RP:Despite Morality

Temple Entrance

A structure of smoothened granite stands majestically, where, centered deep within the rounded archway above the aphotic entrance, a scintillating inscription of a wreath of leaves with two staves passing through symbolizes those who worship here. Honeysuckle grows rampant all around the building, slowly climbing and conforming to the unique shape of the stone walls. Entering would almost appear an intrusion, yet the mysterious ambiance seems to beckon you further.

Skylei has taken the short walk from Kelay Tavern to this place. As always, she has found herself growing irritated with the idle chatter, dankness and irritable dwarf situated behind the bar and had longed for the outside world and had even begun to long for the feeling of the cold wind whipping across her face. Wrapped up tight in a scarlet cloak over her usual leathers, the half-elf had swung through the town until she came across the turn off to the temple. Having no place better to go, she would walk up until she reached the temple's walls. Running her hand across the inscriptions that embellished the temple's entrance the half-elf would stand distracted, attempting to understand the symbolic meaning behind the engravings.

Tyler sat alone at the far end of the front of the temple. The humans legs sprawled out and his hands neatly folded in his lap as he stared to the ground in silence. The sound of an oncomer could be heard though he chose to ignore this until they had already reached the entrance, upon noting that they hadn't yet entered the temple, Tyler would raise his head to find it was Skylei. She hadn't seen him yet so he allowed a moment of simple observation to pass before he spoke out in a soft tone; "Hey there." The male was obviously distracted for once he spoke his eyes seemed to fall the ground once more near immediately.

Skylei doesn't have to look away from the temple to know who that voice belongs to. As it reaches her ears, a smile would slowly grow across her face, illuminating her features. Finishing her examination, the ever curious half-elf would look in the direction that Tyler's voice had come from until her eyes fall upon his figure. Moving across the path so that she was alongside her love, she would bend her legs and fall to the ground beside him, wrapping one arm around his body so that the two might feel close. She becomes immediately aware that he does not seem as thrilled to see her as she is to see him. Nudging him with the shoulder that is closest to his body, the half-elf would question, "Something wrong?"

Tyler does manage to offer a smile as Skylei embraces him though as she nudges at him he would take a moment before answering. "Yes." Nodding towards his bag before placing his right hand on Skylei's leg so that she wouldn't feel neglected he speaks with a sigh. "I leave for Chartsend today. My fight is rapidly approaching." Caramel eyes look defeated as they raise to meet Skylei's stormy greys. "I don't think I'm ready." He fails to include that in two nights he had managed to become engaged in combat with both Alphonz and Vakko and both times been beaten senseless in a mere matter of seconds, his mind was clouded and there was little hope in his voice.

Skylei would tighten her grip around his body in order to offer what little comfort she could. If she could have stopped him from going she would have. All she truly wanted to do was take him somewhere away from this place and away from the fitting and keep him safe. But obviously, that is not an option. Sky doesn't know about is training and thus cannot pass comment upon it. She simply thinks he has wound himself up with nerves and has no concrete facts on which to base his fears, "I will come with you, to Chartsend, if that will help? I would do anything to make this easier for you…" Her words feel hollow and she cannot work out why, "Why do you feel you are not ready, love?"

Tyler squeezes Skylei's leg lightly as she tightens her grip around him. "I'd like that." He mentions in response to her taking the journey with him to Chartsend. His free hand moves to place his palm onto his forehead as he pieces together how to explain his worries to the woman. "I've been training all week. Though I still don't know what I'm up against. But, I this isn't the pressing issue." Tyler pulls at his robe top to reveal multiple bruises across his body before allowing the black cloth to drop back and cover his minor wounds. "I found myself in training with two individuals this week as well. A drow in Chartsend and I engaged in hand-to-hand combat and though I didn't expect to get far to begin with, he had me on the ground in only seconds." Tyler turns to face Skylei as if silently requesting she suppress her deep hatred of drows for another time before finding his eyes back to the dirt. "Yesterday, The devil from the woods. I found him with a child. Training him to battle." Moving his hand from his head to his belt and fiddling with a small pouch the human pulls free a set of five small capsules and shows them to the wood elf. "The demon and I fought in training. He used these and had me down quickly as well. They are... smoke bombs of sorts. He gifted them to me to wish me well in my fight." Tyler's hand clinched at the gift and another sigh is presented. "I want to win. I really do. But I fear that I may have to resort to actually hurting someone in order to claim victory." His eyes set upon his clinched fist as he bites at his lower lip. "I'll have to fight dirty."

Skylei :: Hard as it is, Sky is able to suppress all negative comments about drow into a simple raise of her eyebrows to suggest that she is not best impressed with his engagement with one born of Underdark. She would listen in silence until he reaches the end of his spiel. The talk of the devil frustrates her more than his engagement with the drow. Why must he insist on mixing with the most unsavoury of people. As he continues to talk about the devil her face is pulled into a scowl; clearly the half-elf is yet to make peace with her decision to allow Tyler to make his own choices. "If you had wanted me to come you need only ask. I might need to keep my distance in the city though… we would not want to blow your cover just before the fight." Her words are curt, the half-blood still clearly preoccupied with thoughts of the devil and her hatred of him. "If you must hurt someone then that will be as it must. It is a fight, Tyler, not a game. I don't want your care for another to cloud your judgement or prevent you from winning."

Tyler tries his best to avoid Skylei's gaze as her disappointment was clear in her expression. He nods as she speaks in silent agreement. His eyes would widen at her mention of him doing whatever it takes to win the fight. Slowly turning to face her despite his anxiety of her becoming upset he locks eyes and seems like he is searching for confirmation in her words. Deciding she seems to be telling an honest truth Tyler can't help but smile a bit as his moral battle seems to have been settled and he tucks the capsules away into his belt once more. "You're right." His mind begins to race with a new found excitement for the battle as he concentrates on how to defeat his opponent. At the front of his mind? Fatal kill shots. Tyler knew that no matter whom he was set to fight against in the tournament, they were bound to be bigger than him and he would take no chances as Skylei's judgement of him fell from his thoughts. Reaching to his bag he would unfasten the button and pull back the flap to offer the black and blue ninja suit another look before nodding and rising to his feet. "We better get moving then. I don't want them to think I've up and chickened out, now do I?" He extends his hand to help Skylei to her feet and his voice seems to be renewed, his excitement clear.

Skylei takes the proffered hand. In entire role reversal, the human appears to be much happier than when they met, whereas the half-breed still has anger in her eyes and a scowl upon her lips. However, when her eyes grace his face and she realises that his excitement has emerged, she cannot help but smile. This was how she loved him after all. As she reaches her feet, she would keep tight hold of his hand, whilst her other hand rearranged the cloak she wore so it fell correctly around her form. "Aye, it is a fair walk to Chartsend. Wouldn't want you to be late."

Tyler observes Skylei as she readies herself for the trip and despite her smile he finds himself needing to address the devil and drow, though he was unwilling to throw off his excitement for the battle so instead he leans in and places a prolonged kiss upon her lips and allows a tender moment to surround the duo outside of the temple. As their lips part he would speak in a near whisper; "We'll talk after the fight." He didn't specify as he felt little need for he knew the elven kin was smart enough to piece it together. With a reassuring smile he tugs at her hand and begins the journey to Chartsend.

Skylei :: With the kiss, all negative thoughts are pushed from Skylei's mind. As he moves away, he would see a real smile creep back across her face. He always knew just what to do to make everything better, didn't he? She would squeeze the hand that he held tightly to let him know how much she appreciates his affections. With that done, she was happy and in a much better mood to embark on the trip to Chartsend.