MASKTOURN

2:32 PM

Some time later, Enya sniffles and uncurls herself to sit up straighter in the grass. All things considered she's doing a pretty decent job holding on to her power--they might be in some magical god realm, but she's still not going to risk setting the entire grass on fire. That is, until she sees someone she very much did not want to see. Enya tenses, a single spark crackling off of her as she slowly stands up and makes her way over to Roman. She doesn't really know what she's going to say. It sort of just falls out as soon as she gets there. "Seki said you were trying to fix things. Did you?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman was entirely entranced on the glowing light until Enya spoke up next to him. "Oh-" He yelped and looked up at Enya, needing to blink a few times. Who was this woman..? "Um.. I don't entirely know what happened, to be honest.. uh.. I think Sadihak did something.." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Enya's caught off guard for a moment, enough to distract her into another train of thought entirely. "Sadihak?" She questions, apprehensive expression morphing into a frown. The name isn't familar. "Who's that?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oh, Regan, the snake side person. Their name is actually Sadihak.." Roman shrugged. "They're the one that went and did whatever to Naiyta.. I don't see them around anymore..." For some odd reason, he sounded ever so slightly sad at the prospect Naiyta was no longer here.. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

"...Oh. Okay." Good for them, she supposes. Roman mentions Naiyta, though, and Enya tenses again as her stomach churns uncomfortably. It'd be pretty visible on her face that she is not a fan. "Don't see who, Sadihak? Or--Naiyta?" Come to think of it, now that she's looking, it seems like most everyone is here but Naiyta... @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Naiyta, they're gone." Roman said, quietly. "I-i need to talk to Sadihak soon but.. I know it's not going to be good. So I'm kind of stalling here.. Uh, when did you talk to Seki?" @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Ah. Conflicting emotions--judgement, confusion, anger--scrawl across Enya's face, and she takes a deep breath in that betrays more of that emotion than she'd like. "I-I did during..." Her voice cracks, unexpectedly, and she swallows it down in embarrassment. "After Ryu-- After Ryunoske's fight." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman was choosing to not scrutinize her expressions too much, he actually wasn't even looking directly at her very much in the first place. ".. O-oh.. Yeah.." Roman frowned. ".. Were you a friend of hers..?" @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Isn't that the question. Enya chokes on her reply for a moment, before attempting to collect herself as best as she can. "We-- More than that," is all she's able to muster, so much contained in three little words. She can't hold back her question anymore. "W-Why did you do that?? I-- I'm not blaming you f-for wanting to live but I--" Enya cuts herself off, fists clenching and eyes shutting, before she forces herself to relax again. "S-Seki said you were making h-her do that." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

More than that. How awful.. Why did he even do it? "I.. I used my power at that exact moment to stop her from hurting Anore.. B-but I basically just did it because I knew i couldn't win in a fair fight against her. I'm sorry- it was cowardly.." Roman sighed. "I-i feel like there was more to it, a reason that I cared so much about living, b-but I don't remember.. I-i think Sadihak might've taken a lot of my memories.." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Enya blinks back the tears that begin to rise up, voice lost momentarily. She'd done the same thing, really--Levi's back had been turned, he'd been leaving her behind, when she struck. Did that make her any different? Maybe he's lying about missing his memories. But it's not like she has any reason to doubt him. Maybe she wants to believe him. "They-- They can do that?" She sniffles, fighting to carry on conversing normally past her heartbeat echoing in her ears. "I'm sorry..." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Yeah, they.. they can.." Roman mumbled. "I-i know you're upset, if there's anything I can do to make it right with you, please let me know. You can yell at me or beat me up or whatever-i asked Ryu if there was anything she wanted me to do or tell people, but she said she just wanted me to be quiet.." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Part of her is tempted. Really tempted. If she'd run into him after the fight, when everything was scarred fresh and painful, maybe she would have. But now? "I-I don't know if anything can m-make any of this right," she mumbles, swallowing back the lump in her throat as she swipes at her eyes with the back of her hand. "I k-killed someone too." She doesn't comment on Ryu not having anything to tell people. It almost feels selfish to hope she'd been thinking of her. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman wanted to reach out to try and comfort her, but knew better than to try. Not a good idea. "I-i tried to help where I could, I really did.. I-i got Naiyta to send a few of the attendants home early, who knows if the rest w-will be able to.. Or hell, I don't even know if any of us get back now.." Roman shook his head. "But I'm really sorry about Ryunoske, I don't have a good reason to tell you why I did it. I'm not sure I ever did. I-if my memories were so bad that Sadihak had to take them away, maybe it would have been better if I let Ryu win anyway.." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Enya hugs her arms to her chest, staring down at the ground for a moment. "....M-Maybe it's better if you don't--have a reason, I mean," she says eventually, quietly. "I don't know if I'd be able t-to accept it as..easily." This is far from easy already, but there's no other way to describe it. She seems a little uncomfortable, actually, at Roman's suggestion. "And I don't really know if th-that'd... if it'd change things. Winning never m-mattered here anyway." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"If Ryu won, she'd still be here for you.. Not like there's many people here who want anything to do with me, not now that Naiyta is gone.." Roman nearly pouted. "But it seems like most of the dead people are back, maybe she's just.. lost somewhere here? I could try to fly up and find her, or something.." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

…Yeah, she’s not really sure she wants to question that one. “I.. I don’t know,” Enya shrugs somewhat hopelessly, shoulders hunching slightly. “Maybe. I hope. B-But this place, it’s..” Huge. Empty. Infinite. Her voice drops quieter. “….I don’t want to get m-my hopes up. If they’re not here.” @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I think it's worth hoping, most people got here.." Roman said. "And to be honest, I don't even know if there is an out of here, we might have infinity ton look for her." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Enya tenses at the idea. "I-- I don't want to think about that," she says quickly, shaking her head. "There has to be a way, however we got here maybe, o-or something else..." It sounds weak, even to herself. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. Looks like the Lifebringers aren't exactly.. Lifebring-ing anymore.." Roman shrugged. "I wouldn't get too sad about it until someone touches the big glowy thing, I'm sure that'll do something. Not sure what, but something." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

She spares a glance at the burning object, turning back just as quick with a faint wince and blinking the glare out of her eyes. "Well... H-Hopefully it's one of them that has to touch it and-- a-and not us," Enya sighs after a moment. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. yeah, I'm not touching it." Roman said. "Well, my offer stands if you want me to go look for her, just around here. I'm sorry I took her from you in the first place." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

"'...Thanks." The hollowness in Enya's voice is hard to mask. "I.. I guess if you see her, let m-me know. I'd like that. I hope y-you get your memory stuff all-- all worked out, or something." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I'll make sure to tell you." Roman nodded. "And.. we'll see, I'm still not too sure what I want to do about all that.. But you don't have to worry about it." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

"Still.. Good luck," Enya says, forcing a small smile that doesn't really reach her eyes. "I'm going to look around m-myself then. I guess I'll see you around here." She sounds somewhat unenthused either way. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Good luck, too." Roman said and waved slightly. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Good luck, too." Roman said and waved slightly. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

"Thanks." Enya answers with a short wave of her own, though it's more or less just throwing her hand up for a brief second before she turns and leaves.

(Gonna keep using this because the name fits)

3

10:49 AM

... Well.. Sadihak would get some time to rest before they were hit with that agitating, annoying voice they were far too used to at this point. "D-did you take my memories? I-i thought we were friends." Roman asked as he approached the pair on the ground. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Petrai drew Sadihak up to a sitting position. She met his gaze when Sadihak wouldn't. "I had to. Naiyta made me." Sadihak said shakily. Their voice was cool, but not cold or harsh. "If I hadn't, it would've hurt not just you, but Petrai, myself- who knows how many people." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman tried to look at Sadihak for a bit, but found it too weird, and instead met Petrai's eyes. Well, that lined up with what he had heard from Raikal.. Definitely something Naiyta would do. "Wh-why? H-how many times have you done it- every time they hurt me? Someone else? I can't- I can't remember anything bad they did. But everyone says they did so many bad things.. I-i still love them- M-make me stop missing them. Please." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Petrai's gaze was blank and cool. She said nothing. "Only- only the once. I took a lot of it then." Sadihak admitted, wrapping their hands around their body. "Is- is that really what you want? Any compulsion I put on you like that- it won't last forever. I can't rewrite you entirely." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I need to stop loving them." Roman stated plainly. "I-it doesn't have to be a compulsion- a-and I think I'm better off without the first person memories o-of everything, if what Raikal said is true.. Just tell me what they did to me. A-and anything important that happened that you took from me, i-infortmation I learned or- or a new curse put on me, or anything that will affect the rest of my life. I-i need to know." Roman's wings twitched behind him as he kept staring at Petrai- his eyes continually shifting to the empty space behind her shoulders- before he decided to just look at the ground. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

As Roman looked away, Petrai shifted her gaze to Sadihak. Sadihak took in a heavy, shaky breath, before recounting everything they had taken from Roman. They tried to be as tactful as they could- including everything without saying any specific details. They went in chronological order- starting from the very first night, and ending at the time Naiyta amputated Petrai's wings. "And- and there was more than that, more subtle things, in the way it treated you, in how it spoke to you. I took those, too..." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman listened along intently. He was strange to hear about things that had happened that he couldn't remember, and his gut instinct was to not believe it. Surely Naiyta couldn't have been that bad, they were exaggerating to prove their point, he loved them, after all. But it just kept going. And going. And going. His whole body was shaking- in both fury and sadness. Was there even enough time in a week for all of this to happen to him? As Sadihak wrapped it up, he finally let out a sob, quickly followed by him falling to his knees. It had been so much worse- so much more- than he had been anticipating. Naiyta had gone against one of his wishes just hours after his memories were gone. It had kept the items he said he didn't want anymore under the bed- it had never intended to keep that promise, had it? He wrapped his arms around himself and rubbed at his skin in some pitiful attempt to comfort himself. It really wasn't working, and his singular sob developed in to many more. "I-i'm sorry-" Roman first apologized. "A-all those bad things that happened to you two.. th-they were my fault.. I'm so sorry, I-i just.. I just wanted to help." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Both Sadihak and Petrai were silent for a while, allowing Roman time to cry. "It... wasn't all your fault." Petrai said simply. "It was being awful to us before you even got here." Sadihak couldn't fully embrace Roman- having to use at least one arm to keep themself propped up- but reached out a hand to gently caress his arm. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman shoved himself away from Sadihak's touch, and used his wings to shield himself from the other two. It wasn't all his fault. Yeah, those six months before he was here, he could accept that as an obvious truth. But everything that happened after he first spoke with Naiyta? Everything had just collapsed from there, and he couldn't think of any other common denominator besides himself. He forced Sadihak in to a much more severe punishment by showing up to apologize. A punishment they wouldn't have gotten in the first place if he hadn't upset Naiyta. And he let Petrai in on a little bit of her past, just enough to make her curious. Enough to send her on to the spiral that ended with her losing her wings. He continued crying, but tried to muffle it. "I-is there anything else I-i should know?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Sadihak moved their hand back as Roman shrunk away. "Your... parents. Naiyta said they weren't actually dead," Sadihak said, "But... I think they were lying about that." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

That gave Roman pause, for just a moment. "Why- wh-why would it even say that..?" Roman asked quietly. "A-am I even really p-part corvi, or d-did it lie to me about that too? A-and just make my wings out of nothing?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I... I have no idea. I could only see the memories from your perspective..." They sighed deeply. "I only knew what you knew. Which wasn't a lot. From... from what I could tell, you, uhm, are part corvi. The... way it grew your wings wouldn't have been possible otherwise." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I-it knew things about me I never even d-did, then.." Roman mumbled. So it was possible they were out there, but who knows where they could've went. They could be anywhere. Or they could've died since then- if they were even alive at all. "My parents a-are better off without me anyway, even if they were alive. Th-they must've known I'd turn out like a freak." Roman sniffled and shakily stood up again, keeping his back to them. "I think e-everyone might be better off without me. S-sorry for interrupting your rest. I-i'll leave you alone now." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Sadihak opened their mouth to say more, but thought better of it at the last second. "I'm sorry, Roman. I really am. I was only doing... what I thought was best for you at the moment. What I thought was best for all of us." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"D-don't apologize for doing what you had to. That was the best thing you could've done.." Roman said, with his eyes finally locking in on the glowing ball of light not too far away. "I-i still think of you as a friend. I-i don't know if I did before my memories got taken, b-but I do now. A-and you deserve so much better from a friend, I-i'm going to go do one last stupid thing. T-to try to help." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Sadihak and Petrai exchanged a wary glance. "Don't get yourself hurt, Roman." Petrai chided, though it seemed more of an adage than any actual instruction. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Y-you two just keep looking out for yourselves." Roman said quietly and began to walk toward the light, not once taking his eyes off of it.. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Petrai and Sadihak kept to themselves. It was how they lived- by looking out for only each other. ETERNITY hummed at a constant, low vibration as Roman approached IT. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

He wasn't deterred by the humming. As he stepped up to IT, he finally spoke with a quivering tone. "S-send everyone home, you can do that, can't you?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

The humming only grew stronger as Roman approached- though it was difficult to tell if it was in response to his presence. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

He just kept getting closer. "Send everyone home!" He ordered, louder this time. He was almost within arms reach... @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

As Roman got closer and closer, the humming grew unbearable. And he would begin to hear something beneath it. ÞAT VVICH HATH LOVED MY VEſſEL. HEAR ME. A harsh, inhuman sound- but still a voice making recognizable sounds. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

He refused to move his hands over his ears or back away, not caring if the awful sound deafened him at this point. "Wh-" He stammered as he heard a different sound. Something was in there, but it didn't sound like Naiyta. "I'll hear you if y-you listen to me!" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

The light grew brighter for only a second. WOULDST ÞOU LIKE THE BODIE? @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

He squinted against the light as it grew in intensity. "Why are you offering that to me?! Who- what are you?!" Roman took a small step backward. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

ÞOU HATH LOVED IT. The voice replied, and then paused. I AM ETERNITY. There was a different sound- something like the creaking of a piece of wood- and something began to emerge from the light. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Hm. Ironic that, currently, Naiyta was swallowed by the thing it had consumed.. "Please send everyone home, Eternity, I'll- do whatever else you want." Roman held his hand out toward whatever was emerging.. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

He'd need more than just his hand- whatever was emerging from the light was as big as a person.... Because it was one. It was Naiyta- the corpse of Naiyta, really. It was held out in bright, golden tendrils of light that looked almost like tree branches, cradled limply in ETERNITY's grasp. It lay perfectly still, like it was sleeping- but even its chest was still, no sign of breath or life. But it looked at peace. Its piercings had been removed and healed, it was bare and completely naked- the scars on its chest that it had always flaunted were no more, and their bosom was soft and not pronounced. Had Naiyta always looked so young, so childlike? Had they always seemed so.... innocent as they did now? @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 (really weird tw here but? forced detransition? They're dead idk)

Roman kept his eyes shut for a time, but after he didn't feel anything touch his hands, he opened them again. He gasped as he saw Naiyta dangling there. He only looked over them for a moment before looking back to the light itself. "Why?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

IT IS NOT FOR ME TO BARE. ETERNITY said simply. ÞOU HATH LOVED IT. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Wh-what do your want me to do with them..?" Roman asked and carefully reached out to the branches of light holding Naiyta up. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

DO VVHAT ÞOU VVISHES. As Roman reached out, the branches careful deposited the body into his arms into a gentle bridal carry. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman grimaced as Naiyta's flesh touched his, and he closed his eyes. He didn't want to see them. "A-are you going to send everyone back home now? Please..?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta's body was still warm. Their skin was soft. BRING ME MY VEſſELS. ETERNITY ordered. I MUST SPEAK TO ANORE. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Warner than they even were in life- Godhood..? "I-i'll do that." Roman nodded and took a step away. "Just Anore?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

BRING ANORE TO ME. ETERNITY ordered, with no additional information. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Didn't have to tell him three times. Wordlessly, he walked off.. But he did pause to drop Naiyta's corpse on the ground once he was away from ETERNITY. "C-can't believe I'm still stuck here w-worrying about you." Roman huffed and shrugged off his jacket. He put the jacket on them and zipped it up, so they had some amount of decency. It was big enough that it draped down over their upper thighs. He didn't pick them up, but chose to instead grab their wrist and drag them around limply on the grass. He scanned around for Anore... @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta, of course, had no reply or protest of any kind. Roman could easily spot Anore standing over with some of the other Lifebringer incarnations. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

He took in another deep breath and began walking toward the group, dragging Naiyta along behind him. As he got close, he tossed Naiyta over toward the group. They landed awkwardly on the ground, but Roman's giant jacket still kept them modest. "The light says i-it wants to talk to Anore." Roman announced, not really caring if he was interrupting something. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

The Lifebringers stepped back in anxious motion as Naiyta was tossed over. All of them, save for the tall, blonde teenager, looked anxiously between the corpse and Roman. "That's..." Anore took a sharp breath as he bent down to inspect the body, "Are they....?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Very." Roman said, choosing to not look over at the body. "They're not injured or wounded, I just felt weird dragging around a naked corpse. That's just how they were when Eternity gave it to me." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm." Anore hummed in thought, and in a bit of disgust. He turned Naiyta over onto their back, and rested their hands over their stomach so they looked... less like a crumpled up corpse and more like a corpse at a funeral. "Nobody touch it." Anore instructed the others, then turned back to Roman. "It wanted to speak with me? Eternity?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

If they came back to life, Roman was fairly certain it would get stomped to death in about ten seconds anyway. ".. Yeah, I asked if it wanted anyone else, but it just said you. Good luck." Roman said flatly. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Anore sighed and stood up. "... I'll go speak with it. Hopefully I can.... negotiate something." He went over to where ETERNITY was still burning. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman didn't feel he need to say he should try to negotiate a way home, that was probably obvious. Well, now it was just Roman, the previous Lifebringers, and a corpse. What a party. ".. You all look different." Roman commented. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

The two teenagers- one of whom seemed to be Albanes?- were crouching by the corpse. The blonde one was running his hand across Naiyta's features. Saiytsa turned to Roman. She also looked far younger than she had before- eighteen or nineteen, most likely. "We're all back to how we were before we got the powers." She explained. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 (edited)

'Saiyta's still hot though- no not the time..' ".. oh." Roman said, and glanced down to Naiyta. That made sense. "So is the Lifebringer just not going to exist anymore in your universe?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I don't know! I guess so!" Saiytsa threw her hands up in confused frustration, signaling she truly didn't know the answer. "It's all so... confusing now." "It's actually simple if think about it for more than two seconds." Iydelan said, just to be controversial, and Saiytsa glared at her. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"No, I can see how it would be confusing." Roman said, just to simp. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Then maybe you and Saiytsa are... alike in mind." Iydelan said, and it was clearly meant as an insult. Meanwhile, Ttakeqeri's attention was on the teens. "Yeonaixho, don't touch it. Anore said not to." "And who said Anore's in charge?" Yeonaixho retorted in a very teenagery fashion. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. I think Eternity said so." Roman shrugged. "I'm guessing it's following the line of succession, since Anore was the second. So if you wanna be in charge, I think some more of you would have to die." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Yeonaixho huffed in dissaproval and sat back on the grass. "That's no fair. Albanes and I would have to wait forever for our turn." "Maybe no one would put you in charge because you're seventeen years old and stupid." Saiytsa counterargued. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I think you two have messed this place up enough without being in charge, don't you think?" Roman asked, and put his hands on his hips. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I didn't do anything." Yeonaixho said, crossing his arms. Albanes added quietly, "I don't even want to be in charge..." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Seeing that it took ten thousand years or whatever for Naiyta to finally actually kick the bucket, I don't think most of you need to worry about that happening." Roman said. "And I don't see Anore being nearly as cartoonishly evil as Naiyta was, so it would probably be even longer." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Saiytsa sat down on the ground. "There's no point arguing about all this anyways. Who knows what's going to happen once Anore comes back." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"True." Roman said, still simping. Following Saiytsa's lead, he also sat down. Weirdo. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

In true Lifebringer fashion Albanes and Yeonaixho started bickering about something inane, and Saiytsa just sighed. "It's like having a bunch of horrible younger siblings that all happen to be idiots..." she said, mostly to Roman. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Seems like it." Roman chuckled, just a little. "Did you have siblings back home, Miss Saiytsa?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Ah, not me, I was an only child." Saiytsa hummed. "What about you?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"As far as I know, it's just me.. Apparently I'm very distantly related to Anore, though. Do you see the resemblance?" He tried to put on a very serious face. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Saiytsa laughed- a pleasant, almost musical laugh. "Ah- not in the features, so much, but you capture his... essence well." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mm, I look a lot like one of his parents.. He doesn't look much like them at all." Roman said, not explaining how he'd know what one of his ancestors from thousands of years ago would look like. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Huh.... maybe he takes after the other one." Saiytsa had been around so long, that must've not phased her as much as it would a normal person. "Weird that Naiyta went after you, then. I guess I should've expected it. Naiyta is a weirdo." A pause. "Was a weirdo, I guess." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. Yes, they were.." Roman mumbled, sparing a quick glance at the corpse before looking back to Saiytsa. "I'll be taking my jacket back once you guys figure out what to do with the body." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"... I don't have a clue what we're gonna do with it." Saiytsa sighed. "Feels gross looking at it. Maybe Anore has an idea." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I'm sure he'll come up with something- oh, maybe I should let Raikal know.. hm.." Roman hummed. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm. Maybe so..." Saiytsa sighed. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I'll wait until after Anore is back, I don't want to miss whatever he's gonna say." Roman said. He rested his chin in his hand. "Do you know much about other gods besides the Lifebringer, miss Saiytsa?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Saiytsa sighed. "I know of some. I'm mostly aqquainted with the others who are worshipped in the Loucari, though." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I see.. Like the Nightwatcher?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

She nodded. "The Nightwatcher, the Ficus Lunaris, Maletichiom...." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. Mmm. Yeah, I don't know any of those.." Roman sighed. "What does Maletichiom do? That sounds the most familiar but unfamiliar." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I think she's mostly a goddess of volcanoes." Saiytsa hummed. "Fire and war and passion and all that stuff. Some... fertility and soil influence too. I never actually crossed paths with her, only her worshippers." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mmm, no, maybe not that one then." Roman said. "I guess I don't actually know what the god I'm thinking of does... Just that she exists." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Hm. I can't help you with that one, then." Saiytsa sighed. "Can't tell you what I don't know." She looked out at her predeccessors and successors, and to Anore, still talking to Eternity. "Might be a while..." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. I'm sure they have a lot to talk about.." Roman sighed. ".. Think I have time to go talk to Raikal before they're done?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"... probably." Saiytsa shrugged. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mmm.. Then I'll be right back." Roman said and stood up. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Byeeee..." Saiytsa waved goodbye, and went back to watching the other Lifebringers argue with each other. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman waved a bit, then hurried off to Raikal.. After a while of searching, he finally spotted them. "Oh, Raikal, I have good news. "Roman said as he ran up to them. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal had been watching Anore speak to Eternity from a distance, and only briefly looked away as Roman approached. "Oh- uh, you have news?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mhm, Naiyta is definitely dead dead, and Eternity gave me their body if you wanna like.. I dunno, revenge, or whatever. I figured I'd let you get the first shot, you deserve it." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"They're-" Raikal turned to face Roman fully, doubt and.... fear?- in their eyes. "They're actually dead? Really dead?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Yes, I'm sure of it. I dragged their corpse around for a while, and nothing. Not to mention half of the other Lifebringers have been poking at it.." Roman said, and slowly raised his hand up to Raikal's shoulder. "I-i had Sadihak tell me the things I had forgotten. All those awful things they did to you and me. It can't hurt anyone anymore. I promise." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal fell down to their knees, and wrapped their arms around their body. "They're- they're dead-" She took in heavy, laborious breaths. "Dead. Naiyta is- Naiyta is dead-" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman took his hand away as Raikal fell. "Shit- i-is this a good or a bad thing to you..?" Roman asked as he crouched down beside them. He shielded her from everyone else with his wings, just in case they were shy about freaking out in public. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal was trembling, and didn't quite meet Roman's gaze. "I- I don't know. I feel like- I feel like I'm feeling everything I possibly could-" His voice was cracking as he spoke. "How am I supposed to feel? Is it- is it wrong to feel bad? Wrong to feel good?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I-i think whatever you're feeling is right. You spent so long together.. a-and I'm really not the one that can judge loving your abuser.." Roman sighed and moved in closer to wrap his arm around their shoulder. "I was only with them for a fraction of the time, i-i don't want to compare it to everything you went through, but.. I can see how you're feeling conflicted." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal leaned into Roman's embrace, and blinked tears away from their eyes. "They were the center of my world for- for as long as I can remember. For as long as- as I've known them. Whether I hated them or loved them, they were there-" She took in a heavy, shaky breath, "- but now they'e gone." A few moments of silence, and they said quietly, "... I think I would like to see the body. If- if I could do so in private." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Of course, I can bring it here or we can go over to the Lifebringers. But just a warning, Anore said not to touch it.. I'm not sure if he was just being cautious or thinks something could happen." Roman said and rubbed their back a little, between the wings. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I'd think... I'd prefer it if you could bring it over." Raikal said. "I... don't want to think about what the Lifebringer's would think of me." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman really wanted to say 'I'm sure they wouldn't judge you', but he lowkey figured they would. And his reputation was already probably rock bottom, just from his 'fight'. He didn't really have much to lose. "I'll bring it over." Roman said and stood up. "Before I go- have you seen Radoul at all? I figured they'd be somewhere around you, but..." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

".... thanks." Raikal broke away from Roman but stayed on the ground. They looked around. "... I haven't seen them. But, uhm. I don't really know what they look like... separate. So they could be somewhere around here." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. Separate? Why would they be separate?" Roman asked. "Noooo wait- it better not have separated them.. They'd be so small and I have no clue how to get them together again.. ugh.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh- uh, I figured it might've... fixed them? I don't know." Raikal sighed heavily. "I'm... I'm not thinking straight right now. I'll tell you if I see them. They might still be sand-blasted." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"True, true... Thank you. I'll keep looking too." Roman said and finally stepped away from Raikal. "Okie, I'll be right back." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal stayed where they were on the ground.... @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman walked off back to the Lifebringers, and specifically to Naiyta. Without saying anything, he scooped them up in to the same bridal carry that ETERNITY had placed it in originally. Seemed a bit more respectful than dragging it all the way back. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

The Lifebringers, particularly Ttakeqeri, eyed Roman suspiciously as he retrieved the corpse, but didn't say anything. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 (edited)

Good, he didn't feel like answering any questions. He glanced over at Ttakeqeri before hurrying off back toward Raikal with the body. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal stood up as Roman approached, their hands trembling as he reached out for Naiyta. "Oh- oh, god-" Her voice cracked and wavered. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman didn't hand over Naiyta, not yet. "A-are you sure you want to.. Do this?" Roman asked. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal nodded, though they were still trembling. "I- I have to." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman nodded, and held out Naiyta to them, still draped in his jacket. The bright red and stark black only made them look all the paler. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal cautiously took Naiyta's body into a bridal hold, and moved back onto the ground, holding it in their lap. They hesitantly traced Naiyta's face with their hand. "Oh- oh... Naiyta..." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

As much as Roman was curious, he decided it was best to give Raikal the privacy they'd requested. He turned his back to them and used his wings to shield them from the view of anyone else around. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Though Roman had turned his back to Raikal, he would still be able to hear their voice. It was maybe moment til he broke out in guttaral, wailing sobs- letting out a myriad's worth of bottled-up emotions. Though Roman couldn't see it, Raikal was holding on tight to Naiyta's body, pressing its chest to hers, running her hands through their hair. Not every touch was affectionate- Raikal clawed at Naiyta's skin, dug their fingernails into its flesh, shook them violently in a way they never would've done to a living person. And still, they were affectionate with it- cupping it's dead cheek, kissing its dead lips. Raikal did not know how to feel about Naiyta- to let the hate or the love in their heart win out. But they could not deny they still felt for them. They cared about Naiyta entirely. Perhaps the cruelest thing it had ever done was make it so he would never be able to forget them. Never be able to move on. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman looked down at the grass as Raikal let out everything. It was a lot to even listen to. It was comforting to know that he wasn't unique in the way he loved. He still cared for Roque, and as must as he didn't want to say, he still cared about Naiyta. Why bother giving them any dignity of his clothes if he didn't? Of his favorite jacket, the jacket that he had to alter because of them. Now they wore it. When they learned that Roque had died, the band was heart broken. The person that they had spent so many years obsessing over, and they had nothing to remember her by. Except for her eyes, which he acquired some days after. He claimed that he loved her, but wasn't it cruel to keep her locked away in a jar? Or stuck inside the blood dimension when he couldn't have her out? When he was mad, he would shake the jar, but when he was happy, he'd hug it, talk to it like she was still listening. He hadn't spent nearly as long with Naiyta, but they had done so much to him. It was hard for him to believe it, even as he tried to retroactively fit the new information in to the blurry gaps of his memory. It felt like he was hearing about things that had happened to someone else. He'd probably never be able to move on from either figure, it's just the way he was. But he wasn't alone. He never really was. He took in a deep breath and held back his own tears as Raikal sobbed. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Eventually, Raikal's sobs died down- likely not because they had let out all their emotion, but because their voice had grown hoarse and their tears had dried up. The wailing sounds faded into softer whimpers, and eventual silence from Raikal. They laid Naiyta out on the soft grass, and curled up next to it, laying one wing over their body. It all felt so, so wrong, but what could they do? They were glad Roman was the only one there to hear them. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman continued to shield them, for a time, before he eventually turned to look at them. He was a bit surprised to see that she was laying with it, but didn't let it show on his expression. "C-could I..?" Roman asked softly as he gestured to the grass on the other side of Naiyta. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Of course," Raikal said, their voice weak. They didn't take their eyes off Naiyta. "Of course." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Slowly, Roman lowered himself to the ground next to Naiyta, across from Raikal. He slowly moved his wing atop theirs. ".. how are you feeling..?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal took a long moment to reply. "I don't know. I don't know if... I have the words for it." He said quietly. "I feel better after crying. And now that I've seen it again." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"You don't have to have the words." Roman said quietly and ran his fingers through Naiyta's stringy, thin hair. ".. They were very scared to die, I know that. I tried to talk them in to doing this days ago.. They didn't want to, at all.. I wish it could have been on their own terms, still." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"... that sounds like them. Very much like them. Despite... everything about them, they were always so scared." Raikal sighed heavily. "I wish so, too. I wish... I wish it hadn't been like this." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. Mm.. It had to be, though.. You know them, they were never going to give it up." Roman sighed. "But now you can go do whatever you want. You could leave here, if we get to leave, or stay here with Anore.. Naiyta can't keep you apart anymore." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal was silent for another moment. "... Do you really think we'll get to leave?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Eternity must have the ability to do it, and.. I think Anore can come to some kind of deal. I think we'll be able to leave." Roman nodded. "I know we'll get out of here, somehow." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm. Anore will find a way." Raikal sighed heavily. "I need to speak with him. Maybe... maybe once he's done negotiating with Eternity." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"That sounds like a good idea, he seems.. Focused." Roman said. His hands lingered on Naiyta's hair for a time, before he began to redo their little braids from the previous night. "Raikal.. Um... Could I ask you a weird question..?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Of course." They said. "I might not have an answer, but you can ask." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I don't.. R-really have much to remember my family by, and.. I'm not going to make you come with me if you don't want to, so.. C-could I have one of your feathers..? We're related, somehow.. A-and I have nothing left.. It would mean a lot to me." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh- oh, that's not weird." Raikal drew up to a sitting position. "We are kin. I'm- I'm honered that you'd want one." They carefully plucked a long, black-blue feather from their wing, and presented it to Roman. "Are you going to make a talisman?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman finished up the small braid and sat up, holding his hands awkwardly in his lap as he eyed the feather. It took him a moment to actually accept it. "I would like to try, but.. I don't really know how to make one." Roman said sheepishly. "And I don't really have an example of-" He paused for a moment as his leg shifted. With no warning, he stuck his hand down the side of his many sizes too large pair of Raikal's old pants. Slowly, he pulled out a talisman that would look very familiar to Raikal. "... Guess I tied this on the inside of my pants at some point, must've forgotten." Roman smiled and held it out to her. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal gently took their talisman back into their hands, gently running their hand over the feathers. "It- it kept it this entire time, huh..." They pressed it to their chest for a moment, and used their other hand to wipe away the tears forming at their eyes, before tying it back onto their belt. "Thank you, Roman- thank you so much." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"You don't have to thank me," Roman smiled, just happy to help out Raikal in some way. "I-I know it doesn't really fit in with the other ones, but.. You could have one of my feathers, if you wanted. I-I know Anore can't give you one, and I'm not your child, but.. If you wanted one to add." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal smiled- there was still a certain sadness in their eyes, but they had will to smile. "I'd be honored to carry one of your feathers, Roman." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman smiled, wide and pure. He was overjoyed to be included in something so personal, so.. Familial. He set Raikal's feather down in his lap and dug through his feathers, trying to find a small but pretty one.. He finally did, and plucked it out. "Ow." He mumbled and shook out his wing. All his feathers were so fresh, there weren't really 'loose' ones to choose from. Regardless of the pinch, he was still smiling as he held out the feather to Raikal. It was visibly different from the ones they bore, at least to a discerning eye. Thousands of years of evolution, no matter how gradual, will lead to changes. The shimmer of blue was slightly different, the vanes ever so slightly pointed differently. Beyond just regular changes over time, it was likely at least one of his corvi ancestors had had offspring with a different Corvi group, even if it wasn't that outwardly apparent. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal smiled, and carefully took the feather. She handled it delicately, and tied it onto her talisman- right next to her parent's feathers. "We're family." They said, and their satisfaction with that fact was clear in their voice. "We always will be. Nothing can break that." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman watched closely as Raikal tied it on. "Y-you really mean that? Th-that we're family..?" Roman asked with a weak voice. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Of course." Raikal smiled, and offered out their hands for Roman to take. "I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it. We might be very, very distantly related, but you're still my kin. You're still someone who means a lot to me, whom I care very much for. And that's what makes us family. You're one of my own, no matter how distant our blood connection." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman wasted no time in grabbing Raikal's hands. He held them tight with his frail, bony hands, like Raikal might just disappear if he were to let go. "You don't know how much this means to me- h-how much I've wanted this. T-to have anyone..." Roman sniffled as he squeezed Raikal's hands. "Thank you, thank you for being here for me, thank you so much.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal wrapped their hands around Roman's and held him tightly. "You don't have to thank me. But, you're welcome." They smiled. "It's... been a while since I've had anyone to call my family." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I-it's been.. A-almost ten years for me. And my grandfather was not a kind man." Roman said, swinging their clasped hands ever so slightly. "I'm so happy t-to have you." He took in a deep breath, just cherishing this moment. "C-could you help me make a talisman? I don't know how." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Of course," Raikal smiled. "Do you have any sort of strong or cord we can use? It doesn't matter what type, really, as long as it's hardy enough not to break easily." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"String or cord... No, not on me.. But if I can go to my blood dimension quick it should be there.." Roman said. "You don't think that would make Eternity mad, right..?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Uhhh.... I really don't know. But, it doesn't seem to be paying much attention to any of us." Raikal hummed. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Then I'll be right back." Roman said and slowly released Raikal's hands. "Have you seen my blood dimension yet?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I haven't." Raikal shook their head. "Though... I think I'd rather stay here, honestly." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Fair, fair... The blood pit isn't for everyone." Roman said and scooted a ways from Raikal. "BRB then!" He summoned his daggers and descended to the pit.. Probably for the best Raikal didn't tag along. While Roman was down there, though, Raikal wouldn't be alone.. Two distinct sets of footsteps could be heard approaching from behind her. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal watched as Roman descended into the pit, and waited in silence until they heard approaching footsteps. "Hello?" He turned around. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Well, it definitely was two people.. That Raikal had never seen before. It seemed to be two men, one tall and lean with an olive skin tone with short straight black hair, and the other short and rounder with cool dark brown skin and white coiled hair. Blood was dripping off of them, though it didn't seem to be coming from any injury on them.. Oh, they were also very very naked, besides for the blood sloughing off of them. The shorter man seemed to have some shame, and was cupping his hands over his crotch with a dark blush across his face. The taller guy didn't care though, and walked with his hands on his hips. "That pathetic bird guy was Roman, right?" The taller man asked with a hoarse voice. "Sorry- one second, dear-" He turned to the side and heaved up a few mouthfuls of blood, quite violently, before wiping off his mouth and turning back to Raikal. "Roman, right? That other guy? " He repeated and gestured a bloody hand over toward the pit. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh- Oh, uh, are you two- okay?" Raikal quickly got to their feet, alarmed to see two mysterious bloody naked guys just there. Her brow furrowed, "Uh, yeah, that was Roman." She nodded, "He's getting something from down there. But-" They shrugged off their outer shawl and offered it to the shorter of the two- he seemed more uncomfortable in the nude. "I only have one cloak, sorry... Uhm... who are you two?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

The short man tried to wipe off some more blood from himself before he accepted the cloak, but nothing really helped. With an apologetic but thankful expression he took the cloak and held it around his shoulders. "Oof, I don't know if I should be thankful or upset you can't see the resemblance." The taller man laughed, with a snicker I could only describe as queer in some fashion. "Remoul and Radysh, I'm guessing Roman has already raved to you about us enough that that's all the information you need." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

It took a while for Raikal to make the name connection. "Oh! You! Yes, he's... told me some about you." They laughed awkwardly. "Ah. Uhm, well, he's in for quite the surprise when he comes back, then. Hah." It put its hands on its hips and looked down into the blood pit, politely avoiding looing at either band memeber too long. "Ah, well, I'm Raikal, you might already know that. Good to meet you... again." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"We're vagueeeeeeely aware of the nonsense Roman got himself into here. And before all of this." Remoul said and crossed his arms. "That boy is capital C Crazy. We're amazed he even got this far." Radysh nodded to that. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Ah, yeah." Raikal glanced towards Naiyta's corpse. "I only know... some of the things that happened, but... yeah." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mmm, mmm." Remoul glanced down at Naiyta. "Yuck. Do you mind if I kick it?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh, uh, I don't mind." Raikal shook their head, but looked away all the same. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Thanks, mate." Remoul promptly got to kicking the shit out of Naiyta's corpse. Radysh assisted with a few taps here and there, but was nowhere near as heated about it. Mid beating, Roman finally emerged from the pit again. "Okay, I couldn't find any regular string that would be strong enough, but I have some guitar strings-" Roman paused as he stepped foot on the grass. At first he was confused as to why there were now two random men attacking Naiyta, but it only took a moment for him to register who they were. "YouuuuuaaaAHHHHhHHHHHHHH!" He screeched in pure joy and ran over as fast as his legs could carry him, and even his wings propelled him forward. He tackled the two right off of Naiyta, knocking them down to the grass. "Woah there, don't kill us again!" Remoul chuckled and moved a hand up to Roman's face. Roman leaned in to it, hard, but was spoiled for choice as Radysh did the same. He didn't even know how to articulate himself at the moment, and just let out pathetic noises from his throat. "Awe, you really missed us that bad, Romeo?" He nodded, furiously, many times, and hugged them as tightly as he could. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal looked away as Remoul and Radysh beat up Naiyta's corpses, but looked back as Roman emerged from the blood dimension. They couldn't help but smile at the happy reunion, but kept their distance, letting the trio have all the time they wanted. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

There wasn't enough time in the world for Roman to lay with his bandmates. It's all he had wanted to do for the past year.. "Alright, bud, you don't gotta keep fourth-wheeling your new bird friend." Remoul chuckled after they had laid in silence for a time. He patted Roman's back, and he nodded. "Y-yeah I just- I just missed you guys.." Roman sniffled. Radysh wiped his tears away, and smiled up at him softly. Roman took in a deep breath and kissed Radysh's hand as he sat up. "Sorry Raikal- I still want to m-make the talisman, if you're willing." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"It's alright. I can tell how much this means to you," Raikal laughed lightly, and gave Roman a smile. "I would love to show you how to make your talisman. Come, let's sit down... maybe a bit away from the body." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Away from the body would be good." Roman said and stood up, helping the other two in the process. Radysh was still clinging to the cloak. "You see, this is why it took us a year to start working together." Remoul said, which just made Radysh hum in response, and cling on to the cloak more. Roman chuckled, and led the group over toward Raikal. "Did you like being together at all?" Roman asked. "Utterly horrible, I can't imagine a worse man to spend a year with as a bloody, horny zombie." Remoul said and elbowed Radysh in the side, and he shoulder checked him right back. "Hehe, well clearly it wasn't all bad." Roman giggled. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal definitely still felt like they were fourth wheeling, but that was okay. They walked a bit aways from the body- but still stayed close enough it was within sight distance, and sat down on the grass. "Sooo.... you said you have guitar strings?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

The three sat down next to her, with Roman in the center. He stretched his wings across their backs. "Mhm! I'm surprised you know what a guitar is- I figured they wouldn't have them in your time." Roman said and held out the silvery cords to her. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I'm familiar enough. Anore played harp." Raikal nodded to where his son was still negotiating. Raikal carefully took the cords. "Hm. I think these will work. And a talisman is supposed to represent you..." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Harp... Yeah, that makes sense." Roman said and put his hands back to his lap. "Can I ask- are they your bird mom or something?" Remoul was squnting between Roman and Raikal, and Radysh was too, slightly.. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh, no-" Raikal laughed. "He's my.... many-times great-nephew. I lived many thousand years ago." They explained awkwardly. "My, uhm, ex-partner," He glanced towards Naiyta, "Kept my soul imprisoned here." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Your ex?" Remoul repeated. "Ahaaa..." Roman awkwardly laughed back. "... I guess they liked to keep it all in the family then.. freak." Remoul huffed. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal laughed awkwardly. "Ah- yeah, definitely. But, they're dead now anyways, so...." They trailed off, then refocused to the matter at hand. "Is there anything else you want to add to the talisman? You can add items to represent non-corvi family members. I have a few beads for Rukime and Odalia on mine." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I.. Don't really think I have any family left to remember, and I definitely don't have anything from my parents left if I did want to memorialize them." Roman shook his head. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Not even...." Raikal glanced to Radysh and Remoul, but shrugged. "Alright. We can just do it with my feather, to start. It's traditional for a parent to make a talisman for their child, but really any elder family member can do it." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oh- I could add them..?" Roman asked. "I would have to go look through my pit again, I'm sure I'd have something small I could put on.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"You can put whoever you'd like on your talisman. Odalia and I were never married, or anything, but I have her on mine." Raikal nodded reassuringly. "Beads work best, but anything that can be tied onto a string should work well." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Yay, I'll find something!" Roman said and hurried back to his pit. "What exactly are you making here..?" Remoul asked as he looked at what Raikal was holding. "This isn't some kind of blood curse on the people you put on it, right?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh- definitely not, I don't do... blood curses." Raikal reassured, and showed Remoul and Radysh their own talisman. "I'm making him a talisman. It's something us corvi wear to represent our families. Bird people things." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mm.. bird people things.." Remoul hummed in agreement, despite not knowing at all what that meant. "Yknow, I know a bird guy. Doesn't have wings though, just turns in to one." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Maybe he was a different kind of bird person?" Raikal suggested. "Pretty much all corvi have wings." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Maybe.. Are your bird people from England?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Ah, no. I don't even know where that is. I'm from what you might call the Loucari." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Ohhhhhhh, that's the place Roman was trying to go! Yeah, definitely not in Europe.." Remoul nodded. "Weird that there's two kinds of bird people though, don't you think they'd eventually just fuse together in to one bird country?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"... I don't know. Maybe there's some bird drama I don't know about, or something." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Huh.." Remoul hummed. "So did you hatch from an egg?" Radysh made his opinion known of that subject by shoving him in the side. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh, uh, yeah. I was born in my bird form, though. So... not like a human baby coming out of an egg." She laughed. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Remoul had to sit and think about that for a whole, clearly confused about the process of a human laying an egg. ".. Like a chicken sized egg or a baby sized egg-" Radysh shoved him again. Thankfully, Roman emerged again before Raikal had to answer that question. "Okay! I found things!" Roman announced happily and rushed back to the group. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal was clearly happy to be moving from that weird topic. "Oh? Let's see it, then." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

It seemed like Roman had a handful of items, not all of which would belong on a string. First was a pair of pants, which he tossed at Remoul, quickly followed by the hair gel container. "If I wear your pants it's still not going to leave much to the imagination," Remoul laughed, but accepted them anyway. He tossed a blank notepad and black pen over to Radysh, which he accepted graciously, but still gripped on to the cloak. "I found one of the beads Radysh would wear in his hair for some of the shows aaaaaand one of Remoul's rings." Roman said and held out the items to Raikal. The ring was a thin black metal band studded with tiny red gemstones, and the bead was a split black and red coated piece of wood. "Wowwwww, I've been looking for that, you know!" Remoul said as he attempted to squeeze in to Roman's pants. He was having mixed success. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"These will work well," Raikal nodded with a smile, and set the two items to the side at first, and began tying the feather first. The guitar string was a bit different than the leather cord they were used to working with, but they managed. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman watched excitedly as Raikal crafted the talisman. He tried to pay as much attention as he could, in case he needed to fix it later, or maybe even add to it. "Are you going to make one for Anore to have, too?" Roman asked. "I don't think he has to hide that he's part corvi anymore." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal's hands worked nimbly, but not so quickly Roman wouldn't be able to tell what they were doing. "I made him a talisman when he was born," They admitted, "But, he had to hide his identity, so he didn't wear it. Maybe he will now." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

To do something so risky like make Anore a talisman.. It must be very important. ".. Do you think he still has it, after all this time?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"... I would hope so." Raikal smiled weakly. "I fear... he was always more connected to Odalia's culture than mine. And, he should cherish that part of him, it's just as much of him as his Corvi heritage..." They sighed. "I hope he thinks of himself as a Rook, too." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"He did have to spend so long hiding it.." Roman said. "I'm sure now that he can express it, he will be more open about it. Maybe he'll be as curious as I am about it all." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal smiled. "I hope so. I really do. And.... maybe we can find Odalia, too." They finished tying the feather, and moved onto the ring and bead, which were a bit simpler to tie on. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Find Odalia..? You think she's around here somewhere?" Roman asked. "Or- if Anore becomes in charge of this place like Naiyta was.. I'm sure he could find her, somehow. That's just my guess about what's happening." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Maybe. I haven't seen her around... but I don't want to give up hope." Raikal looked off into the distance for the moment. "I don't know what Naiyta did with her soul after... everything. But... I'm sure she's somewhere." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

.. Roman didn't have a lot of confidence that Naiyta was above shoving Odalia's soul to some random dark corner of the ether for all this time, but he wasn't going to speak that in to reality. "Anore and you will find a way to reuinte with her, I'm sure of it." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal smiled apprehensively, and finished up Roman's talisman. "Ah, here you go." She handed it to him. "Do you like it?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman smiled back, and slowly looked down to the talisman. He hesitated, at first, to even touch it. Whatever family he had always fell apart. Didn't matter if it was biological, or chosen, or hell, even just friends. Could he really accept something like this? Something that tied him to so many people? "Th-thank you.." Roman said quietly as he gingerly took the talisman in to his hands. He held it to his chest and closed his eyes. "I'll cherish it forever, you don't know h-how much it means to me to have this." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal broke into a smile. "I'm so glad I could share this with you, it- it means so much to me, too. I'm happy to count you as part of my family, Roman. I truly am." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

A family member that actually wanted him. He never thought he'd find one. Who coulda guessed he'd have to go back thousands of years? He lunged forward and tugged Raikal in to a tight hug. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal was caught off-guard, but quickly sunk into the embrace, wrapping their arms around Roman. They gently patted his back in a soothing, almost parental way. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman held on tight, and refused to let go. He buried his face in to the crook of Raikal's neck, and went back to crying again. Yep. Remoul leaned over to Radysh and whispered something- though 'mommy issues' could be heard pretty clearly. Radysh nodded back solemnly. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal didn't seem to mind at all- they continued patting Roman's back, and softly sang to him. Their voice was weak and their singing somewhat off-key, but the song was identifiably a lullaby. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

At the singing, he only cried more. His parents had never sang to him- they were always too busy or too tired or some other excuse. He was lucky if they even helped him to bed after he was walking. Roman pulled himself up fully in to Raikal's lap, holding his knees up to his chest. His cries were gradually calming down and his vice like hold weakening. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal held Roman close to their body, wrapping both arms and wings around him. They patted his back and stroked his hair, even as his tears began to subside. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman wanted to stay awake and cherish this more than anything, but he could feel himself falling asleep. He couldn't remember the last time he had felt so at peace with someone like this.. Usually people only bothered to comfort him like this after they'd used him, if even then. Gradually, he fell asleep. His arms and wings lowered as his breathing slowed. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

2

Raikal sang softly as Roman fell asleep, then ever-so gently rested him out on the grass, arranging his wings so he'd lay comfortably. They didn't leave, though, and instead looked to where Anore was still speaking to Eternity. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Remoul and Radysh had just been continuing their private, whispering conversation. Well, Remoul was whispering and Radysh just nodded along while he was writing on his sheets of paper. Once Roman was thoroughly knocked out and on the ground, Remoul looked back over to Raikal. "He must really love you, I never even saw him be that pathetic around Roque or us." Remoul said quietly. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh, uhm..." Raikal kept their voice low. "That... means a lot to me, that he's comfortable being this vulnerable around me. I've missed being around my family." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Hm." Radysh hummed. "Soooo he's part bird, I'm guessing on his mom's side? We always figured he was Italian, guess not. Does he have more bird family out there that you know?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"That's what I've gathered- though, I think she might've used a false name to hide her identity. 'Ricci' isn't a corvi name, he'd likely be a Jeteye, like me." Raikal hummed, then shook his head. "Not that I know. I... I lived a very, very long time ago, anyone I knew has been dead for thousands of years." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Roman Jeteye.. Doesn't quite roll of the tongue as much." Remoul chuckled. "I bet that's enough information for him to try and find em. I guess that's what we'll be doing if we get back.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm. I hope you can find them. From my understanding... things aren't well for the corvi right now." They hummed, and looked off into the distance, "Not like they ever were." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"... Oh, yeesh, I guess that's why his mom would have a fake name." Remoul sighed. He turned to Radysh. "Wait, the person Roman was going after before he got taken here was Corvi, right? What was her name... Peter!" Radysh shook his head. "Really? Well, it was something like that. She didn't look a whole lot like you though, Raikal." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"... huh. I'm not sure Peter is a corvi name, either, but things might've changed since my day." They shrugged. "Not all corvi look alike, she probably wasn't a rook." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Radysh showed Remoul the sheet he was writing on. "Pet..rai.. oh yeah, that's what her name was." Remoul shrugged. "How many different bird people are there?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Petrai.... hm." Raikal hummed. "Well, there's 6 main kinds of corvi. There's the ravens, the rooks- that's me and Roman- the crows, the jackdaws, the jays and the magpies. The crows and jays are the biggest groups, at least they were when I was around." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I've never heard of half of those things. Those are all real kinds of birds?" Remoul asked skeptically. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Uh- yeah? They're all real birds." Raikal, who couldn't fathom not knowing things about corvids, replied. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. aren't rooks the things on chess boards?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"... I guess so? But the birds definitely came first." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Interesting. Well, you learn something new every day, right Radysh?" The other man rolled his eyes at that, as he already knew the basics about birds. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal just sat there, not knowing what to say next. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Seems like the two guys were also happy to just soak up being alive for a while. Remoul took in a deep breath and laid back in the grass, letting his fingers run through every blade. "It's so nice to be alive again. Being a blood thing sucked." He sighed. Radysh responded with a hearty grunt, the first noise he had made so far. "Yeah, he agrees." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm. I think I'm with you on that. I was never a blood thing," They hummed, "But being a flaming ghost isn't too fun, either." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"A flaming ghost? Yeesh, that sounds worse, actually. Couldn't feel any pain when you're just blood- well, could you feel burning when you're a ghost?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh, yeah- Naiyta killed me by burning me alive, so when I became a ghost it kinda... carried over." Raikal nodded. "It did hurt, but... at some point I just got used to it. The dryness really bothered me, mostly." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Eughhhhh," Remoul grimaced, and moved one of his hands over his chest. "Did it ever try to burn Roman?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I think so. I know he... didn't like it." Raikal grew quiet. "I'm sure if it had its way... it would've done it more." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"'Doesn't like it' is an understatement, that boy can put up with anything but fire. I'd never seen him as freaked out as whenever he burned himself cooking." Remoul sighed. "I kinda wish Naiyta wasn't already dead so we could strangle it and have it mean something. I waaaaaaanted to do it when we finally met it in the blood, but Radysh thought it was a 'stupid' idea and stopped us.. Eugh, it would've been worth it." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm. That is.... unfortunate. At least he won't have to worry about that any more." Raikal sighed heavily, and fell silent. Their gaze traveled over towards Naiyta's corpse. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"We're going to have to stop him from thrusting himself at more weirdos and freaks, they're like magnets to him." Remoul mumbled after he took another deep breath of fresh air. Finally, Radysh tore off the sheet of paper he had been writing on since Roman gave it to him and held it out to Raikal with a slight smile. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Hah, yeah.... hopefully, you'll never run into someone quite as awful as Naiyta." Raikal said with a dry laugh. They gently took the piece of paper and read over it carefully... @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Well, Raikal wouldn't have much to read. For all that time Radysh spent with pen to paper, there weren't many words. Thanks for the cloak. And watching over Roman. We don't have anything for you so I made you a picture. Ah- yes, that's why he had spent so long on it. Below the brief message was a very detailed pen drawing of Raikal and Roman making the talisman. There were light construction lines that could faintly be made out, but it was overall very well composed and clean. It was clearly drawn from the perspective he had seen of it. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal held the paper delicately- not daring to smudge or damage the drawing in any way. "Oh... you're welcome, of course," She directly addressed Radysh with a warm smile. "And thank you, the picture is lovely." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

He nodded and smiled back, then returned to focusing on his now blank sheets of paper. "Aw, did he make you a drawing?" Remoul asked, still laying back on the grass. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"He did," Raikal nodded, and turned the paper towards Remoul so he would be able to see the drawing, too. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Remoul leaned over halfway so he could see it. "Aw, how cute." Remoul chuckled. He looked at it for a while, before glancing over at Roman who was still entirely asleep. "This is gonna be a weird question but I just gotta know- did you two ever fuck or anything? It's weird the way he acts around you." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh- uh-" Raikal's face darkened in a blush. "Uhm. No. I, uh, didn't- really have a body- and I don't- he's not like that to me-" She shook her head. "No. He's wonderful, but no." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Remoul was not at all embarrassed by his question, and it seemed like Radysh didn't care that much either. "Soooo you're just.. Friends without benefits? Never thought I'd see the day where Roman hadn't fucked someone he was obsessed with. Good for him, I guess." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Yeah. Just... regular friends." Raikal shrugged. "Mhm." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Thankfully, Anore spoke before they had time to talk about anything else maybe incestuous. His voice, as well as the light, did wake Roman up out of his slumber, and he could process enough of it. Home! ... home. With nothing but his friends, really. That were great! But what would they be going back to? Ruined reputations and no money? Right to the streets? Nothing seemed like the right answer to him.. But he knew he'd have to choose. He slowly pushed himself up and rubbed his eyes. "Raikal- wh-what are you going to do?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal's attention was soley on Anore, even as Roman woke and spoke to him. "I'm going to the fold. I've been around... way too long, really. There's not a place for me in your modern world." They sighed. "I... need to go talk to my son." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman glanced between Raikal and Anore. It was a crazy, selfish thought, but he'd hoped Raikal would go back with him. "Y-you're leaving..?" Roman asked quietly, hands gripping on to his baggy pants. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal turned back to Roman, their expression creased in worry. "Please... you know I can't. I'm- I'm sorry, but... my time here is done. I lived thousands of years ago. There- there isn't a place for me in a world like yours." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman had looked away from them at this point. ".. I-if you're going to the Fold, then I'll come with." Roman said. ".. Where's the Fold..?" Remoul questioned. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"It's... the afterlife." Raikal sighed. "Roman... do you not have anything else? What about your friends, here?" Raikal shook their head. "You aren't in the same situation I am. You do have the oppurtunity to move on from this." They looked back to Anore. "I... I owe it to Anore, to go where he goes. To be there for him. If he wants to go to the fold- and I don't know where else he would want to go- I have to follow." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"We don't have anything to go back to-.. W-we ran out of money so long ago.. Our reputations are ruined. We don't have anything-" Roman was shaking his head as Remoul and Radysh moved over to him. They pulled him in to a hug, which he didn't reciprocate. "We have each other, which is more than we had before, isn't it?" Remoul asked and shook him a little. "I-i didn't even want to live when we were all together!" Roman suddenly cried, and moved his hands over his face. "I-i just found any family and- and- th-they're leaving me a-again!" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Roman- I don't want to leave you- I really don't-" Raikal moved closer to him. "But I have an obligation to my son, just as I have an obligation to you. I can't leave him again." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

He was never people's first choice, was he? "Roman, you gotta get it together," Remoul said softly. "You aren't her kid-" "I-is it so bad to want a parent?! I just-" Remoul moved a hand over Roman's mouth. "Uh, Raikal, don't let him guilt you out of doing whatever," Remoul said. "He'll get over it." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal was clearly uncomfortable, but didn't leave just yet. "It's okay that you want me to stay- it's understandable, and ok, and reasonable-" They took in a sharp breath. "It's just not realistic, Roman. What do you think we would do? The world I know is gone- it's been that way for thousands of years. It would just be all of us suffering, together. I've been in this world far longer than I ever should. I don't want to keep on living any longer. Please understand, Roman. Please. I don't want to leave you with this grief between us." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman didn't have much of a choice but to listen as his band mates held him in place. Hot tears spilled over Remoul's hand as he held it there. He didn't know what they'd do. Raikal was right that they'd all suffer, especially Anore and her. At least the band mates understood something about modern times. Regardless of how right Raikal was, Roman wasn't in much of a mind to think rationally. Instantly, Remoul and Radysh's pupils went white and they collapsed on to the grass, unmoving. Now freed, Roman lunged at Raikal and gripped pathetically on to their ankles. "Please.." Roman cried. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal didn't yet try to move out of Roman's grip. They closed their eyes. "I'm sorry, Roman, I really am. But- I can't go with you. I'm sorry it has to be this way. I love you. But it does have to be this way." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

His grip got tighter. "I-i have Anore's blood- I can make him go wherever, y-you don't have to be apart from him!" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

That possibility seemed to horrify Raikal. "How did you- no, no! You won't control him- that's not right Roman! You can't- force people to want to be with you!" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I-i didn't mean I'd make him want to be with us- j-just to make him go!" Roman quickly tried to defend himself, but that didn't sound much better than what Raikal thought. So, just to clear it up with Raikal he quickly added, "I-i'm not like Naiyta or- Or- I-i wouldn't force anyone t-to like me!" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"And what then? He'd- he'd just be miserable there, out in your modern world? Is that what you want, Roman?" Raikal asked. "You can't change what people do or what they want, Roman. You can't make someone do something they don't want to do and expect them to be happy about it. I want my son to be happy. I want to be happy. I want to be able to rest." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I don't know what would happen! I-it was just one idea! I just want to be happy, too!" Roman protested. Finally, his powers wore off on the other two men, and they pulled him off of Raikal. "Dude, we talked about this!" Remoul said as he shoved Roman to the ground away from Raikal. "Don't use your powers on us like that!" Radysh had no comment, as usual, but he looked sterner than usual. Roman went silent, besides for some whimpering, and held his hands over the back of his head. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal got to their feet as they were freed, and took a step away from Roman. "I believe, truly, that you can still find happiness, even without me." Raikal said, their voice measured but warm. "But I could not be happy in the world of the living. It's not my place anymore. I'm so, so sorry, Roman. I really am. It's not your fault. But I can't stay with you." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

As soon as Raikal was finished speaking, Roman attempted to lunge again. Remoul was prepared for that, and managed to get his foot on Roman's back (between his wings) and forced him to the ground. "Roman, come on buddy, you're way freaking out about this." Remoul sighed, and looked back to Raikal. "Get out of here while you can, man. He just gets like this sometimes, he'll find someone else to obsess with." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal gave Roman one final, guilty look, before taking Remoul's advice and walking off. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"No! NO!" Roman screamed and reached out as Raikal was leaving. "Please j-just one more hug! Please!" "Don't do it, he won't let you go!" Remoul countered. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I'll- I'll come back later, to say goodbye." Raikal promised weakly. "I need to go speak with my son." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Please-" Roman begged. "Good luck!" Remoul waved. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal left quickly...

Roman just crumpled up pathetically after Raikal left. Not seeing much of a reason to keep him pinned, Remoul took his foot off him and sat down. "You're crazy, man." He sighed and ruffled up Roman's hair. He didn't have a reaction to that. "Come on, don't be like this. Are you really gonna just lay down here and die because your bird mommy you met a week ago has other things to do?" "You don't understand.." Roman mumbled. "I think I understand that you'll feel better soon. We aren't going to leave you again, we'll come with you." Remoul said. "Now come on, I'm sure there's some people here that you need to talk to before you all split up. You should do it now." "G-give me a few minutes, jeez.." Roman sniffled and rubbed his eyes. "You might not have a few minutes, get going! You'll hate yourself even more if you miss people leaving." Remoul shooed him, annoyingly, until he got up to his feet. "Y-you're awful." Roman said. "You'll thank me later, I know you better than you remember." Remoul shrugged and crossed his arms over his chest. Without acknowledging that, Roman limped off..

... Awkwardly and very quietly, Roman approached Kyrie. He thankfully had pants on, but no shirt.. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kyrie had stepped away from Ellie, Gale and Ace for a moment, and turned to face Roman when she heard approaching footsteps. "Oh- uhm-" She took an apprehensive step back, uncomfortable in his presence. "Uh... hey, Roman." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

When Roman saw her step back, he stopped approaching. It was clear he had already been crying recently, and it probably wouldn't take much to get him going again. "S-sorry- Naiyta had my memories taken, but I.. heard about what happened." Roman said, incredibly awkwardly. "I didn't want you to go without s-saying I'm sorry for all of that, it was.. my fault." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kyrie, who definitely remembered that night and didn't like the reminder, looked like she might explode from embarrassment. "Uhm. Okay. I... don't really want to think any about what happened there. At all." Thinly veiled 'please leave me alone'. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oh." Roman said. Yes, that made sense. To a person not as kinky as him, that night was probably twice as bad. Or maybe if he had more details he'd think it's just as bad.. "Sorry- I'll just go-.. but i-if you wanted, Sadihak could make you forget about me. If that would make you feel better." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Please go." Kyrie said, with no further comment about any of it. "I- I don't mean to be rude, but- just- please, leave me alone. Please." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman frowned deeply, but managed to keep it together. He turned, and took one step away before pausing. He used his wings to try to hide himself away, but.. Obviously it was still him. "D-do you know where the Jeteye family is i-in the Loucari..?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"... what?" Kyrie's brow furrowed. "I don't even know where my family is! And you expect me to- to know where some random rook family is?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Well, that sudden change of tone set him over the edge again, and his hands moved up to his face. "S-sorry for asking.." He said shakily and got back to walking away. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kyrie looked guilty for snapping out at Roman, but didn't say anything. She looked away. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Thankfully, he had no further comments he thought deserved to be said.

enya and roman

sadihak and roman

eternity and roman

lifebringers and roman

raikal and roman

raikal, radoul, radysh and roman

post announcement chat

kyrie and roman