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!
Astor didn't really heed Annabeth's warning that Castiel was not someone to mess with. He didn't care. Castiel had tried to murder her and their children, and while he couldn't hurt his father, maybe he could hurt her soon to be ex-husband. He'd heard the rumors about divorce, and while he didn't blame the man for divorcing his cousin after unfaithfulness, that didn't mean he could hurt her.
So today he asked around enough, and figured out where Castiel was. It didn't take long, and he took some deep breaths as he made the last couple of steps. And there he was. Marquis Andino. His blood boiled looking at the man, acting like he was the victim when it was actually Annabeth who had barely escpaed the marriage with her life.
Post by Castiel Andino on Mar 24, 2023 14:39:23 GMT -5
No, Castiel wasn't hard to find, but that was due to him simply being at the ashes of the home he had built with his own two hands. For years he labored to create a home for himself and his family. And it all burned down with the toss of a whiskey bottle, and he'd been too angry to bother tamping it out. The fire had spread too quickly for that regardless. Now all that remained at his feet was a mound of regrets.
He was busy raking the ashes for anything that might be salvaged from the debris, shirt discarded to protect it from damage despite the snow and cold. He paid little mind to the angry voice that called his name, preoccupied with his task and lifting a scorched wooden boat, something his sons had fought over often to play with. He looked it over briefly before looking at the man who had called him.
"What?" came Castiel's cold voice in a puff of cold wind.
"You know what." Astor stormed over, thoroughly pissed off. He was standing over the bones of his crime. What an awful man. He was just like the men that Annabeth had escaped. And here Astor had been looking up to him for a while. A mistake.
He had not drawn his weapon, but instead Astor's fists were balled at his sides. He wanted to swing at him, and the closer he got the more he wanted to. The indifference on the man's face for what he had done.
Post by Castiel Andino on Mar 24, 2023 15:38:29 GMT -5
"No. I don't know. Or I wouldn't have asked."
It was true. He didn't, but it was clear that he was being approached in an aggressive manner, so Castiel dug the shovel into the ground, then crossed his arms as the man approached. He was ready for just about anything the toothpick had in store for him.
"I will warn you, based on how you are approaching me, that I will defend myself with no prejudice if you do more than approach me or if I feel threatened."
"You should feel threatened. Trying to kill her like that."
Astor surged forward his fist going towards the man's face. Not caring that the man was probably far more skilled than he was. "You tried to kill her and the kids." The words were barely intelligible shouting. He was furious. This man had no remorse, he was a cocky bastard.
Post by Castiel Andino on Mar 24, 2023 15:55:56 GMT -5
What? Just...what?
As the fist came at Castiel, training took over and he moved, grabbed the wrist as it passed him and his upper arm, then flipped him over onto his back. This is all assuming he didn't manage to stop his momentum and avoid it.
"Let me make one thing clear. I. Did. Not. Attempt to bring harm to anyone. I have no reason to. Especially not my children. Where did you hear such a ludicrous story?"
Astor hit the ground hard as Castiel flipped him over, but he was quick to scramble back onto his feet.
"Annabeth told me, my cousin. You tried to burn them alive and she barely escaped with her life." He was too annoyed to feel the pain, and he rushed at Castiel again, his fist flying for the man's gut.
Post by Castiel Andino on Mar 24, 2023 16:24:35 GMT -5
Well, the kid was resilient, but needed far more training to be on the same level as himself. Again he dodged Astor as he came at him with fists and accusations.
"That is the furthest anyone could be from the truth. I did not try to burn them alive, and they did not barely escape. You want to know the truth? Allow me."
He'd go for a swift and hard punch to the gut to wind him enough to slow him down. If he missed, he'd only swing again. "The fire was an accident. I threw my drink in the fire because I was angry, but I never raised a hand towards Annabeth nor my children. As the fire spread, I told her to take the kids and get out. She had ample time to leave and protect herself and the children from harm. Never, and I mean NEVER would I wish harm upon her nor the children. ESPECIALLY the children! They are innocent in all of this.
"I met her as her bodyguard. I know what she has been through. Do you honestly think me a monster who would bring her harm knowing her past?"
The punch landed, Astor not even trying to block anything, too focused on getting his hands on the Marquis. He struggled to catch air for a moment as the man spewed lies. He had clearly thought up a story, not surprising. The man was evil, and evil men always lied and got away with it. Not this time!
"Why would she lie to me, you were in a jealous rage and tried to kill her knowing it would hurt her no matter if she died or not!" Lunging forward again, Astor swung at the man's face, just wanting to connect and cause the pain that Annabeth was feeling. His poor cousin didn't deserve to die because she had too many emotions, and Astor would see the Marquis Andino saw that.
Post by Castiel Andino on Mar 25, 2023 15:34:46 GMT -5
Castiel would catch the fist, and hold it, reaching to catch the other if he swung again.
"Look at me. I am an honest man. I did not try to kill them. Never would I. Whatever foolish story you have in your mind is false. Do not shame yourself, or her, further. And think! If I wanted to kill her, do you honestly think she'd have been able to see you? Look at how easily I have you in my grasp. I am a trained soldier. I know every way to quickly dispatch a person. What idiot would use fire?! This was an accident, and if Annabeth told you otherwise, then she is greatly exaggerating."
He maintained eye contact the entire time he spoke. No liar would be able to accomplish that.
"Anna wouldn't lie, she said you acted like our fathers. That you wanted her dead, she saw it in your eyes." With how close they were, Castiel would see the angry tears welling and then falling down Astor's face. He was furious, and yet the edge of confusion that had been with him as Annabeth told the story. How she was now all of a sudden in love with another man, and how she wanted to not be nice anymore. It was driving Astor up a wall he didn't know if he could climb. Or if he would just fall off.
Post by Castiel Andino on Mar 25, 2023 16:13:26 GMT -5
"I haven't a clue what she saw in my eyes, but it certainly wasn't the urge to kill or harm her. I was angry, yes, that THREE TIMES she dragged my name through the mud. She broke promises almost immediately after making them, she couldn't wait for me to find my own calm when I was angry before and had separated for a short time. She went and laid with another man, after LYING TO ME that I was her only love, that she didn't mean to hurt me."
He had his own hurt in his eyes as he stared down Astor, trying to ignore his own tears. "Did you ever consider that perhaps I might be the one hurting? She told me she loved me. She promised that she wouldn't hurt me, promised that she'd do specific things to prove her loyalty, and then she commits the ultimate betrayal. So OF COURSE I would be angry! But I never NEVER harmed her. I NEVER tried to kill her. I NEVER GAVE HER THIS LOOK THAT YOU CLAIM THAT I GAVE HER! I met her as her BODYGUARD! WHY WOULD I EVER DO ANYTHING TO TRIGGER THE THINGS I WAS PROTECTING HER FROM?!"
He took a deep breath. "And why, why did you just listen to everything she said without getting both sides of the story? You would be a terrible detective." He let Astor go. "So, do you still want to continue attacking me?"
While Astor could feel the anger coming from Castiel, he didn't see his father in it. His father was cruel, and he never spoke with reason. Wild claims and lies were the way of the Porters, and the confusion in his head was starting to push back against the anger of his heart.
Struggling against the mans grasp half-heartedly, Astor felt like he was being torn in two. "She wouldn't lie to me. She wouldn't." The words were a choked out, his tears now anger, sad, and frustration. "Why would she lie." He was still pushing against Castiel, but it was more like a child who was still hanging on then a man actually trying to injure the marquis.
Post by Castiel Andino on Mar 25, 2023 17:01:29 GMT -5
Castiel sighed and relaxed his stance, putting an arm around Astor, if he allowed it. It might be awkward, but emotions were awkward. What he knew was that Astor needed something.
"Perhaps she didn't think she was lying. I admit, I might have frightened her when I was angry, but I would never harm someone unless warranted. Like in this case, as self defense. I'm glad you finally decided to listen, however."
As Castiel put an arm around him, Astor would attempt to push him off and crouch on the ground. "Fuck you."
Rocking back and forth on the balls of his heels he tried to take deep breaths, but his lungs screamed against it. Short and shallow, the tears still rolling down his face as his mind bounced all around. Castiel was a bad man. A bad, bad man, but he wasn't even trying to hurt him.
"Why didn't you believe her in the first place. None of this would have happened."