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!
Regan was a needy creature. Now, with the moon so close, the beast’s growl ready to spring from her throat, all she wanted was to be at Cassian’s side. How much of it was woman how much of it was wolf was difficult to say. Either way, it was an impractical desire therefore one that went unfulfilled.
So she sought distraction instead.
It was late—far too late—to be training, but the moon was enough light to see by. The torches flickered on the walls, making the shadows at the edges of the training yard dance. Regan stood in its center—alone, surrounded by night—swinging with a wooden training sword at a defenseless dummy.
1…2…3…
Crack.
The sword splintered and Regan swore, tossing it to the ground.
Post by Aldrich Abbott on Mar 31, 2023 10:50:54 GMT -5
It was late, but Aldrich didn't feel like sleeping. He had been in the office for a long time, a time he would normally be home already, doing whatever he did to keep himself busy until another day arrived. Most of the time, by the time he arrived home, he would go straight to bed. All of his valuable and useful hours were spent at the palace and more specifically the military wing anyway.
He had just put on his coat and opened the door to the training courtyard, which he used as a shortcut to get to the other side, when he heard wood splintering. The lieutenant frowned. Nobody should be out here, everyone had other duties or had went to bed already. He had a hand on the shaft of his sword when he stepped forward carefully. It took a few minutes for his eyes to adjust to the minimal lightning. "Who's th-", he started, but when someone cussed, he was able to recognise the voice. "Regan?"
Post by Regan Lassiter on Mar 31, 2023 11:54:02 GMT -5
“Regan?”
Regan whirled around, eyes flashing in the dark as she turned to face the newcomer with a growl. Her look would be that of a predator, one possessed with fury and burning with hunger. For a moment, it was almost as if she were someone else—something else, that didn’t recognize Aldrich for who he was.
But the moment passed. The darkness and recognition returned to her eyes. She shook her head slightly so her hair came unseated from behind her ear and partially covered the side of her face. Her mouth opened and closed as her cheeks reddened in the dark.
Regan then coughed and picked up the splintered sword, tossing it to the side.
“Fucking useless thing…” She grumbled, picking at the scar on her chest through her tunic.
Post by Aldrich Abbott on Mar 31, 2023 12:27:26 GMT -5
She obviously hadn't expected someone to be around. He involuntarily took a step back when a growl sounded. Her body language was hostile and for a moment he wasn't sure whether it was actually Regan or an intruder. After all, he had identified her just by her voice and perhaps he had been wrong. But then he remembered her voice had sounded similar to the growl when she had entered the training courtyard that one day during the group training that had went south.
She didn't respond to her name exactly, instead she cursed at something. "Are you alright?" he asked with a furrowed brow. He stepped closer again but still kept a safe distance.
Post by Regan Lassiter on Mar 31, 2023 13:35:25 GMT -5
1…2…3…
Regan took a deep breath. She could smell him, lungs filling with his scent along with the crisp cold of the night air. With a sigh, she turned her attention to Aldrich. Though her face was still twisted by claw marks, the eyes that looked at him were soft and very human.
1…2…
“I’m sorry,” She murmured, mollified by her embarrassment, “Just a little…on edge. I guess.” Regan lightly tossed the broken pieces of the sword toward the rack where it came from before sitting on the ground next to her pack, using the bench to rest her back against.
“You still drink whiskey?” She asked, digging in the bag next to her.
Post by Aldrich Abbott on Mar 31, 2023 14:56:11 GMT -5
Even though she had just said she was on edge, the second he caught a glimpse of the scars on her face, he let go of hilt of his sword and walked closer before dropping down on a knee and bending forward to lightly brush the hair out of her face to look at the wounds. "Fuck", he said, letting out a deep sigh before dropping down on the ground next to her. "That's rough. I'm sorry Regan. But I'm glad you survived."
If his movement hadn't startled her and she still asked him if he still drank whiskey, he would nod in response to the question.
We won't call it quits. We'll call it the start.
Last Edit: Mar 31, 2023 14:57:25 GMT -5 by Aldrich Abbott
Post by Regan Lassiter on Mar 31, 2023 15:16:13 GMT -5
Regan had just pulled the flask from her bag when Aldrich dropped down on one knee. She froze, breath shuddering as he brushed the hair out of her face. Rough. The word made her cheeks burn, made her want to drop through the ground to the other side of the earth. It shouldn’t bother her, why did it bother her?
“It is what it is,” She grumbled, unhooking the top from the flask and taking a hearty swig, “At least looking like this, I’ll have an easier time making your recruits piss themselves, eh?” Regal let her hair drop back in her face as she held out the flask for Aldrich to take.
Post by Aldrich Abbott on Mar 31, 2023 15:45:20 GMT -5
He bit the inside of his lip, wishing he had worded it differently than he had. Rough. He wanted to hit himself. As if she didn't know that already. "You still look beautiful. I mean-- yeah." He scratched the back of his neck. Why did he feel so awkward? He watched her as she took a swig from the flask. Aldrich accepted the flask when offered it to him and took a big swing himself. He only then realised that she had mentioned making the recruits piss themselves. The soldier chuckled slightly. "Yeah, I think Captain Commander Usher already made them piss themselves, so if the Huntsman also gives them a lecture, they might just resign." He laughed at his own joke.
Post by Regan Lassiter on Mar 31, 2023 18:59:57 GMT -5
The word ‘beautiful’ had Regan’s eyes snapping back to Aldrich with a spark of hope in their depths. They didn’t leave him as she took the flask back and drank from it. Regan smirked when he laughed, relishing how it sounded on the night air.
“The Huntsman’s done giving lectures for the time being,” Regan’s smirk turned into a mischievous grin as she looked over at him, “I think it’s best to leave it to the professionals…lieutenant.” She pushed the flask back to him.
Post by Aldrich Abbott on Apr 1, 2023 5:09:38 GMT -5
He didn't notice that she looked at him after he had called her beautiful. Of course he still considered her beautiful. Some scars wouldn't change that.
laughed again, softly. "News travels fast I see." He drank from the flask when she offered it again. "There's been quite some changes. Hopefully for the better. The ball surely showed us that it was long overdue." He took another sip and offered her the flask again. "Hey, you still owe me a dance though", he then said, followed by a chuckle.
Post by Regan Lassiter on Apr 1, 2023 21:36:53 GMT -5
A dance. Regan had almost forgotten. The mischief that had already lit her eyes burned with new intensity. The same creature that had tugged Aldrich into the alley raised its head as if it had been summoned by name. She grinned, taking another swig.
“Think it might be awhile before they let me in a party again,” Regan joked, though it didn’t quite land as one. There was a sadness there that sat cold between them before she quickly added, “Or anyone else for that matter.”
Post by Aldrich Abbott on Apr 2, 2023 6:49:28 GMT -5
It was nice to hear her grin. It made him feel warm inside, and brought back memories of when they had spoken in the tavern, and 'spoken' in the alley. Her joke caused him to smile, a defeated smile of some sorts. She was right. It would probably be a while before there would be another party. Aldrich pushed himself up and once he was standing, he offered Regan his hand, not to ask for the flask, but to ask her to stand with him.
"We can still dance. Fancy dresses, costumes and music aside, I think this is the perfect moment." His smile was genuine and kind, unlike usual. He was trying to be funny, but wasn't actually joking. He wanted to dance with her, feel her against him and breathe in her smell.
Post by Regan Lassiter on Apr 2, 2023 8:12:20 GMT -5
Regan was an impressionable creature. Crippling insecurity made extended hands irresistible, particularly when men like Aldrich were on the other end. Regan blushed in the moonlight, the wolf pacing excitedly beneath her skin. After a moment’s hesitation, Regan accepted his hand with a bashful smile.
“I have to warn you,” Regan cautioned, joking but a little unsteady, “I’m an abysmal dancer.’
Post by Aldrich Abbott on Apr 2, 2023 8:53:05 GMT -5
His smile grew wider when she accepted his hand. It appeared that he was going to get his dance after all.
Aldrich chuckled at her joke. "Well, them it's good that were dancing here and now instead of at the ball where everyone would see how bad of a dancer you are, hmm?" he teased, slowly and carefully putting a hand on Regan's waist while using his other hand to hold hers. He pulled her closer a bit, feeling her warmth now she was this close. He started to sway back and forth, not much of a dancer himself, but this wasn't about the dance anyway. This was about being close.
Post by Regan Lassiter on Apr 2, 2023 17:42:39 GMT -5
He smelled like smoke and whiskey. Regan breathed Aldrich in, not resisting as he pulled her close. His playful confidence was intoxicating. Regan had no doubt that many had fallen victim to his charms, and that he knew exactly how to wield them. But Regan didn’t care; being one of many took the pressure off. There was no real risk of failure if you were replaceable.
But… there was something in his smile. Something a little too warm, a little too real. Regan ignored it as part of the act and swayed with him to the nonexistent music. “Yeah, well,” Regan teased back, “At least I’d be dancing badly in a dress. Might help hide my lousy footwork. That's what ladies wear them for, right?"