snowtourn - grand-hall

A large, sparsely decorated grand hall. The high, lofty ceiling is supported by grand, wooden pillars, and the room is illuminated with the light of a dozen candle chandeliers. The room is largely bare and empty, with a cold stone floor and walls, and wooden pillars and support beams. Every wooden surface is carved with ornate relief patterns, and colorful blue and gold banners are hung from the rafters. The sheer size of the room makes it difficult to light up, despite the cables and lanterns placed sporadically around the room, and there are many shadowy corners that anyone could be hiding in.

innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄) pinned a message to this channel. 6/19/2023 7:53 PM

Kal stood in the grand hall in front of the new signs that had information on them. Was he processing the information? Maybe, maybe not. It seemed as though he had been awake for a while. The dumbass had gotten an early morning work out routine done outside, and had consumed a protein drink that he had brought with him. Gotta get them gains even on vacation, besties.

The sound of the overhead announcement had brought him to the grand hall. In front of the signs. With information. Information that he understood. Kal entirely understood it. He glared at the sign. If only there were pictures. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

Darcy stopped by the grand hall early in the morning, to read over the rules and see who he was meant to fight. He'd had a long night last night, and needed something to clear his mind. He smiled upon seeing Kal. "Oh, hello Kal! Did you sleep well!" @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

Kal glanced over to Darcy and lit up at the sight of a familiar face. "Darcy! Good mornin', man! I slept great!! Those beds are real soft, I knocked out right away. How'd you sleep?" @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Ehhh... I slept alright. I had a bit of an issue, with one of my roomates, and we actually had to go to the hospital... but everyone's alright now." Darcy nodded. @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

"Wait- What?" Kal blinked. "Someone got hurt? Shit- Are you okay??" @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Well- he got kicked, and I accidentally poisoned myself... it was all a mess. But we got healed up, and we're okay now." @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

Kal tilted his head, confused still. ".. I thought your powers were language powers..?" @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

4:33 PM

"Oh, uh, yes." Darcy nodded. "I can cast spells based on idioms, remember? One of those spells can poison an opponent, but it backfired and just poisoned me instead." @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

"OH- Shit, right, I forgot about that," Kal chuckled. "My bad- Man, that's crazy that you can use your powers like that, I'm still surprised about it. I hope you're feelin' much better, hopefully that doesn't wind up happening again." @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Thank you," Darcy laughed. "I'm glad I'm feeling better, too. Hopefully, there aren't any more conflicts with my roommate. And I'm glad you slept well!" He turned to the signs on the walls and searched for his name in the fight list. "It seems they've posted the fights..." @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

"I sure as hell hope there aren't any more conflicts. If there are, lemme know! I'll talk some sense into them." Kal grinned. He looked at the sign as well. All of the words and letters weren't familiar to him, with the exception of a few that he knew. Though, even with the letters he was aware of, he couldn't make out the words or their meanings. Kal knew his name, though, and knew where that was on the list. He just didn't know who was paired with him. "Yup, they did." Kal nodded. "It's a preeeeetty interestin' list, isn't it?" @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Thank you! I think it's best if you don't cross paths with him, either, but thank you for the offer." Darcy looked back to the signs and frowned. He'd finally spotted his name. "Kal... it says here that we're supposed to fight each other..." @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

"Yeah, no problem, man!" Kal grinned. At Darcy's statement, Kal blinked in surprise. He looked back to the board and frowned. Huh. So the letters after Kal's name was Darcy's? Okay, cool, he'd keep that in mind that those symbols meant Darcy. Okay. "Shit- I can't believe that!" Kal frowned. "I wonder how they set it up like that. Like- Really? Us against each other?" @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

Darcy read over the list, over and over again. "Us against each other... we have to fight each other. I don't want to fight you, Kal, but-" He shook his head. "That's- oh, I don't even know..." He kept on rambling for quite a bit. "What are we going to do?" @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

"I don't wanna fight you, either," Kal stared at the board. "I wonder if we can maybe switch with someone else? Maybe they'd let us do that? Man- This sucks. How're we gonna go do all of our rock climbing and lookin' around when one of us is gonna and up getting out with our match?" He huffed. "Man, this is one hell of a sucky way to start off the day." @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Do you think we could switch? That would solve this problem..." Darcy frowned. "Maybe, we should talk to someone here... tho, most of the staff are probably at mass like the announcement said. Oh... this is so stressful." "Can we at least make an agreement not to hurt each other too badly in the fight? If we can't get it switched?" @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline started a thread. 7/30/2023 6:27 PM

“Hey, it’ll be all good!” Kal flashed Darcy a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, I’m sure we can get it switched!! If not, like you said, I’m in a hundred perfect agreement for us not to mess each other up!! I’m here for a good time and to make buds, not to hurt anyone.” Kal paused. “On a scale on one to ten, how good of a fighter would you say that you are? I can give you some pointers, if you want!” @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

Darcy seemed to calm down a bit at Kal's reassurance. "Right, right. We'll get this all sorted out." He tilted his head a bit. "With my powers, or otherwise?" @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

“It’ll be all good, don’t worry!!” He gave Darcy’s shoulder a little pat pat. Kal grinned. “Well, when you beat me up in our match, chances are, you might have a match after with someone who might not be chill. I wanna make sure you can hold your own physically!! I can show you a couple things, if you want to help you out with that!” @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"You... think I'll win?" Darcy adjusted his glasses. "Well... I guess it would be good to know something about fighting physically. You'd really help me out like that?" @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

“Hell yeah! I feel like you’ll come out of left field with somethin’ real cool, and you’ll totally catch my ass off guard! I’m hyped for it!” Kal lit up with a grin. “I’d be more than happy to help you out, man! It’ll be a good time.” @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Oh- uh, I guess so. Thank you?" Darcy laughed. He wasn't used to people having this much confidence in his abilities. "And thank you! I think, if we're going to be anything akin to training, though, we should head to the arena." He pointed to the rules list, "They seem pretty strict about that." @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

“No problem!” Kal gave him a thumbs up. “Oh- Are they? Then sure, we can head to the arena.” Kal hummed. He looked back to the board and simply. Stared at it. Was he looking at the spot that had it listed about training being kept in the arena? Maybe, maybe not, he wasn’t sure. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Great!" Darcy smiled. "Let's head there! Hopefully, they have it open so early!" @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

“Yeah man- Let’s go! But first- Did you have breakfast? It’s never a good thing to push yourself yourself when you’re on an empty stomach!” @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"I did! I got some eggs and toast earlier." Darcy nodded. "Let's go!" @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

“Great! Let’s get goin’.” Kal grinned. He’d ask Darcy about the rule list later, for now, it was sparring time! Together, off they were to the arena! @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

“Great! Let’s get goin’.” Kal grinned. He’d ask Darcy about the rule list later, for now, it was sparring time! Together, off they were to the arena! @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

Darcy followed Kal, beaming as they left for the arena..

Darcy and Kal arrived in the grand hall once again. Darcy went over to the rules board and began reading it over. @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

Kal hummed as he listened to Darcy repeat the rules. He tried his best to follow along and connect the words that were spoken to the ones that were written. His brain was hurting quite a bit as he did his best to process them. "Huh, gotcha- Thanks for sayin' them out loud for me, Darcy!" Kal beamed with a bright smile. "Now I know to be extra careful about a lot of stuff!" @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Of course! I mean, it'd be terrible if you accidentally broke a rule because you didn't know it." Darcy said. "It didn't say anything about the volcano, specifically, but I don't think you should go out trying to climb it when it's dark out." @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

"It's a good thing it'll be nice and bright outside soon!" Kal grinned. "That gives me plenty of time to prepare!" @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄) (edited)

"Right! That's a good idea!" Darcy smiled. "I don't think I'm cut out for volcano-climbing, but you'll have to tell me what it's like!" @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

"I'll tell you all about it!" Kal smiled, giving Darcy another thumbs up. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Sounds great!" Darcy returned the thumbs-up. @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

Kal grinned. He gave Darcy a wave. "I'll go get ready for my afternoon climb- You take care of yourself, alright? I'll see you in a bit!" @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"I'll see you soon!" Darcy waved goodbye to Kal. "I hope your climb goes well!" @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

"Thanks!" Kal beamed. He practically bounced out of the grand hall.

9:04 PM

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

After her beach escapade and breakfast, Hannah had briefly returned to her room to change. Once that was done, she was walking back to the grand hall to finally see who it was she was going to be put up against. Most likely, someone she hadn't even met. @ajjjjjjjj

Coincidently, at the same time Hannah had come out here to read the board, Ryunoske walked in from the outside. She had bits of snow dusting her shoulders and hair, even some flakes on her nose, but the smoke that wafted around her seemed to melt most of it. She was going to pass whoever was looking at the board, but figured it wouldn't hurt to at least introduce herself. "Hey there. Lookin' at the fighting list?" She asked after taking a few steps closer to the board herself, pretending like she hadn't seen it yet. @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

Hannah crinkled her nose as Ryu entered the area, much before she even got close. ".. Yeah. I'm gonna look at it." Hannah said as she got up to the board. "You need a shower by the w-" Well, she didn't have to look very long.. Her name was the second on the list. Attached to.. Roy "Ha." Hannah laughed once, the corners of her mouth curling up ever so slightly. "Ehhehehe. Ohhhhh that's exciting, I get to rip him to shreds.. I'm gonna enjoy that." @ajjjjjjjj

Ryunoske didn't even have the moment to reply to Hannah's first comments, as it quickly erupt into laughter. She looked to the line Hannah was eyeing and pointed at the names. "I'm guessing you must be Hannah. That Roy person do something to ya for you to be so excited to fight him?" She asked with a slanted smile. @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

"He's the reason my dad's in prison for the next few years. He did something real stupid and my dad took the fall for it." Hannah said. She flexed her fingers a bit at her side. "I've been waiting for this kind of opportunity." @ajjjjjjjj

Ryu hummed as she listened to Hannah and glanced down at the shorter woman. "What'd he do exactly? I doubt your father would of taken the blame for it unless it was something more serious," she decided to pry. Might as well let this woman talk about her woes. @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

Hannah hadn't looked away from her name on the board. "He made a train blow up that my dad was in charge of. If my dad didn't take the fall, it would have been my ass getting in trouble since I was working at the station that day.." Hannah huffed. "And he acts like he doesn't even know it happened. There's no way he doesn't. It exploded." @ajjjjjjjj

Huh. A train explosion? Ryunoske was expecting murder, but perhaps that was too much of an assumption on her part. "I see.. I assume there must of been a lot of people injured then? An explosion of that magnitude could definitely even kill someone," he hummed. "How do you know it was this Roy guy though? Did he also work on the train like you and your father? Why would your father take the blame for him?" @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

"A few people were injured. But all the passengers were off the train at that point." Hannah said. "I worked at the train station in Osceola. Roy came in, and I knew something was wrong with him.. I could sense his electricity with my powers. But I didn't say anything about it- but I knew it was him when I heard the news." "And my dad took the blame because the court probably wouldn't believe me if I said that I could sense that he had lightning powers because I'm part shark. My dad didn't want the government knowing about my powers at all." @ajjjjjjjj

Hannah may have forgotten Ryunoske in fact, did not know who Hannah was, nor what her powers were. So, when Hannah said she could sense Roy's powers with her shark powers, all of it was new information. "Shark...powers? And you could sense his powers with it? That's interesting..." Ryunoske commented. "Well... That sucks. I know it's kinda redudant for me to ask, but how do you know for sure it was Roy and not just some freak accident? He may of been near by, but that doesn't constitute much of deliberate harm on his part." @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

Hannah finally tore her gaze away from the board, just to glare at Ryu. "It is redundant. Because I know for sure that it was him. There was an electrical issue at the outlet in his seat that fucked everything up. It couldn't be anyone else. Don't assume things about a situation you know nothing about." @ajjjjjjjj

Ryu put her hands up to her chest, as to show no harm. "Sorry, I didn't mean to make you upset. I was just wondering if it was obvious this Roy guy was at fault, then there shouldn't have been a reason your dad was the one who would take the fall. Then again.. I guess cops are lazy at their jobs," she shrugged. "I guess you must have a history with the guy past him exploding your pop's train. Considering you recongnized his powers." @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

"No. I never met him before that." Hannah said. "Sharks have these organs called ampullae of Lorenzini that are electroreceptors.. So they can sense weak electrical fields. I have those, so I can feel electricity nearby." Her irritation at Ryu seemed to quickly fade as she began talking about her sharks. @ajjjjjjjj

Ryunoske found it quite interesting that Hannah could have so much anger and hate towards someone she seemingly doesn't really know, but Ryu wasn't going to question it so much. She hates it when a pretty lady is upset with her, after all. "Ah, I see. I'm a bit dense on animals, but it's interesting to learn that," she said with a faint smile. "Is that also why you think I smell?" Ryu chuckled. "Sharks have good noses, don't they?" @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

"I think I could smell you even without my special nose. You reek like my grandparents old house but ten times worse." Hannah said and looked back at the board. "Who are you fighting?" @ajjjjjjjj

She couldn't help but laugh a little more at Hannah's comment. "Sorry. I don't mean to be a bother. I'm just an addict," Ryunoske said, her cigar still in her mouth. She then turned back to the board and stuck her finger onto the line with her and Roque's fight. "I'm fightin' this super hot chick. She wanted me to call her my wife," Ryu replied. @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

".. Roque?" Hannah frowned. At least it wasn't her. That was the one matchup she wasn't too confident in for herself. "She- what..? Why would she.. ask you to call her your wife..?" @ajjjjjjjj

nsfw/ "Oh, we thought it'd be funny to fuck then get married. Miss Petrai wasn't too happy with us about either thing," Ryu chuckled. "She even gave me a ring from her dead in law and well, less dead cousin. Isn't that cute?" She said as she pulled out the ring from her pocket to show Hannah. "Though, we're not quite traditional in our marriage. We still mess around with other people, but it's the trust and love that goes into it that counts." Whether or not Ryu was being sarcastic with her last comment was hard to tell. She seemed serious, yet her joking smile contradicted anything she said. @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline (edited)

@Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

What the fuck. Why did Roque have wedding rings from a totally unrelated half dead husband and wife? There were a lot of other questions as well. "That's weird." Hannah said flatly, instantly. If she was being sarcastic, it went totally over her head. "Why would you get with someone like Roque? And you- you got married here...? when did you even have time to do that?" But she was curious.. ".. Last night she-" Her face went red. "She tried to get me and another guy to do a threesome.. It was weird.. but.. um.. Was she good, at least?" @ajjjjjjjj

"Oh, we just decided in the middle of us fucking earlier this morning. Do let Miss Petrai know we've been married for a while now if she asks, though, Ryu chuckled. "Marriage doesn't mean much to me. Once you do it once, you pretty much know how it'll go each time. It's pretty boring," she shrugged. Though, at Hannah's question, Ryunoske chuckled a bit more. "Did she now? That sounds like my Roque. I wouldn't mind a couple more bodies between all us too, if you were open to her invitation. I'm not really interested in including the guy, though. Just you, Ryu winked before adding, "She's fine. Definitely won't bore you. If you like being bossed around with a more aggressive partner, she's great. Kept on fighting me about whether or not it was gonna be her back or mine on the mattress though, heh."@Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline (edited)

Hannah's face only got more and more red as Ryu went on. Why did she always put herself in these situations..? "I- uh.. um.." Hannah stammered, pulling her coat up to cover her burning cheeks. "That's.. Great. Good for you that you- you.. re happy..?" @ajjjjjjjj

Ryu chuckled as she saw Hannah's reaction. She found it rather adorable how easy she got embarrassed. "Thanks. You know, if you're really all that curious, like I said, you're more than free to join," she mused. "I promise it's not as scary as it seems. My love only bites in bed, promise. She has a thing for the taste of blood--Something I assume you two would have in common," Ryu teased with another wink. @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

"No I- I- I don't think I should.. um.. do that.. Not that you're not pretty..? If that's what you like- handsome? Attractive- But uh.. it's against the rules and Petrai is scary so- no.." Hannah quickly shook her head, moving her coat up so her whole face was covered at this point. "I don't eat HUMAN blood-.. and I'd like to keep all of mine um.. in my own body.." @ajjjjjjjj

Again, Ryunoske let out a soft laugh. She smirked a bit as she ran a hand through her hair and she cocked her head towards Hannah. "Handsome is fine. You're a pretty lady yourself, so it's quite the compliment coming from you," he smiled. "Biting is a natural thing during sex. I don't eat human blood as a normal thing, but it just sorta happens in the heat of things, y'know?" Ryu hummed. "Well, if you ever change your mind, let me know. I'm always down to spend time with a lovely lady." @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

Hannah's sight was thankfully obscured by the inside of her coat. "I don't- think I'll change my mind.. sorry.. I'm not really super in to- um.. being bit.." @ajjjjjjjj

"Awh.. that's a little disappointing, but I respect that. It's not for everyone," Ryu smiled as she looked over Hannah. "You're quite cute when you're shy. I would expect a woman like you to have swarms of people asking you out and the such," she commented with a small hum. @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

"It's usually just- shitty guys who are easy to.. say no to.." Hannah mumbled, moving her coat down just far enough to show her eyes again. "I broke up with my boyfriend not.. super long ago.. Well- he.. broke up with me I guess.." @ajjjjjjjj

"Mm, that's sad. A lady such as yourself deserves to be treated at only the highest par," Ryunoske hummed with a shake of her head, disapproving of all the worthless men who asked Hannah out. She gave Hannah a warm smile, quite opposite of her usual cocky grin. "Well, you're single then? If you ever want to go on a date, I would be happy to treat you." @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

"Uhhhhhhh.." Hannah mumbled, quietly. "You're- a little.. intimidating.. and you really reek.." @ajjjjjjjj

Ryunoske couldn't help but chuckle at Hannah's response. Oh, how cute. "Sorry if I'm scaring you. I don't mean to come across that way. The smell isn't something I can help, however. I guess it just wasn't meant to work out then. Disappointing once again, but I'm not gonna push ya," Ryu hummed. "Guess you don't dig the rugged type, huh?" She joked lightly. @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

"Rugged is.. One thing.." Hannah said, finally moving her coat back down to its normal position. "I just- kinda... Like someone else here- already.." @ajjjjjjjj

"You do?" Ryunoske curiously smiled. "It's only been a couple of days since we all got here. Who's the lucky fella that caught your eye?" @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

"If I say you're not gonna.. go hunt him down or anything, right?" Hannah asked. Clearly this was a strange place if that was something that even crossed her mind. @ajjjjjjjj

Again, she laughed. "No. I'm not desperate enough to fight someone over a lady's hand. I don't have that kind of time," Ryu replied. "I'm just curious." @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

"Well, it's Wolf.. He's a wrestler guy. I always kinda liked him, and he's.. Well, just like he is on TV. He's also super jacked." @ajjjjjjjj

"Hmm.. can't say I've heard the name, but hopefully he's better than the other guys who've asked you out," Ryunoske replied. "You like buff guys? I'm probably bigger than he is," she chuckled softly. @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

Hannah clearly eyed Ryunoske up and down... ".. I think he is a bit bigger.. But he's built like a body builder, y'know- maybe not 100% useful muscle, just.. For looks. I think your build is more.. Purposeful..? I don't know the word.." @ajjjjjjjj

Ryunoske chuckled once more at that. "Ah, that makes sense. Wrestling is quite fake, despite how fantastical it can be. It's all about how someone can look to an audience, after all," Ryu hummed. "It's hard to see my muscles under my suit. If you want a true comparison, I'd have to remove my shirt." @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

Redness creeped back on to Hannah's cheeks. ".. please keep it on- um- it's cold.." @ajjjjjjjj

Ryu couldn't help but smirk a little as she saw the red on Hannah's face, but she didn't poke at her about it. "I appreciate your concern. I'm used to walking around with it off most of the time, but I figured a church wouldn't want to see my tattoos more than anything," she shrugged. "Well. I guess that old lady has seen all of them now, heh." @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

"What- why-?" Hannah was quick to reply, scrunching her nose up in confusion. "Oh- oh.. The sex and.. seeing everything thing.. Did you not get super in trouble for that..?" @ajjjjjjjj

Ryunoske shrugged. "Walking around without a shirt is pretty common back home for me, if you were asking why about that... But yeah. She did give me and my wife an earful, but she wasn't quite as harsh as I thought she was going to be. The most she could do was threaten to kick us out the event and give us some mundane punishments like cleaning. It was pretty much just a lecture." @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline (edited)

@Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

"Well, it's not common where I'm from.." Hannah said. "Well I'm- glad that you didn't get kicked out for that, I guess.. I think it's stupid that you can get in trouble for something you do in your own bedroom.." @ajjjjjjjj

"I'm glad you at least think the same way as I do about that situation," Ryu smiled faintly, giving her a small shrug along side it. "Well, it was nice meetin' ya, Hannah. Maybe we can kick it some other time when it's not super late. I don't wanna keep such a pretty lady out in the dark for too long." @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

"Yeah- um- totally.." Hannah nodded lightly. She turned to leave. ".. and you really can't help but smell so bad?" @ajjjjjjjj

Ryu chuckled. "Why? If I smelled better, would you go on a date with me?" She teased. @Mads|Roque🩸+Hannah🦈+Madeline

"No!" Hannah said and promptly left. @ajjjjjjjj

From the dining hall, Kal made his way to the grand hall, humming to himself happily. Homeboy was in a real good mood. As he walked, he didn’t take notice of a Bestie a little while away. @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

Ryunoske was smoking by the door, too lazy to have walked too far to do it elsewhere. Hearing the heavy steps coming by, she turned her attention to the man walking down the hall. "Knees? Glad to see you made it back down safely. Did you have fun?" She asked him with a slanted smile. @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

“Eyyyyy, Rio, good to see you!” Kal grinned and held out his arms in a victorious manner. “I made it out alive!! Had a blast- You glad to see me? I know I’m glad to see you!” @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

Ryu couldn't help but chuckle as she listened to Kal and she took out the cigar from her mouth. "It's good to know you didn't die to the volcano ice. So, how was it? You got the footage on ya, right? Let me see." @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

“Hell yeah, I got the footage!” Kal grinned. He reached into his pocket and took out his phone. He went into his camera roll and found the video. Once he clicked it, he held it out to Ryu. “It was one hell of a climb! I had a blast with it!! I’d love to do it again.” @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

True to the nature of taping a phone to your chest, Ryunoske watched Kal's climb from the pov of his pec level. First the rocky terain, the the snow, most of it a little muffled, but still pretty good quality. "Huh.. well I'll be damned. You got up there. You really gotta take me with ya on one of your climbs sometime." @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

“I sure as hell will!! There’s tons of places you can climb at, most where you don’t need to wear a jacket or all of that gear.” Kal grinned. “Want a whole souvenir? I grabbed a ton of these bad boys-” He reached into his pocket and took out a good handful of colorful, sparkly dark rocks. “You can have your own volcano rock!” @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

Ryunoske eyed the rocks with a raised brow, but smiled at the offer. "Really? I can have one?" She asked with a small chuckle and hovered her hand over the bundle of coal. "Hmmm... I think I'll take this one," Ryunoske said as she picked up a rather small, but pristine rock. @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

“Hell yeah!! Now, you got a whole volcano-rock, too!” He grinned. “A whole lil’ souvenir of the island.” @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

Ryunoske chuckled and pocketed the souvenir rock. "You've been giving them out?" She asked him with a faint smile. "Who else have you been giving them to?" @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

“Yeah, man,” Kal grinned. “I’ve been handin’ ‘em out to tons of people. Zerada, Madeline, Darcy my buddy my pal, Yeonaixho- And now, you!” @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

She raised a brow at the list of names. "You gave one to the dude runnin' this circus..?" Ryu chuckled. "Well, I guess with you and your infectious personality, I guess you'd be able to give gifts to about anyone," she hummed. "What do you got plan today, Kal? More climbing and stuff?" @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

Kal laughed. "He's tryin' to teach me how to read, I figured I'd go ahead and give him one. We also did some origami together, I got tons of paper if you ever wanna make some, too." Kal hummed as he thought to himself. His little braincell was just on an endless loop of plinko. "Not too sure, if I'm honest. I kinda wanna chill and take it easy for a bit, not gonna lie. I don't think there's really anywhere else for me to climb, nothin' as cool as a whole volcano." @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

"Teaching you to read..?" Ryu blinked. "Kal... you don't know how to read?" She questioned, bewildered that someone of his age didn't know how to do something so basic. There really was not a single thought behind that man's eyes, huh? "Right.. Well, we should kick it some time soon. I imagine you still want to pass out rocks to people." @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

"Well, he's teaching me Braille, but yeah, he's also teaching me how to read," Kal chuckled. He didn't seem embarrassed to admit it. "Of course I can read a few words and know some letters, but nothin' else is really- Y'know, up there." 'Up there' being his head, which he gave a little tap-tap on his temple. "Yeah, probably, but if I'm honest, I've handed out rocks to most of the people I've met already, I haven't met too-too many people." He stretched. "Hey, there's an arena, right? Maybe I'll do a work out or somethin' there, get all nice and pumped for whatever comes next." @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

"Braille, huh..? Is the guy blind or something?" Ryunoske asked with a curious look. "Hm, well, whatever the case.. I guess good luck with your learning. If you ever need help, I can lend a hand. Learning English was a pain in the ass when I was learning it." "The arena? I guess it'd be a decent stretching place, yeah. A work out would be good..." @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

"Yeah, he's blind. It took me a bit longer to realize it," Kal admitted with a small chuckle. At the offer, Kal perked up. "Really? Aw man- I'd appreciate any kind of help, if I'm honest. I've been strugglin' big time my whole life. Apparently, I got a thing called 'dyslexia' which, you don't gotta worry about, it ain't contagious or anythin'." "A work out, or even a spar sounds good right about now," Kal grinned. "I'll figure somethin' out, Rio. I just feel all this energy in me." @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

Note for later: The top dude here had a blind spot, literally. Ryunoske chuckled and waved her hand dismissively. "Don't worry. Idiots can't catch colds, and I've never been sick, so I wouldn't catch it even if it was contagious. I know five languages, actually, so I can be a bit helpful at least." "A spar, huh?" Ryunoske hummed. "Got anyone in mind if that's the case?" @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

“Five? That’s wild! And you can read and speak in all of those? Man- I can only speak Spanish and English, but reading and writing in those? Impossible for me.” “Nah, got no one in mind,” Kal chuckled. “Maybe Zerada. But hey, if you wanna maybe spar, we can. Now, later, whenever, I’m always up for one.” @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

Ryunoske chuckled and playfully rolled her eyes. "I bet with some studying, you'll be great, Kal. It took me a long time to get everything down, obviously," she replied. "Hmm.." She eyed Kal up and down for a moment before a small smirk spread on her lips. "I'd be down, but a spar is only fun with bets. What are we betting?" @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

"Aw, thanks, Rio," Kal chuckled. "I'll keep at it!" With a raised eyebrow, Kal's grin grew. "Bets, huh? I'm a bettin' kind of man. What's somethin' that you have in mind?" @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

"Hmmm..." Ryunoske thought about it for a second, before smiling bright at the other man. "How about the loser has to do one thing the winner tells them? Can't be anything harmful, of course, but just silly or funny things," she suggested with a shrug. @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

Kal laughed. "Sure, man, that sounds good to me. Just silly, fun stuff." @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

Ryunoske smiled. "Sounds like a deal then. Don't be upset when you're walking around the island with just your underwear and socks on, Knees," she teased with a small laugh. @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

Kal laughed. "I'll have you know, Rio, that shame's somethin' that I've never experienced in life. That wouldn't bug me one bit. Come on, let's head over and get that started." @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

He couldn't help but laugh at that. "Oh, shame isn't the goal. I'm more curious about how other people will react," Ryu replied as she dusted off her pants and straightened up to start walking. "Lead the way, hot shot." @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

“I can already imagine some reactions,” Kal chuckled. He knew the staff would probably be mad with him. “Alright, let’s head on over.” Kal led the way to the #arena . @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

Mallon doesn’t exactly have a planned destination in their mind as they head up the stairs from the dining hall, simply set on poking around and exploring for now. They can see the board with the fights listed on the wall out of the corner of their eye, and steer clear of looking at it again. Doesn’t really look like they’re doing anything of importance at the moment. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

Darcy woke up a bit later than usual, still tired from his fight the previous day. Today, he dressed slightly more causually than he normally does, and passed through the Grand Hall on his way to the library again. Upon seeing Mallon, he paused to say a friendly, "Hello!" @em | enya + mallon

Mallon starts at the unexpected voice, earfins flared upwards in response, before they turn with a vaguely-fading deer-in-the-headlights expression as they spot Darcy entering. “Oh. Hello,” they reply, eye scanning the new person up and down quickly. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Oh, I didn't mean to startle you!" Darcy laughed. "I don't think we've met before, my name is Darcy Sterling." @em | enya + mallon

“I wasn’t startled,” Mallon replies, obviously lying. Their earfins slowly relax back to their normal positioning, one flicking slightly “..No, I haven’t seen you. I am Mallon.” A slight pause, and then they add almost as an afterthought, “I think your room is next to mine.” @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Mallon, yes." Darcy nodded. "I think it is! I've seen your name on the door." He paused. "Well, we've met now!" @em | enya + mallon

“That we have.” Mallon sort of shuffles in place awkwardly for a second, but then seemingly a realization hits as their eye snaps back up to Darcy’s with a sudden jarring intensity. “I do recognize you. You were the first fight, were you not?” @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Oh! Yes I was." Darcy nodded hastily and laughed awkwardly. "Over the lava pit, yes. I won... though I will not lie and say it was a monumental victory." He still was embarrassed over knocking himself out. @em | enya + mallon

“It was still a victory,” Mallon emphasizes, continuing to stare. “Which puts you a step above the competition. For now.” They blink, suddenly, and the intensity drops off somewhat. “What was the arena like? And how did you fight without attacking?” @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Thank you?" Darcy replied. "The arena was... hot. And terrifying, frankly. My abilities allow me to attack from a distance, through my spells. That's how I won." @em | enya + mallon

“Hm.” Mallon’s eye narrows a little bit as Darcy offers a loose description of his abilities. They seem to have abandoned the thought of the arena itself for now. “How does that work.” @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Oh! I have powers relating to language!" Darcy explained. "I can cast spells based on idioms, the one I used in the fight is supposed to knock my opponent out." @em | enya + mallon

“I don’t know what an idiom is,” Mallon shrugs. Seems their focus isn’t quite on that as they immediately ask after it, “Are all spells like that?” @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"All mine are!" Darcy laughed. "An idiom is a phrase that's used to say something it doesn't actually convey- such as, 'it's raining cats and dogs' and the like!" @em | enya + mallon

“Why would you want to say something you don’t mean,” Mallon frowns, momentarily distracted from their line of questioning. “That seems unnecessary.” @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Well, a variety of reasons." Darcy offered. "Sometimes phrasing something in a different way can emphasize it." @em | enya + mallon

innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Well, a variety of reasons." Darcy offered. "Sometimes phrasing something in a different way can emphasize it." @em | enya + mallon

@em | enya + mallon

“Or you can just follow through exactly what you say,” Mallon counters. “That should be emphasize enough.” @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Well, what if you can't 'follow through' on something? What if the thing you wish to emphasize is, say, 'it's raining a lot.' I can't control the weather, I need language to emphasize it for me." Darcy retorted. @em | enya + mallon

“Well I wouldn’t need to say that. It doesn’t rain underwater.” Mallon crosses their arms, as if that proves their point. “And I wouldn’t be speaking underwater anyways. Only up here.” @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Well, it does rain up here on the surface and sometimes you do need to communicate that fact." Darcy pointed out. "Also, you aren't the only person in the world who uses language." @em | enya + mallon

Mallon huffs under their breath, glaring at the ground for a moment before relaxing. Losing an argument isn’t their best quality. “Well. I never needed to speak like this until I came up here. It seems pointlessly complicated to me.” @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Language isn't always the most efficient. Most languages are amalgamations of their previous selves and features they borrow from their neighbors. The only languages that are truly meant to me efficient and easy for communication are international auxiliary conlangs and..." Darcy simply rolled his eyes, "They're conlangs." @em | enya + mallon

Aj | Ryunoske+Titania started a thread. 9/23/2023 11:03 PM

Yeah, Darcy’s officially lost Mallon. They blink at him, slowly, and their frown becomes much more of a confused expression as they shrug somewhat nonchalantly. “I do not know what all of that means.” @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

Sorry Mallon, you accidentally got Darcy started on niche linguistic beef. "I mean, a conlang isn't truly a real language. It isn't formed through time and communication like a natural language- it's created by one person, usually one person with some strange motive! You can't possibly make a language that everyone will be able to easily understand, you're biased by your own native tongue! And too often is that native tongue a european language- usually English, let's be honest- which lends these supposed 'international' languages to be entirelu eurocentric! It defeats the purpose of the international auxillerary language entirely!" @em | enya + mallon

They’re able to fully understand maybe every other sentence or so. Sorry Darcy but their native language is not even fully verbal they have no idea. Mallon’s ears fold back against their head slightly. “I have only ever known of one way of speaking. And now this one I suppose. This is not the only one?” @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Oh, heavens no. There are hundreds upon thousands of different languages- there's over a hundred and twenty in the Indian subcontient alone. And that's not even taking into account the different dialects and creoles that aren't often counted as languages themselves." @em | enya + mallon

Mallon’s brain does a full Windows XP reboot at that, their eye widening. “That is…. Wow. I see where the difficulty would lie. And I suppose it makes sense given your species seems to be so much larger than mine.” @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

Darcy nodded sagely. "Indeed. Language is incredibly complicated." He paused, "If you don't mind my asking, what is your species?" @em | enya + mallon

“It does not need to be. But perhaps that is just my—you called it a bias. I am an Angler,” Mallon replies, with a small smirk that’s a little bit more flash of teeth than it should be. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Well, if everyone spoke the same language there'd be a great loss of diversity in how things can be said." Darcy hummed. He slightly flinched as Mallon bore their teeth. "Oh, interesting! I don't believe I've ever heard of your kind before." @em | enya + mallon

“I guess so. I will give you that. Though I would argue much can be said without need for words. And I would not be surprised if I am the first of my kind to breach the surface for this long,” Mallon elaborates. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Well, I do believe expression, body language and tone are all important factors as well as spoken communication." Darcy hummed. "Mhm. That would make sense." @em | enya + mallon

“What about without any spoken communication?” Mallon asks somewhat abruptly, head tilted. They actually seem more interested than they did previously. Maybe Darcy’s interest is rubbing off on them a little. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Well, there are sign languages, which are communicated through gestures, for example," Darcy signed, Hello, my name is Darcy, moving slowly so Mallon could see each individual gesture . @em | enya + mallon

Mallon pulls the same move they’d pulled with Eben in the greenhouse, their face directly in front of Darcy’s hands and maybe a little too close for comfort as he signs. The gestures have little individual meaning to them personally, like the first spoken words they’d heard had, but surprisingly enough they seem to get the general gist of it. “That is..similar, to what I am used to. But sort of..more precise.” One earfin flicks, and then they stand back up again. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Interesting! That was British Sign Language I used, though there are many others used across the world." Darcy hummed. "Could you demonstrate your method of communication to me? I'd love to know how it compares to other signed languages." @em | enya + mallon

Mallon frowns a little bit. “I could..try, I think. I have not tried above water since— I have not tried above water. Purposefully. I will try.” They sound a little bit more determined, and then their earfins flare out halfway and their eye glows, faintly, as they lock it with Darcy’s. A jerky motion of their arm and a strange sort of .. almost-sound, not unlike the whines and clicks of a dolphin, seems to radiate outwards from them. Their hand twists in a clawed half circle in front of their forehead before they ‘push’ it towards Darcy and then swipe down through the air across their chest with another high-pitched sound. The room is big enough that the sound carries at least enough to be picked up by a human, but not nearly as much as it would underwater. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄) (edited)

Darcy watched Mallon with great interest as they demonstrated their communication, and took notes in his pocket-notepad after the demonstration. "Fascinating! I can only imagine how different it would be underwater... could you describe to me what you were saying?" @em | enya + mallon

Mallon actually seems a little bit…embarrassed? at being asking to translate, as if for some reason they hadn’t expected Darcy to ask (even though they probably should’ve). “It would… The closest would be..’thank you for teaching me’.” It takes them a second or two to reply, and their voice sounds slightly winded. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Oh!" Darcy exclaimed, and quickly jotted that down. Unsure if the thanks was directed at him, he awkwardly smiled. "You're welcome!" @em | enya + mallon

Mallon’s earfin flicks as if in response. The intensity of their glowing gaze dies down, though lingers ever so slightly as they peer inquisitively at the notebook he’s holding. “What are you writing?” @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

Darcy's notes would be hard to read, especially since they were written entirely in mandarin Chinese. "Oh- I'm just taking some notes on your communications, I hope you don't mind- if you do, I can just... destroy this, I guess." @em | enya + mallon

Mallon blinks at the unfamiliar writing but doesn’t comment on it. “I don’t mind,” they say finally, hesitating again longer this time before adding, “If you have any questions I do not mind either.” @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Wonderful!" Darcy smiled. "I do have one question- does your entire species communicate in this way? Or are there differences between groups?" @em | enya + mallon

“As far as I know,” Mallon shrugs. “It is— hard to fully say. Some use light more. Others use the sounds or motions. Depends on what is easier. It all makes sense either way.” @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Fascinating!" Darcy hummed. "So, there isn't much dialectical distinction... about how many indiviuals are there of your species? Do you know?" @em | enya + mallon

Mallon opens their mouth to reply, but it slowly shuts as they take a moment to actually think about the question being asked. “…No,” they reply, head tilted ever so slightly. “I would like to say a lot. But the truth is I don’t know at all. I remember growing up in a pod. But the older we got the farther we separated.” @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Oh. I'm sorry." Darcy frowned, and offered Mallon a sympathetic look. @em | enya + mallon

Mallon shrugs. They really don’t seem particularly upset. “It does not matter much. That is just how these things work.” @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Still, it's... unfortunate that you live your life so isolated..." Darcy said. "But if you are unbothered by it, I will not press the issue." @em | enya + mallon

“The ocean is big,” Mallon says matter of factly. “There also somewhere new to go. So it does not feel as alone. But you humans seem to be more of a pod creature, it appears.” @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Mhm... I suppose we are 'pod creatures', as you say." Darcy mused. "We humans are quite social..." @em | enya + mallon

“..It is not all bad,” Mallon adds after a small moment. “I have found myself enjoying meeting others here. More than I thought.” @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"That's great!" Darcy smiled. "Truthfully, I have met more people here than I usually do, too. I live a quite isolated life." @em | enya + mallon

Mallon’s head tilts slightly. “You agreed humans are social. What is your life like then, to be isolated?” The phrasing sounds somewhat rude, but there’s genuine curiosity in their voice. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Oh- lots of academics live isolated lives," Darcy laughed. "The person I spend the most time with is my father, who works in the same field as I. We mostly just... study old dictionaries and grammars, trying to find connections between words." @em | enya + mallon

"Aw, you knew the guy, too? He's the best, isn't he..." Glass mused as she and Zerada exited into the grand hall. @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

"He is. I'm sad that he's gone." Zerada sighed. "I wish I could've spoken to him more. It's like I can still hear his voice.." @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"So true..." Glass shook her head in sad sympathy. "He'd figured out a ton about the island, too. Just before his fight he was tellin' me and Roy about it." @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

"Really?" Zerada raised an eyebrow. "He and I were talking about a few things, too, but about a-.. Different topic. He's very knowledgeable." @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Really? What sorta topic?" Glass tilted her head, intrigued. @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

Zerada grumbled something under her breath before letting out a sigh. "I might sound a bit crazy for it, but we spoke about creatures, specifically, ghosts. There's one on this island of the statue of the woman who's in the garden." @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Ghosts? That's so cool!" Glass broke into a beaming smile. "I mean, yeah, spooky and all, but that's so cool! I never knew they were real before- you say the statue in the garden? I haven't seen that before... I wonder who she could be..." @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

"I have a few name ideas, but it's kinda- Hard to get a name out of her," She sighed. "I had a feeling ghosts existed, but I've never seen one until now. It even showed up in my bedroom." Zerada looked over to Glass. "So, what did you talk about with Taisto?" @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Willldddd...." Glass shook her head. "What name ideas d'ya have?" "We mostly talked about Yeonaixho's missing wife- did you know he had a wife? She's gone now." Glass nodded, before suddenly realizing, "Wait a sec..." @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

That one bit of information was all that it took. The ghost was Yeonaixho's missing wife who was truly dead. And given the way that the staff were unable to speak of anything regarding the statue, it made sense that a higher up such as Yeonaixho silenced them. The way the ghost had spoken, Zerada was 100% sure that he had something to do with her death. "Was there a name for his missing wife?" Zerada asked as Glass was attempting to connect the dots. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Wh- I think it was Jeanmarie? Jyrmairi? Something like that- with a j and an m and everything. It was a weird name." Glass's eyes widened. "You think it was her? The ghost?" @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

"A 'J' and an 'M' isn't far too much to work with- Please, could you try and remember?" Zerada asked. "I think the ghost was her. If I use her real name when I speak with her next, she might be likely to respond." @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"I'm really bad with names... and I only heard it spoken aloud, never saw it written down... sorry." Glass confessed. "Taisto did say he read it in one of the church record books... 1998, I think." @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

Zerada's eyes lit up. "That's perfect, I can work with that, thank you. Don't be sorry, you've helped me out a ton already. Do you think that book would be in the library?" @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Hey, it's the least I can do!" Glass shrugged. "I'd think it'd be in the library, yeah. Don't see where else it could be- do you wanna check it out now?" @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

"I'd appreciate that-" She paused. "Do you mind if we were to go get the book and then take a look at the board? I'm sorry to have to guide you out of the library and then drag you back in when we were gonna check out the fight board." @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"I don't mind at all! Honestly, ghosts are way more interesting, anyways." Glass laughed, and spun on her heel back towards the library. "Let's go find some ghosts!" @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

"Thanks, appreciate it." Zerada grinned. She headed towards the library.

9:46 PM

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

Glass followed...

Back to the grand hall they were! "I know they have the list up around here," She hummed. "I wonder if you'll be fighting anyone I know. I haven't met too many people, if I'm honest." @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"I think it's over there." Glass hummed, and walked over to the fight list. It'd been updated to reflect the winners and losers of the matches thus far. "Hmm..." @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

Zerada's gaze remained on Kal's name for a few seconds before she looked for Glass' name. "It looks like you're fighting someone named.. 'Inu'? I don't know them." @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Aw, man, I gotta fight Inu?" Glass frowned. "I do know him, yeah. He's kinda... a friend of a friend, I guess? He's just a really... pathetic little guy, I guess. I'm not gonna hurt him, and if it comes to it I'll let him win. I don't mind loosing, I just came here for fun." @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

“I get that,” Zerada nodded. “I feel the same about Su-Ji. Though, he’s not pathetic, he’s extremely intelligent. I don’t plan on harming him, if he wants to win, I’ll let him.” @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Yeah. Glad to hear not everyone here's super competitive. I just don't wanna hurt the poor kid. It'll work out." @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

“As long as the two of you set boundaries before the match, everything should be okay.” Zerada nodded. “You should make sure that the both of you are on the same page with your rules about not harming each other.” @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"I'll definitely reach out to him beforehand. That's a good idea." Glass nodded. "Though, if he does wanna attack me and fight it out, at that point I'd just forfeit. It's not worth it for me." @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

“Understandable, if I’m honest. No point in letting yourself get hurt if you’re being targeted and can quit at any time.” Zerada hummed. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"That's what I'm thinking. Especially when I wasn't even expecting to win." @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

“Especially with the environment getting in the way,” Zerada shuddered. “It’d be a shame to get hurt because of it.” @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Yeah. I get hurt real easy, too." Glass shook her head. "I doubt he'll want to actually fight. He doesn't seem like the type." @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

Zerada briefly wondered how the hell Inu decided to come to a competition in the first place, but maybe he actually was the type to fight. Maybe. Better not to underestimate your opponent. “Ah, gotcha. Hey, at least it already sounds like you both are on the same page.” @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Mmmmhmmm." Glass hummed. "It'll work out. Thanks for coming with me to do this- I probably wouldn't have gone on my own." She laughed. @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

“Yeah, no problem! Glad to be able to lend a hand.” Zerada smiled before pausing. That sounded too much like Kal for comfort. “Of course. Thank you for your assistance in finding the book, I’m glad we were able to help each other.” @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"No worries! I mean, anything to help the ghost-hunting cause." Glass shrugged. "If that's all ya need, though, I think I'll be on my way." @🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

“Thanks for the help, it’s been perfect. But yeah, I should go on mine too.” Zerada nodded. “See you around, Glass.” @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

🌙Vanessa🌙 | Zerada⚡+ Kal⭐

“Thanks for the help, it’s been perfect. But yeah, I should go on mine too.” Zerada nodded. “See you around, Glass.” @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

Glass waved goodbye to Zerada before exiting in a random direction...

Zerada went off on her own as well…

Glass led Yuga into the grand hall, appreciating the warmth the building offered. "The fight list should be around here somewhere- there it is!" @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

Yuga shook himself and pinched his fingers around a couple of tiny ice crystals in his whiskers to melt them. He looked over to where Glass pointed, and walked next to her. He took a while to find his name. "Launa... I don't know who that is", he muttered and sniffled. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Hmmm.... I don't know them either." Glass frowned. "Not the greatest of news, but not the worst. There's some nasty people here you could've been put against." @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

"Oh? Who?" Yuga turned to Glass with a small frown and his ears turned back. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Have ya met Peregrine? He's this bird guy, been causing everyone trouble. I punched him twice on the docks." @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

Yuga's eyes brightened slightly with recognition, and he was about to reply, but hearing Glass conclusion, he couldn't help but grin and chuckle. Had he laughed here before? "Punched him? Wow. Why?" He asked curiously. "I saw when the church people walked him in the... eating hall. He was wounded. Luuk said he had been disrespectful to the church people." @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Cause he was causing me trouble, and I decided to show him what happens to guys that cause me trouble." Glass nodded proudly. "He hasn't been messing with me since, so it worked." At Yuga's comment, her eyes widened. "Damn- really? That's crazy... guess someone else here thinks like me." @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

Yuga chuckled again. "Good." "Yes. The woman with red clothes had a... had a..." Yuga frowned, trying to find the right word, but didn't seem to know it. "....Arrow.. gun...?" He tried to draw the crossbow in the air for Glass to picture but... it's easier to see it if you know what you're looking for. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Oh- the eyeball lady with the crossbow?" Glass mimed the way Petrai held her weapon. @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

"Yeah, yeah!" Yuga nodded. "She was taking Purr-grin somewhere." @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Damn...." Glass shook her head, her hair clinking pleasantly as she did so. "That eyeball lady kinda freaks me out, I'm not gonna lie. She's weird." @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

Yuga's ears flicked to the sound. He nodded. Both of the big shots of the church frightened him at least a little bit. Partly because they were religious leaders, and those always had a certain aura about themselves that demanded respect, partly because of who Yuga feared himself to be, in which case powerful, pure church leaders would technically be his enemies, right? And partially just because of the clear and concrete power they held over the island and the people there. "She is... a little scary." Which reminded Yuga, he wanted to see the rules. He looked at the list of rules next to the fight list and started reading. He soon seemed a bit confused and frustrated. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

Glass hummed in agreement, then turned to the rules with Yuga. When she noticed his confusion, she turned to him. "What's up?" @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

He was slow to read everything, pausing to stare at every word that was unfamiliar to him, but managed to figure them somewhat out from context, or at least guess what the whole sentence was about. Still, there were a couple lines that he wasn't sure of. "I don't know all these words..." he mumbled. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Oh, you want me to help you out? Is there anything in particular that confuses you?" @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

Yuga glanced at Glass and nodded, before pointing out a line on the wall, tapping a couple of words: "decorum" and "decency". @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Oh- yeah, those are pretty fancy words. It's basically just saying to treat others nicely and respectfully." @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

"Oh, okay. Makes sense." Yuga nodded. "And this?" He pointed at "profane". @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"That's uh- like cuss words and stuff." @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

"Oh, like swearing?" @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Yeah, like that." Glass nodded. @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

"Ookay." He looked at the rules, and hummed. "I think I understand them then..." And he was pretty sure he hadn't broken any rules yet. Hopefully hmmm

@innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Mhm. That's good." Glass nodded. She hadn't been following all the rules, but hey, she hadn't gotten in trouble for it yet. @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

Yuga shuddered a bit, and looked around the hall. It was warmer here than outdoors, but it still felt kind of chilly, and the ey shadowy corners of the hall weren't the most pleasant to be around. "Hmm. I think I could go back to my room." @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"I think I'm ready to turn in for the night, too." Glass hummed. "Let's head back." @Twig | Taisto + Yuga

Yuga hummed in agreement, and turned to the door. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

Twig | Taisto + Yuga

Yuga hummed in agreement, and turned to the door. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

Glass followed

In the wake of Taisto's departure, Ekmeros realised that he had not made the time to see who he was fighting. Never the best idea. And so he had made his way to the grand hall, already considering his strategy. He knew that many of his spells were more defence based rather than attack, and while he could work with a weapon he was not as well trained as some of the others may have been. However, while he perhaps would not be best suited to a 1-on-1 fight, the real danger seemed to be the arena; his defence spells may help him yet. However, all strategising paused as he gazed upon the fight list. His brow furrowed - not in disappointment, more in thought. Hm. Mallon. @em | enya + mallon

Speak of the devil, apparently. Mallon enters the grand hall on their way down from the guest quarters, preoccupied with adjusting their bandana for a moment before they notice Ekmeros standing there……ah. In front of the fight list. This should be interesting. They come up next to him, moving quietly on purpose this time, then ask bluntly, “I suppose you’ve noticed it by now, then?” @soul | peregrine 🎭 + ekmeros 🎻

Ekmeros jumps a little as Mallon approaches, then nods to them. "Yes, I have... noticed. It is unfortunate." He turns to face them, but he just looks them up and down, then he glances back at the fight list thoughtfully. Hm. @em | enya + mallon

Mallon’s previously-neutral expression shifts distinctly into a frown as Ekmeros briefly studies them. They seem to be taking it as more of a challenge than it probably was meant to be. “Unfortunate. Yes. But it would have happened eventually. Fighting someone we have met.” They cross their arms, eye narrowing slightly. “I trust that will not affect our match, however.” @soul | peregrine 🎭 + ekmeros 🎻

Ekmeros continues his studying but he's not really thinking about Mallon - rather, himself, and the fight. His eyes aren't really looking at them but he's certainly staring. He can't tell them about his... situation, so to speak, because it would certainly do nothing but benefit them - and, not to say anything against them, he does not think they were the type to extend sympathy, even if he wanted it. He can imagine them saying something that pries or dismisses or just staring in confusion. And yet, that 'situation' hangs over him and the fight. There is no point in winning, he's decided. He'll have to stay anyway and the only thing he can ever want, no one can help him there. The fact doesn't make him feel lonely, it just makes telling people have no point. Why would anyone want to know about something they can never help with? And so, the Church cannot help him. Yet it was a miracle he came. But nevertheless, it makes winning against Mallon - and thus fighting Mallon - nothing but a time-waster. If anything, perhaps it would be simpler to lose early, and then maybe the Church could begin treatment, whatever that entailed, earlier. "...I do not really wish to fight you, Mallon," Ekmeros slowly says, "and I have my reasons not to- not because we know each other. Other issues that complicated the matter." He grips the strap of his viol case tighter. "Besides, I really have nothing to gain from fighting you - the prize isn't exactly of interest to me. So I propose that I throw the fight. You move onto the next round, I can... take my leave, and then you will have a far more interesting fight against someone who wants the win just as much as you." What he left unsaid was that he didn't exactly want to fight Mallon because they were young - and children rarely liked being told they were children. @em | enya + mallon

Unfortunately for Ekmeros, Mallon is not at all known for being able to read people, and therefore picks up on exactly zero of whatever Ekmeros might be thinking about. It’s not necessarily that they wouldn’t be sympathetic if they were to know anything more, but more likely that they would fail to see why that affects the present moment. As a matter of fact, his extended silence and stare seems to only agitate them further. “I do not wish to fight you either,” Mallon replies, arms still crossed, “but I do wish to fight. A fair one. The outcome will be as it is meant to be. If you want to leave this place so badly, fine. Tell them so and find a replacement, or take your chances, fight me, and mean it.” They hesitate before what they say next, as if unsure to even mention it, and they do sound slightly less blunt than normal. “You throwing during the fight means I would be attacking someone who is not defending themself. I refuse to do that.” @soul | peregrine 🎭 + ekmeros 🎻 (edited)

Ekmeros sighs as Mallon replies. This... stubbornness should have been expected, perhaps. "Asking them to find a replacement will be another hassle to them, and I do not wish to cause problems. And considering the extent they have gone to to include us all in the tourn, I don't want to upset them either." He rubbed the side of his face - he would still be on the island even if he dropped out, but he really didn't want to cause Yeonaixho any more issue than he already had, what with the whole 'ghost' debacle. He took a deep breath. "Perhaps it might be good to have an easy defeat under your belt. People would understand your power and strength." Speaking of strength, he really was quite lacking in that department. The fight was practically already lost, Ekmeros thought. "If it helps you come to terms with the idea, I will have to... perform a fight, of sorts. Nothing that will cause me to win but enough so that it doesn't look like I am... throwing the fight. Even if it is what I am doing." @em | enya + mallon

Mallon glares at the floor for a second, earfins pointed back, before they take a deep breath and meet Ekmeros’s eyes again. “Clearly there already is a problem. It seems to me that speaking to them would be a solution instead.” They don’t try to argue that too hard, though, already moving on. “An easy defeat is not a win,” Mallon emphasizes again, still hanging on to the idea. However, they…they don’t seem entirely disgruntled by the idea of ‘performing’ a fight—it sounds better than ‘throwing’, at the very least. They appear to be thinking very hard about something for a good enough while that their silence seems almost uncomfortable. Then they finally, begrudgingly, say, “The fights I have seen… There is another way to win. It is not ideal but. It is….better than the alternatives.” @soul | peregrine 🎭 + ekmeros 🎻

The glare doesn't escape Ekmeros as he watches Mallon for, well, any response, good or bad. He sighs slightly, shakes his head but doesn't argue his point. To argue it, he'd have to allude to his sickness, and Mallon seems the type, to him, to pick up allusions and further poke and prod at them; most importantly, he is not the type to allow poking and prodding. He doesn't let his expression betray him, only letting his relief come out through a slight exhale from his nose, like breathing, as Mallon suggests another way. "The flowers?" He prompts. @em | enya + mallon

“….The flowers,” Mallon grumbles in agreement, petulant annoyance written across their entire face. “I would have preferred not to bother with them. If it means that our competition will be fair then so be it.” They pause, then their gaze flicks back to Ekmeros with a familiar sudden intensity. “But you will agree to not let me win. That is the conditions I will accept.” @soul | peregrine 🎭 + ekmeros 🎻

Ekmeros' brow briefly furrows in confusion as they lay out their conditions. Did... did they not understand what throwing the fight was? Or were they trying to convince him to not do that entirely? "I will put up some fight, like I said, but I have no reason to try win," he said after a little while of thought. "But I will not... do nothing. I'll put on a good performance." @em | enya + mallon

Yeah, they were definitely trying to convince him not to do that entirely. Oh well. Mallon clearly bites back another retort as Ekmeros reiterates his point, nails digging into their palms before they grit out, “Fine. Fine. I suppose that is the best I am going to get.” There’s a moment of tense silence that passes, then their stance seems to loosen ever so slightly, though their earfins are still pressed back. “You keep saying that you have a reason for this. That you have ‘no reason to try to win’.” (It’s a poor imitation of Ekmeros’s tone.) “Why.” @soul | peregrine 🎭 + ekmeros 🎻

Ekmeros nods gently and encouragingly as Mallon relents. "Thank you." Then he pauses and sighs. Seems his evasion was not successful - and his vagueness only led to more questioning. "I simply have no reason to try and win. I don't have anything worth wishing for," he lied, trying to defend himself in his own mind. It isn't exactly a lie, is it - he doesn't have anything worth wishing for because the thing he wants most of all is impossible to be wished for, and therefore not worth using the wish on, and he doesn't have much else to want. The money would likely leave to thievery and he doesn't enjoy expensive travel anyway. Walking is fine for him. @em | enya + mallon

Mallon seems to take that at face value for a moment—but then their eye narrows, once again staring Ekmeros down (though it’s technically up). “Yet you came here all the same. And you have remained here this long. So, you clearly must have something worth wishing for.” Sorry Ekmeros they’re probably not going to let up on this. @soul | peregrine 🎭 + ekmeros 🎻 (edited)

Ekmeros thinks for a second that maybe he will not have to elaborate and he allows himself to breathe. Then he's interrupted by Mallon continuing and he sighs again. "I... I realised while I was here that the money would be more of a hindrance than a help," he explained after some hesitation. "That's all." @em | enya + mallon

“Money has no relevance to me either.” Mallon decides not to mention the fact that they barely have even a basic grasp on the concept anyways. “Then why stay? Surely you would have been allowed to leave. Not every contestant leaving has because of fighting.” It…does seem like they’re genuinely curious, at least. @soul | peregrine 🎭 + ekmeros 🎻

"It would likely be an inconvenience to the hosts to leave so soon," Ekmeros insists but he knows it's a weak point. "From what I've heard, most people who leave for not fighting... have been up to other unsavoury behaviour." How had he heard about this when he barely talks to people? idk either. "It would mean the fight list would have to be changed which I'm sure may complicate things, especially after the fights have begun." @em | enya + mallon

Mallon shrugs, having already heard the argument before and still not satisfied. Soz Ekmeros. “Then that just makes them more of an inconvenience than you. They’ve changed the list before with no issue,” they add, waving a hand at the board next to them. “So I do not think it is about that.” @soul | peregrine 🎭 + ekmeros 🎻

Ekmeros side-eyes the list and grips the strap of his viol case. Then his eyes fall back onto Mallon and he says absolutely nothing, his lips tightened as if to stop anything from escaping through them. Mallon kinda has him there... @em | enya + mallon

Mallon crosses their arms again, their one eye meeting Ekmeros’s as they stare straight back at him. It’s unblinking and definitely not disconcerting at all what do you mean. “I think you don’t want to leave,” Mallon says bluntly, regardless of whether that might actually be true or not. “I will see you in the arena. Or I will not. That is up to you.” @soul | peregrine 🎭 + ekmeros 🎻

Ekmeros shifts the case slightly, drawing it higher up his chest. "You will see me in the arena," he reiterates slowly, gently, "And you will be the one to win. I'm going to make sure of that." He nods, then takes a deep breath. Dad time. "I also... just do not wish to fight you, Mallon. Even if I had reason to try win, I would rather you win. I think it is what you deserve." @em | enya + mallon

Mallon breaks eye contact abruptly, biting back a sigh. “Fine,” they grumble again. Voice balancing carefully on the edge of bitterness, they add, “I deserve a win, but not to earn it?” They glance to the side. “You hardly know me. I don’t understand.” It’s quieter than anything they’ve said so far, and they even seem surprised at themself for saying it. @soul | peregrine 🎭 + ekmeros 🎻

"I think you've already earned it," Ekmeros simply says with a shrug. No, king will not elaborate! "If anything, it's fate that we were paired to fight." He looks Mallon up and down as they glance away but says nothing more. @em | enya + mallon

Mallon’s eye twitches, ever so slightly. “I have not. Stop saying that.” Something about that seems to have struck a nerve, their fists clenching and unclenching at their sides, and for a moment it seems like they’re about to snap something out before they forcibly relax their shoulders. “I am..not sure I believe in fate.” @soul | peregrine 🎭 + ekmeros 🎻

Ekmeros is quiet for a little while before he sighs softly. "I apologise. It is just what I think." He taps his fingers against the viol case, very carefully as if afraid of damaging it even within the confines of the case. "I am not sure I do, either," he admits, glancing away from Mallon. "Still, I have laid out the plan for what I will do in the arena. That is neither destiny nor fate, that's a certainty." @em | enya + mallon

“It should not be,” is all they have to answer that, though they seem relieved when Ekmeros moves on from the topic. “If you say so,” Mallon mutters in response to the fate comment, half to themself. “It will still be up to the arena itself by the looks of the other fights.” @soul | peregrine 🎭 + ekmeros 🎻

Ekmeros' lips tighten. Yes, the arena... that had been what had caused Taisto to lose, and with such injuries. "I'm old," he says after some consideration. "I think if our arena requires... agility, such as my acquaintance Taisto's did, you will have better luck for it." @em | enya + mallon

Mallon squints at him. “You don’t look that old.” It’s said with a certain amount of scrutiny. “And perhaps I will. But I have not been on land that long. So I do not feel there is too much of an advantage there. Besides, you have magic.” @soul | peregrine 🎭 + ekmeros 🎻

Ekmeros chuckles nervously. "I think I am the oldest contestant here by a good few years." He shifts his case again. "And I feel old... but thank you, Mallon." He's not sure if he should take it as a compliment - Mallon... does not seem the sort, to no fault of theirs. "I suppose. But still. I believe that you may just have the advantage, even without me not wanting to win." @em | enya + mallon

Mallon shrugs noncommittally—they don’t particularly know enough to agree or disagree with that for a human scale, much less for someone else who is Also nonhuman. “That remains to be determined,” they reply with an air of finality, then repeat from earlier as they turn away, “I will see you in the arena. What happens will happen.” @soul | peregrine 🎭 + ekmeros 🎻

"What happens will happen," Ekmeros echoes. He steps back, then pauses. "Thank you, by the way. For showing interest in my viol when we met in the greenhouse, and for letting me play music." @em | enya + mallon

Mallon also pauses, turning back around halfway. There’s..something in their expression, but it’s too difficult to read. “I enjoyed it,” they say honestly. “I had not heard music before. Thank you.” And then they’re gone, before Ekmeros can reply. @soul | peregrine 🎭 + ekmeros 🎻

Ekmeros blinks at the expression and doesn't even try to say anything before they leave. He turns to stare at the fight list for a little while. He stands there a little too long to only be rereading it once before he himself leaves.

2

Petrai had spent enough time outside, so she went back to the dining hall. She didn't have anything to do- it had been years since she last had such free time- so she didn't quite know what to do with herself. She looked at the message boards with all the rules and fights listed on them- what a silly relic of a now distant past. A past that had once been everything to her. @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

Walking out of the dining hall, lucky for Ryu, she didn't have to travel so far to find Petrai. Spotting the older woman in her newly adorned clothes and wings, Ryu couldn't help but snicker. "Hey, I see you got a make over. New rebellion, new you, huh? It's nice," Ryu commented as she approached. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"Well, I'll take the compliment." Petrai shrugged, and turned to face Ryu. "It was a bold move you took, taking Yeonaixho hostage like that. Exposing everything- things I'm surprised you even knew. If I hadn't left him, I'm sure I'd have joined him in the dirt." @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

Ryu shrugged and put her hands into her pocket. "Eh, normal Tuesday for me. Almost died, caught on fire, set things into chaos..." She listed with a small laugh. "But, hey. Just cause I don't like you, doesn't mean I can't give you props for finally letting that old blind man go. Only took like, what, 50 years for you to do? Better late than never." @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

Petrai replied to Ryunoske's listing only with a dry chuckle. "Thank you. And even though I don't like you, it doesn't mean I can't respect you for getting all this started." @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

Ryu smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Yeah. Speaking of which, little worm and daughter girl told me you were the one who would know where the stolen powers are being kept. Are you going to join us in getting those back? If not, I'd at least like to know how to get there." @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"The power crystals..." Petrai thought. "Well, they're either in Yeonaixho's laboratory, or carried on his person. Either way, it'd be smart to organize a group to go retrieve them, preferably of at least a few people who still have their powers." @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

She nodded, humming a little. "I should of ransack him while I had him knocked out.." Ryu mumbled to herself. "Well, either way, I definitely can't do it alone if the other cult members are sticking with him. I almost died with just two of them," Ryu sighed. "Are you willing to lead us down to the lab?" @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"I can lead you down." Petrai nodded, "And I'll be able to look out for any patrols or obstacles. I'll have to retrieve my crossbow first, of course, but that should be relatively easy. I'll leave it to you to assemble a group. Preferably three or so capable fighters, including yourself." @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

Honestly, Ryu couldn't even name three people off the top of her head that would be able to fight in peak condition right now. Valerie would be a good choice, but everyone else was a little out of commission in regards to power. Perhaps that Roy fellow. Even if he was emotionally unstable, he could be of help if he focused. "I'll do my best with what we have. I can't say there are many 'fighters' on the island beyond a couple of people. At least, that I know of. I'll ask around. Where should we meet you once everything is assembled?" @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

"We'll have to make do with what we have." Petrai sighed. "Meet back here once you've found everyone. I'll know." @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

"Gotcha. I'll see you later then," Ryu nodded and walked off again. @innsjo (glass🎸+ darcy🖋+ npcs❄)

Petrai nodded, and went off on her own way. @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

Once again, Ryu was roaming around the building. She had already spoken to Valerie and Enya about the power plan, so now there was only really one last person she was interested in speaking to. Hopefully, the little man was lingering around somewhere near by. @Sauce | Roy 🌩

Roy was walking around the grounds, trying to clear his head. So much had happened lately…. In his wandering he happened into the grand hall. It’s strange to think that not all that long ago they were dancing together here. …? He didn’t recognize that person. They didn’t seem to be staff, at least. He walked over to greet them. “Um- Howdy! I, uh, I don’t think we’ve met before?” @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

It seemed like luck was on Ryu's side, because the little man was already here—And approaching first. That was convenient. "No, we haven't, but I've heard plenty about you from Hannah," Ryu chuckled. "But I'm not here to talk about her and you. I'm actually here to ask if you'd like to come with me and a small group to get everyone's powers back. You're one of the only ones who has their power still. I want people who are still capable of standing on their own." @Sauce | Roy 🌩

He grimaced a little when they told him about Hannah. “Ha… that’s. Great.” At least they didn’t seem to hate him… He perked up at that. “You want- oh! Yeah, of course! I’d be happy to help! Um, what’s your name? I’m- well you know that already.” @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

"Ryu. And you don't have to be so nervous. Hannah may of only had said bad things about you at first, but it seems like she's starting to finally move on now," Ryunoske replied. "If you're willing to help, come to the dining hall today. Whoever else I asked to come will also be there. I want to get moving asap." @Sauce | Roy 🌩

He had a confused look, but smiled a little. “That’s- that’s nice to hear. We didn’t really end on good terms last- ha. Anyway- yeah! I’m happy to help. I’ll bring my partners- they’ll be happy to help too, I’m sure.” He smiled more brightly. It was looking like they might actually get to leave this place! @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

At the mention of Roy's partners, Ryu raised a brow. "Do they still have their powers? As I said, I only want people capable enough to do something more dangerous right now. I already have two who are ready to go, along with one more as our guide. It might be better to let your partners wait it out." @Sauce | Roy 🌩

“Oh, Eben still has his, but, ah, Inu’s was taken. I’ll ask him to help, he’s pretty handy with medical stuff in case anyone gets hurt.” @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

"A medic isn't really needed at the moment, but perhaps he could be on standby," Ryu nodded. "And Inu..? That name sounds familiar.." She hummed, not really sure where she's heard it before now. He probably wasn't important. "Either way, meet at the dining hall, alright?" @Sauce | Roy 🌩

He gave Ryu a nod and thumbs up. “Alrighty. See you there!” @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

Ryu gave him a passive wave before walking off. @Sauce | Roy 🌩

Eben made his way to the grand hall, intending to leave through there, but instead he caught sight of one of the people he was looking for. "Roy!" He called. @Sauce | Roy 🌩

Roy turned at the voice, smiling. “Eben!!” He walked over to them, happily shaking around his hand with lightning running through his fingers. @sketti | Eben 🕶 + Isi 🍁

Eben walked right up to Roy. "Can I hug you?" He asked abruptly. He wasn't entirely sure why he asked, but it felt so unnatural still to just touch someone. @Sauce | Roy 🌩

He tilted his head in confusion. Eben… wants to touch? “Did… something change?” Even still, he held out his arms for a hug, smiling still. @sketti | Eben 🕶 + Isi 🍁

Eben wrapped his arms around Roy, not shying about getting close this time, his hands weren't gloved either. "You have no idea." It could not be any more obvious he hadn't had a hug in ages. @Sauce | Roy 🌩

He was confused, but who was he to deny them a hug? Not like he wanted to deny it at all. He held Eben close in a very tight, but comfortable hug. He would stay there until Eben was ready. @sketti | Eben 🕶 + Isi 🍁

Eben stayed silent like that for a long time. When he finally lifted his face up to let go, it was obvious he'd shed some tears. "My powers are gone, Roy. I'm going to live, and I can.. do this now" He replied, and though he was no longer hugging Roy, he had one hand now intertwined with one of Roy's. @Sauce | Roy 🌩

He squeezed Eben’s hand slightly. “Bwuh? You- did Yeonaixho take them from you?” It was clear in his tone he wasn’t angry, just very concerned for him. (edited)

10:41 AM

@sketti | Eben 🕶 + Isi 🍁

"No, I gave them to him." Eben replied quietly. "And I'm fine, I'm better for it." @Sauce | Roy 🌩

His eyes went wide. He- he did what??? “Y-you wuh??” His powers- they were killing him so he- oh god. “E-Eben you- he could’ve killed you or something!!” He was starting to tremble slightly as he held down the lightning sparking to his emotions. “Y-you! You told me not to be c-careless with my life and you go and do something like- like this?! You-“ His hands shakily rose to cup Eben’s face. Tears shined in his eyes from his turbulent emotions as he attempted to speak multiple times- but never knew what to say. Instead, he kissed him. @sketti | Eben 🕶 + Isi 🍁

Eben didn't even try to get a word in as Roy processed. He just nodded. He knew, he knew and he risked it anyway. But god as Roy kissed him, all he could think about was how he'd do it 100 times over for this. He had no idea how it felt to kiss him, what with how rough part of his face was, but it didn't matter. He just held Roy's face and kissed him back. @Sauce | Roy 🌩

His kiss was quite literally electrifying! There was a buzz in his skin as he held Eben’s face. Once they finished laughter bubbled up and Roy couldn’t help himself as he smiled brightly. “Ehehe! I- Hang on a sec-“ He stepped away for a moment and let himself spark with the excitement. After a bit he turned back to Eben. “I love you! Please- please don’t do anything else that dangerous.” He walked back over and held his hands, brushing his fingers over the stone and skin. “I’m really really happy for you.” @sketti | Eben 🕶 + Isi 🍁 (edited)

Eben could feel the buzz, and he loved it. As they let go he was smiling brighter than he ever had. "And I love you!" he replied, watching as Roy sparked. He could only look at Roy as the man put his hands on Ebens again. @Sauce | Roy 🌩

Oh, Roy had never seen him so happy!! It was infectious, if only he could smile any more than he already was. “We gotta tell Inu! Um- well I was gonna ask you to come with me, some of the others are gonna go try to get everyone’s powers back and I’m gonna help. But- ah, you don’t have that anymore, so! And that’s fine- god, that’s wonderful! I’m so happy for you!!” He’s so happy he’s literally giggling and rocking on his heels. @sketti | Eben 🕶 + Isi 🍁 (edited)

"Absolutely, I was planning on finding both of you but now we must find him." As Roy continued, Eben listened. "I'm happy as well but just, please be careful alright? You're more than capable, but if Yeonaixho went to these lengths to get the powers, I have no doubt he's gone to lengths to protect them as well." After the cautionary, he smiled again, just watching Roy be so excited made it impossible not to. @Sauce | Roy 🌩

He brought up one of Eben’s hands to kiss it. “I promise I’ll be careful. We get those and Inu can get us home.” @sketti | Eben 🕶 + Isi 🍁

Now that half of his face actually has blood again, his face is SO warm at that simple gesture. "And if you aren't careful, at least fight back harder than you ever have." Eben replied. "And I'll be here when you get back." @Sauce | Roy 🌩

He nodded, smiling. “Let’s go find Inu.” @sketti | Eben 🕶 + Isi 🍁

Eben nodded, taking Roy's hand and leading him away. @Sauce | Roy 🌩

Petrai is here now, with a large cart of boxes. Each box has a name on it. She even brought over Hannah's surfboard! @jail