MASKTOURN

6:32 PM

Reagan had always likened the sensation of creating such a deep tether with someone to diving into a pool- sinking into another mind so completely in enveloped them entirely. It had not been hard to enter Roman's mind- they had a good tether to him already. What was harder was diving deeper- passing through the surface-level impulses, passing thoughts, and physical reactions that so often dominated the mind. They had to work to get to the rawer parts of Roman's mind. They had to dive. They had to let their own mind sink into his. Through something between sight and immaterial sense, they reached an even plane- where Roman was bare to them, but they hadn't surrendered the defenses that kept their identity intact. Their eyes- their physical eyes- fluttered shut, and their mind traveled to another misty plane, where Roman stood before them. Roman's sense of self, his idea of his own being, completely bare to Reagan's eye. They looked over him non-judgementally, but curiously. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Hm, maybe he had been standing at some point, but he was currently down on his knees. His head was down as well, and his shaking hands were gripping at his hair. Unlike how it was now, or even how it was when Reagan had first scene him, it was longer and unbraided, down to about his collarbone.. His fingers repeatedly slid through the loose curls before grabbing on and tugging again. Scars and fresh blood were scattered across his naked body as well, with some of them looking pretty fresh. Metal shackles were clamped around his wrists and ankles, with chains leading off in to the vast expanse of nothing.. He hardly seemed aware that there was someone else with him, if he even noticed he didn't care. He just whimpered and let out pained gasps, followed by occasional nonsensical mumbling. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

If entering a mind could be likened to diving into deep waters, then Roman's emotional state was like a stormy sea. Reagan exerted what will they could onto Roman- easing his thoughts, but not removing them completely. They still wanted to know what was happening with Roman- even if it was out of morbid curiosity a bit more than it was compassion. There was compassion there. He had helped them. Roman would calm, his breaths (metaphysical and actual) easing as Reagan distanced him just enough from his panic that he could form rational thought. They didn't yet make their presence fully known- not they had more evidence what they were trying was working. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

As Reagan soothed him, his breathing turned mostly normal, and he collapsed down on to his side. His shaking hands reached up to his face and wiped away some of his sweat and tears, and the clanking of the chains echoed across the empty room.. "T-talk to me... s-say something.. don't leave me.. please.." He would mumble repeatedly through his hands, though it didn't seem to be directed directly at Reagan.. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

As Roman spoke, Reagan willed themself a more concrete form in his mind- their own self-representation. They weren't naked and bare, but wore gauzy, almost translucent, flowy robes that covered most of their body. They were unmasked, and the scar that defined their pointed features was less intense in its cut and shape. Both their eyes were dark, and they were entirely human- no serpent features in sight. Their hair and clothes floated around them, like they were moving underwater. "I'm here." They said, placing the words into Roman's conciousness more than speaking them aloud. "But I'm not sure I'm who you're looking for." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman's head snapped up as he heard Reagan speak- well- felt their presence more strongly than before. He stared up at them, taking in their altered appearance. "S-Sadihak.. how are you here? Why are you.." He rolled back on to his stomach, so he wasn't totally exposing himself. He took in a few more breaths and brushed his long hair out of his face. "I'm not- not looking for anyone in particular I just.. I'm lonely. I'm sorry- you.. You probably still think I'm a freak.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Well, I'm here now." They said, mostly in response to the 'lonely' comment. They couldn't really mask thinking he was a freak- he was doing all that in the refectory with Naiyta (a brief glimpse of that memory would pass through Roman's mind as Sadihak inadvertently brought it up). "I think.... you're playing a very dangerous game with a very dangerous person. Whether that makes you... a freak or not.... is probably not up to my digression. But you were doing it in public. At my party." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

A dark blush crossed over his face as the memory flashed his mind. ".. I know they're bad, but.. I like their attention.." Roman said quietly. "A-and if I want to help you at all, I have to get as close as possible. They aren't pleased if I can't.. Go as far as they want me to." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"..." Reagan's features stilled into a somber neutrality. "Being favored by them won't make them any less cruel. At least, that's been my experience. But if you think winning them over is the best strategy, well, there's little I can do to change your mind." A pause, and they gestured to themself and the area around them. "Well, besides the obvious." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. They treat me nicely sometimes, when I do everything right, but their patience is very, very thin.. I don't think I-I can just leave it now, even if you- put that idea in my head. They would probably figure out it was you, Kairas is quick to talk.." Roman said. ".. but sorry for making a scene at your party, I wasn't really thinking. Roque really only took me out to places where that behavior was very much encouraged.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"If something like that would've worked, I'd likely have done it already." They shrugged. "I accept your apology. Naiyta likes to... push boundaries. Mine especially, it seems. It wasn't entirely your fault." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman nodded faintly. "I think I can handle whatever it is they're in to, but.. Do you know what their deal with fire is? When they lit me on fire they were very excited, and.. Just the idea seems to get them going. Like instantly." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I don't know. They don't do anything even remotely fire-related with me. Quite the opposite, actually. Must be some.... weird kink or something." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Well, he basically already knew that. ".. They haven't tried to drown me or anything, but they don't have much to actually punish me for yet, as far as they know.. So they might do that if they found out what we're doing here." Roman said. "It survived that explosion, didn't it? How?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"We're safe here, for now. It can't tell what I do in the privacy of your mind. But we shouldn't plan on doing this again- it can tell when I sink with someone, and it'd get obvious. I'm acting under the guise of helping you with your panic attack." Sadihak explained. "Yes... it has regenerative healing. It's a Lifebringer thing. Figured that one out when I tried to tear its ear off. Obviously, that did not work." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 (edited)

".. I'm having a panic attack?" Roman asked. "And- hm- well.. Can we un-Lifebringer-ify it somehow?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"You were going through something. I'm not sure if panic attack is the exact right term. But I, well, calmed you down." "I don't know a way to. That's a bit too... theological for my understanding. Kairas might know, but... she's not the most reliable or trustworthy source of information at the moment." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I don't think I can ask Kairas 'hey what's the best way we can kill Naiyta' without getting brutally murdered.." Roman mumbled. He sat up slightly but kept his legs together. His hands were moving all over his body, half to try to wipe the blood away, and half just to feel something. "Can you.. Touch each other in this mind thing, or would we just go through each other..?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"You'd get murdered. Naiyta wouldn't kill me, they need me too much. It won't let me die here, not while I'm of use." They raised an eyebrow. "We can touch. It won't feel like the real thing, especially to the physical you, but it is possible." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

8:34 PM

(implied suicidal ideation)

Roman frowned. ".. I'll get you out- I just.. need to figure out a plan without alerting Naiyta to it.. I just.. It's too soon. I don't know enough, it doesn't fully trust me.." Roman sighed. His hands traveled up his body and to his head, where he went back to pulling on his hair. "Sorry sorry I'm weird but could we just- h-hug or something? No one ever wants to touch me in a way that's not.. A-agressive or with sexual undertones to it.. I just want a regular hug.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

A sad look crossed over Sadihak's face. "... I really hope you do." Their expression shifted to one of surprise, but they didn't say no or look away from Roman. "Oh- uh, sure. We can hug." They floated over to Roman, and crouched down near him, resting a hand on his shoulder first, before wrapping their arms around his frail, bony body. It'd feel more like Roman was imagining the touch than anything, but... it was something. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman's breath caught a bit as Sadihak laid their hand on his shoulder, and he quickly took his hands out of his hair to wrap his arms around their shoulders. He was crying again, quite pathetically, and his right hand slowly inched past the back of Sadihak's neck and in to their hair. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Sadihak's hair was soft and silky, and they didn't seem to mind Roman running his hand through it, or the tears. They held him warmly- the kind of hug you gave a close friend who needed support- and gently patted his back in condolence. They'd linger there for as long as Roman wanted to. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Even if it was fake, it did help him feel a bit better.. He held on for a time before taking in one last deep breath and letting go. He leaned back down to sit on his calves and wiped the tears out of his eyes. "Th-thank you.. thank you.." He sniffled. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Sadihak leaned back as Roman let go, but remained near him. "Of course. It's... really the least I can do." They shrugged. Their expression was neutral. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman had been watching their expression expectantly. ... But they didn't really care, did they? He was just a means to an end, a way to get them out of here. They might not have even bothered to help him if he hadn't already promised he'd help. After all, who out there could have possibly loved him for him? He wasn't even sure what parts of him were genuine and which were just bits and pieces he had put on to please people. No one had ever taken an interest in him for his hobbies, or art, or sense of humor.. Just his body and what it could do for them. Even if he begged and pleaded for love, the most he'd get was a pitiful agreeance temporarily before it dissolved away forever. The shackles felt tighter around his wrists and ankles, and the chains that previously laid limp on the ground lost a good amount of their slack. His hands got forced away from his body, and he just hung there limply. ".. You can go. I'm sure you have important things to do out there.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (edited)

Sadihak's expression shifted. Though they weren't deep enough in Roman's mind to see his every thought, they could tell he was keeping something from them. "Are you sure?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. I'm sure. I don't think there's much else you can do for me here." Roman said quietly. "We can't be seen together much. I'm going to need to pretend to be mad or something when I wake up.. I don't want to make talking to you like this a habit." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm. Alright. Also, Albanes is out in the real world, I got her to fix your shoulder. So... be prepared for that." Reagan said. Their form slowly dissipated as they pulled out of Roman's mind... @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

The mental Roman had nothing else to say, and just hung there in his chains.

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