Masquerade - These Masks We Wear

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Riva put her hand on Ivian's shoulder, digging her nails into his skin. "If you marry me off, I swear you will regret it. You rule an unstable kingdom and the fear I culture is quite often the only thing standing between you and death. Why do you think Darrin was the first assassin you've faced in years, hmm?"

Edited May 13, 2021 by Shard of Thought

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden muttered under his breath so that it was barely audible, "one that I stopped."

[Channelknight Fadran]

50 minutes ago, Shard of Thought said:

Riva put her hand on Ivian's shoulder, digging her nails into his skin. "If you marry me off, I swear you will regret it. You rule an unstable kingdom and the fear I culture is quite often the only thing standing between you and death. Why do you think Darrin was the first assassin you've faced in years, hmm?"

"Correct me if I'm wrong, Raveness, but are you threatening the king?" He snapped his fingers, and two spearheads lowered towards her back.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Her back straightened and she glared. "Am I not always a threat?"

[Channelknight Fadran]

"If you'd prefer, I could have you killed on the spot."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"And what would that gain you?" Riva sneered.

[Channelknight Fadran]

"More than you'd know. My life, for one thing." Ivian snapped his fingers, and the guards lifted their spears. "You are both dismissed. Two days."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Riva raised an eyebrow. "You would really kill me over not wedding this man?"

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden held his position, hesitating to see what the Ravenness would do.

[Channelknight Fadran]

"I'd kill you for attempting to kill me, which you have threatened to do several times today. You are dismissed."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Of course. Your Majesty." Riva gracefully bent down to pick up her mask, then left, the sound of her heels betraying her anger.

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden waited until she had left the room, still bowing before the king. "My lord . . ." He wanted question the king's choice, but he hesitated. Doing so felt like a betrayal in its own way.

[Channelknight Fadran]

"General Praetorium." Ivian looked at Caden. "I apologize for such an abrupt announcment. She will be difficult, but if you truly wish to serve my wishes, then this is how you can best comply."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Quote

You know... why doesn't Ivian just execute Riva anyway? The people would probably rejoice.

 

[Channelknight Fadran]

Quote

Wait. That's a good point.

...why?

 

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Quote

Probably because 
a) he's scared of her and
b ) she really does keep people in line

 

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"But my lord . . ." Caden took a deep breath, his need to know outweighing his sense of loyalty. "Why?"

[Channelknight Fadran]

"I'm working towards a goal, general, and the Raveness stands in the way. I'm relying on you to keep her in check."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden nodded, realizing that the marriage itself was about more than a simple union of two people. He didn't know what the King had planned, but he did know that he'd have to keep a close eye on the Ravenness. "As you will it, then, my lord." Caden stood up and turned to leave the room to handle a bit of business.

[Channelknight Fadran]

Ivian let out a breath. He wasn't dead--yet. That was probably a good sign.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Riva was in a bad mood. And that wasn't healthy for anyone. She flagged down the man who cleaned up her torturing stations. "Excuse me," she said, "did you get rid of that woman who died this morning? She would have had blood on her face; quite a lot of it."

"I was just about to do that, miss," said the older man. He'd worked here for quite a while and though he did have a healthy fear of the woman who employed him, he was not nearly as timid as most were when they spoke to the Raveness. "Was there something you needed to check with the potion's effects?"

"Not exactly." She cracked her knuckles. "If I try to work right now, I'll kill something, and that's no good for extracting confessions. I'd rather stab something that can move, but I'll settle for a corpse."

The janitor nodded. "Very wise, miss. If I may... what's troubling you?"

"None of your concern. Go take a break, Daku." 

"As you wish, Lady Raven..." He bowed and departed, letting Riva get her hands dirty.

[Condensation she/her]

22 hours ago, Shard of Thought said:

"How may I be of service, m'lady?" Nicolae bowed and his hat fell off. "Aww, hell," he swore, kneeling to pick it up. He gritted his teeth. Don't swear in front of the lady, Nico. C'mon, pull yourself together. What's wrong with you this morning, hmm?

"I believe it's this one first." Alienor held a petticoat up.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Oh, ah..." Nico blushed. "You'll have to be patient with me, miss, I've never really..." He cleared his throat and approached her to help.

[Condensation she/her]

"It's all right - I'm not so practiced myself."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Yeah, yeah..." Nicolae found his bashfulness replaced with bitter as he helped her get it over her head. "Had servants to do this for ya, yeah?"