MASKTOURN

In the lower part of the citadel, close to the communal courtyards, is the refectory! It’s a low, long building, divided into a large, communal eating area, and a small kitchen in the back, off-limits to contestants. Near the entrance, there’s a small basin for hand-washing and cabinets for any diners to store their belongings while eating. The refectory itself is filled with long, rectangular tables, with benches on each side. At the far end of the room, close to the kitchen, is the buffet.

current menu:

The food offerings presented at the buffet are… unique, to say the least. There are bowls of wheat-based polenta, and round loaves of bread if anyone fancied making a sandwich. There’s a variety of sweetbreads offered, too- most flavored with honey or a variety of berries. The offerings of meat are slimmer- poultry, seafood, and game meat are all present at the buffet, both cooked and raw, but not much else. A hot, minestrone-like stew is served by the meats, kept warm over a fire. Fresh and dried fruits are available, as well as a variety of vegetables, roasted chickpeas and nuts, and many different hard and soft cheeses. Olive oil and fish sauce are provided as condiments. Diluted posca, water, goat’s milk, and wine are all available to drink, as well as goat's blood served in large, warmed cauldrons.

winner menu additions: plain whole wheat toast - kallum chocolate & peanut butter flavored protein shakes - kal spring rolls, chowder, clamcakes - enya pomegranate and other fruits not previously served - eremurus pistacios, nightshade, carrion - kyrie cornbread & pulled pork - gale mandazi - roman (edited)

Reagan led Seki carefully into the refectory, bypassing the handwashing area completely and sitting them down at one of the tables. "You wait here. I'll get get you some water, and some food." They said. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki grimaced as they sat, and leaned down to lay their head on the table. "Mm'kay..." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan was gone for a short while, and returned with a cup of water and a bowl of polenta. "You should be able to keep this down better than something else. And the water should help, too." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki lifted their head to look at what Reagan brought with squinted eyes. They but their elbows and forearms onto the table and pushed themself up to a better position. They took the glass of water and drank eagerly, their throat still feeling dry and nasty. Once glass was empty, they sighed, and looked at their host again. "Thanks..." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

The water helped instantly- though it doesn't ease the ache completely, Seki'd begin to feel better after the first swallow. "Of course." Reagan inclined their head. "There's more where all of this came from, so don't be afraid to ask. Oh- I should introduce myself- I'm Reagan, host of the Snake side." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki nodded and smiled, their features relaxing as the pain released its hold. "Nice to meet you. I'm Seki... So, you're part of this..." they waved their hand in small circles. "Tournament, or whatever." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Good to meet you, Seki." Reagan smiled. "Yes, I am part of all this. I'm here to help the contestants on a more... personal level than the Lifebringer." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Oh, helping, huh", Seki huffed. "Well you certainly are more helpful than the 'Lifebringer'." They glanced at the empty glass, sitting up straight. Their tail leisurely moved behind their back, not lying lifelessly on the floor anymore. "Was this a potion? I thought just water." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Thank you." Reagan hummed. "It was just water. Some people have... trouble acclimating to moving through dimensions. Consuming food or drink from the new dimension typically helps." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Ohh, that's what that was, huh..." Seki waved the glass slightly, making a drop at the bottom of it roll around. "Another dimension?" Seki frowned. "Dang... it's won't be easy to get home from here, is it?" They muttered. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"The Lifebringer will ensure the safe return of the victor. You don't need to worry." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Hm, that so?" Seki put the glass on the table, and looked at the polenta bowl. They pulled it closer to themself and took in the scent. It smelled delicious. "What do you know about their motives?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan bristled slightly. "I know the Lifebringer has only good intentions." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Sure sure, they said something about stopping the world of the living and the world of the departed from merging. You know more about that?" They asked, and began to eat. Yummy. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"It's not my place to know the specifics. My duties are more... simple. More earthly." A fancy way of saying 'no, I don't know'. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Alright, then", Seki sighed. They were quiet for a moment, closing their eyes while munching. After a bit, they looked back at the other. "Sorry if this is insensitive, but I'm curious. Can you see?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh, I can. This is just to protect my privacy." They laughed, and tapped their mask. Their nail made a pleasant clicking sound on the porcelain. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Oh yeah. From the face-recognition stuff." Seki nodded in understanding. Or so they thought at least. "That's a pretty cool mask." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"From those who... think they know who I am." Reagan hummed apprehensively- though their nervousness was gone in a second. "Thank you! I think it suits me well. You should have one of your own, since you're one of my competitors." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Oh, huh." Seki tilted their head at Reagan's first reply. "I do? Dang, I didn't notice", they hummed, thinking back but couldn't really remember anything about the room. They were a bit worried they wouldn't even remember where it was. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"It should be in your room, with the note I left you- but don't worry, you aren't in trouble this time. Since you were ill and all, I'll give you a pass. But please, do remember to wear it." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Aw, you left me a note?" Seki looked at them with a softer expression, genuinely appreciating the gesture and sorry they hadn't noticed. "Shit, I missed that too, sorry." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I left a note for all the contestants on my side," Reagan laughed. "But yes. It's alright, I'm sure your thoughts were preoccupied. You can always go back to read it!" @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Ah, I see", Seki smiled. "Yeah, will do. If I find my way back", they gave a chuckle. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I could show you where your room is, if you need." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"That's be nice, thanks!" Seki swayed their tail in a friendly manner. They continued eating, and hummed. "So, what is this place?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Of course." Reagan smiled. "This is the Halcyon Citadel, the realm of the Lifebringer. But this building specifically is the refectory, where all meals will be served." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Oh yeah." Seki looked over to where the food was served, and their nose moved slightly as they took in the smells. "Hmm, so you live here? Is it nice?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"It is nice. My partner, Kairas, and I live in the acropolis up on the mountain. We get some very pleasant views up there." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Oh, that sounds pleasant", Seki nodded with a smile. "Are you from here, or were you brought here too?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan seemed... extremely hesitant to answer that question. "We... were brought here. Kairas and I. We've been here for a while, though." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"A while, like, a month or two, or a year or two?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"... a while." Was all Reagan would say. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Alright. Is it different to the outside world?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Somewhat. I... don't remember much about the world outside, honestly." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Oh, that long of a while, huh", Seki hummed and brushed their chin in thought while munching on polenta. "Well, what do you do around here? It seems pretty quiet." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"... yes." Reagan answered hesitantly. "Well, we spend time with each other. For a while, it's been only us around, with the Lifebringer busy. We've spent a lot of time preparing for the tournament, that sort of thing. It is very quiet here, but I like it." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Hmmh, that sounds pleasant..." Seki hummed their gaze becoming distant and melancholic. Spending quiet, peaceful days with your partner... yeah, that was the life. "What do you do for fun around here?" they asked, blinking away their misty eyes. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Well, there's a pool, but I'm not too fond of swimming, if I'm being honest." They laughed awkwardly. "There's nature to explore, and the citadel... lots of good places to relax." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Aw, just chilling. That sounds nice. Do you have critters around here?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"There are birds, there are snakes. There's mountain goats up on the cliffs, but I don't think they like me very much. And there's fish in the creek." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Ah, snakes." Seki's ears turned slightly back. "I'm not a big fan of them. No offence! Snake people are cool! But uh, I'm really scared of getting bit by a snake." Their tail coiled around their leg. "Otherwise the animals seem pretty harmless here, huh." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh- well you don't have to worry about me biting you, at least. Though, I can't vouch for the regular snakes here. They're less social." Reagan laughed, and Seki might get the slightest glimpse of their fangs. "Mhm, unless you plan on carrying food openly through the courtyard, the seagulls might swarm you. Happened to Kairas one time." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki laughed as well, shaking their head lightly. "Alright, I won't do that. Man, the nature likes to play pranks on people, huh?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I guess it does. But as long as you make smart decisions, you should be fine here." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Yeeahh, that might be more difficult than you think. I'm famous for making bad decisions", they chuckled, smiling almost sheepishly as they continued finishing their bowl of food. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Well, you can't say I didn't warn you." Reagan laughed again. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"It doesn't help! I'm just very stupid", Seki groaned playfully and knocked their skull, shaking their head. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan laughed again. "Though, please do be careful. The Lifebringer can repair most damage, but I'd hate for you to be hurt." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki chuckled and finished their polenta, and nodded agreeably. "Yeah, I'll try my best. I doubt the Lifebringer likes me very much anyway, so, yeah." They shrugged. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan elected not to comment on that, and fell into awkward silence. "If you're still hungry, I can get you some more to eat." They offered. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki shook their head. "No thanks, this was enough. Thank you, though." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Alright." They hummed. "If you do want more later, there's always something on offer here." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Okay, good to know", Seki nodded and stood up. "Would you like to show me where my room was again? Just to be sure." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Of course," Reagan said, and stood up. "Follow me..." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Asha had come here, half looking for Albanes, and half looking for something to eat... She stared at the options available, all of which seemed somewhat normal, until she walked up to the giant pots of... Blood.. She wrinkled her nose up in disgust. "What are these here for.." She mumbled, staring down in to the red liquid. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Albanes walked into the refectory a bit after Asha had, but seemed more to be inspecting the offerings than picking out anything to eat. She gave Asha a simple nod of acknowledgment, and a simple, "Hello again." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Ah!" Asha jumped slightly in surprise, putting a hand over her chest as she attempted to calm herself. "Albanes- yeesh- you startled me.. I was actually looking for you, I didn't know where to find you at. I got some bottles made up already." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to." Albanes apologized. "Alright. I can get those over to your family soon. If you want to find me in the future, I usually stay up at the acropolis." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

... Asha assumed Albanes wouldn't be magically opening up a portal right in front of her, which made sense. ... But, there were guaranteed items getting out of here. Presumably, Albanes wouldn't be stupid and fail to check the bottles for hidden messages, but maybe in the future Darcy could put a tracker on one before she gave them away and he could get a feel for where exactly they were here.. It would be worth a shot later. ".. Where's the Acropolis..? I haven't really left here yet.." Asha said. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"If you go outside and see the big mountain, the Acropolis is at the very top of it." Albanes said, and gestured in the direction the mountain would be could they see it. "There's a walking path that leads up it." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"..." Asha just stared at Albanes. ".. You expect me to be able to walk up a mountain right now..? I can hardly walk from my room here! My midwife said no strenous exercise for at least eight weeks for me!" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Albanes sighed. "Mhm. You could also meet me here, on occasion. I don't go into the guest quarters, and I very rarely come down here. You could contact Kairas or Reagan through the tablets whenever you have bottles to drop off, and they'll be able to contact me, and I'll come down here. I think that'd be easiest." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. What tablets..?" Asha asked. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"The messaging tablets. There should've been one in your room- did you not get it? I'll have to talk to Reagan if that's the case." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. I didn't see any tablets.. Just my stuff, the linens, the note, and some rock.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Are you sure?" Albanes's brow furrowed. "Did you get your mask?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. The mask was also there, but I don't want to wear that." Asha said. "And yes, I'm sure, the only thing I don't understand is the clay rock. What am I meant to do with that?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I'd suggest wearing it. I know it might be uncomfortable at first, but you might get in trouble if you don't." Albanes frowned. "And the clay rock is your tablet, you can write messages with the stylus provided." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I'm not a big fan of snakes." Asha huffed. "The rock is the tablet. So you want me to write my messages on a rock." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I'm sorry." Albanes frowned, but her tone was... slightly dismissive. "It's magic. It connects to... a groupchat of sorts. Your messages will get through, I promise." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

... This place is weird. Why couldn't they just leave her phone! She also wasn't going to put on that mask unless an actual consequence for not doing so was made more clear. ".. Fine, I'll go try that out." Asha said. She reached in to her chest wraps and pulled out the bottles she had been keeping there. "This is what I have so far." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Thank you." Albanes took the bottles, and tucked them into the inner pocket of her own robe. "Is... there anything else I can do for you right now?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Oh, there was a lot of things. Like dropping dead along with the other hosts, letting them all leave, etc... "No, not right now, but thank you." Asha smiled slightly. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Alright." Albanes didn't return the smile, but... maybe she was just like that. "Whenever you have more bottles for me to take back to your family, just tell Reagan or Kairas. They'll be able to get to me." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mhm." Asha said. "I guess I do have one question." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Hm? What is it?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"When I get out of here, will I get put back to right when I was taken, or will time have passed?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"You'll be taken right back to when you were taken. Time doesn't pass the same in the Citdael, since we exist outside of time." Albanes explained. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Asha put her hands on her hips. "So- If I'm giving you those bottles.. But time hasn't passed.." She mumbled. "Is everything like- frozen back home or something?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"No- it's-" Albanes had to think to explain it. "It's- hard for a mortal mind to comprehend. But there is a version of your timeline out there, where your family is... dealing with your absence. But when you go back, it will be to the same point in your timeline you were taken from, as if none of this ever happened." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. So you created an alternate timeline that will FOREVER exist where none of my kids have a mother?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I didn't create it. That's just... how timelines work. There's timelines where your children never existed in the first place. There's timelines where you never existed. There's timelines where your husband ended up... different." Albanes was struggling to explain this. "If something happens one way in one dimension, there's infinite other timelines where it happened differently." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Yeah, this was going over her head.. She still thought America was an alien planet. "What- what do you mean different? Like he survived..?" Asha asked... This didn't seem to be about Roman. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"No- well, you'll figure it out. I really should be going." Albanes didn't want to have this conversation. "I'll... see you around." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Wait, you can't just leave me with that- are there timelines where Kaizer is still around..?" Asha asked desperately. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"... yes." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Man. Asha should not know this information. It would be extremely selfish to request to get sent back to one of those timelines, for many reasons, but oh, the thought crossed her mind.. Her expression contorted in guilt for a moment before evening out again. ".. Did you... Did you see them..?" Asha asked quietly. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I'm... aware of the infinite amount of timelines, but they're too expansive for me to know what happens in each one, specifically. Especially anything regarding... specific individuals." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"You can't go in and look at them..?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"... no." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Then how did you find the people to kidnap and take here?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I didn't do that. My predecessor did." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Well can they look for me then?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"They won't." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. but they can?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"They want you dead, Asha. They aren't going to help you." Albanes sighed. "Look- I should've never brought any of this up. I should go, now." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. Fine, go back to your mountain or wherever." Asha mumbled, crossing her arms over her chest. ".. I assume I'll be seeing you later at some point." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm. If you need anything, please just reach out." Nevermind that Asha couldn't reach Albanes directly. "I'll see you around." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. Of course, bye." Asha didn't bother waving, and just went back to looking at the food offerings.. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kyrie sat down at one of the table with a plate full of an assortment of foods- some berries, some nuts, a little bit of fish. She was a tiny bit hesitant about eating food provided by the strangers, but she was also pretty hungry. Was weird to eat in such a big place all alone, though. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Enya wasn’t sure if she had it in her to risk another strange conversation, but the idea of food was gradually outweighing that by the second. It takes a little bit of poking around further away from the living spaces to find. Once she does, though, it’s more than a welcome sight. She avoids the meat section like the plague, filling her plate instead with a mix of bread, fruit, and cheese. The seafood was tempting, but…just the sight of what looked like raw meat nearby had her stomach churning. Trying not to think about it as she glances around at the mostly empty tables, she’s both nervous and relieved to see someone else there. “Mind if I sit here?” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh, hi! Yeah, you can sit here!" Kyrie smiled, and moved her plate a bit closer to her so Enya could sit across from her. "I'm Kyrie, nice to meet you!" @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

A relieved smile slides onto her face, and Enya swings her legs over the bench. “Thanks! I’m Enya. Good to meet you too, I’ve been kinda wondering if anyone else was actually around.” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh! I think I saw your messages in the chat thing. Nice to meet you, Enya!" She hummed. "Yeahh, it's pretty sparse out here. Gets me wondering how many people are actually involved in this whole... tournament thing." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“There was like..ten, twelve rooms I saw in my hallway?” Enya guesses. “Maybe more though. I didn’t see your name so I’m guessing there’s more rooms somewhere else.“ She digs in to her piled plate of food, a few moments passing before she’s able to answer. “Oh yeah, the message thing…” She doesn’t seem too enthused about it, actually. “I was… I was really hoping it wasn’t the Val I knew,” she sighs. “Bad enough I’m stuck back here, now she is, and I recognized some other names too…” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm, yeah, I'm on the bird side, and I think the living quarters are decided by that. You and the other person I saw I think are the other side, snakes or whatever." Kyrie hummed, and paused to eat a bit. "Mhm, is she a friend of yours? And what do you mean, 'back here', have you been here before?" @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“Guess that explains the mask,” Enya hums, setting the mask she’d been carrying down on the table next to her. “Yeah, I would say she’s a friend. We, um.. I haven’t been here before but all this with the Lifebringer doing weird shit and everyone else suffering, yeah, that’s not new.” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh, I've got one of those!" Kyrie set out her own, bird-shaped mask for Enya to see. "Pretty on-theme, huh..." "Oh, do you by chance know someone named Isi? I was talking to her earlier, and she said she's also been in a Lifebringer tournament of some kind before." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“Shit..” Enya’s face pales slightly, and for a moment she lets her head drop into her hands before replying. “I.. I know her, yeah. I was there too. We got put against each other, right before shit went sideways. I saw her name in the hallway too…” She doesn’t look….upset, exactly, but moreso just disheartened. “It’s starting to feel like more than a coincidence now,” she mumbles quietly. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh- oh, that's awful. I'm sorry- it must be awful to be put against someone you know." Something that would likely happen to her, here. "Mhm.... I've never been to a tournament before. Or anything like that. I mean, I'm no fan of the Lifebringer, myself, but... it must be awful, going through something like this twice. I'm sorry." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“I didn’t know her that well then, so our fight was actually pretty fair.” Enya smiles faintly at that. “She kicked my ass, not gonna lie. And I don’t blame her either, we had no idea what the stakes were…” She tries to hide a shudder, but mostly fails. “I got lucky. If we’d fought any earlier I could’ve lost my powers.” Something she still, unfortunately, can’t quite shake the guilt of. “And now the stakes here are even higher, if we just…go along with everything.” Enya pauses for a moment. “Isi might’ve mentioned but the Lifebringer there was a guy named Yeonaixho. Did you know that one? ‘Cause the one I talked to here was..different.” For lack of a better, more colorful word. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm...." Kyrie's expression was a mix of sympathetic concern and worry as she listened to Isi. "We can't just... let them kill us all. There has to be some way out." "Yeah, I think she said that. The name seems familiar, but I don't know exactly who's regnant Lifebringer back home. I'm Corvi, though, and historically we haven't gotten along with the Loucari government." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“I don’t plan on it, but if we don’t even really know where we are…” Enya trails off, shaking her head. “Last time we had some of the people who worked for Yeonaixho helping. It doesn’t seem like there’s anyone else here but us.” Kyrie’s starting to throw out a lot of words Enya doesn’t recognize, unfortunately. “You…live in the same place as a Lifebringer?” She asks, trying to connect the dots. “What’s regnant mean?” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I got a letter from someone named Kairas. Maybe they can help." Kyrie said. "That's a Corvi name, so... maybe they'll want to help." "Oh, uh, yeah." She laughed. "In the north. 'Regnant' just means reigning, so, like the current one." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“The one I talked to, they called themself, uh..” What was the word again? “Nascent?” She definitely pronounces it wrong. “Can there be more than one at a time?” “My letter was from, um, Reagan, I think. What’s Corvi?” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Huh. I don't know that one- but the one I talked to said the same thing. Guess we talked to the same person? There can't be more than one, so... who knows." "Oh, Corvi are bird people! My people." Kyrie lifts her wings a bit so Enya can see them. "I'm a crow." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“They were…” Enya shudders. “Weird. And definitely the thing that sent me here too. With all the fire and the ‘you will die in seven days’ shit.” A somewhat poor attempt at humor, given how she still seems fairly shaken by it. Kyrie lifts her wings, though, and Enya immediately forgets about all the crazy Lifebringer weirdness. “Ohhh my god, wait— That’s so fucking cool?! Holy shit!” Her mood’s flipped an entire 180, and she stares in awe at the wings. “You can like— actually fly, and everything!?” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kyrie smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, I guess it is pretty cool- hah, thanks." She laughed a bright, cawing laugh. "And yeah! I can fly! It's pretty fun. I can also turn into a regular normal crow. Can fly in that form, too." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“That’s awesome,” Enya says enthusiastically. “What’s flying like? I mean— I’ve never ever been on a plane before, I can’t even imagine—“ @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I haven't ever been on a plane either, so I can't compare the experiences." Kyrie laughed. "Imagine, like, running as fast as you can- but instead of moving your legs, it's your wings- which, uh, you don't have, but imagine- and instead of the ground, you can feel the wind underneath you, and you can see so much- it's really cool. I like to do tricks and stuff." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“That must be incredible,” Enya sighs, shaking her head with a smile. “It sounds so..free.” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"It really is. I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't fly." Kyrie hummed. "If ya want, I could probably take you up in the air for a bit. Show you what it's like." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Enya’s jaw practically hits the floor, her eyes impossibly wide. “You’re joking, right? You could really do that!?” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I mean, I think I could lift you up. I'm pretty confident I could." She looked over Enya, contemplating. "If you want! I mean, you just met me, and it's a lot of trust to put in someone, but I'd thought I'd offer." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“Well I’d hope that if you were trying to kill me or something you’d wait until the fighting’s meant to happen,” Enya chuckles, trying to reign in her sheer excitement ever so slightly. “I would so be down. But it doesn’t have to be right now! We can still get to know each other more if you’d like.” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Ah- yeah, I'm hopefully not killing anyone at all." Kyrie laughed awkwardly. "Yeah! We can wait for a bit. See how things turn out. My offer still stands." She shrugged. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“I’ll hold you to it then,” Enya grins. “Can you tell me more about Corvi? Are you all crows or are there other birds?” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"We're all corvids! So there's Ravens and jackdaws and jays and magpies. I don't know if there are any non-corvid bird people out there, but I've only heard of other Corvi." Kyrie explained. "I'm part of the Coalfoot murder, we're one of the bigger family groups in Crow society, but there's a ton." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Enya’s eyes widen again. “Oh, wow. I kinda thought corvid just meant crows, not gonna lie. That’s neat!” She pauses, then adds, “Okay, I don’t know if this is a weird question or not so ignore me if so but— Do you live as birds or- as people? Or like a both kinda thing?” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Eh, we usually go between forms, depending on whatever we need to do. We're hatched as little baby chicks, but we have our first transformation into human-form as a toddler, then it gets hard to transform until adulthood. So usually, people match whatever stage of life their kids are in." Kyrie hummed. "It's not too weird. I mean, I'd expect you to be curious." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Holy shit. Baby chicks has to be the cutest things ever. “Awwww, that’s nice! Yeah, this is all totally new to me,” she says with a small smile. “I mean, I met a few people with like..animal features and stuff at that island, like Isi, and there was some weird rumors about some kinda aquatic person I heard once? But I had no idea there was whole, like, communities and societies and stuff like that.” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh, yeah, there are tons of corvi out there." Kyrie nodded. "I don't think there's too much outside the Loucari, and a few other countries. We usually try to keep to ourselves." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“Where’s the Loucari at?” Enya asks next, leaning her chin on one hand as she picks at the fruit on her plate. “I don’t really travel much to be honest, but it must be pretty far away from me then.” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Do you know where Ninjago is? It's a bit north-west of that." Kyrie explained. "I live at the far northern parts, up in a city called Ilsaati." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Enya squints off vaguely into the distance, making her best attempt at visualizing a map, but gives up with a sigh after a moment. “I used to, or at least I heard of it, but I can’t picture where exactly. I remember it’s off the coast more or less but I think it’s more south of me?” She shrugs. “But half the time I can’t tell my left from my right so who am I to say.” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Yeah, I'm not the greatest with geography, either." Kyrie laughed. "You'd think I'd be better, having a bird's-eye-view of everything, but nope. Where are you from?" @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“It’s probably way harder to tell up there,” Enya guesses. “And I’m from Maine, but my mom and I moved to Massachusetts when I started college. And then grad school happened, so we’ve been there a while now.” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh, neat!" Kyrie didn't know where any of that was. She might be an American crow but she does not understand American geography. "What are you studying?" @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Enya seems to light up even more at the invitation to ramble about her work. “I did chemistry for undergrad! I didn’t really feel like going into research so I switched to chemical engineering for my masters—and now I’ve been working in a lab anyways,” she chuckles. “Or at least, uh, I was.” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kyrie listened with intent as Enya described her work. She had little connection to the field, but it was always interesting to hear someone talk about something they were so passionate about. "Wow, that sounds incredible. I don't get that stuff- so I'm impressed you know so much about it!" She tilted her head to the side. "Huh? Did something happen?" @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“Heh, thanks,” Enya replies, ducking her head a little with a smile. “It took a ton of practice, don’t get me wrong. And a whole lotta luck. But, um..” Her smile grows a little stale. Yet she’s had so few people to talk about it with, she can’t help it. “Yeah. I, uh, I struggled a bit after the island. It— took me a lot to get approved into the biofuel lab, but I did, so I jumped right back in ASAP. Then a lab tech had a spill, it startled me, I sparked and—“ She mimes an explosion with her hands, expression bitter and the movement enough to draw attention to the healed-over burns across her side. “Right through the floor.” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kyrie visibly flinched at Enya's description. "An- explosion, huh?" She wrung her hands together. "What do you mean, you 'sparked'?" @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Enya catches Kyrie’s reaction, shoulders hunching slightly as she tries to dial it back a little bit. “I, um. I can control fire. Sometimes.” Control is a bit of an overstatement, but that doesn’t need to be explained right now. “But I—I got lucky, the only person who really got hurt was me..” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh- uh, gonna admit, I'm not the biggest fan of, uh, fire." She laughed awkwardly. "But I'm glad no one else got hurt." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“Yeah, no, I— I get it,” Enya says with a faint wince. “And that’s probably why they, um, didn’t arrest me on the spot, to be honest… But that’s another thing, that’s…yeah. Um. I was waiting to hear if they were gonna, y’know, let me back on campus, and uh. Then god kidnapped me. So.” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm... that sounds rough. I hope we can all go home soon, so you can work all that out..." Kyrie hummed. She was still pretty uneasy, but wasn't going to make the conversation more awkward by bringing it up. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“Outta my hands at this point,” Enya sighs, glad that at least Kyrie seems willing to move on. “But yeah, I hope so too. I don’t know what we can do, but there can’t really be anyone here who wants to be, can there? Maybe we can try something before we get stuck in any fights?” Saying it out loud, it definitely seems like a long shot of an idea. But hey. Whatever makes you feel better… @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I did a fly-around earlier- it doesn't seem like there's any easy way to get off the island. No pier, no boats- I mean, assuming this isn't just some... Lifebringer Hell, or something. We should figure out a way to get back home, too." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Enya groans, head dropping into her hands and just barely avoiding her hair falling into her food. “With our luck this probably is some kind of Lifebringer Hell,” she mutters, staring at the table, but eventually lifts her head back up. “We’ve got all kinds of people here though. Maybe we’ll get lucky and someone has like, a boat-making power or something.” A better attempt at a joke than before. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"It would be, wouldn't it.." Kyrie sighed. "Hopefully so. Or maybe, there's some other way to get out of here. If it is a Lifebringer Hell. I don't know when the fights are starting, though. So who knows how much time we'll have." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“On the island they just..sort of announced the fights, but I don’t think we’ll get away with that here..” Enya picks at the last of her food half-heartedly. “Honestly, even if we do just get thrown in there, I’m still kind of thinking about refusing.” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Hmmm... do you think that would work? Just refusing? I mean, obviously your opponent would have to refuse too, though I haven't met anyone here who seems especially bloodthirsty." She sighed. "I guess I just don't feel the best about... laying down and giving up, even in that sort of scenario." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“Honestly? No. But it’s worth a shot, I feel like. Trust me, I don’t want to let someone….y’know.” The words ‘kill me’ just don’t seem to form. “It doesn’t seem like they want a show here as much as the island did. But if we can figure out how to team up with our opponents somehow or something like that…. I dunno.” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh! Like an alliance!" Kyrie suggested. "The more of us that band together, the harder it'll be for them to stop us!" She liked that idea. She liked being on a team. If there was one concept that made Kyrie feel secure, it was strength in numbers. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“That’s the idea, pretty much,” Enya agrees. “I know for sure those of us who were on the island together will be on board at the very least. Maybe we’ll be able to cover more ground and figure things out that way.” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kyrie nodded firmly. "Right. Once we're done eating, we can go spread the word..." She glanced down at her plate- by now, mostly empty. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Enya’s own plate is already empty, and she grins as Kyrie finishes speaking. “Sounds like a plan,” she says, offering a little two-fingered salute as she stands up from the table. “I’m gonna give tracking down some of the people I know a shot, I think. But shoot me a message on those weird ass tablets if you need anything!” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kyrie mimicked Enya's salute, clearly a bit unfamiliar with the gesture but finding it amusing. She remained at the table to finish eating all her unsalted peanuts. "Yeah, good luck! Don't be afraid to reach out!" @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kyrie mimicked Enya's salute, clearly a bit unfamiliar with the gesture but finding it amusing. She remained at the table to finish eating all her unsalted peanuts. "Yeah, good luck! Don't be afraid to reach out!" @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“You got it!” Enya calls as she leaves.

Here they were!! The food looked great, Carrion could barely hold themselves back from sprinting over to it. “Oooh, what’s- what’s a.. ch-chickadee? Or penguin? Mm, th-there’s a lotta bread there..” @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

Evan quickly followed Carrion. He looked over all of the options with a small smile. “Y-yeah, there’s a lot to choose from- Ch-chickadees are small and little round birds. Penguins are much bigger, and they can swim in water and be on land, too. They’re really cool.” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

Carrion glanced around the room. There were.. two older looking men here. He needed to get something quickly, avoid being seen. “I think I’ve ss- seen a ch-chickadee then! Um, are th- are they brown with, uh.. like a little black thing under the- their mouth.” “Let’s get ss- food q-quickly, okay?” @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“I’ve never seen a chickadee,” Evan’s eyes lit up slightly. “Are they as round as they look in pictures? A-and- Yeah, we can get our food quickly.” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

“I think so! They look all fluffy and, uh.. t-tweet a lot.” Carrion gives another hard look towards the men, before dashing lightly towards the table full of food. They grab a loaf of bread, both round and fruit filled. Then a leg of poultry, some raw red meat, and a hunk of cheese. All held in their arms, not a plate. Carrion takes their spoils towards the door, glancing worriedly between the Evan and the men. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟 (edited)

“Mmhm. They do tweet a lot.” Evan nodded his head in agreement. He sensed Carrion’s nervousness and quickly served himself some food. “Wh-where would you like to sit?” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

“Uhm.. a-away from them. Ssomewhere else- n-not in here, hahaa..” The smile on their face twitched nervously. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“O-okay..” Evan pointed to the other side of the refectory. “Is there o-okay?” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

Carrion shifted nervously. One was wearing that weird mask- couldn’t tell where he was looking- both were big, tall. Yoli wasn’t awake, couldn’t defend- “N- haa, l-let’s go o-outside, I- it’s. Not ss- safe in here..” He stepped closer towards the door. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“O-okay- We can g-go outside,” Evan nodded. He glanced over to the adults in the room. He didn’t necessarily feel threatened by them, but if Carrion did, then Evan would be cautious. “I-it’s nice outside, too.” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

“M-mhm. Let’s go.” Carrion pushed open the door a crack, leading out into the #streets . @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

Evan followed after Carrion. Woo! @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

Naiyta's attendant brought Roman all the way down to the refectory, and sat him at one of the table before bringing out the plates and plates of food they had saved for him- fine meats, fancy cheeses, decadent fancy bread, a good spread of fruit. It all looked pretty good. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 (edited)

Roman had fallen asleep during the descent down the mountain at some point, but as soon he was sat in a chair, he opened up his eyes. "Oh mannnnn," He said and grabbed a fistful of bread and cheese. "I've been waiting so long for this, you might wanna look away I'm gonna eat this like an animal now." And that is what he did! He stuffed his face with one handful of food, and just as he swallowed that one bite, he had another ready. He devoured everything pretty equally- not favoring the bread over the cheese or the meat, just giving everything an equal amount of attention. It seemed like he hardly had any time to taste the food he was eating before he swallowed it in giant gulps- having to pound on his chest a few times to avoid entirely choking on giant mouthfuls of hardly chewed food. He finished off every single one of the dishes, licked off the crumbs, and let out a giant burp before leaning forward on to the table and falling asleep. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

The attendant turned away and guarded Roman as he ate. Once he was asleep, they picked him up again and took him back to his room... @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman was definitely not going to wake up this time. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Mornings suck. Generally, of course, but especially after late and hectic nights, Enya decides as she drags herself to the refectory in search of breakfast. Between the gala, the speech at the gala, and then talking to Valerie, she hadn’t been able to sleep much. Once again, as she piles up her plate, she steers clear of the strange meat section and plops herself down at a random empty bench. She’s left the mask behind, so despite the clothing and handful of differences it’s very noticeably her. Hey, looks like they’re on the same side at least. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Seems like having a rough night and morning was the norm for people around here, because soon after Enya sat down, Ryu strolled in with a loud yawn. She would usually be better with her appearance, but with being woken up so early and given nothing but loose-half robes to wear, Ryu was left looking like your average jacked douche at the gym—Shirtless and with her hair loose in a somewhat deliberate manner. There was a cigarette in her mouth as she grabbed what looked like to be an apple. She took a bite and glanced around at her surroundings, hoping to find some good company... and it seems like the gods had blessed her with some good fortune. "Enya?" Ryu called out to the other woman with a surprised smile. "Yo! Enya!" @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Enya startles at the sound of her name in the otherwise quiet refectory, audibly whacking her knee against the table with a muffled curse. Her head shoots up, recognizing the voice after a second and spotting the other nearby. Oh! “—Shit— Ryu! Hey!” She waves her over with a grin, trying not to point-blank stare. “I was wondering when I was gonna run into you.” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu walked over with a brisk pace, making it to Enya in about three strides. "I was wondering the same! Albanes told me some of my girls were here, so that got me a little excited to see all of you. How have you been? How long has it been since we've seen each other?" Ryu asked with a curious grin. She didn't even bother to ask, Ryu just sat down beside Enya as she spoke. Yippie! A friend! @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“‘My girls’?” Enya asks with a teasing (yet faintly flustered) grin. “Aww. That’s cute. I’ve..been okay, honestly. As much as I can getting kidnapped by god anyways. You?” Ryu’s second question, though, catches her slightly off-guard. “You.. don’t remember? We didn’t, uh, talk that long ago. Maybe a month or so..?” (From Ryu’s perspective, she doesn’t look all that different, but her hair’s a bit longer, she seems just slightly taller, and of course, there’s the large, newer-looking burns stretched across her left side.) @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu easily slipped an arm around Enya's shoulders and gave her a small squeeze. "My girls, yes," she chuckled. Though, her expression became a bit more serious as she heard Enya's reply. "I've been okay. It's only been five days since the island for me, actually. So, for me, it hasn't been long at all," she explained. "Have you been getting into more fights? You got another pretty mark on your face," Ryu asked with a glance. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Enya leans into the touch, though she jolts slightly in surprise at the answer as she shifts to face Ryu more. “Five days??” She repeats, surprise evident. “It’s— It’s been like—“ A slight pause, as she does some quick mental math. “—almost six months or so for me, total…” She winces faintly, though she should’ve expected it, at the next question. “I, ah… Not exactly,” she sighs, rubbing at the scarring on her shoulder. Somehow, explaining it a second time is more embarrassing than anything. “I caused a bit of an… an incident. In my research lab.” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"I've met several people from the same universe as us, but it seems like they've all been picked up at different times. God, I can't even go a week without one of these Lifebringer bitches messing with me," Ryu said with an exaggerated sigh and leaned her head against Enya's. Ryu couldn't help but chuckle a little as she heard Enya's reply. "Always the explosive one, aren't ya?" She said with an endearing smile. "What were you experimenting with?" @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“At least we’re mostly on the same side,” Enya says, though she isn’t really sure how long that will matter. “I’ve only talked to Valerie so far but I’ve been meaning to catch up with Isi too. I was a little worried we’d have to fight again..” She slips her arm out from where it’s caught between the two of them, and after a moment’s hesitation, wraps it around Ryu’s waist. “It took a lot of— basically begging,” she admits, “to get approval for me to join the biofuels development lab. Especially after being a missing person for a week.” That’d been fun to explain to the police when she got back. “They caved eventually, since I’d been fine in my other labs, but on the condition that I work alone and after class hours. Which I was fine with, really. Things went okay for a while, but..“ She shrugs one shoulder, staring down at the table. “I was still pretty jumpy. An undergrad came in while I was there, inevitably broke something, scared the living shit out of me. While I was working in the fume hood. No one should’ve even been within two floors of me.” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Snakes? That's good to hear. I couldn't bear having to be up against any of you. I need to catch up with Val too. Isi is.. hm.. that deer person, right? I don't think I met them at the last place," Ryu hummed. Enya moving her arm around her waist was a little surprising, but Ryu was more than happy to allow the touch to stay. She listened to Enya intently, frowning a bit once she finished. "So some fucker was stupid enough to go somewhere they shouldn't had, and you ended up getting hurt from it," Ryu summarized. "Let me guess, they got mad at you too once everything was cleared over?" @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“Mmm. She kicked the shit out of me,” Enya says fairly nonchalantly. “I didn’t really get to talk to her after all the shit went down after our fight, so I just don’t want her to think I’m mad at her about that or something.” Ryu’s summary kind of hits the nail on the head. “Oh yeah. Wouldn’t say everything’s even cleared over yet,” she chuckles bitterly. “The guy was okay, thank god, but he was still in the hospital for a few days. Plus a good chunk of the lab is, uh. Gone. They’re still deciding whether or not I’m expelled. At least my students thought it was cool their TA was on house arrest.” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Ah, I see. Well, if we're all here, I imagine most of us wouldn't hold too many hard feelings because of the past. Shit was.. complicated. Not like it's any less complicated here, but you know what I mean," Ryu replied with a slanted smile. The rest of Enya's reply did earn a chuckle from Ryu, though. "I'm glad to see your students have good taste at least. You know, if you do get expelled and need help getting to a different uni, I got you covered," Ryu offered with a hum. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“I guess so,” Enya sighs, picking at some of the fruit still on her plate. “I hope at least. I know Valerie wants to get us all together like we did before. Find a way to strike first.” She..doesn’t sound entirely like she believes that’s possible, but it’s an idea at least. A small smile finds its way onto her face as Ryu continues. “I wouldn’t give them that much. Honestly, I refuse to believe I was that stupid as a freshman. But, um, it’s funny you mention that,” Enya continues with a semi-embarrassed laugh. “You, and Val, kind of already helped, actually. Or I guess you. Will help? Shit, I dunno.“ It kind of hurts her brain to think about how they’re from different points in time. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu hummed, leaning her chin on top of Enya's head. "Sounds like the Val I know. Always on top of things," she nodded. "I think we could do it. We did it the first time, what's stopping us this time?" Ryu said with a rather confident tone. She did raise a brow as she listened to Enya, and Ryu slightly moved so she could look at Enya's face. "I have? Well, shit, sounds like me. Sounds like you've already accepted our offers then too. Don't worry about whatever it is--Medical bills, lawyers, whatever it is, I'm sure Val and I can do more than just pay things off," Ryu smiled. There was an extra layer to Ryu's words, but she was sure Enya was smart enough to deduce that by herself. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“True,” she chuckles, enjoying the closeness. It’s hard not to feel a little bit more confident at that, but she’s still hesitant to really consider it. “It’s worth a shot, but they did kind of..let us go, though.” Okay Debbie Downer. The movement surprises her slightly, but not enough to stop brief widened eye contact. “I, uhm— Yes, I did. It’s— I don’t want to ask for more, really, I don’t, I…I should be able to handle it, I….think. Um. The biggest part was me not getting arrested straight out of the hospital which— Yeah. You two helped fix that part, that’s already way more than I could’ve asked….” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske (edited)

"Nah, we gave them a run for their money. I'm sure the Lifebringers here won't be that hard to get over, either. Though, I'd prefer if we just got rid of that blonde one," she hummed as she leaned back down against Enya. Ryu let out a small chuckle and slowly wrapped both her arms around Enya. "You're so humble, Enya. If you ever change your mind, you know Val and I would be more than happy to give a hand," she shrugged with a grin. "Though, I would prefer Val not get her hands dirty. You guys can leave that kind of stuff to me." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“Yeah. They were…” Enya shudders, lost for words for a moment. “Strange.” It’s definitely an understatement, but she has no idea how else to describe that sense of fear and insignificance it brought. Her face reddens, slightly, as Ryu shifts them again. “I know, I know,” she sighs with a smile. “Really, it’s.. I already owe you both enough. I’ll be okay. I’m not sure if getting involved with a program like that one again is a good idea, anyways, not if there’s this high of a risk… And, well.” Assuming we make it out of here, is the implied ending. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu's hands danced lightly on Enya's back and sides, as if Ryu was deciding which spot would be the most comfy to rest on. She ultimately chose to lay her hands against Enya's lower back as she laid her chin into the crux of Enya's shoulder. "That Lifebringer bitch didn't hurt you, did it? I only spoke a few words to them, but it totally pissed me off," Ryu grumbled. She then gently patted Enya. "We'll be fine, glowstone. You'll be right back in another lab before you know it. You gotta show me what you get up to in there, one day. I'm interested in seeing what kind of experiments you do." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Enya leans fully into the touch, eyes drifting shut for only a second, with a small, soft exhale as Ryu’s hands settle. Her skin is warm to the touch like always, but it feels a little warmer than usual. “N-No, it… It didn’t, it just..” She rolls her free wrist slightly. “Had me chained up. We…talked.” Again, an understatement for the utterly confusing—and frankly, terrifying—conversation. She flushes even more at the nickname, but there’s a sudden spark in her eye (not literally, this time) as Ryu finishes.”You… Really?” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu is surprisingly cold. Most would assume she was a warm-bodied person, but Enya would be able to feel the slowness of Ryu's pulse this close. Ryu's heartbeat was steady, monotone, but somehow felt weak. It was like a giant body of stone. She glanced down at Enya's wrist as she rolled them and Ryu gently patted her back once more. "I'm relieved to hear you weren't hurt. I was gonna go and kick that Lifebringer's ass anyways, so another reason wouldn't have hurt," she hummed. "And of course, I do, silly. It must be something exciting if you're always working so hard on your experiments. I wanna know what's got you so interested." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Enya doesn’t mind the coldness one bit. She doesn’t exactly..feel it, in the normal sense, but she can still tell and she presses closer to Ryu as if trying to pass some of her own warmth on. “Getting kidnapped is a pretty good reason already,” she chuckles. Enya shifts, slightly, so she’s able to see Ryu better. “I’m working in— I worked in the lab of one of my thermodynamics professors. My bachelor’s in chemistry, but my master’s going to be chemical engineering, so I’m a little bit behind class-wise but I’ve got enough of the basic prereqs to make a good dent. The group I ended up joining, we don’t do a whole lot of collaborative work which is nice since I wouldn’t be allowed to anyways—they had to make up a new biohazard sign for me, actually—“ Oh boy, she’s rambling now. “—but that’s beside the point. He’s got some stuff with nano-engineering and nitrate reduction, but mine is on the production side. Basically I’m working with hydrogen 24/7. We’re working on developing fuel processors more efficiently to shift over from typical gas and oil. I also branched out into the synthetic biofuels development; I think I like that one better honestly—it feels like more actual chemistry than anything. You can actually take biomass and use it to generate other gas fuel types.” Girl you need to learn how to elevator pitch. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Honestly, there were a few reasons why Ryunoske was in the yakuza. One, nepotism, two, because she was good at it, and three, because she would be too stupid to get a real job. She sat there, pressed against Enya and content with just listening to what the woman had to say. It wasn't everyday Ryu got to hear about fuels and gas and whatever else Enya talked about, so she made sure to pay attention. "So.. basically, you're working on making a new type of fuel? Better stuff for the environment?" Ryu concluded with a curious expression. "That's awesome, glowstone. You're a fucking genius to be able to figure that kind of stuff out," she said with a genuinely impressed voice. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“Pretty much!” Enya nods with a much brighter smile. “Or, well— Technically it already exists but unless it’s made sustainable enough to be profitable no one’s going to buy into it,” she adds with a roll of her eyes. “I’m— I’m still learning,” she deflects, slightly flustered. It’s not quite modesty but she ducks her head, proud smile melting into a warmer one at the compliment. “But thank you. If they, um, ever let me back on campus maybe I can give you a tour.” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Mm, I see. Bastards only care about profit at the end of the day, I suppose. Saving the planet? Who cares about any of the shpeal?" Ryu joked with a laugh. Ryu nuzzled the crook of Enya's neck and exhaled. "I would like that. Hopefully they've rebuilt most of the lab by the time I visit," she chuckled. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“Yeppp.” Enya pops the ‘p’ with a sigh. “Sure would go a hell of a lot faster if we had the same kind of partnerships as the geoengineers. Or the naval ones, those contracts are scary good.” A shiver curls its way down her spine at the breath against her neck. “Con— C-Considering the, um, other construction projects that aren’t done, it’s— probably going to be years,” she manages to guess. “But they’ll— They’ve probably already moved us, honestly..” @ajjjjjjjj (edited)

Ryu hummed in response, still resting her face against Enya. "I see. If there's ever an anonymous donation made to your guy's stuff, don't be surprised, alright," she chuckled. "Ah.. I see. Well, hopefully your new lab is just as nice. Better, actually," Ryu smiled and pulled her face away so she could look up at Enya. "..You're not ticklish, are ya?" She suddenly asked. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Enya sighs with a small shake of her head, though still smiling. “You— You don’t have to do that, really,” she insists weakly, an unspoken thanks in her eyes. “I, mm, hope so too,” she agrees. Though Ryu’s question seems to surprise her and her face reddens again. “I’m— Um. No, I’m not……” Yeah girl. That definitely seems convincing all right. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

The fingers that were so comfortably resting against Enya's back now tread closer towards her sides. "Is that so?" Ryu asked with a low chuckle. Was it a threat? A simple comment? Ryu would let Enya decide. "Well, it's interesting to hear that you've been up to quite some fun stuff. You gotta remember to take breaks and take care of yourself too, though. Knowing you, you're working day in and out," Ryu mused. "Especially after that whole explosion mess. I can sense you're still stressed about that. Have you thought about taking a little vacation?" @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Enya twitches lightly even at that, but still replies (a little hurriedly), “Mhmm. YYup. I’m sure.” “And— I know, it’s just…well, I don’t really have anywhere else I could go just yet,” she shrugs. “I can’t leave the house, other than a few places, until the semester ends anyways; I’ve got office hours and meetings and classes on top of that…. And.. And..now we’re here, anyways…” She adds, shoulders slumping a little. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Hmm.." Ryu's hands (thankfully) don't treak any further than they have and she rests some of her weight back onto Enya. "Should I kidnap you away for a little bit then?" Ryu suggests with an earnest smile. "After we get out of here, of course. You can just say the yakuza threatened you so you had to leave town for a bit. I think getting a date or two in would let you relax. It sounds like you haven't had any fun in the past six months at all." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Enya melts back into the contact easily, a bright laugh escaping her at the idea. “They would probably buy it, honestly. Or start thinking I’m involved given what they think of me now.” “I…guess I can’t really say that I have,” she admits—sure, there were moments where she wasn’t struggling, but for the most part it was a blur of school, hospitals, and home. “A date or two would be..nice.” Her face is fully red now. “Really, um. Really nice.” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"It's a date then," Ryu smiled with a warm laugh. "Do you have any food preferences? I got at least three restaurants for every kind of food out there, so we won't be low on any ideas," she hummed. "But we gotta get out an explore a bit too. Do you dig more amusement parks or quieter places like botanical gardens?" @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Enya’s still trying to process the fact that they’re planning a date, so it takes a moment for the questions to get through. “Wow, that’s— I, um, don’t really eat meat anymore,” she admits, expression twisting slightly before returning back to excitement. “But I like seafood, Italian, Chinese, um— I guess what I’m trying to say is I’m not all that picky,” she laughs softly. “As for a place, I… I like more adventurous stuff, but for a date I think quieter is better.” Enya shifts so she’s leaning back against Ryu’s chest a little more. “What do you like?” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu grinned and leaned against Enya even more. "Perfect! I know this great sushi place in Odaiba! You'll love it, I promise," she chuckled and nuzzled her cheek against Enya's shoulder once more. "Me? Well, I do like a good festival or restaurant, but I'm always down for whatever, honestly. A date is a date as long as you say it is," Ryu smiled. "We could just grab fast food and sit in a park and talk for all I care. I just want to spend time with ya." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“That sounds more than perfect,” Enya agrees, stifling a giggle at the nuzzle as her free hand tucks her hair behind one ear. “I like festivals too,” she continues, “but we don’t get a whole lot unless they’re in Boston—which sucks on a good day with all the traffic. I love parks though. Especially with lakes, I’m.. I just want to spend time with you too.” Another careful, more intimate smile at that, broken by a realization with a sudden snort of amusement. “..Though I guess I might have to finally invest in a passport.” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Well, no need for a passport if we're going under the government's nose anyways. It'll be fine," Ryu chuckled. "There's always something going on in Tokyo, so if we want, after hitting Odaiba, we can head towards there. It's not a big deal," she hummed. After another moment, Ryu finally pulled away from Enya and smiled down at her from her full sitting height. "Does 5pm work for dinner? We can hangout before then too. Make sure you wear something good to walk around in. Oh, and that it won't be too hot to be in either." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“Hmm, I guess you’re right,” Enya hums, a little nervously, but it fades quick. “I think I might see about getting one just to be safe though. …..Also so I can get those little stamps. That’s about equal priority of course.” ‘Smiled down’ is right, all right. Ryu’s certainly got more than a few inches over her. “That’s definitely good with me,” she grins. “I think I’ve got a few things in mind that’ll work.” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryunoske nodded and smiled warmly at Enya. "Very well. If you prefer that, then I would let you do what you're comfortable with," she hummed. "What do you have in mind? We can match. Though, I do need to do better in the color department, so I maaay need to get a few more pieces if you're planning to do something more colorful." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“I definitely like wearing brighter stuff. For casual I usually default to jean or overalls, but I’ve been trying to get out of that,” Enya chuckles. “I’ve been experimenting with sundresses.” It sounds kind of funny coming after her science rant before. She shrugs one shoulder, gaze flicking to Ryu’s tattoos briefly before back to meet her eyes. “Hmm. What’s your favorite color?” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu hummed as she looked down at Enya. "Hmm.. sundresses, huh? I think you'd look really cute in a yellow one," she smiled. She then turned a bit towards the plate of food Enya had set out and picked a piece of fruit, taking a bite before answering. "Me? Hmm, I've always been a blue person," Ryu said, her gaze flickering to Enya's eyes. "It's an.. alluring color. I'm fond of it." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Enya flushes deep at that, speechless for a moment, and she snags her own piece of fruit from the plate to give herself a second to recover. “ Y-Yeah? That does actually happen to be my favorite, how’d you guess?” Ryu’s answer surprises her, a little, though maybe she could’ve guessed from her hair. “O-Oh? Alluring, huh? What makes you say that?” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryunoske chuckled warmly and gently tucked a loose strand of Enya's hair behind her ear. "I just thought it'd look good on you is all. Lucky guess," Ryu said with a playful wink. "As for why I think it's alluring, well," Ryu smirked a bit as she locked eyes with Enya. "It reminds me of some of my favorite people. That's all." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Enya’s eyes close briefly at the soft touch, and she opens them to see Ryu’s smirking eye contact. It’s enough to make her knees feel weak—and she’s sitting down. “Well, I’m sure that makes those people feel very special,” she somehow manages to get out confidently, yet voice softened, and without the urge to bury her reddened face beneath her arms on the table. Without following up on it at least. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu chuckled, earnestly and warm. "I hope so," she simply says as she rests her hand against Enya's cheek. Ryu's thumb gently brushed against some of Enya's skin, tracing some of the scars on her face, before she slowly withdrew away. "It's nice to talk to you again, glowstone. I feel pretty rejuvenated." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

She leans into Ryu’s hand, the brush against the scars leaving some of the newer parts tingling after it faintly. “Mmmm. I’m glad,” Enya sighs happily, smile loose and relieved. “It’s really nice to talk to you again too, Ry. I’ve missed you in person like this.” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

It was nice to hear that she was missed. Honestly, Ryu hadn't thought that anyone from that cursed island would, save for maybe Kal (because he's a lovable idiot) and Val (because she loves idiots). Ryu wouldn't ever say it, but it was a nice feeling. "I'm glad it's a mutual feeling then, glowstone. I think I've taken up enough of your time now, but let's talk again soon, alright?" Ryu smiled warmly as she started to get up from her seat. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Enya’s slightly disappointed for a second, even as realistically she knows they can’t stay here forever. “Alright,” she sighs, excessively dramatically, though the teasing smile on her face betrays her. “You know where to look for me,” she adds, then wiggles the tablet in the air briefly too. “Or here. Let me know if you run into anyone else we know?” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu softly laughed as Enya dramatically sighed, but nodded. "Mhm, of course. I sure hope whoever else is here, it's someone good," she lightly joked as she stretched her shoulder a bit. Though, before she fully left, Ryu suddenly bent down and placed a small kiss to Enya's cheek. "I'll see you later, glowstone," Ryu winked before walking away. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫 (edited)

Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu softly laughed as Enya dramatically sighed, but nodded. "Mhm, of course. I sure hope whoever else is here, it's someone good," she lightly joked as she stretched her shoulder a bit. Though, before she fully left, Ryu suddenly bent down and placed a small kiss to Enya's cheek. "I'll see you later, glowstone," Ryu winked before walking away. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫 (edited)

Enya straightens in surprise, mouth dropping open slightly as Ryu walks away. She stares after her, face beet red, and then drops her head into her arms on the table with a quiet, embarrassingly high laugh to herself. She stays behind in the refectory for a little while longer with the rest of her food to finish up—as well as waiting for her heart to stop racing. Christ. Ryu’s going to be the death of her if she keeps this up.

Well, Naiyta's here now! It ignores the food offerings in the buffet, and finds a spot to sit at an empty table. It waits impatiently for Roman to follow... @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Shortly after Naiyta had found a seat, Roman entered the room. "Excellent choice of seating, my lord." He smiled and placed one plate in front of it, and the other at the seat right next to them. Both plates were pretty similar: Meat, baked veggies (though Roman's lacked the radish that Naiyta had), and two brown crumbly cookies topped with walnut. He didn't bring any silverware. The meat also seemed to be different for each plate.. "Dig in!" Roman smiled and leaned his head on his hand, staring at Naiyta. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta's restless impatience seemed to ease as Roman entered, and set their plate down in front of them. It took a moment to simply marvel at the presentation of the food. "It looks wonderful, thank you." It complimented. Even before Roman had indicated it was okay to start, Naiyta had begun to eat. They picked up slices of meat with their bare hands, not caring if it was too hot or too messy, and shoved them irreverently into their mouth. Though it ate messily, like an infant first moving to solid foods, or a starved animal caring more for satisfaction than etiquette, it did not eat quickly- Naiyta savored every bite, licked excess off of their hands and lips. They enjoyed every nuance of flavor, texture and presentation it could. Unsurprisingly, the meat on their plate was vanishing at a far quicker pace than anything else. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman watched with interest as well. He seemed to get almost as much enjoyment out of watching Naiyta as it got eating.. He squirmed in his seat and bit his lip. His plate sat entirely untouched as he just watched Naiyta. He moved his feet under the table and locked his legs around Naiyta's. "After this is- ah- done-" Roman moved around in his seat again. "- Could we go back to your room, my lord? Please?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

More than a few breathy, moan-like noises escaped Naiyta in between bites. They paused only as Roman asked the question, and looked over him- savoring the sight almost as much as they'd savored the taste of his flesh. "Yes- oh, yes, Roman. Of course. I would want nothing more." Its voice drawled in euphoric anticipation. "You know, you taste so good when you've prepared it yourself." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman squealed a bit at hearing Naiyta's approval. He kicked his legs, not caring that they were still locked around theirs. "Thank you, you're too kind... And there is much more where that comes from." He giggled, and finally turned to eat his own food. Needless to say, he ate his food like much more of a normal person. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta hummed affectionately. "I sincerely hope there is." It returned to its meal as Roman began his, much in the same manner as before. Once they had finished with the meat, they continued to the vegetables and cookies, eating those in a far more presentable, less feral way. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman scarfed down his whole plate pretty quick. "Heh, I still got my skills after this year of not cooking." Roman chuckled and picked some stray herb out of his teeth. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I'll say." Naiyta smiled as they ate the last of their walnut cookies. "You really impressed me today. I'll have to have you cook again for me sometime." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"There's only so many ways that I can cook the meat to maintain the flavor, but I can change up the sides and desert." Roman nodded. "Now.. Would you like to get going? I know last night you mentioned trying to get me to last longer.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I would." Naiyta hummed, briefly cupping Roman's jaw and tracing his lip before standing. "You'll be able to serve me better with a bit more endurance. Let's get going." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman leaned in to its touch and stood up with it. He followed Naiyta out of the room, close at their heels. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta brought Kallum to the refectory- evidently, they were among the first to arrive. Reagan was coordinating with some of the attendants, who were bringing out the same food they'd served at the gala. There was also something new being offered.... plain whole-wheat toast. "Well, here you are." Naiyta said to Kallum. @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Kallum looked around the refectory, his eyes falling to the toast. "Toast is good," he mumbled to himself. "Is there going to be drinks?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta found Kallum to be very direct. "Yes. Wine will be served all evening. Would you like a glass?" @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Kallum blinked. Blink blonk. "...real wine?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Yes." Naiyta nodded, somewhat taken aback. "We... only serve real wine." @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Kallum averted his gaze. Ashamed. "No fake wine?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"No fake wine." Naiyta said, then repeated. "Can I get you a glass?" @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

"I haven't had Real Wine." Kallum stared at the floor. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Well, you can now." Naiyta said. @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Kallum almost immediately looked up at Naiyta, shocked. "I- it would affect my behaviour." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"And? Now, of any time, you are allowed to let loose." @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Kallum stared with the stare of someone who had never heard of such a thing. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"You won. Now is the time to celebrate." Naiyta hummed. "I'll go get you a glass of wine.' @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

9:44 AM

(coercion tw)

It sounded like an order- a decision, so Kallum did not argue. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta briefly departed to the serving area, and returned with two metal cups of wine. "For you," It handed one to Kallum, and took a sip of their own. @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Kallum watched Naiyta take a sip and promptly did so as well - and immediately spat it back out again, running his teeth along his tongue in absolute disgust. He much preferred fake wine. "Why does it taste like that?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta grimaced as Kallum spat out his wine. "Have decorum. You aren't a child." @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

"It's bad," was all he said, doing his own grimace at the horrible taste that still lingered on his tongue. He couldn't think of anything else but how to get rid of it. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Then, don't drink it. But don't act like a baby about it." Naiyta scoffed. @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

"But- you gave it to me." His voice was quieter now, though mostly because the taste was still in his mouth. His eyes fell to the toast being put out. That could absorb the bad taste. Bread did that. He stepped toward it. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"If it does not suit your taste, you shouldn't eat it. But act respectfully among those above you." Naiyta chastised, and did not move to stop Kallum from taking the bread. @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

"You gave it to me," Kallum repeated, not argumentative, genuinely confused. He took a piece of toast and chomped down on it, pushing the bread he'd bitten off against his tongue, now back in his mouth. Yay. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Then, drink it if you want. I don't care." It shrugged, and took another sip of their own wine. @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Kallum set the wine down on the closest table to him. He did not want to drink it. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta watched Kallum with a challenging expression, and waited for what he'd do next. @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Kallum... ate the toast, looking at Naiyta as he took another bite. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Are you enjoying yourself, my little soldier?" @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Kallum blinked. "It's good toast. So. Yes." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I'm glad." Naiyta nodded. "You deserve to celebrate, after your victory." @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Kallum nodded. "You're supposed to celebrate after a victory. But we had fake wine." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"You're an adult, aren't you? You, at least, deserve some actual alcohol." @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

"Drinking makes people say things they shouldn't. And it can affect our powers," Kallum replied, almost automatically. Another chomp on the toast. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Are you not strong enough to maintain composure?" @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

"I- I am strong- but I shouldn't drink real wine," was Kallum could say in weak, hesitant argument. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"It sounds like you're afraid... oh well. If you say you don't want it, you don't have to drink it." Naiyta shrugged. @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Kallum's eyes widened, then narrowed, then he remembered his place and forced his eyes to open again. "I'm not afraid." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Really?" Naiyta refuted, disbeliving and mocking. @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

"No- I mean, I'm not. Afraid." Kallum's face burned. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Then why are you so hesitant?" Naiyta asked. @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

"I've never. Drunk real wine before." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"That's been established. And it's a problem you can very easily solve." Naiyta countered. @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Kallum stared at his toast. Took another bite. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Though, again, it doesn't matter if you don't want to." Naiyta shrugged. "Enjoy your feast, little soldier. I hope you perform well going forth." It said, before walking off. @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Kallum could hear both meanings. He picked up his glass of wine and hesitantly sipped before biting into his toast again. He was not afraid. He began to trail after Naiyta, keeping some space behind them, unsure. Uncertain. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta didn't initially notice Kallum's following, but when it did, it spun back at him with a thinly-masked annoyance. "Don't follow me if I do not ask you to." @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Kallum stopped immediately. He nodded and stared at the ground. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Kallum stopped immediately. He nodded and stared at the ground. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta walked off.

... A time after Naiyta had walked away from Kallum, there was a certain bird trying to sneak in to the event.. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Roman," Naiyta smiled as it noticed him trying to enter. "You're going to have to be more subtle if you don't want to be noticed. But, ah-" They took in his appearance, and made a pleased humming sound. "You fixed your hair." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman had been crouch walking in with a white tablecloth wrapped around his shoulders. Not super subtle.. "Oh Naiyta- yes, I did! And it took me sooooo long to get it just the way you'd like it that I didn't get a chance to eat dinner, and I'm just starving! I don't mean to intrude, but if you have room for a plus oneeeeee... I wouldn't say no." Roman smiled and blinked innocently. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (edited)

Naiyta neared Roman, and reached out to touch his hair. "You look almost perfect... if it was a bit longer, hmm..." It tilted its head slightly at his request. "Ahhh... what's the harm in bending the rules just once- you can stay. But I can't make a habit of letting you places you technically aren't supposed to be." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman's hair now stood up mostly on its own about four inches off of his scalp in lose brown curls. It was soft and bouncy to the touch. "It is pretty long, it's just all curled up. It's like to my shoulders if it's not all up." Roman said. "But if you want it longer.. If I eat a lot of good protein and oil tonight I should be able to grow it longer tonight with my powers." "Aaaaaand thank you, you're so kind and gracious. I won't forget about this." Roman smiled and held his hands out toward Naiyta. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Hm- I'd like it so it reaches your shoulders. A bit longer than that, actually- to about here." They placed their hands on his collarbone, indicating how long they'd like his hair to reach. "Longer in the back. I suppose we'll have to feed you well tonight, then." It took Roman's hands in its own, lifting one to its mouth but only planting a light kiss on his knuckle. "Let's get you something to eat." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman looked down to where Naiyta had put its hand. For a brief moment, uncertainty crossed his face. That was quite a lot of hair.. He would need to more then double the length overnight, once it got long enough the curls would start to stretch themselves out with proper care just with the weight of it, but still quite a lot of new hair. ... Which had to come from somewhere. And he really doubted he could eat enough tonight to make up for it. All that uncertainty washed away as Naiyta kissed his hand, replaced by a gentle blush instead. "Mhm, anything for you, my lord. Let's get going." He nodded and smiled. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta led Roman over to where the food was being served, and picked up a plate. "Now, what can I get you tonight?" They seemed to be in a... very generous mood. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oh wow and you're serving it too, that's too kind." Roman hummed. "Fish, eggs, and nuts would all be good for the oil and collagen. Berries, spinach, sweet potato too.. Got anything like that?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"We have all but the sweet potato." Naiyta hummed, and began serving up a plate for Roman, with everything he had requested. "Would you like any toast? Courtesy of our new victor's preferences." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. like a toast?" Roman asked, then looked down to the table to see.. Actual toast. ".. oh. Is there anything special on it or..?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Nope! It's just plain toast." Naiyta hummed. "Because that's what Kallum likes, apparently." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. I'm alright, my lord. I think I'd rather fill my stomach with more. Um. Nutritious things tonight." Roman mumbled. ".. did Kallum ask for this??" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Very well." Naiyta hummed, and continued serving up Roman's plate. "Not explicitly. But the victors are to be rewarded for their efforts." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"What do I get if I win?" Roman asked, genuinely. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"That depends. What's your favorite thing to eat?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. Oh man, I dunno.. It's been a while since I could really even think about eating." Roman thought for a while, deeply. "Well there's one thing I'd like again but I don't really think you could ethically source it so.. Hm. My grandpa used to make me mandazi on Sundays if I was extra good that week, and it's been ages since I've had that. I think that would be good. One time he made me chocolate and strawberry sauce too go with it too, that was extra special." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta nodded. "Mhm, we should definitely be able to get that for you. Though, I can't gurantee the cooks will be able to replicate any specific family recipes." It hummed. "I am curious, though. What were you going to say first, the one that would be unethical?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oh, just Roque's blood.. It's been so long since I had it." Roman smiled. "But, I really doubt you'd be able to get that." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Ohhhh..." Naiyta nodded. "You're right, I probably wouldn't be able to get that, specifically. But if it's blood you crave, I can provide some, just from... another body." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. Nah, not really. It's mostly Roque's blood I want. I figured I'd keep begging people around here for theirs, and I'm.. Not going to drink that goat blood." All this speaking of blood was making him hungry.. A certain hunger that food could no longer fill for him. When was the last time he had gotten blood..? Reagan? "Where would you get it from?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Ah, alright." Naiyta hummed, the slightest hint of disapproval in their tone. It smiled. "Oh- I have my sources." Its tone suggested that source wasn't their own body. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Sorry, eating animal blood dilutes my powers, I really can't do it too much without having to go through my blood dimension and clean it out." Roman sighed. "And what are these.. Sources?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"It's not something I want to discuss in public. I'll tell you later." Naiyta hummed. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oh wow, alrighty then." Roman said. "Would it be like that one I drank for you in that first room? That one tasted kinda.. funny." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"... Maybe." Naiyta said unhelpfully. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mm.. That one tasted a bit animal like, in my opinion." He said. "Anyway, I think that plate is full enough for now, I'm not even sure I can eat all that.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Very well." Naiyta took up the plate, now full of all the foods Roman had specified. They walked back to the table they and Roman had eaten at before. "There you go." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Aww, you remembered what table we ate at." Roman smiled, despite that only being a few hours ago. He pulled out a seat in front of them and gestured to it. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Of course. It is our table." Naiyta said. They took the seat, despite not having any food of their own. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman, instead of sitting down on the seat next to them, chose instead to sit directly on their lap. "Mm, we should put our names on it or something." Roman chuckled and settled in. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta didn't seem to mind the proximity- instead, they wrapped a hand around his waist. "Maybe we should." It hummed lightly. "Rather juvenile, but it would be fun to leave our mark on this place." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman picked up the plate and glanced around the table for a second before shrugging and picking up the food with his hands. "We could carve our initials in with my blood daggers! That would be fun!" Roman smiled and ate a handful of random food from the plate. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Ohhh, that's certainly an idea." Naiyta watched Roman eat with intense interest. "I don't think you've shown me your daggers before." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman quickly swallowed whatever he was eating as Naiyta replied. "Well now that my hair is short I can't really tie up my drumsticks- but those change in to the daggers. I can show you if you want." Roman smiled and kicked his legs a little. "I just figured you'd think they were stupid, since you hate my blood dimension so much." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta did not comment on Roman's change in hair- not in this situation. "Mhm... still, I do have a fondness for knives. I would like to see them, at some point." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mm! When I'm done eating I can show you. I've been considering wearing my items as jewelry or something so I can still access them easily. A bracelet or necklace or something that I can change in to the drumsticks or daggers if I need it." Roman said and ate another handful. "They're pretty cool." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I think a necklace would suit you well." Naiyta hummed, their hand once again finding his collarbone. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman squirmed, just a tad, as Naiyta touched his collarbone. He was so thin, it was basically a mountain across his chest. "It would have to be a pretty chunky one.. Something more like a collar, I think." He smiled. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"A collar..." Naiyta's hand and bright gaze traveled up to Roman's neck. "I think that would suit you even better." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman took another big bite of food, just so Naiyta could feel him swallow it. "Would you want anything on it?" Roman asked. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta kept its hand on Roman's throat, seeming to savor every movement of his swallow. "Ahhh, hm. Make it so I can easily grab you by it, I think that'd be fun." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Of course." Roman nodded. "On the front or back?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Front. That'll be more accessible during the... activities I prefer with you. Besides, I like being able to see your beautiful face." It's hand moved up to cup his cheek. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Awe, you're sweet." Roman smiled and leaned in to Naiyta's hand. "You should feed me the rest of the plate." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Of course," Naiyta smiled, and picked up one of the berries Roman hadn't yet eaten. "Open up." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman gaped his mouth open wide, much longer than it really had to be to eat a singular berry. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta slipped their fingers into Roman's mouth, and placed the berry on his tongue. It didn't immediately retract its fingers though, instead taking the opportunity to explore Roman's mouth with its hand- his tongue, his teeth, all of it. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Well, his mouth was pretty normal, besides his sharpened canines. He also had a small piercing on his tongue, one that Naiyta would already be very familiar with by now. Roman closed his mouth around Naiyta's fingers so he could suck on them and lick off the small amount of berry juice that was on them. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta let out a soft, almost surprised but definitely pleased hum as Roman began sucking on its fingers. "Ah- keep that up, won't you?" As this went on, Roman would begin to feel a faint chill in the back of his head- something almost unnoticeable at first, but soon became unbearable and unignorable. It came with a message, artificially placed in his mind like all the announcements:

'WHATTHEFUCKWHATTHEFUCKWHATTHEFUCKAREYOU
DOINGWHATTHEFUCK'

@Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman tried to ignore the feeling for a while. It was probably just because of Naiyta's weird cold fingers... But as soon as that message popped in to his head, he literally choked and startled so bad that he slipped off of Naiyta's lap and off the seat entirely. He hit the ground with a thump and shouted in pain for just a moment, before rolling over to his stomach and putting his hands on his back as he kicked his legs pathetically. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Armand is here. He may be a freak, but he's instantly regretting this decision. He's still here though, looking away as he inches towards the food. Don't mind him. Please God do not mind him.

Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman tried to ignore the feeling for a while. It was probably just because of Naiyta's weird cold fingers... But as soon as that message popped in to his head, he literally choked and startled so bad that he slipped off of Naiyta's lap and off the seat entirely. He hit the ground with a thump and shouted in pain for just a moment, before rolling over to his stomach and putting his hands on his back as he kicked his legs pathetically. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Ah- Roman-" Naiyta exclaimed as Roman suddenly choked on its fingers. Though they were thrust forward by his fall, their fingers easily dislodged from his throat, and they stood up on their own. It bent down beside him, and placed a hand lightly on his throat, healing any irritation the choking may have caused. "What happened?" 'SORRY' The message continued. 'YOUR FAULT FOR BEING A WEIRDO.' (edited)

10:00 PM

@Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

It didn't seem like he had much actual damage there. "Uh-" He coughed to clear his throat again. There was a dark blush over his face, which he just decided to put against the floor to avoid seeing anyone. "I thought I felt a bug on my leg, sorry." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kallum was staring at Roman now. Great going Roman.

Naiyta's brow furrowed disbelievingly. "Oh. Well, there isn't any bugs, I can assure you. Are you hurt in any other way?" The messages stopped, and the chill faded. For now. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. It felt like a big one, with one billion legs." Roman said and pushed himself on to his knees. "But I'm fine, I just kind of hit my back when I fell." As he was sitting on his knees, he became keenly aware of how sparsely the venue was populated, and how many of the few were here were staring at him. He moved his hands over his eyes and leaned over. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"That's good. Shall we continue where we left off?" Of all the few people in the refectory, Reagan seemed to be giving him a pretty intense stare. Though, their gaze was mostly hidden by the mask. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Maybe uh- later.." Roman mumbled and sunk down even more. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta's gaze darkened. "Hm. Are you certain?" It was a challenge. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman had curled up in to quite a tight little ball. "I don't want to do this out here right now, I'm serious." Roman said weakly. ".. Th-that guy who won the fight he was- staring. It made me feel weird." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Very well." Naiyta said, their tone nothing but cold. "Perhaps, later. In private." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Yes, later.." Roman said and sat up slightly. He looked ashamed- and not just from the mental message and other stares. Naiyta's sudden change in demeanor, it was incredibly discouraging. Roque wasn't so quick to turn on him. "I'm sorry, Naiyta. I'm sorry." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Apologize to me when I'm not in such a sour mood." Naiyta said. "I have matters to attend to, now. I don't have time for... distractions." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"..." Roman just frowned, and slowly grabbed the plate that was half empty. "Okay. Have a pleasant night, my lord." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta, pointedly, did not return the kind words. It walked off. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

After regaining his composure for a short while, Roman stood up with some support from the table. He shuffled toward the exit, sparing Reagan one half apologetic glance before continuing his path. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

After regaining his composure for a short while, Roman stood up with some support from the table. He shuffled toward the exit, sparing Reagan one half apologetic glance before continuing his path. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan had quickly diverted their attention elsewhere, but watched Roman as he left.

Toast and fancy cheese. Not bad! Pity there was no toaster. Seki sat down and munched on a tasty snack. @sketti | Isi 🦌

Though going to that 'victory' party hadn't felt right in the slightest, Isi had needed to eat. Some of the food did look pretty nice, anyway. Looking around, she spotted Seki, relieved she knew someone. She walked up to where Seki was sitting. "Hi! Seki, right? Would you mind if I ate with you?" @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki turned to Isi, and smiled as much as she could with their mouth full of food. "Hi! Mhm, go ahead", they mumbled, covering their mouth with one hand and gesturing to a chair with the other. @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi smiled and nodded in thanks, sitting down. She herself just had some bread and mixed fruits. "How was the party?" She asked before she started to eat. She'd only realized she entirely missed it after helping Carrion and hadn't felt like going back for it. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Well, Roman hadn't managed to entirely leave the venue.. As soon as he was crossing the threshold, Asha was entering. She was flustered and shaking her hands out, and not paying nearly enough attention. "Urgh- watch out!" Roman squeaked and ducked out of the way, managing to not spill his plate. Asha instantly stopped whatever she was doing and looked over at him. That voice was umistakable, even if his tone was.. Different than what she was used to. "Roman!" Asha exclaimed and moved her hands over her mouth. Was this really him? He looked awful, hardly more than a walking skeleton.. And his hair.. When had he ever left it like that? And all those piercings.. And scars.. And why was he wearing his robe like that?! So young and hurt.. He even smelled like death. Was this all because of Roque? "Wh- who are.. Wait- Asha?" Roman paused entirely, and the two maintained an unsteady eye contact. He hadn't seen her since.. Well, since her wedding night. Roque had kept him extremely out of the loop with anything going on in Mlipuko, to the point where he had assumed Asha died that night up until he saw her text in that chat. She had some burn scars, and one of her eyes was discolored.. And she had definitely gained weight. Aaaaaand she was much older. Why did she look so concerned about him, hell, why did she even know his name? He was a nobody back in that village when she would have known him.. She wouldn't even have known him from school like Roque had. She was in an entirely different social class to him. "Roman.." Asha whispered. With shaking hands she reached out and cupped his face, turning his head from side to side ever so slowly to get a good look at him. He didn't protest, but he definitely stared right back at her. Once she had taken in his entire face, her hands sank down to his sides. She visibly winced as her fingers slid across his protruding ribs. "Uh- please stop touching me why are you-" Roman could only begin to say before she yanked him in to a hug. He held his arms out to either side, balancing his plate of food in his right hand. "Eek! Ow-" "I-I'm sorry- I.. You probably don't know, but you're my husband in a different universe. I think you're all wrong because of Roque- I'm sorry.. She hurt you so much. I don't even know how this could have happened you look even younger than when we had met-" Wait, she married him? The Motomja moved on from Kaizer to him? How.. Moreso, why? What would he have been like had Roque not.. Taken him with her? "I know it might be hard to believe but I know you. You always wanted to name your daughter Kaisa ever since you were little, it was your great grandmother's name." Asha said. "And-" "What? Uh, hate to break it to you Asha, but uh. That's not my great grandmothers name and um.. I never wanted kids, basically my entire life I knew that." Roman said. Asha pulled back. ".. We have three kids, Roman. You- you seem happy.." Asha frowned. "You.. I let you choose the name of our last daughter, you said.. You said you always liked the name Kaisa." "THREE?!" Roman exclaimed. "No that sounds awful- and I've never even thought about that name before. It sounds like Kaizer- oh my God- I bet that's why I said that. I think that other me named that kid after your dead husband to make you happy." Asha was dumbfounded.

7:42 PM

. "But-.. Nevermind, are you okay? Did Roque do all this to you?" Asha asked quietly. "Did she do it to me? Uh, no, not really.. She just gave me the opportunity to embrace who I really am." Roman shrugged. "She's not that bad when you get to know her, you know." "... You should know. She was behind the bandits that killed hundreds of us, and left nearly everyone else severely wounded, wasn't she?" "..." Roman hummed for a moment. "Yes, it was her. And that was the night she took me as well- or, well, had someone else take me before she faked her own injuries. Once she had healed she came and healed me as well. That's why I'm not all burned up like you." Asha could hardly be mad about this, she had already had her anger years ago. Deep down, she knew it was Roque, and she had blamed her the whole time. This was just a confirmation, many years after her rage had subsided. ".. Maybe she fixed you, after she hurt you, but that doesn't make her a good person worthy of your time." Asha tried to explain. "She wiped out half of Mlipuko's people, and destroyed nearly all of it, Roman. Maybe you never got to see the carnage. She did it on my wedding night, she killed my baby and Kaizer on the same night. My parents, your grandfather, dead. For no reason-" "Wait, are you seriously that dense, Asha? You think she did that for no reason? None at all?" Roman asked. "For no good reason, Roman. Whatever her problem was, it couldn't have been that serious." Asha glanced away for a moment. "Hah, no good reason.. Let me guess, you're the judge of that too?" Roman put his free hand on his hip. "Roman-" Asha said more harshly. "Are you seriously talking about that? I was fifteen-" "And so was Roque, Asha." Roman said calmly. "You knew her, you were friends with her, before you got those powers that made you sooooooo much better than everyone else. Maybe she had her issues, but you really think she would lie about something so serious? Get fucking real, Asha." "I-" Asha only spoke for a moment before Roman moved his hand up from his hip to cover her mouth. (Sexual assault discussion TW) "No, shh. You stand here and think about it. I don't care how old you might be here now, to me everything is still fresh in my mind. Everything she told me, everything I was there to see. You weren't in that school, you didn't see how he treated her different than all the other students, you weren't there the day it happened, you weren't there to witness her spiral in the following days. You were only there to announce to the entire village that she was an attention-seeking liar with your stupid boyfriend." Asha tried to speak, but Roman kept his hand on tight. Tears fell from the corners of her eyes and down his hand. "I literally don't care about what your defense is. Or that you were fifteen. That was the day her entire life basically ended. Think about what you would have done if your roles had been switched. What lengths you would have gone..." Roman hummed and took his hand away. He wiped the back of his hand off on his skirt and did a little bow. "Now, I hope you have a pleasant night, Asha. You have a lot to think about. And if you ever get home, to talk to me about.. Bye!" Roman walked out, still holding on to that plate. Asha just stood there, moving her own hands over her mouth and crying.

sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi smiled and nodded in thanks, sitting down. She herself just had some bread and mixed fruits. "How was the party?" She asked before she started to eat. She'd only realized she entirely missed it after helping Carrion and hadn't felt like going back for it. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Mm.." Seki swallowed. "This one or the previous one? This one's pretty boring. Not much people and everyone's understandably on edge. And I just came here, so I might've missed stuff. But the gala was pretty fun! I got to dance with a fun, pretty lady, and the music was surprisingly good too, heh. How have you been?" @sketti | Isi 🦌 (edited)

Isi laughed apologetically. "The last one- didn't end up getting to go. I'm glad it was nice! Dancing with a pretty lady is always a plus too" she smiled. She made no comment on this party, but frowned and nodded when Seki said everyone was on edge. "I've been alright! I think I've made a friend, so missing the gala wasn't for nothing" she replied.

10:26 AM

@Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Yeah, it was really fun", Seki chuckled. "Aw, that's so nice! I've met some great people too, but I'm not sure anyone sees me as a friend yet. Who's your buddy?" she smiled. @sketti | Isi 🦌

Naiyta and Reagan have mysteriously left the area....

Asha had only just sat down at a table with her plate of food. Her tears hadn't even dried up from her and Roman's conversation. She didn't get up. She just sat there as her breathing became rapid.

A few snake masked attendants came over to Asha. "Your fight is happening. You must report to the arena." One said to her in a neutral voice. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Asha continued to sit there on the verge of a panic attack. She could hardly even hear them speak, but she weakly shook her head in response to.. whatever it was they were telling her. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

The attendant that had spoken carefully neared Asha and put a hand on her shoulder to coax her up. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Without a thought, Asha slapped the hand away. She put her hands over her ears and just kept shaking her head with her eyes squeezed shut. She wasn't moving. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

The attendant put their hand back, and continued moving Asha up. "We will use force if necessary." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

She wasn't listening at this point either. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

The attendant kept trying to coax her up. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

.. And Asha kept slapping the hands away. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Another of the three attendants stepped forward, and with that help they were able to bring Asha up to her feet. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

As she was lifted off of her seat, her eyes shot open. "L-let go of me!" She screamed and shoved them off of her, causing one of them to fall on to the ground. "I'm not going! M-move that fight back!" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"You have to go." The attendant replied. They took ahold of Asha again, and began taking her out of the arena. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Stop!" Asha screamed again and tried to dig her heels in to the ground. Seeing as they weren't stopping, she tried to direct her attention instead to the few people lingering around the room.. "Help! H-help me! Stop them!" But no one would. So... Off she went! @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Yeah, it was really fun", Seki chuckled. "Aw, that's so nice! I've met some great people too, but I'm not sure anyone sees me as a friend yet. Who's your buddy?" she smiled. @sketti | Isi 🦌

(this might be time bubbled now im not sure Hlashdfls im sorry i ddint think before putting Isi in the stands) Isi tilted her head. She liked Seki, definitely pictured her as a friend if they got to know her better, at least. "His names Carrion! He took a bad fall in the courtyard and I helped him out a bit. I think they're really nice" Isi could hear the fight announcement, jerking her head up.

(nw nw! we can just move them there quickly x3 ) "Aw, that's really nice of you. I haven't met Carrion yet, but I'm glad you-" Seki's fur bristled and their expression shifted when the announcement came, making her look scared and angry. They shook their head intensely afterwards, ears and hair fluttering. "Ugh... I hate when they do that... And again? We just had a fight! The boy's ashes haven't probably even cooled down yet..." his voice trailed off, and he sighed. He looked up to Isi. "Do you want to go?" @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi hugged herself a little bit, a grimace on her face as she shook her head at the voice. They let their shoulders drop, forcing themselves to be calmer. Looking at Seki, Isi nodded hesitantly. "I'll go if you will?" she offered. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki nodded and smiled slightly. "Okay. And y'know, we don't need to stay the whole time." Seki stood up, and took her food with her. @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi took a little food with her as well. "We'll just see how it goes" Isi smiled back it Seki, following them out. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Peregrine wasn't one to shun a party. It was where he thrived after all, where he was born to be. And so, he'd made his entrance, albeit far more relaxed than most entrances he made, sauntering in and picking at - and picking up nothing - the table of food. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Well, it wasn't very much of a party. Kairas was the only one really there, outside of the attendants bringing out food, and even once Peregrine entered she only glanced over him with mild interest, devoting most of her energy to organizing the layout of the dishes. @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Peregrine huffed at the failure of this event, so of course he sidled up to the only other person there. "What a drag, mm?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kairas turned away from him, pointedly ignoring his advances without even a reply. @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Peregrine sighed dramatically. "I fear there's truly nobody fun here, aside from that sad sap with Roque's eyes... Ryu won't even entertain me. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"You'll have to look elsewhere. It's not my purpose to entertain." Kairas hummed, her voice flat and devoid of emotion. @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

"Look elsewhere? Where else is there to look?" Peregrine leaned in, practically purring in her ear. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kairas turned around, almost making a show of hitting Peregrine in the face with her wing, and walked away from him. "Anywhere. But I can guarantee you won't find what you're looking for with me." @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Peregrine cackled, extending a finger so it just about touched to trace her wing. "No? And what do you suppose I'm looking for? For all you know it could be... well, nothing springs to mind that would likely appeal to both of us, but you understand what I mean." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kairas moved away before Peregrine could touch her. "Whatever it is, providing it is not my job." @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Peregrine fake pouted. "Oh darling, so mean~ but I've heard your god may just be... well, I'm not sure it they're the giving or taking sort, but I would love to find out. Shouldn't you live and learn from them?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Not necessarily. It doesn't concern me what the Lifebringer does for pleasure, nor does it influence my own choices." @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Peregrine huffed. "How boring." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kairas simply turned away from him. "You're one to talk, if this is the only topic you can converse about." @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

"See, the thing is, my topic is naturally entertaining. You... well, look at you." He waved his hand around Kairas. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I've already established that my purpose in life is not to entertain." @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

"Oh, but it could be. Just for tonight. The chance of being someone entirely different... just for a night. Someone so much more important, so deserving of a prize." Peregrine leaned in toward Kairas' ear. "What a prize I am," he hissed. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kairas took a step away from Peregrine. "I will tell you this only once more: I am not interested in sleeping with you. I am not interested in doing anything with you. Our relationship is to be strictly professional and only professional. You are not to speak to me in such a degrading way, and you are certainly not to touch me in ways I do not ask you to. If you do not respect my boundaries I will be forced to enforce them by any means I deem fit." @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Peregrine cackled heartily. "You are adorable," was all he said in response, leaning closer - but did not touch. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kairas turned away from him, taking further steps back- and testing his next movement. @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Peregrine sighed dramatically... but did not pursue. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kairas returned to speaking to the attendants. @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Peregrine decided to remain at the part, and likely remain annoying.

Isi landed herself and Anne in the refectory after taking some small pieces of raw chicken and beef from the ice boxes in the kitchen on a plate. Midnight snack, yay. She unscrewed the lid a bit, then played the ocarina again. I have food. Do not bite my hand please. Stay down there. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Anne had no response. But it's weird little mouth parts did wiggle as the jar opened, and the intoxicating scent of raw meat descended in to the jar. @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi picked up a chunk of chicken, nose wrinkling a little as she handled the meat. She slid the unscrewed lid off the jar more fully, dropping the chunk of chicken in the jar, then pulling her hand away. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

As soon as the meat entered the jar, Anne pounced on it, and began to eat tiny pieces at a time. Even this small piece would take a while to eat. @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi looked relieved as Anne ate at the meat, closing the lid once again and then resting their chin on their hand as they watched. Perhaps Anne would talk more once it had eaten a bit- Isi didn't really know what she expected to figure out but, Albanes had recognized it and that was something. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Nom nom nom. It kind of ate like a snail. It paid Isi absolutely no mind. @sketti | Isi 🦌

Huh. It's a little endearing when it's just chill like this. Or Maybe Isi was just abnormally attached to a carnivorous worm. Isi's eyes darted around briefly incase anyone else was around to witness this totally normal hang out. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Didn't seem to be anyone else. It was probably around midnight here. @sketti | Isi 🦌

(kairas:

️ )

As Anne continued to eat, Isi opened the lid a bit to play something again. Tastes good? She didn't really know why she talked to Anne like it understood her super well. Just felt weirder not to. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

-# "Meat. Meat. Hungry. Meat food. Eat food. Live. Live. Good." Well, it could reply while eating, so that's good. @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi nodded, then had to stifle a yawn, blinking a little. Usually she was more awake at this time of night honestly, but she supposed sleep hadn't been easy lately. She thought back to her conversation with Seki. Hm. She had some things to go explore in the morning. She played again in response to Anne. Good. I'm glad. She paused, figuring out if she wanted to say/play anything else. Do you remember Madeline?

Anne didn't really seem to care that Isi was glad. -# "Mad. Eline. Not know. Just know. Had host. Lost host. Host die. You take. Feed meat." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi frowned contemplatively. That was...something. Albanes? @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

-# "Who." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Nevermind. Isi took a few minutes while Anne ate to think over a few things. She then yawned again, and slipped another chunk of chicken into the jar before shutting the lid completely again. She felt a bit bad about the few remaining pieces of untouched meat. Maybe if she just left them on a plate in the icebox nobody would touch them and she could get more for Anne later. With that in mind she stood, picking up both the jar and the plate. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Anne, with its one track mind, instantly switched over to the newer, bigger piece of chicken. It would be back for the other one later. It did have a bunch of cute little bite marks taken out of it, well, cute if you didn't imagine that that would be Isi's hand if she ever put it in too far. @sketti | Isi 🦌

Fortunately, Isi didn't imagine that! What she did do was take a quick walk over to the kitchen, deposit the plate in the ice box, and then slip the worm jar back into her pocket. She then exited the refectory back into the rain, intent on heading to her dorm and actually getting some sleep.

Seki lumbered into the refectory, took food on their plate and sat down, sighing heavily. They put their elbows on the table and leaned their head in their hand, rubbing their eyes. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan was the only other person in the refectory, though they seemed to be overseeing everything rather than getting something to eat. "Good morning!" They waved to Seki. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Hmm?" Seki lifted their head and glanced towards the voice. It was a bit hard to tell with their face covered in fur, but there was prooobably some dark shadows under their eyes. And those eyes seemed a bit reddish and puffy as well. "Oh, heya, boss. G'morning to you too." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan came to sit with Seki. "Are you doing alright? You look a bit tired." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki grunted and turned to look at the plate. "Can't say it's easy to sleep well here." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm. I... can definitely appreciate that." Reagan said, their tone more dry and less chipper than it usually was. "There's not much I can offer, but if you need anything, you can let me know." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki nodded, and granted Reagan a tired smile. "Thanks. I can't think of anything right now, though", he hummed, and started nibbling on his breakfast. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Of course. That's my job, after all." Reagan nodded, and lingered there for a moment. They didn't have any food of their own, so it was kind of awkward. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki was zoning out for a moment, before noticing Reagan was still there without any food. "Aren't you gonna eat?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan laughed awkwardly. "Oh, no, I don't eat in public. It's, uh, not a very pretty sight. And I don't need to eat very often, anyways. Perks of being a snake person, I guess." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Oh? Ohh, damn, I didn't think of that", Seki's eyes widened slightly and they nodded. "That's kinda neat.. what do you like to eat?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Ah, I usually eat fish. Lots of fish. Sometimes frogs too, but they're, uh, a bit too slimy for my tastes." They hummed, still pretty awkward. "I haven't eaten any, uh, 'human food' in quite some time, actually. Wonder if I still can..." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Oh? Why couldn't you if you have before?" Seki was too sleepy to think twice if it was an insensitive question or not. They just idly poked fruit on the plate and popped one in their mouth. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan cringed a bit, but answered the question. "I, uh, wasn't always a snake person." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Oh? Ohh, have you evolved?" Seki tilted their head. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Seki couldn't see all their face because of the mask, but it was clear Reagan was kind of confused. "What?" @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Evolved... Transformed into your higher stat form. Like I became a Soileon from an Eevee." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I don't- think it's normal for humans to do that. I mean, I transitioned, and that was before all the snake stuff anyways but- no? I don't... think that's the right terminology for what happened." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Oh! Transitioned, like, in a gender way?" Seki asked with a warm, sympathetic tone to their voice. "What's up, then? Oh, uh, if you are okay talking about it." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Ah, yeah. I was born male, but that didn't work out, so I transitioned. I'm somewhere in between nothing and femme." They nodded. That was actually easy to talk about. "Uhm, well..." They were pretty visibly uncomfortable with the topic. "I didn't exactly choose this. I'd... rather not talk about it." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki's tail swished happily. "Eyy same hat! Or well, not exactly, but I can relate to not being cool with the male label and body", they smiled. "It's complicated. I never transitioned, cuz I still partially feel like a guy too, and some days I'm all happy and comfortable with my bod." Seki nodded seriously and gently. They frowned a little, and wondered if Reagan had been bitten by a Fangpyre. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Ah, that's very cool. Everyone's different. I only started medically transitioning a few years back, when things got more stable for me. Before then I'd just changed my name and grew out my hair, that sort of thing." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Yeah, true that. I'm happy that you got a chance to transition, that's awesome!" Seki smiled warmly, seemingly more relaxed now as they leaned their elbows still on the table and idly ate their breakfast, tail loosely swishing. "I also changed my name, and I've had a long mane most of my life.. I guess I can say that at this point, hehe. When I was a teenager, ohh boy, I had a really difficult puberty. I was confused out of my mind and took it out on everybody else", they chuckled, lowering their ears a bit. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm, I'm glad too. My boyfriend is very supportive, I'm lucky to have him." They smiled, though it faltered when they caught themself. They refocused as Seki described their life. "Ahh, yeah, I can definitely relate to that. I had a pretty rough teenage expirience myself... though I think my first few years of adulthood were probably worse. Got involved in some things that... ultimately weren't as good for me as they felt." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Oh, Kairas is a man? Good to know", Seki nodded. "Ahh shit, sorry to hear that. Hmmh, I got mixed in bad circles when I was 14 and up, too... Yeah, it felt great for a while, and then turned out to be.. real bad, hah... So yeah, I don't judge, boss, I guess it's easy to lose your way when you're looking for yourself", they hummed with a wistful smile. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh- no. My partner before Kairas. Kairas and I aren't... exactly romantic partners, we're more... coworkers, I guess? I don't exactly know how to put it." "Mhm...." Reagan nodded. "But I'm all out of it now, I'm all clean, and... well, up until all this tournament stuff, things were going pretty well for me." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Oh yeah? Huh, sorry I assumed." Seki frowned a bit, the fur on the back of their neck bristling slightly. "Oh? And then you were put here, to do this... Are you getting something out of this t least?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Ah, it's alright. 'Partner' is a pretty vague term." Reagan hummed. "Ehhh.... I don't think so. I mean, I'm less likely to die than, uh, you guys, but.... I don't know. I get the feeling once all of this is over, Naiyta won't be too keen on keeping me around more than it needs, anyways." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki hummed and nodded with a frown. "It'll let you go and live your life, though? Back to where you left?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan adjusted the collar of their dress, and sighed. "I'm really not sure." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki's ears lowered and their tail flicked as they growled deeply. "It better." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan glanced around, almost paranoid, and didn't say anything else for the moment. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki huffed, and popped another piece of fruit in their mouth, chewing aggressively and looking away from Reagan. "How many lackeys do you have here?" they suddenly asked. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"There's fifty attendants total. Twenty-five bird side ones, twenty-five snake ones. That's not counting Kairas and I." Reagan reported automatically. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Mhm, and how many of us contestants are still left here?" Seki asked with a pensive expression. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan had to do a little math in their head for that one. "Twenty-five of you left." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki nodded sternly. "So... 77 of us in total? Twenty five people with powers, and fifty two without, I assume. Seventy-seven against two. What are the chances?" Seki growled, crossing his arms and leaning back. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Twenty seven with powers. Kairas and I both have powers of our own." Reagan corrected. They didn't comment on the rest of Seki's statement. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Awesome", Seki grinned darkly. "What would you say? None of us want to be here. Let's gather our troops and kick their ass! What can they do without followers? They have nothing alone. And they are weakened. If we want to save our hides, we gotta strike back. Attack is the best defense, after all." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan seemed to crumple in on themself, wrapping their arms around their body and tilting their head down. "I can't act against Naiyta." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Why not? You have all of ours support. You won't be alone", Seki said with a warm, but stern voice. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I can't." Reagan restated. They glanced around again, definitely getting paranoid now. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki stared at them keenly for a while, as though trying to will them to change their mind. Then they sighed testily, and turned away to eat again. "Forget it, then", he growled with a bitter tone. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (edited)

Reagan didn't reply, their gaze fixed on the refectory door. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki finished eating, and stood up. They gathered their dishes took them away. On the way back, they turned to look at Reagan angrily, and opened their mouth, to say something, but paused. They closed their mouth again, shook their head and turned away, sighing. They put their mask on, and walked to the door. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan remained at the table, and didn't meet Seki's gaze. They didn't acknowledge them leaving. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Here come Naiyta and Roman! Yippee!!! Naiyta carried Roman over the threshold, still in the bridal carry. There seemed to be no one else in the building but Reagan, who'd been sitting at the table looking sick with guilt and fear after Seki had left. "Mhm, we have company." Naiyta hummed as it brought Roman over to their table. "Reagan, bring us over some food." It called out, then to Roman, asked, "What would you like?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Oh. Well. Fuck this was awkward. ... But he couldn't ask Naiyta to be nice here. Or look too apologetic to Reagan. "Oh- um-" Roman paused for a moment to think. He looked over at the new items that were added. "Oh- are those protein shakes? Those are full of calories, that'd be nice." And something simple for Reagan to bring over. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"One of the protein shakes, then." Naiyta repeated. Without a word, Reagan got up from their table and left to the buffet. They approached Roman and Naiyta's table a bit later, and set the shake down on the table surface. "Can I get you anything else?" They said, with more than a layer of bitterness to their tone. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman didn't look up at them, just choosing to stare at the shake. "This is passable. That's all I want for now." Roman said, a little awkwardly. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"You're dismissed." Naiyta said to Reagan, who quickly (if not gladly) took the opportunity to go sulk somewhere. Naiyta sat down at the table, keeping Roman in their lap. "Are you sure you don't want anything else?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"These things are dense," Roman said and took a large gulp of the glass. "Oooooughhh brainfreeze- I'll see how I feel after I finish it. Have you ever had this before?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I haven't- it's for one of the winners. Truthfully, I didn't know what they were before all this." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"This is pretty good." Roman said. "Do the winners tell you what they want?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I just know." It shrugged. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. How do you know? You had to ask me what I wanted.." Roman hummed and took another sip. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"It's part of the selection process I used for competitors- that's something I learned when I selected you all. Same as how I figured out your father's names, and your powers." It hummed. "I had to ask yours, because your preferences changed since you arrived." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oh.. Yeah, I guess it would have.." Roman mumbled, and took a much smaller sip. ".. but that was my dad's name? Kimbalyauro?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Kimbal. 'Yauro' just means 'son of'. It's a Loucari naming convention." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oh." Roman said. "Well, that's nice to know. I never really knew him that well.. That name sounds kind of familiar, so maybe my grandpa mentioned it a few times." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"You were raised by your grandfather, I presume?" Naiyta asked casually. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Yeah, my parents died when I was little.. But.. My grandpa kinda disowned my dad, and didn't know that I existed, so it was rough at first when I just got dropped off. And he wasn't in great health either.." Roman hummed and took another sip, about halfway through with the shake already. "What were your parents like?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm. I see." Naiyta said with interest. "Ah.... I never knew my father, and I always suspected my mother was never fond of me for that exact reason. Among others. But she died when I was fourteen." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oh.. That sucks." Roman said. "Who raised you after that?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"No one. In the eyes of my society, and myself, I had reached adulthood by then, anyways." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Wow, off on your own at fourteen.. That probably was two thirds through the expected lifespan at that time anyway. "So what did you do..?" Roman asked. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I was already working with my herd by then. I continued doing that, until I became the Lifebringer." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Honestly, that sounds kind of sweet and wholesome.." Roman hummed. "And how'd you become the Lifebringer..? Did the goats elect you?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Not exactly." Naiyta chuckled. "Are you sure you want to know? It's not a very pretty story." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Yeah, I'd like to get to know you better." Roman smiled and sat his glass down on the table. He leaned over to rest his head on Naiyta's shoulder, and stared up at its face. "Go on." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm. Very well." "I was never a very loved child, as I have already told you. Beyond my father's absence and my mother's neglect, I was scorned by the small village I was born into- for being a likely bastard, for being different, for everything about me. And at a young age, I learned to hate them all back." It took in a breath. "As you can imagine, I was frequently the target of cruel jokes by my peers. There were a group of us young adults who traveled with the herds throughout their yearly migrations- we were all from the same village, but we often traveled far from it to keep with our flocks. And they all hated me. I don't know what I ever did to offend them so much that they did what they did, but... I suppose I will never get the chance now." Naiyta's voice was growing somewhat shaky as they relayed the following information. "It was a harsh winter, the night that it happened. I woke to the sounds of bleating and animal screams- the men were slaughtering my goats. I was no stranger to death, and I knew that the goats in my herd would end up used for meat, bone and sinew rope eventually- but this was not a kill out of necessity. They were killing them out of cruelty, to hurt both the animals and me." It paused to take in a breath. "I decided in that moment I had to kill them all. I attacked them with my knife, in desperation, but they overpowered me- there were seven of them, only one of me. Their violent streak turned onto me- they beat me, they cut my skin, they raped me- the leader, Aedh, said he hoped I might bare his children." It paused, "And then, they left me for dead in the woods." Naiyta paused for a moment, letting Roman take in the first part of their story. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 (first part is TW for animal death, second is for violence & sexual assualt) @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Well, that was certainly 'not very pretty'. That was probably an understatement, actually. Perhaps an extreme one, for such an awful story. He listened intently, nodding along and continuing to stare up at them. This story.. And their voice.. It was a more sensitive side to them that he didn't know existed. To be so vulnerable in the past, and then to now be so powerful... It did remind him of Roque. .. But perhaps Naiyta's story was a bit more extreme, even Roque never achieved actual Godhood or immortality. But he also saw a bit of himself there, in terms of getting excluded from society. It never culminated in something as extreme on his side, and was mostly just teasing and isolation. Those other kids never even beat him up. He couldn't compare it. As Naiyta's voice grew shaky, he gently rubbed their back. He didn't want to interrupt them, but he was fairly sure that there was nothing appropriately soothing he could say about something so awful. And he also couldn't help the few tears that formed in his eyes. It felt impossible for him to not pity them. He stayed quiet, and nodded for them to continue. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta paused for a while before continuing. "As I said before, it was a harsh winter, and I was all alone. I couldn't go back to the village, and definitely not back to the herding group. I had no choice but to trek out on my own. I know how to survive in the wild- everyone did back then, the world was nothing but wild- but I knew, even then, that I could not survive on my own. I quickly ran through the meager supplies I had on my body, and no way of gaining more. I attempted to hunt, but anything I was capable of killing myself was hibernating somewhere hidden or had migrated to warmer weather. I was alone. I was starving. And I knew that any moment, I was going to die. The thought scared me more than anything I had ever felt before. I could not die. I could not let that be my life. I could not let them all win.' "I spent twenty days and twenty nights out there, in the cold. I was surviving off of tree bark and what little plants I could forage, the occasional kill of a wild bird or squirrel. I had lost all feeling in my hands, my feet, my ears. I know you know what it feels like to starve, Roman, but I don't know if someone from your time can understand the true desperation It's so different, when you're less removed from your animal roots. You feel your most animal fears- of starvation, of being hunted, of death- stronger than you have ever felt anything before." "On the twenty first night of my solitary journey, I came across something I will never be able to describe. It was animal in a way I couldn't recognize, and alien in a way I did. It was humanoid, but it wasn't. It seemed both to shift forms and stay in one stagnant state. It glowed from the inside with what, to me, looked like fire taken from the very belly of the sun. I did not know why it was there, and ten thousand years later I still do not know why it was there. But I later came to know it as Eternity. The source of my power." "I thought it would kill me. I thought everything in that woods would kill me, really, and this- thing was no exception. With what meager strength I had, I raised a stone and threw it at what I thought was the creature's head. To my surprise, it fell. I don't think I had killed it then, but I knew I had felled it." They paused again. "And like any good hunter, I would not let my prey go to waste. I slaughtered it with my knife and with my hands, and I ate it. I ate it all, the entire great mass of it. And as I did, I felt within me a burning, purifying heat, as my mortality was burned away from the inside out. It felt like nothing I had ever felt before and nothing I have ever felt since. It was the truest euphoria I have ever experienced, my ascension." "It took me three days to come down from the high that was my immortal deflowering, but when I did, I had only one drive. I needed to get revenge. With strength I didn't know and didn't previously have, I walked back to my village. I walked straight back- I did not pause to rest, or eat, because I didn't need to anymore. When I finally reached the place where I had been raised, the herding party had returned." It took in a breath again. "I slaughtered them all by flame. All of them. I relished the looks on their faces as they burned. My first act as a God was an incredibly human one- to take revenge on those who had wronged me. But it's not something I regret. I will never regret what I did." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Well, this part was a lot happier! A happy ending! For Naiyta, at least. He didn't even really care that it had downplayed his own feelings. It was probably true, that it felt worse- no, more strongly than he ever could. He was just some guy. But eating someone to gain your power.. That was also familiar to him. Though his was not with as much euphoric glee as Naiyta's was, quite the opposite. And the fire thing.. Well, there was the explanation. Made it feel good, and killed their enemies. Can't get much more simple than that. "I bet Eternity was standing there for you, so you could gain that power and get your revenge. They deserved that, don't ever regret it." Roman finally spoke. "You should've brought them back so you could kill them all over again, until they felt what you felt. That's what they deserved." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta waited a while after finishing their story. Their features eventually settled into a neutral smile. "Ah, that's a very optimistic way to think of it. Thank you." It smiled. "Once all of this is over, I might do just that. It'd be a fitting celebration." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mhm. Am I gonna be invited to that?" Roman asked. "To help you, not get burned to death, just to clarify. Or maybe even just witness it. I think it'd be beautiful." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm. Maybe. It might feel better if it's a... private affair. And you might not be around by then." It said in a teasing voice. "But I'll consider it." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

A consideration.. That was something. "I'm gonna try my best to stay around as long as I can, I'd hate to leave you here all lonely." Roman smiled. "But about that weird thing- is all of Eternity in you, or do you think that there's more of those things out there?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I know you will." Naiyta smiled. "I consumed all of Eternity." Naiyta said. "I know that for certain. But... through its manifestation in me I can sense others of its kind. I think... the others are hesitant to interact with this plane of existence. It's funny. Everything fears being eaten." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Huh. So there could be other things out there that are kinda Lifebringer adjacent..?" Roman asked. "And by this plane do you mean.. The realm this tournament is in, or like a human kind of plane in general?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Potentially. But none have manifested as physically as I have." Naiyta hummed in thought. "The latter. Any realm where mortals can exist, I don't think they would enter. They exist... separately. My own mortality prevents me from reaching that existence." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. but I thought you were immortal?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I am. But I wasn't always, and I retain too much of my humanity to truly reach that plane." They gestured to their body. "If I hadn't retained parts of my humanity, I would not feel things like my vengeful rage at my wrongdoers, or my attraction to you. It's a sacrifice I've made to... retain a sense of self." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oh, well, if they really don't feel anything at all, that sounds like a kinda boring existence.." Roman said. "If you ditched all those feelings though, could you go? Or have you kinda already made your forever choice?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I agree." Naiyta nodded. "I... don't know, honestly. I think I could still make the choice to abandon my humanity completely, but it'd be a permanent decision." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mmm. Well, it's nice to always have some options, even if the other ones aren't that great." Roman said and finally got back to drinking his shake. "Have you ever thought about doing it?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I have." Naiyta nodded, their voice distant. "But not in a very long while. I'm.... happy how I am, mostly." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"That's good, it makes me happy that you're happy." Roman said and wrapped his free arm around its back. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Thank you." Naiyta smiled, and it seemed genuine. They fell silent for a bit after that. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman kept sipping on the shake in silence for a while, before he moved the glass over to Naiyta's mouth. "You should try some." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta took a small sip of the shake, their brow quickly furrowing in disgust. "Agh. Why does it taste like that? Eugh." It frowned. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Hah, taste like what? Deliciousness? I know it doesn't compare to meee, but I still think it's pretty good. Chocolate and peanut butter have a lot of calories. It's denseeeee." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"It's too sweet." Naiyta declared. "I think I'll pass on protein shakes for the rest of eternity. Did well enough without them for ten thousand years before." It scoffed. It put a tender hand to Roman's cheek, "But you should have as many as you like." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oh, I will. I'll probably have a second." Roman said and took one last big gulp of the shake. His cheeks had grown cold from the ice. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"We'll get you another." Naiyta nodded. "How are you feeling, now that you've had something to eat?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I feel a lot better, but pretty cold now." Roman said. "Something like pizza.. mm.. Warm and so many calories.. I think that would be great." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"We don't have that. At least not yet," Naiyta hummed. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Is that anyone's requested food?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"It's someone's, yes. Though there's always a chance they won't make it." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Hmmm. Well, I hope they win." Roman said. ".. Actually, I can probably just make pizza myself in the kitchen. It's made of pretty basic ingredients, just bread, tomato, and cheese." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"That's another solution." Naiyta conceded. "Would you like to do that now? I do love to watch you cook." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"We gotta slow down with all the date plans, Yta." Roman chuckled. "I like to cook more when I'm hungry, so maybe we can do that for dinner tonight. I wanna get some new clothes so I don't shiver off all this new energy first." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta chuckle, and adjusted their hold on Roman. "Alright. Let's get you dressed up. I'd like to take you up to the acropolis for this.... but I don't want to use up all your energy. Perhaps I'll have to carry you." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mhm, carried works for me. Could I drink that second shake on the way?" Roman asked and adjusted himself so naiyta would be able to stand up. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Of course." Naiyta nodded, and stood up with Roman still in their arms. It walked over to the buffet, and helped Roman get another shake before leaving the refectory... @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman happily drank as they made their way there...

Ah, back to his favorite place! Roman skipped over most of the line and went straight to the protein shakes. He picked up two large glasses and sat back at his and Naiyta's table, happily sipping away... @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

Trudging his way into the refectory, Kal made his entrance. The young man was uncharacteristically quiet and slightly shrunken in on himself. His skin seemed to be paler, the eye bags under his eyes were darker, and he just looked miserable overall. Being out in the rain that late for that long definitely did a number on him. Kal made his way to the protein shakes as well and grabbed one for himself. He moved somewhat slowly as he shuffled over to a nearby table. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman was content to sip away at his shake alone, until Kal slipped by him, somewhat close... Oh, he smelled! What a hot blooded guy- maybe lonely and sad enough to offer him a dessert for his meal here.. He stood up from the table he was at and began to follow Kal. "Man, I'd say you held up pretty well for a guy that got blown up in his face!" Roman laughed as he got to his side, his new baggier clothes somewhat dragging on the floor behind him. "When Asha had that happen to her, she was in the hospital for months, at least! And I think her baby died too- but I'm guessing you weren't pregnant." "Unless you were, which in that case, sorry for your loss." @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

@Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

Kenji enters the refectory somewhat tiredly, and relieved that it doesn’t look like too many people are around for lunch. He’s not..super hungry, all things considered, but he might as well take advantage of being here while he can. He’d gone back to his room to change first, and while his robes are slightly disheveled at least they’re dry, unlike his hair sticking to his horns and the back of his neck. He sits down more off to the side away from the few others here, meager plate in front of him, and finally takes the mask off again to shake the water out of his hair the best he can. Definitely not expecting anyone to approach! @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

And of course, Roman was back here.. He decided to get a plate with some more variety than just protein shakes this time. He went and sat over at their table, figuring Naiyta would eventually show up.. Probably to scold him or worse for damaging the clothes, but maybe just to be nice.... But probably not. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

The refectory was done up for yet another bird feast, so Roman faced no issue getting through the door. The attendants were setting out bowls of fruit for Eremurus's victory meal, with Kairas overseeing. There wasn't any sign of Naiyta yet, but Kairas sent Roman a knowing glance when he entered. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman spared Kairas a small smile as he passed by, but pretty much ignored her besides that. He did help himself to some of the new fruit though, even if it wasn't the most calorie dense thing he could find. He hummed between bites, and drummed the fingers of his free hand across the table. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Roman had only a few minutes to himself before Naiyta came strutting through the doors. It payed no attention to Kairas or the attendants, but went straight to where Roman was sitting. It sat across from him. "You damaged the clothing." They frowned, their gaze cold. "The very thing I told you not to do." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman didn't look up at them as they entered. He could already picture their expression- he had seen it enough. Their tone of voice conveyed exactly how they looked. He finished up his bite of fruit before speaking. "Yes, I did my lord. I apologize." Roman said quietly. "There is an explanation, if you would want to hear it, but I am sure you have already heard something from Kairas." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Look at me when I speak to you." Naiyta chided. Their temper was clearly short. "Oh, she definitely told me something." It scoffed. "Kairas told me you brought both Ace Lao and Darcy Sterling into your blood dimension, and emerged with the burns on the clothing." Notably, it didn't use the term 'his clothing', "What happened in there? Who is to blame for this?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Slowly, Roman moved his eyes to look up at Naiyta, but kept his head bowed down, like a dog getting lectured. "Wait, she can't see down there...?" Roman asked, sounding genuinely puzzled. "I thought she could see everywhere..?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"No. She can't see in there." Naiyta said, sounding frustrated by this fact. "So I would prefer you not to conduct business down there. I'm sure you can assume why." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oh- I see." Roman said. "Sorry, I figured she was still watching.. And I find it quite comfortable down there. I'll make sure I'm by myself if I go back there again." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Hmph." Naiyta clearly wasn't happy with that compromise, but wasn't upset enough to protest. "What happened there today?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"It's, hah, kind of a long story.." Roman chuckled and moved his head to stare straight at Naiyta. "I wanted some more blood from Ace, but he's way too awkward to do it out in public, so we made a bit of a compromise.. We went down to the blood and I got a bite.." "And that was where I came up with a new idea that- might have been just a bit too bold.." "If I say which one was the one that burned me, can you promise not to go after them until you hear the whole story?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta's brow was furrowed, but they listened as Roman gave his explanation. "Hm." They weren't one to judge Roman's dietary prefrences. If he was telling the truth, which it couldn't be certain of, that first encounter was perfectly fine. Their brow furrowed more at the mention of the burns. "... fine. I take it you don't want to see them punished?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"No, it was.. Mostly a freak accident, but it was originally my idea." "I got Ace to fetch Darcy for me, since Darcy does not really like me for whatever reasons.." "And once we were down there, and we talked for a while, we eventually decided to try out my plan. I want to build up some tolerance to fire, and Darcy has a fire spell that shoots out small balls of fire..." "In retrospect, I should have just taken all the clothes off to be extra safe, but the balls of fire went a lot more.. All over the place than I had expected them to. I tried to just get my head in the way-" Roman gestured to the burnt bits of hair mixed between the other healthy strands, and a few stray burns on his face and neck. "- But it still ended up burning some of the shoulder parts. I can probably fix it if I can get some needle and thread, but I didn't want to alter it without your permission." "I'm sorry, my lord. I was careless. I was just trying to make myself stronger for you." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Hm." Naiyta's brow furrowed for a moment as they thought, though it quickly softened a bit. "Well... I can't be mad at you for doing something so considerate for me... so I suppose I can let this pass. Though, if you want to build more tolerance to flame- please just ask me next time. I would be more than happy to help you with that." "And I will repair the clothes myself. You can leave the outer cloak with me after tonight, and anything else that got damaged." It hummed. "This is a far better outcome than what I feared... however, I still must set an example. Darcy will be punished, if not harshly, for this." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 ]

Good, good! Naiyta was seeing reason! Roman smiled at it as it spoke- all the way until it said it was going to punish Darcy anyway. "That's really not necessary, my lord- it.. it was my idea." Roman frowned. "Punish me instead, he was just doing what I asked him to do. He didn't mean it, I did." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Regardless of who's idea it was, I said that any who hurt you would be punished. I intend to keep my word." Naiyta maintained. "He hurt you, and he can't get away with that." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Okay, begging to entirely get the heat off of Darcy clearly wasn't going to work.. ".. You need to be gentle with him he's- very frail and sickly. I don't think he could go through, um, what you usually do to punish your staff.." Roman frowned. "What are you planning?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I'm very aware of his... condition." Naiyta frowned. "I was only planning something simple. Deprivation of meals for a day or so. He'd be able to take that." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 (controlled eating tw)

Eugh.. Not the worst outcome, but it definitely made him uncomfortable. And it's not like anyone could sneak him food or anything, without Kairas noticing. ".. How will you make sure he doesn't? And.. It would put him in a severe disadvantage for his fight, you're not going to schedule it toward the end of that time, right..?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Simple. I'd have a guard posted at the door and instruct them to turn him away if he dares enter. And with Kairas watching it would be easy to ensure no one tries to give him anything." "Of course not. I'm not a monster." It smiled. "He's not the most physical fighter, anyways. He'll manage." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Okay, Roman was a bit worried about freaky anti eating spell things that may happen. A guard was a lot more simple. And now he could give Darcy a twenty four hour timeframe where his fight wouldn't be.. That might be nice to know. "Alright.." Roman sighed. "What if... You gave Darcy twelve hours, and me the other twelve? Since it was my idea, and I made Ace drag him down there for me.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Hm. I want you to be gaining weight, not loosing it." Naiyta frowned. "And I don't think a twelve hour fast would do well for you." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Well before I got here I'd go a day or two without eating with no problem- I'd be fine." Roman shrugged. "If you don't want to do that, then the twelve hours for Darcy, and you can think of something to make up the other half for me." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"If you can convince Ace to take the other twelve hours, I'd agree to that. I'd have to have a decision before noon tomorrow, though." Naiyta hummed. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. Alright, I think that's a good enough compromise." Roman said. Twelve hours really wasn't too much- there were a few holidays in Mlipuko that asked for more than that. "Thank you, again, for being so reasonable, my lord." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Of course. Thank you for being so honest." It hummed, then shifted the topic of conversation. "Did you enjoy today's fight?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oh, today's fight..?" Roman asked. "I hadn't seen a swamp like that in a bit, so that was interesting, and the fishy guy was kinda hot I guess, buuuuut that's not what I was really watching." Roman smiled and took a bite of fruit again. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta leaned over the table, closer to Roman. "Oh? What were you watching?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Just trying to see you through all those trees.. Watching you play that flute.." He chuckled and lowered the fruit back to his plate. ".. Reminds me of something." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta made a low humming sound in the back of their throat, and leaned forward, propping their head up with their hands. "Oh?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mhm.." Roman nodded, and leaned in closer toward Naiyta as well. "Reminds me.. so vividly.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Tell me more." Naiyta's eyes fluttered shut. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"How about I tell you more on our way up to the acropolis?" Roman chuckled and reached his hands out toward Naiyta. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta sat up again, and took Roman's hands in its own. "Are you ready to go now? It looks like you've just started your meal." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Maybe you can feed the rest to me on the way." Roman smiled. "I mostly got fruits and stuff like that, easy to shove in my mouth.. hehe.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"That's an idea." Naiyta hummed in affirmation. "Will I need to carry you again?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"That might be for the best.. I did end up throwing up in that blood pit, so I'm not feeling great.." Roman said. "But you're always carrying me.. What if you get one of those attendants to carry me?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I prefer the more personal contact." Naiyta hummed. It let go of Roman's hand long enough to walk around behind him. "Though, if you want the attendants to carry you, it's no matter to me." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman leaned back, so he could rest his head on Naiyta's chest. "I think that would free up your hands to feed me better." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Ahh, true." Naiyta hummed, and beckoned over one of the burlier bird attendants. "You, come over. I have a special task for you." The attendant came over obediently. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Hmmm.. Is that what Naiyta wanted him to be like? Not like the buff part necessarily, but able to perfectly and instantly follow commands.. Eh, probably not important. "Upsies!" Roman exclaimed and held his arms up toward the attendant. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"We're going to my chambers." Naiyta supplemented. Without a word, the attendant lifted Roman up into a bridal hold, and began walking out of the dining hall, slow enough that Naiyta could easily keep pace and feed Roman bits of fruit along the way. "How's this?" They asked. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mm, perfect." Roman said through his bites and kicked his feet a little as they walked out the door. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Well, as the weirdness between Roman and Naiyta came and went, Kairas was still here, in a refectory empty but for the very non-talkative attendants. ... she wondered if the guest of honor was ever going to show. @Cap | Eremurus + Valerie

Not the guest of honor, but Zhi-Yin wandered in after the freaks (my words not his) seemed to depart. He was hungy.

Also not the guest of honor, but luckily enough he’s on the right side this time. Kenji returns to the refectory—less out of a search for food, and moreso out of not..really knowing what to do with himself. The fight had been a good distraction after everything Naiyta had…revealed? lied? when they sidetracked his lunch. Hell if he knew anymore. But now he was left alone with his thoughts, and it certainly shows on his face as he picks and chooses a meager dinner. He’s sitting in the same spot as earlier, towards the back corner. @Gab || Armand 🐠|Zhi-Yin 🌬

Gathering his food, he noticed the only other person who seemed to be in here. At least the only one who didn't look like he worked there. "Would you mind if I kept you company for this meal?" He asked very politely as he approached the figure. He didn't really know what the other was thinking. The mask was to thank for that. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Kenji seems slightly startled by the question. He offers Zhi-Yin a small, tight smile, stretching at the scars on his face, though it doesn’t seem unfriendly. “Go for it,” he replies, nodding towards the seat opposite him. “No sense eating alone when it’s just us here,” he continues with a faintly huffed laugh. @Gab || Armand 🐠|Zhi-Yin 🌬

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Well, as the weirdness between Roman and Naiyta came and went, Kairas was still here, in a refectory empty but for the very non-talkative attendants. ... she wondered if the guest of honor was ever going to show. @Cap | Eremurus + Valerie

@Cap | Eremurus + Valerie

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Well, as the weirdness between Roman and Naiyta came and went, Kairas was still here, in a refectory empty but for the very non-talkative attendants. ... she wondered if the guest of honor was ever going to show. @Cap | Eremurus + Valerie

It took awhile but Eremurus eventually did show up. He shifted on his feet anxiously, looking around at anyone present. They were going to celebrate? God he felt sick. Maybe he'd get some meds and then go.

Well, Kairas was there! She gave Eremurus an acknowledging nod, and greeted, "Congratulations on your victory." @Cap | Eremurus + Valerie

"Yes, it would make things more... awkward. Not that they aren't already." He took a seat, carefully placing his meal on the table as he prepared to dig in. "This whole ordeal is a lot to take in." Zhi-Yin wasn't leading to anything in particular, as it seemed he was just processing things. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Well, Kairas was there! She gave Eremurus an acknowledging nod, and greeted, "Congratulations on your victory." @Cap | Eremurus + Valerie

"Ah uhm." Eremurus frowned. "...Don't feel good....do you uhm...have anything for that- sorry your name is slipping my mind and.." Eremurus trailed off. "...I feel sick."

"I am Kairas." She said, her tone cool. "If you're feeling ill, I can get the Lifebringer to come help. I am not a medic or healer." @Cap | Eremurus + Valerie

“You could definitely say that again,” Kenji sighs, idly tapping his fingers against the edge of his plate. “How have you been holding up? My name is Kenji, by the way. Good to meet you.” @Gab || Armand 🐠|Zhi-Yin 🌬

"No- not them." Eremurus quickly said. "I just- my head-" He took a seat, his eyes wide. "I feel like- I don't...my chest hurts...I didn't want too and now..I-I hurt someone.." He brought his hand to his mouth as Bleeding Heart flowers bloomed from his antlers. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kairas frowned. She hated dealing with emotions, other people's most of all. "I'll get you some water." She said flatly, and briefly left. When she returned, she had a glass of cold water, which she handed to Eremurus with the warmth of a January morning. @Cap | Eremurus + Valerie

em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“You could definitely say that again,” Kenji sighs, idly tapping his fingers against the edge of his plate. “How have you been holding up? My name is Kenji, by the way. Good to meet you.” @Gab || Armand 🐠|Zhi-Yin 🌬

@Gab || Armand 🐠|Zhi-Yin 🌬

(ah shit) Zhi-Yin sighed at the question, but showed a smile nonetheless. "It's been an experience. The idea of dying here isn't exactly one I'm getting used to. At the very least they were kind enough to not take my medicinal blends. Makes things easier for me." He took a bite of some food. "My name is Zhi-Yin. It is a pleasure to meet you Kenji." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

(all good lol) Kenji noticeably does not offer a comment on the whole idea of dying thing. “Medicinal blends?” He repeats, curiously, his head slightly tilting. “What do you mean by that? If you don’t mind me asking.” @Gab || Armand 🐠|Zhi-Yin 🌬

Zhi-Yin nodded to the question before reaching into his robe and procuring a few pouches. "I have a... history of illness. Most of which are admittedly of my own doing. They are simply blends I have developed to suppress the more aggressive symptoms. I'm an apothecary by trade, making medicines and such." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“Ah, I’m.. sorry to hear that,” Kenji says, somewhat awkward with the subject. He does seem impressed, though, at the latter half of Zhi-Yin’s statement. “But it sounds like you’ve really turned it around for yourself. Making your own medicines is pretty remarkable.” @Gab || Armand 🐠|Zhi-Yin 🌬

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kairas frowned. She hated dealing with emotions, other people's most of all. "I'll get you some water." She said flatly, and briefly left. When she returned, she had a glass of cold water, which she handed to Eremurus with the warmth of a January morning. @Cap | Eremurus + Valerie

@Cap | Eremurus + Valerie

em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“Ah, I’m.. sorry to hear that,” Kenji says, somewhat awkward with the subject. He does seem impressed, though, at the latter half of Zhi-Yin’s statement. “But it sounds like you’ve really turned it around for yourself. Making your own medicines is pretty remarkable.” @Gab || Armand 🐠|Zhi-Yin 🌬

@Gab || Armand 🐠|Zhi-Yin 🌬

Sometime after Roman had left Seki's room, he had eventually arrived at Naiyta and his usual table. His hair was pulled in to many big loose braids, and tied back in to a ponytail with his drumsticks sticking in to them. His hair seemed overall well taken care of this morning, but taken back to a style more reminiscent of his original one.. In front of the seat across from sat a plate. A handful of freshly baked cookies that Naiyta would be familiar with, and some seared strips of steak with an odd black sauce on top.. Which Naiyta would also be familiar with. He waited anxiously, drumming his fingers on the table. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Roman would be waiting a while- almost half an hour- before Naiyta showed up. They were wearing something slightly different than their usual clothing- a dyed, patterned tunic that covered more of their body, and far more jewlery than they typically wore. It didn't acknowledge Roman at first, but went over to the buffet and poured itself a glass of wine. Only then did it wander over to it's and Roman's usual table. Instead of sitting down, they leaned over the table. propping themself up with one arm. "We need to talk about your behavior last night. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

What was with the getup..? Trying to impress him or something? Roman kept his expression blank, even if his heart rate was increasing and all he wanted to do was run away or fight. ".. Yes, my lord. I'm sorry. Please go on." Roman said and bowed his head. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta set their glass down on the table. "I think you have been holding some false ideas about the nature of our relationship. I am not your partner, your lover, or your friend. I am not your equal. I am your better, your master, your God. You will do as I say with complete and unflinching loyalty and devotion. Is this understood?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Ah. There it was. He wasn't anything to them. So why did it hurt so bad to hear? "I.. I understand, Naiyta.." Roman said quietly. "I'm sorry. I thought you loved me." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I am the Lifebringer. I do not love." It scoffed. "And don't presume yourself worthy enough to speak my name. I am your lord." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. there's nothing weak or mortal about loving someone.." Roman said. "Sorry. My lord. I won't delude myself in to thinking you actually care about me again." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta didn't reply to Roman's first comment, but they were clearly irritated by it. "Good." It sat down across from him. "I'm glad we're now on the same page." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

He didn't say anything else, and just stared down at the table. He hadn't even looked up for more than a glance at Naiyta. He only moved to quickly wipe his eyes of some tears that had formed. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Look at me, Roman." Naiyta ordered. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

It took him a moment, but he lifted his head up. His eyes rested just a bit off to the side of Naiyta's. Between his tears and rapidly beating heart, he was clearly uncomfortable here. But he didn't say anything. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta folded their hands on the table and stared at Roman, taking in all his discomfort. After a while, they finally glanced down at the plate before them. "What's this?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

As soon as Naiyta looked to the plate, Roman looked back down at the table. "I-i remade the cookies that we had that one day. And I couldn't really spare any of me, so I made some steak strips with just my blood on it. I thought it might make you happy.." Roman said. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta's brow furrowed. "Hm." It picked up one of the cookies and looked it over. They didn't seem happy. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman had no comment. The cookies weren't really what he was interested in either.. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta set the cookie back down on the plate. "I'm not hungry." It said simply. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"..." Roman sighed. Was it on to him, fucking with him, or just not hungry? "I-if you don't eat the meat soon, it will go bad with my blood on it.. I can put the cookies in the ice box and they'll be fine for a while." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Is there a reason we'd want to save it? There's no shortage of food here." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman drummed his fingers on the table. "I hurt myself to get you the meat, I figured you'd.. care a little." Roman sighed. "But I see that that's not the case." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I expect you to hurt yourself for me. It's part of your devotion." Naiyta said simply. It went back to inspecting the dish Roman had prepared. Some of the blood got on their hand, which they licked off. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Gross thing to say but.. As Naiyta ate the blood, Roman cautiously looked up slightly, and tried to feel out the path it was going. It wasn't enough for him to be able to wield against them, but it would help him see if the blood got to a resting place or disappeared in to the ether the second Naiyta ingested it. There would be chances to get his blood in them later, and he only had one chance. He had to be sure about what needed to be done. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Roman would be able to track his blood going down Naiyta's esophagus... and then nothing. Weird. There were, evidently, other things on Naiyta's mind. "You changed your hair. Without my permission." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

So he'd need to do it before Naiyta could swallow it all the way.. Could it come back from decapitation? He'd only have one chance to figure it out. Sometime when Naiyta was drinking a lot of blood. "I just put it up- if you want it to keep its shape it needs to be braided while the product sets in." Roman said. "It'll be back down later." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Hm." Naiyta conceded. "I've had Raikal's clothing repaired and delivered to your room. I would like you to change back into it as soon as possible." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Ha ha! Small victory. He could wear his hair how he wanted for a few hours a day.. "Of course." Roman said. "Does Raikal have any different clothes..? Like.. A dress or something..?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I still have their Corvi clan regalia. That's somewhat dress-like. Would you like to wear that?" Naiyta asked. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mhm.." Roman slowly nodded. Should he be sharing this with it..? "I.. really liked the dress Reagan gave me, before it got all torn up and bloody from getting dragged down the mountain.. And I like this one that Seki got me." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta narrowed their eyes. "Reagan's clothes don't fit you, and I don't think Seki's do either." Nevermind that Raikal's clothes didn't fit him either. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I-.. I just like the style.. is what I mean.." Roman said, with much less confidence. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I don't think it suits you. The style of dress that Reagan and Seki wear." A thinly veiled 'no'. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman decided to not say anything else. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I want you to look a very particular way." Naiyta said coolly, by way of explanation. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I'm aware." Roman said. "Was Raikal also missing a finger?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"They weren't . I'll repair it for you." Naiyta said simply. "But I've also brought you a gift." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Good news, and bad news.. it was highly unlikely that a gift from Naiyta would be pleasant after last night. "A.. gift..?" Roman repeated. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta nodded. They took from the inside of their tunic a small wooden box, carved with the same feather designs as the box that had held Raikal's clothes. Naiyta set it in front of Roman. "Open it." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Oh god. Was this her ashes or something.. Roman slowly moved his hands from the table and lifted up the lid of the box, moving his head away to avoid something potentially jumping out at him. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Inside the box was a corded tassel. It was intricately beaded and ornately weaved- it was clear someone had put a lot of effort into this small relic. The beads were wooden, but dyed indigo and black, At the end of the tassel were two long, dark feathers. "Do you know what that is?" Naiyta asked. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Okay, not ashes.. but he didn't trust so easily. "Uh, no my lord, I don't really know what this is... A necklace..?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta shook their head. "It's a Corvi talisman. Raikal's. It typically fastens to a belt or waist-cord." "Those feathers are his parents'." It explained, pointing out the feathers. "These things are supposedly very important in their culture. Very... personal." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Oh lord. Why was he getting this?! And why did it say supposedly? "Ah- my lord.. I'm not sure I should have this.." Roman frowned. "You can't even trust me not to damage clothes, I don't want to carry around Raikal's parents with me.. that's irreplaceable." He hardly even remembered his own parents, it would be weird to have a constant reminder of Raikal's. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Raikal wore it everyday." Naiyta said simply, but with an underlying command. It expected Roman to do the same. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. Could I not have an artifact that relates to my own family, at least? It would be less weird for me to wear that.." Roman frowned. "There's- hair beads that some people wear to represent their family. That could replace the feathers." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I would prefer you to have this. It was very important to them, and has more significance to me." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"..." Roman looked down at it. He'd have to bring it around to Raikal sometime. And apologize for wearing it. "Could I.. add something to represent my babu to it..?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta frowned. "What sort of something?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I.. The hair beads like I brought up before, I could get one to represent him. And I could tie it on with a string." Roman said and gingerly picked up the talisman. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Hm. Very well." Naiyta shrugged. "There's a corvi woman here, one of your fellow contestants. She could probably help you figure out how to adjust the beading." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. Is she not going... to be offended that I'm carrying this around when I'm not a Corvi..?" Roman asked. "Is she fighting soon..? I wanna know how fast I need to find her." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I don't know. I'm not her." Naiyta said callously. "Her fight is very soon, so you'd likely need to find her fast. Her name is Kyrie Coalfoot." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Great. Putting him on a time crunch. "Then I suppose I should get going." Roman said and stood up. "After I change, of course.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta nodded. "Yes. You should. I expect you at the acropolis again tonight." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman stilled, grip momentarily tightening on the talisman before he lightened up on it. (Consent issues) "Could you-... please just knock me out this time.. I-i can't be awake for that again.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"If that's what you want." Naiyta shrugged. "Hm. Maybe I can work with that, actually." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman took in a deep breath and turned away from it. "I don't want to hear about whatever you did after I wake up." Roman mumbled. "Just-.. do whatever and have the attendants take me back to my room." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Fine by me." Naiyta remained seated. "I'll have it so you don't remember any of it." They were being uncharacteristically giving about this. Maybe Raikal had asked for something similar. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman said nothing else and quickly left the room. He was done here.

Reagan and Kairas were both in the refectory, an untouched plate of mostly bread on the table beside them. They weren't eating- rather, Reagan was wrapping Kairas's arm in a sort of splint. They weren't free of wounds, either- bandages wrapped around their body, particularly their upper back, and every movement seemed to pain them. Neither spoke, and neither wore their masks- revealling the matched heterochromia they had. Each had one gold eye, and one that looked more natural. Reagan's was a cool grayish-brown, and Kairas's was an impossibly deep black. Both had heavy eyebags, and looked like they hadn't slept at all the previous night. Reagan's characteristc, identifying facial scar was on full display. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

1

For once, Seki was wearing their mask to hide how exhausted they looked, although it still showed in their posture. They rubbed their neck as they slowly trudged to the food display. They had only slept maybe an hour or two, and their whole body was aching. However, they were hungry, and very thirsty, so they decided to get some grub before taking another nap. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kairas, of course, noticed Seki's entrance, and made a gesture to catch Reagan's attention and alert them to the same. "Ah, that's just Seki. They're trustworthy." Reagan muttered, and turned back to Kairas's arm, though they offered a weary, "Good morning, Seki." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki's ear swiveled towards the voice before their head did. The mask luckily hid their initial scowl, but they paused, seeing both Reagan and Kairas unmasked. And the eyes. Seki watched for a brief moment, taking in their appearances, remembering what Roman had told about last night as well. "'Morning.." he grunted and gave a nod. They gathered a bowl of blood, some bread and polenta, before walking to the two of them. "Is this seat free?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan only briefly glanced to the seat Seki had indicated, and nodded. "Uh, yeah, that should be fine." Kairas watched Seki for a second longer than was normal or comfortable, but then turned her attention back to Reagan. "Naiyta is with that man again." She said, softly. "We should be safe for a while." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki sat near the two, fairly unbothered by Kairas' staring, frankly too drowsy to notice, but their head snapped up when she spoke. "What? Roman?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kairas nodded, but kept her (physical) eyes on Reagan. "Yes. That one." Reagan was still focused on Kairas's splint. "Where are they?" "The bathhouse in the bird quarters. Naked, of course." She said that with a certain disgust. "I think most people bathe nude, Kai." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki huffed. "What did I fucking tell him just now... sigh, though, I guess at this point he can't really avoid the freak", he grumbled, and dipped a piece of bred in the blood. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan gave a slight hum in acknowledgment, but said no more. Once the splint was wrapped, Reagan let Kairas's arm go. "There. Try not to jostle it around too much." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"God Complex hasn't been happy with you, huh?" Seki nodded towards their injuries with a meaningful stress. A subtle nod to the last conversation they had had with Reagain in the refectory last time. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (edited)

"Someone here thought it would be a smart idea to shoot them. Twice." Reagan said, keeping their eyes on Kairas. "And someone was punished unjustly. They whipped you half to death, Rhea." Kairas retorted. "I couldn't do nothing." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Oh my god", Seki perked up at Reagan's remark, tail raising up like a funny flag as she turned to look at Kairas with a surprised, admiring smile. Then their ears, tail and smile quickly dropped when Kairas rebutted. Seki turned to look at Reagan. "Because you gave a dress for mr. Romace the God?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan shifted uneasily. "Because Naiyta needed to prove a point, and I was there." They didn't meet Seki's gaze, and awkwardly adjusted the bandages beneath their loose robe. "I don't want to talk about it." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki let out a brief, deep growl. "I'd love to have a bit of a chat with them", he sneered as he turned his head, and took a sip of the blood, getting some on their whiskers and muzzle. They glanced at the bowl, frowning. "Is there no salt on this...?" they muttered. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Don't. You'll only end up the same as me." Reagan cautioned. "Or worse." Kairas glanced towards Seki. "Do you normally take your raw goat's blood salted?" @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki growled. "I'm not scared of getting hurt... but I guess I'm more useful in my full health." "Eh, yeah? Usually you season the sauces, yeah?" They looked at Kairas. "This is really plain..." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I don't drink blood." Kairas answered plainly. "Aw, really? Says the woman who eats carrion." Reagan teased. "Carrion is good. And readily available. Blood is gross." Kairas retorted. "There should be salt by the condiments if you want to add some." Reagan replied to Seki. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki hummed with a small smirk. "It's not for everyone. I don't usually care for the raw blood. Or only if it's fresh and warm but even then it's a bit like, saddening in a way. And can have germs. Anywhose, it has a lot of iron, and I think I need that right now", they nodded and got up to get some salt, which they mixed with them blood. "Hmm. What's carrion?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"It's too wet for me." Kairas hummed. "Carrion is decaying meat. Rotting meat." Reagan explained. "It's quite good if your digestive system can handle it." Kairas shrugged. "Plus, sometimes you get the worms too." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Eugh, yeah, I'm not the kind of fermented meat enthusiast. I don't think my stomach is strong enough. I'd just get parasites", Seki chuckles awkwardly. They quieted down for a while to eat their breakfast. They needed to drink something too. They still felt parched. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Suit yourself. More for me, then." Kairas closed her eyes and briefly fantasized about getting to eat worms instead of being here. Reagan sighed deeply, and leaned back in their seat. They seemed incredibly tired. "Is Naiyta still occupied?" They asked Kairas. Kairas opened her eyes and stared off into the distance. "Uh, yeah. They're getting out of the water now. Still naked." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki hummed. "...Has your stance changed on what we talked about yesterday by any chance?" he grunted quietly to Reagan. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan shot Seki a brief, incredulous look, like they were shocked Seki had even asked. "Yes, actually. Now I know just how many lashings I'll get when one of you speaks out of turn." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki grunted. "You would get none if there was no tyrant", Seki shrugged, and continued eating. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (edited)

"If I could wish away Naiyta I would." Reagan scoffed. "If I believed amassing an army of seventy five would do anything against an immortal god that controls the earth we stand upon and the sky above us, I would join you in an instant." They said, their tone dark and low. "But it won't work. And when it all fails, I'm going to be the one paying for it." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Why would you pay for it and not me, the one who came up with it?" Seki huffed. "And what about Albanes? For what I've heard she and Naiyta aren't exactly on the same side." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Who do you think paid when Roman decided he didn't like being abused anymore?" Reagan scoffed. "Because let me tell you, it wasn't Roman." Kairas spoke up after Reagan fell silent. "Albanes is kind, but complacent. She makes herself weak. She'll be of no help to anyone, all she does is sigh wistfully and wander about the temple and pine about how horrible she thinks all of this is." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki growled and their tail whipped. "Damn thing. It's worse than me..." he muttered. He propped his elbows on the table and put his face in his hands, gripping his head angrily. "Urgh, I'm losing my mind... Why can't I be like my sister? Why can't I have insane god-like powers like her? I could go up against that bitch alone and get everyone out of this mess. I hate being so useless!" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan didn't react to what Seki said. Kairas only gave him a quick, forlorn glance. "I don't think anything could stop Naiyta. Not here, not now." She confessed. "But... hm." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"But? But what?!" Seki took their hands off their mask and looked at Kairas keenly. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"There could be ways of stopping them from that don't involve defeating them." Kairas suggested. "Oh, Kairas, not this again..." Reagan pressed their hands to their temples. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"What? Something you know about? I think a subtle approach is the way to go but I'm dumb as fuck so..." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"What Kairas has in mind is the opposite of subtle." Reagan retorted. "Do you know any other ways to kill a god?" Kairas argued, then looked to Seki. "It's... a complicated plan. But-" "It's a half formed idea." Reagan protested. "One that's gonna kill me before you can even lay a finger on Naiyta." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki made a deep, day-coreversion of a cat's "mrrp?" and tilted their head. "But you just said it wasn't about defeating it...?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Not through violence." Kairas shook her head. "I think that if we force Naiyta into absolution, into complete divine assumption, we might be able to stop it." "And I think it's ridiculous to try to make our enemy even more powerful." Reagan countered. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Hoh." Seki blinked. "..Yeeah, I'm with Reagan here, I don't see how that would make it easier to stop it." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"We don't need to stop it- we just need to make it so it doesn't care about killing us anymore." Kairas protested. "Well, when you think of a way to do that that doesn't involve me risking my life and sanity, then we can discuss your plan." Reagan frowned. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki turned to stare at Reagan with the same bewildered expression, which was unfortunately mostly hidden. "Huh, what does it have to do with you?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Naiyta would have to decide for themself to assume complete godhood," Kairas explained. "Or, have someone else decide for them." "She wants me to brainwash God." Reagan explained in simpler terms. "Which, point a, who knows if that's even possible. Not me. B- has a good chance of making me go insane." "You don't know that." Kairas argued. "And you don't know if any of this will work. At all." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Ooh..." Seki hummed, tilting their back slowly and nodding in a manner that said he didn't really fully understand. "That's. Huh. Hmm... Pretty wild if you could do that. I think.. there's very little things we know for sure about anything, to be fair.." Seki crossed their arms, and leaned back, looking somewhere at the edge of the ceiling, racking their brains. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Well, I'm not risking it." Reagan said dismissively. "I still think we should consider it." Kairas said, "Just in case." Reagan didn't reply. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"I mean if there's ever a chance when all else has failed.. I guess it's a last resort? Hm..." Seki shrugged. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kairas nodded. "It's not like we have any better options." "Maybe we can think up a plan where you risk your life and sanity, and then we can go with that." Reagan glared. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki stifled a chuckle. "Hmm... I heard there have been people in the past who have killed the Lifebringers." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I wouldn't advise going that route, unless you plan to be the next one." Kairas hummed. "There's only one way to kill a Lifebringer, and that's to become its successor. I doubt it'd work for Naiyta, anyways. Albanes is the Regnant Lifebringer." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Ohh, hmm.. right..." Seki seemed to fall in thought for a while again. "...Do you guys know anything about the Fold?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Once again, Kairas was the one to answer. "The Immaterial Fold is the Lifebringer afterlife. It's where all the losers are going when they die." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki grunted. "Is this tournament happening because of that place?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"So says Naiyta." Reagan shrugged. "Kai and I weren't given the most information about the 'why' of it all." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Mhm.. it said something abount the worlds of living and dead merging and that it needed to fix that... I guess it doesn't have a control of the Fold? Would it be so bad if it did?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Albanes has control over the fold." Kairas said. "Whatever she's doing in there, Naiyta doesn't like it. That's the extent of what Reagan and I know about the situation." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Mhm, alright..." That didn't help Seki decide whether or not it was wise to let Roman and Naiyta carry on with their plan. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Personally, I don't think Naiyta's up to any good, in the Fold or elsewhere." Reagan said. "I don't trust them." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki hummed. "I don't trust them either... but do we trust Albanes either?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I don't trust anyone who goes by the Lifebringer title." Reagan scoffed. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki made a grumpy and confused throat sound, tail swishing. They lifted their mask to rub their eyes. "What if we got them take each other out?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (edited)

"Do you think that would work?" Kairas asked. "They're the same god- their power comes from the same source. I don't think one could be destroyed without the other falling too." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Yeah, I have no idea. I'm just spitballing here", Seki sighed, and leaned their arms on the table. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"..." Kairas frowned. "It'll be difficult- more than difficult to beat the Lifebringer, especially here." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki grunted. "I don't care what happens to me. I'd sacrifice myself if it meant everyone else got out.. but it breaks my heart to think about my pups crying for me... I... think I hear them, every night. Makes it hard to fall asleep.. And Riki... he must be so hurt. I just disappeared and he'll never know what happened to me", Seki sighed heavily. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Neither Kairas nor Reagan were particularly family oriented people, and exchanged a glance as Seki went on. "Mhm. Noble of you, but I doubt we'd come across that opportunity." Kairas hummed. "Yeah.... I think if the rest of the contestants end up going home, you'll be with them." Reagan hummed. "Big 'if' there." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Yuhhuh. The 'if' is what's bothering me", Seki murmured, and lay their head on the table. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm." Reagan sighed. "Honestly, my main goal is to get out of here. Any way I can. Even if it's through Naiyta murdering me once all of you guys are dead." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

11:38 AM

(suicidal ideation tw)

"I'm sure that is easy to arrange", Seki huffed. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Not until all of this is done." Reagan shook their head, a sardonic edge to their tone. "I've asked. It needs me." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Mhm, eventually, though. It's easier to die than to stay alive." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (edited)

"Yeah?" Reagan raised an eyebrow. "Try killing yourself when a god of healing and immortality 'needs you'. Tell me how easy that is." @Twig | Seki / Aarni (more suicide tw)

CW suicide "Don't be mad", Seki turned their head on the table so they were looking at Reagan. "I said eventually. After it's done with this shit. And maybe if you were really quick maybe it couldn't heal you fast enough", Seki gave a dry laugh. "Though", they averted their gaze in thought, "if it's so attached, I wonder if taking you guys as a hostage would do any good." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (edited)

"I'll feel how I want to feel." Reagan countered. "Don't tell me about things I know better than you." Kairas seemed more preoccupied on the practical. "Hostage... hm. I'm not sure if that would work." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Alright, boss." Seki shrugged. "Hm? But you're not sure it wouldn't work?" Seki turned their head towards Kairas, still slouching on the table. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I don't think you'd be able to keep us as hostages. I think, first, that Naiyta would see through it. You can't realistically hold Reagan and I prisoner." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Mhmm, I think it should be someone else than me anyway. It most likely knows I'm... not, happy, to kill people", Seki struggled with their wording a bit. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"They'd know we'd be faking it, anyways." Reagan said. "I can control people. There's no reason I wouldn't be able to get out of a hostage situation if I was there against my will." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Hmmh. If you pretended to be unconscious?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Hm. Maybe." Reagan thought. "Naiyta would likely be able to see through that, too." Kairas countered. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki sighed lightly. "I'd say what if we knocked you unconscious, but that'd be putting your health at risk..." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I'd think you'd be way more likely to just accidentally kill me, yeah." Reagan nodded. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Yeah. At least I personally don't have any way to put you to sleep what wouldn't involve brain damage", Seki gave a dry laugh again. "Dunno if anyone else has." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (but i know ryu does)

"You could also just try keeping me." Kairas pointed out. "I'm less... fragile than Reagan, and don't have as easy of a way to break out of containment. Though, I'm also not as valuable to Naiyta." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Mhmm, yeah, maybe", Seki looked at Kairas again. "Maybe we could pretend to blackmail Reagan to become a hostage as well by threatening you?" Seki sat back up again, and rubbed their chin in thought. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"What would you blackmail me with? You don't even know my real name." Reagan frowned. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"By threatening Kairas' life?" Seki tilted their head with a mildly confused expression. They thought it was already implied. "And Reagan isn't your real name?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"That's not blackmail, then. That's just a threat." Reagan said, then scoffed. "Of course it isn't. Naiyta doesn't let Kairas and I show our faces- you'd think they'd let us go by our real names?" @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Oh", Seki tilted their head the other way, and blinked. Guess that was the wrong word, then. "Everyone here is supposed to wear masks, but we're still using our real names. How was I supposed to know?" Seki shrugged. "What are your names?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"It's none of your business what our names are." Kairas cut Seki off. "We don't even know each other's real names." Which was a lie, but Seki didn't really need to know that. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"I thought it would be polite to call you by your real names, but I guess I was insensitive. I apologize", Seki lifted their hands up in surrender. "I'm clearly not wanted here, so I'll leave you two in peace", Seki stood and took their empty dishes. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (edited)

"Very well," Kairas shrugged, not turning to face Seki. Reagan only spared them a slight, somewhat-apologetic somewhat-annoyed glance. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Very well," Kairas shrugged, not turning to face Seki. Reagan only spared them a slight, somewhat-apologetic somewhat-annoyed glance. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki took away their dishes, and while making their way out, said: "I'm at your disposal if you need anything."

With less than hidden annoyance, Reagan seethed, "I'm obligated to say the same." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

After he left the kitchen, Roman had headed back in to the refectory and grabbed another protein shake to make up for only eating half of his sandwich. He sat down at his normal seat and placed the glass in front of him. He always hated eating alone. He did it for his entire life after Roque had justifiably fled the village when they were teenagers, she was the only one who was ever willing to sit with him.. After she was gone, he had nothing and no one. Except his grandfather. Who didn't even want to eat dinner with him either. Dinner that he would make, most of the time. But for those few years he had with Roque- about eight years, wasn't it?- he had someone. And it wasn't even just Roque- she eventually recruited Radysh.. and then later Remoul. And they became his friends, almost his family, as well. Yeah, people might have thought they were all weird and freaky and gross degenerates, but they could be freaky gross degenerates together. And they had their nightly rituals, and inside jokes, and they all knew exactly what to say to make the others happy.. He moved his hands off of the glass and wrapped them around his waist, not feeling very hungry at all. This room felt so big and empty, even with some attendants cycling in and out occasionally. ... He didn't want to eat by himself. He moved off the chair and squatted down, retrieving his blood knives from one of his belts. He stabbed them in to the floor and drew out his regular portal. "Grab Roque for me too. I want all of us." Roman said down in to the portal. As usual, gross squelching noises followed, and shortly after the bowl containing Roque's eyes was slid out of the portal by a bloody hand. Then another hand came out, and pulled out the rest of the body from the portal. "Sit, sit, I just.. I just want some company." Roman picked up Roque's eyes, which rolled back to stare at him. She really stared. The portal closed up, and Roman took his normal spot and the bloody figure sat where Naiyta usually did.. Hopefully they didn't come in. He hummed and sat Roque's eyes on the table in front of an empty seat. Beside her, there was another empty seat.. "There! We're all together, isn't this fun?" Roman said and looked between the eyeballs, and the amorphous bloody figure who only kind of looked like a human. He grabbed the shake again, but still couldn't get himself to drink it. "Right guys..?" Well, the eyeballs couldn't talk. And the blood didn't seem to have any opinions on anything. "Remoul, don't you remember when you tried to make us smoothies that one night, but the fruit was three weeks out of date and we all got sick?" He stared intently at the blood, looking for any sign of recognition, but it only kept morphing around and dripping everywhere. "Radysh.. Radysh, remember when you made those cookies for my birthday, but you mixed up the salt and the sugar and I spit it out everywhere? Wasn't that funny?" Nothing. ".. Oh.. What's the point.." Roman took in a deep breath and shoved the shake away, which just led to it spilling all over the table. He pulled his knees up to his chest and buried his face in his hands. Roque and the blood creature just sat there. Like they had before, and like they probably always will.

... As the hours passed, Roman just sat there, with his face hidden in his hands. The shake had melted in to a sad brown puddle, and slowly dripped off of the table. Roque's eyes were still staring at him, and the blood creature was sitting blankly and dripping in to an ever increasing puddle on the floor. His stomach growled, for food and especially blood, but he had no urge to consume at all.

At some point, Reagan came back to the refectory. They were headed towards the kitchen, but paused upon seeing Roman. They didn't say anything, but waited to make sure he wasn't dying or something. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman could smell them coming from entirely down the hallway. The smell of their blood was too painfully familiar, even when it was all inside their body.. The eyes rolled to look over at Reagan, and the bloody figure slowly rotated its formless head over as well, as if it had any eyes to see with. Roman could sense that they had paused. He was really hoping they would have just walked right by and not waited. He didn't even know how to start this conversation. He curled in tighter on himself, like it would somehow make him invisible. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

There was a not-insignificant amount of Reagan's blood that wasn't in their body- bleeding into their bandages from their still-healing back wounds. "Roman..." They greeted, their voice hoarse. "You made it down the mountain." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

His hands tightened around his face as they said his name. Blood.. he was so hungry. He couldn't help the drool beginning to leak out the corners of his mouth, but for now it stayed hidden under his hands. "I'm sorry- I'm so so so sorry-" Roman led with, and took in a sharp breath. "I-i tried.. I tried to numb the pain for you.. b-but it took so long.. I'm sorry.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan shifted awkwardly. "I..." They didn't forgive him. It wasn't his fault, but they couldn't forgive anyone for that. "I fell unconcious at some point, anyways." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. i-it was after I made you numb.. it was right after.." Roman said quietly. If he had been closer, or they didn't also have control ability powers, he could have done it sooner. He was lucky he could reach at all. "I-i didn't think Naiyta would have done that. If I even had a slight idea, I-i would have not gone.." Roman said. "I just- I-i just want to help people.. but all I ever do is get people in more trouble, I'm cursed.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Makes sense. I don't remember being numb for any of that." Reagan said, their voice laced with a certain bitterness. "Well, you thought wrong. You thought really, really wrong if you thought the tyranical god that has kidnapped all of us and tortured me for months would be anything but cruel." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Youch. "I'm sorry." Roman mumbled again. He didn't know what else to say. ".. I-i knew they were cruel, but I thought they would be cruel to me.. I-i'm the one that spoke back to them.. I figured I would be the one for them to take their anger out on. I-i felt so awful after they took you.. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself either way.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I don't want to hear an apology. Not from you." Reagan said. Their voice was cold. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I-" Clearly he was going to apologize again, but stopped himself. "C-can you- can you hurt me back? With your powers..?" Roman slowly moved his hands down, just low enough to show his eyes while hiding his mouth. He didn't want to explain that he was holding himself back from pouncing on to them and licking that blood off their back.. It had been an urge he'd been battling ever since that night. A disgusting, unimaginable urge. "Please.. i-if Naiyta hears that you actually hurt me, they would be upset.. but if you can just- just- do it mentally.. I won't tell. I promise. Please. I deserve it." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I could make you relive the worst things you can remember." Reagan crossed their arms. "Is that what you want?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Hm. There were a few situations that he could imagine being his worst days. But it was two situations that he figured it would come down to. One was sudden and somewhat swift, and the other.. The other was weeks. Roman trembled slightly at just the thought of reliving any of that. Would it feel like weeks again? Would he feel that hunger in him again, like it was the first time? Even though he knew what he would have to do to satisfy it? It took him a minute to think it over. He hated himself, dearly, but going through his worst days again.. He was already on the edge. He had spent so long pushing all those memories away. It was easier that way- to look back on his days in the Rayes with rose tinted glasses. To compartmentalize all that trauma it took him to get there, and all the grief he felt at the end of it. Taking physical beatings was so much easier. He'd rather have all his skin flayed off, regrown, and flayed again than go through even one of those days ever again. "Y-yes.. please.. if it'll make you feel better, do it." Roman said quietly. "W-will it feel like the same amount of time that it did when it happened? Or is it just-.. flashes of it?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

It wouldn't make Sadihak feel any better. They knew that, very firmly. Hurting Roman was only going to make them feel worse. Inflicting pain onto others always did. But they'd do it anyways. "I can do either. I can make one second feel like a year." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

One second that felt like a year. All that awfulness back to back.. it was likely he'd not recover for the length of the tournament. It took him months, if not years, to push the weeks long event down. The other thing.. he still thought about it every day. Every single day when he missed them. (SUICIDAL THOUGHTS) He wasn't going to be able to handle it. It was going to drive him insane. He couldn't speak to anyone for weeks after it happened originally. He fought back against Roque, violently. He had tried to kill himself, to no success. Maybe this would be enough. Beyond everything that made him miserable, he feared missing out of the slight chance he had at getting home. Even if it was a slim chance, it had given him hope. Stupid, idiotic hope that only got other people hurt. He needed it gone so that he had nothing to fear losing. This hope he felt was wicked. A total lie that only prolonged his suffering and maimed everyone who tried to preserve it in him. He laughed once, and let his hands fall to his sides. His drool was seeping down both corners of his mouth, and he let his body go limp in the chair. His head rolled back until he was looking up at the ceiling. He laughed again. And again. And again. "Make it hurt." He laughed. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan's brow furrowed. "Are you sure?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oh yes, I'm sure.." He chuckled coldly. "I haven't felt so sure about something since I got here. I think this will really help me put some things in perspective." "And when you're done, do ask someone to help me to the cliffs. I don't think I'll be able to get there on my own." He smiled up at the ceiling, the drool now running down his cheeks and neck and absorbing in to these clothes that weren't his. "I'm ready. I think I've been ready." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan exhaled, and turned their back on Roman. "Fuck. Really? This is what I'm dealing with right now? Fuck." They ran their hands through their hair, and winced a bit when their wounds got aggravated. "I'm not making you kill yourself, you selfish idiot. No matter if you want it or not, that's not something I do. If I don't get to take the easy route out of this shit, neither do you." They looked upon him, unmasked, with nothing but cold vacancy in their eyes. "It doesn't solve anything just to make you suffer. It certainly doesn't make my situation any better if Naiyta's plaything throws himself off a cliff after talking to me." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman didn't bother looking over at them. He didn't care how they were looking at him. At the moment, it didn't feel like he cared about much of anything. It was almost pleasant. He didn't even care that this made them think lesser of him. "Then come with me." Roman said simply. "Seriously, what hope do we have of getting out of here? What are you holding on for?" "So get on with it, it's getting late. Soon Kyrie's fight will happen, and I don't want to be around for it's conclusion." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

They crossed their arms. "If I kill myself, it'll kill Kairas. She won't take it into her own hands, because she's too stubborn and principled and like that. That's why I have to stay. Because, maybe unlike you, I have at least something to live for, even if it's the affection of a woman who dumped me in the universe I'm from and doesn't even remember my real name." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"The only people I really care about are sitting with me at this table. And as you can see, there's not much of them left." Roman shrugged. "I'll wait then, until it's not able to be connected to you. Naiyta is bringing me over tonight, that should be enough to explain it." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Yeah. Whatever. Don't come crying back to me when it doesn't work." Sadihak scoffed, then sighed. "Naiyta took a lot away from me. My name, my bodily autonomy, the people I love. Forgive me if I'm not enthusiastic about letting them take my life too. And you're a really selfish jerk for asking me to do it for you, you know." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Why wouldn't it work? There's no way Naiyta would be able to find him all the way down there.. "Naiyta only calls me Raikal now. They made me change my hair. They have a list of other things they plan on doing to me. They sexually assaulted me, and they'll do it again. The only thing they haven't taken is Roque and my blood friends, but I'm sure once they find out a way they will." Roman said. "If I don't do it, they'll kill me anyway in a worse way. It's clearly their plan." "Call me a selfish jerk if you want to. Call me all the names you can think of under the sun. They're probably all fitting. It's true that I want to take the coward's way out instead of suffering just to die later in a more gruesome way. It is selfish." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (edited)

"It's selfish because, if you remember, the moment you take one wrong step, do any small thing that displeases it- it's not you that suffers, for it, oh- oh, no, it's not that simple." Their voice was rising in anger. "Guess who feels all that pain? It's ME!" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman's blank stare at the ceiling slowly morphed in to a glare. "So what do you expect me to do?!" Roman threw his hands up in exasperation. "I can't- I can't just be the perfect little victim all the time! I already fight myself from fighting back! I don't act out of turn to get you hurt! I'm just at my wits end, I'm hurting too! I try so hard to take it, but I can't!" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I don't know! Maybe think through a bit of the cause and affect of your decisions before you ask me to make you kill yourself?" It seemed that was the thing Sadihak was most upset about, beyond anything else. "You think you're at your wits end? It's been six months of this for me! Half a year of torture and abuse and having to protect people as much as I can knowing I'm the one they fear and blame for this! I don't know what to do! If I knew what to do I would've done it six months ago! But-" They balled their hands into fists and took a moment to calm themself down. "But if you go kill your self, I can see two things happening. Either you fail, and you're back to square one- or probably square negative five because Naiyta will be pissed at you for it- or you succeed, and we all- and by all I mean every other person here- suffers for it. You know what it's like when it's angry." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I wasn't going to make you do it, I just figured seeing all those memories would drive me crazy enough to go through with it! It wouldn't- I wouldn't need you to do it for me." Roman slowly lowered his hands, just to grip on to his hair. "I know you've been here for so much longer, and probably gone through worse, but I can't help where my tolerance ends! I wasn't exactly doing well an entire year before this either! The only thing that kept me going then was the thought that when I died, my soul would be tortured for eternity. That's not the case here." "Yes, it makes me a total selfish asshole, but nothing I do is right! I ask Naiyta if they plan on killing me like Raikal, they freak out, torture you, and kick me out! I-i try to please them, and you get in my head and say I'm a freak! I haven't even tried fighting it yet, but I think I know what will happen!" "What can I even do? No matter what happens, everything just gets worse. It's selfish, but if I'm dead, I don't have to think about it anymore." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I don't want to hear any more from you. I'm not your fucking therapist." Sadihak said, and turned away from Roman. "Again- I don't know what we can do. You or me or anyone. I don't know how we can fix it." They paused. "I don't want to see you again but knowing our situation, that's unlikely. So... bye for now." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

They used to get along. At least decently. Was this all because of what Naiyta did last night? Clearly Reagan was already upset with him when they started talking to him now.. but the way this went probably only made it worse. ".. Yes, I'm sure I'll be seeing you later." Roman mumbled. "To be honest, I still like you. I appreciate all that stuff you did before for me. I'm sorry.. I'm sorry that it turned out this way. I-i didn't mean for it to." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Sadihak took in a heavy breath. "Thanks.... I know it's not your fault." Their tone had softened."I just... I'm in a lot of pain right now, I'm going to go try and rest some while I can." They made that excuse, and left. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I could help-" Roman raised his hand, but Reagan was already gone. He let it fall back to his side and rested his head on the table.

... Well.... It was time. He was starving, and definitely couldn't walk himself there, so he asked the blood creature to carry him there, along with Roque's eyes. He left the refectory, with the entirely melted protein shake still dripping off of the table.

Roman and the blood creature were sitting at his usual table. Seems like someone had come by and cleaned up the melted shake that was there previously. He had a plate in front of him with a nice variety of food on it, and a new shake. Both dishes had a bloody handprint around them. Roman was basically covered in blood, and crying, but still picking at the food on the plate. Was he.. smiling? @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"What the-?" Seki paused soon after entering the refectory. The air was certainly filled with a more prominent stench of blood than usual, and once her eyes landed on Roman and his friend, her astonished and puzzled expression intensified. "...Do I even dare to ask-?" they huffed, once they marched next to the table, gesturing at the blood creature and Roman. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 (edited)

"That's my friend." Roman said and rubbed away some of his tears with the palm of his hand, which just smeared more blood across his face. The back of his clothes also sported some new small rips and tears, which would be a problem for later that he was choosing to not think about. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"...Alright. And did you guys have a fight or something?" Seki crossed their arms and raised an eyebrow, tail squirming testily. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

(Suicide TW) "No." Roman hummed and took another bite of veggie. "They just saved me from killing myself. And I hugged them. That's why I'm covered in blood." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki's frown lifted, and their eyes widened, ears raised and tail paused. Then, their eyes softened, and ears drew back, as they watched Roman quietly for a moment. Then, they sighed, lightly shook their head and stepped closer. "Oh, honey..." she hummed compassionately, and put a hand on Roman's head. There was more she could say, tell how she could relate for the times she had attempted to take her own life, but none of it would have really made it any better, so for a little while Seki only petted Roman's hair and waited if he wanted to say more about it or change the subject. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

12:22 PM

(Suicide TW as well.)

The blood thing vaguely looked over at Seki.. Man, people liked to touch his hair now.. "Yeah it's.. Not been great.." Roman sighed. "Anyway, did you talk to Darcy again? I've not seen him.." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Mhm, I did, we went to see a statue together", she replied, and took a seat by the two. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

.. The thing shifted to look at them again.. "Oh, yeah that sounds like a good idea.. Find out anything useful? I want to go look at Anore's...." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"I'm not sure. It was the lady at the cliff. She fought and killed her previous Lifebringer, and ate something called Eternity from the remains to become the Lifebringer. How dhe managed to kill the Lifebringer was apparently just a lot of intense combat training or whatever. However, since Naiyta isn't the current Lifebringer, I don't think defeating them could be done the same way as the reigning Lifebringers have been defeated", Seki sighed. They turned to look at the bloodman, and waved. "Hi, I'm Seki Gar-, I mean Icefang. Nice to meet you." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oh, I think I did just see that statue.. I didn't stop to talk to it." Roman said. "Yeah, I figured killing Naiyta would never get us anywhere, that's why I'm plotting against Albanes.." The thing looked over her for a time before limply raising up both of its hands and then awkwardly lowering them. "There's um.. Two souls in there, so I think they don't quite know how to work together yet.. I'm shocked they even managed to get me in time." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Oh, you are?" Seki looked back at Roman, and then to the blood creature. "Two souls, huh? Wack. Where'd you find this guy? Are they alright? I mean I'm guessing they're not so much bleeding as they're made of blood but like..." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 (edited)

"Ah.. they're.." Roman sighed, putting down his fork. ".. They were my friends. And I killed them. Radysh and Remoul." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki turned to look at Roman with wide eyes. They remained frozen like that and didn't say anything. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I know i know how it looks-" Roman quickly shook his head. "I-it was a deal we had- when Roque died, I was supposed to kill them to make myself stronger.. It's the whole reason Roque wanted me to have two blood daggers instead of one, so I could kill them at the same time." "L-looking back, we were all so stupid to do it.. She couldn't make us go through with it, she was dead.. But we were all so obsessed with her, we couldn't imagine going against her wishes.. If I could go back, I'd stop myself from doing it.. Even if it meant my soul would be cursed for eternity, or whatever..." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki slowly relaxed as Roman explained, and their eyes went from shocked to puzzled. They mumbled "blood daggers?", but didn't want to interrupt to ask any questions. They quieted down, thinking and trying to connect the dots with what they knew about Roman. Sighing, they shook their head and rubbed their face. "Roman, I don't even know what to say. You're like a nesting doll that every time I see you, I see a new layer of you that makes my stress levels rise higher each time and they're already through the roof. You have like, negative self-preservation instincts.", they sighed, crossed their arms and leaned back, looking at the man. "Roque was your ex, right? Jeeze..." she turned to look at the blood blob. "...well, I guess I'm glad you were all on board with it. Poor guys." She reached out and put a hand on the thing's head, regretting immediately as blood seeped into her fur, but as it was too late to back off, she rubbed the blood creature's head in a way she wanted to be comforting, though with the tense look on her face it was a little awkward. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Ahh, well at least this new thing you're hearing about isn't new to me.. They've been dead for a year now..." Roman said quietly. Just about to the day, now, they died a year ago. The blood thing had no reaction to getting touched. There was no real structure to the body, so Seki's hand would sink straight down in to it. "I'm sorry, please don't hate me too. There's not many people here who can even tolerate me.." Roman said in a pathetic tone. He held his hand out and the blood stuck in Seki's fur floated out and back in to the blood thing. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki grunted in reply, patting the blood boogeyman on the head like gently tapping the surface of a puddle. Splish, splats! Their tail squirmed uneasily. Their ear ticked towards Roman as he spoke again, and they looked over, hand awkwardly hovering above the blood blob so they wouldn't dribble it everywhere. Their eyes brightened a bit and their ears lifted when Roman removed the viscera out of their paw. They shook the paw a bit, and looked at the man again. "Honey, I don't hate you. I'm stressed out of my mind because I care about you", she sighed. "You've made a lot of mistakes, horrible mistakes, but I'd be hypocritical if I judged you for it. Besides, you're starting to learn, and you're starting to understand, and I want to encourage and support that, Roman. You are a good person at your core, and I know want to help people. I want you to live to see what you can do with that." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"You... you really think I'm a good person?" Roman asked quietly, and poked at a piece of fruit on his plate. To an outsider, that claim definitely seemed odd. Seeing as he was a guy covered in blood sitting next to the bloody corpse of two of his victims. And clearly he could get the blood off if he wanted to, as he just did with Seki. ".. N-naiyta told me.. And I know you're going to say to just not believe them, but it's hard-.. They told me th-that my parents aren't actually dead. They faked their deaths just t-to get out of the village.. and they left me there.." Roman's tear filled eyes glared down at the plate, which forced a few tears out. "Why? Why w-would they do that? Not even my own parents l-loved me.." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki nodded. "Yes. I think you're just... directing your energy towards the wrong things and people. You are kind, and you're ready to sacrifice yourself for people. Those are good traits, honey, but they can be used against you, as many people have, I've noticed. You are certainly better than.. hm. Well, in any case, I have a feeling you would have never killed anyone if someone else hadn't told you to, would you?" CW NSFW + choking Seki frowned. "Naiyta can suck my dick and choke on it!" he huffed. Then he sighed, looking at Roman sadly. They stood up, fetched a bowl with a bit of water, and a small tissue. They sat back down next to Roman, and dipped the tissue into the bowl. "I don't know who your parents are, Roman, and I don't know if they are alive or not", she spoke quietly, squeezing some excess water out of the tissue, and brought it to Roman's face, not touching yet to wait if he would pull away. "But I know Naiyta is full of shit and it just wants to play with your feelings. Honey... if your parents faked their death, there was probably a really good reason. Maybe they were in danger. And perhaps they just couldn't safely take you with them? Maybe they thought someone else was going to be a better parent... You never know, but assuming the worst is only going to hurt you", she spoke softly. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman had no response to the killing question, but his guilty expression may suggest otherwise. He sank down a bit as Seki yelled, and moved his hands down to his lap. He didn't lean toward or away from the napkin, choosing to stay in place. "They l-left me with someone they knew h-hated me.." Roman shook his head. "How can I think anything but the worst? The worst is the only thing that ever h-happens to me.." "Apparently I'm half corvi, just what Naiyta's in to.. A-and I didn't even know. Wh-what are the fucking odds of that? If I wasn't, th-they might not even be interested in me.." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki listened to Roman and gently began to wipe the blood off his face. They weren't as good with words as Riki, so they showed their care and consolation through physical affection. Unfortunately some didn't care for it, and Seki struggled to remember personal boundaries sometimes, but this was the best way they knew to console someone. "Hmm... Like I said, I don't know them, and I don't know about the situation... But sometimes parents aren't good. Sometimes parents are awful. It's not your fault. I'm sorry you have had such a hard life, that sucks so bad... but y'know, you kind of seem drawn to trouble", Seki's mouth tilted into a hapless, slanted smile. "How old were you when they disappeared?" "I wouldn't trust a word that leaves that bitch's mouth", Seki huffed, "but if that were true, maybe the people that abandoned you weren't your true parents after all? Maybe you have real parents who did love you dearly. Maybe there was some kind of forbidden love thing going on and they couldn't keep you for your own safety? I dunno, man, but Naiyta's a fucking creep, and I think they're interested in you because you hit a lot of marks in their books, and are useful to them", she spoke, dipping the tissue into water every now and then, and continued cleaning the blood off of Roman's face. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. I think trouble is drawn to me." Roman mumbled, and closed his eyes. "I-i was five years old, and at day care.. Everyone said that my parents died in an explosion with some other people.. a-and I had to go live with my babu. I had never even met him before, a-and it was so clear he didn't want me there either.. And he was old and sick half the time, so I ended up taking care of him more than he took care of me.." As Seki took the blood off and washed it off in the bowl, Roman would wordlessly float out just the blood again from the bowl and return it to the blood creature. "I-i think Naiyta would have told me if there was a second adoption I had went through.. a-and it knows my mom is Corvi, and found her after the time she fled.. There's physical proof I'm half corvi, and I doubt there was a second corvi around the village.. Th-they must have been my real parents.." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"That, too, for sure. Yeah", Seki agreed, and then listened to Roman's story. "I mean, I don't trust Naiyta one bit, but if you remember your mom being a Corvi and there's proof, then that's probably true. Then it could be that they weren't treated well, or they were threatened by some speciesist people, or if it was kind of a taboo, y'know, and that's why they faked their deaths to escape? It doesn't mean they didn't love you. Maybe the opportunity to run away came and they thought you'd be safe... and even if they didn't, well. Some people just aren't fit to be parents. Some are confused or even scared of their children, cuz they just don't know how to raise them, or they don't want to be responsible for someone as small and vulnerable. It's not the child's fault. You did nothing wrong, honey, and I'm sorry you weren't cared for by someone better. "And then, there's the possibility that they are dead, and Mighty God-complex is just playing with your feelings", Seki watched how Roman separated the blood from water and returned it to the blood creature, and raised a brow. However, since he didn't tell Seki directly to stop cleaning him, they continued gently wiping the blood from his face. "You had an unfair start in life, but that doesn't mean you're unlovable or undeserving of love. You just haven't met the right people. I'm sorry about that, you deserved better." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. I don't remember her being Corvi, I don't remember either of them very well.." Roman sighed. He listened as Seki spoke. Part of that may have been true- with how much his grandpa hated his mom, maybe he knew that she was Corvi and didn't like that. Not surprising he'd not want Roman to know about it. He never really told him anything about his parents. He couldn't remember his parents mistreating him, or not loving him.. All he could remember was the times that they did. They were gone a lot, and he'd be by himself at daycare, but when he got home they'd love him.. Right? That's what happened? "Thank you, Seki.. I-i hope I can find someone out there.." He mumbled. "But every day it seems l-less and less likely that Naiyta is going to let me leave here.. I don't think I'll ever get the chance to meet someone else.." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki nodded. "We'll do our best to get you out of here", she assured, and finished cleaning Roman's face. They moved to look at his hair, and dappled the damp tissue against some bloodied strands. It didn't help much, but the boy would be able to take care of it himself anyways. "Did you change your hair? Hmm... you also have some nasty scratches on your back. Should I clean those too?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Ah, I grew it out a few days ago.. Like Naiyta wanted it." Roman sighed. ".. No, just..leave those. I need to think of an excuse for why these clothes are damaged, Naiyta is going to be sooooo pissed.." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Ah, right..." Seki's ears drew back and their tail swished restlessly. "Say, you didn't put your plan in action in the last fight?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. I can only do my plan if Reagan and Kairas are in the arena, and Naiyta has me with Albanes." Roman shook his head. "There's nothing I could have done, unfortunately.." ".. Naiyta took Kyrie up to their room with me tonight. It was awful." @Twig | Seki / Aarni (edited)

(reagan and whom roman?)

(Oop(

1:38 PM

(

)

"Ah, yes, I see", Seki hummed, and leaned their elbows on the table in thought. They turned their attention back on Roman when he talked, and their fur bristled. A growl formed in their throat, and their muzzle began pulling up in angry wrinkles, but they stifled their anger, not to startle Roman again. Ears pointing back and tail wriggling, they licked their muzzle in disgust and held back rage, taking a few breaths to calm down. "...I'm sorry, honey. Is that why you.. went to the cliffs?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 (edited)

".. Th-there was a lot of reasons I went to the cliff." Roman mumbled. "But that definitely plays in to it. I just figure if I don't die by something else, Naiyta is gonna burn me alive or something.. And I'd rather that not happen." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki let out a long breath through their nose to stay calm. They put their hand on Roman's upper back, trying to find a spot that wasn't all scratched up, and rubbed him with reassurance. "We'll get rid of it somehow... did you know it's not even fully a god? I heard something like that.." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mm.. Yeah, something about how it hasn't fully ascended to godhood because it would lose the rest of its humanity or something.." Roman shrugged. ".. I said at the time it shouldn't, but I think now that might be for the best. I think the human-ness it does have is just evil." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Yeeah... that's.. hmm..." Seki squinted and looked into nothing with a very concentrated look like she tried to think really hard. "Some people speculated that.. if it did fully become a god, it would leave us alone because it wouldn't care anymore. And that... that could be our way out, but, hmm..." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. I mean, I guess it might do that. Or it might just say what's the point of letting us live at all, so we should all just die instantly." Roman said. "If it's what's you think would work, I.. could try to subtly talk to it about it." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Yeah, there's no way to know", she sighed. "I honestly don't know. The people who talked about it had very opposing opinions on it. To me it sounds dangerous, but I'm not that bright, so I dunno... Hm. What were you thinking about Albanes? Or was it just the plan from before?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Well, my plan to attack her during the fight achieves two things. Maybe getting everyone out with one last death, or maybe there's something in her blood that will give me Lifebringer powers, and I can let everyone go. I find either one pretty unlikely though.." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Nothing here seems like the fool proof way out", Seki shook their head. "We just have to try... anything." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. Yeah, there's not going to be an easy way out, for anyone.." Roman mumbled. "But whenever I do something that may upset Naiyta, they might just hurt someone else to make me feel bad. They've only actually hurt me a few times. They're pretty clear about using other people to get to me." ".. Actually, they'll hurt other people even when I don't upset them, so maybe it doesn't matter." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Hmm, it probably knows that's what's most effective way to control you, which again, prooves that you're a good guy who doesn't want others to get hurt for you", Seki smiled slightly. "And they probably hurt people for funzies anyway, and might make you feel responsible for sick reasons, so yeah, try to not take it too personally. Hm, but try to be careful. Maybe you should lay low for a bit.?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Lay low?" Roman laughed. "I'd love to, but I don't think Naiyta would let me just disappear for a day or two. I'd bet they find me tomorrow morning just to punish me for tearing up these clothes. There's nothing really I can do to get out of it.." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki sighed. "Yeah... I guess so. But I mean, try not to do anything too drastic... I don't' know. Do you think it would help if you said I pushed you off the cliff so it'd be my fault your clothes are ragged?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. No, for many reasons.. If it knows, it's because Kairas told it that I did it. Then it would just be double mad that you'd lie." Roman shook his head. "And it would definitely give you a Very severe punishment.." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Ah", Seki nodded. "Maybe not, then... what are you planning on telling them?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. I don't know yet. It depends on what they already know next time they see me. Maybe Kairas won't say anything, and I can just say I tripped." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Mhm. I guess there's no symphaty to be expected from that freak even if you told the truth." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"No, not at all. Especially right after it told me that I'm not allowed to die without it telling me so. I went exactly counter to its commands, if it knows the truth.." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Well damn. Talk about a task master" Seki huffed. They were quiet for a moment, seemingly lost in theought, before they turned to look at Roman again, eyes searching his bloody form with concern and empathy. "How are you holding up, champ? Do you need anything? Anything I could help with?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"How am I holding up?" Roman repeated the question right back to her, and shrugged his shoulders. "Well, I feel a little nauseous since Naiyta was messing with my body earlier, and I'm tired, and I'm stressed.. Overall not great. I don't think there's anything that can be done about it." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki sighed again, and put a hand on Roman's shoulder, giving him a gentle squeeze. "Well, I'm here for you if you come to think of anything. Even just a shoulder to cry on, just ask. I wish I could help more." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman felt slightly less bony than before. "Mm.. I'm kind of tired of crying.." He sighed deeply and sunk back in his seat. "I'm kind of happy now, now that I have you and my.. um.. I know my friends are in there somewhere." The blood creature made a little guhhhhhh sound, that just seemed like air moving around pockets of blood. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki smiled warmly, and ruffled Roman's head. "That's good to hear, hold onto that feeling, and get some rest. I'm glad you got a buddy to look out for you too. Or buddies." The Eeveon gave a thumbs up to the blood creature. "Can you get back to your room by yourself?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

The creature didn't react. "They can carry me, I'm still feeling a little nauseous.." Roman said and picked up his plate. "Wish me luck for tomorrow, I'm sure naiyta is going to find me as early as possible.." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Of course. Good luck, man. I wish it had better things to do that to bully you", Seki huffed. They patted Roman on the upper back lightly, mindful of his injuries. They stood up, and picked some things to eat before heading towards the door. They paused, and turned around. "Oh, by the way. If in any case Naiyta decided to hurt me to get to you, don't worry. Don't feel bad for me, if you can help it. It's okay. I deserve anything they throw at me", Seki smiled, a little sadly, perhaps apologetically. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

The blood guy stood and scooped up Roman, who was still picking off his plate. ".. I really hope that doesn't happen, Sek.." Roman said as the blood creature stepped over to the door with them. "If I don't care they'll just-.. Keep hurting you or.. anyone else until I do. They won't just give it up." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"I mean, you could always pretend... but that gets complicated. Hmmh..." Seki subbed their forehead. "Well, let's both try to keep it together, yeah? Goodnight, Roman", they smiled tiredly, and headed off. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"If you're getting hurt because of me, I won't have to fake it." Roman said, and ate another piece of fruit off his plate. "Goodnight, Seki." The blood creature half nodded at her and walked off with Roman. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Reagan went to the refectory early in the morning, but paid no attention to the food on offer. They went directly to the drinks area and poured themself a glass of wine. Reagan, still standing by the drinks, took a long swig of their drink, and winced as they stretched their still-wounded back. After a bit, they moved awkwardly to sit at one of the tables, trying to move as little as possible. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan went to the refectory early in the morning, but paid no attention to the food on offer. They went directly to the drinks area and poured themself a glass of wine. Reagan, still standing by the drinks, took a long swig of their drink, and winced as they stretched their still-wounded back. After a bit, they moved awkwardly to sit at one of the tables, trying to move as little as possible. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

@Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

Kenji leads the way down to the refectory, setting his mask down on one of the tables to mark a spot (not that he really needs to, it’s mostly empty) and stopping in front of the wide spread of food. There’s definitely a couple options he can see—oddly enough, one of the newer additions actually does look like it’s rotting. He lets go of Carrion’s hand to get his own food—stew and bread, and some fresh fruit—and nods towards the buffet with a small smile. “See anything you wanna try? I think some of those other breads there are meant to be sweet ones. And the pastries too.” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

Carrion stands near the entrance, looking around worriedly. His darker eye has drooped closed, but the purple one scans the room with pinpricked eyes. “…n-nobody else is.. is here.. that- that’s good..” He steps forward, hesitating. Kenji’s voice snaps him to attention, and he gives him a forced smile. “H-ha, um.. bread ss-sounds nice.. um, let- let me look..” He walks towards the buffet, not bothering to grab a plate as they grab some bread and fruit, carrying them in their arms. Though, one of the offered food stops them in their tracks. Carrion. Not just raw meat, but rotting meat. Carrion drops his other food and grabs as much as they can hold, stuffing it in his mouth like some rabid animal. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Purple eye. Why does that feel familiar? Kenji pushes that thought out of the way before his head can start hurting too badly again. "I'm not really a fan of eating around people too," he agrees. "I've gotten better, but it's still a bit much sometimes." Carrion's choices seem reasonable, at first. Though he supposes he should have guessed what they'd go for in the end. Kenji sidesteps the dropped food, glad Carrion isn't paying attention to him at the moment so he can make sure he's got his momentary surprise under control. "Make sure you don't eat too fast," he advises quickly. "You don't want to make yourself sick. I'm going to go sit down, if you want to join me when you're ready." @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

Carrion continues, barely bothering to chew as his hunger finally begins to wane with each mouthful. That black liquid from before leaks out from his closed eye, dripping from his mouth like saliva. After a moment, he finally stops. Palms falling to the table as he catches himself, shaking the dishes. Taking deep breaths as they gather themself. That pain was finally gone. He let out a small laugh as he felt the exhaustion drain from them. [‘CARRION?’] “Haa.. Y-Yoli, h- you’re awake.. ffinally..” Kenji’s words brings him back down. There’s no fear in Kenji’s voice, no angry shouts, no one pulling him away. Just a reminder that there’s a place for him. They turn towards him slowly, leaning heavily on the buffet table. “I-I’m ff-fine.. I c-can’t get ssick..” He grabbed at the food he dropped, definitely missing a few pieces, before walking over to the table with Kenji. “..I- um.. th-thank you ff- for.. coming with. I- I ffeel a lot better.” He gives a small, genuine smile. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Kenji keeps an eye on Carrion as he begins to eat his own food, head tilted somewhat awkwardly to keep the stew from escaping through the gaps. He's relieved to see them stop and collect themself eventually--still a little bit concerned, but it's not showing as much. "That's good to hear," he smiles as Carrion walks over. "I'm glad this helped. Looks like the buffet might be like this from now on, so hopefully if you need to you can come back here." That damn headache is creeping back, but luckily not enough to be un-ignorable just yet. @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

They sit down, smiling and rocking slightly in his seat. “Haa.. I’m- I’m really glad.. it’s- I was.. worried, haha, if- if I didn’t ff- find ssomething I.. I, um.. I don’t know what I- I’d do, haha..” The dark liquid slowly drips further down his cheek as he speaks. He bites into a chunk of bread, ripping and chewing it rather quickly- like someone’s about to take it from them. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫 (edited)

Kenji returns to his stew briefly, with another semi-awkward spoonful as he listens. "We would have figured something out, don't worry. Worst comes to worst maybe Albanes could have been convinced to help somehow." He still doesn't seem to question Carrion's eating habits, though he does look a little bit concerned again at the dripping liquid. "How, uh.. How is Yoli now?" @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

They finish their piece of bread rather quickly with the feral pace they’re keeping. Albanes.. Did he hear that name before..? “Mm, wh-who’s Albanes?” Carrion smiles a bit more at Kenji’s question. “It’s- we’re better now! It’s, um.. hard ff- for it to.. to be awake when we’re r-really hungry.. it h-has to, um… ffocus on k-keeping us together..” He absentmindedly wipes at his face with his scarred hand, the liquid seeping into the dark gash in his palm. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

"Ah, I see. Glad it's better as well then," Kenji hums with a nod, though his expression dims slightly at the question. His spoon clinks against his bowl, absentmindedly, as he thinks over how to reply. "Albanes is... She's the Lifebringer, now." It feels bitterly right to say. "But I knew her for a long time before that. We were friends." @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

Carrion frowns. “..that’s.. it’s- it t-took us here, that’s what.. it was, um.. when ff- first got here, r-right? It ah.. it att- attacked me.. How- you were.. ffriends before?” @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

"I don't remember too much about how we met, to be honest, but I suppose that's more of an age thing," Kenji sighs. "But we stayed in touch. Visited occasionally, attended each others' weddings, that sort of thing. I know I could trust her. Then, at least. But something's changed." His expression dims into a faint concerned frown of his own. "...Albanes attacked you? That doesn't seem like her." @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

"I don't remember too much about how we met, to be honest, but I suppose that's more of an age thing," Kenji sighs. "But we stayed in touch. Visited occasionally, attended each others' weddings, that sort of thing. I know I could trust her. Then, at least. But something's changed." His expression dims into a faint concerned frown of his own. "...Albanes attacked you? That doesn't seem like her." @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

@Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

They tilt their head, confused. “That’s- it’s the- the one with.. the white l-long hair and- and sscary eyes. Um, y-yellow. It had.. a wedding..?” @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Kenji shudders faintly, and almost a little involuntarily, as his matching yellow eye flicks down. "Oh, no-- that's Naiyta. Albanes has brown hair and she's a bit shorter. She met her wife at the same event I met my husband at." He pauses, Carrion's words processing again. "Wait, Naiyta attacked you? Are you okay?" They didn't look recently injured at least, that seemed to be a good sign. Was that why they'd seemed so frightened? @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄 (edited)

Carrion looks worried at his shudder- though as Kenji continues their expression shifts to fear. ”Th- there’ss two? Wh-why are there t-two?!” [‘TWO OF IT? FALSE DEATHLESS GODS! THERE CANNOT BE TWO! HOW MANY NATURAL LAWS MUST IT DEFY?!’] As the god within them roars, Carrion curls onto their seat, covering their ears as they wince. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫 (edited)

Uh oh. Kenji winces at Carrion's reaction, for a moment seemingly lost for words on what to say. "I-- I don't know," he admits, "I just... I do know that wasn't always who Albanes was. And I know she and Naiyta aren't on the same side." Strangely enough he doesn't seem to understand why Carrion reacts that way. As Carrion huddles in their seat, worry twists Kenji's face again. "You didn't say, though, are you hurt? Did they do something?" @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

At Kenji’s question, Carrion nods their head, wincing. [‘IT ATTACKED US. STARVED US. BROUGHT US HERE TO DIE!’] The more the god yells, the more Carrion tightens his hands around his ears to fruitlessly block the noise. ”it- it tried to.. it’s gonna k-kill me!” @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫 (edited)

Shit. Brief anger flashes in Kenji’s eyes, though not directed at Carrion. But despite that, he’s at a loss for what to say. It is going to kill them—he doesn’t voice that directly out loud, of course, but it adds a resigned tone to what he does say. “I’m sorry. Maybe there’s more we could do, but..” He sighs, rubbing his forehead. “I don’t know what’s going to happen.” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

[‘WE WILL DESTROY THEM!! ALL OF THIS WRETCHED PLANE!!’] Carrion curls in further, whimpering quietly. ”I just w-want to go h- hh…” Carrion shivers, his hands moving into his hair. He lays his forehead onto the table, taking shallow breaths. ”..K-Kenji.. I- I don’t- I don’t want t-to- it’s gonna k-kill me..!” @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫 (edited)

The headache is creeping back again, though this time he isn't quite sure why. Somewhat regretting his prior choice of words, Kenji shifts to stand. "Carrion, Carrion, hey," he says softly, then crouches down on one knee next to Carrion's chair. "Can you look at me, buddy?" Regardless of if Carrion does or not, he continues. "It's alright. It's going to be okay. Look, all we know now is that it won't do anything outside of the arena, right? You don't have to worry out here." He doesn't want to sugarcoat things, but he's hoping at least trying for a more positive turn can at least calm Carrion down. "If.. If it comes to a fight, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it, yeah?" @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

Carrion lifts their head slightly as he stands, watching him through their curtain of hair. The god within has silenced, though he can feel its pulsing rage in every fiber of their being, stirring and crawling through his skin, each breath only making his lungs feel tighter and tighter- ’Can you look at me, buddy?’ Buddy? Kenji’s words are soothing, kind, and Carrion moves to fully face him. He breathes as if he were crying, yet as Carrion lifts his head, his face is dry- save the familiar black liquid dripping from his eye and down his cheek. They let out a shuddering breath, and reach out a hand towards Kenji, hesitating. ”…I- mhm….” @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Kenji offers his hand again in response, remembering how it’d seemed to help make Carrion more comfortable. Carrion almost painfully reminds him of himself—literally, as his headache worsens—yet for the life of him he can’t remember why. The scars on his face stretch as he smiles, though its warmth is unintentionally and slightly dimmed as it doesn’t quite make it to his golden eye the same way it does to his gray one. “That’s it. It’ll be alright.” The words Reagan had told him days ago feel a little strange in his mouth, but he shakes it off. “It’s okay to cry, though,” he adds, unable to tell by Carrion’s reaction if the black liquid is his tears or if he’s just holding them in. “This is stressful and scary for all of us. But we don’t have to get through it alone, right?” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

Roman had arrived at the refectory much before Naiyta had, and had already began filling out his plate. About half of it, if not more, was just that fried bread he had been waiting so long to have again, and the rest of it was a more balanced dinner. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta entered a bit after Roman had, and was pleased to find the refectory mostly empty. It didn't get anything for itself, but sat down in their usual spot. "Mhm. You seem hungry." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oh, I am." Roman said cheerily as he finished grabbing food. He approached the table, but stayed out of Naiyta's reach and pouted, just a little... "Are you not going to play along with me?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I'll admit, I'm not all too familiar with the rules of the game you're trying to play." They shrugged. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oh, you could've said that, silly!" Roman said and chose his usual spot- right on top of Naiyta's lap. "I tagged you, so you're 'it', and you want to tag me back so you make me 'it'. I figured you would have chased me or something.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta wrapped their arms around Roman as he sat in their happy. "Ahhh, I see now." "So, do I have you now?" It whispered in his ear. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Hehe, yeah, now I'm it." He chuckled as Naiyta whispered in to his ear. "I'll get you back before we leave, just you wait." Their solitude in the dining room wouldn't last long, as the wet schlopping of.. Radoul could be heard approaching the entrance. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Wouldn't be too hard for Roman to get tag Naiyta back, seeing as they were still touching. "Oh, your... thing is here." Naiyta said in a cold, neutral voice as Radoul entered. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Ah good- I never got to put him away after my fight... So he's just been wandering until I got here, haha." Roman said and waved it over. The thing just paused in the doorway, staring straight at Naiyta.. Even though it didn't have eyes, it could be felt. "Yeesh, what'd ya do to make him so mad?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta held Roman protectively- almost possessively. "I don't know. I haven't had much interaction with them, as you know. I don't know why he'd react that way." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. Weird." Roman said. He'd only seen Radoul be mad a few times- usually after he had to kill some random guy in self defense over the last year.. It walked over to them and pulled the chair out, sitting in the seat to the right of Naiyta. It was still glaring, definitely at Naiyta and not Roman. "Oh, one more!" Roman unclipped his belt and set the new eyeball jar on the table in front of them. Roque's eyes also glared over at Naiyta. ".. Yeesh, tough crowd out here." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta glared back at Roque's eyes, actually having the eyebrow muscles to do so. "Hm. Perhaps we should eat alone. That would be nice, just the two of us?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Don't mind them, they're just jealous.." Roman hummed and kissed at Naiyta's neck. "I want all of you here, it's all my favorite people together. That's rare." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm.... jealous." Naiyta hummed, though their tenseness seemed to ease a bit as Roman kissed their neck. "Oh, but it pains me so much to have to share you..." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"You're worried about competition like a floating pair of eyeballs and a blood creature? Do you think I'd be stupid enough to leave you?" Roman chuckled against the crook of Naiyta's neck. "Me and Radoul may have had a little fling this morning, but that was just to calm my nerves before my fight. I don't think you need to worry about any of them, really.." Radoul raised one hand up to it's face, while the other gripped anxiously on to the table. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta put a hand on the back of Roman's head, running its hand through his curls. "You know how much I care about you. How much I want you." It stiffened a bit at the mention of... that. "You could've come to me. I would've helped you out." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mhm, I know, you care a lot.." Roman nodded. "I.. Huh, yeah, I don't know why I didn't, now that you mention it. Must've slipped my mind when Radoul was right in front of me." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Well, now you know. You can always come to me for that sort of thing. I like when I can make you feel good." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"That's good to know." Roman said. "Can we eat now, pleeeeease?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Of course." Naiyta smiled. "I'm not very hungry right now, but you can start." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"You should eat too, sometimes. Even gods get hungry! Even though you don't really have a stomach or whatever." Roman said and picked up the plate, but kept his head leaned in to Naiyta's neck. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Hm. I suppose that's true..." Naiyta hummed. "What all have you gotten for yourself?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mostly the mandazi, I'm really excited to try it, but also some fruit and meat and toast- oh, Radoul, could you get us some glasses of wine, please?" Radoul sat there for a bit before standing and trudging over to the food tables. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh, wine will be nice." Naiyta nodded. "Thank you, Roman." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"You don't have to thank me, I'm just having Radoul do it," Roman said and picked up a grape. He popped it in to his mouth, and did not bother waiting until he had swallowed to keep on talking, "Do you want to do anything after dinner together?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm, it depends... is there anything you would like to do?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"We could go back and celebrate my victory a little more," Roman chuckled and held a grape up to Naiyta's lips. "If you'd like. I brought up pegging, but we never actually did it.. I'm still interested, if you are." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta pressed their lips to the grape in a chaste kiss, then slipped their tongue out to eat it out of Roman's hand. "Mhm. We never did get to it, did we...." It hummed. "Well, I would definitely like that." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Yippee!!" Roman grinned, and hugged Naiyta tight with his free arm. "Thank you, I've been looking forward to it." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Anything for you, my little blackbird," Naiyta smiled, and held Roman close to their body. "Anything for you." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mmm, I love you." Roman smiled. Finally, Radoul got back with the wine glasses. It set one down gently, and the other harsh enough that the liquid almost splashed right out of it. It plopped down in the seat and went back to staring at Naiyta. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I'm so happy you do." Naiyta said. Their voice sounded genuine. It almost sounded weak. "I really am so happy that you do. I don't want you to ever stop, okay?" It looked away from Roman only briefly as Radoul arrived with the wine, but quickly refocused its attention to him. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Why would I ever stop? You've been nothing but nice to me. Much better than anyone else has ever treated me.." Roman said. "I'm so happy you saved me and brought me here." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"It's the least I can do, for how well you've treated me in return." It smiled. "I hope we can spend all eternity together." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Eternity.." Roman mumbled in response. He reached out and picked up the nearest wine glass. "Can I actually do that? Live forever..? Even Raikal eventually died.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I can. If that's something you want." Naiyta said, choosing their words carefully. "Raikal eventually... tired of it. They didn't want to live forever. But I could make you perfectly immortal." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mmm.. I.. I'm not sure if I'm suited for eternity, either.. Got a lot of mental health stuff happening, you know? Even day by day it can be.. Hard. Even with how much you've supported me." Roman said. "It seemed like Raikal is mostly just bored from being stuck in the temple. She seemed to do much better outside of it." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I think you could get accustomed to it. I did." Naiyta said simply, but shifted as Roman went on. "What? Raikal can't leave the temple." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oh, she cannnnnn." Roman giggled, not elaborating on that. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

".... how? If she can get out, I'd like to let her out." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Roman continued to laugh. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I would," Naiyta said, their tone shifting to something playful. "Maybe I can give you something nice if you tell me..?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oh? And what is this potential nice thing?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Well, it depends on what you want," They hummed. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Aw, you don't even have something fun in mind already." Roman pouted. "Hmmmmm.. Can you do that thing you said you'd do where you fix Radysh and Remoul and send them home?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Alright. It might take me a bit to figure out how, but I can." Naiyta nodded. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Yay!" Roman cheered. "Okieee, soooo, you wanna know how we did it?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

We? That complicated things even further. "Mhm. I would like to know." They nodded. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Soooo, I don't know how exactly it happened to begin with, but Seki let Raikal possess them, and that let them leave the temple. Thennnn they went out and found me, and Raikal possessed me instead, and that's how I figured out how to fly a little and fix my feathers so fast. Cool, right?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta stiffened, their breath hitched. They leaned close to Roman. "He... possesed you? As in, inhabited your body?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mhm! My mind kinda turns off when I'm possessed, but everything came back after, they're pretty nice." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I see." Naiyta hummed, a dangerous, excited edge to their voice. "That's very interesting." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Lobotimized Roman seemed to have zero awareness of Naiyta's evil tone. "It was! Raikal was very happy to get to fly again. I don't know why I didn't tell you before.. hm." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm, I'm sure they were." Naiyta hummed. "Would you ever consider lending them your body again? It'd be very kind of you, and I'm sure they'd appreciate it." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oh yeah, totally! I don't really mind, if it makes them happy.." Roman nodded. "Would you be able to let them leave the temple on their own, though?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Well, I'd want to make sure they stay safe, so I'd probably accompany you, at least for the first few times." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Well.. They're already a ghost, can they really be in danger when they leave the temple..?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Well, if they're in your body, they could get you hurt. That wouldn't be good." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oh, I meant could you let them leave as a ghost. Because I think they should be able to be outside, even if they're not in me, yeah?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Well, I'd think they'd prefer to be in a body, don't you?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. Maybe? I dunno, it just seems boring to be stuck inside as a ghost most of the time.." Roman shrugged. "I think they just want to fly. And see Anore." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Well, they can't fly if they don't have a body." Naiyta said plainly. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman had to think about that for a while. ".. In the movies and stuff ghosts fly all the time, I guess I figured it would be similar." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm. That's not the case, at least not with Raikal." It sighed. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Alrighty, then. Well, if they want to be me for a bit sometimes, I wouldn't mind." Roman said. "It's kinda like.. a nap." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm. That's nice." Naiyta hummed. "You deserve the mental rest, I think." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Maybe.. Do you know what I think I deserve right now?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh? And what is that?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"For you to feed me dinner." Roman said and held out the plate to it. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Of course." Naiyta took the plate, delicately balancing it in one hand. With the other, they picked up a grape and held it to Roman's lips. "Open up." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Ahhhhhhh," Roman hummed as he held his mouth open. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta fed the grape to Roman, slipping their fingers wholly into his mouths while carefully avoiding his fangs. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman was quick to try to bite down on the grape, but paused as his teeth made contact with Naiyta's flesh. "Uwuhh- I'm hungryyy," Roman managed to mumble. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Are you?" Naiyta slipped their fingers out of Roman's mouth, and closed his jaw with their hand. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mhm." Roman hummed and nodded as he chewed on the grape. As Naiyta held his face, Roman looked up at them with a perfectly innocent, entirely happy expression. He was nearly melting in their hands. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta was smiling at Roman, happy to see him so complacent, so happy in their arms. It picked up a piece of mandazi and lifted it to Roman's mouth, loosing their grip on his jaw so he could easily open his mouth. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman moved his gaze down toward the mandazi, and hesitated before finally opening his mouth. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta gently fed the fried bread to Roman. "How does it taste?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

As soon as the bread and sugar touched his tongue, his expression shifted. There was nothing quite like it- and it wasn't a perfect replica, but it was good enough to trigger his recognition. One tear quickly slid down his face, and many more followed in the moments before he hid his face away in Naiyta's neck again. Radoul reached out and placed one of its hands on Roman's back, maybe in a comforting way..? Hard to tell with this thing. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta set the plate back on to the table so nothing would spill, and wrapped their arms comfortingly around Roman- not so subtly shifting him away from Radoul. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I-i miss him.." Roman mumbled, pressed up against Naiyta's neck. "H-he-.. he would be so disappointed i-in me.. I don't deserve anything nice, like th-that food.." Radoul tried to reach out further, but it's other hand pulled it back. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh, you deserve it." Naiyta cooed, gently rubbing Roman's back. "You deserve nice things, Roman. You deserve to live deliciously, no matter what others may think." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Radoul could come to one joint agreement- to cross their arms passive aggressively. "But I do care what people think, I-.. What have I ever done that makes me worth anything? I-i just got Ryu killed-.. it sh-should've been me instead.. I basically cheated.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"You have loved me well. I think that makes you worth something." Naiyta said. "And I don't think it's cheating to use powers that are at your disposal. She even knew you could do all that." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"She knew but- but she th-thought she could overpower me.. she never got manipulated by my powers before.." Roman shook his head. "A-and we weren't even supposed to be attacking each other when I did it.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"You did well Roman. You won your fight with wit and clever timing, because you could not win with strength. I do not blame you for it." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

'Wit' and 'clever' were interesting ways to describe him.. ".. I'm sorry. I-i just don't think I can accept getting someone killed so quickly.. I'm going to need some time." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"You don't have to accept it now. You have time." Naiyta reassured. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mmm.. Th-thank you.." Roman nodded slightly. "I love you." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

After a while, Naiyta replied. "I love you too." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman hugged them tightly. "Y-you always talk about how I need to stay with you forever, b-but I need you to promise me th-that too. That you won't leave me like everyone else does." Roman said quietly. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Of course." Naiyta stroked Roman's hair. "Of course, I'll never leave you. What else do I have? You're all I want, all I need." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I-i don't know-.. Maybe you'd bring in more new people, a-and find someone you like more than me.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta leaned back, so it could cup Roman's face. "With you, I won't ever need more. Please, believe me." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman stared up at Naiyta, really scrutinizing their expression.. "I.. I-i believe you. You've been honest with me.." He said. "Together forever, then.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta broke into a smile at Roman's words. "Thank you. I can't wait to spend eternity with you." Before Roman could reply, they swept him into a kiss. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

There was still a hint of sugar on his lips from the singular bite of mandazi he got. He took a second, but quickly kissed Naiyta back. He moved his hands up to their shoulders and held on tightly. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta ran a hand through Roman's hair as it kissed him, the other travelled down his back, holding him firmly. The kiss was hot and passionate- Naiyta leaned into Roman, guided his movements with the hand on his head. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman mostly followed along, but unlike before, he did playfully resist a few times.. After a while of watching the two making out, Radoul had decided it had seen enough. It stood and walked away from the table, leaving just Roque's eyes to glare at the gross couple.. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Each time Roman resisted, Naiyta grew slightly more intense with their actions, slightly more forceful. They slipped their hands under his clothes, running them over his body... @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Once Naiyta was starting to get handsy, Roman finally pulled away. He had to take a few breaths before he could speak. "We should head back up to the temple, yeah?" He asked breathily. "I don't want interruptions." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta took in heavy breaths after Roman parted from it. "Mhmm, yes. I'd hate to be interrupted. Let's head back up." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman grabbed his wine glass from the table and gulped it all down. He quickly reattached his belt with the eyeball jar and leaned against Naiyta. "All ready." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta scooped Roman up into a bridal carry, carefully minding his wings. They began towards the acropolis... @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

seki gets breakfast

asha and albanes

enya and kyrie

evan and carrion

roman's feast

ryu enya breakfast date

naiman lunch date

kallum gets wine drunk

naiman in the refreaktory

seki and isi enjoy the party

mlipuko reunion

seki and isi continued

asha goes to her fight

isi and seki 3

bird bitches reunite

worm dinner

seki and reagan breakfast 2

naiman breakfast time

kal and roman

refreaktorying it up again

zhi-yin and kenji, kairas and eremurus

naiman breakfast 2

kaigan and seki breakfast

dinner with the band

the girls are fighting

roman seki and the blood creature

decay twinsies in the refectory

naiman last date