MASKTOURN

The citadel’s streets are cobblestone and winding, interconnecting the various areas of the citadel. They don’t seem very well-maintained, with some areas featuring uneven terrain, rough stone, and places overgrown with moss and plant life. The streets are difficult to navigate, in part due to the rough terrain, and it’s easy to get lost here, especially in the dark of night. Maybe it’s best not to stray too far from the city center.

Roman was wandering here, not entirely sure what was happening.. If this was a sex thing, where were all the other people at? Did they really send him out here just to wander? This was getting more and more confusing.. Regardless, he trudged through the streets with an odd gait, humming a familair tune while looking for a single other sexy soul.. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Well, a sexy soul definitely was walking down the street opposite of Roman. Ryu had her hands in her skirt pockets, looking around the area for anything that would be selling any cigarettes or something similar. Seems like this street was just that though, a street. No shops or anything. Figures. She let out a frustrated sigh and rubbed the back of his head. The least this place could offer was cute women. The last island had that going for it at the very least. When he heard approaching steps, Ryu's head immediately snapped towards Roman's direction. "You gotta be shitting me.." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman was only half paying attention, that is, until Ryu spoke up. He snapped his head over to him and grinned, though the mask hid his upper face. "Ryuuuuuu!" He yelled out, throwing his hands in the air. "Man, they got you too? Didn't know that you were in this market too. But I'm not judging! And oh oh oh oh, I've been messaging you for the past while but you never responded, Roque has been doing really well! She's starting to reform, I think!" @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu didn't hold back her groan of annoyance, nor the look of disgust on her face as Roman approached him. She straightened out her back, standing her full height above Roman. "I'm not in any market you're in," she huffed. Ryu had asked Albanes to separate them, yet he's the first person he's running into? What the hell. "I thought I told you to stop messaging me, but I guess you never get the hint," Ryu rolled her eyes before glancing down at the rack of eyeballs Roman was still carrying around. "Yeah? Maybe when she's back, you can finally stop bothering me." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Weeeeell you actually stopped blocking me a few months ago- like a lot of months ago now, it's almost been a year. Have you been here the whole time?" Roman asked and held up the jar with the eyes. They rolled around on their own to face Ryu, taking a clear moment to look down at his chest before looking at his face. "See! She wasn't moving at all when I first got her, now her optical nerve has grown reeeeeal long and she moves all around! Special, right? I've just been feeding her well.." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

What? A year? Ryu folded her arms across her chest, thinking. Albanes did say they took people from the same plane as herself, but she never said at the same times. It would make sense for this Roman to come from the future... that didn't make him any less annoying though. "It's too much of a bother to keep on buying new phones just to block you," Ryu scoffed, going along with what she thought the her of the future would think. When she saw Roque's eyes move, she huffed. "Seems like my 'wife' is still the same as usual though. I'm sure she'll be ecstatic to be back." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Awwww, you bought whole new phones just to avoid little ol' me? That's so silly!" Roman laughed. "And are you gonna keep up that little 'wife' bit the whole time you're here? I think it'd be hilarious. Orrrrrr I know someone else who could be your spouse!" @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"It would be silly if it wasn't a hundred times more infuriating," Ryu huffed. The rational part of Ryu's brain wanted to smack Roman, but the other half also knew Roman would simply enjoy being strike by her. God. "Well, she never really divorced me, so I think the term still stands." Ryu then narrowed her eyes. "Don't suggest what I think you're going to suggest." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I'm not too sure you can get a divorce from a pair of eyeballs anyway.." Roman hummed. At Ryu's final statement, Roman just smiled silently and stared up at her. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

He returned the smile with a hard glare and scoffed. "I don't know how she could keep you around for so long," Ryu grumbled. Ryunoske reached into her empty pocket again, trying to find a nonexistent cigarette packet. "Ugh. If you find a smoke shop around here, get me a thing of Treasurer Aluminium Gold. I'm gonna go have a word with an idiot who works here." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oh, you think I annoyed Roque? No no no, she likes me this way! She put a lot of work in to getting me this way.." Roman laughed and stepped closer to Ryu, moving his hands down to the makeshift pockets in his robe. ".. And you want some smokes, hmm..? I just might be able to help you there- for a price, of course." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu more than understood why Roque kept this guy around. She wanted to be worshipped. To be given everything a person could offer. Roman was the perfect idiot for that. "I doubt there's much I would entertain for you. The idea of owing you anything is disgusting," he commented. "But out of curiosity, what were you wanting?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Well, I could go for a few things.. I'll give you some options and you can pick the one you hate the least. Some blood, maybe a night back at my room, and/or.. Hm. I think that's actually all I really want now that I'm guessing you don't have a bunch of cash on you.. Hm.. But I'm good to barter if you have any other ideas." Roman nodded curtly. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Of course Roman would want the same two exact things Roque asked for too. Roque asking for stuff was different from Roman asking for the same things. At least Roque was hot. "Hmph. How about you get me those cigarettes first, and I'll take you up on both of those things," Ryu nonchalantly agreed. She doubted Roman could do this task, anyways. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"REALLY?" Roman happily jumped up and down and exclaimed. "Man I didn't think it would be that easy- one sec!" He got down on his knees in front of Ryu and took out the bloody drumsticks from his hair. As soon as they were touched, the blood began to ooze and drip on to the ground wherever Roman flung his hands to. "I think I only got crappy cigarettes, is that still enough?" @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Didn't you hear me? Treasurer Aluminium Gold is the brand I asked for," Ryu huffed. "If you got a full pack of the shitty ones on you, I'll indulge in your weird blood collection, but nothing more." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Awwwwwww... I don't really have the money to invest in good smokes right now, I think I just got Malboros.." Roman sighed. He limply drew the drumsticks in circles on the ground, but nothing yet happened. ".. I mean I got some.. Weed, too..? Will that cover the difference..?" @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"No," Ryu instantly denied. His fingers coiled inside her empty pocket and he looked down at the circle Roman drew. "Take it or leave it. I'm not wasting any more time making a deal with you." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Awh, alright, fine." Roman pouted and sunk the drumsticks in to the ground. With some serious effort, he carved them through the floor in two arcs, eventually meeting them together again and forming a small circle on the ground, about the size of a basketball. It opened up a portal, one that Ryu would be pretty familiar with. Blood. Pulsating muscle. Random shit. Just like Roque's blood dimension was. He reached in, trying to reach at something that he just couldn't grab. "Crap, they're way down there. Could ya hold my robe so I don't fall in?" Roman asked, already shoulder deep in to the portal. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Seriously?" He huffed, but grabbed at Roman's robe by the scruff like a cat. "Hurry it up. I'm a busy person, you know." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Busy? Hah, got a lot of girls lined up here already??" Roman laughed as he squeezed both his shoulders in to the portal frame and went ass up in the air. He searched through some of the vat of blood, sinking his arms in all the way to his elbows, before he finally managed to grab something. "Okay!!! You can bring me up now." He said and kicked his feet in the air. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryunoske didn't bother replying back to Roman, simply bringing him back up when he was ready. She just wanted a smoke. "You got it?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman squeezed his shoulders back out of the portal, and revealed in one hand a jacket that was definitely about ten sizes too big for him and split red and black (and also doused in blood at the moment), and in the other a plastic bag, that was definitely not sealed all the way, of Marlboros. Blood had seeped in to the bag and gotten the box all.. Gross. "Yep! Right here, miss!" Roman smiled and held out the bag, which was profusely dripping blood everywhere. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu let Roman go and plopped him a good arm reach away from her. Crossing his arms again, Ryunoske looked down at the soaked bag of cigarettes and scoffed. "I doubt any of those would light the way they are. Can you like—Unblood them?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman landed with a thump. "Ow!" He whined, holding his jacket hand over the place he landed. "But yeah of course I can do that- blood powers and all!" @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Then hurry up with it. Do you want my blood or not?" Ryu huffed and started tapping her foot. An anxious habit. She needed a smoke, no matter how shitty it was. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oh, someone's quite impatient.." Roman teased and opened up the bag. "I thought you only wanted the good ones, hm..? Yet here you are, practically begging for some sloppy blood covered cigarettes.." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"You're about to get absolutely nothing at all," Ryu warned for the final time. Seriously, how can this guy talk so much? @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Oh, Roman had other things he wanted to say, but he knew a bit better than a certain bird guy here when to keep his mouth shut. He grabbed the box of cigarettes and held them over the portal. All the blood schlorped off and with a wet plop, ended up back in the blood dimension. He opened up the box to make sure that they were all clean. Yep, but seems like a third of the cigarettes were already gone. "There, all better!" He smiled innocently and tossed the carton up at Ryu. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

She snatched the carton out of the air, quickly examining the contents. There weren't many, but enough to at least keep her placated for the day. Ryu didn't have her light, and she didn't want to ask Roman for anything more, so she'd have to go on finding a fire source. Shouldn't be too hard. She'd use a lit lantern if she had to. "Alright, punk. A deal's a deal. You can have a taste," Ryunoske said as she held her very exposed arm out to Roman. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

That was definitely something Roman would keep in mind: seems like Ryu would do just about anything to get her fix. Maybe if he kept pushing, she would have offered more.. after all, where else would she have found cigarettes here? "Yayyyyyy!" Roman squealed in delight and shoved himself up to his feet. He swayed a little, but balanced himself out by grabbing on to Ryu's arm. "It'll hurt for juuuuuust a sec!" He licked his teeth before clamping down on to Ryu's arm. His weren't as sharp as Roque's had been, so it was definitely much more uncomfortable than many of the bites Roque had dealt out. The entire time he was sucking the blood, he maintained eye contact with Ryu, and somehow smiled even though his mouth was around her forearm. A very light migraine would quickly set in to Ryu's head.. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

There was barely any reaction from Ryu as Roman clamped down on him. This was purely transactional. Though, she did glare at the man when he continued to look straight at her, and he toggled Roman a bit. "I think you've had enough now. Move it," Ryu said after about twenty seconds had past. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman remained latched for a few more seconds before releasing, the lower half of his face now covered in blood. He smiled, teeth now all stained red. "Thanks! That was awful though. Probably the most disgusting blood I've ever had." Roman grinned and gave him a thumbs up. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"I never said it was good," Ryu huffed as she wiped the bite wound onto her skirt, smearing a lovely red onto it. "Goodbye forever now. I don't want to see your face again this entire shitshow," he said and promptly started walking away. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

used /r

# 16
Details:[d20+2 (14)]

@Aj | Invo + Ryunoske (def no damage)

Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

used /r

# 18
Details:[d20+4 (14)]

@Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Ryu would feel a little something trying to control him, but ultimately, Roman would fail. "Suuure, bye! Have fun!" He smiled innocently and waved. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Yeah, Ryu figured Roman would try something, but she was already expecting it when she offered her blood. He continued walking forward, but made sure to flick the man off for good measure. Idiot couldn't even use his power on her when she gave him the one thing he needed for it. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

A bit after Ryu left, Roman would have another victim… Leo sauntered down the uneven cobbled paths, not quite caring where he ended up. Just as long as there was minimal sunlight. He kept his tournament-mandated parasol in his porcelain hands, the sunlight above washing him out even more. Ugh, this place was lame. After an undermined amount of time spent walking and muttering complaints to himself, the vampire would come across a figure standing not too far from him… surrounded by… red? Leo had to squint to make sure he wasn’t making that up. As he got closer, however, he could also see blood on their face… Leo remained unbothered by this fact- almost amused by it. And so, he got up in the peculiar stranger’s personal space about it. “That blood yours?” his eyes were fixed on the stranger’s bloodstained face. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman was once again, elbow deep in to the portal leading to his blood dimension. His bloody split color jacket was crumpled in a heap on the ground next to him. "Oh, hey!" Roman smiled, and waved his free hand at the vampire. Wait, was this a vampire? "Nooooope, not mine this time! I made a little trade with a friend of mine to get it." @Morgan | Clove 🦇 + Leo 🩸 |

Leo did very much look like a vampire. Or a ghost. Or someone who’d never heard of the concept of ‘outside’. “A trade, huh?” he raised an eyebrow, the corners of his lips twitching up in a smirk. Was this guy a vampire? “Is that blood any good?” @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman smiled back, showing off his bloody teeth. HIs canines were definitely pointier than the average person... But they seemed small for a vampire. "Oh, no, the blood was awful. But I was hungry and it helped-" He grunted a bit as he pulled himself out from the portal, now holding on to a long pink studded belt, dripping blood everywhere. "There! Now I can put those eyes back on something secure.." @Morgan | Clove 🦇 + Leo 🩸 |

Leo immediately took note of the man’s fangs, specifically the size. His were most definitely bigger. He opened his mouth to speak, but any snide comment he was about to make was caught in his throat as Roman pulled the bloody belt from the portal. Due to his proximity to both him and the portal, Leo’s pristine tunic now sported a line of crimson spatter. “What. The fuck.” was all he managed to get out after the act was said and done. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 (edited)

"Oh! Oooooopsie, sorry!" Roman said as he wrapped the belt around his waist and let the loose end dangle. "Let me get that for you~" Roman stepped up to him and put his hand on the tunic and dragged it across the splatter line. The blood removed itself from the fabric with ease, and floated back over to the blood portal. "All better!" @Morgan | Clove 🦇 + Leo 🩸 |

Leo’s jaw just about hit the floor. “How did you do that?!” he demanded, his sanguine eyes widening. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oh, just my powers! That's the easiest thing I can do.." Roman chuckled, his dark red eyes meeting Leo's. "What's your powers, pale guy?" @Morgan | Clove 🦇 + Leo 🩸 |

“Your powers.” Leo stated, instead of questioned. His eyes narrowed slightly when he was asked about his own powers, but his hubris got the best of him, and he had to show them off. “You and I may be a bit… similar,” he stated simply as he shifted the parasol to one hand, hyper extending his now free arm out to Roman. His arm was palm-up, exposing a large vertical scar that ran from his wrist to the bend in his elbow- it looked to be very old, but where the wound once was showed a sickly bruiselike discoloration. Like clockwork, it began to… open up. First it turned a bright red in the blink of an eye, matching Roman’s irises. And as if it had just been inflicted, it began to bleed. Blood seeped out of the scar as it reopened, breaking skin and splitting open as his own blood continued to pool and drip down his arm. At his fingertips it began to congeal, collecting in his hands and turning a deeper red, almost scablike. This would only last a few fleeting moments, and as the bleeding finally ceased, Leo would be holding an oversized crimson scythe. The scar had fully closed up, showing no signs of anything that had just happened. “I can manipulate blood to my whims- and this is only a fraction of what I’m capable of.” his showmanship returned temporarily as he brandished his weapon. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman watched with intense interest as Leo showed off his powers. They definitely seemed a bit different from Roque's teachings but- something about it was extremely familiar.. "WOAHHHHH!!!! SINGLE SIDED BLOOD SCYTHE!!!" Roman squealed as it appeared in Leo's hand. He reached his hand out to grab it, before pausing. "Can I touch it? Man- smells like it's all one person's.. You really drained them dry!" @Morgan | Clove 🦇 + Leo 🩸 |

Huh…? This guy wasn’t wailing in fear, but… excitement? That was new. Perhaps he’d humor this guy for now… Leo exhaled and closed the distance by holding out the scythe to Roman. “It’s my own blood,” he mused, flashing him a fanged grin. “I can take it from others as well, but I’ve decided that you’re not someone I want to do that to- especially after your kind gesture.” he drawled. “Not to mention, you seem very interested in what I can do.” @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman grabbed the scythe for a moment, and it seemed to wobble underneath his fingers for just a moment, before he piped up again. "Oh, wait! I know someone who would loooove to see this!" Roman reached in to the folds of his robe and took out the eyeball jar. The eyes rolled around on their own to look upon the scythe, and the man wielding it.. "Look Roque, a fan!" Roman announced happily. "He took so much inspiration from you!" @Morgan | Clove 🦇 + Leo 🩸 |

Leo reveled in Roman’s praise, grinning proudly as the other vampire examined his weapon. This did not last long, however, as once Roman showed his creation to a set of eyeballs and proceed to call his scythe unoriginal did his expression sour. It didn’t just sour, it spoiled. “WHAT?!” his composure fully crumbled. “I am not a fan, this is my original work! I’ve been perfecting this technique for nearly two centuries- don’t you dare group me in such an uninspired category of a ‘fan’- I don’t even know who you’re even talking about!” The name ‘Roque’ did sound the slightest bit familiar, but to even admit that was to hang his head in defeat. So instead, he bent down so he was eye-level with the set of eyeballs Roman was holding. “If anything, you are a fan of me, Leo Von Claret!” he pointed an accusatory finger at the jar. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oh-" Roman said. Two hundred years was much longer than Roque had even been alive for.. Right. "Well Roque hadn't even been working on hers for more than ten years before she died- but hers is better than yours, I have to be honest! Hers had blades on BOTH sides! Twice as good!" "Also, she can't hear anything, just so you know! If you want her to understand something you have to put it in writing." Regardless of being able to hear or not, the eyes bopped violently against the glass in Leo's direction. @Morgan | Clove 🦇 + Leo 🩸 |

Leo burst out laughing. “Ten years?! Hah! Those are baby numbers,” he slapped his thigh, looking back at Roman. “Okay, okay, two questions for you- whatever your name is. First- does this Roque know sign language? And second…” he paused for dramatic effect. “…Would you like to see a double bladed scythe?” @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Ten years is a long time!" Roman countered. "And for your question #0, my name is Roman Ricci-" pronounced like the lettuce "- and for your first question, yes, and for your second, ABSOLUTELY YES!" @Morgan | Clove 🦇 + Leo 🩸 |

“Ah- my apologies, ten years is a long time for someone who is now dead.” Leo clicked his tongue. As he countered argued Roman’s counter argument, he flashed a ‘fuck you’ in sign language at Roque. Theoretically, sticking up his middle finger would’ve had the same effect. He turned back to the other man. “Ah, Roman, I do have one more question for you, then,” he hummed, once again getting up in his personal space. “May I borrow some of your blood for this second blade?” @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

The eyeballs clinked against the glass again. Seems about all they could do. "Oh, you want my Blood? I gotta warn ya, it's not that good anymore! Aaaaaaand I think it would only be a fair trade if I got a bit of yours as well.. I can even show you my blood weapons!" @Morgan | Clove 🦇 + Leo 🩸 |

Before continuing with Roman, Leo signed ’You wish you were me’ at the eyeballs. It was very much personal. “Well I can’t just keep depleting my own blood, can I- not to mention, I think you’d enjoy it more if you got to… participate.” he grinned. “Hm, I suppose since you’re one for bartering, I’ll give you some of my blood in return. It’s only… fair.” that last word sounded foreign in Leo’s mouth. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Thunk. "An equivalent exchange!" Roman nodded. "Soooo do you bite or do that little scar thing orrrrr..." @Morgan | Clove 🦇 + Leo 🩸 |

“I’ll let you pick.” Leo hummed, throwing in a wink. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oooooo, such a gentleman! I have plenty of scars to choose from, but.. Are you a vampire?! And if yes, will I turn in to one if you bite me?" @Morgan | Clove 🦇 + Leo 🩸 |

“I am a vampire,” Leo said matter of factly. Roman wasn’t a vampire? “And I can bite you if that’s what you’re into- but turn you into a vampire? Slowww down. Maybe take me to dinner first before you pop that kind of question.” he held up his free hand in a motion that could only mean ‘slow down’. “I’ll make that scythe first, then we’ll talk.” Leo could simply bite Roman with no consequence, but seeing that the other man may get the wrong idea, he opted to go the other route. With his free hand, Leo reached out and traced one of the scars on Roman’s arm, and only a few moments later did it reopen as Leo’s scar had done. Roman’s inky blood seeped out of the newly opened wound and as if it were magnetic began to fuse with Leo’s existing crimson scythe, and would close up quickly after. The hilt of the weapon was now half red and half black- split down the middle perfectly. The sleek blade on top still remained red, though now a new jagged blade had formed on the bottom of the hilt- opposite to the too blade, in a shiny ebony. Needless to say, this modification added character. “How’s this for a double sided scythe?” he held the blade back out to Roman. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Cool! Confirmation that he was an epic vampire.. "Welllll if you bite me, I would be your dinner." Roman chuckled. He turned his attention to his arm, and had absolutely no reaction to the scar reopening. He couldn't even remember where exactly that one had come from.. He watched as his blood flowed and morphed in to the scythe. Leo had taken much more blood than he was expecting, though, and he began to sway a bit as he watched the second blade form. He stumbled down to one knee and dropped the glass jar, needing to hold both hands on the scythe to keep himself upright. "W-woooooow- yeah, it's pretty cool!" Roman said, half delirious. @Morgan | Clove 🦇 + Leo 🩸 |

@Morgan | Clove 🦇 + Leo 🩸 |

’I’m so much cooler than you’ Leo signed to the eyeballs, then stuck out his tongue. “Pretty cool? Is it not the most original take on a trite and tacky rendition of a scythe? I still wholeheartedly believe one large blade is superior, but I suppose we all have our tastes.” @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oh- of course, sir, it's definitely the most original I've ever seen.." Roman slowly nodded. His grip on the blade was weakening as his body swayed slightly. "But I'm gonna be honest sir and say I think I'm going to pass out in about... thirty seconds." @Morgan | Clove 🦇 + Leo 🩸 |

“…” Leo’s eyes widened slightly. At least Roman had admitted his scythe was better- and if not better, than original. He’d take that. He put an arm on Roman’s shoulder in an attempt to steady him. “Uh, is there anything I can do.” his reaction seemingly lacked sympathy, and the strained look on his face definitely wasn’t helping his case either. But he was trying? @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Once Leo had him, he dropped his arms to the side, entirely limp. "I-i- need.. the eyes and.. my jacket.." Roman mumbled. "You can just leave me.. here.." @Morgan | Clove 🦇 + Leo 🩸 |

“Like the jacket on the ground over there?” Leo slowly lowered Roman to the ground, not letting go quite yet. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mm.. yeah.." Roman mumbled again and closed his eyes as he was laid down. "Just lay it over me or.. something.." At some point during their conversation, the little blood portal closed up, so the only things still strewn about were the bloody jacket, belt, and eyeball jar. Roman's blood drumsticks had already been placed securely back in his hair before Leo had arrived. @Morgan | Clove 🦇 + Leo 🩸 |

Leo extended an arm and scooped up the jacket, then haphazardly draped it over Roman before letting him sink to the floor. However, that’s where his act of goodwill stopped. He scooted the eyeball jar juuuust out of the other man’s reach before sauntering away, only stopping to retrieve the scythe- which he now held proudly in his free hand. “See you around, Roman.” he called back before disappearing down the path in which he came. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman didn't have the strength left to say anything, only barely managing to crack open his eyes to see where the eyes had went... He painfully forced his arm out toward the jar, but his fingers stopped just short... A few moments later, his eyes shut again and his entire body went limp. Honk shoo. He looked somewhat cozy with the jacket blanket. @Morgan | Clove 🦇 + Leo 🩸 |

Kairas landed in the street after Leo had left, and approached Roman's unconscious body. She stared at him for a moment, contemplating. Did she really want to wake him up? No. But he was one of her contestants, and she should probably make sure he's alive, at least. She crouched down beside Roman, and began gently stirring him awake. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman was absolutely not waking up. However, the eyes rolled in the jar to look at Kairas.. And began furiously slamming in to the glass, hitting with such force that the jar began to roll toward the bird woman... @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Of course, Kairas noticed the jar. She picked it up, and sat it upright a few feet away from her so it couldn't roll, then got back to trying to wake Roman. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

.. The eyes kept hitting the glass, and occasionally it would teeter, but it would never fall.. Well, Roman still wasn't waking. He was deeply unconscious. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Hm. Kairas stood up again, and picked Roman up as best she could, holding him by the hips. Once he was secure enough, she took off, leaving the eyes on the ground. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman had no protest, but as they got a certain distance away, he did twitch a little.. But he still didn't wake up. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kairas landed back at the streets where Roman's belongings were strewn everywhere, and set him down on the ground before landing herself. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

The eyeball jar had not managed to move from its place, well, until Roman sprung himself at it and grabbed it. He held it close to his chest, taking in some deep breaths. "Woooowwww- okay-" He said, wiping some sweat off on his jacket. "W-why'd you take me without this? I need it." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I didn't know." Kairas replied flatly. "But now, I do." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Hm, maybe revealing that wasn't a great idea. He attached the jar to his belt again, and straightened up his jacket. "Well, thanks anyway. I woulda been fine if ya just left me though.." He looked back over at Kairas, for the first time since having a clear head. ".. What's your name..?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Roman wouldn't immediately recognize Kairas... but there might be something slightly familiar about her. "I am Kairas, the leader of the Bird side." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Well, seems like Roque recognized her enough. The eyeballs were insistently smacking in to the glass in her direction. "You're one of those.. Corvi people, right?" Roman asked. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kairas noticed the eyes, but didn't mention them. "Yes." She nodded. "I'm a crow." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"A crow.. Yes, I had a corvi crow friend back home named Petrai, do you know her?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Petrai.... that's not a corvi name. You're mistaken." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Huh? Well, he didn't really know enough about Petrai's history to come up with a convincing reason why it would be different. Maybe she was one of those other bird people he'd heard about. ".. Huh! Maybe we were both confused, do you know the Avians? Could she be one of those instead?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I don't know. You're the one that knows her, aren't you?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Well she never knew her parents, so she could have been either. Oh, maybe that's why she doesn't have a Corvi name.." Roman said, just continuing to dig a deeper pit here.

"Maybe so." Kairas answered flatly. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

He wasn't going to get anywhere with this, was he..? "Weeeeeeeell, Kairas, thanks for helping me out. Is there anything I could do to pay back your kindness?" Roman smiled. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"No." Kairas said, and then, after a pause. "Helping the contestants is my job." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Just because it's your job doesn't mean that you can never accept tips.." Roman crawled closer and sat on his knees in front of her. "I can get you just about anything you want." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Even under the mask, Kairas was clearly grimacing. She took a step back. "Such as?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"You name it, I'm here for you, aren't I?" Roman scooted closer as she stepped away. "If you're feeling shy, I can put that mask on, or whatever you want. I don't judge." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"All my desires are fulfilled." She said simply. "I don't think there's much you could provide that my partner doesn't already." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Yeesh, if everyone was going to be like this, why was he here? "Well, if you already have a partner, why not add in a third for a night? That always spices things up." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I'm not interested, and I doubt they'd be." Kairas frowned. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"May I ask who this 'they' is..?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Reagan. My partner." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Well, that didn't ring a bell. He'd keep an eye out for that one if he came across them later. "Hmm, alright then. If you ever need to take some frustrations out on something, I'll be around, Kai." Roman smirked and winked. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kairas grumbled something- she was probably rolling her eyes under that mask. "Is there anything else you need?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I never need anything." Roman assured her. "I live to serve you- well, not just you, but you get the idea." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Hmph." Kairas glanced off to the distance. "Well, if you land yourself in trouble again, I should be able to help you. And now I know not to leave behind your... eyes." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oh, they're not mine, they're my mistress'." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"... figures." Kairas grimaced. "Well, whoever's they are. Now I know." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mhm. And I think she likes you." Roman grabbed the jar and held it up toward Kairas. The eyes were still furiously banging on the glass. "Look now excited she is to see you!" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kairas inspected the jar, but didn't touch it. She was either hiding her disgust very poorly, or just not trying to hide it at all. "Hm. I guess so." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman quickly moved it forward to the point where it almost clinked against the mask Kairas wore. "You can touch it if you'd like!" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kairas stepped back before it could actually touch her. "I don't think I want to." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Hm, your loss!" Roman said and let the jar fall back to his side. "Hey, by chance, is this the first event like this you've been at?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kairas paused, caught off guard by the change in topic. "Uh- yes. Yes it is." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Are Corvi usually found at these events?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I wouldn't know. This is the first time I've been to one." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Hmmmm.. Every single tournament I've heard about has had one! Besides the one from my home village.. there's no Corvi there." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"And how many tournaments have you heard about?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"This one, the one my mistress was in, and then that one in my village! Soooo.. three!" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"So... two out of three with Corvi. That's not a very convincing statistic. Too small of a a sample size." Kairas thought. "Also, what point are you trying to get at?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I just want to keep hearing your lovely voice! Also, I'm trying to find Petrai." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Hmph." Kairas sighed. "Well, I don't know Petrai- I've never even heard the name before. Sorry." She didn't sound very sorry at all. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Well if you find out where she is, could you let me know?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"... if I come across that information, I'll let you know." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Yippee!!!" Roman laughed. "Yeah, I was actually on my way to try to find her before I got taken here, so that's a bit frustrating, y'know? I think I was pretty close!" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

".... sorry for the inconvenience." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"It's alright, as soon as I get outta here I can get back to that... To be honest I'm still not entirely sure what you all want me to do here, every single person I've talked to has turned me down!" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Turned you down... when you propositioned them for sex?" Kairas asked. "Did the Lifebringer not tell you what's going on here?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"People only ever want me for one reason, Kai, they didn't have to tell me." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Suddenly, Kairas was faced with two options. One with a... significantly more amusing outcome. Maybe Roman would feel better about competing if he didn't know the stakes. "I don't doubt that." She settled on saying, as dry and unemotive as ever. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Exactly! So like- am I just supposed to wait until a certain time, or until one of you is in the mood orrrrr... I'd just like to know what I'm working for here." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Wait. Until someone asks you." Kairas said. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. Should I not even ask? Just- wait?" Roman tilted his head a bit. Sure, he didn't have to ask Roque, but he could literally read her mood like a headline.. Felt like for the past months all he'd been doing was propositioning though. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"... if you do ask, try to keep it... coy. Our host appreciates innuendo." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

LAME! ".... Aaaaaaaaalright.. And the other people here that aren't staff- are they in the same position as me? I talked to Ryu and Leo, and neither of them really seem like.. me." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"No. Their, uh, circumstances are different. Different rules apply to them." God, how long could she keep improvising random lies? @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. Okay, so... Am I serving them too?" Roman asked. Man, should get this guy a list of rules or something. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"... yes." Would she regret this later? Probably. "Anyways, on the topic of rules- you're not allowed to wear non-uniform apparel." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Was he going to get paid for any of this?? "Huh! Nooooo, I really like my jacket.... I get cold..." Roman pouted and held the split color jacket on tighter. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"We can get you warmer clothes if you need. But our host is very strict about what participants wear." She repeated in a slower, lower, tone, "Very strict." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Are they now? What happens if I don't dress to their standard, hm? They going to knock me out and change my clothes again?" Roman smirked and leaned in closer.

4:41 PM

@innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Maybe." Kairas shrugged, and stepped back. She extended her wings outward, preparing to leave. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I'll take my chances. They can come reprimand me themselves if they have such an issue." Roman staggered up to his feet as well. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Very well. I will be watching you, so... keep that in mind." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oh, I'm sure you will be." Roman winked. "Hopefully you do more than just watch though, Kai!" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kairas simply took off into the air, leaving Roman alone on the street. She'd deal with... all that later. (edited)

4:47 PM

@Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman waved overexcitedly as she flew off. "Byeeeeeee, Kai!!!" He cheered. As soon as she was out of his view, he turned on his heel and put on a much more neutral expression before sauntering away.. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Here they were!! And no one was around! Carrion let out a small sigh as they walked along and out of view of the door. Finally they sat down with their spoils. “..hhaha, um, what’d you get?” @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“U-uhm- A bit of everything.. I wasn’t sure what to grab, honestly.” Evan sat down beside him. “Wh-what did you get?” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

“Mm, I- I got.. chicken, I thh-think, um.... meat. Cheese and bread. I-I’m really hungry, haha!” Their smile was seeming less and less genuine by the minute. Carrion took a huge bite out of the poultry leg, chewing like a chased dog that was being yelled at to open their mouth. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

Evan shifted in his seat slightly. He ate somewhat slowly, cautiously. He wasn’t sure if he could trust the food just yet, but it seemed okay enough. “A-are you.. Doing okay, Carrion?” Evan asked quietly. “You s-seem a bit sp-spooked..” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

If Carrion had bothered to eat slower, they would be able to appreciate eating fresh food for the first time in a while. Instead, he devoured the food as quickly as he could. At Evan’s question, he slowed slightly. “..I’m juuust fine. Didn’t want those guys to ss- see us. A- and they didn’t! So it’s all good.” Another smile. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“I just- Wanna make sure..” Evan looked down to his plate. “D-do adults scare you..? Some adults that I don’t know make me a bit n-nervous..” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

“Yup! I’m ff- I’m fine. Ha- haha, ss- scare me.. I- I don’t get scared, remember? I just.. don’t t-trust them. Don’t need to get yel- um, c-caught.” @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“Y-yeah, s-some adults can be spooky to trust,” Evan shifted slightly once more. “But- I think w-we might be safe from an-any scary adults..” Evan perked up. “Albanes s-said she’d keep me safe, m-maybe she can keep you safe, too? Sh-she seems nice..” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

“Mm.. did y-you meet them all..?” They take another bite from the poultry, finishing it up. The hunger was slowly dulling.. “…Ss- so who’s Albanes?” @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“N-no.. So far, you’re the only other person I’ve met.” Evan admitted. He took a bite out of some of the food he had gathered for himself. “A-Albanes is the Lifebringer, she’s the one I sp-spoke to when I got teleported and woke up.. Sh-she seems nice..” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

His smile fell. “Th.. one when.. when ff- first got h-here, right?? It ah.. it att- attacked me.” Yoli was really angry then, but didn’t say why… if it could just wake up already- Suddenly, Carrion shuddered violently, clutching at their head. “Agh, ha- hahaa.. t-took you.. awhile..” …They didn’t seem to be talking to Evan..? @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟 (edited)

“U-uhm.. I don’t know, Albanes didn’t attack.. Sh-she’s a nice older lady with brown hair.. She d-didn’t attack..” Evan looked confused as Carrion spoke again. “U-uhm.. E-everything okay..?” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“U-uhm.. I don’t know, Albanes didn’t attack.. Sh-she’s a nice older lady with brown hair.. She d-didn’t attack..” Evan looked confused as Carrion spoke again. “U-uhm.. E-everything okay..?” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

Carrion shudders again. His hand reaches up to their face, up to the eye that they had previously covered. Pulling back his purple hair, he reveals a dark black eye. The pupil is wide, off. That smile has crept back up their face. [‘CARRION.’] “h-haha.. y-you’re finally awake Yoli.. it’s- it’s been awhile.. w-we’re somewhere else.” [‘I SEE. YOU ARE WITH ANOTHER. WHAT IS THIS PLACE.’] “Oh! Th-this is Evan, he’s- he’s very nice! Ummm we’re in a… um, what did.. Cita..del..? I- um, I don’t really know, ss- sorry.” …Evan can’t hear whoever they’re talking to. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟 (edited)

Evan was growing more anxious with every second that passed. He even scooted away slightly from Carrion. Metal began to coat his fingertips as his anxiety grew and grew. “C-Carrion?” Evan spoke weakly. “Wh-who’re you talking t-to..?” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

“Hm? Oh!” Carrion finally looks at Evan, with both eyes. The dark one is even more unsettling straight on. “My friend Yoli just woke up! It, haha, it can’t do much when we’re hungry, haha! Do you- do you wanna meet?” He lifted up their right hand, showing a long, black scar along it. …He at least seemed to be smiling more genuinely..? @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“U-umn..” Evan slowly waved at Carrion’s right hand. “H-hi, Yoli..?” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

“Haha, ss- silly it’s- its not- well it’s there but- he-here. Say hi, Yoli!” …within the darkness, an eye opened. And another. And another, almost a dozen, small white and black eyes appeared in within the scar in Carrion’s hand. All in varying shapes and pupils. All staring at Evan. …if he could look away from that sight, he might just notice there were similar small eyes within Carrion’s dark one.. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟 (edited)

With a yelp, Evan startled backwards, entirely dropping his plate of food. Scrambling back a foot or two, he looked at the eyes with fright. “Wh-what- How- U-uhm-” Evan whimpered and scooted back a bit. “H-h-hi-?” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

Their hand fell, along with his smile. “Huh? Wh-what’s wrong, Evan?” [‘HE FEARS US. CANNOT UNDERSTAND US.] “ff-fear? I- did I- or, um… Evan did- did we ss-scare you? Ssorry.” He did look genuinely sorry, as well as a little confused. …the eyes within Carrion’s were gone. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟 (edited)

“I-it’s okay- I just-just- Got a b-bit spooked,” Evan attempted to smile, though he still trembled. “I st-startle e-easily..” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

Carrion tilted their head as he spoke, frowning a little. “Oh.. I- I didn’t want t-to scare you. What- um.. h-how did.. um, haha, wh-what did I do wrong?” Another weak smile cracks along his face. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“N-no! You didn’t do anything wrong!” Evan quickly reassured. “I just- Didn’t e-expect so many eyes to p-pop up, it startled me- Y-you didn’t do a thing wrong, swear it!” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

He smiled a bit more genuinely as he reassured them. “Ohh, okay! Haha! Yoli is- I- I was ss- scared t-too when.. when we met, but its- it’s really nice! It helps me and-“ Carrion stopped abruptly, a hard look forming on their face. “Wh-what- who’s there? Yoli? Yoli wh-why’s there- invite??“ He backed away from Evan. Reaching to their head and taking clumps of hair into their hands and haphazard breaths. [‘ANOTHER’S VOICE. DIFFERENT MIND SPEAKING WITHIN OURS. LIFEBRINGER. ITS SERVANTS. VASSALS, SPEAKING TO US.’] “M-make it sstop! I don’t- don’t want it-“ [‘I CANNOT.’] @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟 (edited)

Evan looked frightened. Partially from Carrion’s reaction, and partially from hearing the voice in his head as well. “Th-that- That’s scary how they can j-just put m-messages into our heads like that,” Evan sniffled. He rubbed his eyes, growing more overwhelmed with everything by the second. @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

Carrion stood suddenly, stumbling a bit away from Evan as his hands were still locked in his hair. He hunched forward, and the cloth on his back suddenly sagged, almost seeming to burn away. From the holes, a pair of black, tar-like wings erupted from their back. The wings shook, then beat, raising Carrion high up. One hand dropped from his head, as the wings carried him up and away. …Bye!! @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

Evan’s shoulders sagged as Carrion flew away. There went his only hope of making a friend.. .. Bye.. @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

Kallum did not make himself fancy for the gala. Did not wear the mask. No. He was just going to- to investigate it, because he needed to- because he needed to know. Had to know. What this was about. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

Evan had decided that he needed a breath of fresh air after his conversation with Ace in the gala refectory. Maybe some more exploring would be nice. Upon approaching the streets, Evan paused as Kallum was spotted. This seemed like someone who was somewhat in close age with him. Another teenager? Maybe this person was friendly..? Evan wasn't sure. As Kallum stepped closer, Evan awkwardly raised a hand and waved. "H-hi.." He greeted anxiously. @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Kallum was entirely lind to Evan- until he waved, and spoke, to him. He instinctively jolted, pulling his shirt up again around him, and glared- how dare- who was this person to- to- to do this. "Who are you? Do you 'know' me too?" His question sounded like it was supposed to be accompanied by a sneer but Kallum was too scare- his expression was too angry, too busy glowering. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

"Wh-what?" Evan's voice cracked as he quickly lowered his hand. He took a step back and shook his head. "N-no, I d-don't- I've never seen you b-before in my entire life.." @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Kallum stayed glaring. "Good. You don't know me. Nobody here knows me." He bunched his hands up at his neck. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

"O-okay, I don't kn-know you.." Evan slowly nodded his head. "N-no one here knows me either, e-except for, like- T-two people? M-maybe three..?" @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Kallum's eyebrows did not shift at all. They stayed tightly furrowed, practically digging into the bridge of his nose. He let Evan speak but didn't seem to care too much, because as soon as he finished talking, Kallum bulldozed over what was just said to ask, "What do you want?" @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

"I-I ju-just-" Evan fidgeted with his ring. Kallum definitely wasn't nice. He was too much, too intimidating- "J-just wanted to w-walk around a l-little, that's all.." @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

"Why did you wave at me?" Kallum retorted, stepping forward, leaning toward Evan. A threat. He could be that. "Why did you talk to me?" @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

"Th-that's the- That's- Th-that's wh-what p-people do t-to greet each other-" Evan stumbled over his words as he took a step back. Metal could be felt coating his fingertips, and quickly, he hid his hands behind his back. He didn't need to give this person another reason to be mad? Defensive? Weird? "Y-you were coming in m-my direction, s-so- The p-polite thing to d-do would be to say h-hi.." @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

"No," Kallum refuted. He was not walking in Evan's direction- he hadn't even seen him, not until he made him see him- so- why did he need to talk to him? "I didn't see you. What do you want?" @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“I d-don’t want a-anything?” Evan was growing more and more confused. “Wh-why do you think I w-want something?” @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Kallum crossed his arms tightly and shrugged his shoulders around his neck. "People talk when they want something." @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“.. I g-guess I just wanted to s-say hi..?” @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Kallum glared at Evan. "No." @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“.. Wh-what do you mean, ‘no?’” Evan frowned with confusion. “How are you going t-to tell me what I wanted to do?” @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

The last person Kallum had met- that strange man, whose name he'd forgotten- didn't need to remember, he had wanted something. Everyone he'd met- ever met, ever known- wanted something. But he never knew what. Except twice. "If you don't want anything, why are you talking to me?" Okay they're just going in circles. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“I just wanted to say hi, that’s it,” Evan sighed. The metal went away from his fingers and he returned his hands to the front of his body, where he fidgeted slightly. “H-how come you’re not wearing your mask? We’re supposed to. You could get into trouble.” Evan guessed he could ask him that. @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Kallum uncrossed his arms to bunch his collar at his neck again. "I don't like it. They won't make me wear it." Doubt. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“Oh. Well, they might make you wear it, I don’t know,” Evan fidgeted slightly. “But- I-if you don’t want people to know you or recognize you, then if you wear it, it’ll h-help hide your identity. Then, people won’t know you.” @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Kallum huffed. He just hated the thing- things on his face, a second skin. But for once, Evan made some sense. "Okay. Bye." And. Off he went. Kallum. Stop doing that. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“Y-you’re just leaving? O-okay, then, uh- Bye!” Evan waved as Kallum. Just walked away. In his pocket, a beeping sound could be heard. @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Exiting the Gala, Ryunoske stepped outside to take another smoke break. She had to conserve some of the shitty cigarettes Roman gave her, but the urge was biting her. Lighting the butt on a nearby lamp, Ryu took in a whiff with a relaxed sigh. It was a nice night, and she didn't even get to dance with a pretty lady. How sad. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“No way- Is that who I think it is?” Kal’s voice rang out in the distance. The man was grinning as he lightly jogged towards Ryu. “I can’t fucking believe it- Ryu? That you?” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu perked her head up the moment she heard a voice in the distance. A smile spread on her lips as she saw a familiar bumbling head of bleached blonde hair. "As I live and breath, Kal?" Ryu chuckled as she opened her arms out for a hug. "It's you! I didn't think I'd run into you all the way out here. They got you too, bud?" @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

As soon as Kal was close enough, he gave Ryu a big ol’ hug. He squeezed her tightly as his grin brightened. “They got my ass, too!” Kal laughed. “Can’t believe we’re in for round two, huh? Crazy! I can’t believe I’m seeing you here, too!” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu chuckled and returned the hug, giving Kal a good ol' squeeze and patting his back. "This is so crazy! I thought it would just be my girlies here, so you being here is wild!" She laughed. Pulling away, he patted Kal's shoulder and looked over the other man. "Wow. You look good, man. Let me guess, it's been a couple years since we've seen each other?" @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟 (edited)

“Right?! My boy Darcy’s here too, it’s crazy- It’s like a whole reunion!” Kal laughed. “You’re lookin’ pretty great yourself, Ryu!” Kal grinned. “Yeah, it’s been a few years. I’m 26 now. Apparently, people are from different timelines and universes, so ages are all wonky.” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu racked the name 'Darcy' around her head for a moment, but smiled a bit more as she saw Kal laugh. "Ah! The word guy you said was teaching you how to read! I remember him, yeah. Wow, that's insane. All of us here? It really is like one big reunion," he chuckled. "Well, I mean, I hope I look good. It's only been like.. five days since I've left the island!" Ryu said with a feigned pout, before smiling again. "Wow! 26? We're the same age now. That's so weird," he said with an amused hum. "Yeah, I've met a couple other people from our world as well, but they've all come from different times as well... Guess it only makes sense for the Lifebringer to make things difficult on us." @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“Yeah, man! Darcy, that’s my homeboy!” Kal laughed. “He taught me how to read- I’ve improved so much, it’s crazy! I can read all kinds of things.” “Whaaaaat? Five whole days? That’s crazy! It’s been two years for me- That’s insane.” Kal ran a hand through his hair. “Yeah, bet they wanna make it trickier for us. But we’re practically pros at this tournament stuff, we got this in the bag!” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu patted Kal's shoulder once more. "Seriously? I'm so proud of you, dude! Now we can finally text each other! I think I was planning to just send ya some photos put together like a storybook to send to you," he laughed with a genuine smile. "Yeah, I'm not too worried exactly.. but who are they making you fight this time around? I got Roman.. which isn't too bad of a deal, and you got... I think Asha?" @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

Touched, Kal rested a hand on his chest. “Oh my god- Ryu! That’s so sweet of you- I’d totally take a story book! We could still text, though! I’m sure we got tons of things to catch up on!” Kal’s smile flickered slightly. “I don’t know Roman- I heard he’s a bit of a freak, though. He wanted some of Darcy’s blood. And for me- Yeah, I’m fighting Asha. I wonder how she’s doing..” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Really? Well, I only got like.. five days worth of content to talk to you about, which isn't much, but I'm interested in knowing where you've been! Any cool new climbing places?" He asked with a curious grin. "Roman is.. well, to put simply, an annoying piece of shit. Apparently, he's Asha's husband in her world? But wait—You know Asha?" @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“Ah, I’m sure those five days were exciting!” Kal grinned. “Oh man- I’ve been all over the place! I’ve traveled a lot and climbed a lot of places, fell a few times, might’ve broken a rib or two, but hey, it happens! Just gotta keep movin’ and groovin’, you know how it is!” “Wait- Roman and Asha are married?” Kal looked surprised. “Huh- Maybe it’s a different Asha that I know? Asha’s also the president of my apparent Fanclub that I got going on.” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu listened intently to Kal's tales, her grin widening. "Dude! And you didn't even invite me?" He asked with a teasing laugh. "We really gotta catch up. I would kill for a mountain vacation right about now. Let me in on the next trip you take, alright?" He chuckled and playfully bumped Kal's shoulder. Though, her smile fell as the conversation continued. "Yep. Asha and Roman. Weird, I know. Apparently, she just gave birth not too long ago either. Apparently, the Roman I know is different than the one she's married to, but it's still totally nuts," Ryu nodded. "Maybe this Asha also has a fanclub. I wouldn't be surprised... but she seems older than both of us." @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“I gotchu next time!! All paid for vacation, I gotcha! We’ll have one hell of a time!” Kal grinned. “I’ll pick somewhere cool for us to go to.” “Whoa- Asha’s a mom? Man- I would’ve gotten her a baby shower gift had I known!” Kal grinned. That smile faded. “Oh, shit. I’m fighting against a newly made mom.” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Bro, you do know that I'm like, rich, right? No need to pay for me, promise," he snickered. "And, well, yeah... She's a mom. Apparently she's been to two other of these things as well. She's rather jumpy and suspicious with everything, so you should probably approach with less energy than you usually have," Ryu suggested. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“You sure? I wanna treat you to a good time!” Kal laughed. “Alright, I’ll be careful- I’ll tone it on down. I’ll be real chill.” Kal nodded. He wasn’t sure how possible that’d be for him, but he’d definitely try. “I’ll take it easy.”

12:47 PM

@Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Nah. If anything, It'd be my treat, dude. I gotta spoil my homeboy some, yknow?" Ryu chuckled. "And good. I totally freaked her out, so she'll probably be hesitant to even approach familiar faces. Though, if she's a fan, maybe it'll be different... I miss my fanclub," she sighed. "I would really like a cute girl with me right now, yknow?" @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

(roman would be your cute girl if you let him)

"Just you bein' my bud is you spoiling me," Kal chuckled. "You had a fanclub too? I'll start one for you, if you want," Kal smiled. "And yeah, I get that. Were you able to dance with a girl at the Gala?" @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu playfully rolled his eyes and wrapped his arm around Kal's shoulders. "Psh. Don't pull my leg, man. Trust me. Come to Japan and I'll show you a hell of a time," he chuckled. "And no need to start one for me. I already have one back home. I miss my girls," Ryu said with a feigned deep sigh. "And no! I didn't get a single dance! Not even Lil E wanted to party with me. Am I losing my charm, Kal?" @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

(Don't talk bad about yourself ryu...

)

“Japan, huh?” Kal laughed as Ryu wrapped his arm around him. “Y’know, I haven’t seen all that Japan’s got to offer. Maybe I’ll take you up on that!” “Lil E? Is that a rapper?” Kal chuckled. “Losing your charm? Never! You’re just as charming as you were the first time I met you!” Kal grinned. “D’you wanna dance now? It’ll be like the first tourn, I was your first dance then, I’ll be your first dance now.” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"You'll love it there! Toyko and Shinjuku are great hubs of life. I gotta take you to my favorite club there," Ryu beamed. "And no, Lil E--Evan. He's a kid I know from around the block, though he's like... waaay younger here. He's a legit kid. Fourteen, can you believe that?" Ryu couldn't help but chuckle at Kal. "Thanks, Kal, but I don't think my first dance here can be with my buddy again, or else it'll really bruise my ego." @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“Haven’t been to Shinjuku, I’ll take your offer on that,” Kal laughed before he frowned. “Hold up, an actual kid? What the hell- Why in the world did they bring a kid here?” “Alright, alright, I get it,” Kal chuckled. “Wouldn’t want to hurt your feelings more.” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu frowned as she shook her head. "Dunno, but he's a good friend of a buddy, so I'm looking out for him. If you can, keep an eye on him for me too, yeah? He's a pretty small squirt. About here," Ryu put her hand where Evan's height approximately was, "And light blueish hair. You'll know it when you see him." @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“Yeah, I gotchu,” Kal nodded. “I’ll keep an eye out for him. Any bud of yours is a bud of mine. We’ll keep him safe.” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu smiled a bit more genuinely and patted Kal's back. "Thanks man. I appreciate it," he hummed before letting go of Kal. "So. Have you met anyone else interesting here? Everyone's been a bit of a drag besides you and Lil E." @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“Course, any time,” Kal chuckled. “Well, I met two guys who seem interesting. One’s a younger guy named Kallum- Almost the same name! We were gonna do some rock climbing together. He seemed alright. Then, I met a guy named Invo. He seems chill too, but he did try using his powers on me immediately after meeting me, so like, be careful meeting him.” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu listened to Kal with an intrigued expression, chuckling a little throughout. "Kallum and Kal.. Kal and Kal, huh? Guess you guys are name twinsies," he commented with a small laugh. "You gotta introduce me. Rock climbing together could be a fun group activity." "And Invo, hm? What was his powers like?" @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“Kal Pals for sure,” Kal laughed. “But I’ll introduce you two. Though, Kallum seems like a bit of a handful. He seemed a bit aggressive but you know, I’m chill with that, not a big problem.” “And Invo, he has shadowy powers. He was able to bring me down to the ground with it after a failed attempt or two. Homeboy was trying so hard.” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu couldn't help but smile. "Awh, that's cute. Seems like he'll be a fun one. I'm always down to have some Kal pals," he nodded. "Hm.. shadow powers that can make you fall? Interesting. Sounds like it can be a pain in the ass, but I think I'll manage. Is he the aggressive type? You said he attacked you right off the bat, right?" @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“But I’ll stay as your favorite Kal, right?” Kal asked with a grin. “He didn’t seem too aggressive, he just seemed really annoyed. He was fine at the start, then I mentioned that he used his powers on me, and he got mad. But yeah, he did attack right off the bad.” Kal glanced around. It was definitely getting later now. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Of course. You're the number one Kal in my heart, Kal," Ryu winked with a warm smile. "And I'll keep an eye out for him then. Sounds like a rather troublesome kid," he chuckled. Ryu followed Kal's glance before patting him on the shoulder. "We should probably head to bed, huh? As much as I love my buddy, I like to make sure he gets some good sleep too. I'll catch ya later?" @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“Awww, thanks, Ryu. You’re the number one Ryu in my heart.” kal chuckled. “Mmhm, just be careful. Also be careful of a guy with white hair and yellow feathers in his hair. He was- A weirdo.. We can talk more about him tomorrow.” “Get some beauty sleep, Ryu,” Kal chuckled. “Get some good sleep! I’ll see you around.” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu raised a brow as Kal mentioned this white-haired fellow, but she simply waved and nodded. "I gotcha. See ya, Kal!" Ryu smiled before heading off. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“See you!” Kal waved and went off to his room.

Reagan wandered out onto the streets. They stepped carefully over the uneven cobblestone, and had to occasionally pause and catch their breath. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Hey, you from that water room! Can we actually talk now?" A familiar voice yelled out from a ways behind them. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan started and turned to Roman- though it was harder to read their expression now that they were wearing the mask. "You... what did it want with you? Did you do something?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman also had his mask on now, but he wore a quite devious grin.. "What did it want with me? Well, just my body and my time last night. I didn't do anything, besides show them a good time." Roman chuckled. "But I have commands from them now, since I interrupted last night, I get to finish what they started. So you'll be coming with me." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"What-" Reagan's breath hitched, they balked. "No- no, please," They began to beg, though their tone was low and whispered. "Please, you can't- I swear I won't let anything else slip, I swear-" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Nooooope, words right from management! And I couldn't possibly disobey..." Roman continued to smile. "On your knees, please." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Hesitantly, almost fearfully, Reagan dropped down to their knees, and looked up at Roman through the snake mask. Even if he wasn't acting on Naiyta's commands, they weren't supposed to deny contestants. Their snake tail twitched apprehensively. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Good! Uh- just sit there for a second.." Roman said and took out the blood drumsticks from his hair. They quickly solidified in to daggers and he stepped to Reagan's side. He stabbed them both in to the dirt, and began drawing a circle, one that was just a bit bigger than his usual ones. When the daggers met at the bottom of a shape, the ground disappeared and revealed an entirely different place.. A pulsing, bloody pit.. With random items strewn around in it. The walls were made out of muscle, and seemed to have a heartbeat. Overall, gross. "Get in there please." Roman said and stood up, pointing his hands down at the pit. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan flinched as Roman pulled out his daggers, and was very visibly repulsed by the blood-muscle-pit thing, but took in a deep breath before dropping to their hands and knees and climbing into the pit. Complying would, they hoped, hurt less than fighting it... @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman jumped in after them, and the small entrance portal closed.. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

... The portal reopened, and out squeezed Roman and Reagan. Roman rose up from the bloody pit, with Reagan cowering and on their knees next to him. Blood was sputtering out of Reagan's mouth, and a new bite mark adorned their arm. Roman had the back of Reagan's dress gripped in his fist, and he tossed them out of the portal. They landed roughly about a foot away. "Just keep all that in mind next time you decide to cross Naiyta." Roman spat and brushed off his hands. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan hit the ground with a low grunt, but picked themself up. They didn't move to clean the blood off their face just yet, but turned to face Roman. "I won't- I swear, but- please, don't do that again. Please." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

The portal closed up from where they had just come from. Roman put his foot on Reagan's back and forced them back down. "I'll only have to act if you keep disobeying. Simple as that." Roman said and shoved them away with his foot. "Take it easy, Reagan." He laughed before walking away from them, wiping the blood off that covered his entire body in splotches.. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan curled up on the ground and remained there, trembling, for a long moment, before getting up and leaving in the opposite direction. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Grumbling as he walked through the streets of the Citadel, Cansu had his hands in the pockets of his coat. His gaze was on the floor as he walked, ocassionally kicking a rock or a stray leaf when one was in his path. However, when he came upon a bit of blood on the ground, he stilled. The scent of that blood was familiar- Sadihak's. Gritting his teeth, Cansu cursed to himself. He should've hurt Roman more. He deserved it. The deity stewed in his anger so much that he hardly noticed if anyone was nearby. @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

Carrion had pretty much collapsed into sleep after leaving Isi, waking late into the day slightly less exhausted than before. After a quick trip to the refectory to steal some more fruit and meat, Carrion was cheerily walking along the street. Chatting aloud to seemingly no one as they messily snacked on their spoils. “..a-and then they got me more fruit, and ss- said she would talk to the animals for me! Do you r-remember how I said they ss- they seem ss- scared of me? Isi ss- ha- she’s gonna ask for me, haha!” They turned a corner, entering the street that Cansu was storming along. The sight of him made them freeze. There was now a strange little person staring at him. “…you have wings..” They looked at him with awe and a creepy little smile. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

It wasn’t Carrion speaking that alerted Cansu to their presence. Rather, it was a faint sensation that he received from the other that ticked him off that something was.. Different about this person. Were they even human? Or something else? Were they deity, or simply blessed by one? Cansu couldn’t tell, he couldn’t pinpoint what this sensation was. “.. Yes, I do,” Cansu responded, looking down at the human. They seemed to be rather young compared to the other contestants he had met. “What is your name?” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

The sensation had the barest sense of familiarity- a feeling the god would not have felt in a very, very long time. Carrion felt something similar looking at the winged man, a sort of feeling that made his heart pound. “I’m Ca-“ The smile on their face fell away as their words seemed to catch in its throat. He turned away, coughing wet for a moment. They looked back to him with a confused expression, and suddenly spoke in a different voice. Low and crackling, the voice is familiar. ”Cansu. Cansu… You.. have changed.” @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

It didn’t take long for Cansu to realize who was speaking to him. The deity crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes narrowing slightly at the other. “So have you. You’re able to properly speak now.” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

Its host continued to look up at him with confusion. ”Yes.. granted though.. this bond. You too.. have a human host. It.. is weakened..? Why.. do you have.. a host?” @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“I got it through a series of unfortunate events,” Cansu hummed as he glanced away. “One mistake after another. I intend on separating from humans very soon.” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

The purple eye of the host darted around, but the darker one remained staring into Cansu. Clusters of small white eyes peered out of the darkness. ”Why.. did you bond? You were.. always powerful. Curiosity..?” @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“Foolish curiosity, at the start.” Cansu stated. “Then, it became obligation, then, slavery. All of it was foolish.” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

..The host sat down on the street with a slightly frustrated look. Cansu would have to crane his neck down now. ”How.. did they control.. you?” @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟 (edited)

“It’s a rather complicated story, one that I’d rather not share in a public setting such as thing one.” Cansu spoke. @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

”…Very well. Why then.. are you still bonded? You do not.. need it to.. survive.” @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟 (edited)

“I do not,” Cansu nodded. “But it is- Quite a complicated situation.. It’s easy to bond with humans, but it’s difficult to separate from them.” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

”Difficult to.. separate…Indeed. You always.. could fly.. of your own free will. My bond.. granted me.. that same freedom.. No longer.. limited to.. my temple.” @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“I could fly now on my own free will. The host isn’t here, so I’m free to do what I want. I intend on finding a way to completely separate from this host before this body expires. I’ll be on my own, just as I’ve wanted all this time.” Cansu tilted his head slightly as he looked over the other. “Do you like being bonded to a human?” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

”..Human.. raven.. rats.. flies.. fox.. I find.. Life so very.. interesting. Bonding with.. beings whose life.. is fleeting.. it grants us.. freedom. To watch. To.. interact.. in such that was.. impossible before.” ..The host starts messing with rocks on the ground. Picking them up and dropping them. It’s kinda annoying. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟 (edited)

Cansu made a face at the pair. Whether it was because of what it said, or the way it was messing with the rocks, it was uncertain to tell. “You best be careful,” Cansu warned. “Humans are vile creatures through and through. They may use you as a tool rather than a companion.” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

The host dropped their rocks and glared up at him. ”You- y-you’re wrrong.. we’re ffriends. Friends!” Its voice shifted once more with heavy strain as the lighter voice of the host forced out words. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟 (edited)

“I thought myself to be friends with humans before,” Cansu glared. “Look where it got me- Hundreds of hundreds of years being their slave! Humans are deceitful, they’re violent, they’re vile.” Cansu sighed. “Perhaps you have something good now, but it’ll ultimately lead you to a fate that you’ll regret. Do not do that to yourself.” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

The voice shifted once more as the host continued to glare defiantly. ”We know of.. human cruelty. That.. is what led.. my bonds to me.. Those.. that were harmed by.. greed and hatred. Together.. we free ourselves..!” @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“Right, right, freedom and solace with one another.” Cansu chuckled. “Glad you two found one another.” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

”Yes. With Carrion.. we have traveled.. far. Seen that.. which neither could.. observe.. on its own..” @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“Carrion,” Cansu hummed. “Is that the name of your host?” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

”Yes. He is.. more than.. just a host. It is.. important to me. I will not.. allow that Lifebringer.. to take them from me. Stagnant.. False..!” @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“If I remember right,” Cansu spoke. “They’re my opponent.” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

That causes the kid to sit up straight, a look of fear flashing across their face. ”..What do you.. speak of. Opponent.” @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“For the fights that the Lifebringer rigged up. My name is that of the host on the board, so you wouldn’t have known that it was me.” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

”Fights? When.. we are.. not following Its.. commands. We will not.. fight. Leaving.. we are leaving. Will not fight.” @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“What will you do if your fight is called before you could leave?” Cansu asked, genuinely curious. @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

”We would refuse. It.. does not command us. We will.. destroy this place.. of falsehood.. stagnation..!” @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

Cansu hummed. “I may be on the same page as you. I’d like to see this place fall apart as well- It’s what the Lifebringer deserves.” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

”Yes..!! God of Life.. that does not.. care for it.. cares only for.. eternity. False! We will.. bring change.. to this.. forsaken land. Together..!” @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

Cansu let out a sigh. “I suppose this is something we could work on. Don’t think that this would make us friends or anything..” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

”..We are not.. your enemy.. Cansu. You.. are not.. ours. What does.. that make us..? Common.. goal. Allies. Stronger.. together.” @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

Cansu huffed. “Allies, then.” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

”….You.. have changed much.. Cansu. You are still.. changing.. We.. will always.. be watching.” Finally, the dozens of eyes look away from Cansu and down to its host. ”Carrion. We require.. more energy. This place.. it is far too stagnant.. need more..” The host jumps at the opportunity to leave, clearly not enjoying talking to this mean bird guy. They stand, eyeing Cansu wearily. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

Cansu grumbled slightly. He had changed significantly since the last time the two of them had interacted. "I changed for the worst," He sighed. "We'll see if it keeps going down that path." When the host made more of an appearance in front of him, Cansu offered them a slight nod of his head. He wasn't sure what to make of them. Living in harmony with a deity? Odd. All of this was odd. He couldn't comprehend it. He didn't like thinking about it. @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

The eyes looked back at him as Carrion turned to leave. ”You may always.. change your path.” With that, the duo completely turned away, showing their back with its long dark scars. A pair of black wings emerged from it and carried them away. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

Cansu’s eyes narrowed as the two made their leave. For a moment, he simply stood there, simmering in his thoughts before he turned away. The deity made his leave.

Reagan brought Roman out of the stands, but stopped when they saw someone who might be able to help. "Ah- Albanes! This one broke his shoulder in the explosion. Can you help?" They called out, and laid Roman out on the ground again. It was unpleasant, but probably better than trying to have him healed in Reagan's arms. "Oh, of course." Albanes noddef, and crouched down beside Roman. She put a gentle hand to his shoulder. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman's shoulder slowly healed back to it's normal state, but.. He didn't rouse. A cold sweat was forming on his forehead and as soon as he was healed, his squirming and mumbling increased in vigor. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan crouched down next to Albanes, watching Roman carefully. "Roman? Are you with us?" Albanes put a hand to his forehead, checking for fever. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

He didn't feel overly hot, but.. There was a lot of sweat. He moved his head away from Albanes, faintly moving his hand up in a weak protest. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Albanes moved her hand away from Roman as he began to protest. This seemed like a more emotional issue than a physical one, and she couldn't do much about that. "Ah, Reagan-" She beckoned them close, and whispered something nearly inaudible into their ear. Reagan listened, and gave a hesitant but firm nod. "Alright..." They focused on Roman- sensing the aura of his mind as easily as they could see his appearance before them, or hear his ragged breathing. They already had quite a good hold over him. It didn't take much effort for them to open his mind, like unfurling flower petals with their hand.... @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

His external state was a fairly poor representation of how he was actually faring. On the outside he was just taking staggered breaths and sweating, but on the inside.. He was just screaming. One million different thoughts at once. But most of all there was a bitter metallic taste that was taking over all his thoughts. And pain. And fear. And confusion. It was nearly impossible to make out anything specific.. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan's eyes fluttered back open as they returned to their own body and mind. They took a moment to close their eyes and count backwards from ten. Albanes put a hand to their shoulder, trusting whatever they did, it went well. Roman would awake with a start, back in his real body. Both Albanes and Reagan were crouched over them- Reagan appearing how Roman was used to them looking. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"-urk!" Roman grunted and gasped as he suddenly sat up. He glared over at Reagan. "St-stay out of my head! I don't- I don't want you pushing around there with your weird powers!" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan flinched, but did not reply. "How are you feeling?" Albanes interjected. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Fine, no thanks to Reagan." Roman grumbled and pushed himself up to his feet. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Albanes watched Roman cautiously, making sure he could walk steadily. "Well, I'm glad you are. If you have any more pain later, don't hesitate to reach out to Naiyta or I." Regan helped her up from the ground, not saying anything ... @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

He seemed to be walking.. Mostly fine. He always had a bit of an odd gait, but that was probably due to one of his many other health issues and not his previously broken shoulder. He huffed and walked away from the two, not glancing back. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

~~~~ Levi yawned, still bored from the funeral as he wished there were more fights. He was stuck wandering the streets for.. well he didn't know how long. He mainly just wandered around and had no clue where he was currently with the streets. His lack of navigation likely could be blamed on just never really having been given this level of freedom. He pauses though, hearing there was another person walking in the opposite direction towards him. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman was wandering with a new plate of food. He looked extremely full, but he just kept picking at the plate miserably. "Oh, hey there." Roman said as he chewed on a berry. @Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠

Luckily for Roman, Levi was told to behave if he wanted to get to the fighting part of why he was here. He just gives a grunt in response before speaking. "... you gonna finish that?" He bluntly asked, looking at the plate of food. With all that he already had eaten, it was amazing that he still seemed to be more than willing to eat more, unlike the miserable picking the other was doing. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Despite how miserable it was clearly making him, he held his arm out over the plate protectively. "Yes, I am. So don't even think about taking it, Mister." He huffed. @Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠

He just raises an eyebrow. "You look like you're one berry away from painting the ground a ugly shade of green. But whatever." He holds his hands up, not really in defeat but even he has standards.... that and well he could likely just bite this dude's head off but he was supposed to behave. Stupid rules.... @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I can handle myself, thank you very much." Roman huffed. "If you want food so badly, you can go to that party they're having. That's where it is." @Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠

He rolls his eyes in response. Mainly just staying around to bug the other. "Sure sure. 'Handle yourself' no problem. Don't come crying to me to have someone hold your hair back." He was actually a little proud he remembered that was a thing people do. He thinks, at least that's what one of his guards said to another one when he overheard them talking one time near his cell. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"No one's gonna be pulling on my hair except for Naiyta." Roman laughed for a moment, and painfully ate another bite of cheese. "Now, if you excuse me.. I am trying to get back to my room, unless you have anything to offer me." @Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠

@Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠

He just raises an eyebrow, sort of confused as to why he'd willingly have someone pull his hair. He just shrugs. "Nah. You seek a bit too boring to mess with. I'll let you nurse that plate like a stubborn baby with a bottle." He snorts. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Boring? Wowwww, people don't usually say that about me." Roman hummed. He stepped up to Levi, awkwardly close. It seemed like you could probably stack six or seven Roman's to reach Levi's size horizontally. "But if you were to mess with me, what do you think you'd do, big guy?" @Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠

He leans in, grinning widely. The collar and cuffs not helping him with how he looked like a dog just waiting to be let off the leash. "There'd be nothing left when I'd finish with you." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 (edited)

"And would you find that.. Fun?" Roman smiled and leaned in even more, gently gripping on to the collar. @Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠

He instinctually bares his teeth again as his collar is grabbed. "Let's say tearing people apart is a 'hobby' 'o mine. So you better not try your luck while im still listening to being told to 'play nice' till my fight. " @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Hah, well, if you laid a hand on me Naiyta would swiftly deal with you anyway." Roman chuckled and let go of the collar. "But that's so silly that they told you to play nice, I guess they really do only want people to die in those stupid arenas.. Are you going to play the little games they give, or just pummel your opponent?" @Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠

"Why not both?" He walks around Roman, almost like a shark. His piercing yellow eyes sizing him up. "If playing their games let's me play with my food? Why, long as they don't get in the way I think I'll be fine doing that for now. After all, they're the ones that let me off my leash, even if they left this shitty thing on to keep me in line." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman just watched him circle him with a grin. He figured he was practically untouchable. Kairas was watching, and Kairas knew better than to let him die, so she'd inform Naiyta.. And this problem would solve itself. "Mhm, mhm.. Was it Naiyta's idea to put that collar on you? Because it was pretty enthusiastic when I said I'd get my own." @Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠

His eye twitches, and for a moment it looks like his mouth would open wider than should be possible before he snaps it shut again. Grabbing him by the back of his top to pick him up to eye level. "Watch it pipsqueak. If I had it my way you and everyone else here would be mince meat by now." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Well, Roman didn't really wear a top, but Levi would be able to fully wrap his hand around Roman's waist and lift him up. "Woah now-" Roman said and dropped the plate he was holding. Really, that was the comment that spurred Levi to grab him? It was a genuine question.... "I understand the enthusiasm, but I'm not in too much of a mood to actually fight tonight, pal. But I'm sure soon enough you can get on with your revenge plot or whatever." @Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠

Levi didn't care if he grabbed him from the waist or by his own skin. Wasn't a sore spot of wearing it, but having one put on that really got him pissy. For a moment, the scar like marks on his shoulders that went all the way towards his mouth seemed to... part in places. Flashes of yellow tinged something peeking for a moment before shutting. Likely kept shut by the large collar he wore. "You better hope I get put down in the fight I'm in, or I'm going to specifically request you be the next one I get to fuck up." With that, he let's go. Dropping him to the ground and finally starts to walk away. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

'Ohhhh this guy is weeeeeeird...

' "Ow!" Roman squealed as he hit the ground, and braced his side where he made impact. "Owwwwwie- ah- you don't have to worry, I'll probably lose my fight anyway. My opponent is pretty strong. Soooooo I might die tomorrow, who knows!" @Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠

"Ya better hope they do!" He growls. Whipping hus arm back, it literally stetching like rubber as it barely misses Roman as it stabs through the street beside him like butter, the ground cracking from the impact. He yanks it back. Giving one last glare before leaving to bother who else may unfortunately get on his bad side. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman didn't have the energy to move as Levi's hand whipped down toward him. He only moved his hands up to shield his face- which he quickly learned would have achieved nothing if Levi was actually going for him. 'DAMN dog2

' The rubble sprayed down on him, and he made no move to leave until Levi was long gone.. And finally, he scurried back over to his room.. He would have a long night ahead of him, probably involving very little sleep. @Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠

Early morning rain drips from Kenji’s hair and the tips of his horns as he walks somewhat aimlessly through the citadel streets. That previous fight had been…well. Interesting. Neither of the competitors were known to him, so after attending the funeral out of respect, he’d left along with the others. Now, though, conversation with Ellie still weighing in the back of his mind, he’s left to think on his own. His mask is back on, firmly in place. @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Before the fight, Kallum had showered - he'd discarded the mask, not that he'd worn it much other than when he had to, and while Naiyta had made its promise, he hadn't earned that yet, so he'd redressed in the awful robes given. Hopefully, for now. Kallum had watched the fight and- well, the person he knew won. She'd just been stronger than her competitor. Some men were just weak. Like- like Dmitri. Yes. He was weak. Kallum was strong. He didn't attend the funeral. Now he just walks again. Making sure he knew the area, so that he can't be caught unaware aga- at all. At all. Still, he stares at the person in front of him, eyes narrowed and glued to the horns. "Who are you?" @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

The mask tilts towards Kallum, the only sign of the slight surprise he’s feeling being the barely noticeable shift in his posture. He doesn’t… His memories of Kallum are spotty at best, screaming like there’s something missing from them, but he does remember him from the island. And from.. And from Aarni. “It’s.. It’s Kenji. I..suppose it’s been a while since we might’ve last spoke.” The stare at his horns is more than expected—their increased prominence was a fairly recent development, all things considered. “I’m sorry about your fight,” he offers, unsure how to offer condolences to what seems to be a younger version as well. “That must have been difficult.” @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Kallum stares blankly at Kenji. "We've never spoke," he immediately says, adding a self-defensive glower. "Shut up." At the suggestion that the fight was difficult, that he struggled, that he wasn't strong enough - he blots out the memory of being flung off the horse - he steps forward angrily, sparks dancing on his knuckles. "It wasn't difficult. It was easy. He was weak, and weird, and easy to defeat." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Kenji frowns beneath the mask. “What do you mean, we’ve never—“ Kallum steps forward, and Kenji tenses, a taut stillness settling over him at the other’s words though he remains standing where he is. “What did you say?” Rhetorical question. He knows exactly what he heard. This can’t be his Kallum—it must be something like Asha had said. A different version. “He was not weak,” Kenji says, a bitingly sharp tone to his words. “He was— He was a damn good friend of mine, actually.” @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Kallum is ready to actually repeat what he said, but then Kenji interrupts him with- that. Nonsense. "If he wasn't weak, he wouldn't have died," he snarks, crossing his arms tightly against his chest. "He didn't stand a chance against me. He was the first loser. That means something." It didn't matter how weak that strange boy was. Kallum's stronger. Much stronger. And Naiyta- it likes him. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“We’re all going to die here anyways,” Kenji snaps. His glare can be felt even through the mask. “So I guess that makes us all weak. You included. ‘Didn’t stand a chance’ my ass, you didn’t even give him the chance to fight you.” @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

"I'm not," Kallum says simply. He's pretty sure about that. That weird woman who had claimed to know him had said he'd die, and she's definitely wrong. "If he'd been better at the arena, he could have fought me. And he'd lose. I'm good at fighting." He's supposed to be. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“Everyone is dying here,” Kenji repeats, shaking his head. “You think the Lifebringer will let someone win, much less let them go? We’re here to serve them with our lives. Give them a bit of entertainment. That’s all. But that doesn’t mean you get to disrespect the dead. Especially him.” He crosses his arms, pulling back on the smoke around his feet. “I don’t believe you. The Lifebringer said the girl who just won was the first to be worthy through combat. Maybe you should’ve tried harder if you wanted something like that.” @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭 (edited)

"I don't care about him! He was a liar! He said he knew me and tried to trick me into giving information." Kallum scowls, and he chooses to ignore the first part, about the Lifebringer - just because he has nothing doesn't mean that this stranger is right. "He was a liar and a spy and that healer woman, she's a liar too." Kallum steps back, not out of fear but he just wants room. "And she's weaker than me. I could defeat her if I had to." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“A spy?” Kenji runs a hand through his hair, shaking his head, though his full incredulous expression is hidden behind the mask. “None of us have any reason to spy, much less on you of all people. He did know you. Maybe it was you in the future or in another life but he did. I know it, Albanes knows it, and maybe she is a liar but not about this.” He just rolls his eyes at the last statement. “Sure. Maybe you’ll win another. None of us win in the end.” @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Kallum scrunches his nose up. "He didn't know me- what do you know anyway- who are you?!" He storms closer to Kenji, fire flickering ready on the sides of his fists but not catching. "You said you know me too, no you don't. You don't know anything, just like him and just like that liar woman! And she is lying- Naiyta said so." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“So Naiyta isn’t a liar, but Albanes must be?” Kenji doesn’t seem to react at all to the fire sparking from Kallum’s fists, aside from the smoke still lingering around his feet. “Double standard much. But honestly, I don’t care, and I don’t want to waste the breath on trying to convince you if that’s what you think. Just keep Aarni’s name out of your mouth. If you truly don’t know him then it shouldn’t be hard.” @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

"Naiyta doesn't lie. They kept their promise." Don't tell him anymore Kallum. He stops, not too far from Kenji. Close enough. "You're the one who talked about him first. You brought him up. That's the only reason I talked about him. So you shut up about him." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“I mentioned your fight. You decided the first thing you would do is insult him.” This whole argument is starting to get circular. But he just… He can’t let it go. Aarni didn’t deserve that. “Keeping a promise doesn’t mean they’re infallible. They still brought you here to die.” It’s probably the closest he’s going to get to insulting Naiyta—seeing as just the thought is enough to make him feel like he needs to look over his shoulder. @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

"You mentioned him," is all Kallum says in rebuttal. So good at rebuttals. As Kenji dares to talk about Naiyta, Kallum's scowl deepens. If possible. He huffs through his nose, one rush of the constant flames licking his fists lingering a little longer than the others had. "It's better than breaking a promise. And I'm not going to die. You can if you want." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

‘You can if you want.’ It…stings a little bit more than it should if he’s being honest. Kenji tries to ignore that, gaze sliding down to the flames but still not yielding a step just yet. “You keep telling yourself that. Fine by me. See how long whatever that promise is lasts.” With that said, he moves to leave—smoke trailing behind him as he doesn’t turn to go, but instead walks straight towards and past Kallum. @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Well- the promise was kept. Done. Naiyta fixed his headache. Offered more. Little things. Easy to uphold. Easy to believe in. "You're not even a good liar," he says as Kenji walks past him. "Neither is that woman. And neither was that guy. You're all just- stupid." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Well- the promise was kept. Done. Naiyta fixed his headache. Offered more. Little things. Easy to uphold. Easy to believe in. "You're not even a good liar," he says as Kenji walks past him. "Neither is that woman. And neither was that guy. You're all just- stupid." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Kenji ignores him as he leaves the citadel, save for the faint clench of his jaw.

The attendants dragged Roman all the way down the mountain, not caring if he got bruised or scraped on the way down. Once at the base of the mountain, they deposited him on the street and left. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Oh, yeah that way down hurt alright. He wasn't strong enough to lift himself up at all, so he got a decent amount of scrapes and bruises on his legs. His clothes had changed yet again- now he was just wearing a simple white dress that was much too big for him, with a corded belt around his waist somewhat holding it in place. The bottom half of the dress was soaked through, and somewhat transparent from that. It was clear he was wearing absolutely nothing else. ... Also since the last time Seki had seen him, he had grown his hair out impossibly quickly. He had shoulder length loose brown curls that was now all tangled and matted with sweat. It kind of looked like a corpse was left to sit and rot at the base of the mountain. The small puddle of blood around each of hands didn't really help that image. The only sign of life was him occasionally shivering from the cold. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki had looked from Roman's room, but they didn't even need to knock to know he wasn't there. Then they had followed various scent trails around the citadel, trying to find one that was the freshest, eventually taking them to the edge of the city, towards the mountain. There, the scent that the breeze carried was suddenly much stronger. The Soileon hurried their steps and peered through the rain, and could vaguely see a dark mass on the ground ahead, and the scent was unmistakable. Seki let out a gruff huff, and jogged forward cautiously. "What the hell happened?" he growled, once he was close enough to Roman. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 (edited)

Even if Roman had an explanation to give, he was much too weak to speak at all. The blood around his hands wiggled slightly, and he took in a shallow breath, but that's all he could accomplish. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki let out another low growl, first inspecting Roman's limp body, and then his surroundings, ears up and scanning the area, whiskers flared and tail whipping. "Okay. Don't fucking try anything, or I won't help you", Seki warned, and kneeled down next to the man. They first off shifted him into the recovery position, and then checked if he was conscious. "Hey. Can you hear me? You in there, bud?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. mnmmm.." He mumbled, eyes still shut as he was moved. The blood on the ground followed his hands as he was adjusted. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki made sure he was breathing alright, and checked for any obvious injuries anywhere near the spine he needed to be cautious of. "Hmmh, helloo, open your eyes, bud, remember to breathe", he spoke, now a little softer. "I'll get you out of the rain..." he hummed, more to himself than to Roman, and gently scooped him up. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Hm.. No injuries around his spine, mostly just his legs. There was also some dark bruising around his wrists and ankles. The blood next to his hands raised up in to the air with Roman as he moved.. Weird. He cracked his eyes open, just a tad, but it was pretty clear he wasn't actually focusing on anything as his eyes were rolled back. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

The bruises on Roman's wrists and ankles made a shiver run down Seki's spine. Their heart drummed faster, and their breathing became troubled for a while, but he blinked, shaking his head, refusing to let past drag them under now that they had an important mission. They held Roman against their chest, and started jogging back to their dorms. (They also had half a mind to grab the blood on Roman's hands and look at it flap around, but that was an intrusive thought they left as is.) @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman had no comment as they moved. The blood did follow along with them though. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

(if for nobody else, for me to easier find where to go, they went to #seki-room )

...Mm. They left much later than they actually realized. Ace made their way through the streets of the citadel, a single glowing arrow held in their hand. It lit up a good few feet in front of them...but nothing else. It was just incredibly hard to see. While walking on their own was soothing, it was starting to stir up some...more than unwelcome memories. [It was easier to ignore them when they were talking to Reagan.] [Their arm was aching. Their head was aching. Their neck hurt more than ever.] ...Hey, wait, weren't they just on this street before? @Twig | Seki / Aarni

It seemed like there were some light up ahead, though... it seemed eerily cold and ghosty. It glowed and flickered amid the darkness, letting off a greenish hue. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

They seemed to notice the light as they continued on, and lifted their arrow slightly higher. They couldn't exactly tell what the source of the light was, but it was much better than this endless darkness. It was starting to feel...colder, though. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

It seemed like the light was moving. Although Ace was walking towards it, they didn't seem to gain on it as fast as they should. It didn't seem to come from a window, or a torch. It almost seemed like glowing gas, slowly crawling across the streets. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"What the...?" Ace softly murmured. Their walking began to pick up the pace somewhat, as Ace squinted to see ahead in the streets. Again, darkness. It was just this...mass. Gas? Moving along in the streets. Was there someone ahead? They couldn't tell. It continued to move, though, and so did Ace. [If they followed it, maybe they'd find a way out of this...tangle of streets.] @Twig | Seki / Aarni

As ace got closer, it was as if the glowing haze reacted to the sound of their footsteps. It paused, almost freezing in place. Then, it changed shape, growing a little closer to Ace and higher from the ground. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Uh. Ace also froze in place when the light stopped- and promptly took a step back as it neared them. Not a way out. This was definitely not a way out of this maze. "H-hello?" he called, either to whoever was down the street or to the gas. "Uh- um? Hi?" @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Two bright green spots appeared in the light, followed by a myriad of others. Eyes, blinking, peering and disappearing like curious but shy animals at a new person approaching. Then, a faint outline of a sharp-toothed mouth spread across the light like a grin, and suddenly the light surged at Ace, pouring over them like a tidal wave, cold, freezing, but burning on their skin. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Eyes- huh. Rather than a faceless, emotionless creature of light, the eyes added a bit of. Charm to them? [Was charm the right word to say?] It reminded them a bit of those clay animals Nathan liked to make. Oh, and it had teeth, too. Smiley guy. "Teeth?" was all they managed to say, before the haze of light charged at them. Ace lunged back, arms raised to cover their face. A thin, golden web of string formed between their fingers as they pulled it taut, mana shifting into something more tangible- more elastic. It was a sort of rudimentary shield- not perfect, but enough to repel any mana. Except, y'know, this was gas, and like, light, and not really mana or a weapon, and it just bit right through their frickin' spiderweb. "Shit!" Ace exclaimed, feeling that awful, sweeping cold rush over them. Aside from the cold, it also felt like- like burning- was this what hellfire felt like? "Hey, h- ey- ow-" They swung an arm blindly at the teeth- creature. Guy. They missed badly. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Kettu was done with gently toying with her prey. She was bored, and she was pissed. She didn't bother stalking and circling Ace. She wanted to see this pesky mortal scream and writhe in her paws. She was using all what little power she had over the physical realm to push, shove, and trash Ace around. Countless of little claws and teeth tried to grab on his clothes, evil little eyes stared at him from all sides, blinking in and out of existence. The flames that had been quiet a few moments ago buzzed and crackled like broken bass boosters. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

So. As it stood right now, they were definitely not winning this scuffle. Ace lifted their arms, trying- in vain -to fire off an arrow past the fog, at whoever was further out in the darkness. (If there was anyone there to begin with.) The eyes, the teeth, the claws- they were all growing vastly unsettling and uncomfortable. That crackling noise was starting to burrow it's way into his head. [If they'd been caught in the Oni fog, perhaps they'd have been a bit more terrified? They were definitely worried, though.] All the while, he was trying very badly to not inhale this. Thing- whatever it was. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

The wisps of light burrowed through Aces clothes and dug into their skin, leaving irritated, pink burns in their wake. They swarmed around him, thousands of tails and tongues licking him there they could, to burn him, to dig into his flesh with their numberless teeth and claws. He would feel how they pushed into his ears, reaching deeper into his head, and he would be able to "hear" words without sound or language: "Hi little human, hiii little stinky monkey, I'm going to eat you, gonna burn you into a crisp and EAT YOU eat EAT you YOU eat hehhehheh HAAHHAHHAH!" @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 (edited)

Ace hissed in pain as they began to burn, stumbling over themself as they tried to fight off the fire [fire?]. Shit. They were going to have to get this healed again. [Ace is at 14 HP] The chattering noise was starting to make their head hurt much worse than it was earlier. He groaned, hunching in on himself as he slumped against the wall. Eat him? He wasn't even that good tasting. He tasted like human and mana and bones and stuff- and lavender. Lavender too. His blood tasted fizzy, or something. "I- I...don't eat me..." Being cremated this early into the tournament felt like a really bad idea. Golden light formed at their fingertips in some attempt to dispel the fog, but it fizzed out with a quiet hiss. In the brief little moment it was there, it was faint, yet ever-prominent, as it cut through the green haze- -before their mana reignited and a burst of amber-gold light cut through the greenish wisps. Ace slumped down a bit more. The burning really hurt. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Ace would catch a surprised, startled rage erupt from the flames as they retreated with a loud, crackling hiss. Blinking green eyes like ember stared at Ace in indignation. For a moment they hovered above and around the person, before surging at him again. "How DARE you!? Burn! BURN! Burn you INSECT!" Kettu was not used to her prey fighting back. [Kettu is at 16 HP] @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Was that a jab at the failed spiderwebs, or just a superiority complex thing? They were relieved for the few seconds they had to just breathe, before letting out a shout of pain as it lunged at him again. The burning hurt worse the second time around. [Ace is at 7 HP] He grit his teeth and forced their arms to move. Whatever that burst of mana was, it seemed to hurt. They had to do it again. "Hh- how dare I?" they gasped. "You- ack- you-" There was a second burst of light- much, much brighter than the first. Looks like putting effort into messing up a spell had it's outcomes. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Another roaring, crackling sound like a vine boom from broken bass boosters erupted from the flames as they once again scattered away from the light that was brighter than theirs. The separated flames took vaguely, cartoonishly stylized, fox-like appearances, and they slithered and scurried away in different directions through the air, each buzzing and rattling quietly like angrily burning bonfires, full of resin and pine cones. [Kettu is at 4HP] @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 (edited)

Shaking hands jumped to cover their ears at the sudden noise, and they prepared themself for another burst of light. They didn't have it in them to do two back-to-back. But the wisps were already bolting away in the form of a- "gau!" Ace exclaimed, feeling a bit more irritated that they were nearly beat by a fox. "Wait- wu lei! H- hey-" Ace forced themself to stand on rather wobbly legs, an arm braced up against the wall. Ow, ow, ow. Everything was hurting. Everything was burning. A majority of their skin was now a patchy, angry red hue from the amount of burns from that- thing. They began to chase after the nearest fire-fox, mana forming at their fingertips. "Coward- khf- don't just attack me and run!" [gau: dog wu lei: fox. There's supposed to be tones but Canto tones agitate me] @Twig | Seki / Aarni (edited)

Kettu couldn't understand Ace anymore without the connection, but she noticed they were after her. The wisp zigzagged and spun around, crackling and popping green embers. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Ace squinted at the little wisp just- spinning and crackling about, and raised their steadily glowing hand to it. "You- fff. Talk. I know- you can." It was talking before, right? The light was starting to glow brighter now. Not enough to hurt, but it was going to. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

The wisp slipped under Ace's hand and into his sleeve. It wasn't painful now. It felt like a bright sunspot as it spun up and around Ace's arm and under his clothes. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

In their surprise, they had fired off another failure of an arrow into the darkness. The bolt of light skidded harmlessly across the stone floor, before vanishing into nothingness. Ace frantically patted at their arm and clothing, absolutely bewildered at what was happening. "wu lei, out, out- out, get off of me-" It felt warm- like normal warm. Not at all like whatever it was before. @Twig | Seki / Aarni (edited)

The wisp spun up and around Ace's neck, and slipped into their ear. Other wisps nearby watched and flew around, buzzing and humming. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

If they were being honest, it reminded them a little bit of spirits. Just by the way they swarmed, clustered, formed and moved about- and, and by the way they could easily split apart and move individually. "Come on," they yelped, exasperated. They began to pat at their other ear in some attempt to get that thing out. "Out, get out- aiyu. What in the First Spinjitzu Master's name!" Uncomfortable. Uncomfortable. Uncomfortable. Deeply uncomfortable. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

The wisp only wiggled deeper and phased into Ace's head. "Safe. Dumb. Dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb-" Again, there was no voice or words, but Ace could know what the fox thought and felt. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Ace clutched at their head, that awful nagging voice back again, and hunched in on themself. "That's- eeugh." Ugh, it was yapping on and on about something again. Heavens alive. Hells alive. "keui san, keui san, keui san," they muttered, eyes scrunched shut. Dammit. They sucked at dispelling magic. Ellie knew how to do it like a charm! "Dispel, dispel- do you ever shut up?!" They swung an arm at the noise around them. It wouldn't work- naturally. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Now more wisps started gathering near Ace, zipping and zooming around him like a swarm of speedy bugs. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

The second time they swung their arm at the swarm, the tips of their fingers were illuminated with a bright, amber glow. Clawing through the wisps left a faint trail behind them. "keui san, keui san, keui san." If they repeated the dispelling spell enough, maybe it'd work? "What do you want? Get out of my head already!" What a pain. [If they mentally recited the spell too, would it work? keui san, keui san, keui san, dispel, dispel, dispel.] @Twig | Seki / Aarni (edited)

The wisps let out another angry crackle, letting off sparks as they retreated again, disappearing into the dark, rainy night, where their eerie glow could be seen softly from far away. "Stupid stupid stupid shut up shut up shut up!" The wisp in his head hadn't left. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 (edited)

Well, the wisps retreated. Most of them, that was. "You shut up!" they argued back, pointing at the glow in the distance. "You- pry your way into my head and refuse to leave, and you want me to be quiet? Out! Or I'll find someone who does know how to dispel some- some pest!" @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Shut up! Pest! Not out, you zap!" @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"You shut up! sei puk gai! Yes, out- it's my head!" What on Earth was a zap? Mana was beginning to build at their fingertips again. Were they- were they so foolish they'd consider turning their own magic on themself? [No- not that stupid, at least not yet.] "Get." Ace lifted both hands to the gathering wisps down the street. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"No! I come out, you hurt! I stay here, no hurt." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Oh, don't be mistaken. The longer you stay in my head, the more it will hurt," he flatly said. "But. If you decide to get out now, then I'll consider not attacking you." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Ace could feel anger grow in his head and if there was sound, it would be screaming. "I stay forever!" @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Whoo. That was not a fun feeling. Especially after that entire blood dimension mess. "You absolutely will not stay forever!" they exclaimed, wincing at that 'screaming' feeling. "Gh- stop that- that- thing! What are you doing?!" "Fine, fine, I- won't attack you- just stop that noise! Hells alive." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Angry!" The wisp replied. Then it was quiet for a while. Or well. Technically it had been the whole time, but there was nothing aside from its subtle presence that Ace could feel for a moment. Then, there was a small twinge of pain in Ace's head when the wist separated itself from their head, and shot out of their ear and slithered into the night where the rest of them were gathering and reforming. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Ace let out some. Strangled yelp of a noise as it shot out from their head, the heels of their palms pressed into their ears. Ugh. That was a disgusting feeling. Yeah, they felt pretty angry too. "I'm- not. Going to hurt you," they called, wincing as they looked over at the wisps. "Just stay out of my head. And- don't attack me. Either." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

The glow of the wisps had returned to similar to what Ace had seen when they first stumbled upon the creature. Many, many eyes twinkled and stared at him from the morphing and moving mass of light. It made a sharp, staticy hissing sound, and started ascending up to the cloudy sky. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

The retreating was probably a sign that it had enough of messing around with him. Good. They had enough of that thing, too. Ace watched it crackle and pop away as the angry golden glow began to ebb away. With the adrenaline rush also starting to wane, their burns were now...significantly hurting more. Ow. They groaned quietly, slowly lowering themself down to sit against the wall. The droplets of rain hurt against their stinging skin, but they didn't have the energy to really move elsewhere. ...Mm. Maybe they should have learned how to actually dispel magic, rather than just learning about the spell. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

The retreating was probably a sign that it had enough of messing around with him. Good. They had enough of that thing, too. Ace watched it crackle and pop away as the angry golden glow began to ebb away. With the adrenaline rush also starting to wane, their burns were now...significantly hurting more. Ow. They groaned quietly, slowly lowering themself down to sit against the wall. The droplets of rain hurt against their stinging skin, but they didn't have the energy to really move elsewhere. ...Mm. Maybe they should have learned how to actually dispel magic, rather than just learning about the spell. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

The wisps lit up the clouds momentarily, before passing through them. The sky above them became alight with auroras once more, but it was hidden behind the thick veil of clouds.

A bit after Ace's encounter with the spirit, he'd hear soft, but familiar and distinct, approaching footsteps. Albanes crouched down next to Ace and put a hand on his shoulder, healing the wounds they'd sustained during the fight. "Ace, are you doing alright? I heard you were injured." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Ace, still mostly out of it, tried to pull themself out of the stranger's hold. It didn't work very much, and after a moment, he relented and let them do their thing. Their head was hurting. Everything was hurting. Though, as the stranger began to speak, he also began to kind of...tune back in. Mm. Albanes. At least it wasn't the alternative. They cracked open an eye to watch Albanes for a moment, before sighing and shutting it again. "...mm. No." He was absolutely not doin' alright. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Alright." Albanes said, and continued to heal Ace. Soon, he'd begin to feel all his wounds heal. "Can you tell me what happened?" @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 (Ace is back to max hp)

At least it didn't hurt as badly as before now. Ace shifted, removing his glasses to wipe the lingering rainwater out of their eyes. Despite being healed over, everything still felt sore and just...exhausting to do. "I...thank you, Albanes," he quietly said, relaxing slightly more against the wall. "Mm. I didn't expect for us to meet like this so soon." "...There's another...spirit about. This wispy...fox thing." A pause. "I, ah, a bit more...flame-like. Though." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Albanes sat back once Ace was healed. "Of course. It's what these powers are for." She laughed slightly. "Another spirit.... hm." She frowned. "I didn't think he'd be able to leave- what was this spirit like? Bird-like, in any way?" @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Ace smiled faintly at that, though it was gone rather soon as they thought for a moment. "Bird-like? Ah, not at all. It was more...foggy-like in appearance? As if it were just a collection of wisps. Green, able to control fire- though that might have been itself, actually." "...Who is 'he'?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Huh. That's strange." Albanes frowned. "And you said they were... fox-like?" "'He' is the other ghost in the citadel. They're... a flaming bird person. I don't know much else about them, but they shouldn't have been able to leave. I think you met someone else." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Hoo. More ghosts. Hopefully, they wouldn't run into the second flaming ghost. "I...see," they slowly said, though they seemed very apprehensive about all of this. Albanes didn't seem as secretive when they first mentioned the darkness ghost. Maybe she really didn't know about that one. "Well, you know much more about them than I do." "But...yes. Fox-like, when it splits apart into smaller wisps. It..." Ace squinted at the unpleasant surge of memories. "...Decided to settle in my head and scream before I kicked it out. I...believe light harms it?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I've been here longer than you have." Albanes hummed. "Hm.... I think I might know the spirit you're talking about. Ah, I should've seen this coming... but, oh well." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Ace frowned a little. "Is it...not one of the citadel's ghosts? Is it not from here?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"No.... I believe it came here with one of the contestants. I think- and this is really just speculation- that you saw a fox spirit. Particularly one that was possessing the contestant Aarni Repo." Her voice hitched a bit. "I... suppose his death may have released the spirit." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Aarni Repo. He was one of the first contestants, wasn't he? [He looked...to be one of the younger contestants. If not for Evan, then yes- he certainly would have been the youngest one.] Ace fell silent as he thought that over, also slightly unsure of what to say. "The...contestant who made the auroras that night, yes?" he quietly asked. "I believe I remember him." "...Are you well, Albanes?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Yes. That's him." Albanes nodded. "Ahhh, I'm alright. He was.... a close friend of mine." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Ah- really?" They didn't mean to sound so surprised, but by the look on their face, it was clear that it was a bit...unexpected. "Sorry, it was just a bit...of a surprise." [He supposed not even the Lifebringer could decide who would or wouldn't be sacrificed for all of...this.] "I would...assume that the two of you knew each other for some time," he said after a moment. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"It's all alright." Albanes gazed up at the sky, her face contorted with worry and griefs "Yes. We were close friends. In my timeline, I knew him til he died." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Ace hummed quietly, their gaze falling to the cracks between the stone. If they were being honest, they'd nearly forgotten about the concept of timelines. "Hm. That must have been a very close bond the two of you shared. I...it must have been rough, seeing your friend here. A different version, yes, but still your friend." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"He's the same Aarni I knew. Or, at least, he was." Albanes said simply. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Mm. They weren't very good with the whole feelings thing. "I'm sorry," they only said, watching the water between the stones ripple. "He was rather young." They didn't know what else they could say. [Knowing the Lifebringer, she'd respond with something as simple as- 'it had to be done', 'it's already passed', or something along those lines.] @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"He was." Albanes sighed, and closed her eyes. "Naiyta is trying to play at my emotions. To manipulate me into doing as it wishes." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

At the mention of Naiyta, Ace's face twisted into a grimace, though he was a bit relieved that Albanes wasn't looking right now. "...Naiyta?" Were they supposed to be talking about this now? Were they allowed to be talking about this now? "Surely, you won't give in to their demands so easily?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (edited)

"I won't. Which is why I'm standing firm on my position and going along with their little charade instead of giving them the reaction they want." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Ace narrowed his eyes a bit, looking up at Albanes with distinct concern. "Your position?" he repeated. "I'd have assumed that the Lifebringer was working to make this tournament run as smoothly as possible." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Albanes's brow furrowed. "Ace, has Naiyta told you the purpose of this tournament?" @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

They sighed a little, folding their arms over their chest. "Only briefly," he flatly said, "during the Gala, before all of this even started." "We were brought here to be sacrificed to 'repair' the Immaterial Fold." Bullshit. "Including the children, of course." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Yes." Albanes nodded. "Naiyta intends to fix a problem that doesn't exist, and is killing all of you- including children- in order to fix it." With a heavy exhale, she continued. "Obviously, I stand against that. Furthermore, I stand against Naiyta's main goal in this endeavor, which is to invade and intervene in the sacred realm of the dead. No matter what it tells you, it does not belong there. Nothing here belongs to them." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 (edited)

"You don't wish to run this tournament?" they asked, almost disbelieving. "For some reason, I didn't find it obvious you wanted to stop this bloodshed." "While it is killing everyone here to somehow pry it's way into the Fold, you are standing on the sidelines and allowing this," Ace slowly said. "What 'problem' does Naiyta see so clearly?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I don't wish for this bloodshed. But this is a delicate, measured game with a lot at stake. I am doing what I can to make sure the least blood possible is spilled." Albanes explained. "If I protest, Naiyta will simply kill more people in order to make me bend to their will." "Naiyta believes I am trapping a soul in the fold which does not belong there. But the Immaterial Fold is a home to all the dead." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

A game. "Yes, yes. A delicate game in which everyone's lives, but yours, are at stake." "And by killing everyone, it- what, it's trying to prove a point, somehow? Trying to get you to release that 'soul'? Well, the purpose of this tournament seems rather clear then, but what have you done to stop them?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Which is precisely why it is so delicate." Albanes maintained, her hands folded neatly on her lap. "It's trying to guilt me into giving up before it can reach the fold. It's overreacting, and acting like an immature child." She scoffed. "There is little I can do to stop it here. But I will maintain protection of my realm and my dead. That is my purpose here." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Naiyta? Immature? No, never. [Well, they'd only talked with them once or twice, but the impressions already were not that great.] "Your purpose is to protect the realm of the living and the dead, while Naiyta remains here, killing innocents? How are you protecting us? By sending us into the Fold?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"As Regnant Lifebringer it is my solumn duty to protect the souls of the living and dead." Albanes nodded, affirming both parts of what Ace said. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Ace was quiet after that, eyes trained on a far spot on a wall. How awful. Naiyta would continue hosting and running this thing as it sent person after person into the Fold to retrieve something they lost, and Albanes would just 'protect' everyone. It made it so much easier for her, since being dead or alive had no effect on being protected. Ugh. All the information he was learning from Albanes and Roman just kept conflicting each other. "Naiyta clearly won't listen when you say there aren't any trapped souls in there- but why are they so insistent on 'repairing' something?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (edited)

"You could ask them." Albanes shrugged. "They always say the same things- the merging of the realms of the living and dead, the end of all existence as we know it. Dramatic, I know. And they have absolutely no basis for any of it." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Ace looked. Pretty bewildered by that, and blinked for a few seconds. "...It says that?" they asked, looking back at Albanes. "I...you were not lying about them acting immature." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Albanes nodded. "If you do decide to ask them yourself, report back to me and tell me how much they repeated verbatim from what I said. Because that's exactly what they say. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"I'd...rather not speak with Naiyta," Ace slowly said. "But...I certainly can imagine them saying...cryptic things along those lines." They sighed quietly, but they seemed to relax slightly. At least, they didn't look as stressed out as earlier. "...I...ah. Apologize for being so harsh. Especially after you had just healed me," they quietly said. "I've had...a few unpleasant encounters with Naiyta. I'd mostly been under the assumption that both incarnations were simply working together to repair the Fold." "...Is there really nothing you can do to stop it?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I don't think anyone likes speaking to Naiyta." Albanes shrugged. "With... few exceptions." "It's understandable. You have the right to be frustrated with both Naiyta and I- as I admit, we haven't been the most transparent with you contestants. In part because we have such different opinions on the matter." She let out a sigh. "Not without compromising the integrity of the Immaterial Fold." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

[A few exceptions? A few? Roman had to be the only person, right?] "Which would make it easier for them to tamper, right," Ace mumbled, and pinched the bridge of their nose. "What a pain." The more they talked, the less confident they felt about everything. And that meant everything. "Ah..." "Are you content with just...letting a child die while you stand your ground?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Albanes nodded. "I do not trust Naiyta with the souls of the dead. I'm sure you can figure out why." She paused. "I... have seen many children die. And standing by through this carnage is not a decision I take lightly. But... I must balance it against the wellbeing of thousands- millions of other souls. It sounds awful but... if the children die, I can take them into my care in the Fold. If they remain living- for now, as everyone dies eventually- and Naiyta gets their way, then... I cannot guarantee anyone's wellbeing. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"...You have?" they asked, much quieter. There was a look of sorrow on their face, and they faltered as well. "I...am very sorry, Albanes. That's...very unfortunate." [The deaths of thirty lives compared to the safety of millions of the deceased was...a difficult thing to imagine. It would be stressful, yes, but it still didn't make any of this fair.] @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"... It's something I've reconciled with long ago." Albanes chose her words carefully. "When you get to be as old as I am.... you see a lot of death. And as the Regnant Lifebringer, it's my duty to make decisions that keep the worlds of the living and dead in balance. I am... simply trying to do what I can." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Ace hummed quietly. "Well, that's an unfortunate aspect of living, no? Witnessing the deaths of others around you." "It...it sounds like a difficult role to play, as the Lifebringer. One that requires a...delicate handle on things." They sighed, pushing themself to their feet. Dizzy. "Hmm. But unfortunately, we're just pieces in a game that both you and Naiyta are playing, so I can't 'fully' understand what it is you're trying to do." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Albanes nodded. "An unfortunate aspect, yes." She let out a heavy sigh. "It is difficult. And requires delicacy. But it's something that must be done." "Oh, careful-" she moved to assist Ace, steadying him a bit. "I don't mean to treat you like pawns in a game. Really. I was mortal once, not too long ago, it feels like. But... this is a principally divine matter, and I'm not surprised some of it's going over your head." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Two realms, two incarnations; one who's killing people to try to break into the Immaterial Fold, one who doesn't, for obvious reasons," Ace sighed. "I understand that much, just not the whole 'sacrificing the innocent' part. I'm certain there are many people, from all sorts of alternate universes who would not mind being sacrificed to save the departed." There was the entire 'Departed Realm' debacle in Stiix... "You were a mortal before all of this?" they asked, leaning their weight against the wall. While the burns had been healed, it just felt so...nauseating. [Was it because of the smell of burnt lingering in the air, or just from learning about everything?] "Now, that's...a bit surprising." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"It wasn't my choice who was brought here for the tournament." Albanes said plainly- less of a defense or explanation, more of a simple fact. She nodded. "Yes. Every incarnation of the Lifebringer was once mortal. You find that... surprising?" @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"I, ah. Suppose I assumed each incarnation was immortal to begin with." Maybe because the two of them simply didn't give off the 'vibe' of having lived as a mortal. Was it also related to their whole Immortality, Incarnate thing? @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"If we were all perfectly immortal, I doubt there'd be any need for incarnations." Albanes shrugged. "I was mortal, yes. But that was long ago. Much longer for Naiyta." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Ah. So it was incarnations in an actual, technical sense, too. "Hm. You have a point there." "How long ago would you say it was since you were mortal?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Ahhh.... about four-hundred and fifty years. I have yet to surpass the shortest-reigning of my predecessors." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"That is...a very long time," Ace said, incredibly surprised by all this. Though, Albanes did say she was immortal. "Ahh- really, that's not the shortest...reigning?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Albanes shook her head. "Well, not yet. I could give the powers away tomorrow and claim the title." She shrugged. "So far, the shortest reign has been that of Anore Xá Ilftaidos, the second Lifebringer. He reigned for about six hundred and forty years." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

2

"I understand the lives of immortals are, well, infinitely much longer than mortals," Ace slowly said, "but hearing that someone reigned for several hundred years is still a bit...baffling, really. All in a very interesting way, of course." Mortal lives, compared to those of the immortal were very. Fleeting, huh? "And what was the duration of the longest-reigning period? I'd assume it would have to be rather far in the thousands, if that was the shortest." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm. I felt the same when I first learned of it... though, granted, I was ten years old at the time." She laughed lightly. "The longest reigning was Ttakeqeri Xeytshi, the fifth Lifebringer. They held the throne for almost three thousand years before giving it to my immediate predecessor." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"You were ten?" The math was not...mathing, correctly, but they certainly were not going to dwell on that any longer. "I feel the younger you are, the more...drastic ages seem to be to you. If I'm considered ancient among most children, I couldn't even fathom what children think of immortals." Maybe like a tree? He didn't really know. "Three thousand- I...wow. That is. Incredibly daunting to think about." So that was five mentioned; Naiyta, Yeonaixho, Anore, Ttakeqeri, and Albanes. "How...does the Lifebringer pass down the throne? Do they give away the powers of the Lifebringer, somehow?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (edited)

She hummed. "I'm Loucari. We learn about past Lifebringers in history class." Albanes nodded. "It's... a lot. Even Naiyta didn't quite reach that- I think they only reigned for just over two thousand years." Albanes mused. "Well, it really depends. I was given the powers by my predecessor, and he was given them by his, but some have taken it through force. Or... have it thrust upon them, by force." She fell more into that camp, but didn't mention it. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Ah, that makes a bit more sense now," Ace said, nodding slightly as well. "I...hm. Two thousand years, you say?" Honestly, they were expecting their reign to have been much lower. "Having powers given willingly- and unwillingly- makes sense. But how does one just...take the powers of the Lifebringer? It can't be that simple." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

She nodded. "Two thousand years. You'd have to ask them for any details more specific than that... though, I don't know if they'd give them." "That's... a question I'm hesitant to answer, for reasons I presume you can understand. But it is a very violent process, I'll have you know." (edited)

9:13 PM

@Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

They couldn't help but laugh a little at that, though it seemed a bit hollow. "I understand. That would be a bit of an issue, no?" Being immortal sounded like an absolute nightmare. It sounded like a fate worse than death, but they couldn't really say that while competing here. "Passing down the powers isn't as violent, is it? I'd assume it's only the...ah. Unwilling taking part that hurts." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Albanes hummed in reply, though her voice was vacant of any real emotion. "Becoming the Lifebringer always hurts. I'd suspect loosing the powers hurts even more." Albanes hummed. "No amount of godhood makes you immune to that kind of pain." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Mm. That's rather unfortunate," Ace simply said. "Though, I suppose it makes sense in some way. Becoming immortal and taking on the powers of such a role isn't always an easy task." "I'm not too keen on asking Naiyta how it felt with the latter," they added, "so I'll just leave it at your words for now." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm." Albanes hummed in agreement. "It burns away part of you. Replaces it with something new. But it's also... almost euphoric, in a way. It's strange. For about three whole days after I gained the powers, I couldn't do much of anything but lie on my back with my eyes closed while my body adjusted." "Understandable. It's not something I think they'd want to talk about, anyways." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Euphoric, huh?" Ace murmured. They couldn't exactly use their previous magic knowledge as a baseline for this; God magic was vastly different from regular people magic, but it wasn't too hard to wrap their head around. "Three days sounds a bit extreme, but it makes sense when it comes with the Lifebringer's powers." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm." Albanes hummed in thought. "Ah, speaking of time... it's getting a bit late. You should go to bed. If you want to come talk later, just come find me." Probably easier said then done. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Ah- it is getting late, isn't it?" They'd completely lost track of time. The sun had just barely set when they left the observatory. "I think I'll be leaving now- thank you, again, for healing me." And for not being weird or particular or odd about it, either. "I learned quite a few things today." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

@innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (yargh!)

(sorry!!!) "Of course." Albanes started back towards the acropolis. "Good night, Ace. Stay safe out there." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

(nwnw!! i wasnt sure if my response was ambigious or whatnot!! alls gooood) "Mhm. Good night, Albanes." They watched her depart a moment longer before turning back towards the empty street. Dark and cold and not-green. Ace lit up another arrow and continued on, back to their room. Hopefully, they wouldn't get jumped on the way back. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kairas left the fight immediately- she didn't need to stick around to see what happened. She didn't even need her allsight. It wasn't worth sticking around. Instead of performing any of her duties, she took to the skies like the bird of prey she was not, and soared until she saw who she was looking for. Kairas landed directly infront of Ryu. Without her mask, she was instantly identified as Petrai- though, a younger Petrai. A Petrai with one gold eye. "You know who I am." She said as a greeting. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Sitting on the cobblestone, Ryunoske smoked some of the last cigarettes she had. It had been difficult to save the few she got from Roman for this long, so now she had to come up with a plan to get more. That thought process was promptly interrupted when Petrai approached her. Even without her mask, Ryu all along had knew it was Petrai. She was just a bit curious as to why Petrai wasn't wearing her mask all of a sudden. "And what about it?" Ryu asked in return, nonchalant with a brow raised. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

There was something frantic behind Kairas's eyes. "I need you to tell me everything you know about me. About Petrai." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Oh?" The smoke lingering on Ryu's lips flicker for a moment and she chuckles. "And why should I? I don't do things for free, yknow?" She teases. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kairas crossed her arms and glanced over Ryu, only briefly before returning to direct eye contact. "I could get you more cigarettes." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Mmm.. how much more?" She asks. "And not these cheap kinds either. They taste awful." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Depends how much you can tell me." She replied flatly. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu wiggled her pointer finger at Kairas, mocking and a bit childish. "Nuh-uh. I always get up front payment when I do trades. Let's see these cigarettes first, then I'll tell you what you want to know." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kairas crossed her arms. "I'm not playing games with you, Ryunoske. If you won't tell me, I'll find someone else who will." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"But you won't~" She hummed in a sing-song voice. "Who else is there to ask, after all? Enya and Valerie don't really know ya.. Mmm, maybe Roman? But all he knows is what I told him too. That nerdy guy perhaps? Well, he's gone now too. A bit of a pickle, isn't it?" Ryu chuckled. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"And you won't get your smokes through anyone else." Kairas retorted with a causal shrug. "Sure, you could try Roman again, if you're really that desperate. There's Reagan, but they're too much of a coward to do anything for anyone. You could try going directly to Naiyta, but... you don't seem like the type that's willing to degrade yourself enough for their liking." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Then sounds like you'll be stuck wondering forever then, babe~" Ryu smiled and blew some smoke into Kairas' face. "I can last without my smokes. Will you be okay not knowing who you are?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kairas didn't flinch at the smoke. "As stated before, I have other avenues to get what I need to know." She shrugged. "I have information you might want to know. Regarding your fight." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"My fight? I don't really care about it much. I'm going up against Roman, and we've already struck a deal about it," she shrugged in return. "If you have nothing to give, I guess you can go and try to bark up a different tree, babe." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"That's a very callous way of thinking about something that could result in your death." Kairas commented. "And I'm not your 'babe'." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Alright, babe, whatever you say," Ryu chuckled, going back to focus on her smokes. She said nothing else, figuring Kairas would get frustrated and leave. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

... Kairas slightly shifted her stance, but remained there. Seems this was a waiting game now. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu smirked, her green-red smoke lingering close to Kairas. "So, I was right. You really don't have anyone to ask this about," she snickered. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kairas didn't reply, but lifted an eyebrow in acknowledgment to what Ryu said. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"What made you so curious about yourself anyways? I assumed all of you already knew, but were just pretending to not know for some reason," Ryu continued. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Why would I pretend?" Kairas countered. "I only have about half my memories. The rest were taken from me." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Because you're a Lifebringer freak and like, totally would do anything for whoever had that title," Ryu snickered. "What do you remember about yourself then?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I would not consider myself a 'Lifebringer freak'. But then again, I don't really know myself." Kairas shrugged. "I barely remember anything. Bits and pieces of memory. I know I am Corvi, and that I was taken to be a Watchling. I remember how to shoot- I suppose that was important enough to keep." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"A corvi? Oh, that's what Kyrie is. You know her? She's one of the contestants here. She has those big black wings too," Ryu commented. "Sucks you don't know anything about yourself besides that. Real shame..." She feigned a sadden look and sighed. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Not all corvi know each other." Kairas said flatly. (edited)

12:15 PM

@Aj | Invo + Ryunoske (tagged myself lmao)

"Really? Had me fooled," Ryu smirked, taking another whiff of her cigarette. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kairas simply shrugged, and fell silent again. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu did as well, being just as stubborn as Kairas in this situation. Sorry girl! Ryu has control issues. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"You know, we could stand here til your fight." Kairas hummed. "Orrrr.... you could say your goodbyes, make a plan... do literally anything but waste your potentially final moments in a staring contest with me. Which, I'm winning, by the way." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Maybe, but I'm a pretty confident person. I don't really need to sweat the specifics, hun," Ryu smiled. "You do know you could fly away and try to figure out things on your own, right? Or you could easily just hand over some cigarettes and get the answers you're looking for. Your choice." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Confident in a plan you made days ago? You haven't been keeping up with what's been going on with your opponent, have you?" Kairas countered. "Well, technically, I can't get you your cigarettes just yet. Naiyta's in a bad mood, and I don't feel like losing a limb." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu shrugged. "Doesn't matter to me what Roman's been up to. I can figure things out on my own if he decides to chicken out," she hummed. "Ah. I see, you're trying to make a deal without anything to really offer. How do you like the Lifebringers here, hm?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"You say that now." She shrugged. "I'll tell you if you tell me something about myself." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"You were a real bitch, I'll tell ya that," Ryu smirked. "Old, cranky, and suuuuuuper obsessed with that twink of a Lifebringer. Is that what you want to know?"

7:29 PM

@innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Hmph." Kairas contemplated, and was about to reply more when a brief disgusted expression crossed over her features. It didn't seem directed at Ryu- rather, she must have seen something happening elsewhere. "Eugh." Kairas shook her head and closed her physical eyes. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Yeah, me too," she agreed with Kairas's reaction and smirked. "Does Yeonaixho ring a few bells? I'm sure you're just dyyiinggg to get back to him," Ryu cooed.

2:12 PM

@innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"No, it's- Roman." Kairas drawled out the name in disgust. "But no, the name means nothing to me. That's why I'm here in the first place." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu looked a bit less interested at the mention of Roman, but raised a brow towards Kairas. "Really? Well, that's a bit of a surprise. He was quite literally your everything in my world—Well, until you realized dawdling over a man wasn't worth shit. Maybe it's better you don't remember anything." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Hm. Even if that's the case, I'd still like to know." Kairas declared. "A life lived in ignorance is not a life worth living." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu snickered a bit at that. "That's very ironic of you to say... I like this version of you more than the old hag you become," she hummed in amusement. "Fine. I'll be nice, I suppose. What do you want to know about yourself, Kairas?" Ryu asked as she put out her cigarette on the concrete.

5:30 PM

@innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kairas hadn't really thought she'd get this far, and had to think about it for a moment. "What do you know about my life? Other than... the fact I was devoted to this Yeonaixho." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Honestly, not much. I know you were with him for quite some time, judging by both your ages and the level of devotion you had for him. Hell, it was more blindsight obsession than affection, really. I believe you had another partner at some point.. Sad.. Sade.. something like that, before being a servant," he hummed. "We didn't really talk about your personal life—Only really because we didn't get along and by the fact you were, again, obsessed with just serving that stupid twink. You did have the same power though—Your vision." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Sadihak." Kairas replied almost immediately, filling in something she didn't know she knew. "Was it Sadihak?" "Mhm. What made me leave him? You said I did, eventually." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu raised a brow. "Yeah, Sadihak, that's it. That's the name Yeonaixho mentioned, yes," he nodded. "You finally realized that he'd never care about you. He tossed you aside as soon as you weren't useful to him anymore. You got some self respect back, thankfully. It was sooooo painful to watch you go about "Lifebringer this" or "Yeonaixho that." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Hm." Kairas hummed contemplatively. "Hm." She shifted to a different question. "... if you had the chance to start completely anew, with no knowledge of your previous life, would you?" @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

His brow raises higher. "I think that's a question you yourself can answer. Why ask me for my opinion?" Ryu asks in return. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I'd like to know what someone else thinks on the matter. Getting a second opinion, if you will," She hummed, "before I do something very, very stupid." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu hummed, muling over the question for a few seconds. "No, I wouldn't," he simply replies. "But again, that doesn't matter, really. I'm not the one with amnesia and trapped as a servant once again. God, you have really bad luck with these Lifebringers, yknow?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm. Alright." Kairas said, her voice neutral again. "You're one to talk. This is your second time around too, isn't it?" @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Heh, yeah, it is. Seems like my luck is real shit too, huh?" Ryu lightly chuckles. "...Well, what are you going to do now, Kairas? Or is it okay for me to call you your actual name?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kairas let out a breath and looked up to the acropolis looming over them. "I'm going to get my memory back. And... I'll go from there." She shrugged. "Either's fine with me, honestly. Neither feel... completely right." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

two single sexy souls

leo and roman

kairas helps(?) roman

carrion and evan

kallum and evan

rio and knees

reagan and roman

god chat

albanes heals roman

levi threatens roman

kenji and kallum

seki helps roman

ace meets a spirit

ace meets the regnant lifebringer

ryu helps kairas make bad decisions