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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"I believe you would," She half whispered against his ear - not to get a reaction out of him, but just because her head was that close to it. She sighed softly, "And I was going to say the same.. I'm not the only one who had a burden to bear. I want to give you everything you could possibly want and dream of." Did he dream of a nip to his ear by any chance? She'd not actually planned that, it just...sort of happened though...

He didn't dream of that specifically no but he was going to after that sudden and new sensation that made his entire body shudder and stiffen up a little underneath her but not in a way that suggested he had hated it. No quite the opposite if that increase in heat coming off of his body was any clue.

"You're...the source of a lot of my dreams as it is so I don't think that's going to be a challenge for you." He smiled bashfully before he decided to surprise her with a sudden kiss as well since it felt like his lips had been left away from hers for too long as is.

Shionne marked that reaction, mentally noting to do that again. For research. Yeah. She wants to be sure that was a positive reaction and surprise him again. Except he got to surprise her first. "I-" is as far as she gets, before her words were muffled against his lips. The surprise melted into pleasure though, a smile curving her lips as she purred a soft sigh. Come to think of it, her lips -had- been feeling a bit dry and in need of drinking in that Vitamin Alphen, her hand finding its way to curl into his hair. She rather liked the feeling of running her fingers through his hair when they were intimate like this. Well technically this was the first time they were THIS intimate..

The first time yet it felt like coming home levels of right. As if this was something that they had every right of doing so long ago. Well if not for the whole touch = pain aspect they might have started exploring this whole new world much sooner. That being said...Alphen was more than happy to start now and he felt Shionne would agree as he put his hands on the small of her back and pressed her flush down on top of him as he hummed into the kiss.

If Alphen had ever suggested that, Shionne would.. have agreed. They'd pushed the bar on the touches they could get away with when they both had their respective 'curses' after all. But she'd also agree that it felt like she'd finally come home to the one she'd dreamed of. Feeling him pull her closer to his body, she leaned more into the kiss, sinking into the sensation and encouraging a deeper kiss herself as she closed her eyes, her hand threading more into his hair. Even if she could feel him closer, she didn't pull away - if anything she craved more.

The concept of a deeper kiss came to him almost instantly, his instinct guiding him for now since it had not failed Alphen up to this point. But rather than just part his lips for her, he took charge this time, his tongue pushing past her lips and into her mouth as he closed his eyes to sink into the new sensation that brought an even greater closeness between the two of them. EVen if it still was not enough.

She flinches only for a second, surprised by the feel of his tongue pushing into her mouth, her eyes opening briefly. Although the idea of asking anything was easily dismissed, as she decided to follow his lead this time, a jolt running up her spine when she tentatively brushed her tongue against his. An audible exhalation through her nose followed before she hesitantly relaxed, growing more and more comfortable with this level of a kiss - like it was just part of what they both were craving so desperately.

Though she did jerk back for a second when she needed air, staring blankly at Alphen and finding her thoughts had come to a screeching halt, her free hand brushing affectionately along his cheek.

Well, once she caught her breath, one thought did pop up: Again.

He absolutely wanted another kiss like that. Though this time he wanted to feel her in his mouth as well. THe look in his eyes could not contain more love and adoration than this moment, his hand slowly raising to press against her cheek, the warmth and softness almost filling his heart to the brim with love.

"I...love you so much, Shionne." He spoke the first words he could think of, from the bottom of his heart and nothing less.

Even though she knew his feelings, without him having to say anything, hearing him utter those words had her catch her breath for a second. Those words and that look on his face - who know she would ever have someone who would say that while looking at her like that..? The smile on her face easily replaced the surprise, as she leaned in against him, "I love you too, Alphen." It was so freeing to see the words, she said them again, in a loving whisper as she tilted her head to press her lips to his in a kiss, tender at first, though after a second her tongue gently pressed forward to return the favor and deepen the kiss.

Seeing how happy it made her, Alphen would make sure to say it as often as to prevent it getting too stifling or annoying. Because if he could get such a smile out of her every time then rationing it out was absolutely something he'd go with.

He kissed her back and this time allowed her to explore him, his lips parting when he felt her nudge to deepen the kiss as he purred and tilted his head to the side to make his lips match together to hers that much better.

In fairness just being with him made her smile. But she wouldn't be against him saying he loved her often either. She took the opportunity when his lips parted, to carefully probe into his mouth, a soft sigh coming with it as he tilted his head. She had the same initial twitch of surprise, in fact, though she quickly adjusted and sought more from him with the kiss, her arms encircling him. Though her soft purr came more as a soft moan, unwilling to separate for even a second.

He made a surprised but...delighted? sound in his throat when he felt her take that plunge to deepen the kiss of her own accord. This was a new sensation but one he was absolutely in favor of the longer they kept the kiss going, his arms slowly coiling around Shionne to keep her there into it for as long as she could manage. Since his hunger was no doubt just as great as hers.

"I could really...get used to that." he panted softly when they finally broke the kiss.

It was a dangerously addictive sensation, though whether that was because they were so touch starved or because of their general love for each other she wasn't sure. But she definitely could tell the two of them were coiled around each other even more closely than before, and she nuzzled against him as she took a moment to catch her breath.

Kissing that way was more...intense than she expected it to be. But she liked it quite a lot. A breathless, short huffed laugh came from her in turn as she gave him a shy smile through her blush, ".. it feels like.. it could get dangerously addictive.." But that was one addictive she was more than willing to indulge in.

"How is it dangerous?" He just had to ask that didn't he? Alphen saw no issue with kissing like that more often but then again his common sense was still rather lacking. He just followed his heart and it told him doing these sorts of things with Shionne was absolutely something he wanted.

"How--" Shionne caught herself and sighed, "Alphen... I love you, but you're really dense sometimes..." Like now.

Ah, but should she /show/ him how it was dangerous or just tell him? Which would drive the point home more clearly? ....also did she just say she loved him without him saying it first? Meep. The realization brought that blush back even while she was torn on how best to explain to her..boyfriend? Lover --oh that just made her get even more red. Much like thinking of him as her husband. That's slowly creeping into critical mass meltdown mode, so she glances away for a second to try to recover.

Oh he heard that and it put such a warm happy smile on his lips as he hugged Shionne closer to his chest, just loving the feel of her body against his far too much to let that momentary awkwardness stop him. Alphen couldn't help but notice though how she went a little quiet after that but the moment he saw the blush on her cheeks, he was reassured he hadn't done anything wrong.

"Shionne?" If she didn't turn her gaze to him he'd just come to her instead.

Nuuuuuuuuuu don't make her look -- except she loved watching him. Still it took a few seconds before she hesitantly managed to look at him, "..Y.. Yes...?" Augh connecting 'Lover' and 'Alphen' still did a number on her, let alone just 'love'. Not in a bad way of course, it left her feeling thrilled, excited, happy and well-loved. Especially with how close he held her, seeming to want her closer and closer by the second. She was more than fine with that though.

... oh right, they were in the middle of conversation weren't they? "D.. do you really need me to explain it...?" BECAUSE SHE WILL.

He would gladly make her feel that way so much more often if he had any say in the matter. Alphen greeted her with a soft adoring smile before he pulled her in for a quick peck again only to lean his forehead to lightly press against hers.

"You beat me to it earlier but it doesn't make it any less true. After all I love you, Shionne. I love hearing you talk, hearing you hum, hearing you stutter and try to make excuses whenever you're flustered~ So of course if it's to learn more about these feelings I have for you, of course I'd want to hear it from you"

Well he was about to get a lot more sputtering. First with him leaning so close, and then those words of everything he loved about her. She tried to find words a few times, succeeding only in a small squeak and a soft exhale. Gods Alphen. Way to make her speechless! When she brought her thoughts back together, she gave him a soft smile, "...Alphen..." How to even... no, you know what, after that she wasn't going to give him words. "I won't tell you how.. I'll show you."

Surely the showing would make it far, FAR more clear right? That said she leaned in to claim a kiss from him, her tongue quick to steal into his mouth to deepen the kiss, her arms pulling him in close as her body pressed more into him. And after pulling back from that kiss, she went in for another one - though she's clearly not thought this through because it didn't occur to her /how many/ kisses it would take to make it clear to him. Guess she'll just have to keep kissing him until they both were out of breath and couldn't return the favor again?

Oh. Oh he was quite alright with that development. Alphen was only surprised for a moment before he was kidding her back, pulling her closer as his breath was hers to steal away only to have her pull back and then dive right back in as if she was indeed taking a deep swim. Kiss after kiss yet he didn't tire and each time he pulled in to reciprocate, his mind growing fuzzy with joy and love that seemed to have no end.

Clearly she's discovered the flaw in her plan. Only not really a flaw - but she definitely didn't expect him to not get tired of it. Or question it. Her lips unconsciously curve into a soft smile the longer she lingered in the kiss, trailing away from his lips to his neck - where he'd feel her tongue gently brush against his skin, followed by a nip- then another as she seemed to be totally caught up in the new exploration of his body, absently pressing her body into him more.

Not a flaw in the slightest when they both were so delighted with the results. Alphen let her explore as she pleased, inviting and welcoming her touches and kisses and even the light bites with a chuckle sometimes and at other times the start of a languid moan as he felt her pressing into him with growing desires and need.

"Shionne~" he breathed her name, a hunger and adoration unlike any other until now.

Shionne's touches and exploration only grew more bold, smiling softly at the sound of his chuckles, exhaling a soft purr of her own at the sound of his moans. Her fingers danced along his arms, pressing into his skin at the sound of her name being uttered like that, rolling her hips slightly against him, pressing soft kisses along his neck and murmuring his name - "haa... I ..feel like I'm going crazy.."

"I think it would be even crazier to try and stop." Alphen answered with a soft chuckle before he leaned up to lay kiss after kiss along Shionne's neck to pull her back into the delightful haze that was slowly engulfing both of them and making all of the world feel so much more...irrelevant compared to one another. After all this time they had more than earned the right to be selfish with each other.

She closed her eyes, sinking back into his arms, against his warmth with a noise that was a mix of a soft moan and a sigh, "I.. don't think I want to..." she admitted, albeit a touch drunkenly, nuzzling into him and running her hands along his sides, trailing light kisses along with him. Selfish - certainly! And after everything they'd been through, they absolutely earned and deserved it. When she thought of the times they were so close but couldn't do anything more than touch because of her curse, she just wanted to be even more greedy.