Masquerade - These Masks We Wear

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"Only because you gave me a backrub," Caden insisted as he growled back at her, not quite as playful as she was.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

“Aha!” She snapped. “So you admit you enjoyed it!”

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"What, no I-" He glared at Riva, "how do you do that?"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

She shrugged her bony shoulders. “It’s my job to extract confessions, dear.”

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"Doesn't mean you need to practice it on me," he grumbled as he picked at his food. "And yes, I enjoyed the massage," he hesitantly admitted.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

“Quite honestly, your confession was something of an accident. But I’m glad you enjoyed it, even if you were too prideful to admit that you enjoyed being touched.”

Edited July 20, 2021 by Zephrun's Imperium

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"I did not enjoy that part."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

“That was the entire massage! You can’t give a massage without touching.”

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"Doesn't make thinking about it all that much bearable."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

“Oh please. You liked being touched by your wife and now you’re trying to keep up tough appearances by denying it. Well you don’t have to do that with me, love. I am, as stated earlier, your wife. Doesn’t the vow say something about being truthful with each other?”

Edited July 20, 2021 by Zephrun's Imperium

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"I don't recall," he said as he looked back at Riva, "but it wouldn't surprise me."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

“So be truthful, damn you!”

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden ground his teeth, "I am."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

She rolled her eyes. “Prideful as a lion.” Riva smirked, winking. “And handsome as one too.” 

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden felt his face grow hot again, and he growled in annoyance. "Flattery will get you nowhere."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

“Well,“ she remarked, “there’s flattery, and then there’s genuine compliments. What you just heard, I believe, was the latter.“

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden scoffed, "what was that you just said about not lying? I'm an old and scarred man, there's nothing handsome here."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

“And I am just a skinny, curve-less old woman, but apparently you found my eyes worth complementing.”

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden turned to look at his food, "so what? That doesn't make me any more handsome, and we both know that."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

She set down her form and folded her arms on the table. “Caden Praetorium, your age and battered soul do not make you any less of a ‘looker.’ I myself happen to like older men thank you very much.”

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

He scoffed, "you're only here because you have to be, not because I'm a 'looker' or anything else like that."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

“Caden, while it’s true that I never would’ve married you if Ivian hadn’t forced my hand, please believe me when I say that I don’t regret being bound in holy matrimony.”

Edited July 20, 2021 by Zephrun's Imperium

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden went back to his food, looking thoroughly unconvinced. "I don't know if I can say the same yet."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Riva seem to wilt slightly and turned to look down at her food, picking at it with dissatisfaction. “Well,“ she said, “at least you enjoyed the back rub.”

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"Yes, you are quite skilled at those. Skilled enough that several of those pompous fools who call themselves 'nobles' would beg you to practice on them."