[center][h2][sub][sup][b][u][color=#918ABB]Ｅｒｉｎ　Ｍａｒｅｅ　Ｃｈａｓｅ[/color][/u][/b]　&　[b][u][color=#F6B45B]Ｔｙｌｅｒ　Ｒｕｍａｎｃｅｋ[/color][/u][/b][/sup][/sub][/h2][img]https://i.imgur.com/ZSUwH0X.gif[/img]
[color=#918ABB][sup][b]_________________________________________________________________________________________[/b][/sup][/color]
[color=#918ABB][b]Location:[/b][/color] [color=#F6B45B]Hades Cabin[/color]
[color=#918ABB][b]Interactions:[/b][/color] [color=#F6B45B]Salem; Eachother[/color] [@Vicier]
[color=#918ABB][sup][b]_________________________________________________________________________________________[/b][/sup][/color][/center]
Tyler shook his head and closed the distance between himself and the table, physically having to pick Salem's furry face out of the mug before gently shoving him off the side and onto the floor. He didn't have any words, none that he cared to admit to wanting to tell the feline, anyway. It was always something with Salem, and it was almost always Tyler who suffered at his paws. Reclaiming his cup, he walked it over to the sink and dumped the rest out, using the soapy sponge he'd used on Erin's cup earlier. After rinsing and washing out the mug he'd had, he set it beside Erin's on the dry rack and proceeded to wash the tea pot before drying his hands off, turning back to face the feisty feline.

[color=#F6B45B]"What is it,"[/color] the son of Hermes folded his arms over his chest, [color=#F6B45B]"--you hungry, or somethin'?"[/color] The cat only flicked his tail back and forth, blinking slowly at the boy from the kitchen floor. Tyler looked over at where his water and food dishes were located, his brow furrowing lightly at the sight of a full bowl.

[color=#F6B45B]"Salem.. [i]your bowl is [b]full[/b], my guy.[/i]"[/color] A moment of silence passed between the two before Salem, quite possibly having understood what Tyler was complaining to him about, got up from his place and wandered over to the cabinet where his treats and wet food were kept, brushing himself against the wood door. The cat's eyes found Tyler's as he let out a low 'rohr', becoming still all except for his tail that flicked back and forth at the tip, clearly waiting for Tyler to get his hints. The boy indeed knew what he wanted, figuring that Erin had enough on her plate at the moment, the least he could do was [i]feed[/i] her clearly starving cat for her. Sighing heavily, Tyler opened up a cabinet door and grabbed out a cat bowl.

[color=#F6B45B]"You're lucky I love her, Say."[/color] The boy wandered over to the cabinet Salem stood in front of, gently nudging him to scoot out of the way with his foot before opening said cabinet to snatch out one of the wet food cans. Back at the counter, Tyler popped the thing open and without hesitation, was immediately joined by the feline who was very clearly happy with Tyler providing him with the good stuff. The nosy cat poked his way between Tyler's hands as he emptied out the contents of the can into the ceramic bowl, gently shooing the cat away from it.

[color=#F6B45B]"Dude, patience. Come on. [I]Pspspst.[/i]"[/color] Tyler held the bowl up as he stepped away from the counter, waiting to make sure the cat was indeed following him before walking the bowl over to where his old wet food dish lay on the floor beside his dry food and water bowls. Picking up the old one, he replaced it with the new one and watched the cat pounce over his food, already beginning to dig in. Tyler chuckled softly and shook his head, reaching down to gently pet the cat a couple of times from the back of his head to the tip of his tail before wandering back to the sink. Running some hot water into the bowl only enough to fill it, Tyler sat it down in the sink to let it soak so the crusted cat food would be easier to wash off later when he came back to it. Tyler turned around then, pulling the boxes of new teas that Erin had ordered from his father, taking his time in placing them with the rest of the teas she had stocked up in her cupboards.

[color=#918ABB]"..you don't have to do that..."[/color]

The door closing quietly behind her, Erin lingered. Her dark gaze drawn through the entrance... the lounge... before settling on the familiar figure that was busying himself in the kitchen. Putting away boxes of tea. Tyler Rumancek... of course he was still here. He'd stuck it out, and he'd stayed, and by the look of it, it seemed as though he was the only one who had. That thought alone had her heart giving a little flutter, though she wasn't about to go admitting it. To him- to anyone, really. It wasn't exactly in her style to go around talking about her [i]'feelings'[/i] with people. Though... he had managed to get her to make a few exceptions through the years they'd known each other.

Biting her lip- chewing on it a moment, Erin hesitated. Her hand holding the smoke she'd been given, still lit though now held down at her side as she shifted, [color=#918ABB]"..Ty, I-..."[/color]

What the hell was she supposed to say..? Honestly, she wasn't sure. Dropping her head, her dark gaze falling to the floor between them, she fell silent. Her dark eyes closing as she tried to work out just how she was supposed to go about this, [color=#918ABB]"..I... I didn't take the stupid dove... I promise..."[/color]

Erin's voice, as soft as it was, made him jump. A box of tea collapsed to the floor with a bit of noise, Tyler made a face at it before picking it up off the ground to place it back where he had intended on placing it. His eyes shifted over to where the girl stood, more cold and closed off looking than usual, but also fragile enough to break at a gentle touch. It dawned on the boy that she was wearing an over-sized sweatshirt.. one he could swear he'd seen before. Was it Brandon Murphy's? He knew the two were close, but the sight of her wrapped up in his hood made him slightly uncomfortable. Jealous, perhaps? Mm.. only a tad bit, but not enough to ever want to make a stink of the situation. Tyler took a step closer to her, watching her battle with whatever storm was going on in her head.

[color=#F6B45B]"It's the least I can do. Keeps me busy, anyway."[/color]

He took another hesitant step closer, tilting his head slightly as he approached her. The vision of her before him hurt to see. Of course he'd seen her broken and far gone beside herself before.. this was different. It wasn't till her head dropped that Tyler decided to close the distance between them, tenderly placing his hands on her arms, gently wrapping his fingers around them as he bent down slightly to get an angle on her eyes.

[color=#F6B45B]"Hey, hey hey hey.. Er, I know you didn't."[/color] Tyler frowned slightly, sighing. [color=#F6B45B]"Is there anything I can do to help?"[/color]

Help... the word alone almost broke her, and she couldn't help but lift her head. Her lips parting at the seam; her fingers curled gently down at her sides. The action only serving to pull the cigarette she was holding closer towards her palm, though even still, she was mindful to keep it far enough away that it wasn't about to scorch her. One look in his eyes though... and the words were tumbling from her lips before she had the chance to really form them in her mind.

[color=#918ABB]"..come with me..."[/color]

Of course he would go with her. No questions asked, no second thoughts. He was there.

[color=#F6B45B]"You know I've got a go-bag already ready."[/color] Reaching into his back pocket, Tyler pulled the toolkit from his jeans and held it up between them, eyes trained on hers. [color=#F6B45B]"Not all the gods think you're responsible, either, Erin. Hermes sent a a little help.. probably figuring I'd be tagging along with you on your quest."[/color]

A flash of color caught Tyler's eye, only now realizing that she had the cigarette in her hand, which was quite close to her skin as well. Tyler reached down and tenderly took it from her, leaning over to tap some of the ash into the sink. He'd be sure to wash it out later when he went back to scrub the cat bowl. He turned back to her, looking around a moment before his eyes rested back on hers.

[color=#F6B45B]"Who all is coming? Do you need to pick up anyone else? Six people.. that's... that's gonna be interesting."[/color] All that attention.. their scent, all clumped up together the way they would be... dangerous. [color=#F6B45B]"You need me to help you pack, Er?"[/color]

Head nodding lightly in response, her long dark locks bouncing gently over the back of Brandon's hoodie; it was all she could do, unsure really of where to even begin. It wasn't as though she didn't have the answers that he was looking for- she did. She'd already given them over and over again to each of the others as she'd been stopped to speak. She was beginning to sound more and more like a broken record. Force herself to ask for help, recite the prophecy, tell them who else was going, then move on just to do it all again when the she came face-to-face with the next person. It was the natural cycle for anyone who got a quest... she just never in a million years thought that it would be her.

[color=#918ABB]"..Brandon..."[/color] Voice soft as the name fell from between her lips, Erin turned her head. Her dark gaze drifting away from him for a few moments, but like clockwork, it returned. Once again meeting with his gorgeous blues- his perfect... blue eyes... deeper than any ocean, and brighter than she'd ever seen on a child of Poseidon. And fuck, she couldn't afford to be thinking like this. Not right now, anyway, [color=#918ABB]"..Carlos... and Spencer, too... they all said yes... they're packing..."[/color]

Tyler nodded simply, chewing on his lip in thought. That meant there were five. Whoever the sixth might be, he didn't really care. The lineup seemed pretty well rounded. Pulling his attention to Erin again after losing himself in a momentary lapse of distracting thoughts.

[color=#F6B45B]"Alright, well.. let's go get you packed, yeah?"[/color] Out of habit, Ty placed the cigarette between his lips before hesitantly slipping his hand into hers, twining their fingers. [color=#F6B45B]"Come on, Er."[/color] He lead her up towards her room, peeking back over his shoulder at her, his thoughts distracting him once more in the moment.

[color=#918ABB]"..what's wrong..?"[/color] Her lips parting further, Erin's gaze followed his own. Her pace slowing on the stairs as she glanced back over her shoulder.

Blinking at her in silence a moment. [i]Why was she looking behind her? He was looking [b]at her[/b].[/i] A soft huff of air blew out of his nostrils as he grinned a bit, but instead of pointing it out and teasing her about it he decided to remain serious. Stopping at the top of the stairs before turning to her, he gently cupping her face in his hands. His eyes trained on hers as his smile faded, his expression riddled with concern and worry.

[color=#F6B45B]”I’m just.. [i]worried[/i] is all. I know, more or less, how much this is going to take a toll on you.... l-leaving..”[/color] He leaned forward, then, placing a light kiss to her forehead.

[color=#F6B45B]”If I could complete this quest for you, I would..”[/color]

Eyes closing at his gentle kiss, though only for a moment; Erin's arms lifted. Fingers gently curling over the back of his hands as she brought her touch to his. The words leaving his lips only serving her heart to ache slightly. She was worrying him- she was worrying everyone. That had been made abundantly clear over Gods only knew how much time had passed between her meeting with the Oracle and this moment right here on the stairs of her own cabin.

[color=#918ABB]"..I could never ask you to do that..."[/color]

Tyler searched her eyes a moment before letting a light-hearted smile creep up on his features, his thumb brushing over her cheek tenderly. He knew all too well she would never ask, but he wouldn't need her to. Of course Tyler didn't know the full story, but after some long talks with his mother he figured he'd had a grasp on the reasons as to why she was so against leaving in the first place. He never tried to pry it out of her, seeing her in a state such as this was hard enough as it was.

[color=#F6B45B]"I know,"[/color] he replied simply, dropping his hands again to take hers, gently leading Erin into her room so that they could get her started on packing.

Fingers curling gently against the palm of his hands, Erin's gaze fell away from him as they reached her room. Instead glancing about almost absentmindedly, [color=#918ABB]"..I... I don't even know what I should take... I've never done this before..."[/color]

Letting her hand go soon as they'd taken a few steps into her room, Tyler figured he'd have to take the initiative and do the majority of the packing. He grabbed her canvas bag from the closet and tossed it on the bed, snagging the toiletries bag she had beneath her bathroom sink that he'd gifted her a couple years back. Brushing the dust off of the thing, he chuckled softly as he shook it out, walking back into the room to stuff it into her bag.

[color=#F6B45B]"Well, it averages in the seventies this time of year."[/color] Tyler turned to her closet, grabbing out one of her more favored sweatshirts, folding it up neatly and stuffed it down into the bottom of the bag aside the other item.

[color=#918ABB]"..it's summer... in Rome, I mean..."[/color] The soft sound of her voice falling past her lips, it was a few moments longer after she spoke that her attention actually focused on him at all. Her dark gaze lingering a moment on what it was that he was doing before she drew it up to meet with his own.

Tyler made a face, shrugging lightly.

[color=#F6B45B]"Seventies, eighties. Same difference."[/color] he smirked, looking from her bag to her again. [color=#F6B45B]"I highly doubt [i]Murphy[/i] is gonna let you take his hoodie with you to Rome. Never know when you might need a jacket.. just cause the days are warm doesn't always mean the nights are."[/color]

The boy looked around her room, eyes finally falling on her dresser where he knew she kept her undergarments before turning back to her. Sure, they were together, but that still wasn't something they'd crossed over yet. That kind of intimacy was something that Tyler insisted on holding off on out of respect for his family customs. As any normal teenage boy, though, his thoughts [i]did[/i] wander. The thoughts alone pulled color to his face.

[color=#F6B45B]"You wanna, um... grab some of [i]those[/i],"[/color] he motioned over towards her dresser, clearing his throat shyly before he quickly turned away to go back to her closet, grabbing a few things he could remember her wearing together in the past.

[color=#918ABB]"..you mean underwear..? Bras..? The type of toiletries you avoid so much as looking at..?"[/color]

Corner-eyeing her as she spoke to him, Ty nodded while avoiding direct eye contact with her sheepishly as he brought the clothes he had gathered over to her bed to fold them down to fit neatly into her bag.

Shifting slightly on the spot, following him with her gaze, Erin once more slipped her hands down into the pockets of the hoodie, [color=#918ABB]"..you know we're going to have to talk about this at some point... right..?"[/color]

Tyler paused, slowly bringing his eyes up to meet hers. [color=#F6B45B]"Y-yeah.. is [i]now[/i] really the time for that, though Er?"[/color] he asked hesitantly, still folding clothes as he talked, turning his gaze down to the bag on the bed as he shoved a couple of shirts down to the bottom of it. [color=#F6B45B]"I just.."[/color] Tyler stopped again, sighing softly as he turned his head to look at her once more. [color=#F6B45B]"If we have to talk about this, could you at least grab some and.. [sub]bring them over here...?[/sub]"[/color]

Biting her lip, Erin's gaze fell from his. Dropping to the floor between them. He didn't want to talk; not about this. At least, he didn't want to talk about this now; but if they didn't, then when..? People had made it clear they had faith in her- blind faith that by some fucking miracle, she was going to get this done, and was going to clear her name. But that was just it. It all came down to if she cleared her name. And if they didn't talk then... there might not actually be a later to do so.

[color=#918ABB]"..forget it..."[/color]

Shaking her head lightly, she eventually moved. Giving him her back as she crossed over to her dresser, and after opening the drawer and staring into it for a few moments, she began to pull out undergarments that she was going to need.

Pressing his lips into a fine line, he stared at her back a moment before dropping what he had in his hands and closed the distance between them. Tyler stepped behind her, gingerly placing his hands on her elbows as he leaned over her shoulder to get an angle on her. [color=#F6B45B]"Erin, please.. don't do that to me."[/color] As he spoke, his hands slipped from her elbows to her waist, wrapping his arms around her midsection as his chin gently rested on her shoulder.

[color=#F6B45B]"Talk to me.. please."[/color] He looked up at her with a soft gaze, hoping she would indulge him and not keep herself closed off. Maybe the discussion would pull away some of the stress from their current dilemma of her quest, though he still wanted to hurry and get things done so they could get on the road as soon as possible.

[color=#918ABB]"..Tyler, I-..."[/color] Closing her eyes, her fingers curled gently around the bra she'd taken hold of. Enjoying the feeling of his calming touch, [color=#918ABB]"..it's just... there might not be a later this time..."[/color]

Tyler continued to watch her though her eyes were closed, feeling her loosen up in his embrace a bit brought the slightest smile to his features, though it didn't last long before fading after hearing what she said.

[color=#F6B45B]"There [i]is[/i] going to be a [i]later[/i]. We're gonna see this through, Er.."[/color] Tyler held her close to him, gently nuzzling her cheek with his own, his voice growing a little softer. [color=#F6B45B]"If you wanna talk about this now, though, then let's talk, beautiful."[/color]

She couldn't help it. Her head turning gently into his at the sign of affection he was giving to her, [color=#918ABB]"..what's the point..? I know you don't really want to, Ty..."[/color]

[color=#F6B45B]"..but you do. And..."[/color] Tyler closed his eyes a moment, just holding her as he thought about how he wanted to word it. [color=#F6B45B]"[i]You're right.[/i] It [b]is[/b] something that.. we need to talk about."[/color]

She could feel it... clearly. Her heart beating away in her chest. But it wasn't just there... She could feel it in her mind; pounding in her head- for the love of Zeus, she could even feel the steady drum-like beat in her ears, and while she knew it made no fucking sense, she also knew it was possible. It had to be. Opening her eyes slowly, head lifting, she couldn't help but simply watch him a few moments before speaking.

[color=#918ABB]"..I just-... I don't know anymore... I can't even think of where to begin..."[/color]

His eyes searched hers a few moments before he averted his gaze, completely unsure of what to say. Ty chewed on his lip thoughtfully.

[color=#F6B45B]"..well... alright.. uh..."[/color] Another minute of silence passed before he sighed softly, turning his head to bury his face into her neck. He wasn't entirely sure how to start the conversation. Instead, he just held her quietly. His mind suddenly started going over the same [i]what if's[/i] that she was worried about, closing his eyes as if trying to close himself off to the thoughts. He wouldn't think that way. [i]Couldn't[/i], even. He had to hold it together.. if not for himself, for her, at the very least.

They weren't going to talk... they never did. It was a conversation they both knew they were going to have to have, but every time- [i]every single time[/i] they had the chance, they let it pass them by. And really..? She shouldn't have expected any less. Especially today of all days- now of all times. She wasn't even sure why she'd gone and brought it up in the first place, it was stupid, [color=#918ABB]"..forget it... please, let's just-... let's just get ready to go..."[/color]

Tyler’s shoulders dropped slightly before pulling away from her, walking back to the bed to continue folding. [color=#F6B45B]”[sub]Yeah..[/sub]”[/color]

Ty ran a hand up through his hair, too many emotions running through him to truly pinpoint which one was the most prominent in that moment. He picked up a pair of pants and folded them down, shoving them to the bottom of the bag, doing as she asked. Changing the subject..

[color=#F6B45B]"Want a second pair of shoes, at all?”[/color]

She could feel it... his disappointment. It was as thick in the air as the tension that had hung between the group earlier had been. Lowering her hands back down into the drawer, staring at the contents, Erin brushed over the question completely, [color=#918ABB]"..where do you want this to go..?"[/color]

[color=#F6B45B]”Just bring it here.. I’ll... I’ll fold it for you. If there’s anything else you can think of to bring, inima mea, might wanna grab it. Should have a decent amount of space left in here by the time I’m done folding all this.”[/color]

[color=#918ABB]"..I'm talking about us, Tyler..."[/color]

Tyler heart dropped then, blinking a couple times before turning to look at her. [color=#F6B45B]"W-what do you mean?"[/color] Standing up straight, folding his arms over his chest. [color=#F4B45B]"You.. you know how I feel about you, Er. And I know that [i]you know[/i] I don't want to force my customs on you.."[/color]

His eyes drifted away a moment before returning to hers again, tilting his head. [color=#F6B45B]"Is.. is this about me not telling my mom..?[/color]

Twisting after another moment; Erin's lips parted ever slightly as she met with his gaze, [color=#918ABB]"..maybe... I-I don't know..."[/color]

[color=#F6B45B]"Well.. [i]are[/i] you ready for marriage, Erin? Hmm?"[/color]

[color=#918ABB]"..I don't know, okay..?"[/color] Turning back to the drawer, it was a few brief moments of just staring before she began to move. Grabbing out what she thought she was going to need and sliding it shut. Marriage... [i]Marriage[/i]- it wasn't like she hadn't [i]thought[/i] about it. Of course she had. What fucking girl alive [i]hadn't[/i] thought about it..? About their wedding..? It was stupid, yeah. A fantasy that just slipped its way into the mind at random points in a woman's life, but it was something that even she couldn't deny had happened.

Chewing on her lip; she turned. Keeping her head down, clearly avoiding meeting with his eyes as she crossed over to where he was stood. The gentle red warming up her cheeks more than evident as she pulled her bag over to her, shoving her undergarments into it, [color=#918ABB]"..I mean... I don't... [i]not[/i]... want to... I-... I [i]have[/i] thought about it... yeah..."[/color]

Tyler watched her, scratching behind his ear as he watched her just shove her undergarments into her bag without folding them, trying to ignore his slight pet peeve. [color=#F6B45B]"Thinking about it and actually being ready are two very different things, Er. I can't tell my mom, okay? We have talked about this before.."[/color] Of course on a much smaller scale, but she knew what his customs entailed. Tyler turned, sitting down on the bed beside the bag so that he could look up at her clearly without her avoiding his gaze.

No choice about it, Erin met his gaze. Stopping with what she was doing, [color=#918ABB]"..why..? Why does it have to be marriage or nothing; why can't it just be what it is..?"[/color]

[color=#F6B45B]"Because that's how we do things, Erin!"[/color] As soon as it came out, Tyler's breath caught in his throat. He hadn't meant it to come out as sharply as he'd said it. Swallowing hard, Tyler bent forward and pushed his face into his hands, elbows firmly planted in his knees. He stayed there a few moments before sitting back up, his palms flipped upwards in his lap as his shoulders pulled up in a shrug.

[color=#F6B45B]"A-and isn't that the whole point of dating? To eventually get to marriage? ..or is that not what we're doing here?"[/color] It was then he turned his eyes to Erin, a tinge of hurt in his voice as he used her own words against her, [color=#F6B45B]"..where do [i]you[/i] want this to go..?"[/color]

She flinched. Eyes shutting and head turning away from him as his harsh response lashed at her, though she knew he hadn't meant it. He never meant to raise her voice towards her. And when it happened, it was a rarity- she could count the number of times it had happened over the last four years on a single hand, and still, the number was lower than the actual amount of time they'd known one another. But... as much as she tried... she couldn't refrain- couldn't hold back her reactions.

She'd tried... it was impossible anymore...

[color=#918ABB]"..you know what I want, Salvavita... I just-... I don't want to die before it happens..."[/color]

Tyler stood to his feet as soon as he realized what he'd done, hesitating a moment with his hand on her arm before wrapping her up in a gentle but firm embrace. Mentally, he was kicking himself in the ass.

[color=#F6B45B]"[sub]Erin, I'm..I'm sorry, baby.[/sub]"[/color]  He chewed on his lip firmly, curling into her. [color=#F6B45B]"You're not gonna die, Er.. we're not gonna let that happen."[/color]

The very second his arms slid around her body; she relented. Her touch first drawing to his sides before her hands slid further around. Fingers curling over the back of his top, almost in desperation, as she clung to him. He had such faith in her- they all did. And it wasn't as though she didn't believe in them; no. It was herself she didn't believe in... how could she, after everything...?

[color=#918ABB]"..I-I love you,  Tyler..."[/color]

[color=#F6B45B]"I love [i]you[/i], inima mea."[/color] [i]How could he not..? After everything.[/i]

They'd stay in the embrace another minute before Tyler pulled away, insisting that they finish up packing her things, drop by the Hermes cabin to grab his own things, make arrangements with his brother Miles to take care of his reptiles while he was gone, and gather the others up so that they could head out. They had a long week ahead of them. He wanted to get it over with as soon as was possible, for both their sakes.