- Posting Speed
- Multiple posts per day
- 1-3 posts per day
- One post per day
- Online Availability
- 3pm - 1am (GMT / BST)
- Writing Levels
- Beginner
- Elementary
- Intermediate
- Adept
- Adaptable
- Preferred Character Gender
- Male
- Female
- Nonbinary
- Transgender
- No Preferences
- Genres
- Monsters, supernatural, fantasy, romance, criminality, slice-of-life (modern or set in past, usually with some twists)
As Florin rode his steed mainly through the outskirts of the vast kingdom of Dredia, the thought of just continuing to ride well past its boundary often came to mind.
Of just abandoning all of his duties and responsibilities, escaping the often claustrophobic existence he felt pressured to maintain in favour of a lifestyle that was free of such commands, free of the constant necessity to portray a tough exterior that often became exhausting for him. Not all of that toughness was forced but the persistent need to possess it at all times of the day left no room for softer vulnerabilities to break through onto the surface, and it was that lack of freedom, that pure and simple lack of choice in the matter, that exhausted him the most.
Yet, the Prince found his outlet during the rides around his kingdom's periphery once the days drifted into the cold, dark of night. Nights were the most dangerous times of the day; a time when vampires from the very north could venture under the cover of darkness and proceed to rampage through unsuspecting, innocent human territories once more... even if such actions hadn't been seen anywhere since the vampires' last appearance entire decades prior. It was why villagers in Dredia journeyed to the taverns in the evening; why children were in no rush to head home once night fell and took their time despite the threat they were told could occur once darkness fell upon the wintery kingdom.
As dangerous as they were all aware vampires were, nobody had seen one in their lifetime: that was how long ago the last attack had been. What was the point in disrupting their livelihoods and enjoyment of life over a threat that nobody felt even existed anymore?
Florin, admittedly, agreed with such a sentiment, as his nightly rides in the kingdom served to prove. It wasn't a particularly favourable activity, with his father in particular adamant that his son ought to remain indoors when the night fell or at the very least bring along a guard or two in case he rode into trouble, but it was one of the only hobbies he was able to act upon without judgement or that much critique. It didn't detract from the toughness he was expected to epitomise so he was entitled to take those rides in the peace of the late evening without trouble, even if they prompted the sort of thoughts in him that would cruelly plague him for days on end.
Because ultimately, of course he knew he couldn't abandon his role as Prince; he could never just leave Dredia for a simpler existence however favourable such a thought often was. He had a sister who could take up the role of heir to the throne but he didn't want to subject that onto her, even if the alternative was taking the throne for himself and dealing with all the expectations of him intensifying once he did.
As usual whenever he went for the ride on his steed, the thoughts pricked uncomfortably at him and rendered what ought to be a relaxing moment away from the castle stressful and distracting. However, even as he grimaced to himself the more the thoughts settled unwelcomingly into his mind, the sight just ahead of him formed a new distraction for him as he pulled at the reins to cause his horse to obediently come to a stop. Just ahead of him seemed to be three people, two crouched low on the wintery cobbled ground and hovering over a third whose positioning, laid out flat against the floor, initially caused Florin some confusion. That confusion immediately transitioned to concern at the sight of the snow beneath the third man stained red with blood, the Prince climbing down from his steed in response.
"Is everything-- quite alright with your friend; would you care for help? I can alert the appropriate healers--" He began in an effort to extent a little help even if he felt uncomfortable doing so - he rarely interacted with the citizens of Dredia for his own reasons, and this wasn't the best way of venturing into that territory. He took a step closer in an effort to crane his head and glance in on the scene, to ensure that the man on the ground was at least conscious and alert, but it was that movement that caused the other two men to stir, sharp glances shot at the Prince observing them.
Glances that made Florin's eyes widen; his chest tightened and his heart thumped hard in his chest. He didn't need to have seen a vampire in the flesh to know he was face-to-face with one now - or in this case, two. Their inhuman eyes, the pale, smooth complexions, the bloodstained mouths which contained sharpened fangs that were proudly on show... the monstrous appearances caused Florin to stumble back, one hand on his sword at his side and the other held outwards as if that would somehow deter the vampires from approaching.
It didn't. The moment they heard his pulse quickening, the vampires exchanged a single glance, abandoned the dead human they had been feasting from and launched forwards with determined speed. The quickness of the movements and the fear coursing through Florin left him floundering in his panic, tripping backwards onto the snowy ground with his sword falling achingly out of reach. He was a fighter, that was who he had been brought up to be, and yet even he knew he wasn't living up to that title even in the throws of panic and fear. Rather than launch the attack to protect himself and his kingdom, he had fallen to the ground, cowered back against a wall and feebly clenched his eyes tightly shut to await what he thought to be his inevitable death.
Of just abandoning all of his duties and responsibilities, escaping the often claustrophobic existence he felt pressured to maintain in favour of a lifestyle that was free of such commands, free of the constant necessity to portray a tough exterior that often became exhausting for him. Not all of that toughness was forced but the persistent need to possess it at all times of the day left no room for softer vulnerabilities to break through onto the surface, and it was that lack of freedom, that pure and simple lack of choice in the matter, that exhausted him the most.
Yet, the Prince found his outlet during the rides around his kingdom's periphery once the days drifted into the cold, dark of night. Nights were the most dangerous times of the day; a time when vampires from the very north could venture under the cover of darkness and proceed to rampage through unsuspecting, innocent human territories once more... even if such actions hadn't been seen anywhere since the vampires' last appearance entire decades prior. It was why villagers in Dredia journeyed to the taverns in the evening; why children were in no rush to head home once night fell and took their time despite the threat they were told could occur once darkness fell upon the wintery kingdom.
As dangerous as they were all aware vampires were, nobody had seen one in their lifetime: that was how long ago the last attack had been. What was the point in disrupting their livelihoods and enjoyment of life over a threat that nobody felt even existed anymore?
Florin, admittedly, agreed with such a sentiment, as his nightly rides in the kingdom served to prove. It wasn't a particularly favourable activity, with his father in particular adamant that his son ought to remain indoors when the night fell or at the very least bring along a guard or two in case he rode into trouble, but it was one of the only hobbies he was able to act upon without judgement or that much critique. It didn't detract from the toughness he was expected to epitomise so he was entitled to take those rides in the peace of the late evening without trouble, even if they prompted the sort of thoughts in him that would cruelly plague him for days on end.
Because ultimately, of course he knew he couldn't abandon his role as Prince; he could never just leave Dredia for a simpler existence however favourable such a thought often was. He had a sister who could take up the role of heir to the throne but he didn't want to subject that onto her, even if the alternative was taking the throne for himself and dealing with all the expectations of him intensifying once he did.
As usual whenever he went for the ride on his steed, the thoughts pricked uncomfortably at him and rendered what ought to be a relaxing moment away from the castle stressful and distracting. However, even as he grimaced to himself the more the thoughts settled unwelcomingly into his mind, the sight just ahead of him formed a new distraction for him as he pulled at the reins to cause his horse to obediently come to a stop. Just ahead of him seemed to be three people, two crouched low on the wintery cobbled ground and hovering over a third whose positioning, laid out flat against the floor, initially caused Florin some confusion. That confusion immediately transitioned to concern at the sight of the snow beneath the third man stained red with blood, the Prince climbing down from his steed in response.
"Is everything-- quite alright with your friend; would you care for help? I can alert the appropriate healers--" He began in an effort to extent a little help even if he felt uncomfortable doing so - he rarely interacted with the citizens of Dredia for his own reasons, and this wasn't the best way of venturing into that territory. He took a step closer in an effort to crane his head and glance in on the scene, to ensure that the man on the ground was at least conscious and alert, but it was that movement that caused the other two men to stir, sharp glances shot at the Prince observing them.
Glances that made Florin's eyes widen; his chest tightened and his heart thumped hard in his chest. He didn't need to have seen a vampire in the flesh to know he was face-to-face with one now - or in this case, two. Their inhuman eyes, the pale, smooth complexions, the bloodstained mouths which contained sharpened fangs that were proudly on show... the monstrous appearances caused Florin to stumble back, one hand on his sword at his side and the other held outwards as if that would somehow deter the vampires from approaching.
It didn't. The moment they heard his pulse quickening, the vampires exchanged a single glance, abandoned the dead human they had been feasting from and launched forwards with determined speed. The quickness of the movements and the fear coursing through Florin left him floundering in his panic, tripping backwards onto the snowy ground with his sword falling achingly out of reach. He was a fighter, that was who he had been brought up to be, and yet even he knew he wasn't living up to that title even in the throws of panic and fear. Rather than launch the attack to protect himself and his kingdom, he had fallen to the ground, cowered back against a wall and feebly clenched his eyes tightly shut to await what he thought to be his inevitable death.