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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Except it was not a dream but her brand new reality. Something that Alphen would thoroughly reinforce in her. Enthusiastically at that. Hopefully he wouldn't get distracted now whenever they were fighting monsters seeing her flaunt that flexibility and figure of hers as she blasts them to pieces with her rifle.

"Doesn't mean I'll stop giving you my very best though~"

She chuckled softly, "I know.. I only ever expect the best with you anyway.. and you have never disappointed me there." She'll scold him if he gets distracted during battles though. ...although, she was going to have to be careful not to get distracted herself. All of what they've done was going to be in her head for a while.

"That's because you deserve the very world itself~" Alphen insisted before ghosting another soft kiss across her lips while he nuzzled closer and closer still.

If she was at the risk of being distracted already then the rest of the night would guarantee that since he was not even close to feeling sleepy.

Shionne smiled into the kiss, letting out a long sigh - while she wasn't particularly sleepy yet, she wasn't aware that he might be planning some shenanigans. "You say that..but all I want is you." She murmured softly, her hand playing lightly with his hair. Probably don't mention her own half was quite the mess, half out of the ponytail as it was. She might as well just pull it all out of her little scrunchie. "I wonder.. if I should start calling you something other than your name now.." If he'd want her to exclusively use pet names or something. Even if it was only in private.

Oh he'd be very much a fan of that move but for now he just wanted to bask in the moment and just admire the precious treasure he was so intimately entangled with right now. AT her remark he gives it a little thought before ultimately shrugging his shoulders.

"I don't know what else you could call me. Maybe you can go through the options if you really want something special?"

"Well.. it's you I'd be using it on, so it depends on what you would want to hear most. Darling..? honey? Ah - but I can use it with your name and say Alphen, darling.. or Alphen, honey. Or just 'my love'.." She may be thinking on it a little too hard. "What do you like best...?"

For someone who spent so long in denial she was sure quick to come up with option. Alphen chuckled softly before tracing a kiss over her lips again.

"I feel quite warm and fuzzy hearing you attach darling but...it's not like I hate any of the other options either so why not just...switch them in and out as you feel is best?" Surely he was allowed to be that greedy.

Well she has also been thinking about it and dreaming of this moment for a while too! And now that she wasn't in denial, she had no reason to keep it from being voiced. Though Alphen's response got a softer chuckle, and she nuzzled her lips against his, "I think I'd like to do that too..darling." she purred the last word, both to test his reaction and gauge how easily she could get herself to say it too.

His reaction was a very palpable shudder and the look in his eyes turning more amorous and adoring before he pulled her by the hand to lay on top of him and their lips to meet with a kiss.

Oooh, he liked that that much. She smiled softly, leaning close as she lay on top of him, pressing her lips against his with a tender kiss of her own. "Darling..." She purred softly, her hand turning slightly to grip his, threading her fingers through his.

"Mnnngh! Oh that is...think you could...maybe draw out the R a little longer when you say it?" Alphen's pick for first place was feeling increasingly justified with every moment and every time she spoke it. In that sweet precious and oh so lovely voice.

Shionne's smile warmed, and she nodded happily, "Anything for you," she promised, before leaning more closely to him, "Darrrrrrrrlllinnngg.." LIke that? At least she'd ask him for his approval if she wasn't currenlty claiming his lips in another kiss - he was right there, how could she resist?

"!!! Mhm Mhmhmhm ju-just like that." He nodded vigorously as much as he could while not breaking his lips for more than a split second because he would not give up those kisses just to speak his answer out loud. His body could convey it just fine anyway.

She purred into the kiss, though she did pull back for a second to hear his response, "It really makes you happy to hear me say that." She trailed her fingers along his cheek, "Then good. Everything I find to make you happy, makes me happy." She nuzzled against him, "...so..what should we do now..?" He wasn't tired and..she wasn't tired.. but she didn't want to get up either.

"W-Well....for right now we could...try some of the other things you read about. Anything at all." Again his knowledge in mattress dancing techniques was hearsay and imagination. SO she had the absolute advantage which was why he was coming to her for advice on what to do next~

Hmmm...Actually, it wasn't overly sexual but.. there was one thing she'd wished she could feel him do for her, that she'd never been able to when she was under the curse. "Then.. would you give me a back massage..?" Just wanting to feel him run his hands over her body --at least for now. ANd he'd have the added bonus of being able to touch her even more. And she wouldn't even fuss at him if he moved his hands to more ..daring areas.

What she asked for turned out to be so endearingly innocent he was for a moment genuinely surprised before smiling back with such warmth and adoration before he nuzzled his way into a kiss. A short but oh so loving one.

"Of course~ Leave it to me."

She smiled sweetly into the kiss, leaning into it briefly before she drew back, "Then. .. I should.." Hrm. No, she was being islly. Of course he would behave - she was just lying on her stomach, so there was nothing tempting about that, right? She settled on the mattress, pulling her hair out of the way so he wouldn't have to worry about her hair.

There she goes again underestimating his feelings and her own natural charms. Alphen took a moment to admire that bare back now fully revealed to his eyes since her long hair was out of the way. He had to fight the temptation to just lean down and run a trail of fiery kisses down her neck and back. No massage first, pleasure after.

He shook his head to get those intrusive thoughts under control and then cracked his knuckles and fingers properly before putting them right behind her shoulders to knead and squeeze at the first knots he'd perceived.

That would definitely surprise her. Just as it surprised her at the first touch of his hands on her shoulders. It was almost funny.. with as long as she'd gone without feeling anyone touch her like this, she never knew how much she craved the sensation. "Hmm..." she sighed faintly just from that feel of his hands kneading her shoulders - of course, not only is the sight of her bare back a temptation, he'd have to also content with hearing her moans when he got through the tension in her back and shoulders.

She was so effortlessly distracting but then he didn't want her to stop voicing her feelings either so Alphen found himself clawing at his own resolve to keep going. By some miracle he only occasionally found himself holding still before resuming to massage another part of her back always finding the most tense spots and loosening them so expertly that nothing but relief and a comfortable warm feeling was left in their wake.

"I really should have done this for you so much sooner. All this tension..."

She assumed those pauses were just from making sure he didn't hurt her, naturally! Occasionally he did find an actual tense knot before working it out again, but she muffled any winces she could. Instead all he got to hear were soft sighs- a slight grunt against the pillow once every now and again, "You couldn't before.." she hadn't realized JUST how tense she'd been all this time though.

Alphen shook his head. "I could technically before my helmet came off completely. But that's neither here nor there. I'm with you now and I will be sure to get you to have massages like this on the regular. I won't let you neglect your body like this going forward." He was absolutely serious.

She glanced over her shoulder at him, surprised, then quickly turned her attention away as if she wanted to hide her blush, "Nngh, you're.. not neglecting anything. It wasn't your fault - I didn't know I was that tense But.. it feels good.. what you're doing." she let another sigh from her lips, tucking her head a little against her arm. It was somewhat embarrassing too, but BOY did it feel good~

"As long as it is comforting for you that's all I could ask for." Well no that wasn't quite right anymore but he was going to slowly lead her into the true desires outcome. Because seeing her relax while making those enticing sounds with her voice was having quite the effect on Alphen.

"I love seeing you happy and comfortable. That's been a thing almost since they day we met." Well more accurately since the day she started treating him on a more cooperative footing.