Its Been Awhile

    The last time that Rylen and Xander spoke was in a cave. It was after the Salamander Holy Knight player-killed another for their actions, which he then agreed to follow the punishments laid down by the Scale.

However, Xander has gone-- oddly quiet since then. Distant even. There was the discovery that he didn't remember what his parents had done in his life; What their jobs were. His mind thinking about the Flash, things before that-- Things after that.

Which lead all thoughts back to ...

        Rylen

    It is this very reason that Xander has come to this very town, to this very tavern inn. He walks in and comes to stop at the entrance here. He has been asking people who he's been passing by if they seen the lithe man and everything has pointed him here. Now... Now he just has to find him amongst the population residing, eating, and relaxing here.

For the people of Dun Lorieag, Rylen has become a familiar face amongst the Adventurers who have decided to take up a semi-permanent residence here, trying to push back against the undead. While the Pooka certainly carries the charisma needed for someone meant to be a leader, he lacks many of the organizational skills which would actually help someone with those sort of tasks.

At the moment, he sits at a table across from a trader who seems to be relaying a report of a recent attack on one of the caravans. "We're stretched thin right now. A good chunk of our volunteers left to protect Susaki against the Wave of Calamity." Rylen starts to explain, only to get cut off.

"That's not my problem." The trader grunts. "You promised us protection, and we can't wait around forever for you people to get your act together. I've got goods that need to get to market before the snow starts setting in."

There is tension that shows in Rylen's face as he takes a slow, deep breath. "I've got two fighters I can send with your caravan as guards, but I don't have a healer available right now. Do you think you can make it without one?"

With a put out, obviously exaggerated sigh, the Trader mutters, "Probably, but if we have casualties, it'll be on your head."

"I know." Rylen replies, somberly. "I'll have the two guards meet you tomorrow morning."

With frustration, the trader stands, scrapes his chair against the floor, and then stomps away, pushing past Xander. Rylen? Well, he just sets his head into his hands, thinking that no one is looking at that moment.

    Xander does spot Rylen after a moment of looking around. Maybe i was his voice or just that the man stands out to Xander more than others.

However, this brings him in earshot of the conversation and the Salamander slows his steps over before coming to a stop. Even as the Merchant shoves past him, he has to hold back a growl, before his draconic eyes turn back to Rylen.

Slow the knight walks over and calmly he goes to extend his hand out to touch Rylen's shoulder, but then he hesitates. His eyes searching, seeming unsure of the action. After a moment he goes to rest his hand down on Rylen's shoulder with a gentle, soft, "Hey..."

The instinctual reaction to that touch is for Rylen to look up, expecting that it is yet another Lander or Adventurer in need of help. Xander, knowing him well enough, can likely see the way that he puts on a fake expression in order to get through those sort of constant interactions. The man's silver eyes shift up to Xander and then... he lets out a breath.

"Hey yourself, stranger." He offers, his features shifting into a soft, but genuine smile. "Sorry, I was just..." He motions vaguely, "Off in my own head for a bit."

He's quick to motion his hand, offering the seat that the Lander had just abandoned. "What happened? Did they keep you tied up somewhere? Was there flogging involved? Or torturous repetitive music meant to break the soul of a lesser man?" His humor comes out a bit, that tendency to be playful with the Salamander overriding the exaction that is clear in his features.

    Xander's tail flicks ever so slightly. At first all the scaled man says is 'Hmm', before he takes the offered seat. He goes to rest his hands on the table, thumbs tapping one another gently.

"Just boring chop this tree, drag that over there, help clear a mine... Mostly also making sure no one didn't get themselves killed." Xander says with a shrug. "Then wrangling in my own slowly growing frustration at the whole group."

    The Salamander looks at his thumbs, before he looks over to his elf-like mate. "Though what little I overheard, sounds like you got your hands more full than I ever have. You-- doing alright, Rylen? Like. Seriously. Are you alright?"

At Xander's description of his punishment, Rylen gets a bit of a wry look on his features. That lopsided smile of his quirking at one corner. "I don't know, I think watching you do manual labor would be terribly entertaining." He lifts his brows at that.

He makes no comment about the frustration, knowing all too well that he has had lingering irritation boiling below the surface for a long time. Instead, he just nods, "At least it isn't anything too bad. Probably because they know damn well that you were in the right, even if a little misguided."

Then, the question posed to him, the silver-haired man lets out a soft sound that is almost a laugh, but with no humor behind it. "It's..." He seems to try to find words. "MMO players are notorious for having short attention spans, and the fight with the undead has dragged on for months." Rylen starts to explain. "There's a level of boredom, some level of compassion fatigue, and a good chunk owed to the rest of Yamato having its own problems."

He lifts one hand to rub at his temple. "Just makes it hard, since people look to me as a senior member of Crescent Moon. As if I have answers, when I'm just as lost as everyone else. I just fake it better."

    Xander smirks as Rylen throws the compliment his way, but for the most part doesn't reply back, because he waits to hear what is bugging the other man.

As Rylen explains Xander closes his eyes. There is a soft 'hmm' from him again. His tail flicks gently behind him as he seems to be off in thought on the problem. "It is never easy being in charge of something and even harder when people only care about their own hides... Less anothers."

His eyes then open. "People are selfish. We are /all/ very selfish. It is hard to teach people to not be, as some..." He shrugs, "They are just that way naturally."

    Xander sighs gently as he leans forward on the table, seeming to be thinking even more on the situation. "The Scale has gone back to focusing hard on pushing the Tower. New World I am sure is pissed that we are. Me?" His eyes dim a little. "... I don't even really know /what/ I want anymore."

He looks over to Rylen at this moment. "I am not even sure I /want/ to help keep pushing the tower. Not when those who 'act'," He does a little air quotes with his hand. "In charge don't even have some f**king backbone."

    Then the Salamander rubs the bridge of his nose. "But, that is my own frustration... and... Not the topic of this conversation at all." He inhales deeply. "I know Setsuna reported some stuff on the Undead. He is our most active member in the Scale when dealing with that situation. If the undead /do/ have a fortification outpost, it may be wise that /we/ build one as well. Having no defenses continue to open the door for the enemy to keep pushing and eventually /build/ another post."

He looks to Rylen. "They need to be held at a point and /kept/ at that point. Creating a zone where no civilians are allowed to enter."

"Even those that do care, only have so much they can emotionally and physically invest before they run out of steam, too." Rylen explains, "I've even had to take a few breaks. Went back to the Holy Empire for a while during the Festival and smashed some weaker undead there. Checked on the Peko Ranch to make sure Uta isn't burning the place down..." The later is likely an attempt at humor.

Still, he listens to talk of the tower, brows lifted with his usual level of interest. Rylen seems to take in everything, though he doesn't always comment on it all. This time though... "We're coming up on a year trapped here. I'm sure people are realizing that Scale Emblem isn't even a tenth of the way to the top. That has to be eating at people."

He looks down at his hands, then reaches one out to lay it over one of Xander's. Neither of them had much to return to, and a lot that this world has given to them. "You don't have to decide right now. You have every right to take your time to figure out if you want to go back to the front lines." At least here, he had that choice.

The idea of building up some kind of defensive line is not a new idea for Rylen, and he nods his head at that, allowing his hand to move back to his side of the table. They were, afterall, in public, and he knows all too well to keep the displays of his affections limited.

"That requires a manpower and investment I'm not sure I can martial on my own, right now. I'm barely keeping the caravans protected. At least the winter should slow some of it down, give us time to regroup."

    Xander smiles at the touch and Rylen may notice he-- doesn't want to move that hand away, but he also doesn't try super hard to keep Rylen's hand there either. "You'd think with this happening on the door step of some of the most money powerful people, that they be willing to fund it."

The Salamander grunts, "Then again, they probably figure the Merchant Blades are enough and they don't need to put any more effort in it, given they can hide behind their mansion walls while their people suffer."

He rubs his temples gently. "... god damn politicians... even in this damn video game, they are still annoying, cowardly lil' shits."

    Xander lowers his hands down and shakes his head. "Either way, the snow may slow down the travel of the landers, but it will also make moving troops in harder. I /doubt/ the undead however will have that problem. Given, well, you know, undead."

He clasps his hands together and rests his chin on his knuckles. His eyes narrowing slightly. "We all been saying that they seem to be buying time. Just waiting. Maybe that is /exactly/ what they are waiting for. Where, we, as the living will be limited and they, as the undead, won't be."

    Xander shrugs his shoulders. "Or I could be over thinking it, they are not that smart, and we all will be sitting here having a continued stare off." He then lowers his hands. "But something will bend-- and then it will break. The question is, who is going to be the one to break the bend first."

"Oh, the Landers are more than happy to fund protecting themselves when it suits their interests, but they aren't incorrect in blaming us for the problem." Rylen lightly rubs the bridge of his nose. "It seems it was Adventurers who freed the undead hoard in the first place, so it's somewhat our responsibility to solve the problem."

He folds his arms beneath himself slightly, leaning forward. "The Merchant Blades aren't used to this kind of prolongued seige, either. It's different than anything the Landers have ever faced down before."

Rylen quiets a bit, taking in the appraisal of the far more experienced tactician. In the end, the Pooka is a people-person, not a soldier. He doesn't have the mind for real combat situations. "Maybe you could talk to your people, see if Scale might be able to throw some people and funds our way in order to build up some permanent defenses." He suggests.

"If nothing else, throw it out there as your way to give back and help protect people." Then, with another of those wry smirks, "Besides, I wouldn't complain to having you assigned up here where I have easier access to you." Then, softer, he adds, "I've missed you."

    Xander listens still and goes to lean back in the chair. ".. How-- did we have a hand in these undead coming back?" Sadly not fully aware how one little 'quest' turned into a massive war they now face.

"It is interesting that this undead leader seem to understand the limitations of 'normal' people. They move at night, when most are tired and not able to see well. Use fog, like smoke cover. I'm not sure if it's the leader who is really the brains or-- someone or... several someones who seem to have the military knowledge."

"If those individuals were found, figured out who they were, and removed." Xander says thoughtfully. "Then their military abilities may be cut, but if they are /smart/, those minds are probably behind walls and less on the front lines." Xander then looks over to Rylens, "But yeah, I'll talk to the Scale. See if we can move some resources to help with a defense line. Might, as you say, show that we /do/ care and not self-serving assholes."

    Then the Salamander smiles before he now reaches across the table to touch Rylen's arm. "... And I miss you as well or I wouldn't have come this far to see you." His hand slowly slides down Rylen's arm, before he moves it away.

"Rylen... Do you mind a... change of topic from war and... More a personal, private question?"

"Apparently, some of our fellow Adventurers found themselves on a quest, which involved killing off a cursed king. The same questline that Merek got that infernal sword that he had for a while." Rylen explains, much of this having come to him second hand from various people within the Alliance and outside of it. "The Queen at the head of this army, seems to be trying to reclaim the fallen king's lands."

He shrugs his shoulers, the motion also meant to ease some of the tension that is held there. "I'm guessing that it would be the same ones that are quite so vocal. The more human-like a Monster or Lander is, the more intelligent they seem to be." He guesses.

Then, at the touch on the arm, Rylen looks over, his mouth curling into a soft smile which... shifts into something more hesitant when Xander seems to want to ask personal questions. His mind, of course, drifts to worst case scenarios, but he has trained himself not to dwell in that darker part of his mind for too long.

"Of course. You know I'd always tell you anything. What is it?"

    Xander hears the explanation and then the fact it's probably the ones that talk. It's a curious note, that is for sure. When it comes back to their private matters, he smiles lightly picking up the concern and simply says. "It is nothing wrong, don't worry."

Then his draconic eyes look him dead on, with a minor tilt of his head. "Do you... Do you honestly /want/ to go home? What," His voice lowers slightly. "What if we /are/ copies. Not even the originals... and more importantly... if we did get out... even though you'd say you help take care of me..."

    Xander glances to the side then back to Rylen. "We have /more/ of a life here. /This/ place is becoming our home, Rylen. That is-- That has been my problem. I don't know what I am fighting for anymore. I am a soldier still, yes, but... I have no direction."

He lowers his gaze and then looks back to Rylen. "I want to make you happy though. I want to /see/ you happy. Safe. Secure. If nothing else... To protect /you/." He then reaches out to take Rylen's hands. Not giving a damn what /anyone/ thinks. "I /love/ you, Rylen... But I have to know what it is I am fighting for... what is it we /truly/ want with our lives. Cause honestly," He laughs softly. "I'd be happy. Just staying here. With you. Forever." His tail however is slowly moving side to side as he speaks.

There is a subtle shift in his posture when the reassurance is provided that there is nothing wrong. Rylen, despite his charismatic ways, still doesn't always feel secure in his relationships. The shallowness of those connections in his past making it hard to really tell just how deep those ties go, despite how intensely he might feel them.

"That... is a complicated question." Rylen lets out another of those soft breaths, shaking his head. "Every day, I wake up, and my ankle hurts. The same pain I've felt every day since the accident." He starts to explain, "But I get up, I look in the mirror, and it Kiyoshi that looks back at me. It isn't /me/." Maybe those with body scans don't have that same dysphoria.

"I don't know what we are, but I've known for a long time that this game is more than just a game. The fact that I see my sister every time I cast my summoning spell, that's proof enough for me." His mouth presses together in a thin line, thoughtful.

"If we got out, I would find you again. I'd make whatever life I could for us there. I'd fight for every minute we could have together, to try to make your life better than what it's been." He looks out one of the nearby windows, and then back at Xander.

"But I'm also just as happy here. I don't know if I'd want to stay forever. I don't know if I'd want to abandon the real world and everyone in it, but..." He just shrugs then, "I suppose I'm in Olympus because I don't veer strongly to one way or the other."

    Xander listens to Rylen's words. His brows furrow a little, as his eyes cast down to the table. He closes his eyes for a moment, followed by a deep inhale, before he goes to stand up. "Then, we will do what we can... as we can." He reaches over and touches Rylen's face. "And at least, if I know one thing... in this crazy mind of mine. In this mad situation..." He smiles. "I have you."

Xander's hand then slides away, ignoring any looks that may be about. "... And I'm tired of hiding that. I'm tired of running. I just-- Need to figure out where /I/ am going, I suppose. Anyways, I have some calls to make regarding those defenses... You uh, you staying here?"

"I think we have time to figure things out." Rylen replies, "Afterall, Scale isn't anywhere close to busting us out of this world anytime soon." And that may be good or bad, depending on how you look at it. As for how Rylen feels about it, it likely falls well into that 'it's complicated' sort of gray area.

When Xander reaches out, quite so publically, there is a moment of surprise there, but Rylen leans his head into that touch, raising his hand to lightly trace Xander's fingers. "Aye, you do. For as long as you'll have me."

He doesn't force the touch to linger, though, allowing the hand to retreat. "You'll figure it out. Just give yourself time." He inclines his head. "But yes, I'm staying here. I've got a long term room rented out and Moko has a confirmed place in the local stables."

    "Then, I guess I'll see you later this evening." Xander says with a smirk, before making his way out and giving him a mock salute. "Later, Chief!" Then heads out the door.