Masquerade - These Masks We Wear

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"I love my husband," Riva hissed, "and he clearly loves me back. Is that not enough for you fools?"

Edited August 19, 2021 by Zephrun's Imperium

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

The man's face turned harder than his steel blade, "I don't know what spell you cast on him, but I've head and seen your witchcraft before. It won't last."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"I am not a witch!" Riva gabbed a gnarled finger at the man. "I am a scientist. But I used no potion to make Caden Praetorium fall for me."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"What you say is impossible," the guard sneered, "no one could fall for a conniving and ugly woman like yourself. Especially not a man as prestigious as our general. He deserve ten times the woman you'll ever be."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Riva barred her teeth and hissed. "Why you... I am the Lady of this house, and the Raveness! I demand your respect!"

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"We are of the Praetorium Guard, the best in the land. We only give our respect to those who earn it."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Is not a woman who ensnared your master worthy of your respect?"

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"You admit it, then. Trapped him with your traps and snares you vile woman." He grabbed the hilt of his blade, "to think that someone with the likes of you believes herself to be worthy of the general's affection."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Of course I'm not worthy of him, Riva thought. "He chose to love me. I did nothing to influence that." She shook her head. "I have no more to say on this topic. You will be hearing from my husband about your treatment of me."

Edited August 19, 2021 by Zephrun's Imperium

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"Go ahead, brew another potion to get him to doubt his personal guard." He sniffed, "you're a horrible woman, one the general would never fall for in his right mind."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Riva walked away with her head held high, but inside, her stomach was twisting. They were right. Caden shouldn't love her... 

She entered Caden's study with a solemn look on her face, leaning against a book shelf. "Hello, my love."

------------
Maverick regarded the spike. "So... what do I do with this?"

@xinoehp512

Edited August 19, 2021 by Zephrun's Imperium

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden raised an eye brow, "yes, Riva?"

[xinoehp512 he/him]

17 minutes ago, Zephrun's Imperium said:

Maverick regarded the spike. "So... what do I do with this?"

@xinoehp512

"Push it into yourself," said the specter. "Don't resist it. That's very important. But also make sure to control it."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

2 minutes ago, The Ward's Guard said:

Caden raised an eye brow, "yes, Riva?"

"Your guards are...." She folded her arms and stomped her foot. "They're insufferable!"

2 minutes ago, xinoehp512 said:

"Push it into yourself," said the specter. "Don't resist it. That's very important. But also make sure to control it."

"I..." Maverick shook his head as if to clear it. "Excuse me?"

[xinoehp512 he/him]

Just now, Zephrun's Imperium said:

"Your guards are...." She folded her arms and stomped her foot. "They're insufferable!"

"I..." Maverick shook his head as if to clear it. "Excuse me?"

"If you don't control it, it will run rampant through your spirit and destroy you. If you resist it, it won't integrate. And also possibly destroy you."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

7 minutes ago, Zephrun's Imperium said:

"Your guards are...." She folded her arms and stomped her foot. "They're insufferable!"

"They're soldiers, Riva." Caden turned back to his work, "they're not meant to be polite."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

8 minutes ago, xinoehp512 said:

"If you don't control it, it will run rampant through your spirit and destroy you. If you resist it, it won't integrate. And also possibly destroy you."

"I... Alright, I suppose." Mav swallowed and put Forge down gently. The cat curled up on the floor. 

This is insane.

With that, he stabbed himself.

1 minute ago, The Ward's Guard said:

"They're soldiers, Riva." Caden turned back to his work, "they're not meant to be polite."

"They called me a witch. Told me I was ugly and didn't deserve you."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

1 minute ago, Zephrun's Imperium said:

"They called me a witch. Told me I was ugly and didn't deserve you."

"They what?" Caden asked as he paused what he was doing.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"They wouldn't stop glaring at me, so I turned around, told them to stop it. He's convinced I've used magic to make you fall in love with me because 'you couldn't possibly fall for a witch.'"

[xinoehp512 he/him]

8 minutes ago, Zephrun's Imperium said:

"I... Alright, I suppose." Mav swallowed and put Forge down gently. The cat curled up on the floor. 

This is insane.

With that, he stabbed himself.

The spike instantly dissolved into essence, a formless black mass that oozed into Maverick's soul. It felt restless.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Maverick gasped and fell to his knees. Stupid, stupid, what did I do!?

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

5 minutes ago, Zephrun's Imperium said:

"They wouldn't stop glaring at me, so I turned around, told them to stop it. He's convinced I've used magic to make you fall in love with me because 'you couldn't possibly fall for a witch.'"

"That's ridiculous, you can't brew a love potion." He paused, looking towards her. "Can you?"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"I've never tried. And I don't need to; you fell in love with me without it."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"Right, right. Are you sure they weren't pulling your leg?"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

“As sure as I stand! His words were biting, he was glaring at me as if I wasn’t even a person.”