A Simple Request

Xander
Tolbana

    Tolbana was busy with Adventurers and Landers alike, given the process of rebuilding this place into a proper village once more. There were also several who were getting ready to march for Floor 2 in order to make ready for what could be the boss fight success, or possible failure.

It is this reason Xander comes to the village of Tolbana, not to help, but to seek someone out, "Kita!" He calls out among the crowd. "Kita! Are you out here!" Then it was about then he reminded. Chimlinks!

He quickly pulled up her name on an unseen menu and tapped it, before he placed his hand toward his ear...

    > "Kita, are you in Tolbana or near by? I need to speak with you."
Kita
Tolbana

There is a long pause before a reply comes, perhaps because the young woman is busy. Whatever the case, there is a heartbeat before her voice comes over the chimlink.

> "I'm here. I'm working on restoring the inn on the South side of town."

Sure enough, should Xander head that way, he would find a team of Scale Emblem Alliance members, working on rebuilding the overhang of a building. Kita stands at a table, looking imperious as she looms over a set of plans. "A little further up with that beam, otherwise it isn't going to slot into place correctly." Apparently, the girl has found her place in the reconstruction efforts - giving orders.

She is wearing a slight change from her normal witch's dress, perhaps because of the need to be able to help out. She is wearing a men's button-front top which is only buttoned down at the bottom, giving a quite revealing look at the black bra she is wearing beneath it. The sleeves are rolled up, but she still wears her usual black arm-bands. She has a pair of tight fitting pants, complete with stylish rips along them, looking nothing like a normal Adventurer.

"Come on, we need to get this done. Gardenia wants you lot moving supplies to the front lines as soon as we finish here." There are groans that follow from some of the other Adventurers.
Xander
Tolbana

    Xander shows up and crosses his arms at the sight. "You know, maybe they will work a bit more if you lowered that top a bit more," Then he taps his chin, "Nevermind, they probably just get more distracted." There was a playful tone in his voice.

However that playfulness doesn't last long, as his next words sound more serious, "I know your busy and if you like for me to wait, I can-- but I need to have a word or two with you." He looks at the adventurers here. "Maybe in private?"
Kita
Tolbana

"Someone's jealous." Kita replies, offering a wink in Xander's direction. She doesn't seem to mind the way people look at her. In fact, it's likely intentional. "Do I need to do up a few buttons so your eyes don't rove too much?"

As his expression turns serious, though, the girl just lifs one blue eyebrow and then nods her head. She turns back to the workers, "Apparently I need to go have a word with a commanding officer." Because that's what she views Xander as. "Keep working. I want to see the entry arch done when I get back." Most nod, or call out their agreement.

Then, Kita turns to Xander again, "Follow me." She leads him along the street, which seems to have groups working in different places on repairs of various locations. Eventually, she stops at what looks like it might have once been a storefront, but it is now empty. She opens the door, then heads inside.

The shop is empty, but clean, likely something that has been recently worked on. "What's up?" She asks, folding her arms across her chest, which likely spares him that direct view of her cleavage. "You look too serious for this to be a social call."
Xander
Tolbana

    Xander keeps quiet for now and follows her as they leave, if any are not working as he gets ready to turn the corner he growls and then barks out at them, "You heard her! Keep a move on!" Yep, there was that military bark.

Once inside the other build he fixes his gloves slightly. "... probably less about me roving over your body and some of those fellas in there who, if given the chance, probably couldn't keep their hands clean if they tried." He makes a minor motion with his hand.

The Salamander then goes to rest one hip on his side, the one opposite where his sword is. "Also you do know I am /not/ your commanding officer right? I have zero command in this alliance, but, I am glad you think I have /some/ kind of authority." He chuckles a little.

    "Anyways," Xander sighs softly, "Two things. May have a slight job for you dealing with your artistic skills and the Alliance itself. Zorin is going to be doing a tournament and needs posters." His weight shifts a little as his tail slowly moves side to side. "I told him you were an amazing artist and I'd see if you'd be willing. You could say no, but I leave that up to you and them to talk about... I'm just passing along the offer."

The Salamander then falls silent and softly says, "... The other..."
Kita
Tolbana

"Aww, it's sweet that you're concerned." Kita muses, her lip quirking enough that one fang becomes visible. The Imp does have a wicked sense of humor. "When it comes to men being a little too handsy, I can take care of myself. Most of them forget that they now have actual bits that can be lit on fire. Oh, there's pain reduction, but it still smarts like a bitch."

With the insistance that he isn't her commanding officer, Kita just shrugs her shoulders. "What can I say, I respect your judgement, soldier boy. Besides, it isn't as if I've got anyone I'm directly answering to. All of this rebuilding is just helping out the Alliance."

She stands there, looking curious, her tail twitching lightly against her ankles. "Zorin, huh?" She hrms to herself, "I'll have to talk to him and find out exactly what he wants and how many he needs done. We don't exactly have access to a printing press or anything so it might be better to do image advertisements in certain key areas." As she currently does with the Lost Adventurer Network, which only has a board in the main Alliance guildhalls and a few taverns.

"The other?" She asks, curious.
Xander
Tolbana

    "I don't like this coming battle." Xander says softly. "I saw the boss on Floor two. He doesn't have the same weapon, which means no one has proper information on his behavior."

The Salamander lowers his hand, he starts to pace a bit. The concern is all over his face. "While I was able to report the weapon in question looks magical, we don't know what type of magic this /Boss/ will now wield. This makes coming up with a defensive tactic... dangerous."

    Xander then looks at Kita, "And that comes down to /if/ command even read what I wrote. If they even took my warning to heart. While I don't condone the push and I didn't write my whole feelings on the matter..."

"I... I think everyone is pushing to quickly in the Tower and this fight could lead to a loss, rather than a victory. We barely got by the first floor boss." Xander stops pacing and rubs the bridge of his nose gently. "I-- I don't know you are going, Kita, but if you are..."

Those fiery, gold eyes look at her dead on. "Take every precaution you can, because I /hope/. I /really/ hope I am dead wrong about the coming battle with that Boss."
Kita
Tolbana

Information is power, so Kita doesn't object or interrupt as he begins to explain what sort of data he's managed to acquire about the second floor tower boss. Though her tail continues to twitch, she listens to his concerns and then, only then does she reply.

"We know the game is different than before. The floor one bosses were different, too." Kita confirms, lightly drumming her fingers against the dark fabric that covers her arm. "I don't think any of us are going in, expecting that it will be exactly like it was before." She lightly catches her lower lip between her teeth, thoughtful. "Not like I have any real experience to go on, anyways. I never fought in the tower before the Apocalypse."

She then raises one hand, "I'm not diminishing or dismissing what you're saying, don't get me wrong." The Imp shakes her head, white strands of her bangs moving across her forehead. "I'm just not sure this is something I can stay on the sidelines for." Her brows furrow, "If it was me, I would be cautious. I would take our time. Maybe organize a volunteer scout team to take a loss so the main squad can win." Which isn't an unreasonable way of looking at things, since no one knows the real cost to dying yet.

"Right now, though, I don't have much of a choice. The guilds are pushing the tower and I have to try. I have to fight for Jurou's future." Her lips press together. "I would do anything for her, even if it means walking with a smile on my face towards my own death."

Yet, she is taking him seriously, "But I will be careful. I pulled out last time when things got too gnarly and I'll do so again if I can. If not... well, at least I respawn here rather than somewhere else."
Xander
Tolbana

    Xander closes his eyes and he says, with a ton of a concerned brother. "... I understand." Then goes to step back. "I am not going to argue against what you want to do nor will I ask you to stay out of the fight."

The Salamander motions to his side. "I just wanted to warn you directly. I have no real ties to this damn alliance or guild. I have my own internal conflicts I am facing and while I want to see everyone get home--"

    Xander lowers his head and his teeth slide as his jaw moves to one side a bit. Whatever he was thinking, he wasn't fully sharing. His tail stops moving though as he goes to place his hand against the door. "Just be careful. Please. I won't forgive myself if you or Jurou get KOed... because I won't be there this time." Then he goes to push open the door.
Kita
Tolbana

"I know you're worried." Kita offers out, her voice growing softer as she watches the play of emotions that Xander shows. Though he tries to be hard-edged, he isn't as stone faced as he might like. "I promise, I'll be careful."

She hesitates then, "I don't have strong ties to the Alliance, either, but if the Tower is how we get out of here, then it's what I have to do." Her expression is pained at that, "Jurou... her dream is to compete. She's a runner at the collegiate level. Shit, she might be able to qualify for the olympics if she's lucky." Kita's voice quiets. "The longer we stay here, the more that chance slips away."

One can imagine just how quickly the body can deteriorate. "If there's even a sliver of a chance, I have to try to get her out of here." Then, she closes her eyes, expression tight, "Maybe, someday, this place will steal that dream of hers completely. Until then... until she tells me that it's a lost cause, I have to keep fighting."

That is part of what it means to love someone. When Xander explains that he won't be there, though, she seems to force herself to stand taller. "It's fine." It's bravado. He had seen her start trembling when things got too bad in a fight. "Don't worry too much about me."
Xander
Tolbana

    Xander doesn't look back at her, his eyes close gently. His claws dig into that wood a little. Only one word echoes in his own mind...

    'Coward.'
    'That is what you are-- a coward.'
    'You faced death, you seen it.'
    'You walked away from it'
    'You are a coward...'
        '... because you don't want to see it again.'

    The Salamander's voice is low, soft, distant a he says the next part to her. "... I believe in you Kita. I know you will do what is best for you both." Then he walks out.
Xander
Entrance to Aincrad

        Sometime after talking with Kita....

    Xander leans on the wall toward the Tower entrance. His eyes narrowed and he looks a bit like a kick puppy; Or maybe an angry lion. His tail flicks at times.

In his hand, he is actually playing with fire magic, a flame ball rolling around in his finger tips as runes dance along the glove to help hold the flame there.
Rylen
Entrance to Aincrad

Thunch-thunch-thunch.

The sound of peko feet comes up the track between Alne and Aincrad. A few people have to move out of the way as the pair come barreling through. Luckily, the track is being mostly kept clear as Scale Emblem is moving supplies into Tolbana and needs the roads.

The huge bird gives a squawk as Rylen pulls on the reins, stopping his mount up short of Xander, then dismounting in one easy motion. He spares the bird a quick pat on the beak before reaching to grab a bag off of the creature's back.

"So..."

Oh, he can tell Xander is in a mood already.

"I am bringer of two options to sooth the savage beast." Rylen holds up the bag in one hand, and an empty fist in the other. "Option number one - you take your best shot at kicking my ass until you feel better or at least get tired." Then he daggles the bag, which has the sound of clinking bottles, "Or we drink until we both end up shitfaced. Though maybe me a little less just so I can keep your ass out of trouble."

He hesitates, "There's also option three of shoving copious amounts of food in our faces." Aww. Look, he's brought the Salamander's three favorite things. Brawling, booze, and food.
Xander
Entrance to Aincrad

    Xander eyes don't even acknowledge Rylen. He just hmms again at those things said, before he says at long last, crushing the flame in his hands. "Let's just find a place to sit, drink, and be stupid."

The Salamander goes to snatch the bag that has the clanking of bottles. "Keep me from changing my mind by having to much of a damn headache in the morning."
Rylen
Entrance to Aincrad

"You got it." Rylen relinquishes the bag as Xander moves to snatch it, seeming glad enough that it isn't the fighting option. With the amount of rage that seems to be boiling under the surface, he might have ended up with more than his fair share of bruises should the Salamander have gone with that option.

He seizes a couple of metal mugs that dangle off of the side of his peko, then gives a hand motion to his mount, the peko seeming content to follow along at a distance, occassionally pecking at something left behind on the ground. Then, he follows behind the brooding Salamander.

"Should I ask, or should I just keep my fool mouth shut?" He hazards, raising eyebrows. Should Xander peruse the contents of the bag, it looks to be three different strengths of booze, one being a typical wine bottle, another looking like some sort of hard booze, the third is clear and has that 'homemade' quality to it which would lean towards it being the strongest of the three.
Xander
Entrance to Aincrad

    Xander goes over to a nice quiet corner, out of sight of eyes and ears. He then pulls out a bottle and doesn't even accept the mug. Nope! This whole bottle is his.

He uses his teeth to pull out the cork, then stares at the bottle. The Salamander looks over at Rylen, "Being a coward." He says simply. "I told someone I won't be there tomorrow. I don't agree with how fast the Tower run is going... But why? Why /should/ I be worried?"

Xander laughs a little "Not like death is new to me and yet." He growls lowly. "... I have no desire to even test it here in the game."
Rylen
Entrance to Aincrad

There is a lift of an eyebrow when Xander doesn't take the mug, but the elf doesn't argue with it, and instead uses a leather strap to attach it to his belt. He keeps his own, making sure to grab the bottle of wine from the bag. If Xander wants to get properly trashed, well... Ry will stick to getting lady drunk if only to make sure that the Salamander doesn't do anything too stupid.

He pours a mug of the red liquid, then corks it and sets it next to him, taking a sip. Wherever he got this from, it must have been handicrafted, because it at least has taste to it. It isn't quite like getting aged booze back home, without the finer qualities, but giid enough to get drunk to. "If I was trying to psychoanalyze you, which I'm not, I would ask: Why you think that makes you a coward?"

Despite everything, Rylen seems relaxed as always, back to his usual self after their previous conversation. "I spent a fair bit of time in the tower pre-Apocalypse, but not so much since then. Is there something specific that has you concerned?" Not being part of Scale Emblem means there is a fair amount that he doesn't know about their practice sand plans. "Was the first boss /that/ bad?"
Xander
Entrance to Aincrad

    "I was the only tank standing." Xander says gently. "I think.. Ama might have been as well, but I think she might have pulled back. I can't remember everything super clearly." He then goes to take drink from the bottle.

His eyes go wide, "... good god this actually /fucking/ tastes right!!" Then drinks a bit, before grinning a little. Apparently proper alcohol makes a /very/ happy lizard. "May not be /aged/ but hell man, where did you get this from? Can they do more than wine? What about Ale?"

Though he realizes he is getting off topic a bit. "...But mm. It was, honestly. They are getting ready to face the second boss, I think tomorrow. The boss is now magical instead of melee. I did give a warning... However, I have no clue if they listened."

    "So I warned a close friend to be ready... just incase they didn't." Xander then slowly twirls the bottle, holding it by the neck so the warmth of his hands doesn't ruin the flavor. "If I find out from her that command /didn't/ prepare for a ranged attack, well," His brows knit. "I'll know how much Misa and the others give a damn about my opinion, now won't I?"

Then the Salamander takes another drink. "... and if I find that out, I might break a promise, because I am not wasting my time with a bunch of brats who won't listen." He sighs, "... But I am getting ahead of myself." However, he doesn't answer 'why' he is a coward.
Rylen
Entrance to Aincrad

"Sounds a little rough, but... you were still standing, so that's something." Rylen looks over at him, perhaps appraising just how strong he might actually be. "Seems to me, that it is going to be a hard-fought battle to get people to slow down the persuit of the tower. Imagine moms and dads with young kids, husbands or wives trying to get back to their partners. It took a year just to get to level 10." Shaking his head, Rylen takes a swig of the wine, "I just don't see people waiting that long when they have people they love on the other side."

It is, of course, not a defense of Scale Emblem's tactics. Rylen knows all too well that they tend to be more agressive than the other Alliances. "Seems like it would be stupid not to listen to intel that they are being offered on a silver platter."

"Are you more worried about your friend... or about the fact that they might not heed your warning?" It's hard to tell with Xander, the man certainly had some strange priorities.

"A man never gives away the secrets of his booze supplier." Rylen finally replies, that grin returning to his features. "Besides, controlling the meat and booze supply is my clever way of making sure you spend time with me instead of putting on the angry dragon face and sulking somewhere by yourself." His voice is kept light-hearted, clearly teasing him.
Xander
Entrance to Aincrad

    "Both." Xander admits. "By ignoring my intel, they would not be only placing my friend in danger, but someone she loves deeply who is also stuck here /and/ all the others under their command. It would--" Xander narrows his eyes, "... show how poor of a commander they are and how doomed this endeavour will become at its continued course."

The Salamander then takes a swig from the bottle. "Should they listen and I find that out... then I might push aside my fears and continue to help the push..."

He closes his eyes, "But this also why I called myself a coward. I should be there helping my friend, making sure they /do/ survive, but I've decided to stand back and watch it burn." He opens his eyes gently. "All because I really have no desire to look at death in the face again. I don't think I can mentally handle another scrap with death, living, and being haunted by more demons."
Rylen
Entrance to Aincrad

"It's going to be hard." Rylen confirms, "Being a trained soldier and knowing that people are going to make mistakes. Most people here? They probably have never even seen real combat, real danger, real death." He smirks to himself, as if a thought had crossed his mind, "If my path hadn't gone another way, I probably would have ended up a soldier. Can you imagine that?" He smirks with his mug at his lips, then drinks.

There is a thoughtful sound that follows. Though he might seem like a pretty-boy performer on the surface, Rylen has a decent enough mind. "It makes some sense. I certainly wouldn't want to be under the command of someone who didn't at least value my life." He hesitates, brow furrowing, "Then again, if my sister was still alive, I probably wouldn't stop at anything to scale that Tower and get back to her. I wonder if that makes me a hypocrite."

He shrugs, seeming unconcerned about it for the time being. "For what my two-cents is worth, I don't think you're a coward." Which may be hard to believe. "You've been through shit. Shit most people can't even wrap their heads around. Even if death here isn't a permanent fixture, I don't want to have to see it again, myself."

His gray eyes watch Xander, "You aren't a superhero, Xan. Just a man. A good man." He really does seem to believe that. "It's okay sometimes, to take care of yourself, before you go trying to save everyone else."
Xander
Entrance to Aincrad

    "I guess my other issue is that there are some words from another friend, she is, uh, in another nation right now. Exploring." Xander explains as he rolls the liquid around in the bottle. "She is--" He pauses, "Well, long story short she gave me some advice."

The Salamander takes another swig of the bottle. "To, you know, live the life now, before it is all taken away. Or-- something like that." He grunts, "Just, living... and tackling that tower," He looks up at it. "... That isn't living. It's a war, after a war, after another war."

    His brows furrow. "No one, not even a seasoned soldier, can handle constant war. We will break sooner or later-- and they, they will break sooner, rather than later." Xander looks at the bottle of wine in his hand. "... and besides, even if a commander wants to get home /fast/... You now have responsibilities /to/ your people under your command."

"A leader has to sometimes sacrifice the greater good of self desire, for the safety of the men. You can't /show/ how badly you want something... Or how badly it bothers you... But you do need to make choices. Sometimes-- hard choices." Xander sighs and then chuckles. "But what do I know, I never was in that high of a role." Then takes another swig.
Rylen
Entrance to Aincrad

"This the one who is too similar to your crush, aye?" Rylen puts the pieces together, perhaps because of the way that he cuts off there in the middle. "Probably not the answer you want but... it's not unsound advice." Setting his mug down, the elf leans forward, resting one arm over his knee. "We're here. We don't know for how long, or what will happen between now and if we ever escape." He lifts a hand, looking at his own fingers. It feels strange, as those hands don't quite feel like his own.

"I know I'm a biased source. Kyoko, well... she taught me to live every day I have to the fullest. So for me, it doesn't matter if I'm here or in the real world. Life is life. Just because we're here doesn't mean that the things we do and the people we impact aren't real." He explains.

"Now, it seems to me that it's less about having to choose one over the other, and more about finding a balance. Fight for the things you care about, but also know when to step back and let yourself breathe." Ry watches Xander, perhaps trying to guage just how much he's drinking. It's probably still a while before he actually ends up completely drunk.

"So, sometimes be a hard-ass, scaley lizard who shouts orders and grunts like he has a two word vocabulary." That grin returns as he gives the Salamander a playful nudge to the side. "And other times? Be the man who gets drunk and starts fights with gnomes and makes stupid mistakes."
Xander
Entrance to Aincrad

    "I am pretty sure I only have those two switches." Xander admits as he takes another swig from the bottle, even as Rylen jabs him in the side. "Either I am a soldier kicking ass of the enemies or... I am a soldier picking fights with civilians." He chuckles a bit. "I /really/ need to get a new hobby." Then laughs a bit more.

"God, I really do hope everything will go alright tomorrow." He pulls up his knees and rests his arms across them. His hand still holds onto the bottle, with his forehead resting against his arms. "We don't have that many tanks to begin with-- so I really hope that Amathea can hold the line on her own... or whatever other tanks show up to assist."

    "... The more I think on it, the more I feel like I am-- going to be the weak link that breaks everything." Then Xander looks over to Rylen, "Is that selfish? To feel in some stupid way, that because /you/ won't be there, it will off tilt everything?" He laughs gently, "In truth, there is /always/ another cog that can replace you in the machine." Then goes to take another drink before resting his arms once more.

"You... actually know what I sort of want to do, Rylen?" He looks over at the lithe man beside him. "Like, one of the ideas I have if-- if everything does go sideways?"
Rylen
Entrance to Aincrad


"Just to be clear, you were /trying/ to help the guy. It just so happens that drunk Xander doesn't know how to give a polite warning to avoid Cactus Juice." Rylen smirks, clearly amused, "Drunk Xander doesn't know how to politely ask for anything." The elf has that wicked look on his face again, but he refrains from teasing the Salamander further.

"It might feel that way, like you're the lynch-pin and like everything rides on you." He drains the last of his own cup of wine and begins pouring another, "Trust me, it doesn't. In the end, Scale Emblem will win or lose based on the strength of everyone combined. The leaders running the show. The soldiers on the front lines. Everyone plays a part, and no one person is at fault if things go sideways."

He shrugs then, "I see it like this. Sometimes, you need a mental health day. Right now, you're not in the right headspace to fight. That's fine. Let others carry the burden for a little while. Take time, recharge, come back stronger." Then, with a pause, he adds, "Or choose not to come back at all. Though, I know you well enough to wonder if you actually could give up the Tower completely."

With the question raised, Rylen raises his eyebrows. "Don't tell me it's to run off with the circus. I already think Uta may be hatching plans." Then, joking aside, he adds, "What is it?"
Xander
Entrance to Aincrad

    "Drunk Xander thinks he is the baddest thing that walks on two legs, but doesn't realize that drunk Xander can't walk straight!" Xander comments about himself being drunk with a laugh, "Though true-- all very true... Including that yes, even if I /was/ to go, I wouldn't have my head in the game... and... That-- that could be worse than forcing myself."

The Salamander takes another sip, his claw taps the glass gently. "And no. It is finding out if there are any other soldiers out there, even the police. Police, Army, Marines-- just how many of us are actually stuck here in this game, you know?"

    Then he rests his head back against the wall of the little hiding space they are in. "Then, maybe, just maybe... Create a circus!" He barks out in laughter, "No. No no, just kidding." He laughs a bit more. "Create a mercenary company with said people. Serve not only the alliances as a whole, but also the Landers and the kingdoms."

"However," Xander shrugs, "Big dreams, wide views, but no real motivation to lead." Then takes another drink from the wine bottle.
Rylen
Entrance to Aincrad

"I imagine that sober Xander is pretty bad-ass, though I haven't really tested his mettle yet to be certain." Oh, there was still that outstanding challenge there, but Rylen doesn't tend to be the sort fight for sport. Training or practice, sure, but he doesn't tend to wager on the outcome of fights. "On the plus side, drunk Xander isn't nearly so prickly. So I guess it's an even trade off, there."

The thought of trying to gather together those from military or law enforcement isn't a bad one, and the Pooka nods at the thought, only smirking once at the joke about the circus. "I'm sure there have to be a handful out there. Though, I'm afraid you're the first soldier I've officially met in the game." Ry strokes at his chin, thoughtful, "You could try seeing if you can put some sort of call out on that Adventurer Network, the one with all the pictures of lost people. See if anyone nibbles."

Then, he chuckles to himself, "You do know that I wasn't a circus performer, right? I mean... I probably could have been before the accident, but that's neither here nor there."

He hesitates, then adds, "It's okay to have dreams. Even if you don't think you'll ever reach them. It just means that maybe you'll keep your eyes open for the chance if an opportunity presents itself."
Xander
Entrance to Aincrad

    Xander takes another swig of the bottle, falling a bit silent in his thoughts, before he points his index finger at Rylen. "We will face off soon enough." He grins gently, before he yawns a little. "Though I think sleep will claim me before the booze does."

The Salamander looks for that cork, peering around. "... Now where did I spit that off too in my annoyance." Though as he looks he rumbles gently. "You probably would have made a great performer."
He continues to look around, but seems to have no luck. Maybe the drink /is/ starting to get to him slowly, after all he hasn't eaten anything and that is never a great mix.

    "But yeah. Yeah, I might look to make a call. Can't hurt." Xander admits, as he about gives up. "You know... you know what really sucks?" He glances over to Rylen. "That if I was not at my terminal when that /whole/ mess started. I probably wouldn't have made it- and I wouldn't have met you, or anyone else!"

Xander chuckles gently, "I stood up to stretch my damn legs, wasn't at my terminal and then, all shit broke loose. So, what do I do? I try to stop it-- so I sit my stupid ass in front of the whole mess, fully aware of what was going to happen..." The he frowns slowly. That happy tone, becoming more of a morbid one. "... Maybe if I was just a bit faster."

    The Salamander growled gently and then just drinks the bottle instead of sipping before he goes loudly, "Yeah. No! We are /NOT/ going down that road. Nope. No. Bad brain! No looping! No going down there. Nu uh!" He stands up to his feet, perhaps to quickly and nearly falls back over. "We go! ONWARD!" Then he points at the Peko. "... On that. Yes. We will go onward on that."
Rylen
Entrance to Aincrad

"Looking forward to it." Rylen confirms, huckling to himself at the index finger pointed his way. As Xander starts to hunt around for the cork, the Pooka is tempted just to hand the one over from his own bottle, but the Salamander seems quite attached to the bottle, so he just lets it be.

"Well, I appreciate the vote of confidence. Fact is, I never got my chance on the big stage, but I view that as kami telling me I'm meant to be elsewhere." There is disappointment in his eyes, but that smile of his lingers, regardless.

"For what it's worth, I'm glad you're here, Xan. Because if it wasn't for that twist of fate, I wouldn't have the chance to get to know you." Lifting his bottle, which is now corked off, Ry sort of toasts to Xander. "It might not be much as a consolation prize, but it is what it is."

As Xander gets wobbily to his feet, Rylen follows, standing a bit steadier. "I assume you have somewhere to crash tonight?" He asks, wanting ot make sure the Salamander doesn't pass out on the streets. He gives a whistle, summoning his peko over, offering a hand out to Xander to help steady him on his feet. "The finest peko chauffeur service. Where can I be taking you tonight, m'lord?"
Xander
Entrance to Aincrad

    Xander murmurs something on his chimlink as Rylen helps him on his feet and then he looks over to Rylen, "So, an alliance mate /just/ found out that there is apparently--" He wiggles his fingers, "Advance and... /Superior!/ Magic." Xander knits his brows. "And that Gilga-boy apparently has been up /all/ ten floors."

He looks at Rylen, "... Can you believe that? A damn NPC." Yep. Xander is sliding. "As for place to stay-- coooould, stay in the barracks... But then I'd probably get kicked awake to help with the Tower. SO!" He extends his finger up in the air and then, goes to rest it against Rylen's chest. "... Your call, buddy o' pal!" There is a wicked grin on that dragon-man's face.

"You-- oh yes-- you... you lanky man you /gave/ me this glorious stuff, now /you/ get to deal with me." Xander says with a chuckle.
Rylen
Entrance to Aincrad

"Well, hopefully that's more information for your Alliance to use in the battle ahead." Rylen doesn't really know what to make of the various levels of magic being described. It's beyond his scope of in-game knowledge. "Gilga? The King of the Outcasts?" He looks confused, likely because he's only getting part of the information. "You know what, explain it to me in the morning when you're sober."

The finger poking into his chest is more physical contact than Xander normally allows, so Rylen raises an eyebrow. "Yep, you're definitely into drunk Xander. Luckily we haven't hit black-out Xander, though, which is good." He pats the saddle, "Come on, my scaled friend, get your ass on the peko." And he will help the Salamander do just that. Luckily, the saddle is fairly stable, making the beast an easy ride, even for a slightly wobbly rider.

"Well, I take full responsibility. At least you seem to be feeling better." And that is enough for Rylen. Sure, the Salamander may be out of the tower boss fight, but it is better this way. If someone in Scale Emblem wants to blame him for getting one of their tanks drunk, so be it. "I'll get us a room at the inn. That way you can sleep it off until morning." Between the booze and the offer of a room, he must have gotten some more coin from somewhere or another.