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 Rhedara Shannon on Mar 10, 2023 0:22:34 GMT -5
To his mock response, Rhedara flicked him on the arm, and pretended to be put out, “Is that any way to speak to your elders?”
His comment about her being right out of the cradle landed about as well as calling her cute while angry, and little. Sure she was size impaired, but he was the second person to keep calling her short (which she was, but why point it out all the time?). She glowered at him, and would have considered flicking him again, or perhaps kicking him in the shin if his utterance about being a dirty old man didn’t influence her tongue.
“Well, aren’t we quite the pair then?” She began, keeping her tone kittenish and playful, “If you, oh Cradle Snatcher, are at the ripe old age of twenty-eight, then that makes me a grave robber.”
He winked back at her glower, knowing it was only part of the banter they'd been playing all that night. When Red flicked at him he looked down at her hand, and couldn't help but notice that despite whatever they talked about, she kept finding small ways to touch him. Good. But the age difference was definitely a thing and not at all something he could totally ignore. Jokes and all, she was a fresh faced cadet still literally in training for life and the military. Raff would have to take down the teasing a notch, and maybe some other things too...
"Damn finest lookin grave robber I've ever seen."
Now knowing she was indeed that young, he'd have to be more cautious about some things he said or did. At her age, there was a good chance that most of what she did was a 'rebel stage' that many people went through. Along with a struggle to be taken seriously and demand respect despite earning neither yet. Raff would have to walk a fine line with this girl, in more ways than one.
Last Edit: Mar 12, 2023 15:26:06 GMT -5 by Deleted
Post by Rhedara Shannon on Mar 13, 2023 16:56:04 GMT -5
His wink quickly turned her glower into a smile that faded a little when he looked at her hand when she flicked him. Was it annoying? She didn’t think he seemed irritated with it, but some people didn’t like being flicked or poked.
She flicked him again for science, aiming toward his shoulder. She wanted to reclaim that mood they had before the poker playing men had ruined it, but she wasn’t sure if it could be salvaged at this point. So instead, she answered the question he had asked her at the beginning of their titillating banter, “Alright, I’ll go to the ball with you,” he was fun to be around, and she liked that she could be so playful with him. Even if things didn’t get as warm as he was suggesting earlier, it was bound to be a good time.
"Any excuse to keep touching me huh?" Raff smirked down at Red and leaned into her flicking. "In fact there are far more creative and ... satisfying ways to touch a guy. And other ways to flick me if ya wanna."
He raised an eyebrow at her finally giving an answer to a question he'd asked her a mere three or so hours ago. Was she too buzzed to stand up? Just how drunk was she right now? How much beer could such a tiny girl drink? And more importantly,
"Why don't I walk ya home Red? Brigitte's gonna call the guards on me if I stay much longer."
Post by Rhedara Shannon on Mar 13, 2023 21:09:45 GMT -5
"Well you found me out," she took advantage of his leaning in to her flick to rest her hand on his shoulder, sliding it to his bicep. He seemed to like the feel of her nails, so she let them slightly graze him. His comment on flicking and what to flick didn't quite go over her head. She didn't need the context of their flirtatious banter or his suggestive tone to know it was likely something sexual, but precisely what she'd be flicking was alluding her, although she suspected it was somewhere south of the belt buckle. She searched her memory from growing up on the docks for any references to flicking, but found none. Didn't seem to be a popular thing that the painted ladies did or talked about.
"Creative and satisfying huh?" she leaned a little closer dropping her hand to the bench for balance, "Well isn't that irresistible?"
His offer to walk her home didn't surprise her, but she hadn't expected it either. For a second, she thought the subject of walking her home was a little jarring compared to the heated banter that he'd just initiated...then she thought that maybe he was wanting to continue things there? Or perhaps he was just being nice to this pretty girl he'd kissed in the tavern? Maybe it was both?
Only after a moment's thought did she nod her head, "Sure," she said, about to give hi a general idea of where they'd be going, but when she stood up, the room swam a little. She wasn't about to topple over with the smallest gust of wind, or belt out a bawdy sea shanty, but she definitely wasn't as steady on her feet as she normally was. She'd always been a light weight.
Maybe he was offering for altruistic reasons...if only partially.
That simple small motion of dragging her nails along his arm was revving his engine and she had no idea how much of an effect she had on him...or maybe she did and just liked playing with fire. But she was so .. damned innocent! Really? She wasn't piecing together flick with another word that used a different vowel? That or she was really drunk. Hmm. He leaned in very close to her ear and replied in a low growly voice,
"Very satisfying."
Now he'd see if she could even walk anywhere, because that was the true test of it. And the fact that Brigitte was already talking to her brother to go get the guards. Raff need to get outta there fast and he wasn't sure if he'd end up literally picking up Red to bring her with him.
"Once ya did a lil shoutin or a lil fightin, someone was always gonna cal the stupid guards on ya. Let's keep our records clean and roll outta here fast Red. Brigitte's fixin to send in for reinforcements and I don't intend to be here fer that!"
Raff stood up and put an arm around her waist as Red stood up, smiling down at her to see if she was steady or not.
"We gotta beat feet and get movin Red!" He hated to rush her, but his military record was flawless, and he'd keep it that way--cute girl or not.
Last Edit: Mar 19, 2023 11:55:04 GMT -5 by Deleted
Post by Rhedara Shannon on Mar 18, 2023 9:11:26 GMT -5
She shivered at the growl in his voice, the delightful tingling sensation returning to her belly. Unconsciously, she leaned into him, the fingers that were resting on his arm once again clenching the fabric of his shirt. She wondered how he managed to do that to her and if she could get him to do it again.
But then they were standing, and his arm was around her waist, which ended up being a good thing because the room swam a little when she stood. Damn, she’d always been a lightweight. She was surprised she hadn’t noticed sooner. She would take a tentative step and was relieve to know that she wouldn’t be stumbling while walking on a flat surface, but she definitely did not feel as steady as she usually did.
She nodded at his words about leaving before the guards came, “Good idea,” She certainly did’t want to get arrested. She was already in hot water, no need to make that water come to a rolling boil.
When they did start moving, she’d make good progress to the door, but she would stumble a little going through the door, her foot catching on where the floor of the tavern transitioned to the ground outside. She wouldn’t fall on the ground, but she would tighten her grip on Raff (or try to grab onto him if he had removed his arm from her) so she’d stay upright. If he decided that her progress was too slow or too shaky and picked her up, she wouldn’t fight him, but a shocked squeak would escape as she would not have been expecting him to do that.
Red seemed pretty okay, that is until they reached the door and she clutched at his arm, digging her nails in. Of course it got things working downstairs when what he really needed right now was to work with his upstairs brain. This woman had already blatantly kissed him in a public place while drinking and lingering with him for just over three hours. She'd definitely smeared her reputation as far as Hellmere society was concerned. He could pick her up to help her, at least to get out of where guards would soon be approaching. Damn Merk and her training!
An adorable little squeak slipped out of Red as Raff swiftly scooped up her little self to carry with him, holding Red tightly to his chest in front of him.
"I know it ain't nice, but we need to get the fuck outta here like yesterday!"
He jogged around the corner and down the alley way before pausing to look down at her. He leaned against the wall, her feather weight still in his arms. Raff could feel her body heat and smell the scent of her hair so close to his face. Damn she pretty! It took him a minute to find his voice again, but he finally asked her.
"Just how fucked up are ya? Is yer home close ta here? Mine's two blocks from here or you could try walking again if ya want."
Last Edit: Mar 19, 2023 12:22:13 GMT -5 by Deleted
Post by Rhedara Shannon on Mar 19, 2023 19:54:10 GMT -5
She didn’t know what he meant about it not being nice…she supposed he meant the manhandling, but after getting over the initial shock of being picked up, she found she rather liked the close proximity. She threw her arms around his neck to steady herself when he started to jog away from the tavern.
Then they were in an alleyway, Raff leaning against the wall of the alley, still holding her. Her arms were still looped around his neck, and she looked up at him at the same time he looked down at her. Not for the first time that night, she thought that he had very nice eyes. Her eyes flicked to his mouth, remembering their kiss earlier. There were no prying eyes here, said a wicked, alcohol-and-desire-fueled little voice in her head.
When he asked her his question, she had already started to unwind her outside arm from around his neck, greedy little fingers trailing from the back of his neck to where his beard began on his jaw, the fingers of her other hand tracing little circles just inside his hairline.
“I’m just a little unsteady on my feet,” she said, “I don’t live that far from here.”
Raff was a patient guy. Kinda. When it came to certain things. Just not right now. And he didn't wait for her answer any longer, swinging her around with her back to the wall. He reached down and slid his hands onto each hip drawing Red upwards to face him, with some definite plans in mind. Her eyes seemed locked on his mouth so he decided to see if she kissed any better in the dark cool night. His arms tightened hard around her waist, his thumbs moving restlessly.
When her soft warm hands snaked around the side of his neck, it made him smile and pause from kissing her for a brief moment. But then she did something unexpected with his hair that Raff didn't even realize and suddenly his eyes crossed.
Last Edit: Mar 22, 2023 18:40:32 GMT -5 by Deleted
Post by Rhedara Shannon on Mar 22, 2023 21:12:31 GMT -5
Rhedara’s back hit the wall, a small gasp leaving her mouth as he hoisted her up again. She instinctually hooked her legs around his waist, her inhibitions not dead enough to keep her from blushing from the unfamiliar and intimate way he was now holding her. This didn’t keep her from letting him kiss her, and when he tightened his hold on her waist, she let her hands slide along his arms, fingers tracing the lines of his muscles through his shirt as she kissed him back.
She felt his mouth smile against hers as her fingers trailed over his neck and into his hairline. Her eyes were closed, so she did not see Raff’s eyes cross, which was a good thing because she surely would have ruined the mood by asking if that was a good thing or a bad thing to happen in the situation they were in. Instead, she moved her hands to his shoulders, fingers digging into the fabric of his shirt.
She thought she knew where this was going, and there was a small part of her that wondered if it was a good idea. Even as the rest of her slapped that logical side of her down with much prejudice, her fingers trembled , but she didn’t know if it was from desire or nerves. She’d never…been with a man before after all. There were certain consequences involved with the act, and she was already in so much hot water…if only she could remember what those consequences were.
The hair on his arms raised up beneath her fiery but feathery light touch of nails that drove Raff crazy. His mouth moved slowly, dragging his lips to her neck, just behind Red's ear, kissing it along the way in a trail. His mouth was near her ear as she dug her hands into his shoulders and he whispered the one, very important, life changing decision,
Post by Rhedara Shannon on Mar 24, 2023 16:21:35 GMT -5
Passion was a funny thing. It was difficult to think clearly past the warmth of his body pressing into hers and his lips on her neck. She tilted her head as he trailed hissed down her neck, leaning into him.
She registered his question, and it took her several breaths for her to come up with her answer. Was she sure? There were definite parts of her that screamed YES PLEASE! But there was a small part of her that still held some logic and reason. The first time was supposed to hurt…did she want to do this here? Having relations with a man could lead to pregnancy, was she prepared for that and everything that would come with getting pregnant out of wedlock? She’d just met him, did she want to do this with him? Better yet, did she care about those things at that moment?