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!
Post by Grant Delaney on Aug 3, 2022 19:15:53 GMT -5
"She does," Grant agreed, with a nod. Whew. What a temper. "But just lean into it, that's what you have to do with a pairing. Otherwise the both of you would probably get demoted to all hell."
Grant would not really want his friend or Katerina to be cleaning latrines and other terrible menial labor for failing to impress. They didn't have to pair up in a foreign kingdom, though, so they hopefully would have a lot less pressure put upon them.
He gave a dramatic sigh. "I guess I sit on my hands until they find another witch for me," he said. At least, that would ideally be the plan if he hadn't a job to do that didn't let him get an official paired witch. "Or maybe they'll make me start shoveling shit, I dunno how far the King's wrath might extend past Regan."
He had an idea that there wasn't a lot of wrath and a bit more of the sense the King had found a new toy, but that wasn't the sort of opinion he was going to share with Octavius. Would only get the other man in danger, at best.
"So long as I haven't made any enemies I think I'll be alright. Probably."
Post by Octavius Wulfbrand on Aug 10, 2022 21:08:09 GMT -5
Octavius gave Grant a closed-lip smile and reached as far as he needed to slap the other man's arm.
"Chin up. Atta boy." Leave it to Grant to be an optimist. Nah, actually, Octavius was one, too. In fact, in their dynamic, Grant was more of the pessimist, but in this moment he was doing good to keep things bright.
"You'll do fine. And, for what it's worth," he leaned back into his seat, slinging his arm out lazily, "I think Regan's into you. Shoulda seen how she said your name." He fluttered his lashes and took on a high-pitched, feminine voice that was unconvincing. "Grant, my partner. He's just the best." Not her exact words but it relayed the sentiment.
Post by Grant Delaney on Aug 12, 2022 18:37:38 GMT -5
Grant scoffed. "Yeah, I'll be fine," he said. What with the Ranger business, he was going to be just fine.
"Oh, jeez," said Grant. "I hope for her sake she isn't in love with me," he said, being dense as platinum. "Think my mother might kill her if she heard that."
Extra dense, Grant Delaney. Then again he also had some opinions on love that made him feel things in places and he didn't like thinking too deeply upon his own heart's yearnings, since they would likely amount to nothing when he was finally wedded off to a noblewoman. Kicking and screaming, probably.
Post by Octavius Wulfbrand on Aug 15, 2022 13:33:24 GMT -5
Octavius grinned at his friend.
"What a pity, to be born so nobly." He was sincere as he said it. "It's only those of your class and then the extremely poor who care a great deal about the marriages of their children." He shook his head and sighed, as if those two groups of people were missing out on something in life. And they were. Status and wealth were such artificial things. He knew enough and had a common enough background to know this.
"So then, I take it you have no interest in her?" He was developing pity for Regan. Unrequited love (or like) was never fun. "Did you not like her as your partner?" His body language was casual but his attention on Grant was quietly purposeful.
Post by Grant Delaney on Aug 15, 2022 20:50:18 GMT -5
"Pity," Grant echoed with a scoff, sipping at his drink. "Yeah, well, everyone has their problems. Mine's just being the only son of Brenna Delaney."
Which meant he was legally morally and ethically obliged to have noble babies, and a lot of them.
Grant didn't answer right away. There were a million people in this house that would report directly to Brenna Delaney if Grant ever outright admitted interest in anyone. So while the wheels in his head spun rapidly he just sort of stared at Octavius.
No interest at all? Well he could say that. He was a terrible liar, though, and even if it had been the truth it wasn't like anything could come of it. Also he'd been inside of her a week ago, so being 'not interested' was kind of irrelevant.
"Regan's a great partner," said Grant, tackling that one first. "Until she, you know, attacks Kings. Whenever I actually get to see her again I'm gonna have words with her about that."
"I wouldn't want to hurt Regan," he said, "She's got a. Thing going on with some guy, anyway."
Morrigans! Though that seemed rather over from what Grant heard, but he wasn't about to get a chance to really find out.
Post by Octavius Wulfbrand on Sept 2, 2022 13:30:33 GMT -5
Octavius wasn't necessarily the sharpest tool in the box, but he wasn't an idiot either. He was better at people than academics, and this exchange with Grant was no exception. His friend had a lot of words, but Octavius' response was painfully short in comparison.
"You didn't answer my question. You have no interest in her? Like, if I said I wanted to pursue something with her..." The way he delivered it might very well trick Grant into thinking Octavius was sincere.
Post by Grant Delaney on Sept 3, 2022 2:41:06 GMT -5
Grant regarded his best friend. Or, former best friend. Maybe new again best friend? He had had to yell at Regan a lot, but--she hadn't exactly told him to go fuck himself, in so many words. In action? Yes. But Grant was sure that wasn't the actual case. Regan had a bit of a temper.
So he merely stared at Octavius for a moment or two.
"If you said that," he began, after a moment, "I wouldn't stop you."
Instead of saying something, Grant sounded extremely threatening. He regarded his friend for a moment and then picked up a throw pillow, hucking it at Octavius' face.
"Look, I," he said, glancing around. It was his house, mother could be listening, and if not her then someone who would report to her.
He looked at Octavius for a moment and sighed.
"Don't," he said, quietly. Pleading, but he was sure he'd have to make a case for it--even to his friend. This wasn't the place or the time, but.
Post by Octavius Wulfbrand on Sept 6, 2022 13:10:20 GMT -5
Octavius maintained the I-might-be-serious stare long enough for Grant to be convinced, or so the pillow told him. It hit his face a second before Octavius could divert it. He snagged it and considered throwing it back, but thought better of it. This was Grant's house, after all. Besides, he'd learned what he wanted to. With a pleased smile he brought the pillow to his stomach for a casual hug.
"Grant Delaney." He almost sang the name. "The hell have you gotten yourself into?" His smile broke into a grin and he winked at his friend before raising a finger to his lips, promising silence with that small motion.
Post by Grant Delaney on Sept 11, 2022 21:36:06 GMT -5
Grant was utterly convinced.
He was contemplating if he had the stomach to murder his former-turned-once-more-best-pal and possible traitor; then Octavius let the facade drop. Grant cleared his throat, turning a little more red about the face and taking a heavy drink of the first thing he could.
That was probably good because Grant wasn't sure revealing Feelings was grounds for cold blooded murder (and he was pretty sure he was not going to kill Octavius for this even if it was).
"Nothin'," Grant said, after a long pause. He'd gotten himself into nothing, as usual, and now it was a big deal and he didn't know what the hell he was even going to say to Regan. Nor was he going to see her for a while, so at least he had time to think about that.
"Just. Paired stuff." Grant was not a convincing fellow. "Or, uh, formerly."
Post by Octavius Wulfbrand on Sept 14, 2022 14:21:46 GMT -5
Octavius brought the drink that had been brought to him to his mouth and smiled as he took a long swig, humming a pleased note. When he finished he set it down and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
"Don't worry, man." He said it in a quietly, mischievous voice. Assuming his friend was looking his way, one eyelid would lazily fall closed for a beat, an almost awkwardly slow wink. "I've got you." He'd intended the promise to sound assuring.
Post by Grant Delaney on Sept 15, 2022 19:37:27 GMT -5
Grant sighed visibly. "Thanks," he said, Octavius' show of camaraderie reminding Grant that murder was not the solution nor even an option. At least not for him; Brenna Delaney probably just needed the barest hint of an excuse to murder Regan Lassiter given how their partnership had been going for all these years. Until the other day, that was.
And since Grant didn't get to talk to Regan about what happened just before the other day he sure as hell wasn't going to make anyone else aware of it. Besides, that sort of conduct was only to be conducted in committed marriages. Solely for the purposes of procreation. Obviously.
"Anyway, yeah, being paired is. A hell of a thing," Grant spoke, after a few moments of trying to relax and not think of Regan. Then, as was tradition, a proper thought struck in the middle of his stream of consciousness. "Witches are terrifying. Just protect your witch and she'll do all kinds of crazy stuff. I dunno how much actual 'witching' they get up to around Cambria, but I haven't heard of much."
Grant's focus had always been on military matters and how he could be a better soldier and therefore, a better Delaney. He'd doubled down pretty hard when the Ranger thing started, so the gorgeous women of Cambria had been more of a footnote for him than an every day thing like they must have been for Octavius.
Post by Octavius Wulfbrand on Sept 21, 2022 14:18:20 GMT -5
Octavius only smiled at Grant. He'd seen witches in action and well knew to fear them. That was the smartest thing. That was likely the only reason his partnership with Kat hadn't started on the wrong footing: he respected her and stayed out of her way. Otherwise he was certain she'd cut him down without batting an eye.
"Oh, I intend to. Rest assured." Octavius said, almost a murmur, thinking about the things he'd already seen his do. He couldn't be that useful on his best day. Having Kat's back as she did the thing was fine by him.
A lull in the conversation followed, and OCtavius' gaze started to roam. After a pause he looked back to Grant,
"I don't, uh, intend to stay long. Just wanted to say hi."
Post by Grant Delaney on Sept 29, 2022 19:20:49 GMT -5
Attempting unsuccessfully to not dwell on his former partner was difficult to the point even the usually chatty Grant had stalled up for longer than he realized, because Octavius spoke up.
"Right," he said, smiling. "It's good to see you back," he continued, glad it was something he could speak more earnestly about. At least, in the open of the Delaney household. "...before you go, though, I'll get some horses to help you get back," he said, smirking and shaking his head a little.
Of course Octavius had just walked. Grant could have come up with the plan. Maybe that was why they got along? Either way the Delaneys had at least one horse to spare for a fellow soldier, if nothing else.
Post by Octavius Wulfbrand on Sept 29, 2022 22:19:16 GMT -5
Octavius smiled at his friend, appreciation glistening in his eyes (though Grant likely just saw it as the light from the window messing around) as he halfheartedly declined,
"No, don't do that, man. I can..." He stopped then, as he thought back to the journey to walk to the Hollow and how uncomfortable and hungry he was basically the whole time. He made a face, lips turned down, "On second thought, yeah, I'll take a horse."
Post by Grant Delaney on Sept 30, 2022 20:17:44 GMT -5
"Good thinking," said Grant. "And you know it'd be a silly idea because I probably would have done it myself."
And in fact he had, more than once, which was why he learned not to do it again if it could be in any way helped. He stood up and gave Octavius a smile. "I'll go see to that right now," he said. "So you can get back before you're scheduled to do any military stuff. Us Delaneys think that it's kind of important to be on time, after all," he said, grinning.