Twice In A Lifetime

Xander
Breg Epona - Main Square

        Breg Epona...
    The home of the Salamanders and the Holy Empire of Westelande. A place of nomads, warriors, and hot sand. It is in this very root city and beam of light impacts the church.

A sight going noticed by some adventurers, but not so much by the landers. The inside of the church glows gently, before the light fades and there, above the altar, protected by the diety that the people of the Holy Empire beloved, is one floating adventurer: Xander Scaleharth

Seeming unconscious, unopened eyes, and floating. His body is whole, no injury to be seen, breathing, but seeming almost deathly silent.
Rylen
Breg Epona - Main Square

Rylen had known the moment that the battle began against the boss on the sixth floor. When people from his own Alliance had begun reporting in, but there had been no response from Xander, he had reached out to some of his contacts within Scale Emblem only to realize what had happened.

A long boat ride, plus a trip on Peko across the desert later and Rylen had taken up vigil at the church in Breg Epona. The normally calm Pooka had taken to pacing, his worried emotions writtein on his features. Normally, he would keep some of that in check, knowing that Xander wasn't really comfortable with their relationship being out in the open, but right now... well, that isn't quite so easy.

So, when Xander appears, at last, it is like feeling a weight is pulled from his shoulders. "Xan..." The Elf walks forward, though his posture seems hesitant, likely not having experienced many 'respawns' in the past, unsure of just what might happen.
Uta
Breg Epona - Main Square

The sustained pace at which Uta darts into the church clashes with the somber black funeral kimono she is sporting. A bit hard to recognizable at first out of her signature newbie gear, the Spriggan arrives in time to witness the light which brings the Salamander back while crossing the threshold.

She can't take more than a few steps, and she has to rest against some fixture. A pew, a wall, a niche. Anything this place offers.

And pant.

"...You... you..."

Her voice falters, but it's hard to tell if it's broken by emotion or merely by the irregular breathing.
Xander
Breg Epona - Main Square

    It wouldn't be to shortly after Rylen arrives down the body at last float down and the light fades away. The Salamander's feet coming to firmly touch the stone floor of the church. Which is about when Uta runs in.

It is short after does his fiery draconic gold eyes open. Slowly at first, like someone waking from sleep, before his brows furrow and he places his hand to his forehead, "..shit was..." Then as he looks a his hand. His eyes slowly looking over where he was, did it click.

    Yes-- he was in a boss fight.
    Yes-- He did shove two of his teammates aside...
    Yes-- He did tank a massive laser to the face to protect those two from now facing what he was facing right now.

    That is when his eyes first fall to Uta who is visible about ready to yell at him, to slowly, as if scared to. As if more scared to face a boss, slowly, very slowly, looks to where Rylen is.

It wasn't easy to do that either. As if one part was happy to see the man before him, but another feared the words that were going to come out from Rylen's lips.

The only thing Xander could say to them both is simply, "... Hi..?" With the most sheepish of grins and still some-- uncertainty if he was really /here/-here or if it was just all an illusion of his mind that would slip back into some dark, twisted, reality.
Rylen
Breg Epona - Main Square

There is a moment of hesitation there when the Salamander's eyes open. A thin press of Rylen's mouth and a tenseness in his arms that seems to show in the muscles there. Xander has seen the tired look on his features before. It isn't the first time that Rylen has gone sleepless to make it to Breg Epona.

Uta's arrival offers a momentary distraction, his gray eyes shifting over to give them a nod before they fall back on Xander.

Slowly, Rylen steps up, but he doesn't say anything at first. There is a searching sort of look from him, though. Many people have come back from the dead within Elder Tale and been fine, but they know so little about what is happening...

Rather than yelling, what Xander gets is just a quick couple of steps in his direction and then he's got Rylen's arms thrown around him, pulling him into a hug. No words, no condemnation, just... that.
Uta
Breg Epona - Main Square

Uta just stands there. "...you are back!", she finishes, with a sigh. "Are you fine? Are you okay?", she blurts out.

Maybe it's the adrenalin crash, maybe it's emotional confusion, maybe it's both. Her knees shake, she does not dare move from there, almost certainly for fear of her legs giving and falling face first onto the floor.

That's a big no-no at such events.

"Thank the Goddess you're alive! I wouldn't have missed your reverse funeral for anything in the world! I would, and did, /kill/ to be here in time!" She extends one hand, as if for preventing objections. "Monsers. It was monsters that attacked our pekos!"

"...but I'm rambling. Let... let's get back to the main point." She shakes her head, as if for clearing it.

"...Hi."
Xander
Breg Epona - Main Square

    Xander goes to respond back to Uta with a slight, nervous smile on his face, "W-why wouldn't I be back?" Yet as Rylen walks up to him. Those draconic eyes can't help but meet the man's own silvery gray. "Rylen.. I.. can explain..." He says softly, a nervous rumble in his throat; perhaps even fear.

Then suddenly!

He was hugged and he stood there unsure of how to process what was going on. His tail flicks and he closes his eyes. "U.. Uta... could you give us... a moment?" As he lowers his head gently. "I'll.. I'll explain everything to you as well... I... Just need a moment."
Rylen
Breg Epona - Main Square

The gesture lasts, perhaps, longer than strictly necessary. Definitely longer than one would expect from two 'friends' as Rylen so often has to describe them as. Perhaps, he isn't quite so worried about expressing such a thing in front of Uta of all people. Afterall, they were one of Rylen's best friends within the game.

Eventually, though, his arms slacken a little and he steps back, giving the Salamander another of those once-overs with his anayltical gray eyes. His hands come up to frame either side of Xander's face, looking at him. Really /looking/ at him.

"You're okay?" Is all he asks. No demands for explanations. It's likely he already knows some of what happened, regardless. It's the same words Uta uses, though, both seeing to be looking for that confirmation.
Uta
Breg Epona - Main Square

Uta, who seems to be able to stand on her own by now, looks at Xander and Rylen for a second, after the hug ends. Her mouth rounds up in an 'oh.' as understanding hits.

She just nods. "Just chim me when you're ready. I'll be outside."

She turns and staggers a bit on her way out, but it isn't long before she's out of the door, out of sight, and out of earshot.
Xander
Breg Epona - Main Square

    Xander watches Uta leave, even as Rylen releases the long hug. When Rylen touches his face, he closes his eyes once more leaning into the touch with a low rumble from his throat.

His eyes go to meet Rylen's once more. "... I think so." He says simply as he just as slowly looks away. "There was..." His brows furrow. "... This.. skeleton machine... with cables and wires coming out of it.. Looked like something from my nightmares and just," The Salamander lowers his head. "I lost it for a bit. I lost all composure in the fight."

    "Merek... pulled-- yes pulled me out of a way from the shot." Xander looks back to Rylen. "Then when it started to come down, he and another.. tsk... I can't remember their name at the moment.." He steps away just slightly to pinch the bridge of his nose. "But they would also be in ground zero. Neither had great health... Neither did I... so I..."

Xander then looks back to Rylen. "I did it again." He chuckles lightly. "I-- I can't seem to not throw myself into a suicide attempt to save lives..." His hand shakes a little as he says this, before he lowers his head with a low growl, before his eyes snap back to Rylen, "Did.. did anyone else get killed or just me? It-- was only me this time.. right... Yoshi?"
Rylen
Breg Epona - Main Square

There are details in Xander's story that Rylen likely didn't have. The finer parts of what had happened were not as much of his concern in that moment as it was getting where he needed to be. Still, it fills in some of the gaps in his knowledge.

Ever so gently, his thumbs brush along the scales that line Xander's cheeks, "I shouldn't be surprised." He offers, finally seeming to find more words. "This world or any other, you're always going to be trying to be the big damn hero." His lip quirks. There is relief there, likely because all of this still sounds like the man he has come to know so well.

His hands lightly fall away, then. "I don't know." He explains with a shake of his head, "I'll be honest, it wasn't my primary concern." He tilts his head ever so slightly, "I had something more important to worry about." His brows raise, making it obvious that the man he's talking to is exactly the more important thing.

Then, he glances towards the exit, "You should talk to Uta, too. I'm sure they worried."
Xander
Breg Epona - Main Square

    Xander seems to slowly relax as he realizes Rylen isn't going to give him the call down for being a big idiot and saving lives; Or trying to anyways.

He steps up to Rylen this time and whispers to him softly, "... Thank you for being here, Yoshi." Before he gives him a gentle kiss on the lips, moving to rest his forehead against his.

"..and yeah... yeah... I'll talk to her too. I-- I haven't forgotten her." He chuckles, before he goes to chimlink her back in. "Uta, you can get back in here. I owe you an equal explanation."
Rylen
Breg Epona - Main Square

"I'll always be here, and I'll always come for you." Rylen replies warmly, returning that kiss and then giving the Salamander a light bump with his nose. "Just... try not to scare me too much, hmm?" He murmurs.

Then, when Xander chimlinks Uta to return, he takes an ever so slight step back. Enough to still be close by, but enough to make sure that the Salamander has some space.
Uta
Breg Epona - Main Square

Uta walks in at a more dignified pace this time. No faltering, no hesitation, a beeline through the aisle straight for the duo.

She stops at a short enough distance, breathes in. Thinks for a moment, then blurts out in a single breath, "...see, it's because of this stubborn, thick-headed, obstinate, refractory, unregenerate, downright pertinacious attitue of yours that today I'm here with my head held high instead of a whiney larva crying away in some root town." She spreads her arms. "If you promise that nobody will ever know, /ever/, I'm even giving you a hug."

She hurries to add, "You have fifteen seconds to accept. If you decline, you cannot accept this quest later."
Xander
Breg Epona - Main Square

    "I.. will always accept hug quests?" Xander says a little confused about what Uta is exactly going on about, but he does give and allow the hug from her. "I'm sorry I scared you both. Really I am."

He then goes to place his hands on Uta's shoulders. "As I told Rylen, I got myself killed protecting two others. I-- I am hoping that paid off and they survived. One was Merek, the other was another member in the Scale. We all three were in blast radius, so I chose instead three of us getting killed..."

The Salamander shrugs, "I'd take the full attack."
Rylen
Breg Epona - Main Square

Rylen can't help but stand there, crossing his arms over his chest, a slow smile spreading onto his features. "Told you they were worried." He chuckles softly.

He glances over towards Xander, then, "You can't be sorry for something you fully intend to do again." Rylen raises a brow. "I don't think either of us are expecting that this is to be a one time occurance."

A ghost of some worry crosses over his features, "Do I wish you wouldn't run head first into danger? Sure. But you're a soldier. It's in your blood to protect others. I just..." His eyes flick to Uta, then back again. "I don't want to lose you." His expression is pensive, "We don't know what effects dying really has, even if it seems like we're immortal. But..."

He laughs, though it has a somber edge to it, "Xander is going to be Xander..."
Uta
Breg Epona - Main Square

Uta finishes her hug, and pulls back. She straightens her clothes, and looks up again. "I'll have to agree with Rylen," she says with a side glance. "We had a bit of an interesting brainstorming session on the alliance chimlinks yesterday, and... let's say that all signs point at death not being to be taken lightly. We can't quite put our finger on it, but there's a good chance that it might do some sort of permanent damage in the long term."

"I'm sure nobody here wants to lose you." Another sideways glance at Rylen.

Silence.

Uta bursts in a soft, defeated laughter. "...but if you stopped rushing at people to save them, that'd be another way of losing Xander..."
Xander
Breg Epona - Main Square

    Xander grins a little, "I can at least still say it, because while yes, as you say-- Xander is going to Xander... It doesn't mean I can't apologize and apologize a million more for... Worrying you guys."

He shifts his weight a little. "And yeah, as a solider /and/ as a tank, it is my job to protect people. Look out from my brother's in arms, and make sure my family stays safe."

Yet there was something that gives him pause. Something that Rylen says that causes the Salamander to look directly at Rylen with a quizzical look. A statement that-- wasn't adding up in his head for some strange reason.

    Though Ut'a laughter and her explanation about losing important things, along with yeah, it just being a Xander thing, causes him to laugh a little too. But it was-- nervous. Uncertain. "Y-yeah. Your right, Uta. Your right."

His eyes shift between the two before looking directly at Rylen. He goes to say something before he looks away, then at the church, back at the two of them. "... Why... why don't we get something to eat. I'm starved... Maybe even some drinks."
Rylen
Breg Epona - Main Square

That concerned expression lingers on Rylen's face as Uta continues to explain that there are some suspicions that death may have some lingering side-effects. "That's... exactly the sort of thing I worry about. I'm don't know anything about the technology behind all of this, though, so I haven't a clue."

He looks to Xander, then. "I know how important it is for you. All I ask is you try to stay safe if you can. I don't want to come back here some day and have blank eyes looking at me." For someone like Rylen, who has lost many people, the thought of that is likely enough to give him nightmares.

He doesn't quite understand the quizzical look that the Salamander casts his way, but seems easy-going enough to just nod at the suggestion of food. "Sure. Food sounds like a great idea." He likely hasn't eaten since hearing word about the battle.
Uta
Breg Epona - Main Square

"...if it is technology. We... we still don't know what, exactly, is going on here. Magic? Technology?" She sighs. "Whatever it is, is Sufficiently Advanced."

She shakes her head again, to clear it from such heavy thoughts. "...Yeah, food and drinks sounds good. Let's go. I'll have to give you a complete physical later," she says as she heads towards the door, "And I'm gonna do so by booping your snoot to activate the medical inspection."

She stops and frowns. "Who's supposed to pay for refreshments at a funeral? The deceased? Or-" She shakes her head. "This world is confusing."