Masquerade - These Masks We Wear

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Riva glared. “I already told you I wouldn’t do that. Why do you feel the need to threaten me, force me out, and…..” She shook her head. “It’s terribly rude to tell a woman you wouldn’t mind if she died. Especially not a woman to whom you are married. One you implied earlier you actually gave a damn about.”

————

“yeah, no kiddin’. Glad it’s good to be seen.” Don’t get that reaction much no more. “But I guessin’ you got to be gettin’ back real soon. We should do sumffin’ together ‘ventually.”

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"What? Don't tell me that you'd be bawling all over the floor if I die," he said with a scoff. "You may be able to brighten up a room, but that's not reason enough for me to risk life and limb to protect you."

----

"Yeah, even if it's just talking." Fischer sighed, "ya have a time when you're normally off?"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

She scoffed. “Alright, maybe I wouldn’t be sobbing, but I would at least be sad. You really have no idea how to act around other people, do you? That’s awful what you just said, do you even understand that?”

—————

“I am free at night,“ Nico said hastily. This would be a good excuse to skip some maid’s pining. Hopefully. “We could see each other some evening. Maybe get a bite to eat.”

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"I wouldn't care if you said it to me, so it must not be awful," Caden stated as if it were a fact. "Would you prefer I lie?"

------

"Sure, but I'm relieved o' duty pretty early in the night." Fischer stepped away, glancing at the direction of the barracks. "You'll have to choose where to ge' food, 'cause I have no clue about here no more."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

“Yes!” She paused. “No! I know I’d prefer you were more considerate. My feelings are not like your own. It hurts to be told you’re not cared about. Hurts like a knife. And the more times you do something like that, the more threatened I’ll feel. The last time I lived with someone, they could have cared less about me, I was baggage. So you know what I did? Huh? I killed her, Caden. I killed her because I hated the way she treated me. And I’ll kill you too if you treat me that way. I’m an angry old woman, I don’t suggest you piss me off further.”

————

“oh, tha’s just fine. I know this place like the back o’ my hand.” He winked. 

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"Piss you off?" Caden asked as he rose to Riva's words. "Don't forget who's castle you're in, and who's guards your surrounded by! They wouldn't so much as flinch if I were to order them to slaughter their own families, I can only imagine the glee they would experience if they had so much as an excuse to get their hands on you." He clasped his hands behind his back, "death is common in this house, and I have no fear of causing more of it if you insist on causing problems. Although, if you don't want to be baggage, then you're making good progress."

------

"So nothin's changed, then?"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Riva smirked. "Well. On second thought, Caden, I wouldn't kill you. I was young when I killed my mother, inexperienced. If I had been more astute then, I would have kept her alive as long as possible." She stalked closer, moving in a cat-like manner. "If I want to hurt you, you'll be the one asking for your death, not me. And it will never come. You'll never be free of pain. So I suggest you keep me happy. Otherwise..." She chuckled darkly. 
-------
"Well..." Nico bit his lip, expression souring. For a moment his mouth worked as he wondered what to say. "You... you remember the... experience I had when I was 11?"

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden glared at Riva, "I'm a general, Riva, and I have no mind for these torturous games. If you choose to be a threat, then you will be neutralized. If you wish to be baggage, then stay out of my way." Caden sniffed in amusement, "or you can try to be that pleasant woman I talked with this morning. Whatever you try, it will be met with consequences."

----

Fischer stopped, considering the question for a long moment before his expression slowly started to turn grim. "What uh . . . What about it?"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

She growled at him. "If you want me to be pleasant, then at least make an effort not to step on my feelings, you brute!"
---------
There was a long pause while Nicolae tried to think of how to word his feelings. Fischer wouldn't judge him for his cowardice, would he? 

A glance at his Praetorium emblem extinguished that hope. 

Nicolae sighed. "I've just been thinking about it a lot..."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"Choose. A lying, pleasant fool, or a truthful brute. I can't be both."

----

"It's been so long, but I don't blame you . . ."

Fischer sighed, looking away. "Look, I've spen- What I mean is tha' I . . ."

He wrung his hands, looking away from Nico with a small sense of shame eating away at the back of his mind.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Being honest doesn't mean you have to speak every thought."
-------
"About wha' happened when you left?" Nico tried timidly.

[Condensation she/her]

On 7/11/2021 at 8:36 AM, Channelknight Fadran said:

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

"Of course. He's got us, hasn't he?"

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden rolled his eyes, "I'm better off without this confusing mess."

-----

Fischer blushed, "oh, that. I didn't wan' it to be final, but . . ."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Just take a moment to ponder on the fact that the torturess is telling you to be more considerate of others."
---------
He smiled. "Don'cha worry 'bout it." After a quick glance around to make sure no one heard him, he whispered, "Best kiss I've ever had, certainly."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"And the general is telling you that there's a reason I don't screw around with building relationships," he growled at her.

-----

Fischer returned the smile, but didn't stop blushing. "It can't have been tha' good, but thanks. I'll certainly never forge' it."

Edited July 13, 2021 by The Ward's Guard

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"You could at least put in some effort. Like thanking me for relieving you of pain instead of having a little fit that I'm touching you."
------------
But Alienor.... Nico thought. "You still feel the same way?" he asked. I don't. I'm sorry, but I don't, ol' friend.

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden folded his arms, "thank the woman who climbed onto my back after I explicitly told her not too?"

----

"I- I'd like to . . ." But it's been so long. "I'd at least like to talk with you, it's nice to talk with someone like you."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"For your own good! Don't you feel better, you ungrateful pig?"
--------
Nico nodded, relieved. "Right o!" He popped off his hat. "Well... I should probably get a move on, yeah? An' you's prob'ly got stuff to be doin' too."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden growled, not wanting to concede the point. "I thought I had made it clear that personal space is meant to be respected."

----

"Yeah, yeah," he responded, "I've go' to be headin' back. So I'll see you later?"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Riva stamped her heel. "You didn't answer my question," came her hissed response."
--------
"Yuuup." Nico smiled awkwardly, rather eager to be leaving. "You can meet me at our place tomorrow night, yeah?"

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"It might have felt good," Caden growled, "and I feel better, but that doesn't excuse how you forced yourself onto me." He moved his fingers and rolled his shoulders, feeling better than he had in ages.

---

"Can do," he replied, nodding. "So I'll be seeing you 'round, then."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"What do you want me to do, say sorry? Why should I apologize for making you feel better?"
---------
With a wink, Nico headed to the library. If Alienor didn't need him, he may as well try and cook. 

[Condensation she/her]

Alienor stepped out of her room and headed for the library, determined to find a book in Joliean that looked interesting.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Nico was browsing through cookbooks when he spotted the queen. His first instinct was to hide, but his moment of indecision let Alienor catch a glimpse of him.

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

3 minutes ago, Zephrun's Imperium said:

"What do you want me to do, say sorry? Why should I apologize for making you feel better?"

"I don't care for apologies, I just want you to understand that you are never to try something like that again."