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 watched him with an affectionate smile at the chuckle, but she responded seriously. "No, never." she assured him firmly. "I don't know what I imagined you to look like, but.. it's certainly not a disappointment." She blushed a little at that, "If anything... I-I'm a little disappointed I wasn't able to see it sooner." But then she would have wanted to touch him even more.

"Would you ever hide it again, if you had a mask to? Obviously not the kind you were forced to wear before, I mean.." And not counting like.. a masquerade ball or something.

"No I wouldn't. Not since you seem to like me having it off so much." Alphen nodded with a boisterous grin before scooting a little closer but still not close enough to touch just enough to let her feel him just from being close.

That got a blush from Shionne, both at him acknowledging her liking to see him without his mask, and for the boyishly charming grin. Gods that was such a killer smile that he had. "W-well.. if you were uncomfortable with it off..." She wouldn't want him to go around without it just for her. "I mean... if you wanted, you could wear something in public, and ..just leave it off in private with me--" UH. Wait. That actually probably sounded...erm... she really had to start paying attention to her words.

"That is.. it's just as important that you're comfortable too.." She fiddled with her fingers slightly, though she leaned a little in his direction - just to get a tiny bit closer. Privately amused, in a dreamy sense, that the moment she could touch him, she wasn't going to be able to get enough of being close to him.

"It's not something I want to hide behind for any longer anyway now that it's off." He shook his head with a soft smile. He wasn't JUST trying to overcome of for her. Though that did play the majority part in the effort of such an endeavor.

Then she phrased things in a way that made him blush faintly but not in a bad way. When she followed up he smiled again and leaned in a little closer too, stopping short of touching.

"If it's with you, I think I'll get more comfortable faster, if you ask me~"

Shionne smiled, "Hah.. well.. I want you to be at your most comfortable with me, so .. that's good." She murmured a little shyly. "But honestly Alphen... you make me wish I can't touch you now." Even to just hold his hand, or brush her fingers against her cheek. She never thought such thoughts would run through her head, let alone...

A bit jokingly, she adds, "Although I probably wouldn't be able to let you go if I was able to." Just because she craved him even more knowing she couldn't touch him.

"I wish you could too." Because if it wasn't really a challenge for him to hold back that aspect when it came to their time together. Instead he pulled up closer still.

"What makes you think I'd let you go either~"

O-oh. Shionne felt her blush growing - she should probably turn the conversation to something more innocent and harmless as it really ...wasn't dangerously close to getting less so. "Alphen, ..be careful.." she cautioned gently when he pulled up closer to her. As much she loved him being close to her she didn't want him to push his luck and risk getting zapped by the thorns anyway! ... well 99% of her did, the selfish, needy part of her was willing to throw caution to the wind anyway.

"Ahaha... w-well...I .. don't think I'd mind that.."

The danger was damn worth it as far has he was concerned. Still the real reason he would pull back just at the edge of actually going for a touch was because he did not want to hurt her with his own pained reactions.

He would simply have to make it up to her in the future.

"Good because that's exactly what I'll do once this is all over."

Never let her go. She liked the sound of that. Shionne laughed, "W.. we should probably change the subject before it.. becomes too tempting to resist." Even if she /was/ mentally debating tiny touches might not trigger the thorns - knowing darn well it would. And with him being so close, and her wanting to move closer.. she shook her head quickly but - despite the risk, she didn't move away either. So maybe distracting themselves with some other topic would help that urge to hold him close?

"Mmm I don't really want to but yeah I can see the wisdom in that." He didn't have to like it. But their current circumstances just could not be helped. So he thought for a moment about what to talk about next.

"We're going to have to start thinking about our next step for real now that we uhm...sorted things out between us. I have a feeling everyone else was waiting on that while busying themselves with everything else going on."

Shionne hid a faint smile at that reluctance. Though blushing again for a second at mention of how things sorted between them, she glanced skyward. "Right.. which still puts us at square one. If that Red Lady went off planet with the Renas Alma.. I don't know how we could possibly follow her. We don't have a shuttle." Were they really going to have to just sit and wait for the end?

"Hmmm I can't shake the feeling there might be a way." Alphen shook his head. With everything going on he had yet the chance to fully peruse his recovered memories. Still with things seemingly winding down for a while it was the perfect time to get started on that.

"Heh.. well if you say that, then there must be something we're overlooking," Shionne mused lightly. Maybe there /was/ an old ship around somewhere? Stranger possibilities had happened. "Oh.. it's unrelated, but there was something else I was wondering..."

"Oh? What is it?" Honestly he often felt more inclined about hearing more from Shionne since she had clearly much more to tell than he did given he was learning things as he went really.

That was fair - she was in the same boat as him, "It's really not that important.." But since it related to him and wanting him to like her more she needed to know his likes and dislikes...aesthetically...too.

"My hair...do you like it better up like this or..down..?" She's been wearing it up for a lot of their journey but it was before she was ready to acknowledge her feelings for him too. And now that they've sorted THAT part out - what he liked was very important~!

Wow that was a bit of a turn but then the topic was not one he disliked so he gave it some serious thought, cupping his chin and everything.

"Hmmmm I do think the hair down look gave you a more...no I can't really say comfortable or relaxed given the situation. But while on the journey all around this world, I will admit I can't think of you having it in any way other than the ponytail."

Wow, he was taking the question so seriously. Shionne couldn't help but smile for it, admiring that thoughtful expression he had, "Haha.. I suppose that makes sense," she brushed her hand against her ponytail, "It's the same for you." She hummed, folding her arms, "I've already mentioned I didn't think I'd ever be able to see you without your mask - but the other thing, I don't think I can imagine seeing you without your armor either." But he's probably going to dress more casually when everything was over, right? Her gaze drifted to the scarf around his shoulders, her smile warming more. He's worn that throughout their entire journey too.

"Hmmm well when the day comes that I don't need to wear this armor anymore, I'll be sure to ask for your advice on picking out something more...day to day." After all she was the one who pointed out he'd look good with the scarf and it had become an utterly integral part of his outfit. So if he were to get used to wearing more civilian attire, he would naturally consult with her again.

Shionne smiled at that. She was the fashionista of the group, after all, and she couldn't deny she was eager to see him in something outside of his armor. Though she was going to have to make sure the scarf stayed part of the ensemble. "I look forward to that day." She smiled faintly, "A day we can both live quietly, peacefully somewhere.." With occasional traveling when they got restless. She didn't think for a /second/ he'd ever stop being a weapon fanatic, so wherever they settled down would have to have enough room for him to work on or collect his weapons. Though the idea of living together still seemed like a pipe dream, she rather liked the idea of losing herself in that fantasy to reality scenario.

As long as they had enough land for a small smithy and a storage room for his products then that would be fine. Though odds were Shionne could absolutely steal away a bulk of his time just with the constant cuddling and just being herself. To say nothing of...other activities. Alphen was luckily too distracted to make it past anything more than kissing Shionne but that was still quite possible in the nearer future compared to their little cottage in the wilderness.

"It's a day I will absolutely make happen. I swear it, Shionne~"

Goodness, once things were quieted down and they found a nice cottage to stay in, Shionne would have a hard time letting go of him. Even if he wanted to get up at any point. Fortunately she was more distracted with imagining the different styles of outfits she wondered what he would look best in. A vest or slightly open shirt was definitely... DEFINITELY vital... Ah, why was she thinking about that? The entire reason they changed the subject was so they wouldn't get tempted to risk the thorns! "I believe you, Alphen," Shionne smiled softly, "If there's any constant in the world, I know that.. I can always believe in you." Cheesy, maybe, but it was making her blush a little just knowing how far he would go for her.

Those words...meant the world to him considering the incident when she got captured. Because he felt he had failed her horribly at the time. Just more reason to make it his life's goal to make it so that SHionne would feel nothing but happiness in her life going forward.

"Really wish I could at least hold your hand right now...."

Funny, she was thinking the same. Well she wished he could hold her too. She didn't blame him for letting go of her hand - rather, herself for hurting him at all. She'd given up on everything in that moment she realized that the man she loved would only be hurt if he touched her. He was the last person she wanted to ever hurt. Even so, she lifted her hand slightly, but didn't bring it close enough to his hand- the painful longing was palpable, ".. so do I. But we both know what would happen..." ... yet a part of her wanted to touch him anyway. A tiny, selfish part.

"Gonna be honest...I'm probably going to get frustrated enough to go for it anyway even if only for a second." Alphen tried to laugh it off as a joke but there was definitely a hint of resolve in his voice to endure that pain for just a moment of physical contact between the two of them.

Shionne gave him an exasperated glance, "You don't --" she stopped. Even though he said it jokingly, she suspected he did mean it. Which was part of the problem, because she didn't feel confident that she would stop him - or herself - even if he was injured. That craving for his touch was almost impossible to ignore.

She was even tempted to bargain with him - to offer to let him hold her hand as long as he let go when he couldn't bear it anymore. She shook her head, "One of us has to be firm," She teased lightly, "Or will I have to throw something at you to keep you at a distance?"