MASKTOURN

After a while, Darcy decided that he'd spent enough time on the ground. He pulled himself up from the ground and scanned the gathered crowd, eventually spotting Isi and Asha. He approached them quietly. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @sketti | Isi 🦌

Asha had not spent enough time on the ground. Without a wall to support her, she wasn't very confident she could right herself at all. She had some of her meds in her purse that would help her feel better, but no water to drink with it.. Also, the effect would definitely be delayed. She just laid there, miserably, with her hands over her abdomen. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi looked up as she heard Darcy approach, beginning to sit herself up with a groan. she felt like far too drained. She felt bad for not noticing Asha near here before, and scooted closer to her upon seeing her state, eyebrows drawn with concern. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy crouched down by Asha. He was concerned, but not especially surprised, by her state. "Asha? Are you okay? Is there any way I can help you?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @sketti | Isi 🦌

"D-darcy..?" Asha asked, weakly, not even sure that that was his voice. She cracked open her eyes and saw.. A ghost? "Wh-what- Darcy, is that you?" For a moment, she was so taken aback that her pain almost faded in to the background. As did the deer girl. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi was close to the two of them now, frowning as Asha questioned. Should've expected that. She remained silent. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Ah- yeah, it's me. Something... weird happened when I lost my fight and died-" He explained poorly, "But it is me, still, I promise." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @sketti | Isi 🦌

.. Okay, Darcy was a ghost now, but no one else was..? She didn't really have the energy to ask what was up with that. "Questions later about that-" Asha sighed and grimaced as she pushed herself up to her elbow. "C-can either of you make water with your powers?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi shook her head, suddenly responding like snapping out of something. "I'm so sorry- I wish I could you don't look well at all" she stated. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I can make fog with my powers, but not water in a liquid form." Darcy frowned. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @sketti | Isi 🦌

"Dang.. I guess I'll be taking my meds dry then." Asha sighed. "Help me sit up, I just need to get used to the pain again. It's been.. A while." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi nodded, leaning over to pull Asha up from around her shoulders so long as Asha let her- gentle as she could. She frowned like she was contemplating, finally looking fully around to where they were. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy helped Asha up with Isi, and sat down next to her. "If there's anything we can do to help, just ask." He faced as much away from Eternity as he could., though his very transluscent form did little to block out the light. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @sketti | Isi 🦌

Asha managed to get up, with a decent amount of effort. She leaned against Darcy as she opened up her purse and took out a small plastic pill organizer. There were many, of varying sizes.. Some were definitely big enough to be hard to swallow on their own. "I know you said you can't make water, but can you make food, maybe..?" Asha asked Darcy as she took out one of each kind of pill. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @sketti | Isi 🦌

"you didn't need these in the village, right? We couldn't feel pain- so-" Isi blinked and looked at all her scrapes and bruises, and then she stared at the multicoloured pills. "- we aren't dead that way anymore?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I have a spell that can turn flowers into dumplings," Darcy said, and dug around the pockets of his coat until he found a crumpled up piece of paper with some text written on it. "... I don't know if there are any flowers around here, though." @sketti | Isi 🦌 @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

'This boy doesn't have a spell for water, but has a spell for dumplings..' "I'm guessing we're not dead dead, anymore.. I didn't need any meds there, and I wasn't lactating.. So something must've changed." Asha said. ".. mm.. No, I don't see any flowers around here. And I definitely don't have any on me.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi decided to briefly leave that realization to the side and also look around for flowers, with none to be found. She looked back at the other two. "It's hard to see much of anything- I'm sorry, Asha" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhmmm.. I can't do much, then." Darcy sighed heavily. "I'm really sorry, Asha." @sketti | Isi 🦌 @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"It's alright.. Ugh, this is gonna suck." Asha sighed and placed one of the smaller pills in her mouth first. She quickly swallowed it, with only a small wince. "We better be getting home after this. I need to actually go on my vacation.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @sketti | Isi 🦌

"if we don't, I think I'd actually rather be in that village than here" Isi rubbed her eyes. She was unwilling to give much merit to the idea of going home, she didn't want to get her hopes up. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhmmm.... hopefully we can go home. I don't know if there's actually anything here- we'd probably all die of dehydration super fast." @sketti | Isi 🦌 @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"That village pissed me off, to be honest." Asha said, and took another. "Darcy, If we can't go home, you'll be safe if we all turn to cannibalism, hah." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi stared down at her own deer legs and was suddenly a tad bit unnerved by the direction the conversation had turned to. She laughed half-heartedly even so. "Or theres..." She jerked her head in the direction of ETERNITY, without looking at it. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Yeah, don't think anyone's too keen on eating me." Darcy laughed, though his heart wasn't in it. He glanced towards Eternity. "Yeah... there's that, too." He hummed. "Do either of you know that guy talking to it?" @sketti | Isi 🦌 @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"The handsome one? No clue. But to be fair, I don't most of the people around here.." Asha said. "Darcy, you stuck around longer, do you know when Roman got.. Wings? And changed everything else? He looks totally different from when I saw him before I lost." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi shook her head. She looked between Darcy and Asha as Asha spoke, just listening. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"He is pretty handsome..." Darcy agreed, but quickly got back on track. "Uhhh... it was sometime between Isi's fight and mine. That was about... a day and a half. I know it was because of Naiyta it happened... but not why. I got really depressed after Isi died so... I didn't ask many questions. He got the new clothes and hair sometime before that, though." @sketti | Isi 🦌 @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"He is pretty handsome..." Darcy agreed, but quickly got back on track. "Uhhh... it was sometime between Isi's fight and mine. That was about... a day and a half. I know it was because of Naiyta it happened... but not why. I got really depressed after Isi died so... I didn't ask many questions. He got the new clothes and hair sometime before that, though." @sketti | Isi 🦌 @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

@Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. weirdo.." Asha mumbled. "Did I miss anything else important while I was gone?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi continued listening on, similarly curious- she'd caught up with a few things upon first seeing Darcy but she hadn't thought anything else all that important when they were dead. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Uhm... not that I can remember, really. At least... not anything that I think is super relevant now." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @sketti | Isi 🦌

"Well, hopefully nothing else life changing happens and we can just get out of here." Asha sighed and finished up the last of her round of pills. "Eugh. I don't even know what I'm going to say when I get home." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @sketti | Isi 🦌

"I wish we knew what was happening I can't-" she dug her fingers into the ground. "-I don't get it. We're just getting dragged around" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy sighed heavily. "I don't know either. About anything. It's just so... much." He looked at his hands, and frowned. "I don't know if I'm still going to be... like this, once we get home. I don't know if I can explain this." @sketti | Isi 🦌 @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I don't know how we could explain any of this-.." Asha said, but paused as the handsomest previous-Lifebringer spoke. ".. Oh.. Guess he's a good negotiator." Asha sighed in relief and held her hands in her lap. Home, back to the Fold, or.. She could choose to go somewhere else. Kaizer-... There were universes where he didn't die. She could see him again-.. "You two tell me that I need to make a smart decision." She said and put her hands over her face. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi stood up almost instantly, stumbling. She looked to the water, then at Asha as she spoke. Her chest felt like it was going to explode. "A smart decision?" she already carried more energy to her voice, even as she didn't quite understand Asha. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Asha... I think you should go home to your children," Darcy suggested, when Isi didn't say anything. He didn't know much about Asha's life, but he did know the baby she had very recently probably needed her mother. "I bet they're really missing you." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @sketti | Isi 🦌

Back to her children. But if Kaizer was alive, maybe she had a child there too. Her son that she never got to meet.. But then that version of her was already living that life, wasn't she? What right did she have to go in and take her place..? "Yes... Back to my family." She nodded slightly. "I'm ready as I'll be, I guess. Could you help me over to the water?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Isi offered her hands to Asha, bending downwards a little. She nodded to acknowledge Darcy's words. "I remember how you talked about them, I'm so, so glad you'll get to go be with them." Isi told her genuinely. Relief was present in her voice not only for Asha, but for all of them. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Of course." Darcy helped Asha up, and let her lean on him for support as they walked over to the water... @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi followed after.

With their help, Asha limped along toward the water..

Darcy let go of Asha as they neared the water. He wasn't sure if he wanted to leave just yet. "I guess... this is goodbye?" He said, his voice light. "It's been nice knowing you, Asha. Sorry you got dragged into this mess too." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @sketti | Isi 🦌

"Mm, goodbye." Asha sighed as she looked down to the water. She couldn't swim, so she really hoped you didn't have to get out to the middle or something. "It's been nice knowing you two too, I hope everything goes well for you, wherever you choose to go." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @sketti | Isi 🦌

"Goodbye, Asha." Isi gave a little smile. She looked out at the water, seeming to be similarly hesitant to Darcy. "I'm glad to have gotten to know you- I wish it hadn't been like this but I still am. Stay safe!" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy smiled weakly. "Thanks. I'll... try. Uh... Safe travels?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @sketti | Isi 🦌

"Safe.. Hopefully." Asha said and let go of the other two fully. "I can't swim, so if I need to get way out I guess this isn't quite goodbye.." Just to cover all her bases, she said out loud her intentions. "I'm going back to my home that I came from! With my kids!" Asha announced and stepped in the water. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

As she stepped into the water, Asha was enveloped by a warm, pleasant, golden glow... ... and then she was gone. Goodbye Asha! @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Isi watched as Asha disappeared, somewhat sadly. It really wasn't nice meeting people she found so lovely in places like these. One day she'd make a friend the normal way, maybe. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

As Asha dissapeared, Darcy watched, and reached out a hand to Isi. He didn't want to be alone right now. Even if, techincally, this was a happy moment. @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi seemed a bit surprised by the movement, as if she'd been zoned out. She took his hand and squeezed it, looking back at the water, then at him. "You ready?"

Darcy's grip on Isi's hand tightened. "I... think I am." He hesitated, though. "... we won't be going back to the same time..." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi frowned. "I know- I- that's weird. Seeing you again is gonna be really weird" she thought about everything he hadn't told her, not at that time, her time- and moreso of this tournament, how she'd ever talk about something like that. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm. About that." He turned to face her. "Don't tell your Darcy about any of this. Please. Or, at least don't tell me about anything about... well, me. I don't want.... him... to know what I'm like in the future." Man, for something he was supposed to have power over, language was really failing him right now. "I know you'll want to. But... knowing how I am, I wouldn't react well to you just... knowing things about me. Things I have intentionally kept from you. I don't want to hurt our relationship, even in a different time, so... please. Don't tell him." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi's expression became strained, and she failed to meet Darcy's eyes. "Darcy..." She paused, language similarly failing her. "I don't want to hurt you. I know you want me to be smart about this, and for you I can, or I'll try but- it won't be perfect. I'm bad with secrets. but i promise I'll try, in any way I can" She replied slowly, with weird pauses as she thought over her words. She chewed on the inside of her cheek. "So maybe just- don't hold it against me, or I hope you didn't hold it against me, if I didn't see you much for two years okay?" She frowned. "Talking about time is weird. and- can I ask you to do something?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm. I... can only hope that... I might tell you, someday. I don't know." He sighed heavily. "What sort of something?" @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi swallowed and her ears lowered. It was easy to tell by her face that she hated all of this. Nevertheless, she didn't fight Darcy on it, not carrying the energy nor desire to part on terms like that. "When you get back, go find me- your Isi, okay? Just say hi or something, tell her you were here. I bet she misses you and really misses getting to be honest with you." Isi tried for a smile again. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy smiled weakly. "... I will. I... can't promise how long it'll take me to get on my feet again, but... once I can, I'll reach out." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi squeezed his hand. "I really wish we could have less conversations that end up like this" She laughed half-heartedly. Hesitantly, she looked out to the water, and then back at Darcy. She turned towards him, leaning down to hug him in a bit of a sudden motion.

9:27 PM

@innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy was definitely startled by the motion, but awkwardly leaned into the hug. He was, overall, not the best at giving or receiving hugs. "... thank you. For being my friend." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi squeezed him once, let out a steadying breath, and then stood back up. "Always." She replied with a nod, then looked back at the water. It was beginning to feel like that time. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy stepped back from the hug, but kept one hand intertwined with Isi's so they could go together. "Bis später, then?" He said, forcing a lighter tone into his voice. @sketti | Isi 🦌 translation- see you later/until later

Isi's smile grew a bit easier as Darcy spoke. "If that means what I think it means, yeah. I'll see you when I see you" She squeezed his hand again and started to step towards the water. She truly didn't know quite what it meant, but assumed it was some form of goodbye, or a confirmation that they were heading out. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy laughed- nothing like a little language prank on friends- and nodded. He held Isi's hand tightly, and stepped into the water... @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi followed with Darcy, feeling the water soak past her fur as she stepped in. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

As they both stepped in, the light began to surround and envelop them. "Goodbye, Isi-" Darcy said, but was gone before the words could truly materialize. @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi mouthed the same, maybe tried to speak it but the light enveloped her and the last thing that could be seen were the tips of antlers and shiny black eyes, and then she was gone. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs