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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That might have actually managed to surprise him if she'd acted on those desires. Instead he just felt the warmth inside of him grow more than ever before. IT was not the kind of overwhelming blaze he often felt wielding the blade of fire that could easily devour him if he took too long or slacked off on his concentration. Or if he didn't have Shionne there to ground him.

Still he smiles at her soft words and almost cuddles up close while smiling back at her. In a way it was fortunate for another reason that his helmet had not come completely off yet. Because what little could be seen so far was more than enough to make people realize...he was most likely quite the handsome one from the start.

Oh it was taking everything for her to hold herself back. If his mask had broken off completely, she wouldn't have been able to hold herself back as well. What she could see of his face.. she could definitely see he was attractive. And that was part of the problem!

Since her curse was still zapping him, she triggered a slow regen spell on him, unwilling -- or unable -- to let go of him, as she leaned in close enough that she could almost snuggle against him, "I want... the same as you." She murmured softly, her lips close to his ear, hoping that hiding her face he wouldn't get her too flustered. "..I want to be with you."

That made his heart thump so loudly it might have been heard even under his chestplate. She actually said it. The way she spoke those soft words in his ear like that, trying to hide her own burning face. He'd seen it plenty of times to be able to imagine it even if she tried to hide it.

"I...didn't think I'd actually hear that so soon." He chuckled at a loss for words but his tone betrayed that happiness in his heart just fine.

... oh god did she say it too soon? He didn't sound upset about it - but she still made a vague flustered noise. "Y-you said it first..!" She only said it because he did, so it was fair! All the same, she was staying right where she was, telling herself it was only to monitor the curse's effect and keep the regen going on him so he wouldn't get hurt because she had a moment of weakness.

That was...an absurdly cute reaction and his shoulder shake with a barely audible chuckle. Shionne's nature was really showing now. The kind of girl she would have been if not for that damn curse.

A side of her that Alphen was absolutely in favor of. He smiled softly and leaned in closer.

"Then I guess I'll have to say even more next time~"

Oh dear god why is he CLOSER, "A.. Alphen you... you really shouldn't get so close.." Him being so incredibly irresistable plus being closer was making it hard for her to ignore that little voice screaming in her head to take another figurative step closer. No, wait, what did he mean by that last comment!?? "Wait..what?"

"Why not?" Because he's quickly discovering how much he feeels joy when he makes Shionne squirm while also being so close to her that there's barely any distance between them.

"I mean if me being so honest is what makes you answer back why wouldn't I?"

"Because.... B-Because .. uh..." TO be completely honest she actually liked him being this close. She didn't know.. how long she had craved his closeness in particular, but tasting it once - figuratively - was making her not want to lose it. But he was so danged CLOSE it was almost like he was tempting her on purpose. But he wouldn't do that... would he? "Because it's.... it's a problem.." Her castle might have crumbled, but it was still risky!

"Oh? What kind of problem?" No he was not moving away or giving her more space. Why would he when he was finally right where he wanted to be. Close and welcome into Shionne's personal space. No matter the stammering and blushing.

Surely he wasn't this clueless - he was just teasing her right? "Y.. you can't... really not know.." she all but accused him of teasing her so cruelly! But it was hard to be angry at that smile - no, not just that, but at him in general. She tilted her head to study him a little shyly, "We're.. this close..."

"How is that a problem? We're not hurting anyone." Clueless might not be the right term for it. Since he knew he was getting closer to Shionne. He just felt it was so natural and comfortable he could not imagine that being wrong or unfitting in any way.

Frankly she should pat herself on the back managing to keep from kissing him this long, with that much temptation. "You're hurting yourself being close to me like this.." Says the woman making absolutely no attempt to pull away. If anything she's all but given up her argument, from that tell tale sigh as she leaned into him, resting her head against his.

Being close to him like this...it did feel natural and just -right- but she felt guilty over causing him pain. Even if she was immediately healing it again. It was harder and harder to pull away from him.

"I'm not." He said simply, not even showing the slightest hint of wanting to let go. He had yet to fully realize the meaning of his feelings but he knew the baseline of them. He wanted to be close to Shionne no matter what. When she finally leaned in, his heart felt like almost jumping out his throat for a split second before it settled back down again

"...beautiful..." he murmured so quietly it was barely like a mouse's scuttling.

"Alphen..." Shionne sighed his name faintly. He left her feeling so many confusing emotions she's never experienced before him, she didn't know what to do with herself. Or him. He was so lucky that he couldn't feel the pain from her thorns, but she still felt guilty about it normally. Though she was having a hard time to feel guilty at the moment - if it wasn't the urge to tilt her head up to him ever so slightly, it was the urge to wrap her arms around him tighter. "H...haha, I..." She closed her eyes, "... I won't want to let go if you keep doing this..." She trailed off absently, her body relaxing against his - wait, what was that last part? It was so quiet she couldn't pick it up - so she lifted her head to glance at him. "What was --" She stopped. Awfully close there, Shionne...

"Not hearing anything bad to me." Alphen chuckled seeing her finally act a bit more honestly about what she wanted from him and with him. It just made his heart race so much more and want to lean into her touch as well. He'd completely allowed the rest of the world to just fall away around them completely.

"Hm? What was what?" He asked before taking a better look at Shionne since she'd cut herself off like that and only making him more curious of what was on her mind.

"Shionne?" He said hitting her with that fond tone of voice he often used when calling out her name these days.

OH no, he said her name LIKE THAT. That way that made her blush even though he did nothing more than say her name. "I.." She swallowed back an odd lump in her throat. She'd wanted to ask him what he said - if he had even said anything a moment ago, but with him looking at her like that, combined with that fond way he said her name... she can't help but slip one hand free of his, leaving him to still hold her other hand. Instead she reached up to touch the unmasked part of his face, brushing her thumg along a corner of his lips.

Oh...Oh well then. That was a far more intimate touch than he's gotten from Shionne in the past. But it also made it feel so much more special and precious too. SO he didn't flinch or even shiver away from Shionne's touch, instead letting his expression melt into a very adoring smile even with the mask still covering up most of his face.

Oh that adoring smile was such a killer expression, even with half of his face still hidden behind that mask. She found herself staring at him in awe for a moment, before her expression melted into a soft smile of her own - forgetting completely about everything - forgetting about her misgivings with hurting him with her thorns, forgetting the mission, forgetting that their friends, most importantly, were probably going to be back -any minute now- .. instead she started leaning towards him -gaspgasp-.

He felt nothing wrong about her getting closer. Maybe because it just felt so right and he was quite lacking in experience when it came to romance and the signs that it showed before things escalated.

He didn't move away and if anything his other arm was slowly reaching around to bring the rest of her closer against him as well, not really thinking about anything other than Shionne right now.

Such a dangerous situation, and neither of them were minding it! Gasp! Her hand traced away from his lips as she felt him slowly start to reach around her ...another thing she never realized she had subconsciously been craving. Feeling him holding her, let alone her own desire to be closer to him- even now she tilted her head up to bring herself closer to him, "Alphen.." she murmured faintly, leaning closer, closer still, until her lips were barely even a breathe away from his - aaaaaaaaand..

-SNAP- The loud crack of a branch, seemed suddenly louder than usual. Almost as if someone was being deliberately loud so that the lovebirds were aware someone else existed in the world. Followed by Dohalim's voice - still a few feet away, but projected intentionally loudly, "My that's quite a haul you all caught - we'll be eating well tonight."

Which startled Shionne, who froze for a second in Alphen's arms, eyes wide. What had she been about to..

Dammit. Just a few more second. A few more seconds and they...would have done what? With the spell of the moment broken and clarity returning to Alphen, he was left feeling...confused and a little frustrated. But not quite grasping why. Though he did know it was not aimed at Shionne this time. So he couldn't help but let out a faint sigh. He...hoped that whatever that moment just now was, he could see it through to the end eventually.

Blushing ten times more than before, Shionne ducked her head, looking like she was trying to avoid Alphen's gaze - though the smile couldn't quite be suppressed as much as she would have liked. By the time Dohalim, Kisara and Rinwell - with Law trotting behind lugging some large branches - made their appearance, Shionne had scooted back as much as she could. Though if Alphen still didn't let go of her hand, she made no attempt to pull it away either. "A-ah, you're back.." Sooo casuallll...

Kisara was too excited over having fished up a huge trout to notice the awkwardness, and held it up instead proudly. "It put up a good fight, but I was the victor eventually. We should have plenty even for you Shionne. How are you feeling?"

Shionne barely kept herself from glancing at Alphen, but she was notably more pleasant in her response, "I feel .. good. I suppose resting was the right idea after all." And Resting with Alphen, doubly so.

Dohalim m a a y have noticed what happened, but he wasn't talking. Rinwell and Law were clueless, but Kisara glanced over at Shionne in surprise for a second, then smiled. "I'm glad you're in better spirits too. Alphen, how about you? Feeling better? I'll be able to get the food prepared in a little under an hour if you're hungry."

He didn't hold on as tightly but he did keep his hand close enough that they could feel each other even without actually touching. He'd managed to compose himself just about enough though there was a faint stiffness to his own smile when the others greeted them again.

"Y-Yeah feeling all charged over here. Though won't say no to some of your cooking so don't hold back on my account." He still would occasionally throw glances back at Shionne making it clear he was still keeping most of his attention on her no matter the conversation.

Shionne's gaze was certainly falling on him a lot more frequently, though everytime he glanced at her, her smile turned almost more shy, especially when she thought about what they shared and how close they got. So close she ..came very close to doing something she'd never dreamed about - or more accurately, she never dreamed she'd be able to get close enough to someone for that.

"Y-yeah, I'm pretty hungry too." Though thanks to the thorns, she always was hungry it seemed. Knowing his hand was so close, .. was strangely reassuring. She lightly brushed her finger against his - though without looking at him - as if to remind herself that he was right there, and what they shared actually happened. "Do you need help?"

Kisara shook her head, "No no, you both need to get your rest. Let us take care of things for a while. Rinwell?" She waved the mage to join her, while Dohalim sat down to wait and Law started the fire. Eventually they were going to have to address the elephant in the room - that fourth Lord. But right now, the mood was light and no one wanted to darken it, least of all Shionne. Maybe after they ate though.

That absolutely would need addressing at some point. Alphen was in no hurry to bring that up though. This atmosphere right now was just another reason for him to fight to see this journey to the end and make sure all of them would be standing at the end smiling and safe as they would face a new future with endless possibilities.

Though for some odd reason he kept lingering on an image of himself and Shionne having their own little house out in some woods with her greeting him with a big smile after he came back from chopping wood or fishing in a nearby river...the fact that he could think of so many clear details was honestly quite confusing to him but it all felt like a puzzle whose pieces fell in place as naturally as breathing.