[RP] The Inn of Peace - IoP (Open to all)

[Azana Brown]

Max opened up, smiling up to him. "I know, right? Can't believe ya actually got 'im ta do it..." She closed the door behind her and hugged him. "Thanks, hon...I promise it'll be worth it."

"Given Nate's usual results, probably not," Azana joked. However, all that being said, that bird's sandwiches...how'd he pull that off?

"You could show me around...!" Violet gave it some thought, a joyful fantasy of a beach trip. "And swimming...it's been so long. I hope I haven't forgotten...."

"I hope you taught them a lesson or two," Tyler muttered grimly, a little aggravated by the concept. However, they were already joining the others and his mild thoughts of vengeance were put on the back burner. It was enough to be near Zulma again, joining good friends and potentially getting a bite or two of Gren's supposedly fantastic grilling.

"I'm aware," he mumbled in response to her. He never expected to sneak past it...just, not here, in front of everyone. They didn't need to know the details.  

[Gren_Eckener]

"Hey..." he chuckled, giving her a warm hug. "The way it's going, it'll do me some favours too. I told him it's to help me get some of that parallel future out of my head."

Gren frowned slightly, pondering this. "...Well, this sort of thing is what the internet's for. But, hey, want anything more?"  

[Zulma san]

Jeff's eyes almost glowed. Going to the ocean with Violet seemed like a dream coming true.
"It would be amazing and don't worry it will come back. If not I can teach you."
He had not forgotten though that she preferred to 'hide' her body so he wondered if she would not mind being in a swimsuit.
"when would you like to go? "


" don't worry I taught them a lesson or two!" she answered Tyler.
She finished her food in silence, listening to the others with a smile.
When she was done, the innkeeper turned to Tyler. "I need to unpack. Would you mind giving me a hand bringing my stuff upstairs?" she asked him as she stood up. She hoped to be alone with him.

At the bar, Celine, the nurse, was quietly drinking a glass of water.  

[Azana Brown]

"Okay," Violet nodded, tapping her eraser to her lip in thought. "Well, it's certainly too cold now...how about in the spring? I can get some commissions done and pack, but it's not in the middle of summer when everyone's there." The thought had crossed her mind, too...the scars, and all. It was daunting, but she just had to ignore those eyes on her. That was all there was to it.

"Whooooa," Max breathed at the idea. All those bizarre and terrifying pictures in full motion. "Yeah, I can bet that'd be nice ta drop off." She reached the bottom of the stairs, waving to everyone, particularly the two who had spent so much time away. "Hey, Z! Jeff! Welcome back!"

"I'm good, thanks," Azana chuckled, one hand over her stomach. "That was more than I should've had, anyway."

Sosol smiled at everyone's satisfaction, noticing the presence of a semi-familiar face at the bar. "Just water tonight...?" He asked calmly.

"Sure," Tyler nodded, interrupted by Max and Remy's greeting. He nodded as he went for the luggage. He was happy to see them both, and it showed, but a part of him dreaded the interrogation he'd be getting soon. Mostly because I had to deceive the Knights...I don't want her to be saddled with that.  

[Zulma san]

Jeff seemed to think a moment then nodded. Spring was indeed a good time to go to the ocean. The place he had in mind would already be warm enough to swim and yet wouldn't be too crowded.
"that's a good idea. You'll bring your drawing material so you can draw and paint when we are there.he smiled. Usually going on a trip meant leaving the Inn and her so he wasn't too thrilled about it. But this trip was different, she was coming with him so he was quite excited.
"you've mentioned commissions, can you show me?" he asked her with a warm smile.


"hey Max! " answered the innkeeper with a friendly smile.
She moved to her luggage.
" thank you Tyler" she waved at her friends still at the table with a special tender smile for Gren, as a promise to spend more time with him later.
Then she headed up the stairs followed by Tyler.
She opened her room and stepped in with a soft sigh.
"my, it has been aged... " she dropped her bag on the ground to go open the window.


Celine looked up at Sosol.
"oh...hey! Yup only water for now.. I've drunk too much last night..." she confided to the bartender.  

[Azana Brown]

"Uh-huh," Violet nodded, pulling out a portfolio. "Adam asked me for something before it grew really cold...I'm going to finish it before it warms up again, surprise him with it when he's more active." It had turned out as a landscape, absolutely dripping with full-bloom flowers and elegantly arching willows. It seemed almost surreal, a beauty that probably couldn't exist in reality. "I still need to color it in..."

Max smiled and waved...and giggled as Zulma moved right past them and toward the stairs. She was a little bit disappointed, but then again...if she hadn't seen Remy in that long, she'd be eager, too.

"Dude, ya weren't kiddin'...but she'll be back down sometime."

Tyler followed behind Zulma with one of the suitcases, rolling it into her apartment before realizing that this was new ground for him. He hadn't seen her apartment, and had barely spent any time near Gren's. "Yes, it has," he agreed with her, curious as to why she would head for the window in such cold weather.

Dust...a bit stuffy, too. Makes sense...I just hope it's not for too long. I'd prefer not to freeze.

"Tis the season," Sosol chuckled, walking past and looking through some stock in a mini-fridge. "It's an excellent idea to keep hydrated, but don't forget about replenishing your electrolytes. That'll help you bounce back faster."  

[Zulma san]

Jeff leaned over her shoulder to look at the drawing. He had an almost soft smile at the drawing.
"He will love it for sure. He is so enamored with his garden." he said without sarcasm.
"I am impressed by the amount of details. This is already very pretty even without the colors."


Zulma's apartment was slightly different from a regular room at the Inn but it wasn't a full place as Gren and MacPere's place. The room was big enough to have a coach, a table with two chairs in a corner and then a queen size bed with bedside tables on the opposite side from the front door. A door next to the closet was leading to the bathroom.
The window opened, she dropped her jacket on the sofa and took the suitcase from Tyler's hand.
"Thank you." she said as she rolled it next to the table.
She looked at him as he stayed by the front door.
"Come in, I don't bite..." she teased him.
A cold draft from outside made her shiver and she went to quickly close the window with a frown on her lips.
"If there is something I haven't missed, it is the cold winter we have here!" she grunted before turning to look at Tyler again, her features immediately softening. She tilted her head and moved to him. She stopped in front of him and her fingers caressed his cheek. Once again her heart was racing. It had been so long that she didn't know where they stood anymore. It was all her own fault for disappearing on him all the time.

Celine chuckled.
"Thank you Sosol! I'm a nurse, I should know better and yet..." she shook her head.
"Did you do anything fun over the holidays?" she asked casually.  

[Gren_Eckener]

Remy hummed and nodded, letting Max leave to rejoin the crowd and say her hellos. It was a joy to see the room bustling again.

Gren nodded in agreement. Even sharing his steak was a bit much for him. "Suppose I'd best clean things up."  

[Azana Brown]

"It's both alien and familiar," Violet said quietly, slipping it back into her portfolio, "but you're right. I know he'll love it. I made some interesting sketches, too...people, moments that I enjoyed. Take a look." She handed over one of her many sketchbooks, this one a little worn on the edges from being pushed into and pulled out of a bag.

It wasn't quite as fancy as Gren's, but that didn't seem to matter. With as often as Zulma traveled, a full apartment like that would be a waste. At her teasing invitation, he walked in, further observing his surroundings. A couch, a small table for two, a queen-sized bed, and a burst of chill that left him shivering. Zulma wasn't completely without sense; she closed the window almost immediately, cursing the cold winters in the region. "I wouldn't expect much less out of the mountains," he reminded her as she crossed the small apartment once more, meeting him. His head leaned slightly into the caress with no thought whatsoever. The concerns about the coming conversation melted away, at least for now. Zulma's hesitation registered but was ultimately ignored as he leaned in and kissed her gently.

"...feeling more at home now...?"

"Keeping busy, you know," Sosol shrugged. "Stella convinced me to help with a holiday party, and I was helping out here. My folks sent us our gifts, since they didn't want us travelling in this weather. Honestly, I'm feeling a lot better just seeing so many faces here. Feels more festive when it's full."

"Hey, let me help," Azana frowned, picking up her own plate. "This is kind of my fault, anyway, right?"

"I'm still working on mine," Kristen chimed in, "but I'll walk it in when I'm done."

"Kris, we gotta catch up an' game an' stuff! Where ya been, man?" Max asked, receiving a small fireball for an answer. It hovered around her lightly before puffing out in a little smoke. "Wait...dude, ya can do that now? Like, for realsies?" She gave Kris a tight hug and plopped down next to her.

"I want the scoop! In return, I'll tell ya about my fun times!"  

[Zulma san]

Jeff took the notebook and sat to take a better look at it.
He flipped through the pages, making a comment here and there. He skipped quickly when he recognized himself. Not that the drawing was bad, but he felt embarrassed and Violet could see that as his ears got a little red.
"They are so expressive." he said as he showed her a sketch of Az and Sosol obviously in love with each other.


Zulma shivered but for another reason than the cold when he kissed her. Her shoulders and entire body relaxed as their lips touched. Her fingers slide in his neck caressing his skin. She rested her forehead to his for a moment and he grinned slightly.
"Very much so..." she whispered.
Her golden eyes scanned his.
"I've missed you Tyler. I'm sorry I disappeared again..." she apologized as she pressed herself to hug him more tightly.


Celine had a happy nod.
"I agree. This place is meant to be full of life and crazy people. Cheers to that!!" she said raising her glass of water.  

[Azana Brown]

"People are expressive," Violet answered, "even when they're not trying to be. It's easy when you have subjects like these, but even those stoic sorts can be full of expression if captured properly. Sol's a bit tough, sometimes, because of those sunglasses. Wish he'd take them off, but he says they're medical. Some sort of eye condition."

"Hey, hey," Tyler tried to comfort her, holding her close as she apologized. "You warned me, didn't you? That you love to travel above all else. I've missed you terribly...but it's nothing to apologize for. I'm not angry at all."

Just a bit lonely, but I'm accustomed to that.

He rested his chin on her shoulder, simply enjoying the closeness and the touch of another. Even in this affectionate inn, he spent enough time alone to feel the lack. It didn't help that he had pushed Max away recently...he wasn't upset with her anymore, but it was still hard to be around her, knowing what all happened.

Sosol's mug rose to meet her glass with a light clink of contact, grinning at it all. Everything seemed to be on the upswing, and although his barriers were up and active, he couldn't shake the feeling that good things were to come.  

[Zulma san]

Jeff nodded. Violet's words sounded quite wise.
"It is probably easy for you because you are used to observing people. You have a trained eye." He looked at the drawing of Sosol. "It makes him look cool that's for sure." he chuckled.



Zulma nodded softly. "I did but still...I wish it was less...painful."
There was a silence as she searched for her words.
"I think I'm unfair to you." she bit her lips. She pulled him to the sofa and sat next to him, keeping his hand in hers.
"It might seem a little out of the blue but I've been thinking about it for a while, so I want to say it before I lose courage." she continued staring at his fingers in her hand.
"After what happened with...Baldur...I became afraid of being close to someone again. I used my travels as an excuse every time I felt that you were ..coming too close." she swallowed. "I'm sorry it took me that long to realize that I was hurting both you and myself...I...I care for you very much Tyler and it scares me." she admitted, her cheeks blushing as she spoke.


Celine cheered back and drunk her glass, looking at the place with a satisfied grin.  

[Azana Brown]

Violet giggled. "I guess so..." She flipped through the book, landing on an unfamiliar face to Jeff. "Oh! You never got to meet her...did you? This is Victoria...she's an artist, too, but she works with metal and jewelry."

Tyler lifted an eyebrow quizzically, somewhat confused by the sudden change of pace. Painful? Unfair? He wouldn't entirely deny that, but in keeping expectations relatively low, even this was pleasant. He listened to her intently, though he couldn't help but hold back the hint of a smile. Heaven forbid she assumed he was taking this lightly, after all.

"Finally," he sighed as she finished, letting that smile show as he guided her gaze away from their own hands. "Someone honest enough to admit how terrifying this all is. I'm glad you're scared, Zulma. You're scared because you know you should be. But here you are anyway." He paused, mentions of his own hesitations and concerns waiting in the wings. It was tempting to let them slip, but perhaps he lacked Zulma's courage in that arena.  

[Zulma san]

Jeff looked more closely at the drawing.
"No I don't think I've met her. Metal? Cool. Does she make swords?" he immediately asked.



Zulma looked into his eyes, a little puzzled at first. What did he mean by finally? And why was he smiling...? For a second, she got scared that he would laugh at her. Even if that wasn't Tyler's style, it was an irrational thought born from the smile she saw on his face. It didn't last long though as he spoke further, a pale smile creeping upon her own lips. She nodded.
"Yes I'm here...and so are you." She let go of his hand to caress his cheek and jaw.
"Are you scared too?" she asked with an almost childish voice.  

[Azana Brown]

Violet bit her lip lightly at his question. Jeff was as one-track as she was at times, it seemed. "That may be a bit of a sore subject...but yeah, she could make you a blade. She had to learn for a commission that went awry."

"Me?" Tyler chuckled, shaking his head lightly. "You're kidding, right...? Of course I am. It's the only sensible position...most people just lie to themselves about it. Despite what anyone says, there's never a guarantee you won't get hurt by others. What makes the difference is deciding who's worth the risk." In his own mind, their presence here was part of that decision. She wouldn't have divulged all that just to run off again, right? Then again, with his track record, it wouldn't entirely surprise him, either.