Masquerade - These Masks We Wear

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"What, you're going to do something about it, kid?" Allivia hissed.

[Channelknight Fadran]

Katie shrank away and whimpered.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Yeah, that's right." With that, she walked off into the hallway.

[Channelknight Fadran]

As soon as she was gone, Katie ran over to Sarah. "Did you see her?"

"Sure didn't."

Katie fiddled with her fingers and bounced on her toes anxiously, then said, "I'm gonna find Arabella. Maybe she knows." Without waiting for a reply, she dashed out into the hallways.

@Vapor

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

“Hello there, baby,” said a nasally voice. 
Nicolae looked down and just about jumped out of his robe. “‘Livia! Wh-wh-wh-what are you doing here?” He ran a hand through his disheveled hair, starting to sweat immediately. He knew exactly what was coming. I told you, Wendy, Nico thought grimly. Allivia is too much.
Allivia screwed up her face awkwardly, like she was about to talk to a child who was in trouble. “Well… I’m here to have a chat with you, Nico. Here, walk with me.” She grabbed his wrist and held it tight, fingernails digging into his flesh. Stars, he hated it when she did this. It hurt so much. 
“‘Livia…”
She waved him off. “Shut up. We’re not there yet.” 
The two walked for a while, Nico hanging his head. Allivia’s fingernails had begun to draw blood by the time she pulled him into an out-of-the way, but large closet and shoved him up against the wall. Allivia slapped him. Nicolae’s sight went black for a second and he felt blood drip down his chin.
“What the Mal were you thinking, you idiot boy?!”
“I-I-”
“That girl Wendy is getting in your head. I hope you had fun sleeping with her last night because you’re never going to see her again.”
“You…” Nicolae teared up. “You’s gonna kill her?”
“I think I will. If it’ll teach you what’s good for you.”
“No! No, Allivia, please. She didn’t do nothin’ wrong, it was all me.” He sobbed. "Please, 'Livia. I'll never say no again, promise. I'll do anythin' at all."
“You've really never known when to shut it.” She kneed him between the legs and he groaned, doubling over. “All of this is your fault, Nico. You’re a coward, but you’re mine. Never forget that, or there will be consequences." Allivia pulled him towards her and kissed him deeply for a moment. "We haven't enjoyed each other's company in too long. Are you available tonight, Nico?"
Every bone in his body begged him to say no. He hated nights with her. But he knew what to do. "Yes, 'Livia."
"Good boy, Nico."

[Channelknight Fadran]

Quote

Yeah both my characters are kinda occupied at the moment so there isn't much for me to post...

 

[Vapor she/her]

12 hours ago, Channelknight Fadran said:

As soon as she was gone, Katie ran over to Sarah. "Did you see her?"

"Sure didn't."

Katie fiddled with her fingers and bounced on her toes anxiously, then said, "I'm gonna find Arabella. Maybe she knows." Without waiting for a reply, she dashed out into the hallways.

@Vapor

Ara ran through the hall towards the servants quarters, wanting to talk to Katie and Wendy. On the way, she ran right into Katie.

[Channelknight Fadran]

"Ah!" Katie jumped. "Oh, Ara!"

[Vapor she/her]

"Hi Katie!"

[Channelknight Fadran]

"Have ya seen Wendy? I can't find her anywhere!"

[Vapor she/her]

"No. We should ask Nico!!!"

[Channelknight Fadran]

Katie nodded. "Right. He'll know what to do. Have you seen him?"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Allivia walked into the medical wing and sat down on Wendy's bed. "Why hello there, Wendy. Did you have a good sleep last night?"

[Channelknight Fadran]

Instead of replying, Wendy slapped Allivia in the face.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Allivia hissed and grabbed Wendy by the throat, forcing her down. "You're never going to see Nicolae again, you insolent little welp."

[Channelknight Fadran]

"What're--you... gonna do?" Wendy coughed. "Hide him in--your room? For the rest of... his--life?"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"No, Wendy. He'll avoid you. You know why? Because I'll kill you if he doesn't."

[Channelknight Fadran]

"Hey!" The medic grabbed Allivia by the shoulders and yanked her off. "You get out of here. This is a hospital, not a fighting ring!"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Allivia hmphed, shot Wendy a glare, and left.

[Channelknight Fadran]

"So you have a concussion, missy," the doctor said to Wendy. "We'll keep you here for today and make sure you're doing alright. After that you can go home and rest up for a week. We've already contacted the taskmaster; she's given you leave."

"I don't..." Wendy looked down. "I don't have a home to go to."

The doctor shrugged. "You can figure that out yourself. Not my problem."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Nicolae knelt in the corner of his room and prayed as he cried, head in his hands. "I knows ya don't hear from me often as you should... It just don't feel right for a sinner like me to ask anythin' of ya. But I ain't askin' for me-self this time." He sniffed and wiped his eyes, looking up towards the ceiling. "That woman you sent - Wendy - 'Livia says she'll kill her if I talks to her. Please keep her safe. All this is my fault and I doesn't want her to get hurt 'cause of me. 'Cause... she's already been hurt. I can't tell you how much I hates myself for-" He paused. "Well, I supposin' you already know. Omniscient and all. Stars, why does you even pray, when they already know?" Nicolae sighed, "In the Stars' name, amen," and shakily got to his feet. It was high time he got dressed and went to help Alienor.

Edited June 29, 2021 by Zephrun's Imperium

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

    Caden handed the sealed letter to a messenger that detailed to the King precisely why he needed to speak with him immediately, then stormed to the Captain's office near the barracks that he had taken residence in ever since she had stolen his personal chambers. Just thinking about that lying witch made his blood boil again, causing him to slam the door behind him to the point that it rattled on it's hinges, threatening to fall off. It was so foolish of him to let his guard down for a moment, and he caused himself pain for it. Never cutting himself, no. A warrior never inflicted that sort of pain. The general winced as he recalled the many, many times that his father had drilled that lesson into his head, forcing him to perform drill after drill. Never cut yourself on purpose, the enemy does that for you.

He grimaced as he yanked out his blade, his muscles sore from his rigorous training regiment from earlier. That didn't matter, soldiers never whine or complain at pain, they never stop training, and they never let themselves be fooled by terrible witches. He swung his blade at each thought, accepting the agony that came from his arms. He would never let her trick him again, and he would never fall for another one of her lies. He would rather die then let that happen. He sighed, dropping the blade and collapsing in a nearby chair, closing his eyes and hating how much his anger taxed him nowadays.

He didn't know what to do about the Ravenness. He thought she had actually been interested in him, and that she had been genuine. He always had suspicions that she was lying, but it hurt how much he had believed her lying words, and even waiting then to be true for but a moment, only to have his suspicions confirmed. He sighed, dozing off with no viable solution in sight, but he knew that he could never trust her, right?

-------

With a sigh, sergeant Johann open the door to the Palace Garrison, barely looking up at the man behind the nearby small desk as he approached. "Disturbance in the Medical Wing, one of the staff defused it before it became an issue."

The man nodded, grabbing a piece of parchment and preparing to write on it. "Did you have to actually do anything?"

"Nah," Johann waved aside the comment, "don't even bother filling out the paperwork."

The man cleared his throat, causing Johann to actually look up to see him nodding his head towards a group of men who were standing near. Johann wouldn't have given them another thought upon first glance, but with a closer inspection, he noticed the Praetorium emblem on their shoulders. Johann turned back to the accountant, raising an eyebrow. "Is there a reason I should be worried?"

Just as Johann finished his statement, the Praetorium men strutted towards the two. "What is going on, here?" The man's accent matched his demeanor, unreasonably rigid and professional past any logical point. 

"Nothing," Johann glanced at the man's rank insignia, "captain, sir."

"I expect you," the captain glared at the man, "to stand at attention when a superior is addressing you, soldier!"

Johann jumped at the shouting, struggling to stand up straight and at attention on a whim. "Sorry, sir."

The captain sneered at the apparently sloppy posture, "now, what are you reporting, soldier!"

"A disturbance in the med wing, sir."

"Who was involved?" The captain stared down the sergeant, daring him with his eyes to step out of line.

"Uh, members of the serving staff, sir." Johann struggled to swallow, trying to calm his own nerves.

"Names, sergeant?"

"I didn't get them, sir."

"Then what are you doing here, soldier!"

"Sir?" Johann asked, uncertainty practically drenching the single word.

"In order to finish the report, you need names, boy!" The captain glared at the sergeant, causing him to sweat across his brow. 

"But sir, nothing came o-"

"You will not speak unless spoken to, boy!" The captain shouted, "you palace children are the worst soldiers I have ever seen! I have watched peasent militia perform more competent and professional than you hopeless lot with only a single day of training!"

The sergeant clenched his lips shut, trying with all his might to not speak in the defense of the palace guard.

"If the general let us have our way," the captain continued, "we would have all of you back through basic training!" He turned around, "now get back out there, and finish your report, soldier! Lives are at stake, and I will not allow your palace indolence put them at any more risk, now do your Star's Blazing job!"

The captain left, leaving Johann standing at attention until he was out of sight. As soon as Johann knew he was gone, he bit his thumb after him. "Stuck up Praetorium's, I'd let Mal at them all without raising a finger to help them."

The accountant shook his head, "just let him be and make up a few names so we can get this done."

"Fine, Arthur, but I still hate him."

The accountant, Arthur, shook his head and spoke under his breath. "Get in line."

Edited June 30, 2021 by The Ward's Guard

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Nicolae was perfectly cheerful despite his black eye and swollen, bloody lip. He walked into Alienor’s room without a care in the world and set down her breakfast tray. “Mornin’ miss!”

@Condensation

[Condensation she/her]

Alienor, who was already dressed for the day, gasped. "What happened?!"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

“Hmm?” Nicolae realized just then that she was talking about his face. “Oh! It’s nothing, really. Don’t you worry one whit about me.” He winked, flashing a timid smile that did a poor job of hiding the worry in his eyes or his weak trembling.
-------
Late in the afternoon, when she knew Caden was at home in his study, Riva made the trip down to him and knocked on the door. She felt bad for acting the way she had the night previous - the childish way she'd revealed that the tea was poisoned was particularly embarrassing to recall - and was presently determined to offer a flag of truce by returning the room now that Caden was likely calmed down from last night.

@The Ward's Guard

 

Edited July 2, 2021 by Zephrun's Imperium