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!
Raff draped the towel over a nearby bush to dry out and remained silent as Eva spoke, but he listened. And then snorted derisively at her innocent comment.
She thought he was a reliable pair partner? It skimmed the verge of almost being praised for a job well done, which was the onlything on Terra Nova that would make him blush. But it was something that had never and would never happen, so Raff was in no danger of that. With his solid reputation as a mean, heartless bastard, it would never be an issue. But it did make him even quieter and more pensive.
"Yep. I worked hard to get my mean asshole reputation, Curran. But ya knew that, it's no surprise there. That alone is a good reason why ya should NOT be considering Pairing with me."
Her satchel had a half a page sticking out and he figured she was probably out here to sketch away the hours. The not wanting to go to Cambria resentment had made him take out his temper on her. Which was the main reason he'd needed so much to be alone right now. Raff was under a huge amount of stress on four fronts and even if he were near a saint right now, he'd still snap at them. His plans for solitude and a quiet break were curtailed. Again. Like the other problems piling up, he went back to pushing it all down and just taking it. This time instead of deployment to Cambria, first job, second job, family or Red, now it was Curran next in his list of things to be done.
"Sorry I was a dick. Were ya headin out to doodle again?"
Last Edit: Jun 19, 2023 13:54:04 GMT -5 by Deleted
Post by Evanthe Curran on Jun 21, 2023 12:05:39 GMT -5
“Oh please,” she crossed her arms, “I wouldn’t ask you to partner with me if you were some happy-go-lucky guy. A pair partner like that would wilt with me,” she paused to grin, “You give some back.” A pair partner on either side that wilted easily was not someone to pair with. To be successful, both parties needed to be strong, and Evanthe would not suffer a partner who didn’t have what it took to survive, “Besides, I’m hardly a goody-two-shoes myself.”
She saw his eyes catch on her satchel, and she craned her head to look, too. Damn it, a page was sticking out! She could care less if he knew she liked to sketch in her downtime—she didn’t keep it a secret from anybody—but the paper might be crinkled now…ah well. It would match how that entire decade of her life was going. She wouldn’t show her frustration. She would do what she always did: Grin like she was up to something.
“Yeah, thought I’d do some sketches,” something to occupy her mind as she hid from her family. They would just make her angry all over again. If they were sorry, they’d tell her where Rhea was. Ah well, she’d be renewing last week’s curse in the morning, “Take advantage of the nice weather while I can, you know?”
Raff watched Eva smile and listened to her speak, keeping his silence for a bit. He knew Royce a lot better than he knew her. If memory served correctly, she was and is still brash, impetuous, loud, insistent, persistent, tenacious, and had the tact and subtlety of a buffalo at a high society tea party. A button pusher who didn't take well to the word no-from anyone. Constantly pushing people's limits to see if and how hard they'd push back after certain things--a master manipulator if there ever was one. And she was whip smart and didn't give up.
She was like a rat terrier trying to connive the food outta yer mouth which was something Raff both liked and hated about Curran. He knew when she would shove her way in to manipulate and it pissed him off, digging under his skin like a thistle burr.
"Better go easy on all those compliments Curran or I'll suspect yer hittin on me again." he smirked at her, "And yea I do give ya a lotta shit back. Coz ya earn it."
Now that the flurry of words was over and she allowed herself to feel instead of give in to knee-jerk reactions, he could tell there was definitely something on her mind. Again, he was looking to get away from distractions and Curran seemed to be looking for a distraction. Wasn't that just always how it went? Raff smiled until a dimple peeked out, seeing how it was.
"So yer out here ta doodle and wanted ta stop and chat huh? I'm not a very good distraction right now Curran."
Last Edit: Jun 25, 2023 17:41:55 GMT -5 by Deleted
Post by Evanthe Curran on Jun 26, 2023 19:45:17 GMT -5
Raff seemed to be studying her, but for what exactly, she wasn’t sure. Probably trying to find some other way to insult her, or remind her of her irritating ways. It was like being picked apart by those etiquette teachers her parents had hired after her father’s station in life changed. Like any nouveaux riche, her parents had overdone it and she’d resented it at the time. Many times she felt like she couldn’t do anything right.
“Well you reap what you sow,” she said, “And sometimes you sow more fertilizer than seeds, am I right?” She smirked back at him, “And don’t you worry your pretty head. If I were going to hit on you, I would have done it when you were all naked and helpless in there,” she gestured toward the river, and she flashed him a smile that she hoped would convey that she was, in fact, joking.
If she didn’t think of him as something like a friend, or if he were part of one of the noble families she had aspirations in marrying into, she may have trailed her eyes from his face to that area below his belt and given him a look full of heat and promises. But that wasn’t their relationship, and as nice as that part of him looked, she couldn’t bring herself to think of him that way. Maybe she would have as a teen and offered to take him for a ride, but she’d gotten higher aspirations since then. So instead of making a flirty comment, she simply said, “Just thought I’d say ‘hi’ and all that. Haven’t seen you in a bit,” a pause, “Want me to tell Royce anything? I’m seeing him in a couple of days.”
"Pretty?!" Raff snorted out a laugh "Lady Curran, ain't neither one of us pretty!"
Was it harsh? Yea. But was Rhedara prettier? Again, yes. There was no comparison to be made. Maybe someone else might be into Eva, but not him. Too skinny with a bad attitude and she had hair as wild and untamable as his. And he wasn't gonna bring up that she was a blatant gold digger that wanted to marry up. But Curran was damn smart and that's why he still had a grudging respect for her--when she wasn't shooting off that sarcastic mouth of hers. And Royce made good choices so if he saw something in her, then so did he. Paireds stuck together.
He smiled broadly when Curran spoke, nodding his head,
"Yea, the bastard still owes me five gold for that bottle of whiskey! He lost the bet and don't let him welch on it!"
Dammit she was doing it again. Pushing that button for nostalgia that would shove him directly into thinking about Pairing again. Of course he wanted to, but Curran and him could barely speak to each other without bickering like an old married couple.
"How's he doing lately? I haven't seen him half a season."
Post by Evanthe Curran on Jul 2, 2023 21:25:15 GMT -5
“How charming,” she said flatly. The comment on her looks hit her like a punch in the gut. Ouch! Way to be blunt, “But you’re right. I’m not pretty…I’m lovely. I’m glad you see the difference,” she’d punctuate that little comment with a smile and a wink. She barely restrained herself from commenting on words like the ones he just gave to her must be really effective when trying to woo his girl. She was trying to make friends, and she really wasn’t sure how he’d take barbs on his girlfriend. She didn’t know him well enough, and she didn’t know what their relationship was like other than he seemed to be very fond of the girl with the weird name.
Instead she moved on to talking about Royce, “Isn’t that just like him?” Royce was always trying to wiggle out of his lost bets, “I’ll wrestle it from him for you if I have to!” She laughed.
His question about how her old partner was doing sobered her up. Royce’s injury still upset her, even if she hadn’t been the one to chop his leg off, “He’s doing better. Getting used to hopping around on one leg,” a weak smile, “He’s saying he wants to get a peg leg and a fishing boat so he can pretend to be a pirate?”
He snorted. "Yea prince fuckin charming right here."
Raff smirked at Curran's wink reaction, wondering why women got so worked up over whether or not someone said they were pretty. Besides, between both Kat and Red as comparisons for beauty, Curran didn't rank anywhere near them in his highly biased opinion. And he wasn't about to lie and call someone pretty when he didn't think she was.
"Ya know back at the barracks, we haze guys fer bein pretty. Why are women so obsessed with bein called pretty? I'm an ugly shaggy bastard and I'm GLAD no one's ever callin me pretty."
Now if that didn't set a burr under her tail, he didn't know what would. She was playin nice--too nice for her and he didn't trust it one bit. A nice Curran was a scheming Curran for sure.
Hmm. Well that was weird. She was the one that had brought up Royce in the first place and now she was looking kinda hurt about it. She should be feeling hurt about a failed Pairing, but Curran had started the whole topic. Which led back to Pairing, hence the whole reason she was playing nice with him. It really rubbed him the wrong way but what was there to do about it? Nothing. The woman didn't seem like she could be nice on a regular basis, so when she ACTED nice, it came across as totally unnatural for her.
Then he'd be joining a vast league of fishermen here with the same tired old joke. Yea let's spend his last day here talking about failed Pairing-there's a real fun time for everyone. What a great way to put a smile on someone's face.
"These dynamics are fucked up Curran. Yer Pair's outta commission and mine's dead. Imma Lieutenant, yer not. Yer wild, wily and scheming, I'm not. We can barely talk civil ta each other without insults. I know I've been thinkin plenty of 'em and I'm sure ya are too."
Raff gave a lopsided smile, with only one side upturned, much like the strained relationship between them.
Post by Evanthe Curran on Jul 10, 2023 20:53:00 GMT -5
She saw his smirk and suspicion immediately arose. Was he laughing at her little quip, or was he about to do something irritating? She hadn’t spent enough time with him to know exactly what that smirk meant.
“Well girls don’t want a pretty man,” Evanthe said, “We prefer men who look like they can hunt down our dinner with a spear. And women worry about being pretty for a lot of reasons,” she sniffed, “Like catching the eye of a man they want,” she leaned forward, giving him a smirk of her own, “Would you have initially wanted your Rhedara had she been ugly? You said she’s quite the looker with her big bust and long legs,” She knew that poking a stick at his girl might put his hackles up in the bad way, but she was trying to make a point, “Unless she immediately stripped for you and flopped on her back for you, but I highly doubt she’s that type,” she shifted her weight thoughtfully, “For one, I don’t think you’d want to keep someone who’s that easy.” Now she was really curious about the girl who’d caught Raff’s eye, “For another, you like to make people think you’re a big dumb dumb, but you got a brain under all that hair. You couldn’t stand a girl who had half a brain and spread her legs for anybody who passed by.”
Goddess, the dynamics really were fucked up. He’d already decided what she was. Fine then, whatever. She knew who she was, and Royce knew who she was.
“Sounds to me like if we gave each other a chance, we’d find that we compliment each other. But if you’re not interested, you’re not interested. But I’m down for verbal insults if you are. Blow off some steam without hitting each other, yeah?”
Raff let out a big and genuine laugh at her comment, knowing very well it was only half true. Maybe other women might be wanting looks but not her-at best she'd use the guy's looks for a lover at most. Curran had made it clear years ago that the only man she was looking to marry, was a walking bag of coins and noble birth. She'd easily marry an uggo purely for money and title. Cold and clear cut gold digger. Looking at it without bias, there was nothing wrong with marrying up purely to improve your life, but to pretend to have a different purpose or reason seemed foolish.
Of their own accord, Raff's long legs were moving toward him and Merk's old spot, not even giving it a second thought. For all the verbal darts they sent, she'd shoved Pairing into the forefront of his mind and long standing habit had him walking to the place he'd spent years bearing his soul to Merk. A bond that was still raw and achingly empty.
Curran's smirk seemed odd but Raff figured she must think she'd scored some kind of verbal victory in their casual sparring.
"Yer lookin fer a man that could spear yer dinner with lots of coin and don't pretend any different with me. I know better. Nothing wrong with making yer intentions known." he answered calmly in a matter of fact tone. It wasn't mean and she'd made it impersonally clear which was fine in his book. If you were gonna tie yourself to someone for life, then it better be for love or love of money.
"Legs and chest don't make a pretty face. It was actually the fact that she could catch and hold my interest with her confidence--not her face. It's a bonus that Red's hotter than a forest fire. She controlled the situation from across the room with her attitude and the brains to play the game. And trust me--that wasn't easy convincing her!" his smile was big at the memory of how she'd used her wits to hold his attention and force him to use his own brain to play the game of catch me if you can. Looks might help, but when it came down to brass tacks, her smarts and sense of fun was the deal clincher for him. Rhedara Shannon was the total package of brains, beauty, wit, fun and optimism. And she was no quitter.
Her next comment had him momentarily pausing as he walked and he gave her a swift stare that was a strange mix of guilt, surprise and blatant mistrust.
"Yer gonna wanna be a little more subtle with yer flattery 'My Lady." Raff asserted with a dig at the title. "Insultin me in one breath and pretendin I'm smart in the next, kinda makes both comments unbelievable. I ain't no smarter than the average soldier. And I'm not sure ya know what kinda chicks I like." he continued on until they reached a beautiful clearing filled with wildflowers and half of it in shade for all weather. There were rocks and soft grass to sit, a small pond nearby and plenty of space for him and Merk to practice in or solve issues in total privacy. It also had a good view on three sides so no one could sneak up on them unseen. Why had he led Curran there?
"Yer like a terrier with what ya want Curran."
Last Edit: Jul 13, 2023 12:20:12 GMT -5 by Deleted
Post by Evanthe Curran on Jul 17, 2023 17:02:38 GMT -5
Evanthe burst into laughter at the image of a man hunting down her food with coin, “Now that would be a sight!” She said, “But bludgeoning my food with a fat sack of coins would be impressive, too.” She followed after him, the image of a brawny man in fine clothes beating a deer with a sack of coin bright and fresh in her head. Ah! She needed that laugh.
She listened to his description of what attracted him to his girl. She was about what she’d thought she was if he didn’t just pork her and leave right after. She did wonder how much of the traits the girl actually had and how much of the traits were from the veil of attraction, but she’d never known Raff to exaggerate or make things up. Royce told her that he could be evasive at times, but he’d never known him to be a liar, “Seems like quite the girl,” she said a matter of factly. Briefly, she thought about asking why he hadn’t married her yet, but remembered that he had a lot on his plate—he’d pointed out as much. She’d do this Rhedara a favor and not poke. Not yet at least. She promised herself if he got this girl pregnant that she’d do some poking for her if it looked like he’d treat her the same way she had been treated in the same situation…not that she thought she’d needed to. Raff was nothing if he was not responsible.
He lead her to what looked like a meadow with a pond. If they were courting, she would have been suspicious of a question that would arise from such a place, but they had no such relationship. Why did he take her here, she wondered? Surely not to kill her. The woods would have been better as there would have been less of a chance of being seen, “Seems to me like I described exactly what you like: Clever and a little hard to get, intimately speaking. Someone who makes you work for it a little.”
“Yeah, I’m like a terrier,” she wasn’t sure if he’d meant it as an insult or a compliment, but she’d take it as a compliment, “like a terrier placing a ball at your feet. Irresistible. Sooner or later you’ll pick that ball up and throw it.”
Raff laughed loudly at the picture it formed and he gestured her toward the clearing, pointing to an enormous and sturdy old oak tree.
"She IS quite the girl- woman." he smiled and his blue eyes darkened at just the thought of her. He turned to climb the tree behind him and sat comfortably in the crook of a heavy branch. His feet dangled just above the side of the trunk where a mark on the tree was a crudely carved M slash T and what looked like enormous claw marks directly underneath it. There was clearly only one thing on Terra Nova that could make those marks-a werewolf.
"At first, I thought she might just be a random hook up. But the more she played the game, the more Red showed how clever she is. She can work her way around things that would stump most people. So for the first time ever, I brought a woman home to the kids."
Leaning down from his perch, he offered Curran a hand up if she wanted to join him or sit on one of the fallen logs near the base. If his subconscious had brought him here without Raff even noticing it actively happening, well, he could take a hint. She'd brought up Pairing at the worst time, but if not now just as he was leaving for Cambria, then when? Like a terrier, she'd firmly grabbed his attention, got her message across perfectly and wasn't giving up until it was at least confirmed that he was on the same page.
"The things I like most about terriers are some of the same things that also aggravate me sometimes." he smiled as he answered. "Terriers never quit, they're smarter than most other critters in the world and when they give their loyalty, it's fer life."
He looked Curran squarely in the eyes as he made his point,
"And I admire the hell outta 'em fer being that strong, smart and confident."
Last Edit: Jul 17, 2023 19:01:43 GMT -5 by Deleted
Post by Evanthe Curran on Jul 22, 2023 10:43:06 GMT -5
She followed him to the oak tree and watched him climb it. As he climbed it, she’d note the initials on the tree. Assuming it was done by two sweethearts long ago, she nearly dismissed it before she finally noticed the claw marks.
Interesting.
She decided not to comment on it. If it were Raff and Merk’s initials, whatever the reason was for carving them was his business. He’d not reacted well when she’d mentioned Mark earlier, so she’d avoid bringing her up again for the time being. Besides, he seemed pretty content talking about his girl and she wasn’t about to risk spoiling their newfound civility…plus she liked hearing about these sorts of things. She certainly had her rough edges that she’d hardly ever try to hide, but she was still a woman, a woman who—despite her own horrible experience in it—liked romance.
…not that she was about to let him in on how much she liked the more romantic things in life. No, that would ruin her whole tough and wild image of her. Maybe it would be a good thing if that was ruined, but she wasn’t going to admit to anyone that between a play that was pure drama, or a play that was romantic, she’d pick the latter.
“Ooo,” she said, accepting his help to get up in the tree. Clever was always good when it came to romantic partners, especially when someone was clever themselves, “I like the sound of her. Well, best of luck with her, wherever it may lead.” There, nice and neutral and not prying. She would have pat herself on the back if it wouldn’t have tipped him off.
She was beginning to really like this terrier analogy he was using with her—especially since the qualities he was rattling off were complimentary. She met his gaze, and tried to resist saying something flippant. Geez, she just couldn’t handle a serious moment, could she? But what did someone say to something like that? It was a compliment, but ‘Thank you’ seemed insufficient somehow.
So she leaned in, not intimately but to emphasize what she was about to say, “It’s like you took the words right out of my mouth, Terach.”