Closed [Sacred Arch Springs] Why do we do the things we do? (Rhys)

[Khepri]

Timestamp: 45th of Autumn, 513AV

Khepri couldn't stand it anymore. She had to get out of Syliras, just for the day. The Eypharian needed an open space to breathe, it felt like the walls were closing in and at any moment were going to crush her. Her panic was due to a customer she had right before the end of her shift. The man had wished for her services but decided to settle for pillow talk instead. It was going fine, Khepri pretending to listen when he had mentioned her homeland, Ahnatep. The mere mentioning of the city sent wave after wave of flashbacks to the woman. It took everything in her not to scream and to excuse herself from the man.

She had just gotten off from said graveyard shift so the sun should be well up in the sky at the seventh bell. The dancer didn't bother going to her room to get anything, the small room would only add to her claustrophobia. Everything she basically needed was on body besides some food and drink but the knot in her stomach ailed her from even thinking of such thing. Besides the worse that can happen?

Khepri was unsure how to get there exactly but had an idea where she wished to end up. One of the patrons at the Herald's Arm had told her about it last week when she had lied said about being sore from dancing. In all actuality she didn't wish to sleep with the greasy man but he had taken her seriously and was so 'concerned' for her well being and thusly told her. Khepri had originally blown the idea off with a fake smile and quick change of subject, that involved her going elsewhere. Now that she needed an escape, the hot springs sounded like a glorious idea.

The Eypharian walked briskly through the streets, willing her feet to go faster but knowing its probably best not to run and alert the ever watching knights of the city. Once she made it to the main gates, perhaps her impending anxiety attack would ease and be able to breath normally and not the shallow wheezing she was currently doing.

"The main gates are just around this corner." Khepri whispered and took the corner in a run now. She really hoped nothing was on the other side.

[Rhys Blodwen]

The sun was bright, the air was crisp, the environment was calming. And yet Rhys' head pounded incessantly. Despite how much the city already felt like home, Syliras was loud. Really, really loud. Rhys wasn't used to the volume, and, frankly, it gave him a headache. It was good to be out of the gates again. He wasn't sure what he'd do, take a walk, appreciate being here, the works, but he knew he would enjoy being here. There was a certain calmness, a sort of picturesque feel. Rhys was lucky: The traffic was at a minimum. No one exiting, no one entering. Or, very few people. Few enough for Rhys to stand directly in front of the gates, without worrying about short-tempered travelers, which was a great relief. Most everything was a great relief, now. It was becoming hard to steadily provide. Rhys wasn't very much used to this kind of lifestyle, much less to being alone. There was no doubt: life had become stressful. He wasn't very much enjoying it, either. The break hadn't yet done anything. Stress was still stress. What was Rhys to do? Was he supposed to simply... Live? Like this? There had to be another option. Something more carefree, certainly... Left with this thought, and only this, Rhys stared out at the distance, not paying mind to the chill that had begun to nip gently at his flesh. Despite the stress biting away at his mind, Rhys was relaxed, to say the least. He, with one hand in his pocket and one resting on the satchel at his hip, was physically comforted. So much so, in fact, that he would exit the city despite the chance that the second he left he could be whisked off by a masked marauder and brought to the evil kingdom of Wibbitywokawoo where he would be made a human slave by the evil empress Wadsworth Gimbel. Or something like that. Totally logical.

[Khepri]

Khepri was glad that no one was around the corner because she didn't have the time to deal with the nonsense of them yelling at her to watch where she was going and give her a lecture of patience. As the main gates got closer, her sense of need to escape became greater. Khepri no longer cared about alerting the knights and broke out into a full on sprint. It wasn't until she was outside the gates and abit away from the knights who stood watch at the gates did Khepri stop. Bent over and resting her bottom hands on her knees, the Eypharian tried to catch her breath. She could practice with her iron fan or dance for hours but clearly was unable to sprint a short distance without exerting herself. It took the woman a few chimes to return to normal. A cool autumn wind picked up and began to push at her back as if to encourage her to go on. Khepri didn't need the encouragement though, she was already on her way. "Hot Springs here I come for some TLC." the woman whispered to no one in particular. Just a little bit further up the road there was another traveler, a man by the looks of it. What he actually looked like Khepri couldn't tell, let alone really cared. She semi slowed her pace so she wouldn't catch up to him or pass him. The Eypharian didn't wish for company or small talk. Maybe he will go down the road and continue down a fork in the road or something. Khepri followed behind the man for a few chimes and changed her mind. The man was walking too slow and seemed to be enjoying the scenery. Walking in a brisk walk now, she made her way to past the man all while mentally repeating a mantra, "Don't talk to me.. Don't talk to me.. Dear Nikali please dont talk to me.."

[Rhys Blodwen]

The Kabrin road crunched under his feet as he glared at the ever-approaching horizon. All was well, for now. Peace was appreciated more than anything else. Serenity, bliss, a perfect quiet, save the rustle in the trees and perhaps the quiet breathing of the lone traveler. 'Lone' It was quick. A quiet panting of breath, a slight step, crunching in the dirt road Rhys knew all-too-well. Slowly, second by second, Rhys became aware of another, but didn't dare turn around. Rather, he just kept moving, fearful of who could possibly be following him. As more and more time passed, Rhys felt the stress return to his throbbing temple. More and more, he began to wish, and pray, and hope that whoever was behind him wouldn't speak to him. Their footsteps were distinct, and seemed a bit hesitant, yet rushed at the same time. As if the figure were as wary of Rhys as Rhys was of them. Or it was a masked marauder, and they were eager. Just keep walking... Just keep walking... Rhys told himself feverishly. Rhys crossed his fingers that he/she/it wouldn't speak to him, hoping and wishing on all his luck, but curiosity was beginning to grip him. What if it WASN'T a marauder? What if it wasn't evil? What if it... What if... No, no, no, no, no! It was! It had to be! But what if... A quick look, and if he wasn't dead, then he'd be safe. Quickly, trying to look as nonchalant as possible, he glanced behind his back at the figure, quickly turning back. He could infer quickly that it was female, it was short, and it had four arms. ... Four arms. Rhys froze in fear. That wasn't what Rhys was expecting. She wasn't malicious, but what was she!? Devastating beauty, a slight form, delicate steps, and four arms. What kind of creature could possibly... Was she from the forest? Was she a monster? Was she from Wibbitywokawoo? Fear gripped Rhys more now than ever. He stopped walking, and focused on holding his breath. He didn't know what he'd do. He was stuck.

[Khepri]

Khepri's mantra seemed to be working thus far but it was too soon to say it was successful. The dancer haven't surpassed the man quite yet and she couldn't understand why. She was walking in a brisk walk practically jogging and the man seemed to still be a slight distance in front of her. That's when she notice him peeking back behind him then promptly walking faster himself. He was only slightly taller than her so his stride couldn't be much more then her so why the bloody hell couldn't she pass him. The thought anger her, she had no time for silly games and this man clearly thought this whole situation to be funny. Khepri opted to just run past the stupid man and be on her way. The Eypharian broke into a full on run, she figure even with his stride and current pace, she would gain the advantage. Taking her mantra back up Khepri was just upon the man. She even went so far as to use her right upper hand to block him from view and her line of sight from him. However doing so, the dancer didnt see him just suddenly stop in the middle road. Ungracefully she ran dead smack into the back of him with a huff. "Pecking hell! You are the most annoying man ever! Do you think this is funny?!" She yelled at him in Arumenic. He probably had no idea what she just yelled at him but she was furious ever. Khepri had a hard time dealing with her emotions and usually kept them bottled up or behind a mask, especially the happier ones. But right now, she lost herself due to the quick change of emotions in such a short amount of time. To say she was stressed out was an understatement and now this man was probably going to receive the blunt force of it. Taking out her fan from her waist band, she pointed it at the ruffled man in what clearly could be taken as a threat. That was if he could recognize the potential of it.

[Rhys Blodwen]

It got faster, louder, careless. Almost as if it were striking, as if now was the time. The air was sharp and hurt Rhys' throat with every breath taken. No amount of sunshine or wind in the trees could erase the terror that swam in Rhys' thoughts at this exact moment. In the time it took to take the thing to approach, Rhys could have ran. Yes, he could have ran far away. But he didn't. The fear kept him horribly, helplessly frozen to the path he walked. He was stuck, listening to the thing approach him, faster and faster. It was close, now. An arm's length away and closing. Rhys stopped, flinching, hoping that the thing would run right by him, missing him by whatever mark necessary for Rhys to turn around and go home. His luck, as always, had seemed to betray him. As the four-armed marauder enclosed, she stuck an arm out, knocking Rhys off his balance and forcing him downwards face-first into the dirt. Rhys quickly rolled over to see the girl stumbling around, and Rhys struggled to get up quickly and escape before he winded up dead. But the girl was too fast. The figure that was storming towards him seemed violently upset, screaming unintelligible sounds at Rhys, seething poison from whatever words she was speaking. Fury simply leaked from her being, anger steaming off her skin and burning in her eyes. She was shouting more nonsense, now, and approaching faster. Her hand went to her hip, and pulled out a steel half-circle, pointing at Rhys menacingly. Shyke. Time to go! But he was frozen as he was when he first heard her approach. He couldn't move. He grasped for his bag, trying to find the blade that defended him yester, but he couldn't move. He was forced to watch the four-armed woman approach him, holding the fan menacingly towards his neck. He stared at her, trying to seem strong, trying to seem determined, but his eyes betrayed his fear. This woman - this creature - wasn't only a threat to his physical wellness, but his mental wellness. He came here for a break from all the noise and all the headache and all the terrible, terrible stress that gripped his every waking moment. This woman - this beast - was the embodiment of Rhys' trouble, his worry, and his stress. He hated it. But he couldn't simply watch her approach, that would be plain idiotic. He'd get hurt... Again. And he didn't very much like when he got hurt the first time. He had to say something, right? Something to make her stop, something to make her just... To make her lower her fan. But what could he possibly say? What could possibly stop her? He couldn't intimidate her, he could just ask her to stop, he couldn't do most anything? What could he do!? "I'm sorry!" He yelled out to her, clenching his fists awkwardly at his sides. He hadn't said those words in ages. He vaguely remembered saying them to his mother once or twice, but not for a long, long time. The words were alien and strange in his mouth, and he deeply hoped that they were enough to stop the rampaging female. The only thing that could possibly influence the future now was more crossed fingers, more luck. He crossed all his fingers. Twice.

[Khepri]

Khepri couldn't believe it, the stupid man just froze in the middle of the road once again, with obvious disregard to the current deadly weapon that was still being pointed at him. He had only moved temporarily to grab his bag but was once again ever frozen. On the outside he put up a front of bravado but in his eyes lingered fear. This day was suppose to turn into a day of unwinding and maybe just maybe relaxation but this infernal man before her was preventing such outcome. The dancer was unsure if the thought angered her further or more so annoyed of this distraction. Probably both.. The Eypharian continued to fume in her head and she almost missed him saying sorry. And she probably would have if he didnt just yell it out in a moment of panic. A moment of shock slid across her face before vanishing behind the mask. Khepri haven't expected an apology from him but something along the lines of blubbering and whining. Lowering her fan and placing it back into her waistband, the dancer sighed and pinched her brow. She could feel a headache coming on from all of this sudden 'excitement'. Great another negative to add to the list.. Khepri inwardly groaned. She wasn't about to give her own apology, after all it was his fault, even if she probably should give one of her own just from pointing her fan at him. However was not going to happen. Awkward tension seemed to be brewing between the two, and for some odd reason Khepri couldn't seem to move her feet and pass the man. After all wasn't that the whole reason for trying to dash past him? As if flipping a switch, Khepri's whole attitude changed. She seemed to be no longer angry but wore a million watt smile. Gently placing one of her hands on his chest, she breached the space that was between them to be mere inches from his face. The multiple arm women knew at this distance, he was subject to her charm and natural pheromones that her body gave off.