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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He was so cute, she couldn't help but stare at him adoringly. When he admitted what he liked, she nuzzled his neck gently, "Alright," she would have ended up doing it anyway, "Then I'll be sure to remember that, so I can keep making my future husband happy." WIth him leaning in close, she stole another light kiss, her fingers trailing lightly up and down his back.

That was another reason. SHe seemed just fine doing all of those things before he just admitted to liking it. Still having her nuzzle and purr like that against him was doing a real number on his desires and mind as he lightly tilted her back while kissing her much more passionately than she had done.

"And you? What part do you like me to do the most~?" Since she had gotten that much out of him he was going to even the board a little.

Well, she was just trying to be cuddly, not intentionally riling him up -- but she wasn't against that outcome, "Most?" Hrm. She closed her eyes with a soft hum as he shifted her, her arms lazily wrapping around him. Running her tongue over her lips absently from the kiss, she smiled, "I love the way you touch me," vague, yes. But she loved everything about him touching her too. "And the feel of you kissing me, my neck and..elsewhere." Shoulders, chest, face - it was almost the equivalent of scratching him for her, the way it got such reactions.

Gods she made even the most basic motion and act so beautiful and entrancing. Alphen would have no problem at all if she were even to slip into slumber while holding onto him like this. Her answer on the other hand was way more vague than his own. A dangerous fact indeed.

"Hmmmm when you put it like that it just makes me want to explore and touch you in more and more new places right now~"

Honestly, that was a possibility if he kept her cuddled in his arms like this. It was like being wrapped in a fluffy blanket full of love. Though she would prefer pulling him to sleep too, even though he probably hadn't worn himself out as much as she did. "Hmm?" She nuzzled against him like a lazy cat, only half hearing that 'worrisome' response, "..I wouldn't mind." She must be incredibly content -- or sleepy -- if she didn't question what he meant by 'new places'.

Lucky for her, he was picking up on how tired she might have gotten from their intense debut as full blown lovers in every sense of the word. So he contained those urges for now, instead making his embrace even more gentle and comfortable as he curled up around Shionne.

"Well I'll have plenty of time to explore you like that to the fullest~" he murmured softly.

She genuinely couldn't believe it was so comfortable being snuggled up with him like this - it was one thing to sleep near him, or share the bed, but with him actulaly holding her, it filled all the checkboxes to make her incredibly cozy and happy. The soft tone of voice was only adding to that effect, as she hummed, "We do have all the time in the world together. Only sleep can stop us." Even then it wouldn't stop them for long.

Alphen gave a soft chuckle before he moved his hand up to the back of Shionne's head before pulling her into another longing filled kiss. Though he didn't deepen it much even if he did tease her lips with his tongue a bit. Of course that wouldn't stop Shionne from taking the initiative for more if that was what she wanted in return.

She smiled at the sound of the chuckle, tilting her head up to lean into the kiss, letting out a soft hum. In response to him teasing her lips, she let out a faint sigh, parting her lips to deepen the kiss slightly more, all but purring in response. Though she was sorely tempted to push for more with him - not that he would be against that in the LEAST, she was holding herself bakc just a little for the time being. For now.

She didn't have to hold back in the slightest but then he was enjoying even this light back and forth of intimacy too so Alphen saw no reason to speak up right away about it instead just snuggling up closer as his lips played with hers.

After a moment, she came up for air, so to speak, she panted for breath, a soft smile on her lips as she chuckled lightly, "I think I found my new favorite taste." She teased, her hand gently petting his hair again.

"Oh reallY?~ So what would you call this flavor then hmm?" Alphen leaned in close but didn't press another kiss to her lips instead gazing into those gorgeous eyes intently to just get lost in her beauty even more.

"Hmmm..." She genuinely did try to think of a word that would describe the taste of his lips, but the only thing that came to mind sounded far...far... FFFFFFAR too cheesy for her to bring herself to say. In fact she blushed at the thought, giving him a sheepish giggle, "I'm... not sure there is a word to describe it..." The taste of Love? Yeah, she'd be too embarrassed to say that.

Hm? Oh really? Well I guess that's fine. Because you love it so much and that is what matters the most." Alphen purred and nuzzled against her cheek before planting another tender kiss on the smooth skin there.

Shionne chuckled softly, nuzzling against him at the kiss to her cheek, ".. You really are wonderful, Alphen." She was never going to stop marveling at how lucky she was that he had been patient enough to put up with her stubbornness. Part of her wondered if they went through what they did - respectively with her being unable to touch anyone, and him not feeling pain, could possibly have been meant for each other. But that thought was also troubling - if they did have different lives, they might not have met. Still a bit sheepish, she attempted a stretch in his arms, "Mmh- .. you did do a marvelous job with that massage. ..even though I am a little sore still." For another reason entirely. Not that she was blaming him in the least.

Honestly Alphen was more than happy to consider all their past as a necessary step to get where they were now. Because they could not change it anyway so why ponder about what ifs like that when they had a far more enjoyable future to look forward to.

"Oh? Well I Can give you another massage any time you want sooo~"

She laughed, reaching up to tap his nose lightly, "Just a massage?" she teased, "I definitely wouldn't mind that bonus afterwards. But not right now of course. Right now I just want to stay in your arms." Maybe get a little powernap to recharge. "But I don't know if I'm going to be able to sleep now." It might be too exciting to see him in the morning again - like Christmas! Knowing he'd have her wrapped up all secure as a present.

"The massage is the MINIMUM. Anything you want or have dreamed of, I'll do it for you." Alphen quickly elaborated as he held her more firmly against his chest as if wary she might just fly away from him in this moment. It was an instinctive reaction really.

"Oh then does that mean you need me to tire you out?"

She laughed as he held her tighter, pressing against his chest happily. She'd no intention of flying away anywhere -- though wait, what was that last part? She shot a suspicious, curious glance at him, "Wh..tha... that's not what I meant.." She sputtered softly, flushing a pink shade like her hair. Though after a pause, she peered at him suspiciously, "You're not tired..?"

"Only a little tired. Nothing too bad though~" Oh she has completely underestimated the kind of pandora's box she had opened when crossing this threshold with her beloved. Even so he's not a beast so if she truly is too tired to keep going, he would settle just for cuddling around his Shionne. The notion of her being his alone is one that excites him more than anyone imagined it might.

She stared at him for a second, and laughed softly, "You're incredible," she laughed softly, "I feel completely worn out," after two times already. But she could definitely relate to h ow excited it was to think that he was exclusively hers, and vice versa. "It makes me wonder just how many times you could do this in one night.."

That laugh and her soft voice. Those were the source of his strength and willpower really. Because he would move mountains for Shionne.

"Well we have a whole life ahead of us to find out the answer to that now don't we~?" He purrs and ghosts his lips across Shionne's cheek as he just nuzzles up closer still to his dear goddess.

"We do," Shionne's smile widened as she cuddled against him, "And I can't tell you how excited I am to think about spending the rest of my life with you. Finding a place to settle down, making meals together..spending nights together~" Its a dream come true - in every sense of the word.

"It has to be perfect. After all you and I have both more than earned this peaceful life ahead of us." Alphen smiles back at her, looking at the beloved woman in his arms that had freed him in so many ways. While she was still a captive to her own curse no less.

"In a way...I really am thankful to her for sending me away. Because it let me meet you and fall for you."

Shionne chuckled, "Just having you by my side makes it perfect already." She reached up to touch his cheek lightly. Though she paused at the latter comment. On the one hand, she agreed with him - on the other..why was he thinking about another woman while he was in bed with her? Hmph. Lessons must be taught!

She stared at him for a second, before pulling her smile back and squirming until she faced away from him. She might not be able to get free (and she didn't want to anyway), but she could still deny him her smiles! "And if the ritual didn't fail because of her, you'd be with her now." Granted she wasn't really angry with him for talking about another woman when she knew what he meant - but there was still going to always be that tiny kernel of jealousy over her ancestor knowing him first. So the slight edge in her voice wasn't faked, even when she adds, "Why are you even thinking about another woman when you're here with me?" Grumble.

Okay yeah, she could cut him some slack when she knew he's never been in a relationship and probably didn't realize that bringing up another woman would be a big No No. Even if she ..was grateful her ancestor sent Alphen away, despite everything he'd gone through. Because if things had gone smoothly, Shionne would never have met him; and as jealous as she was, she /was/ grateful for that chance.