Masquerade - These Masks We Wear

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

1 minute ago, The Ward's Guard said:

"He won't be the only one," Caden growled softly.

"Yes, well, lots of people heard me hissing. They get the message. But... I will get off you. Since you've done so much for me." Riva still held Caden's arm, but didn't go back to leaning so close to him.

Perhaps this was a good time to mention the journal since they were both in high spirits. 

"Uh... Have you read anything interesting recently, Caden?"

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"Only report after endless report as I should be doing," he glared at young woman picked out at random, and softly chuckled when she quickly averted her gaze. "I have little time for reading at the moment, with all of the activity."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Well, I recently read... a journal of sorts. It was quite fascinating, actually."

[Vapor she/her]

5 minutes ago, Channelknight Fadran said:

"Yeah!"

"Shouldn't we wear something a bit... nicer?" Ara asked.

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Just now, Zephrun's Imperium said:

"Well, I recently read... a journal of sorts. It was quite fascinating, actually."

"A . . . Journal?" He raised an eyebrow at his wife, "from one of your victims?"

[Channelknight Fadran]

"Do you have anything nicer to wear?"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Just now, The Ward's Guard said:

"A . . . Journal?" He raised an eyebrow at his wife, "from one of your victims?"

"No." Riva stole Caden's cup to take a drink from it. "About a deceased young woman."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden glared at the action of taking his cup, "I can get one for you so you don't have to steal mine."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"No, it's fine." She handed him back the cup. "Anyway, it was quite a good read. Yes, I believe the woman's name was... Acalia."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden took the cup with a nod before freezing, his knuckle turning white as they gripped the cup. "What?"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Yes! Your sister. It was quite eye-opening and was, perhaps, the reason why I decided to give you a chance instead of-" She cut off. "Caden... Why are you looking at me like that?"

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

In a fraction of a second, the glass shattered in the general's hand. He stood up with his hands clenching into fists despite the blood that dripped from the one that held his glass; pain didn't even qualify to be an after thought. "Don't you ever mention her name, you lying witch," he hiss through clenched teeth, moving to grab at her dress.

[Vapor she/her]

9 minutes ago, Channelknight Fadran said:

"Do you have anything nicer to wear?"

"No. But we might be able to find something!"

[Channelknight Fadran]

Katie glanced around. "For kids. In a castle."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Just now, The Ward's Guard said:

In a fraction of a second, the glass shattered in the general's hand. He stood up with his hands clenching into fists despite the blood that dripped from the one that held his glass; pain didn't even qualify to be an after thought. "Don't you ever mention her name, you lying witch," he hiss through clenched teeth, moving to grab at her dress.

"What?" Riva leaned away. "I.. I don't understand, we were having a lovely time. What's wrong?"

[Vapor she/her]

"Maybe?"

[Channelknight Fadran]

Katie rolled her eyes. "We'll be fine. If we're gonna get kicked out, it'll be because we're kids, not because we aren't wearing fancy dresses."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

He grabbed her shoulder, and yanked her out of the chair. "You creeping, foul," He shouted as he flipped the table they were sitting at with his other hand, blood pounding in his ears, "ugly woman!"

[Vapor she/her]

2 minutes ago, Channelknight Fadran said:

Katie rolled her eyes. "We'll be fine. If we're gonna get kicked out, it'll be because we're kids, not because we aren't wearing fancy dresses."

"Okay. It just feels a little weird."

[Condensation she/her]

Quote

You could run into me if you wanted something fancier.

Alienor hesitated outside the ballroom, wondering if it would be worse to be late or not attend at all. Of course, she knew the answer to that. She was just stalling, and she really needed to stop that.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

3 minutes ago, The Ward's Guard said:

He grabbed her shoulder, and yanked her out of the chair. "You creeping, foul," He shouted as he flipped the table they were sitting at with his other hand, blood pounding in his ears, "ugly woman!"

Riva's eyes widened and she felt tears come to her while a whimper escaped her lips. "What... I-I-I don't understand, what did, what did I do?" 

Edited July 27, 2021 by Zephrun's Imperium

[Channelknight Fadran]

1 minute ago, Vapor said:

"Okay. It just feels a little weird."

Katie straightened out her apron, took it off, then threw it over Arabella and flipped it around backwards. "There! Now you have a cape. Let's go!"

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

1 minute ago, Zephrun's Imperium said:

Riva's eyes widened and she felt tears come to her. "What... I-I-I don't understand, what did I do?" 

Caden felt a burning in his eyes, but grit his teeth and dragged the Raveness behind him as he stormed to the palace door.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Caden!" Riva screeched. "Caden Praetorium, let me go!" She tried to dig her heels into the ground, but her shoes slipped against the floor. Instead, she resorted to biting Caden's arm. 

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden gasped and whipped around at the flare of pain in his arm, smacking the Raveness firmly across the face. "All you've ever been is a nuisance, a problem that I have to worry about!" He stomped forward, to grab her again. "We're leaving."