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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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.

"Good~ Because I'd have to convince you if you did." Alphen smiled back at her before he went for another soft kiss as his hands slowly locked fingers with Shionne, just reveling in every gentle touch regardless of how intimate or innocent. Each one was a treasure that they had fought so hard for that they could only appreciate it even more than before.

Shionne muffled a soft laugh at that, leaning into the kiss, her hands starting trail into his hair, "..convince me.. and how would you do that..?" That may be a dangerous question to ask, but she asked it anyway, letting her fingers trail into his hair and toy with his hair even as they were getting much more affectionate and intimate with each other.

"Hmmmm probably through sudden hugs from behind without warning?" Honestly he would have to workshop that whoel approach some more but he was more than happy to not have to since it meant he could spend that time making Shionne feel the warmth and adoration she more than deserved after all these years.

Well given the smile that she gave him for that thought, the approach was still successful. Any gesture of affection from him where she could feel him holding her was definitely a positive. "Hmm.. I think that would be good for a start." Surely he didn't think just ambush hugging her would be enough! Also hope he doesn't mind that his hair was going to be a mess from the amount she was toying with it, occasionally tangling her hand and gently untangling it again.

A start is good! He could build up on that given time. Unfortunately it seemed Shionne was not going to give him that much time instead hinting at him to expand on those ideas right now.

"Well...kisses while being hugging you from behind would be another idea. Especially if you were doing something at that time. Just interrupting you because I wanted to feel you in my arms." Alphen went one as he leaned into her touch, clearly not minding the slightly ruffled hair. After all it would be quite hypocritical when one of his more intimate desires involved playing with SHionne's hair in whatever state it was at the time be it the long ponytail or just completely loose and flowing like a tantalizing waterfall of pink hair.

Oh she wasn't rushing him - he could take all the time he wanted to expand on the ideas. It just meant she'd be able to curl up in his arms longer. She chuckled at the latter, "Interrupting me from things like cooking dinner or washing the dishes?" His hair was going to be a complete and total mess by the time they stopped - -- and since she wouldn't stop him from playing with her hair she'd probably be in the same state. "..well it's fine.. I want to feel your arms around me more."

"Well knowing your skill and determination I am sure you could still finish washing or cooking~ After all having my arms around your waist is hardly getitng in the way of your arms~" Not that he was going to make it easy for her since once she was capable of enduring those kind of hugs without melting, he'd move on to more cheeky touches.

GASP, how sneaky and shameless. It was very considerate of him to wait till she was able to 'endure' those touches without melting down though. "Hm, it makes me want to do the same for you." Just spending days in each other's arms- she definitely never thought the day would ever come. A hand reached up to gently brush along his jaw, "Everything I've wanted to but couldn't."

He nuzzles softly against her hand just like a pet might have to a beloved owner's touch. Even though he would not consider himself her pet but something so much more intimate and precious.

"I would hope you do~ After all I want to do everything you've ever dreamed of doing with another. With someone whose heart you've long since stolen away~"

She smiled softly at that, watching him nuzzle against her hand, and leaned up to sneakily steal a kiss. "I just hope.. you don't ever regret choosing to be with me." She pressed her lips to his cheek lightly, "But I'll devote my entire life to making sure that the thought of changing your mind never becomes a factor."

"I'd say that's impossible but I don't want to stop you from striving for this noble goal of yours~" Alphen chuckled and kissed her back while his hands clearly had not had enough of feeling the rest of her body as he pulled her more flush against him.

"I've touched you so much yet it still feels like I haven't done nearly enough~"

Shionne chuckled softly at that, even though her cheeks grow rosier at a thought. She'd be lying if she said she didn't want him to touch her more and there was..a l ot more he had yet to touch. Of course they've been moving at a much slower pace - with the exception of those bursts of -hunger- out of respect for her not being used to being touched.

"...would you be surprised if I said you haven't...?" He hasn't done nearly enough and ..she wanted more. Just feeling him flush against her wasn't enough - as flustering as it was to acknowledge that.

Whatever that thought was, Alphen was all in favor of it given how lovely it made Shionne in his eyes. So he aimed to encourage that blush and that kind of thinking as he nuzzled closer to her cheek and then ghosted his lips over her neck as if by accident to see if she would enjoy that kind of attention too.

"No I wouldn't be. If anything it would make me happy. Since I would be able to touch you as much as I please if I still had so much to make up for~"

Aim successful, judging by that soft gasp and softer sigh at the 'happy accident'. And seeing as he agreed that they both felt he didn't touch her nearly enough.. well it'd be redundant to ask his opinion of what she had in mind, right? He'd most likely agree wholeheartedly. And enthusiastically.

It still made her blush more, and not just because of his encouragement- but she did squirm the tiniest bit, pulling her hands away just for a second. If only to unfasten the upper half of her dress. Though since she was still pressed against him the most she could do was slip her arms out of the sleeves and expose her lower back more. As for the front.. well she'd have to sit up to let the fabric slide out of the way but she was still a little nervous and embarrassed that. Even if they were steadily heading in that direction. BUT he could definitely feel more unblemished thornless skin now!

Alphen had dreams and fantasies of that nature before. Yet he did not dare to expect that they would come true ever yet alone so soon. Hopefully Shionne would not misinterpret his stunned silence as he looked at her smooth soft skin that almost beckoned his touch with how lovely it looked.

"This is..." Beautiful felt like too weak of a word for what he felt right now.

That makes two of them. Yet here they were. "W..What?" Part of her wanted to demand he say something, and part of her worried about what he'd say. "Is it.. too much?" Or maybe.. not enough? "Say something.." Before she gets too self conscious about the way he was just staring at her.