RP:The Spare Soul

From HollowWiki

Skylei moves into the tavern with her head deliberately pointed at the ground. The half-elf wears a set of leathers, with a long overcoat over the top. Only one of her arms is actually inside of the coat, the other side is simply draped across her shoulder and the arm that should have been through the second sleeve is instead held in a sling. Skylei had refused any form of magical healing for her shoulder (she was not going through the agonies of that bone and flesh sewing potion again, no way in hell) and so she had been forced to take the medicinal, herbal and natural routes to healing. These all take their time, and Sky would likely still have to wear a sling for a good few weeks. Her head is eventually lifted from examining the floorboards as she reaches the bar top and attracts Mesthak’s attention, “Is he up there, do you know?” she asks. Mesthak responds with a shrug and the wrinkling of his face. How is he supposed to know? And why would he even care? Skylei sighs and makes her way to the staircase. She takes the stairs slowly, pressing her back against the wall as she walks. She’s ever so conscious of her poor balance now that she only has one arm in use and she has no desire to take a tumble down the steps. Eventually she draws up to the door of the room she knows so well. She pushes her ear to the wood, but she cannot tell if anyone is inside thanks to the hum of the patrons downstairs. Instead of entering, Skylei knocks. “Tyler? It’s me.” Skylei pauses, remembering, with a heavy heart, that that greeting might not be enough anymore. She clarifies, just in case, “It’s Skylei.”


Tyler is startled by the knock but his tension is quickly relieved when the voice calls from behind the sturdy door. He can't control the smile that falls upon his face and the excitement that boils within so he gives himself time to get it out of his system before shaking it off and calming down. A quick turn of the knob, he pulls the door open just enough to reveal his face to the wood elf and offers a grin, "Oh! Hey." Stepping back he let's the door swing open and extends an arm to showcase the room. "Come in!" The man is looking a good bit better since the couples recent adventure. The burns on his arms have nearly healed, leaving only some discoloration and scars. The cuts on his hands just deep red lines. His shirtless status has left the wound on his chest to be visible. The stitches still doing their job well enough while the bone mended back in place. And lastly, some 'color' had returned to his skin as well a small bit of meat on his bones. Gods be praised, the man was eating. Taking note of the arm he frowns and shakes his head. He is ready to berate her for not seeing a healer, but his own stubbornness has kept him from doing the same before.


Skylei offers a smile as Tyler opens the door. She takes a few second to appraise his condition. Unflinching in her stare, she takes in all of the damage and is pleased to find that he actually appears to have followed advice and have rested up. She stands for a good thirty seconds taking in everything before she nods and enters the room. The bag on her back is thrown down on the rickety wooden chair that both of them have spent night’s sleeping in. The bag itself is not light and hits the wood with a clunk; clearly the half-elf is prepared to stay for a few days should it be necessary. With it safely deposited, Sky moves over and begins rifling through her possessions, “I have something for you.” This rifling is made difficult by the fact that she only has a singular arm available and she sends up fundamentally unpacking in order to find what she is looking for. Wrapped in a piece of cloth near the bottom of the bag, lies Tyler’s amulet. She turns to him and offers him the piece of cloth, “I think you’ll be pleased.”


Tyler finds himself unable to control his smile once again as Skylei begins rifling through her things, but he is quick to reassess himself and is in a calm demeanor when she speaks. "Oh?" His curiosity peaks as the woman lifts herself and turns to hand him the cloth. Eyes change between the gift and Skylei as he tries to reassure himself this isn't some cruel trick. He relents and grabs the cloth, peeling it back on each side. He freezes as he finds the amulet within. His pale face brightens to red with excitement as Tyler cups his mouth with a free hand and tears are actually seen in his eyes for a moment. "Holy sh-, No... This isn't legit." He drops the cloth and let's the amulet dangle from his fingertip. Sure enough it's the very artifact he'd passed on to Josleen just a few weeks ago. The man is over excited and tosses the sterling silver chain around his neck. He is ready to tackle hug the wood elf before him and even moves too, but he notes her shoulder and decides physical contact might not be the best for her. He keeps repeating, "Oh my god, Sky, Thank you." even as he moves to pick up a plain white shirt and pull it over his head. "Sorry. I haven't been up too long. Didn't expect anyone." The grin on his face couldn't be pulled away by anything. He notes her belongings, "Do you plan on hanging out her for sometime?" Wide caramel eyes spill hope to the elf, but the rest of Tyler's face tries to seem uninterested as he struggles to remain calm.


Skylei can’t help but have a wide grin pulled across her face at the joy the gift brings Tyler. It makes the fact that retrieving it had cost the half-elf her best friend almost worth it. Almost. Still, as he puts the chain over his neck both of the amulets, now pressed against their chests offer a slight glow, as if to indicate that they are back where they belong. That makes Sky smile a little more. “Aye, I thought you’d be pleased. Just… don’t give it to anyone else; I might not be able to get it back next time and…” Skylei trails off. She was going to say that she could tell how much the amulet meant to him, but decides against it. She didn’t want to make it any more awkward. At his question, she shrugs awkwardly and begins repacking her clothing and other possessions into her bag. “I can just pass through. I can leave if you want?” She misses that hopeful look in his eyes as she packs and instead mistakes the casual nature of his tone to mean that he doesn’t want her to stay. She’s loath to outstay her welcome.


"No." He calls as he grabs hold of her arm to stop her from packing. The man feels the tension in his bones as he releases her and takes a step back. "I, uh, I mean I'd like you to stay. It gets lonely here you know." He smirks and moves to take a seat on the bed. Reaching out he shoves his index finger through the belt loop on Skylei's pants and pulls her to the spot beside him. "So how'd you manage to get it back?" He's fiddling with the amulet at this point and his teeth are still shining bright as he moves to face Skylei again. "I mean, she did seem very hell bent on keeping me away from you."


She breathes an audible sigh of relief as his arm catches her. He wanted her to stay; thank the gods for that. She places the items she had been about to pack alongside the bag as a sign that she would stay for a while if that was what he desired. Then he pulls her to sit down beside him and she utters grumbled words about how he needed to be careful and didn’t he realize that her shoulder was broken. These are accompanied with gestures towards her sling, though she’s clearly not angry with him. The smile across her face does all the talking that she doesn’t. She realizes that she is pressed right against him, their legs pressed together and her good arm rests against his. She doesn’t move away but begins to talk, “I got a letter. She wanted to see me. I went and told he that we’d met and you agreed to stay away but that I wanted the amulet back… y’know, as a memory or some crap like that.” Skylei shrugs and utters curses about her shoulder again. She needs to learn how to do a one armed shrug, “I don’t know, I just wanted to get it back so I did what I had to do. It’s yours and you should have it.”


Tyler stares with a smile as Skylei explains in detail how she retrieved his beloved amulet. He nudges her lightly as to not hurt her shoulder. "Well, thank you." His teeth find a grab upon his lower lip before he chuckles. "But you're a liar." Rising from the bed he stands before her and motions his right hand to signal a connection between Skylei and him. "I don't have any friends, and I don't figure I'll be cutting any ties with the closest thing I've got to one." He offers her a quick wink before his expression turns to excitement once again. "Oh! Hey! I've been practicing the whole voo-doo thing, right? Check it out. I've been working on this one for a week now." Reaching out to take hold of Skylei's good hand, he flips it over so her palm faces the ceiling, his own nestled underneath to provide a bed while his other hovers above. He takes a deep breath in through his nostrils and exhales through tight lips and a light mist would manifest around his working hand. The mana looks like glitter as it falls. Skylei's palm is soon a stage, showcasing a small replica of the nightstand that rests beside the bed. The grin on his face has multiplied in force and it looks as though his skin just might rip and his lips fall right off. The small end table is indeed, a flawless illusion. What good it would do for the man? None, clearly. But the fact remains that he is excited to be able to do anything. When he's finished, the mana continues to fall into Skylei's hand until nothing is left, leaving her skin feeling slightly damp, though Tyler's hand quickly falls into hers and he grips it lightly as he makes eye contact. Smooth move. "I know it isn't much, but still, it's pretty awesome to be able to do all that. I've been wanting to try out the whole elemental thing but being cramped up in here doesn't do much good." His eyes remain locked with her own as he is nearly lost in those stormy grey hues.


Skylei doesn’t feel like explaining that she was perfectly happy to lie to her best friend in order to regain his amulet. It only felt right that he should be reunited with his most precious possession; she certainly didn’t want to be the reason that he had had to part with it. Fortunately before she has to do this, the excitable human has grabbed hold of her hand and is attempting to produce an illusion. It’s not a patch on what his former self could do but Skylei sees that smile on his face and cannot bring herself to say anything negative, “That’s great. I told you that you were an illusionist, I guess you can believe me now.” As the mana disappears into nothing, Skylei feels his hand on hers. She doesn’t know how she feels about this and, as he stares into her eyes and she stares back, she feels an odd sensation in her stomach which forces her to look down to the ground to prevent a blush from falling on her cheeks. Skylei then pulls her hand away from his, “I’m sure you can try basic things.” She twists her hand to reveal the small ball of fire that she can produce, all seeming to stem from her ring finger. She would use this fireball as an excuse to have moved her hand; after all she wouldn’t want to burn him, “I mean, you know they’re illusions so, I don’t know, throw some fireballs like this around or something.” She pauses to transfer the fire from one hand to her other “It’s not like you can actually set anything alight.” She hopes. Dear gods, she hopes. She certainly doesn’t want to be responsible for Tyler burning down the tavern. Finally she pushes her palms together and extinguishes her little fire ball. “Unlike me. But I’d rather not burn down Mesthak’s pride and joy.”


Tyler doesn't catch her blush but does flinch a bit when she retracts her hand. He watches the woman work her magic and nods as she speaks. His face fully intent on learning. Taking a few steps back he extends his left arm out and to the side, his eyes focused on his palm. Another deep breath before he begins working. The fog of mana rises again, something he would need to control if he planned to keep the illusions realistic. Slowly, sparks would morph to embers and eventually a flame like the one he had conjured in the dark temple. Flexing his fingers allow the flame to grow and shrink upon his will. Reaching over himself with his free hand until it hovers upon the flame he would begin to pull back. The flame connected in a steady stream until a beautiful arc of fire burns above the human. Closing his left palm it retreats to the right like a slinky. He is concentrated but can't hide the smirk on his face. Focus. His eyes lock to the flame and from the base it begins to crystallize into ice, leaving the silhouette of the fire frozen solid. The dots of blue dancing in his eyes signal his work and the ice cracks before breaking into water and dripping down to rush between the floorboards. He exhales and stumbles back into the wall with a thud. He's chuckling in amaze at his own works and fighting the urge to black out at the same time.


Skylei sits and watches as he attempts to manipulate the mana through the multiple different elemental stages. She’s good and silent, allowing him to channel his mana into the illusions without any interruptions or distractions on her part. As soon as he stumbles Skylei jumps up from the bed to ensure that he doesn’t injure himself. This is kind of difficult given she still has one arm in a sling, but he manages to save himself and doesn’t seem to be all that bothered by the fact that he’s basically passed out. Is he laughing? Sky rolls her eyes. He has always been a foolhardy, lovable idiot. “You might not want to push yourself too hard, too soon.” She pauses and looks carefully for the correct words. There is a line of events that she wants to believe; that this Tyler is one and the same with the old Tyler and a line of events that he wants to believe; that he is nothing like his former self. The truth likely lies somewhere in the middle and Sky hopes that she finds the correct expression for both of them, “Your former self had a habit of pushing himself too hard in training and injuring himself…”


Tyler cast Skylei an awkward glance though he is still laughing. He waves his hand to her as he leans against the wall with his other hand planted on his knee to regain composure. "There is no former me, though I'm sure he did. That one didn't seem to think things through too well." Picking himself up off of the wall he tries to catch his breath. Lifting his shirt he examines the stitches and is pleased to find them still intact despite his stumble. He presses his head back against the wall again and slows to long, deep breaths. "No offense, I mean. He was a great guy to you I'm sure. Just saying, I doubt he would've conjured me up if he knew what was going to happen at the temple." He lowers to face her and finds his words might be laced with venom. "I'm sorry if that came out wrong, just being honest." He already feels the tension building and clears his throat a bit before repeating, "Sorry.".


Skylei feels her breath catch in her throat as the conversation turns to Tyler and all his entities. She tries to remember why on earth she thought it was a good idea to bring him up in the first place. Instead of argue with him that Tyler was a great guy, just an ultimately flawed good guy who simply made some bad choice, she nods in agreement. The breath is still lodged in her throat and it feels as though she has a huge lump just sitting there waiting to be dislodged with her tears. She won’t let that happen. She will not cry again. She simply continues nodding until she realizes it’s inappropriate for her to still be nodding. With an awkward cough, she turns away from him and take the few paces she needs to sit back on the bed. She passes off her comment as pure concern for him, “Just want you to be careful that’s all. You’re still healing.” Her voice wobbles and she keeps her eyes away from his. Her free hand moves to the amulet around her neck and fiddles absentmindedly with it. How do you get over someone when their double, in physical terms at least, sits opposite you. It’s hard.


Tyler face is void of cheer at this point as Skylei falls back to the bed. She argues that her concern is only for his own health, a flawed argument that doesn't fool the man for a second. In kindness, he offers a dry "Heh, Yeah." He wants to move to the bed, to take a seat beside her and bring up the true conflict here. But his instincts tell him it's a bad idea. He is forced to remind himself that to this woman, he's still just some guy wearing her fiance's body as a suit. Even though she isn't facing him he still turns away and steps toward the door of the room. He grabs the handle and provides three taps against the copper with his index finger before calling out behind him. "I'm, uh, going to go grab some fresh air. Take a walk down the way or summin'. Do you need anything?" His hand is already turning the handle and he pulls the door open before shifting to face Skylei, awaiting her reply.


Skylei gets up almost as soon as she has sat down. The sound of his finger against the handle of the door alerts her to the fact that he wants to leave before he’s even spoken. As soon as the words leave his mouth she utters a reply much too quickly, “I’ll come with you?” She pauses and quite visibly blushes before adding an unending awkward explanation, “I mean I need some exercise. There’s not much room in here for that and given we’re both going to be in here.” Skylei bites her lip, “I don’t mean…” She gives up trying to correct herself (she’s only going to make it worse) and simply steps forward, takes the hand that holds the handle in her own and pulls him out of the room and onto the hallway.


Tyler watches Skylei stumble over her words with a confused yet amused face. As she takes his hand and pulls him out he is sure to shut the door behind him. As they begin to descend the stairs he glares to the people of the tavern. He feels a fondness to the hobbits and dwarves playing their drinking games but the dark elves, green skins and snob-nosed humans make him sick to his stomach. He wants to hurry and escape the crowded establishment and is happy when they reach the door. Pushing it open allows a cool rush of air to begin blowing his hair every which way, he should've brought a coat. Once they are outside his eyes close and he enjoys the weather. "It's been a bit too long since I've been out, I s'pose."


Skylei doesn’t care for any of the people in the tavern. They are all met with a discerning stare followed by a pointed glance to her injured arm, suggesting that they’d better get out of her way or else (though what is she going to do with one arm? You haven’t thought this through, Skylei). She half drags Tyler through the tavern as she’s just as keen as he is to make it out and into the open air. Her own hair goes completely wild as they step out into the wind and she is forced to pull her hand from his as she attempts to push the tangled locks out of her face. In spite of herself, she grins at him from behind the mess of hair, before giving up and realizing that there is little she can do to prevent its wildness and slipping her hand back into his. She doesn’t say anything, she simply gives a light tug on his arm and pulls him along the path in the direction of the wind, walking east along Kelay Way. It’s not strong enough to blow them over, but it beats down on them and likely freezes Tyler to the bone.


Tyler isn't very attentive to his surroundings at the moment. The man in a state of bliss as he cherishes the chilled wind and fresh air rushing through his lungs. He's been cooped up in the tavern for far too long. The smell of smoke and booze staining his nostrils to a sickening degree. But now, as Skylei and he stand out in the open way his mind is miles away from the run down place, even though he's physically only a few feet away at this point. He doesn't resist Skylei's want to hold his hand. In fact, the man is pleased to show others who brave the outside that he's with someone, a friend even. As they walk down wind Tyler's hair blocks out most of his peripheral vision. It's grown a substantial amount and even though it lashes out across his face like a nasty vine whip, it doesn't seem to bother him in the least. He doesn't question why Skylei selected the eastern trail, and to be blunt he doesn't much care. Everything seems easy for some reason. Reasonable. He isn't thinking about Former Tyler, Relyt, Josleen, Hildegarde, the falling city, the orcs at the bridge or any of the troubles that have plagued him since his incarnation. He's at peace. Peace. He enjoys this feeling.


Skylei didn’t select east for any particular reason. It was a random choice, after all, it doesn’t matter which way she walks along this trail, she’s going to see sights that remind her of Tyler. Former Tyler. She thinks. Skylei’s still struggling to get a grip on exactly what happened in the temple with Relyt at all. Unlike the human she struggles to keep it from her thought no matter how hard she tries. And so she decides to try another attempt at conversation. He might be wearing her fiancée’s skin but she knows by now that he is not that Tyler. So, with a gentle squeeze of his hand to get his attention, she attempts a joke to ensure that he knows that she knows that, “I guess I probably shouldn’t be wearing this anymore.” Her hand taps the engagement ring that still rests on her finger. “Y’know, I took it off to get that amulet back from Josleen. I figured she’d be more willing to part with it if she thought I was over the whole thing. But to be honest, I guess it doesn’t serve all that much purpose anymore.” Skylei’s not very funny. It’s not one of her talents.


Tyler has his gaze broken from the trail ahead by the light squeeze from Skylei. His attention focuses upon her as best he can with his hair still slashing away at his face. Her finger taps the engagement ring and as she speaks his expression turns to one of surprise and confusion. He snorts, "Don't be stupid.", a chuckle, "It serves as a memory. A memorial of sorts. It means something to you, so why wouldn't you wear it." His free hand reaches to the amulet hanging from his neck and he presents it to her. "I mean, after all, he made these specifically for the two of you. But I'm still proud to wear it. It's my only possession, and to be blunt I'm fine with that. I like the calming effect it has. Besides, it hasn't kept me up at all since the whole temple ordeal." Releasing the amulet it falls to bounce off his chest. Returning the light squeeze to her hand he chimes in a final statement, "It's yours, it was a gift, a gift of love. A promise. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks about it, nor if you think it doesn't serve a purpose. If you like it, if it comforts you, keep it forever." He offers a gentle smile before turning back to the trail ahead. The split in the road that separates toward Milious and the woods to Larket was coming up. "Which way?" He asks - Do she wish to brave the drow infested woods? Head toward the ravaged city of Cenril from the debris of the falling city? Move toward the swamps of Gualon, or the plains of Milious? Or would they turn back to head toward Xalious.


Skylei listens to what he has to say. Sure, some of it makes sense, but whilst she appreciates what he is saying she still doesn’t know if she’s entirely comfortable with wearing that ring anymore, just as she’d struggled initially with the idea of him wearing the amulet, though she’s made her peace with that one by now. This discomfort shows in her facial expressions, in spite of the fact that she nods as though she agrees with him. Coming to a compromise as they reach the split in the path she takes her hand from Tyler’s grasp and, somewhat awkwardly due to the splint in which her arm still rests, pulls the ring from her finger and holds it in her palm for a few seconds. It looks as though she might toss it away for a moment, but then she pushes it onto the ring finger of her other hand. Short, symbolic and sweet, this gesture has no need for explanation. Then she would offer him her hand again, and look between the routes that lie ahead of them. “You choose.” What reason she has for asking where he wanted to go is unclear to all but her.


Tyler spots the look in Skylei's face and readies himself to speak, to proclaim if she didn't feel any personal attachment to simply throw it out or sell it. But before he speaks they reach the split and she shifts the ring to the opposing hand. He isn't sure what to make of the gesture. His mind runs through the possibilities, some causing him to fight a smile and blush while others make him wince a bit. His mind is broken free from it's internal struggle as she asks where he'd like to go. "Oh, um... Hmm.." He looks to the north, into the great forest between them and Larket. Shouts can be heard very faintly in the distance along with steel clashing. No doubt the minotaurs and drow were in conflict over the occupation. He bites at his lip for a second. "Well, neither of us are in decent enough health to go into the woods. I don't know about you, but fighting off some dark elves with, what? A crummy illusionist and a one armed archer? That doesn't sound much fun." He casts her a playful stare and chuckles before looking toward Cenril. Smoke can still be seen rising from the city and though it's inaudible from their distance, the guard is busy at work controlling the situation. "The city is pretty from a far, before the whole destruction thing... but I've never liked it much within the walls. Besides, we might be wanted there." He looks at her once more and winks. Then Xalious. "Too far." His simplest explanation before looking toward Milious and Gualon. "Hmm..." He ponders for a moment. Milious was still essentially a charred ruin from the battles there, but life had begun to bloom again. But the open area was a bit vulnerable feeling to the man and so his mind is made. A toothy grin flashes upon his complexion as he pulls at her hand lightly and begins south. "Let's go see some orcs. I heard they have a mean grog in the pub there." He's half-joking, and half-excited. Despite murdering an Orc just a few weeks ago, Tyler still had an odd fascination with the green skin races. Not to mention the barbaric humans that inhabited Gualon along with them. Why someone placed an orphanage in such a crummy city was well beyond his own comprehension.


Skylei snorts as Tyler proclaims her a ‘one armed archer’. As if she’d go wandering around without something to defend herself; she certainly can’t string a bow in her current state but it doesn’t take two arms to throw a knife, or a punch for that matter. Still, she doesn’t feel the need to argue, she doesn’t want to travel into Sage that day anyway. She doesn’t disagree when he proclaims that Gualon is where the two are headed, though she does internally shudder at the fact that he mentions orcs. It feels like a lifetime ago and yet she knows it’s barely been any time at all since they were on the bridge together and he had, unprovoked to Skylei’s eyes, decided to commit murder. Of course, memories of murder lead to memories of other much more pleasant things and of course, she knows that his own mind has fallen on such things when he mentions the crime that had committed and she had helped him escape from… Before she ends up pink in the face again, he tugs on her hand and pulls her in his chosen direction out onto the road through the plains that leads to the city filled with barbarians. “Grog, huh? If you wanted booze we could have just stayed back in Kelay.”


Tyler wrinkles his nose and sticks his tongue out with an open mouth to signify his distaste for Mesthak's brews. "Well, duh, anyone can hang out in boring old Kelay and get free drinks for days. But c'mon, there's bound to be something more exciting out there. I hear they even put frog eyes on toothpicks around the brim of the mug for an added delicacy." He's grinning now, as he feels himself revolt at the idea of eating a frogs eye. Still, it was true. Tyler had grown exhausted of the day-to-day routine in Kelay. To be honest, the town was boring as all hell. He was ready to see more of life outside of the lawless village. As they move the plains eventually lead into a boggish/forest area. Tyler picking his steps carefully to remain on the well walked path. Despite the chilled temperature he finds himself observing the ground for snakes or other hidden predators. Skylei's hand never falls from his. "Have you ever been here? Gualon I mean?"


Skylei is clearly not paying as much attention as Tyler is, and her foot sinks directly into the boggy ground, sinking up to her knee. Mud squelches up and over her boot leaving it, as she pulls it out of the ground, stained a disgusting yellow-brown colour with mud actually inside the shoe, covering her foot. It’s a disgusting sensation to say the least. Skylei utters foul curses, more clothes ruined; for a wood elf she has the worst tendency to trip and otherwise damage herself on the terrain. It’s almost ironic really. Every step she takes from now on leaves her squelching. It’s not attractive but there’s nothing she can do, unless she wants to walk barefoot through the boggy ground until they reach “Yeah, I’ve been to Gualon a few times. Can’t say I love it there, but provided you have no standards it’s nice enough.” She grins at him, “I think it might be your kind of place, y’know” Her words are permeated with the occasionally squelch. Nice.


Tyler checks behind him to see Skylei's situation when he feels her drop a bit. He can't help but laugh, and the squishing only makes it that much better. By the time their on a decent pace again his face is stained red as he tries to refrain from bursting out in laughter every few seconds. Then she makes her statement and reacts in a playfully sarcastic tone, "Oh, hardy-har-har! You know me. Living among the filthy swingers of the bog!" He's grinning when he pulls Skylei off the path a bit and points to a fallen tree. He inspects it for a minute and deems it void of any dangers, taking a seat for a quick rest he pats the area beside him hoping for her to join him. "You don't like orcs and barbarians, I'm guessing?"


Skylei follows and takes a seat beside him, leaning aganst him with a laugh, “You said it, not me!” As for the comment on orcs and barbarians, Sky feels the need to tread lightly. Would he tolerate her behaviour? Should she hide it? Would he guess if she did?, “I don’t like many people to be honest, present company excluded of course. You’ve always found me rather… intolerant.” She’s opted for honesty, but Skylei falls into the usual racist behaviour, both defending and making excuses for her behaviour, “I mean, I guess you can tell I’m part elf; wood elf, if you were wondering. And I was brought up in an enclave so… y’know, we don’t like drow or anyone who doesn’t fit into the perfect elven stereotype much.” She grins, attempting to make a joke to lighten the mood, “Of course, it’s a blessing that I’m only half elf, or you’d never have been able to talk to me, I’d’ve just been too cool for you and you’d have had a panic attack and fainted…” she pauses before looking at him, “Can you do me a favour?” If he agreed she would continue. Gesturing to the mud covered boot she grins “Can you pull that off for me? And the other one too? I would, but it’s just such a pain with my arm in this thing.”


Tyler is staring at Skylei with a confused face as she explains her origin the human remaining completely silent until she requests to have her boots removed. He smiles and quickly opts, "Sure.", and upon her request bends over to begin pulling her boots off. He tears the muddied one first and sets it to the side. As he slaps his hands together to knock the mud off he comments, "So, you're a racist then?" He moves to the other boot and struggles for a minute before getting it free. He lays it beside the other one before looking back to her. "I can't say I understand it, I mean how can you judge someone's personality just from first glance?" He chuckles as he brushes his hair from his face. "Then again, I haven't been alive but what, a month? What the hell do I know about anything." He sticks his tongue out playfully before crossing his arms to rest his elbows on his legs while his eyes scan the wooded landscape. "I guess I'm happy you gave me a chance. But, then again, if it wasn't for your fiance that might be a different story." His tone is still playful and he bumps into Skylei's shoulder with his own, lightly enough to refrain from hurting her.


Skylei scoffs at the word racist, “I am not a racist!” She is, but call any racist ‘racist’ to their face and they will deny it fervently, “I simply base my judgement off of the knowledge of my ancestors. If a crowd of vile drow had driven you from your home you wouldn’t like them either.” Skylei scowls at the thought of drow and leans forward to pick up the muddied boot. She attempts to beat as much of the mud as she can by knocking it against the side of the tree. It’s a good way to take out the aggression she feels when she thinks about the vile dark elves. Eventually she would stop and look up to Tyler as he nudges her in the shoulder, “He didn’t give me much of a chance not to get to know him. I bought him a drink and he decided he wanted to talk, and from there it goes. You know he broke my shoulder the night he met me… I shot him with an arrow though.” Skylei grins, she almost laughs at the ridiculous nature of the couple’s meeting, “We were always so romantic…”


Tyler laughs at the thought of Skylei and his former self literally beating the crap out of each other. "Sounds like a great first date.", he stings his tongue out at her playfully before turning back to face the trail. Tapping his finger against the rotting wood, picking off a bit of moss and humming lightly to aid the silence that begun to pass. Turning back to face her he asks his next question with respect and treads lightly. "So what happened to him, then?" Pulling his left leg up to cross the right he rests his hands on his legs. "I mean, it doesn't sound like he was always a crazed slaver to me." He scratches at his head and blows his bangs out of his face before leaning forward a bit to break eye contact with Skylei. He spots a lone hare staring at the two of them from the distance. His nose flaring rapidly in an attempt to determine if the two were a threat. Tyler focuses on the animal, hoping he hasn't hit a soft spot on Sky.


Skylei snorts at his playful attitude, sending back a slightly defensive comment to his mockery of the relationship she had held so dear, “Yeah, well I ended up in his bed that very same night, so he must have been doing something right.” Obviously, she doesn’t mean what is implied, but she would make no attempts to correct his thoughts if that is the direction they take. She would then fall silent for a good few moment. Skylei could attempt to explain what happened to Tyler. If it was anyone but Tyler asking her that question she probably would have clammed up and refused to talk about it. But for him, and him alone, she was willing to try, “He was always… different. Not like everyone else. There was a darkness inside of him that I just didn’t see, not until it was far too late. But he wasn’t a bad person and he would have never done anything to hurt me.” Skylei grimaces as she realises she has told a lie, “Other than the ‘taking over my mind’ thing, I guess.” Lips turned downwards, Skylei pulls her legs upwards so that her feet rest on the log in front of her, she rests her head on her chin. Her good arm wraps around her legs, holding them in place. Clearly this is still a topic that she is not comfortable with.


Tyler is smiling at Skylei as she moves into her reclusive position among the log. The human offering a light chuckle before nudging her again. "Well, in my opinion, he was nuts. But of course that's coming from someone wearing his skin as a suit." He sticks his tongue out playfully to Skylei before setting his hand on her shoulder and gripping it lightly in reassurance. "Besides, you've got me now, and let's not beat around the bush. I'm pretty much ten thousand times better than that guy. I mean look at my. I'm freakin' fabulous." He moves his hand up and down his body to showcase himself. Not much to see in his recovering state but it didn't stop that seemingly permenant smile to stay stained to his face. The sound of the rabbit jolting off breaks his attention from the wood elf for just a moment. "Well, if he's scurryin' off then I guess we should be too. I'm not much for being stuck out in the wood nears a buncha orc's during the night fall." He picks up Skylei's boots and looks to her with a raised brow. "You want them back on, or do you just want me to carry you?" As if he could.


Skylei meets Tyler’s eyes with an equally raised brow as she slides her legs forward and off of the log to stand. With a snort, she laughs and echoes his sentiment, “As if you could. You can carry my shoes, y’know, if you think you can manage them.” Without another word, and entirely ignoring the fact that Tyler had proclaimed himself ‘fabulous’, she carries on walking, barefoot, across the rest of the swamplands towards Gualon. The fact that he seems to wear that permanent smile makes her feel a little on edge. She doesn’t know what he’s smiling about and she doesn’t like that. As easily as she could read old Tyler, new Tyler is a complete mystery to her. She doesn’t look back as she keeps on walking.


Tyler watches Skylei as she starts on without him, the man raising up soon after and moving behind the wood elf with one boot in each hand. His mind has turned to the wilderness around them and if she'd glance over her shoulder she would find the human constantly spinning around and turning his head to the sky as he took in the sights of the swampy forest. He manages to trip over himself and nearly fall but regains balance just in the knick of time. Before long the duo have come to the entrance of Gualon. He moves to Skylei's side to embrace the sights, The man chewing at the inside of his cheek as he takes in the sight of all the barbaric humans and orcs. He seems intimidated at first but quickly looks to Skylei and nods. "Tour guide, take me to the closest pub!" He chimes in a tone that mocks the snobby high elves of the land as he bangs Sky's boots together again, knocking more mud and dirt from them.


Skylei doesn’t look back for the time it takes for them to reach Gualon. She doesn’t need to look back to know that he is following behind her; she can hear the sound of his feet against the ground. She even manages to hear the fact that he trips over his own feet every so often. She would come to a halt as they come to the entrance to the barbarian city, looking over her shoulder to the human as he makes his demands and bashes the boots together. Rolling her eyes, the half-elf takes the boot closest to her from his hand and replaces it with her own hand. Squeezing it gently she pulls him through the gates of the city pointing out the sights, where the governors manner had been, the gardens, the town square etcetera, as though she really is a tour guide, as they make their way down the main street. As they reach a T-junction at the bottom of the main road, Sky would point straight ahead, “I think that’s the kind of place you were looking for.” It’s quintessential of Gualon and exactly the kind of place Skylei would not choice to frequent by choice.


Tyler takes the boot from her to collect in his right hand with the other and allows her to take his hand. While she's showcasing the city to him at one point he manages to manuever his hand until their fingers weave together and lock with one another. He never offers her so much as a look while doing this and as such, comes off rather smoothly. He doesn't speak much while she shows him around, but it's clear the human has taken a liking to the city by the life in his eyes. As they approach their final destination he get's a little excited and a shiver runs down his body. He's ready to rush in but halts when he see's a surprisingly small elder orc resting with his back against the grog shop. Beside the green skin, propped up on the wall is a dirty old guitar, missing two strings and has some stains on the wood. A little cardboard sign is wedged between the remaining strings that reads; '20 copper'. Tyler places Skylei's boots on the ground by his side and shoves his hand into his pocket fishing out what coin he has. Retracting his hand he'd open his palm face up. No dice. The man only has three copper to his name. He cranes his neck to look and Skylei and puts on a set of adorable pleading eyes.


Skylei pretends not to notice as Tyler interlinks his fingers with her own. It’s strangely comforting, the feeling of another person’s hand locked with her own. As they reach the tavern and the human looks to her pleadingly, Skylei realises with an affectionate smile that some things never change. Skylei has almost resigned herself to the fact she will be funding Tyler’s life forever more; the illusionist was less than useless when it came to finding a job or making honest coin. Rolling her eyes and dipping her own hand into her pocket she pulls out a pouch of coins and hands them to the human, “I can’t do anything, what with” Skylei gestures to her sling. It’s such a pain in the ass, Sky almost considers taking it off there and then and simply bearing the pain. “So you’ll have to deal with the money for now.” She would never admit it, but those adorable pleading eyes tug on her heartstrings in a way that she didn’t even want to think about. It’s for this reason that she’s a little brusquer in her actions, though she is clearly red in the face.


Tyler's speaking as he laughs when Skylei hands him the money. "Ohhh, you've made such a bad choice." He's like a kid in a candy store as he pulls the string on the coin pouch and digs around until he's found enough copper for his purchase. Refastening the bag, he ties it to his belt and moves quickly to the elder orc. The greenskin offering him a small conversation and even a smile as Tyler dumps the coin in his hands and takes hold of the guitar. Picking the cardboard sign out he hands it down to the orc and then moves back to Skylei, still overly excited. Once he's by her side he places a firm kiss on her cheek and wraps his free arm around her in an embrace, careful of her shoulder. He whispers thanks in her ear before pulling back and taking his place by her side again. "Ladies first." He speaks nerveously as he hears the ongoings in the grog shop. Unwilling to move first he begins plucking at the crude old strings of the guitar until Skylei would move inside.


Skylei takes great pleasure in the human’s joy. She stands to one side, just watching silently as Tyler and the orc converse and exchange coin and guitar. Try as she might, she can’t disguise the smile on her face. That smile only grows as he returns to her side and offers her the kiss on her cheek and the careful embrace. She doesn’t have time to whisper back before he moves away and indicates that they should enter. Taking a deep breath she looks to the human, and then presses her shoulder against the door to wedge it open, before reaching for the human’s hand, if he wanted to give it. Her demeanour visibly changes as they enter the tavern. Her easy smile and soft eyes change to mask any and all feeling as soon as she walks through the door and, if she met the eyes of any of the barbaric humans or orcs inside the building she would stare back with a stoic elven visage. She leads Tyler to one of the only free tables, crudely built with equally crude wooden chairs. The tavern itself is packed and they have to crawl through groups of patrons to reach that table. Once they’re there, Sky turns to the human and mutters two words, “Drink. Please.”


Tyler is scared when the duo enter the grog shop. Caramel eyes dart around the place to stare in wonder, amaze and confusion at the multiple differently culutured inhabitants. Once they take their seat, Tyler is broken from his mindless seeking by Skylei's voice. He looks to her, frozen in time for nearly five seconds before shaking himself free of his own grasp. He nods and flags down a barsmaid. "Uhm, a uh, vodka please. Large bottle to share, and a single grog." He smiles as the maid flees from their spot to retrieve his order. His eyes meet with Skylei's once more and despite her intimidation factor to the population his own faulters to a smirk. "Uhm... Skylei?" He calls out softly. Hoping she would turn away from the crowd and focus on him.


Skylei is distracted in her efforts to intimidate anyone and everyone with her elf-stare. And so it is not surprising that it takes Tyler’s prompting to bring her attention back to the human. Her words are somewhat distracted still as she sends a final glare in the direction of one particularly hulking barbarian human, “Yes, love?” It’s only as she looks back to him and catches his eyes that she realises her folly and the dignified elven façade briefly gives way to a look of pure embarrassment. To cover her tracks she continues talking, “You ordered drinks? Yes?”


Tyler reaches across the table and offers a resting ground for Skylei's own. He smiles and shakes his head as she speaks to him, mistaking the friendly nature for ignorance. "Yes. Of course." he calls out before staring to Skylei. The man pondering on his next move. His heart beats against his chest and calls out for an admission while his mind pleads to remain calm and simply leave things be. His mind wins as Tyler shifts his sight back to the crowd, "Never mind", he calls when the barmaid arrives, drinks in hand. She places them on the table while Tyler fiddles with the coin pouch to pay her. Once paid, she flees back to the bar and Tyler lifts the large mug of grog to his nostrils taking a deep whiff, choking on the scent. "Wow." he muttered through a cough before lifting the mug to his lips and taking a deep, long chug.


Skylei stares at Tyler as he stares at her, neither of them saying anything. Her own heart beats just as hard as Tyler’s for a reason that Skylei is yet to ascertain. Thank the gods that the barmaid brings the drinks and she can tear her eyes from him to look somewhere else. As the drinks are set on the table, Skylei realises she can smell the grog from where she’s sitting. She nearly gags on the scent so she has no idea how Tyler can stomach the stuff. “That stinks. No one’s going to be going anywhere near you after you drink that!” Her hand reaches out as she wrinkles her nose for the other drink that sits on the table and one of the tumblers that the barmaid had brought. Grog might be disgusting, but vodka on the other hand… Skylei pours a reasonable glass and downs it. Then pours herself another.


Tyler's face is stuck in a wretched disgust as he slowly sets the mug of grog back down. "Not a fan." He remarks, though it was only after he'd chugged half the contents. His attention is turned to the old guitar which he picks up, leans back in his chair and promptly begins 'playing', if you could call it that. The strings are old but capable of carrying a tune if Tyler had absolutely any skill with instruments. Never the less, he seems content plucking at the dirty strings and making noise. He peeks up as Skylei pours her second glass. "Geez, three more minutes and I'll have to use my new toy as a weapon, since all these fella's will be jumping on you." He smiles and takes a second to glance around the grog shop. Most of the patrons had already went back to their business, those that hadn't actually break eye sight before Tyler giving him a false sense of being empowered.


Skylei rolls her eyes as he sets the mug down. “I could’a told you it was crap before we left Kelay.” She grabs hold of the other tumbler and fills it near to the brim with vodka. She has to hold the glass in place with her elbow whilst she pours with her hand, but the half-elf is clearly a pro at pouring drinks and so there is little issue, though a little bit of drink spills onto the table. Setting the bottle down, she passes the drink across the table to him, “Go on then, drink up. It’ll take the taste away.” Skylei can’t help but grin, “And I think you’ll want to catch up with me, Take the edge of the place.” In spite of this, she only sips at her second drink. “Besides, I can keep the men away without your help.”


Tyler lifts the glass of vodka and sniffs it. His face peeling back in disgust, arm covering his mouth as he gags. "This stuff smells like a clinic!" To be blunt, he'd only ordered vodka because it was the only drink he knew of. In fact, he's pretty sure it was what Skylei was drinking that night in Kelay when he confronted her. Pulling his lips into a frown he moves to take a drink of the vodka. The burning in his chest as it rushes down his throat really doesn't help the urge to puke and he quickly sets the glass down. "Ugh. Too strong. All of it." After wiping his mouth and sticking out his tongue in disgust he flags down the barmaid for a glass of water before smirking to Skylei. "Oh yeah. I forgot you're perfectly capable of beating off grown ass orcs with a single hand. My apologies." His snide remark is laced with humor but a hint of a stern tone. He begins plucking at the guitar and shrugs before muttering to himself, "Not like I could do anything anyway..." The maid drops the water at his table and retreats. He sips at it before fiddling with the instrument some more.


Skylei rolls her eyes as Tyler struggles to drink the vodka and then orders another drink. When the drink arrives and it’s water, Skylei offers some objection, “Now where’s the fun in that? I don’t want to be falling over myself and doing stupid things when you’re completely sober!” Skylei can’t help but continue to grin at the man in spite of this. Vodka has already started to loosen her tongue and things that she would be cautious about saying to this new Tyler fall from her lips easily, “How would you know what I’m capable of? For all you know, I could be planning to and be perfectly capable of murdering you in your sleep.” Sky laughs and takes her drink to her lips again, before getting up from her seat and dragging it with a single arm so that she is sat right next to Tyler. Less need to shout over the din of the patrons that way, “I’m not, of course. But you know nothing about me.”


Tyler is still strumming away when Skylei goes off about killing him. The man quick to chime in, "Cheers to that!" as he snatches up his water and makes a faux toast with a grin before sipping at his water a bit more. She's pulling her chair over to him and makes her statement about him knowing nothing about her. He's grinning as he plucks at the strings, waiting until she's seated by his side. Leaning forward in the chair over the guitar he calls out, "Yeah, and you aren't too informed on myself either." He turns to look over his shoulder at her and offers a quick wink. "We should change that some time." And just like that, he's back to the guitar. Hell, he's almost got a basic tune down at this point. It's high pitched, and carries a light hearted tone but he's working on it.


Skylei can’t help but take another sip of vodka and then nearly spit it out when he offers her that wink. Imbued with all the false confidence and security that alcohol offers, Sky takes her hand and places it on the one that’s picking out the notes to stop its movements. She’d wait for him to lift his eyes to hers before speaking, “Let’s change it now. I can’t think of a better time.”


Tyler's hand is prevented from picking at the guitar, forcing him to turn and look at Skylei. As the words escape her lips, his expression goes from confusion to a humored state as a grin forms. He shakes his head and gives his attention back to the guitar. "Sorry Sky, but I'm not one for taking advantage of, how would you say... influenced woman." He chuckles and leans back in the chair so he can continue playing but provide Skylei his attention as well. "Besides, you'd hate yourself when you sobered up. I mean, look at the competition here!" He waves out his hand to the crowd, a lone orc who'd been eavesdropping on them laughs and waves in Tyler's direction returning a smile.


Skylei raises an eyebrow at his words. Is he saying what she thinks he’s saying? That look between Tyler and the orc suggests that yes, yes it may well be, “I have no idea… no, I think I have every idea what you are insinuating. And that is not even a little bit what I was suggesting.” Skylei shakes her head and cannot help but laugh, “You really are nothing like your former self if that’s where your mind jumps.” Sky reaches for her vodka once more and takes another sip, “I was just going to tell you some things about myself. I mean, the vast majority of people you’ll meet who recognise you know that I was engaged to your former self. Makes you seem a little less… strange if you know a little more than just my name, aye?”


Tyler had been passing faces with the orc across the bar. The two of them having a good time of mocking one another though his ears were trained on Skylei. "Hey, look sister, you're the one that said it. Not me! Maybe work on your wording." He's still joking around but Skylei finally has his attention well enough for him to set the guitar on the top of the table and take his water in hand instead. He sips at it as she continues making "mhm" noises when needed. Then he holds up a slender digit, "No, see I've got this... You're Skylei. The racist wood elf who fell in love with a psychotic human one faithful night in a place not unlike this one. He broke your shoulder, you shot him. Oh! The romance!" He reaches up to poke her shoulder only lightly before raising his glass to his lips. "History has a way of repeating, no? Looks to me like by the laws of... god or fate or whatever you believe in, you're supposed to let me beat you up so we can get married." He takes a drink with a smile.


Skylei just casts her eyes up to the heavens and takes a large sip of vodka. She’s about three quarters of her way through her second glass of vodka and the room is starting to spin. Her control on her tongue is lax as hell. She almost tells him to stop looking at the orc and to look at her instead. Fortunately, he seems to decide that by himself and she has no need to intervene. She listens to his rather unpleasant character appraisal and doesn’t even object to his sarcasm about her relationship with former Tyler. Instead she leans forward and grins, “So, you already got my shoulder broken.” Sky would gesture to sling once more, “I hold you wholly responsible for this, I hope you know! If you hadn’t decided we were to go to that damn temple and thrown me down that tube this’d have never happened,” She grins wickedly, “So I guess, if we’re following your ideas, all there is to do is for me to take you outside, stick an arrow in you and then we’ll go find a priest and make it all official, aye?”


Tyler's amused by Skylei's joking demeanor. The man taking a final take of his water to empty the contents. He picks himself up and takes hold of the guitar in his left hand while his right extends to Skylei. "Well, c'mon then! Let's see how good of a shot you are with a busted shoulder. Make the mark, and you've got yourself a husband." He would wait for her to take his hand if she opted too, and then lead her toward the door.


Skylei doesn’t have free hands to take his. The first is of course in that sling and the second holds her boots, with the bottle of vodka stuffed inside one of them; gods dammit, she’s paid for it and she’s going to drink it. Rather than reject him outright though, she does as she used to do with his former and presses her body against his side affectionately before following him to the door of the tavern. Stepping out into the open air, the half-elf would take a deep breath in and out. After the dankness of the tavern, the fresh, cold air is a welcome relief. She’d be cold if it wasn’t for the fact that she’s wearing her vodka jacket; alcohol serves more than one purpose in winter, after all.


Tyler would wrap his arm around Skylei to help her outside without having her fall over. Once they've entered the streets he relieves her of her boots and places them beside the buildings entrance with his guitar before moving further down the road. The streets were oddly empty for an early night during the weekend, but Tyler doesn't seem to notice. Once he's a well enough distance away he turns to stare back at Skylei. He cups his mouth and calls out, "Well? What are you waiting for then? Don't tell me you're too drunk to shoot straight." He's grinning as his hands fall to his side, and unseen to the woman the pupils of his eyes would start to illuminate a soft blue.


Skylei doesn’t even take her bow out at first. Her eyes follow him down the street and, as he basically tells her to shoot him. She doesn’t see the blue of his eyes, the telltale signs that he’s working on some kind of illusion. Rather, she unties the sling that holds her useless arm, pulls that bow off of her back and strings an arrow with some difficulty. She holds it still, in spite of all the drink she has consumed and the pain in her shoulder there is some innate ability, something that she has been learning since childhood, that makes her a sharp shot under pressure. She holds in there for a few second before undrawing the bow and letting the arrow slip into her free hand. Then she just walks towards him. If he doesn’t move she’d stand right in front of him, her body all but pressed against his. The bow and arrow would simply be dropped to the floor. He doesn’t know the value of that bow and so the significance of her dropping it without a second thought would be lost. One hand would rest on his arm and she would lean closer to murmur a couple of words into his ear, “Not too drunk. But I can’t. I won’t. Nothing in the world could make me hurt you.”


Tyler's arm would turn to dust under Skylei's touch, followed by the rest of him. As the wind carries off the remains of the man footsteps can be heard from behind the wood elf. She would feel his arms slide through her own from behind as he wraps them around her torso and leans forward to whisper in her ear. "Then it looks like you're without a husband." He pulls her body into his and would press his face against her own while his eyes turned to the stars once again. As he examines the heavens he sighs, "Y'know, I think I finally figured out why I'm so fond of space. It's re-" Tyler's ears perk and he snaps his head away from day dreaming just in time to catch sight of a young human snatching his guitar and Skylei's boots. "God dammit... I knew I stayed sober for a reason." Tyler releases Skylei and sprints in the direction of the theif. His hand already pulling the dagger resting in his shirt loose. It doesn't take much for Tyler to catch up to the fleeing suspect and he launches himself onto him, knocking the theif, boots and guitar to the ground with a thud. Flipping the human onto his side Tyler places his dagger to his throat and is ready to make a fatal slice. Though beneath the light of the moon Tyler's notices that his victim can't be over the age of eighteen, just a bit younger than himself. The theif doesn't say anything but stares to the illusionist with fear. A mental flashback of the orcs on the bridge crosses his mind and Tyler let's out a sigh before putting the dagger back in his pocket. Though he doesn't get off of the kid just yet. Holding up his right hand it would ignite into flames and he speaks in a low tone, "Don't steal from the poor kid. They're the only ones who care enough to get it back." He moves to put the flaming hand on the kids face and he begins to piss himself. Tyler picks himself up and let's the theif take off running while he goes to gather the guitar and boots. "Ugh..." He'd managed to get some piss on his pants from the kid. How attractive.


Skylei would gasp as the illusion falls to dust, and gasp again as she felt his arms around her. For just a few moments, it feels as though something strange could be happening… until that git of a child decides to steal their stuff. She is too drunk to do anything much other than watch as Tyler chases after the thief. She’d have let him have the boots to be honest. Skylei might not be well off now, but she remembers poverty well enough and she remembers the desperation that comes from poverty. Instead of intervening, Skylei would simply pick the bow and arrow up from the ground with a groan thanks to her still busted shoulder. With a stumble or two Skylei would catch up to Tyler just after the kid had run off. Instead of praising his actions or attempting to continue whatever moment they had been about to have, Sky wrinkles her nose and asks, “Is that smell coming from you?”


Tyler looks at the drunken woman and simply smirks. "No hun, that's you, you've gone and pissed yourself." He's joking clearly, but he's curious if she'd know that. He holds the guitar by the head and his fingers are dug into the boots to keep them up as well. He looks off to the horizion and sighs. Daylight was gone. "So do you want to try and travel back tonight? I don't know how well you'll be able to navigate in your condition but I can take lead if you want... Or, well, we could get a room at the grog shop." He shakes his hips to jingle the coins on his belt around. It was her coin after all, the choice was hers.


Skylei tells him to go and do something to himself with a soft slap to his face. She might be drunk but she’s a long way from wasted and a mile away from thinking that she might have done that. “You fancy walking through a swamp at night? The path isn’t exactly the best, is it?” Her hand points to the boots, still covered in a layer of swamp mud, and then to her bare feet, also caked a layer of the same mud, “You want to risk it? If not we can go find a room or something. Get some sleep. Go home tomorrow.”


Tyler's eyes flash that familiar blue as he nudges Skylei again. "What's life without some adventure?" And then he was off. Guitar and boots in hand as he started moving toward the swamp. The sound of the wild life much louder at this time of night. It was very hard for the man to see more than a few feet ahead of him. That would change as flames began to form on his hands and eventually spread up his shoulders. The small flames licking out off of his skin. He would ensure Skylei was following him, and well enough to not get herself into some crap. "Care to sing, I dunno, some elven song of peace or summin' to keep monsters away?"


Skylei sighs and follows on after him. What choice does she have? He has her money, she is drunk and alone in a city full of people that she doesn’t like. Skylei would catch him up and lift her good hand to produce a real flame alongside his. Hers burns much dimmer than his and with a strange royal blue colour. It serves to light her way, just in case she falls behind Tyler or they have to walk single file. When he asks her to sing, she can’t help but laugh, “I’ll sing if you want. But I don’t know any songs of peace or any crap like that. Y’know elves aren’t all peace and calm and stuff.” With her free hand, she reaches out and takes the boots from his hand and tosses them, without a second thought, into the swamp mud.


Tyler jerks to face Skylei as she yanks the boots from his grasp. "Hey!" He calls out as she tosses them into the mud. He's ready to yell at her when he realizes they were hers to begin with. He snickers, "Hell, coulda' left 'em with the kid." He wouldn't leave Skylei behind, and tried his best to stay side by side as they moved through the woods. "Alright then. Screw peace. Sing something. Anything." He's serious in his request. Eyes moving quickly between the stars above when the tree's allowed them to become visable and the darkness surrounding them, jumping slightly at every noise.


Skylei shrugs, “They’re not worth anything. Hell, they’re so old I doubt the kid would’a got more than a few coppers for them on a good day and certainly not in the state they were in. No point in carrying them much further.” Unlike Tyler, Skylei seems completely calm as they walk through the wooded area. Extinguishing the fire that she holds and choosing to rely entirely on him, Sky would wrap her arm around his waist. Whether it’s for his comfort or her balance in entirely unclear; perhaps it’s for both. With that done and no further words, Sky simply sings a soft and gentle song. She’s by no means a beautiful singer, certainly she doesn’t have the talent of any bard, but the elven language lends itself to song with its soft lilt and careful melodies. The song is completely out of place in the shadowy land, but Sky keeps singing until Tyler tells her to stop or until she reaches the end of the song.


Tyler doesn't speak while Skylei sings, and he certaintly wouldn't ask her to stop. As they move through the swampy forest, they'd look like an odd sight to any who might be lurking. A human, literally on fire, accompanied by a slightly drunk, singing wood elf. As her voice rings out through the forest Tyler's fear seems to dimish and he doesn't jolt at the snap of every twig any longer. He sneaks a peek through his peripheral vision to the woman. She's pressed up against him, and it looks as if the flames emitting from his arms could easily melt her, but she shows no worry. Not even a flinch as the faux embers lick her skin. He's focused on the path again now. He finds himself in a bind. With his tongue firmly between his teeth he debates informing Skylei of his recent encounters with Emilia. He wasn't sure why he had such a strong urge to tell the elf of such things. I mean, he had no obligation, did he? How could he? Even if he did, what would he say? His form is stiff and he tries to relax when it comes to his attention. She doesn't need to know. He reassures himself. Her voice is still calling out to the forest with her song, and it isn't long by the time they reach the end of the swampy woodlands and step out onto the path near Milious. His eyes cast to the stars once again. What would it matter? He's forced to close his eyes for a moment as he accepts the fact that this life is now his, and that maybe, just maybe he isn't living in the shadow of his former self. What would he have done? What would he do? Tyler forces himself to believe that he's thinking to deeply. He was being over-emotional for nothing. Besides, what would Skylei or Emilia want to do with him after all? One was his friend because he offered a bath, bunk and clothes while the other stuck around behind he wears he ex-fiance's skin as a well tailored suit... or was it more than that? The man had a long way to go before he could understand his emotions, much less others. For now he stops on the path when Skylei's song reaches it's climax. His eyes turning from the moon to meet Skylei's own. He's frozen as he stares. Say it. Say it! His mind heart beckons. But once again his mind takes the victor. The man's lips part and he offers a compliment. "That was beautiful, Sky." He nearly whispers and offers the best smile he can manage before looking to the side of the road. A small camp fire near a trio of stumps signals that another group of travellers must have recently left this location. "Mind if we stop here for a bit?" He asks, already moving toward the camp ground and setting his guitar on one of the stumps before turning to ensure Skylei was making her way over easily enough. The flames on his body diminish to nothing as the moon cast more than enough light in the open area.


Skylei knows nothing of the quarrel that Tyer has internalised. She’d never been very good at noticing the internal struggles that he faced, even when she had known the man that stood before her as much more than just a friend. She simply smiles at his his compliment and murmurs, “I’ll translate it for you one day, it’s more beautiful than you could imagine…” As he beckons her to the campfire with requests of taking a stop, Sky simply nods amiably, “Sure, I mean, do you need a rest? I mean, it’s not been long since you were hurt and I don’t want to push you too hard.” It’s been a long day with a lot of walking and Skylei has no desire to physically exhaust her human companion. Sky ignores the two stumps that remain, choosing instead to sit on the ground, right next to the fire. There’s a saying that says that drunk people and fire don’t mix, but clearly Skylei had missed that memo. A single finger extends towards the embers of the firepit and, as the half-elf closes her eyes tightly to assist her concentration, she pulls her finger away, leaving a string of fire between her finger and the campfire from which it had originated. She assumes the human just wants a few minutes to rest and so she occupies herself with drawing patterns with the fire string. First she draws a five-pointed star. Then she draws an ‘S’ followed by an ‘L’. Her finger lingers in the air as though she is about to draw more as she looks to the human with a soft smile under the glow of the moonlight. She’s an ethereal figure in the moon’s glow, hair so dark, skin so light and eyes that reflect the low light. She never looks more of an elf than when she’s bathed in moonlight.


Tyler is indeed exhausted from the long walk the duo have had today. It wasn't just his injuries either. The man wasn't quite as fit as he could be. Picking up the guitar he begins to strum on it again. This time, it's a bit more audible than in the loud, overly-crowded grog shop. He tries to keep his attention on the guitar but constantly finds himself looking at Skylei. While she makes her illustrations he can't help but notice the way the moon reflects off her skin. The man indeed taking notice of her elven heratige. This doesn't help his previous situation. He catches her stare and smiles back, but doesn't speak. He continues fiddling with the guitar though his mind is far from the instrument. He constantly finds himself looking at her again from his peripheral vision.


Skylei looks back to her illustrations. The first still hang suspended in the air as if by some invisible string and she adds another two letters to the picture. Unsurprisingly, these letters take the form of a ‘T’ and a ‘D’. Ever the predictable creature, especially when drunk, Skylei allows those letters to hang alongside her own initials for the briefest of moments before waving her palm across the whole of her work as though she is erasing it. The flaming letters fall to the ground as individual embers littering the ground around the half-elf. She has no idea if Tyler had looked away from his guitar for long enough to spy the letters and, if he had, what he made of the odd little picture Skylei had created. Pulling her hand abruptly backwards, the flaming string is broken and Skylei begins breathing at her normal rate. Her ‘talents’ still drained her unnecessarily. With that in mind, the half-breed shuffles so that she might lay down on the ground stretched out, eyes cast up to the moon and stars.


Tyler is looking out of the corner of his eyes as he plays when Skylei finishes her drawing. 'T', 'D', He's thankful that the night is hiding his blush as he assumes the seemingly meaningless letters stand for his own name, 'Tyler Dyalus'. As Skylei lays down to examine the stars Tyler continues his playing for a few minutes before speaking over the chime of the guitar. "I think I know why I'm so fond of space..." he continues from earlier. "It's because it reminds me how small this place really is." His fingers are moving slowly across the instrument. Blind sound is erupting from the instrument more than anything. But it's his crutch to continue speaking. "Like, no matter how big of a problem something seems to be here... when I look up, it's suddenly just so... insignificant." His hands freeze as caramel eyes lift to meet the heavens again. "It's something that just makes everything else seem so ridiculous. Even gods. I mean, why are they wasting their time here? On us? If they exist to begin with... Why would they put all that space up there, and choose to stay here and play with us like we're their own personal toy collection? There's bound to be something more interesting out there besides us..." He falls silent and scans the skies, then promptly goes back to playing the guitar.


Skylei doesn’t sit up to respond. She simply lies on the ground, eyes flittering across the sky establishing where the constellations that the elven-born teach their children lie in the night. “We believe,” The ‘we’ she refers to is obviously elven-kin, “That all things spring forth from the earth, and that’s why when you die you must be committed back to the earth from whence you came. That’s the way the gods intended it to be. And that’s why we follow the rites and the traditions of the ancestors.” She sits up and looks at him, whether he looks up from the music he is producing is another matter but she would continue to let her gaze fall upon him as she speaks about something much more personal than the beliefs held by elven-kind. Skylei rarely speaks of her own faith but for this man, she makes a rare exception. Her voice is barely above a whisper as she speaks, “I have to believe that there’s something out there, some gods watching over us however distantly. That some force of gods or nature brought us into existence. Because otherwise you’re right; we are so utterly insignificant that we might as well not exist at all.” Finally she drops her head to the ground and mutters something, more as a reassurance to herself than for his good, “If they can move whole cities across the sky, they must be out there, somewhere…”


Tyler stifles a chuckle as Skylei expresses her beliefs to him. It flabbergasted the human to hear someone have so much blind faith a force that she's likely never laid eyes on. He refuses to show amusment out of respect for her. But he does offer his opinion, "I just don't see myself believing that some great being is up there, riding around on a cloud interferring with the fate of all of us." He's changed the tune of the guitar to a slower pace than before. "But then again, the 'god' that made me, was me. So I guess, technically, I'm god." He's wearing a large grin now. Blasphemy was fun, maybe the man had found a new hobby. "Nature on the other hand, that's something I can agree with. To be honest, it's more magical than any 'god' you read about in the story books." He halts his playing and sets the guitar down at the edge of the stump. He picks himself up and begins moving toward the wood elf. "You seem to be a really smart, gi-... woman." When he reaches her side he kneels down and would lower himself to a laid position beside her, caramel eyes cast out toward the stars. "I'd hope you'd have more sense than to blindly devote your life to some stupid god." His hand creeps over to lay on top of hers. "Unless that god is me."


Skylei’s faith is not so blind. Indeed, she had seen her father restored to the earth following his death by the hands of an Ascendi and so, in her heart she knows that there is something more out there. Tyler’s devout atheism however, already seems too strong to argue with and so Skylei decides not to even attempt to argue it out with him. She knows that she is right and there is something bigger out there and whilst her life is not devoted to them, they guide her choices and leave her with something to rely on when she no longer relies on herself; they haven’t failed her yet. At least he hadn’t chosen to diminish her reverence for the natural world too; then she might have had to punch him. As for him being a ‘god’, Skylei rolls her head to the side to cast her eyes on his, very human, face. He stares up into the heavens as she stares at him, his hand resting on top of hers. Before long she looks back to the night and sighs, “Tyler Dyalus, are you suggesting I blindly devote my life to you? Because trailing after you, following your every command and falling at your feet in prayer doesn’t sound like much of a life to me.” She grins a little at the lunacy of the idea, “Go on then, sell it to me. What are the perks of this new religion of yours?”


Tyler's laughing as she goes on about turning Tylerism into a real religion. The human red in the face from embaressment and amusement. As she asks her final question he would lightly tap his finger on the back of her hand. "Well, there aren't many, but there isn't much too it." He lets his head roll over so he's facing her. Caramel eyes lock with stormy hues. "You be there for me, and I'll be there for you."


Skylei holds his eye contact for a good few moments. Something about this moment, hands touching, eyes locked and words with an unlikely tenderness, under the glow of moonlight makes her heart leap in the most unexpected way. Tomorrow, she would brush it off as a daft fit of drunken affection, but something inside of her screams for her to place her lips on his. She resists, whether through self-control or cowardice she cannot be sure, and the momentary madness passes though she cannot tear her eyes away from his. Her response betrays her fondness for the Tyler that lies beside her, “I… I assumed that was a given.”


Tyler is let down by her reaction but does his best to hide the emotions from his face. He instead smiles to her before turning his head back to the sky. "Yeah." He calls out in a light voice. "A given." His voice a near whisper as he repeats her words. The man is focused on the sky once again. Eyes moving between twinkling star to twinkling star as peace sets over him.


Skylei doesn’t look away from his face, even when he casts his eyes back to the sky. She lies there breathing slowly in and out, only moving to turn her hand over so that she can lock her fingers with his. Eyes linger on his face, tracing from the curve of his cheek, the line of his nose down to the soft protrusion of his lips. It’s a face she knows so well and yet, she gazes at it as though she is learning it for the first time. Eventually she closes her eyes, leaving her head on its side, pointing in the direction of his face.


Tyler's fingers coil to tighten slightly around Skylei's hand. He is lost in the stars. The reflection of the moon bright in his eyes while Skylei stares in his direction. He doesn't notice as she closes them. She is stuck in his thoughts, but he can't bring himself to look at her again. The worries from earlier are present once again, but as a single star streaks quickly across the night sky he is forced to swallow hard and let the thoughts die. Eyelids flicker a few times as he resists the urge to continue looking above. But alas, exhaustion would win. His eyelids faulter and loose their battle. They fall shut to leave him laying in the open field near the woods, with Skylei's hand in his, drifting into a slumber.


Skylei isn’t so close to slumber as Tyler is. As he starts to fall asleep, she feels the hold of his hand begin to slacken on her own and this alerts her to the fact that he is losing his fight with wakefulness. Squeezing his fingers lightly she shuffles closer to his side and whispers into his ear, “Tyler.” If she received no response, then she would whisper again, her lips held so close to his ear that they gently graze the skin, “Tyler, sweetheart. We can’t sleep here. Time to get up. We’re not far from Kelay now, come on.” Skylei doesn’t sit up yet, she keeps her hand tight on his and her body pressed against his side.


Tyler jolts only slightly as Skylei whispers in his ear. Those tired eyes barely peeling open as he remains motionless to give himself time to recall exactly where he is. Flexing his jaw followed by a yawn he smacks his lips and swallows. "Right." Pulling his head back just a bit her turns to face Skylei, his nose touching her own. His eyes fall shut to prevent a head ache from looking at her so close. "Lead the way." He whispers while choosing to remain still. His body pleading for him not to rise.


Skylei feels the warmth of his breath on her face as he tells her to lead the way. The proximity of his face to her own should leave her feeling uncomfortable but instead all she does feel is the beat of her heart ever heavier against her chest. She manages to whisper a single word back, “Okay” In spite of this agreement, she doesn’t make any attempt to move from where they lie.


Tyler keeps his eyes closed. His hand with hers. His nose against her own. The chill of the night calming his hot skin as silence falls upon the duo. Neither of them dare move from the ground of the field. The grass around them blowing with the wind to lick at Tyler's bare skin around his legs and arms, through the holes in the ragged clothing. His breath is low and calm. He isn't nerveous. He isn't angry. He isn't anything. The man's peace has come to an all time high. Things such as his short lived past, and questionable future seem insignificant. Maybe it was the sky. Perhaps spending the day travelling with his head to the stars has brought him this. The burning lights above them offering a signal of release to the human. His right index finger would twitch. It had nothing to do with the stars. It was the woman who lay beside him. The tipsy wood elf who had accompanied him to one of the least desirable places on the face of this planet. The woman who had, despite watching him slaughter her true love, lay now with him beneath the night sky, her hand in his own. The next inhale is deep, but not stressed or rushed. His chest would rise at a calming pace until his lungs could hold no more. His voice escapes in a whisper once more, "Skylei.", he calls. He hesitates only long enough for her answer, before he would move to press his lips against her own and lock the elf in a powerful, lasting kiss.


Skylei’s eyes are open, in spite of the fact that he is much too close for her to focus on properly. Where Tyler is calm, Skylei is terrified. Her heart beats at double speed against her ribcage and she feels as though it might jump out of her throat at any second. Then he speaks her name. “Tyler” she whispers back, an echo to his utterance of her name as she finally closes her eyes. There is anticipation in the way she says his name, and an undercurrent of fear as to what that anticipation might lead to. She doesn’t have much time to think, but her thoughts turn to his former self. What would he say? What would he have thought of her? Would he have thought that she didn’t love him? Was this a betrayal? Or was it something completely different; the man before her is still Tyler, after all. Then his lips are against hers, in the way she had so often thought of doing herself that day, and she can’t think any longer. She doesn’t want to think any longer. She loses herself in the touch of his lips against her own and the feelings, whatever feelings they might be, behind his kiss.


Tyler holds the kiss for what seems like ages before finally breaking free. His head falling back to rest in the grass, still facing Skylei. His eyes remained closed and his body is still completely relaxed in this state. He doesn't think about former Tyler, nor does he think of Relyt or well... anything. He remains vigilent in his silence though his hand stays locked with Skylei's. It isn't until something moves in the woods to the left of them that he finally breaks his motionless routine. He turns his head over in the grass to face off into the brush. As he speaks, his voice is still calm. "Looks like something thinks we're dinner." Rolling his head back he still makes no effort to move and his eyes close once again.


Skylei is breathless when he pulls away. She wants to say something, anything, to tell him how he makes her feel, to ask him why he kissed her. But then she hears the noise of something moving in the woods and her body tenses beyond measure, her hand tightening on his. As he makes no move to get up and seems to want to take another nap, “Get up” she mutters under breath, “And get that knife out, please?” She mutters a further desperate plea, “I’m scared.” The noise in the woods continues and it seems to be getting ever closer.


Tyler slowly peels his eyes open and raises a brow to Skylei. Scared? It seemed a role-reversal was at hand. "Alright then." He states with a groan as he moves to lean up. Wiping his hands clean on his pants the man starts to pick himself up to his feet. Once he's up, he doesn't reach for the knife. Instead, he begins to walk toward the tree line. Small embers turning into flames on the back of his hands that would creep up to his shoulders once more. As he reaches the tree line he doesn't hesitate to move within it's boundaries. It isn't long before he is out of sight of Skylei, the flames that covered his body vanishing without warning. Some rustling can be heard in the trees. Footsteps racing for a second and then silence. It would remain that way for quite some time before Tyler emerges from the tree line once again, the hare from earlier held by the scruff of it's neck in his right hand. "Spooky." He calls out in a playful tone, just as a timber wolf breaks the tree line behind him and stares with a growl. Tyler turns to face the animal. "Oh." He mutters just as four more step out around him on all sids. Reaching down he would tuck his shirt in the front of his pants after stuffing the hare inside. The flames quickly taking over once more as he stands still, waiting for one of the beasts to make the first move.


Skylei is feeling more than a little vulnerable in that moment. In case Tyler has forgotten, she’s still sporting an unsupported damaged shoulder and has enough vodka in her to knock off anyone’s reflexes, though not enough to leave her feeling invincible. As such she’s only too aware of her own incapacity to shoot and thus defend herself as she normally would. Her own hand reaches for the pair of throwing knives she carries, but rarely uses as he disappears out of sight. Getting up from the ground, once she can no longer see him, Sky paces nervously, waiting for the human to return. Ever sound spooks her, as it had done Tyler when they had left Gualon. Once she hears the noise of something else approaching, she stands knives in hand; it’s Tyler with a hare. Skylei cannot help but grin at the sight of the hare, thinking incorrectly that her fear had been misplaced. Then the wolf appears. Then the rest of the pack appears to surround the male. Skylei remains where she is, hoping that the growling wolves are so focused on eating Tyler (and the hare) that she will be able to use the element of surprise. Unfortunately there are five wolves and Skylei has two knives. She can likely kill one wolf, or injure two at most. Before any of the wolves move, Skylei makes her move. Pulling her arm back and closing an eye to help her aim, Sky throws one of her knives in the direction of the wolf that stands directly in front of the human. Thrown from the side, Skylei aims to impale side of the creature’s neck, severing vital arteries, which she manages. Slicing clean through fur and muscle and leaving the wolf with a knife sticking out of its neck, the creature howls furiously as it limps and shakes, attempting to remove the instrument from the new wound. Of course the rage of wolf number one, incites the fury of wolves two to five. Have fun with that Tyler…


Tyler doesn't waste a single moment when the knife strikes the first wolf. He's already grabbed hold of his ragged dagger and dived toward the closest wolf, driving the rusted old blade deep into the skull of the beast killing it on impact. Gripping the scruff of it's neck he jerks the deceased wolf to his front just in time to catch the jaws of another. While it buries it's fangs into the corpse, Tyler quickly jerks his dagger from the wolf's skull and jabs it thrice into the attacker's eyes, also resulting in a fresh kill. He's pulled the dagger out and turned to the remaining two wolves a moment too late. He screams as the crushing power of one of the canines jaw breaks the skin on his side, causing the hare in his shirt to go into a frenzy and scratch his stomach to pieces. The flames on his body shoot into the air as if gas had been poured on them when he screams. He's stabbing the one latched to his side over and over, just as it releases the flee the final wolf has already made it's move to his ankle. This gives his fleeing companion a change of heart and the injured wolf moves back for the kill, missing Tyler's throat but getting hold of his left shoulder. The human is being torn apart by the wild beasts. He can't swing the dagger straight. Dropping the busted blade to the ground he grabs the back of each wolves neck and digs his nails deep into their fur. His cries of pain are immense and as such the flames around his arms become unbearable to look upon, as if staring into the heart of a smelting furnace. The wolves are yelping, trying to flee, but Tyler has no plans of mercy. The flames burn the fur surrounding their necks clean off and in the blink of an eye, Tyler has turned fire to ice freezing the skulls of the wolves and then bashing them to the floor to leave a pool of battered blood, bone and brain. He stands now, exhausted and bleeding. He pulls his shirt up to take hold of the hare who was miraculously still alive. The poor creature is horrified, it's nostrils flaring like mad while it kicks out against Tyler. The human simply pulling it close to his chest and holding it with care, his left hand petting at it's fur. "It's alright." He mutters before turning toward Skylei. His shirt soaked in blood and his legs wobbling. "Not bad for pretend magic, huh?" He calls out in the most amused voice he can muster. Despite the pain, he is smiling. The hare in his arms seeming to relax.


Whilst Skylei doesn’t throw the second dagger she moves close enough to Tyler and the wolves that, should needs be, she can intervene and slice the wolves up further. Still, it’s nice that he’s playing protector for once rather than getting himself bashed up for no good reason. Skylei can’t watch as the fight reaches its crescendo, the light of the fire burning too bright from her eyes. The half-elf has to shield her sight until the light extinguishes and then she would move to stand by Tyler offering an uncertain smile as she pulls her knife from the wreckage of wolf carcasses. The half-blood’s ‘closeness’ with the lycan community leads her to shudder at the sight of wolves, admittedly wholly animal wolves, lying broken on the floor. It’s a strange sensibility she possesses, but it clearly doesn’t extend to hare’s. Wrapping an arm around him so that she can take his weight, should he need the support, and ignoring the fact that he is soaked in blood from an uncertain source she asks a gentle question, “Put that thing back where it came from and let me take you home? We should never have stopped here.” If nothing else, at least Tyler getting near torn apart by wolves has stopped Skylei from thinking about the consequences of that kiss…


Tyler is still holding the hare close when Skylei moves to support him. He glances to the creature before kneeling down and placing it on the ground. At first it stares to the man, then to the wolves, raising on it's hind legs to check for more. The hare turns to give one final glance to Tyler before hauling ass back into the woods. The man sighs and shakes his head lightly with a smile. "Yeah..." The peace that had remained is now shattered and broken. Tyler is once again in a world of mental torment. He begins moving toward the camp site with a limp. Taking the guitar in his bloodied hand he grips it tightly and moves back to Skylei, accepting her offer of support and hoping for her to lead the way.


Skylei watches as the hare disappears off home and Tyler turns to walk back to the site of the fire. She would follow him with careful steps back to the campsite, her arm held behind his back to make sure that, should he need her support, she is right there ready to catch him. It’s the first and only part of ‘Tylerism’, her new ‘religion’, after all; she is there for him, just as he is there for her. Once he has the guitar in hand, Skylei wraps her arm tightly around his waist, holding his body against hers so that she can take as much of his weight as he needs her to. Without another word, Sky would begin walking the pair up towards the green forests of Sage that loom ahead.


Tyler decides to pass the time in silence while Skylei helps escort him through the Sage forest. He wasn't much for talking with all of the new injuries. If he knew of Skylei's thoughts of his new found religion he would offer a laugh and possibly a change of mood. But instead he's left leaving a small trail of his own blood through the well travelled path back to Kelay. The keen might notice his head never raises to face the night sky, instead his eyes are locked to the leaves below his feet.


Skylei doesn’t speak for the whole time it takes for them to reach the steps to the tavern. She thinks, of course, though her thoughts are kept concealed from the human. As they draw close to the doors, she finally lifts her voice, murmuring, “If you’ve got the energy, an illusion masking the fact that you’re bleeding all over the floor might save us a few funny looks and questions.” She doesn’t take her eyes from the same forward path they have held since they left the campsite. She doesn’t know where to look or what to say. She’s still completely lost for words and can’t draw a decent conclusion as to what has transpired between the two of them. She’s bitten her lower lip to shreds on the walk home and a tiny dribble of blood makes its way down her chin. Skylei is distressed and desperately trying to mask it with indifference.


Tyler doesn't speak as mana flashes in the whites of his eyes. His stare remains firm on the floor as his figure is quickly disguised. Where rags once rested upon his flesh, now resides a formal tuxedo suit and upon Skylei, a glittering silver dress. To the patrons of the tavern, the duo would look like a couple simply returning to a rented room after a night of hard partying. He doesn't let go of her. His arm wrapped around her neck as his legs shake violently from exhaustion.


Skylei looks down to the outfits that he has conjured from his imagination and utters her approval, “Fancy. Don’t expect to ever see me in one of these again.” Her free hand tugs at the skirt of the dress as she starts to take steps towards the tavern. Skylei feels the shake of his legs and the tightening of the hold of his arm around her neck and cannot help but lower her voice and utter soothing words, “It’s okay. Nearly there now, baby.” She might have uttered more, but her face lights up a charming red hue. She’d only gone and done it again. Exhaustion, she tells herself, had got the better of her. It was exhaustion and nothing else that had led to that term of endearment. Fortunately for her, the pair are offered a concerned look by one of the few patrons still in the tavern at that late hour. It’s a couple, the wife clearly sober whilst her husband sits a drunken haze with ale still clasped in his hand. She sees the shake of the illusionist’s legs but before she can speak, Sky has already cut her off. In a light, jovial and almost conspiratorial tone she would remark to the woman, “He’s had a little too much. Big night, you know? Now I’ve got to get him upstairs.” With a wink, she flashes the engagement ring she wears on the wrong hand at the woman, hoping that she’ll take the hint and leave them alone. She simply offers them a smile, returns Skylei’s wink and turns back to her deadbeat husband, allowing the half-elf to carry-drag Tyler across the tavern and to the stairs. Sky wouldn’t have bothered with that whole charade if she hadn’t have slipped up on her words earlier. She simply needed to take the attention away from that moment before she died of embarrassment.


Once they have reached the third door on the left their garments shatter to the floor in the blink of an eye as the door swings open, Tyler pulls his weight of Skylei and stumbles over to the bed, taking a seat at the edge while setting his guitar against the night stand. Reaching over his head he rips the shirt off of him and tosses it to the floor. His stomach is clawed up by the hare which offers some blood equivilent to a briar scratch. However, his shoulder and side and torn into and though they aren't constantly leaking the build-up is immense. He reaches to untie his belt and pulls his pants off as well. Kicking them with Skylei's coin purse still attached to the side. He pulls open the drawer of the night stand and feels a pain of frustration as he remembers he'd used most of the medical supplies on Emilia. He grabs hold of one of the few clean rags left in the drawer and pushes it onto his shoulder. He looks to Skylei with pained eyes, but his voice is relaxed. "Thank you."


As soon as Tyler has offered his words of thanks, Skylei nods and goes to the door. She closes it behind her and heads back down to the bar, ignoring the fact that the patrons of the tavern are going to assume that she’s done a very quick change into some dirty clothes. She’s gone for a good few minutes before she returns with two glasses of water. Pushing the door open with her shoulder she sets one of the glasses on the table beside the bed before rummaging through the bag she had left in Tyler’s room earlier to find a rag and some bandages. Without speaking, she dips the first rag into the glass of water she still holds and presses it against Tyler’s stomach. She would hold it there, to clean the wound and remove the blood from his skin, for a good few minutes, unless he offered an objection.


Tyler is confused when Skylei runs off. As he sits in silence he stares at the door before finally looking to the floor with a sigh. "You're an idiot." He declares to himself, eyes shifting to look at his satchel that had been left in the room. It hangs on the back of the single chair in the room, he stares right through the fabric to the blood stones that rest inside. He chuckles to himself and shakes his head as he pulls the rag from his shoulder. He stares at the bloodied cloth before squeezing it in his palm. "An idiot." He repeats as his mind falls prey once more to the woes of his former self. Though this doesn't last long as the door swings open and Skylei reenters the room. He doesn't object as she starts to help him. In fact, he remains silent for nearly ten minutes of the process before finally speaking. "Do you miss him?" It's a stupid question. He isn't even sure logically why he asks. But for some reason, he has to know.


Skylei doesn’t say anything for a good few minutes. In fact, when she does go to speak, it’s not in answer to his question. With her spare hand, she holds out a bandage, “Wrap this around your shoulder.” Reaching into her pocket, she pulls out the trusted pot of green valerian root salve and begin applying it to his stomach, not even bothering to reiterate the usual warning that ‘it might cause some stinging before it begins to soothe’. As she rubs the salve onto the stomach wound with gentle fingers she finally answers his question, “Every second of every day and yet, not at all.” It might not make much sense. But it’s the truth.


Tyler's stare is held firm to the floor as Skylei applies the salve. The sting isn't there this time. His body is already numb and he's lost in his own mind. Her answer doesn't make sense, but at the same time it does. Somehow, he understands that. He lets her work in silence in an attempt to both calm himself and ensure he doesn't upset her. His breathing is casual despite the injuries and he doesn't once jerk away from the wood elves hands. Finally, his voice rings out to break the silence of the small tavern room. "You know I'm not him, right?" The question is offered in genuine curiousity, not insulting or angered.


Skylei stays silent for a few moments, her fingers continuing in that massaging motion as she finishes rubbing the salve into the wound. Though she finishes, her fingers linger on his stomach as she finally answers his question, “I was in the temple with you. I saw what happened. You’re borne from the same original being but you’re not the same. I guess…” Skylei lifts her hand from the wound, and puts a lid on the salve before looking to him, “I think of you as being like twins, or something akin. You look and sound the same, but in no way are you the same person. You’re your own man, Tyler Dyalus.” She gets up from where she sits and places the glass of water she had used to clean the wound and the rag on the table alongside the second glass of water. That glass is now brought over to the human and thrust into his hand before she speaks again, “Do you want me to leave?”


Tyler doesn't take the glass even as she thrust it towards him. He could feel the emotion oozing from her every pour. He blinks, slowly raising his eyes to meet with hers from his seated position. He scans for an answer. There isn't one. Despite the power in her voice his own is light when his lips finally part to pierce the silence once more. "No." He commands. "I don't." He follows up. He presses the back of his hand to the glass and slides it from in front of him before picking himself up off the bed and removing a 'clean' black shirt that carried the same amount of rips and tears as all his other ones. He slides it onto his body slowly before digging out a pair of shorts that, surprisingly, have no visable holes. Setting himself down on the bed he slides to place his back against the headboard before offering her another stare. "The things I -want- are irrelevant. They are unachieveable in the literal sense. No matter what path I take, no matter what choices I make, in the end, I'll still be some guy wearing a suit made of another man." Flexing his jaw he pushes his hair from his face and runs his tongue across his lips before moving his legs to the side to offer Skylei a place to stay. "And before you chime in to explain how -wrong- I am, where would I be if not here? If I weren't your ex-fiance with a different soul, would you be by my side? Would anyone?" He shuffles a bit before finally relaxing with a pillow to prop his back. "Even when we stood before him and the dark one, they still couldn't tell me who I really was. The truth is, I'm a no body. Maybe there is a god. Maybe I was one of the spare souls he kept for when his creativity came to a halt." Tyler laughs defiantly at himself as his hands clinch tightly at the covers, his emotions coming to a rise as he fights to keep his voice respectful and calm. "So at the end of the day, it doesn't matter what I want, or what I feel, or what I do. Because when I die, I'll just be another spare. The body that will be buried or burned, isn't my own." He pauses to break his gaze from Skylei to look at his satchel once more. "I'll never have a chance." He would fall silent for only just a moment, before his eyes rise back to Skylei. He'd succeeded in fighting the emotion away as the tears in his eyes are forced not to fall. His voice once again, a stable call, "Please don't go."


Skylei gives up on trying to give Tyler the glass of water and simply sets it back down on the table. How can she respond to any of that? How can she argue when she doesn’t have the answers? How can she lie to his face and tell him that her initial reason for being by his side wasn’t that he wore her Tyler’s face? She feels his emotions rise like a wave and then be pulled back under control and she cannot find a way to offer him comfort. She doesn’t know the man that sits on the bed and she doesn’t know how to ease his mind. She is lost. Instead she moves over to her bag and pulls fresh clothes from it. She turns away from him as she undresses, taking off each of her layers and folding them into a neat pile before taking of the next. Then she redresses in the new clothes before taking a place by his side. She wasn’t going anywhere, “Tyler…” she cannot help herself and her hand reaches to brush his cheek and lingers there, attempting to turn his gaze to her face, “This body belongs to you, and you alone now. You aren’t bound to him anymore.” She pauses and swallows before she speaks again, “I don’t think you’re a nobody…”


As Tyler is forced to face Skylei the emotion is much more clear up close. He's swallowing hard when she speaks. His mind flashes to nights prior, to Emilia, then to tonight, Skylei. He's distressed and finds himself on the verge of a breakdown. Closing his eyes is the releif he needs, and he does just that. His body begins to ease. A flutter of his eye lids brings him back to reality as he is face to face with the elf again. He tosses his left arm around her, despite his injured shoulder and breaks down in her shoulder...