Character Castle 2.0
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I totally get it! And I’ll be praying for you to have a good recovery from your surgery.
@everyone
Incidentally, I have a similar announcement to make concerning Jade and Isaias. Once the challenge is over and Jade finishes up any interaction with Avin, I’ll be pulling her and Isaias out. Then I will drop in the Mara that Jade has alluded to a few times.
We are called to be lights in the cosmos.
May your inkwells never run dry!I’m not even sure who all still needs/wants to do the worst regret… Ehud? Saevus? …. im so bad at remembering who all is in here…
Abirami
I held Ku as my regret was revealed, then I lifted her up and carried her toward the back where the seats didn’t have any accursed straps on them.
Before, I had just been curious about all these strangers, pulled in from other worlds. Now, I was ready to leave. Forget this castle! If all it did was hurt Ku and those innocent from other worlds, then I wanted nothing to do with it. Soon as Ku felt up to it, I was going to tell her to send her hive out to find an exit.
Images of Jade, then others in the castle either flashed up on the screen or were spoken aloud in front of everyone.
Half of me hoped Ku wasn’t listening. Most if not all of them had highly traumatic regrets, just like she had. While the other half of me kinda hoped Ku was listening. At least, then she would know she wasn’t alone in her regrets. There were others who had lived through very terrible circumstances. Perhaps not like hers, but… what was that teaching from Maaterra that Puabi was always saying?
“Each heart knows it’s own bitterness, but no one else shares its joy.”
Yeah, that was it. Perhaps there was some great truth to that statement. Just one more shred of wisdom recovered from a history long lost to us.
I looked around me, and there were a great many teary eyes. Some were shaking cause their time had passed, and their regrets shown. They shook as they recovered. While others were shaking for their name had yet to be called.
I glared at the screen and up at the ceiling.
This was just wrong.
(Maaterra – pronounced may-tare-rah – Maa is Estonian for mother, and terra means earth… long story short… there is a mythology lost to time of all life coming from a distant and different world where there was a massive fight between good and evil. The good won, but some of them found themselves on this new planet. The old world is called Maaterra and the teachings of the good ones are generally called the teachings of Maaterra. which are all but lost to time, in general. Only the ancient and old race of L’entians know of and are familiar with the legends. ((Princess Puabi is a L’entian)) )
Christianity has not been tried and found wanting, it has been found difficult and left untried. ~ G.K.C.
@jared-williams I’m writing Kit’s right now, and I’ll try to do Val’s sometime soon!
I think @inkhorn ‘s characters to still have to share theirs too 🙂
*laughs as one fey*
Alright guys, here’s Kit’s entry!
Content warnings: Sooo, there’s mentions of a struggle with same-sex attraction, also descriptions of a friend struggling with alcohol abuse (there’s a few scenes of him drunk)
Valencia:
“Christopher Carlisle Goldenseal, disgraced son of an orphaned house. Divulge your deepest regret.”
“Alright, alright, alright.” Kit bolts from his seat the second his restraints fall, fists clenched. “First things first.” He jabs an accusing finger at the screen. “You don’t get to call me that name – only Eli does, and that’s when he’s real ticked.”
A ghost of a smile tugs at my lips. I’ve heard this one too many times to count – not in real life of course, but in Kit’s many animated impressions of his eldest brother. I can almost see it now – the cool, crisp, deathly quiet intonation…the lifeless eyes staring back at me…
To be fair, I’m not sure how well I can trust Kit for completely unbiased representations, but this one always felt so viscerally real to me I’m willing to let any potential exaggeration pass.
He sighs, absently smoothing the lapel of his coat. “Second of all, the name’s Kit, and you will refer to me as such.” His eyes flicker over my gaze, two pools of inky black spiked with purest fear. He turns away, frost creeping over his gaze as he faces the screen.
I grit my teeth and yank my hands against the restraints. Pain flickers across my wrists as the straps scrape my skin, dulling as it filters through the numbing fog in my mind. I just want to leave, just to run somewhere far away and hide where I can’t see or hear or experience any of this. I already know what it is, and I don’t want to hear it, not again. Somehow, in some awful, selfish way, I’d almost even rather hear the gossip again than the secrets spilling from his own tongue. I stare down at my feet, trying to shut out the glare of the screen and the staring circle of strangers, trying to shut out Kit and trying to shut out this secret I never had any business knowing in the first place.
“Anyways.” Kit’s voice suddenly pierces the mist in my head like a siren in the deadest watch of night. “You guy’s have heard worse already, so I guess I’ll just be completely blunt and honest with you. I…uhhh…I like guys. I mean, I like girls too, but I also like guys, and not like I want it that way but it just…is. And so I told my closest friend about it a couple of years ago. I just had to tell someone – it’s not that I wanted people to know, but I couldn’t just keep it a secret forever…” I venture a glance at him. He’s staring down, mouth set in a hard line, absently fiddling with one of his rings. “…I guess because I know it’s wrong, and I just wanted someone to talk to about it, you know?” His shoulders drop as a wistful smile creeps across his lips. “And it really was such a relief telling him. It’s like this giant burden just lifted off of my shoulders, because I knew I wasn’t carrying it alone anymore. He’s the only person I ever told, and he swore to me he’d never tell…” the words falter as they slip from his cracking voice, shattering on the petrified silence in this stone cold hall.
“Well you know how it is. Somehow word got out, and that was the end of my social life. It’s not like I was formally ostracized or anything…but people sure lost interest in me real fast after that got out. They got kind of uncomfortable with me, I guess.”
“Anyways, now you know. I guess there’s nothing more to say. If you want to avoid me too now that’s fine by me – it’s not like there’s anything I can do to change your minds either way.”
That’s a lie. I know by now there’s nothing Kit craves more than unconditional love.
Kit’s gaze flickers to mine, like he’s searching my eyes for some hope of comfort. My eyes hover somewhere on his brow – it always hurts too much to look into anyone’s eyes, but Kit’s in particular have always been way too intense for me.
He’s right though. For once, I want nothing more than to grab his hand and squeeze it til’ his knuckles pop…ok, maybe an exaggeration…but if it weren’t for these restraints I’d like to think I’d do it. For now, the best I can manage is a watery smile.
Kit suddenly straightens, like a clockwork automaton winding into position. He shrugs, and just like that this fragile, brittle Kit melts away, leaving behind the usual scaffolding of blindingly bright optimism and unshakeable confidence. The Kit I’ve been collaborating with and arguing with and sometimes enjoying hanging out with for the past six months. The Kit I know and…
Love…
Unconditionally so.
I guess it’s something I crave too, if I’m going to be honest. I just never really think about it because it’s something I never really get.
Well, that’s not completely true…
It’s strange, I haven’t known Kit as long as others, but he’s one of the few people I don’t have to hide from. He’s seen so many of the ugly parts of me, the weak and confusing parts that would’ve scared off anyone else, the just-barely-off parts that other people never quite bothered to understand and left me for.
I guess in a strange way, we’re kind of devoted to each other.
I flinch as the screen suddenly flashes red.
10
…
“Kit!”
9
…
Kit’s gaze snaps to mine, eyes soft and attentive.
8
…
“The screen!”
7
…
Kit’s eyes snap open. “What?”
6
…
“Oh come on man, I told you already!”
5
…
“You’re weaseling out two regrets for the price of one, you know?” I tense as his voice sharpens with rising anger, panic laced between his words.
4…
“Val…”
3
…
I glance over as he collapses back in his seat.
2…
“I honestly don’t even know what’s coming next”
1…
What the blazes do I do now?
The screen flashes red, then darkens.
A series of scenes flashes across the screen. Kit and Cecil first meeting at a banquet as children, Kit and Cecil being tutored together, trailing behind their parents on important travel together.
It’s weird, remembering that the Goldenseal brothers once had parents.
Cecil trailing behind Kit as he clings to Eli, somehow mingling in with his brothers as they said their last goodbyes at their mother’s funeral.
Cecil and Kit deep in conversation, Cecil and Kit on a joyride, Cecil snickering as Kit gets pulled over by the police for traffic infractions.
A brief shot of Cecil comforting Kit as he sobs into his shoulder – maybe sometime after his Father died and Eli lost his rights to childhood forever, sometime before Eli’s sanity crumbled under the pressure (everyone’s heard that one by now).
The screen dims.
Kit’s standing at a mahogany door, fidgeting with his coat anxiously. The distant whine of an old swing record floats past, mingled with laughter and muddled voices. Warm light spills onto the steps as the door opens wide, welcoming Kit in. He darts through an expansive living room, dodging dancing couples as he hurries to the dining area. Cecil’s standing at a counter a ways away, swaying as he excitedly shares a story, cocktail in hand. His blue eyes light up in recognition as soon as he sees Kit, the drink spilling out on the gleaming wood floors as he waves wildly.
“Christopher!”
“Come on Cecil, you know I hate being called that.” There’s a hint of reservation in Kit’s voice.
“Why not? It’s a lovely name, and besides I’ve always thought Christopher’s way classier than Kit,” Cecil chatters. Kit stares back at him through narrowed eyes.
“You’re drunk Cecil.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah? That’s all you have to say for yourself?” Cecil’s face crumples in some mix of guilt and confusion.
“Yeah, I guess I just had too many,”
“I guess you did. Come on Cecil, you’re going home now.” Cecil gasps as Kit snatches the glass out of his hand, slamming it on the counter with a bang.
“I was going to finish that!” he yells indignantly.
“No you’re not. You’ve had more than enough already, plus you just spilled all the good stuff out anyways.” Cecil searches the floor desperately as Kit wraps an arm around his shoulder. He slowly guides him through the maze of party goers, stopping short as Cecil suddenly stumbles up against him. “This isn’t like you at all, Cecil,” he says, a little more gently this time.
“Yeah,”
Kit shrugs. “Well, guess it’s a good thing I could pick you up tonight.”
“Guess so,”
Kit only sighs. He kicks open the door, propping Cecil up as he winces and shivers in the cold night air. Cecil stumbles down the steps, leaning against Kit all the way to his black sedan. He sways as Kit unlocks the car, narrowly avoiding falling against the door as it swings open. He knocks his head against the frame as he climbs in the backseat, loudly swearing in protest. Kit climbs in as he fumbles with his seat belt, swearing between chattering teeth.
Kit leans over in the drivers seat, coat draped over his shoulder.
“Here let me get that for you, Cecil.” Cecil stares blankly as Kit quickly fastens the seatbelt. Kit grins and shoves the coat at him. “And here’s this since you’re obviously under dressed for the weather – you’ve really got to bring a coat next time, ok?”
“Ok,” Cecil wraps the fur around himself, staring out the window distantly as Kit pulls out into the road.
“Hey Cecil.”
A pause. “Huh?”
“I heard you gossiping back there, Cecil.”
“I was gossiping about Sebastian.”
I glance over at Kit as he wheezes with barely suppressed laughter. A smile tugs at my own lips, despite myself. Sebastian would’ve been rather pleased to hear that – “no such thing as “bad publicity,” as he liked to put it.
My eyes wander back to the screen again.
“I don’t care about Sebastian, I care about whether or not you gossip about me. Look Cecil, gentlemen don’t stand around tables gossiping, and they certainly don’t stand around tables gossiping drunk. That’s kind of a recipe for disaster, you know? Surely you have more interesting things to share about yourself than…oh, I don’t know, other people? Is that really the best you can come up with?”
“I wouldn’t gossip about you though,”
“Oh really? Did you actually plan on gossiping about Sebastian, or did it just, you know, pop out unintentionally? Because that’s how it happens.” Kit sighs. “It’s concerning to me, Cecil, because I’ve entrusted really, really personal stuff to you specifically because I knew you’re not a gossip. And you’re not…when you’re sober at least.”
“It was an accident, Kit. Everyone else was drinking and I just got carried away because I grabbed one every time they did and…”
“Just go drink with reasonable people then.”
A pause.
“On second thought, just don’t drink at all. See? No alcohol, problem solved.” Kit sighs. “Look Cecil, this better not happen again, because I’m not picking you up a second time, got it?”
The screen dims again, as a familiar scene plays out again, and again, and again. Kit running into various houses, fetching an obviously intoxicated Cecil, Cecil says it won’t happen again…
A new scene flashes across the screen.
Kit leans out the window. “Just one, remember?” He rolls up the window as Cecil grins, thumbs up in reply.
The screen dims again.
It’s completely dark outside, the streets quiet and so empty. Rows of houses flicker past, windows darkened save for the occasional glowing room. It’s incredibly late in the night – or maybe it’s early next morning. Kit slows, parking in front of a familiar home. He slams the door shut, storming up the steps. He pounds on the door, arms crossed as he waits.
Light streams out as someone props the door open. “He’s in the kitchen.” The speaker’s voice is mingled with relief, maybe a touch of sheepishness. Kit storms into the room, brushing past a few lingering party goers. A few snippets of conversation float around him – “…I know it’s late, but no one else could pick him up, and we couldn’t have him stay here either…”
Kit ducks past a few party goers, who shoot him cool stares in return.
Wait…what was that all about?
Kit stops short in front of a table, stalking over to the corner where Cecil sits, cocktail in hand.
“That’s it, Cecil. I’m not putting up with this anymore.” Cecil slowly glances up at him. “Hi Christo-Kit…” Kit glares down.
“Come on Cecil. I’m taking you home again, but this is the last time and I mean it.” Cecil stares up at him with some mix of confusion and reluctance.
“Let’s go, Cecil,”
Cecil looks away.
“CECIL.”
“Why are you getting so mad at me?” Cecil murmurs. Kit’s eyes blaze. “Why am I getting mad? I’ll tell you EXACTLY why, Cecil. Look, I’ve been woken up at – what, 12:00 AM at night? Just to pick you up because you’re too drunk to crawl out of your chair. And this isn’t the first time either – how many times have you ‘promised’ me you’d just stick to one? Promises you obviously never kept, because if you did I wouldn’t be here. And I haven’t received a single “thank you” either for taking the time out of my schedule just to drag your sorry-”
“Thanks,” Cecil mumbles
“You don’t get to tell me thank you now, ok?”
Cecil gazes up at him, and a flash of bitter pain flickers in his eyes. Kit softens. “Hey Cecil…is there something you need to tell me?”
Cecil pauses, blue eyes turning stormy as he holds Kit’s gaze. He cringes against the back of his chair. “Guess not.”
“Alright then. Are you coming with me or not?” Cecil crumples in his chair, eyes thrown to the side. His gaze flickers over to Kit, then darts away.
“I’ll find someone else,” he mumbles.
“What?”
“I’ll find someone else.”
“You’re going to find someone else, huh.” Kit crosses his arms. “Alright then. Suit yourself. I’ll be leaving,” Cecil flinches just as Kit turns to leave.
“Wait Kit,”
Kit turns around, staring back at him coolly.
“I’m sorry,” he murmurs.
“Sorry for what?”
Cecil’s face crumples, and he turns his back.
“Just going to ignore me then? That’s fine too, I guess.”
The screen flashes red. I venture a glance over at Kit
“I still feel horrible about leaving him there, but…” He sighs. “I never saw him again, you know? And that just makes everything worse. And it’s not like he ever reached out after…after, you know. So I don’t have closure. I don’t know, he could be dead for all I know, and I’d never know what happened to him. I guess even after all that happened, some part of me still cares about him and still wants those memories back, and I guess that’s the part that hurts the most.” Kit glances up at the screen with weary eyes. “So, there you have it. I regret ending our friendship on that note – obviously I couldn’t have known that he was going to betray me like that, but as for me…I’d have liked to have done my best, and ended it with a clean conscience, if that makes sense. I think I was too harsh with him there, and I truly do regret that.”
The screen flashes green, and Kit crumples back in his seat.
I think it’s pretty obvious Cecil broke Kit’s trust while drunk that night, but I’m not saying anything. I guess that’s for Kit to figure out on his own – it’s not my place to talk about any of it, anyways.
*laughs as one fey*
Yarrow
Yarrow watched with horror and pity. The castle was cruel and heartless to do this. The pity for others increased as each person was forced to reveal their regrets.
“Yarrow Olonen.” Yarrow jumped, startled. “Son of Artemis Olonen from Gavonia, divulge your deepest regret.”
Yarrow stood, shaking off the feeling of the now absent restraints. Deepest regret? I don’t know… Suddenly a memory flashed through his mind. An arrow. A friend.
Yarrow sighed and began. “Well Mister Castle, I was hoping we’d be friends but seems it isn’t going to be so.
“My deepest regret… I suppose it would be when me and my best friend fought. It was a pathetic argument, to be honest, but we were young and, well, not the smartest.” Yarrow chuckled slightly. “Anyway, we were fighting over who would lead our hunt— it was a game we played. I… I got angry and lost my head. In other words… I pointed my bow at him. I wasn’t thinking, but once I realized what I had just done… I took off running into the woods.
“So there you have it, castle. Hope your happy.”The castle wasn’t.
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9
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“But… I just told you! I don’t know anything else!”
The screen flashed red and continued its countdown.
6
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5
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4
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“I don’t get it,” Yarrow said blankly.
…
1
…
As a younger Yarrow and another boy flashed onto the screen, Yarrow felt like all the emotions of that day were being dumped on him.
It played all Yarrow had said. A younger version of him and his friend arguing, Yarrow raising his bow, their eyes widening at the same second, and Yarrow dropping his bow and fleeing.
But it continued, flashing back and forth between Yarrow, running deep into the woods, and his friend, who followed Yarrow, wishing to console his friend.Yarrow clapped his hand to his mouth and fell back into his chair. “No. No. It can’t be true,” he whispered.
On the screen his friend stopped and raised his bow, a frightened look on his face. But it was too late. The Dintey wrestled the boy to the ground, bound him, and dragged him away.
The screen went blank.“I didn’t know if it was true. I mean, I know he was captured shortly after but I didn’t know if it was then.” Yarrow said quietly. “Therefore…” he stood a looked up at the ceiling. “I didn’t know if it was true so that’s not fair! But at least you’re happy now, right?”
As he expected, there was no response.A long-hidden tale may hold the answers-and the healing-they so desperately seek.
~Set the Stars AlightI didn’t know my sweet little Yarrow has such a temper🧐😂
A long-hidden tale may hold the answers-and the healing-they so desperately seek.
~Set the Stars AlightThese poor, poor characters…
ENYDD
I watched in horror as regret after regret was revealed, my heart aching with each person. They all had suffered so much.
And now the castle was opening wounds, making them relive the experience. Was there no forgiveness? No grace?
“Enydd Skovgaard, it is your turn to tell of your deepest regret,” the castle boomed.
My breath caught in my throat. Already?
10
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I should speak. I deserved the pain. The humiliation.
9
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Speak!
8
“My deepest regret is my cowardice,” I began in strong voice. I would not, could not, hide it. Whatever came of this, I deserved.
“I was-am too much of a coward to right a wrong,” I continued.
The castle flashed SPECIFY on the stage.
I nodded and stood up. “Before I begin, you must understand that my father is considered a criminal in many countries and in other places, a lunatic because of his…job. This reputation is also applied to me and the rest of my family.”
“Seven years ago, I came home to find my mother holding a letter that was from the Marwood’s, the family I worked for. It was addressed to Ms. Lyssa Balcom. My mother had probably guessed what had happened, but she still asked if the letter was meant for me. I said yes. She handed me the letter, and I was relieved that she did not ask any further questions. But, as I was leaving the room, she called out to me and said, ‘Your name is nothing to be ashamed of.'”
I took a quick breath.
“Something snapped inside of me. Back then I did not understand why my father continued his work when it only brought danger and mistreatment to our family. I had never told my mother or father of how I felt before, but I guess I decided that there was no time like the present and told my mother exactly what I thought.”
I tried to laugh. To say I was young and foolish and that it was a thing of the past, but it wasn’t.
Snippets of the memory whirled in my mind.
Father continues to drag our name in the mud, and am I expected to do nothing? To encourage it?
I lied about name because it’s the only way to be accepted in this world! Do you think that I would let Father’s life ruin mine?
If you are willing to sacrifice my family for the sake of spreading rumors and lies, you must be just as crazy as everyone says you are. Even more so!
“In the course of my…tirade, I proceeded to denounce my family and cut all ties to them. And it was not just my mother who heard this. My father and my siblings heard it as well. Not long after this, I moved to a city to continue as a governess to the Marwood family. I have not talked to my family since then, even ignoring their letters.”
“I regretted my actions not long after leaving, but I still believed my father and mother to be crazy or at least misguided. Then three years ago, I came across something that changed my entire viewpoint on my parents and on the rest of the world. I now knew for a fact that what my father did was saving people’s lives. I was so overjoyed by this that I bought a train ticket back to my home. I don’t know exactly what I had planned to do. I was too excited to plan ahead. All I knew was that I was wrong and was going to make amends.”
“I arrived at my town, but as I was walking towards my house, I saw my family coming back from the woods. It was then that I realized what my actions had done to them. And I- I- I lost my nerve. I had abandoned them without a second thought. How could I make up for that? I turned around and walked back to the train station. I haven’t tried to go back. That’s my greatest regret. Not having the courage to make amends with my family.”
I fell back in my seat.
Unforgiveable, a voice hissed.
“Not true,” I whispered, but the voices still laughed for they knew that I believed them.
CONROY
I was confused. The castle was flashing pictures on the screen. The things seemed bad, but why?
I looked at the people around me. They were broken.
An ache tugged at my heart.
I shook my head violently. That was their problem to deal with. Not mine.
I closed my eyes and covered my ears so that I could at least block out the hurt.
At least I didn’t have a deepest regret.
“Conroy Flinston, it is your turn.”
I shot up in my seat. “Why’d you have to say that? Now everyone knows my name!” I groaned.
The voice did not answer. Instead, the numbers popped up on the screen.
10
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9
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8
“I don’t have a regret,” I shouted.
7
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6
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5
The numbers were beginning to worry me. I didn’t have a deepest regret, right?
4
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3
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2
Curiosity perked up inside of me. What did it think my deepest regret was?
1
…
I walked into the familiar room. The wood creaked under my steps. My breath was shaking, but my voice sounded confident. “Flinston with a warning.”
I scoffed. If it thought I regretted turning people in, it was wrong.
HS looked up from his desk. “Flinston, you’re first warning. My congratulations. Who is it?”
My first-! No. No! Get me out!
“I am reporting Greyn Azor and his family. I am accusing them of being spies for Outside.”
Please, no.
HS looked surprised. “Greyn Azor?”
I swallowed hard. “Yes, sir. I caught him in the act of passing information.”
HS nodded solemnly. “Thank you, Flinston.”
“You’re welcome. I am simply doing my duty.”
“True. Remember that Flinston. This is your duty to us.”
I nodded and left the room.
The scene froze then it began to shift; greys and blacks taking over the picture.
I stood in a graveyard. No, it was the graveyard where the traitors, criminals, and spies were buried.
What was this? I had never been here before.
I stepped forward and tripped over a small marker. Looking down, I saw GA engraved on its front.
“Greyn,” I whimpered.
I was back on my chair. It was over.
I stood on my chair and glared defiantly at the stage. “You’re wrong! I don’t regret it! Greyn was a traitor and deserved to die! I was only doing my job!”
The stage lit up again.
I was hiding under my bed, crying. It was the day I had been taken from the orphanage.
“I know what you’re doing, and it won’t work,” I shouted at the castle.
The scene continued.
The door to my room opened, and Greyn walked in. He knelt down next to the bed. “Hi there Conroy. I’m Greyn. I brought you your dinner. Do you like chicken?”
A sobbing “yes” met him.
“Great because dinner is all chicken. You’re going to want to eat before it goes cold. I brought my dinner, so you won’t have to eat alone.”
I scooted out from under the bed, my eyes red and puffy. I began to eat, hiccoughing sobs interrupting every now and then.
Greyn sat next to me in silence. When I was done, he patted me on the back and smiled. “Good man. You’re going to be all right.”
The scene changed again.
I was trudging back to my room, hot, sweaty, and defeated. Training had gone all wrong. I had fallen off the bars, knocked over vases, and ran into walls.
“Conroy, hold on!”
It was Greyn.
“What do you want?” I grumbled.
“I was watching you today.”
“Yay. My best friend got to see my fail.”
“It wasn’t that bad. You just need more practice. Besides, I have some tips for you. If you want, I can help you practice tomorrow morning. TM gave us permission to.”
“No thanks.”
Greyn laughed. “Don’t worry. No one else will be there.”
“Really? Well, in that case, I’ll do it.”
“Great! You’ll be the most feared kid here soon.”
“Yeah right.”
“What, you don’t trust my judgement? Since when have I ever been wrong?”
I snorted.
Greyn poked me in the back. “Seriously, I’m always right.” He grinned.
I laughed.
“All right, that’s it! Wrestling match is on! Maybe when you’re pinned to the floor, you’ll have more respect for me,” he threatened with mock fierceness.
“No way!” I cried, smiling from ear to ear.
I slid into my seat. “I get your point. You can stop now.”
The scene changed for a final time.
Greyn was sitting on the edge of my bed, reading a book to me. It was only a couple days before I discovered him handing off information.
Greyn set the book down and sighed.
“Is something wrong,” I asked, concerned. He had been acting less cheery than usual.
“Everything’s fine,” he answered shortly. He looked up at me and smiled.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes Conroy. I just need to tell you something.”
“What?”
“No matter what I do, remember this. That you’re like my little brother, and I would never do anything to hurt you.”
“I know that!”
Greyn chuckled. He patted me on the shoulder. “Good night, Conroy.”
“Good night.”
I couldn’t help it. I curled up and began to cry. He trusted me. I was his brother. And I had given him away. I was the traitor, not him.
Saevus looked around quietly. So far, all was good. The castle seemed to be forcing everyone to reveal their greatest regret…information he needed. People like Abirami, he noted…they hated the castle. He could sense it from their thoughts. And with the information being forced out of them by the castle, he could use it…to use them.
That, combined with a hatred of the castle, allowed Saevus the opportunity to try and recruit several people to (1) Learn more about the castle, and, (2) Come up with a way to try and conquer the castle…
(man…he’s gonna get his butt kicked HARD)
And then it happened.
“Emperor Saevus of the land of Malterra, reveal your deepest regret!” The castle boomed.
Saevus looked around. He stood up slowly, not wanting to make a big deal if this. Even as he stood up, he wondered…what was his biggest regret?
It definitely was not when he had left his family to join the Evil Lord in Malterra. He very much so enjoyed joining his army.
10
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9
…
what could it be?
8
…
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“I will NOT bow down to your wishes, whatever you are!” Saevus thundered
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The screen flashed and images began to appear. They all watched as the armies of Saevus marched across a narrow plain on a valley floor. Down at the end of the valley, which was surrounded by tall and graceful mountains, was a magnificent city…the City of Nolan.
The Saevus on the screen stood in his iron chariot and directed his forces. Soon the armies of the King Gabor began spilling out of the city and began engaging Saevus’ forces. Screams filled the air as the Certa of Saevus tore through the ranks of Gabor, killing ruthlessly. Not even Gabor’s best warriors could stand up to this attack, including the reckless berserker Certa. But even in this darkness…a light appeared. King Gabor himself appeared, and began rallying the men. Soon the Certa of Saevus began to fall back…but then silence fell on the battlefield.
Lord Saevus himself stepped up through his ranks, stepping up to the head of his army and directly in front of King Gabor.
“Gabor!” Saevus on the screen roared. “Show yourself you coward!”
Gabor stepped forward, sword at the ready. “You shall not win, Saevus!” Gabor shouted “You may rely on your powers, but I have a power you don’t have! I have the true Emperor with me!”
Saevus laughed and swung his sword. Soon he and Gabor were engaged in a very intense duel. Saevus pressed his attack, forcing Gabor back. Pretty quickly it was apparent that the duel belonged to Saevus. Even as Gabor desperately fought back, trying to gain the upper hand, all he was doing was losing more and more. At one point, Gabor stepped back and stumbled onto a body of one his knights. Slipping, he fell down, blocked Saevus’ vertical crosscut, rolled over to escape the next one, and then got kicked in the side by Saevus’ heavy and spiked boot. Yelling in pain, Gabor continued rolling before stopping on a rock. He looked up at Saevus, who looked down at him. Saevus then proceeded to behead the King Gabor. Shouting in victory, the Certa instantly began surging forward again, this time with Saevus at the lead. Each swing of his sword was the death of multiple knights of Gabor. No one could stand up against him.
Within one hour, the City of Nolan was in Saevus’ hands. But, however…the castle foucused on a lone woman who was running away and into the woods. The screen flashed as this woman ran far away to the small town of Parvus, where she gave birth to a son. This son continued the line of Gabor, which remained quietly at parvus…until Miles Regulus came along.
Saevus watched in horror. The bloodline had continued. Gabor’s heir lived. He realized only know that he should have followed the idea of that one Certa captain and hunted down all of the followers of Gabor immediately. But then, WHY was he here? He felt the fury building up inside him. Soon it exploded when he shot up as fast as possible and not only did the thing of setting himself on fire, but he also exploded into a massive roar. Everyone covered their ears from the sound of his fury.
“GABOR!!!” He roared. “CURSE YOU!!!”
(aka his biggest regret is that he did not kill or capture the wife of the king Gabor…because when she ran away, she was pregnant. Thus, the bloodline of Gabor continued…and when Miles Regulus came along after one hundred years, he not only started a war, but he also killed Saevus.)
I wrote this way too late, so it’s not quite as detailed as I wanted towards the end 🙁
As far as content, nothing is mentioned, but it is kind of a continuation for Kit’s first regret, so do keep that in mind 🙂
Valencia:
I’m back at the party, squeezed in a semi circle of people, tuning out the drone of conversation welling around me. It’s not like I actually enjoy talking them, and I’m pretty sure the feeling is mutual. I just don’t want people to know I don’t have anyone who really wants to talk to me. I don’t want them to think I’m lonely.
I turn towards Evangeline, tuning into her animated discussion with Callahan. I tug my lips in a plastic smile, nodding along in fabricated interest. It’s not like I know either of them well at all, and to be honest I don’t really care too much about whatever they’re talking about. I just want someone to talk to though, and I’m fine with talking about whatever they’re interested in as long as I can join.
Eva’s eyes flicker towards me as I join, then lock back back onto Callahan. I shift awkwardly, shoulders tense. It feels like I’m intruding on a private conversation here, but they’re only talking about maids and Callahan’s new chauffeur. I glance back and forth between them, shrinking back as Callahan reaches in front of me to touch her arm.
My eyes wander past, scanning the back of the room for someone, anyone I know who might be free to chat for a few minutes. I want to leave these two alone, but where would I go? If I walk away now, I’ll be stranded with no one to talk to, in full view of everyone. My eyes lock on a green sofa pushed against the wall – it’s empty, and sheltered from the hectic socializing surrounding me. Eva’s gaze flickers back at me as I peel away, making a beeline for the sofa. I cross my arms as I sit down, melting back into the plush cushions. It’s quieter here, but I can still overhear a sea of muddled conversations all around me. It kind of hurts, seeing all these people having fun socializing over fun, trivial topics. I think people maybe don’t realize that I’d like to talk about these things too, if they’d only let me in.
Still, I’m glad this seat at least was available. I guess it’s way better to be lonely in private than lonely in front of all the people who never gave me a chance.
I stiffen as my roaming gaze suddenly catches an eye way in the back, on the opposite side of the room.
Kit Goldenseal.
He’s sitting on a couch at the far end of the room, shoulders drooping, hands crossed on his knees. He looks so small, shrinking back against the couch, eyes darting around the crowd.
I think Kit wanted to be lonely in private too.
It somehow feels wrong seeing him so alone. He should be in the middle of one of those giant conversations right now, but I have a feeling he’s not going to have much luck breaking in. Part of me wishes I could walk over and comfort him somehow, but what could I possibly do?
I know exactly why they’re ignoring him, and I wish I didn’t. But that doesn’t really change anything about him. It doesn’t change the fact that Kit is – was popular and well liked, and I am not. It doesn’t change the fact that I have to fight tooth and nail for crumbs of attention whenever Kit shows up – I always feel strangled by his presence, like a plant choking between weeds. It doesn’t change the fact that my parents wouldn’t want me talking to him anyways – he is a Goldenseal, after all.
It makes me sad seeing him so lonely, though. His eyes flicker over at at me again, and the faintest hint of a smile passes over his lips.
I flinch as Eva sits beside me, a plate of cookies in hand. “Want one?” I smile nervously as I pluck one from her plate. I don’t know why she goes back and forth like this – so cool and uninterested while with Callahan, but kind and opening now that we’re alone.
The chocolate crumbles in my mouth as I absently take a bite, dusting my dry tongue like sawdust. Kit turns away as soon as he sees Eva. I wonder if he’s the one who feels like an intruder now, or maybe he just feels too ashamed to face her.
I don’t know why, but Kit didn’t look as nervous when he was looking at me. It’s almost like he thought I was safe, like he thought I wouldn’t push him away like everyone else. I guess he’s kind of right. I mean, just knowing this doesn’t really change anything about him. Like I said, he’s still the exact same person as he was before I knew any of this.
“Why are you looking at Kit?” Eva looks at me curiously, but there’s just a hint of frost on her voice.
“It’s not fair for them to treat him like that,”
She shrugs. “If you care so much, why don’t you go talk to him?” I pull back into the soft cushions.
I can’t.
There’s no way I can just walk up to a person like Kit and strike a conversation. Maybe if I was like Eva, or Callahan, or even Kit himself…maybe then I could do it, but I’m not like them at all. My place has always been in the shadows, not the spotlight.
What could I possibly talk about with him? I’m sure all of my interests and stories would all seem so incredibly dull and boring to a person like him. I don’t really seem to be fun company anyways, and that’s the one thing Kit’s always seemed to love no matter the situation – fun and stimulating conversations with fun and stimulating people.
A movement across the room suddenly catches my eye. Kit locks my gaze across the room, eyes searching for something in mine. I feel like he wants something from me, like he’s beckoning me to walk over to him…but I’m not going to risk it. I still can’t think of a worse mistake – humiliating myself over a social misstep in front of Kit of all people.
I avert my gaze and turn away.
“Valencia Page, forgotten daughter of a divided house, divulge your deepest regret.” I lift my trembling hands to my knees as the restraints fall to the ground. I can’t stand – I can’t expose myself like that in front of all these people…
“Kit,”
I squeeze my knees, forcing myself to meet his softened gaze.
I’m so sorry Kit.
“So at the party last year…when…you know…Alastor…”
I can still hear the feigned innocence glazed over his voice like sugar on arsenic, eyes wide with false shock and horror.
“But I thought everyone knew!”That disclosure was nothing short of malicious, but Alastor had somehow managed to escape the wreckage of Kit’s social life unscathed.
I wonder if Cecil told Alastor himself, or if maybe Alastor heard it from someone else, who heard it from…
I grit my teeth and shove the thought aside.
“I still remember seeing you sitting alone, and I thought maybe you wanted me to come talk to you. I wanted to Kit, I really did…but I just…I just couldn’t. I just couldn’t make myself do it.” I stare down at my nails, trying to avoid his gaze. “If it makes you feel any better, it wasn’t because of anything Alastor said.” The words sound hollow and empty, but I had to clarify that – I can’t let him believe I’d rejected him for that too.
Kit shrugs. “To be honest, I’d forgotten all about that.”
My shoulders relax as a wave of relief washes over me. “See, I don’t even care about that anymore because now I get to sit and talk with you every other day.” He shoots me a teasing grin. “And you seem to enjoy sitting and talking with me too, right?” I smile, a warm flush spreading over my cheeks like wildfire.
“Most of the time, yeah.”
I’d sorely misjudged Kit in the past, to be honest. I do enjoy spending time with him, and I’d probably try to do it more often if he weren’t…
You know.
He’s just kind of obnoxious, that’s all.
The screen suddenly flashes red.
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My blood runs cold.
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What could this possibly be?
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The screen flashes, then grows dim.
I’m suddenly in a courtyard, drawing my heavy wool coat around my shoulders. The air is cool and crisp, littered with tiny red leaves floating from the trees above. I hear shoes clicking
“STOP!” I whip around to my left, where the screen hung just a minute before. “I’ll tell them, ok?” The misty flashback starts to disintegrate around me, and I can see the shadowy forms of the circle of fellow captives.
I grit my teeth. “Last fall, Kit asked me out to the Winter Gala and I turned him down because I was scared. I was scared of being abandoned, I guess. I was scared he was going to get bored of me and start ignoring me halfway through. You know when you end up third wheeling with a bunch of friends? That’s exactly what I was afraid of happening – being pushed to the side and watching everyone else having fun without me,” I falter as my voice suddenly cracks.
“So I decided to go with friends instead…but that’s exactly what ended up happening anyways. It could’ve been special…or maybe not, who knows. I guess my worst regret is that I never even tried, and so I’ll never know what I missed.”
All of a sudden, I’m back in my seat. The screen flashes green in front of me, but I barely register it through the numbing mist in my head.
“I sure seem to pop up a lot in your deepest regrets Val,” Kit murmurs. I glance over at him warily. “Honestly? Not quite sure how I should feel about that one.” He grins back at me mischievously. “I’m glad you’re thinking of me though,”
“Oh shut up Kit,” I hiss. “I didn’t bug you about yours, ok? So can you please not bother me about mine?”
“Sorry Val,” Kit whispers. I stare down at my shoes, face burning. “But just remember – ” I glance up at him wearily. “I can take you out dancing anytime you like.” A sly smile parts his lips. “Just keep that in mind, ok?”
I smile back. “Ok.”
*laughs as one fey*
Anyone else want to participate in the regret sequence? Last call, I think…. ? We can draw it to a close soon…. if there isn’t any objections? … So we can move onto Saevus attacking the castle. (hehe…. and perhaps Abirami and Ku joining in? Though I might use the attack sequence to take them out of the castle and introduce a few new characters…. maybe…) … or perhaps any ideas out there of what should happen next? separate into different conversational groups, or another large event?
Christianity has not been tried and found wanting, it has been found difficult and left untried. ~ G.K.C.
I’m done with my characters’ regrets. After they’ve finished any interaction with Avin, I’m going to pull them out during the beginning of Saevus’s battle and plop Mara into the middle of it (she’ll love that).
We are called to be lights in the cosmos.
May your inkwells never run dry!@jared-williams @e-n-leonard I have one more character to do (this is going to double as his re-introduction to the castle), but after that I’m ready to move on!
I’m going to try to finish his tonight!
*laughs as one fey*
Sounds great!
And I think that Ehud hasn’t gone yet, has he?
We are called to be lights in the cosmos.
May your inkwells never run dry!Anyone else want to participate in the regret sequence?
*Peeks up from coffee* Oh, right! Yeah I’ll get Ehud, I think he’s the last one! XDD
To be a light to the world you must shine in the darkness.
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