The peace that formerly reigned in Terra Nova has eroded, now little more than a memory. War ravages the continent. Disputes divide kingdoms; ideals divide families. The quest for power consumes absolutely and indiscriminately. None are immune to its allure.
Who will rise and who will fall? Only time—and ambition—will tell.
UPDATES
05.26.2023
2 month character creation hold for all existing members begins 6/5/2023. Ended 8/5/2023.
10.29.2023
Change in how times flows. Was 4 IC seasons, now only 2 IC seasons per 1 OOC year.
5 whole years of Heir Apparent goodness! When I started the site, I knew I was hunkering down for the long haul, but I never could have predicted the numerous twists and turns this roleplay site has seen. Hundreds of plots, characters, and members have come and gone, all leaving marks on the site. I am so very thankful for those who have invested. Because you keep coming back, keep getting on, and keep writing, Heir Apparent has the legacy it does today. Three cheers to us!
Miss Cally had signed a contract a decade ago that she would shepherd and guard Tianna as her Lady's Maid with the provision of an impressive salary, even after his death. Only grave illness, injury or death would nullify Cally's signature. So she still daily enforced Count Straleen's rules to the best of her abilities. When she felt the Countess Bellerose's eyes upon her, she looked down quickly and immediately curtsied. One did not defy the noble born class openly, especially such a one as related to royalty!
Florina's suggestion had Tianna beaming at her with a nod and a big smile. "Then you must be more familiar with the menu here, yes? Do you dine out often Milady? Yes, I would very much like a regular slice of cake with icing!"
The Lady was so kind and well mannered that Tianna couldn't help but respond with equal friendliness to her positivity. Normally the noble borns kept such a frosty high wall around themselves, that she dare hardly even look in their directions, let alone be comfortable enough to eat and drink in front of them.
Magic Detection: The ability to detect magic. The user can judge magical aptitude, pinpoint magic being used within a mile vicinity, and even detect when potent magic has formerly been used in a space. The magic may originate from a living thing or from an object, it does not matter. There is no restriction to the kind of magic that the user can detect. The weakness is the spatial awareness limitation, and while the user can detect the presence of magic, they cannot detect the specific kind of magic being used.
Post by Florina Bellerose on May 3, 2023 18:33:05 GMT -5
Satisfied that the maid knew of her displeasure, Florina happily turned her attention back to the other countess who seemed none the wiser of the exchange between Florina and her maid. Not that there had been much time to notice anything. The maid had not been uppity enough to challenge her.
Countess Straleen appeared to be a very lively and excitable woman. Her enthusiasm was infectious and Florina found herself smiling at her many questions, “I’ve only been here once before, so I’m afraid that I am only a little more familiar with the menu than you,” to the countess’s voiced desire for a regular slice of cake with all the fixings, Florina gestured to Sofie, “Indeed so, countess. I will have Sofie go back and let them know you’ve changed your order. I just remembered something else that I would like to add so she will be going back anyways,” she looked at her maid, “Sofie, in addition to changing Countess Straleen’s order, please also let the kitchen know to also bring a plate of biscuits. Whatever kind they suggest.”
Sofie curtsied, “Yes, My Lady,” she said before hurrying off toward the kitchen to fix the order.
“What do you like to do when you’re not out and about, Countess Straleen?”
Countess Bellerose worried her for only a brief moment that she was being too greedy but the order of biscuits, swiftly belayed the insecurity. Tianna's green eyes nearly gleamed at the thought of biscuits too!
She blinked and realized that she was having a normal conversation! With a noble born Lady! Her smile grew even larger and she blushed a little at enjoying a small moment so much.
"Oh I love to dance and listen to music! When I hear Bach's Ascension Oratorio, it's so cheerful it always make me feel like I could fly! Do you like dancing or music? What sort of hobbies do you enjoy most?"
Miss Cally ahemed and Tianna added quickly, thought the prompting could never dim her smile when speaking of dancing and music.
Magic Detection: The ability to detect magic. The user can judge magical aptitude, pinpoint magic being used within a mile vicinity, and even detect when potent magic has formerly been used in a space. The magic may originate from a living thing or from an object, it does not matter. There is no restriction to the kind of magic that the user can detect. The weakness is the spatial awareness limitation, and while the user can detect the presence of magic, they cannot detect the specific kind of magic being used.
Post by Florina Bellerose on May 8, 2023 20:01:44 GMT -5
Countess Straleen appeared to be at ease and Florina was pleased that her efforts were successful. She knew what it was like to be a nervous wreck…she still was one in most circumstances if she were to be completely honest with herself. It gave her pleasure to at least help someone whom she suspected had a similar story to her own feel a least a few moments of happiness.
“Your interests are similar to my own, Countess Straleen,” Florina smiled, “I too love music, and I enjoy dancing as well, although I suspect that I don’t enjoy it as much as you do. But if I had a choice, I would play my piano all day and all night.”
“What sort of dancing do you prefer? The ones done during balls are beautiful, but there’s something about folk dancing that appeals to me.”
"Oh! You play piano? That's wonderful! I wish more people had interest in music as it's really something I don't think I could go a whole day without." She smiled, warming to the topic at hand and such a kind person to speak with her.
"Do you have any favorites for composers? Or preferred styles Milady?"
Tianna asked, smiling at the woman as her gaze flicked over Florina's face and manners and listened to her speak. Her speaking voice was so pleasant that she really should have noticed that she'd be musical! Now she had a music friend and an art friend! The Countess' next question had her responding quickly and enthusiastically.
"So you like dancing too? Oh I love ballet the best but also the tango, waltzes, folk dancing, minuet, bassadance, pavane, almain, the allegro galliard, coranto, and canario, the galopade, and the polka! There's more but those are my top favorites." Tianna finished on an exhale.
Last Edit: May 10, 2023 15:08:02 GMT -5 by Deleted
Magic Detection: The ability to detect magic. The user can judge magical aptitude, pinpoint magic being used within a mile vicinity, and even detect when potent magic has formerly been used in a space. The magic may originate from a living thing or from an object, it does not matter. There is no restriction to the kind of magic that the user can detect. The weakness is the spatial awareness limitation, and while the user can detect the presence of magic, they cannot detect the specific kind of magic being used.
Post by Florina Bellerose on May 13, 2023 19:56:59 GMT -5
Florina played three instruments, but she did not state that she did. Instead, she continued to smile, “Indeed yes. I daresay that it produces one of the most beautiful sounds in the world,” her fingers itched to dance over the keys as she thought of the instrument, “It is very diverse and expresses a wide variety of emotion. I’ve found much comfort in it over the years.”
The other countess was so fascinated by the subject that Florina’s smile widened a little, “I don’t favor one composer over the other, but I do prefer the slower, more melancholy pieces. I take it that you also enjoy music? Do you play at all?”
If music had made Countess Straleen happy, the subject of dancing made the woman quite animated. Florina was bombarded with a plethora of dances—some that she had never even heard of.
“Oh yes, I quite like dancing,” she said, sounding a little dizzy even to her own ears, “but how you love it, I’m sure. You seem very accomplished in the art.”
The feeling of Cally's almost colorless blue eyes bored into the back of Tianna's head and for a moment she shuddered at the sensation of being watched. It had been happening a lot lately and knowing Cally was the obvious one doing it right now, didn't make it any better. She bit back a patient sigh and instantly restrained herself to merely give a small smile. She was used to being micromanaged for the last decade and as long as Cally was around, Tianna would still respond to it.
But what exactly was she doing wrong this time? Probably just having too much fun. Or maybe that was exactly it. Public manner check- posture, good. Hands, moving them a little too much? She withdrew them demurely back into her lap properly--they were ungloved after all. The glance at the window reflection confirmed her hair was in place so not that. Oh--speech, diction or subject matter. It must be related. Her chin down, Tianna flicked a green eyed gaze at the Lady and she did indeed look overwhelmed at all the girl had said in her idiotic rave about dancing.
'A Lady encourages others to speak while remaining politely quiet about herself. It's a Lady's job to entertain others by smiling prettily and speaking little.' the etiquette teacher's voice was there, but Archie's frown of disapproval was an even stronger memory. Too much, pull back.
"You must surely have had quite the extensive musical education in both instruments and theory to have gained such insight Countess Bellerose. Is playing piano your expertise in instruments?"
Tianna flicked her gaze downward a moment, earnestly struggling to find the right words but it was an uphill battle to speak with any particular eloquence, let alone match the noble woman's intellect across the table from her. She blushed and replied,
"I fear Countess, that I lack any particular refined instrumental training such as a Lady of your breeding must illustrate."
She nearly broke out in a sweat at the linguistic efforts of such a sentence but Tianna wanted very much to find-and keep a friend, even if she was leagues above her in style, birth, breeding, manners, class and everything else that mattered in such wealthy circles. Either way, she'd been sternly warned from the beginning not to even mention dancing but she'd let it slip before she could stop it.
Countess Straleen, held her chin up and gave a polite smile as she replied very quietly,
"Yes dancing can be a rather amusing hobby..."
She did her best not to choke on her own words. And peeking behind her shoulder, she caught Cally's faint nod of approval at the agreed upon answer that was supposed to be mentioned in regards to dancing.
Last Edit: May 14, 2023 16:51:12 GMT -5 by Deleted
Magic Detection: The ability to detect magic. The user can judge magical aptitude, pinpoint magic being used within a mile vicinity, and even detect when potent magic has formerly been used in a space. The magic may originate from a living thing or from an object, it does not matter. There is no restriction to the kind of magic that the user can detect. The weakness is the spatial awareness limitation, and while the user can detect the presence of magic, they cannot detect the specific kind of magic being used.
Post by Florina Bellerose on May 15, 2023 20:40:09 GMT -5
“Indeed yes,” Florina gave a small nod, “My father encouraged me to pursue music as much as I pleased to,” he had hired the best tutors he could afford for her, “I do not know if the piano is my best instrument, but it certainly is my favorite.”
Countess Straleen seemed embarrassed that she had no talent with musical instruments. It was a shame in Florina’s opinion, but there were other ways to enjoy music without playing an instrument at all, “It seems to me that you preferred to spend your time enjoying music through dancing. I see nothing wrong with that. After all, there are many ways to enjoy the musical arts, is there not, my lady?”
The other countess seemed uncomfortable, and even though they were not at Florina’s home, the hostess in her wanted her to feel at ease. The tea, cake and biscuits came as she deliberated what to do to make her feel more comfortable again. She would stay silent long enough for both women to take a sip of the hot tea.
Much better.
The countess’s passion for dancing somehow lessened. Had Florina seemed bored with the topic? She hoped not. It wouldn’t do to make the other woman feel like a blabbering fool—especially when they’d created an excellent rapport between themselves. Florina caught the maid’s nod of approval and sipped her tea against a scowl.
“Yes, dancing is rather amusing,” Florina said after a moment, “And you seem very knowledgeable and passionate about the subject. What inspired this love of dancing?”
"It sounds like you're close to your parents. How wonderful to be encouraged in all aspects of your music." She enthused, only just beginning to take in the rest of Countess Bellerose's statement.
"Best? Do you play many instruments? Do you sing too? I had no idea you were so talented and accomplished My Lady." Which gave Tianna pause to think more on the noble in front of her. Florina's poise, demeanor, conversational skills, tactful phrases and elegant manners must be the culmination of what Archie had tried so determinedly to mold her into.
While she didn't recognize it at a conscious surface level, the woman's freeze up at the tumble back there, was instantly recognized as a kindred soul in suffering a dreadful marriage. Though she couldn't quite fully reconcile the composed and gracious Countess with the same terrified product of a cruel husband, a silent connection tethered them to each other right now, however tenuously.
She did her very best to hold back her enthusiasm at her favorite topic and nodded with a barely restrained,
"Indeed Countess."
She was soon diverted by the arrival of tempting tea and plates of sweets. For a moment her green eyes took in the perfectly iced cake with its pretty rosettes and artful decorations. Oh and the tea smelled divine which soon had her adding sugar and milk. Taking a few sips, she closed her eyes, inhaling the delicate scent and savored the perfect taste. It wasn't just a beverage to Countess Straleen--to her, tea was a hug in a cup!
When Florina asked her directly about her dancing, Tianna knew with glee that Miss Cally couldn't possibly scold her for answering! She smiled widely, simply unable to resist talking about dancing.
"My father's mother was a dancer and she was the one who showed me the beauty of ballet when I was a little girl. She was an amazing ballerina. Was your father an avid musician as well Countess?"
Within a breath of finishing the sentence she took a large bit of the cake and rolled her eyes at how good it tasted. Tianna snatched another bite and finished it before asking,
"It's amazing how something like music can bring people together, no matter their stations in life! Has music always been your passion?" While the meal was tempting, she was still very aware of her diction and manners for the moment, with Miss Cally's ever present influence strongly felt like a vulture waiting on its prey.
Magic Detection: The ability to detect magic. The user can judge magical aptitude, pinpoint magic being used within a mile vicinity, and even detect when potent magic has formerly been used in a space. The magic may originate from a living thing or from an object, it does not matter. There is no restriction to the kind of magic that the user can detect. The weakness is the spatial awareness limitation, and while the user can detect the presence of magic, they cannot detect the specific kind of magic being used.
Post by Florina Bellerose on May 18, 2023 14:31:03 GMT -5
“I play three instruments,” Florina answered before taking a sip of tea, “And yes, I do sing,” Countess Straleen’s cheer was contagious, and Florina’s smile was a little sider than she normally would have allowed for herself…and it didn’t hurt that they’d gotten to her favorite subject: music.
But then she stiffened up again…her mannerisms became more refined, but there was something about it that seemed…unnatural to Florina. She didn’t think it was from a lack of practice—her manner was not clumsy enough for that. If only she could think of a way to get rid of her maid for a few minutes…but she was not clever enough to think of a way to banish someone else’s maid, and there was nothing here that Sofie would need help fetching. She would have to give it more thought.
Luckily, her return to the other woman’s favorite subject nearly did the trick to get rid of that unnatural something in the countess’s manner. So she was a ballet dancer. Her husband would have sneered…or perhaps he would have shown interest. He was not much for watching ballet, but he did enjoy the dancers. It had once bothered her, but she soon realized that if he were touching them, he was not touching her, “It appears that you also have supportive parents. You must be naturally graceful, Countess. As for my family, my father can play a song or two on the fiddle, but not much more than that. He didn’t have as much time as he would have liked to pursue his own interest in music. I suppose that is why he encouraged me so.”
“There was a time I thought drawing was my passion,” she laughed, “Truth be told, I have no particular talent there. However, the moment I touched piano keys…it was like falling in love. Do you feel that way about dancing?”
Tianna sipped her tea and as always, it relaxed her nicely with its soothing sweet warmth. A chill passed over her as someone came through the door and it gave her an idea. She set down her fork gently and turned her head as if not even deigning to look in the servants exact direction.
"There's a chill in here Miss Cally so I'll need you to go back to the estate and get my warmer tan gloves and matching wrap. You're dismissed." Her tone was cool and calm, and the product of years of training in its callousness toward anyone of common birth.
Miss Cally curtsied to both Ladies and walked out the door, but fortunately her back was turned so they didn't see her angry expression.
"You play three instruments?! Which ones? And what range do you sing- alto? soprano?"
The woman smiled warmly as Florina spoke and her shoulders relaxed more naturally as she leaned forward with interest. Scooping chocolate cake into her mouth like a champion speed eater, she shoveled it in and finished the slice in just three large bites. Tianna nodded and gestured for the Countess to keep speaking as she put the napkin before her mouth as she chewed. It was at least one of the few manners she'd retained, thankfully.
Cally would be gone a minimum of forty minutes at a very fast walk so Tianna sipped her tea as she listened.
Graceful? Archie had told her she was the most rigid and inflexible klutz. She blushed and shook her head, looking down at her empty plate for a minute and replied,
"I think it's lovely that your father loves music too. Do you like art? My friend's an artist."
Dancing as falling in love? Did they make words for it?
"Yes maybe. I think..." she put a hand to her chest, over her heart. "For me, dancing is like waiting on that first kiss you know is about to happen. All the potential in the world wrapped up in that moment. That butterflies in my stomach, can't catch my breath in the best way, dizzy, happy, anticipation that any dream could come true feeling. It's .. hope." Tianna replied passionately.
Last Edit: May 19, 2023 19:55:09 GMT -5 by Deleted
Magic Detection: The ability to detect magic. The user can judge magical aptitude, pinpoint magic being used within a mile vicinity, and even detect when potent magic has formerly been used in a space. The magic may originate from a living thing or from an object, it does not matter. There is no restriction to the kind of magic that the user can detect. The weakness is the spatial awareness limitation, and while the user can detect the presence of magic, they cannot detect the specific kind of magic being used.
Post by Florina Bellerose on May 22, 2023 14:51:38 GMT -5
Florina would have nodded in approval to Countess Straleen sending her maid away on what was a “busy work, go away” sort of errand, but that would have come perilously close to behaving like the wretched maid. Instead, she simply took a delicate sip of her tea and pretended not to feel any particular way about the maids well sought after absence.
“I sing soprano,” she said through a pleasant smile, Oh my, but the countess was excitable given the chance! Florina had seldom had a chance to speak to someone so openly eager, so she answered her questions in kind…or at least as overeager as Florina could allow herself to be. She’d had too many years of practice to let go of herself, “Yes, I play three instruments,” the countess confirmed, “The lyre, piano, and the lute.”
“I do like art,” she said, “Your friend is an artist? How lucky!” She took a dainty bite of her own cake, politely ignoring Countess Straleen’s enthusiastically sided bites, “Your friend must be quite the character to be around. Would I know his or her work?”
She listened to the countess describe how dancing makes her feel. The mention of waiting for a first kiss made her recall the memory of Ori’s brother leaning in for what she thought would have been her first kiss. She remembered the butterflies dashing about her belly, the way her heart started to dance in her chest, “Yes, I know exactly what you mean,” she said, a small, nostalgic smile on her face, “When all the world is falling apart, there is at least music and dancing somewhere.”
Tianna felt downright mean to have so cruelly dismissed Miss Cally, but the real rub was that it was exactly how the late Count Straleen had insisted she behave. She wiped her hands on the napkin, as if trying to wipe away the memory. Without him even here, she was still doing what he said, what he wanted. The dark haired woman licked her lips and looked over at the poised noblewoman across the table from her. Her etiquette, fashion, manners, turnout and proper phrases were the epitome of what was expected of well born Lorendale Ladies.
There was an expression on Countess Bellerose' face that bespoke of restraint and delicacy of thought word and deed that Tianna would never attain, as much as she admired her. The gap was wide between them and though it wasn't intentional, it felt like a fairy princess doing a kindness to the less fortunate. Could music, dance and arts bridge that gap? Would tea and cakes at least start a small tether that they would ever speak to each other again on purpose? She wasn't sure exactly what lay behind the calm beautiful face that sipped her tea as elegantly as a Lady should.
A similar past could do that, but sharing it would take a far greater leap of trust between both near strangers before anything more than a passing acquaintance could be established. Only time would tell.
"A soprano? I've heard that it's the most difficult to sing--is that true? Archibald said it was like hearing angels sing when listening to a full soprano." Tianna said, the evil name out of her lips before she could stop it. Why did she have to say aloud the things she thought? Once the Lady answered, she curiously asked her,
"A lyre?"
Her green eyes briefly watched as the Countess gestured gracefully without making large motions. Florina's question quickly brought him to mind and she replied with a smile as she spoke.
"Oh yes, Alaric Melbourne is a very skilled portrait artist that's well known all through Lorendale, Countess Bellerose. I've commissioned dozens of his paintings."
Tianna sat quietly, nodding at the Lady's reply about that nostalgic moment and answering look. Artistry in every form could transcend even languages and species. She understood.
Last Edit: May 23, 2023 17:43:34 GMT -5 by Deleted
Magic Detection: The ability to detect magic. The user can judge magical aptitude, pinpoint magic being used within a mile vicinity, and even detect when potent magic has formerly been used in a space. The magic may originate from a living thing or from an object, it does not matter. There is no restriction to the kind of magic that the user can detect. The weakness is the spatial awareness limitation, and while the user can detect the presence of magic, they cannot detect the specific kind of magic being used.
Post by Florina Bellerose on May 28, 2023 19:49:20 GMT -5
“It depends on the song,” Florina said in response to Countess Straleen’s question about singing soprano, “But I suppose it depends on the skill of the singer, too. Did—forgive me if I am mistaken—did your husband enjoy music?” She assumed this Archibald man was the other countess’s husband. A fairly safe question to see if she’d been on the mark when she’d seen the look of terror on Countess Straleen’s face earlier.
Florina smiled at her probing question, “A lyre is like a harp, but small enough to hold in your lap,” she held her hands out as if she were holding the instrument, “I suppose it’s a touch out of style to play the lyre, but I do so enjoy the sound it makes. Have you ever had the pleasure if hearing one?”
“I have heard of Mr. Melbourne,” Florina sipped her tea, “As you say, I hear he is very talented, but I’ve also heard that he can be a touch…forward. However, I’ve also heard that that is not so. If you do not mind me inquiring, could you enlighten me on which is true?” She smiled sweetly, “I try not to go by gossip and rumors whenever I can. They can be so unreliable.”
'Why do I keep bringing him up? It's like he's still so much alive and standing over my shoulder all the time! Am I still in love with him? NO. Definitely not! He haunts even my thoughts.' Tianna thought to herself but nodded to Florina and answered quietly,
"Yes he was an avid opera fanatic. Adored it." She stirred her tea, looking for something to do with her hands. "He said opera was the ultimate art form."
Because it turned out he hated ballet and just wanted a young girl dumb enough to impulse marry him. She set down the spoon on the saucer and sipped at her tea. The Countess look so happy to talk about music with her and Tianna smiled back at her, watching the woman gesture about the lyre.
"From the size of it, it seems like a harp in miniature-what a wonderful thing. No I haven't heard one that I know of. I'd very much like to someday."
Her green eyes went wide and her mouth fell open in surprise at the question. She looked down and blushed at what to say. Lying wasn't something she did and Alaric was her childhood friend. Looking back on things with a more critical eye, Tianna had to start being more honest with herself. He was a friend, not a best friend. There were too many secrets for that. But Countess Bellerose was a true born noble woman of such status that she was related to royalty! It was best to be honest with her and try to say it gently. Tianna lifted her gaze to meet the Countess' eyes and spoke with quiet authority. She knew him as well as anyone could without having sex with him.
"Every word of his lothario reputation is the truth. Mr. Melbourne is a childhood friend of mine and while it's not pleasant, yes, he's alarmingly forward with every woman I've ever seen him around for over a decade. While he's a talented artist, I would never ever recommend him anywhere near you Countess Bellerose. His behavior is shamelessly sexual, highly inappropriateand indiscriminate with his overtures."
She swallowed the lump in her throat, looking down at her lap and blushed deeply for the shame that Alaric never had. Happy Birthday Al, she thought with embarrassment. Tianna was the worst friend ever.
Last Edit: May 31, 2023 17:40:35 GMT -5 by Deleted