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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"Haah.." Shionne wasn't taking it the wrong way, this time. There was just something so soothing about being close to him. Why had she never done this before...? Even if she wasn't -that- close, just risking being close enough for physical contact by leaning her head against his shoulder was daring enough. ".. you win." She agreed - though there was almost an unspoken 'This time'.

He....did not expect her to admit it like that. But with such a surprising twist, he opted to stay quiet after that, instead slowly settling in with Shionne for the immediate future. Which would likely be quite the sight for anyone that might come looking for them all over again.

Someone must have been looking out for them, because the two actually get almost..ten minutes of quiet to themselves, with Shionne sitting contentedly next to him with the barest contact she would allow. A soft sigh slipped from her lips as she let herself relax just the tiniest bit, trying not to look like she was smiling too much.

Though inevitably they weren't going to have as much time to themselves as they would have preferred, as after those ten minutes, the sound of a door banging open in the front room startled her - but before Shionne could jerk away, the door to their room banged open in turn, with Rinwell leading the charge, looking annoyed.

"If you like her so much you can stay there and flirt with her - Hmph. Stupid Law." Rinwell huffed over her shoulder - though she stopped short with wide eyes when she saw Shionne and Alphen.

Law, hurrying in after Rinwell with a fresh slap mark on his face and utter confusion in his eyes, almost stumbled into Rinwell in his haste to follow, "I wasn't flirting with her- I was being ---uh.."

Awkward silence. And then Rinwell quickly pivoted and started to push Law out, "Uh! S-sorry! W-we didn't see anything--!"

"Huh? What do you mean, that-" Law started, only for Rinwell to shove her hand over his mouth, blushing. That was as intimate as she's ever seen Shionne and they just stepped in it!

"...." For some unexplained reason, Alphen was feeling quite...frustrated right now with the two youngest of their group. The mood had been so cozy and calm before they came bumbling in. Yet he didn't want to make the first move to acknowledge it either so instead he tried to pretend he had not noticed as if he'd dozed off at the perfect moment.

If they had only waited two more minutes. Shionne might have actually fallen asleep leaning against Alphen like that. She shot a look towards Alphen, almost guilty as if she had done something wrong - which was absurd - but he looked like he'd fallen asleep?

She quickly slipped her hand away from his, blushing, "..Sorry." For imposing? Sorry for waking him? - ah, if he had fallen asleep it'd be Rinwell who woke him. "Rinwell, Law - it's fine, nothing was going on. You don't have to leave."

Rinwell paused in her attempt to push Law out the door, without success - if anything he looked amused at her attempts and just planted his feet to make her try harder. "Ah.. Are you sure?" Rinwell eyed Shionne, then glanced at Alphen.

If she had not pulled her hand away he could have kept a straight face and pretended to still be dozing off. Instead the moment he felt that contact leave him, his brows furrowed and his eyes cracked open. The annoyance and frustration in his heart spiked at that moment too. It had been so comfortable of a moment. A moment where Shionne was not pushing him away like she often tried to.

He just let out a sigh in the end.

"It's...fine" it was not fine.

Rinwell eyed Shionne - it was hard to tell what the sniper was thinking, but as for Alphen .... she felt like while he SAID it was fine, there was an unconscious feeling that she should not stay all the same. "Law, Move!"

Law, still amused by Rinwell's attempts to push him out, finally stepped to a side - right as RInwell was shoving forward, which caused her to yelp in surprise and fall forward into the next room - and at Dohalim and Kisara's feet.

"Ah, Rinwell, are you all right?" Kisara's voice was heard from the other room, answered by a menacing growl from Rinwell.

Law, who had been about to help Rinwell up, immediately had a 'what did *I* do look on his face, glancing first to Dohalim for help. The troll in their party however, merely pointed to the door, helpfully. Implying that Law should get while the getting was good. He poked his head into the room next, where Shionne was already distancing herself from Alphen - grudgingly - and Alphen was sitting. "It'll be Rinwell's turn to cook tonight - any requests?"

Shionne glanced over her shoulder towards Alphen, then back to Dohalim. "Anything with meat is fine. Let the others know not too get too comfortable, we'll probably be moving out tomorrow." She sighed, wrapping her arms around herself.

Law could look forward to an excessively enthusiastic sparring session the first chance they got. Alphen made a note on his list of grudges he had started writing in his mind. He hated the distance Shionne had put between them again, though at least it wasn't as bad as before. He was still closer than when this day started so he could soothe himself with that thought.

"You know me. As long as it's got spice I'll eat anything." He answered as well. At least his demeanor towards Dohalim and Kisara seemed a little softer and less knife behind his back.

Dohalim nodded, glancing between Alphen and Shionne suspiciously for a moment - then enlightenment flickered on his face, followed by a smile that would probably have worried Shionne if she saw it. "Allright then, I'll let them know." Both about the food order and the plan to move on. "I'll just leave you two ~alone~." As Law had already hightailed it out, with Rinwell immediateyl going on the hunt to murder their tank, he closed the door with an amused hum, turning to give the not-lovebirds some space again.

Shionne, catching only the cheeky humming, gave Alphen a confused, if awkward glance. "..what was that about?"

Alphen tilted his head curiously as well not realizing someone had pieced things together when it came to him and Shionne. Not that it really mattered to him. It wasn't like wanting to be closer to Shionne was something to feel shame over.

"Beats me. I doubt it's anything we need to worry about though. It's Dohalim. Aside from us and Kisara he's the most reliable of the group."

"That's true..." Shionne nodded, though she was wondering if she should say something about.. earlier. Was it cruel to give him false hope? Letting him have those little moments when they weren't even sure if Shionne would survive at the end? "Alphen --" she hesitated.

She didn't want to take back what they had shared. She didn't want to apologize either. "...never mind." Sometimes it was probably best not to say anything at all, right?

This time Alphen knew not to push. Her tone said it all. She was still going to do silly like apologize or ask if he had any regrets. Now that he knew what this was all brought about by he was going to be a lot more perceptive about those tiny details.

"Still it's nice. Being able to just sit in a room like this together."

Oh wonderful, that's all she needed, a more perceptive Alphen to call her out on her silly quirks! ... well she'll just have to appreciate that too. "Hm?" She glanced over towards him again, considered, and gave him a small smile, "It has been a while since it was just... us." And granted the rest of the party was in the next room cooking, but still - it was quiet enough to seem like it was just the two of them.

"It has. While it's nice to have a lively group to travel with, moments like these are necessary too." Alphen nodded softly. Dammit he wanted to hold her hand again. Hopefully she wouldn't notice those 'sneaky' glances he sent towards her hand from time to time.

How funny, while she didn't notice the glances he sent her way, she was at the same time, wanting to sit back down next to him and lean against him again. ... Actually was there really anything preventing that?

Ah, but if she indulged in that again...

"I... suppose that's true.." She took a tiny step closer, looking elsewhere beceause obviously it wasn't intentional. She's just wandering! "I've never really thought about it as a necessity before..but Rinwell and Law both seem to appreciate the rest after everything." Rinwell was still hiding something, and Law was still grieving in his way.

She should absolutely indulge in that is what Alphen would insist if he could read her mind. Alas they were both stuck yearning for something they could both so easily get if they just went for it. Alphen might still do so if things drag on like this for too long.

"Those two really are more alike than they realize." He agreed with a sigh. For one they were both always running around on energy that seemed endless. Especially when Rinwell was chasing after Law.

Gasp! He'd hold her hand? How scandalous Alphen! How bold! "They are?" Shionne glanced at him curiously, puzzled. Well, the energy thing was definitely a point- they had far too much energy. "How do you figure that?" She wandered over towards a shelf near him, examining some of the knicknacks on it.

He was a dashing ROGUE after all. With a big stonking flaming sword on his back but look past that.

"Hm? You don't think so? For one Rinwell is very quick to answer any of his teasing or mistakes with force. Be it her fist or her magic. While Law actually cares in his own way about this group more than he's likely capable to properly convey."

Shionne considered that for a moment, "When you put it that way," she nodded slowly, "They do seem to be a match -- though neither of them seem to realize it themselves," she smiled slightly. If she'd had a different life, she could see herself reacting the way Rinwell did to Law..with regards to Alphen anyway.

She picked up a little potpourri rappig doll, absently squishing it to let out a bit of the fragrance, before putting it down again. "I suppose I haven't really noticed." Well that was untrue - she did tend to watch them interacting with amusement - and a tiny bit of jealousy.

"Really? I don't know why that feels so unlikely." With how she was always on guard there's no way she had not perceived on these things. Still rather than fully call her out on that, he just acted with skepticism instead.

"Anyway that's just how I see it and I am sure they'd both deny my claims to the bitter end."

She blushed slightly, then turned and sat down again next to him - well, close anyway, if not immediately next to him. "I can't imagine." A light semi denial, though she latched onto the latter subject now that it wasn't about her. "You've always been fairly perceptive, so your guess is probably not wrong. Just as it isn't wrong about them denying those claims.. Law seems to be particularly oblivious to it though. I suppose that's because he's spent most of his time training."

It was close enough for now. Definitely better than having her pacing away from him. So Alphen wouldn't be so stupid as to ruin that much.

"It's a little troubling how much of myself I see in him though." Alphen admitted with a sigh. After all he was older. [if only he knew by how much in actuality] "Still. Both them and everyone else. They're good people. Naturally that includes you too, Shionne." Yeah they might have done some questionable things or mistakes in the past. But deep down to their core, they were good people. Some of the best even.

Shionne gave him a sharp glance, not expecting the compliment, and then she quickly glanced away again. "I wouldn't say I was that good a person.." But she would agree that Law and Rinwell were good people. Even Dohalim and Kisara were - even though she had tried to kill Dohalim *cough*. That was before she knew the situation. And.. if it hadn't been for Alphen, in the end, things would have turned out worse. Heck, if she had made it this far without him, her journey might have ended here.

"Well I would." Alphen said with a frustrating finality for someone so determined to be their own harshest critic like Shionne. Still he said it because he meant it. He felt that way and no silliness would change his mind.

"Alphen.." Not frustration on her part, but Shionne did find his stubborn insistence that she wasn't that bad a person exasperating. But not in a bad way. "You're impossible, you know that? Why are you always like that?"