2>> HAPPY FLUFFY LUDE O'LOVE START << 2>> Once free from the cluttered room behind her, Rachel heads to the hall with the oak tree's....her thoughts are dark, troublesome...scattered like the very stars in the sky... 2>> Quickly, she ducks behind an oak tree as Rhiana walks quickly past, apparently trying to follow her...the footsteps recede into the distance....and are gone. 2>> She is alone. Or so she thinks. * Rachel steps out from behind an oak tree and sighs, running a hand through her hair...she gazes after Rhiana.. "Mmph...sorry, Rhi...but I really don't need your company right now..." * Rachel looks around at the silent oaks and looks vaguely lost.. * Chrys is wandering around the oaks, paying just enough attention not to run into any. You see him a little further into the forest-town. * Rachel blinks and slinks slowly after Chrys, creeping up on him... or trying to.. ^^; * Chrys slowly tenses and untenses his hands, wanting oh so desperately to kill and gut a rabite or something. * Rachel gets close enough to Chrys, being an extremely quiet person, and clears her throat softly.. "You know, I heard if you keep doing that, you'll go bald when you reach 50..." * Chrys stops, turning his head slowly, speaking with an ice-cold voice. "What do you want...?" * Rachel tries not to react to that.. "To talk to you..." ...Why bother? I'm not important. I'd beg to differ, Chrys... ...Oh, yeah? So you'll just chase after me like you did Cody? So that, through some blatant stupidity, I'll hurt you like Rahne did? * Rachel smirks a little.. "Do you want me to chase after you, Chrys..?" ...No. I don't want to hurt you. Who said you were going to..? * Chrys refocuses and starts walking again. * Rachel follows Chrys slowly, not wanting to crowd him.. * Chrys stops. "...Why are you following me, Rachel?" -_- Because I want to help you.. With what? The only way you can help me is to let me leave. * Rachel stops at that... "Do you really want to go, then...?" My life has been an idiotic little game ever since I met Keylia and you. I'm sick of it. I'm sick of being scrutinized for my every action, sick of being considered "the god-damned thief" of the party. I wish I could've punted their asses for being like that to you... but they're just stupid sometimes, Chrys.... ...Stupid doesn't begin to describe it. What the fuck did they think they were doing, back when we ran into those beastkin? I know why Keylia reacted how she did....because they killed her family...as for the rest...maybe they just felt threatened..? ...Keylia is understandable. It's vendetta, after all. The rest? Threatened? Ph. No, they just felt the need to whip out their cocks and prance around, screaming "Mine's bigger!". We've done the same before....all of us... and I know it could've been handled better...trust me, I wish I had some form of control...I'm the supposed leader, after all..but the truth is that things just got outta hand.. Leader...? You're only leader in your own mind and mine. Possibly Cody's. The rest don't bother listening to you, or don't care. It doesn't matter, Chrys.. I've got the sword... and so I'm officially the leader...but that's not even the point...the point is that, yeah, we reacted stupidly...but I mean...who's to say they wouldn't have killed us? They may have. They also might not have, which means you bunch just took four innocent lives and quite possibly added MORE fuel to the fire of this war. * Rachel sighs softly.. "There's no way to know...yet....how did the elves react to you when you met them?" They didn't. They asked if I was part of the battle that they heard ahead. They didn't attempt to take you into custody or back to their elder to be heard....they offered to help....the beastmen did the opposite.. ... You have a point. However, there's no right and wrong here, except for what each side sees. I know... still...if the beastpeople hadn't wanted to take us to their elder, hadn't demanded....who's to say we wouldn't have reacted better...? The beastmen identified Keylia as an elf, Cody as a...whatever the fuck everyone thinks he is, and so they saw all of us as a threat. If it weren't for THEM, they might not have demanded. But they did. Blame placed or not, they did.....and you know that even I wouldn't let people mess with you guys. Whatever. I was dragged into this from the get-go. I don't even know why I even stayed with you guys... I was just pushing myself farther into a fight that wasn't, isn't mine... So...are you....going to leave...? There's no reason for me to stay. * Rachel flinches as if struck.. "Not even the fate of the world..?" ...What does the fate of the world have to do with me...? I don't have that damned sword... * Chrys lowers his head. "I don't understand why you do, either. You don't deserve this. Not after what you've been through." * Rachel reaches out to touch Chrys's shoulder.. "It doesn't matter what I've been through.. I want to help this world.. to help everyone survive...so that maybe one day people'll grow up to be less fucked up then we all are....that's my reason for doing this, Chrys....maybe you just need to find your reason.." Reason...pah. * Chrys starts off again. "Besides. What does dressing Little Miss Hylissa in drag do to affect the fate of the fucking world?!" * Rachel lets her hand drop.. "We're helping people who helped us..." If we really are here to save the world, why do we get fucking yanked around by anyone and everyone we cross....?! * Chrys stops and lowers his head again, shaking. Chrys... I know...it's another delay....but....we have to help these people...or...I do, anyway....whether or not you decide to stick around... ... Though I wish you would.. * Chrys shakes a little more, and you think you faintly hear something.. * Rachel strains to hear it, concerned for Chrys... "What..?" * Chrys raises his head and speaks through clenched teeth and forming tears. "I...can't...stand...any...of...it..." But...I can't leave you... Oh Chrys.... -_- I don't want to see you hurt anymore....why can't you leave..? If it hurts so much... ...You...don't want to see...me...hurt any more...? Heh. * Rachel gazes at Chrys.. "What..?" Rachel...how would you feel if I left...? Upset.....why..? Would it possibly...hurt to see me leave...? Well, yeah...but I don't see how that.. You don't...? Think about what you just said... * Rachel blinks a few times... "You're not gone because you don't want to hurt me...?" * Chrys shuts his eyes tight and nods. * Rachel gets in front of Chrys to stop him from moving.. "I....oh Chrys... I don't mind being hurt... I don't want you to suffer just because you're worried about me..." ...bullshit. I know what I've seen. When that happened, right outside the baths...I saw it. You looked like somebody had killed a puppy in front of your eyes. ...I've been hurt a lot already, Chrys, don't you see? It's nothing... I can bear the weight on my shoulders...I can... You're talking like you want me to leave. Damnit, you know I don't...but I hate seeing you in pain too, you know? ...I've been hurt a lot already, too. I've had to bear my own burdens for ten years straight, so I know I can do that, too. Does that mean I necessarially want to? I don't know, Chrys....do you...? If I did, I'd be gone already. So what are you going to do..? I...I don't know. * Rachel reaches out to touch Chrys's cheek.. "This will sound really stupid but....maybe you should just let go and have some fun...? At an Inn, maybe..." * Chrys tenses. "Uh...and what do you mean by that...?" * Rachel sweatdrops. "I swear I didn't mean it like it sounded.. I just mean...well, you know...sit back...have a drink..maybe get in a card game with some other guys or something? Make bawdy comments at the waitresses?" ...I don't know... it depends on one thing. And that would be? * Chrys turns around on his heel, grabbing Rache in an embrace and kissing her on the cheek. "Join me?" * Rachel tenses but slowly relaxes against Chrys, offering him a wry grin.. "How very forward of you, tiger...I'll join you...but first I've got to take care of some things...is that alright?" "Things"? If I can be nosy, may I ask what...? Well...I'm planning to sneak back into the Tomb O'Angst and talk to Cody...he wanted to talk to me about the whole half-elf thing.. Yeah, well...that's the thing. I don't think now's the time for any heavy bar action...I mean, lord knows when they want us to leave... Pfft. We'll make time, huh? I never was one to follow orders.. * Rachel waggles her finger at Chrys with a small grin. * Chrys chuckles and holds Rachel tighter, eyes shut. * Rachel actually goes as far as nuzzling Chrys's shoulder a little.. "So are you okay..?" For now, I am...for now. * Chrys lets out a sigh. "God, I'm so fucked up right now..." Hey...you'll get through it.. I have faith in you...and I'm always here to be a substitute teddy bear.. ^^; Hey, now. Don't you say that. You aren't a substitute anything for me. You're you. Rachel Sundin. * Rachel tenses again in Chrys's arms before gently freeing herself from his grip with a half hearted smile. "Yep...that's me...Rachel Sundin. Thank you, Chrys..." * Chrys smiles. "Just remember that. You won't be any title or job or anything to me. You'll just be you, and you're the one I'm willing to foolishly hop around with this group for. ^_^ * Chrys blinks. "Well, hell. That came out sounding worse than I intended it." * Rachel laughs lowly and reaches out to tap Chrys on the nose gently. "Hmph. It was still sweet, tiger." * Chrys meows cutely. ^-^ Hmph. ;) So will you be at the Inn? This shouldn't take long at all... and I at least wanna have a drink with you. ^_- I'll be there... it's a date, Rache. ^^ Ooh...a date, eh? Should I bring flowers? ^_- * Chrys shrugs. "Only if they're real, foxy." ^_- Alright.. ;) I'll be sure to make 'em really yellow ;) * Chrys arches an eyebrow. "You know, you lost me with that one." ^_- * Rachel looks really cute, rocking on her heels almost like a little girl. "Oh yeah? I just think a pretty date like you needs pretty yellow flowers!" * Chrys chuckles and doesn't say anything. * Rachel tilts her head and winks at Chrys. "Right. I'm off, then...I'll see you soon...?" Sure! ^^; If I can find a blasted inn in this place. ^_^ Follow the puking sounds and staggering elves! ;) I'll catch up to you soon, tiger... ;) Think happy thoughts. ;) Yep! ^^ * Rachel waggles her fingers a bit and turns, swaggering off the way she came... ^^ * Chrys smiles and walks off towards the rest of the elf village. 2>> With that crisis diverted (hopefully), the Mana Knight proceeds to slip back into the antechamber and then to track down Cody to have her talk with him... 2>> END LUDE OF LUV <<