Fantasy The Five Kingdoms - The Fall of Sarthenfall - Ic

[Xanto]

Clyde Callahan​

No five year old should have to go through what this kid was living. Yet, here Clyde was sleeping silently on a ship to Delchistrier. It was a miracle how he'd managed to survive the past few months.

Creak. A wooden plank sounded, prompting the boy to stir in his sleep. There were a few moments of silence until a louder CREAK sounded followed by a few more short and quick creaks. Whoever it was wasn't so slick.

With the high pitched sounds emitting after Annabel's every move, Clyde eventually snapped out of his slumber before peeking an eye open. "Father?" The boy rubbed his eye prior to fully opening them and realizing that it wasn't Baxter's shadow moving nearby.

In fact, the figure was that of a woman's. "Who's there?" He quickly shuffled into a seated position, pressing his back against the hard wooden wall. This was his worst nightmare. Wait, perhaps he was dreaming? "Nox?" His voice shook as he took the pillow in his arms and held it like a shield to protect his chest. No, he couldn't be. The pillow felt too real.

His room was dark. However, the moonlight managed to clear things up a bit more for Clyde. "Annabel?" He questioned after recognizing a part of her face against the subtle moonlight, "What are you doing here?" The poor boy's body was still tensed up even after putting a face to the name. How could you blame him though? Clyde was traumatized.

Blackrose7

 

[Blackrose7]

While Annabel was carefully looking around Baxter’s room, so she can find out where he put the royal bloodline book. She immediately stopped herself when she heard Clyde’s voice, because she didn’t know that he would be there. “...Hi Clyde, and I am just trying to get a specific book back. Because Baxter asked Raymond to take it from me, and now I am just trying to take it back from him. Please don’t tell Baxter about this, Clyde, since that book doesn’t belong to him.” said Annabel. She felt bad for Clyde, since she didn’t want him to see her doing this. Because this situation was between her and Baxter. ‘Please don’t make this problem get even worse, since I don’t want to deal with Baxter.’ thought Annabel, who was worried about Baxter coming back.
After telling Clyde of why she was there, Annabel went back to looking for the book, so she can quickly get out of there. ‘Where is it, since Baxter will be so mad at me if he finds out about what I am doing.’ thought Annabel, as she carefully looked around the closet. The book wasn't there, so she looked for the book in a different spot. 'Are you kidding me? Where did Baxter put it, because I want it back.' thought Annabel, who kept looking around the room.
Xanto

 

[Xanto]

Clyde Callahan​

What book was Annabel talking about? The boy took a few moments to recall any of the books he had seen his father holding before. Only one novel came to mind though. Meanwhile, his brows slightly furrowed at Annabel's intrusion. She just kept going through his and his father's stuff without their permission.

"The book doesn't belong to him," Clyde finally spoke out, hopping off his bed with a thud to stop Annabel from further going through their stuff, "It belongs to me." His small hand seemingly pulled it out from the darkness before popping its hardcover open. "It has my name," He flipped through the pages trying to read the names in the dim lit room. "See?" Clyde held the book up to Annabel's level in the moonlight, while pointing out his name.

A few days ago, Baxter explained the eastern royal bloodline book to Clyde. The kid had the right to know what it was about especially since he was in it. Although, he never bothered to read the book through and through. His green eyes only landed on his name, and his mother's.

Clyde didn't give Annabel much time to read anything other than his name though. Snap! The book cover quickly shut together. Clyde immediately slid the book down his tucked shirt so the nosy woman wouldn't take it, "Why are you looking for it?"

Blackrose7

 

[Ms. Sparrow]

Azalea Eve Windfore and Nox

Nox’s gaze flicked over Azalea’s head and at Baxter as his voice broke the silence. Azalea jumped, whirling around, “Baxter—Nothing! I mean, we were just having a...staring contest?” Azalea squeaked out as she glanced back at the stolen book in Nox’s clawed grip. She had yet to confess she’d broken into his General’s tent and stolen it with Raymond, but it seemed like the jig was up. Behind her, Nox’s usually impassive features looked slightly bemused before her gaze now flicked behind Baxter. A fair distance off, Ivanna, her rival began to sing, her guitar notes echoing into the night like a haunting melody, her voice carrying sadness, and pain.

“Tch,” Nox made a sound of disgust, clicking her tongue. She’d thought her rival was strong, able to surpass her weak-minded human emotions, unlike the others had. But it seemed she was just as human as the rest of them, just as mortal. Though, she was still just as bloodthirsty as she was. Curious. Strangely, Nox found herself oddly drawn to the music, which was strange because she hardly enjoyed anything other than death, there was an urge for her to approach and just watch her play—but she held the stupid urge back. Frowning in dissatisfaction, Nox shook her head, muttering, “mortals,” coldly under her breath as she turned her focus back on Azalea and Baxter.

Azalea wilted under Baxter’s usually colder expression, sighing defeatedly. “We—ee—el you remember your good ol’ buddy, Nathanial? Yeah, that arse of a General we still got around, We—ee-el, I may have accidentally fallen into his tent...then unto his desk and then ON ACCIDENT, accidentlly pulled open his drawer, yeah? Then I accidentally shuffled through his papers and found a old, unreadable journal that I accidentally took and then accidentally ran-out-with-it-and-never-returned-it,” she finished before grinning sheepishly and adding, “it was all an accident, though,” she said, her grin spreading impishly as a twinkle of mischief glinted in her yellow-green eyes.

“If you’d just said ‘your General’, that’d would’ve made things go a lot faster,” Nox said coolly behind Azalea, causing her to scowl as the redhead turned around.

“I like to keep my crimes hidden to a the minority, and from Soris-THANK YOU,” Azalea retorted, crossing her arms briefly before extending her hand out towards Nox, “give me the bloody book of your not gonna help.”

Nox ignored her as she flipped open the leather cover of the book, her eyes scanning the odd, faded symbols written on the yellowed paper, “Somehow how you seem to commit more crimes than the Ezeris princess herself,” Nox said, sounding annoyed as she flipped another page, revealing more symbols written down, the unfamiliar language foreign to all else, though Nox’s eyes traveled over the paper as if she was reading quite clearly.

Meanwhile, Azalea blinked at her, her expression puzzled before turning smug, “pffffffft, seems like you got your facts handed down to you wrong Shark-face, there is no Ezeris Princess, you idiot.” Azalea snickered, glancing back to Baxter as if to say ‘can you believe this?’.

Snap.

Nox snapped the book shut as she slowly turned her head towards Azalea, now thouroughly annoyed by her pestering, and wanting to be rid of her. Nox gave her a harsh stare. “Are you just stupid or oblivious, I wonder? You‘re nearly the last to not know.”

Azalea felt something like dread sink in her stomach at the creatures smile, backing up a step as Nox swung her legs over in one fluid movement and stood, towering over Azalea. “Know...know what?” She said, sounding wary and perhaps angry.

Nox regarded her coldly. “That the Ezeris Princess has been with you allllllll along, you niave little child. So go bother her.”

Azalea shook her head and stepped back, as if refusing to listen. Because if Aria, Aurelie, Cali, and herself were the four, then Priscilla was Cali’s sister, and Angelo her bodyguard, and Ivanna bore no resemblance to the Ezeris family then...then, “No, you’re wrong—,” Azalea started, her voice a growl. She wasn’t. She couldn’t be. Not sweet... not her. Gods not her.

“Annabel IS the Ezeris Princess,” Nox glanced at Baxter, “but you already knew that, didn’t you?” She crooned coldly, sensing a lack of one human emotion, shock. Aria blinked, feeling the ship spin around her in stunned shock as she felt her world fall apart again.


~~~~~~~~


Below decks, Aria watched Angie pace back and forth, her brows furrowed with concern for her best friend as she sat on the end of Angie’s cot and listened to her latest worries. Aria frowned in sympathy as Angie plopped into the cot directly behind her, her question hanging in the air above them. Aria sighed, thinking on her answer for a moment as she leaned forward and propped her elbows on her knee.

“Doing the right thing?” Aria guessed outloud before forcing a chuckle and sighing once more, “At least, I hope we are. The story books make it look so easy. Evil villain? That’s nothing! The hero’s just band together and with their magical courage, strength, or powers of teamwork. But this is reality, and we have to make decisions like...Ezeris.” Aria looked over her shoulder and offered a smile, “I don’t like the decision either, knowing that we could be leaving all those people to horrors I can only imagine. But if we went back, we would’ve had Soris and Gods know what waiting for us. And even if they weren’t...what could we do but join the slaughter? Soris has an army that surpasses us my the thousands, topped by his magic, on top of half of Sarthenfall hating our guts now...” Aria turned forward again and sighed, putting her face into her hands before she stood up and walked over to the porthole, her heavy steps creaking the floorboards beneath her with each step. Today, like almost every day, she was dressed in her armor. To her, it was practically a second skin, perhaps due to the fact that she had practically grown up in armor, raised to always be ready for a fight. It was simply Northern custom.

Aria admired the way the moonlight cascaded it’s graceful glow over the black waves in the night, the speckled stars breaking the blackness of the waves as the dots shone down its reflection upon it. After a moment, Aria spoke again, “I’ll admit, I didn’t like the plan either. Going to Delchistrier, with THAT thing up there? Hard pass. It’s not like we hear the most pleasant things of the country either, I doubt we’ll be welcomed with open arms, so getting an army from them will be...challenging. But we need them, Angie. And if we can make them them see that their gonna need us—then that’s our only hope...right? I imagine there’s probably a few others feeling the same way you are, angry, hopeless.”

Aria turned to Angie and offered her a hopeful smile, “But at least we’re trying to set the world right. Because Sarthenfall people needs us, all of us, and right now, we’re the only people doing anything about it. We’re here, so all the other people in Sarthenfall can someday wake up content and safe, knowing a force will always protect them and keep them happy. All we can really hope for, is that 1% chance for—

“YOUR LYING!!”

Aria spun around at the scream, “Oh shit,” she blurted, recognizing the sound of an enraged Azalea as she glanced up at the ceiling, where the yelling emitted from above.

Shock, and devastation turned to denial, which turned to rage. Pure absolute rage. Quiet simply, Azalea’s mind would not allow her to process this—it simply could not handle it. She could not handle it.

Nox sneered at her, unfazed by her shout, and maybe urged on by it, enjoying her own torment as she enacted her own revenge for being locked up for months. “You would like that, wouldn’t you? How foolish—”

Azalea dug the heel of her hands into her eyes as she tried to steady and calm herself, “Shut up,” She seethed, trembling as she tried to drown out Nox’s words with her own, though mostly all she could hear was the sound of rushing water in her ears, her head pounding, “Shut-up, shut-up, shut-up, shut-up—“

“—they don’t even know, do they? Guess they’ll find out the hard way—“

Azalea snapped, her fist flying through the air before slamming into Nox’s jaw, forcing the creatures head to snap to the side. Nox slowly headpanned back to Azalea, her red cheek already beginning to darken as she honed her frozen, angry look on the redhead. But Azalea was far too gone to have noticed as she whirled on Bax.

“You knew about this?!” She demanded him, her yellow-green gaze watery and filled with hurt and rage, but she didn’t give him the time to answer as she stormed past him and down the steps, where James rushed to intercept her.

“Azalea! You need to calm down—“ James demanded as she charged past him. James took a step after her, his arm snapping out in one, fluid movement as his fingers managed to grab her by her sleeve, pulling the white sleeve down and away from her wrist, briefly exposing a swollen red wrist before Azalea snatched her arm away, her face reddening in rage and something else.

“DONT. TOUCH ME.” She snapped loudly, stopping in her tracks, her voice like ice as she pulled her arm to her chest, caressing her wrist with her other hand as her features turned to something more desperate and vulnerable, softening, “just, please...don’t. Touch me.” She breathed, taking an shuddering breath as the whole crew seemed to witness Azalea’s mental breakdown, her features constantly changing from contorted rage to desperation.

James opened his mouth to try to form an apology but Azalea was already off, storming off for the lower decks. She had to find Annabel. She had to find Annabel. Annabel would look at her like she was crazy, yes, but she’d tell her it wasn’t true. Annabel was just a place maid. Just like she said. Annabel was safe. Annabel wasn’t in any danger. Azalea raced down the steps to the lower deck and was this time interrupted by Aria at the bottom, whom had come racing out of Angelo’s room to see the commotion no doubt, her features instantly shifting to concern at seeing Azalea’s frantic expression. “Lea what’s wro—“

“Did you know?” Azalea said quietly, her eyed wide and frantic, mixed with undiluted rage and devastation. “Did you know about Annabel?” She asked, her voice barely a whisper. Surely Aria wouldn’t lie to her—surely Aria would’ve told her if she knew.

Aria’s features shifted from alarm to puzzlement, “Know wha—“

“DID YOU KNOW?!” Azalea shouted, clenching her fists angrily, Aria’s denial confirming her fears, and she could already feel the bitter stab of betrayal sink it’s blade further into her.

Aria’s features sunk into sympathy and perhaps guilt, “Azalea...she has the birthmark.”

“What birthma—“, Azalea began to snap before shaking her head as it dawned on her. The star birthmark. A common tale for the Ezerian royals. Azalea shook her head as she shoved Aria away from the stares and stormed past, Aria had lied to her too.

“ANNABEL!” Azalea shouted, on the verge of hysterics, the sound of rushing water in her ears so strong she could barely hear Aria’s shouting behind her as she stormed down the hallway, seeking Annabel’s face more than anything to tell her it wasn’t real. “ANNABEL!”

Xanto Inheritance explosiveKitten NinjaGirlGamer
Blackrose7 Bakuyoshi

 

[Blackrose7]

When Clyde started to talk about the book, Annabel immediately stop looking through their stuff, and turned her focus towards him. Clyde ended up taking out the book she was looking for, and open the book's cover to the page that had his name on it. This had caused her face to become pale once she found out about that. For she didn't remember that his name was in the book until now. 'WHAT!? Clyde might be related to me! No. I need to be calm about this, since he doesn't know how important that book really is.' thought Annabel.
Despite Clyde not knowing how important that book is to her, she can't take it away from him like that. Because it is important to him as well, and he hasn't noticed the enemy's strange behavior towards her nor the letter's clues yet. No. Instead of taking the book away from him, she would show him why she is after the book, but Clyde put it away before she did that.
He then asked her why she was after that book, so Annabel sat on Clyde's bed in order to explain it to him. "Clyde, did you look at the last page of that book? If you haven't look at that page then it is a good time for you to see it." said Annabel, in a calm voice. "I had a very good reason to get that royal bloodline book back, because I don't want anybody to know what is on that last page. However, I will make you an exception. Just don't freak out when you see it, since Baxter will hear it."

As Annabel was going to tell Clyde about what was on the last page. The worst thing to be happening to her had finally happened, since Azalea started to shout her name. “...On second thought, I am not going to show you what is on the last page. Because now I want you to hide that book from everybody else. Don’t let them see that book, since they will freak out if they see the last page, Clyde.” said Annabel, who was clearly freaking out. Once Annabel had said that, she immediately ran out of Baxter’s room, so she can find the hidden escape route. For there is probably a little boat that is following the ship by a rope. ‘Where is the hidden escape route? I need to find it, so I can hide in the little boat.’ thought Annabel, who was touching the walls in order to find it. She eventually found it near the end of the hallway, so she started to climb through the hidden escape route. On the other side of the ship’s hidden escape route were a ladder and a little boat. Annabel turned her body around, so she can climb down the ladder properly. She climbed down the ladder towards the little boat, and hide in there in order to avoid Azalea. ‘Please go away, Azalea. I know what you are going to do here, since somebody told you about me being a princess. I don’t want to deal with you at all.’ thought Annabel.
This terrified poor Annabel, because she didn’t want them to know about her title. For she knew that everything would be out of control once that is out in the open.
Xanto Ms. Sparrow

 

[explosiveKitten]

Angie sighed and looked at Aria, before she slowly rolled over and sat up, running her fingers through her hair briefly before looking at Aria and staring, “Yeah.. I sure hope that we’re doing the right thing...”
She looked up at her hair, noticing that it was getting a little long again, and commented, “... I need to cut my hair again.”

She looked up suddenly when Azalea started screaming, and was about to follow Aria out when she realized that she didn’t have her shirt on. So she stopped and hurriedly started getting herself together- Throwing her hair into a braid on the top of her head and tugging her shirt on while she hopped around, shoving her feet into her boots.

When she emerged from the room, she probably looked a little disheveled, with her hair loosely braided, bits falling out of place as she tugged on her shirt to move it into place as she rushes after Aria, emerging from the room a few minutes after her.

“What in the hell is Azalea blathering about?” She asked, returning her usual manly cant to her voice as she walked up beside Aria. “... this time?”

She raised an eyebrow as Azalea was starting to descend into full blown hysterics. Angie blinked and then looked at Aria with a questioning look. Should we do something about this, or should we just let her burn out? Whaaaat?

Ms. Sparrow

 

[Xanto]

Raymond Callahan​

Raymond was deep in his sleep when he heard a light strum followed by a calm voice. The tune smoothly woke the man up, prompting him to open his eyes and look at the source. Ivanna sings? A smirk made its way to his face with his hand still tucked behind his head. It didn't take long for Jeod to approach Ivanna and talk about musical things.

Ray's eyes calmly shifted to the still wooden wheel. It was probably a good time to get up now.

"YOU'RE LYING!!"

His head quickly whipped over to find Azalea digging the heels of her hands into her eyes. At this, the guy instinctively sat up in his spot before giving her a concerned look from afar. What was happening this time? Whatever it was, Azalea punched Nox. Then, she started yelling at Bax prior to almost naturally storming down the stairs. Sort of.

From the angle he sat at, Raymond managed to see Azalea and James's interaction. He saw everything including her bruised wrist. His hazel gaze quickly moved to her face for answers. However, all he found was a vulnerable look.

It was quite odd really . . . the sensation that flooded him. Azalea was a fighter and he knew that, but she was desperate now. Raymond's brows furrowed at the sight as he finally stood up from his nap. He didn't want anyone especially her being left at a vulnerable position. If you asked him, she was the spirit of this whole war. Ray watched her go down the stairs. This time, he was intent on going after her as soon as possible.

In a few quick motions, Raymond rapidly adjusted the ship's wheel with three spins after measuring the stars with his hand. Even if he was on the upper deck he could hear the voices yelling from below.

"What's going on?" He grabbed a guard's arm, roughly telling him to spill the royal reveal. After all was said, Ray nodded at the guard to temporarily take over. His eyes were wide in shock though before glancing at Bax who seemed to be well absorbed by another subject with Nox. Then, Raymond rushed down the stairs.

Actually, he arrived just in time to hear his nephew's words, causing him to stop in his tracks.

Annabel was Clyde's family too.

NinjaGirlGamer Inheritance Ms. Sparrow

Baxter Callahan​

Accident. Baxter raised a brow at Azalea's confession. Maybe he should "accidentally" lecture her. Anyway, Nox started to read the book Azalea accidentally stole before the rebellion leader could say anything else. Then, one thing led to another and eventually Nox ended up mentioning the Ezerisian princess.

Bax's eyes slightly widened at this news, stopping its movement when Azalea quickly gave him a look of disbelief. So soris and his spawns did know everything. There were a lot of hints pointing to Annabel being the princess, but he never fully assumed without proper validation. The hints pointed all to her though. The bloodline book, Soris's letter . . everything else.

Before he knew it, Nox and Azalea were debating about the Ezeris princess's existence. It all ended quickly though with Nox letting them know the fifth princess was Annabel. That and admitting Baxter's knowledge about the subject. In which case, he glanced at Azalea with a slight look of concern.

Azalea snapped. In fact, she punched Nox. Afterwards, she immediately turned to Baxter to scream about his prior knowledge on the subject. His jaw clenched, while he attempted to stand unfazed by the whole thing.

"What else is in this book?" He questioned more strictly and diverted his gaze back to Nox after Azalea quickly went down the stairs.

Ms. Sparrow

Clyde Callahan​

Clyde curiously raised a brow as Annabel moved to sit on his bed. It was a bit surprising for him to know that he somehow managed to get her to confess something. That was of course interrupted when he heard Azalea's yelling. As a result, Annabel told him instead to hide the book . . especially the last page, which she wanted him so much to read just a few seconds ago.

Nonsense. The boy grabbed the eastern bloodline book from inside his shirt. It was his book wasn't it? His hands flipped the cover open and grabbed all the pages, flipping once more to the very end of the book. Even if he was young, he knew how to tell a familiar name if he saw one. Clyde's eyes indifferently scanned the page until . . what followed shocked him.

"Annabel Hollenbeck?" The kid looked up at the ajar door leading to the hallway, "Auntie?" This whole time that woman had been his mother's cousin?

In an instant, the boy ran out the room looking left and right down the hallway. He only saw Azalea at the other end. Clyde didn't know it, but his eyes were watery. The child had never seen a relative from his mother's side before. Now he just felt more close to Audrey than ever. "A-auntie Annabel?" His hands slightly trembled with the book wide open to the page that said it all.

Blackrose7 Ms. Sparrow

 

[Bakuyoshi]

Priscilla got up upon hearing the shouting. Going up to see what was going on. "Oh gods what in the hell is with all of the shouting Azalea. It's too early in the morning. I couldn't sleep and I have a back issue and now whatever is happening is happening." Priscilla was surprisingly calm as she approached the group. Only a slight ounce of annoyance present in her voice. But getting nothing but more of the angry shouting.

"Uh hey can somebody clue me in on what's happening. Kinda too tired and done to give a shit about figuring this whole thing out." She looked around as if she was waiting for some form of answer. And holding back something from coming up as the ship swayed. Followed by more shouting and Nox being punched.

'What about Annabel?"

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Cali was making the time pass by developing something for Azalea. She had a number of different ideas, but eventually she got a good one. But it would require a specially made blade and one of Azaleas choice. But it was something in the line of apology items she had to make. But it would be best to try and improve Azaleas mood somewhat. Then she heard shouting from the top deck, and storming downstairs. Slowly poking her head out to see what was going on, removing her goggles to look at the sight of whatever was going on. Just missing Azalea and looking at Aria

"So uhhhh got no idea what is going on. Why is there hysterical screaming and the like going on? Are we under the attack by the most polite invaders this side of the ocean."

Ms. Sparrow explosiveKitten Xanto

 

[NinjaGirlGamer]

𝑰𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒂 𝑲𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒊𝒏​

As Ivanna finished the song, she gave a calm sigh. It wasn’t long before someone noticed that she was playing music. Ivanna looked over when she heard a voice start talking about music being the universal language. Jeod inquired of where she learned to play the musical instrument. “During my travels..” She began, adjusting the guitar in her hands

“I mostly taught myself when the air was too calm and quiet. I met this one man when I visited this town, he was playing a melody so chilling and sweet. It was hard to ignore, I approached him and asked how he made rifts so smooth and clean. The man was reluctant to show me and I picked up quickly.”

The other time she could remember playing something related to music was the piano. As a noble child, Ivanna was given piano lessons on a regular basis, she dreaded those days as a kid. Who wouldn’t? Ivanna eyed the strings and wondered if she should play another song. In her mind, she first thought of the melody, maybe something peaceful? However, as she laid her fingers back on the guitar, Azalea’s shout rang across the deck.

Ivanna turned her head to the sound immediately, her face turned to a serious one. What the hell was going on now? But before she could say anything about it, Azalea punches Nox square in the face. “Idiot!” She said with a frustrated tone, putting the instrument to the side and getting up quickly. Spotting Azalea rejecting James and what he had to say, recognizing the Hot Head was having an emotional breakdown. When Azalea stormed off to the lower decks, Ivanna went across the deck to the small group that was gathered along with Nox. “What the hell is going on?!” asking sternly and with a frown on her face. First looking over to Nox who just been punched not too long ago. The hell did this beast say to her? Then looking over to the rest of them, waiting for anyone to say something.

Ms. Sparrow Xanto Inheritance Bakuyoshi

 

[Ms. Sparrow]

Azalea Eve Windfore and Nox

Getting hit by the Calore Princess felt like a friendly pat on her cheek compared to what she was usually used to if disciplined, so much so, that it was almost laughable. Almost. The small redheads screaming was bringing on an annoying headache, and despite it, her cheek still ached. So now, standing in front of a leader that was trying to keep his calm, she was pissed. Even more so, confused after reading the contents of the book. Finding information from the few pages that even Soris had not ever told her—which pissed her off even more. Then Baxter had the gall to question her, after she’d been hit by a member of his party.

Nox glowered at his question as if he’d just said something incredibly stupid. “It’s a journel, not a book,” she said frigidly, “your kind can read it no longer, but once this script,” Nox said, flipping open the book of the cover to reveal the pages lined with the symbolic text, “was the only language there was before mortals got brains,” she stated, her eyes averting to the old journal as her claws briefly flipped through the pages of the journal, her eyes scanning the text before she snapped it closed once more, regarding Baxter with a feline smirk. “But you’re asking alllllll the wrong questions,” she purred as she stepped past him, walking for the stairs that descended for the center of the ship, “like why does you General have it, hmm?” She questioned aloud, though the cool purr of her tone made it sound like she knew exactly why.

Suddenly, the Lorthenian’s sister, and then her rival herself cake running up the stairs, both asking nearly the same questions, wondering what the chaos is. Nox turned her cool, impassive gaze towards them. “Annabel’s the Ezeris Princess,” Nox relayed bluntly to the both of them, “and your little redheads having a fit over it.” She said coolly as she proceeded to pass by the both of them, rolling her bruising jaw with an irritated expression.

Nox stopped as she reached the top of the stairs, casting a glance back at Baxter, “and if one of your royals or soldiers ever strike me again...” Nox gave Baxter a metallic grin that gleamed in the moonlight.

“I don’t care what Soris demands, I’ll take their hand as a trophy.” She stated icily, her golden gaze cold before she turned away and began to descend the steps, tossing the journal behind her, back into the air at Baxter, with carelessness, knowing all she needed to from what little she’d read.

~~~~~~~~
Aria shook her head at Angie as she joined her side looking dismayed as she stood at the bottom of the stairs, watching a hysterical Azalea with a dismayed expression. Aria opened her mouth to answer before Cali entered the scene, looking as equally puzzled as Angie was. Aria sighed, scratching the back of her neck before she pointed down the hallway, where Azalea was now frantically glancing around and shouting for Annabel.

“She found out that...well, I wasn’t really sure before but...something happened above deck, and now she knows about Annabel being the fifth royal...the Ezeris Princess,” Aria sighed wearily, glancing at Angie and Cali to gouge their reactions.

“Obviously Annabel wasn’t saying anything, and it’s none of my business, so I didn’t say anything!” Aria explained, to justify her actions. Of course, judging by the way Azalea was reacting, Aria really couldn’t blame Annabel for it either, “you’d think I was the villain by the way she reacted,” Aria said, perhaps sounding a bit angry, slightly hurt by Azalea’s scathing look from earlier before she’d been shoved. She shook her head, rubbing her neck as she glanced down the hallway, her voice nearly drowned out by Azalea’s continued shouts for Annabel, “I’m not sure why she’s reacting like this though...even this is a whole other level of, well, Azalea.” She lamented to her friend, looking a bit lost as she glanced at Angie and Cali as she heard Raymond come running down the stairs behind them.
~~~

Spoiler: Play it WHILE reading.

Her head pounded. Her throat, was becoming more and more hoarse as her shouts for Annabel became less angry and more desperate. She just needed to see Annabel. She just needed to hear the palace maid tell her that she wasn’t a Princess at all, and she was an absolute idiot for ever believing it. She just wanted to...to know that Annabel was gonna be okay. Already the lack of Annabel’s response was hitting too close to what could be reality soon. There was the sound of rushing water in her ears that had become so loud she could barely hear her own shouts, in fact, all she could really feel at all was the raging heartbeat that pumped hard against her cropped leather vest, and the absolute need to find Annabel.

Azalea made a strangled sound as she reached the end of the hallway, running her hands through her mahogany scalp in anguish, her breath heavy and ragged as she turned around just in time for Clyde to burst out of the room behind her, Baxter’s room. He glanced at down the hallway, to his left, at the group first. Then, he glanced at her, and she saw the watery emotion in his gaze, and Azalea’s expression softened slightly, distracting her from her breakdown, the world stilling as her eyes roved over to the cover of the book which Clyde held wide open. Oh no. No, no, no. Azalea’s expression turned to that of frozen fear as she found herself gravitating towards Clyde, the sound of her own heartbeat loud in her ears, everything was still, as if bracing for impact.

"A-auntie Annabel?" Clyde’s small voice stammered out in the sudden silence.

Azalea’s expression crumpled defeatedly at his small words as she reached Clyde, standing directly across from him as she fell back into the hallway, her knees hitting the floor as her watery eyes read the page of the book wide on display in front of her. The royal bloodline book. One word;

Annabel.

Annabel was the Ezeris Princess. She was; this kind, caring soul. The fifth royal and another target for Soris. Azalea let out a quavering, shaky breath, her tear filled gaze slowly lifted from the book to Clyde, now nearly eye level with him from where she’d collapsed on her knees on the floor, taking in his expression. And suddenly, looking at that young face, she felt horrible. She felt like she’d kept taking from this kid, and now, his aunt...now...Annabel, was a royal. Was just another big pawn that was someone so big to this small boy.

Suddenly, Azalea reached out and pulled Clyde into an embrace, her chin resting on his small shoulders as she hugged the boy tightly in a very rare display of affection. She didn’t know if it was because Clyde needed it, if at all, or she did more than anything. She wasn’t even aware of those that stood at the end of the hall watching the whole thing. It was just her and Clyde in that moment. “I’m sorry,” she said, squeezing her eyes shut as a tear rolled down her cheek, “I’m so, so sorry.” She whispered to him, and she realized, in this moment, she didn’t ever wanna see another tear in Clyde’s eyes. She never wanted to see anyone so innocent and bright suffer again. Azalea was gonna do everything to make sure he never lost anyone again. And with this new vow, she hugged him just a bit tighter.

At the end of the hall, Aria nearly gaped. Her cousin was crying. And she’d never seen her cousin, ever, in all 20 years, shed a tear, or look so, well, defeated. But what was perhaps more surprising than anything was the apology. Not once, not even when in trouble, or told to, had Azalea ever once apologized in her life. But here she was, on her knees, hugging AND apologizing to a child she had hardly known. And even though it was to Clyde, Aria had felt the apology all the way from the stairs.

Azalea then straightened, her face slack and defeated with wet eyes . Azalea slowly turned her head to look at the four by the stairs, as if just realizing there had been other people around her at all, her gaze empty.

“Lea—“ Aria began as she stepped forward, stopping as Azalea turned her back to her coldly, walking away.

“Goodnight, Aria.” Azalea said in a monotone voice, clearly wanting nothing to do with her cousin. Not only had Aria lied, but all four of them had seen her at her most vulnerable, they’d seen her CRY, including Raymond, and she was ashamed of herself for it, and embarrassed. Without another word, or glance back, Azalea walked down the hall for her quarters, the empty pit of dread in her stomach consuming her emotions.


Xanto Inheritance explosiveKitten NinjaGirlGamer
Blackrose7 Bakuyoshi

 

[Blackrose7]

As soon as Azalea stop shouting her name, Annabel started to climb up the ladder, and open the hidden escape route in order to get back on the ship. 'Did Azalea give up on looking for me? Because if that is the case, I need to go back to Clyde, since I haven't shown him the last page.' thought Annabel. She thought that Clyde had hidden the book away from the others, but she was going to find out that he didn't do that.
Annabel carefully walked around the lower deck, so she wouldn't run into Azalea by accident. For she knew that Azalea would have went to the lower deck so she can find her. 'Please don't find me, Azalea. I know that you are going to be extremely angry at me, since I have never told you about that. Although, I never wanted for anybody to know about the princess thing. Because someone was going to freak out about it.' thought Annabel.
All Annabel wanted was for them to treat her like a normal person, for she knew that it wouldn't be normal once that secret is out. Especially if it is Azalea, since she is taking this situation way too far.
Ms. Sparrow Xanto
( Go annoy her, you guys. )

 

[Bakuyoshi]

"Wait she is a princess? Well I mean that weird birthmark and all that, but I don't know that. I mean look at me, I got not proof at all. I don't look anything like my father, I don't have any proof outside of what Soris and my own mother said. So sorry if I never brought up the birthmark. Had no idea it could be anything so important." Cali was at first confused but then felt a tinge of guilt. "By the gods, did I screw up?" Was all she could say as the gravity of the situation dawned on her. What if there could've been an upside of that bit of info. Or was it for the better, did Annabel know any of this? It was all going so fast and she hardly had the capacity to fully think it. "Aria I know this is an odd question but what does it mean if Annabel were a princess? Why is Azalea so panicked? Is her being a princess the worst possible thing to happen in this rebellion?"

Ms. Sparrow explosiveKitten

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Ok thanks for the info I g- aaaaaand she is gone. Bax you got any idea why this is worth such a panic and not, oh hey look at this we do have the last Royal. We have no more worrying about our last royal being lost and in the clutches of the enemy." Pirscilla mimicked a more happy version of events that she felt should be happening. For the first time sounding as close to happy and not annoyed or tired like she usually did

"So explain to me why there is all this drama? Maybe it's a royal deal or something, but I'm not getting what's up with all of the panic." And how could she, it was always mechanics and the job she knew, leave it to the higher ups for the big state of affairs deal. Was hardly her job to worry about the bigger picture, still being curious was not a terrible thing. These were people that would not shout her down and tell her to focus on her work.

Xanto NinjaGirlGamer

 

[Inheritance]

Jeod Swift​

Why was everyone here on some sort of mission to let the music die? He almost rolled his eyes as he got up, but his cynical mood was swiftly killed as he saw Azalea striking Nox. For some reason, a protective rage came over him; and combining that with his recent near death experience and his stone cold determination to learn to shoot again, something awoke inside of him. It was not the peaceful man that strolled on the road making gadgets and helping travelers, but a marksman that could and would kill for his family. Within seconds, he was next to Nox with his firearm at her head, and though she hadn't retaliated, he certainly didn't trust anything out of that creature.

"Don't make a move demon, or I'll blow your corrupted brains out of the back of your skull." He growled, eyes glaring at the creature. While he was still afraid of her, his fear no longer radiated through his body like it used to. Instead, it was a dull throb that whispered thoughts of doom in the back of his mind. "We should have never let you out of your chains. Anything as vile as you deserves to be locked in the dark and left to rot. Don't fuckin' move."

Ms. Sparrow Xanto NinjaGirlGamer explosiveKitten

 

[Xanto]

Clyde Callahan and Raymond Callahan​

Clyde turned his head to spot the footsteps approaching his direction. Princess Azalea was walking toward him with a facial expression he hadn't noticed on her before. Thud. Her knees hit the ground surprising the boy even more. But even then, his eyes remained watery as she read the book in his hands. It seemed like everyone else was just finding out the news about Annabel's royal status as well.

Clyde and Azalea interacted with each other in utter silence, merely exchanging meaningful actions and teary eyes. In fact, they hugged one another at the same time. The kid's arms tightly wrapped around the royal despite the different thoughts running through their minds. It felt like he finally found a connection to his mother through Annabel.

Raymond watched the interaction from the distance. His hazel eyes followed the tear that rolled down Azalea's cheek as she apologized to Clyde. Whatever that book was that he stole from the Ezeris castle seemed to give Azalea all the verification she needed about Annabel's status.

Ray didn't want to see Azalea like this though. He was tired of seeing this. She meant a lot to him and watching her have a weekly break down tore him apart on the inside. Now the guy wanted to protect Azalea from anything more than ever, especially with the way she looked at his nephew and hugged the kid in her arms. He wanted to make her happy again..in some way even if it was for a short amount of time.

Azalea soon straightened up and looked at their direction with wet eyes. The northern royal tried to call out to her cousin, but was only greeted by a cold shoulder and a goodnight as Azalea walked down the hall.

"Auntie Annabel!" Clyde suddenly sprinted past the small group of people around the scene, more determined than ever to find her.

Raymond felt the silence linger for a few moments as he and the few others around him just watched the princess retreat to her room once more. Not again. His glance shifted at the others before he felt his legs push forward on their own. His body slightly tilted to avoid Aria and Angelo as he pursued the Calore princess.

Many thoughts were running through his mind, including the tear rolling down Azalea's cheek, the rage coming from her voice, and the wrist she didn't mean to reveal. What if other parts of her arms were bruised as well? By the time Ray reached Azalea, he unexpectedly took one of her unbruised hands and paused just outside her doorway. He didn't know what to say though. He just knew that he never wanted to see her hurt again.

"Come on now," Raymond began once their eyes met, "Keep doing this and you'll make me cry." He laughed a bit as he brought his hand up to her face, lightly holding the side of her head as his thumb wiped the remaining tears off her wet cheek. " . . Ahem," His gaze shifted past her into her room after a quick moment of silence. Then, his hand dropped back to his side on a more serious note. "I'll listen if you'll let me," He mentioned looking back at her with a concerned expression. "Or I could leave ya alone with a little something I snatched along the way, " The magician pulled a bottle from inside his coat, revealing only a portion of it like a teaser.

Ms. Sparrow explosiveKitten Bakuyoshi Blackrose7 @ whoever else is in the lower level

 

[NinjaGirlGamer]

𝑰𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒂 𝑲𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒊𝒏​

Ivanna softened her frown when Nox gave the answer to the question. Annabel is the Ezeris Princess? Blinking a few times at the random reveal. What the hell was the big deal? True, part of her didn’t care, hell, it was just another royal added to her knowledge bank. Nothing more. Ivanna didn’t care about royalty, so finding out that an additional royal was on the ship didn’t bother her one bit. It doesn’t change the mission, so why does Hot Head care about it so much.

That made her start to wonder if Azalea knew more than she lead on. Why would she have punched Nox in the first place? Of course, she might not get a straight answer, anything that interfered with the objective needed to be dealt with. Ivanna eyes followed Nox as she almost descended down the steps. Giving a last warning to anyone who would dare to threaten or hit her, promising a missing hand by the morning. However, it seemed not everyone heard the message, as the man Ivanna talked with before about music started to walk towards Nox. Ivanna’s gaze catches the moment Jeod pulled out his pistol and aimed it at Nox’s head. She frowned at the sight, Does this idiot have a death wish???!!!!

It seemed like she was the only one to make the decision, save the fool or not. Part of her wants to see where this goes, but knows that there’s a looming death hanging over Jeod‘s Head. On the other hand, nobody seemed to move or tell Jeod to stop, they were just bystanders to what could be a gruesome scene. Something in her mind started to trail back to what she always said when nobody had the courage to do anything. At that moment, she made the decision.

Without a second thought, Ivanna stomped over to Jeod and Nox. A quick reflex of her hand pushes the barrel of the gun away from Nox’s head towards the wall, the other hand hits the nerve on Jeod’s wrist to let the weapon go. Then, elbowing the man in the face right on the nose with a force that could knock him back onto the ground. “ARE YOU A FUCKING IDIOT??!!!” Her voice boomed loud with angry tone. Having Jeod’s weapon in hand, she removes the bullets from the pistol then chucks them aside. “This weapon is a coward’s toy. No man would be dumb enough to point at something that moves faster than them up close.” Staring down at Jeod on the floor with stern look, “and judging by your appearance, you don’t have the experience nor the training for that.” Ivanna threw the unloaded gun across the deck so Jeod couldn’t get it. “So unless you have an early death wish, I want you to back the hell up and calm the fuck down. Cause if you don’t, I’ll break more than just your hand...” every word spoken was dipped with venom and a dark feeling that would scare any simple man. Her free hand gripped Jeod’s shirt to lift him up and aggressively push him further away from the two rivals. Turning her sights towards Nox, who looks like she was about to give Jeod his free pass to the afterlife. Stepping between her and Jeod, giving Nox a plain stern look.

Ms. Sparrow Inheritance

 

[Inheritance]

Jeod Swift​

The next events that occurred never came close to being a scenario that he predicted. He predicted a swift attack from Nox, which is why his second fire arm was ready to pull if needed. He thought she might run, and he was ready to cripple a leg if need be. He was ready to be knocked down, and was ready to roll out of the way while he prepared to fight. But he didn't expect friendly fire from one of their own.

Lying on the ground, he was almost too stunned to feel pain. How could someone side with the demon over him. Over any human. Her words were venomous, but it seemed his own shock kept him from being intimidated. He numbly let her lift him up as he stumbled back, blood dripping onto his suit. Friendly fire...one day before an invasion... He thought numbly, watching his firearm fly across the deck. HIS firearm, that he spent years designing and perfecting, one that was a perfect weight and had the right amount of kickback. When he saw that, he was snapped out of his numbness, and his shock was replaced by a cold anger.

"How...How dare you..." He said quietly, looking across the deck before meeting her gaze. "What sort of soldier attacks their own? And how could you side with that thing over me, or any other human?!" His pride was not great, and perhaps after forethought he would realize his mistake; but as emotion runs high, logic tends to be low, and this was one of those moments. "Coward's weapon it may be, I've never needed to kill a man- because I think with my head and not my sword arm. Did you not learn restraint as a child? No, you would rather go and try to dethrone a king with your bare hands without any thought of strategy or logic."

He re-holstered his hidden weapon beneath his coat, irritated that he would have to make more bullets and perhaps repairs on the weapon. Picking up his cane, he stormed by the group, pain starting to seep in. As he passed, he shot one last glare at Ivanna. "Expect no help from me in battles to come. If you like to backstab your allies, I will watch you bleed to death on the battlefield before I lift a finger to help the likes of you." He spat, before retrieving his weapon and trudging below deck, furious at the events that had transpired.


Perhaps as soon as he got to the lowest section of the ship, and when he sat down to make repairs, did it all sink in. She was right, that was foolish. He probably would have been killed without intervention, and yet he had felt so right about what he did when the moment was there. Is that what battle did? Is that what a killer instinct would do? What did he really expect, for Nox to roll over and let him win that? It was stupid, and the pain in his face did all the more to make him feel ashamed. He had lost himself in front of a good number of people, and his respect would probably sink-if they didn't get rid of him now.

But...is that what he wanted? Deep down he didn't want to kill people, he wanted to help make the world a better place. He wanted to make a story, and to watch it unfold himself. Demons like Nox did not belong in it, and he was certain that if he had the chance he would blow her head off. Or he would try, as getting manhandled like he just did was humiliating and humbling. Perhaps he wasn't ready to kill, and despite him going into battle soon, he wasn't sure about his fight anymore. One thing he was not phased by, however, was the call of a coward's weapon. Of course fighters would call it that, but he called it survival. He wasn't there to be a glorious fighter, he was there to survive and get the job done. He wasn't planning on doing much fighting, and his fencing abilities were hardly the type of combat that open warfare would be.

He felt his nose, and sighed with relief when he found it whole. It was bruised, bad, but so was most of his face. His suit would need a deep clean, and while he had found a remedy for bloodstains on the road long ago, he was still upset that he would need to use it. The handle of his pistol was cracked however, the fine wood that he had shaped himself was now scarred with a thick line from the throw. He breathed a sigh of anger as he observed it, knowing he wouldn't have time to fix it and that it would probably fall apart with enough fire. That moron wouldn't know a craft if it smacked her in the mouth... He cursed under his breath, making sure the rest of the device was working enough that it wouldn't explode on him.

When he was satisfied, he returned it to his holster and begun preparing the remedy for bloodstains. He was still rattled up, and while this might have been the worst time for a song, he found himself quietly singing to calm himself down.

An only child alone and wild, a cabinet maker's son
His hands were meant for different work
And his heart was known to none
He left his home and went his lone and solitary way
And he gave to me a gift I know I never can repay...

A quiet man of music denied a simpler fate
He tried to be a soldier once, but his music wouldn't wait
He earned his love through discipline, a thundering velvet hand
His gentle means of sculpting souls took me years to understand...

The leader of the band is tired and his eyes are growing old
But his blood runs through my instrument and his song is in my soul
My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man
I'm just a living legacy to the leader of the band...

Ms. Sparrow NinjaGirlGamer

 

[Ms. Sparrow]

Azalea Eve Windfore and Nox

She could smell his fury before he reached her, though never could Nox have predicted within seconds, as he strode over to her, would she have gun pointed at her temple, her lips curling at the coolness of the gun pressing into her too-perfect pale skin. Her tall, lithe form remained relaxed, not tense at all with the gun at her head. It was pure confidence and amusement that radiated off the creature as she let out a dark, throaty chuckle. Nox slowly head panned to Jeod, the gun pointing now at her forehead as she peered down and her lips spread, revealing a dark, terrifying grin made up of pointed metallic teeth.

“Do it,” she crooned, leaning into the barrel, ignoring the stomping footsteps from her right, her features shifting to be cold and sharp, “then watch as your ship and friends are blown into little pieces.” She said harshly, her face impassive. Nox glanced out of the corner of her golden eye as Ivanna entered her peripheral vision, only having a second to wonder if her rival was going to attack her before she suddenly shoved the barrel of the gun away from her forehead, elbowing Jeod straight in the face and sending him sprawling back on his back.

Nox’s dark brow raised, the corner of her lips quirking in the only show of dark amusement as she watched Ivanna chew Jeod out, fighting back a dark chuckle. It might’ve been the only thing to nearly drive Nox to laugh—ever. Mortals and their silly, reckless emotions. It was all so, idiotic, so out of control. Complete chaos. Nox glanced at Jeod, eyeing him with a cold, predatory look in her burnt golden state. Ivanna then proceeded to lift him up and shove him back, turning a stern stare on Nox, who’s brow quirked some more, thoroughly amused by the display she put on.

Soon however, Jeod raged at Ivanna, angered to the very core as he descended below the deck, where most of the other group was. Nox smirked coldly as his head disappeared below deck, turning around and staring down Ivanna with a calm, cool gaze before she brought her hand up and scrutinized her claws, which looked several shades darker in the night.

Nox picked at her claws, otherwise ignoring Ivanna as she said, “good. Saves me the trouble of dealing with him, tonight.” She said crisply as she scraped a dried blood looking substance from her nails, her eyes never bothering to glance at her rival.
~~~~
Aria leaned back and out of the way as Raymond followed down the hall after. She then glanced at Cali, looking as equally as puzzled and concerned as she, “I wish I could say. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so hysterical, by the gods, cry at that. Tonight’s a whole list of news.” Aria said before rubbing her face, the frazzled redhead turning her head to look down the hall, watching as Raymond lifted a hand to Azalea’s face, wiping what might’ve been a tear from her cheek, Aria’s gaze widening slightly as she watched her cousin seem to almost slightly lean into the touch. Aria’s expression fell suddenly as there was a familiar, sudden ache of longing that grew in her, Raymond’s expression of concern reminding her of her own lost love, their striking similarities doing nothing to lessen the ache. “...a WHOLE lot of new’s. You guys see that? I swear by the gods, if it was any other guy, she would’ve decked him by that point.” Aria lamented, smiling briefly, watching Raymond’s lips move some more, her curiosity making her wonder what was being said between them.

Aria sighed, watching the conflicting emotions flicker across Azalea’s face from a distance, “I’m not sure what Annabel being a princess means to Azalea,” Aria muttered to both Angie and Cali, as she answered Cali’s previous question, “but obviously Azalea knows something we don’t.” She said, frowning slightly as she watched Raymond and Azalea disappear into Azalea’s room. Aria shook her head, dismayed as she thought of tonight events.

“Something bad.”

~~~

Spoiler: Play it for maximum feels for this reveal.

Azalea half-heartedly pushed open the door to her quarters, located near the end of the hallway, her thoughts clouded and muddled by negative ones. For a moment, she just stared blankly into her dark room, illuminated only by the porthole in the back, far-left corner, allowing in a small ray of moonlight to stream through it. In her numbness, she felt a bit of dread creep up her spine in anticipation as she stared, fearing the dreams to come. Sighing, Azalea moved to enter her quarters, one foot only crossing the threshold before a large, warm hand suddenly, but gently, clasped around her hand from her left, stopping her from entering. It didn’t take a genius to know who it was, even before she slowly turned to face Raymond. After all, there were only so many men to try and comfort her—and Jeod was upstairs. Knowing it’d been Raymond, it was the only thing preventing her from yanking her hand away...or smacking his.

For a brief moment, Raymond didn’t speak, which she hadn’t really noticed because her gaze had been solely on his hand holding hers, before she lifted her still wet eyes to his hazel gaze. She smiled a bit at his words, letting out a wet, half-sob laugh as he too laughed a little, “I’m not crying... someone’s just cut a lot of onions...somewhere,” Azalea said in a wet, hoarse voice, her faint smiling fading a bit as Raymond lifted his hand to her face, her features soft as he half cradled her face, blinking up at him in a mixture of surprise and confusion as he wiped a tear from her face. Unconsciously, Azalea had hardly realized she’d leaned her head into his touch just the slightest, her numbness slightly thawing at the small sign of affection.

Soon however, his hand dropped from her face, oddly disappointing Azalea, which confused her even more as his attractive features became more serious as he glanced over her head and at her dark quarters behind her. Azalea grimaced slightly as he offered to listen to her, if she let him. Like he wanted to know about it all, though she knew if she’d told him, he’d regret asking at all. Besides, she didn’t do sharing... feelings. Ack, just the mention of sharing her grief made her pride loom over her conscious with an open maw of sharpened teeth. But then he teased a bottle looking object for him pocket, and her curiosity stomped out her flaming pride immediately. Hesitantly, Azalea glanced over her shoulder and into her quarters, her brows furrowing in concern as she bit her lip. After a moment, Azalea turned back to Raymond and slowly nodding, lamely gesturing with her hand to follow her as she turned and entered her room.

“Mind the glass, or at least, the pointy bits,” Azalea said as her booted feet crunched across glass in the dark as she flicked on the oil lamp beside her unmade bed on her bedside table, dimly illuminating the room. On the floor, beside her bed on the wooden floor, lay a small, handheld, broken mirror, lying facedown, with small, dozens of pieces of glass scattered across the floor surrounding it. Clothes lay strewn about the floor as well, and there was an large collection of oil lamps placed around the room, as if the room was generally very well lit. Azalea however, too exhausted, didn’t bother to explain as she proceeded to cross around to the other side of her bed, where a bench had been pushed against the wall, beside the porthole. Azalea took a seat on the bench with a sigh, throwing both her feet up on the bench with her. She sat with her knees to her chest, scooting back against the wall so her head was aligned with the porthole, which she turned her head to gaze out of.

“I don’t really do feelings and shite,” Azalea said dryly after a moment before falling silent for another pause and letting out a long, weary sigh, as if torn from the depths of her soul. “I never should’ve come,” she said bitterly, “I should’ve just gotten on a ship as a stowaway to Delchistrier, enjoy the peace I had there until Soris found me.” Azalea said, never tearing her gaze from the window, a blue hue highlighting her features from the moonlight lighting. “But I didn’t, obviously. Hear I am, fixing the mess I made and shite, obviously not at peace, because I wanna strangle half the people on here half the time, but I haven’t, because feelings are arseholes, and your all good people and shite and...and...” Azalea stopped, choking, her eyes watering, making her refuse to look at Raymond all the more. “Why couldn’t the other four just have been strangers I’d never meet...” she muttered defeatedly, pulling her knees closer to her chest. “But it’s not...it’s Aria, and it’s Aurelie—who couldn’t harm piss! It’s Cali—who can be a real rotter sometimes, but so am bloody I, so it doesn’t matter, does it? And now...and now it’s Annabel, who’s so kind and shite to everybody...and...and...UGH why can’t I stop bloody crying,” Azalea stopped angrily wiping at her tears but they kept coming, and finally, she turned her head and looked at Raymond, her voice coming out in a choked sob, “and I didn’t used to get people having dreams and all that, but I do now, Raymond,” she cried, “and I want that for them, I want that for them, so bad,” she shook her head, wiping at her constantly flowing tears, “but it’s not just them. It’s you, and it’s Clyde, and Baxter, Angelo, Ivanna, Jeod and everyone else!”

Azalea choked, “it’s because until thirty minutes ago, I was at the risk of losing four people, and now it’s five,” she said in a half sob, her breath becoming heavy as she tried to stifle the oncoming wave of sobs, “and it’s not because my aunt got sick, or because my sisters discovered the magic passage and Soris, it’s because of me,” she cried, “everyone is in danger because of me,” She sobbed out, succumbing to her crying as her body racked with sobs, her hands digging tightly into her knees. She heaved for air between her crying, stopping enough to choke in a defeated tone;

“It’s because Soris is still breathing, because we’re alive. Because...the royals are alive,” Azalea said before attempting to calm the sobs that wracked her entire, turning her face to the porthole and squeezing her eyes shut, as if in pain, as tears streamed down her face, not wanting Raymond to see what a weak, bloody mess she was, no longer able to shove it all down any longer.


Xanto Inheritance explosiveKitten NinjaGirlGamer
Blackrose7 Bakuyoshi

 

[Bakuyoshi]

"I mean what else could be bad, we are wanted criminals in our own country. We are stuck with a psychopath and a monster that someone thought was a good idea to bring. And we all just let her run around because of she is somehow important to the mission that warrants constant attempts at our lives from her. Forgive me for believing there is nothing worse. Soris want's us dead, or needs us for some horrific ritual. Honestly nothing can be worse than that. Or any of the shit that has been going on, so sorry come to me when we have some actual news to worry about. Good night and best hope we get some actual good news tomorrow for all of our sakes." She finished giving a apologetic bow to Aria.

I'd suggest getting some sleep as well, you look like you've been hit by five carriages." And with that final tip she slowly shut the door.


After that Cali was left in her room on her lonesome. "Fucking everything has to be so difficult with this rebellion. First thing I'll do is find a place in Des whatever is get a home, yeah maybe settle down and get a man. Maybe they would welcome half of the stuff in this workshop of mine. I mean I don't know anything so best give myself some ground rules for when we get there."

Ms. Sparrow explosiveKitten

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"I swear this is the last day we have to deal with that freak. Honestly Bax, why bring her. This whole trip has descended into hell because of her and now everybody is at each others throat." As she was speaking she went to see if that James fellow was all right.

"You alright killer, I swear the way she behaved was way out of line. Hope you can find it in your heart to not want to beat the shit out of her. I think that line is long enough as is." She offered a hand to help him waiting patiently. Looking to Bax like she was waiting for him to say something regarding any of this. "Put your foot down on all of this. If we are in a shape like this when we arrive we will be seen as a joke. I'm going to find Ivanna and see what on earth is wrong with her."

Priscilla left the two men as she sighed with all of this dumb shit happening. This whole group was dysfunctional for it's own good. Before finally coming across an upset Ivanna. And with a deep breath she knocked on the wall to announce her presence. "Hey Ivanna, yes I know probably bad time, just wanted to see if you need a venting partner. You don't have to honestly, I'm not going to force you, I don't do good with feelings and all that. Just here if you need me."

NinjaGirlGamer Xanto

 

[Blackrose7]

While all of the crazy stuff has been happening to the others, Annabel continued to walk around in the hallway. For she has been looking for Clyde while thinking that Azalea was still looking for her for some reason. Although, it wasn't long before Annabel figure out that Azalea gave up on looking for her, so she just stop trying to be careful.
Eventually, Annabel ended up finding Clyde around the corner of the hallway, so she gave him a surprise hug. "Hello Clyde. Did you hid the book like I asked you to do?" said Annabel, who then notice the book in his hand. She was quiet for a few minutes, since she can't believe that Clyde didn't hide that book. "Clyde, did you let somebody read the book besides yourself? Because if you did then auntie is going to be very upset about that." said Annabel.
Annabel knew that Clyde had read the book, because it was open in his hands. But she hoped to the gods that he didn't let somebody like Azalea read it, for there was a reason that she didn't let anybody see it. 'I hope Azalea didn't read the book, because if she did. She is going to become an annoying problem for me tomorrow, since I knew what was in that book before Baxter did.' thought Annabel.
Xanto

 

[Xanto]

Raymond Callahan​

Raymond slightly tilted his head toward Azalea and raised a brow as she hesitantly allowed him to enter her room. In all honesty, he didn't think he would get this far. Perhaps he was expecting a slam in the face? Envisioning the worst case scenario always worked like a charm. The guy slid the bottle back into his coat, stepping into the room and squinting his eyes to make the furniture out. Crunch. The broken glass sounded beneath Azalea's boots as she warned him about the scattered danger.

His arm instinctively reached out behind him and shut the door since their conversation wasn't exactly for the public ear. Click. Clunk. Wait, that didn't sound right. Ray quickly glanced over his shoulder at the detached door knob in his hand, while Azalea flicked the oil lamp on. When exactly would be the right time to tell her that he probably accidentally locked them in.

"I don't really do feelings and shite," Azalea suddenly said causing Raymond to quickly whip his head back in her direction. He played it all off though like he had been looking at the room around him. His eyes scanned the dim lit area at the same time his hand smoothly slid the door handle into his pocket. However, now that he thought about it, what happened in here? His gaze focused on the broken mirror on the ground then shifted to the various oil lamps prior to hearing Azalea's weary sigh and looking back at her.

She talked about escaping to Delchistrier until Soris found her. It was a very Azalea idea indeed, but all her words weren't exactly the things that kept Ray's attention. His brows slightly furrowed trying to see her facial expression in the moonlight as she went on about how the people on the ship gave her mixed feelings. The princess was as broken as the glass. Raymond looked down, carefully kicking some glass over to the side of the room. That was until Azalea suddenly stopped.

The guy's attention immediately diverted back to her, watching her eyes start to water as her voice shook when talking about how she almost wished she never knew the other royals. As Azalea mentioned each royal name, the tears started running faster down her cheeks. It made it a harder sight to see when the princess tried to keep up by wiping her tears away.

Raymond calmly walked over to Azalea and sat next to her on the bench. That was when she finally looked at him. There was mention about dreams and how she couldn't comprehend them, but now she did. Her voice choked all the more at this confession, making it a point to involve the endangered lives and dreams of the rest of the group as well.

It was good that she continued to let it all out. Annabel's royal news was bittersweet. Now Azalea was at risk of losing five people. . . Hold on. Raymond's brows slightly furrowed. Hadn't she always been at risk of losing their set group amount of people? Without hesitation, Azalea quickly brought up her aunt's sickness, her sisters' magical discovery, and topped it all off with self blame. She was sobbing so hard that her hands gripped her knees. Her breath was heavy too as she tried grasping for air between sobs. Ray didn't know what to do. He asked if he could listen. He just didn't expect her to literally break down in tears. Well, a small part of him did. But even then he was never usually one for feeling talks like this either. The rogue was typically the distraction.

“It’s because Soris is still breathing, because we’re alive. Because...the royals are alive," Azalea admitted, while trying her best to calm herself.

The flurry of thoughts rushing through Raymond's mind paused. Did she mean that Soris's madness would all stop once the royals were defeated? He watched Azalea turn her face away from him and toward the porthole again. Soris solely wanted to kill the royals?

Raymond gradually wrapped his arm behind Azalea, holding her farthest shoulder from him before gently pulling her into him. Just a few moments ago he vowed to himself that he didn't want to see her like this ever again. Even with this news, the statement stood true. "Azalea, none of this is because of you," He stated in a low voice before tilting his head down to view her face. The guy didn't care if his shirt was wet by a couple of the tears rolling off her cheeks. "You didn't want anyone to die. You wanted the best for your loved ones," Raymond mentioned pointing out that she wasn't directly the one murdering people. His hand slowly rubbed her shoulder before he paused in temporary silence and looked away. "None of you are going to die. There's another way. There always is," He stated in a determined tone, covering up his worry with furrowed brows. Too many innocent lives have been lost to turn back now. If they just gave up the royals then it all would have been for nothing. "The past is done, but we can change the future with the present," His free hand slightly tilted Azalea's face up as his thumb once again moved to wipe the tears from her cheek.

It wasn't doing any good though. Raymond hesitantly pulled away from Azalea, removed his coat, and carefully tossed it somewhere close to him before using both his sleeves to wipe the endless tears coming down her face. "You see the water in my eyes yet?" He quietly joked feeling his sleeves soak before pausing with his face only a few inches from her's. In truth, they were actually kind of misty. Raymond wouldn't let the royals die. He wouldn't let her.

Ms. Sparrow

Baxter Callahan​

Soon enough half of the main group was around him and Nox asking what the heck was going on. That simple journal in Nox's hands opened up a mess. Before anything else ensued, Nox gave a short history lesson saying that the words written in it was the only language ever before humans came about. Snap. The book closed shut. Apparently, Baxter was asking all the wrong questions. Her words made sense though. Why did Whitefield have it in the first place anyway? It didn't help that Nox's tone teased the rebellion leader like she had known all along. Baxter's brows furrowed, while his cold blue gaze followed her pale body. She stated that she would remove anyone's hand if they came at her again before tossing the journal at the man. Baxter caught it in his hands, glancing down at its hard cover.

Then, Priscilla questioned why all the drama was happening. She suggested rather happier thoughts that should have been taking place instead of the emotional breakdowns. "Annabel being the princess of Ezeris should serve as a pleasant shock. I have no clue as to why Azalea had a negative reaction to it," Baxter replied not knowing about her reveal in the lower level to his brother. Besides, the rebel leader thought he should have a more mixed reaction now that he officially knew Annabel was his son's auntie.

What. Was. Happening. In the blink of an eye, Jeod held a gun to Nox's head like he hadn't learned about her potential explosive outcome. "Jeod-," Baxter began only to be interrupted by Ivanna's abrupt disarm and even more abrupt elbow to the tinkerer's face. The mercenary seemed to have it to about there as well. She yelled at Jeod, openly disapproving of his own courageous act. Her words must have hurt like a whip though, while she put the guy down for his weapon of choice and action. It was way harsher than Bax himself would have done it.

However this time, Jeod attacked back at Ivanna with words. He heightened strategy and logic against Ivanna's usual bloody fighting. Then, he said he wouldn't help her in battles to come. It was a line that pained any team's leader.

Priscilla chimed in soon after. All she told Bax was to put his foot down . . like he didn't know. Obviously, it would make them all look like a joke if they were in this shape when they arrived the next day.

Baxter glanced at Nox before descending to the lower level and walking toward Jeod's room. It didn't take long for him to hear a familiar voice singing from a certain space. With no hesitation whatsoever, Bax knocked on Jeod's door after recognizing the familiar tone. "Swift," He said, garnering the tinkerer's attention, "Let's talk."

Ms. Sparrow Bakuyoshi NinjaGirlGamer Inheritance

 

[explosiveKitten]

Angie watched everything happen with wide eyes, her mouth kind of hanging open as she watched everything. She didn’t really know what to do now that everything had calmed down, and she made eye contact with Aria, about to suggest that the Northern Princess follow Azalea, only to immediately notice that Raymond was rushing over to Azalea’s side. Instead of encouraging Aria to talk to Azalea, she stops the woman before she can go anywhere. Her face was mischievous, as she took in the scene before her, biting her lip and clearly trying to keep her cool but god DAMN, that was cute.

“... It’s about daaaaamn time.” Angie mumbled, looking incredibly pleased with the scene. “... I don’t want to disturb it.”

She looked at them, then turns to look at everyone nearby. She was about to turn to Cali, but the young woman had closed the door to her cabin. Angie’s brows furrowed. She had hoped to be able to talk to Cali before they arrived in Delchristier... but apparently not.

“... I’m...” She coughed and cleared her throat. “I’m going to go talk to Aurelie. See if I can convince her teach me an Aubigian accent.”
She rubbed her head and looked at Cali’s cabin door with her pinched brows, before sighing. “From what I understand, Aubigian people are favored in Delchristier, while Ezerisians are... held with disdain. Copying the accent might get me a little more lenience while there.”

She looked at Aria briefly, before clapping Aria on the shoulder and walking away.

Ms. Sparrow

 

[NinjaGirlGamer]

𝑰𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒂 𝑲𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒊𝒏​

Ivanna was facing her back towards Jeod when he started to shout at her. Her sharp blue/green eyes looked to her left than turned her whole body towards the angry man. Most of her expression was a neutral stern look like before, but slowly and slowly, it was starting to turn into a scary frown. When he was done letting out his emotions, he stormed off to the lower decks leaving everyone dumbfounded or frozen in their tracks.

That idiot has no idea, no idea at all. Ivanna clenched her hand into fist so tight it might has well be bleeding. Had he actually shot the creature, the ship will be in flames or worse. However there was something else, something else that ticked her off about Jeod’s lingering words. The look on Nox’s face didn’t help the growing rage inside of her neither. It seemed like the world was looking at her, a quick glance around the deck showed the soldiers either frowning or still as a rock.

She relaxes her hand then the look on her face fell to a neutral state, her usual cold distant demeanor. However, something was different on her face, a calm tone, one that spoke of no emotion at all. She started to move, past Nox and the others, looking towards the direction she was walking and descending down the steps. The silence in the hallway spoke volumes to her, like a slap of cold air touching your face when you step out into the winter light. Looking towards the ground, she could still see the bullets that was from Jeod’s gun.
Bang


(Play song while reading this)

The faint sound, the haunting sound, still played in the back of her mind. Thinning her lips and shutting her eyes to drown out the noise. Angered by Jeod’s words still, they hide their pride behind the gun, take away the gun and what are you? Just a shell of a man. Nothing more. Opening her blue eyes to the scene again. She saw the others that were down below the deck.

“Did you not learn restraint as a child? No, you would rather go and try to dethrone a king with your bare hands without any thought of strategy or logic."

They probably all thought the same, no matter what I did their view won’t change. Was she wrong to intervene, was she wrong to charge after the Shades at Fransen and save that little girl, was she wrong about a lot of things. Would any of them have done something.

Who am I to say?

A knock came behind her turn her head silently to meet the gaze of Priscilla.

“Hey Ivanna, yes I know probably bad time, just wanted to see if you need a venting partner. You don't have to honestly, I'm not going to force you, I don't do good with feelings and all that. Just here if you need me.”

“Thanks...I’m fine..” was the only thing Ivanna could muster before starting to move again, towards her room then walking over to her mirror and stare into the reflection looking back at her. CRASH! The fist connected to the mirror which broke on impact. The shards from the glass cutted into her skin as she fought back the urge to tears. No. She pushed the glass further into her skin to drown out the sorrow. But what was she doing. What was she doing here? What was she fighting for? Did she even contribute to anything? The townsfolk were the same, the same stares, she knew what words they conveyed. What if—What if—I leaved right now and never looked back—-what if....what if I died that night. What if, What if, What if...

“Why did I have to live and not you....” saying silently into the night.

Just an empty shell

An empty shell

And a soul that lost its way home

Ms. Sparrow Xanto Bakuyoshi Blackrose7 explosiveKitten
Inheritance

 

[Xanto]

Clyde Callahan​

Clyde turned to run down a different hall when he suddenly felt a pair of arms wrap around him. The boy's green, teary gaze tiredly shifted upward to meet his auntie's light one. "Auntie Annabel!" His arms quickly pulled her into a tight hug. That was about all he could say though as tears continued to pour down his face. At the moment she was the closest one to his real mother. In fact, it almost felt like he found Audrey through the Ezeris princess.

The boy pressed his eyes closed, taking the moment in. He wouldn't let her go even if she wanted him to . . well until he fell asleep of course. Meanwhile, Annabel mentioned something about the book and him staying silent. There was a brief silence between them after she caught sight of the Ezeris Royal Bloodline book in his hands. It was opened up to her ever so secret page as well. Regardless, Clyde continued to hug Annabel and cry. He'd always wanted to see his mother, especially after the many stories Bax told about her. Now he was right next to one of her closest cousins.

"I-I think the rest of the ship knows," Clyde mumbled trying to catch his breath, "Only Azalea saw the book though."

Blackrose7

 

[Blackrose7]

Once Clyde had turned around to notice her, Annabel noticed that her poor nephew was crying about something. He then gave her a tight hug, and called her Auntie Annabel to confirm that he did read the book. ‘Well, this is a bit awkward.’ thought Annabel, who didn’t know what to do with her nephew. Because she guessed that Clyde was doing this, since he misses his mom or someone important to him.

Annabel gave Clyde an awkward pat the head, and then hugged him so he would calm down. ‘Am I doing this right? I don’t know if I am doing this right, since I didn’t have any siblings when I was with Rosa and William. I hope I am doing this right, because I don’t want to upset Clyde.’ thought Annabel. Even with her behaving like that, she had no excuse to do that to Clyde. For she had to deal with little kids in her gang, since they needed a special place to be safe from Ezeris’s dangers. Some of her gang members would either babysit them or train the kids with a weapon. Because of the need for them to protect themselves from any potential danger.

Although, Clyde is a special case for Annabel. As he is the only person to be alive from her real family. Clyde is also a little kid, so it feels like he was a missing little brother to her despite him being her nephew.
Annabel eventually stop giving Clyde a hug while he just continued to do that to her. She then was going to ask him if he wanted her to carry him to his room, but what he said to her gave her a look of horror. “Clyde, you don’t mind if I cover your ears or you leave for a few minutes? Because I am extremely upset by this, since somebody had to ruin the only thing that I have been trying to hide for a long time.” said Annabel, as she was not happy about that.
Xanto

 

[Ms. Sparrow]

Azalea Eve Windfore

Azalea couldn’t bear to open her eyes as she felt an arm wrap around her before she was pulled into Raymond’s warm embrace, never feeling more pathetic as she cried into the shirt of a man she hardly new. Oddly enough, it occurred to her she’d never been as close to being hugged by a man at all, other than Raymond. Not even by her father. The thought of her father was less then joyous and wracked her with another sob before Raymond spoke, his voice low and soothing.

"Azalea, none of this is because of you," he said, “You didn't want anyone to die. You wanted the best for your loved ones,” Raymond reassured her.

The words were a wrecking ball to heat, Azalea cried harder, and maybe because it was the first time someone had said it, or because she wanted to believe it badly enough, but it had been something she had needed to hear all the more, despite not believing it. A good job she’d done of that, making sure her loved ones got the best. All of them rotting in unmarked graves now, but she knew where. She knew where they were. Where they died. Azalea might’ve voiced this if she could speak, but she could not, so instead she listened, letting Raymond’s words break the otherwise silent room, excluding her quiet sobs, digging her face further into his shirt and keeping her eyes squeezed shut tightly, if only to just avoid looking up at him and feeling all the humiliation of having a break down in front of the one person she liked that actually cared for her enough to hug her. Azalea basked in the comfort of his hand rubbing her shoulder, her sobs beginning to lessen to frequent sniffles.

“None of you are going to die. There's another way. There always is,” Raymond said, his voice uncharacteristically determined. And for some reason, his determination was soothing. She’d half expected a, ‘well you had a good run’ or ‘you mean we could’ve just killed you and gotten on with our lives?’ but she supposed if she kept expecting the worst from Raymond, she’d always be surprised.

So, despite her lack of confidence in her survival, his hope and will for them to leave cheered her slightly, inspiring the grieving girl in the smallest way, and she willed herself a small nod into his shirt as She sniffled, if only to reassure the both of them. Because she wanted her friends to survive, and maybe some day, she’d want to survive as well. The thought was cheering.

“The past is done, but we can change the future with the present,“ he said to her, before she felt a hand under chin, and she opened her eyes finally as he tilted her head up the slightest, wiping a tear with his thumb, and she dared the slightest glance up at his eyes—and instantly regretted it as her face positively burst into flames, humiliation and something else warning her cheeks as she glanced down to her feet. It didn’t help that the tears kept coming, like an endless river. Was this what happened when you didn’t cry for long enough? Suddenly, Raymond pulled away, and panic had instantly replaced her grieving thoughts. Had he seen her face redden? Did he think it was something else? WAS it something else? Bloody hell. Azalea tore her head up from the floor to look at Raymond, her pessimist of a conscious immediately expecting him to be running right the hell out of there but was instead surprised to find him taking off his coat.

He quietly walked back to Azalea, raising his arms and soaking up his tears with sleeve, "You see the water in my eyes yet?" he quietly joked as her steady stream of tears began to slow, forcing another strained laugh from Azalea as she blinked up at him before they both paused, their faces inches apart. Because she really did look at his hazel eyes to see how he was faring, and even in the dimness of the room, they were just the slightest watered. The sight nearly crushed her.

On impulse, Azalea suddenly wrapped her arms around HIS torso, pulling him into a rather fierce hug, “We should really get rid of the onions on the ship,” she tried to joke with a laugh as she sniffled, letting out a shuddering breath as she blinked away some more tears over his shoulder. She didn’t want to see Raymond worried for her and the others, so maybe it was time some of his optimism rubbed off on her as well. In fact, she think it had. Just a little. If she was going to try, it’d be for him. And them. She’d stolen their lives from them already. She wasn’t going to steal them again... no matter the repercussions. Reluctantly, Azalea pulled back from their embrace, wiping her cheeks as she glanced up at him with watery eyes and a wobbly smirk, “so do you get your speeches from your brother? Or does he get them from you,” she sniffed, her eyes crinkling teasingly before her gaze dropped to the ground.

“Thanks, you know, for...not being most people,” she muttered to the ground, shuffling on her feet as her already blotchy face reddened. She’d never ever been good with thanking others. Or apologies. “Gads I swear I’m not such a baby most the time,” she joked with a strained laugh, her wet eyes glancing up and fixating on his sleeves, which had soaked up a large portion of tears. “Oh shite,” she muttered, staring at the wet blotches, though she couldn’t find it in her to force up some semblance of ‘sorry’, so she directed her gaze back up at face. “This’ll all be our secret, yeah? I got a shite reputation to keep round’ here,” Azalea said with another forced smile as she quickly wiped her swollen eyelids, her breathing still uneven. “I mean, I’ll tell them...sometime. I don’t want them to do anything stupid or pish, if they know,” Azalea said, shuffling on her feet some more as she sniffled, her hand unconsciously rubbing her red, swollen wrist as her gaze glanced to the ground before she caught herself, glancing back up at him. “You didn’t have to listen, yeah? But you did, while everyone else just...stared, like I’m mad or somethin,” Azalea said, her eyes glancing around the room, “and maybe I might be a little. I dunno. And I’m not good at compliments and shite like that, you know, feelings and pish, but I just—I mean, I’m glad, yeah? That your here and all, I mean, I’m glad you found us, with your messed up map at the inn that day,” she said, chuckling wetly, turning her gaze slowly back to him, “I mean, there’s no other magician I’d rather be thrown in a rebellion with,” Azalea said wryly as she finally looked back to him, her freckled face offering a weak lopsided grin, her swollen eyes wet, but no longer crying as she paused, glancing around the room again, an odd sense of slight paranoia filling her.

“And,” Azalea said glancing towards the door, “I’m bloody damn sure I’m getting a—a—err—oh,” Azalea began to stammer as a grin began to spread across her face, her body beginning to shake with restrained laughter, “did...did you break the doorknob?!” She exclaimed, giggling lightly as she turned back to Raymond with teary, but bemused eyes. Somehow this man continued to surprise and amaze her.

And maybe that was enough to live for.


~~~~
Aria chuckled at Angie’s reaction to Azalea and Raymond, shooting a bemused reaction to her friend. And strangely, though Raymond was so similar to her lost love, she too was more than glad for the scene. She could tell, Raymond was one of the good ones. Her cousin needed some love anyway, she thought with a smirk, trying to picture an Azalea in love and smirking a little, bemused. The thoughts were a nice distraction from the situation at hand until Cali spoke, reminding her of the situation.

Aria frowned at the Lorelthian princess as she spoke of Azalea, not entirely well either. She didn’t agree completely with Cali, of course. She loved her cousin dearly, Azalea was just...trying to find her way? No, that wasn’t it. But either way, she couldn’t blame the brunettes spite against her cousin either. Azalea never made things exactly easy, though she supposed she’d just gotten used to it over the years, it wasn’t hard for Aria to understand why complete strangers...wouldn’t get used to it, or warm up to her at all. Cali went on, listing the horrible situation they were currently in, and expressing that she didn’t exactly believe it could get any worse, though Aria could. Death. Being dead seemed a very possible and very worse scenario. The Princess went on in her talk, and Aria could only give her a small smile before Cali turned to depart, chuckling a little wearily as Cali mentioned her looking like she’d been hit by carriages.

“Ha ha, yeah, sleep,” Aria said, the word foreign on her tongue and giving her longing for her bed, “Believe me, if there’s anything good to report, you’ll all be the first to know,” she said dryly, sighing and rubbing her tired face. Perhaps she wouldn’t train so early tomorrow morning. Aria waved as Cali turned her back to her to head for her quarters, “Have a good sleep, I’m sure we’re all gonna need one for tomorrow,” Aria said, sighing as she tried to picture tomorrow’s events playing out perfectly. The Northern Princess then glanced over at Angie as Cali’s door shut, whom looked troubled but before Aria could question it, Angie spoke about visiting with Aurelie and had clapped her on the back before turning to leave.

“Good luck,” Aria remarked after Angie with a chuckle, watching as the Ezerian disappeared out of sight before she looked around, her surroundings suddenly empty, and sighed. She was beginning to regret not bringing her furry companion, if only for the sake of company. Without another word, Aria strode down the hall for her quarters, her footsteps echoing in the silent hallway.


Xanto explosiveKitten
Bakuyoshi