MASKTOURN

On the main square's stage, a small area has been done up with cushions and curtains, creating a quieter, more private corner amidst the bustle of the party. It is here that the Nascent and Regnant Lifebringer reside, watching over the revelry.

Entering the fray, Ryu noticed she was one of the first ones here. Goddammit. It was like this last time too. Looks like he'd have to wait for more people to fill in. In the meantime, Ryu glanced around and spotted the familiar face of Albanes.. along with another person she didn't know. Ah, fuck it. Guess this was his chance to tell Albanes about her dead ghost wife. "Albanes! Yo!" Ryu greeted as she walked up to the stage. Even with the mask, who the person was behind it was obvious. "Who's this pale fella next to you? I don't think you've introduced me yet." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Albanes and Naiyta were sitting together on the stage, and were having a tense-looking discussion, but hushed as Ryu approached. "Good evening, Ryu. Welcome to the feast." Albanes greeted. She gestured to Naiyta, who was watching Ryu curiously. "This is my predecessor, Naiyta Hauryan. The Nascent Lifebringer." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Predecessor? Yall Lifebringers just hop around, huh?" Ryu commented with a lighthearted laugh. "Nice to meet ya. I'm Ryu, but I'm sure since you guys kidnapped us, you already know that. Anyway, hey, listen to this, Albanes. You would not believe who I ran into at the temple," Ryu rambled. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I hope you've been enjoying my Citadel." Naiyta hummed. "Nice to meet you." Albanes's brow furrowed. "I... think I know what you're talking about." Naiyta looked curiously between the two, but didn't say anything. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu raised a brow. "You already know? Awh, man. And here I thought I was gonna tell you the best news of your life," she feigned a pout. "Well, in case we're talking about two different things, I'll tell you anyways—I saw the slime girl there. Though, she was.. different. More dead, decaying.. kinda on the meaner side too. Did you guys get divorced or something in this world? She was not happy to hear you were the Lifebringer." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"She... died before I became the Lifebringer. Whatever remains of her, here... mhm. She might not be the most aware of what happened to me." Albanes sighed. "I've been aware of her presence here for a while. But she's not supposed to be here." "Is that so?" Naiyta asked, challenging. "And what will you do when you find her, dear child?" "Naiyta..." Albanes sighed, but didn't say anything else. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu glanced between the Lifebringers, making note of their seemingly, unfriendly relationship. "Not supposed to be here..? Well, that's kinda a relief. Your old man in my world was doing everything he could to bring back his dead wife, trapping her soul on his island... but if you're not wanting her here, maybe there's a different reason why she's stuck in the temple," Ryu shrugged. "So.. you haven't seen the slime girl yourself yet, Albanes?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"This place isn't meant for mortal souls to exist in for... that long of a time." Albanes sighed. "Especially not... disembodied ones." "I haven't been able to find her. I know she's here, but... I think she's been trying to avoid me." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu blinked. "Hey wait. Go back. That's some pretty crucial information you just casually dropped," Ryu huffed. "We can't stay here for long? How long can we exist here without getting hurt?" She asked with a frown. "And believe me, she's looking for you. She kept on asking for the Lifebringer." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh- it's years before you'll start to be affected. You won't be staying here for that long, even if you win." Albanes clarified. "But on a longer scale... it's difficult for your souls to acclimate without radical change." "Hm. That's upsetting. I've been here a while, and I haven't been able to find her. Only the other one..." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Hm. Ryunoske had no other comment about the first half of their conversation, but the last bit of Albanes' reply caught her attention. "The other one..? You have more than one ghost haunting this place?" She asked. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Yes, there's-" A sharp gaze from Naiyta cut off Albanes from elaborating. "There's another around." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Hey, butt out of this, pale fella," Ryu said as she side-eyed Naiyta. "If there's another ghost roaming around, I'd like to know. This place is already stuffy enough. Does it really matter if I know about another spirit yall keep around?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Well, now you know. There's another ghost around." Naiyta replied. "I don't see why the conversation needs to progress past that. There's nothing more to say." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu rolled her eyes. "Are all the old blonde Lifebringers this unlikable?" She asked Albanes, choosing to ignore Naiyta from now on. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I... actually agree with Naiyta. There's not much more to be said about the topic." Albanes sighed. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Uh huh. Right," she simply replied. Looks like she'd have to talk to Albanes in private if she were to get anything out of the young Lifebringer. "Regardless, sludge girl is looking for you. Do her a favor and send her off, will ya? I'm getting tired of dead ghost wives following me around.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"When I find her, I will guide her to her rest. I can assure you of that." Albanes nodded. "Believe me, I want nothing more than for the dead to stay that way." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"I couldn't agree more," simply replied. She paused for a second before speaking again. "So like... did you guys get divorced in this world or-" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"No. We were.. pretty happily married, at least I thought so." Albanes sighed. "Did she seem... angry with me?" @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu hummed. "Well, when I told her you were the Lifebringer, she was quite upset. Something about a promise?" He shrugged. "I can't say much about you two in this world, but before you guys died in mine, you guys were able to overcome your difficulties to be together... if that gives you any solace." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"... I'd expect her to be upset about that." Albanes sighed, but didn't elaborate. "That's... nice to know, I suppose." She paused. "You knew Yeonaixho. A version of him. Is that right?" @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"What exactly did you two promise about? Was it about becoming the Lifebringer?" Ryu continued to probe. "And yes, I did. He was the Lifebringer hosting a tournament in my world. He was using it as a guise to steal our powers so he could revive his dead wife... who was also a ghost haunting the island. You guys are really similar, yknow?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I- it was a while ago." Albanes said dismissively, and committed fully to the change in discussion. "Mhm." She frowned, and it was unclear how she felt at being compared to Yeonaixho. "And the version of me you knew- what was his relationship with me like? Did you know?" @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Looks like Ryu wouldn't be getting much more out of Albanes about Madeline tonight. Perhaps she'd need to break the Lifebringer's barrier a bit more before that could happen. Very well. Ryu exhaled through her nose and rubbed the side of her head. "Your relationship? I told you already--You called him father. You got angry at me once because you thought I killed your dad," she replied. "...But I could also tell you were afraid of him. That he didn't treat you like his child, but rather... well, an object, I suppose. An extension of his items." Ryu wasn't going to sugarcoat things to Albanes, sorry. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Albanes only listened with a quiet, resigned acceptance- she didn't want a sugarcoated story, she wanted the truth. And it seemed the truth was... about what she had expected. "That does sound like him. And like me... a younger me. I believe you." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

She rested her hand onto her hip and shook his head. "I'm glad to hear you've matured over your hundred years or whatever. That man had an iron-clasped grip on you in my world and honestly, it infuriated me. I hope you killed him with your own hands in this one," Ryu nonchalantly commented. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Albanes laughed dryly. "It was something like that. He did end up dying because of me." She sighed. "Didn't feel good then, doesn't feel good now. But sometimes that's life." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"You make it sound like it wasn't you directly who killed him. I'm a bit disappointed, but at least he's dead. I'm sure there's a world out there where you get to kill him with your own hands," Ryu said with the most earnest of smiles. "After all, he took your heart and everything. He really didn't care about you at all." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm. I'm sure there is." Albanes said, in a tone that suggested she wasn't as fond of the idea herself. "He took my heart in your world, too?" @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

That made Ryu raise a brow. "'Too?'" She repeated. "How did he take your heart here?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I assume the same way he did in your world? Through a botched, illegal, unmediated surgery?" Albanes replied, and tugged a bit at her collar so Ryu could see her chest scar. "I have the scars to prove it." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu glanced at the scar, whistling. "Damn. Definitely botched and illegal. I've had my fair share," he chuckled. "My Albanes didn't really tell me much. Didn't have the time to be chummy, really. How exactly did you live long enough to get married and shit? The Albanes in my world was sorta freaking out about how she was going to leave Yeonaixho because of it." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (edited)

Albanes tugged her collar back up so it hid the scar once Ryu had seen it. "He made me the Lifebringer. That's enough to keep someone from dying for... a while." She sighed. "I presume something different happened to the me you knew. You don't have to answer if you don't know." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Hmm.. so being the Lifebringer extends your life some?" Ryu commented. "I don't really know what happened to my Albanes. One minute she and the slime girl are on the boat, then bam, no one sees them again. I think someone said they saw them fall overboard? But I'm not certain," he shrugged. "How exactly are you still alive if being the Lifebringer only keeps you alive for so long? Did you find some other method?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"It's- Not that simple. Being the Lifebringer allowed me to live without my heart, because I was being turned into a God." Albanes explained. "Now, I've completed that transformation entirely." "Mhm... that's unfortunate." She sighed. She didn't quite know what to think of this other version of her, and didn't have much to say. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu hummed once more. "Gods and their weird rules.." He grumbled. "So.. were you the Lifebringer even during your time with slime girl? Why would she be upset with you about being the God you already were?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"It really isn't any of your concern." Albanes sighed. "Please. I'd rather not talk about this right now." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

She folded her arms across his chest and gave Albanes a skeptical look. Even with the mask, Albanes would be able to feel the judging. "I don't think you're really one to decide what I am or am not concerned about.. but if you don't want to talk about it, fine," Ryu replied. He fell quiet as he stared up at Albanes before letting out a small sigh. "You know.. I really was rooting for you two back in my world. Madeline loved you with everything she had. I'm sure you did too. That you still do. I'm not sure why you're here now... but I would like the best for you," Ryu said, her tone genuinely honest for the first time. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Albanes was hesitant, and glanced over to Naiyta. "... Thank you. Really. I appreciate it." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu followed Albanes' gaze, narrowing her eyes at Naiyta before turning back to Albanes. "Let's talk again sometime, Albanes. If you'll join the crowd, I can offer ya a dance." Ryu slightly lifted her mask to wink at Albanes before making a step away from the stage. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta glared back. "Mhm. Alright. I'm not much of a dancer, I'll warn you now." Albanes said, her voice betraying the slightest hint of playfulness. "I'll see you later." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Don't worry. I'm a great teacher," Ryu replied with a small laugh before falling back into the crowd. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Walking slowly into the gala, Lacey kept tucking some of her hair behind her ear, mainly as an excuse to touch her great grandma's earrings to ensure they wete still properly in place. She had been offered a nicer, likely more expensive pair along with the other gold jewlery to wear, but she would never part from her earrings. They meant too much for her. She looked around, having took a quick tour to the other parts of the gala.

A child- here, of all places. Cowards. And he was such a sweet kid, too. He just wanted to go home. After sitting and talking with Evan for quite some time, Ace had left to explore the rest of this gala. One, to gauge the general...vibe of the place, and two, to scope out the other competitors. Most of them seemed to be gathered in the square, and they elected to...observe at a distance. Y'know. Normal things to do at a death tournament that absolutely do not look shifty. If Evan was invited accidentally, he wouldn't put it past Naiyta to invite teenagers instead. Ace peered up at the stage they'd passed by earlier when exploring, slowing to a halt as they squinted up behind their mask. Judging by the setup, it'd be wise to assume that's where the incarnations were. Were bite marks supposed to itch? Or was that their skin starting to crawl again? @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

About halfway through the gala, Naiyta stepped to the front of the stage. The music paused briefly as they spoke. "Welcome again, contestants, to the Halcyon Citadel. I hope you all have been enjoying the festivities so far. I just have a few announcements to make before you can return to them. Announcements that I think you will be interested in hearing. The first round of preliminary tournament matches will be as follows: Clove Thomasyouri Eripmav vs Valerie Marcoyouri Gallo Peregrine Axelyauro Marvell vs Darcy Lovettyauro Sterling Kyrie Korlanyouri Coalfoot vs Isi Ronaldyouri Invo Khalidyauro, son of Hmarab vs Lacey Miguelyouri Aguilar Evan Isaiahyauro Rei vs Seki Lloydyeiren Aarni Amosyauro Repo vs Kallum Hugoyauro Byrd Ace Lao-Jiangyauro Lao vs Gale Steveyouri Davenport Eremurus Alphanzeyauro vs Armand Anatoliusyauro Kenji Eijirou Himura vs Ellie Eivindyeiren Halvorson Zhi-Yin Chang-boyauro Luo vs Leo Emileyauro Von Claret Carrion Salvetoreyeiren vs Enzo Marcoyauro Vanth Levi Alphanzeyauro vs. Enya Liamyouri Hayes Kal Marcoyauro Valdez vs Asha Eliudyouri Issa Roman Kimbalyauro Ricci vs Ryuoske Suijinyouri Yasuda These fights have been presented out of order. You will be alerted of your fight's time prior to your fight beginning. May the victor win the spoils of war.” Naiyta said. “Thank you, for your time.” And with that, they stepped back, and let the party go on. @everyone

ryu chats with the lifebringers

lacey at the gala

gala announcement