Masquerade - These Masks We Wear

[Channelknight Fadran]

Wendy sobbed into her arms, convinced that she’d just doomed Arabella to the Raveness.

Why hadn’t she stopped her? Why? Fear of the Raveness and her dungeons? The ones she’d just sent Ara to???

“Worthless coward.” She whimpered to herself. “Arabella... please please please please be okay...”

Never again. She’d never let the Raveness take Arabella again, no matter the cost. She’d do anything; never be weak again.

A soldier entered the room. “Get up. You’ve been summoned.”

”I—“

“Come on.”

Wendy didn’t hesitate. She couldn’t afford to now. She stood up and followed the soldier out of the dungeons.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

2 hours ago, Vapor said:

Ara reached out to grab the box, stuffing a cookie into her mouth. When she had swallowed, she asked, “How old are you?” before biting into another cookie.

Riva chuckled heartily. "If I told you, you wouldn't believe me."

[Vapor she/her]

“Twenty?” Ara said through a mouth of crumbs.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"No, child," Riva said. "Though I'm pleased at such a guess."

[Vapor she/her]

“Thirty?”

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Much older than that, I'm afraid."

[Vapor she/her]

“Forty?”

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Riva leaned in and looked around, as if making sure no one overheard them. "More than twice that," she whispered.

[Vapor she/her]

“Really?”

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

She nodded mischievously. “Indeed. And the legend of the Raveness is even older. My mother was the Raveness before me.”

Edited May 10, 2021 by Shard of Thought

[Channelknight Fadran]

"Take these." The taskmaster shoved a bundle of clothes into Wendy's arms. "Put those on. No wasting time. Some idiot shattered a bunch of cups in the ballroom and someone needs to clean up the mess."

"But--"

"The king is offering you protections in return for your service around the palace. Play nice and you can go free eventually."

"I--"

"Didn't I say not to waste any time? Get to work, idiot! I'll send someone to go fetch you once you're done and take you to your chambers." The Taskmaster rubbed his eyes, turning around and walking away. "Stars, people oughta warn me before givin' me new employees in the middle of the night..."

[Vapor she/her]

14 hours ago, Shard of Thought said:

She nodded mischievously. “Indeed. And the legend of the Raveness is even older. My mother was the Raveness before me.”

Ara's eyes widened. "I never knew someone that old." She started to nibble on another cookie.

[Channelknight Fadran]

Quote

Ara: *Groaning* Aghhh my tummy hurts

Wendy: OhmygoshwhattheheckdidtheRavenessdotoyou???

Ara: I ate too many cookies :/

 

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

28 minutes ago, Vapor said:

Ara's eyes widened. "I never knew someone that old." She started to nibble on another cookie.

“Mm, no one does. I guarantee everyone born the same year I was is long dead.” She smiled. “Now, dear.... Who was your friend out there? The woman holding you?”

[Channelknight Fadran]

So there she was.

Two hours ago, Wendy had been a rebel in Robin Custos's gang, training to fight against the forces of the king. When she'd seen Ara captured by the guards, she'd ran inside unheeding of her own safety to save the child. If she died trying, she'd die fighting the king.

So there she was. On the floor, wearing a palace waitress's uniform, pushing a massive pile of broken glass into a towel; all in service of the king.

Tears on her face? Yes. Of course. Completely useless? Without a doubt.

How long would she be doing this kind of thing? A week? A month? Years?

No time to worry about that now. She finished pushing the glass into the towel and folded it over itself, dropping the whole thing into a bag. She put the bag into the corner, hoping that she wouldn't get yelled at for not taking it to a trash pile she didn't know the location of.

The taskmaster guy said that he'd send someone to get her after she was done. Scanning the room, she didn't see anyone.

I guess I'll wait, then.

Quote

Hey Randby. I've seen you lurking; care to be a veteran waitress?

@Random Bystander

[Vapor she/her]

10 hours ago, Shard of Thought said:

“Mm, no one does. I guarantee everyone born the same year I was is long dead.” She smiled. “Now, dear.... Who was your friend out there? The woman holding you?”

"Her name's Wendy. We're friends and she came to rescue me."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Riva nodded. "And she's not the one who threw the pie at me, is she?"

[Vapor she/her]

9 minutes ago, Shard of Thought said:

Riva nodded. "And she's not the one who threw the pie at me, is she?"

"Nooooooo. That was Biana." She looked down. "She's the one who left me here."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Well, that doesn't sound very nice of her. You're better off here, if you ask me." She folded her arms, leaning back in her chair. A warm fire flickered in the hearth, popping softly. "How does a nice little girl like you get mixed up in all this anyway? Highway bandits and traitors, I mean."

[Vapor she/her]

2 minutes ago, Shard of Thought said:

"Well, that doesn't sound very nice of her. You're better off here, if you ask me." She folded her arms, leaning back in her chair. A warm fire flickered in the hearth, popping softly. "How does a nice little girl like you get mixed up in all this anyway? Highway bandits and traitors, I mean."

"My family was killed when the village was destroyed. Robin saved me and I decided to stay with her." Ara took another bite of cookie.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Ah..." Riva considered. "And... how much of Robin's crew is made up of children like you?"

[Vapor she/her]

"I dunno... Half?"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Riva mused for a moment. "You must consider them your family, don't you, miss 'bella? I bet it hurt when Biana just left you here. With me."

Quote

Riva the evil therapist

 

[Vapor she/her]

"It did. A lot."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"I'm sorry, my dear. I know the cookies aren't much of a consolation... but it's something at least. And I hope I can do a lot more than just that. I do not intend to send you back to the dungeons - they're no place for a sweet little girl like you - and I promise that you won't see any more of General Praetorium. He's a nasty fellow. Of course, he would say the same about me..." She snickered, smiling amiably.