Masquerade - These Masks We Wear

[Channelknight Fadran]

Ivian snapped his fingers. Two soldiers grabbed the Raveness and forced her to her knees, pushing her head down. A third  grabbed a bowl, and a fourth grabbed an axe.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Riva gasped - squealing upon being grabbed - and one of her heels flew off her foot. She was genuinely surprised at her situation, shocked beyond belief that the king would actually do this to her. For the first time in decades, terror embraced her heart like an old friend. She’d always known that without the king’s protection, the world would converge upon her and now she felt it, closer than ever before. “Wait!!” she cried, betraying tears threatening to take her. “Wait, no!! No, no, no, Stars, please!” 

Edited May 31, 2021 by Shard of Thought

[Channelknight Fadran]

Ivian snapped his fingers again. The guards let her go.

"Remember this the next time you underestimate me."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Riva hit the ground awkwardly without the guards' support. She growled, (hair now slightly unkempt) and stared Ivian down with radioactively blue eyes. "I shall not forget," said the Raveness, patting down her skirt while she stood, "but you had best not forget who I am either."

Edited May 31, 2021 by Shard of Thought

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden sheathed his blade, watching the Raveness with a precise and careful eye. He felt doubt about Ivian's decision to keep such a woman alive creeping up on him, but he quickly shoved such treasonous thoughts aside.

[Channelknight Fadran]

"Of course." The king nodded at his guards. "Because you're the one with the cards here. In any case, you and Caden will now take your honeymoon at his private estate for the traditional time."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Fine," said Riva, poison in her words. She snapped - a sharp, practiced sound that was louder than it had any right to be - and pointed down. "Caden, come."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden looked towards Ivian to make sure that was his will. His expression was indistinguishable from that of a toddler, looking to their parent for an excuse not to go, but was willing to go anyways.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Without waiting for Ivian to offer any comfort to the poor General, Riva took his wrist in her cold fingers and led him away. “I look forward to a tour of the house,” she said, eager to be the one in control again. “I want to see every inch....” 

Quote

I'm assuming our dear Brother Tomad will have something to say about Ivian nearly killing Riva and Caden's eagerness to see it happen?

@Frustration

Edited June 1, 2021 by Shard of Thought

[Frustration]

11 hours ago, Shard of Thought said:

Without waiting for Ivian to offer any comfort to the poor General, Riva took his wrist in her cold fingers and led him away. “I look forward to a tour of the house,” she said, eager to be the one in control again. “I want to see every inch....” 

@Frustration

Quote

Oh was this still at the Church?!

 

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Quote

It sounded like it, yeah. Maybe outside or something. But they never moved. At least not explicitly. At the very least, I know Mr. Tomad was invited, if not there.

 

Edited June 1, 2021 by Shard of Thought

[Frustration]

Brother Tomad had watched in shock, he had heard what the king was like, but seeing it was something he wasn't prepared for.

"Ivian, what was that!"

[Channelknight Fadran]

"In my defense she told me to."

[Frustration]

"Not what she ment. You cannot rule by force, this is a discrace to the crown you wear."

[Channelknight Fadran]

"Tomad, all the kings before me have ruled the same way: by an iron hand. Why do you think they all fell so fast?" Ivian cut himself another slice of cake. "In case you haven't noticed, though, my approval ratings are significantly higher than those who came before me. If I rule the Raveness by the sword and my kingdom by clemency, then where's the harm? She doesn't represent the citizens of this nation."

[Frustration]

"Patriarch Ados said "You can best judge a man by how he acts with those in his own home." If that is the standard for your allies Ivian I find your character lacking. You know I cheered for your corination, I had hoped you would be an end to the bloodshed of the Crown Wars, but you have merly put a nice face on it."

[Channelknight Fadran]

"I intend to end the bloodshed, Tomad, by shedding but a little more of it." Ivian stood. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have my estate to tend to. I've been spending the past week improving the working conditions and payment of my servants there, in case you're wondering how I act in my own home."

[Frustration]

Brother Tomad snorted in disgust, and for the tenth time since he had been made acting Bishop, considered petitionaing the Patriarch to excommunicate Ivian. He eventually decided against it, but the option looked more and more appealing.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

On 5/30/2021 at 8:26 PM, Condensation said:

"Oh! Right. Thank you!"

"Why o' course, miss!" He took off his hat and bowed, then took a seat on a table and began folding the paper. "Oi, wanna watch, miss 'bella?" 

@Vapor

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

18 hours ago, Shard of Thought said:

Without waiting for Ivian to offer any comfort to the poor General, Riva took his wrist in her cold fingers and led him away. “I look forward to a tour of the house,” she said, eager to be the one in control again. “I want to see every inch....” 

@Frustration

Caden sighed, allowing the Raveness to lead him away for the moment.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Oh, good boy." Riva chuckled and looked up to ruffle his hair, though she ultimately decided he was too tall. She held onto his arm to be pedantic instead.

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden growled at Riva's choice of words, wanting to tear his arm out of his grip. However, he decided to allow the witch her moment, the King may have been willing to make an example of her powerless position when compared to that of the throne, but Caden had none of that authority. 

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"You, there!" Riva boomed suddenly. A startled servant jumped, his voice squeaking just a little bit. 

"Your Raven-ness?"

"Go to the dungeons and tell Daku to bring my essentials to Castle Praetorium. Got that?"

"Ah..." The poor boy's mouth worked for a moment and then he bowed awkwardly. "Yes, your Raven-ness." He ran away with great speed and Riva smirked, glad that people still existed who respected her authority. 

"Right. To the carriage, Caden. I want to get to know the man I'm married to..."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden sneered, "I've already told you all you need to know."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Oh, surely a man with as much years behind him as you do has stories of valor and glory." She nudged him. "Besides, if I already know everything, this is going to be a long marriage. You'll live what, a decade more at most?"