MASKTOURN

Peregrine 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. He'd soon realize his clothes have been changed- gone is whatever he was wearing before, replaced by a simple, robelike outfit entirely in black. 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 Peregrine’s name, a clay tablet, and a porcelain face mask. The entire room is furnished in plain black tile, and opposite the window is a stone-paneled door leading out. The letter on the desk is written in small, neat script, reads as follows:

Welcome, Peregrine Axelyauro Marvell.

You have been invited to compete in the Lifebringer’s tournament, in this, their hallowed domain. Not only have you received this honor, you have also been selected to compete alongside the Birds, under my leadership. If you have any concerns, or anything suspicious to report, please alert it to my presence. I will be watching you. 

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

Your Leader, 
Kairas Krosanyouri

The mask was of black porcelain, and would sit on Peregrine’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 bird’s face. Despite no eye-holes, Peregrine 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. (edited)

@soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Peregrine detested the sleeping arrangements immediately from waking up. It was no plush hotel mattress with decorative pillows that could serve better use but ultimately would always be reduced to a view. He stood and brushed himself off, stretching and fluttering his wings as if shaking off dirt. Black really wasn't his colour. The colour of grief, which Peregrine wouldn't feel, and of loss. Hm. He did a little turn, and tugged at the clothes until they were just him enough - draped across his chest, teasingly revealing, shortened for easy access. He stepped to the desk and dismissively skimmed through the letter. This again. He shut down the twisting in his stomach, ignored the nervous flutter of his wings, and layered the mask on his face. He wasn't really one for masquerades but he saw the appeal in some respect. However, he was not one for rules either.... for now, he'd play along, remove it in due course. He leant down to the clay tablet and wrote on it. Satisfied with that, well, there was nothing else to stay for. Peregrine left the room to find out more about the strange place he'd been dragged to.

Peregrine led Roman to his room, opening the door with a smug smile. "We're really not that far from one another, are we?" He said slyly. (edited)

9:06 PM

@Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Wow, neighbors! That's convenient." Roman said and stepped in to the room. Yep, looked the same as his, to no surprise.. "I guess that'll make meeting up other nights all that much easier~" @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

"It'll make my nights so much easier," Peregrine teased, lazily shutting the door behind him. "See, usually I just get on the bed and let whoever I'm with have their way with me, or whatever they want me to do while they command." He waved his hands dismissively. "You're a rare little specimen, darling." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Awwwww, you think I'm rare?" Roman smiled and put his hands up to his face. "Hah, sounds like I'm like you then. That's about what I do too. I'm not really fit to be doing much heavy lifting, I'm sure you can tell." @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

"I'm fit for whatever. I've had years of practice." Peregrine sauntered to the bed and perched on the edge, eyebrow raised expectantly. "Are you a foreplay sort? Some like to play." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Surprise me." Roman said, and promptly turned on his heel to face away from Peregrine. "You can think on that while I fetch Roque real quick!" @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Peregrine rolled his eyes, at first playfully, then more disdainfully once Roman turned. "I'm a quick thinker," he said, keeping up his same flirty tone. "And I think it's more fun to just get to the action." AKA, he wanted this done. Then he could sleep. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Straight in, hmm?" Roman said and crouched down on to the floor. Two blood daggers appeared in his hands, and he stabbed them in to the floor. He drew out a small circle, which one completed, opened up the entrance to his small blood dimension. Casually, he stuck an arm in and dug around through the liquid until he finally grabbed on to something.. "You ready to see Roque again? I'm sure she's just DYING to SEE you!" @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Peregrine paid Roman little mind as he boredly waited. "Mm, this is foreplay enough." He kept up the tone but his face had taken on the real bored numbness he'd long felt for these endeavours. He wouldn't waste his energy on a performance no one could see. "I'm sure she is. I left her hungry for more~" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Hah, yeah, she was always hungry.." Roman said and took his arm out of the pit. He stood, and instantly turned back to face Peregrine. ... Yeah, in his hand was that glass jar. The red eyes inside turned on their own and glared at Peregrine sitting on that bed. How could she glare without eyelids..? Well, she did it. "Ta-daaaaa!! What a happy reunion!!" Roman smiled and shook up the jar a little. @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Peregrine tilted his head. Millions of thoughts ran through his head but he had to shut them down. He'd dream of them when he got the chance. "Roque. Pretty as ever. Dare I say an improvement," he teased, his grin back on his face once visible. "It'll certainly be a happier reunion in a minute." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"She can't hear at all, obviously, so say whatever you'd like." Roman hummed and set the eyes on a surface in the room that gave a perfect angle for them.. Roque would have a front row seat! Well- jar. Once that was set, Roman sauntered over to the bed and plopped down on to his stomach, looking up at Peregrine expectantly. "Well? If you're so eager, tick tock.." @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

"Such a shame, because I think we'll be making some pretty good sounds." Well. Nothing more to do, no more stalling. Finally, some well-earned peace. ~fade to black i'm too aroace for alluding to ✨anything✨~ @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Well, after That had concluded, Roman just laid next to Peregrine, facing away from him. He bided his time until he heard a bit of commotion in the hallway- people leaving the gala. "Well, Pere, it's been fun but I have a date with. Naiyta to get to. Byeeee!" Roman said and got up. He grabbed the eyeball jar before leaving the room. @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Peregrine bided his own time, giving meaningless flirts to Roman in the wait. He was on the edge of it, he could feel it, that intoxicating draw of rest that had evaded him for too long. But not while he was with a customer. That was too vulnerable to allow anyone to see. "Give them my love," he teased, blowing a kiss. "With any luck it'll be my turn next." He didn't rush to finish for Roman left, happy to let the end dangle unheard. And once he was alone and safe, he coiled on his stomach and finally slept. Three days without it. He'd get enough hours for a few more.

Well, here we are in Peregrine's room! Once they were both inside and the door was shut, Reagan took off the mask that covered their eyes. The sight they revealed wasn't the prettiest- they had very heavy eyebags, and a slight bruise around their left eye. One eye was gold, almost the same tone as Naiyta's, the other a cool, grayish-brown. They had slit, snakelike pupils in both. Reagan rested their mask on Peregrine's table, and turned to face him. "Well. Here we are." They hummed. "Should I undress, or would you like that honor yourself?" @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Peregrine paid no mind to the eyebags nor the bruise - he had seen worse, he had been worse. He wasn't exactly a sight himself, gaunter than usual, cracked lips that bled when he spoke too much, and his own eyebags, though not quite as heavy as Reagan's. He did chuckle, however, at the pupils. "Eyes are the windows to the soul," he hummed, mostly to himself. His eyes were very hollow. He glanced to the mask, then to Reagan. "I think you should undress me. Take me in, so to speak." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Explore your body?" Reagan winked. "A bit more active a role than I was hoping to have, but alright." They stepped up to Peregrine, and wrapped their hands around him. One pressed his head into their bare shoulder, inviting him to kiss them there while they stroked his hair. The other found his belt and undid it, letting the folds of his robe simply fall away from his body. Once that was done, they ran their hand along Peregrine's body, their fingertips gracing his side, his stomach, his ass and hip, before traveling back up to lay on his chest. @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

"It's more fun with a little work," Peregrine teased. As he was guided, he kissed his shoulder, more effort put into it, tracing up the neck to the jaw, teeth grazing gently against the skin. When his clothes fell away, feeling Reagan's hands against his body, where millions of hands had touched before, naturally drawn to the same path, he played his role, pressing closer, head burrowed in their neck, his hands on the sides of their chest. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan kept their face purposefully away from Peregrine's- in part to give him more surface area to work with, and to dissuade any mouth-on-mouth contact. They let out a soft, pained hiss as Peregrine touched tender, still healing bruises, but refrained from any greater reaction. They pulled away slightly, keeping their hands on Peregrine . "Your turn. Have your way with me." @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Peregrine chuckled. "I won't keep you waiting." His hands still on the sides of their chest, he began to kiss more fervently, trailing them down and down, over their chest, their stomach, further... Kneeling, he looked up at them before really having his way. ✨fade to black✨ @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

... Well, at least it was over. Though Reagan had put on a show for Peregrine, they hadn't enjoyed it- not any more than they usually did. He wasn't special. Throughout their time together, Peregrine would've gotten a very good look at the intricate patten of scales that decorated Reagan's back. Some were dry and blood encrusted- which didn't look very healthy. Afterwards, Reagan let Peregrine have the bed. It was his, of course. They sat beside him, their body curled up as they toyed with their jetty, dark hair. Their tail twitched apprehensively at their side. @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Peregrine laid on the bed, stomach pressed to the blanket beneath him, honestly having to fight off the sleep that always came into reach. "Good enough, I suppose," he teased through a yawn. "Though I don't think your body is supposed to be doing that." He vaguely gestured toward the back. "Honestly, makes it a little difficult for me. Not that it matters now, does it. We both finished." He tilted his head back with a self-satisfied little cackle. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"You're one to talk. You look like almost as much shit as I do." Reagan scoffed, though their tone was neutral. "You're right. None of it matters." @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

(tw suicide mention, he's saying it in jest and not abt himself i'm so sorry abt pere) "But I make looking like shit good," Peregrine cooed. As Reagan repeated him, he shook his head and leaned his head toward Reagan. "Darling, when you say it, you sound like an active suicide risk." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan grumbled something. "Does it matter? You seemed to enjoy your time with me either way." @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

(once again suicide discussion but like worse peregrine please) "It served its purpose, and so did we," Peregrine laughed, pulling away. "It doesn't matter, really. My circles seem to find suicide risks entertaining, active or less so. So, maybe it's a good thing." Pere what. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh, what reassuring news. I'd be popular with the people that fuck you." Reagan said dryly. "Doesn't surprise me. Some people have a type, and sometimes that type is people like us." @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Peregrine laughed for far too long and rolled back onto his stomach. "Well you fucked me, so that's either a compliment for my circles and an insult for you," he teased. Then he raised an eyebrow at Reagan. "People like us," he repeated slowly, dryly. "Hm?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"You fucked me." Reagan corrected. "Oh, please. You're me with feathers and less melanin." @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

"Same difference." Peregrine waved his hand dismissively, then playfully rolled his eyes at the next statement. "What makes you say that? My good looks? Because darling, then I'd be you with feathers, less melanin and good looks." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Whatever you wanna believe, feathers." Reagan rolled their eyes. "Maybe you're me but still with a sense of denial." @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

"Feathers? Not quite the worse thing to be called, scales." He leant back in and pressed his lips to their shoulder. "Teasing me so, how cruel." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan didn't react to the touch. "Real clever with that. Did it take you a while to think up that nickname?" They sighed. "Why'd you want to fuck me anyways?" @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

"How long did it take you to think up feathers?" Peregrine buried his face in the crook of Reagan's neck, eyelashes fluttering as he battled to say awake. "Do you want our kind of answer, or the truth?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"You probably don't get many opportunities to say how you feel, huh? Don't lie to me. It won't be worth it when I know what's going on." @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"You probably don't get many opportunities to say how you feel, huh? Don't lie to me. It won't be worth it when I know what's going on." @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

@soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Peregrine cackled. "Trust me darling, I say how I feel quite often." But he still paused, idly tracing a circle into Reagan's skin. Cue dramatic sigh. "It's the only thing that helps me sleep, dear. I simply can't do it unaided. I've... oh, I don't know which one it is, butterfly effect, Chekhov's gun, Pavlov's dog, Schrodinger's cat-" He chuckled to himself before the next one, "Oedipus complex, one of those I've done that to myself. I can't sleep unless I'm coming down from something. And well, this is all I have to come down from now." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan barely reacted to the touch as Peregrine's fingers traced over their scales. "Mhm. I see." They said flatly. "Never been there myself, personally. But I've been in similar places. Sex is just... a means to an end. Whether that end is sleep, money.... avoiding getting beat up for not doing my job." They let that slip, when they shouldn't have. They doubted Kairas was watching. Another pause. "If you let the Lifebringer know you're dependent on something they'll give it to you, for a price." @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan barely reacted to the touch as Peregrine's fingers traced over their scales. "Mhm. I see." They said flatly. "Never been there myself, personally. But I've been in similar places. Sex is just... a means to an end. Whether that end is sleep, money.... avoiding getting beat up for not doing my job." They let that slip, when they shouldn't have. They doubted Kairas was watching. Another pause. "If you let the Lifebringer know you're dependent on something they'll give it to you, for a price." @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

@soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭 eheh

"Isn't it just?" He echoed with a forced laugh as they spoke. He paused at the slip- "Mm. Well, luckily I don't have to be concerned about that. My job is to perform, and that's as natural to me as breath." Peregrine tilted his head as if to consider it. "I'm sure it's a price I'll find easy to pay. There's not much I want to keep hold of anymore, not that I really get the choice." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Good for you." Reagan replied flatly. "I used to be like that. Guess I've gotten too comfortable." "Mhm, given how excited you were to bed me, I don't doubt it. You've got an advantage, too." They turned to face Peregrine. "It likes wings." @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Peregrine grinned and cackled to himself. "Good. I've earned some appreciation around here." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"If you want to call that appreciation. I'd call it a fetish." Reagan shrugged. "If you don't mind, I think I'll go wash up now." They turned away from him to gather up their clothes. "As much as I enjoy your company, I do have other things to do." @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

"They're really the same thing when you get to my circles. You know what they say about gross income." No Peregrine, I don't know what they say. He waved his hands dismissively. "Yes, yes, go do that, enjoy yourself." He hadn't even finished his sentence before he nestled into the bed and tried to claim the sleep he'd earned. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

"They're really the same thing when you get to my circles. You know what they say about gross income." No Peregrine, I don't know what they say. He waved his hands dismissively. "Yes, yes, go do that, enjoy yourself." He hadn't even finished his sentence before he nestled into the bed and tried to claim the sleep he'd earned. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Either out of politeness or lack of care, Reagan didn't say anything else to Peregrine as they redressed, and left him to sleep.

MASSIVE TWs peregrine is unwell to say the least. drug + alcohol commentary throughout, this is all abt how pere does not want to be sober, vomiting blood + bile, consuming things you shouldn’t (I know what you’re thinking and. yes), suicidal ideation, deciding to act on it (but not actually acting on it within the piece) There is nothing inside Peregrine. He hunches over the basin; he hasn’t used it for its purpose, only for trying to spit his guts up, vomit up the plug that keeps everything wrong inside him so he can finally be entirely clean. If he just reaches down far enough, empties himself of everything in its way, he’ll finally- finally- Peregrine’s never been this sober. Not in months, not in years. Always steadily paced out so some part of him was influenced by something minuscule in his system, to keep everything that despairs him at bay, like it happened to someone else - a happy Peregrine, a sober Peregrine, a Peregrine who couldn’t be this Peregrine, who's dribbling saliva and blood from his scratched throat into the basin of the bedroom. He’s been trying to find something that will substitute, even before the tournament, when Otto first cut him off. Any candy, he’d crush up, pretend it set his bloodstream on fire, then it came to anything crushable, anything that could be pushed into the shape of little pills- and now he’s here. He’d chip at the mask, scratch it with his nail, pretend that what little came off can fuel him, pray it will, that his body will take the hint. Peregrine is disgustingly sober. The wall between him and tragedy, with no all support. It buckles. As does he. And there is no sleep to escape into. Not since he’d fucked Reagan; two days? It’s a pathetically short-sounding number, certainly not his worst, but then he’d had other things. Now every ghost is haunting him and he’s more lucid than he’s ever cared to be and he’s sober enough to realise how badly he wants to die. He jams his fingers into his throat and vomits pure bile. He pretends it’s a cocktail. He pretends it’s an alcohol burn. He won’t live like this. He can’t be this much longer. Good thing he’s at a tournament. Good thing the stakes are so high. One final performance, and then nothing. To Peregrine, it sounds wonderful. Like a gift. The closest thing to peace he'll ever have.

peregrine wakes

slutting it up with roman

slutting it up with reagan

i think he's doing fine