Posts by - RAPHAEL

    ♔ "John." Raphael had spotted the shadowed feline in the shelter of the garden, approaching the young male with a curious look. Despite his herbal passion, gardening was not his forte and flowers made him sneeze. Yet, company in Eden was rare, as of recent, so the consequences seemed to be dampened. Peering down at the planks of wood laid out on the path, the stallion's tail swished with a subtle uncertainty. "Y'gardening again, lad?" It was John's dedication to this floral vomit that had truly made the garden bloom- that had roped most of Eden in to helping prune the shrubberies. It was almost admirable. In fact, it was. Although, Raph was struggling to see how wooden slabs would contribute to the thriving flowers.

    ♔ A squirrel scarpered in his wake, hungry eyes trailing its auburn bushy tail. How tempting. Although, said squirrel was an NPC clanmate and he couldn't very well eat all his remaining members. No matter how small and forgetful. Not that he would have even possessed the thought if not for the state he had been woken up in. Bleary and red-eyed, with red thoughts to match. It was a known to never wake a kelpie up from its slumber for hunger always soon followed. Something he could feel rattling in his stomach, now. Yet, he could not concentrate on food- not when he had been told of a subject in distress.

And who else but the ever present John? A presence he was becoming more and more content with, if only to instill hope in the cautious king. "Oi, lad, y'woke half the castle up. The bleeding hell's wrong wi'you?" Yes, even kelpies got hangry. Especially kelpies. Only, the fact was a little known one for water horses were constantly unfilled and so anger was their precedence. They knew no better and Raph was no exception. Not a large one, in any case. Simply, he head learned to curb his. Something soon put to work when charcoal eyes spotted the rouged state of the feline. Raphael did not cope well with embarrassment. "Alright, kid, you're okay, aye? Need to-uh, to talk 'bout it?"

raphael.

it's pulling me back, it's pulling me. . .

Raph's been around for a little while now and (as a kelpie) has learned to curb his bloodlust to a large extent. Except, now that his friend and Queen has been seemingly killed by demons and November awaits, Raphael is going to begin losing control. Just as he's been appointed as Eden's new king. And? Is very much open to plots.

[OPEN TO]

- Friendships

- Capturing your character (if a demon) and holding a trial (optional, your character can escape)

- Enemies (he is very easy to get along with so may be slightly difficult)

- One night stand (only one since I want this to set the course for his child's birth, would have to have a kelpie body)

- Holding feasts for visits from ambassadors of ally clans

- Best friend (req. ic development too)

- [Almost] injuring your character accidentally

- A character bond (picky)

- A herb-picking buddy

- Holding a trial to provide justice for/to your character

- Employing KoE's help in peace-keeping for a rightful matter

Feel free to suggest any plot ideas!!

[CLOSED TO]

- Love interests (for now)

- Being captured/killed

    ♔ Upkeeping clan politics was not his idea of a fun night out. And yet, there was the blackening sky and here was the silvered kelpie, standing solely on HawkClan's mighty borders. Or, rather, once mighty. What had happened to their dear allies to allow the dreaded silence to invade their lands? It seemed near all of Eden's allies had ghosts in their midst. Eden included. But, what good was mourning what was when power was in the present and change was far too available? Raph had been thrown up into the heavens and the golden staircase was having a hard time chucking him back down.

    ♔ Fortunately for him, his first usher was no more than a snack bite. A crumb, if anything, and his stomach did not pine - although his ever present thoughts seemed to dwell on the matter. Sliding a smile onto his maw, the stallion eyed the minuscule creature. She seemed almost apprehensive. Perhaps she knew what was coming; the event seemed to have etched itself into the wind, after all. Perhaps everyone already knew and his coming here was completely futile. Lessa did not hold Raph's attention for long, however. Something far more interesting to his kelpie nature had arrived. Dogs were easy to take down- so blindly loyal and giving, it had always been too easy to hug their throats with his fangs. A wolf, however? Well, he was never fond of challenges but that didn't mean they didn't entice him.

Fucking hell, y'baw-bag, get a grip. Nervousness made his hunger show. Hunger made his nervousness retreat. It was always nicer to take the easier path. But had he not vowed, already? He had meant it when he said he would not be the first to gobble an ally. His strained royal stature was beginning to fall. Clearing his throat, Raph extended his smile- a silent apology. "Aye, is your leader prattling about? I'd like to discuss some clan matters." Such as unkempt alliances and bond-forging.

A deer approached, her interest in him palpable. His eyes shifted to the side at the arrival of the easy meal. Yet, just as swift as his attention had been diverted, he switched his gaze back to the pine marten. He was not about to let Poseidon test him so easily. "Hello to you, Riivercub."

    ♔ Ah, well wasn't it the infamous child Queen. Not that he'd ever had the pleasure, before, but even a fool could have deciphered that tidbit of information. Power had grown in her bones, no doubt; politics in her eyes. It was no wonder she did not recognise any high authority in him for he was a Kellie and the sea's magic was the only power he alluded to. Certainly not an aura clueing into his newfound status as Eden's King. King Kelpie. Would people talk, he wondered? No, Eden had been in the shadows for too long, it was a wonder they were talked about at all.

For, once upon a time, Eden was talked about. No, Raph, was not present for Bastille's reign but he did know the guy. Cocksure, superior and yet duty-bound to the death. As much as Raph would have liked to have him, Bastille was not a hateable creature. Although, Raph had not stuck around for long enough, back then. The sea had still had its hand around his eyes. But back then, he had no struggle in remembering how mighty the castle had looked amongst its masses. "Littlestar, aye? Pleasure to meet you and your clanmates." His heavy head angled towards the others gathered, dipping briefly to the HawkClanners currently gathered.

"Queen Dahlia of Eden is gone, she appointed me the new King. Daft, I know, aye." A scoff filled the momentary silence. Why he had been chosen, Dahlia had always been an enigma. "Mind if I have a word, lass?"

[ooc] I was going to try sorting stuff this weekend but I have no time so feel free to exile him but you'll have to batter him unconscious since he won't leave Eden without a fight haha. Also, all ic opinions!

[ic]
    ♔ Then, the tell tale sound of slow hoof clattering filled the great hall. The King had gone nowhere. He had been right here in the castle, ruling ghosts and memories. Phantom illusions of when Eden had been at its finest- he even missed the horses, if only to see their terrified faces when he smiled. It seemed that the stigma of the unknown around him had never seemed to retract it's claws from his hide. Only those precious few had seen him as he wished to be. In a better Eden. The Eden under Cav, under Arthur, under so many better leaders he had witnessed. Even he had been a terrible king. With October snapping at his heels and November whispering taunts in his ears, Raph was more preoccupied with keeping himself sane than leading a clan. Which was horrendous to say but it was not like he had anyone to disappoint, save for little John. Where was his dear sole subject, now. Had he detached from him, too? Ah, this was all too much, you certainly couldn't write this; it'd be a damned terrible story.

A laugh bellowed across the stone walls as the scot stallion strode toward the newly announced 'king'. Or, rather, the group of newly announced monarchs. Alas, he had eyes only for one. And those same irises bled ravenous black. "Morning, Mr Dwarf. Sorry... hobgoblin? No- Imp, aye? Dahlia's rejected?" An open-mouthed smile shone on his face, plain for all to see the threats situated in his fangs. He knew the little bastard was dick sore when it came to the subject of his sister. Raph's friend- his predecessor. "Shame you didn't invite me to the party- it's fucking fantastic lad. Anyone else wanna throw their two pence in? Hades, even the spotty pup over there wants a bite." His head swung to motion the Dalmatian, although, his eyes made no attempt to shift from Dahlia's blood. He had known ever since the bastard had shown up on Eden borders that he was trouble- gut feelings were something he was all too familiar with. Now the half-wit wanted his crown and Raph was giddy with hindsight. And something else- he had not eaten since yesterday and Poseidon was he hungry. Famished.

"Am no King, aye, I'll admit to that. Not like you desperate fuckers, dancing for the throne. But you, you ungrateful bastard? I won't have you putting yer munting paws on Eden. Dahlia deserved better. These knights deserve better." A tail length from the traitor, the kelpie lowered his great head and placed predatory eyes on the tiny fox with a unmissable target on his heart. How easily he could snatch him in his jaws now, swallow him whole then continue as if nothing had changed. But he had been made King of Eden for a reason- he was a justice-seeker, a soldier of these lands. There fights he fought were fair and clear of the smog that seemed to hang around Dahlia's brother. Imp was power hungry and derranged. Imp was no more Edener than he was a leader. "I bet you and your twat slice friend o'er there don't even know the meanin' of chivalry. Eden'll chew yer sorry faces up and spit 'em right out." The gargantuan smile on his face on extended as his locked gaze thirsted for fox blood.

#drama o:

    ♔ Words became smudged in the air. Background noise. Knights not so deserving of the gallantry rabbiting away about this and that. They did not know. Had no clue of his fight. Poseidon, how he wanted to latch his jaws around the tender neck of the fox. Dog he had tried, would fox be so succulent? No, wouldn't imagine so. Not when black tainted the vulpine's blood. Why waste time on a rotten heart? Because it tried to trample Eden, of course. Tried to topple monstrous bricks to the broken courtyard below. Didn't he know the castle never fell? An Edener would know that. A knight would accept it. Only a jester would test the limits. His name caught on the fur of his ear, causing it to shoo it away impatiently.

With his bent head still lowered, he stared apathetically at the lioness attempting to address him. Her figure tinged with red. Gods, he was hungry. She was arrogant in her stature, proud. Knight material, if not for the blatant mutiny she had sprawled out before him. Her and her posse of monarchs. A scoff fell from his lips and tumbled to the floor. This was not Eden. A sudden movement between his legs cause his to snap between them pugnaciously, jaws millimetres away from Capone. Black eyes now met hers. "You or him? Who even the fuck are ye, lass?" And he did not mean her name. Where were these false devotees when he had been guarding silence? Silence and John. Dear John Doe who he hoped would not betray him. But Poseidon had a cruel sense of humour, it seemed. Give him a prize and take it away. Rezeki had been a plain example of that. These sham proclaimers did not know sacrifice. Fuck, it had been a word scarred into his ears at birth. He would not attest to being a good king, but he had been a devout knight and he had learned to spot a leader.

The voices were becoming clearer now, if only slightly. His heavy skull rose and onyx eyes stumbled upon Sutton- as he knew her. Or had hardly knew her. He knew old Eden, however- been a juror himself, even. Had been willing to bring the courts back, during his reign- if only to rightfully judge the demons of their acts. Were these demons? It was becoming harder to tell.

"I didn't realise knights made decisions, nowadays." His voice was a sneer, caught up by kelpie instinct and Raph fury. It did not take him much to become enraged but this had been his life's work. And for what? Only to find out the paradise he worshipped was as corrupt as his being? To find that there was no such thing as a 'good person'. His newfound benevolent nature was simply a mask and finally its strings had been cut and the sea had seeped in. Raphael would not try any longer for these ungrateful wretches. Promises were being made, for the return of power. Didn't they know that the duty of a knight was to hold Eden high no matter their status. Had they yet to learn to grovel before the castle before being bid to climb its stone walls? Promises and reassurances and bullshit. The kelpie could feel a heat in his heart... and then the bastard spoke.

A sly rodent that claimed innocence. Raph did not know innocence but he knew guilt and it was engraved all over the male before him. Imperialcrown. Did a name mean he was entitled? If so, Raph should have been God's right-hand. Reality, however, dictated he fell beside the devil. In an ideal world. "And I'm sure that glint in yer eye is just a passionate tear, wee lamb. I take no fucking side. I judge you on the disruption, the mutiny, the plotting, the abandonment- would y'like me to go on because I fucking can. I would never leave Eden- if you'd have had the sense to look you'd have found me. But Eden's certainly fucking left me. What does that mean, little hobgoblin?" It meant he could shed his knightly duties, his chivalry. If everyone else was doing it, why couldn't he? If only to see the life leave the fuckers eyes right here, right now. He no longer had anything to lose; his beloved clan was finished. With a eerie rattling chirrup making his throat shudder, Raph grinned a grin of death.

Until a smell hit his nose. A familiar scent that caused him to glance to the side and lay proud eyes on John. John who had decided, in all the explosiveness of it all, to come to stand by his side. Despite Raph's lacklustre job, the feline's loyalty sustained. With a short sigh, and a small smile, Raph gave the small male a nod. "Glad y'could make it, lad." Perhaps he did have something to lose.

His jaw tightened and he looked at the rabble clustered around the throne. A throne he had never tried to sit in and never would. A throne that Imp had taken- the now absent 'king' fleeing for the coward he was. Dahlia deserved better than both of them. "No matter how much I loathe this shit, Dahlia appointed me King. So, for now you fuckers are going to wring yer necks in and listen to me. Those two are right, we'll call a vote. Then I can relinquish this blasted crown and you can paint Eden red, aye? Someone go let that yellow-bellied bastard know." Gods help them all if they lay the crown at the sprite's feet.

    ♔ Poseidon help them, were these their guidance? Their direction of justice? Two children bickering amongst themselves, Raphael could snatch them both up in his jaws. Difference was, as much as he craved to do just that, he had the will not to. The same couldn't be said for the sprite that had swallowed Raph as soon as he tripped. He wouldn't not make the same mistake of being so resulting, not again. For once, his instincts had not led him into darkness but had tried to do the opposite. Yet, the stallion had thought better of it. Perhaps that was another mistake he should not repeat- regardless of the risk.

Thus, his current present here. Abstained he had yet, that did not mean he was going to leave the hobgoblin to reign free. Not while Raph still had breath in him.

Striding over on hearing the less than regal bellow, Raph looked up at the new King. Dear oh dear, was that disdain in his eyes? Sweet Raph, he had shred his kinder coat. "What's wrong, dear Imp? Columbine got yer bawbag?" Although, his attention did not longer on the monarch for long. Rather, Raph surveyed his fellow knights. Or lack of them. Even if they hadn't been his subjects for long, the knights were ever his to protect. Yet, John was missing and Kama And her posse were nowhere to be seen.

    ♔ Eyes on him caused his head to turn and catch John's look of sorrow. Although, there was already a steel in his eyes. Gods, he was tired of being angry. Tired of having to be a saviour to those who didn't seem to want to need saving. But the stallion was a harder creature than all that. A few stumbles and haphazard falls would not deter him from this blind path of righteousness. It was better than the opposite. In any case, the kelpie nwould have to have his legs cut from him before he gave up the cause.

"And you were doing so well," Raph spoke, letting scorned words tumble to the ground. "You're more over your head than I fucking thought, Mr Dwarf. D'you even realise where you're standing, y'bleeding munter?" Raphael stood straight, turning his head from John to cast a wry grin towards their king. The stallion had complied, given the goblin the benefit of the doubt but that had been a mistake. He had been on board, had planned to bring back the courts himself, even. And the rank elimination certainly suited their lacking numbers. But the word anticlan rang in his head. The castle seemed silent, it would not stand for darker reigns.

"You turn us anticlan and y'strip us of our fucking cause. How're we supposed to keep peace when we won't let it rule us? You can damn well give out swift, just punishments without becoming a rodent." He would know that, if anyone. It was ingrained into his being. Why become anticlan only to take the easy route when Eden had been built on sacrifice and dignity? Perhaps he held it to higher standards than needed but their new King was blind if he thought that to be a good idea. He had not lied when he had promised to keep watch.

//Angry Raph is on a kill path haha, sorry star!

    ♔ Slumber without waves was an uncomfortable affair. The soil did not carry him like the sea, did not chase the dreams away by dissolution. It had been hard to persuade his mind to rest, through his first weeks when hooves had met sand. For his dreams had invaded and his hunger- no longer diluted by saline mediums- had sprouted like nothing else. It had been a struggle fighting off his kelpie instinct, of course it had. Yet, he had found a way to lock his dreams away, to sleep unperturbed. To cage his hunger. Even so, sleep was a luxury and it was a rare thing to catch him in. Yet, catch him they had. With his mind taken by silent black, Imp's thugs-for-hire had rocketed him awake with a sharp blow to his jaw. A curse melted on his tongue as his body moved to retaliate, only to find a rope attached to each limb. Four guards for each rope.

Red conquered his vision, black eyes steeled with venomous disdain. Yet, the initial blow to his head had taken away part of his consciousness and it was all he could do to stumble on as sleep and pain blurred reality- a tug on one of the ropes giving wordless commands. Reality that had somehow transported delivered him to the throne room- with a grinning fox talking down at him. Any other time, with his mind his own again, Raph would have admired the thought behind the plot. Yes, his head was the most dangerous weapon in his arsenal- but take the power and control from his legs and what was he but a useless set of teeth? The Imp was nothing if not calculating. Raph, admittedly, was not half as cunning. Of course, he could have been; it was all his mother had wanted. Yet, the path he had chosen was altruism. Ironic when it had landed him here. Incapable and restrained before the tyrant king.

With a slow shake of his head, Raph exulted a forceful snort through his nostrils. It did little to clear his head but his perception crept slowly back- its head ducked sheepishly. Chuckling softly, Raphael rose his inflamed gaze towards the coward that had undoubtedly orchestrated this capture. "Good morning, Mr Dwarf." Words stumbled from his jaws, unsure as they met the open air. "M'flattered you think of me so much. Although, I wouldn't tempt my crushing you with my arse. Not in the fun way, either." It was becoming transparent- the plans the hobgoblin had for the stallion. An example for the masses. It fortified the rigidity in his limbs, solid against the ground despite his lackadaisical expression. Fuck if he was going to walk willingly into a one-sided bust up on his behalf.

Although, the ropes on his legs said otherwise. A sudden jerk from the cord around his left foreleg, courtesy of one of the fantastic four, caused the same leg to buckle beneath him and Raph's jaw to smack against the stone floor. The castle was showing no leniency today. His temples creased as a spiral of pain circulated in his head- something he would have to find time elsewhere to self-pity on. Why? His other leg had scraped forwards and it was all Raph could do but to lift his fallen limb or else be dragged towards the sprite awaiting his demise. Fury leaked into his heart. How dare he? This elf was was no knight- to take Raph when there was no risk of a confrontation. Did the munter not know that Eden's knights would see this only as proof that this new authoritarian could never be king. At least, Raph hoped. His eyes drifted, now, to the crowd and caught on John. Spotted the tension in the feline's frame, the objection in his eyes. He'd better fucking not, not for Raph. A scowl engraved into his pretty face, Raphael turned to the imp. "Aye, what d'you want, then?"

    ♔ His legs trembled with the strain as the ropes were pulled tighter; his legs further apart. Gods, he must look like such an ass. But fuck it, when did he not make a situation work for him? This cretin nattering away in front of them all, he'd be down Raph's jaws in a second. Black eyes dilated as the fox stepped onto the stallion's head, his figure becoming eerily still as he watched the king. Oh, how sweet a sight when he spotted the fox's legs primed to jump, Raph's own neck taut with apprehension until the fox was airborne and the kelpie opened his jaws and launched forwards. One of the guards managed to slip and Raphael's fangs were so close to tasting rotten flesh. A grunt soon issued from the large stallion as the remaining three tugged his legs back and he smacked his already pitiful wound back onto the stone floor. Ah, how pretty those stars around his head were.

It was only the glisten of the sword that pulled him back from the droning lull he had collapsed into. Pushing back up onto his hooves, the stallion gave a throaty laugh which soon shifted into a kelpie's shrill whinny. "Y'certainly know how to keep things interesting, little sprite, I'll give ye that." But all the rubbish issued from Imp's mouth thereon was utter bullshit, and Raph knew it. With a wolfish grin, the stallion tilted his raised head. "I don't know what planet y'living on, lad, but that's the first I've heard of any oath in my years here. Y'done just made that horseshit up?" Shifting his lower jaw to each side, he revelled in the metallic taste that coated his tongue. "Y'done changed Eden up till it ain't Eden, anymore. Fuck being loyal to the crown- a knight's loyal to the cause. And your cause ain't one I'm t'follow." Turning his head from the sword-bearing vulpus, Raph turned to eye the nearest guard with a lethal look.

A mistake. A searing pain soon spread from his shoulder into his thoughts and shuttered his eyes with a black veil. Agony prevented anything but silence leaving his jaws; his whole visage scrunched up. No, never had he been so restrained, never had he lost. As the sword swung over his head, Raph aimed to grab it with his jaws before it could do any damage to the other leg and hurled it across the throne room. There was no humour left on his face any longer, simply a venomous threat cast in every one of his features with only one target in mind. Obsidian irises seemed to impossibly darken and a rattling growl was summoned from his gut, his form heightening. Then a hindleg was taken from under him and a hammer to his head caused his face to turn.

Heavy breaths infiltrated his lungs; it was all he could do but to push back up onto his hooves. Something that was taking longer and longer to do. His head eyed the pool of blood beneath his left foreleg before looking up at the meagre audience to an apparent humiliation. No, not his. He watched as Kolumbine tackled John back, an appreciative look cast toward the tyrant's sidekick. Ah, so it seemed there was trouble in paradise- tweedledum and tweedledee were at bits with the other. Raph could care less with their interchange, however. His eyes remained on John and his mouth struggled to cast his friend a pained smile. A translation of 'don't you dare do something fucking stupid or I'll wring y'myself' that he hoped was cast across. "Ah please, carry on, don't stop for my sake. Yer doing a bang up job of ruining yourself all y'own, lad." If the bastard thought Raph would leave Eden to rot, he had another thing coming.

[ooc]

ah, if you don't mind forcefully exiling him? I have no muse for captures and I'd really like to start on the rest of his character development after his exile

    ♔ The sea was with him. He could hear its salty song, feel it washing him along the pebbles of the shore. No longer could he hear the laboured breathing of the guards; the waves had swallowed them up. He wished the bastards an eternity drowning in Poseidon's rotten kingdom. But Zeus had no better leash- Eden was gone. It had slipped through his grasp; fallen at Dahlia's paws. Yet, above was only a sneer from the former Queen's face. He was a knight no more. Exile. It was the last word the former King had recalled hearing. The last thing he acknowledged till the wasps took over his thoughts and filled them with a silencing drone.

But the saline smell of his birthplace began to simmer and the smooth bumps of the tide became rough. He was not on the shores but somewhere foreign. Blinking against the spots of sun, Raph grunted as his wounds awoken and spoke in pain. Wounds that littered his formerly unmarked form. His prized possession. If he did not have his body in his arsenal then what was he?

A laugh pulled his gaze upwards until his black irises met ones eerily familiar. It was all he could do but to stare as his brain attempted to meet him. And when it did, his thoughts flashed red. Glancing to the side, his eyes followed the ground as it moved past him. Moved on without him for he was being carted towards DarkClan. Eden's ally, as far as he had known- and he had been King so he should have known. He moved his free shoulder in an attempt to move over and stabilise himself, although, it seemed his transporter had other ideas. Was this a rescue mission or Imp's doing? Had the bastard sprite not had enough?

But a single word seemed to still everything. His questioning was tossed in the air as he finally laid eyes on his sister. It had not been lies fed to him when she had been described as a shadow in the flesh- there was no brightness shrouding her until her jaws open. Oh, how different they were? Perhaps not so much, any longer. Eden had left him so he would leave Eden. He could not help a place beyond saving. A venomous look flooded his features. His former fury reincarnated, the stallion glowered up at his younger sibling as she towered above him. A power play he had not missed yet could currently do nothing about. In his shredded shape, Raphael would do well not to pass again- let alone attempt to rise to his feet. A fallen angel indeed. "Did the imp send y'to finish the fucking job?"