Scarlet Loup

Strangest Love

Sorry for the delay - I've been a bit preoccupied in catching up on work before the semester begins. I'll have my post up tomorrow!

(High Casual) An Age Old Feud

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Location - Abhainn's Ballroom
Interacting With - Lady Amaryllis {@Filthy Mudblood}, Prince William {@Legion02}, & Prince Antoine {@vFear}

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Staring into Amaryllis's eyes, Maddox found a wave of memories rising deep within him. He had tried so hard to tell himself that Lissa certainly could not be here for the celebrations, that it genuinely took him a good moment or two to recognize her behind the mask. But there was no mistaking her.

When her heard her speak - or, rather, stammer - he realized it truly had to be her. A soft smile broke out across his features, his eyes lighting up behind his mask. Before his eyes, she melted into the love-struck girl he had known all of those years ago. She stumbled over words, struggling to address him, and Maddox figured he would step in to help her out, but another voice jarred him from his thoughts.

"No, not a bad time," he replied, whipping his head around to look at the younger man. His head swam in response, reminding him that he was still very much so under the influence. "Thank you, Antoine. I look forward to the union of our two great families." How easily the rehearsed line rolled off of his tongue. "You will be my nephew when this union is completed, won't you?" That made him sound old. But so did having a child of his own, which he figured would be expected soon after the marriage.

But Antoine's attention had already turned to Lissa by the time he stopped worrying about his mortality. And why did his gut clench slightly as the prince took Amaryllis's hand and kissed it? The Lissa who received the Prince was one he had known only in court - the mature, well-mannered young woman who conducted herself so well that Maddox's own father hadn't realized the two had been carrying on, so to speak, for months. Maddox looked to William for a moment to see how he reacted to Antoine before his attention was pulled back to Lissa once more, just before William excused himself from the conversation. In truth, Antoine could have given just about any reason for his departure and Maddox wouldn't have even taken notice.

Now he was the one captivated by her as she quickly regained her composure. "Yes, some things never do change, my lady," he replied, meeting her gaze. "Abhainn is all the brighter now that you are back." He wished to reach for her or to run off with her like they would have all of those years ago. But Antoine was here, and he'd be damned if he showed his future nephew that side of him. Despite how...tempting it was. "It has been far too long...perhaps we might catch up with each other if time permits?" Tactfully put, Antoine would hopefully see it only as two distant friends rekindling a relationship. But perhaps Lissa would see it as more.

(High Casual) An Age Old Feud

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Location - Royal Chambers --> Abhainn's Ballroom
Interacting With - Lady Amaryllis {@Filthy Mudblood} & Prince William Pengrace {@Legion02}

---

It took him a great while to shake off the nobles who tagged along after him, but by the time Maddox reached his chambers, he simply bid the stragglers a good day and closed the door far more forcefully than he had initially intended. Sealed in his chambers now, Maddox gave a soft sigh and pushed himself away from the door. Everything seemed to grow overwhelming, all of a sudden - the collar of his doublet scratched against his neck, the fire in the hearth made the room far too warm, the nobles outside bickered too loudly with the guards who turned them away - and he couldn't stand it. His fingers fumbled with the buttons on the front of his doublet, attempting to pull it open as his frustration began to bubble over.

The doublet half-way unbuttoned, he threw his arms up slightly and then buried his head in his hands. It had been a disaster, that meeting between his future wife and him. None of the reports from his advisers had prepared him for the rival king's actions. And now he was damned to be stuck in a marriage with some mad king's sister.

Maddox moved across the room to the decanter of wine on a side table. But Julianna seemed nice enough, beautiful enough. He couldn't drink the wine fast enough to sate his thirst, and he poured another goblet of it almost as soon as he had downed the first. There was nothing he could do about it without inciting a war. Neither Julianna nor Jack would take it well, and so he was stuck with nowhere to go.

And why the sudden doubt in the first place, he wondered? Certainly, that hadn't been Lissa there - after all of these years. And yet, couldn't it have been?

A knock on his door interrupted his thoughts. "Enter," he replied, finishing his drink before placing the goblet down. A wave of attendants entered, ready to ensure he still looked his best for the evening's festivities. He had such little interest in dealing with the foreigners, but perhaps he would have time to drink himself under a table and forget that in a fortnight he would be married off to a woman he hardly knew.

By the time he had been dressed in brilliant golds and black, he had imbibed further, bringing his head to a gentle swimming feeling. Perhaps he had over done it, but he was a king after all. He had no one to be accountable to. His final touch was to tie the mask around his head before he moved towards the door.

It was quite a walk down the hallway to get to the ballroom, but he made it there all the same. His entrance was met with a fair amount of fanfare and an introduction from the herald who had been stationed to read off names. Maddox couldn't help but wonder if the poor sod from earlier would have been stationed there this evening had he not been murdered that afternoon.

Starting down the steps, he scanned the room and his guests. William was the first he noticed, but he certainly had to do a double take to recognize him, groomed and looking quite, well, proper. But then he had to double take once more as he noticed his brother's mask, if it could be called that. Stumbling down the last step, Maddox started towards his brother, his mouth pulled into an expression of distaste.

"William, I don't know what -" he hissed, coming to a stop next to his brother. But he cut himself off as he noticed the woman standing beside his brother, garbed in a revealing, black gown. "My lady, I apologize, if I -" Maddox cut himself off once more as he stopped to truly take her appearance in.

"You..." he started before drifting off. Could it have been her after all of these years? It had been so long since he had seen Lissa, perhaps he was only hoping to see her now, in the midst of this chaos. "Excuse me, my lady, I...you reminded me of someone..."

Strangest Love

Adrian Townsend

Name: Adrian Townsend
Age: 34
Gender: Male
Role: Villain 2
Alter-Ego: Ichor

Appearance:

Appearance

Personality: In the most simple of terms, Adrian is a man of passion. He lives, loves, and acts in fits of vigor. His passion is not fiery, but rather forceful and earthy. Granted, these outbursts ebb and flow, especially because using his power can often leave him drained and anxious. On good days, he has a personality that can consume the room, turning heads his way. A man who demands attention, he holds it, and his dark humor and charisma has made him a great many friends over the years.

Those who know Adrian the best, however, know that this is mostly a facade. He is certainly passionate, but he likes to show it in more subtle ways to those he truly cares about. Behind closed doors, it is easy to tell that Adrian is often tired and introverted, despite the exterior he tries to give off. It's hard work, pretending to be someone he isn't, but it has worked quite well for him and his business.

He craves attention and affection as a means of coping. The obvious attachment between him and Irene is certainly not one-sided. So far, he has managed to separate work and play very well. While on the job, he plays the cold, calculating boss, but he can quickly drop the facade around his friends and lover. While Irene has begun to meld her two lives together, it only seems as though Adrian is very quickly growing into two very different people.

Power: Adrian has the power to manipulate blood within and outside of a body. He can control the flow of it, pulling blood away from some parts of the body and towards others. It is easier for him to control blood outside of the body since there is no barrier between him and the blood in that instance.

Drawback: Blood manipulation takes a great amount of concentration, and so Adrian is left vulnerable whenever he uses his power. He can only focus on one entity at a time, making his power disadvantageous when he is up against a group of opponents. Further, he often finds himself exhausted after using his power extensively. If he's in a large fight, he may find himself bedridden for a few days.

Personal History: Life for Adrian has always been the same, and it likely will always be. He was the fifth child born to two low-middle class parents. Though he never truly wanted for anything, the household certainly lacked money to spend on luxuries - except for the times where Adrian's father, Adam, would come home lucky from some side-job or another. Perhaps it was through his father that Adrian first got a taste for illicit activities and how they could transform a household. Some of his happiest days as a child were his father coming back with enough money for them to go on a day trip. Whether Adrian's mother, Hannah, knew of her husband's jobs was a whole other story.

Of course, neither parent wanted Adrian to turn to such a life. Instead, they pushed him towards his studies, and the boy found a passion for English. If things had been different, he might have gone on to make a career out of them for himself, perhaps even teach and share his passion, but such a life would have seemed too boring for Adrian. For most of his high school career, he skirted on the edge of good and bad, running in less-than-savory crowds of acquaintances. His powers made him someone intriguing and worth getting to have on your side.

Adrian did manage to go to college, and it was during his studies that he truly began to express his interest in illegal activities. It began with a few favors for friends, but as Adrian began to see the money that could be made in selling certain substances, he began to be the one calling favors and building up his own network. Though he continued to study English, he picked up a major in business, hoping to improve his capabilities as a "small business" owner once he graduated. And graduate he did - though his degree relied mostly on drug money than anything his parents or grants could provide.

Graduated, he quickly built up his business. He was a man to be reckoned with, for his powers made him a deadly force. He felt truly alive in these endeavors, carving a name for himself in the blood and grit of drug trafficking. It was some-what through his business that he finally met Irene Liam, the proprietor of an establishment his men and women frequented - and his future lover. Their romance was a quick and passionate one as he found himself chasing after this cold, calculating woman and falling for the affectionate one that revealed herself to him later. He spoiled her as best as he could, spending as much time as he was able to so that he might win her over.

But things are changing. Adrian knows of Irene's struggle with the law and he plans to legitimize herself, and while he supports her, he finds it growing more and more difficult to change his ways. He's tired now more than ever as he finds himself working longer nights, using his powers to snuff out threats, and struggling to keep his relationship afloat. It's extremely unstable, but he feels as though he has little choice in the matter now - he may just be too far gone.

Focus: Adrian hopes only to continue making the best life for himself and Irene. He does not see a need to legitimize his work yet because he feels as though he still has a great amount of work that can be done. Perhaps he also lives for the rush he gets living on the edge of what is right and what is wrong. He knows Irene is doing her best to stray from "evil", and so he has been trying to keep his still-illicit actions hidden from her knowledge.

Relationships

Villain 1:

Retiree 1:

Retiree 2:

Hero 1:

Hero 2:

Strangest Love

Adrian Townsend

Name: Adrian Townsend
Age: 34
Gender: Male
Role: Villain 2
Alter-Ego: Ichor

Appearance:

Appearance

Personality: In the most simple of terms, Adrian is a man of passion. He lives, loves, and acts in fits of vigor. His passion is not fiery, but rather forceful and earthy. Granted, these outbursts ebb and flow, especially because using his power can often leave him drained and anxious. On good days, he has a personality that can consume the room, turning heads his way. A man who demands attention, he holds it, and his dark humor and charisma has made him a great many friends over the years.

Those who know Adrian the best, however, know that this is mostly a facade. He is certainly passionate, but he likes to show it in more subtle ways to those he truly cares about. Behind closed doors, it is easy to tell that Adrian is often tired and introverted, despite the exterior he tries to give off. It's hard work, pretending to be someone he isn't, but it has worked quite well for him and his business.

He craves attention and affection as a means of coping. The obvious attachment between him and Irene is certainly not one-sided. So far, he has managed to separate work and play very well. While on the job, he plays the cold, calculating boss, but he can quickly drop the facade around his friends and lover. While Irene has begun to meld her two lives together, it only seems as though Adrian is very quickly growing into two very different people.

Power: Adrian has the power to manipulate blood within and outside of a body. He can control the flow of it, pulling blood away from some parts of the body and towards others. It is easier for him to control blood outside of the body since there is no barrier between him and the blood in that instance.

Drawback: Blood manipulation takes a great amount of concentration, and so Adrian is left vulnerable whenever he uses his power. He can only focus on one entity at a time, making his power disadvantageous when he is up against a group of opponents. Further, he often finds himself exhausted after using his power extensively. If he's in a large fight, he may find himself bedridden for a few days.

Personal History: Life for Adrian has always been the same, and it likely will always be. He was the fifth child born to two low-middle class parents. Though he never truly wanted for anything, the household certainly lacked money to spend on luxuries - except for the times where Adrian's father, Adam, would come home lucky from some side-job or another. Perhaps it was through his father that Adrian first got a taste for illicit activities and how they could transform a household. Some of his happiest days as a child were his father coming back with enough money for them to go on a day trip. Whether Adrian's mother, Hannah, knew of her husband's jobs was a whole other story.

Of course, neither parent wanted Adrian to turn to such a life. Instead, they pushed him towards his studies, and the boy found a passion for English. If things had been different, he might have gone on to make a career out of them for himself, perhaps even teach and share his passion, but such a life would have seemed too boring for Adrian. For most of his high school career, he skirted on the edge of good and bad, running in less-than-savory crowds of acquaintances. His powers made him someone intriguing and worth getting to have on your side.

Adrian did manage to go to college, and it was during his studies that he truly began to express his interest in illegal activities. It began with a few favors for friends, but as Adrian began to see the money that could be made in selling certain substances, he began to be the one calling favors and building up his own network. Though he continued to study English, he picked up a major in business, hoping to improve his capabilities as a "small business" owner once he graduated. And graduate he did - though his degree relied mostly on drug money than anything his parents or grants could provide.

Graduated, he quickly built up his business. He was a man to be reckoned with, for his powers made him a deadly force. He felt truly alive in these endeavors, carving a name for himself in the blood and grit of drug trafficking. It was some-what through his business that he finally met Irene Liam, the proprietor of an establishment his men and women frequented - and his future lover. Their romance was a quick and passionate one as he found himself chasing after this cold, calculating woman and falling for the affectionate one that revealed herself to him later. He spoiled her as best as he could, spending as much time as he was able to so that he might win her over.

But things are changing. Adrian knows of Irene's struggle with the law and he plans to legitimize herself, and while he supports her, he finds it growing more and more difficult to change his ways. He's tired now more than ever as he finds himself working longer nights, using his powers to snuff out threats, and struggling to keep his relationship afloat. It's extremely unstable, but he feels as though he has little choice in the matter now - he may just be too far gone.

Focus: Adrian hopes only to continue making the best life for himself and Irene. He does not see a need to legitimize his work yet because he feels as though he still has a great amount of work that can be done. Perhaps he also lives for the rush he gets living on the edge of what is right and what is wrong. He knows Irene is doing her best to stray from "evil", and so he has been trying to keep his still-illicit actions hidden from her knowledge.

Relationships

Villain 1:

Retiree 1:

Retiree 2:

Hero 1:

Hero 2:

Here he is! Apologies on the delay -- I was sort of focused on moving into my apartment for the past few days, but I've gotten most of the unpacking done. Can't wait to get this show on the road! Also, I'll probably send a few PMs out and about to discuss relationships.

(High Casual) An Age Old Feud

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Location - The Kingdom of Abhainn
Interacting With - Julianna Hardin, Future Queen of Abhainn {@HushedWhispers}; King Jack {@Bishop}; Queen Rhoslyn {@Fabricant451}

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He was beginning to feel a slight ache in the small of his back from holding himself rigidly for so very long. But impressions were key, he knew. Maddox's father had made certain that the boy learned that as Prince of Abhainn. Maddox had a role to play, and he would play it for the nobles of Sliabh, and when they left, then he would finally find the time to relax. He was growing sick of this facade.

"I've never even met the woman, and you except me to marry her?" Maddox had pushed the chair back suddenly, rising to his feet as Frederick struggled to stand. "Father, you know that isn't fair!"

"Madd...Madd, you know it isn't about what is fair. You're...you're a grown man!" The old king wheezed slightly as he stood. His health had been obviously failing towards the end, but Maddox had been quite blind to the rapid deterioration of his father. "It's about your kingdom now, not you."

Julianna's voice, light and fluttery, brought him back from his reverie. The blood was beginning to seep into the fabric of her dress, likely staining the expensive material. But she shrugged out of Jack's grip with little effort, bringing a smile back to Maddox as he watched his bride-to-be. "Of course, my lady," he replied, nodding slightly. "I shall show your party to their chambers shortly." As Julianna took a moment to speak with her people, Maddox took note of the Queen as she strode up from her carriage to meet the group of royals.

He had heard rumors of the Black Rose, of her beauty and also of her cunning, but she was all the more captivating in person. She moved with a confidence Maddox hardly saw among the women in his court, but he figured with a husband like Jack, confidence was one of the only things keeping her from a fate similar to that of the ill-fated herald. The way Rhoslyn spoke to Jack made Maddox feel as though he ought not to listen, as though this were something personal and to be left behind closed doors. And yet, he watched dumbly as she scolded him for his behavior.

"A king has the power to choose for himself, Father! I don't need y-"

"But you're not a damned king, Maddox!" Frederick fired back, his hand catching the table sharply, causing Maddox to jump slightly. "You're not a king, you're hardly more than a child." Even in his age, Frederick stood close to Maddox's height. Though stooped slightly, the older man made a still-imposing figure as he came to stand before "You'll make a foolish king carrying on like that. Or perhaps a dead one."

Finished addressing their own problems, Rhoslyn looked back to Maddox again. He met the bow of her head with one of his own, smiling back at her slightly. It had crossed his mind more than once that Jack might not take too kindly to gestures towards his wife.

"Yes, I suppose we shall," he replied, giving a soft laugh as he glanced back at his future bride. "I thank you for your assurances, Your Highness. Abhainn is a beauty, and I would hate to see her...sullied." He found himself naturally turning to look at Jack as he finished speaking, his words trailing off as he made eye contact with the other king. The moment could have ended awkwardly had Jack not begun to speak, sending forth a stream of gifts with a quick snap of his fingers.

The chests bore things of beauty and allure - Maddox couldn't help but find himself captivated by each and every chest that passed him. "They are...they are certainly stunning, King Jack. I do hope to repay these gifts over the course of your stay." And afterwards in the land you'll receive once I wed your sister. But, of course, he left out this final part. They both knew that by now, for certain. He stepped forward slightly, coming to stand directly before Jack. "This peace will benefit our kingdoms greatly, I am certain." It was a weak statement, one that fell flat with so little conviction behind it.

He looked back to his bride afterwards, hopefully ending his conversation with Jack - not that the conversation would continue, as it had likely already fallen flat.

"Yes, er, I shall have my servants show you and your party to their chambers. I look forward to seeing all of you this evening and over the course of the fortnight." He took Julianna's hand once more and gently placed a kiss into her knuckles. "My lady." He spoke to her as he let her hand fall from his grasp. With that, Maddox turned toward the castle, his own coterie following him in suit as servants moved forward to take in the belongings of the foreign party and lead them to their chambers.

As he took his first step, he caught a glimpse of familiar blonde hair, and it suddenly occurred to him that he hadn't seen his brother - until now, at least. His appearance was hardly something befitting a royal, and Maddox couldn't help but furrow his brow in annoyance...until he caught a glimpse of the woman beside William.

Maddox stopped all of a sudden, causing a few nobles to stumble into him as he struggled to get a glimpse of the woman who stood beside his brother. For a moment, he swore...but no, it couldn't be. He shook his head slightly, as though pushing the image from his mind, as he quickened his pace once more and strode towards the castle's entrance.

"You're no good to your people if you care more about yourself than them. I've heard the rumors -
leaving your lessons early to see...harlots. You and your ways are bound shame this family and this damned kingdom."

Strangest Love

@FunnyGuy - I definitely think my character would have known your character! I'll probably have him up tonight as at least a draft.

(High Casual) An Age Old Feud

As I'm sure you all can see, I didn't post yesterday evening due to some unforeseen circumstances. I will, however, have a post up after work today!

Strangest Love

So excited to see this start! I'm looking to have my character up tonight!

(High Casual) An Age Old Feud

My bad, it most definitely is my turn to post! I'm packing to go back to college for Saturday, so my life is a little crazy at this very moment, but I'm looking to write the post tonight after I get a good hour or two in packing.

And yeah, haha, loyal-to-a-fault child soldiers and whatnot aside, it definitely wouldn't be a good idea to kill anyone from Abhainn seeing as, y'know, they're surrounded by Abhainn's guards and army and borders.