Masquerade - These Masks We Wear

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Fischer looked towards the Ravenness, trembling despite himself. He nodded slowly, "if you can do anything . . . please."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

She eyed her husband. "Can you carry him?"

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden nodded, moving towards Nowak. Both the general and Fischer worked together to lift Nowak up, disregarding the blood that covered the sergeant. "Lead the way," Caden told his wife.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Riva crept up the stairs as quickly as her weak legs would allow, then directed for the men to set Nowak on the table. "Set him there, boys. I should have something to heal him..." With that, she started picking through potions.

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

The men set Nowak down, with Fischer looking agitated as he regarded the room. Caden raised his brow at the man, "calm yourself. If she says she can do more than cause pain, then she will do what she can to help the men who saved her."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Where is it..." Riva muttered. Her head was in a cupboard, her calves aching from standing on her tip-toes, butt out towards the men. She chuckled to herself, thinking Caden would probably like that. 

Though she didn't find what she was looking for, she did find something that would work well enough. "Here," she said, walking over with it in hand.

Edited September 10, 2021 by Zephrun's Imperium

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

While Caden moved to give Riva full access to her patient, Fischer took hold of Nowak's arm. He looked at the Raveness warily, "What will it do to him?"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Well," she rasped, "I was hoping to find one that shuts the body down so it can devote all its time to healing, but I seem to have run out just a few weeks ago. This is a stasis potion. It'll keep him alive far longer than would be normal."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Fischer nodded slowly, watching the Ravenness's every move carefully. Caden grunted at him, "let her work."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Quote

How conscious is Nowak?

"Don't worry, darling, your superior is in good hands." She patted Fischer on the head.

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Fischer looked indignant at the action, but with a quick glance at the general, he stepped away.

Quote

He's unconscious at this moment, but he can come around.

 

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Riva uncapped the potion and positioned the unconscious man's head up so he could better swallow the few drops she perscribed. She kissed his forehead, whispering, "thank you for saving me."

Edited September 10, 2021 by Zephrun's Imperium

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden cleared his throat, "do you need anything else, my dear?"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"I'll need my hand doctored. And... Stars, my makeup is a mess. I look like a pig."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden found himself smiling, despite all that had happened. "You still look beautiful to me."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

She scoffed, wiping off some of the mascara that had migrated to her cheeks and looking at it distastefully. "Hardly."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden leaned down and kissed his wife gently on her cheek, "I disagree."

Fischer looked down at Nowak, feeling frustrated that the two had gotten distracted, but biting his tongue.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

She rolled her eyes, striding over to her desk and grabbing some medical tape and gauze. "Uh... soldier! I didn't catch your name. Assist me?"

Edited September 10, 2021 by Zephrun's Imperium

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Fischer jumped at her words, "Uh, I'm-" He felt himself tremble slightly at the thought of the Ravenness herself know his name, but after he a quick glance at the general, he steeled himself. "Yes ma'am. I am Fischer."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Fischer. Lovely. My name is Riva if you weren't aware." She offered her hand. "I can't wrap this myself."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Fischer lifted his hands to see that they were trembling again, he balled them into a fist to hide that fact. "I'm uh, would the general be better fit to help you with that?"

Caden didn't perked up at the title, as he was staring at Nowak while he was on the table, his brow furrowing at whatever thoughts crossed his mind. Fischer glanced back towards the Rave- Riva. "I don't have very gentle hands. Uh, Ravenness Riva."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"I don't care," she snapped. "My husband is clearly busy. The faster you help with this, the faster your friend gets wrapped up."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"Yes ma'am," Fischer said as he straightened himself. He stepped forward and took her hand as gently as he could manage and began wrapping it up. He couldn't help glancing up at her face, transfixed by the fact that she wasn't wearing a mask as he had been told she always did. The memory that she was married to the general forced him to quickly move his eyes back to her hand. He still had difficulty pairing the two in his head.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"What are you thinking, boy?" Riva asked, smiling at the way he kept looking up to see her face, like a child peeking at a frightening yet exotic animal. She was impressed by how gently he helped her and found herself appreciating how much that contrasted the speed and severity with which he fought.

Edited September 10, 2021 by Zephrun's Imperium

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"Nothing," he said too quickly. "I wasn't thinking of anything, your Ravenness."