HOW DID THIS EVEN HAPPEN... [TYRIN/OPEN]

[Ulrich Thistle]

About 40 TYRIN SCHILLER This island needs more landmarks...

I'D NEVER GET ANYWHERE IN LIFE Without a little direction Seriously, how did it turn out like? Hephaestus is just one huge circle with a point in the middle. Ulrich trotted along the crags and rocky hills of the barren island. He had come here with Rune on another one of her adventures, but had managed to lose her partway through. The backpack he had packed was beginning to get heavy, but he was more worried about her not getting her lunch while it was still at peak edibility. She was much swifter than he was, even when he wasn't wearing a forty pound backpack. He had hoped that she would have slowed when he called for her, but she said she was just going to be gone for a minute. It had been close to two hours now. Not that he was in the same spot, he had gone after her, but never caught up with her. He gave a small flat rock a sharp kick that sent it sailing into the rocks below. It gave three loud cracks before it was too far away to track. He wasn't upset with Rune, just the situation. This was her nature after all. No need to get upset about that. He just hated not being able to keep up with her. He sat down one of the flatter surfaces with the least incline. It took all of his strength to carefully set down the huge backpack without rattling its contents. He pawed at one of the canteens he brought along, hoping to himself that Rune wasn't dehydrated out there, and took a few sips from it. He scanned the rocky area around him. Surely he wouldn't find another traveler. Especially one as hopelessly lost as he was.

RICOCHET

[TYRIN SCHILLER]

ICARUS IS FLYING TOO CLOSE TO THE SUN

When he was younger, Tyrin had thought he had a good sense of direction. He’d been able to navigate the crowded, sometimes cramped streets of Rhoda with ease, and could point to the direction of any major or minor landmark on the island with a moment’s thought. It was part of how he’d been able to stay alive so long, knowing which direction was the safest to run in and which had too many dead ends for his liking. Even inside buildings, he always knew which way was north.

But that had gone all to hell the minute he stepped off Rhoda’s soil. He’d gotten more lost in the last couple of years than he had the rest of his life combined. It was too easy for him to stop paying attention to his surroundings, to trust in a sense of direction he no longer seemed to possess and end up wandering for hours before he found something he recognized.

Which was exactly what was happening now. Tyrin was kind of glad he was alone this time, to be honest; Chels would give him no end of shit for managing to get lost on a circular island, and the longer he could put that off the better, right? It was hot as hell out and he was having hard enough of a time as it was.

Tyrin kept himself fit, so he wasn’t breathing terribly hard as he hiked his way up yet another hill. It might seem counterintuitive to go up (and assumedly therefore further away from the shore), but he had definitely walked down a couple of hills on his way from the ship. Plus, he was already here. Might as well look around as much as possible, especially since he might end up finding his way back by accident.

A series of sharp cracks from nearby made Tyrin jump, hand automatically going to the hilt of his sword. A quick look around, however, showed the landscape around him clear of potential threats. Shrugging, Tyrin released the weapon and continued up the hill. He spotted the guy as soon as he rounded the corner and stopped, eying him up and down. He looked harmless enough, but looks could be deceiving. Tyrin rested a hand casually on the hilt of his sword again, just in case, and said one short word. ”Hey.”

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS & THQ

[Ulrich Thistle]

About 40 TYRIN SCHILLER Please don't bandit me of all of my hearty sailor snacks!

I'D NEVER GET ANYWHERE IN LIFE Without a little direction His host of thoughts and worries about Rune were torn apart by the calm voice of reality making itself known. He visibly jumped as he registered that someone else was around. His head went to the left and to the right in a rapid back and forth motion before he finally leaned back and looked the man over behind him. Of course he was upside down, but he got what he needed. Medium length white hair, snazzy outfit, sword at his waist, stern gaze. He seemed nice enough. Ulrich leaned back forward and scooted on his rear to turn around and face the newcomer. "Oh hey there. Where did you come from?" he asked in a plain voice. His eyes kept going down to the sword at his waist. Ulrich was unarmed himself. "I know a friend who has a nice sword too.." he said with a small smile. "Oh no oh no oh no. This guy can't be some kind of bandit. He's got a sword and at best I've got a spatula. What am I going to do if he comes at me. Would I be able to run away? No that's stupid. I'm sitting on the edge of a big drop. I could never get away from him. What if he takes all of my money? Well I don't have any money. Rune won't let me carry it anymore. He might take my valuable stuff. Oh no... w-what if he take t-that away. No! He can't take all the snacks I made! What would Rune say if she knew I got robbed of all of my snacks while she was away!" He was quiet for several seconds as he kept the same blank expression with a small smile on his face. He was looking at Tyrin, but more like through him. He seemed uncomfortable. His poker face was pretty good though as he sat there. He moved to open his backpack and produce a couple of sandwiches. "D-did you get lost here too? Haha, not saying I'm lost or anything like that.. Would you be interested in a sandwich? It's made from typical sailor stuff so nothing too fresh, but it's something..." His voice shifted as he tried to fill the silence he made.

RICOCHET

[TYRIN SCHILLER]

ICARUS IS FLYING TOO CLOSE TO THE SUN

Okay. Either this guy was totally harmless or he was a very good actor, and Tyrin prided himself on being able to see through 99% of the bullshit he encountered on a given day. It took a very good liar to fool him, and every instinct he had (as well as his complete lack of a weapon) painted this guy as neither a fighter nor a threat. So, after a moment, Tyrin took his hand away from his sword and put both hands in his pockets instead, eying the younger man. Part of him wanted to just turn around and leave; as frustrated as he was, he might end up picking a fight just to blow off steam, and despite his general asshole-ness he didn’t really get off on picking on those weaker than him.



But, on the other hand, maybe this guy had somewhat better of an idea how to get back to the shore. At least if he could manage that he could follow it around back to the ship. It wasn’t that big of an island, after all, and it would be better than wandering aimlessly through the middle. Still, Tyrin wasn’t just going to come out and ask; it would be too much like asking for help, and that just wasn’t something he was willing to do. He didn’t bother to respond to the first couple of things the guy said, an eyebrow inching up slightly at the sword comment.



Oh, fucking great. This guy was lost, too? Tyrin was never going to get back before nightfall at this rate. At the mention of a sandwich, however, Tyrin’s stomach interrupted his dark thoughts with a loud growl. He hadn’t planned to be out all that long, and he hadn’t eaten in quite a while. So, after a moment, Tyrin nodded once. ”Sure.” He had no idea why this random stranger was offering him a sandwich, but enough of his instincts from living on the streets remained that he wasn’t going to turn down free food.

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS & THQ