RP:I'm Hardly A Man

From HollowWiki

Tyler stares blindly at the back of Emilia's head as he awakes. The man laying in silence for a few seconds as his brain rushes to catch up with the events of yesterday. Once everything registered he takes an eased breath and rolls over on his back. His sights adjusted on the ceiling his mind is forced to wander. What will he do with Emilia now? What happens when his rent on the room is due and his pockets are still hollow? Deciding it's best to push the thoughts away for now he simply pulls the covers up over his head and makes a barely audible whine.


Emilia had been laying there staring at the wall for some time now. She'd slept alright the past night, but it was an awkward sleep. Two reasons for that. One she was in a bed of all things and two there was another person in the bed. Covering her mouth with her hand she let out a small bit of a yawn before proceeding to rub the sleep from her eyes. Those blonde curls were a mess this morning, sticking up almost in a fro like state as she sat up slowly. Glancing over she looked at the man with who was hidden by the blanket. "I should probably be going now, Sir."


Tyler hadn't even noticed Emilia was awake and her voice made him jump slightly. Pulling the covers from his face he would look to her and offer a snort at her hair as he picks himself up to lean against the headboard. "And where would you be going? Back to the cave? Hmm, kiddo?" He reaches out with his index finger and pokes her side gently. His eyes locked with her own while his mind was already busy at work trying to find ways to convince Emilia not to run off so quickly.


Emilia giggled as he poked her side, squirming a little with the action. Running her fingers through her mess of curls she turned her attention back on Ty. Blue gaze resting on his caramel eyes. She sat there in silence for a moment, debating his question. "Perhaps? With mining gems can be found and then sold.I don't really have coin on me to chip in for my stay here last night." She flashed him a half smile.


Tyler smirks in her direction as he rubs his hand over his forehead then brushes it back through his hair, locking eyes with her. "You don't owe anything, sweet heart." His legs cross and he's left with a moment of silence to think. He begins biting at his lip again before finally gaining the ability to speak once more. "I already told you, I don't think that's such a good place to be." He hesitates and then sighs. "You could come stay with me in the forest if you'd like. I'm sure we could find some sort of work somewhere..."


Emilia turned to smirk at the man with a playful glimmer in that look, "Are you going to put a leash on me and tug me around?" A joke off a topic from the previous night. He was right that the mines were not the best of places to be in general let alone with the amount of injuries she already had. With a smile she reached over and lightly poked the end of his nose, "I'd rather not be anywhere close to the drow folk in the forest. That is more dangerous for me than the mines."


Tyler rolls over toward the nightstand and pulls the second drawer open. He picks out a spiked dog collar he'd found nearly Xalious and tosses it on the bed by Emilia's. "Only if you want me too." He jokes, with a grin. As she pokes his nose he'd wrinkle his face and bite at her finger as it retracted. He gives some thought to the drow occupation and shrugs. "I've been living amongst them for a while... I've learned my way around them. Their usual patrols and so on. I think you'd be fine, but of course, I can't make you do anything you don't want too."


Emilia picked up the spiked collar and tosses it back at Ty with a raised brow, "Perhaps I will just put it on you?" Then she'd giggle, a sign she was just playing around with him about that. She ran her fingers through her hair again, a flash of nerves for a moment. "There is a difference between you and I when it comes to the drow, Sir. I was held captive by one...not a pain I wish to ever relive." With that said she'd crawl over, plop herself into his lap before moving to take his face into her hands as she stared at him. And that is all it was. An intent stare into his caramel colored eyes.


Tyler laughs in return to Emilia's adorable giggle. As the girl crawled on him and made contact with that intense stare of hers, he remaind. The man didn't flinch nor did he offer any physical retaliation of nervousness or upset. He simply kept contact and spoke in a low voice, "And you won't. So long as I'm here." He pauses. Eyes shifting between hers. "You won't."


Emilia seemed a bit taken back by his words. She leaned in, resting her forehead on his brining that blue gaze of hers even closer to his as she continued to stare at him. A bit of a smile before she lightly kissed his lips before pulling back away from him as her hands fell down to rest into her lap. "You are a very sweet one, Sir." A smile for him before she moved to slip off him lap and out of the bed.


Tyler is surprised by the kiss. The man's eyes wider as she escapes from the warming embrace of the bed. Clearing his throat he readjust himself and pulls his legs from under the cover to rest at the side of the bed, his hands clutching at the sheets while he turns to speak to Emilia. "Be that as it may, it doesn't answer my question... Will you stay, or will you go?" He beckons with an intent stare.


Emilia could not grasp for the life of her why he who had just met her wanted her to stay so badly. She was nothing but trouble. If the encounter with the man last night on their way here was not enough of a warning to the bad luck that followed her around. Standing there but arm's length from the man she fiddled with the wrapping of gauze that he'd put to her hand last night. It was already soaked with dried blood. Such a terrible place to have a slice in the middle of one's palm. A slow inhale followed by an exhale, "If it will make you happy, I will stay, Sir."


Tyler exhales through his nostrils with relief as Emilia announces her plan to stay. He reaches to rub her back welcomingly as he coo's, "Good.". Turning back to the opening of the room he sighs and rubs at his eyes. The exhaustion of the previous day still present in the man despite a good nights rest. "I guess it wouldn't hurt to show you the place then, -kiddo-." He puts emphasis on his last word with a mocking smile to the girl as he raises from bed to change into more travel worthy cloths. Or, well rags in his case.


Emilia wanted to slap him silly as he emphasized calling her kiddo. Moving to her pack she dug around into the endless thing before pulling free a simple pair of leather pants and tunic that were clean and might be a bit big on Ty. She threw them at him as he went to get back into those rags, "If I have to stay with you then you have to at least wear actual clothes, not shreds of what once might of been something." A serious look with a raised brow before she grabbed her bloody clothing from yesterday to change back into.


Tyler is caught off guard when the clothes smack him in the shin. He catches them with a forked finger and turns to Skylei, a simple smile stretching as he spots her. Her comment on his clothing causes the smile to fade but as she takes the bloodied clothes he calls out, "Wait!" and pulls the third drawer open with his knuckles revealing a selection of Skylei's personal clothing. "There's, erm, some clean stuff here." He states, before moving to change into the offered clothing. This time, not retreating from view.


Emilia looked at him with a raised brow as he opened the draw that contained female clothing. Of course, she knew nothing of this Skylei person so her mind was trying to piece together why he -a man- had a drawer filled with female items. What had she just agreed to stay with. Shaking her head slowly as she stripped free from her sleep clothes. "I think I will make do with my own clothing, thank you." The look he got was a strange one, that she wasn't sure what to make of Ty at the moment.


Tyler catches her look and pieces together her confusion. Laughing in embarrassment as he insists, "They belong to a friend. Now c'mon, wear them. I'm sure it will feel better than the blood soaked bits you're so hell bent on." He digs through the drawer and tosses Emilia some simple garments after he's finished getting dressed. Closing the drawer back he would move to snatch up her soiled clothes and toss them to the corner of the room, out of her reach.


Emilia found herself dropping the clothing that she'd been holding in order to catch the clothing that he was throwing her way. Since he'd stolen her clothing and put them out of reach she sighed in defeat. She slipped into the simple pants and shirt that were his friends which were a little big on her since she was not in a healthy weight in the least. "Happy?" She questioned him while showcasing off the clothing. Oh how she missed her clothing style that he'd taken from her due to the fact that they were too dirty to rewear. If only her hair wasn't so wild and crazy.


Tyler smirks at Emilia in Skylei's clothing. The human finding it a bit amusing but nods, "Much". He then moves to his own drawer that contained as Emilia had called them "shreds" of clothing and pulls out a silk hood. Moving over to her he would tie the hood around her neck. Stepping in front of her he pulls it up over her head and grins. "That should cover that mess of bed head you've managed to get." He nods to the door. "Ready?"


Emilia felt super silly as he put a hood to put on top of her head to take care of her bed head. Oh how silly she looked in over sized stranger clothing with a silk hood on. Giggling softly she took the hood, undid it and then quickly wrapped her head in the hood, tied it with an bow in the front of her head. Similar to how people wore bandanas, but she made the silk hood work in a more stylish way for her to be seen in. "Ready as ever I guess..."


Tyler nods before moving to grab his rusted dagger off of the shelf. He shoves it into his pocket before moving to the door and pulling it open for Emilia. Taking her by the hand he would lead her out of the room and tavern until they stood in the sunlight outside of the tavern. Once they were in better light he gives her a once over. "Are the bandages holding up alright? I hope I didn't screw anything up." He starts west out of the tavern, keeping her in contact at all times.


Emilia made sure to slip her bow and arrow into place before allowing Ty to take her by the hand leading her out of the room, down the stairs, and out of the tavern. She was very glad he didn't choose to stay in the tavern for anything. She hated that place. "Where are we going...?" She asked with a curious tone to her voice. She knew her way through Larket rather well and the main strip of both Kelay and Cenril, as well as how to get to the beach and the mines plus the stream in Enchantment. That was her best knowledge of the lands.


Tyler doesn't pay much attention to passers by in the way, excluding a stern look to any who offered Emilia more than a moments glance. He's preoccupied watching their surroundings that he nearly misses her question. "Huh? Oh. To my little... erm, house in the woods." He states with a humorous tone. To be honest, his home in the tree was little more than a hammock with a bunch of brush hanging over head to keep the rain off. It was more of a survivalist camp if anything, but it was where he lived and he wasn't too ashamed. They make it a decent way down Kelay Way before branching off into the tree line. "It's only about half a mile in from here." Tyler would halt and listen carefully for any sound of drow. He indeed hears some combat off in the distance, likely the minotaurs fighting the dark elves in defense near Larket but it was far enough away not to worry about. He squeezes her hand as they proceed. "You didn't answer my question..." He reminds her, referring to the bandages. His pace through the woods was casual though you could tell by his steps the man was prepared for trouble, should it arise.


Emilia was focused on keep pace with Ty as he moved them through Kelay way without stopping. He was different from her in that way. Were she leading the duo would of stopped any time something caught her fancy, which for her was most things. She stumbled a step or two having caught eye of something shiney off in the distance, but caught herself before ever falling. It was then they reached the treeline. "Home?" She questioned him thinking he was speaking of a actual home or small hut. If he had such then why did he drag her into staying at the tavern the previous night. She'd figured that out later when she saw what he meant. "I assume they are all good, Sir. Nothing has fallen off." She finally answered his question.


Tyler smirks, "Maybe I make a good medic after all, huh, kiddo?" he replies. Despite Emilia being older than him, he insisted on calling her by the disliked nickname until she ceased the 'sir' nonsense. As they moved further into the woods, he looks for marking on the trees signally his self-made trail back to his home. They move in silence most of the way there as Tyler kept his ears perked, listening for any sign of the drow occupation. Thankfully, they make it to the large oak that reaches high in the sky without any conflict. "Well, here we are. Home." He calls out, his eyes set upon the hanging hammock that is well camouflaged in the brush of the tree. You can barely make out pieces of rope tied around various branches holding small backs of supplies such as water, food rations and bandages like back at the tavern. He turns to Emilia and props his back up against the tree. "It's not much, but it's better than some dusty old cave." He states proudly. He adjust his hand in Emilia's and pulls her a little closer to him. His hand then releasing to go to rest on her side. "So what do you think?" He asks as he looks down to her, fully expecting criticism. After all, two homeless people couldn't have much to showcase.


Emilia was holding his hand a bit tighter than normal as they walked in silence through the woods. Anytime there was a startling sound she'd squeeze his hand for just a moment. Whatever experience she had with the drow it was obvious that it had settled a deep fear in her of them. Standing at the base of the oak that he called home she gave a confused look. After a moment she'd figured it out and caught sight of how the home actually worked. As he pulled her closer to him she flashed a smile, as if a light had just turned on in her head. She didn't mind as his hand fell to her waist. "It is genius!" She exclaimed softly, trying not to be too loud to attract unwanted company.


Tyler is a bit surprised when Emilia reacts positively. "Really?" He asks with a confused tone before promptly correcting himself. "Uh, I mean, of course it is! It's mine, duh!" He's laughing at himself now. Stepping to the side, his hand still resting on Emilia's waist, he maneuvers until he is behind her. "Though it's much better once your up there." He gives her a light pinch on the side. "Go on then. Up you go." Even in her injured state it wouldn't be hard for Emilia to ascend the Oak. The branches were spaced just enough for easy movement, though light enough that any heavy set intruders would simply snap the branches and fall to the forest floor below. It was clear Tyler had put some planning into the location. Once Emilia began her ascent, if she chose to, Tyler would follow.


Emilia froze a moment as Ty moved to stand behind her before ushering her up into his little make shift tree fort-house. "I'm going..." she said softly staring to the branches that were spaced out to make a ladder if one looked close enough. Good thing she wasn't afraid off heights. Placing a hand to a branch she started carefully up the side of the tree making way to his hammock hidden well beneath the branches. Even more carefully she moved off the side of the tree into Ty's forest home. "It is very genius idea. Above the ground where the night critters can't get to you...well hidden from those stupid drow with the way you placed the roofing." She glanced to smile at him, "And you say that you don't know anything!" With that she giggled.


Tyler is up the tree just as Emilia makes her way to the top. As she takes the hammock he takes up a perch on a nearby branch. His face is red as she compliments him. "Thanks." He chuckles beneath his breath. He'd never been complimented before... It felt nice. He keeps his head on a swivel to observe the forest and keep an eye out, thankfully, it doesn't seem like anything would be happening to the two for now at least. He turns to lean his back against the tree and stretch his legs out over the branches. "You can bring your things here. I've got some rope to tie them up with. I'll adjust some of the brush to cover anything you've got to hang. I'm sure I can find some extra covers as well." He nods to a satchel hanging near her filled with toasty looking blankets. "Once my rent in the room runs up, I'd be coming here anyway. I'd be happy to have you 'till you go off and find something better." He offers a joking smile though the truth of his statement rings in his head.


Emilia pulled her legs up to her chest as she sat there. It was a different feeling sitting in a hammock so far up from the ground that if she fell...it would hurt a lot. Wrapping her arms around her legs she rested her chin on her knees. She sat so that she was facing him and looking at him for that matter. Didn't want to be rude while talking to him after all. "I highly doubt that any time soon I would be finding anything better, though I don't know if I could sleep up here...and its only me, my bow, and my pack back at your place at the tavern. Not much else to me." She flashed a timid smile. "How long are you going to drag me around with you?" It was a question that she was curious about as he seemed to care oddly for her safety.


Tyler shrugs as he pulls a twig from the branch beside him and begins snapping it into multiple pieces. "As long as I need too." He returns the favor of kindness by locking eyes with her. "It's safe to sleep up here. Promise." Lifting his left leg he brings it to the edge of the hammock and gives it a firm kick causing the make-shift bed to start rocking. The branches themselves never sway. He's smiling at any fear it may've caused in Emilia. "I've spent many nights up here. It's safe. I'd be happy to stay with you, obviously." Kicking his other leg off of the branch he climbs over into the hammock and sprawls out much more loosely than Emilia, his legs hanging off the edge while he places his hand on Emilia's leg to help her relax. "Why isn't anyone else protecting you?" It's a question that's been in the back of his mind since they met in the cave. It didn't make sense. The farm burned down, sure. But why the hell was a young lady sleeping in the disgusting miner caves?


Emilia let out quite the startled shriek as he kicked the hammock with his foot to make it sway. Her hands dug tightly in her leg as she thought for a moment the thing would flip out from under her and knock her out onto the ground below. In the end her cheeks were bright red out of a bit of embarrassment at the panic moment before he'd crawled into the hammock too. He was much more sprawled out and comfortable in it than she was. That was clear by how tense she still was as his hand came to rest lightly on her leg. "Who are you suspecting should be protecting me?"


Tyler shuts his eyes and basks in the sunshine that manages to break through the leaves in the high tree top. He shrugs at the question as he sways his leg back and forth off the edge of the hammock. "I dunno. You said family, so clearly them. But apart from that, I find it kind of hard to believe that someone like you, what with the adorable accent and face, has managed to live within a city's walls without finding a special someone to watch after you." He's smiling again as his body goes completely limp in relaxation high in the tree top. "I hear Larket's full of goodie goods always looking out for their lady friends. It couldn't be -that- hard to find somebody."


Emilia cast a gaze at him filled with a deep sadness in them. "On my eighth birthday my mother, father, and four older brothers were murdered...I took over the farm at that age by myself. It wasn't until last year that a man took interest in me, visited the Inn when I made deliveries and eventually asked for my hand. I said yes, then I never saw him again as he got lost in his job. I sent his ring back with a letter and got a letter back. That was the last I have heard of him." She then offered him a small shrug, "Shortly there after the farm burned down and I almost died. Haven't been back to Larket since. So, it is just me in this world."


Tyler looks to Emilia with raised brows as she explains her story. "I'm sorry." He whispers as he stares to her with a look of pity upon him. He resists the urge to question the murder of her family and instead changes his manner to a happy one, offering her a comforting smile and nudging into her. "Of course, that isn't true. You've got me now."


Emilia flashed Ty a rather warm smile, "Indeed, I've got you now to drag me around until you see fit otherwise." A soft giggle followed her words before she slowly started to relax a bit in the hammock. She wasn't as brave as him to be lying down in it, but she was no longer digger her fingers into her legs.


Tyler chuckles at the farm girl and reaches his arms off the edge of the hammock behind him. He allows a moment of silence to listen to the sounds of the forest. It would seem they are still alright for the time being. He turns his attention back to Emilia, "You know Em, you don't have to stick around with me. So long as you come here to sleep safely instead of that disgusting cave, I think we're in good terms." He raises his hands to grab hold of the branch directly above them and picks at the bark. "I just want to make sure your safe, and if you're unwilling to sign your life away too me, then I guess we have to just have a mutual trust." He's smiling as he grabs hold of the branch and uses it to pull himself up so he can focus on her completely, now sitting with crossed legs in the hammock. "I just don't want you to get hurt again."


Emilia enjoyed the small moments of silence between them. It was nice to be able to hear the forest around them from this spot above the ground. Things not only looked different, but they also sounded different too. When he spoke again she waited until he was sitting up before replying to you. "You must be super silly if you think I will just sign my life away to you." A flash of smile, "I can't seem to understand why you have such care for my well being."


Tyler is still staring in Emilia's eyes. The man's humor faded and only a sense of worry lingers. He shakes his head as he presses his elbows into his knees to support his head with his knuckles. "That's the issue kiddo..." He hesitates to let his eyes give Emilia a once over. They soon fall back to her own. "Neither do I."


Emilia shifted ever so slightly to lean closer to him until her forehead was resting lightly against his. She used a hand to brush his longish locks out of the way before just sitting there forehead to forehead with him. A whisper, "You are a silly one, Sir, but it feels nice to know someone cares even if they don't know why they even care."


Tyler doesn't resist Emilia's touch as she comes close to him. Offering a chuckle as she speaks. "I know the feeling, kiddo." His hand reaches over to take hold of her own. He gives it a light squeeze before moving his other to take hold of her remaining. His thumbs are rubbing at the back of her hands now. He would offer a light sigh before raising his eyes to meet her own. Focus hard to find when they're this close, but those caramel hues scan over her never the less. He squeezes her hands again. "Thank you for coming with me last night..."


Emilia didn't pull away when he took her hands in his one at a time. Her nose though it did scrunch up when he called her kiddo, but she didn't say anything. She gave his hands a light squeeze in return, "I don't think you would of let no be an answer last night, but you are welcome..." Then her nose brushed against his with a bit of a wiggle, eskimo kiss.


Tyler returns the affectionate gesture, while he continues to massage the back of her hands with his thumbs. "If you wouldn't of came with me, I would've stayed with you." A sharp exhale of amusement through his nostrils as he pushes toward her lightly. "Of course, I wouldn't of let you know. I'd likely just stayed hidden behind a rock or something." He makes eyes contact once more, "I think you made the right choice." He speaks before tilting his head to the side and pressing his lips against Emilia's.


Emilia tried to imagine Ty staying there in the mines with her. He'd left and come back when she'd dropped the lantern on the ground. Would he of come back later to hid out in the dark behind a boulder just to make sure that she was safe? Emi was about to reply to him when he moved a little before pressing his lips to hers this time. Instantly her cheeks turned a bright shade of red, but she softly kissed him back.


Tyler holds the kiss for just the right amount of time. A light audible 'pop' sounding off as he pulls away to rest his head against Emilia's once more. His own blush has surfaced to turn his paled skin a soft shade of pink. His lips part as he goes to speak and at first he falters. He is forced to swallow the lump in his throat before speaking and his voice is light with a hint of a shake. "I'm no man of the city." He jokes in reference to Emilia's last relationship. In comparison to Javier, Tyler would fall on the opposite end of the spectrum. Unbeknown to either party, the man Emilia holds hands with now had actually lost in a duel against Javier, taking a blade through his gut, the scar remained but the memory was forever lost. "I'm barely a man." He continues his joke by flexing his muscles to reveal next to nothing. "I'm sure you'll find a good one. One that won't vanish." His final words are like an echo, calling out to Emilia. As Tyler speaks, a hint of conclusion is to be found. The man before her is both nervous and saddened, though the reason is vague and hidden.


Emilia was speechless after he had broke the kiss. Her blue gaze landed on his caramel ones, staring ever so faintly at him while she listened to what it was that he had to say. His light jokes got small giggles from her as the blush started to fade away from her freckled cheeks. Silence remained after he'd finished speaking where she just lightly held his hands. A light squeeze to them as her thumbs traced softly over the backs of his. Finally she said something, "I am not a princess or a Lady of the city. I am just a simple female human that lives a troubled life. And I am sure that somewhere there might be a person out there that is meant for me, but I am not searching to find them. I would hate to become a burden on someone again with the trouble that follows my ever foot step."


Tyler breaks his gaze from Emilia to look out over the sage with a snicker. The girl sounded exactly like him in that moment. He takes a deep breath and closes his eyes, allowing the sounds of the forest to creep over them and calm his mind. This persists for around thirty seconds before he finally turns back to face the girl. "If someone gives a damn about you, you aren't a burden... you're a gift." It's as if the man has an epiphany and his eyes widen slightly before they meet with Emilia's again and soften once more. He loosens his grip on her hands and would run his hands on the underside of her arms before sliding to rest his palms on her forearms. "Besides, your 'man' wouldn't have to worry about anything. I already told you I'm not going to allow anything like..." He nods toward the bandages beneath her cloths. "To happen again."


Emilia sat very still as his hands started to move away from her own. She was slightly nervous that too much movement would end up flipping the hammock knocking the two of them onto the ground below. Her mind seemed to wander a lot to the worse possible out come from things, which made being too adventurous a little hard. Being here in the tree with him for her was a very nerve racking adventure. "What would I do without you." She said with a soft smile.


Tyler offers a large grin and doesn't miss a beat in his reply. "Die, obviously." He leans forward and places a quick kiss on her cheek before picking himself up from the hammock and leaping across to the branch where he had originally sat. "Well, I've got some... things to take care of in just a bit." He's leaning with his weight off the edge of the branch only supporting himself with a cupped palm to the branch itself. "I expect you to make due, and either sleep here or find me in the tavern?" His eyes shift back to the worried state that he'd been so fond of just a few moments ago.


Emilia watched as Ty moved out of the hammock now as he had things that must be taken care of. She offered him a simple nod. "I am sure that I will be seeing you around. No need to worry or you might get wrinkles!" She jested with a soft giggle before waving him off to do what he needed to.


Tyler smiles as she reassures him. The man releasing his grip on the branch to allow his body to fall from the tree only to grab hold of the next and slide down to the forest floor, before sprinting off toward Kelay.