RP:I'm Not Racist!

Floating Village

Raphaline is up here in the floating village because it was a rather new addition to the Chartsend region. After having spent some time with Skylei and seeing the lands that would be landscaped, she hadn't really had a chance to see what had been done since then. Now, she was looking upon an array of houses, stilted and otherwise but ultimately a part of the ocean. It was a sight, and a unique one at that, no where else in Hollow had she seen such architecture. She stands in awe, with the geyser to her back, her violin clasped between her hands, and a curious eye discovering every last detail the establishments had to offer.

Vakko had come across this place rather recently as well, seeing how his wonderings before usually never took him much farther than the tavern. This place was rather interesting, and much warmer than Frostmaw, he would dedicate most of his time wondering to this place now. Walking past the rows of stilted houses he walked right past the gaping Raph, though quite on accident. Pausing for a moment he looked back to her and could not help but smile. After take a silent moment to simply look at her he made his way back to her. "I take it the issues in Frostmaw ended up alright?" his question posed after he had moved to stand next to her.

Tyler steps out from the tunnel to the south with squinted eyes and a raised hand to block the sunlight from his eyes. The sound of hammers, saws and general chatter cause the sound of the natural ocean to pale in comparison. Eyes slowly adjusting to the light the human takes another look at the paper clinched in his right hand. It was a letter that had detailed the fighting tournament he had foolishly managed to get himself wrapped up in that would take place in this coming of age town. Taking a deep breath of salted air the human begins to descend down into the active area. He managed to stick out like a sore thumb. His clothes were torn, a bandage sported a fresh wound on his right shoulder and a blackened eye made the male look like he was some Ogre's practice dummy. However, the majority of the population seemed to pay him little mind. He tooks note of Raphaline observing the scene and pondered striking up a conversation as she seemed unoccupied. However, upon seeing the instrument he decides to steer clear and remain out of the way. After all, he knew none of these people nor the area and so instead he plops down onto his bottom to take a much needed rest. Setting his bag beside him he unfastens the single large button holding it shut and pulls out a very small bottle of water and begins sipping it while engaging in some people watching and enjoying the sounds of productivity.

Eliason steps out of the work area where the warm water pipes are being installed and out into the housing area. Sapphire eyes gaze across the water, silently noting the progress that is being made with a certain satisfaction. Indeed, things have been coming along well in his absence. After several moments, his gaze falls upon a familiar redheaded bard, causing a smile to form upon his lips. Lifting a hand in greeting he calls out. "Raphaline!" With that single word called out, he begins making his way toward her.

Raphaline finds herself surrounded by familiar faces. Well, it was hard to find someone the bard hasn't made friends with! Speak of friends, she turns first to Vakko with a grin, "Aye, things have worked out alright." And with that thought she turns, sending her emerald gaze drifting over to Eliason, one of the people from that adventure. "Hey. Looking better everyday. Healing up alright?" She asks, having heard about the state he had been in. She notices another progressing into the area, and turns with a grin for him as well. She silently waves for him to join, new people were amazing to meet!

Vakko gives a slight smile to her words, he was happy it all worked out for the best, though he still wished that she would have allowed him to help. Though the thought was moot as whatever the fear was, is no more. "That is good, I would not have enjoyed losing the only half elf that seems to tolerate me in these lands." His two tone eyes fall upon the others as they enter. In passing he had seen Eliason in the tavern, but never for any length of time, Tyler was wholly new to him. The drow would give a slight incline of his head in greetings to the men. "Ever you are surrounded by your friends, you seem to be blessed Raph."

Tyler was lost in his gaze but felt couldn't help but have his ears perk as voices of the trio closest to him kept bouning off. Turning to face Raphaline he finds himself making eye contact with her as she beckons him over. His first instinct is to jerk his attention back to the ocean as he felt looking over was rude in the first place yet now he has been invited over and as easily as that a battle begins to brew in the mans head. Does he go over or does he stay? Perhaps just run away? Seconds tick away and he feels his eye twitch as he grows nerveous and realizes he has to make a choice. Popping the top on his water he lifts it to his lips and drinks it all down in one go. His mind made up, Tyler places the bottle back into his bag and picks himself up tossing his bag back on his shoulder and proceeds towards the trio. A smile is given as he nods to the and speaks in a timid voice. "Hi." He goes to great lengths not to look any of them in the eyes for too long. "Very nice weather we're having." He still grips the paper of the tournament in his hand as if his life depended on it. He tries to conjure up a selection of words to offer one of the three but his mind blanks and the poor looking human is simply left standing awkwardly as he awaits someone to break his tension.

Eliason stays quiet as Raphaline makes small talk with all of those present. He is content to be in a peaceful environment and not have to look over his back for Ice Devils. The sound of hammers working away at the houses on the water echo through the conversation, but at Raphalines question, the big man inclines his head. "I'll live... Gwenilyn is a good healer." Leaving it at that, Eli makes it clear that he still is not fully comfortable discussing the topic. Instead, he waves out toward the houses. "So, as the official bard of Chartsend, are you considering making a permanent home here?"

Raphaline felt herself completely wrapped in conversation, and questions from all angles. Grinning like the goofball she was, she first turns to Vakko, "Aye. I love my friends very much. They are the strength with which holds me up in the hardest times. I do not know what I would do without them." As for the question of home, she waits, wanting to be sure that Tyler was a bit more comfortable with them. It was a sight to be seen, a half-elf surrounded by the large warrior and a drow fighter. So she offers a hand to Tyler, and one of those signature, charming grins. "It is absolutely gorgeous out here. I love the weather in Chartsend the best of all the lands." She spots the paper, and curiously inquires, "Are you a part of the tournament going on here?" She looks to Eli, "Are you participating in it as well? Or is Gwen keeping you from doing that?"

Tyler reluctantly reaches out to take Raphaline's hand and offers it a quick shake. His arms then went back to holding himself as if he were freezing despite the warmth of the sun blazing down on the group of four. At her following question the humans arches a brow. "Hmm?" Pulling the paper out to present in front of him he mutters; "Oh. Erm. No." He begins to fold the paper and places it in his pocket which offers no support as the holes in his pants simply allows the paper to escape to the ground from which he retrieves it and places it in his bag. As he fiddles with the bag he offers an explination. "I-I just found it on the ground. Didn't want to leave it sitting around. Litter and such. Y'know. It's bad in Kelay." He cleared his throat in a nerveous manner as he glanced at the drow before him. The red eyes sending a chill down his spine as he drops his gaze and takes a step towards Eliason to gain a false sense of protection from the much bigger framed being.

Vakko could not help but envy the bubbly little bard, he himself had very few friends, though that was partially by design. If you keep few people close, few people can stab you in the back, it was an outdated way of thinking to be sure, a mindset that was more fitting for his place of birth than a sunny peaceful town. He took a moment to look upon the pair that had joined himself and Raph, his attention lingering on the large human as if sizing up an potential combatant. After a few long silent moments he looked to Tyler and tried his best to offer a slight disarming smile, though that look seldom is comforting on a drows face. "It seems Raph that you find all the fun, I must make a note to wonder more populated places, maybe I can find trouble as much as you do." He gives a rare chuckle before looking back to Tyler. "And as far as the weather, the sun is a bit brighter than I am used to." He smiled a little more at his own little joke.

Eliason turns his sapphire gaze between those that have gathered around Raphaline. He cannot help but chuckle at Raphaline's easy way of making people more comfortable. He can remember a time not so long ago that she had done the same for him. The big man meets Vakko's gaze without wavering, though the mischievous glint in his eyes shows no malice. The presence of a drow, or half-drow at that, does not faze him. "You are all most welcome here in Chartsend..." Turning his gaze back to Raphaline, he grins. "Gwen has no say in the matter, I will compete."

Raphaline makes a pft sound to the warrior's declaration that he will fight none the less. So instead, she inquires as to whom he might be fighting, "Do you know who your opponent might be?" More than likely she might know them, and maybe not. On the topic of the fight she turns to Vakko, "I am surprised you didn't sign up for it, gold and the chance to fight without too serious a set of reprecussions." Not that she hadn't already gotten the chance to witness a fight, and a rather nice one too. Turning to Tyler, she says, "Even if you aren't entered you should watch a few." She points over to Eliason, "He is quite the fighter." Honestly, with everything going on, the bard had not had a chance to see the list of everyone who would be entered. All she knew was where to be and when.

Tyler continues to dig his sandals around in the sand as he shuffles about idly as the three before him carry out their conversation. However, once he hears the man beside him confirm his presence in the tournament Tyler stands motionless and raises his head turning to his right to look at Eliason. He allows a nearly inaudible whimper to escape as he his wide eyes turn back to the sand. A stressful breath is taken as he begins playing through his mind how in the hell he managed to get himself into this situation. He was already beaten to a near pulp over the past three days by aiding his new found friend Skylei and then proceeding to break her as well. Finally managing to look back up to the group he would give the drow another glance and offer a half smile trying to over come his odd intimidation factor before returning his caramel eyes onto the center of attention, the bard. "Yeah. Perhaps, if I find the time. I'm not really from here. I rent a room in Kelay. It's a hassle to get away for more than five minutes usually." He chuckles to himself a bit. "It, uh, seems interesting though. Maybe I'll see a match or two."

Vakko matched the gaze of Eliason and could not help but smile a little more, he did enjoy someone who would promise a good fight, and the one standing before him now would promise that and more. He gives a slight bow of his head to Eli before looking back to Raphaline as she inquired about the tournament. "I thought about it, but I decided to decline this one. I may enter into the next one though. I can't be letting everyone else have their fun while I watch. Though I must admit I will enjoy getting to spend time with you while the others are fighting." Smiling brighter now he looks back to the skittish Tyler and could only sigh. "I will not attack you, I am not like the bulk of my kind. So you have nothing to fear from me." He know those words did little on most occasions to ease others feelings about his race, but they are a start none the less.

Eliason watches the interaction between the drow and the other man with an amused smirk, though the bulk of his attention stays upon the bard. "I'm set up to square off against a man named Javier. I have yet to meet him, but the word is that he's an honorable knight, so it should be a good challenge for both of us."

Raphaline offers the nervous male another grin, "Well good. I should be at most of them, so I will keep an eye out for you, and a seat open so you can watch." Not to mention she would probably have plenty to say about the fight, having watched so many of them since coming to Hollow. "You too," this is directed to Vakko, "I will be happy for the company. Keeps my comments from being all myself. Gets old sometimes when I am talking to myself!" The bard breaks into a bit of laughter before she presses her lips into a serious line, considering the name with which Eliason has provided. "I have met him, twice now." The bard chuckles, "That will be a hard fight to cheer on, I like you both. In fact, he reminds quite a bit of you Eliason. If you all don't end up well acquaintted by the end of the fight, I will be rather surprised." Javier had been one of the few knights she actually was alright with, some were too centered on what they were told to do.

Tyler is a bit taken by Vakko's sudden statement. The humans gaze shifting rapidly between the drow and Raphaline as if he cried out for some help. "I... Uh... I didn't mean to come off as... I'm not racist or anything. I don't..." Tyler's explination is cut short however as he suddenly turns to face the sun and realizes it's current position. He mutters an obscenity and begans backing away from the group. "I'm sorry, I've got to get going. It was nice to, uh, meet all of you! Yeah!" His hands fumble in his bag as he eagerly digs for the note he pressed into it just moments ago. As he gets hold of the paper he pulls it out allowing the sleeve of a black fabric to slip out which he swiftly tucks back in. Still facing the trio as he backs away he calls out once again. "I'll see you all around!" He points to Vakko. "I'm not racist!" Shuddering for a moment at the red eyes he turns and flees into the tunnel from wince he came, slapping himself on the forehead. "Stupid. Stupid. Stupid." He mutters to himself while he quickly manuevers his way back to the slippery eel desperate to change in time for his fight.

Vakko lofts an eyebrow slightly at the sudden outburst from the timed young man, he was not calling Tyler a racist, he was simply implying that his people had a well-earned reputation, a reputation that until meeting with this very bard Vakko had been a part of. Watching Tyler make his sudden exit from the group the drow could only shake his head at the strange young man. "It will be interesting getting to know him." He muttered to himself more than anyone else. He then let his attention slip back to Raphaline, "Well he was fun." He gives a soft chuckle, "And talking to ones self is the highest point of sanity so you are doing well dear Raph." He lets his two tone eyes, one crimson one colorless fall back upon the large human. "I look forward to seeing you fight as well, I enjoy seeing other fighting styles and I am sure you will not disappoint to give a show."

Eliason offers the drow a grin and short bow. "I will do my best, but with the field of talent that I face, my hopes are low."

Raphaline shakes her head, Eliason was definitely playing down his talents. She makes an effort of giving the warrior a small nudge. "Oh please, you are good." She turns to Vakko, "Ah well I am glad my sanity will be still intact even if I am commenting to myself. But," She turns to the winds blowing through and the sun slowly moving to the west, "Care to take this to the eel boys?"

Vakko looks about to the growing gathering and nods his head slightly to Raphaline. "I would like that, I could stand to have a drink with all this hot weather."