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 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?"

Oh god that beaming smile .. she was so very weak to it. She could stare at that smile for hours. Oh! He asked a thing. She blinked, realizing what he'd asked, and.. honestly she hadn't really looked around that much. "Erm.. no, actually..." she admitted, privately hoping he was asking because he wanted to walk around with her. "Have you seen a lot of it already?" He must have, having been looking for her.

He lightly laughed seeing that dumbstruck look from her but then smiled warmly again. Not fair with his face now completely exposed and no longer blocking out some of that natural charm of his.

"I have seen a pretty big bit but I still feel like I find something new every time I go wandering again. SO why don't we go look around some more too. Though lets just avoid the lower levels." Since he saw some...unpleasant places down there.

She smiled softly - dear lord why was he so attractive? She'd always suspected it with what little she saw before, and when it was a full mask she'd been very curious about his looks. "All right, I'd like that." Meanwhile Kisara and Dohalim probably already knew about the two of them, while Rinwell and Law were going to be the last to know.

Would make sense for those two to know since they were the grownups of the group. Even though technically speaking Alphen was very old indeed if you factored in his time spent froze in cryostasis.

"Great. I've actually wanted to try finding a rooftop for a while now." Alphen grinned and almost took her hand again before he caught himself.

"Ah sorry. Old habit. I can wait though." Strange. It seemed admitting to calling her cute had loosened the filter between his heart and his mouth even more.

The smile gave him back was still a little wistful - if he had the mask on - even half of it - they wouldn't have that problem. But that was an awfull, selfish thing to think, and like he said. They could wait a little longer. "Why a rooftop?" She asked instead, folding her hands behind her. At least she could hold her own hands, instead of longingly wanting to take his hand.

He'd love nothing more than to be able to hold her hand right now though seeing her like that also added to her charm in a sense. At least she was smiling more now and the liveliness had returned to her as well. A complete improvement to how he found her.

"I guess I just want to get a better look at what's on the other side of this tragic city." Honestly it was mostly just wanderlust and maybe wanting to be closer to the stars.

She chuckles, mindful to walk just close enough to feel like she's close to him, and not too close as to trigger the thorns. "That's so like you to want to know that." But she was definitely glad to be able to share that sight with him. Fortunately the hallways were lit, and she glanced around in spite of herself, ".. despite everything, it's surprisingly well maintained.." That's probably thanks to the brainwashed servants though. She glanced away at that thought, looking instead to their shadows ... huh.

Glancing at Alphen out of the corner of her eye, she slyly moved her hand just a little so her shadow hand looked like it brushed against his shadow arm. Haaa - she was being overly silly now.

It was so silly and cute. If only he'd noticed it. But he was too content just being able to spend time close to Shionne again. A brief moment of peace before they figured out where to go next now that things had settled into an uncertain calm for a while.

"Well all of this wealth should be put to better use. Especially since there won't be a new lord here."

She didn't mind -too- much he didn't notice - she was being sneaky about it, and the end result made her smile a little more to herself. Almost giddy with the hope that one day it won't be just pretend. "What will happen to the people here?" Someone will have to help them she's sure. Maybe the remaining members of the resistance will re-educate them. Kisara would certainly want to help them.

He would make it a reality one day. Soon even because he didn't want to keep her from enjoying that proximity and affection they had been reveling in before his seal was fully removed.

"I don't honestly know. It's been days and we haven't seen a single leader like figure among the people in this city. There might have been some once upon a time but now there might not be anyone." Alphen sighed softly. He did not want to don that mantle. He was not a leader of a country material.

As long as it was with him, she told herself she could wait by his side as long as it took. Even if it was difficult to remind herself she couldn't reach out and comfort him when she wanted to, .. like now when she heard that sigh. Her hand curled into a fist briefly, remembering the conversation they had about what Alphen wanted to do when things were taken care of. "I'm sure someone will stand up for them.. Kisara maybe.." She wasn't really leader material on her own, but her nurturing nature would certainly help the people here. Dohalim would probably help - and at least he did know what he was doing as a leader. Even if he had done it initially for the wrong reasons.

The sentiment was plenty right now and he could easily tell Shionne was there for him even in this way just by being close. He didn't mope on that for too long though instead he leaned on the railing as he looked out at one of the lower levels.

"Honestly I think most people would probably be better off just moving to Dohalim's kingdom though I suppose there's the matter of whether they can accommodate that many would be refugees like that."

She moved to join him at the railing, leaning against it with a relaxed sigh. ".. it -is- a big city. Wasn't Dohalim recently talking making room for a huge fishing pond? There must be more space there than even we saw... and here... there are too many bad memories for everyone. I can't imagine anyone who knows its history would want to stay."