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 Hadrian Usher on Oct 6, 2023 18:18:28 GMT -5
Hadrian chuckled, eyes sparkling like the sun over the sea. “I don’t know what you’ve heard about my reputation, my lady,” Haxrian teased right back, holding her close still, “But I’m afraid it’s already tarnished beyond repair.” He kissed her then—not a heated kiss, but one gentle and full of care.
A laugh left her, one that faded out as his lips met hers and a soft breath left her through her nose. There was still too many questions, too many variables to whatever the future held. But this, this was nice. This was comfort in a new form. She kissed him back, separating once for a breath before she kissed him more deeply on the return.
When she parted the next time, she lingered close, so he wouldn’t have to open his eyes, wouldn’t have to look. “Dinner might get cold at this rate… and a few questions from some sharp children.” She murmured, but hadn’t quite released him yet.
Post by Hadrian Usher on Oct 11, 2023 10:07:58 GMT -5
Hadrian sighed in partially-comedic, partially-true disappointment. “If you insist, my lady.” He kissed her on the forehead before he released her and offered her his arm, as if they were a couple headed for a fine ball and not two lost souls, tossed together into the empty halls of his estate.
If he’d follow, he’d guide her down to the dining room, smiling broadly as they entered.
She almost tossed back that sigh, because she knew what distractions they could be getting wrapped into at that moment. But they had made plans with two little ones who were like steel traps with certain things. They wouldn’t forget this one, not when one of their favorite people was going to be there and they had his attention all to themselves practically. Only having to share with Alys, though she would step back to allow them that time.
Her hand slipped into his arm, feeling almost as if she was in another time… another place… that she should have been in a gown that swished over her ankles and her hair pinned back… but he held her like the next breeze down the hall might take her away with it, and she held him as if the next shadow might reach out before she could stop it from pulling him away.
Outside the dinner hall, she turned, her feet stopping them all together and turned to him. “After dinner—,” but apparently someone had been listening for them. “Hadrian!” Atlas yanked the door open, a bright smile on his face and Addalyn was right behind him, her smile more shy but still happy to see him. Her eyes briefly jumped to Alys, but after a moment of her lingering eyes she stepped up and reached for her mother’s hand and tugged her into the dining room. Leading her to a seat, just to the right of the head of the table where Atlas chatted excitedly to Hadrian and then took the spot on the left of him.
Post by Hadrian Usher on Oct 15, 2023 20:46:47 GMT -5
In nearly every other aspect of his life, Hadrian felt like he was barely living up to expectations. In other aspects, he was failing, or being thrown about amidst uncertainty. But not with Alys. With Alys, he could be the guardian. Play protector. Hold her with the kind of calm, confident care that he’d one day hoped to hold Kennet with—though those dreams were to be put to rest. Alys on his arm felt right. Reassuring.
As Alys started to speak, his head turned to her, but any conversation was interrupted by an enthusiastic Atlas flinging the doors open. Hadrian, though he had no blood children of his own, was a natural with them. He laughed, gently ruffling Addalyn’s hair before following Atlas’s excited chatter.
Though a smirk tugged at his lips, Hadrian tried very hard to keep the appearance of being seriously engaged in whatever it was that Atlas was saying. He thought it was important that children thought their voices mattered. He did, however, let his twinkling eyes dart to Alys every once in a while in amusement.
“Sounds like you’ve had quite the full schedule, young Lord Delaney.”
As they all sat, a table of four, with Addalyn quietly at her side slowly coming to life as Atlas told Hadrian what they had been up to since arriving. How they spent the day out collecting things they found amongst the trees that surrounded the estate. How they had run the halls like they used to when they’d visit a long while ago.
“I can show you what I’ve learned with the sword! Mama has taught me a few tricks, maybe I can teach you.” Atlas grinned.
Alys watched her two children, how even Adda leaned forward and chimed in softly at first, then warmed up. Her eyes lifted to catch Hadrian’s, and while her smile was soft, closed lipped, her eyes shined with an added touch of emotion that she had to swallow thickly to ensure didn’t turn to tears. How beautiful it was to watch these two, the ones with Logan’s dimples and eyes, with her freckles and curls… and how they both were so happy to be right here. Her hand reached then, reached to find Hadrian’s under the table.
Post by Hadrian Usher on Oct 19, 2023 12:20:06 GMT -5
Hadrian laughed, a resonant sound that filled the room, one that hadn’t been heard with such force in some time. “I have your doubt. Your Mama is quite the force.” He passed Adda the bowl of rolls, making sure to include her in the conversation in her own way.
When he felt Alys’s hand under the table, his eyes met hers, and he found hismelf caught in a surreal moment. It felt like he was in a play, acting out a life he could have had. One with a wife and children, one that he would likely never see.
But perhaps what he had now was good enough. He squeezed her hand back. He’d hold it all the way through dinner if she allowed, only releasing it to have a drink or hand over his plate before returning it to hers again.
His hand was warm, steady, as it wrapped around hers for the entirety of dinner. It wasn’t the same as Logan… nor Cassian… but there was a comfort… a sureness about that hold that brought her a bit of peace as the dinner went on. As the children went on about what they planned on doing the rest of the stay, about what studies they enjoyed, which ones they didn’t.
It was as their plates were picked apart or empty, that long blinks started to happen and even chatty Atlas seemed to slow. “That’s my cue.” She gave his hand one more squeeze before she stood. “Alright you two, bed.” Her hand running over Adda’s curls as she nodded slowly. Atlas made a small noise of complaint but seemed to follow with her anyway. Her hands on their backs, she ushered them towards the door.
“Say goodnight to Hadrian,” she murmured softly. Which both in perfect unison turned those light brown eyes to him and gave a wave “Good night, Hadrian.”
Post by Hadrian Usher on Oct 25, 2023 6:44:23 GMT -5
Hadrian was reluctant to let her hand go, but after a moment’s protest, he let it slip out of his grasp. Watching her with the children, Hadrian was overwhelmed by a protectiveness that tightened the muscles in his jaw. For a moment, he felt so hopeless. So insufficient. But then he looked at Alys—the scars that forever marked her beauty—and knew he had no choice. Someone had to be on her side.
“Goodnight, goodnight,” Hadrian said, standing as they turned to leave. If Alys would stay, he’d walk up to her and wrap his arms around her. “Fine kids, you’ve got there.”
The two ran off, Alys listening to them laugh and ‘I’m going to beat you to the room!’ their way down the hall. She lingered for a moment, basking in the sound that sometimes was her only comfort. Then a pair of strong arms wrapped her, and she sank into what was becoming another comfort for her. Her shoulders dipping and she leaned her head against his chest. “It’s a group effort,” she said easily. It wasn’t just her, so many were involved in their lives. “You’ve become quite the anchor for them.”
Even when she was still in Dresmond, after Logan had passed, it wasn’t just the palace staff who had kept them watched. Not when the two would run off towards Hadrian’s office to bother him. And now, here in his home. “Thank you.” The words so gentle they rolled off her tongue with little effort.
Post by Hadrian Usher on Dec 22, 2023 17:11:05 GMT -5
There was possibly nothing Alys could have said that would have filled Hadrian with such pride. To be an anchor—for Alys, for her children, when they needed it most. He kissed the top of her head before pulling away just enough to look down at her. It was as if there were two women in his arms competing to hold the same space. One was strong, the other tender. One stood on her own two feet, the other resting in the safety of his arms. And Hadrian wasn’t sure which one he cherished more. Both of them, he supposed.
Hadrian kissed her then, just as gently as the words that tripped off her tongue. He allowed himself to lean into the kiss, before whispering.
“Can I stay with you tonight? For as long as you’ll have me, anyway.”
Last Edit: Dec 22, 2023 17:11:14 GMT -5 by Hadrian Usher
Alys wouldn’t have ever guessed this was where she’d be standing with Hadrian. She hoped they’d be cordial after Logan’s passing. That the twins would remain around the man who had been so close to their father. But as their lips met, she didn’t hesitate to return it.
“I’d be offended if you headed anywhere else.” She whispered back to him, kissing him once more and lingering for a moment before she reached for his hand and lead the way out of dining hall and towards the room he had given her. He said he wanted to stay with her… she assumed he meant in her bed as well.
Post by Hadrian Usher on Jan 4, 2024 20:25:29 GMT -5
Hadrian grinned and followed her lead. Yes, he’d happily spend the night in her bed. They’d make love, though not as they had that first night. Not with raging lust but with tender care. He held her more gently than he used to. Now, with Regan’s attack worn across her skin, Hadrian’s feelings for her had taken a different but adjacent hue. It was care, and protectiveness, one that denied Alys her independence and instead saw her as a thing to be guarded and possessed. And Hadiran would guard her. Guard her from Regan, from Cassian, and any other horror of this world that might try to take her from him.