MASKTOURN

The inn is close to the tavern, though not too close that the noise would be bothersome. There’s a desk in the lobby, though its attendant is often off doing something else. Simple, one-bed rooms are offered, each with a small ensuite bathroom.

The lights were still on inside the inn, though only a small, elderly woman sat at the desk. She was occupying her time by crocheting something small and colorfully-patterned, but looked up and adjusted her glasses as the hermit entered with Asha. "Oh, hello, strangers!" She greeted. "I don't think I've seen you two in town before, are you passing through?" "This one is," Yeonaixho gestured to Asha. "I have a place to stay in town. Do you have an open room?" "Ah, let me check the books..." The old woman set down her needlework, and started slowly flipping through a large ledger. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 e

"Juno, can you please stay here with me tonight? I.. I'm too scared to stay here alone." Asha repeated her request from earlier. She glanced around the room, trying to see if there was a landline somewhere.. This woman seemed old enough to not have a cellphone. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

There was a landline phone on the desk. Looked like it was from the late 80s, but probably still worked. "I- I told you, I don't have any money." He hesitated. "We do have two rooms open, if you two would both like to stay for the night." The old woman said, probably not hearing what the man had said. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"We could share a room." Asha said. "And um.. I don't have any money either, but I promise when I get back home I can send however much you'd like to repay your kindness. With extra on top. Or um- I might have my wallet somewhere in my purse.. Do you take Ninjago coin?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Are you certain? There's only one bed in each room." The woman said, just in case these two weren't married. She thought it was about a 50/50 chance. "And I'm afraid we only take Loucari lyra. Ninjago coin won't do me any good here, though I'd be willing to have you pay me back later." "I can also work off the debt, if that'd help. I can cook, garden, clean. Anything you'd need me to do but see, I can offer." The man offered. "Hmm... very well. It's forty lyra a night for one room. You can divide that debt between you two however you'd like." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. Is forty Lyra, like, a lot?" Asha whispered to Juno. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"It's actually a really good deal. I think she might be giving us a discount." He whispered back. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"We'll take it." Asha announced to the clerk. "I have firework powers, and hopefully by the morning I'll be feeling well enough and I can make you some. Juno says there might be a festival soon, so I'm sure you'd like to get your hands on some special fireworks to use." "Do you mind if I go use the phone? I'm going to try to call my husband to see if we can get this all figured out.. I'm not sure how I ended up here." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh, alright! Can I have your names for the ledger?" The clerk said, jotting something down in her book before looking around the desk for something. "I knew I put the room keys somewhere.... oh, you can make fireworks? That sounds wonderful- I'm sure my grandchildren would appreciate that, with the summer festival coming up." "And of course, make all the phone calls you need." She nodded. The man stood there awkwardly, hoping Asha would give a name for him so he wouldn't have to explain his weird situation. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Asha Issa and Yeonaixho Sehwohl." Asha said and headed over toward the phone. "Shoot, what's the area code for Ninjago.. I've never made an international call from outside of Ninjago.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

The clerk wrote down the names in her ledger. "Ah, I can't remember that one specifically, but there should be a list of all the area codes in the phone book over there. I take it you're from Ninjago?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

A phone book.. Well, she could hardly remember the last time she had to use one of those. She began to flip through the pages, skipping over most of the Loucari based numbers for now to get to the glossary of area codes in the back. "Mhm, Mlipuko specifically. It's in the sea of sand near Ninjago city.." Asha said as she flipped through the pages. "It's pretty small, but most good fireworks get made there and shipped out to everywhere. They get put under a lot of different names and brands when they're resold, so you've probably never heard of us." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Ahhh, you're right, I've never heard of that before. You're pretty far from home, then. What brings you all the way out here to Shairoun?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I.. Don't know. I just woke up here, I think I've been missing for a while.." Asha sighed. "Oh, here's the number-" With the area code found, she dialed in Roman's number as quickly as possible and held up the phone to her ear. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

The clerk fell silent to let Asha make her call... ... but Roman never picked up. Asha was left only with the staticky, droning sound of the busy-signal tone. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Asha let the line ring for a while, before hanging up. "He must be calling someone else right now I'll.. Try one of my friends." Asha said and redialed in a new number, this time with the friend she figured would be the least likely to be on a phone call, Keana. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

The second call didn't go through either, just resulting in the same droning tone.... @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. Hm." Asha nervously hummed. Keana was never on the phone.. Maybe she thought this international call was a scam or something. So she called Genesis. And Ariana. And Asher. And then Roman no less than ten more times. "Your phone is broken." Asha said as she hung up the phone, just a little aggressively. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

@innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh, is it?" The woman frowned. "I wasn't having any trouble calling across town earlier... maybe it's an issue with international calls. I'll have to send for someone to come repair it in the morning." "Good news is, I found the key to your room. Number 214, on the second floor." She handed a key ring to Asha. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

In the morning.. Yes, this would all get resolved tomorrow. And she'd be on the nearest plane out of here. "Okay, thank you.." Asha sighed and returned to the front desk. "Is there a computer anywhere around here? Or- Where's the nearest airport? I might be able to just book my flight home straight from there.. I don't think I have my passport though.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Ohh.... I think they might have a computer at the temple. And the nearest airport is all the way out in Kiandermal, that's a few hours north from here." The clerk explained. "I can take you over to temple tomorrow, and we can try to book a flight for you." The man suggested. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 (edited)

A computer at a temple?? Whatever, whatever it took to get home.. "Thank you, you don't know how much I appreciate this. Mlipuko will pay you back kindly once I can get home." Asha bowed a bit to the clerk. "And thank you, Juno." Asha nodded to him. "How many other people are staying at this inn tonight?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Thank you, young lady. Your gratitude is appreciated." The clerk smiled. "You two are the only ones staying tonight, save for myself and my daughter, who's the housekeeper. We stay here every night. There aren't too many travelers this time of year, so it'll probably be quiet here for a while." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

.. Them being the only ones here was a little eerie.. There were at least a handful of visitors to Mlipuko every day, either to do business or just stopping while passing through the sea of sand. To have absolutely no one felt.. Wrong. "Ah, I see.. What's your daughters name? Is she around here..?" Asha asked. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

@innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"My daughter's name is Saarina, she's already gone off to bed. You'll probably see her in the morning." The clerk smiled. "She wakes up earlier than I do." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

This place still didn't feel right. How could two people run an inn alone? Did Saarina work the desk when this lady slept? "Ah, I see.." Asha said. "I hate to be a bother, but is there any sand around here? I doubt there's any inside, but any beaches or anything nearby..?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh, ah... maybe in the creek, though you'd have to dig for it, most likely, and that's a mess. Other than that... I don't think we have a lot of sand around." The clerk hummed. "If you're looking for beaches, you're in the wrong place. You ended up in the one landlocked region of an island nation." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mm.. I was going to say a prayer before bed, but I'm sure the first master would understand if I can't do it in the.. Traditional way here. I'll manage." Asha sighed. ".. And beach and creek sand is different than desert sand anyway, so.. I'm not sure it actually matters." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh, you're religious? We have prayer books in the rooms." The clerk said. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Ah, just a little.. It's been a more recent thing for me." Asha said. "Do you have any for the First Spinjitsu Master? I'm guessing not, isn't the religion around here like.. The Lifebringer, right?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Ah, no, it's just the standard Lifebringer prayer." The clerk said. "And, ah, this is just a suggestion from me, but you might want to keep quiet about having... different beliefs. Some of the people here don't look too kindly on outsiders." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

.. She felt it was pretty obvious that she was from somewhere else, if not just from her appearance, at least her clothes. Just another way she didn't feel very safe here. "Oh- okay. Thank you for telling me.." Asha said after a few moments of awkward silence. She wasn't going to convert religions just to fit in to this place better. Because she wasn't going to be here that long, obviously. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Ah, Asha-" the blonde man, who had been standing around for a while, stepped up. "I'm getting pretty tired, do you want to go up to the room now?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. Yeah let's get headed up to the room.." Asha said quietly. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

He nodded, and walked with Asha up to the room.... Just as the clerk had said, there was only one queen-sized bed. There was a desk and a chair, a small bathroom, and a nightstand, though not much else. After wandering around the room and seeing where all the furniture was, the man announced, "I'll sleep on the floor, you can take the bed." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Are you sure? I don't mind sharing the bed.." Asha said and sat down on the edge of it. "I don't think the floor will be very comfortable." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I just didn't want to presume, if you'd be comfortable sharing that's alright with me." He shrugged. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mm, I appreciate that. But it's fine with me." Asha said. "I wish I had pajamas or something- who knows how long I've had these clothes on.. gross..." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Alright." He sat down on the bed beside her. "Ahh... yeah. If you want to take a shower, you can. They only have those cheap tiny soaps in the bathroom, though." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Taking a shower just to change back on to dirty clothes doesn't seem too helpful.." Asha shrugged. "Do they have included breakfast, or will we have to go beg for food somewhere else on the way out tomorrow?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Even if it isn't, we won't have to beg. I have food back at my house." He hummed. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. Do you just have that.. bread pudding stuff you talked about earlier?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I have that, I have some regular bread, I think I still have some eggs and cheese even." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Where do you get your food from if you don't have any money..?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I grow all my vegetables, and trade in the market for some things. And one of my neighbors, her name is Belfreit, gives me any extra eggs she doesn't need." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

He wasn't going to be able to do much more trading if his garden kept up the way it is.. "I see.." Asha said. "Are you.. Happy here?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"... I think so. I'm happy here. Or.... I feel like I'm supposed to be here, at least." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"But you're not supposed to be. It's not- nothing here is right." Asha shook her head. ".. There were countries in that book that I've never seen before- countries that I've only heard people talk about being in- in- different universes or something. That's not right, Juno, I'm confused.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"... I don't understand what you're talking about. The... countries in the phone book would have to be real. What makes you think they aren't?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Because there's just- it's just Ninjago! A-and- the Loucari is like- an island off the coast!" Asha threw her hands up in the air. "I-i don't know what a Canada is or- Autsralia or- there were so many-.." She took in a deep breath. ".. They have to be fake. Because they're not in my universe, and this has to be m-my universe.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

".... maybe this isn't your universe. I mean... do you have any reason to definitively believe it is?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Because you're here and I- it- it just has to be.." Asha said quietly. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

His brow furrowed. "... okay. I.... okay. How about.... we get some rest." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Asha took in a few deep breaths, and slowly nodded. ".. I think that's a good idea. I'm sure this will all make more sense in the morning after they get the phone working.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm. You'll probably feel better once you rest some, too." He hummed, and rested his cane against the wall. "Are you still okay with me sleeping in the bed with you?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Asha moved away from the edge of the bed after she slipped her sandals off and laid down, resting her hands over her stomach. "Yeah it's- it's fine. I'm not used to sleeping by myself anyway.." Asha said. "We can put a pillow up between us or something, if you want. I move around a bit.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

He unlaced his boots and took off his overshirt, which he laid over the desk table. He laid down beside Asha, on his back. "Ah, I should be fine. I'm a pretty deep sleeper, I don't think you'll wake me or anything." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Alright then.. Goodnight, Juno. Thanks for helping me out." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm. Of course. Goodnight, Asha. Sleep well." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Asha laid still, but it was pretty clear from her breathing that she was not falling asleep. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

The stranger slept soundly through the night, moving very little in his sleep. He woke before dawn, and tried his best not to disturb Asha as he got out of bed. Not knowing what else to do before Asha woke, he sat quietly at the desk and waited... @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Despite laying there all night long, Asha had not slept. She laid there silently, completely still, for more than eight hours. But her mind never wandered off to sleep. And she didn't even feel the slightest bit tired. Sometime after Juno had woken up, Asha rolled over in the bed and put her hands over her face. She just.. cried. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

The sound of Asha crying startled him out of his contemplative daze. "Whoa- uh, Asha, are you okay? Did you sleep poorly?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Juno I- I didn't sleep at all!" Asha said. "A-and I don't even feel tired and- th-this place isn't right.. I-i think my awful dream from b-before may have been real.. B-because none of this makes any sense.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh- uh-" He neared her side, and put a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to be comforting. "Wh- your dream? What did you dream about?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Th-there was another tournament a-and- people got taken from a bunch of d-different universes and- Kal he.. h-he murdered me." Asha's grip tightened on the blanket. ".. I-i'm dead.. we're all dead.. J-juno, I'm scared. I don't know what t-to do.. My kids need me.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

His brow furrowed. "That doesn't make any sense- we can't be dead. I'd know if I was dead." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Y-you had a statue there, it's head was blown up... Someone must've hated you, for some reason. Someone who was strong enough to break that statue.." Asha said. "Your ring was there, too. I-i think it was your one from Jymaiyri. You don't remember her at all?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

His hand went to his neck. "That's- it's just a statue, I'm fine- who would even do that?" He shook his head. "You're not making sense. I don't know what you're talking about." He stilled at the name. "Jymaiyri..." and paused for a long moment, before shaking his head again. "I don't remember. I don't know what you're talking about." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"No- you have to know her. She was your wife and- you would always talk about her!" Asha shook her head. "Y-you were so upset after she died, just.. Inconsolable. I didn't even know you when it happened but you were broken about it.. Y-you couldn't forget her.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I- I don't remember. I'm sorry." His brow creased into a worried furrow. "I really am." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"You have to remember something I- please.. Th-this is all so scary.. I want to go home.." Asha sniffled. "Wh-why did this happen to me? Wh-what did I do to deserve this- this- n-nightmare!" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

He let Asha cry, only patting her back to reassure her. "It'll be okay." He reassured flatly. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

No, this place wasn't right. This wasn't Juno- and if it was, she couldn't help him right now. She had to get home. She shoved his hand off of her back and shot up to her feet before running straight out of the room. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

He couldn't protest or say anything as Asha shoved him away, and could only sit there, vacantly, as she left. He didn't know what to do.

asha and her friend at the inn