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!
He'd barely swallowed down his toast when the party hosts started a screaming match and took off to yell some more. On the verge of saying they should leave, Red preempted the idea. Raff nodded, escorting her out the door swiftly.
Post by Regan Lassiter on May 8, 2023 15:19:14 GMT -5
Regan almost stopped him. She felt the itch of her claws in her fingers that wanted to lash out and snag him by the arm. But Regan resisted. She clenched up her fist and let Othello storm out, acting like the child she thought she'd raised better. This wasn't over. Once whatever drunken tantrum this was concluded, Regan would seek him out. She watched him leave through the swinging door before exiting to the main room. If Othello's tirade had captured the room's attention, Regan would step into the void.
"It, uh, seems as though there's been a miscommunication." Regan started awkwardly, talking to whoever would listen. "These gifts are, uh, thoughtful but unnecessary. If any cannot be returned, resold, or put to use, I'll compensate you best I can." For that was the other deeply selfish part of this, wasn't it? Othello had no business asking commoners like Zarha Sliva or @torsten or any others to spend their limited coin on gifts for someone they barely knew.
It was then Regan noticed Apollo was closed. Her cheeks flushed anew, hot tears of embarrassment rising behind her eyes. "You should go. All of you." She said quietly before running a hand through her hair, unsettling it so it fell over the side of her face.
Last Edit: May 8, 2023 15:19:26 GMT -5 by Regan Lassiter
Post by Aldrich Abbott on May 8, 2023 15:19:52 GMT -5
If/when @katerina responded to his question, he nodded, but before he could reply he heard loud voices through the walls. Obviously those of Othello Allemeade and Regan Lassiter. As soon as the Champion stormed out of his own house, and guests started to leave, Aldrich would make his way over to Regan Lassiter with a frown.
"Hey, are you alright, Regan?" he asked, which was a dumb question. Obviously she wasn't, but he wondered if there was more to it than the hookers. He assumed that was what she had gotten mad about in the first place, but as far as he could tell, she and Othello were close. Perhaps not voluntarily, because she had to keep an eye on him, but it sure seemed like they had gotten to know each other well over time. Othello even threw her this party. So was it really only the hookers she was mad about?
Post by Zarha Sliva on May 8, 2023 15:26:36 GMT -5
Zarha looked at @warren when all of this was happening before she walked over to the box of the gift she got Regan and she opens it before she walked over to Regan Lassiter with a smile. "I don't want to be compensated, I brought this for you because, I can't speak for everyone else here but you are amazing and stronger then you believe. If you try and compensate me, I will not accept." Zarha opens the box and inside was the beautiful moon necklace. "This is one of a kind just like you." As she was speaking she noticed Ajax walking out the house. there goes her walk to the barricks.
She'd slipped by as Regan Lassiter pulled Othello Allemeade to another room, and just made it over to @berengar when the sound of their voices was loud enough to hear them. Then Othello shouted, folks started leaving, and she just stood there for a second.
"Well I showed at the wrong time, I guess." She looked over at her friend. "Imma go after him. Wanna go with?"
Just like the last party Ber had attended, the atmosphere shifted from bearably uncomfortable to absolutely horrible. And, just like last time, it all happened so fast.
One didn’t have to be a genius to see how unhappy Regan was with the apparent surprise party Othello had thrown for her. From his place kneeling on the floor by Artos, Ber watched as they disappeared into another room, but the thin walls did little to hide the shouted half of the conversation. What he heard, specifically the part about Regan having zero fucking friends, had his eyes narrowing as the street rose to his feet, staring at the closed door with his fingers flexing at his side. Although he had no idea what Regan had said to Othello, Ber knew from personal experience when someone had crossed the line - and Othello had raged right over it as if it didn’t even exist.
The door was flung wide. Othello Allemeade dismissed everyone from the Midnight House and stormed out. Regan Lassiter followed in his wake, all troubled awkwardness compared to the Champion’s loud ire. Frozen in place, Ber watched as the guests began to file out or make for the Huntsman. Although his first instinct was to approach, Aldrich Abbott and Zarha Sliva had already rushed over, and he doubted his presence would have been welcome anyway. Had it been Ber, he would have wanted privacy rather than more attention, even if it came with good intentions.
A voice, surprisingly casual, came from the side. “What?” Distracted, he turned until his eyes fell on @elletta , who had at some point sidled up beside him. Her question registered, and he shook his head. “Uh, no, I’m gonna—” Do something here. He wasn’t sure what. “But you should go after him.”
Artos, who had righted himself and sat up over the course of the argument, was displeased with the number of people standing around him with idle hands that could have been occupied by petting him. Sitting by Ber’s leg, he looked around the room before letting out an affronted huff. When the relatively quiet noise only earned him the same distracted glance that Elletta Haider had received, he let out another huff and abandoned the soldier once againfor @warren , whom he would follow to where- or whoever he might be moving. Maybe the captain would have his priorities in the right order.
"It is a nice gesture," Warren agreed with Zarha, though he could tell by Regan's initial reaction that it hadn't quite hit its mark. Warren winced when the screaming began. Othello had been somewhat inebriated before the party ever began, and in his drunken state he couldn't understand quite why Regan would have gotten so angry. That left an awkward tension in the room as everyone waited for the outcome of the argument. "Best of intentions, though," he said with a sigh, frowning somewhat to Zarha.
With Othello's raging exit, many others began to leave as well. Some of the prostitutes had followed him out, and a few others had gone shortly after. Only then did Regan re-emerge, the look on her face making his chest tighten. He was surprised when Zarha stepped away, walking toward her. It wasn't the time, really, for people to approach her, at least he didn't think so. But that Aldrich Abbott lingered closely to her forced him to take a breath. He rubbed his face, glancing over at the tables where the food, drinks, and gifts sat. He was only distracted for a moment when something came pawing at his leg, and he looked down to find Artos there again. He glanced around and saw Ber, looking nearly as lost as Regan had, and shook his head. If it wouldn't draw attention to him, Warren might have laughed at how terribly helpless they all were at times like these.
"You, too, huh?" He said to Artos, before removing his jacket and draping it over a nearby chair. He bent down and roughly scratched the pups ears, then picked him up and draped the heavy ball over fur over one shoulder. Walking first toward Zarha Sliva , he stepped to her from the side so as not to interrupt Regan Lassiter and Aldrich Abbott 's conversation, though he did attempt to briefly meet Regan's eyes and give her a reassuring nod. "Ms. Sliva, you're very kind and I'm sure Ms. Lassiter is grateful. Why don't you leave this with the rest and head back to the castle? Mr. Mosse shouldn't be too far gone, he can walk you."
With that, he turned and directed his attention to @elletta and @berengar , one arm lifted to support the puppy he was still carrying. Artos was biting at his hair and his wagging tail was nearly smacking him in the face, but he moved dilligently. "Ms. Haider, I think going after Mr. Allemeade is a good idea. He's very intoxicated, keep him out of trouble?"
Assuming that Zarha and Elletta would do as he asked, Warren turned his sights on Ber. "Mr. Stormcrest, why don't you help me clean up? There's a lot of food that can be stored in the icebox, and glasses sitting around. We should close up the bottles and store them somewhere dark." Artos wriggled and Warren sat him back down, rubbing his ears again. "You can have some of the leftover food, Artos."
Rubbing his hands on his pants, he went about cleaning up, aiming to carry a few trays toward where he thought the kitchen-area might be to look for the icebox, but not before slipping a few cubes of cheese to Artos.
Elletta looked from @berengar to the door and was about to push the rum bottles at someone to take them or find a table to set them on when @warren gave her the go ahead to follow after her- friend? Were her and Othello friends or were they just sparring buddies? Oh well, that was a thought to deal with later and she put the rum bottles on the nearest table.
With a short wave at Berengar and Warren, she slipped out the door. The witch didn't even bother with a farewell to Regan, since Elletta had only shown up for Othello anyway.
Post by Zarha Sliva on May 8, 2023 16:36:07 GMT -5
Eyes looked at Warren walk with Tor, she wasn't in the mood to talk to him, however she nodded to him. As she walked towards the table and placed it down keeping it open for her. She wouldn't rush of to catch up with Tor though when she left she would walk by herself. It been a while since she taken time to walk by herself. Plus it would mean knowing how far Tor would be.
(exit Zarha)
made by the wonderful Lyla
Last Edit: May 8, 2023 16:36:27 GMT -5 by Zarha Sliva
Post by Regan Lassiter on May 8, 2023 16:44:26 GMT -5
Regan wanted to fall through the floor or burn, but neither of those were options available to her. Apollo’s presence had received a pain she thought had long been put to rest. Shame twisted like a knife in her chest: shame, in realizing that the would of Logan had yet to heal. Shame, in knowing that Othello was not as ready a soldier as she’d given him credit for. By the time Aldrich Abbott approached, Regan’s was already scanning the room for what she saw as her one lifeline.
Regan turned to Aldrich Abbott, eyes wide, cheeks burning and eyes shining. Her lips parted to respond but Zarha Sliva cut off any words that had started to form on her tongue. The girl’s speech was saccharine and—however heartfelt it might have been—sounded like the words of a child. Regan directed her gaze to Zarha.
“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I’m no treasure. Nor do I have a need for them.” Regan’s words were firm, but apologetic in their own way. Turning from Zarha Sliva, she found Warren’s eyes. Then, she said to no one in particular—
“I need to speak to Captain Woodwick,” And, without delay, Regan would swallow and make her way to wherever @warren was. He helped her with Othello once. Maybe he would again. Or at least, that’s how she justified herself as she searched for Warren like a lost puppy.
Post by Aldrich Abbott on May 8, 2023 17:25:13 GMT -5
Aldrich huffed and turned around to leave when Regan said she needed to talk to Woodwick. He didn't know what he had expected, but he felt disappointed, and slightly annoyed. It started to seem like he was only good company when they were alone. In public, she didn't spend much time talking to him before she turned to look for someone else to speak with. So Aldrich decided to leave the party, with some feeling resentful.
[EXIT ALDRICH]
We won't call it quits. We'll call it the start.
Last Edit: May 8, 2023 17:25:30 GMT -5 by Aldrich Abbott
Belatedly, Ber glanced down and realized that Artos had abandoned him once more, but he didn’t have to look far to find him draped over Woodwick’s shoulder just as comfortably as he would rest over Thom’s. At the sight, the soldier’s brow furrowed even more, but the captain had already finished speaking with Sliva and now turned toward him and Haider. He sent the medic-in-training after Othello, then offered Ber some direction that, for once, the soldier was more than happy to follow. As Sliva and Haider slipped away, he cleared his throat and looked around the room as if noticing, for the first time, the refreshments sitting abandoned on all the tables. “Uh, yeah, okay,” Ber agreed with a nod.
Turning, he made his way to one of the tables and began closing the myriad of open bottles scattered across its surface. When Regan Lassiter announced her intentions to speak to Woodwick, Ber glanced around to see where the captain was and made a point to move further away. In the sudden silence of the near-empty house, every sound seemed amplified, and if he clinked the glasses and bottles together a little more than necessary to give himself something to listen to other than the lowered voices of his friend and Woodwick, no one needed to know.
Ever hopeful for more cubes of cheese, Artos lingered by @warren ’s side, nearly underfoot as he panted eagerly and wagged his tail.
Warren had carried one of the trays to another room, but hadn't located an icebox. It seemed that Othello hadn't purchased one yet, so instead he left it on the countertop and with Artos in tow he returned to where Ber had begun to collect bottles. It was about that time that Regan had come looking for him, and he could tell by the look on her face that getting her away from everyone who was left would be best. He knelt down and pointed Artos toward Ber, scooting him forward so he would return to the boy who had brought him. Once he had padded off, Warren's eyes scanned the room. Zarha and Elletta had left as instructed, and Aldrich seemed to have gone as well.
Now he finally focused on Regan, eyes meeting hers. "Let's go somewhere else," he said quietly, nodding a head toward another room of the house and guiding her there with a hand on her back. If he thought they could talk quietly enough in the room to have some bit of privacy, he would have remained there. But even through the walls he had heard most of Regan and Othello's argument, so he figured it was best to take their conversation elsewhere.
Once inside, he turned to face her and rested a hand on his hip, the other reaching out to take hold of her wrist. "It's quiet here, almost everyone is gone. Just take a few minutes to breathe, and we'll sort everything out, okay?"
[OOC note: apologies but I couldn't post until now so it's gonna be a bit of one, oh well]
There was zero chance that Kat was going to give a gift to Regan. Her grabby hands had plenty, and they didn't need a sword and dagger, or the booze she and her brother had brought. Or that anyone had honestly. Nope, it was time to do what Van Zants did best and drink as much as she could.
So she smiled at Aldrich Abbott and winked. "Not one that only thinks of herself and treats the military like her mattress." And with that she made her way over to the table of drinks, and started drinking anything she could put her hands on while Othello and Regan argued about something stupid, Raff dragged some gal out with him (clearly he was getting it the rude git for acting like he wasn't), and the medic Lettie, Lotta? Left as well.
After downing half a bottle her eyes landed on a dog. And rather than deal with the fact that Regan was stomping around like the 5 year old orphan child she apparently was, she went to pet the dog, not really noticing if anyone else was around. "Look at this good boy Kas, this better not be one of the gifts, she doesn't deserve him."