MASKTOURN

6:49 PM

Raikal frowned as Roman approached. "I'm... not sure if this was Naiyta's doing." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman got up to them, standing like 10% closer than what is comfortable. "You don't think so..? Well you weren't down there, this happened right after Naiyta got in the Fold.. I assume they got all this fixed up and this is just some.. weird middle area before we're all free!" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal stepped back, and continued shaking out their shawl- with a bit more force than they had before. "..." He didn't meet Roman's gaze, but stared blankly ahead. "Why do you think Naiyta would ever help me? Even if it wants to fix the fold, and this is somehow the way it did it- it wouldn't let me free. I'm sure this is just a mistake... and I'll be trapped again, likely in your body, the moment this is over." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Naiyta would help you because it's kind." Roman smiled. "And since you have your physical body back, I don't think it would need you to possess me if it wanted to enjoy both of us, you're already back! Isn't that so much better?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal shook the shawl once, violently, then held it still. "Kind is not a word I would ever use to describe Naiyta." It turned to face him, worry creasing their brow. "What has gotten into you? Why are you suddenly acting like Naiyta has never done anything wrong? You can be honest with me Roman- I know better than anyone how incredibly cruel it can be." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman once again shook out his wings, though this time to knock loose whatever sand Raikal had accidentally shot his way. "Well, kind is how I would describe them.. But it's weird, you were never this anti-Naitya before.." Roman hummed. "Why are you suddenly acting like they're a monster, when I know they're not?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I was- do you remember when I told you that it murdered me and the woman I loved?" Raikal asked, their voice growing tense and almost angry, "Or when I told you how it raped me, just like it raped you?" (mentions of sa) I have never met anyone more of a monster than Naiyta. You of all people should understand that." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. You didn't tell me that- or- I don't remember you saying it." Roman said quietly, looking guilty for just a moment, before his expression shifted to mild anger. "Naiyta wouldn't do that- at least.. Naiyta never did it to me. I'm sorry if they weren't so kind to you, I didn't know that." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I might have had my perceptions distorted as a ghost," Raikal said, "But I know what I said, and who I said it to." "I will not hear sympathies for the person that abused me for a thousand years and locked me away for eight thousand more." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman was silent for a moment, maybe trying to think up something smart to say? Something comforting, or..? ".. You must've done something to make them treat you that way, it's been nothing but kind and patient with me." ... Nope. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal dropped the cloak on the ground and stood there, trembling in anger for only a moment, their hands balling into tight fists... ... until they broke the silence by punching Roman in the jaw. "I must've done something?! What did I do except be kind and understanding to everyone! What did I do to ever warrant that kind of cruelty except for being an easy target?!" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Well, he hadn't been expecting that. "Ow!" Roman yelped and stumbled backwards. He probably would've been able to catch himself, if not for his semi-new wings throwing him off balance. He fell down on to his ass, and covered his face with his arms. "I-i don't know! But it must've been something!" Roman said. "People get punished when they make people mad or do something bad, they had to have thought it was justified.. They wouldn't do that for no reason.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh, I'm sure it was for a reason. Some innane thing I did to piss them off, like not wanting to have sex one evening, or wanting time to myself. Or, maybe, because it just liked seeing me suffer and thought it deserved to feel good at my expense. Or even because it gets off on making other people feel bad. I'm sure it had a reason, yeah." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman fell silent again. ".. I'm sorry. Maybe it u-used to be like that before, but it's been thousands of years.. it must've changed.." Roman finally said, quietly. "I'm sorry it was so cruel to you, you and your family didn't deserve it." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"It doesn't change." Raikal said, solemnly and sternly. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. then how has it been so kind to me? How has it never once upset me..? I-it wouldn't be possible.. to pretend this long.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"It's lying to you. Or- or it finally broke you, or something." Raikal's voice was unsteady. "I don't know. But this isn't the truth." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I have my wits about me, I remember every cruel thing Roque ever did to me.. I-i wouldn't just give up after a week.." Roman slightly shook his head. "I don't understand.. unless.. no, no.. they.. They wouldn't do that." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I can assure you, whatever you're thinking, they would." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"No no- different they.. I-i know Sadihak has mind powers, I-i know that they said they could trigger mine.. and Petrai suspiciously doesn't have any of hers.." Roman mumbled. "I.. Sadihak wouldn't do something knowing I didn't approve, we're friends. I must've wanted whatever happened, if they did it.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal frowned. "Hm. Are you sure you can trust them? This.. Sadihak?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. w-we're friends, they've helped me.. They wouldn't do something I didn't want.." Roman said, not actually sounding so sure about that. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"... I don't think I can trust your judgement of people right now, Roman." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"But all I know is all I know- i-i'm not lying to you, I.. I don't know what to do. E-even Seki seemed kinda upset at me, I don't know why.." Roman sighed. "Is everything true that you've said..? That Naiyta.. did that to m-me..?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"..." Raikal was silent for a while. "I wouldn't lie to you about that. I don't know the full extent of what happened between you, but... I know enough." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"B-but-... Naiyta w-was supposed to love me.." Roman said quietly. "I-it makes me so happy, I love it.. What am I supposed to do..?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"... I thought that once, too." Raikal said softly. "And I have no idea what you're supposed ot do." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman gently rubbed his jaw, hitting the fresh bruise forming beneath his unkempt stubble. ".. I-I'm supposed to stay here forever- I'm supposed to become immortal, l-like you had.. How d-did you do it for so long..?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"... I didn't have much of a choice." Raikal admitted. "But... I knew if I failed to keep Naiyta satisfied, my people would pay the price for it." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman knew he had no such thing going for him. He didn't really have anything that would inspire him to keep going along with it.. "Y-you're so nice.. I'm sorry I was being an ass.." Roman apologized. "I'll.. I'll figure s-something out. Naiyta won't be able to keep me, alive or dead." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"... it's alright. I'm sorry I punched you." Raikal said sincerly. "I really hope you can. No one deserves to go through all of that." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. I deserved that punch.. Definitely." Roman shook his head. "I don't know if I should ask for for my memories back or not, i-if Sadihak is really behind it.. maybe I wanted to forget e-everything bad.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"..." Raikal was silent for a while. "... if I could forget everything Naiyta did to me, I would." They confessed. "You know what happened. You don't have to live with the pain of the actual memory." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"But I don't know what happened- there's so much I must not know.. Like why i-it happened.. Surely me or Sadihak had to know I'd find out again, wh-why not just let me keep the memory of asking for it to be gone?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal thought for a very long moment. "I... can't tell you why Sadihak did what you think they did, or what you should do about it. I... I really don't know. But... you seemed so much happier without your memory. Even if you were being... rude." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"O-of course I was happier- I th-thought someone loved me.." Roman said with a wavering voice. "S-stupid of me to even think that was possible.. of course i-it was all a lie.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal gave Roman a sad look, and opened their mouth to speak but was interrupted by the announcement from Sadihak and Petrai. "Well.... seems like it's not over yet..." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman listened in to the announcement, but was only half paying attention to what was said.. He was more so focused on what was missing. ".. Can corvi make their wings disappear..?" He asked blankly to Raikal, not really looking at them. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Raikal was looking exactly where Roman was. "No. We can't." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. Oh.." Roman mumbled. That was new, something up until last night he had known were there. He had drawn that card with Petrai's wings on it, poorly drawn as they were. "... I think I see when Naiyta might've had my memories taken.. I-i saw her yesterday with wings.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I... I think Naiyta was punishing her for something." Raikal said softly. "I'm not sure what exactly happened. But I heard her screams." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Naiyta wasn't a good person. Just another example that he had to get in to his head. "S-so extreme.. That's awful. That's so awful.." Roman held his own wings even closer to himself. "I-i wish I could give her mine.. I'm still not even that good with them, and I went so long without.. She deserves them more than me.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"It is. It... really is." Raikal didn't have anything else to say. It was all just... awful. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

There was silence between the two before the order to start moving again came. ".. I'm going. Might as well try to help.." Roman mumbled and stood back up. "If you want to stay, I know Radoul is almost here. He can keep you company, if.. you want a blood guy to do that." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I'm not a fighter. And... I don't want to see Naiyta." Raikal sighed. "Good luck out there." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman headed out with the others... As he said, Radoul came wandering in to the shelter much after everyone had already left. It looked less like a blood creature and more like.. a sand creature now. Not a speck of blood could be seen through the sand coating. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs