Masquerade - These Masks We Wear

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"'Livia cannae be stopped." He put his head in his hands and cried. "I shoulda been brave eight years ago. Iv'an sat me down. Said, 'Now, Nico, you's a man, you are. I know your father's gone now, but you gots to be brave an' I know you can be.' I told him I would be, but I'm not. I'm a coward I am, always 'ave been. If... Iffin' Iv'an was 'ere, 'e'd say, 'Nico, stand up, get'cher self together. You's pathetic you are, an' iffin' your daddy Kimby could see ya, he'd be disappointed, oh yes.'"

[Vapor she/her]

Ara reached over and gave Nico the biggest hug she’d ever given, which wasn’t actually all that big.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

And Nico held tight to that little girl, holding back full sobs.

[Condensation she/her]

37 minutes ago, Zephrun's Imperium said:

Nico regarded Alienor seriously. "Yer Highness... with all respect due ya, what are you gonna do 'bout it? Iv'an hates you, what power does you even really hold?"

Alienor stood across the room awkwardly for a moment, then tilted her head. "Does it have to go through Ivian though?"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Nico wiped his eyes. "I doesn't know... Do what you will, Alienor. I just..." He sighed. "I don't want nob'dy to get hurt."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

On 7/3/2021 at 8:18 PM, Zephrun's Imperium said:

Rive broke into snorting laughter.

"What the blazes is so funny?"

---

Corporal Fischer followed closely behind his captain as the regular inspection was performed. He saw a nod of respect every time the captain passed a man wearing the Praetorium emblem, and Fischer noted their impossibly professional postures and uniforms, constantly feeling the pang of worry that he wasn't quite meeting those standards. Every time his captain glanced in his direction, he straightened his back as much as he could and tried to adopt the emotionless expression of the guards around him, only to feel it slowly slip away as he walked. He sharpened his blade, he cleaned his uniform, and he polished his armor just as the rest, but even with his first month in the Praetorium Guard under his belt, he still felt that he wasn't quite meeting the expectations. 

After what seemed like an eternity, the men they were walking past changed, and so did the captain's attitude. As more and more of the men wore the King's emblem, the captain growled and glared more, trying to get them to correct their postures. To their credit, they did, but the second that they thought they were out of Fischer and the captain's sight, they went right back to their slouched position. The captain spoke without looking towards Fischer, "if anything, let these poor fools be an example of what not to become. You understand, my boy?"

Fischer nodded, trying to look respectfully even though he was technically a seasoned warrior. You had to be in order to be accepted among the ranks of the General's personal guard. It just didn't help that he was the youngest recruit brought in by the General's command, ever. "Yes, sir."

The captain nodded, but continued to growl and shout at the men he passed. Fischer winced on behalf of the guardsmen, knowing full well the wrath of a captain of the Praetorium Guard. Fortunately, this inspection didn't have much more ground to cover, but at the rate that the captain was stopping to shout at the king's men, it would seem like an eternity.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"I didn't... You..." Riva was laughing too hard to get any full sentence out. She doubled over, hand on the desk.

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden watched her with a mix of concern and confusion, "what the Maal . . ."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

When she finally calmed down - wiping tears from her eyes - she sighed. "I didn't mean literally thrown to the side. I meant metaphorically! As in ignored."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"Then why didn't you say ignored if that's what you meant?" Caden asked as he placed his hands on his hips, slightly annoyed at the apparent miscommunication.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Because, sweet cheeks," she said, booping his nose with her thin finger, "most people understand that figure of speech."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden leaned back his head, taken aback by the contact. "It sounds ridiculous."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Language is odd that way, I agree." She smiled. "What I meant though, was that I don't want... I don't want us to drift apart. Sharing a room would force us to get along more. And I don't know about you, but I'd like that very much."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden hummed skeptically, "would 'getting to know me better' include more touching of my nose?"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Riva bit her lip and chuckled again. "If you want it to. What can I say? It's a nice nose."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"More importantly, it's my nose." He crossed his arms, "and I don't like that."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Well, then, fine, I. Won't. Touch. You. At. All." She punctuated each word by poking his breastplate.

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden looked at her, puzzled. "My breastplate counts as me, you know that, right?"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Mmm." She leaned forward. "I do know that. I'm just teasing you, dearest."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden stepped forward and pushed her to one side, just enough to get her to move, but not enough to knock her off her feet.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Riva tripped over her skirt anyway, landing squarely on her behind. "Caden!" she hissed. "What was that for?"

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"Teasing," Caden stated as a fact, but even though his tone was even, a small smirk escaped onto his face. "I recall you said you didn't want to be pushed to the side."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Riva glared. "That hurt. That wasn't very nice. I never hurt you."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"The falling part wasn't intended," Caden said, feeling the need to offer her his hand, but he hesitated.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Riva got up and dusted off her tight black dress. "Well. I forgive you." She glanced up at him with a small smile.