Masquerade - These Masks We Wear

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

“Well… we should definitely get different koinds so we can share, yeah?”

[Channelknight Fadran]

"Sure." Wendy replied.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Nico held Wendy close as they walked. He was happy not to be in uniform, as his work clothes included a pair of gloves, which would have kept him from feeling Wendy's hand in his own. The two of them walked together down to the marketplace and back to the ice cream shop where, indeed, their affection for each other had first kindled. After ordering a simple chocolate, Nico stepped back to let Wendy go at it.

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

The Praetorium dungeons weren't just any old dungeons. They were kept clean and we'll maintained, up to the Praetorium standard, of course. So it didn't take long for Fischer to get used to the stench after following Riva down into the dungeon every day. He didn't enjoy it as she seemed to, but his enjoyment would come later.

The moment that the dungeon door was clanged open by the man who stood guard, Fischer turned to flash a smile at the Raveness before inhaling in order to bellow at the top of his lungs. "Goooooood morning, Mal-spawn!"

Edited September 26, 2021 by The Ward's Guard

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Riva rolled her eyes, a smile on her lips. "You've got the let the woman think there's a chance we might not be here for her, dear."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"Oh, we still might not be. I just love wishing Mal's best servant a good morning!" He said it all with a smile, thoroughly enjoying the fact that Allivia could hear them.

Edited September 26, 2021 by The Ward's Guard

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Riva chuckled, stopping at Allivia's cell where her patient sat in the corner. Allivia was glaring at Fischer with a look that said, You put me in here? You'll be in my place next. Riva fiddled with her keys to open the cell.

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Fischer smiled at Allivia. "So, how was breakfast?"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"I know your secret," she said, flipping him off. 

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"My dear sweet demon, I have many secrets. Would you care to be more specific?"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"You and Nico were lovers, not just friends," she hissed. 

Riva raised an eyebrow. "You know, calling Nicolae Kimby gay after he's slept with several woman doesn't make sense to me. You can stop grasping at straws to try and get out of this."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Fischer paled for just a moment before his enthusiasm returned at Riva's words. "Yeah, that's right." A mischievous light glinted in his eyes. "Oh, I see now! You're trying to claim insanity by saying you forced a homosexual man to bed not just with you, but with every willing woman among the castle staff." 

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"I'm right, you know I am!" Allivia said. She glared at Fischer even as Riva cuffed her to take her to the torturing chamber. "I regret everything I did with that filthy boy. You're disgusting, you are." She spat at his feet. 

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"You only regret them now that you're facing pain perhaps an inkling of what he went through."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Oh, please, you know exactly what I mean." She started cussing him out, straining against Riva's bonds. She realized quickly that fighting was not fruitless; the Raveness was weak, much weaker than Allivia would have thought. She pulled hard, sending Riva to her knees and marching up to Fischer. "Why if I wasn't cuffed right now..."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

The moment Riva's knees touched the ground, Fischer was right before Allivia, slapping her to the ground. "You would what? Take down the trained soldier that stands before you?"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"I would report you to the king," Allivia stayed on the ground. "Go ahead, take me to the torture chamber, Fischer. I'm done fighting. But you're an unholy bastard; I may be going to Mal, but you're coming right with me!"

Edited September 26, 2021 by Zephrun's Imperium

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"The king believing the word of a convicted criminal? You must be insane if you think you could even get an audience, let alone get him to believe you, of all people." Fischer leaned down to see her better. "Which one of us sexuall- No, just straight up abused and assaulted his favorite serving man, again?"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Oh, you'll get what's coming to you one day, you rotten heathen," she sneered. "The Stars won't stand for it! You or your boyfriend!"

Riva stood. "Fischer. Take her back to her cell. Be rough."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"With pleasure. I always wanted to silence an insane banshee." He grabbed her by the back of her neck and lifted her just enough that he could drag her,.holding back the urge to strike her face. "Please, give me an excuse."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Allivia screeched. Her cuffs made her unable to even try fighting back. "I've done some despicable acts, but I hope you never get to sleep at night without thinking about the fact that what you've done is worse. You deserve to be on the Raven's table more than I do. One day, you'll taste the fires of Mal, mark my words. And so will that Stars-cursed boy. Perhaps I was part of the punishment for his sins, ever thought about that, 'ey, Fischer?!"

Edited September 26, 2021 by Zephrun's Imperium

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Fischer launched his fist, plunging it into her face. Using the momentum, he tossed Allivia to the floor. "Your delusions mark your end." He kicked her resoundly in her stomach to force the air out of her lungs.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Allivia curled up into a ball lest she be kicked again, gasping for air. "You only..." She coughed violently. "Only hate me because... I'm right."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"You think you were the only one?" He leaned over her to whisper into her ear. "You ever wonder rhow many others figured it out, and what happened to them? To live with this sort of fear leads to drastic measures."

Edited September 26, 2021 by The Ward's Guard

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Allivia writhed. "Get your hands off of me, you filthy-"

"Enough!" Riva yelled. "Fischer, I know Nicolae is of some importance to you, but this is unbecoming. Allivia is my patient."