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!
Logan's brief of moment of delight was instantly halted when he heard Hadrian speak from behind the door. Did he- did he just say 'Alys'. He wanted to believe he had misheard but it wasn't exactly a word that he could mishear. Alys had been the water he drank and the air he breathed almost since the moment he had met. He'd swear that he would hear her name if was whispered a half mile away.
The answering voice only further solidified that he had heard correctly. He'd never mistake that voice, even after not hearing in person for as long as he'd been assumed dead. His heart hammered painfully against his ribs and his stomach twisted, heat flushing through his body, his hands shaking as he tried to take it in. There was part of him that was trying to convince himself he was mistaken and another part that was trying to make excuses, after all, until he'd shown up tonight at Hadrian's doorstep, they both thought he was dead.
He placed a hand on the cool wood surface of the door but was too stunned to try to open the door.
Post by Hadrian Usher on Feb 2, 2024 18:39:28 GMT -5
Goddesses. The way her lips lifted, the light in her eyes. Had it been there before? Hadrian hadn’t seen it—not for a long time, or at least not in the way it shone now. It was enough to make him forget, for just a moment, about the friend he’d left sleeping in her room. It was a dream, wasn’t it? Wasn’t this all?
And then…the doubt. The justification that spun through his mind. He had resolved, hadn’t he, to wait to tell her? Until she was healed and whole? What if telling her about Logan now would extinguish that light that was just starting to rekindle? He couldn’t risk it. No, it was better this way…
“It can wait.” Hadrian pulled her in and kissed her deeply, indulging his selfish need.
Hadrian was staring at her as if he had never seen her before. Or maybe it was that he hadn’t seen her in such light. It brought questions to the front of her mind. It even made her lips twitch in amusement. What was so important that he stopped her… it didn’t last long apparently. He had decided the same: it wasn’t that important right now.
And then he pulled her in. Alys grinned, wide and freely, something that made her cheeks ache from the action as if she hadn’t done it for a long time. It was quickly covered by his lips on hers. Fingers danced then, one upward to tangle with his curls and the other to start tugging free the shirt that had once been tucked in neatly. Her fingers catching the fabric and tugging, as well as her step backward did. Unless he planned to take her to the floor, she thought the bed might be more comfortable for both.
A choice was made, whatever Hadrian had been about to say was pushed aside and heard the sound of kissing once more. It wasn't loud but he wasn't stupid. His heart ached in his chest and his stomach clenched painfully. He began to wonder if he ever should have returned. They clearly had something going on between them, Alys still believed him to be dead, his return would only cause more pain and heartache. Or would it? Didn't Alys deserve to know at least? To make the choice for herself? That would be better than accidently running into her one day if he just left right now. Unless he finished the job that she believed was already done...
Perhaps he wasn't thinking straight, perhaps it was because unlike Alys, Hadrian did know that he was alive and was still choosing this even though he was in the same house. That hurt too. Maybe even worse than having Alys in his arms, because at least she was still naive to the truth.
A familiar feeling entered him, one he hadn't felt in a long time. Anger. But this time it wasn't caused by a curse, this was all him.
He reached for the door then and pulled it open forcefully to be met with the sight of Hadrian and Alys kissing, her hands tugging at his shirt. Clearly this was intending to lead to more than just kissing. His jaw clenched at the sight of it as his heart was ripped open more painfully than anything those damned witches had done to his body in the last year. He didn't think that was possible. He looked at his best friend with betrayal, anger, and anguish in his expression. "Is this why you didn't want me to see her?" he asked.
Post by Hadrian Usher on Feb 18, 2024 11:28:13 GMT -5
It still didn't feel real. When Hadrian was pulled from Alys, it was as if the dream of Logan's arrival crashed discordantly with the reality of the strange rhythm of life he and Alys had built at the estate. He said nothing, looking between Alys and Logan, shaking his head.
"I--I just..." He looked at Alys, "Alys, I'm so sorry..."
The door opened suddenly, but she had thought maybe it was the woman who caught her coming back. She pulled back, knowing many frowned upon an unmarried woman doing what she was about to drag Hadrian into doing… the two of them separated and she glanced, preparing to— reality crashed into her in a way that didn’t feel real.
Logan…
No.
Her body jerked back, stepping backwards at the way her body had lurched and wanted to… wanted to… do what… she couldn’t place the feeling. It was only a flash before it was gone, like it had slammed into stone and disappeared. Her brown eyes wide… he was dead. Her head whipped to Hadrian, who was sputtering an apology. Only to return to Logan and nothing made sense. “Logan…. But… You… you are dead.” Why did her voice waver slightly? Had she been the Alys before her last visit with Cassian… she would have crumbled at the sight of him, would’ve believed her mind had broken and made him up. But the Alys now knew nothing of the actual love they had once shared. Only the loss of a man who served as her husband, her duty, and the sire of her children.
“You,” she breathed deep as she gripped a handle hidden at her right thigh, words directed at Hadrian, “You all said you saw him out to sea, you saw the boat burn… who is this?” The traditional funeral. Confused eyes wide to Hadrian for a flicker of moment before locked onto… something not of this world.
Logan looked down at the two of them, used to his height being above more than most. It would be so easy in the moment to feel small. He could let himself feel that way but he wasn’t going to. What had happened to him had not been his choice. Alys was acting in the information that she believed to be true. Only Hadrian was at fault in this moment and yes, Logan was hurting in this betrayal. But could he totally blame him? This was Alys. Logan knew exactly how incredible she was, of course his best friend saw that too.
As hurt as he might be, he couldn’t make this moment about Hadrian. Not when he was seeing his wife again for the first time.
“Alys…” he said, voice full of emotion and eyes longing to help her understand. “I don’t know who was sent out to sea but it wasn’t me. I was taken. I was taken and help by a group of people, witches. They’ve been imprisoning me for all this time, ripping me apart from the inside out… I- I only just managed to escape. I went home to find you but you weren’t there…this was the next place I came to look and Hadrian assured me you were living here with our babies.” He didn’t look at Hadrian. He just couldn’t right now.
Post by Hadrian Usher on Feb 22, 2024 6:09:12 GMT -5
The moment was...confusing. Intimate. Not for him. Hadrian knew nothing Alys's transformation. He knew Alys as a woman who loved Logan endlessly, and who was nearly broken by his loss. And now, to have him back...Hadrian stepped away. Physically, figuratively, slowly, gently, made space for the two of them.
Everything felt so odd. Nothing made sense, not in a way that she could wrap her mind around. Logan didn’t move forward, and maybe that was a good thing while she was currently gripping the weapon she kept on her always behind her leg. Hadrian was suddenly quiet, not answering her as he stepped away. Had he lied? It was only a brief thought as he moved away. But the King had been the one to tell her, the twins had said they had gone, all of the Delaney’s…
‘Our babies.’
That she remembered. He loved them fiercely, they loved him so much. Still. Her body visibly tensed… had they seen this ghost? Her breath caught for a moment. Witches were cruel beings, she even had her own darkness that swirled. That demanded more. “You… escaped? Or you were let go?” Was he a threat to them all? Her body stepped, closer, but between him and Hadrian and not a step closer.
Something felt off. Even in the state he was currently in he could tell that there was something that just wasn't quite right. Of course she would be unsure about any of this being true but he saw the defensive way that she stood, saw the way she moved in front of Hadrian. Was she trying to protect Hadrian from him? It was hard to make sense of any of it.
"I'm- I'm not entirely sure. I did escape but it's possible that they left the opportunity open on purpose I suppose. I can't be entirely sure. Nor do I know why they would choose to do so..."
As much as he knew that the story was important for her, he was having a hard time focusing on that. Because she was here. She was really here. "Alys..." he said, eyes full of longing. "I've missed you so much. I've thought of nothing else since I was taken. If it wasn't for my need to get back to you...I don't think I would have survived." He took the smallest step towards her but was cautious in doing so, his hands held slightly away from his body and palms facing her as if to prove he was not a threat. "I know I wouldn't have. Getting back to you and the twins was all that kept me going."
Post by Hadrian Usher on Feb 29, 2024 21:31:57 GMT -5
Nothing seemed real. That was the pervasive feeling shared by the three, palpable in the air almost like a fog. It wasn't until then that Hadrian noticed Alys's demeanor. How many times had he held her as she shed tears over Logan? He'd watched their marriage over the years, both of them wrapped up in a love so powerful that the pain of its loss had made a woman like Alys crumble. He couldn't understand...
He looked from Alys, to Logan, brow furrowing as he focused now on his friend. Strangely...he felt pity. Felt pity for his pain and irritation at Alys for not alleviating it. For not wrapping him up in what they'd once shared. Isn't that what she'd yearned for? And what Logan so clearly wanted now?
Silence came from the one she was used to being her anchor now-a-days. But that… why was that why she felt? Her mind was whirling at something now, things that were… foggy. Didn’t make sense. Holes in her memory now that she pressed her mind on with how Logan spoke. How he missed her, how he survived because of her. Her eyes blinked rapidly, and she stepped back as he stepped forward. “Don’t,” her voice hoarse as her hand came up to press at her temple, to try and elevate some of the pain now throbbing in her head.
He spoke as if he loved her. But… that didn’t make sense. He didn’t… he married her because she had fallen pregnant. Their wedding was a clouded blur in her mind. Had she drank too much that day? Dark eyes traveled over him as if she’d find some hidden code that would piece it together yet she was coming up empty handed. “Show me the scar,” her eyes locked onto his collarbone, the one scar he had kept all those years ago… she remembered that. She remembered… it had once covered half of his face. If it was truly Logan…
The pain that one word caused was no small thing. The way she stepped away from him even more so. Part of him understood but a bigger part did not. He would have hoped her reaction would be more relief and joy to see him alive and well. Maybe not actually 'well', but alive and in front of her again. Was it really just a matter of not believing him to be who he said? Maybe a figment of her imagination.
As she asked for prove and her gaze moved to where the scar began, he was brought back to the memory of when it had happened and the times she had run her fingers along the mark afterwards. He reached for the bottom of his shirt, his large hand gripping the hem as he lifted it to reveal his torso. His body was more emaciated than the last time she would have seen it, but sure enough, the scar remained.
Hurt registered on his features, and from what he had said earlier… it made her heart squeeze tightly. He got through whatever it was because of the thought of her… he had never been a cruel husband. He had taken care of her and the twins… they loved him so much. Even now a days it was obvious. So as he removed his shirt, her eyes traveling to the scar, she knew… it was him.
Then her dark gaze moved over him and took in his body. One she knew intimately, and as she took in where he had fading a fresh bruises, took in the spots he seemed to be sliced into… his body emaciated… she stepped forward. Cautious, yes, but with slow, measured steps until she was within arms reach. Gazing up at him… his too thin face, but still those hazel eyes screamed Logan. It was the relief for the twins that had her arm extend and she gripped his arm, squeezing it as if checking he was actually real. Though she glanced back at Hadrian…
Goddess, things just got complicated in a way she didn’t even understand. Wouldn’t understand. She found her husband’s gaze. “I have a few things to help with the bruises and cuts in my room. And a meal… breakfast?” She glanced between the men… “it’s been… a year.” What was she even trying to explain. The throbbing was still behind her eye.
Post by Hadrian Usher on Mar 26, 2024 1:50:59 GMT -5
He shouldn't be here. This moment was too intimate, too confusing, and not for him. None of this was. Alys's heart belonged to Logan; Hadrian had only borrowed it for awhile, he recognized that now. He averted his eyes as Logan tugged his shirt free to reveal the scar. It was only when Alys looked back at him that his eyes lifted. He nodded once, as if to answer a question he hadn't been asked.
"Go," Hadrian said reluctantly with a sad smile, "He needs your care, not mine. Logan..." Hadrian looked at his friend, speechless for a moment before he said, "I'm sorry." Hadrian would then make for the exit, pausing only momentarily to brush Alys's arm before leaving the two alone.