"My name's Darken." The masked man says calmly, meeting her eyes, conveying his genuine care, and yet, with a flicker of fun, a selective warmth, and a shadowed mystery that lives up to his name…
"Darken Mysterius. ☕️"
"…"
"Pfffftttttt… !!!!!!"
Itvasme starts laughing again, in disbelief, but then she realises that the masked guy doesn't seem to be joking.
"Wait… for real?!"
"Yep. That's my real name. I have a certain… 'Author' to thank for that…"
"Oh yeah… him *humph*" Itvasme finds herself understanding Darken's sentiment more than she wants to admit…
"That said, I like my name. And… *Itvasme*… I like your name too…"
"…Shut up. You're not as smooth as you think."
Itvasme turns away hiding her subtle "I-can't-believe-this" "did-he-really-just-say-that!?" blush, but Darken can tell with his ["Eyes of Rizz"] that she… doesn't mind the fact that he likes her name, and him saying it.
"Well, it made you laugh, so I guess that's something 🤭✨… by the way, laughing looks great on you, you should do it more often 🫢✨"
Suddenly, Darken's eyes sparkle with mischief, and he makes as if to tickle the Grand Dark Rizzard, who will be helpless before his… terrifying techniques!!!
"!!!!!"
Itvasme starts, defending herself with a pillow, before going on the counterattack…
…After a few half-hearted feints which Itvasme expertly avoids, Darken allows himself to be 'overpowered' and… straddled.
He holds his hands up as if in surrender. "Ok you got me. I give up. This man and his body is now yours."
Itvasme snorts - what is this feeling? She thinks to herself - before smothering him a bit with the pillow and then, relenting, her mind now back on the more… pressing matters than even herself atop this warm, sculpted, mysterious masked man.
"Anyway, where… are we? And are you going to take off that mask… Mr... Mysterius?"
Darken sighs, enjoying the comforting, heavenly… pressure (of Itvasme straddling him as well as the question), even as he deliberates.
Keeping the mask on would allow Author to milk the mystery and allow him an easy way to remain edgy and aura farm further. Taking it off would speed up the plot and be more realistic and healthy…
"Itvasme, I am a man of my word. From today, this dark and mysterious person, and his body are yours. 🫢 But I need to be upfront. My main goal, amongst other things… is to make the World… Better. And I came here and approached you deliberately, in order to learn more about the Dark Rizzard Alliance, and to see if there might be a possibility to work together, to make that goal more possible."
"… I didn't expect that things would turn out… this way." At this, Darken's dark, deep eyes softened. "But just so you know. That is my Purpose."
"I… see. Hm. Well, I figured..."
"As for the mask… I want to save that for a little longer… otherwise I really think I'll be completely defenceless when it comes to you... ✨"
"-But don't worry, whenever you like, you can take it off. Just… well keep your expectations low… I'm just an… Average guy, and I mean, it's not like we're in a webnovel where the masked guy would be guaranteed to be really handsome, right? 🫢✨"
Itvasme suppresses the natural urge to throttle this mysterious guy who at least has a hot physique, and makes as if to take off his mask… but then, she hesitates.
What was she thinking? Did she actually want to know? What… was she expecting, anyway?
As a matter of fact, even in the stories, it was more common that a mask would often hide something deeper, and darker.
There was still the chance, to walk away now, unaware, and untouched by… knowing.
And yet. There was also a part of her that knew that she would always wonder, if she didn't go through with it.
Well… he did say that she could take it off whenever she liked… and she had had enough surprises for today…
All of a sudden, Itvasme *shivers*, and *sneezes*, as the sheer weight of everything she has been through, the Dark Rizzards' mission, the EVP Showdown, this… everything all comes crashing back into Reality, even as the adrenaline begins to fade.
Darken is there in an instant, immediately his dark warm brown eyes flash with concern, and in a flash, he lays her gently down, resting her head on several layered pillows - [allows for easier breathing and to optimise her blood flow] - quickly covering her with a warm blanket, and then unfastening his thick dark cloak and placing it over the top, wrapping her snug - [to preserve her body heat] - making sure that she is ok and comfortable.
Itvasme lets herself be wrapped in the warmth, she is feeling a little tired honestly, even as she thinks how shameless Author is writing this scenario, but she is feeling so tired that there is nothing she can do…
"Wait here, Itvasme. I'm just going to get you something hot to drink."
There is a *whoosh* as she [Senses] that the masked man she only knows as Darken Mysterius appears to have departed, but before long, another *whoosh* signals his return.
"I'm not pushing this. It's just a hot drink ok? It's just an immune-boosting Honey and Lemon. Drink it if you want... here..."
"..."
[Itvasme rises with effort and drinks some of the hot liquid from the steaming mug, which immediately infuses her with a sudden, comforting warmth.]
[*clink* the sound of the mug placed down, as the deep, dark, strong voice continues]
"I know you have questions. Just rest for now, I promise I'll answer them all. Just rest. I promise, upon this body that is now yours… you'll be safe. ✨"
Darken gently squeezes Itvasme's hand from under the blanket, quiet concern in his eyes as he realises they are quite cold, even as he dextrously and gently massages them to impart warmth back into her fingers…
"..."
Itvasme *cannot* believe it. When was she, a Grand Dark Rizzard, this… frail!?!? And yet, there is nothing for it - she was human, after all. She knows she currently has two options. Fight, strive to escape, and attempt to retreat to safety... or otherwise, to trust this mysterious person…
In truth, she knows that even if she struggles, there is no guarantee that she can overpower him, at least not in her current condition. It has been a truly... bewildering day, where so many things have been outside her expectations and full control.
[Sense]. *There is concern, fear that he may have precipitated her current condition due to his own desire… but also a resolve that he will do everything in his power to keep her safe.*
Darken Mysterius. W-Who are you? Are you… real? What do you want from me?!
All these tired thoughts, and more, swirl and coalesce into one in the inky darkness, as her eyes close, and Itvasme's vision - inner and outer - along with her Consciousness… fades to black.