MASKTOURN

Isi wakes laying on a bedroll in a small room. It’s hardly comfortable, but it’s something. There’s no sign of the Lifebringer- or anyone, really. They’d soon realize their clothes have been changed- gone is whatever they were wearing before, replaced by a simple, robelike outfit entirely in white. Morning light filters in from the window, casting the entire small room in a dewy haze. The room is tiny- big enough only to fit the bedroll, a small basin for washing, a chest at the foot of the bedroll, and a low, small writing desk, on which is a folded piece of paper, labeled with Isi’s name, a clay tablet, and a porcelain face mask. The entire room is furnished in plain white tile, and opposite the window is a stone-paneled door leading out. The letter on the desk is written in ornate, swirling script, reads as follows:

Welcome, Isi Ronaldyouri!

It is my pleasure to welcome you, not only to the Halcyon Citadel, but to the Snakes! You have been selected, by the Great and Divine Lifebringer, to serve and compete alongside your fellow serpentine contestants and under my gracious leadership. If you have any concerns or run into any trouble, please do not hesitate to bring it to my attention. I’m very excited to meet you all! 

Please wear the mask provided, as it is part of your uniform!

Your Leader, 
Reagan Alizaydyeiren

The mask was of white porcelain, and would sit on Isi’s face without falling, held there by some kind of magic. It only covered her eyes and upper faced, and mirrored the look of a snake’s face. Despite no eye-holes, Isi would be able to see clearly even with the mask on. The clay tablet was just too big to be held in one hand, and was accompained by a small stylus for writing. Its surface displayed the #group-chat, and would update magically as more messages were sent. If Isi investigated the chest, they’d find something curious. The chest is filled mostly with linens- bedding, towels, spare outfits, but at the top is the jar containing the worm, as well as her ocarina. (edited)

@sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi was bent over the writing desk rereading the little piece of paper. The only name on it she recognized was her own. She put the paper back down with a frustrated sigh. She wasn't a fan of the robes. they weren't all that uncomfortable but they weren't what she had been wearing, as if getting knocked unconscious wasn't bad enough. She carefully picked up the little porcelain mask. The snakes, huh? She made a face, put down the mask. Uniform. At least the LAST terror tournament didn't have a uniform. She could hardly see how wearing this mask would even work, but stuck it on her face anyway out of sheer curiousity. Once she realized she could infact see, and that it stayed on her face seemingly with no support, she immediately ripped it back off as if worried it would get stuck there. Isi picked up the little stylus, and poked it at the tablet. Despite the lack of ink, a dot appeared. She dropped the stylus back on the desk with a clatter, not touching that again. Upon opening the chest, Isi immediately breathed a sigh of relief, picking up the jar and slipping it in a robe pocket, hanging the ocarina back around her neck. She also took the snake mask along, just in case, as she pushed open the door and left the room.

Isi reentered her room, first taking Annes jar out of her pocket before changing into robes that weren't rain-soaked. Picking up the jar again, Isi sat cross-legged on her bed. She'd gotten a lot better at understanding Anne since the last tournament- she couldn't say she was certain what exactly she thought Anne would know but it felt better than sitting here doing nothing. Isi unscrewed the lid a little, still keeping the jar opening mostly covered. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

As was typical, Anne had stilled from lack of food. Be it dramatic or genuine, it didn't react as Isi opened the jar. .. It wanted meat. @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi slid the lid off the jar a little more. She pulled out her Ocarina from where it hung around her neck, playing a few notes that amounted to Hello Anne! She was very aware she hadn't fed it recently, not that it typically seemed to like the meat she could find for it anyway- but with all the tournament stuff she totally forgot. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

As the ocarina began to play, the worm wiggled, just a tad. -# "Meat... meat..." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi frowned, but was at least glad it spoke. She played again. What kind? As far as Isi could figure, Anne was real finicky about the kind of meat it wanted. She didn't wanna go back out in the rain for no reason. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

It wiggled some more.. -# "Flesh... Fleeeeshhh.." "YOU!" It lurched upward and bonked against the half opened lid. It fell right back down to the bottom and wiggled around in a little loop. @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi jolted back a little with a frown, then sighed. She kept a tighter hold on the jar and the lid with one hand, bringing the Ocarina back to her lips. Still no. Won't feed you anything still alive. What else? @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

-# "... meat. Any. Any meat. Corpse? Corpse dead. Dead corpse. On table. Want corpse. Now. Now now now." @sketti | Isi 🦌 (edited)

there is no corpse table anymore. We aren't there anymore. I don't know how to get corpse. There's other meat in the kitchen. You want? @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

-# "Meat now. Hungry. Eat meat. Now." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi looked up, listened to the rain outside. Then she looked around the room. Her shoulders dropped a bit and she nodded, before remembering Anne couldn't really understand that. Hope you're ready for a run then! Isi warned, intending to sprint through the rain. She didn't imagine being in a jar when that happens is nice. She stood up, screwing the jar fully closed again, then put it in her robe pocket. She'd just changed too. Oh well, it felt a bit cruel not trying to feed Anne now that she'd extended the offer. Isi opened the door, actually putting on the snake mask because of the cover it afforded her face, and prepared to run her way down to the #kitchen . @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Anne had no clue what was happening. It's memory was not very good so it had already forgotten that it had even asked.

"you do..look like you've had a rough day. What happened?" She asked earnestly, turning to look at him as she fidgeted a bit with her hands. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"It's.... a bit of a long story." Darcy sighed, and sat down on the floor. "Do you know Roman? He's one of the bird contestants, he has blood powers like Roque did." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi sat down beside Darcy, cross-legged. She shook her head. "I don't know Roman but, I do know a bit about Roque and..." isi frowned in apprehension. "Did he- do something?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"He used his powers to control another contestant- Ace- into luring me into his blood dimension. When he was there, he told us about a plan he had to defeat the Lifebringer, but- he also- he took my blood. He wouldn't let me leave without tasting it." His voice broke, and he looked away from Isi so she wouldn't see the tears welling in his eyes. @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi's mouth parted in clear concern and horror, and she shook it a little at the last part. "..oh.." Instinctively. She put a comforting arm around him. "That sounds awful. Going there- and then that- it sounds awful. I'm so sorry" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"It was awful-" Darcy conceded. "I've never felt so- so used, and now I don't know who to trust, and- and they won't even let me into the refectory anymore!" He buried his face in his hands, and leaned into Isi. @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi drew her other arm around Darcy as he leaned into her, face pinched with anxiety and worry as he talked. "They won't? Why would they- doesn't matter, I'll get you food. Whatever you need, whenever. You don't have to worry." She rubbed her hand up and down his arm absentmindedly. "Are you still hurt? Are you okay??" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I think- it's some kind of punishment. Since I attacked Roman in the blood dimension." He sighed. "I don't want you getting trouble too. I'm fine, I'm just... tired." @sketti | Isi 🦌

"wh- Roman took your blood! Why would you get-" Isi sounded incredulous. "I'd get in trouble for you any day, you know that" She was silent for a moment. "You think he'll try that again?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I know but- I think he gets special treatment." Darcy sighed." His gaze softened. "Thank you, Isi- really. I don't know what I'd do without a friend like you." "Oh, no." He shook his head. "He really hated the taste of my blood. So I think I'm safe." @sketti | Isi 🦌

"Special treatment?" Isi is frowned. She gave Darcy a comforting squeeze. "I couldn't do without you either, Darcy" Isi frowned in confusion when Darcy mentioned the blood, wondering why his in specific would taste bad, but that felt like an odd thing to say in the wake of all this. It was a good thing anyway. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Yeah- I think he's Naiyta's boyfriend or something." Darcy sighed. He leaned closer into Isi's embrace. "Thank you. Really. Thank you." @sketti | Isi 🦌

"Anytime" Isi told him genuinely. She didn't plan on letting go unless he did. Sometimes it struck her again how tired he always looked these days. "Naiyta's-" Isi looked surprised. "Oh! That's what I had to tell you about actually" she'd completely forgotten why she'd tried to find Darcy again in the first place.

Darcy wasn't planning on moving from Isi's side for a good long while. "Huh? You know something about Naiyta?" He turned to face her. @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi nodded quickly. "I was looking around, exploring a bit- I'd just fed Anne and was taking her with me, see if anything caught it's attention, or mine. That's what got us out last time, y'know? I went to the temple where they hold all the funerals. I got lost and then this- this burning spirit started following me. I managed to talk to them. Their name is Raikal, and they- as far as I can tell- were Naiyta's old lover, and it...killed them. Burned them" Isi finished, going quiet at the last bit.

"Oh- huh." Darcy's brow furrowed. "So there's ghosts at this tournament too...." It somehow didn't surprise Darcy that Naiyta had killed their partner, or burned them. "Did I tell you about the statues? There's ghosts in them too- of the previous Lifebringer incarnations. I think there might be one of Yeonaixho." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi shook her head. "the statues? No- there's more ghosts?" Isi then paused. "I mean I know theres- one more. Raikal seemed to think a ghost Madeline was around. And it was almost like Raikal recognized Anne for a moment too, but not really." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Seki and I talked to one of them earlier- it was Iydelan Dorosi, the third Lifebringer. And I ran into another one with Kenji, but that one had no head and we couldn't figure out what it was saying." He hummed. "A ghost Madeline? That weird girl from the cult?" Darcy asked. "Huh... well, I guess... it makes sense, since Albanes is here. They were always hanging out together." @sketti | Isi 🦌

"Lifebringer ghosts, huh? You think any of them can- would help us somehow?" She nodded. "yeah, I want to find her but Raikal doesn't know where she is. I'd also want to visit Raikal again- soon- he's lonely up there" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy shrugged. "I'm not sure... from what I've heard of the past Lifebringers, they aren't the most sympathetic crowd..." "Hm. That could be tough, finding the ghosts. But maybe Raikal or Madeline knows something that could help us." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi nodded, unsurprised by Darcy's assertion. "They always seem to be the ones pulling this, so- yeah, wouldn't say so." Isi mused for a moment. "Raikal seems really- devoted to Naiyta. They didn't want me to say a bad word about them. I don't know if they'd help us against it." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (so sorry had a road trip)

"Yeah...." Darcy sighed. "Damn Lifebringers and their tournaments...." "Oh.... that's unfortunate. " Probably not the healthiest relationship. ".... maybe Madeline will be helpful? Didn't she help you out last tournament, with Anne?" @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi nodded quickly. "Yeah! That's what I was thinking- but, I don't really think this is the same Madeline, y'know? The way Albanes isn't the same. But maybe she still can. I just gotta find her and see" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm... that's probably the case. Hopefully she's easy to find and willing to help..." Darcy hummed. "So many ghosts...." @sketti | Isi 🦌

"maybe not totally willing but, maybe I can still get some answers anyway." Isi shuddered a little. "why's it always gotta be- death? Yeonaixho had his dead bodies and this island has so many ghosts." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhmmmmm.... I think the Lifebringer's more of a death god than the name implies." Darcy sighed. "It's all so creepy. The past can't rest, I suppose." @sketti | Isi 🦌

"well, we're here, so it really does seem like the past can't ever just be that y'know? We're right back in it. But worse" Isi sounded frustrated. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy leaned his head on Isi's shoulder. "I know.... do you really think we'll be able to get out of this one? I mean- so many people are already dead." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi rested their head on his. "Yes, we will." She replied firmly. Then, in a quieter voice- "I have to believe that. If I can't hold onto that I'm as good as dead already."

4:44 PM

@innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy let out a low sigh. "I just.... don't know how much hope I have left in me. I have- so little idea of what to do. At least with Yeonaixho we were in the real world." @sketti | Isi 🦌

"and...he didn't want us all dead. I mean I probably wouldn't have gotten out alive if I hadn't made it out of the tunnels but- he was just taking the powers for everyone else." Isi thought about Taisto. Sometimes taking powers did mean death didn't it. "People are already dead here, and we don't know where we are- you're right, but it doesn't do any good to give up on ourselves"

4:59 PM

@innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy closed his eyes. "But what are we going to do? We can't bring down the dead, and- and I can't think of any way we could sto the Lifebringer." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi frowned. "I'm just gonna kick them super hard. That usually works" she snorted a little but it was hard to find much humour even for her. "We can't bring the dead back but there's still plenty of us living. We just- have to figure out what this place is about. Then maybe we can find a way out" She yawned a little. Long Day. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy leaned close to Isi, and didn't reply for a while. He was so tired. Exhausted, really. Today had been a long day. "... can I stay here overnight? I know we're neighbors, but... I'd feel safer being closer to you." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi nodded instantly. "Please do. It's been awful trying to sleep alone again" the words tumbled out. "And knowing what's been happening to you- I dunno, if you left I'd probably get paranoid" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy breathed out a sigh of relief. "Yeah- I don't want to be alone right now, either. Thank you." @sketti | Isi 🦌

"never hesitate to ask okay? Being around you more these days is- probably for the best anyway" Isi replied. "The beds not super big but- I've kinda just been dragging the blankets and stuff down to the floor anyway" she admitted. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Y-yeahh, the beds are pretty small." Darcy managed a weak laugh. "But it's your room- you can have the bed if you want." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi laughed a little. "nah- the beds here don't really work for me. If you want it, we can split the blankets?" She offered. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Thanks." Darcy smiled. "Yeah, that works for me. I think there should be some extra linens in the chest, too. It's pretty cold out tonight..." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi nodded. "Yeah, I remember that- it is a bit cold, huh?" She didn't seem to want to get up until Darcy made a move to, honestly, just staring at the chest with arms still around him. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy was so exhausted, he might just fall asleep in Isi's embrace. "Yeah, especially with the rain and everything... I hope it lets up soon. It's kinda miserable out." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi yawned again. "Yeah, if I wanna go looking for more stuff tomorrow it would be nice if it wasn't raining so hard..." She replied quietly. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhmm. It'll be easier to explore when it's nicer out. It's actually quite pretty when it's not so wet." Darcy hummed, and yawned again. "I guess we should get to bed...." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi shifted a little bit, moving one arm to rub at her eyes. "Okay- I'll get you some blankets" she relaxed and lowered her arms so Darcy could move.

10:36 AM

@innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy slowly crawled out of Isi's embrace and onto the bed. "Thank you..." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi smiled and nodded, starting to stand up stiffly. The blankets she used already weren't on the bed, so all she had to do was get to the chest, open it and pull some more out for Darcy. She did so, adding an extra one or two just in case, placing them on the bed for him to situate as he liked. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy wrapped himself up in the blankets like a little cocoon. "Thank you, Isi... good night." @sketti | Isi 🦌

"goodnight, Darcy!" She called back quietly, settling herself in her own blankets.

Darcy slept heavily, but fitfully- muttering things in his sleep that Isi wouldn't quite be able to understand. When he did wake, it was with a splitting, droning headache. He blinked the sleep out of his eyes, and looked over to Isi. @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi slept better than she had since getting here- seemed that having a friend simply in the room had that effect. She slept in a heap on the floor, hands crisscrossed under her head, chin resting on them. Still, she was a light sleeper, waking as she felt the room fill with cloudy lighting, ears perking up then eyes opening. She lifted her head and propped her torso up on her elbows with a yawn. "Gmorning!" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Good morning." Darcy yawned, clearly relieved to see Isi still there. He leaned back on the bed as the previous days events came back to him. "Did you sleep well?" @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi smiled and nodded. "Yeah, did you?" She asked, beginning to stretch her legs out under the blanket. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Kinda. I'm still feeling.... weird." He admitted. "And really hungry. But... yeah." He sighed. @sketti | Isi 🦌

"that's- fair I think, I hope sleep helped but I can't blame you" Isi replied, starting to stand. "I was gonna go get breakfast and bring it back here, want me to get you something?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy smiled, though weakly. "Y-yeah, that'd be great. You can get me anything- but maybe if they have some bread, that would be nice?" @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi nodded. "Sure!" She stretched her arms a bit. "I won't be long" she told him, opening the door to leave. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy stayed in the room, waiting for Isi to come back. @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi came back roughly 15 minutes later, balancing two bowls and some cutlery, one had the bread requested, as well as some of those jam packets and butter on the side- just in case. It also had some fruit. The other bowl held mainly fruit and berries, but also a blueberry muffin. "I'm back!" She announced cheerfully. She set Darcy's plate on the bedside table. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Welcome back!" Darcy smiled at Isi as she returned, and moved some of the blankets off his body. He took the plate Isi had set aside for him and took some bread, spreading the jam on it. "Thank you. This is actually kind of nice- getting to eat in private instead of in that big refectory..." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi nodded. "Oh it sure is- the last time I actually ate in there I wasn't even eating, I was just there to feed Anne" she replied, taking a seat on the bed with her own bowl in hand. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm. It's kind of chaotic here...." Darcy hummed. "How's Anne doing?" @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi shrugged. "Hard to tell, as always. But it was talking, and hungry. I dunno, I really hope it can help- somehow" she replied, starting to nibble at her muffin. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm.... I hope so too." Darcy hummed. Truthfully, he was a little freaked out by Anne, but he wouldn't say that to Isi's face. @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi nodded. The silence hung for a moment as she ate. "How are your arms?" She asked out of the blue. "Doing any better with that- sickness you talked about?" She sounded concerned, tentatively. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Ahhhhh.... they're about the same. They don't change much day-to-day." Darcy wrapped his arms around his body, pausing his breakfast for a moment. "Isi.... would you still be my friend if you learned I wasn't... exactly who you think I am?" @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi's brow furrowed. "Of course I'll still be your friend what kind of question is that?" She responded easily. "Is there something going on?" She asked, more quiet and concern evident. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy sighed, though he seemed reassured by Isi's response. "You can't tell anyone any of this, okay? Please?" @sketti | Isi 🦌

"Don't exactly have anyone else to tell- not that I would anyway, but y'know" Isi reassured him, leaning forwards, food forgotten and expression still tense. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy took in a deep breath to prepare himself, and deliberately looked away from Isi. "I'm not... a regular human person. I was created by my father through language magic, I'm not really.... real." His voice was soft and whispering, but still hitched with emotion. "I.... uh. Thought you should know." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi listened with a complicated expression, no anger or anything just- complicated. "You- you are real." She stated finally, putting her hand on his for emphasis. "And you're still exactly who I think you are. You're my friend, you're Darcy. I-" she paused, like she was trying to figure out what to say. "Does this- why are you telling me now? Does this have something to do with your arms or- is something happening?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy wrapped his hand in Isi's, but looked up to her with a sad gaze that said he didn't really believe her. "I- uh- I couldn't keep you in the dark any longer. I had to let you know." He sighed. "And- yeah. That started when my father got sick... and it's continued as the illness progresses. I think since his powers created me... when he died, it takes me with him." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi met his gaze, she looked determined in what she'd said as she listened to him. She looked increasingly upset as he continued, squeezing his hand instinctively. "Takes you with him? You mean- even when we're out of here, you're gonna..." Isi started to shake her head. "No there's gotta be something we can do, right? Darcy, you're not just gonna go out like that!" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy kept his hand wrapped around Isi's, but looked away from her. "I- I don't know if I have a choice... I only exist because of his powers. I hate it, I really do, but... I don't know how to fix it. At all." @sketti | Isi 🦌

"Darcy-" as he looked away, Isi only looked more upset. "You know what- what's scared me the most being here? The thought of you in that arena-" she started to ramble, swallowing hard. "-every time a new fight is announced I keep getting more terrified I'll hear your name. Because if- if you die here, I'm never gonna truly leave this place, no matter how far away I get. And now you're telling me that if we make it out- you could still just disappear-?" Her voice broke. "I can't- you have to see why I can't accept that, we have to try and fix it" she pleaded. "You gotta say you'll try, and I'll help if I can but- you have to." Where Isi would normally be good for a strengthening word or reassurance, her desperation took over. She couldn't even say 'when we make it out' this time. She was squeezing his hand tightly. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy held onto Isi, but he was trembling. "I don't want to leave you, Isi. I don't. That's the last thing in the world I want." He took in a few shaky breaths. "When we make it out- and I mean when- I'm gonna sit down with all my magic books and we're going to find a way to fix this. I'm not giving up. I never would. But- you'll stick with me through it, yeah?" He gave her hand a hopeful squeeze. @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi nodded, using her other hand to rub at her stinging eyes. Of course- of course I will. I'll find Yuga and I'll stick with you and you're gonna *live." She affirmed, moving her other hand so that both were now holding Darcy's one. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy nodded, and sniffled a bit to keep himself from outright bawling. "Yeah. Yeah. We're all going to live." He leaned against Isi, burying his face in their shoulder. "Th- thank you..." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi put her arms around Darcy, pretty close to bawling herself. She squeezed a little. "I just- I think I wish you told me earlier y'know? When I asked about your arms. I know you probably didn't want me worried but..." She trailed off, just holding him. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"... I don't think I could have. It's... so hard for me to talk about." He sighed. "But.... you had to know. You deserved to know." @sketti | Isi 🦌

"and you don't deserve to deal with this all on your own" she told him, then lapsed into silence for a minute. She wanted to put her head on his shoulder but didn't want to hit him with an antler. Tough world out here for deer people. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"... thanks." Darcy leaned onto Isi's shoulder so she could rest her head on his. "Sometimes... sometimes I feel like I have no choice but to handle everything on my own. But.... I have you." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi did rest her head on his. "I know. I know it can feel like that, I stuck it out on my own for- a while- but that just makes me more grateful I don't have to anymore. And you don't either" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"That's the good thing about having friends. Neither of us have to be alone anymore." Darcy smiled, clearly more at ease now. "I... feel a bit better now." @sketti | Isi 🦌

"I'm glad" Isi gave a watery smile, not that Darcy could really see it. "And it's all gonna be okay" she seemed to be trying to reassure herself as well. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"It's going to be okay..." Darcy nodded. "Mhm... I feel a bit more like eating now." Carefully, he drew away from Isi and pulled his breakfast plate back over to him. "I hope I don't get in more trouble for directly circumventing my punishment..." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi released Darcy from her arms, leaning back a bit so she could pick her own bowl back up. "I'm the one who circumvented it. Besides, its a bullcrap punishment for no reason anyway" She decided. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm...." Darcy hummed, though his mouth was full of bread. "I'm lucky I have you.... hey, do you remember that Petrai woman from the last tournament?" @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi nodded. "Hard to forget her. Why?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I think the bird leader here has similar powers.... being able to see everything, and all that." Darcy frowned. @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi's face soured a little. "What makes you say that?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I've heard some rumors." Darcy hummed. @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi's brow furrowed. "Hm." She replied. "That's not great. I wonder if its a Corvi thing or just- a them thing." She pondered. "I talked with Kyrie, she told me things about the Corvi" Isi sounded excited for a split second before remembering- "I- wish I didn't have to fight her." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I'm not sure. I don't actually know too much about the corvi..." Darcy hummed. "You're fighting Kyrie? I still don't think I've met her..." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi nodded. "She's nice, I wanted to talk to her more but it feels weird now." She frowned, picking at her food a little. "If I'm lucky I won't have to fight her but I don't know. I mean I didn't want to fight Enya either, y'know? But at least I didn't know her and- my winning wasn't a death sentence." She fell silent. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm.... that's really unfortunate." Darcy frowned. "Sometimes, I think I'm lucky I got put against Peregrine." @sketti | Isi 🦌

"And I can't wait to watch you kick his ass!" Isi fist-pumped the air for emphasis. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Hah- yeah." Darcy laughed, though his heart wasn't in it. "I feel bad about sentancing him to death.... even if he sucks, I don't want to be the cause of the end of someone's life.... it feels gross." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi's shoulders dropped, and she nodded. Her mind seemed to be wandering a little at that last statement. She couldn't help the weird feeling of dread in her gut. "Can I ask you for a favour?" she turned to Darcy, out of the blue. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy shifted to face Isi. "What is it?" @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi gave up on her plate of food, appetite successfully lost. "I don't think anything bad is going to happen, but- better safe than sorry, so, if- if I don't end up making it out of here, you've gotta find Yuga somehow. You've gotta tell him I didn't just abandon him, okay? And-" she pulled Anne out of her pocket, in the jar. "-I wouldn't make you take it or anything but, I dunno, I still think it could come in handy somehow, and I'd technically leave it to you" she stated, then put Anne back in her pocket.

10:38 AM

@innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy nodded solemnly. "I'll contact Yuga, I'll let him know what happened. Whatever that might be." His brow creased at the sight of Anne. "If you want me to take it, I can. But... at least right now, I think it's safer in your hands." He sighed. "If I don't make it out of here... can you tell my father? You don't have to go in person, you can just write a letter- and you don't even need to tell the truth about how I- uh, died- but please tell him. And- Alejandro. There's a man at the university I work at named Alejandro, and I would like you to tell him what happened to me if I can't." @sketti | Isi 🦌

"thank you" Isi smiled at Darcy gratefully. She listened to Darcy, committing his father and Alejandro to memory. "Of course, I'll talk to them-" she replied. "I hope I never have to but of course I will if I do." then she frowned. "If you could tell Roy too? If I don't make it out I mean. Just that I kept thinking about him even I didn't get to see him as much as I liked, that I didn't just drop off the face of the earth and all"

11:31 AM

@innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Yeah- of course. And you'll tell Roy if I don't make it out too, yeah?" Darcy asked. He didn't know if Eben or Glass had died by Isi's timeline, but... he didn't know how well Roy would take loosing more friends. @sketti | Isi 🦌

1

Isi nodded. "I will. I miss him. I miss everyone who's not- here. Even if I would never ever want them to be here" She confessed with a bit of strain to her voice. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm. I get that. I mean... I'd much rather be with them than here." Darcy hummed. @sketti | Isi 🦌

"Oh don't I know it" Isi laughed half-heartedly. "I wonder what they'd say if they knew we got stuck back in one of these tournaments again" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh... I don't even know. I'd probably think we were playing a big joke." Darcy laughed. @sketti | Isi 🦌

"I don't think I have the stomach to joke about something like this, but if I were them I'd probably hope it was" She smiled a little. After a few moments she uncrossed her legs and swung them over the side of the bed, food hardly touched. "I think I want to stretch my legs a little bit" she told Darcy as she stretched her arms out. "Would you wanna come?"

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

(No worries!) "Ahh... I think I'll stay here, if you don't mind. I want to get some more rest. I kinda overworked myself yesterday...." He sighed. "Stay safe out there, alright?" @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi smiled understandingly. "You got it. I'll see you tonight, okay?" She waved a bit and then headed out the door. She hoped maybe he wouldn't go back to his own room, she'd like having someone nearby while she slept tonight.

Darcy nodded. "Yeah, I'll see you tonight." @sketti | Isi 🦌

isi wakes

worm time

a word of comfort