RP:Saved to Stand Alone

Tyler sits alone at the bar in the Kelay Tavern. The blue haired human propping his chin upon his knuckles as caramel eyes hide behind closed eye lids. A nearly untouched bottle of ale resting on the countertop before him. The man has, so far, made good upon his confession on the board. He had rarely left the tavern, usually only during the night hours to get some fresh air and avoid the crowd. The tavern was rather quiet. Apart from Mesthak and Nancy, only Tyler and one other dwarven patron took residence inside. The human was growing tired and his guard was down. He had seen Hildegarde note and only wandered why it was taking so long for her to appear. What did she have to say in the matter? Would he fight her? No one knows. Not even the tired young man resting at the bar.

Hildegarde had done her best to stay near Kelay, but duties always dragged her back to Frostmaw and usually kept her there for days at a time. However, she had associates who kept an eye on things for her; something she had never thought she'd end up using, but now she used these "associates" often. The knight was summoned with a small letter, leading her to Kelay tavern, where she promptly turned up and glanced around in search of Tyler. Upon spotting him, the Silver sighed softly: straightened her shoulders, tugged her long-coat slightly and then made her way to him in a few strides. "Tyler," she said softly, wearing a gentle smile upon her face, "are you well?" she asked, with evident concern. Her hand hovers above his shoulder, as if she wished to reach out and gently place it there in reassurance.

Tyler's brow arches for a moment at the familiar voice but is quick to settle back down allowing a arrogant smile to spread across his complexion. His eyes never leave the bar as his fingers wrap around his ale. "Never been better." He states with a lacking tone before lifting the drink to take a heavy swig. "Yourself? Still up in the frozen land fighting the 'good' fight, I s'pose?" He mocks her profession per usual, though it doesn't seem quite as strong. Despite his words, Tyler's voice betrays him. The human isn't well and he has long since accepted defeat. Before Hildegarde isn't the socially awkward man turned villian that she once knew, nor is it the naked feral being that she saved from the frost. No, sitting before the silver one resides a mentally torn human who anxiously awaits for a sign of aggression. His muscles are relaxed and his guard seems let down, but the barely visable specks of mana that glisten off of his fingers every few seconds tells another story. He awaits her next move.

Hildegarde is not aggressive by any means. If anything, she only has compassion for the torn and twisted man before her now. With a soft sigh, she pats his shoulder before slipping into the seat beside him, "I still attend to my duties, yes," she said gently, her tone placid. If she was ready for combat or for the man to sprint away, she didn't look it. "You are eating well, I trust?" she asked gently, evident concern in her face and tone of voice. "Tyler..." she said after a long pause, "I wrote on that board to lay claim to you. I did not want any other force of the law or some kind of justice to go after you, for fear they may actually harm you. I want you to come with me, I have a plan."

Tyler doesn't flinch from Hildegarde's touch though his eyes do pull to the side as she claims the seat by his side. His brow arches once more as she makes her statement and a moment of silence follows as he spins the bottle of ale around on the counter top in contemplation. Finally, his dried voice rings out in a seldom tone "There is nothing you can do, that I have not already done to myself." Lifting the bottle to his lips he drowns himself with the entire contents before sending the container crashing to the floor sending shards of glass behind the counter and gaining an angered look from Mesthak. Tyler isn't sure what Hildegarde's plan is, for all he knows she's got his noose waiting at their final destination. For some reason, the thought doesn't bother him as he rises to his feet and shoves gloves hands into the pockets of his shorts. "Off we go then." His eyes train upon the woman and a stern stare of defeat, exhaustion and defiance is provided. No matter what lay ahead, Tyler is prepared for it.

If Hildegarde was bothered by the smashing of the glass, she doesn't show it. Instead, she produces a couple of golden coins and passes them along to Mesthak as if to make up for the indiscretion. "Good man," she praised him gently, obviously pleased that he had chosen to come with her rather than fight her on the matter. She rose to her feet and gave his shoulder a soft pat, before leading him to the door and outside of Kelay tavern. "My plan," she began, "was that you and I can try to make reparations to the family of the young woman who... well, what the previous you did. But you are a new man," she reassured, "even if the stains and smears of the past still try to mark you now." The knight looked to him with a slight frown; she was worried about him. "If you make reparations and the family accepts them, then by law none can touch you for this previous incident, Tyler. So, please, please, consent to following this plan. I... I have lost many," she said more quietly, "and I will not lose you now."

As soon as his boots land upon the cracked dirt of the Kelay way, Hildegarde is ranting about making peace over a crime his former incarnation had committed and Tyler's visage slowly coils into a mocking smirk as he shakes his head though remains silent allowing her to speak. It isn't until she is finished that those caramel eyes of his rise from the ground to direct a piercing stare to Hildegarde. The silence is heavy and painfully odd, though what follows would clearly take it to an entirely new level. "Lose me? You're *explicit*ing worried about losing me!?" His voice is like a banshee as he cries out, violently echoing across the lawless town and lush Sage forest. Those that occupy the path would become startled and move away from the duo, some laughing in taunting tones at the distraught human while others shy away in fear. "You caring about me?! What the hell is this? Some sort of disgusting joke?!" The mana that dripped from his finger tips is now oozing, and the light blue has turned to an intense orange and the sight is similar to strings of lava. His hand rush to pull at his hair as he backs a few feet away from Hildegarde. "Where the hell have you been?! If you care so much, why the hell haven't you spoke up, sought me out or even so much as sent a damn letter before word of this idiot's past crime broke out?" Both of his arms are cracking now, the skin literally peeling apart like a dried out husk. The liquid magma filling the voids so the man transforms into a battered earth, ravaged by volcanic torment. "You don't even know me! No one does! I DON'T KNOW ME!" Clinching his fists as he shakes violently the human is growling in anger and despair. Suddenly, just like that, the mans arms fall by his side and all of the mana falls from his body to shatter on the ground leaving him pale and shivering as his head continues shaking. He doesn't have the will to fight, nor to continue running about. A deep inhale through the nostrils before he looks back to Hildegarde. "I'll do it.", he states as his body suddenly stops it's forceful shaking, his head is shaking again, "But I won't be lied too. You care about me just as much as everyone else did, sure they liked the other guy..." Three steps forward until they are face to face. "But I don't mean anything to you. I'm a nobody. The only reason you're here is because of your moral values... So, I'll do what you want. But you can kiss my ass Lady Hildegarde. When this is finished, you can *explicit* off just like the rest of them."

Hildegarde obviously took a step back when the volcanic blast of emotion left the man, she didn't want to crowd him or make him feel penned in by her tall presence. "Tyler," she said, after he had said everything that he wished to, "I did not seek you out sooner because I have been afraid to seek anyone out," she confessed, before shaking her head. "You claim that I do not know you, and yes, that is true: I do not know this new you, much as I would like to. But do you know me? You know that I serve Frostmaw, you know I am a knight, but is that the extent of your knowledge, Tyler?" With a step towards him, her voice grew stronger, emotional like his speech had been, "So don't you dare presume to tell me to piss off, Tyler! Don't you dare! And don't you dare to assume that you mean nothing to me! The reason I am here is because I have the strength now to do it, to help you if I can. If you don't want that help, Tyler, then that's fine. You can walk away and go live your life, even though you sit there in a tavern and drink it away; weeping over what has been and what might be. A waste, what a waste," she said with finality before taking a step towards him; staring down at him due to her considerable height. "I understand that you are hurt. We all carry our hurts, our scars, everything with us. But this? Screaming that I do not know, do not care for you and then presuming that you know everything about me? How self-absorbed you are," she said, her voice as icy as Frostmaw itself. "Now choose: come with me or go your own way, Tyler. I act in friendship not out of duty. If I was acting out of duty... it'd be different," she promised him with the same icy tone. Her icy tone was always an unsettling one, for as cold as it was, it was considerably calm and still.

Tyler looks right back up to Hildegarde. His eyes maintaining that burn as he glares. The duo were literally locked in an unspoken battle of fire and ice. Recollections of his recent encounter with the wood elf flowing back as she beckoned for him to follow and flee the taverns, to resolve the enslavement of the innocent woman in some other way. In that moment, he had defied Skylei and remained dedicated to his vigilance of sticking by his choice. The same confrontation rests before him. The words the fall from Hildegarde's paled lips are like knives as she insists that the man is worthless. He must decide his next move. Shall he agree to her wishes? Will he turn and walk away as he had done to Skylei? Or will he give in to the swirling vortex of rage, anger and upset that is burning so feverously in his heart and attempt to strike the woman down. The crowd outside of the tavern has cleared with only a few onlookers giving the couple any mind from a minimum of thirty feet away. They await with great anticipation expecting Tyler to take the first swing and one of the two to be eradicated from this earth. Though their expectations would be crushed. For the human would shift his eyes and swallow the lump in his throat before moving by Hildegarde's side and muttering in an emotionless tone; "Lead the way". His choice had been made. He would follow Hildegarde and do as instructed. One might wonder why Tyler took what some would consider the 'high road' and others the path of weakness. The answer was simple, really. He did exactly the opposite of what his former host would have done. The urge to separate himself from the original Tyler burned stronger than the blister of anger than festered within his heart. The blue haired human would wait for Hildegarde to begin moving and until he was sure she couldn't hear him before taking a heavy sigh through his nostrils and gritting his teeth to release the raw emotion that had built. As they moved, he would slide his gloved hand to wrap around her wrist, and hold it as they walked.

Hildegarde had half a mind to yank her wrist her way, but she refrained from doing so right this instant. She was angry. Hurt. But she did not wish to expose such a hurt to the man right now, she didn't wish to do anything other than deliver him to the parents of the girl and begin reparations. "I heard from her family. We're going there," she told him, walking onwards at a marching pace. "If they become violent or too upsetting, I will intervene. But promise to make reparations or at least attempt it and this stain is washed away, then you can have your blank slate; then you can be you and not this person who had the body before," she said without deigning to look upon him the entire time. If she looked upon him, he'd probably see the hurt and she didn't want to feel that vulnerable right now.

Tyler didn't need to see Hildegarde's face. He could feel the tension in her body. Her own flesh betraying the emotions that built inside of her. His fingers would uncoil from her wrist and fall into his pockets once more as he comes to realize his relationship with Hildegarde, despite his choice, had been severed just as with Emilia and Skylei. He doesn't speak as she provides the details though his options are already running through his mind. He has no idea what do say or do when confronted by the woman's family. The truth would be far to complex and out of this world for them to believe. He thinks of a lie but quickly plays it out due to the likely repercussion of guilt. The next option is the massive sum of gold sitting in his bank, he could write them off a note and hope it eases the blow, but he isn't sure about that either. All hints of aggression have faded from Tyler, and those caramel hues find themselves scanning the ground once more. Second guessing his decision he ponders a flight path to escape Hildegarde without having to harm her. Then again, didn't she offer for him to walk free? His teeth gnaw at the tender flesh inside his lip as he remains behind her by a few feet. He would follow through, but what he would say or do was yet to be determined.

Hildegarde briefly glanced down at her wrist upon feeling Tyler let it go. The icy petals that covered it hid the deep burn scars well. After some silence, the knight comes to a halt: the family home is only up the road, it's well within sight. "Tyler," she said, looking to him now, "honesty is always the best policy in these situations. You know you can still walk away, if that is what you wish," she said softly. The knight retained her compassion for the man, but there was evident pain in her face. He had no idea what trials and tribulations she had faced. Every time he met her, he belittled her choices and yet knew little of what sacrifice she had endured but then again, the knight never made a move to talk about it. After a soft sigh, her face contorts into a mask of calm and placidity. "You have to decide what it is you want to do," she told him gently, "then you can decide who you want to be." After a pause and a small shake of her head, she speaks quietly to him, "I... I..." she shakes her head once again, "So. What are you going to do?"

Tyler raises his eyes from the ground to face Hildegarde as she stops to speak, his sight bouncing between her and the house twice before remaining upon the knight as his emotionless expression eerily replaces the angered complexion from mere minutes ago. She's stopped speaking now and his eyes shift back to the home, then to the wood off to the left. Oddly enough, he seems calmed and though it seems he might bolt off he turns back to Hildegarde. Focused he voices a chilling statement, "Tell them I killed their daughter". He's staring dead ahead now. Unwilling to speak or act until Hilde advances.

Hildegarde offered Tyler a little nod, "Good man," she said quietly before turning to advance upon the house. She would not herd the man there, it was his choice after all. If he ran, he ran. If he followed, then he followed. It was all his choice, Hilde was merely there to lend a hand.

Tyler follows Hildegarde until they reach the home. Stepping up onto the porch, Tyler's jaw is popping as he grinds his teeth violently. He's nervous and it shows. The shaking in his legs isn't voluntary. He is unable to approach the door and knock, he leaves that duty to the esteemed knight of Frostmaw. Twitching and shaking he does his best to remain emotionless and calm. It's working, sort of.

Hildegarde steps up to the door and raps her knuckles against the strong wooden door, then she steps back to allow whoever is inside to open the door. It doesn't take very long for the man and woman of the household to appear, the husband holding the door open with his other arm wrapped around his wife who seems teary-eyed and expectant of this situation. "Greetings, m'lord and m'lady," the knight says softly and with a respectful dip of her head. "This is Tyler," she said quietly, with a gesture to the nervous man behind her. "He wishes to speak to you, for reasons that you know."

Tyler's still grinding his teeth as Hildegarde introduces the torn couple to him. As she steps to the side to reveal him to them his heart is clearly beating against his chest. The human looked odd enough in his over sized clothes and with his bright blue hair but the twitching, shaking and grinding made him quite the sight to see. Closing his eyes and taking another deep breath he composes himself before providing a bow to the couple. His voice is slightly shaking as he speaks but the stern tone insists he is strong. "My name is Tyler Dyalus. I am the man that ended your daughter's life." Truth be told, the daughter was likely still very much alive, but long sold off into slavery. "I cannot provide an explanation for my actions, other than at the time I was mentally defective. Your daughter was not targeted for any reason other than her wealth and vulnerability. I accept all consequences for my actions." His eyes lock with the father and the older man's gaze is getting to him. Tyler's hand falls to the hilt of his katana in reflex. It might seem he is ready to attack the couple, but in reality it's just a crutch for him to keep composure.

While Hildegarde noted the hand resting upon the hilt of the katana, she made no mention of it nor did she consider it a threatening gesture. She knew many relied on their weapons for comfort, she often did the same with her halberd. While the wife sobbed openly, the husband only stared at Tyler for a long time. "No apology will bring her back," he told him, "and by the gods, I should kill you," he said with sudden anger. "But... But my girl, my sweet sweet girl, she wasn't like that. And for her sake, not yours, I... I am going to forgive you," he said somewhat quietly. "Now. Get off my land."

Tyler's stare turns into one of suspicion as he gives the father the once over. Really? It was that easy? No. Tyler should be punished. That, or the father should be for allowing his daughters death to go unavenged. Tyler feels the anger building in him once more. 'Kill him', his mind beckons in a pleading tone, his fingers tightening around the hilt of the blade before his focus on the couple is suddenly broken by the sight of Hildegarde standing just to their side. The tension is still high but his grip loosens on the hilt and he nods to the couple. "As you wish", he mutters before turning on his heel and moving down the porch and back onto the way where he would wait for the knight.

Hildegarde offered the husband and wife a deeply respectful bow, "I thank you for your generosity," she said to them quietly, watching as they closed the door and returned to the sanctuary of their home. The Silver didn't take long to leave the porch and join Tyler's side once again, "It is easier to forgive sometimes," she told him quietly, "than to seek more bloodshed."

Tyler looks up from his blade to Hildegarde and studies her for a moment trying to comprehend her explanation of what just happened. "What's your game here, Hildegarde? Why did you come down here? Why did you do that for me? To get me out of trouble I deserve?" His voice isn't aggressive nor demanding but flowing with honest curiosity. "There has to be something more than you are telling me. Who told you to come down here? The half elf? I mean, why? Just-just why? You've got all this responsibility and work up in Frostmaw, but you suddenly find time to take a break just to come bail me out of jail time or an execution? What difference does it make to you?"

Hildegarde takes a few steps away from the house to ensure that she and Tyler are off the couple's property. No need to antagonise them by waving the face of their daughter's possible murderer in front of them. "Why do you deserve it?" she asked him, "It is not you who committed the crime, therefore why do you deserve the punishment?" After all, he claimed time and time again he was not the Tyler of before, not the Tyler who acted as he did. "Nobody told me to come here, I came here and acted as I did of my own volition; is that so difficult to believe?" she asked with a demi-smile. "You are my friend, that's why I do it. That and you are innocent. You are not the Tyler of before; you are an innocent in this."

Tyler follows her footsteps and can't help but crack a smile at her attempt to make him feel better and prove his innocence in all of this. But once again he finds his head shaking, "Yes. It is hard to believe. To be honest, I think you're a damn fool, and I think you'll regret this decision one day." He pauses for a moment and bites at his tongue before continuing. "But, I suppose for now I owe you my life. I don't know what that's worth, likely not much." Once they are a reasonable distance from the home he looks around before speaking out once more, "So now what? You head back to the frozen world and I back to the bottle?" He shrugs, "To be honest. It doesn't seem like anythings been accomplished here."

Hildegarde shrugged her shoulder, "Then it will be my decision to regret, won't it?" she countered with. As he goes on to belittle his own existence, the knight sighs and shakes her head, "You do as you please, Tyler. You don't seem to want anything to do with me any more. Frankly, if I didn't know any better, you seem as though you do not care for our friendship," there, she said it. "If it's the bottle you want, go get it," she said, "I will go the other way."

Tyler's cracked a smile in the left corner of his mouth as Hildegarde proclaims his distaste in their relationship and shakes his head as he pulls off his right glove before brushing his fingers through his hair to pull the bangs from his eyes. "If only you knew the half of it, Hildegarde..." He stares to her for a moment longer and can't hold the light chuckle that escapes his lips before he turns his head on his shoulders to examine the area around him. "I guess it's goodbye then." He claims with a dissatisfied voice while he shakes his glove to air it out. He would wait for her departure first.

Hildegarde has no time nor patience for riddles or riddle like terms and feelings. "Goodbye, Tyler. I will make a note in regards to this incident, so people know they needn't seek you out." That said, she looks to him, "Be safe," she tells him before making to depart for Kelay.

Tyler is still airing out his glove as Hildegarde makes her departure. As she moves into the horizon his hands would fall by his side, the glove dangling from his finger tips as he stands motionless and watches her leave. A sigh followed by a single sharp chuckle and he shakes his head. She fades into the horizon and he is left standing in the middle of the road. Alone yet again. Closing his eyes and allowing the moment to pass before sliding his glove back on and turning to head the opposite direction with no real destination.