• This section is for roleplays only.
    ALL interest checks/recruiting threads must go in the Recruit Here section.

    Please remember to credit artists when using works not your own.

Realistic or Modern 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐞 - [𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫]

OOC
Here
Characters
Here
Lore
Here
thirteen

thirteen

𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬.



princess malavika.





































  • mood



    nervous, unamused.
















"Stop stalling."
Her father's amused voice rang out from behind her. Malavika turns from where she's been staring at herself, tugging down the different folds of the pink dress she wore, to see her father leaning in the doorway. There's nothing about him that indicates that he's sick, aside from the handkerchief he has to hold to his mouth to cough into.
"Appa, you should be in bed!"
Malavika scolds as she turns to him, immediately hooking her arm with his and allowing her father to lean on her. It's moments like these where she's able to recognize how much weight the war had stolen off his frame--he's lighter than ever. She makes a small mental note to talk to the chef about increasing his meal intake.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. Don't hover."
Her father chirps cheerfully, shrugging his shoulders as he tugs her out of her room. They begin a walk to the center of the palace, where their most ornate ballroom is, and despite his protests, Malavika urges them to go at a slower page.
"So, are you nervous? Excited? I bet a combination of both, huh?"


Her father's always been rather excited for things like this. Malavika wants to tell him that she could care less about being married to some strange person, all she wants to do is to take care of him and their own nation, but she knows that'd cause her father to fret more than he should.
"Yes, Appa."
She finally says.
"More nervous than anything, really. How long is this event going to be held for?"


"Just a few hours, chellamma. Don't worry. You'll be back in bed and toasty like the old woman you are."


A rare laugh bubbles on her lips.
"I am not old!"


"You scold me like an old woman."
Her father says cheekily.
"Honestly, I have no need to fear any of the noble ladies, always fretting. I have to fear you. You'll smother me with all your worries."
Her father snorts, and pats her hand gently to soothe her.

"Be grateful you still have a daughter that still cares to worry and hound you, old man."
She teases, and her father chuckles, shaking his head at her. Comfortable silence dawns on the two as they approach the stairs that would lead them down. They pause for a moment, and Malavika takes it in stride, knowing her father needed more pauses on his walks to catch his breath.

The silence is broken by him speaking.
"I am grateful for still having you, Malu."
He speaks, almost distantly. Malavika follows her father's gaze up to see the portrait that hangs at the top of the stairs, covered with a sheet after one of the nights where she had howled the command out for all portraits in the palace to be obscured from her sight. She knows this one from staring at it often--the portrait of her and her brother, her father, and mother. She remembers the expressions clearly, every stroke. She used to stare at it in wonderment when she was younger--a wonderment that was quickly replaced with the nauseating feeling of failure everytime she looked up at her dead brother's face. She knows what her father is thinking and she knows not the words she could say to comfort him. Instead, she squeezes him tightly and leads him down the stairs.

As they reach the doors, his dark eyes crinkle at the corners, fond and warm in a way that makes her feel like she's still a little girl.
"Good luck. Welcome someone new to our family, okay?"
He presses a gentle kiss to her forehead, before he's guiding her through the doors and into the ballroom, a loud announcer's voice ringing out that the Mahavijay King and Heiress had arrived. She's barely allowed to receive a gentle squeeze from her father's warm, rough hand, before they're parted, him taking the seat at the head of the function, and her trailing off to find the table where she's meant to be sat. The cameras on her make her nervous, though she schools her face in a mildly disinterested expression -- she's not willing to have her microexpressions scrutinized today.

She's the first to the table, as customary of a host. A quick glance at both of the namecards on either side of her reveals the names of the companions that will be sitting on either side of her for the evening. The heir of Polchi and the heir of Misbury, if she remembers correctly. She'll have to make small talk, but everything that comes to mind as a conversation starter is either pointed or does little to hide her distaste for this entire occasion. Neither were quite promising. She'd only hope that her companions were more skilled at making small talk than she was.

She thinks back to the schedule--- once all the heirs were seated, there'd be a small introduction, knowing the cameras, some kind of interview, possibly? Her father had said something about a dance, and then the announcement of the pairs.

Discomfort curls bitterly in her stomach. She'd entered the ballroom as a single woman, unburdened of a partner. She'd leave it engaged to one of the enemies of Salhai, the vipers waiting to strike her family when they were down. There wasn't a single thing she could do, not with so many eyes watching. Malavika breathed out steadily though her nose, and reached for a small flute of champagne nearby, taking a long sip to try and settle her nerves. Everything would be fine.

































cry for love



백현










♡coded by uxie♡
 










scroll
PRINCE OSÍN





sitting at the table





thirteen thirteen





princess malavika











“I want to thank you Osín, for looking after my kingdom while I was recovering and for so graciously accepting that task that I have given you. Worry not brother, the kingdom, your mother will be well looked after.”

Elion, no King Elion, had a way of speaking that made his threats undetectable to untrained ears. Osín had always despised how etiquette called for unclear intentions and useless subtly. There was no doubt in his mind that his brother would see his mother harmed should he not do as told. No amount of slick, honeyed words could hide the malice from Osín’s ears. It burned him inside to see brother claim the throne. He had been named crown prince but it had been Osín who had been born first. While Misbury threatened to topple from their unexpected attack, it had been he who put the kingdom together again and made it anew.

The young prince knew that he could not act foolishly. His anger was so intense that he feared that it might melt him from the inside. It was not enough to attempt to treat rot at a surface level, no it was better to cut it out at its source. He knew that now. Osín should have taken his brother’s head when he had the chance. Only then would his birthright be unquestionable. Such thoughts plagued his mind for the duration of his trip to Salhai.

Osín had not even realized that the carriage had come to a stop until a guard alerted him. Once upon a time ago he would have taken the time to appreciate the array of colors as they passed his carriage window. Had Osín’s visit been one of leisure, he could have marveled at the beauty of Salhai in all of its glory. His face remained stone-faced as he left his carriage, adorned in the gold and green of Misbury.

With each step towards the ballroom, a lump formed in his stomach. It was a feeling he knew to be dread in its purest form. His form was tight, rigid in a way that almost looked uncomfortable. The large doors of the ballroom were pushed open and Osín was formally announced. “This may very well ruin us,” was his only thought before he was escorted to his seat.

“Your Royal Highness, I am Prince Osín of Misbury. We extend our thanks towards you and your family for hosting this…event.” It was easy to remember the lessons given to him. His tutors would sometimes praise him for the way he remembered his manners, repeating after them like a prized parrot. He spied the flute of champagne in her hand and nearly grabbed one himself. “Your palace is marvelous, it is everything that I’ve read about.”





♡coded by uxie♡
 
Last edited:



princess malavika.





































  • mood



    warm, gentle, nervous. doing her best.
















"Thank you."
Malavika says to a nearby waiter, who holds out a plate that is simultaneously her salvation and the very same precipice she can tumble down from. She places her now-empty flute of champage on the tray before replacing the absence in her palm with another filled flute. The glass is cool to the touch, condensation crisp at the edges of the frosted glass, the liquid sloshing in its depths a bubblier pink than the dress she currently wears. Malavika twirls the glass thoughtfully between long fingers, staring at the flute. She doesn't want to go overboard in her drink, doesn't want to make a fool of herself at such a televised function. The last thing she wants is to be painted as a silly girl, twirling around in a pink party dress, too drunk and too dumb to lead a nation. But at the same time, the tension in her shoulders seems to remind her that this is not a night for rigid politics, for harsh debates and tense dialogue--it's a night to win over hearts, to cement her position as the heir of Salhai, and she'd hate to be too uptight about it. One sip wouldn't hurt, she surmises, and lifts the glass to her painted lips for the bubbles to embrace her tongue.

The chimes of announcement sound in Malavika's ears, and she lifts her head up, catching the ends of the pleasant rings of arrival. The heir of Misbury has arrived, the first of her companions for the night. One out of five. She turns fully, now fully expecting a figure to approach where she sits at her table, and as she does, she casts a wayward glance at the namecard beside her-- one of her seating companions is here. She wonders how they'd be, how they'd look. Would they get along? She had nothing against Misbury personally, though there are a few things she just doesn't see eye to eye with, but would that sentiment be returned? Would this heir be hostile?

All of a sudden, a thought resounds in her brain. These are the people, the pool in which she will marry from. As she meets heir after heir, in an hour, one of them would be the partner she ascends the throne with. Would it be the one coming to her right now? The mysterious heir of Polchi, on the other side of her, maybe? She has no clue, and all of a sudden, her heart starts beating loudly in her chest. Her torso feels tight and the lacings at the back of her dress seem more restrictive than ever, and she has a strong desire to rip off her brassiere and chuck it when someone wasn't looking. Her heart is in such a panic that she can feel evidence of her nerves at her carotid, a thump-thump-thump that makes her ears ring and the bitter taste of panic bubble at the back of her throat.

She hurries to take a long sip of her champagne, hoping that she's schooled her face into a mask of polite interest, that her nerves don't peek out of her carefully curated facade. Not here, not when there were so many cameras scrutinizing every bit of her features for a reveal of her true feelings.

Finally, the heir of Misbury makes his way to the table. She stands, welcoming him, pressing a smile to her lips. The other's visage is wonderfully pleasant, a full face with stunning eyes, and a wonderful suit. She rather adores the clean, crisp cut of his silhouette and the cape-esque material off one arm. He's elegant and put together, and what soothes her the most is the tense rigidity to the other that indicates she's not alone in her turmoil of the night.

He introduces himself as Prince Osín, and her keen ears don't miss out on the way there's a little pause before describing their meetup as an...event.

"Welcome to Salhai, Prince Osín. It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Princess Malavika."
She says, the smile coming a bit more to her lips. Small talk isn't one of her interests. She's quite adept at it, don't get her wrong, as one from a nation surrounding diplomacy has to be, but small talk has always been more of Aditya's forte, not hers. Though, she decides to take a page from his book and extend a verbal line to the other, hoping that it'd ease them past the odd stilted phase of talking she always deplored when establishing new connections.
"How was your journey? I trust it was safe and comfortable? Please let me know if your accommodations need any adjustment, it'd be my pleasure to take care of it for you to have a nice stay in Salhai."
Perhaps it wasn't as eloquent as her father would have done it, but it was good enough, right? Either way, she's already mentally patting her back.

"Thank you for coming."
She says.
"I can only apologize that it's not under more cheerful circumstances, though I hope that will change in the near future."
There, she's said it. She's toeing the line between appropriate and inappropriate--to disavow the very mark of alliance amongst the six nations was a dangerous little game, but there was no way in hell she wanted anyone to feel as though she was approving of such an idiotic course of action. She did not want to be here as much as the next heir, and there was no reason to promenade as otherwise.

Osín expresses a pleasantry about her abode, and it's simple and a regular remark at its core, though she jumps at the chance to discuss something that isn't their idiotic impending marriages to complete strangers for the sake of their nations.
"Thank you, it's lovely to hear that someone reads about Salhai! Are you a vicarious reader, Prince Osín? This palace has a lot of history, and there are quite a number of stories surrounding the conception of the palace. My father's been known to spin a few tall tales, so I wouldn't quite listen to him."
The gentle joke at her father's expense (thank you, appa!) comes naturally to her lips, trying to nudge the other into more warm conversation. She sees no reason why not, the other heir must be just as nervous as she is. If she's lucky, she'll come out of this conversation with a book recommendation or two.

































cry for love



백현










♡coded by uxie♡
 
princess malee
polchi
Marriage. One of the few things the heir of Polchi knew from a young age that would eventually happen and that she couldn’t take full control of it. Did she mind that? Well, it depended if you saw the glass half-empty or half-full. To Malee, technically wasn’t the type of person who saw it as a union of love, but more like a strategic union, one where power, economics, and politics were the elements to prioritize, and while technically, it was that way, Malee couldn’t stop questioning who she would end up marrying.

Not in a sense that she could see herself living a life together, instead her mind was full of thoughts about which heir would provide what was necessary for Malee’s plan to succeed. The options were limited; the outcomes were endless. If she was being objective at this stage, her best options were the heirs of Zeher Wyrn or Darten. Everyone could provide power in their own way. And just the idea of that made Malee’s eyes shine. Unfortunately, everything came with a price and the aftermath of the actions of these nations were more of a double-edge sword.

Then there was Misbury and Salhai, while Malee could see the hidden power behind Misbury, uniting with a nation that broke up all of their alliances. It only meant reworking those connections and one thing for sure was that Malee wasn’t interested in that kind of work and the latter, in other circumstances, Salhai would have been the perfect option, while it was deemed as the mediator of the nations, deep down and if you played your cards correctly, Salhai could have become the puppeteer behind the other nations, it was unfortunate that now that was just turned into dust.

But despite all this planning and analysis, Malee knew that in the end, everything would end up in a gamble that would decide the fate of Polchi and their heir, but even a pawn can turn into a bishop with the right moves on the board, ones that Malee would orchestrate to fulfill and accomplish her goals.

And now, with her arrival in Salhai, it was just the start of this new game where she was the mastermind behind everything. She knew the first thing was to start building the connections necessary and one of them was with the host. As she made her arrival at the ballroom, she took notice of the designated table where the heirs would be sitting; it seemed the only ones so far were the heirs of Misbury and Salhai, not exactly how the heir of Polchi would have desired to start her first move, but Malee was never the one to back down on a challenge; in fact, she loved them.

“It seems I didn’t arrive late for the introductions. Although I Apologize for my late arrival and interruption. I am Princess Malee of Polchi.In the name of my nation, I extend my gratitude for this invitation. Let’s hope this is the start of the union of our nations. The same goes for Misbury and you, Prince Osin.”


mood: calm
outfit: here
location:ballroom
tags: erzulie erzulie thirteen thirteen
coded by Stardust Galaxy
 
location: palace ballroom
outfit: ornate, elegant dress attire
interactions: osin, malavika, malee


"um, h-here is the key to your quarters, y-your highness... you m-may call on us if you need anything... p-please feel free to leave your coat o-over there..."


prince takemitsu kaido listened patiently as the terrified servant approached him to carry out her duties with clear hesitation while her nervous colleagues watched on from around the corner, her eyes shifting side-to-side and scarred fingers trembling as she held out an ornate envelope clenched between both hands. he'd heard the whispers here and there of his supposed dabbling in black magic ever since he'd stepped foot outside of darten's borders— after all, he'd never been able to afford a life of blissful ignorance even if he had once yearned for one— but the rumors seemed to only grow more concentrated the closer he travelled to salhai, an observation that could hardly go unnoticed given the blatant fear in this poor servant's demeanor.

'fascinating, even if unfounded.' perhaps he could have a little fun with this until he tracked down the crook responsible for badmouthing his innocent family.

"thank you,"
kaido responded courteously, bowing his head slightly as he accepted the envelope. the servant instantly flushed in shock, alarmed at the respectful gesture towards someone of her station, but he paid such frivolous rules of etiquette no mind. she was a living, breathing person just like himself, a native of salhai where he was merely staying as an imprisoned guest— she did not choose to serve the cursed prince, nor did he choose to become a cursed prince in the first place.
"what is your name?"


the servant's eyes widened even further, anxiety written all over her doe-like features as she carefully answered,
"my n-name is 'lucky,' your highness..."


"lucky..."
kaido watched her squirm for a moment longer before a brilliant smile replaced his previously unreadable expression, taking the servant by surprise as her gaze fixated on the novel sight. she'd only known the prince of darten to be a terrifying wartime admiral, a far cry from the warmth emanating off of the calm man standing before her at present.
"then, i'll count on you to wish me luck today, okay? thank you again, lucky. i won't forget your kindness."


opting to keep his coat on hand lest the superstitious staff throw it out under the assumption of it carrying some sort of wayward curse, kaido bid the servant adieu and entered the ballroom at long last, a low whistle threatening to escape his lips at the carefully-selected, elegant decor as he belatedly remembered his mother's words to him just before he left.

"i promised to protect you, but here i am, sending you to another battlefield... it's true that we must do this for our kingdom's peace, but you needn't try so hard this time, kai... they will come to love you as you are, i'm sure of it."


a soft smile gracing his features at the reassuring farewell, kaido took his time absorbing the grandiose hall before making his way over to the round table where a few of the other heirs seemed to be already engrossed in conversation. they looked exactly as he'd remembered in the news save for the princess of polchi, who had always given the darten prince a vague air of duplicity even through the screen yet seemed nothing but refined now that he was facing her in the flesh.

"takemitsu kaido,"
he greeted plainly with a single affirming nod as he took his designated seat next to the heir of misbury, though the warm crinkle around his shadowy eyes firmly undercut any sort of disrespect waiting to be gleaned from his curt introduction. those who had spent any amount of time on a battlefield would instantly recognize such an aloof demeanor as that of a soldier, one that could hardly be trained out of him after a lifetime of tomfoolery, survival, and activism, the reserve heir in case something happened to the outstanding crown princess.
"please, stay seated. i've long heard tales of your royal highnesses' dedication to your people— out of respect, i'll be careful not to hex anyone before the main course arrives."


despite the light-hearted sarcasm coating his words as his gaze lazily drifted to the heir of polchi to guage her reaction, the prime suspect of the rumors at the moment until the heir of wyrn bothered to show their stupid mug, kaido's irises shimmered with traces of playfulness and a keen sense of self-awareness, as though he found the rumors about the darten royals' proclivities towards black magic to be more amusing rather than aggravating as they should have been. his sister had likely dealt with being treated as though she was diseased by ambassadors and monarchs alike more times than he could imagine, yet he'd never experienced it himself until arriving in salhai. soldiers hardly ever cared for the idle gossip that circulated among high society, after all, as many of them had spent their formative years witnessing the young prince in action firsthand and trusted their own experiences over whatever agenda-of-the-month the stuffy nobles were shoving down people's throats at any given moment.

still, kaido's casual comment about their righteous work ethic rang sincere when it came to the heirs of misbury and salhai, two prominent figures whose feats had long been a topic of interest to the young activist. there were many curiosities burning at the tip of his tongue for those two, but such inquiries would sadly have to wait until an opportunity arose for an open dialogue away from the cameras— the young warlord from darten who'd ended his own father's life probably wasn't all too trustworthy from their wary perspectives, either.
KAIDO
code by birth of venus.
 
Last edited:










scroll
PRINCE OSÍN





sitting at the table





thirteen thirteen sox sox Stardust Galaxy Stardust Galaxy





princess malavika, prince kaido, princess malee











“My journey was well. To be honest, I could not enjoy the scenery as much as I’d like.” Full lips pressed into a thin line at the mere thought of their upcoming unions. Quite frankly he was not as optimistic as she seemed to be. How could he be? He was not foolish enough to believe that he would marry out of love, but he would have at least thought that he deserved to have some type of influence in the situation.

It was easy for Osín to fall into the role of an avid scholar. He felt the tension in his shoulders ease ever so slightly, happy to drop the subject before it could completely sour his mood. Princess Malavika’s inquiries took him back to the comfort of his personal library. It had acted as a safe space for him throughout his life and he would spend hours amongst the books, reading literature from the other kingdoms and tales of the stars above.

“I am, your highness. While reading about Madari I found myself hoping to see and experience the colors for myself. And not to mention your street stalls. They remind me of the open markets we have in Misbury.” Without permission a small smile creeped onto the lips of Prince Osín. It vanished as soon as the doors to the ballroom opened again.

The arrival of the Princess of Polchi seemed to bring Osín back to the situation at hand. He became all too aware of the cameras that surrounded them. His tense posture returned and once again gray eyes post their previous spark of interest. He willed himself to school his features and not let his emotions leak through. To say that he found the actions of Polchi distasteful would be a severe
understatement. The most that the prince could manage was a curt nod in her direction, only locking eyes for the briefest of moments.

Before long the doors were opened once again. The Prince of Darten’s entrance was what drew Osín’s attention. He did not realize that he was staring until the prince was seated beside him. He had read about the kingdom of Darten, and had heard the stories of the black magic that they dabbled in. He could feel the urge to question Prince Kaido was at the very tip of his tongue.




♡coded by uxie♡
 



heir of wyrn.





prince malik.



































la solitude
















location

palace ballroom






outfit







interactions

princess malavika, prince osín, princess malee, prince kaido
















"Since you crave the humiliation so badly, I will not stop you on your fool's errand. I only hope you return home in one piece."

King Haaibre had never been the nurturing type; a proud man with a scornful look engraved onto his face. A look Malik remembered contained even more malice than usual on the day of his departure. He was furious when he learned that the prince took it upon himself to sign his life away to a marriage pact. Where his mother gave a pitying smile at their dinner table and his sister used up his days of preparation urging him to make gifts, his father spoke nothing but warnings whenever the two were in the same room together. It was a gesture only Malik could truly appreciate. While his father's pride was often seen as all-consuming, he had slowly developed a soft underbelly beneath his abrasive exterior. Perhaps it had grown from the slow accustom to loss or a strange witness of guilt. Regardless, his son knew better than to take his words at face value, finding the underlying meaning where others could only hear the initial layer of his displeasure.

Be safe.

Malik bit back a smile at the sentiment. It was but a small glimmer of hope in his sea of tribulations and he could spare no time nursing such a small thing if he wanted to stay afloat. He had duties to uphold. From the moment his transit left Wyrn's dessert and entered the colorful splendor of Salhai, he made it a point not to be distracted by his budding curiosity and his natural desire to know more.

It was truly a shame his first visit to the nation was motivated by such bitter work. In another life, he would have spent his first moments in Salhai exploring the vibrant culture he only ever experienced through screens and books. He imagined it would have been more enjoyable than the reality of pacing the—albeit, beautiful—guest room he had been graciously provided. Ever since his escort had stationed himself outside his door to give Malik the time to prepare himself, the chambers fell quiet, leaving him to fixate on the sound of his soles softly hitting the floor and the rushed beat of his heart against his chest. If he focused more closely, he could hear the artificial sound of the technology that aided his heart's timorous symphony.

Lub-dub, lub-dub, lub-dub...

If he allowed his emotions to control him, he would have stayed forever planted within his bedroom chambers, never to arrive at the ballroom. Instead, he garnered a small gasp from his startled escort when he opened his bedroom's grand doors.
"I believe I'm ready."
Malik didn't react when his smile went unseen as his escort took more liking to the hallway they walked through than him. He wasn't blind to the expressions his presence elicited and he certainly wasn't dull not to expect something similar once he met his peers. While it was a matter that made his heart run miles, it was the same feeling of disadvantage that kept his mind sharp. Alert.

"Th-the ballroom is just behind these doors, your highness." While the escort's words were the marriage game's starting bell—a symbolic start to Malik's first turn—sounds of chimes came hand-in-hand with his entrance to the ballroom; a true signifier of his arrival.

Before his genuine hesitation at the sound could sneak through the cracks of his noble appearance, his eyes were quick to notice the cameras that swarmed. Ah yes, not only did he have to learn to get along in the lion's den, but he also had to be mindful of the performance. All of Viesha was watching them like they were actors in the next major soap opera. In a way, they were. Portraying an illusion that nations once at war could come together through the power of romance. And despite how Malik had yet to believe in such ideals, he knew how to act like a pioneer for the cause.

He bowed to show his respects, an action he knew his father would have his head for if he was one of the many viewers.
"I apologize for my tardiness; I am Prince Malik of Wyrn."


Since he signed his name into the marriage pact, Malik had prepared himself to see the heirs of the other nations. Even without a proper list, he had a vague idea built from past visits before the war, and whatever whispers of gossip that managed to breach the El-Guindi's guarded palace. There were faces unfamiliar to him, others the opposite, but one in particular surprised him. A part of himself felt lucky that Prince Osín's attention had been ensnared by the man who sat next to him rather than himself—a selfish relief Malik knew better to cherish—however, the other half was left... conflicted. Somehow Prince Osín's attendance left him at a loss. Had he been blinded by his own self-assurance to assume that he'd find Prince Elion at the table?

No matter, even as he felt his shoulders stiffen against his chair, Malik carried on, swiftly shifting his gaze to the host.
"I speak on behalf of my nation when I say that Wyrn is beyond grateful for the invitation, your highness."
He then looked around the table as he continued with a voice that exuded nothing short of calm and collected.
"And I speak for myself that it is a privilege to sit among you all as we take our first step towards a new era of peace."











 


















  • ZE'EV ARGAMAN.
    heir to zeher.



    "y'allah, they really expect us to go through with this?"

    zev turned the carefully inked letter over in his hand, tracing a finger over the words as he lost himself in thought. he'd intended on this drive to salhai to be a moment for him to clear his head before the main event, to feign an attempt at relaxation so that he can give his full attention to the task at hand when he arrives. but no matter how much he stared out the window of the transport and willed his mind to clear, thoughts kept flooding back in, worries and doubts and nerves that he just couldn't seem to put at ease.

    it had been like this for some time, at least since he'd returned from the front some six months prior. from the moment of his return to everything in between- the end of the war, his father's death, the decision that birthed this... arrangement. he was sure the polchi cameras would be trained on each of the heir's arrivals, certainly not excluding his own. he could almost hear the voice of some snotty little reporter now; "here comes the infamous heir of zeher, son of the warlord that started it all." funny, how the actions of his father some five years prior led to all this. if 'funny' was the right word.

    he tried to think back to how he felt when he thought a marriage purely of his own choosing was ever in the cards for him. he tried to remember if that thought had ever existed at all- it wasn't exactly as if he'd ever had an active example of a healthy marriage growing up, but the sentiment was nice, at least. the thought that his life could be anything other than what the media and his parents and the fates set out for him was comforting, if naïve.

    his arrival at the palace felt faster than it was; his escort, a grizzled older man, informed him that most of the heirs had arrived more than an hour prior, giving the prince an even smaller window of time to prepare for the event. ze'ev figured the stops coming into the kingdom were likely to thank for the delay. him being in a royal convoy didn't seem to exempt them from increasingly lengthy searches and checks, and while he couldn't blame the salhains for being cautious after the war, it wasn't exactly convenient, either. he assumed the convoy being one of zeher didn't help, either.

    "welcome, prince ze'ev. i hope your trip here went by smoothly. may i show you to your accomodations for the duration of your visit?"

    the man had a smile on his face, but the glint in his eyes suggested anything but pacivity. a challenge, if ze'ev ever saw one. the man had probably lost family, friends, in the war, if he hadn't fought himself; or at least he had to watch as the cities of the kingdom he was sworn to serve fell to ruin. and now, he was face-to-face with one the agitators that caused this. zev stiffened; he knew he'd have to face his kingdom's reputation at some point, though he expected he'd at least have until tonight to decide how he wanted to take it on.

    for this moment, though, he kept his expression unreadable. "indeed it did, thank you. i'd be most pleased if you did."

    it wasn't more than a few minutes of silent walking, belied with unvoiced tension, before the pair reached a set of ornate doors that lead into what would be zev's chambers. "here we are, your highness. as much as i abhor your arrival into my kingdom, please let me know if you require anything to make your stay more comfortable."

    ze'ev turned to the man. surely, he must of misheard; but he knew he hadn't. he had to wonder what the man had faced, what he'd lost that made him bold enough to speak in such a free manner.

    he considered his next words carefully. "i appreciate your candor, unasked for as it may be. please count on it that i will."

    minutes passed, and zev prepared himself both physically and mentally. he freshened up, ensured his attire was all in order, that he was presentable. it would be one of his first public appearances since his father died; he couldn't afford to look anything other than the perfectly polished, aloof prince that he was trained to be. when he found himself as prepared as he'd ever be, he exited, and was led down by a different escort- this time, a younger, impassive woman- to the ballroom.

    he took a moment to glance out the soaring windows of the palace as he walked. the capital of salhai was admittedly lovely, even after the tribulations of the war. the architecture was more similar to home than the other kingdoms, but still had its own unique flair that made zev wish that he'd come here under any other circumstances, if only to get to explore the city for himself. he supposed he'd had to limit himself to admiring from the halls of the palace, for now.

    the ballroom doors opened. ze'ev knew he'd be late; still, it took a moment to process the five heirs sitting around the finely-set table, the five pairs of eyes that wandered towards him as he made his entrance. once his mind caught up with his senses, he dipped into a shallow bow, a hand over his heart. it seemed no matter how far he strayed from the throne, royal etiquette was burned into him like a brand.

    "good evening. i am crown prince ze'ev argaman of zeher."

    zev figured it wouldn't earn him any points to point out his tardiness, so he decided to skip that portion of pleasantries. zev's eyes scanned over the other heirs, indexing each one as he went. malik of wyrn; osin of misbury; kaido of darten; malee of polchi; malavika of salhai. his eyes lingered on the salhain princess- she was technically the last heir he'd seen, having met some year or two before the war broke out with her and her brother, who seemed conspicuously absent now. part of him wondered if aditya had simply left his sister to be betrothed to spare himself, but that seemed uncharacteristic. at the very least, zev assumed he'd be here to support her.

    in less than twenty-four hours, ze'ev would know who in this room he'd be tied to for the remainder of his life. he tried to work through which pairings seemed most favorable; darten had been strong allies in the war, but ze'ev simply couldn't see himself with their prince, even if it was a marriage of convenience. the polchi cameras were always too much for him, and that would be exacerbated if he was paired with their princess, and it would be terribly fraught if he'd be forced to marry the princess of the kingdom his own had originally attacked. he supposed it wasn't up to him now, though; it was a matter for the fates.

    "i sincerely thank salhai for the invitation, and i speak for all of zeher when i say that we're excited to move into a new era with you all." ze'ev took a seat, slightly shaking his head towards a passing waiter who offered him a tray of bubbling drinks. he glanced over at princess malavika. "will we be looking forward to an appearance by the prince tonight, as well?"












001.

002.

003.

004.










 



princess malavika.





































  • mood



    i wake up in the morning i got murder on my mind, ak47s mac11s, glocks and nines....
















"Open markets in Misbury? Please do tell me more, I'd love to--."
Malavika's just about to finish her sentence, to nudge her companion into speaking more about his home, when the arrival of the heir of Polchi has her attention swayed and any attempts of distracting herself from their impending doom out the proverbial window. Princess Malee is just as stunning as she remembers her to be described, with a sort of aura that only could best be described as .... catty? Snakelike? She's not quite sure when she decided to spiral into said animal comparisons to understand her companions better, but she has to admit, the Polchi heir is rather similar to those descriptors. There is an incredible allure to the other's visage, a sort of gravitas she wasn't expecting--one that is neither friendly, nor hostile, but not an energy that Malavika particularly feels comforting. What unsettles her is the air of calculation that the other heir brings to the table, one that directly contrasts to the assumed innocence of the Misbury heir-- Malavika feels the pull of two extremes, and suddenly, her father's earlier nudging to be mindful of the colorful personalities around her makes a bit more sense.

"Welcome to Salhai, Princess Malee. I too, look forward to the union of our nations. I trust your journey was safe and well?"
Malavika doesn't necessarily have a lot of love for the heir, but the Misbury heir doesn't seem intent on offering more than a curt nod, and given that she's the hostess, it doesn't seem right to let her distaste filter into conversation--at least, not yet. She has half a mind to let her tongue slip, to slice scathing words to the representative nation that stood by and sensationalized the struggle of her people, of her nation, but she quells her internal turmoil in favor of a warm, polite greeting.

Malee's arrival seems to have triggered the arrival of the other heirs as well. The next to join them is the heir of Darten, who greets them all by tossing out his name and a snappy little response about not hexing anyone. She hopes to the gods it's an actual joke, because even she can't stifle the little bubble of laughter that slips out behind a white gloved hand, the slight shaking of her shoulders betraying her.
"A pleasure to meet you, Prince Kaido. Do feel free to perform some hexes by the time dessert rolls around, I think it'll buy the rest of us enough time to escape the function to go rest."
If the heir is so comfortable teasing the rumors and scandals surrounding him and his family, perhaps he'd take her little joke with grace. Either way, this function is far too long for her her to continuously be reserved and polite.

She's getting a little exhausted with the whole "thanks so much for the invitation, let's not kill each other anymore, blahblahblah" routine that each of the heirs are presenting. She knows damn well it's for the benefit of the camera, for the bigger performance they are all expected to deliver, though the Wyrn heir's introduction sends her slightly for a loop. She was expecting something curt, maybe even hostile from him, but the only thing that he is is eloquent, in a sort of way that makes her take pause. Is this the Wyrn duplicity she's assumed and grown to know during the war? Either way, she relaxes her features and inclines her head.
"Please come sit, Prince Malik. We're excited to have you here in Salhai."
She's a bit flat on the excited, not quite with the same kind of verve that anyone else would have said it, but hey, she's never claimed she was perfect in any capacity. Either way, she tries to make her response less cold, a bit more gentle, because she can't imagine any other person at the table being entirely too receptive to the presence of that heir.

And then finally, finally, the last of them arrives. The heir of Zeher, the one she's been dreading to see. She knows him only distantly -- Adi was the one with ties to Zeher, not her. The arrival of Prince Ze'ev makes it so that everything is much more sooner, the impending marriages, the announcement and everything-- her chest constricts, and she has to force herself to quietly suck in a breath. In, out. In, out. Relax, Malavika. There are eyes on you.

"Welcome to Salhai, Prince Ze'ev. "
She finds herself repeating again for the thousandth time that night. She's about to say something, drawing up one of the useless platitudes that she's offered to each of the other heirs throughout the night, right after she takes a sip of her flute to soothe her now-dry mouth, when the newly joined heir opens his mouth and asks about her brother. He asks if Adi will be joining them tonight.

In that moment, she swears the world goes silent. She freezes, knuckles white around the delicate stem of her glass.

Aditya. He should have been here, with her, today. He wouldn't have been the one getting married, no, but he would have been a welcome presence, bright and bubbly, like the sun, soothing other heirs and striking conversation to set the others at ease. He would have been beside her, squeezing her hands in excitement to see who his new in-law would be. And all in all, she can't help but feel acid roil in her stomach, bitter and venomous. She tenses, her shoulders tight and stiff, as though she's about to lunge at the newcomer and bang his pretty face against the stupid table until she feels better.

Breathe. Breathe, Malavika. It feels like he's asking her to rub it in--she lost her brother during the war, to them, of all people, and she knows, damn it. She knows.

She takes a long, drawn out breath, before answering.
"I was under the impression that the nation of Zeher still had some amount of respect for the departed-- but I suppose that might have been a high expectation. Sure, Prince Ze'ev. "
She smiles, but it never reaches her eyes, her tone frigid.
"I can imagine you of all people would look forward to seeing my brother. I'm sure you'd have a lot to answer to at his tomb. I too, await answers from your nation."
Her gaze sweeps out towards the rest of the heirs, pointedly ignoring the one that's asked her the question.
"If you do see my brother wandering about, do let me know, he's not supposed to escape his grave."
Her gaze flicks to the heir of Darten, and her eyes crinkle in slight amusement, though it's clear from her rigid posture that she's not entirely unscathed from this whole interaction about her brother.
"Unsure if you have a handy hex for me for that, Prince Kaido."
She jokes.

My. This is going to be a long night.

































cry for love



백현










♡coded by uxie♡
 
location: palace ballroom
outfit: ornate, elegant dress attire
interactions: osin, malavika, ze'ev, malik


while kaido busied himself with trying to seem perfectly unfazed amidst the endless lenses pointed in his direction, the hovering red dots burning into his skin like invisible lasers the longer he fidgeted under their omnipresent scrutiny, he keenly sensed prince osin larillis' gaze fixated on him from a few feet away, neither malice nor humor in the misbury heir's irises. he knew that look quite well, the telltale expression one makes when their festering curiosity is mere moments away from overtaking social prudence, but the ever-alert princess malavika promptly dashed that opportunity with a courteous greeting in return of his informal one.

"a pleasure to meet you, prince kaido. do feel free to perform some hexes by the time dessert rolls around, i think it'll buy the rest of us enough time to escape the function to go rest."


kaido let his eyes linger on the silent osin for a moment longer before flashing princess malavika a graceful smile, rather pleased by her willingness to let go of the formalities for a moment though unsurprised by her carefully neutral choice of words. contrary to the rumors circulating back home about the doll-like mahavijay maiden with glowing skin and a dazzling smile, she was just as professional as she was beautiful.
"tempting me with an incentive and leaving me alone with the desserts,"
he mused, eyebrow cocked as he shook his head in faux-disbelief.
"i fear that makes you an accomplice, your highness."


before their light banter could progress any further, however, the heir of wyrn introduced himself with a swift apology for his delayed arrival and the lazy smile dropped from kaido's lips in an instant. malik el-guindi— a surname all-too-familiar to the darten prince whose silent bitterness remained mostly hidden save for his tensed jaw and white knuckles gripping the base of his crystalline champagne flute.

"... a privilege to sit among you all... step towards a new era of peace..."


the political niceties gliding off malik's lips hardly registered in kaido's consciousness as he quietly assessed the man seated beside him whose family destroyed his own, opting against offering a single word in response to his meaningless greeting lest he say something unsavory and ruin this attempt at diplomacy before it even began. instead, princess malavika seamlessly took over once again to fill the silence as host until the heir of zeher arrived, completing their pitiful entourage at long last.

the frigidness in kaido's demeanor instantly thawed as the handsome prince ze'ev settled in next to the wyrn eyesore, a million questions rushing to the forefront of his mind built up over a lifetime of listening to nostalgic tales of zeher from his colleagues and comrades alike. for a brief moment, he nearly found himself in a similar position to the misbury prince from earlier, overcome with the urge to ignore the cameras and speak candidly, but he ultimately held his tongue when his gaze flickered over to follow princess malavika's rigid, yet careful movements.

such consideration quickly proved to be for naught, however, as the zeher prince proceeded to callously inquire about the deceased prince's aditya's non-attendance as though making small talk about the evening traffic. kaido's lips parted in shock at the audacity, blatant distaste souring his previously colorless expression in light of ze'ev's malicious display of cruel humor. unless he was an ignorant fool unaware of his family's crimes, it seemed the zeher heir had no real plans of cooperating in these arrangements for peace in good faith.

the headstrong princess malavika, however, took a calculated moment to compose herself before responding in turn, wielding her sharp tongue like a whip despite being visibly disturbed by the uncalled-for dig. 'how impressive'— her levelheadedness carried her brilliantly through the tumult, her adaptability even leaving room to toss in a spiteful joke at the end.

"unsure if you have a handy hex for me for that, prince kaido."


tickled by the clean hand-off of attention but minding his manners as a guest, kaido stifled a low whistle and gently swirled the wine in his glass with narrowed eyes as though inspecting it for impurities among the bubbles before taking a sip.
"i have more effective ways of cornering obstacles that get in my way, your highness,"
he hummed, nonchalant, though his cutting gaze carried no ounce of warmth as it briefly flickered over to the zeher and wyrn princes before returning to malavika with a taut smile,
"...should you ever be interested in discussing such things down the line. you never know when someone you're meant to trust might turn around and screw everyone over, after all— heavens forbid."

KAIDO
code by birth of venus.
 
Last edited:










scroll
PRINCE OSÍN





sitting at the table





thirteen thirteen sox sox Stardust Galaxy Stardust Galaxy aeneas. aeneas. phnx. phnx.





princess malavika, prince kaido, prince malik, prince zev, princess malee











“Breathe, my little fawn. When your emotions are feeling too big for your body, just remember to breathe. In…and out….in…and out, just as mama taught you.”

The wine glass threatened to splinter in his rough hands. For so long he had imagined coming face to face with the betrayer. He was aware of the glossy lens of the cameras more than ever. His shoulders felt heavy with the weight of their gaze. Osín’s free hand twitches, searching for the cool handle of a sword but finding none. He took a breath, closing his eyes for the briefest of seconds in an attempt to calm himself.

By the time the Prince of Zeher had entered he had successfully ironed his face into a mask of cool indifference. He would not…could not look in his direction in fear of his inner thoughts appearing in his eyes. Mother had always told them that they gave him away. There was no hiding the storm brewing in his mind. The light gray had transformed into dark storm clouds.

Osín could only watch Princess Malavika with a combination of envy and admiration for the way that she kept her composure. He felt a sense of kinship with her in a sense. Prince Kaido’s words brought a malicious little smile to his face that he hid behind a sip of wine. “I find myself most interested in that particular topic of conversation. Darten’s…culture has always been a topic that I sought to gain more knowledge in.” His stare shifted to Malik then, gaze unblinking.






♡coded by uxie♡
 
princess malee
polchi
The formalities of the heirs were starting to feel repetitive and false, but she couldn’t blame them it was quite obvious none of them desired to be in the presence of the other even fewer fulfilling a marriage with one of them, but all of them had their same destiny so in the meantime this kind of pleasantries would become a common thing around them.

Malee was not exactly the type to be thrilled about the presence of the other heirs. She already made her judgment about the heirs of Salhai and Misbury, but then he arrived, the heir of Darten. She only knew him based on the stories that were told to the nations about their actions, specifically the ones performed by Prince Kaido, one’s full of bravery but at the same time horror, not every day you could make all the nations fear you, just by the idea of you able to perform black magic, stories that Malee may or may have not shifted to accomplish the narrative she wanted to portray to the world.

The history books will explain how Darten was the decisive country in this world, who Prince Kaido was, and how he became one of the most feared people back on the battlefield, the truth was that it was her the one that made everything happen, after all, it wasn’t that difficult to make people believed what you wanted if you knew how to play your cards well. And now the man that Malee crafted to become the ruler of all of this was right in front of her and if the odds were in her favor, he would eventually end up on her side and with the right words and actions she knew sooner or later he would be swearing his eternal loyalty to her.

Unfortunately, Malee’s scheming was cut short when the Heirs of Wyrn and Zeher, if she had to describe their arrival Malee would have said they were unamusing, that was until the heir of Zeher asked for the presence of the late brother of Princess Malavika, it was a kind of amusing how he didn’t know despite the coverage the media from Polchi made about it and while she found it ironic; it was almost entertaining how the princess of Salhai controlled the situation, even sarcastically asking for help to the heir of Darten.

“Prince Kaido, could you perhaps enlighten us on those so-called effective ways that you mention? I am sure all of us have heard the stories that have been circulating about you, but I’m sure there’s more than meets the eye.”
She said with a small smirk.

“And Princess Malavika, I’m so sorry for your loss and also I want to apologize for the bad coverage on the news of your brother’s passing, we were sure it was announced to all the countries, but it seems we failed on our duty so in the name of Polchi I’ll reassure you this kind of accidents won’t happen again.”


mood: kicking her feet
outfit: here
location:ballroom
tags: sox sox thirteen thirteen
coded by Stardust Galaxy
 



princess malavika.





































  • mood



    i hate the way that you walk, i hate the way that you talk, i hate the way that you dress.
















Content Warning: Slight Descriptions of Violence -- See Rani for a TLDR if u don't wanna read <3


"I'd love to learn from your expertise, Prince Kaido. After all, I'm sure we know that my family's always been a bit too generous with their trust."
Malavika responds with a small incline of her head, languid smile curling on her lips to the Darten heir. She's rather pleased with the way he didn't take her comment to heart, easily engaging in banter with her. She needs the banter more than he does--any prying eyes and one could easily see the way the corners of her lips sag and her dark eyes seem to shine with the agony of pouring salt in a wound.

It should be fine, though. With that interaction and her clear response, her brother shouldn't be brought up again, lest they bear the brunt of her wrath. She's heard what has been said about Salhai, about her father, about her. And perhaps Aditya was no such saint, but he was the best of them, and she'd be damned if a nasty, spoiled rich heir managed to run their mouths again.

Apparently, one of them didn't get the message.

Malavika's quite honestly tuned out of the first half of whatever the Polchi heir is saying. It's not directed to her in the first place, and she's grown rather exhausted with whatever moderating of the conversation she had been doing up until now. Her gaze is only directed to Princess Malee when her name is mentioned. At first, it's a simple, perfunctory apology for her loss, what nonsense, but then the heir follows it up with an apology for the "bad coverage" of her brother's death. Her twin, her brother, had been made a mockery by her nation, his death publicized and examined from every angle, sensationalized as though they were talking about a regular celebrity scandal and not a man's death. Till date, Polchi reporters were fascinated by his passing, those fucking vultures. They'd made her life hell, and they'd practically rendered it incapable for her and her father to grieve normally. And here this bitch was, apologizing about bad coverage?

'EAT HER.'
Says her inner demon inside her head. Her mind is a series of violent, bloodthirsty thoughts that all end up with the Polchi heir dead by midnight. Her body is tense, as though someone just touched an open wire to her skin, and instinctively, her hand has fallen down on the silver butter knife adorning her plate before her. In that moment, she swears, all it'd take is a lunge and she'd dig the tip of the blunt knife in and in and in the heir's throat until that voice box was cut and not a single more venomous word could ever be uttered again. She'd be covered in blood, of course, but it'd be worth it. Malavika didn't really like this dress anyways.

But there are better ways to kill a pig who won't stop squealing.

Malavika pauses, and for what feels like the thousandth time that evening, lets out a slow breath. She leans back lazily in her chair, chin falling to rest on her hand, and allows a little twisted, sardonic smile to grace her features as she stares at the Polchi bitch.

"Thank you so much for your apology, Malee. I am unsure about how things proceed in Polchi, but given that your nation didn't quite experience the war as any of us, sitting back comfortably in your houses and behind your screens, I can understand how you might have grown desensitized about the fact that you're speaking about my dead brother. I'd kindly advise you to adapt and adjust to your new environment and rules for etiquette. It's more for your benefit that I'm saying this."
She smiles, but it never reaches her eyes. The threat isn't subtle. She wants the other heir to know that if she continues running her mouth, there's nothing holding her back from ensuring the Polchi heir leaves Salhai in a casket. Malavika reaches for her drink and tosses back the rest of it, crossing her legs tightly as she imagines quite unspeakable things at the dinner table, particularly involving a noose, the heir's intestines, and a particular spot at the arches welcoming visitors into the Salhain palace.

It's a good thing that her father decides to speak up at that point in time, or she might have acted on her murderous impulses and gouged out the other's eyes right then and there.
"Good evening, everyone. We've gathered here as a symbol of peace and a step in the right direction following a long war that has been detrimental for all sides. Firstly, I must thank the heirs of Zeher, Wryn, Misbury, Polchi, and Darten for joining us here tonight, and for being so courageous to make strides that we were afraid to."
King Suriyan Mahavijay begins.
"As a show of trust and an attempt to begin rebuilding connections and broken trusts amongst our countries, we have all sat down and decided to tie our families together by marriage. I have here, the pairs that will be reuniting our families once more. I ask that you remain patient during the initial days and grow closer during your time here. You will walk out of this banquet hall engaged and beginning your new lives, and for that, I am wishing you six all the best."


"The pairs are.."


"Prince Osin of Misbury and Prince Malik of Wyrn."


"Prince Ze'ev of Zeher and Princess Malavika of Salhai."


"Finally, Princess Malee of Polchi and Prince Kaido of Darten."


"Please stand and come join us all with your intended for the first dance of the night. Afterwards, please enjoy a dinner and refreshments. Please do drink responsibly."
Her father jokes.

Malavika's going to kill herself.

































cry for love



백현










♡coded by uxie♡
 



heir of wyrn.





prince malik.



































la solitude
















location

palace ballroom






outfit







mood

SOMEBODY SEDATE ME






tags

prince osín [ erzulie erzulie ] mostly ! but mentioned: princess malavika [ thirteen thirteen ], prince kaido [ sox sox ], prince ze'ev [ phnx. phnx. ], princess malee [ Stardust Galaxy Stardust Galaxy ]












The humor wasn't lost on Malik that the last of them to arrive had been from the nation that birthed the need for a peace pact in the first place. Though as quick as the humor appeared, it had been just as swift to crumble at the prince's mention of their host's deceased brother. Prince Aditya. Despite how the rest of his family publicly submerged themselves in their lukewarm regard toward the other royal families, there was a presence held by Salhai's prince that Malik admired. Blood ran cold when words of his falling came to Wyrn and Prince Ze'ev's reminder brought the same feeling. Out of pure stupidity or viciousness, he couldn't tell. Malik found it hard to decipher the statement's intent as he found himself at a loss for words, cracking his calm demeanor for a genuine look of discomfort. If he hadn’t noticed his deep frown and concealed it with a subtle hand, the cameras and heirs alike would've peaked at how his lips twitched as Princess Malavika chose to respond.

What came after was as close to a bloodbath as a diplomatic meeting could devolve into. It was as if he was an audience to a sport. A sport that the princess clearly bested her opponent in no less. With a smile so sweet yet a tone that held the most bitter venom, she punctured words that reminded the room of the fresh wounds of war and the malice that came with them. 'So much emotion yet she manages to keep herself in check. Too bad the mood has been dampened regardless of her efforts.' It was her passion that brought more players to the field and though Malik wasn't too surprised that the years of festered resentment were beginning to seep through his peers' words, he'd prefer not to be mentioned as snidely as he was by his seatmate.

Prince Kaido—the representative of Darten if the context clues from Princess Malavika's mention of him and hexes in one breath were correct. Finally a name to the face so new to him. Malik knew nothing about him, yet the other had the boldness to catch him in the crossfire and cast judgment on him and Prince Ze'ev as if the sins of their nation were one and the same.

Malik may not have been cursed with arrogance disguised as black magic but he considered the curse of inheriting his father's temper much worse. His hand remained firmly attached to his mouth to hide how his teeth clenched and to stop the urge to smack the prince square on his fair face. A voice too familiar to his father's urged him to speak up and defend his home—his family. Caught up in the heat of the moment, he considered joining the others with their passive-aggressive jabs at one another.

Of course, as quickly as his anger boiled, the chilling look given to him by Prince Osín reminded him of his purpose at the dinner table. 'You're not here to bicker like a child. If you lead with violence, you'll be no better than what they already think you are.' So he bit his tongue and watched the heiress of Polhi do what he couldn't. Where the conversation at the table continued to devolve from the high emotions of themselves and their nations, Malik stuck to his script and listened idly until King Suriyan captured the room's attention.

A new life. What a way to put it. He was surrounded by people who were more likely to start a war than resolve the current one. How would they be able to maneuver through a marriage? The hope he had at the beginning of his journey was rapidly fading.

And when King Suriyan finally ripped the bandaid off and announced the pairings? All hope was lost. Doom was impending.

The room fell abnormally silent as if all parties had to process the horrible cards they'd just been dealt and it was in that silence that Malik considered ending it all. His shoulders were taut as he found no comfort in leaning into his chair, his worst fears had been manifested into existence and all he could do was continue playing his role.
"What an... interesting turn of events but regardless, the best of luck to us all."
We're going to need it. He raised his glass to the king and though he doubted anyone would drink along with him in his stiff attempt at a toast, he downed his flute with the intent for it to fuel him with fool's courage for what he planned to do next.

After seeing Prince Osín for the first time in far too long, Malik mentally drafted plans to speak with him away from prying eyes when he felt more prepared. But with the cruel comedy of fate, he wasn't given the luxury of avoiding him now. If it was a dance the cameras wanted, it was a dance they'd get, and though Malik could think of several things he'd rather do than walk towards his scorned once-ally, he walked to the other as if were destiny pulling the two together (in some bitter way, it was).
"I owe you far more than this moment, Prince Osín."
He allowed slivers of truth to be embedded into his words and his smile to hold at least a handful of the guilt he carried. Not too much to appear weak yet not enough for remorse.
"But I hope you can allow me a dance."











 










scroll
PRINCE OSÍN





dance floor





aeneas. aeneas.





prince malik











“This will surely ruin us all.”

It was so very hard to keep his face carefully blank. He was all too aware of the cameras that watched their every move. There was a tautness to his body that would surely end in an aching neck by the time he was alone. What had been the thought process behind the idea of forced marriage between those with bad blood? Did anyone truly believe that all of the history they shared would simply disappear when two become one?

Dread settled in his stomach like a rock upon the arrival of King Mahavijay. It was both a blessing and a curse in a sense. Osin was sure that before long he would have been witness to a battle of fist rather than words. On the other hand, he was sure that he would much rather sit before the lord of death as he ushered him into his cool embrace. At least then he would be at peace, of this he was sure.

“If I must go through with this…this farce of a union, please be kind with my partner.” Osin prayed in his mind. He could see himself enjoying the company of either Prince Kaido or Princess Malavika. He had always been rather interested in their cultures at the very least. Though it was far too early to tell, it comforted him to think that they would be the least painful to be paired with.

“The pairs are…Prince Osin of Misbury and Prince Malik of Wyrn.”

Vaguely he could hear something cracking close by. The sharp pain in his hand pulled him from his shock. With dull eyes Osin gazed at his now broken glass, his hand a mess of wine and blood. His jaw clenched so hard that he was afraid that his teeth would shatter. “Breathe…breathe…control yourself!” He waved off concerned servants and peered at his wound, making sure no glass had been embedded into his skin. The sound of his chosen’s voice chilled his blood. Osin looked up slowly, his eyes malicious as he gazed into Malik’s eyes.

“It is expected of us after all…I apologize for my current state, though I’m sure the sight of blood does not bother you.” Osin spoke lowly, taking Malik’s hand with his bloodied one and holding firm. He was stiff as they made their way to the dance floor. “Just breathe…” His mother’s voice manifested in his head and he willed himself to relax. It took a moment but a false smile strained his lips. “We’ve been given a partner that we share history with…how lucky. We have so much to catch up on…wouldn’t you say?”




♡coded by uxie♡
 
location: palace ballroom
outfit: ornate, elegant dress attire
interactions: malee, malavika


"prince kaido, could you perhaps enlighten us on those so-called effective ways that you mention? i am sure all of us have heard the stories that have been circulating about you, but i’m sure there’s more than meets the eye."


'how tedious.' a hint of annoyance colored his psyche as princess malee's saccharine drawl slithered towards his neck like a python, waiting for an opportunity to fasten into a noose the moment he let his guard down. futile, as expected— despite giving it his best attempt thus far, fate would have it that the roundabout speech with which nobles took shots at one another was ultimately unsustainable for the spiritually exhausted admiral.

"sure,"
he agreed amicably, a disingenuous, polite smile plastered on his lips as he swirled the bubbly white in his wine glass with only a minimal level of attention to the etiquette demanded of his so-called royal status.
"give me a day to set up the séance, and you can get all the details straight from my dearly departed father himself— i know how you journalists love verifying your primary sources."


his calm tone soured with sarcasm the longer his words carried on, the friendly expression adorning his face slipping into one of disinterest as he lazily searched the princess' abyssal irises for anything resembling authenticity. polite rebuke of her journalistic integrity masking a thinly-veiled threat, or perhaps just a playful jest to put an end to the theatrical line of questioning; all-in-all, kaido hardly cared how she interpreted his answer to her provocation, so long as she got the memo that he was inclined not to hide his suspicions towards her in the slightest, his trust in her potential as a peace ambassador nearing negligible at best.

princess malee seemed all-too-content with promptly switching targets, however, she shamelessly imparted her gloating interpretation of the circumstances surrounding prince aditya's tragic passing while cleverly disguising it as consolation after the zeher heir's insolent remarks. she excelled in lashing offensively with her tongue like a venomous whip, no doubt, but it seemed the tension fogging their visions as aghast silence permeated the ballroom had pushed malavika to her tipping point.

the darten heir sat back and observed in captivated silence as salhai's princess plainly admonished malee's behavior, uttering the very thoughts several of them were likely already harboring towards her family in the aftermath of the war. though he cared not to preemptively claim an understanding of her character, the fact remained that she had maintained a vastly different lifestyle from the rest of them over these past five years— a gap in experience that would prove insurmountable if she failed to sheathe her fangs for the welfare of her people.

"finally, princess malee of polchi and prince kaido of darten."


by the time kaido's wandering focus finally returned to the present discussion after pondering his many budding curiosities, king suriyan had already wrapped up his diplomatic introduction and moved onto announcing their fated roles in the alliance. kaido's jaw tensed imperceptibly as the unfavorable verdict rattled his eardrums— in all honesty, he had hoped to be paired with either the salhai or misbury heir for the best shot at harmonious teamwork, but even zeher's shameful heir would have been quite alright given his own personal interest in that nation.

still, there was nothing he could do about it now, he was well aware. no matter how petulantly he wished to bemoan his present fortune, such was the hand he had been dealt— how devastated he might have been in this moment had he not been prepared for such disappointing possibilities as well, he mused to himself with a soft exhale.

"please stand and come join us all with your intended for the first dance of the night. afterwards, please enjoy a dinner and refreshments. please do drink responsibly."


kaido swiftly tossed back his remaining champagne and rose to his sturdy feet, stealing a brief moment to straighten the details on his formal attire before approaching princess malee as naturally as he took the news in stride. one look around the table confirmed that he truly had escaped the worst of the universe's meddling, after all. with his unwavering gaze burning a million questions into her glassy skin, he cocked his head and offered an inviting, gloved hand, all subtle traces of hostility long replaced with his usual cooperative disposition towards the enigma of a woman who would soon become his partner for life.

"i hope my attempt at some light banter earlier didn't offend you, your highness— if you're ready, may i have this dance?"

KAIDO
code by birth of venus.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 2 (members: 0, guests: 2)

Similar threads

GiantLizard-06
Fantasy "Just like the Animes." (Isekai RP - Open)
2 anime isekai oc
Replies
29
Views
829
ZackStop
ZackStop
Buffy
Fandom OC My Little pony Mane Six RP
my little pony my little pony friendship is magic
Replies
5
Views
66
Rcticwolf
Rcticwolf
Shroomie
Fandom Hexed into Hijinks! (Multifandom RP) {IC}
2 adventure fantasy ic
Replies
42
Views
2K
SheepKing
SheepKing
Tomura Shigaraki
Fantasy Gouls rp (Halloween rp)
Replies
0
Views
34
Tomura Shigaraki
Tomura Shigaraki
snakeg0dd
Realistic or Modern Red Ledger: Part One
2
Replies
44
Views
2K
noxrequiem
noxrequiem
Back
Top