MASKTOURN

Ryu 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. She'd soon realize her clothes have been changed- gone is whatever he was 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 Ryu’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, Ryuoske Suijinyouri Yasuda!

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 Ryu’s face without falling, held there by some kind of magic. It only covered his eyes and upper faced, and mirrored the look of a snake’s face. Despite no eye-holes, Ryu 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 Ryu investigated the chest, he’d find something curious. The chest is filled mostly with linens- bedding, towels, spare outfits, but at the top is her broken Rolex watch. (edited)

@Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryunoske woke with a startle. She felt a pounding headache in the back of her head and she felt dazed. He only felt like this after a night out drinking, and usually then, she'd have a pretty lady waking up beside him in the morning. "Shit.." The memories of what happened started flooding in, completely worse than the fragments of partying and sex she would usually be having right now. Those were at least fun recollections. Ryu rubbed the space between her eyes, before realizing her clothes were completely different. No longer was she dressed warmly from head to toe in her usual suit, but instead just a simple white robe-like skirt with a couple layers. No top or anything, leaving her top half exposed for the world to see. "This place better not be fucking freezing like the last.." He commented as he trudged over towards the items in his room. He picked up the tablet to examine, curiously wondering what it could be, before reading the note. Oh, maybe he should of read this first. Whatever. He didn't quite care to wear a mask or follow whoever this Reagan was. What did pique his attention, was the watch sitting on his chest. Ryu grabbed the watch and quickly put it back on her wrist. Why did they let her keep this for? Whatever the case, Ryu was secretly grateful. Giving her room one final glance, she sighed as she felt her pockets empty. "Fuck.. they left me my watch, but not my cigarettes?" Ryu grumbled. She'd have to go out and look for some. With nothing else to see, Ryu made her exit.

Not too soon after her lovely interaction with the temple ghost, Ryu heard the announcement for the gala in her ear. It was weird having some stranger enter her mind like that, but it honestly wasn't the strangest thing that's happened to her the past week. She returned to her room and saw the extra pair of clothes sitting on her bed. "Do these people have something against shirts..?" Ryu commented as he put on the new robe and garments. Taking the mask she had left behind before, Ryu headed off to the square.

Knock knock knock "Ryuuuu!!!!" Roman called from outside. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

There was no response from inside... but where else could Ryu be this morning? Very clearly, she was probably ignoring the voice at her door. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Ryuuuuu!!! I have something for you I think you'll like!!!!" Roman called out again, and waited a few moments. "Ryunoske, I'm serious, can you come out here please." Roman said in a much less annoying tone. @ajjjjjjjj (edited)

Again, there's only silence from inside the room for a few moments. Surely though, the door crept open and Ryu opened it just enough for Roman to see the upper half of her. She was top less once again, her chest exposed even through the small opening. He still had a bit of bedhead and her bangs were hanging loosely on top her forehead. "You got two seconds to explain why you're bothering me at the crack ass of dawn before I get angry." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

He did kind of want to see her angry, but that could happen later. He also didn't really care that she was currently topless. "I got your cigarettes, the nice ones, but you gotta hear me out first." Roman said and crossed his arms over his chest. He looked.. uncharacteristically serious.. And had he gained a pound or two since the last time they spoke? @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu didn't give a damn about how Roman looked. She didn't even seem interested in the cigarettes. "What is it?" She huffed. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

'Thought she'd be more excited..' "I want to change the terms of our deal. Instead of you taking me to bed, I want you to kill me in the arena during our fight." Roman smiled. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

That actually made Ryu raise a brow. She opened her door some more and looked down at Roman with a suspicious look. "Why the sudden change?" He asked. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman weaseled his foot in the crack of the door, just in case Ryu felt like closing it again soon. "Sudden? Well, Naiyta and I have something pretty good going right now, so I don't think I require probably mid-tier sex from you.. And Naiyta also told me that if I die here, I can avoid the cursed realm back home, so I'm pretty content to just die here." Roman said. "Aaaaand I know you'd kill me for no incentive anyway, so to sweeten the deal for me, I have some stipulations." "You have to kill me with my own blood knives, one in my chest and one in my abdomen. And as I'm dying I want you to hold me close and tell me nice things. If you don't do either of those, I still have my power over you now, so.. I'd just rather not force you to do it." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Surprisingly, Ryu listened to Roman all the way through with no interruptions. It's probably the longest he's ever let Roman talk. Roman's little foot weasel wouldn't be necessary as Ryu very easily just let the door open and she scoffed. "If you want to die so badly, I'll do it right now," Ryu said and took a step out her room. "Trusting Naiyta to be truthful about anything is quite the assumption to make too. Are you really just listening to it because it's the next best thing to boss you around?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman kept his foot in the doorway even as Ryu opened the rest of the door. He only moved back as Ryu stepped toward him. "Huh? Well you can't kill me now, I just started living! I'm trying to live out the best life of what I have left." Roman crossed his arms again. ".. I don't have any other options than to trust Naiyta, a little bit, since I'm just fucked if i go back to the real world. This is my only option." "Take it or leave it! I went through hell to get those cigarettes for you." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu rolled his eyes and folded his arms across his chest. "There's no point in trying to live a life now. It'd be better off if I just offed you now so we can get it over with," Ryu commented. "Just hand over the damn cigarettes. I didn't need to hear your reasons, I probably would of killed you anyways." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"That's a stupid way to think about it, I mean, this is basically paradise for me. If you just got offered a tropical vacation, but you'd die at the end, would you rather just die right at the beginning?" Roman asked. "Aaaaaand I'll hand them over as soon as you agree to the terms of my death, I want it done a specific way." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"No. I rather just die since it doesn't really matter in the end," Ryu promptly answered. "And yes, whatever. The way you die doesn't matter to me. I'll make sure to tell you the nicest, sweetest things you've heard," she said with an exaggerated roll of her eyes. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

'I don't get it but whatevaaaaa scheme

' "Why thank you Ryu, you're too kind!" Roman reached behind him and took out the box of cigarettes that had been tucked under his sash. All twenty of them were in that fancy box. "And if you go against your word, I can still control you if I really need to. I'd just rather not have to worry about it." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"If you really want me to kill you all nice and slow, just go ahead and control me," he huffed and snatched the cigarettes from Roman. "Makes no difference to me." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. Why can't you just work with me here, man? Naiyta burned me up to get you those!" Roman huffed. "I know usually I'm the one whose unreasonable, but right now it's you." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu glared down at Roman and stood straighter to emphasize their difference in size. "Are you done?" He asked. "If there's nothing else you wanted to say, I'm going back to sleep." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman kept his head down, but eyes upward toward Ryu's. "... No, don't smoke em all at once, because I'm not getting you any more." Roman turned on his heel and began to step away. "Nightey night, don't let the tournament bugs biteeeeee!!" He giggled like a child and ran off down the hallway, hopefully to never be seen again. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Walking back here, Ryu opened her door with ease and laid Enya down on her bed. The room itself looked like it had barely been used. "I'll be right back. Just relax and sit back for a while, alright?" Ryunoske said with a gentle smile and kissed Enya's forehead. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Enya’s eyes close briefly as she smiles into the kiss. “Alright,” she agrees, settling back into the bed. When Ryu returns, she’s sitting cross-legged, having scooted over to leave a comfortable space for Ryu to join her. Though it doesn’t look all too different she’s let her hair down and started to unbraid the small sections. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryunoske shortly came back with a small bag and a couple of cups in his hands. "I'm back," she said as she reentered the room. "I know you said you didn't want any snacks.. but I brought some extra in case. Here's the tea. I think it's... jasmine?" Ryu faintly smiled as she handed the cup over. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Enya drops her last hair tie into her lap as she sits up a little straighter. "Jasmine is perfect," she hums with a small chuckle at the snack comment, happily accepting the cup and taking a sip right away without any regard to the temperature. "Mmm..." She sighs, breathing in the floral, fruity scent. "That's really good." Shifting the cup to one hand, Enya pats the spot next to her with the other. "C'mon, come sit." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryunoske smiles a bit more and she easily obliges to Enya's offer of the seat beside her. She sits, the bed sinking much more on her side once she put her dead weight onto it. In the bag she carried was a bunch of random treats, ranging from a small thing of fruit to what looked like little pastries or desserts. Ryu picked one of the weird look pastries and started eating. "Mm. This one's not too bad. I didn't know what most of the things in the kitchen were, just grabbed what looked good-" She explained. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Enya matches her smile in response, and bumps Ryu’s shoulder with her own as she settles comfortably against her. “Those look interesting,” she chuckles, taking another sip of the tea. “Honestly I don’t know either though. I’ve never been much of a baker.” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Neither am I. Cooking, sure, but baking is a completely different science," Ryunoske hummed as she finished off the pastry. "Speaking of pastries, there's this really good spot in Shinjuku that we have to try while you're in town. Best cream puffs, hands down. I bet you'll love them," Ryu smiled. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“My mom likes to say baking’s a science but cooking’s an art,” Enya hums, before laughing faintly to herself. “So I guess maybe I’m only allowed to be good at one kind of science too.” Her eyes light up as Ryu continues. “Ooh, really? We’ll have to add that to the list then. That sounds incredible.” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Mmm, that makes sense. Do you think the missus will like Val and I?" Ryu asked with a slightly teasing tone. "I can bring an impressive sushi bake. I'm sure it'd make a great impression," she chuckled. "And yeah. There are plenty of places we need to stop by. I'm sure Val has a whole list for us too. She's always been better at finding stuff like that, anyways." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Enya groans, burying her face in her free hand, even though it essentially does nothing to hide her blush. "She already does, honestly," she admits half-muffled. "I don't know what the three of you talked about while I was in the hospital but whatever it was, you've definitely already made that impression." Pausing, she adds as she lifts her head again, "Or I guess, you will. I keep forgetting the whole 'I'm from the future' thing. That might change what we've got to explore.." Still, though, she's clearly excited by the idea. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

An intrigued smile formed on Ryunoske's lips as she watched Enya cover her face. It was always so amusing to see her flustered. "Oh? Well, I'm glad Mama Glowstone is already a fan. Wouldn't want one of my girl's parents to dislike me now," Ryu chuckled. "Have you slept with future me too? Or was that a privilege only present me gets~?" She teased. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Enya can't help her own laugh at the nickname. "She's the only one you need to worry about, so I think you're good on that front," she says with a smile as she takes another sip of tea. And promptly nearly chokes on it, cough spluttering into a flustered stammer as Ryu's follow-up questions catch Enya completely off guard. "Jesus Ry, I-- You-- N-No, I-- I haven't," she admits, face bright red. "There was so much going on, you and Val were so close, I just thought-- Y'know." She isn't saying she didn't want to, though. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu bursts out laughing, finding Enya all so amusing. He didn't think she'd be that flustered by his question. "Thought what, babe? That you didn't have a chance?" Ryu hummed, a smug smile on her lips. "You know Val and I are good, but we'd never say no to another cutie. Especially someone as amazing and smart as you, glowstone," Ryu said and promptly kissed Enya's temple. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

"Don't laugh!" Enya whines in protest, though there's no real hurt behind it. She fiddles awkwardly with the cup in her hands for a moment before adding in a slightly more hesitant voice, "But I.. I did think that, yeah." She ducks her head a little at the string of compliments. "I'm glad," Enya says quietly, hair falling into her face, but not able to fully hide her smile as she leans into Ryu. "You're both more than I could've hoped for." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

She wraps an arm around Enya, giving her a gentle squeeze as she kisses Enya's temple. "Oh, you are adorable, glowstone. It's only natural we would love such a woman as yourself. You should have more confidence," Ryu smiled. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫 (edited)

Enya melts easily into the touch, even as she sighs softly and says, “Easier said than done, Ry. I’ve never been good at—“ She pauses, hoping the right word might maybe just appear somehow, but nothing seems to be coming up. “….this.” She isn’t really sure she knows what this is. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"This?" Ryu repeats with a small sly smile. "And what exactly do you mean by 'this', glowstone?" @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Shit. She was really hoping she wouldn't have to be the one to put the question out there, but Ryu seems to be thinking along a different train. "I.... I don't really know," Enya admits in one breath, as if saying the words quicker might make them feel less awkward. "I don't know where the line is here," she continues, loosely pulling her knees to her chest while staring down at the bed. "Or...between the three of us. If there is one." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

It's quick, but Ryu's smile twitches as she stares down at Enya. She could sense where this was going... "Can you elaborate, En..?" Ryu asks with an even voice. "I don't really think there's a line we haven't exactly crossed yet, is there?" @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Enya's shoulders hunch in on herself. It'd come out wrong--she could tell. "I don't know," she repeats, chin balanced on her knees and slightly muffling her voice. If there is a line, it certainly feels like she's crossing it right now. Her stomach twists uncomfortably. "...Nothing. Just-- Just forget I said anything, it's okay." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske (edited)

Ryu turns her head away, gazing at a particularly interesting part of the floor in front of them. "You can be honest with me, En. You know I won't judge you for it," Ryu lightly insists. "I care about you and Val.. whatever you're thinking or wanting to say, I'll hear you out." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Enya's silent for a long moment after that. "I care about you, too," she says finally, voice quieter and still lacking confidence even as she continues, "Which is why I... I want to know what you want out of this." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"What I want out of this..?" Ryunoske repeats with an even voice, her fingers closing and interlocking together. "The normal things. Dates, affection.. Isn't that what we all want out of this?" She asks, turning the question back to Enya. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

It is what she wants. She's meant every word she's said to them, how could she not? Enya bites her cheek as she hugs her legs tighter. "Of *course *I do." It's soft, open. But she continues, and her voice shrinks small as that nervous worry creeps back in. "Dates.. Dates i-is a different..level than affection, though.." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu tilts her head at that, still pretending to not know what Enya was trying to say. "Do you want a title, En?" Ryu decides to asks directly. "I'm fine with not having anything like that. Do we need one to do what we want?" @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Luckily Enya’s faced away from Ryu, otherwise it’d be impossible to hide how her expression seems to momentarily shatter. This was what had really worried her—if she said yes, would that ruin everything? Her chest tightens as she stays silent. After a few moments, she replies, without looking, “…No. We don’t.” It sounds convincingly sure. (It doesn’t look it. It doesn’t answer the first question, either.) @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryunoske feels a sigh at the tip of her tongue, but she holds it in. This was really not the conversation she wanted to have at the moment. She should of just let it go like Enya wanted to. Damn it all... "...But you want one, right?" Ryu slowly asks once she hears Enya's response. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Like she said before, she’d never been good at this. Maybe she never should have brought it up in the first place. Enya tenses at the question, then forces herself to relax, turning a little bit towards Ryu so at least her back’s no longer to her. “I…” The words seem to get stuck in her throat, then come out in a rush all at once. “..Not if you don’t. I can handle it.” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

This time, Ryu did sigh. She always hated having this conversation with her girls. They always ended up reluctantly agreeing for a while before breaking it off with her, or outright lashing out and cursing to never see her again. Enya was starting to feel like the former. Ryu clasped her hands together and leaned on her knees. "Are you sure..? I'd like to know how you feel, En. When you're with me and Val, what do you envision for the future?" @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Enya shrugs one shoulder, fingers twisting in the hem of her robes as she stares down at her lap and tries to hide how visibly nervous she’s feeling. “..Not sure if I’ve ever thought about it, really,” she admits with a small sigh of her own. “It’s just been..one thing, after the other, ever since the island. I-I’ve barely thought through a week or two ahead at a time.” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu listened adamantly to Enya, like she always did. It was good to hear that Enya didn't envision stereotypical things... like children, but her answer still left a lot of room to be desired. "...Alright, then let me ask you this," And Ryu turned to look at Enya, face to face, "..Do you care if I go on dates with other girls? Without you or Val?" @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Frankly, Enya really has no idea, and her indecision must show clearly on her face. It's not a definite negative, at the very least, if that means anything. "I..don't know. Honestly." It's another confusing question added to the mix. She doesn't want to lose this. But if they're not dating or putting a label on things or however she wants to call it, then why would Ryu care if she cares? "I don't think I feel..bad about it, at least?" Well, that's something, even if it's a little shaky. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

That was a better response than Ryu was expecting. Not knowing must of meant that Enya didn't have any strong feelings about the matter then, right? Ryunoske's shoulders slightly relaxed and she turned away from Enya once more. "Then I think that's all that matters to me," Ryu nodded. "I'm sure Val feels the same as me. In our line of work, it's never good to get too comfortable." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Ryu might be relaxing, but Enya certainly doesn't appear to be. She bites the inside of her cheek, staring down at the bedding in front of her. Val was easier to read, sure, but she tended to take things less seriously. This would have to be another long conversation with Val, wouldn't it... She looks up a little bit as Ryu finally replies. Somehow, she still can't help but feel like she's doing it all wrong. "Do you ever wish you weren't caught up in all of that?" At least it shifts the topic a little, but the question slips out before she can really think about it. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Hah.. Who wishes to stay in a place like ours?" Ryunoske smiled, falling back onto the bed with her hands behind her head. "..But it's who I am, and it's who I'll be until I die. People like Val and I... we're destined for something out of our control. That's why we're attracted to people like you, glowstone. Bright, adventurous, free... It's nice to have company like that." He glanced over at Enya, gauging her reaction. "We may disappear one day and never come back, but until then, it's nice to just go on dates and have fun, yknow?" @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Enya’s reaction is..carefully still neutral, but after a moment or two she nods her head slowly. “I think I.. I get it.” It’s somewhat of a reminder, too, that Ryu now isn’t exactly the same as the one she really knows. And, also a reminder of where they are now—what they might not escape. She finally looks back to him. “I don’t know if I can be like that all the time. But I can.. I can try.” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu looked towards Enya, a fondness in her eyes. A sort of softness only reserved for her and Val, but not like Ryu would ever admit that. "You don't have to always be like that, En. No one can always be joyful and free. I appreciate you for who you are, no matter the moment," Ryunoske said and moved to cup Enya's cheek, pulling closer to her. "I'm relieved to see you're still happy in the future. That I'm still a part of your life then too. Let's have all the fun we want when we get out of here, alright? With Val too." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

There's that look again---and it at the same time both warms and breaks her heart. But Enya's already resolved to take what she can get, and she leans into the touch with her eyes closed for the briefest moment. "Alright," she hums quietly, before her gaze shifts to the foggy window opposite them and she slowly pulls back just out of Ryu's reach. "I..should probably get going, though. Before it gets too late." It's admittedly somewhat of a poor excuse, but at least not unreasonably, she hopes as she shifts to stand up. (If she stays the night again, she's not really sure what she might do.) "But Ry, I'm... I really am glad we could clear things up." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu nods, giving Enya a small smile even as she pulls away. "Yeah. I hope you feel better, glowstone," Ryunoske replied and reached back out to tuck some loose hair behind Enya's ear. "Can I get a kiss goodbye?" He asked. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

That’s an easy request, and for once being selfish doesn’t feel so bad when Enya leans in, cupping Ryu’s cheek as she obliges. It doesn’t go any farther than surface level, but seems to say just as much without the need for that. “I’ll see you later alright?” She says quietly, before moving to open the door. “Goodnight, Ry.” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

There's a moment where Ryu reaches to pull Enya closer, but she stops as Enya pulls away first. Yeah, Ryu should of expected that. "Goodnight, glowstone," Ryu returns with a small smile. There's something else that lingers on her tongue, but Ryunoske swallowed it down before it could form. She simply waved goodbye to Enya, still sitting on the bed with her bag of uneaten treats. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

There's a moment where Ryu reaches to pull Enya closer, but she stops as Enya pulls away first. Yeah, Ryu should of expected that. "Goodnight, glowstone," Ryu returns with a small smile. There's something else that lingers on her tongue, but Ryunoske swallowed it down before it could form. She simply waved goodbye to Enya, still sitting on the bed with her bag of uneaten treats. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Enya mimics the wave with a flicker of a smile—hesitating there in the open doorway for a moment—before quietly shutting the door behind her.

ryu wakes

roman's deal

sorry woman i love, i have too many commitment issues!