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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"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?

Alphen had a hunch what she was going to say given those frequent glances at his shirt but he decided to be a little more tactful and accommodating so he reached out for her cheek and brought his forehead to rest gently against hers.

"If it's hard to say it, just do it. I'll tell you if it's something I don't like. You can trust me that much, right~?"

She caught her breath, if only because his closeness always left her breathless. But the question - oh there was only one answer to that. "Of course. Always." she said immediately, though she briefly fretted about doing something he wouldn't like. Removing his shirt should be safe enough though, right? Right. Although she was surpirsed he showed her mercy in not making her SAY it this time. "If you're sure..then..." She smiled softly, leaning forward to give him a tender kiss out of gratitude, lingering slightly as her hands wandered down to his shirt.

He was about to point out he would not have offered that if he wasn't sure. But feeling her start to work on his shirt cut that off as he growled with satisfaction instead before pushing into her touch more hungrily, his own hands playing along her leg and back as he just curled up around Shionne.

"Don't feel like you have to stop." he growled almost into her ear.

Oh my. She didn't expect such a...enthusiastic response from him, and that *growl* was... so strangely sexy she didn't know how to put it in words. "T..Then I won't..." She whispered against his ear, gripping and tugging the shirt to undo any lacings and tug it off - hoping she didn't get a little too enthusiastic herself and potentially rip such a nice shirt.

... she might rip it a bit...

That brief stutter was so Shionne yet so charming that he just filed that away under precious memories while he allowed his body to do the talking, the shirt popping a button or two but Alphen didn't care since the hunger she was showing and the fact that he had spares allowed him to fully enjoy this moment of absolute honesty with each others' wants and needs.

She had the decency to look terribly embarrassed when she popped that button, "Ah.. Sorry. I'll sew it back later." If they can find the button again because she's already lost sight of it. But her sheepishness doesn't last long, since she found herself with quite a view - one she liked very much in fact, her hand wandering over to slowly trace along his skin. It's not like she hadn't seen him before when she healed him but - this was very, very different.

She almost paused to ask him if she really could remove it, but remembering his reassurance she felt her cheeks warm a little more, but focused her attention on slowly (at first) pushing the shirt off so she could see all of his upper body bare. Oh she wanted to touch every inch of him -- the thought was startling though and she let out a small squeak for a second, glancing away. GOSH what would Alphen say if he could hear her thoughts! ... which were probably written all over her face.

"I've got a couple of others I can use anyway so don't worry." If she'd allow him to wear a shirt again. Who knew how she'd feel about that by the end of their exploration.

Probably nothing negative or overly helpful in sorting out why she felt that way. But he would not push her away. That much is a certainty and the feel of her hands slowly exploring his now bare chest is enough to make him all the more certain of what he would choose.

"Shionne?"

That she'd be torn on - after all he was so fit now, he would only be more so by the end. And as much as she'd love seeing that - she wouldn't love other women seeing it too. Not to mention she wasn't sure she'd be able to keep her hands off of him.

Hearing him call her name got her to jump sheepishly, and she glanced back at him quickly, blushing, "Ah.. s-sorry." It's just.. if she was overwhelmed by THIS much what if she saw...more of him..? She smiled faintly, shaking her head and leaning down to brush her lips against his, "I'm...being ridiculous."