MASKTOURN

That wasn't a very bad fight. What the snake contestant did didn't look to be...explosive in any sense. The water just...rippled. It was his first time in the observatory- or any observatory, for the matter. Allegedly, or so Nathan claimed, they would have star charts and a large telescope to examine the sky with. Ah, but here was just a regular telescope. It was still interesting, though. Ace was starting to regret that climb, but was still a bit relieved to get away from...well, everything. Unfortunately, he was left alone with his very uncomfortable memories. (Was it a launch station or an observatory at the launch of Arcturus? No- that was Ouroboros. Damn.) Star charts. Those were what Nat mentioned. They began to rifle through a few, scanning over the diagrams. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

8:45 PM

@innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (whoops)

Ace might soon realize he wasn't alone. There was someone else in the observatory- though their form was shrouded in shadow. They took notice of Ace, but didn't yet say or do anything to introduce themself. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

...Y'know what, he actually couldn't read these charts. Never was a big astrology guy. Or space guy in general. Ace set the charts down, but continued to rustle through the rest of the papers on the table. Despite being lost in thought, they soon grew aware of someone watching them. They peered over their shoulder and scanned the observatory briefly- before spotting the shadowy figure. If they were any more on edge, perhaps they would have jumped. "...Hello." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (edited)

The figure moved in the shadows, but did not move from them. They seemed almost... frightened. "What are you doing here?" @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Ace frowned, carefully setting down the papers on the table. Was this another ghost? "I came to look at the observatory," they explained, turning to face the figure. "I saw it when I first arrived here, but hadn't yet gone inside. I figured I'd take the time to explore it." "What are you doing here?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

The person in the shadows seemed only slightly reassured at that. "... I came here to be alone." (edited)

9:28 PM

@Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Was this a contestant? They had no clue. "Ah- ah, I see," Ace quickly said, rearranging all the papers back into place. "My apologies, I hadn't seen you in here. Did- did you want the space to yourself...?" (Mm. They weren't entirely sure how to go about this.) @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

The person remained in the shadow. Perhaps they preferred the anonymity it gave them. "... it's alright." They said. "... you can stay here." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Ace leaned back against the table, slowly folding their arms over their chest. They hadn't met many contestants- just a handful or so, but they were almost certain that this wasn't a ghost. (They'd be much more...ah. Eerie and slightly dead if they were.) "...My name is Ace Lao," he said after a moment. "You- don't need to tell me yours. I'm, ah, a contestant for the Birds side." "I've never been in an observatory before," they said, looking up at the ceiling. The colors of sunset looked quite breathtaking through the glass. "So I'm a bit unsure if observatories outside of this realm as vast." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

".... oh." The person said. "You're one of the ones Naiyta likes." Their tone was hesitant. Almost afraid. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Ace winced a bit at that. Naiyta liked them? Did it...start telling contestants that? "...I...am?" he asked, his tone just a bit less hesitant than the shadow's. "I...I don't exactly know about that, but I've...spoken to them a handful of times." "If I may ask, who- who told you...that?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Naiyta did." Slowly, hesitantly, they stepped out of the shadow, revealing the lithe form of a scantly-clad, brown-skinned person. Their snake tail wrapped hesitantly around a leg, their long hair covered their shoulders. A snake mask hid their eyes. "Ah- I'm Reagan, the host of the snake side. I think Kairas mentioned you, too." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Oh, so it talked about them. How...not at all unsettling. Ace opened their mouth to pry some more- why were they talking about them, when did this happen- why did their name even come up in conversation, before they promptly shut their mouth. Reagan. Not at all a contestant. In fact, the very opposite of it. "It is nice to be of acquaintance, Reagan," Ace said, lightly dipping their head. "I didn't know I was a topic worth...discussing among the staff." They didn't really know what to make of that- if it was Kairas, hopefully it was...nicer? [They didn't know what to make of Naiyta talking about them, either.] @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"We speak of all the contestants. It's our business to know what's happening among you all." Reagan shrugged. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"That's reasonable," Ace hummed. Still, worrying. "I, ah. Haven't heard much about you, unfortunately. I don't think I interacted with many Snake side contestants here." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I've, ah, been pretty.... occupied with my duties." Reagan glanced aside. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"...Do you oversee the contestants as Kairas does?" he asked after a moment. Was this too invasive? "Ah- considering Kairas and her all sight abilities." Ah- he just now noticed their snake tail. [..Serpentine?] @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (edited)

"Oh, ah, no. I have a more... direct role in the maintenance of the tournament." They explain awkwardly. Their tail flicked back and forth as they spoke. "I can control people." @kipology (edited)

,hm. "Hm," Ace only said in response, a bit...unsettled by this. They didn't appear too anxious by this. "Interesting. I see." Mmm, but it was showing through their words. Wonderful. Brrravo. "In- in the maintenance, you say? As in how the tournament runs...?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Yes. Ah- for instance. I'm the one who sends out the announcements." They locked their gaze on Ace, and he'd feel thoughts implanted into his own brain- just like the announcement. Like this. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Ace blinked as that thought blinked into his brain, and blinked again as soon as it fizzled out. "I- I see," he mumbled, sounding a bit more curious than afraid. "That was you...'controlling' us?" he asked, lifting his hand to make little quote marks. "Fascinating. I...hadn't considered telepathy to fall into the same category as control." "So you're the announcer for the fights," they hummed. "I see what you mean by having a very direct role in the tournament." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"It's not telepathy. I can't read your mind. I'm simply willing your thoughts to form a message." They shrugged. "I do other things, too. Not all my work is related to my powers, but the majority of it is. It's handy to have a puppeteer around, I suppose." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"That's...very interesting," Ace said, a faint smile quirking at their lips. "Having the abilities to sort of...control and will thoughts is rather useful." "What role does a puppeteer have in a tournament? Aside from, well, the thought manipulation and whatnot." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"That's all mind control is, really. I manipulate thoughts the way other people manipulate water or fire or earth. And it is rather useful." Reagan adjusted their outfit. "Well... some of my abilities are more related to my former profession than my powers. But I also keep the attendants in line, I'm there to quell conflicts, that sort of thing." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Talking about ones abilities was always much nicer than experiencing them firsthand. "Well, you're not wrong there. Manipulative magic is very...flexible with what can be manipulated about." "It seems like a very important role, especially with many attendants here," Ace nodded. "If it's not too intrusive, what was your former profession?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (edited)

Reagan was still clearly on edge- perhaps they were picking up on Ace's hesitance about their ability. "Mhm. Glad you see it that way, too." "It is. It's a lot of work." Reagan admitted. "Ah, I used to be a sex worker. Kind of still am here, but it's not like I'm getting paid." (edited)

8:28 AM

@Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Hm. Not one, but two sex workers with puppeteering abilities. "Mm, I see," Ace hummed, nodding a little. "Though I, ah. Assume most work in this tournament doesn't get paid in the most...traditional way." "I don't exactly have the abilities to control people, but there is another...contestant. Here who does. Roman of the Birds side-" Knowing Naiyta, it definitely would have spoke about him. "Though, his...method of controlling people is a bit more...hands on. Is there anything you need to do in order to control others?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I'm very familiar with Roman." Reagan nodded. Their tone indicated... mixed feelings about the man. "He's... a lot." "To do any real control, I typically need to be able to see a person." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Mmhm." Their tone indicated...equally mixed feelings about the man. "Really, and that's all?" Ace asked, a bit...surprised, actually. They were smiling, though, so that was a good sign? "That's rather powerful. Most controller-type abilities require some sort of method before they're able to do such things." "How long have you had your powers for, if I may ask?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"That's why I'm so valuable and desired, I guess." They scoffed, clearly not seeing any of that as a good thing. "I've had my powers since I was seven or eight. But it didn't start out as controlling people." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"You don't seem too happy about that," Ace slowly said. Yeah. Clearly they didn't. "Your abilities evolved?" That wasn't too surprising- most abilities could evolve and grow over time due to a myriad of reasons. "Was it a different sort of power entirely? I...ah, have a friend who used to have poison-type abilities when he was younger." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Being wanted for my powers has never done me any good." Reagan stated simply. "It got me here, after all." "Ah... it was more learning to control them better. The way my powers presented at first was more like.... hyperempathy. I could project my emotions onto other people." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"That is...a very fair point," Ace agreed. That entire Tournament of Elements thing that- Chen weirdo hosted pretty much solidified that. "Powerful things do not come without some sort of greed." "Hyperempathy? I...don't think I've heard about that sort of power before." He couldn't even be surprised at that. They'd heard of poison turning into clay, so...emotion-transmission turning into pupeteering didn't seem too far of a stretch. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm. And the people who want the ability to take away someone's free will usually aren't the best morality wise." "I'd be surprised if you had. I think I'm the only person to have something like it- or at least, that's what the researchers said." They were talking casually, too casually. They had the sense this conversation would backfire on them somehow. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Just a hunch, but they might not be the best morality wise," Ace dryly said, a flat little smile tugging at their lips. They couldn't help but blink in surprise at their words- "I'm sorry, you mentioned researchers? As in those in a laboratory?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan let out a dry chuckle. "Yeah." "Uh, yep. I'm not aware of other kinds of researchers." They held their own hands awkwardly. "My powers made me of, uh, military interest." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Ace winced, expression falling into one of remorse. "I'm very sorry, Reagan. That's...very unfortunate. I understand why you wouldn't...particularly enjoy your powers." They cleared their throat awkwardly, considering their next words for a moment. "I, ah. Won't pry any further, if that's what you wish." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan's expression was hard to read under the mask, but they seemed appreciative of the sympathy. "Ah, thank you. I'd prefer not to talk about it. I'm not supposed to be talking about my personal life with contestants anyways, so, uh, don't tell Naiyta this conversation happened." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Mm. There's no need to worry. I don't communicate with it much to begin with," Ace simply said, a hint of disdain slipping through their voice. "This conversation won't leave this observatory, I assure you." They weren't entirely sure about how much a contestant's word meant to them. "I suppose I was curious since I'm also interested in magical research- of the, ah, textbook and paper variety," they quickly added. "Most, ah. Colleges don't allow 'hands on learning' when it comes to understanding mana." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Thank you." Reagan nodded. "Oh." They seemed hesitant as Ace mentioned his own interest in researching powers. "... I see. Are you... inclined to do hands on learning? If you were allowed?" @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Ah, not particularly," Ace reassured, waving his hand a little. "While I research magic and whatnot, what I really study is mana- magical energy, and how it transforms into actual magic. Coalescence, energy, reserves, and the like- though, I suppose understanding powers...sort of falls into that? Not largely, though." Ace tapped their arm in thought. "Mm. If I were allowed to? I'd consider it. I've never had the chance to understand mana physically, but I'd...assume it'd be risky." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhmmm...." Reagan wasn't following this- though, from what they'd learned from the researchers and scientists back in the day, they were pretty certain their powers functioned differently. "I see." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Huh. Maybe rambling about studying magic wasn't the best topic to discuss with someone who used to be studied by the military. "...Are you well, Reagan?" Ace asked after a moment. "Apologies; I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable again." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I'm.... really as well as I can be." Their tone indicated that wasn't very well at all. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

..Ah. Ace smiled, tight-lipped and strained, as the tapping against their arm grew in intensity. "...Do you know how to read star charts?" That was probably a Better topic shift. "I'm not entirely sure if it's the ink or my eyes not working. But, ah. Then again, I don't think I've ever looked at them before." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I know a bit. I used to be into astrology and that sort of thing." Reagan neared the starcharts. "But the constellations here are all different, and I can't read the language they wrote these charts in." They tapped the charts with a pointed nail. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

So it wasn't just his eyes. It straight up was just another language. Ace was a bit relieved at how...effortlessly. The conversation shifted, and gave Reagan some more room to look at the star charts. "Hm, really? I never delved too much into astronomy- or astrology, either," they explained. Ace adjusted their glasses, and squinted at the charts some more. "...What do all of those lines mean." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan kept glancing back between the chart and the sky above them. "Well, the outside ring is the horizon." They tapped the ring around the chart. "I wish I could tell which direction was which- they're clearly labeled, but I don't know the word for 'north' in whatever language this was. That's all I really know. We might be able to identify some of the constellations on this chart, but I can't tell the names." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Ace hummed in acknowledgement, peering up at the sky as well. "Is it not in...in..." Ai. What was the language Darcy mentioned that one time? "Loucari? I don't exactly know what it's called." It wasn't like he was going to suggest asking Darcy- especially not after that...debacle earlier. And it was just star charts, nothing potentially life saving. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I wouldn't know." Reagan shrugged. "I'm not good with languages." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"I'm not very good with languages either," they agreed with a small sigh. "I suppose that makes two of us." "...Though, you don't need the charts to enjoy the view. It's rather stunning despite it all." It was one of the main reasons they decided to come up here when the sun began to set. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm...." Reagan gazed out at the horizon. "I've always liked looking at the stars. A bit less meaningful when it's different stars.... but still." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Really?" they asked, a bit intrigued. "How so- is it, ah. Related to astrology and whatnot?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh, uh, not really. I just like to remind myself that I'll always see the same stars- no matter where I am, or who I am. It grounds me." They looked up at the sky. "Guess I don't know anything here." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"That...makes a lot of sense, actually," he murmured. The tapping was starting to grow again. "Mm. It's unchanging- I suppose people do find that sort of repition soothing." "You're not from this realm? I just...assumed so, seeing as how you are one of the team leaders and whatnot." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan didn't seem to appreciate the analysis Ace was doing of their important semi-spiritual practices, but hummed approvingly despite it. "Oh, no. I was brought here, like all you guys. Everyone but the Lifebringers were." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Whoops. Unfortunately, this guy analyzes everything. "...Huh." Despite that, he didn't really know what to make of that. "I...see." Analyzing things was starting to make his head hurt. Ace began to rifle through the charts again, trying poorly to understand these...things. "Was that why you came up here to be alone? To look at the stars?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Somewhat. I just wanted to be alone. I... don't really get that, but Naiyta is going to be occupied tonight. Plans with Roman, I hear. And I don't have to run the feast since another of my contestants died, so I thought I'd come up here and get what privacy I can." Not that it was really private. Kairas was always watching everything. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Plans with Roman. If they were any meaner, maybe they would have rolled their eyes. They didn't, though. Because they were polite. "Right, the feast," Ace said, suddenly realizing that they didn't...particularly eat much since the gala. "I hadn't gone to any of them yet- what...happens during them?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Not much. We bring out whatever food we're supposed to for the victor, we stand around. There... really isn't much to it, but if you liked the fancier gala food we serve that at the feasts." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

That was it? Honestly, they thought the Lifebringer would play a bit of a larger role in the celebrations. 'Celebrations'. "I see. In that case, I might go to the current one some point tonight," they considered, folding their arms across their chest. Ace leaned back against the table again, gaze shifting from the stars to Reagan's tail. "I don't think I noticed your tail earlier." Now that he thought about it, it was a similar trait that Kairas had- Corvi abilities, bird wings, Bird side. "It's, ah. A snake tail, yes?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm. Since it's a bird victory, you'll be allowed to go. Say hi to Kairas for me." Reagan flinched as Ace brought up their tail, and almost sheepishly wrapped it around their leg. "Ah, yep. A snake tail. I'm a viper." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Ah, I'll let Kairas know you said hello," Ace said, smiling slightly- before it promptly faltered again. Ah. How in Nuwa's name he kept picking terrible topics, he'd never understand. "It's not- it's not a bad thing, or anything of the sort," they quickly tried to assure, gesturing a bit with their hands. "I just now noticed it- it's very lovely, really." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh, uh, thank you." Reagan's gaze was fixed on the horizon. "I also have fangs. Big ones." That was said idly, as if they were disassociating from the fact they were talking about themself. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

(The fumblerrr.) "You have fangs?" they asked, actually a bit surprised by that. Was it their vision getting worse, or just them forgetting to notice details? "I...don't think I noticed them earli...er?" Ace paused, looking out to the horizon where Reagan was staring at. [Did he make them uncomfortable again?] "Do you...not like talking about being a viper?" he quietly asked. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Eh.... I don't mind too much. It's just.... part of who I am now, I guess." "Yup, fangs. You wanna see them?" They offered. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Ace was silent for some time, as if trying to gauge if this was a trap or not. "...Only if you'd like," they decided, leaning against the table some. "I, ah. Won't pry unless you're offering." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't offering." Reagan laughed. They opened their mouth up- a bit wider than a regular human could pry open their jaw, and Ace would see the two curved, intimidating fangs that took up most of the space in Reagan's mouth. Each fang was about two inches long, and looked like they had to fold up against the roof of Reagan's mouth when they had it closed. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Their eyes were absolutely sparkling when Reagan opened their mouth- though at least they had the common sense not to be weird about it. No wonder they didn't notice it earlier. If not for the tail, and Reagan telling him they were a viper, they would have had no idea. "That's incredible," Ace murmured, a hand lifting to cup his own face. "And- and I assume that the fangs can deliver venom as well?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan closed their mouth, hiding their fangs so they can answer Ace's questions. "Yup. And my venom is pretty nasty, so... yeah." They laughed awkwardly. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Ah, I could assume. I, ah. Made the mistake of putting my hand in one of the garden bushes," Ace sighed, flexing their hand a little. "Viper venom is...not particularly fun to experience." "That's fascinating, though. Thank you for showing me," they said, smiling faintly. "Do you...have any other traits of a viper?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan grimaced. "Oof, yeah, it's best to be careful around the garden. Lots of snakes there." They nodded. "Well.... I have scales up my back, and I have slit pupils- not that you can see them behind my mask. I obviously have arms and legs, so I didn't inherit all viper traits." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Oh, yes. I, ah. Learned that from experience." No more poking and prodding around for berries, then. "Ah, well, not all traits," they hummed, "but still an interesting few. I've...met a few Serpentine- ah, back home, but they're more snake-like with human traits, rather than the reverse. So it was very interesting finding out about all of this." "I won't waste your time any longer with these questions," Ace said after a moment as they turned to look back at the stars. "It's a rather nice night to be spent alone." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Yeah... thanks. You have a nice evening, Ace." They nodded. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Mm. "...You too, Reagan," they said offering a small wave. It felt a bit strained, really. [They definitely made them uncomfortable with all the questions, right?] Ace looked over the star charts one last time- as if they could even read it -and left. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs