RP:Memory of a Dead Man

Summary: Revan reveals his past identity to Meri.

Kelay Tavern

Revan doesn't stand out from the other citizens having a rest in the warm musty atmosphere of the battered old Kelay Tavern - at least not in this form. The man usually covered in sickly pale, slimey, rotten flesh and riddled with holes that maggots happily feast upon is rather attractive compared to the scruffy old men filling up the seats of the bar in his illusion replicating the blue haired youth of his past life. The idle chit chat and loud noise caused by the patrons is ignored as his caramel brown eyes remain focused on a beautiful blonde haired woman with a sleeve of decorated ink seated a little ways away from him. His nail digging a circular pattern into the crude wooden table as he draws it round and round again in anticipation of his next move while the conversation of the duo's last meeting plays on repeat in his head, the smell of the white rose flooding his nostrils causing his body to tremor in an odd display of either anxiety or pleasure. Sliding back in his chair to take a stand he begins to cross the room towards her and snatches a bottle of rum from an occupied table on the way leaving an illusionary replica in it's place. The bottle is set down gently on her table and his free hand runs across her shoulder to settle on her back with an open palm, "I'm sorry to be so bold but I've been watching you from my seat and couldn't help but notice you've been stuck alone in a room full of cretins. Since I'm currently suffering from the same blight, I'd hoped we could share a drink or two." Small sparks of blue mana spill out from his palm and sink into the skin of her back supporting a feeling of calming peace in her mind and body as small details around them become more relaxing and reflect some of Meri's favorite things such as colors, foods and even music as a bard near the bar begins plucking away on a lyre. The human's smile is genuine and he gives a vibe of a friend rather than a pervert looking for an easy night, despite how odd his approach may seem.

Meri is indeed seated alone at a table, sketchbook unfolded with a stick of black charcoal placed to the left side of the book and a short glass of whiskey to the right side of it. Her right hand remains lightly around the base of her glass, her left hand remains free but the tips of her fingers are dirtied with the black soot of the charcoal. Though there the usual chatter within the bar, Meri seems to have managed to drown it out and is instead focused on the page that is open before her. Is this scene just a little familiar? If so, Meri does not remember. It is the feeling of a hand upon her back that pulls her out of her thoughts, her shoulders instantly growing tense with discomfort. Without the help of Revan's magic influencing the fragmented mind of the psionic woman, Meri's reaction would have been a bit less receptive. Can she be blamed? What woman likes to be touched by a man she perceives as a total stranger. Over her shoulder she looks, taking in the face of the man requesting to join her table. There is this strong and nagging familiarity, vague memories of a most odd encounter in the woods, but this is something Revan's magic pushes to the back of her mind. The psion does not dwell on those thoughts concerns for long. Or at the very least, she is managing to play this situation off in a cool and collected manner. Using the hand with fingertips that are stained black, Meri motions to one of the many open chairs at her table as indication that Revan may seat himself wherever he chooses at her table. "You are more than welcome to sit with me at my table, if you would like. The company and the conversation would be welcome." Bright blue eyes remained fixated on Revan, letting the man get settled before attempting to carry on the conversation. "Have we met before? I feel like we have met before."

Revan is pleased when his offer is accepted and he pulls the chair directly beside Meri out before sliding into it and settles his satchel down on his left. "Thank you" he comments with a smile before the book resting in front of Meri grabs his attention but her question catches him off guard forcing him to refocus on her. Those caramel brown eyes bounce up and down the woman as he studies every feature of her body before offering a light chuckle, "Have we? I'm doubt it, I believe I'd remember someone with an arm that magnificent. Though I feel the same, your face is tugging at something in my brain but I can't quite put my finger on it. Perhaps we met in another life." The comment is said jokingly and with a smile though Revan knows full and well who Meri is, the hive mind he shares with Tyler alight with activity as the duo seem to bicker over how to interact with the woman. The man's eyes fall back to the book prompting a nod, "You're an artist?" he inquires while reaching down to unbutton his satchel and tossing the flap back, an idle hand takes hold of a journal and spills more sparks of magic into the pages before he pulls it out. "I do a bit of drawing myself. Do you mind if I show you?" he doesn't wait for an answer and peels the cover back to reveal a sketch that is a perfect replication of the Kelay Tavern on a frost bound morning. In reality, the pages were tattered and torn with gibberish scrawled across them but if Meri would opt to take a look at the book she'd find many hand drawn pieces similar to the shot of the tavern from all around Hollow and portraits of all sorts of people including one of Revan's grotesque true form.

Meri opens her mouth to say something, perhaps to address the issue on if the two have met in another life. Whatever it is Meri has to say must not be of considerable importance for not a single word trails past her lips. It would seem that the psion easily falls for another trick of the mind, for it is quite easily to prey upon her broken mind and flood it with illusions that she perhaps may not have been so susceptible to of if mind and memory were fully in tact. That being said, the woman accepts the book and flips through the pages, as if every page was actually filled with a magnificent drawing. "Ah, I don't know if I would count myself an artist. Those who work with clay, or paint and canvas may object. Perhaps an artist with ink? But this? Is just a sketchbook." The detail of the work are studied as she mulls through the book page by page -- there is no reaction when she comes upon Revan's grotesque and true form. It is not a form of Revan's that she has been permitted to see, there was a raven, a girl and then the man, (and a conversation about the man with a very icy woman). Again, this does not appear to be at the forefront of Meri's mind. The book is returned to Revan quite delicately, treated with the same respect she would want her own precious book to be treated with. "You are more than welcome to look through my own, but compared to yours? They are not nearly as good. You are quite talented. How long have you been drawing....?" A pause, for she went to use the man's name only to realize that introductions have not dealt with. A tattooed hand is extended toward Revan, for both of Meri's arms are tattooed from shoulder to knuckles. The hand that is extended has the word pain tattooed on her knuckles, one letter for each knuckle. Not coincidentally, it accompanies the full sleeve that depicts a kraken pulling a ship down into the deeps. "My name is Meri. What is your own name?" Should Revan take Meri up on her offer, he would find her own sketchbook full of similar drawings: tavern scenes, people watching, some of her most current tattooing works but the gardens of Gualon and a field of flowers seem to be most prominent pieces in the book. Someone has been a busy little bee.

Revan's facial features relax and a smile fills his lips as he watches Meri examine the page with his own filthy mug sprawled across it, he takes note of her reaction which seems to be non existent and the thought crosses his mind that perhaps Meri would be more open minded than others who walked the lands of Hollow. He snaps out of his daze once more when her hand is extended and he takes it in his own to offer a polite and cordial shake, "Revan. Pleasure dear." Taking a moment to examine the piece covering her arm his eyes shift rapidly to cover each unique detail before he finally releases her hand, "Oh sorry. Didn't mean to be rude. The work on you is just absolutely, truly and terribly terrific, a wonder to behold for certain." That familiar smile spreads once again as he answers her previous question with a chuckle, "Oh about five minutes or so" he admits while sliding his own book to the side in favor of the new one he's been handed and he feverishly flips through each of the pages and allowing ample time to examine every single one. "You're far too humble dear Meri, your work seems to indicate that you are the very definition of an artist!" As he continues thumbing through the pages he speaks to her though his eyes stay occupied with her work, "So tell me, if you don't consider yourself to be an artist, what do you consider yourself to be then? Who are you Meri?"

Meri goes wide-eyed for a moment when Revan reveals that he has only been drawing for about five minutes, her gaze instantly races back to the book that has been pushed aside. That was not five minutes worth of work in those pages, and while Meri is quite tempted to snatch that book right on up to review the pages for a second time...she resists. Revan's book is left to one side in favor of a completely different topic, which Revan will probably be more than a little displeased with. Or so Meri predicts. "I think that we both know that most days I barely have a sense of who I am outside of what people tell me...." A pointed look is laid on the man who tries to deny the fact that they do know each other. If Revan's eyes remains intent on the pages of her sketchbook after that comment, a single index finger will be placed beneath his chin with the hope of attempting to guide the focus of her book and back to her. Her hand will fall away from his chin if she is successful, or if he demonstrates resistance to shifting his gaze back to her. "Just like we both know that we have met before. I saw you in the forest, when that girl attacked me? You gifted me a rose." The issue with Meri's memory is stemmed from a single point in her life. Anything prior? She struggles. Anything after? Those memories are as clear as water. "I am pretty sure you were really the girl that attacked me, and the man. One in the same....And I have been told that I did in fact know a man with blue hair. Perhaps not in depth, but his name was Tyler. I also hear he is no longer amongst the living. Emilia has told me as much." Knowing full well that this conversation has probably turned awkward and uncomfortable, all of this is said with a more hushed voice to keep these words from the ears of the tavern's patrons. There is a small pause and definitely some sadness to her hushed voice, "What happened to you?"

Revan studies each page of the sketch pad carefully and seems to show little acknowledgement of Meri's accusations until she lifts his chin forcing a smile to spill across his features. The name of the woman spreading word of his death brings a bit of irritation to the undead man though his expression doesn't betray it, Emilia was still on his list of targets but she'd so far proved to be rather elusive since his reincarnation. "While you're quite right that we may know one another, you seem to assume just as much. I'm also not entirely sure how I should feel about being called a little girl. I'm not up to date on ethics but I believe that's considered a bit rude is it not?" he states in a playful tone while setting her sketch pad down on the table top. His hand falls over on top of the book with his palm facing to the sky and his head tilting to the right, "The rose. Let me see it." He knows full well that the flower is still in her possession and even if she'd tried to leave it at home, she'd soon find it right back in her belongings as all of his gifts seemed to do.

The tattooed woman looks more than a little discontent with Revan's answers, or lack there of, and makes no attempt to hide this frustration for she heaves a deep sigh. There is a moment of silent contemplation, part of Meri wanting to be stubborn and resist the request just like he resisted giving her any amount of answers. "You know that is not what I am meaning, Revan. Just like I am not meaning to make assumptions. What am I supposed to do? Stare at the pieces of the puzzle without any attempt to draw any conclusions? Give up?" Perhaps this was a puzzle that Meri had no business attempting to piece together, but despite the 'assault' in the forest, as frighting as she found it in the heat of the moment, when the rose was bestowed upon her and when the illusion of Tyler had disappeared -- Meri was left with this overwhelming sadness and an intense curiosity. Tyler and Meri may not have encountered each other regularly in while he was alive, but she was fond of the guy in an entirely nonromantic manner. Meri caves to Revan's request and reaches into the satchel that she is prone to carrying with her, she has to tote around that sketchbook somehow. Out of the bag comes a wooden box, one that is not particularly large, sized just large enough to hold a single rose. Nor is this box very ornate for it's purpose is to protect and little more. The top of the box is flipped open and inside there lays the white rose, looking exactly how it did the day that it was gifted to her. "You said it might provide an escape should I ever need it. I deemed it worth keeping safe during my travels. Flowers are such delicate things and I thought it might be useful to me one day."

Revan still has his palm held out expecting the rose to be placed in it but is instead forced to take it himself which he does only after releasing an overly exaggerated sigh to mock Meri's own. No later than when the man's fingertips brush against the stem does the entire tavern suddenly freeze in time with all of the patrons locked in their last action including a rather stout dwarf with his mouth agape and a stream of ale falling from his tankard to glisten in mid air. Revan has his eyes down to examine the rose while picking it up in his grasp "This flower dear Meri is far from delicate and it would seem your memory serves you well. It will provide an escape whenever you so need it and if it's answers you seek then perhaps we should go together." When the man raises his gaze back to the tattooed woman his caramel brown eyes have turned into swirling blue vortexes with a black void base. "So then... where do you wish to go?"

A single finger is tapped against the tabletop before them as Meri contemplates the question, ignoring that mocking sigh. It did not seem to upset the woman even in the smallest degree. Where does she wish to go? There are many answers that Meri could and should attempt seek, especially pertaining to herself, but none of those questions were voiced during this conversation. Only one question echoes strong in her mind. "You know what I want to know right now, Revan. My question has not changed. I want to know what has happened to you, what brought this about." Her eyes travel toward the man, locking on his features and studying his reactions -- trying to see past the facade of pleasantness that he is putting up. It was a good act though, Meri may not be able to read the male any deeper than surface level. "With that question in mind, you know where I wish to go better than I do. If you will not speak of what has happened to you, then..." Her gaze shifts from Revan's face, to the rose that he holds in his hand, then back to his face. "Show me."

The smile on Revan's face slowly droops into a neutral line at Meri's request but it is not denied. The shift is sudden and violent as the floor, tables and walls of the tavern begin to creak and smash sending splinters flying all around them while the patrons spontaneously combusting into a fine red mist and once it's all said and done the scenery around the duo has transformered to resemble a dark, cloudy day high up in the region of Frostmaw. Reaching out with a steady hand Revan places the white rose back in Meri's own and curls her fingers over it before rising from their table (the only one left standing that is) and motions for her to follow him. "If my demise is what you wish to see then so be it... but I'm afraid I don't understand why you care about such a insignificant memory in the first place. It's a rather boring turn of events really, one of a pompous ass meeting a well deserved fate."

Frostmaw

Mer instinctively grabs the edge of the table that they presently occupy by then room begins to disintegrate, eyes closing and chin tucked toward her neck to shield her eyes from any of those stray flying splinters. It is not until Revan speaks that Meri opens her eyes, revealing that they are no longer sitting in the taverne (or are they?) but are up in Frostmaw -- a region that Meri would have been more familiar with were her mind fully in it's proper state. Up and out of the chair she goes, booted feet trudging through the snow step by step. The woman remains just slightly behind Revan and to his left, rather than walking side by side, letting him lead the way. "I have a mind - mostly. I will decide for myself what I think of the fate of a man who may or may not have been a friend to me." Perhaps not much of an explanation as to why she cared, but it would be the only explanation that Revan would gain from the tattooed blonde, for she falls silent for the time being as she trails after the man. Her jacket is drawn shut and arms are folded across her chest, tucking her tattooed hands between her elbows and her torso to help shield them from the cold.

Revan offers a light chuckle at the notion of Meri and Tyler being friends in their past, "Friends? I'm afraid we were hardly acquaintances dear Meri. A single night, if I recall, and one that was riddled with awkward dramatics from a lover at the time... But your image has been ingrained in my mind ever since. It's hard to forget one with an appearance as unique as your own." They turn a corner as he finishes his statement and come to a halt, just ahead of them two figures arguing in the midst of a flurry and while they are a bit difficult to make out the blue hair gives away Tyler and the massive halberd Hildegarde. Revan doesn't speak as he watches the events unfold, the male illusion ahead of them illuminating hatred and anger in his posture and movements, a far different sight than the man who stands before Meri now. "Man's greatest weakness is the need for both power and attention. The fool I was didn't believe Hildegarde had the heart to carry out what must be done..." another pause as the woman is seen slicing the leg of the illusionary Tyler and a few moments later snapping his neck. "I should have known better. Self-loathing had consumed my heart and though redemption could have been had it was far more work than any single being cared to spend on a man such as myself." Hildegarde's silhouette is apologizing to the broken man as life begins to fade from his body and Revan turns to look at Meri with his swirling eyes. "As said, not an interesting tale. Just an ass getting his just desserts..."

Meri's sights remain fixed on the scene in front of her, making no attempt argue with Revan about if they were friends or not -- she would just accept his word. What she presumes to be a compliment goes without response for the woman's attention is quickly consumed with what she is watching before her. There is a flinch when she sees the man's neck snap for with Mer's mind being in the current state that it is in, she has never seen a man die. Even if that man had been a total stranger to her, which he practically was, Meri cannot help but feel a bit sick to her stomach. Fear not, Revan! Your boots are safe from the contents of her stomach, she mostly manages to keep her composure. It is about the time that Hildegarde begins apologizing to the corpse that Meri turns to face Revan, arms still across her chest to keep the warmth from escaping her body. "The need for power, attention, a feeling of intense self-loathing. These are the reasons you have provided that warranted death? Because it was far more work than any single being cared to put in? In a land so full of magic, you mean to tell me that you believe your death was justified and that there was no other solution to be had?" Meri's thoughts had been formed, based on the little she knew, but she would wait to see if Revan would disclose further. "Were you a murderer in life? A serial killer? What could you have possibly done that was so horrible, out of self-loathing and the need for power and attention?"

Revan is stoic in his expression now as he listens to Meri's concerns and debate over his reasoning of deserved death and to which he responds with a single word, "Yes." The man was indeed a killer in life as he fell to corruption and though there was still good to be had in him, still very apparent by the nagging in the back of his head, it would be deceitful to claim that he truly believed retribution could have been found. As they stand now in the frigid cold his form begins to shift and flesh falls like ash to reveal the undeads true form with a sick green skin and a torn throat recently patched with a sheet of ice. When he speaks his voice is no longer soft and youthful but gravelly and rough "If the gods believed any good quality remained in my soul they would not have damned me to an existence such as this."

To say that Meri was without reaction to the revealing for Revan's true form would be inaccurate. There is a moment where Meri's blue eyes go wide with surprise, though fear is not an emotion present. Thus far Revan has demonstrated no want to harm her. Combine this wide-eyed reaction with Meri taking a single step back away from the undead being -- the shock and surprise. The tattooed blonde does not seek to turn tail and run away from Revan. There is a wrinkle of her nose as a signal that she once again does not agree with Revan's logic or thinking, speaking blasphemy freely that a number of mortals would not dare to speak out loud, "The Gods are selfish beings who only interfere with the affairs of those beneath them if it fuels their own agendas. Even those who claim to be good only step in when they see fit, to promote their name, their message. We are nothing but pawns in their game for them to prey upon." A shrug of a single shoulder and a shift in the subject. "I am sure I have annoyed you with my prying and persistent question. Thank you for humoring me and my overly curious nature."

Revan offers his own surprised expression as Meri openly soils the 'good' name of the gods, a first out of the mortals he's met since his resurrection. A dry and heavy cackle given in amusement as he makes an off-the-cuff comment on how he has given her the wrong rose. The undead then allows his flesh to reform, allowing his entire body to be consumed by his magic until he's presentable again and able to speak in a voice not like nails on a chalk board. "Dear Meri, there is no need to apologize and no reason to believe me to be annoyed. I appreciate the interest if nothing else and you've long since proven yourself worthy of answers." Looking over his shoulder to see Hildegarde toting the corpse of his previous self away he looks back to Meri and smiles, "Is there anything else you'd like to know? Somewhere else you'd like to go?"

Meri is silent. There were a far number of things that the woman should probably consider exploring that were in relation to her, but she is still waffling back and forth on if she really, truly wants to remember. "In one hand, I feel as though I should ask if you could take me to any point in my mind prior to my forgetting. The last thing that I really remember of my own accord was waking up on a beach. On the other hand? I feel like I have done this to myself, it has been suggested that I did...by a man who I did a tattoo for. He seemed to believe that I was more than capable of building walls and barriers within my own mind to protect myself from something that I don't want to deal with or am not ready to come to terms with....With all of that in mind? I just do not know." Her gaze travels back to the scene that Revan has revealed to her, watching Hildegarde tow the body away with a frown. "I am incapable of making up my own mind. But since I have been nosy with you, questioning things that most really would not want to share...and since you have shared them...I will let you decide. Is there somewhere else we would like to go? Something else we'd like to know? Or is this the end of our journey?"

Revan gives Meri his full attention with an unblinking stare as she speaks and a smile spreads once she leaves the decision up to him, "It's rather unwise to leave your decision making up to a man with a rotting brain." Lifting his hand the white rose has somehow managed to find it's way back into his grip and he holds it out to her. "I understand your blight, Meri. The nagging in the back of your mind, the constant tick of irritation when memories fail to form and the absolute frustration of being indecisive. If I felt capable of making these choices for you, I would. But I'm no better, yet likely far worse." Adjusting his hold on the rose he raises his hand to tuck it behind her ear. "Whenever you need time to think on your decisions or if you need another rotting brain to consult with, pluck a petal. I'll be there."

Meri does not recoil when Revan is so bold as to place the flower within her hair despite knowing full well that the form before her is just an illusion, and that the reality was that a rotting hand was placing the flower in her hair. The rose is left exactly where it is and a light smirk is soon displayed across red lips. "Was it? It seems that the conclusion that said rotting brain has come to was not a bad one. In fact, a happy medium has been presented." A hand is untucked from beneath her elbow so that she can motion to the flower in her hair. "I am sure I will take you up on your offer, but there are quite a number of petals on that rose. You may consider putting a cap on how many petals I can pluck." An attempt at a joke, for the woman already presumed that this offer already has a limit.

Kelay Tavern

Revan smiles and offers a short chuckle in reply to her humor before a more serious expression falls across his complexion, "I will always be available when I am called and yes while you have a plethora of petals to pick from, once they're gone, I'm afraid so am I." It's hard to tell if the blue-haired man is being honest, cryptic or lying through his teeth. His range of emotions quite difficult to read when he constantly bounces between them. "But for now..." the world shifts violently after he speaks, loud banging sounds cracking out over the two of them while the world spins round and round and round until suddenly they're both sitting in the tavern once again, Revan with his hands neatly folded over one another is smiling to Meri. "I thank you for your company among these barbarians."

Meri hardly had the chance to react or respond before the world shifts again and the tattooed woman finds herself sitting in the tavern once more. There is a brief period of silence as Meri readjusts to the transfer of surroundings but when her mind finally grasps the reality of where she is, and manages to process everything Revan just said to her prior, the woman nods. As she stands, ruby red lips are extended in a knowing smile, "You're only as gone as you want to be, I suspect, Revan. Thank you for the company as well." As her final sentence is spoken, the woman pushes to a stand and collects her belongings. For now, the rose is kept in her hair but it is a safe bet that at some point it will return to that box for safe keeping, despite Revan informing her that the rose is not nearly as delicate as one would presume. With a final nod, the woman makes her way out the door and into the fresh air.