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 had to admit she couldn't - and didn't want to - think of any kind of argument that would help get any distance here. "Well...M..maybe it's not ...bad.." No it definitely wasn't -bad- per se. And she'd be lying if she said she didn't imagine being with him much more intimately than just a few touches and kisses here and there. There was a faint sigh that followed the nuzzling, as she uttered a helpless little, "That...feels so good.." It's worse than an addiction~!

Hearing those words was all Alphen needed to keep going and maybe slowly get a little bolder as the nuzzling slowly transitioned into light kisses along her neck, testing the waters if that was going too far too quickly though he certainly did not think it was too soon. Not after everything they'd been through.

She wasn't sure..at what point those faint sighs turned into soft moans, but when she became aware of the noise -- and realized it was coming from /her/ -- she couldn't help but feel flustered about it. Not enough to stop really though, "Al..alphen.." That.. was definitely a different way to say his name, her hands starting to wander a bit more..idly. And in a sense, a bit more daring to her touches without even thinking about it - thinking is their enemy. Logic was their enemy and Shionne was having a hard time handling that and the pleasant feeling of those kisses and his closeness.

That was absolutely a new sound to hear from her lips but Alphen instantly concluded that he liked it. A lot. So much so he wanted to hear more. So his kisses went a little lower along her neck while the rest of his body smoothly tucked in against hers while his hands played over her back and sides before caressing over one leg as he almost prompted her to hook a leg around him in return.

It was fascinating the way she fit against him like a missing puzzle piece.. pressing herself into him with a muffled moan. One thing for sure was she really wasn't wanting him to stop. Her leg twitched slightly feeling his hand smoothly gliding over it, pressing closer against his body as her hand wandered into his hair, another soft moan of his name slipping out as she tried to curl into him more.

He honestly was just doing whatever felt right and so far this had not led him astray if Shionne's voice and reactions were anything to go by. So he kept going, pulling her closer, pushing closer. Anything just to touch and feel Shionne more while his lips explored her neck and collar.

"I could get used to this. Having you so close. The way you sound."

She nuzzled closer to him, her lips against his shoulder, her fingers starting to move deeper into his hair though only caressing lightly, 'It's.. embarrassing.." she murmured sheepishly. Only embarrassing in the sense that she COULD sound like that - but she was also pleased to hear that from him. "I can't ... help it when you're ...touching me so...so..." Mmm... intimately? Yeah that was ..very accurate, as another soft moan slipped out as if to emphasize her words.

"It's beautiful to me~" Alphen smiled against her neck and resumed his kisses and exploration of her body, keenly aware of every curve pressing up against him and his mind slowly sinking into a haze that felt so right that he didn't even think of resisting it a little.

"Feels like I'll never be able to make up for all the lost time we couldn't touch. That's how much, how hard I fell for you."

"Beautiful.." She could feel that smile, and it only made her blush more. He was..so comfortable, and it was embarrassing to know she wanted to feel..more. "We have all the time in the world now.." She reminded him, shifting against him to feel closer to him; enough that her leg tentative slid over his, "When we're not traveling.." Though speaking of touching, her other hand was certainly getting bolder, wandering along his side and slipping under his shirt, "We can ..touch each other..feel each other as much as we want now." Wording, Shionne. Wording.

"Not beautiful. THE most beautiful" He corrected himself and her while he eagerly welcomed her body getting more comfortable with his as well as that bolder touch that seemed to make his skin feel more sensitive and alive than ever as it thrummed for her touch as far as he could feel it.

"I love the sound of that. Especially if we're the only ones traveling. We can take time exploring together by the campfire or in the tent~"

In the tent or in an occasional inn when they were near one, or if the weather was bad. Her hand lightly moved against his skin, feeling the warmth and...oh.. oh goodness was his body firm..and very, very toned and she probably shouldn't explore JUST how defined his body was like this. "Mmhmmm... as ..much as I enjoy the company of the others.. I want to be alone with you more." ... UH, "A-and.. I think they have other plans besides.."

Alphen welcomed that exploration so she would have a hard time prying her hand away as he pressed back into those touches as if to say to touch as much as she wanted.

"They have their own lives and we have ours." Ours was spoken in a very' together ' way since Shionne was exactly where ALphen wanted. Right there in step by his side.

Well it was definitely difficult to resist exploring when he was so cooperative. Even when she started to move her hand back, whenever she felt him press into a touch she couldn't help but want to see how else she could make him react. Feeling her hand explore and touch where she could must have been new for him too.

But that word...Ours. The way that was said, even the implication. It left a shiver of nervous excitement up her spin at the thought of spending the rest of her life with him, the way they'd casually talked about before. Only before she never really thought it would be a reality like it was now. "Ours.." she murmured softly, a smile coming to her lips. "I ..really like the sound of that.." Their life together - that was such a dream come true.

Alphen felt his heart skip a beat again when he saw that smile and he pulled up for another kiss this time dragging it out for much much longer as he slowly moved his body against hers not relenting until he could feel her getting short of breath because dammit all he wanted so much more of Shionne it was almost ridiculous.

She met him in the kiss when she saw him lean up to her, unconsciously shifting more on top of him as she let herself relax and get more comfortable with him. Even getting swept up into the flow of emotions she'd kept at bay for so long, a soft hum of pleasure and pure joy murmured against his lips as her fingers tangled loosely in his hair. She could even feel the way he moved slightly, instinctively pressing her body against his to feel even closer to him - unconsciously wanting more though unsure how to express that in words. When even she started to need air though, she started to pull back, her hand so tangled in his hair it tugged it slightly when she tried to get that breather. "Alphen..." What are words, really?

This was all new territory, a whole new world on top of the new real one that was a result of fusing two planets. But exploring this one was far more aluring of a notion and it involved just being close to Shionne which was already his most favorite thing in the world.

"Shionne....do what you want. Anything at all I can do for you. All of it is something I want." ALphen purred, nuzzling and kissing at her neck again now that his lips were not locked with hers.

Shionne hesitated even with him telling her to do what she liked. "A..are you sure...?" Anything? ANYTHING anything? Though once he resumed the nuzzles and kisses along her neck, she let out a blissful sigh, her fingers curling into his hair again, "I ..w.ant to feel you..more." She admitted, quite shyly - though was making good on her words to gently start to move her hands under his shirt again, more boldly to push it out of the way. She wanted to touch him -everywhere-.

"Of course I'm sure." Alphen answered with a purr as he curled up against her even more, his hands slowly tracing circles along her back and sides as he just allowed the feeling of Shionne to wrap around him in every way, loving the way her hand felt on his skin directly now. None of the pain only the burning of desires and yearning for more.

Shionne smiled softly, wrapping her arms around him tighter in a hug, nuzzling into him adoringly. Feeling the way he touched her, and without any curse causing him pain was a thrill and a delight for her. She sighed happily, using both hands to slip under his shirt and rove over his body, with the faintest touch of her fingertips and nails, "Its...such a miracle that I can do this with you.. to touch you so much, to feel you..and be with you.."

"A miracle? No this is our new reality and that is only natural. I think we've both earned the right to be a little selfish and pursue our own happiness like this." ALphen smiled and claimed a kiss from her lips again this time slightly longer but no less passionate since Shionne had that kind of effect on the previously world ignorant Alphen.

Honestly he was right, after everything they'd been through, they more than earned this and everything that came after. She chuckled faintly, "..I never thought I'd be able to be ..this selfish..." Trailing off at the kiss, she found herself smiling the more she leaned into it.

In fact leaning more into it made her want..more. Enough that when they broke from the initial kiss, she was the one to pull him closer for another, her leg shifting against his. To think she was be so needy, she couldn't help but a little embarrassed when she pulled away, glancing up at him, "..or greedy." Because she wanted to get still closer to him, like it was never going to be enough. Could something like that ever be enough?

"Really? I felt you always had the right to be." Especially once he got to know her a little more. SEeing her be so...selfsacrificing even when she tried to be as unlikable as she could manage. Which she really wasn't good at, ALphen felt.

"Shionne...is it weird if I said I wanted to do more than just..cuddling together?" He didn't have anything specific in mind just that he wanted MORE.

It was easier to make herself unlikeable to people who were already prejudiced against people like her, she felt. The ones who were more open minded like Zephyr and him... they seemed to see right through her, frustratingly enough. "I.." Had the right to be greedy? Really? She exhaled faintly at that thought. Maybe..

She glanced back towards him for a slight pause at the vagueness of that question, though it might have been because of the nature of the question more than anything. Especially the timing, when she was thinking that she wanted "more" at the same time. "..n.. No I don't think it's..weird." People probably thought it was weird they -hadn't- the moment they kissed, but one doesn't jump into something like that immediately, when one had trauma revolving around being touched or touching others their entire life.

"Unless.. you think it's ..weird that I do too..?"

Maybe it's weird they thought it at the same time.

She absolutely had that right. AFter living with the notion that it was okay for her to die if the world was saved, Alphen would outright deck anyone square in the face if they said she was selfish and greedy.

Which would likely be what she'd do if anyone said that about him.

His heart seemed to quicken its beats at her answer and he leaned a little closer with a bashful smile.

"Not weird at all to me. If anything I welcome it. Since it takes care of that desire on my end too~"

Yes, definitely she would hit someone - or shoot them - if they said anything about Alphen. After everything he'd done for her, everything they had been through. She was still blushing pretty intensely, though relieved at the same time that he shared the feelings she did of wanting to have more closeness.

"So ..then.." She murmured softly, sidling closer to him with a shy smile of her own. It was a good thing that their friends had long gone off on their separate ways, but she was still half expecting someone to interrupt them. The thought got an awkward little chuckle at first, "Then...can I-" she paused again, glancing away sheepishly. New dilemma: How to phrase a request to him to remove his shirt without dying of a blush?