Masquerade - These Masks We Wear

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"Yes, he likes to stay to the shadows more, helps him 'be effective at his work,' apparently." Caden picked up a piece of meat and shoved it into his mouth, "I told him over and over again that his skills had to be as good as promised, because even I thought that letting him into your workplace was a high price."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Riva froze. "What did you say?"

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden coughed, bits of chicken flying from his mouth before silently cursing himself. "I- What I mean is-" He shouted in frustrated while slamming his fists on the table, "I explicitly decided to not bring that up, why am I saying this?!"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Because you're on a drug, idiot. "You let him into my office?" she growled. 

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

He grit his teeth, "only for a moment. It was a small price to pay when in service to the king."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"You had no right to do such a thing! There are things in there, that... Why you little..." She clenched her fists.

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"What does it matter," Caden glared at Riva, "I thought that subjects such as 'personal space' were to be disregarded in one of these relationships."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"That doesn't mean you don't have to ask! If he took something..."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"Did you ask before you stole my personal chambers?! In fact, I distinctly remember telling you to not enter that room."

Edited June 28, 2021 by The Ward's Guard

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Do you want your room back, Caden?" she hissed. "Do you?!"

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"What does it matter anymore?" He leaned towards her, "take it! All you've done is harass me and make my life difficult the day that I laid eyes on you, why stop now?!"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Harass you? I made you tea, your ungrateful little bastard. And yes, it was drugged with something to loosen your tongue, but we were having fabulous conversation before this."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden growled, "you what?!"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

She smirked and stood, throwing the chair back behind her. "I. Drugged. Your. Tea!" 

Edited June 28, 2021 by Zephrun's Imperium

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden tossed the cup that was in his hand across the room, causing it to shatter against the wall. "Here I thought you had managed to become bearable, but you've been playing your games since the moment that you stepped through my door!" He stood up, blood coursing through his body. "Lie to me all you want, witch! But I will never tolerate you!"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"And you," Riva growled, jabbing a finger at him. "You've never cared about anyone in your life. You're a slimy, no-good, grumpy old man and that is why no one will shed a tear when you die. Stars, I wish that tea I'd given you had been laced with poison. The birds will sing at your demise, you idiot, and children will weep with joy."

Edited June 28, 2021 by Zephrun's Imperium

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"Not quite so loud, Maal will think you're speaking about yourself, witch." He brushed her finger aside with ease, "I will not stand for you and your poisons! Stay out of my way, or be crushed!" He spun around and tossed his chair aside, stomping towards the door.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Oh, get a thesaurus, fool, I'm far more than just a witch!" she yelled at him as he left.

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"That's all you'll ever be, and that's all you'll be remembered for!" He shouted as he stormed down the hall, feeling the distinct urge to crush something in his hands.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Oh, go to Mal!" Riva yelled again, shaking with fury.

[Channelknight Fadran]

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I've said this before, but these two are arguing like a married couple.

 

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Riva screeched in anger, but resisted throwing things like that stupid man had. She would not stoop to his level, no matter how hard it was to push down the urge. Who did he think he was? Letting some random scavenger take a look around in her office?! Thank the Stars she was moving out and hadn't had full access... Gah, he didn't even ask! He just... Stars, it would be a miracle if Caden didn't annoy her to the point that she'd murder him. Riva sat down in her chair again, stabbing her meat and cutting into it vigorously. That IDIOT! She knew in her heart that she should give him more leverage - the journal had proved he'd been through a hard time - but she just... she just couldn't stand him! Maybe he deserved love, but only an angel could love that ingrate and Riva was far from one. Idiot man, he probably hadn't even meant what he'd said about her-her-her eyes... And leading her on by letting her touch his hand... Actually holding a conversation with her. Enjoying his stars-cursed tea.

She shouldn't be crying over this, she really shouldn't be. But apparently her tears didn't care. She ate with trembling hands, sorrowful droplets falling onto her plate. 

I will never tolerate you! Witch, witch, witch, witch, witch!

"Oh, stop crying, Riva, you fool," she mumbled to herself through ugly sobbing. She was holding her fork like a life line, knuckles white as snow. The food that had tasted so good at first now felt like a flavorless weight in her mouth. What had she thought was going to happen? That they'd ride off into the sunset of friendship and live harmoniously forever in their shared villainy? Forget him never tolerating her, she would never tolerate him. She hated him! She hated him more than anything. To think, she'd wanted to go to a blazing ball with the man. Dance with him, by the Stars, she'd sooner choke on these vegetables and die. What did it matter that she'd dreamed about having someone to do that with for her entire life? Her husband was an uncaring brute who could kill her at any moment and no one would care. 

No one would ever care. 

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Riva is the most Yzma human

 

[Channelknight Fadran]

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It's like I'm talking to a monkey! A really big, fat, stupid monkey.

 

Edited June 28, 2021 by Channelknight Fadran

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden threw open his study's door, shouting in anger as he did so. He wanted to sit down and finish the letter to the king, but any measure of focus elluded him as he thoughts turned back to the dinner, over and over again. He ground his teeth, cursing that infernal witch and her lying and scheming ways. It wasn't just that she had lied to him over the tea, but it was that he should have known better then to trust that horrible woman. She drugged him only to toy with his emotions, force him to speak his mind and reveal all of his secrets. She was better than he had ever feared at feigning sincerity, forcing him to bend to her whim and coddle her like some love struck plaything. She was always lying, always scheming, and he lacked a reason for why he had allowed her to convince him otherwise. He paced the room, his blood pumping too fast for him to sit down as he started to swing his arms, trying to release the anger and frustration at both that twisted and vile woman, as well as at his own foolish self. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to shut out how deeply her words had cut him and cursing himself for even letting him be affected by her. He started to practice breathing slowly, trying to force himself into a state where h could finish his work. One breath at a time, he felt his heart slow, and he moved to take the seat once more.

With a glance at the parchment that the hunter had left behind, Caden read a note offering a thanks for the payment that the hunter had received, and his breath got caught in his throat. 

That woman had the audacity to explode with anger at him over letting a man in her personal chambers for but a few moments, when she had stolen his when he had explicitly told her not to even go into that room. He clenched his fists as he felt himself shooting into a standing up position, unable to keep himself in his chair. He drew his blade as all of his previous frustration at that witch came a head with a swing of his blade against the chair. He grit his teeth, unsatisfied with the lack of response from the inanimate piece of wood. He felt the distinct need for something to squirm and panic under his blows, not this boring an useless chair. With very little effort, Caden yanked the blade from where it had been lodged in the wood, and stomped out of the door of his study. His burning and undeniable fire that pushed him to take each step fueled by both his frustration over his stolen room, and the Raveness's unjust reaction over his admission.

"If she wanted to yell and shout over someone violating her personal property, then perhaps she shouldn't practice it, herself!" Caden took a shaky breath, cursing himself over allowing the Raveness to poison him once more. If she wanted to use her poisons to harm him, the all he would have to do is disar-

"No," Caden shook his head, "that won't help at all." He turned dramatically from his unconsciously chosen path to the room that he had been told the Raveness was "setting up shop" in, moving instead to the training field to deal out his anger in a more productive way. He wouldn't go down to her level, not yet.

[Condensation she/her]

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Someone fill me in? Please?