Masquerade - These Masks We Wear

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

“Awww, yes.” She continued to rub and another few cracks emanated. “My Stars, man. Don’t you stretch before you work out?”

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"Of course I do," Caden told her, sounding offended. "I'd be a fool to not do so."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

“Well, good.” She tsked. “it’s got to be that awful posture of yours that does it to you. Your back is tighter than that of even the terrified patients I work on. It must cause you so much pain, you poor thing.”

Edited July 11, 2021 by Zephrun's Imperium

[Condensation she/her]

On 7/7/2021 at 7:27 AM, Zephrun's Imperium said:

"But it shouldna be!" Nico sighed, head in hands. "I feels like I shouldna told ya nuttin', but I'm a terrible liar, so I guess it's Allivia's fault she roughed up me face."

"Right. Why would it be your fault? If Allivia gets out of jail, we'll put her back in."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"How long do you intend to do this?" He asked as he felt his back moving in correlation with Riva's massaging. He could no longer will himself to shift or move from his current position, finding himself completely in the Raveness's power. 

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

9 minutes ago, Condensation said:

"Right. Why would it be your fault? If Allivia gets out of jail, we'll put her back in."

“I just…..” Nico trailed off. “I’m afraid for my life.”

24 minutes ago, The Ward's Guard said:

"How long do you intend to do this?" He asked as he felt his back moving in correlation with Riva's massaging. He could no longer will himself to shift or move from his current position, finding himself completely in the Raveness's power. 

“How long do you want me to do it?” She smirked. “You like it, don’t you, Caden?”

[Condensation she/her]

Just now, Zephrun's Imperium said:

“I just…..” Nico trailed off. “I’m afraid for my life.”

"Would it be better if I told the king?"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

“No!” Nico quickly stood up. “He wouldna believe me! And he’d…. He’d hate me for being a wuss.”

[Condensation she/her]

"No he wouldn't!" Alienor objected. "Would he?" she asked under her breath.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Last time I cried in front of him..." Nico sniffed. "He said I'd end up a prostitute." 

[Condensation she/her]

Alienor bit the inside of her cheek. "Then we won't involve him. But there has to be something we can do."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Well, you tell me; I've been trying to 'do something' for the last eight years, miss."

[Condensation she/her]

"Now you have us."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Doesn't mean I knows what you should do..." Nico picked at his fingers nervously. "Girls, you really shouldna be involved. You'll get hurt."

[Condensation she/her]

"You've already been hurt."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Yes, but I doesn't matter, miss." His gaze hardened. "I really doesn't."

[Condensation she/her]

"I think the people here would disagree with that."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Well, you shouldna." He straightened his posture and sniffed. "Anythin' else I can be doin' for ya, miss?"

[Condensation she/her]

"Yes. Stay away from Allivia for now. Wherever possible."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Nicolae nodded timidly and bowed. "As you wish, miss. I... I'm gonna go... get some fresh air. Send someone to get me iffin' you needs me for anythin'." With that, he walked out of the room. It felt good to be roaming the halls. Felt free. Alienor's chambers were large, but he'd started to feel as though he was being suffocated. He didn't like talking about Allivia with anyone. And now Alienor knew... Stars, it just made him feel sick. He needed something to go right for once. Was that too much to ask?

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

2 hours ago, Zephrun's Imperium said:

“How long do you want me to do it?” She smirked. “You like it, don’t you, Caden?”

"I do not," Caden protested, even though that wasn't entirely true. "I just want to know how much longer you intend to force yourself on me."

22 minutes ago, Zephrun's Imperium said:

Nicolae nodded timidly and bowed. "As you wish, miss. I... I'm gonna go... get some fresh air. Send someone to get me iffin' you needs me for anythin'." With that, he walked out of the room. It felt good to be roaming the halls. Felt free. Alienor's chambers were large, but he'd started to feel as though he was being suffocated. He didn't like talking about Allivia with anyone. And now Alienor knew... Stars, it just made him feel sick. He needed something to go right for once. Was that too much to ask?

Fischer stretched now that he was out of sight of those palace guards but his head was hanging low despite the stretching. He liked looking professional and all, but that wasn't why he had come out here so late. He couldn't help himself from glancing over his shoulder, the eyes of expectation seemingly always on him. He sighed, unable to use this valuable off-duty time to rest or tend to him weapons like the others on the Praetorium Guard, that would mean he'd have to stay in the barracks with the true Praetorium Guard. He groaned as he thought of them, applauding him for such a wondrous achievement that he hadn't even earned. Well, not on his own, anyway.

He started to roll his shoulders, but paused as he saw a figure ahead of him. He straightened his back and adopted the professional stance that had been drilled into him from basic training. However, as he stepped closer, he squinted. He thought that he recognized the man he was approaching, but he was filled with uncertainty. The person wasn't wearing a Praetorium uniform, and Fischer didn't know anyone on the palace staff. Well, that wasn't entirely true, but it also wasn't entirely wrong, either. He cleared his throat, trying to use it to clear his own mind. 

When he was drawing close to the man, he nodded his head towards him, but hesitated mid step. He struggled to think of a way to get the man's attention before clearing his throat. "Sir, are you supposed to be out here?"

[Channelknight Fadran]

Katie looked up at Alienor. “Is he gonna be okay?”

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

10 hours ago, The Ward's Guard said:

"I do not," Caden protested, even though that wasn't entirely true. "I just want to know how much longer you intend to force yourself on me."

“As long as you want me to, baby. Or as long as it takes to get all these kinks out…” She rubbed his neck with her wrinkly, bony fingers. “This tension isn’t good for you.”

10 hours ago, The Ward's Guard said:

Fischer stretched now that he was out of sight of those palace guards but his head was hanging low despite the stretching. He liked looking professional and all, but that wasn't why he had come out here so late. He couldn't help himself from glancing over his shoulder, the eyes of expectation seemingly always on him. He sighed, unable to use this valuable off-duty time to rest or tend to him weapons like the others on the Praetorium Guard, that would mean he'd have to stay in the barracks with the true Praetorium Guard. He groaned as he thought of them, applauding him for such a wondrous achievement that he hadn't even earned. Well, not on his own, anyway.

He started to roll his shoulders, but paused as he saw a figure ahead of him. He straightened his back and adopted the professional stance that had been drilled into him from basic training. However, as he stepped closer, he squinted. He thought that he recognized the man he was approaching, but he was filled with uncertainty. The person wasn't wearing a Praetorium uniform, and Fischer didn't know anyone on the palace staff. Well, that wasn't entirely true, but it also wasn't entirely wrong, either. He cleared his throat, trying to use it to clear his own mind. 

When he was drawing close to the man, he nodded his head towards him, but hesitated mid step. He struggled to think of a way to get the man's attention before clearing his throat. "Sir, are you supposed to be out here?"

Nico turned around. “Uh, yessiree. Just takin’ a stroll. Did I wander somewhere I shouldna?”

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden grumbled, not wanting Riva to actually get off of him, but still voicing his dislike for this situation.

----

"I-" FIscher shook his head slightly after a brief pause, "no." Fischer was at a loss for words, unable to think of the best way to voice his thoughts.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

“Oh, come now, Caden, you like it!” She chuckled and there was another snap.

———

As Fischer stepped into the light, Nico paled. “My Stars. Fischer???”