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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"What about me?" Was she meaning it all literally? Because Alphen was absolutely on board with that. Maybe even being a little risky with touches when no one was looking and see her flustered and blushy about it.

"Tell me with your own words~"

Aah but why can't she borrow _his_? He said it so well! Still he's set the challenge of her using her own words, so she humms quietly, thinking. He said she could do as she liked with his clothing so .. "I mean... you also weren't able to..feel like normal. So... while we're in private, if you want to ..." She blushed a little at the thought. Ah, but would he interpret 'private' as a private room or just while no one was watching? "If you.. I want you to be able to hold me any way you want too.."

It might be a bad phrasing, but she'll worry about any loopholes later.

Private was definitely differently defined for him. But Alphen did have one desire that he had kept to himself for so long, well before the world changing revelations.

"What about you sitting in my lap when we sit at the campfire at night?" Yes that was one of his deepest seated wishes really.

She blinked at the suggestion, before giving him a smile even more warm than before, leaning in to press her lips against his for a kiss, "...I would love that.." Being that close to him, with his arms around her. "And here as well..?" Just when they were relaxing at the inn, or when they finally settled down somewhere and got a house.

Oh, "Also... when I'm cooking." Not in his lap obviously, but now she was getting distracted trying to think of the many places she wanted to feel him that close to her.

His joy at that answer is palpable and his heart races a little quicker as she just keeps adding on ideas for when he would be allowed to hold her close. So much so he nods vigorously.

"I did say any time and any place you want me to." That was the key component. He always wanted to hold her. IT was a matter of her wanting it too.

She smiled at the eager nodding, "And.. even if I say all the time and everywhere?" Was there ever a place or a time she didn't want to feel his arms around her? "Especially in bed, I -" she paused - ohgod the way that she phrased that. On the one hand... it was true, but on the other, when they actually -did- ... that.. her heart might explode from joy. For the time being her face was going to impersonate an apple.

They were going to be so hard to be around after this day. But Alphen would not trade what they were setting up for anything in the world.

So he nodded with certainty despite his own very noticeable blush.

"Yes of course~ I'll say it again, Shionne. I want to be with you. ANy time and any place. I never want to leave your side."

Oh most certainly - even the ones who suspected that Alphen and Shionne were going to be impossible, they had no idea just how bad it was going to be after today. Seeing how on board he was with the idea, as well as her own slip up, she tried to fight back the blush at his words.

"You really wouldn't take back those words.." She mused, mostly in awe at the realization and not just confirming it for herself. He really, genuinely, sincerely meant them - that he wanted to be with her for the rest of his life, no matter what.

"You really are.. the most amazing person." She nuzzled close to him, "I can't help myself with you.. because I want to be as close to you as possible." She trailed her hands along his body as if familiarizing herself with what she could touch.

"I wouldn't even if you still had the curse. So imagine how much more firm that determination is now." ALphen answeerd proudly as he leaned up close to plant another soft peck against her lips while his body entrusted itself to her wandering hands that wanted to map him out completely.

She chuckled softly, "You've proven everything you've ever said - I shouldn't even need to question those things anymore." But it's habit. So she'll make it up to him, returning the light kiss tenderly, though she let her tongue gently probe at his lips at the same time while her fingers explored his body to her delight. Everything he said just made her so happy, she couldn't help but express that.

Given she may have read some more grown up novels for comfort in her later years she likely had and advantage regarding the direction things were going. As soon as she was brave enough to even consider the possibility of things playing out like that. Because Alphen was completely acting on instinct for his actions and his own heart for the words.

So when she tested his lips with her tongue, it was instinct that made him part them almost inviting her in to deepen the kiss to rock both their worlds.

Many a time all she had was books - romance novels were a guilty pleasure. She loved the way things played out in them, but had never thought that she could be the heroine to catch the eye of a dashing hero, who would sweep her off her feet and make her fall for him so completely. That said, books could only teach so much.

When he parted his lips for her, she impulsively took that opportunity to deepen the kiss, drawing in a soft sigh of pleasure, unwilling to draw back right away. If anything she was feeling more greedy than before - if that was normal, she could hardly say, but she wasn't questioning it right now. or period.

It was absolutely normal and to make sure she didn't have a sudden moment of hesitation when the impulse ebbed away into realization, his arms locked around her back to make sure she couldn't break the kiss until he allowed it. Because he knew her too well to not expect that fight or flight impulse to follow her moment of boldness.

At the same time his own tongue rolled out to meet hers and he hummed into the kiss to voice his own delight with how things were going.

Ah, the fiend, he knew her too well! Because once he started to reciprocate, as expected she balked for a second in surprise- then realized he had her 'trapped' in place. There was only a second of flustered protest, in fact, though it was hard to stay embarrassed and flustered when she heard such pleased noises from Alphen. And .. it just made her want to hear more - to make him happier.

So she hummed back against his mouth, committing herself to the more passionate kiss and wondering ..just how much more intense it could get. If she leaned in a bit more, relaxed into his arms and focused her attention on wrestling her tongue against his or exploring his mouth as well. Not unlike the stories she'd read, even as her hands started to thread into his hair, her kiss growing hungrier the longer it went on.

Given how much she was in his mind and heart, it was little wonder he had learned so much about her even things she herself likely didn't realize. Given his priority was to give her all of the love she was owed and then some, he saw no unfairness in breaking the rules from time to time.

The two slowly lost themselves to passion and his own clothes were starting to get looser and more disheveled as he kept pressing into her body, feeling her so keenly with every fiber of his being as his tongue kept the deadlock with hers, not letting her break free yet.

His clothing wasn't the only thing starting to get looser and more disheveled. Her body pressing against his in turn, the noises she was starting to make were definitely getting more..erotic in the sound of those throaty moans. Though unable to break free, she wasn't indicating she needed to yet either - in that the hand not currently sinking into his hair was unconsciously pawing at his clothing, needing to feel closer to him, her nails biting into him slightly without even thinking about it.

That got a surprised but pleased growl to rumble out of him, Alphen pushing a little deeper with his tongue while he savored her taste and warmth to the fullest extent while arching into her touch inviting more greed and hunger and passion from his beloved. More more more more seemed to be the silent message he was broadcasting in waves at her.

She was getting more and more lost in the passion between them, and didn't care one whit. She let out a low moan, pressing her body against his as she seemed to pick up on that silent urging from her beloved, needing just as much from him. When he arched into her, she slid her free arm under him, nails digging sharper into his skin, nipping lightly at his lips.

Every touch and sweep of her lips and tongue against his was making him so hungry. How could he not when this was the kind of touching that they both craved so badly, with such overwhelming intensity. Eventually the top of her dress had slipped almost past her elbows with the frenzy of caresses and pulling.

"Shionnne~" He purrs her name between kisses before renewing his lip lock with even greater passion on his side.

She gasped for breath at that brief break. There's an answering moan, even as their desire grew more and more intense - not just 'more, more' but 'need, want' added to the mix. Her soft breath exhaling in a low moan of his name, her hands pawing over his body with a growing eagerness, starting to move lower. Her need for him was driving her insane - and she knew if she uttered that desire to him, not only would he be 100% on board, but he'd tell her to claim him..right? To do what she wanted, because he wanted the same thing?

It why she wrenched away from his lips with a gasp of breath, before fixing those bright blue eyes on his face, flushed a deep pink but with an expression of hunger and passion, "Alphen.."

That look she gave him...was the most breathtakingly beautiful sight he had ever seen. So much so he gently reached up to rub his thumb against her cheek as he held it softly in the palm of his hand. "I should have said this a long time ago but doesn't mean I can't say it now and going forward. You are...the most beautiful woman I could ever have dreamed of."

She leaned her cheek against his palm with a soft smile, "You already have my heart, Alphen.." She teased gently, "But i want to give you more.." She pressed her lips against his palm, slowly moving her hand down to undo the fastening on the skirt half of her dress, "My most precious person~" She leaned in again, "I want to give you my body too."

Alphen...did not think she'd just come out and say it. There was no interpreting those words any other way than what they actually meant and if her hand had been on his chest she would have been able to easily feel it thumping even wilder in his chest.

"I..." Oh that was not a refusal of what she was offering. He was just struggling to come up with an answer that would be on par with what she was offering up. His eyes followed her hand and more of that exquisite body was revealed to his gaze as it grew hotter and hungrier to boot.

"I thought I would have to say it first..."

In fairness, she didn't even realize those words came out of her mouth. But she had to be brave and bold sometimes and she went with her instincts. But ohcrap she stole his thunder. There's a moment of dismay realizing that he might have wanted to say it first, "Y.. you still can..." she murmured. She was still curious about how he would phrase it -- though maybe he was more embarrassed, "If you want to.." The look in his eyes though...yeah, he's not embarrassed in the -least-.

Oh none of that. He doens't want to see her regretting those words. So he lightly turns her face so that she can only look him in the eyes.

"I want to. I want to more than anything in the world right now. Even though all I have in terms of experience is...my instinct about what to do next." After all before he got kidnapped by an alien race he was just a knight like any other. No real time for romance though he heard things from his less focused peers.

"The one thing I know for sure is that...there is no one I would ever want to give myself to completely than you."