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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She hadn't noticed that he had eyes only for her for most things. Always checking on her. Checking on her mood. Checking on her injuries. Just watching her sometimes when he had a moment of peace and calm.

"I always will be. Even if the whole world turned against you." He vowed, his smile brightening up a little more. He would not allow Shionne to be alone. Not as long as he drew breath.

When she was trying to keep her distance from everyone early into their interactions, she thought he was just being annoying. Though thinking back on it now... didn't she do it just as much? She found herself watching him, reaching out to him to talk to him more as well. And even now, even though she kept trying to keep him at a distance, there was an unspoken need to be close to him. "Alphen.."

Hah...to think she thought she could keep a professional distance with him now. She gave him a small smile, sliding a little closer to him - though the moment the thorns started to trigger, she stopped moving and looked down with a faint sigh. "You don't have to go so far for me." Though she said the words with a fond smile of someone just exasperated with the person they loved, more than scolding or trying to keep him away.

There. That smile right there made it all the more worth it. Alphen smiled back his own feeling warmer than it was before. This time he didn't flinch away from her thorns. It stung and she stopped before it could get any worse so there was just a faint twitch but no other reaction. Hell compared to when he had to break her out of her own head just a few days ago this kind of pain was akin to a mosquito bite.

"I know. But I want to. Having to has nothing to do with it."

Shionne drew her arms back, folding her arms instead, if only so she wouldn't try reaching out to him again. "You're a good man, Alphen. You really deserve better than me." But she's the one he wanted, and that was..like a dream she never thought she'd experience. Augh the blush was starting to come back again, and she ducked her head a bit. She knew he'd say she didn't need to, but she wanted to make it up to him for all the trouble she put him through someday. If she survived.

"I don't want better even if better existed." Which it didn't is what he was more or less saying. Especially when treated with that smile and blush that made him feel as if he'd just been clubbed in the back of the head by some unseen force.

As for making it up to him, he didn't think that was necessary but he'd at the very least ensure she got that chance. That was his bottom line.

"Haha, are you sure about that?" She smiled, "Well... actually I shouldn't second guess you or you really might change your mind." She absently brushed her fingers against each other, "But for now.." Because she was genuinely hoping their wishes would be granted. "We... I mean..." Fidgetting. So much fidgeting~!

"Positive. There's no way I'd change my mind." She should know. He's been pretty damn stubborn about pursuing a place by her side after all and that was before he knew who he truly was and what she actually meant to him all along. The way she was fidgeting though could onyl be summarized in one word as far As Alphen was concerned.

"Cute." ...did he just voice that thought of his outloud?

Yes, yes he did, and she glanced up at him in surprise, "What?" He didn't... did he -was he referring to *HER* as cute? Or did he see a cute bird outside or a squirrel on the windowsill or something? She glanced over towards the window curiously, then back at him, "What is?"

He flinched and looked away with a clearly red face as it was his turn to lightly fidget in place.

"I was...talking about you..." SInce the cat was out of the bag he might as well just admit it now. The last thing he wanted was some kind of friction being caused by him being too embarrassed about his own thoughts.

Her face immediately turned red to match his as she stared at him with that revelation, and she fell silent for a few seconds. Oh.. he meant _SHE_ was cute.. she didn't think she'd ever heard anyone call her that and .. why was her heart beating so hard? Was he able to hear that?

"O-oh..." Uh, no, just 'oh' didn't cut it. "Thank you.." .. that felt weirdly formal. She hesitated a second longer, weighed a few things and finally leaned over to him to press her lips against his cheek quickly. If she was lucky the zap might not be too painful from that brief contact. "Alphen.." she murmured, almost a whisper to him before retreating awkwardly, but a happy smile on her face.

The kiss stings but the surprise from her actually taking the initiative to do that was so great all of his other senses were numbed for that split second. The curse happened yet he looked back at her with a red face and wide eyes yet not flinching or pulling away from Shionne any.

"I...uhm..." Words. Words Alphen. Words were a thing so why were they failing him now.

".. your surprised face is pretty cute too.." Shionne offered a little shyly, before clearing her throat and glancing away sheepishly, ".. sorry, I should have waited until... after everything was over first." To show any kind of affection - and even that was the bare minimum of what she could do, sadly.

That bare minimum was enough to fill his heart with that sweet warm feeling he hadn't had a clear grasp of yet before his seal was completely removed. Now though along with the steady flow of his memories returning, he had more clarity about what these feelings of his were. didn't make him any less flustered though.

"No no I...don't mind at all."

She smiled at that, before she held a hand out, ready to heal anything she caused pain for. "..did it hurt? I know it was only for a second, but..." Well he was still recovering from that hug too. Although he was mostly recovered - enough to come looking for her the way he did, anyway.

"I...didn't notice really" Too busy going 'oh god she actually kissed me on the cheek!' Alphen was absolutely stunned in that moment and that was probably for the best since it would have ruined such a precious moment even more. Even so he could not help but feel giddy on the inside too.

His embarrassment was making her embarrassment increase - but she was okay with that. She lowered her hand again - if he barely noticed the zap it was probably fine. But she gave him a shy smile at that, ".. you can't take it back, you know." Now that they were making things clear.. him taking back what he said was hardly on the docket, and she knew it. But she was trying to break the awkward mood with some lighthearted humor -- not doing very well at it though.

"I wasn't planning to." Alphen answered without so much as a stutter and despite the blush on his face he looked Shionne straight in the eyes to say that. He was never more certain of what he wanted. For himself and for Shionne.

Erk. She was only joking but seeing that sincere, serious expression on his face the way he looked at her - she felt her heart skip a beat again, smiling softly. "... Yes, I know.. for what it's worth we're both .. committed to this." This being their mission and to each other.

He really wanted to hold her close again but he'd just hold it in for now until they had her curse lifted and they could just get all of the touching they wanted out of the way. Especially in Shionne's case since she likely would be even more starved for that sort of thing after being able to enjoy it with Alphen while he had his helmet still on.

"Always. I'm just glad I decided to find you sooner than later." Because he might have had a hard time getting through to her if he waited a few more days.

She was definitely touch starved - it's all his fault for that. Well partially, she was pretty touch starved even before that. But once her curse was broken, she wasn't going to be able to get enough of holding him, hugging him and -- ahem!

"Eh... I'm sorry I gave you such a hard time about...everything." She had thought it was logical and made sense, and it had been hard to shake off Vholran's words.

"You have nothing to apologize for." Alphen smiled warmly, shaking his head gently. As if he could blame Shionne for this. Vholran was lucky Alphen never heard the drivel the tried to fill Shionne's head with in private. He might have actually ended him before that weird woman intervened.

"I'm just glad to have you back~"

Shionne blushed at that again, ".. I'm glad to be back with you -" she caught herself, almost about to add a hasty 'and the others' like she normally would. "--with you too." Her expression softened, "I thought .. I didn't think you all would have come after me." It still amazed her the things this man did for her. "...I suppose now I know why you're always so reckless." And vice versa.

Alphen chuckled bashfully at that. Honestly it wasn't just cause he thought she was cute of beautiful. Just how much he learned about her and how vital her happiness had become for him. And a good dose of his own guilt for failing her and letting Vholran carry her off that day. But the main feeling was still yes that he wanted her in his life. As close by his side as possible.

"I'd go to the other side of this world if that is what it takes to get you back."

As much as she was loving hearing him say all of this, it also made her long to be in his arms, or holding him. The little glances she gave him when she thought she was being sly, she couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like to hold him when she wasn't in such an unpleasant situation. "You won't have to go so far again. I don't want to go anywhere else but be by your side." She paused, blushing at those words from her own lips. Oh she meant every one, but still...

"...yeah of course!" Oh god the beaming on his face had never been brighter and more boisterous. Because hearing Shionne say those words he'd hoped for for so long, it was like a dream come true for Alphen and his steps for the rest of the day were going to be much lighter.

"Have you um had the time to look around the rest of his huge palace yet?"