Masquerade - These Masks We Wear

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

17 hours ago, Zephrun's Imperium said:

“It does indeed. Will you escort me to the room you prepared for me?”

Caden looked down at his nearly empty plate, and stood up. "Very well, then."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

She nodded and stood herself, the long skirt of her blue dress brushing against the floor. The couple walked together.

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"I do hope that you have a good evening," Caden said as he looked down the hall. "It's not as nice as my own bed, but it's still quite comfortable."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

She smirked at him, leaning up against his chest. "Still sure you don't want to spend the night cuddling up to me?"

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"Yes," he said a little too quickly. Caden cleared his throat, "what I mean is that I'd like to spend tonight alone."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

She pulled away, arms folded. "Well, it's as I said before; we'll break you yet, Caden. Good night, my darling. You know where to find me if you get lonely..." With that, she walked into the room, hips swaying.

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden sighed, relieved that she left him to his own thoughts, but also feeling an odd longing for her to return to him. He turned away and ignored the strange feeling, heading off to his own bedroom.

[xinoehp512 he/him]

"Very much so," replied the specter.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Two questions then," said Maverick. Forge purred as he was scratched under the chin. "How did he die and why should I believe you?"

[xinoehp512 he/him]

"Ivian condemned him to death," replied the specter. He stood up. "I was your brother's friend... and I am yours, as well."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Maverick laughed nervously. "I... I don't really have friends." That was always more Darrin's expertise. "And I'm not sure I want any at the moment, I just... I want to know what happened to my brother, please. I don't understand, why would Ivian have him executed? I told him, I told him that..."

@Channelknight Fadran

Quote

F A D R A N

I'd like Riva and Caden to have their ball sooner than later. Can we have that happen, please?

 

Edited July 24, 2021 by Zephrun's Imperium

[xinoehp512 he/him]

On 7/23/2021 at 0:25 AM, Zephrun's Imperium said:

Maverick laughed nervously. "I... I don't really have friends." That was always more Darrin's expertise. "And I'm not sure I want any at the moment, I just... I want to know what happened to my brother, please. I don't understand, why would Ivian have him executed? I told him, I told him that..."

The specter waited for him to finish his sentence.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Bah, it doesn't matter. Are you just here to inform me of Darrin's demise?"

[xinoehp512 he/him]

"No, in fact," replied the specter. "I have come to offer you revenge."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

A dark glimmer shone in Maverick's eyes for a moment, but then he shook his head. "No. I... I couldn't hurt the king. Or anybody."

[Channelknight Fadran]

"So..." Ivian's mom began.

"What?" He asked.

"Y'know... in a few days..."

Ivian looked at her blankly. "What, do you need money?"

"Honey, have you seriously forgotten?"

After a moment of blank nonrecognition, Ivian shook his head. "Forgotten what?"

"Your birthday!"

He swore. "I was hoping you'd forget."

"I'm your mother, honey. I'm physically incapable of forgetting." She crossed her arms. "So what are you going to do about it?"

"Maybe get a drink? I don't care." Ivian turned around and returned to his papers. "I have bigger things to worry about than an arbitrary number tacked onto the word 'years.'"

"I'm organizing a ball." His mother decided.

"WHAT?"

[xinoehp512 he/him]

14 minutes ago, Zephrun's Imperium said:

A dark glimmer shone in Maverick's eyes for a moment, but then he shook his head. "No. I... I couldn't hurt the king. Or anybody."

"Not even to bring your brother back?"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Maverick's eyes widened. "What?" 

Forge jumped out of his master's lap, wandering over to the Shade Knight.

[xinoehp512 he/him]

The specter leaned back, pleased to have caught the man's attention.

"Did you know," he said, digressing slightly, "that you are the rightful king of this world?"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"I... surely not." He looked behind him, as if making sure his visitor wasn't speaking to someone else. "I'm no one." The cat, meanwhile, leapt up onto the Knight's lap.

[xinoehp512 he/him]

"Oh, it was a long, long time ago. An eternity, in fact." The Knight petted the cat. "More recently, however, an ancestor of yours ruled this kingdom. Ivian's family ousted him from his throne generations hence."

[Channelknight Fadran]

Quote

Heh. Family. Ivian's barely noble-blooded, but oh well.

 

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Forge purred, rolling over, which brought a smile to Mav's face. If the cat liked this creature, then maybe it was worth trusting. "Well, I believe I have royal blood, but to rule the-the world you said, I... I wouldn't want a position anyway. I really just want to know what was going on with my brother. You said he was a friend of yours. What.. what was he doing with you? I hadn't seen him for years up until a week ago."

Edited July 25, 2021 by Zephrun's Imperium

[xinoehp512 he/him]

"There is an artifact, hidden somewhere in the castle. A sword, belonging to the heir."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Look, I-I-I don't want any sword or throne. I really just want to know anything you can tell me about my little brother."
-----------
Nicolae looked in the mirror, biting his lip. He had changed his bloody shirt to one with thick, dark sleeves and cleaned up his wounds. A smile still looked good on his boyish, sparsely freckled face; one could hardly tell he’d been crying. Which was a good thing, since Ivian would surely chastise him if he knew. He took a deep breath, then hopped on up the stairs to knock on Ivian's door.