Dealing with Goodbyes

    Xander reached out to Rylen to meet up with him in a quiet are of the Salamander city. The Holy Knight found himself pacing about as he waited. After all just sitting around waiting was not something he was good at. Not with this whole tournament going on.

Thankfully, Xander has not created a ditch with all his back n' forth

Though Rylen's reply to the message was quick, it still seems to take an achingly long time before he actually shows up at the appointed meeting spot. Though this part of the city is relatively quiet, away from the main avenues that lead to the arena, there is still a hum of conversation that seems to drift over the distance.

In the end, it is the sound of footsteps echoed by peko steps that announces Rylen's arrival. Unusually, though, he seems to be dressed for travel. His peko seems to be carrying his tent strapped across its back, along with a number of filled saddle bags. Most shocking, perhaps, is that he's actually wearing a shirt for once. It's a thin, black shirt with laces along the front, his blue traveler's coat worn over it.

"Xan!" He calls, raising a hand and offering his usual boyish smile as he leads the peko forward. "Hope you weren't waiting too long. I was in the middle of getting Moko loaded up."

    Xander hears the steps first. His own come to a stop, then his draconic golden fiery eyes look over. There he sees Rylen dressed for travel, just like his Peko.

Xander was smiling, but it was waining. He raises his own hand in greeting, but be waits for Rylen to walk over closer before he speaks up. "Hey Rylen..."

His eyes look over to Moko, then tent that is strapped down, before back to him. "Guess you're not staying to watch the next part?" Xander then tried to smile. "Was I really that bad?"

Xander's words seem to stop Rylen in his tracks, his smile faltering then. "Ah." He reaches up, lightly stroking over the crow-shaped noseprint of his peko. "You know it's not like that, Xan." His brows furrow, perhaps already realizing that leaving might be a step in the wrong direction.

"Shit, I think you're capable enough to make it all the way to the end of the tournament. No doubt about that." His hand draws away from Moko, settling back at his side. "I came here to cheer you on, you know that, right?"

That said, Rylen sighs to himself. "I should only be gone a week. I need to oversee the plans for the new ranch that my guild is building. As soon as I'm sure everything is in order, I'll be on the next boat back...

    Xander stares at him. His jaw shifts a little as he listens to what Rylen has to say. Then his eyes shift away looking at the ground. There was a long silence, the man not seeming to adjust his stance really; Not even the tail moves.

Xander does look slowly back at Rylen, forcing a smile on his face, followed by a soft nod. "Got it. Ranch. Yeah, those uh, those things can't build themselves."

    The salamander shifts his jaw again, his teeth gently sliding, before he claps his hands together, then gives Rylen two finger guns, "So, I'll hold you to it. That you'll be back a week." His hands then go down by his side. "... And I'll.. keep trying to win this thing." Xander places his hands together, resting his index claws near his lips in silent thought.

When he does break that silence he says calmly, "After all.. I have to win... So I can do a thing. I don't win... I won't do it." Then he chuckles softly, "Just hope you do get to see it. If I do."

That long moment is one of those times that Rylen is left to stand there, wondering just what is going on inside the Salamander's head. While he may not be the sort to wear his heart on his sleeve like some others, the elf's features are far more open than Xander's by a long shot. That confusion is written on his features.

He knows the response he's getting is forced. Enough so that he grips the reigns in one hand tighter. "I wish you would just tell me what's going on in your head." His brows furrow, "You left me behind on the Isle of Beginnings, remember?" He asks, silver eyes uncertain. "So I followed."

Rylen sighs softly to himself, "You get how unfair it is that you can disappear for week and it's fine, but if I go I get this... whatever this is." Because he still isn't sure what any of this is. "I'm just trying to make a life here, whatever kind of life I can manage. To have a place to lay my head after a long journey."

Then, he just looks at Xander, "I believe in your strength, Xander. More than you do, most of the time, I think." Moko gives a low warble, leading Rylen to pat the bird on the side of the neck. "And I'll still be here when the tournament ends. Win or lose."

    Xander tilts his head gently. "What is going on in my head is that I am trying to decide how much you are being honest and how much is just words. Actions say a ton, but," He hrms softly, "I don't trust easy, so a part of me isn't so sure you'd come back. Another part of me thinks you are being true to your word." The Salamander crosses his arms over his chest. "Just like a part of me thinks you came here to advertise your own fortune, since I nearly killed your bank," He laughs at that. "Another knows you came here because you really give a damn."

The salamander rubs the back of his neck, "I am in a war with myself, in this head of mine. Demon and an angel. Both trying to tell me what to believe and me trying to decide which to listen too-- if either." He walks up to Rylen and goes to place his hand on his shoulder. "And I really do hope your life starting works out," Then there is an amused grin. "For you know, that day I piss off my guild and get kicked out of the alliance." He gives Rylen a pat on the shoulder, before he goes to step away. "So, I understand. I may not like it, but I /do/ understand."

It isn't as if Rylen can't understand Xander's point of view. The two men had only met about a month ago, and that isn't a lot of time in the grand scheme of things. Certainly not enough to really know the measure of someone's character. "I see." Is all that Rylen says in response.

"The truth? Would I still be standing here if you hadn't crossed my path? Probably. The troop looks to me for guidance, so I probably would have gotten dragged along, regardless." He admits that much, "But is that the reason I came? No." The Pooka leaves it at that. Someone else might feel the need to defend themselves, to try to convince a person to feel one way or the other. Rylen is not that type of person. He simply shows who he is by his words and deeds and lets others come to their own conclusion.

When Xander's hand comes down onto his shoulder, all he says is, "I hope you figure it out." Then, he releases the peko's reigns, grabbing something that was tied down to the back of it. It's a wrapped package, roughly cylindrical, and thick, which he offers out. "In the mean time, here."

The package is wrapped in paper, and has a decent weight to it, but squishes a little under the paper. "I thought this might help you sleep better." Should Xander open it, he will find that inside is a thick, heavy blanket, finely made, with an image of a black dragon laid in the quilting. Rylen must have commissioned it, since he clearly has no skill in tailoring.

    Xander catches the package that Rylen tosses his way. He looks at the Pooka and sighs gently, "You ask my mind and when I give you my mind, you get upset... which is why I don't always share my thoughts. The two of us have a lot to learn about one another and I /want/ to learn about you, Rylen. I-- Care about you."

"You... help... me remember /who/ was before-- you know." He shakes his head gently. "Just I can't... change over night nor do I expect you to either. We have a ton on our backs, shit probably a mile wide. It-- will take time, ya know?" Xander then fiddles with the package and then goes to at last open it. As he unwraps it, his eyes go wide. "... Holy shit!"

He lets the blanket fully expose itself, looking over the tailoring work and gently running his thumb along the fabric. "This is amazing!" He peers past it over at Rylen with a massive smile on his face. "Like, seriously! Thank you Yoshi!"

"I'm not upset." Rylen replies, shaking his head. "You've seen me upset, Xan. You'd know it if I was." In fact, he mostly seems calm, as if he were not letting his own emotions get the better of him. He could easily be offended by Xander's words, by the conflict in him, but he isn't. He could let himself feel hurt by it, but he doesn't.

"I'm not asking you to do anything. I'm not asking you to make any decisions. Take all the time you need." He reaches to take the reigns of his mount once again, "I told you, I'm not going anywhere."

Of course, when Xander actually opens the gift and sees what is inside, it's hard for the smile not to return to his features. The blanket must have cost quite a lot, perhaps enough to put another crack in that idea that all he came here for was to further his own fortunes. "You're welcome. I just thought the extra weight would be calming at night. So I had a guildmate make the closest thing we could come up with."

He shrugs, though the smile lingers. "I should probably get going. If you need me, you have my chimlink. Kick some ass while I'm gone, aye?"

    Xander smiles warmly at the blanket, though he looks back to Rylen when the man explains he needs to get going, "Oh... Yeah.. Yeah I-- probably should hold you up much longer, huh?" The Salamander says looking a little sheepish as he goes to roll the blanket back up with care. "And I plan too... and I will make sure to keep you up to date for sure on what is going on."

He then shifts his weight a little, "Hey, Rylen. While... Your back over at the Beginner Isle.... Could you do me a favor?" He furrows his brows a little. "Could you-- see what the progress is on the tower, if any? Things been really quiet and while I know folks are focused on the Tournament.... Just wondering if anyone is looking into things over there."

"The sooner I go, the sooner I get back." Rylen explains, his lip quirking upward slightly. There is still some hint of sadness in his eyes, but it seems to be eased by the fact that Xander appreciates the gift.

"Hmm?" The question has his eyebrows raised, though he listens to the whole request before he responds. "Sure. I'm not sure how much I'll be able to find out as an outsider, but I can certainly take a look and see what sort of investigations are going on." Many members of his guild actually actively aid the fight for the Tower, but that doesn't mean that Scale Emblem doesn't tend to see that as their territory.

"I'll send you are report." He raises one hand to the side of his head in a salute, that playful smile returning in full. "You focus on things here."