MASKTOURN

( @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 )

Ah, the blood dimension! What more could be said about it.. This one was much smaller than the last, and as Reagan fell in, the liquid only went up to their mid-calf. Roman landed beside them shortly after. The ceiling here was hardly taller than Reagan right at the center, and tapered off in a dome shape from there. All the wall was cardiac muscle, which pulsed at the same rate as a giant heartbeat. It was also pretty warm... Gross. Of the random stuff scattered around the blood, there was a short table and chair set. It honestly looked like maybe a kid's set. The table had a bunch of blankets and pillows on it, which Roman unceremoniously shoved off in to the blood. "Sorry about all that, wasn't sure if Naiyta was watching or not. I'm not here to hurt you." Roman sighed in relief and plopped down in one of the chairs. "Sit, sit. I just wanna talk, really." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan stopped themself from screaming as they fell, but reflexively stood up as they landed in the blood. Their scarf had fallen away in the fall, revealing an array of dark, purplish bruises and small abrasions around their neck and collarbone. They half-walked, half-crawled over to the kid-sized table and sat down, glancing around the weird room around them. Once they registered what Roman was saying, they lifted their mask from their face, revealing the same heterochromatic eyes and facial scar Roman had seen before. They had some very notable eyebags. "I- what do you want to talk about?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman took off his mask as well, and placed it down on the table. "I dunno, maybe why Naiyta was like drowning you or something?" Roman shrugged. "I couldn't get much out of you last night, obviously, so I figured I'd check in now. Are you okay? I mean clearly you're not but- do you need help? I don't wanna judge your lifestyle." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"They were- punishing me. For speaking out of turn. I told Cansu more than I should've-" They kept glancing around uneasily. But Kairas hadn't been here- Kairas couldn't see into this place and report their transgressions. "You promise you won't tell Naiyta what I've told you?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Well, punishment could be fun.. But it was clear to even Roman that this wasn't the fun, sexy kind. "I promise. I'm gonna say I was finishing what they started, so I.. Unfortunately might need to leave a few more marks on you. But you could do it yourself if you want, I'm not really in to that." Roman said. "The only thing I really do is bite people." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan took in a few shaky breaths. They trusted Roman, because, to some degree, they had to trust Roman. This might be the only chance they got. "Alright. Okay." They closed their eyes to try and give themself strength. "My name is Sadihak Rouwae. I'm being held here against my will because Naiyta needs me to control all the other attendants. I've been here for- I don't even know how long. You need to help me, please- I don't know what to do. I don't know how much of this I can handle." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Well, was something about that name familiar? In his digging about Petrai, he had heard that she lived with this.. 'Sadihak Rouwae'. "Okay okay, Sadihak- you control the other attendants?" Roman asked. "Are they all here against their will as well? Are they just regular people..?" "And I'd like to help you, really, but I'll just have to think of what to do. If Naiyta wants to beat me instead of you, I can do that. But I do intend on dying here, so if you need help that involves getting all of us out of here.. I'm not sure I can." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I have mind control powers- Naiyta made me wipe their memories and make them work. Everyone here but the Lifebringer and the contestants, I've had to control." Sadihak described. "They're all normal people. Everyone here was taken from their homes- they all want to go back, I can feel it-" They opened their eyes to look upon Roman. "Please. Anything you can do- but you can't let them know I told you about this." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"My powers could potentially be used to control others, but that would just transfer the problem from you to me.. and not really get anyone who wants to go home back." Roman hummed and leaned back in his chair. "I don't intend on telling them, but I also don't think it'll appreciate this 'vigilante justice' I'm supposedly serving right now, so we'll need to figure out a different way to communicate if you want to keep talking." "What would happen if they did know? I'm not going to say anything, I promise, but I just want to be prepared for what might happen if this isn't as secret as I thought it is. I'm guessing I'll be in deep shit too. A memory wipe, at the least.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I can send message to people through my powers- it's how I did for the gala announcement. But it takes concentration if I'm not deeply tethered to a person, and you wouldn't be able to reply at all." "They'd- hurt me. Like they did last night. Usually, it's the water, but- they might lock me away again. Or stop giving me food. They'd probably do the same to you- and have me wipe your memories, yes. If Naiyta wants to use you.... they'll do anything they can to keep you." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"If you wanna send me a mental message, and want a response, you'd basically have to tell me at the end to do something subtle.. Like yawn to say yes, roll your shoulders to say no.. But I still wouldn't be able to communicate very complex things back. But it would be something, if Naiyta bars me from doing this again. Which I'm guessing it will." Roman said. "But I really don't care what happens to me, as long as they don't light me on fire again. Think I kinda made a mistake reacting to that one the most last night." Roman sighed, deeper this time, and sunk in to his chair. "What can I even do against Naiyta? I'm guessing if starting a revolt with all of the attendants was a possible solution, you would have already done it." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"... it's really all we have, so it'll have to do. I think- this would be the only place we could ever freely talk. The bird leader, Kairas- she can see everything. If she catches you and I talking, she'd report it to Naiyta. She can't see here, because I don't think she's ever been... here before, but like you said, Naiyta won't appreciate this." They sighed uneasily. "I... okay. They've never set me on fire at all, I guess because it leaves more permanent scars than the bruising." Sadihak frowned. "I can't guarantee that if you get in trouble, it won't try that again." "I... don't know. They seem to... favor you, I guess? So maybe you can convince them to do something. I can't revolt- it'd just kill them all. It controls everything here, and- I don't think I can control it." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. couldn't you mind control Kairas to not snitch?" Roman suggested. That was much too simple, obviously, but sometimes people missed the obvious things. "I'll.. Try, I guess. I can't speak on anything you said here, so I'll need some time to think." Roman nodded. "And to try to avoid getting burned up again, it really liked doing that." "Do you have anything else you need to say before we make it look like I just beat you up down here?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

A wash of guilt spread over Sadihak's face. "I can't- I could, but..." They cared about her too much. "I don't want her getting caught up in all this. I don't want her getting hurt, too. If Naiyta suspects she's keeping things from it, she'll receive the same treatment I do. No matter if I'm controlling her or not." "Even the slightest help means- everything." Sadihak sighed. "Really." "I- hm. There's a contestant here that I really don't want to get hurt, in any way, if at all possible. His name is Cansu, he's been trying to help me out too, he just... doesn't have this sort of place. He's a deity, so he should be able to take care of himself, but- I'd like to keep him safe too." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Yeesh, another person to look out for.. Should I get him down here and talk to him, or just keep him oblivious?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan was hesitant. "He might not react the best to being dragged down here.... but it might be the only way to tell him what he needs to know. I'd like to tell him myself, if possible, but... for now, it might be safest to keep him oblivious." Sadihak sighed. "When you, ah, make it look like you beat me up, can you try and avoid my neck area? It's, uh, still pretty tender." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I'll just try to avoid him, and discourage Naiyta from doing anything against him." Roman nodded. He stood up, aaaaaaalmost touching the ceiling. He rubbed his hands together. "Yeah, I can.. Hm. I can make you bleed internally. That looks dramatic. Blood coming out of your mouth and stuff." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Sadihak grimaced. "How much would that, uh, hurt?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Hmm. I could dull the pain if I can get a bite on you." Roman said. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan nodded. "Do that, then. Please." They paused. "The bite might make things more convincing, anyways." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman stepped up to them. "Where would you like the bite? I need like twenty seconds of sucking to get enough blood." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Would the arm work?" Reagan said, pulling up their left sleeve. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mhm, very well." Roman said and took their arm as soon as the sleeve was moved. He bit down- hurting like two bee stings back to back. Once his teeth were in it wasn't too bad, and as he said, he spent around twenty seconds sucking out their blood before pulling away. He put his hand over the injury, and the blood stopped flowing instantly. "I could heal up those bruises on your neck too, but.. I'm sure Naiyta would notice. Maybe later." Roman said and moved his other hand over Reagan's stomach. "You ready? It's going to hurt for a second or two before I can numb it." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Sadihak flinched and looked away as Roman bit their arm, but endured the pain without complaint. "It'd be best not to raise suspicion. I... might be able to get Albanes to heal them for me later, anyways." They flinched again as Roman touched their stomach. "Can you give me a countdown?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Uh, sure." Roman said and began to count down.. From sixty. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan had been hoping for something a bit shorter, like 'three', but didn't move for the entirely of the minute Roman was counting down. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

After "one', Roman forced his hand forward, sinking in an inch or two to their abdomen. For a moment, it felt like they had been stabbed right in the gut.. But after that, a numbing sensation spread through their organs. And shortly after that, blood would start working its way up their throat, almost enough to make them totally choke. Roman pulled his hand away, and there was a dull sensation of pain still, but not too much. The bleeding stopped, leaving them with just what blood had already been ruptured out. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan gasped, but didn't scream, at the stabbing sensation, and didn't have much time for more of a reaction before they were retching up blood. It spilled all over their clothes and mouth, definitely making it look like something had happened. After Roman pulled his hand away, Reagan remained on the chair, breathing heavily and with their own hand placed on their stomach. "Eugh...." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"We should get out of here before too many people get suspicious. Are you ready to go?" Roman asked, not sitting back down at the table. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan only took a few more moments before they began to stir, sitting up and putting their mask back over their eyes. It hid some of the constant anguish in their expression. "I'm ready." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman put his back on as well. "To keep up appearances, I'm gonna be mean to you out there. No hard feelings, right, Sadi?" Roman asked with a smile. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan didn't smile back, but... that was probably to be expected from someone in their situation. "Alright. And, remember, you can't call me Sadihak out there. It has to be 'Reagan', or... I don't know if you knew that name before, either. But you can't call me Sadihak." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Yep, only Reagan. Reagan." Roman repeated. He stood close to them and grabbed the back of their dress. "We're headed up." The blood under them began to wiggle and solidify in to a solid platform. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

They nodded, and flinched as they were grabbed by the back of their dress, but didn't fight it. They couldn't help but squirm as the blood solidified beneath them... @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

As soon as the opening appeared on the surface, Roman's grip tightened and he kicked out Reagan's legs from under them so they were on their knees again as the platform began to rise.. ... @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

... The two of them landed in the calf-deep blood. "Here we are!" Roman smiled. The odor was awful. "And there she is!" Sitting on the kid's size table with equally kid sized chairs in the blood pit was a small stone bowl with blood and.. A pair of eyeballs in it. "So, what do ya think?" @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Oh, fuck," Ace hissed, shuddering at the feeling. Man. He did not expect that. "Mmm.hm." It reeked in here. It reeked so very bad. It took them a moment to adjust to, well. Everything, but their gaze eventually landed on the kiddy table and eyeball bowl. Eyeball bowl. ".Are those eyeballs?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mhm! That's Roque!" Roman smiled and ran over to the bowl. The eyeballs shifted to look up at him as he approached. "Awww, she missed me! I missed you too, Roquie! Mwah!" He kissed the air an inch or so above the eyes. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

8:29 PM

Ace...very cautiously trailed behind Roman as he ran over, trying not to wince at the splashing of blood. Aiya- "That's Roque?" Ace repeated, some look of. Confusion? Worry? Something? On his face. "I- did the, did the eyeballs just move?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mhm, her eyeballs were the only beautiful part of her left.. Everything else was dragged away and destroyed in to her blood dimension.. But she's slowly growing back, she's so strong! Give it like fifty years and she'll be good as new!" @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Ooo! Yeah, no, talking about elements was a good distraction from the eyeball bowl and blood pool. "So- so if you're devoured by your blood dimension, you can just regenerate over time?" Ace asked, a bit too excited about this. "Are you- does your blood dimension work in the same way? Are you and Roque essentially immortal in a sense?" He was really trying not to stare at the eyeballs too hard. It- it was a bit off putting, but- hey, wait. "...Is that why her eyeballs are still able to move...?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Nope! This lady named Petrai took the eyes out of her face before she died, so her powers remained in them! So, theoretically, if any body part is kept outside of the blood dimension, or you die some other way, we should be able to come back! Given enough time and blood.." Roman smiled. "We should be immortal, but Roque is the first one to tap in to this power, so the limitations aren't really known."

8:42 PM

@Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"I- huh." Huh indeed. "That's actually incredible- blood dimension digestion aside, and whatnot. Well-" It still was pretty important to how his powers worked, no? "Digestion included, I guess. It's incredible that she managed to unlock this aspect of your magic." "This power...you said that Roque also had this, yes?" he asked. "Do you. Did you share your powers?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mmm, not so much shared, it was a technique she pioneered somehow on her own, and she taught it to me. Technically, anyone would be capable of doing it... Even you. But it takes many years to be anything useful at all. In the length of this tournament you'd be lucky if you could even smell any blood." Roman said and held out the bowl closer to Ace. "I'm also not entirely sure how she did it, I could only really try to replicate how she taught it to me.. Which I don't think you would find pleasant." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Fascinating," Ace murmured. "That truly is fascinating- you're saying that Roque was the original master of this, ah. Element? Power? Mm- what exactly would you call this?" Instinctively, Ace took the bowl that Roman offered to him- kind of like how people just get handed stuff and they take it -and looked down, right into the pair of eyeballs. Mmm. "H. Hello," he said, to the eyes. That are famously known for speaking. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Blood powers, is what she called it. Nothing fancy. She also had sound powers which she got after her sister died, which she leaned in to a lot as well. I only have blood powers." Roman said. The eyes rolled to look at Ace... And said nothing. Thankfully. "She can't hear or speak, but if you know sign she knows that! I've been trying to learn, but it's hard since I'm missing a finger.." Roman said. "Also, just so you know, anything that happens down here is entirely out of the view of any... Spectators. If you have any other questions you'd like to ask me to answer more honestly." ".. Which I could answer for a blood price, of course." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

",m." They seemed to stiffen up when the eyes swiveled to stare at them, but they managed to look away without looking...too distressed. "Ah, sound powers, huh? I...think I've heard of someone with those before." Ha. Heard. "Blood and sound powers. An interesting mix." "I vaguely know sign," they said, "but not much. Just enough to carry a conversation, though." Not that they were going to hold the bowl in one hand. He really didn't want to drop this bowl. Missing finger? Ace's gaze drifted to the missing finger in question, but didn't say anything else regarding the matter. "...Of course it's at a blood price," they slowly said. "What...do you mean. If you want me to pry more about you and Naiyta's...escapades, I'm sorry to say that I have no interest in any of that." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

The eyes kept staring, regardless of if Ace was looking. And yes, Roman was in fact missing his left ring finger, though it was harder to tell with his new hand wraps. "Oh, you can't really think I was entirely honest out there, when there are prying eyes and ears everywhere.." Roman hummed. "I figured you'd be a bit more curious about what is actually happening here." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Mm. I wouldn't know," they said. "In the little time I knew you, I wouldn't have been too surprised if you did start fancying Naiyta. I'm not one to judge, of course." If he was being entirely honest, he had no way of trusting Roman especially when in this place. Quiet, isolated, no clear way of getting in or out- If anything, this felt just like when they were dragged in to compete in this place. (And even if he did. How the hell would he actually know?) "What exactly are you getting at?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oh, I do like Naiyta. I.. Can empathize with them a lot. I want to help them, and helping them will get us out." Roman said. "I know the game Naiyta and Albanes are playing. And me and Naiyta have a plan on how we're going to win, and get all of you guys out of here. If you'd like to hear it." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"A game." That made sense coming from the Lifebringer. "And Naiyta...wants to help get us contestants out of here, even while we're being lead to the slaughter? I'm sorry, but I'm very doubtful about that," Ace frowned. 'Me and Naiyta' certainly was not a very good sign. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Ah ah ah, no more info until Romeo here can get some blood~, or you can back out an learn nothin." Roman grinned. "Your choice. That was just the teaser." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Another squint. "Does giving you more of my blood mean you can do that thing easier?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mmm, not really. That twenty seconds I do kinda maxes out my ability right now. Roque on the other hand, yes, every drop of blood she got out of you counted." Roman said. "But I won't control you unless there's very good reason, I was just messing around before." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

That was twenty seconds? It felt like minutes. "Well, I'm glad I'm talking to you, rather than Roque," Ace sighed, verrry carefully setting the bowl down on the table. "Mm. No offense, Miss Roque." "If the amount of blood you take from me doesn't affect anything about your powers- or mine- then I see no issue with letting you take some more." There was a very low chance of risk here. Either he learned something valuable from Roman or he didn't, but that was essentially it. "What are these 'very good reasons'?" he asked. "If you're worried about me either hurting you, I have no interest in it." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman was getting visibly more and more excited as Ace was agreeing. He stepped up closer to him. "Oh, yes, those silly reasons.. It would all be self defense." Roman hummed. "And also, just so you know, anything I tell you down here that even has a hint of confidentiality, you need to keep quiet about, unless we're here. If Naiyta finds out information is slipping, it has to be coming from me, and it'll have both our heads. There's people looking and listening everywhere, this is the only safe place besides your own head." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Mm. Then we have nothing to worry about," Ace said, slightly relieved that Roman didn't add Naiyta to the people to keep safe list. Though, they were looking a biiit more worried now that Roman was getting closer to him. "Ah." Oh, boy. Good lord. "Right. Fortunately, I don't talk to many people here. Or much, really," they assured. "You have my word. I won't mention anything that weve discussed here." He already knew how intimidating Kairas could be with her allsight. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Good, now pick a spot you'd like me to bite, and we can keep moving on." Roman said and licked his teeth. "Same spot or different one, I don't really care." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Won't I need to get this healed up?" he asked, a bit wary. "Who am I supposed to go to? Not Naiyta, certainly. I...went to them last time to get your bite healed." Eeugh. The thought of that was awful. "I'm certain they know you were the one who did that." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I don't think them knowing I bit you will be a big deal, they know I hunger for things deeper than food. It doesn't have to mean anything deeper. You could also talk to Albanes if you want to avoid Naiyta, but the bite's pretty small if I put it in a spot that's usually covered.. No one would see it." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Hm. That's reasonable," Ace sighed, starting to roll up their sleeve again. "Ah, perhaps somewhere a bit higher than before. If it becomes too bothersome I could find Albanes to heal it, but it hopefully shouldn't be an issue." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman licked his teeth again as Ace revealed his arm. "Of course, anywhere you'd like." Roman said and gently placed his hand on the lower part of Ace's arm. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Eefffhg. This was going to be very uncomfortable again. At least he wasn't being too freaky about all of this, "Right," Ace said, bracing his free hand against his knee. "A little higher above the bicep, then. I'm, ah, ready whenever you are." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman moved his hands up to brace around that area on his bicep and clamped down. He sucked and sucked and sucked- but at least this time he didn't stare at Ace the whole time. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Mmmhm. Just normal blood sucking time. Ace seemed to be doing a bit better than before though. Maybe it was because Roman wasn't staring the whole time, or because he'd already done it once before? Either way, he seemed fine. (Or maybe it was because he hadn't used his powers, so he didn't feel all loopy and tired. Huh. More to think about.) @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman drank up until he had his fill and pulled away. Some spit and blood connected the two of them before Roman wiped his mouth off and took a step back. "Mm- you taste different when you're not all glowy." He hummed. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

When Roman finally finished, Ace rolled down their sleeve and pressed it up against the bite mark. "Mmm. Really?" he asked, sound a bit intrigued. A bit tired as well, yes, but more intrigued than anything. "What exactly do I, ah, taste like? With and without my 'glowiness'." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Hmmm." Roman hummed and wiped away some of the blood off on his hand, then licked it off like brownie batter from the mixing spoon. "The glowy tastes like a super carbonated drink like- burning your mouth. And bitter. And your blood now tastes... mm... Mostly normal. But a bit eggy.. Not bad, overall." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"...Huh." ...Was fizzy a good word to describe his blood? Probabl- "Mm- and- and eggy, you said?" (Hm. Maybe eating messed up century eggs every day for a week wasn't a good idea.) "That's...very interesting," they murmured. He drank blood and now he was having his blood drank. And examined- honestly, it was very interesting, blood-removal method aside. "I- could you- did you taste my mana in any way? When it was...fizzy, that is. I don't think my mana would be present in my normal...blood." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I dunno what mana tastes like, is it fizzy? And bitter? That was the main difference.." Roman said. He clicked his tongue a few times to get out any blood stuck in his teeth. "Overall you seem pretty healthy, not that it really matters. No diseases or anything to worry about." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"I...sort of?" Hm. It was hard to describe mana in...blood form. "Ah, it's basically how magic...manifests in a person. It's been reported that mana- or, well...whatever form it takes can taste different to others. Such as a person with water powers having mana that tastes slightly acidic- or flowery. Though...I guess the...bitterness was part of mine?" Did it change again? He'd have to pester Ellie to find out. They left it at that, nodding along when Roman reported his findings. Disease free, hell yeah. "Mm, I figured," Ace hummed. "Ah, thank you for telling me, though. It's...helpful?" Now he knew what his blood tasted like. To normal people, it'd probably still taste like regular blood. "Now. I gave you my blood, and you had your fill. So it's your turn to fulfil your part of the bargain- Unless you're going to say that my blood was for that information." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Well, I could be mean and say that was the information.. But I'm not, so I'll answer your little questions." Roman chuckled. "So what do you want to know?" @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Ah, the blood dimension! What more could be said about it.. This one was much smaller than the last, and as Reagan fell in, the liquid only went up to their mid-calf. Roman landed beside them shortly after. The ceiling here was hardly taller than Reagan right at the center, and tapered off in a dome shape from there. All the wall was cardiac muscle, which pulsed at the same rate as a giant heartbeat. It was also pretty warm... Gross. Of the random stuff scattered around the blood, there was a short table and chair set. It honestly looked like maybe a kid's set. The table had a bunch of blankets and pillows on it, which Roman unceremoniously shoved off in to the blood. "Sorry about all that, wasn't sure if Naiyta was watching or not. I'm not here to hurt you." Roman sighed in relief and plopped down in one of the chairs. "Sit, sit. I just wanna talk, really." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

( @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs could you pin this for easy ref)

"Mm. How many questions do I get to ask?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Three. Ask away. And I promise to be truthful." Roman chuckled. Something about that was funny, only to him. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Hm. Three. Ace was silent for a good moment, lightly drumming his fingers against his arm. The bite mark seemed to have stopped it's bleeding. That was good. Mm. But he only had two questions in mind. "You mentioned this...game that the Lifebringer is playing," he slowly said. "What is it." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Well, maybe game was a bad name for it. It's more like- hm. Albanes and Naiyta have opposite goals, so they're kind of fighting." "Albanes did something to the Fold, which is where the losers go but is overall a place for dead people in this religion, and Naiyta needs to fix something about it. They're not the current Lifebringer though, so they don't have any power. They're killing us to try to get in and fix whatever the issue is, then they promised that they'd let all of us go." "That's all they want. I'm guessing Albanes just wants to keep it the same there, but I don't really know her goals. I don't speak with her." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"I...see," Ace quietly said, a bit overwhelmed with all of this information. Huh. "I. Hm. Give me a minute." The Fold Or, well, the Immaterial Fold, as Naiyta would call it. So that was what they meant back at the gala. It...also answered a few questions about the Lifebringer- namely that despite both incarnations being present, only one had all the power, and why Naiyta seemed so cagey about, well. Everything. Even still. Trusting Naiyta (and Albanes, eh). With their lives was still a bit of a stretch. "I...didn't speak much with Albanes, either," he finally said. "Though, I did know that she brought a ghost...here? A ghost up in the Acropolis, I'm not sure if you'd seen her." "And you're certain that after this...Fold gets repaired, that Naiyta would let everyone go?" he asked, look hardening. "What motive do they have to let everyone return home after all of this senseless murder?" Mm. Calling it senseless was a bit too harsh, maybe. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"You might have more luck with Albanes than I do- she won't trust me, it's pretty clear I'm on Naiyta's side in all this." Roman said and sat down in one of the short chairs at the tiny table. "But a ghost you say? No, I haven't seen any ghosts there- besides maybe in that weird gross hallway.. eugh." Roman shuddered. "Naiyta doesn't have much of a reason to keep you all after their plan is completed. After all, it has me, I'm not sure why it would want to kill everyone else for no reason. It's not a heartless monster." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Ace did not sit at the table, on behalf of would feel very uncomfortable, and remained standing. "Hm. I don't think it'd be wise of me to try...buddying up with the Lifebringer," he sighed. "But yes, a ghost- ah, right in the center of the temple with this...rotting, melted chest and this darkness. Ah- gross hallway?" "Wait- scratch that. That wasn't my question," they quickly said, before sighing again. This entire situation was just...very hard to wrap their head around. "You...have a lot of faith in Naiyta," they murmured, though it held no malice in it. "A lot." "How are the deceased to know what to do? What makes it so certain that they're willing to help after, well- dying at it's hands?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs pinned a message to this channel. 7/27/2024 7:55 PM

"Nope, I haven't seen that ghost." Roman shrugged. "And yes, I am very close with Naiyta.. I trust them almost entirely." "And.. I honestly don't know how to answer that question, if you're talking about the people that are already dead. Naiyta is killing people by putting its hand on them so he can try to follow their souls as they get put in the fold- can I say Folded? Too soon? But yeah, I don't know exactly what it's doing if it gets in. Or what happens with the people that already got folded." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Mmm," is all Ace said in response. Trust, huh. "Well...I...m. I can't stop you from saying Folded," Ace sighed, shrugging as well. "I always did find it a bit...interesting? Why it chose to essentially put people to sleep, rather than letting the bloodshed continue. Though, tracking them into the Fold does...make sense." "...I know you've already answered my questions, but I have just one more. You don't need to answer truthfully." "Do you truly think that we will all get out of here?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Wow, not going to ask about our plan? Well, suit yourself." Roman chuckled. There were a few specifics he definitely hadn't brought up, including how he was involved. "And.. I believe all of you that are still alive after that final death where Naiyta can get what it wants will go home. Truthfully." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"I." Hm. "Is...it too late to offer another bite of blood." What is the Final Death. Hello. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. You have more questions?" Roman asked. "I think I've got plenty from you- I crave variety over anything else.." "But I think I can make you a deal." Roman said and stood back up. He stepped toward Ace again. "Have you talked to Darcy? The guy who's missing his glasses?" @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Well. Yes, many more, considering that 'Final Death' you decided to mention," Ace said, squinting. "And your 'plan'." "But, yes. I've talked to Darcy before. Linguistics professor, yes?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mhm." Roman smiled and put his hands on his hips. "I want Darcy's blood. It's so tempting- it just- it's strange in him. I've never smelled anything like it.. I do have a deal set up with him for if I can get his glasses, buuuuuut I'd like to avoid asking Naiyta for too much." "If you think Darcy can be trusted, get him to come down here with you, and lend me some blood, and we can all talk. That's what I want." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

1

"As in the blood isn't his, or something?" Ace asked, before continuing, "But, ah, I could ask Darcy. However, we'd only spoken once, and that was at the very start of this...tournament. I do think his knowledge would be very invaluable." "If I remember...he said he had a plan for us to escape this, too," he said, voice a bit quieter. It wasn't like anyone could hear, or anything. "I'd seen him sitting next to Asha before she fought- the young woman who lost her fight -and I'm almost certain that they were working on some sort of escape plan." "I'm not sure if I could trust him fully, but I can...talk to him a bit more, if that's what you want?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oh, I'm pretty sure it's his, but it's still weird." Roman said. "And full offense, if his plan was working with Asha, it wasn't going to go anywhere. She's not the brightest, and now she's dead, so.." Roman rolled his eyes. "But yes, bring Darcy somewhere and I'll get him down here. Don't tell him why you're coming- I don't know if he can be trusted yet with this information. He doesn't really like me." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Well, Ace didn't know Asha all too much, but they seemed to scrunch their nose at that. "Well, dead, but in the Fold, so...not dead-dead?" "You could have led with the fact that Darcy doesn't particularly like you," they said, without any real heat to it. "So- so you want me to bring him somewhere isolated and you'll drag him down here? Have you forgotten that Kairas has her eyes everywhere? She'll see the three of us together." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oh, yes I'm aware. I just don't think Darcy would willingly come down here. He would have to be tricked- but he's going to want to know what I have to say once he's down here." "And if Kairas asks me what I was doing with you two.. Well, I can just say I was hungry. Darcy won't be leaving here without giving me that blood." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Kidnapping was...not on my roster for this tournament. But, ah, the more trustworthy people here, the better." "I'll get you Darcy...somehow. Where would you want me to bring him?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Hmmm.." Roman hummed again. "How about right where we dropped from, after lunch? I'll come by a bit earlier and camp out down here.. Then open the portal after I'm sure you'll be around. I can't see anything happening when the portal is closed, so I'll just make my best guess." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Right, that could work. I doubt anyone else would be in the arena for training," Ace hummed. "I'll find Darcy and bring him by around then. I'm...sure it wouldn't take too long." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Great, I'll see you then.. I need to go eat lunch." Roman smiled. "You ready to get going? When I open up the portal you should act like I just finished biting you, that would lead to less questions from anyone who saw." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"What an appetizer my blood was," Ace said, lifting their sleeve to look at the bite. All good. "We can get going, yes. I think I can...make it look convincing enough." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Good. I'll see you and Darcy later then." Roman smiled and put his hand over his mouth. "Ready?" @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"

" Gods alive. Ace grimaced a bit and tried to shake Roman off, before eventually relenting. They gave him a very sad thumbs up in response. It wasn't like they could really say anything about it. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Good boy. Thank you." Roman smiled and took his hand away. "Now hold on to your arm like you're hurting." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Ace was thoroughly confused, but did so nonetheless. "I- huh?? Don't call me that," he sputtered. "What was that for?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman just smiled in response, and moved his hands up. An entrance opened above them, and the blood beneath them began to rise up toward it. As soon as the portal was open above them, Roman began to lick his own fingers off, like he was savoring every last drop of blood from Ace.. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

(Can Ace just step out? Should I do a little bit back in the #arena?) @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

(Ye they can go back to the arena @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 (

As the ground beneath them begins to rise, and the portal opens up above them, Ace presses their nails into the bite mark. A low hiss of pain escapes them- hopefully that should be enough...?

... As Darcy and Ace fell, they were thankfully saved from splashing in to the pit of blood. The bloody arms held Darcy up by the foot upside down, and Ace by his arm right side up. "Welcome!" Roman smiled widely as the portal closed above them. There was something a bit off with him as well.. Something a bit more wild in his expression. Maybe knowing his next meal was right in front of him was that exciting. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Well, this certainly wasn't putting Darcy's nerves at ease. He scanned the pulsating, bloody room wildly, trying to fight off the disorientation of being held upside down in addition to his exhaustion, until his sight found Roman- Roman, gawking at him with that horrible, hungry smile. "Disastro!" He shouted, though it was more of a scream. A white star formed over Roman's head, and rained fire on him for only a few seconds before burning itself into nothing. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

As they fell, he braced himself to splash down into that disgusting blood again- but instead felt a sharp yank at his arm. Ow. Better than the alternative. It took Ace a moment to adjust to the blood pit again, and Roman's very...unsettling expression- though once they did, their ears were blown out by a sharp scream. Disastro. Then there was a star, and fire, and man. Naiyta would not be happy. "Woah, hey," Ace exclaimed, kicking his legs as he tried to claw his way out of the hand's grip. "Careful! There are a select few things I can mend, and burn holes are not one of them!" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman didn't look away from Darcy until the fire began to rain down on to him. The moment the fire touched him, he screamed out and collapsed to the floor, quickly trying to pat out any flames on him. A few small burn holes got on to the shoulders of his outfit, but he could hardly even think about the consequences of that right now. Once the flames were out, he placed his hands tightly on the sides of his head and took in some deep breaths. The bloody arms holding up Darcy and Ace shuddered before falling in to the rest of the blood pit and letting them fall in. The entire room was trembling along with him, and possibly shrinking in on them.. Uh oh. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy hit the wet pit of the floor with a heavy grunt, but quickly pulled himself into a sitting position. He might've noticed the shrinking of the room, but there were other things on his mind. "What the fuck is this? Let me out, you filho da puta! You djävel! Fan ta dig! Чтоб тебе дети в суп срали! Vaffanculo! 仆街! Кон да ти го натрес!" Roman might understand a fraction of that, but it was clear by his tone that Darcy was cursing him out. "Let me out! Let me go!" @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 (im not bothering with translations these are all just various curses and not particularly creative ones)

Ace groaned as he fell to the wet, soggy, bloody floor of the pit for the second time that day. "aiiiiya," he hissed, slowly pushing himself to his feet. Was it just him, or did the walls seem particularly closer now? Oh, yeah, no. They were definitely closing in on them. And now, in this tiny, steadily shrinking flesh pit, two people were panicking. "Shit." Guh. It went downhill very, very quickly. Ace sloshed through the blood to get to Roman, and dropped to his knees in front of him. "Roman, hey," he quietly said, lightly grasping him by the shoulders. He took care to avoid the singed parts of his clothing. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?" His voice remained even throughout this entire...thing. Though it was evident that he was starting to freak out a bit too. "Did you get burnt or anything?" Mm. Darcy was still shouting. This spiraled quick. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman understood none of what Darcy was rattling on about. But the screaming in combination with the burning- it was not helping. "B-burning-" Roman said quietly. The room was getting small enough to the point where it was beginning to push the small table toward the center as well. He moved his hands off of his head and gripped on to Ace's. "H-help me- Remoul-" Roman stuttered a bit. "T-tell me where I am." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"What's going on?" Darcy demanded, moving closer to Roman and Ace (partially against his will. "Tell me what's going on! Tell me what you brought me here for!" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Ow. Ow. Ow. That guy had grip. Like a lot of grip strength. Ace winced a bit at the sudden. Everythingness. "I- er- it's a bit of a long story," Ace quickly told Darcy, an apologetic look on his face. "I- we can talk once this room stops shrinking- ow." "B-burning?" he quietly repeated, turning back to Roman. "You- ack. You are inside your blood dimension right now. It's...shrinking. A-around us. There's, ah, three of us. In here." Four?? Did the eyes count? "You're going to be fine, alright?" Ace asked, squeezing Roman's hands just a bit. "We can stop the burning. We can get you patched up, alright?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

As Darcy got closer and kept yelling, Roman's grip tightened ever so slightly. But he kept trying to control his breathing, and the room stopped sinking in. "O-okay- I just- need a minute.. Pl-please stop yelling, for all our sakes.." Roman mumbled. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy stopped yelling, though he clearly was still angry. "Tell me what's going on here." He demanded. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Yeah- take a minute," Ace said, a bit relieved that the room stopped caving in on them. "Or- or more. We'll be here, alright?" Thankfully, Darcy seemed to settle down a bit too. Ace looked up at him with a wince. "This ...is...Roman's blood dimension," Ace slowly explained, trying to get his own breathing under control. "It...forms, well, from his blood daggers- drumsticks- and can essentially create a smaller pocket dimension that reflects his powers. Also technically a vat of blood? It stores things." "This place is also very...well hidden and secure from any outsiders- such as Kairas, with her all sight, and, well. Well, the Lifebringer. Roman had some. Rather important information to share, but I only learned a portion of it after giving him my blood." Ace looked a bit more guilty as he spoke, gaze shifting elsewhere. "...He said that if I got you here so he could. Taste your blood. He'd provide us both some more. Khm. Information." "..Sorry." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Overall, a pretty solid explanation from Ace. Roman nodded along as he spoke, and took in a deep breath before saying anything after. "Yes, Naiyta and I are very close.. So they've let me know a lot of things no one else knows. I figured you'd want to know." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Even as Roman spoke, Darcy didn't take his eyes off of Ace. His anger and frustration slowly broke into a grief-filled betrayal. "You- you used me as a bargaining chip?" His voice broke. "I trusted you! I considered you a friend, and- and you-" Logically, he should be acknowledging the rest of what Ace and Roman said. The potential to learn more about Naiyta, potentially get out of here- but he can't get over being used in such a way. His eyes begin to well up with tears, but he doesn't allow himself the weakness to cry yet. "You backstabber." He spat at Ace. "You didn't even tell me before taking me here!" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Ace's face fell completely, and he released Roman's hands to start to stand. "I...mm. When you put it that way, it certainly does...ah, I did use you to bargain with." (Friends? They were friends? He didn't even know they were friends- This made things ten times worse. He thought of them as a friend. And they- they just. Fuck.) "I'm very sorry, Darcy," Ace quietly said, brows furrowed deeply together. The guilt was eating him alive. "I...shouldn't have brought you here." Backstabber. He winced, but said nothing else. Mm. That was pretty much what he did. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman reached toward Ace as he moved back, but as he got too far away, he wrapped his arms around himself. He felt a little bad, but he didn't know that Ace and Darcy were actually friends. And he still felt hungry. "I told him not to tell you." Roman said quietly. "I knew you wouldn't come, and he couldn't tell you why or else you might snitch." "And I'm sorry, but I don't intend on letting you leave without that blood. So it'd be best that you take what you can get from me. Naiyta is already going to be furious, you ruined their clothes.." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy closed his eyes, and took in a few breaths to stabilize himself. "Fine. Just get it over with. Then let me go." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Ace took a step back from the two for them to do their own thing, quietly fixing their appearance. There wasn't anything he could say to really fix this. Hm. He thought they were friends. "...You're telling Naiyta about the burns?" he asked after a moment, gaze shifting from Darcy to Roman. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Roman slowly pushed himself off, and the blood unnaturally dripped off of him and back in to the pit. "Well, the second I leave this place, Kairas will see that I'm injured. I can't heal myself." Roman said. "Not to mention, there's burn marks on my clothes. Naiyta was very specific about not messing them up at all.." "But I do have a bit of a plan. To stop you from getting punished, Darcy." He smiled again. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy's brow furrowed. "What sort of plan?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Well, my master is quite favorable toward fire, and I've been trying to.. Build a tolerance, so to say, so perhaps I dragged you down here for some training that just got out of hand. I'm sure we'll still be a little in trouble, but.. Maybe less so." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Ace, while not actively engaged in this conversation, seemed to look a bit. Worried? Concerned? Confused? More like

.

"That- okay. Whatever. We can say that." There were weirder things he could've been framed in. He shifted his posture. "Can we get on with the blood drinking now? I want to get it over with." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"You don't want to set up any rules ahead of time? So I can't screw you over?" Roman asked and moved his tongue over his teeth. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy considered for a moment. "Don't even imply to Naiyta that I did anything sexual for or with you." He said. "Just that I helped you build some tolerance to fire." "As for the blood..." He moved up his sleeve to bare his arm and shoulder, and pointed to a spot on his upper arm. "Here. So I can hide the bite mark with my sleeve. And- ugh. Don't make it too weird." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Well, Darcy got him there.. He was going to say they fucked nasty.. And also Ace was there. "Alright, I won't say that." Roman sighed and stepped up to Darcy. "And you and Acey will match! That's where he wanted to get bit too." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

1

Darcy nodded, and didn't move away as Roman approached him. He closed his eyes. "I'm ready." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman stared at him as well as he gripped on to his arm. He kept the sleeve up, and applied some pressure above the site. He sunk his teeth down in to his arm and began to suck the blood out, maintaining eye contact with him the whole time.. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Well, Darcy kept his eyes firmly shut the entire time, so there wasn't much eye contact to be made. Darcy's blood was.... strange. It was metallic both in taste and in color- as if someone had mixed the silvery powder that coated his arms with a normal person's blood. It was dark and desaturated, but very shiny, with a slightly silty consistency (another factory supporting the 'mixed-in silver dust' theory.) But all those physical attributes would be normal compared to the taste. Darcy's blood tasted fake. It didn't taste like fake blood- contrary, the first thing Roman might think upon tasting it was how much it tasted like blood- but there was something distinctly off. It was fake- a falsification, a lie, a representation of something else, something more real. Something that Darcy was not. It also had a distinctly inky aftertaste. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman sucked for about five seconds, before his expression soured. He kept going, but by the twenty second mark, his face was entirely marred by disgust. He instantly detached from Darcy and coughed out a few drops of the blood in to the pit. He fell to his knees, lower face covered in that sparkly silver liquid. "Ough- ugh- that was gross.. Something is wrong with you, man." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Ace, who wasn't exactly looking when Roman began drinking Darcy's blood, certainly was now. He looked...very. Very confused. "...is that glittery?" he asked. Somehow the silver blood...? Looked much more off putting than regular blood. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy had been expecting some kind of reaction to his blood, disgusted or otherwise. This was probably the preferable course. He tucked his sleeve over his wounded shoulder. "I know." He replied to Roman. "It is." He said in reply to Ace, though his brow was furrowed in shame and worry. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman moved his hand over his face, and nothing happened. So he did it again. "What-" Roman mumbled and moved his hand over the blood pit. The regular, red blood moved and warped around it. "What- that wasn't blood- or it's just- so far off from normal I can't even use my powers on it.." Roman huffed. "What are you??" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Ace wasn't exactly an expert on blood or anything, but by the way Roman was reacting, it...mm, yeah, that wasn't blood. "...maybe it's related to his powers...?" Ace offered, though he didn't seem too confident in his suggestion. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Darcy wrapped his arms around his body. "It's, uh, probably because I'm not actually a real person. Stands to reason I would have not real blood." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Wait- repeat that- you're not a real person?" Roman asked loudly. He moved his hands over his stomach.. Eugh, he felt weird.. He had an insane metabolism for blood, but this... It might not even be blood. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Well- uh- no, I'm not." Darcy's voice was cracking. "I'm a construct, a character, a- a representation of what a person is meant to be. Someone wrote down everything that was ever going to make me, well, me, and brought it to life. I'm not real, I'm- the product of some very powerful magic and a bunch of very specific words." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"So, you're a bit more like a homunculus?" Ace asked, tilting his head to the side. "Or- mm. Perhaps not that term. A synthetic human?" Darcy seemed to be worrying, and Roman seemed to be...sick. Unsurprisingly, Ace was just a little stunned- but curious as ever. Now probably wasn't the best time to interrogate him. "...Is this part of your language magic?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I- guess so? I don't think there's an actual term for what I am. I think I'm the only one to ever exist- or, at least, the only one to reach adulthood." He looked like he was going to crumple into a little ball on the floor. "But- uh- that's why my blood's... like that." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Well, this sure was strange. Darcy really was spilling his guts out here- and for what? Roman didn't have a lot of time to think about it before he doubled over and coughed out a few mouth fulls of blood, as well as whatever else he had eaten for lunch. It all disappeared in to the blood vat. "Eugh- UCK- it's so gross.." Roman groaned and moved his hands back to his stomach. "Why- why were you made at all? Not in like an offensive way it just- sounds more complicated than the usual method of making a kid.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"I...oh. I see." Ace frowned a bit, trying to find the best way to...carefully go about this. They were still very intrigued by all of this- though, Darcy was starting to look more and more sick with each bit of information. "I...Darcy, are you feeling we-" Euudfgh. Splashing. Blood. Vat. Food? Ace quickly stepped back as Roman coughed and hacked up his lungs, unsure of who to reassure. Or how. He decided to just...set his hand on Roman's back. (He wasn't really sure if Darcy would want him of all people to touch him right now.) "...The two of you need to take a breather," Ace said, wincing. "You both look like you're about to keel over." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Darcy seemed to have reached his limit on intensely private questions about himself, anyways. He closed his eyes as Roman vomited, and didn't open them even when we was addressed again. "Let me out." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman took in a few more deep but gagging breaths before moving his hair out of his face. "What? You don't even want to learn anything?" Roman asked. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"I think Darcy just wants to get out of here," Ace said, awkwardly patting Roman on the back. Talking about your...wildly worrying past after you essentially got kidnapped probably wasn't doing him any good. "Though I will say, this information does pertain to the deceased," they added, a bit of a serious look on their face. "And of ending this tournament early." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I don't-" Darcy considered his options. He shifted uncomfortably. "Fine. Tell me. But make it quick. I don't want to play any games or waste any more time. Especially not with you two." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

used /r

# 5
Details:[d20-1 (6)]

@Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 (def no damage)

Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

used /r

# 12
Details:[d20-2 (14)]

@Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Ace would feel a little twitch go through him- like when Roman had made him shoot that arrow. When nothing further happened, he spared a sideways glance at Ace. "Well, I don't want to play games either. Do you want to hear about the way to end this first?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

It was very reasonable for Darcy to be upset with them, but they wouldn't lie and say it didn't hurt. "We won't pull any other stunts," he said. "At least, I won't." He wasn't too certain if Darcy would want to trust them now, or if Roman would pull anyth- Ack. Ace winced a bit and stopped trying to soothe Roman, flexing his hand a little bit. "...Stop that," he flatly said, squinting down at him. "But yes. That would be appreciated." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

1:32 PM

(What in gods name is Roman plotting)

"Sure. Fine." Darcy crossed his arms, and kept his firm gaze on Roman. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

used /r

# 19
Details:[d20-1 (20)]

(YES)

6:42 PM

@Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 def no damage

(LORDDDD)

Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

used /r

# 4
Details:[d20-2 (6)]

@Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 (faceinhhands)

"So, me and Naiyta-" Roman said, before he was cut off by Ace screaming and flinging his hands on to his head like he was suddenly having an awful splitting migraine. "Crap this was supposed to last longer-" Unseen by Darcy since the other man had already been staring down at Roman, Ace's pupils had gone white. And the headache didn't actually exist- in fact, a slight calm feeling was washed over him. His body would feel numb, mostly. Like he was floating in a pool of water. "H-how dare you!" Ace yelled out, still gripping on to the sides of his head. "Shut up, I just need a few more minutes-" Roman hissed and reached his hand out toward Ace. Ace took one hand off of his head and slapped it away. "No! Stop trying to- to- control me!" Ace protested as his breathing increased. He still didn't look up at Darcy. "Darcy- I'm sorry- I never would have taken you here against your will. He's behind it. He's controlling me." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

At the sound of the screaming, Ace immediately flinched- or, well, try to at least. Were the walls screaming? Could they do that? They tried to blink as their vision swirled, and failed. The screaming persisted- Ah. The one screaming was him. Ace listened, numb, as he continued to scream and shout. The same thing was happening again; limbs moving with motions that were not their own, voice working with words that were not their own- Oh, Nuwa, he was talking? He was talking now. (Roman said that he wouldn't do that again.) They were just barely able to process whatever he- Roman? They? Were saying. Despite how confused and terrified they were, all they could feel was just this- this peace, however unusual it was. It felt right. It felt normal. (Huh. If Mister Borg survived that- that nindroid thing, then they would have too, right?) (Maybe he shouldn't have run. This felt calming. He wanted to scream.) They could do nothing but just watch as this- this thing unraveled, a soothing calm washing over them like a wave. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Wh- huh? What's going on?" Darcy's attention snapped to Ace as he suddenly screamed, then flitted back to Roman. "You can do that?" @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Ace was still conveniently staring down at the blood near Roman, but even if Darcy could see his eyes, he probably wouldn't have good enough vision to see the tiny detail. "Uh- yes.." Roman mumbled. "He was refusing to trick you to bring you down here so I may have.. Had to persuade him with force- but you need to know what I know, and this is the only place it could happen at." "That doesn't give you the right to control me!" Ace yelled back, and began to step over toward Darcy.. As he lifted his head up to look Darcy in the eye, Roman let go of his hold. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Mm. The peace was gone, and now every bad feeling hit full force. Before he would get even get enough to Darcy, Ace would sink to the ground like a puppet severed of his strings. The blood splashed everywhere- if it didn't soak into his robes before, it certainly did now. This was worse. Like, much worse than the first time he did it. They should have expected this. Why didn't they expect this? Something about force, control- it was kind of coming together, but not quite. Ace was silent, staring blankly into the blood as they began to quietly hyperventilate. They were a grown adult. They were not going to cry. It ached. It felt all itchy and it hurt, and now their chest was hurting like absolute hell. Ugh. They were not going to throw up here, either. Not when Roman just...did. Euugh. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy watched Ace fall, but said nothing. He studied their face for any sort of emotion or reaction. "... Ace? Is that true?" @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

(What was that feeling? That- that unusually normal sort of calm.) Darcy's voice barely managed to jostle them from that daze. Beneath the surface, shaking hands curled into fists, and he wheezed quietly through his teeth. He's talking to them. They have to respond. The first time was simple- drawing and firing an arrow. It certainly sucked, but at least they could actually feel some shred of emotion. Their own emotion, that was. But this time was different. It was worse. That seemingly natural calm still lingered, however awful it felt. "You promised you wouldn't do that again," Ace finally managed to get out, voice wobbling painfully. He lifted his head to look at Roman. "You- you promised you wouldn't." (If he were synthetic too, then maybe this wouldn't hurt as much. If he were inhuman too, then maybe he wouldn't care as much.) The look on his face was much different than the quiet, collected mask he usually wore. He stared, wide-eyed with fear, amber eyes barely a pinprick. Their hair, thanks to the ruffling, was a mess, and his glasses had been knocked askew. Unbeknownst to them, tears were already starting to trickle down their cheeks. They weren't in control of anything that just happened. Anything he had screamed, anything he had done, it wasn't him. Just Roman, puppeteering him around again. They weren't in control of anything they did- though, according to Roman, that included talking and training with Darcy.

9:09 PM

@Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

That didn't answer any of Darcy's questions.... He turned back to Roman. "Let us out. Now." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

So, they were back to us. Good! Roman was a hero, he saved their friendship! Even if he had to retraumaitze Ace. It's not like they were friends anyway. "Mmmm fine fine-" Roman sighed. "I was just trying to help you, you know. Your fight could be the last, if you help me out." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

And that was it. Everything was fine now. Roman did his- his thing, much to their despair, and now they had to play the part that Roman set up. Fuck. They'd have many words for him later. "Something...is wrong with the Fold," Ace mumbled, letting his head drop back down again. H.h. They didn't have it in them to keep looking up at them. "Naiyta is...trying. To repair. I-it." "'n so it's going to keep kil..killing us." Talking was good- got their breathing back in working order. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"And how do I know you're not just lying?" Darcy challenged. "For all I know, you just pulled this entire stunt so you could get my blood." He shut up as Ace began to speak again- still not entirely trusting of his actions. "The fold. As in the immaterial fold? The afterlife? What's wrong with it?" He didn't know what could be messed up about an afterlife. Maybe the dead people were getting out or something. "How does killing us fix anything?" @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Well, I guess you can't be sure. But you can take my word for it, or stay confused. I genuinely think you two are capable of figuring this whole thing out. I can't do anything outside of here without Naiyta taking a bit too much interest in it.. And I'm already going to be in trouble for the clothes. I just need to get you two started." "But long story short, Albanes put something that's not supposed to be in there in to there, and Naiyta just wants to get it out. It's using our souls to try to get in- but Albanes Folds them too fast.." "And that's where you guys come in! In your fights you can knock down your opponent, don't kill them though, and I'm going to be the distraction for Albanes. To stop her from folding them too fast." "Naiyta did say that it needs to be in a fight where Reagan and Kairas participate, so if that's either of your fights, keep it in mind that yours may be the last." "Aaaaaaaand that's all I know, all I know that's helpful for ending the tournament anyway. Naiyta promised to send you guys home, with gratitude, after it fixes the Fold." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Ace was still pretty confused at all the information that Roman was giving, but it was an...okay distraction from that awful, gnawing feeling. "Hold on, Albanes is...also? 'Folding' them?" Ace quietly asked, squinting up at him. "What does that mean? Who is 'they'?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oh, Folding is my term for when someone gets put in the Fold. Like their souls and stuff." Roman said. "She takes their souls too fast, to where Naiyta can't keep up. So I'm going to distract her, so Naiyta has a chance to keep up with them- the souls." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy took all that in. "I- wow. Okay." He wasn't certain if helping Naiyta with their plans was the best idea, especially when they knew so little about what those plans were... but it wasn't like he had any better ideas. If Roman was telling the truth, they could save everyone else's lives. He could ignore his desire to see Peregrine dead for that. "Alright. I can't guarantee Kairas and Reagan would be participating in my fight- or anyone's, really- but I'll do what I can." His participation in this was actually quite minimal. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Mmm, yeah just keep that in mind in case they are participating. You wouldn't have to, but if it seems like they're going to try to go up and stop me, you trying to hold them back would also be appreciated. I'm sure Kairas is going to keep her eyes on me the whole time." Roman sighed. "Unfortunately, I don't think there's anything we can do for the people that are already dead, so hopefully this fight happens soon. To keep overall losses to a minimum." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"I see," Ace sighed, finally seated in some awkward kneel-sit position. "So we just need to keep an eye out for Kairas and Reagan during our fights." So there wasn't anything they could do for the deceased- though, Roman said that he could help with the contestants in their fights. (Mm. And he had yet to talk to Gale.) Naiyta helping was...a bit unsettling, but during his three questions, he seemed genuine about Naiyta. They weren't sure if that was because it was true, or if Roman just believed it so. "You want us to...distract them?" Ace asked. "I thought when Naiyta, ah. Kills the loser. Is when it can track them in. Is Albanes somehow getting to them before that?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy hadn't even expected they'd be able to bring back the already dead- and the thought left a sour taste in his mouth, anyways. "How are you planning to distract Albanes?" Darcy asked. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mmm, Albanes is too quick. By the time Naiyta finds the soul, it's already gone." Roman nodded. "And how am I planning on doing it..? Well, I think my method is something you two could guess.. Hehe." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Ace squinted at Roman, immediately fearing the worst. "...You don't have Albanes' blood, do you." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I don't, but, I'd love to get some.." He smiled. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Darcy just grimaced. "Eugh. Can we leave now? Or do you have more to tell us?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Well, his question about the final death was answered. The one with Reagan and Kairas, and then everything would...fall into place. Roman had a plan, at least. "I am. Not. We are not helping you get Albanes' blood," Ace winced. "I don't even think we could." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

All these we's, that was good! They were associating again. What a hero he was. "Oh, no, you won't have to help me. Naiyta is letting me in to the viewing area Albanes is in during fights.. So I'll just try to bite her as a distraction, and if it lands, extra benefit of blood! I doubt I'll be able to latch on long enough to get any control over her, but I'm more so curious about how she tastes.. I doubt Naiyta would let me try to bite them." "And yes, you're free to go.. Just say the magic words!" @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

What a silly thing to say to a guy with language powers. Darcy might've found it funny if he wasn't so pissed off. "Can you please let us go?" He was, for now, ignoring all the blood talk. But it was good to know that Roman could only control those whose blood he'd drank. Darcy wondered if enough stayed in his stomach to let Roman control him. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Good luck with all of that," Ace muttered. He didn't know much about Albanes, but, ehh. With what little they knew about the Lifebringer, it would be a scuffle. "Just...get us out of here." They seemed too tired and drained to really argue with Roman- or try to figure out any flaws in his plan. They just wanted to get out of this place. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Alright. Let's get going.. I have some explaining to get done with Naiyta, and I'll try to get you off the hook as much as I can, Darcy." Roman nodded and held his hands out. Beneath the three of them, the blood turned solid and lifted them up. All the blood that had seeped in to their clothes dripped off incredibly quickly, and didn't even leave any stains. "Going up!" Roman lifted up his hands, and the platforms began to rise up to a new portal out in the arena.. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

the other half of saditrai gets blood dimension'd

acey in the blood dimension

darcy's nasty fake blood