Adventure is Out There!

Nerina walked along the path towards her home, humming a familiar tune from her homeland. The bittersweet melody reminded her of better times before the war. Lost in memories, she didn't notice the sobbing until she nearly stumbled over its source.

☆ﾟ*·ﾟTEARS STREAMED DOWN her face, limiting her vision. Hanna cried harder by the moment, hating that she was alone and unable to calm herself down. But when she felt someone nearby her and her a voice, she lifted her head. Wiping her tears, she tried to calm herself down more. "I got really overwhelmed," Hanna stuttered, trying to speak loud enough for the woman to hear. "I'm not supposed to." she continued.

magnus scoffed at the words of the older man - the one who he was supposed to view as a leader, barely able to keep himself from remaining horizontal on the ground. “does it matter in what manner i speak to you when you will not remember a word i say come morning?” he spat, fighting the urge to push the man back down as he watched his lacklustre attempt to sit. even liv would make a better leader than this. “your brother is missing and your concern is having fun? you know what, halvdan, maybe i am up to something. i’ve heard it said that if you want something done right to do it yourself, and i can practically hear my blade begging to be coloured red as we speak.”

☆ﾟ*·ﾟALLOWING HIMSELF TO trip and fall onto the cobblestone was a terrible idea. Now, members of his clan were speaking to him in manners he didn't approve of, in the slightest. Using all of his energy to sit himself up, he leaned up against the wall behind him, thankful he hadn't hit himself as he fell. "You should have some respect for your leader." Hal tried his best to stay seated in that position as much as he could. He felt a little dizzy and wasn't sure if it was due to the alcohol or the fall. The more Magnus spoke, the move Hal's chest moved up and down with deep breaths. "My brother is missing and I can't find him. He left. Do you want me to scour the woods and lands for him? What will happen with the rest of you? With Hallie?" He needed to stand up, but the dizziness from the combined alcohol and fall, (that was it now, he'd decided), but he it would just take more anger and strength. Glaring up at him, he stared directly into his eyes. If Magnus really wanted to, why hadn't he already? Why was Hal still here? "So why haven't you done it already? Scared?" he scowled, his voice dripping with annoyance, building up energy. "This is my clan. I have protected all of you, for years, taking over lands and doing what I needed to, for all of you and this is how you repay me?" Hal pushed himself up, finally standing, refusing to break eye contact with him. It was safe to say Hal was drunk, and wasn't entirely sure if he'd remember this in the morning, but that didn't stop him from being angry.

Dagmar had never been one to take to deeply to their cups- even at the best of times they would have no more than one or two glasses of ale or mead for an evening. Perhaps three if the occasion called for it- but this one certainly did not. There were memories of being slightly intoxicated- of loud jests, of dancing, of storytelling around a fire, of stumbling down darkened corridors alongside her husband to their chambers. Those times were gone, and Dagmar had been taught to remain the most sober person in a room. “It shan’t be your friend when a horse tramples you into it,” they said as they gave the man a not-so-gentle prod to the knee with their boot.

☆ﾟ*·ﾟLIFTING HIS HEAD, Hal looked up, meeting the eyes of a woman. It took him a moment to process what she just said. He wasn't sure what happened first, her words or the prod to his knee with what seemed like a boot. Perhaps he had drank too much. Fluttering his eyes, trying to regain some composure, the viking knew he'd had too much to drink, and knew this wasn't a good idea. But it was too late now, for he was on the ground, now most likely covered in who knows what? "That would hurt," he stated, his voice soft. He sat up, wiping his eyes. "I really need to stop drinking so much." Hal just sat there, leaning up against the wall. He swore under his breath, knowing he'd made a mistake. There was a lot more he needed to focus on. Using his hands and all of his momentum, he stood up before leaning up against the wall. "Damn. Tips on sobering up fast that don't involve dunking my head in water?"

once  the  last  apple  had  been  collected,  adam  rose  to  his  feet  and  straightened  his  back  in  a  small  attempt  to  regain  what  dignity  he  had  lost  in  the  unfortunate  stumble.  “i  am  sure,”  he  insisted,  a  hand  running  through  his  hair  to  push  it  back,  as  if  it  would  aid  him  in  finding  his  composure.  a  small  noise,  questioning,  before  he  dropped  his  gaze  to  the  basket  of  apples  in  his  hand.  “oh,  the  cook  sent  for  them,”  he  explained,  whilst  hoping  none  of  them  had  been  bruised  enough  that  he  would  find  himself  being  reprimanded  for  it  upon  arriving  back  at  the  castle. 

☆ﾟ*·ﾟEMILIA HANDED THE apples she'd collected back to him with a small smile. She was so incredibly thankful that he was alright. If he wasn't, she'd have felt even more awful that she hadn't caught him. "I'm so glad you're alright. I've fallen many times and haven't always landed safely," she explained, laughing lightly in remembrance. "Would you like some company back to the castle? I should probably head back before I get in trouble." Her eyes lit up, incredibly curious what might be cooking with apples. Apples were some of her favorite fruits and she was really excited to find out "Oh! Do you know what they're making? I love apples!" Emilia's excitement radiated out of her.

rayan coughed, trying to stifle it somewhat as he took in the other prince's rather bold statement. he didn't drink often --wasn't supposed to at all, doctrine and public appearance governing much of his choices-- so for a moment he'd almost thought he'd misheard, or misinterpreted the other. as though a couple of sips had magically rendered him mad. "your highness, i, um..." his left hand suddenly feels like it's made of bricks, heavy, unavoidable. he thinks for a moment, taking another sip like that might somehow get his wits about him. "me? here? that's a bit..?"

☆ﾟ*·ﾟA SMIRK RESTED on Viktor's face, thoroughly amused by the reaction from the other. Leaning forward, he clasped his hands together, curious as to how the rest of this interaction would go. "What?" he asked, laughing lightly. "Is there an issue with that? If you're not up for it, I guess I can find someone else," he explained, pouting, hoping that his cute pouty face would help. The drunken state made him a lot more confident than he'd usually be. Curiosity was getting the better of him, but the slight still sober part of him knew not to push too far. But he wasn't there yet, so flirting was okay, right?

CLOSED STARTER - hal & aksel @ofdxngers

☆ﾟ*·ﾟHAL KNEW THAT he and his brother wouldn't be close like they were as kids ever again. He knew that due to his own actions and his own beliefs that he'd pushed his brother and some of the other clan members away. But that didn't mean that deep down, at least on his end, he still cared about his brother. When Aksel left, Hal was more confused and worried than he'd realized. He hadn't understood what happened, and he got no answers from anyone. Instead, he'd gone out and drank, trying to push away any frustration or feelings towards his brother up and disappearing. It was care as a brother, but it was also care towards the clan. He needed all of them there with him so that he could enact any dark plans he had.

It was easier to fall into bed with near strangers- and there were such an abundance of them in Scotland. Easier than spending the evening with just his own company, easier than any longstanding affair. "Are you not a prince?" Kázmér asked the man, eyes raking over him as he stood. He had a familiar enough face- not a complete stranger, but not someone he knew in any true meaning of the word. "I would think that rooms in the castle would not be such a novelty to you." A smirk played on his face as he directed his head towards the door. "Come along then."

☆ﾟ*·ﾟVIKTOR SMILED AT him, glad that someone had taken him up on his offer. Biting the corner of his lip, he laughed, shrugging his shoulders. "Aren't you a prince too?" Looking him up and down, he liked what he saw. This would definitely be an interesting encounter, one that he was excited about. "I was feeling it in the moment, but I'll go wherever you'd like." But as Kaz headed towards the door, Viktor grinned, gesturing for him to lead the way, intending to follow him wherever he wanted to take them to. "I'm right behind you."

Closed starter - Istivan & Hanna (@ofdxngers)

☆ﾟ*·ﾟHANNA ADORED HER her family, adored each of her siblings, knowing that no matter what, they'd do just about anything to make sure she was safe. She loved each and every one of them, and adored how much they cared. From a young age, with her heart condition, she was worried about, fussed over, and protected. She hated it, hated knowing that she was so easily breakable. Guards kept her inside, protecting her from too much activity and ensuring that she didn't over exert herself. But where was the fun in that?

the  atmosphere  in  the  madsen  clan  was  shifting.  even  the  least  observant  person  would  have  noticed  it  at  this  point.  they  were  all  but  falling  apart  at  the  seams,  and  now  the  only  person  capable  of  keeping  them  together  had  disappeared  without  speaking  a  word  of  it  to  anyone.  if  you  knew  magnus  well  enough,  it  should  come  as  no  surprise  that  he  was  internally  panicking.  earlier  that  very  day  he'd had  his  mind  so  set  on  reconciling  with  aksel  after  clearly  disappointing  him  the  night  before,  and  then  now, not  being  able  to  find  him  anywhere  -  walking  around  the  viking  camps  with  a  bowl  of  soup  in  hand. he both felt and looked  much  like  a  lost  puppy,  looking  for  its  owner.  thus,  the  clan’s  supposed  leader  not  so  gracefully  landing  before  him  became  the  last  straw.  magnus  coaxed  his  foot  beneath  the  man  on  the  ground  to  try  and  roll  him  over  on  his  back to get a better look at him.  “has  anyone  ever  told  you  that  you’re  absolutely  useless? a waste of both space and air. someone should do something about it.”

☆ﾟ*·ﾟFEELING A FOOT on him, trying to roll him over, Hal mumbled again before squinting and trying to regain some of his faculties, spotting Magnus in front of him. He steadied his hands and tried to sit up. "That's no way to talk to me." While he was drunk, he wasn't that drunk. He hadn't fallen over from being wasted, but from the chipped stone. That didn't mean he wasn't a little bit drunk. And falling hadn't helped, 'cause now everything was spinning. "It's a festival, what do you want from me? Can't a man have a little fun? Probably not a good idea to say that. Someone will think you're up to something." All Hal wanted was to have a little bit of fun. He was allowed, right? Apparently not, not according to Magnus.

☆ﾟ*·ﾟADMITTEDLY A LITTLE tipsy, Viktor was feeling pretty great. He was a little fuzzy, in the best way possible, but sober enough to know what was happening. Sitting in a corner of the tavern, he watched everyone around him. But watching wasn't enough. Viktor was feeling flirty, and he wanted attention. He wanted to be touched, kissed, and well, anything that anyone wanted to do to him. With a smirk on his face, he looked up at the person walking towards him. "Don't you look dashing tonight? How's about we make our night a little more fun? You, me, one of the rooms upstairs, and something a little more dirty."

Kázmér's eyes raked over the prince. Some might argue that the Hungarian prince had imbibed in too many cups of ale- but he would certainly never say he had. "A room upstairs?" He rested his hip against the side of a chair, brown eyes flickering to the ceiling above them. A slight pout grew on his face as he continued talking. "Why would we do that when there are perfectly suitable chambers within the castle? Where we're less likely to find fleas among the bedding."

☆ﾟ*·ﾟTHE QUESTION MADE Viktor happy, glad that someone was entertaining the idea of making his night a little bit more fun. He started to nod until the man continued. Smirking, he was quite glad that the idea was getting bigger and bigger. "I will not say no to the chambers in the castle." He stood up, looking the man up and down, biting the corner of his lip. "Lead the way." Viktor wasn't entirely sure what the other's intentions were, but he liked where it was going and he wanted to find out.

Septimus was tired. Exhaustion had finally caught up to him slowing him down and the desire to party until he dropped, to raise hell with these pagans and their merry-making for the turning of the world and the wheel had hit a snag. Well, perhaps not entirely. Septimus did not remember their name or even what they looked like but if played right he was intending to leave the areas overflowing with continued revelry to have someone warm his bed. This left, that turn, down this way and - eyes widened as brows lifted and a jaw fell open with a minor amount of shock. Staring, a future emperor watched unsure to walk on by and pretend like he did not see the heaving, hyperventilating woman bawling her eyes out or to run the other way. No. Unfortunately for the roman, emotional outbursts like this made him deeply uncomfortable and face his own jared feelings shoved far back in hos being there was a gentleman there. Grimacing he swore under his breath.

☆ﾟ*·ﾟHEART BEATING SPORADICALLY and out of turn, Hanna curled up into a ball, trying her best to calm herself down. But due to the lack of attention, touch, and soft words, she couldn't get herself to. Rubbing her arms, she whimpered softly as she noticed someone heading her way. She lifted her head, tears still streaming down her face. Her heart still beat way too fast for her liking. It needed to stop, soon. "N-No, I don't... I don't think so. T-There's too many people and one guy, h-he bumped into me and I panicked. He didn't a-apologize. And now, I'm n-not feeling good at all. My heart it's...please help."

☆ﾟ*·ﾟTHE CROWD OF people was enticing and magical. So much happened around her, and Riya could barely keep her excitement in. She couldn't focus on anything, not sure where to even put her eyes. Filling up her stomach with food and drinks, Riya found a quieter place to finish her last snack. It was some sweet dessert she'd never heard of, but it was really quite delicious. She hadn't expected the person sitting next to her to speak.

it   was   not   something   that   came   naturally   to   ilja   –   dancing   .   nothing   that   he   practiced   often   ,   that   he   even   had   the   time   for   very   much   .   faint   memories   of   returning   from   battle   ,   enjoying   a   moment   with   comrades   and   friends   .   relishing   ,   celebrating   ,   allowing   a   moment   of   ease   .   it   seemed   distant   now   even   though   he   was   certain   to   remember   the   dance   still   .   “   i   will   gladly   show   you   székély   forgatós   .   “   the   guard   offers   his   hand   to   her   as   he   rises   from   the   seat   .   

☆ﾟ*·ﾟIF YOU DIDN'T spend time enjoying everything a festival had to offer, did you really attend it? Riya wanted to experience everything she possibly could, and that included dancing with strangers. "Oh, that sounds like a ton of fun. Is it difficult to learn?" she asked. The only other dances she knew were those from the Chola Empire, ones that involved quite a bit of booty shaking.

adam had to look behind him to ensure that it was in fact him who was being spoken to in such a manner, not someone else as he had hoped - alas, there was no one else close enough that viktor’s words possibly could have been directed at anyone but him. to say that the way he was spoken to rendered him annoyed would be a severe understatement. “have you gone completely mad, my lord?” he scoffed. “you’ve had enough to drink. i’ve been forced to bring you back to the caste, lest you embarrass yourself, and thus your family, further - so please, make it easy on the both of us and keep your mouth shut while you walk.”

☆ﾟ*·ﾟSMIRKING, VIKTOR WAS curious as to what Adam's reaction would be. He knew that flirting with him wasn't going to work in. his favor, but he was drunk, and quite honestly, he was having a ton of fun. Leaning forward, he scrunched up his nose, trying to be cute. "Mad? Nah, just feeling flirty is all. Is that a crime?" Viktor pouted, crossing his arms over his chest. "I'm not that drunk. Just tipsy." But somehow, he'd still wanted to mess with him. Because talking back when you were drunk was much more fun. A lot more fun. "If you're not gonna do dirty things with me, then who is? You've obviously got someone else, so now you gotta help me find someone."

OPEN | ft. Nilani & ??

☆ﾟ*·ﾟRAISING HIS EYEBROWS, Hal looked at the girl curiously. He was rather amused by her actions. Hiding from your betrothed was something he would do, if he'd had one. Because why would you commit to any one person? He'd wanted to at one point, but that was in the past now, wasn't it? Or so he thought. Swallowing, and adjusting his body posture, he smirked, focusing his attention back to her. "Well, if he does wander towards the Viking camps, I can assure he won't make it past. The Vikings are not kind of trespassers, but if you'd like to hide there, I can assure your safety," Hal explained, winking, allowing a smirk to rest across her face.