RP:To Befriend a Farm Girl

From HollowWiki

Kelay Way

Fallen leaves and drying sprouts crunch underfoot, as the tamed walkways come to a halt, buried beneath the motley-colored blanket. The veil of nature closes in at the edge of the woodland town of Kelay. Through an outcropping of deep verdant tints, smoke rises from the chimney of a stately home just east of here, while a narrow dirt path juts off to the north. Southward, you spy the beginning of a well paved road heading east.


Tyler is resting with his arm propped against a tree. The human sweating profusely as droplets fall to the crumbled leaves below. Despite the near freezing air of the winter night, the human looks to be well heated even though he is only wearing his torn shorts, boots and a plain black shirt. Gasping for breath he presses his shoulder to the tree and turns to the sky with squinted eyes, rambling about something to do with a home wrecker.


Emilia walked along the way coming from the north making light sounds as her leather boots hit the ground with each step. With the winter chill looming over the eve she had rolled the sleeves of her blue plaid shirt down tonight. It was when those bright blue eyes caught sight of the man from the other day that she slowed her pace. "Tyler? Is that you?" She called out as she got closer to him and his tree.


Tyler feels the hair on the back of his neck stand up as Emilia calls his name. A frantic turn of the neck provides her a horrified glare though the human is quick to relax at the sigh of Emilia. Then, there it was again, that familiar sound from earlier in the day. The sound of hooves clacking against the cobbled path of the way as the Cenril guards made for yet another pass. Tyler's eyes are filled with panic as he mutters "It was only thirteen silver!", he is quick to move to Emilia and whispers to her, "Please. Don't say anything. Please. Please-please-please-please-please." He then maneuvers off of the path and burrows himself behind two trees and ducks low. Pulling a black sheet from his satchel and tossing it over himself as three guards riding on horseback come into view and approach Emilia. The captain stares at her for a moment, he'd grown tired of asking about for the fugitive all day, but he decided one last look might just benefit them. " 'Scuse me lass, have you seen a male running about through here? Regular height fellow, dirty hair, nothing but skin and bones about him?" Tyler holds his breath nearby while he awaits the farm girls decision on his fate.


Emilia blinked at the expression that had crossed the face of Tyler as he looked at her for but a brief moment before the sound of hooves against the way could be heard. The sounds were getting louder as the man looked to her then pleaded for her to not say a thing. Glancing away she couldn't see where it was that he had hidden himself, but she knew he was hiding. As the guard stopped before her she glanced up to the man, locking her bright blue gaze with his. "I am sorry, Sir. I have not seen any a man that fit that description on this eve. Might I inquire as to why you might be chasing for such a person?" She listened to what the guard had to say about the 'thirteen silver'. Which sounded familiar as she recalled him saying it not long before pleading for her to be silent about his location. Reaching into the pocket of her denim pants she pulled out five gold coins that she dropped into the hand of the guard, "There, Sir. I think that should be more than enough to cover the costs of the thirteen silver and that which time has been spent chasing him today. Enjoy your evening, Sir." Her tone was all polite even if it held that slight farmer accent to it. With a warm, but perfectly fake, smile she waved to the guard as he and his fellow guards turned with the gold payment and made their way back to Cenril.


Tyler sighs a breath of relief as he hears the guards retreating back to the city. The sheet pulled from his person and shoved quickly back into the safety of his satchel before moving to Emilia's side, his hand reaching out to be placed on her shoulder as he still tries to catch his breath. "Th-Th... Thank you." He swallows hard before falling back against a tree and keeping his head aimed to the stars. "Wh-What the hell are you doing out here alone again?"


Emilia whistled shortly after Tyler had asked why she was out and about alone again. Shortly after the whistling a shaggy grey dog came running happily from the forest. With a wag of his tail and a happy bark the dog greeted Tyler by licking at his hand. "I am not alone, Mutt was chasing something. Why do you worry that I am alone?"


Tyler is frightened by the dog at first but at the lick, his expression changes with a smile and he begins to pet the canine. Odd, he'd never pet a dog before. He kinda liked it. As Emilia asks of his concern, Tyler's expression turns rather grave though he keeps his head down so she cannot see. Instead of offering an immediate reply, he would shrug his shoulders to buy some time while fooling with the dog a bit more.


Emilia watched as Mutt quickly got excited with being petted by Tyler. It was not long before the dog was trying to jump up on him and lick at his face. "Be careful, Mutt loves attention." She said while offering a soft smile toward him. She would wait a moment before adding, "You didn't answer my question…"


Tyler simply chuckles as Mutt jumps up, the human opening his arms to catch the dog and hold him while he covered him in kisses. As she speaks yet again Tyler would slowly lower the dog and as if he could read his mood, the dog stops begging him for his love. Tyler turns on his heel and faces Emilia though he doesn't look at her. He shrugs again and keeps his gaze beyond her toward the tavern to the west. "I dunno', it's a lawless town. Things happen." The human tries to keep back any hint of emotion or true care about the farm girl. Attempting to play it off as if he were simply a good citizen once in a blue moon. Kinda rough when the one you're trying to convince just bailed you out of a few weeks in jail.


Emilia listened to him as he tried to explain himself to her, but she didn't exactly believe him. His body language was telling a slightly different story than his words. Yet, she didn't choose to call him out on it anymore and took what he said for now. A soft smile crossed her face as she watched Mutt quickly run off again, chasing something again it seemed. "You look a bit exhausted. Would you like a meal and drink down at the café? Food is pretty good there, part of it is supplied by the farm."


Tyler's hand finds it's way to his stomach at the offering of food. His nails subconsciously begin scratching at the wound where Javier had pierced his torso a few months back. The man shaking his head rapidly. He hadn't been able to eat well since the incident and the thought of food often repulsed him. "I, erm, I don't really want to risk being in a public housing right now." Tyler still seems worried, and almost on the verge of tears for some odd reason. Realizing his hand is digging he quickly pulls it away and forces a smile to Emilia. "I appreciate the offer though... You should really get to wherever you're heading. It's cold out, s'posed to get even colder. Wouldn't want to get sick with all the running you've been doing." Big words for a man in torn shorts.


Emilia watched the man's hand very curiously as he rejected her offer for food. Taking it to guess that he was still afraid the guards might be out for him with his comment on public housing she shrugged a little. Then she closed the distance between the two of them and moved to link her arm in his with a soft smile, "Fine, the farm house it. No guards there. You can relax and enjoy some soup that has been cooking most of the day." She flashed him a bright smile, hoping he might accept this offer.


Tyler seems very nervous as Emilia approaches and offers her arm. Caramel eyes shifting between her visage and the offered appendage rapidly as a twitchy smile is brought on. He processes the offer and figures he can't head home for the night with the guards about and with that stunt he pulled on Jason at the library the people of Xalious would certainly be after him if they caught wind of his mana signature. A deep breath is given sending a fog of his breath towards the heavens as he quickly locks his arm with Emilia, his heart visibly beating through his chest as he nods. "Ah, al, al... Alright."


Emilia couldn't seem to smile any brighter as he agreed to go with her to the farm house for the night. Turning she would switch their direction to start heading back toward the north in the direction that she had just came from. "I have a guest room that you can stay in if you'd like. Also, I can get you a warm bath if you'd like and some clean clothing." She would say such things as they walked along to Larket.


Tyler seems to find the offer of a place to rest for the night rather compelling, though he wasn't sure he'd accept it. The human was already horrified to simply be speaking with Emilia, much less accompanying her to her home, in a city he wasn't familiar with, guarded by the man who impaled him! (Of course, he doesn't know that bit). Though as she mentions his clothes and a bath he would glance down at his torn shorts and mumbles, "Heeey... What's wrong with my clothes? Do I stink or something?" He half-jokingly states as a toothy grin spreads across his complexion, following her every step of the way.


Emilia blinked as he asked what was wrong with his clothing. Instantly, she felt bad saying something about it when she had not meant anything mean by it. "Oh, I am sorry. There is nothing wrong with them…I just thought with the cold coming that you might want some pants or something. The farm house isn't always the warmest place…Forgive me?" She asked looking at him with that slightly upset look.


Tyler allows his eyes to meet with Emilia's and offers a sincere smile for once. He shakes his head to dismiss the notion. "I'm only joking. I know I'm a bum." His tone was casual though his statement serious. His mind replays earlier today when he had robbed a 'royal' out in Cenril only to find thirteen silver coins. He'd spent the whole day fleeing from the guards. Only to have his ass saved twice, once by Valen and the second by the woman beside him. His face wrinkles in thought as his head is cast to the sky once more and he examines the stars while they walk. "So, erm... I'm curious... Why'd you help me back there?"


Emilia flashed a bit of a smile as he said that he had just been joking with her. She was not the best when it came to jokes, always the last one to get them it seemed. She lightly patted his arm, "Why did you choose to accompany me on the way to Gualon the other day?" She raised a brow as she looked to him before giggling softly as they kept walking, "Now, you know. I could always use an extra pair of hands around the farm for a awhile if you need some form of work…"


Tyler decides to keep his tongue between his teeth instead of offering a detailed explanation of why helping orphans was far different than robbing the rich. As she pats his arm his chest locks up a bit, unsure of how to react to another persons touch. Though he soon relaxes and begins breathing regularly again. At the offer of work he would remain quiet for a few minutes in thought. This was the first chance the man had been given since he came to Hollow back in July to provide an honest days work and pay. But then he recalls the mention of the golden fiend a few nights prior, the needle in his pocket suddenly feeling like it is burning into his leg. His face twists a bit and he slowly shakes his head in rejection to the offer. "I, erm, I, uh... I-I-I don't think I could much handle such hard work y-y'know?" His smile is shaken once again as he holds up his free arm to show her his absence of muscle once again.


Emilia playfully rolled her eyes at him. She had watched him earlier as he had picked up her dog for a time. "I watched you pick up the dog. I do not think chicken feed is that hard of a task… or perhaps I have been doing it since a child and have grown used to it…" She rambled a bit as they walked, before she stopped herself. "That is fine. The offer stands if you should find yourself in need of a few coins. It is easier to feed chickens than it is to steal from another…"


Tyler would provide a genuine laugh as she mocks his theft. The human shaking his head and muttering, "I s'pose we will do what we do best, yeah?" Suddenly, Tyler would stop in his tracks and stare at Emilia for a moment. The clear sky offered great light, even through the forest covered path toward Larket. The duo were coming close to the bridge to the city. His caramel gaze provided her a wondering stare as he would grit his teeth for a moment flexing his jaw in thought. Finally, the human speaks, "What do you plan to do, when you let a villain in your home?"


Emilia slowed to a stop shortly there after he had come to a stop. She glanced to the light before looking back to him as she her arm fall free of his. She tilted her head to the side, a bit confused, "What do you mean? I do not understand you…"


Tyler continues to stare at her. His mind racing as he picks his next course of action wisely. As he speaks his arms move widely with him as well, "Well, you, I mean, you just - I - you..." His palms find his eyes and he applies pressure and whines as he tries to find his words. Finally, they click and his hands fall. "Your kindness. Your etiquette. Your charm. What are you going to do when you find yourself offering your home, or your aid to a villain? Do you have a plan?"


Emilia watched him curiously as he tried to talk to her. His words were slightly lost at first as she could tell he seemed worried a bit about her plans. "Are you suggesting that you are a villain now?" She asked as she tilted her head to the side, blonde locks falling into her face. "Because if you are, I plan to take you inside, seat you at the table, get you a bowl of soup, and draw you a bath if you'd like to get clean. Then offer you another set of clothing and a bed for the night should you choose to stay. I trust enough that you will not steal from me and will not kill me in my sleep."


Tyler says nothing as Emilia speaks. Instead, he simply maintains his stare with his eyes shifting between hers every few seconds. As the chilling wind runs through the forest it blows his hair to the side and stings his cheeks. The male literally frozen in the moment until finally he exhales sharply in a mild chuckle and nods before extending a hand toward Larket. Signaling Emilia to continue and he would follow. He had his doubts that she would bother making physical contact with him again. Inside, he throws insults at himself for bringing the subject up. Why was he compelled to say anything at all?


Emilia waited until he had made up his mind on what it wished to do. When he choose to continue with her to Larket she linked her arm with his once more. Patting his arm she smiled softly. She felt that all people needed a chance and should not be simply judged one way. Anyone could change. Then she would lead him off to the farm and do just as she said as long as he choose to stay there.