. She gave the group a curt nod and a, "What are you staring at? Everything's fine." When everything was most certainly not fine, and most there - excluding Law - could tell.

Her odd behavior aside, she at least finished her dinner and spoke with the others when they engaged her in conversation, and wasn't as irritable, though she seemed to be mentally kicking herself. Occasionally she'd look over at Alphen like she wanted to say something, but was quick to deny it if he caught her out. Even Rinwell and Kisara were giving Shionne odd looks, at which point she'd decided to turn in early. Maybe morning would bring a better day... right?

If Alphen noticed the others looking his way as well, he didn't react to it. THough that might have been mostly because most of his attention was on Shionne anyway. But that was nothing different from usual. Just ask Rinwel since she was the oldest party member alive in terms of time spent around their little party.

That did mean he caught her trying to say something a couple of times but just pretended to be clueless about that fact.

Oh Rinwell definitely noticed - thouse wisely she never commented on that either. When the group had to turn in for the evening, Shionne natuurally chose the bed the furthest from the group, curling up with her back to everyone . . though she didn't sleep right away.

This time nightmares didn't keep her awake but her pensiveness. Fessing up to Alphen at least, was feeling less and less like a bad idea - she just had to find the right time, and the right way, to say anything.

Fortunately she DID actually fall asleep, unintentionally, though this meant she slept a little longer than the others and was kicking herself for oversleeping.

The fact that at some point during the night "SOMEONE" had wrapped a blanket around her very comfortably likely contributed to her sleeping in. Though the identity of this heinous tuckeriner would never be known.

Certainly couldn't be Alphen who was sleeping soundly before she finally fell into slumber.

FIEND! MONSTER! HEATHEN! SAVA- oh. Yeaah, being made more warm and cozy would definitely have contributed to her sleeping later. Also that they weren't rushing to their next Lord, which was both infuriating and reassuring. Everyone needed their rest, though Shionne privately almost found it funny the way certain groups tended to split up.

Of course Kisara was still furious with Dohalim so she was mostly on patrol, but Rinwell and Law were hanging out an awful lot together lately. Shione, when she woke up, first felt the blanket when she woke up and was a bit surprised that the 'attack' hadn't woken her through her thorns.

Then again if anyone were to do that, it'd be Alphen, when he couldn't feel her thorns anyway. "..." He REALLY wasn't making this easy. She touched the edge of the blankets for a second, then very quietly looked around to see if she was alone or not. She must be, quiet as it is, right?

Alphen was nearby though he was seemingly asleep by the time she finally woke up. Though he was also lying on his side QUITE close too. Not within reach since that would be a bit much plus he didn't want to have her worry about a stray touch triggering her curse. But he was closer than the others even with his back turned to her. As for the others. Who knew?

Seeing him sleeping with his back to her, Shionne rolled over a little more, as quietly as she could, to face him. He wasn't so close that he'd trigger her thorns, but he was close enough..she could just.. lift her hand slightly and reach out --

Pulling her hand away before her thorns were triggered, she held it close to her chest, closing her eyes, letting out a silent sigh. OH Right, the others -- she lifted her head slightly, but she didn't see anyone else in the room. She could hear Law and Rinwell talking outside the room, Kisara and Dohalim were probably out and about as well.

She sat up slowly, sitting on the edge of her bed, resting her hands in her lap as she watched her sleeping...friend..? Honestly she wasn't sure what he was to her. Without her thorns..maybe he would even be more than just a friend. That being said... maybe she should come clean. But how would she even bring up the subject? It was useless.

Alphen idly turned in his sleep but not due to a nightmare or anything like that. Which in turn meant she was getting a very good look at his sleeping face now just as she was almost reaching out to him. She could even touch his cheek right now and he wouldn't stir given the lack of pain.

She froze, hand still raised, when he turned over in his slip. Oh.. he's still close. He's still asleep. Her hand drew back hesitantly - the desire to touch him was so tempting. He WAS asleep and he couldn't feel her touch so ... he wouldn't wake up, right?

She glanced around nervously, almost as if she were about to do something awful. Glancing back at him, she slowly let her hand inch forward a little closer to his face, almost holding her breath at the crackle from her thorns triggering when she gently touched his cheek with a finger.

Alphen did not wake at the touch and if anything it almost felt like he got more relaxed as a result of that touch. Which was absurd given the faint dark light crackling where her hand touches his cheek as he still slept for the moment. So Shionne had to deal with that sudden attack from Alphen who had no idea he was staging such an attack on her poor heart.

... Ohh... that was unfair.

She should pull her hand away before he woke, but there was something enchanting about seeing his sleeping face, feeling his cheek against her hand as she let her hand wander gently over his cheek, gently stroking it upwards to carefully brush some of his hair out of his face. Probably a good thing he was sleeping, though it also meant he was missing out on quite a sweet smile.

Alphen would absolutely kick himself for missing that smile. None of hte others were there to see it either. Except a small fluffy ball of feathers up in the corner of the room that is.

Hootle! The sneaky fiend! Well it's not like he was talking, and he couldn't tell Alphen what happened. Her gaze drifted to the crackling thorns that played against his face the longer her hand touched him, and the smile paused as her hand froze, and fingers almost touching his lips. The smile changed to one more bittersweet, and she pulled her hand away from his face.

What was she even thinking.. stealing that fleeing touch was only going to make her want more. She put a hand over her face, taking a breath. She was going to end up waking him up if she kept touching him.

Alphen had missed out on one of the most honest moment anyone could hope to get out of her given their circumstances. Oh well he would just have to subconsciously set things up like that between them.

"mmmmm" he grumbled while his eyes slowly started to crack open.