Vicier

[ROLEPLAY CLOSED] - Once Upon A Time (Restart)

Eliza Brie, Alan Woodard, Dominic Greyjoy, Annalise Brie, Daria Belikov, Rapunzel, Jaidyn Beachley, Sebastian Beachley, Morgan Reginald, Ireneo Funes, and Igor Pechorsky

Present Day - Lake Tahoe, Earth - Part One

Dominic leaned over the balcony overlooking the snowy slopes of the ski lodge, strangely comforted by the cool, icy air whipping against his face, billowing his hair slightly in the wind as his eyes veered up to the dark sky, already noting the glinting stars like pinpricks in the heavens.

"How long will I be gone? Be on this 'Earth'?" Dominic heard his own voice inside his head, echoing the same question he had asked thirteen years ago - when he was still home.

"As long as necessary." The Sorcerer's voice replied vaguely as ever.

This was it, though. After all these years....

Dominic turned on his heel as he heard the glass balcony door opening and closing once again, with Ilya and Funes walking out proceeded by their own charges, causing Dominic to crack a soft smile, nervous as he may be.

“..-Jaidyn, I don’t know what you’re talking about..! I didn’t ask for anyone to come out here. Why would I..? I was having a pretty good time out here on my own…” Crossing her arms over her chest as she spoke, Eliza shifted her stance slightly so that her back was pressed further back into Alan’s arms, as though she was trying to press the point that she in fact did want to be left alone, rather than have everyone she knew follow her out onto the balcony when they were supposed to be having a private moment together.

“I’m sorry Eli- relax okay? We were told that you asked for us to come and meet you out here.” Lifting his hand up so that he was rubbing the back of his neck, Jaidyn sighed softly before shooting a quick glance over at his brother for a little help with trying to explain what happened, his attention turning back to her completely as he once again dropped his arm down to his side, “Your uncle Dominic said that you had some sort of surpr-…”

"Man, I knew there was a reason I didn't want to come out here." Sebastian remarked, shaking his head a bit, accidentally catching Alan's gaze and stuffed his hands back into his pockets, averting his eyes to look past the both of them to where he could see Dominic standing. "The dude going through Alzheimer's already?"

“He what…” Narrowing her eyes as soon as she heard her uncles name slip out of Jaidyn’s lips, Eliza shot her head around so that she was glaring intensely at Dominic’s back, her body tensing up against Alan’s as she shook her head in disbelief, “Are you serious right now? So because you don’t like the fact that I chose Alan as my boyfriend, you’re now going to lie to my friends to make sure that we don’t spend any time alone together… that’s a new low, even for you, uncle Dom…”

Ignoring his niece's words for the time being, Dominic eyed the group as a whole, lifting his hand up to his mouth to clear his throat before beginning in a clear voice, loud enough for the whole group to hear.

"May I have your attention, please? All of you."

Moving his hands up Eliza's arms, Alan patted her shoulders, a small gesture that told her non-verbally that everything was going to be okay.

"Just... listen to what he has to say." Alan told her quietly before pulling away from her and went to sit at one of the tables at the corner of the balcony, propping up his feet on the chair opposite of him both to get comfortable and he didn't want anyone else sitting there.

Daria felt like she was walking into something that she maybe shouldn't have been walking into. It seemed like the few people that were on the balcony were at odds with each other and only caught the tail end of the conversation. The piece that really seemed to stick out was Eliza saying something about Alan being her boyfriend. She glanced at the guy and cocked an eyebrow, he clearly made quick work with Eliza considering he had spent a good portion of yesterday in her room. Then she remembered Eliza sneaking out last night and realized she knew exactly where she had gone. She felt bad for the girl, thinking that Alan was in it for the long run. She looked over at Alan, "Boyfriend, magic man?" Magic man... Ya, as soon as Eliza put out he was going to pull a disappearing trick.

She was about to say something further when Dominic called for their attention. Rapunzel, still holding Daria's hand poked head around the other girl's shoulder, "Maybe we should go back inside," She whispered, feeling as though she were intruding on something...

As Annelise stood there she looked at her sister for a moment when she was told that Alan was her boyfriend, and knew who he was from the night before during the snowstorm. But she decided to not say anything for now, thinking it best to talk to her about it when they were alone. Annelise shifted slightly and leaned herself up against the wall looking over towards Uncle Dom who told her to come out here because Eliza asked her to, but there seemed to be something else going on here.

"So mind telling me why we are out here?" Annelise asked looking over towards Dom and then Alan, seeing as the two of them knew something more about what was going on.

Morgan had come out to the balcony and maintained her distance away from Eliza and Alan, in order not to cause a scene. She noticed that Alan had pulled away from Eliza, but she didn't comment. She figured that was going to happen. She looked towards Dominic, when he called for their attention, and she raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. Why had Dominic gathered all of them here? Something about this seemed off to Morgan.

Now having everyone's attention on him, Dominic took a brief moment to swallow hard, eyes glancing up to the sky as he let a single thought cross his mind, perhaps in hope that the Sorcerer would be able to hear:

'Wish me luck.'

"I suppose you're all wondering why I've gathered you out here." Dominic began aloud, once more assuming the clear, loud voice that mirrored that of a public speaker or military officer's.

"I apologize for all the cloak-and-dagger that was involved in organizing this meeting, however I can assure you that all your questions - and more - will soon be answered." He added on, eyeing each one of the people gathered outside, as though personally speaking to them individually.

"I would like to begin, with a question of my own. Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror, maybe dreamt of something especially astonishing one night, or perhaps felt a little different inside? Think maybe you don't belong in the traditional sense...that you're outside, that there's something more to you than what seems so apparent, so obvious?" Dominic asked, beginning to pace across the balcony while seeming to grow more passionate with each word.

Morgan sighed silently at the questioning that was taking place. To her, this sounded like he was starting to advertise for some kind of cult. Her gaze hardened at Dominic in a way to give him a silent warning, but she didn't speak up or leave just yet, because he hadn't finished making his point yet. She wouldn't admit that in the back of her mind that she did feel different, but she didn't show any sign of it.

“..yeah, I get that way at times- but it’s whenever I’m out riding the waves…” Shifting on the spot slightly as he listened to the questions that were being asked of them all, Jaidyn shot another quick glance over towards where his brother was standing before slowly but surely lifting his hand up just a small amount, as though he were gesturing to himself though was still unsure about why it was that he was doing so in the first place. It was like Dominic could see right through him- whenever he was out on the water; he felt different somehow, like he was destined for something greater than he was already achieving… he had long ago stopped trying to explain to others just how it was that he felt whenever he was out among the waves; the feeling that something was missing in his life, though he could never seem to pin-point exactly what it was…

Shaking his head lightly as though to try and pull himself back to the present, Jaidyn shifted his stance slightly as he brought his arms up to cross over his chest, not in a defensive manner but as something to do as he tried to make sense of his own thoughts and just what it was that he was hearing from the man he had only just met that night, “I don’t know how to explain it… It’s like, when I’m out on the water, I really belong; I can be myself- like when I’m out there I’m free, like I’m in another world altogether…”

“Jaidyn, that’s just because you’re great at your sport- I don’t think that’s what my uncle is trying to get at with all these weird questions.” Crossing her arms tightly over her chest as she shifted awkwardly on the spot for a moment, Eliza quickly shook her head and moved herself forward so that she was standing in between the two brothers, her weight ever shifting from one side to the other as she did her best to not let on too much that she was seriously thinking about what it was that Dominic was asking them to think about- it wasn’t like she hadn’t thought about these sorts of things in the past; she had always been the odd one out growing up… and even with her father’s complete and utter honesty about her and Anna being adopted, she had always been curious. She was always just-… different… but she had also always been open when it came to wanting to know about her past before being found that night in the snow, and while she was okay with who she was now and where she was in her life, there was always going to be that burning feeling to find out more- and Dominic knew that for a fact…

Clenching her jaw for a moment in her own personal anger and frustration towards her uncle, Eliza quickly once again relaxed her body, her gaze turning to glance at the snow covered mountains as she did her best to calm herself before she turned her attention back to her uncle, “..what exactly are you trying to get at with the sudden interrogation, uncle Dom- you’re acting so strange tonight.”

Sebastian had been eerily quiet for being, well, Sebastian, but Dominic's words were piercing through him on a level he didn't even know existed. His eyes bore into Eliza's uncle, as though trying to surmise if he was really speaking to the group as a whole, or if it was a way for Dominic to speak directly to him. Jaidyn wasn't getting it, Eliza seemed too pissed off to really care, but each and every word Dominic had spoken felt as though it had been made for him specifically.

"Shut up, let him talk!" Sebastian snapped, mostly towards his brother but also at the tail-end of what Eliza had been saying. It was exceptionally out of character for Sebastian to be so brash, but this was something that used to bug him when he was just a small boy - the very first memories he had being adopted into the Beachley family. Time of course filled (or at least attempted to) that empty void he felt in being adopted, to begin with, but his creative mind couldn't help but to believe that there was something more to all of this.

He looked around at the group, only knowing Anna, Eliza, Dominic and Alan as of that day and his brother. The others, however, were strangers to him, but something was tickling the back of his mind.

Rapunzel released Daria's hand and stepped around the girl slightly as the man spoke to them about being... different. Rapunzel only had memories from the last year, if there was something else that made her feel as though she didn't belong it definitely had something to do with her lack of knowledge of her life before San Francisco. She felt like she stuck out like a sore thumb, like she didn't even belong in this time. There were things that just didn't make sense to her, like cell phones or cars... The doctors that Agatha brought her two were just as confused as they couldn't find any reason for the amnesia.

Was this an answer?... Did this man that she had never met have the answer? The feeling that she should go back inside disappeared from her as she looked on, listening to him, ignoring the squabbling around her.

Daria's hand rose slowly and touched the gold pendant that rested against her chest. Daria had always been a kind of social chameleon of sorts, fitting in as she needed. She was the perfect daughter for her parents, the 'A' student for her teachers, and the wild child for her peers. She almost always felt like a square peg in a circular hole that was just slightly bigger. Big enough for her to fit but she never filled the hole completely. A lot of that not fitting perfectly laid in her necklace, proof of the past that led to nothing but dead ends. A question with no answer. She always liked to think that the necklace had been her mother's... it seemed like something a mother would give their daughter before abandoning them but the truth was, she didn't remember where she had gotten it from at all. She wrapped her free arm around herself and looked at Dominic, curious as to just what it was he was getting at, slightly discomforted by how he hit her feelings right on the nose.

Annelise would look over towards Dominic once more as he started to speak up she would look over at her sister for a second before turning her attention back to him as he asked them a question. Something in his voice made her think for a moment and had to agree with the others who were outside with her. Back in high school she felt different from the other kids somehow but she never thought about it much, the person she felt the most connection to was Eliza other then that she knew she was adopted by the man who raised them. "So what are you trying to say Uncle Dom?" Annelise asked.

Looking about the group at all the conflicted expressions that practically themselves spoke of conflicted thinking, Dominic's smile of confidence grew wider.

"Allow me to continue." He added on, now keeping his gaze fixed on the group as a whole. "How many of you are either adopted or have incredibly vague backgrounds, childhoods, things you can't seem to remember or things that simply seem like coincidence? Eliza, I know you and your sister were found alone in the snow, rescued by your father. What of the rest of you?" He asked aloud, letting his silence fall almost dramatically as he awaited the answers of the people in front of him.

Hearing her name being called and her past so casually thrown out there for the rest of the group to hear for themselves, Eliza tightened her arms over her chest as she shifted awkwardly on the spot that she was standing on, her angered expression morphing instead into one of embarrassment as she dropped her gaze, tilting her head down ever so slightly as she stared at the ground between her and her uncle.

“Eli…” Reaching out his hand so that it was resting lightly upon Eliza’s shoulder rather than in his pocket like it had been moments before, Jaidyn lifted his gaze to look at his brother, waiting until he was sure that it was okay before he once again spoke up, his eyes returning back to Eliza though he instead spoke to the group that surrounded him, “Eli- you’re not the only one, I promise. Sebastian and I-… Our mother and father found us during their morning training session. We were found alone, on the beach and soaking wet in the surf. They took us in and adopted the both of us so that we wouldn’t be split up.”

Daria wrapped her arms around her stomach as the cold started to nip at her bare skin. She had always hated the cold despite spending a vast majority of her life in Russia or other cold corners of the world. At the mention of being adopted, she looked between Eliza and Annelise, that had been the very thing the three of them had bonded over, the fact that they had been found at a young age with no recollection of the time before it. Noticing Eliza's discomfort, she was about to move to her when one of the boys did instead, comforting her. Daria instead reached out and gave Annelise's hand a little squeeze before it returned to her side. She nodded her head, "I was too... My parent's backyard... in Russia..." Her eyebrows knitted together for a moment, the five of them were all rather close in age... What was the coincidence of them all being found abandoned on completely different contents with no memories.

Rapunzel pulled her hair over her shoulder and started to pull at it a little. She had a sensation to want to wrap herself up in it and hide, a sensation that wasn't uncommon when she was nervous or scared. Of course, that wasn't possible her hair was far too short... now. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and cleared her throat, "I was found in San Francisco last year... No memory of anything..." She looked at the girl in blue and offered a small smile. It was kind of nice being around people who had been in a similar situation, even if it was at a different time in their lives.

Annelise looked over when she felt Daria reaching over to hold her hand and smiled at her for a moment. Her eyes going over towards the other members of the group, it was odd that they all pretty much said the same thing. Annelise would then gently give Rapunzel's arm a gentle rub her before walking over towards Eliza.

When she was beside her sister Annelise would look at her with a concerned look on her face and held Eliza's hand. "Are you okay?" Annelise asked softly pulling Eliza slightly closer to her.

Lifting her gaze for only a moment so that she glanced up at Jaidyn as she felt the weight of his hand upon her shoulder, Eliza turned her attention over to her sister as she felt her warm touch and soft voice asking her whether she was okay- how could she be okay… their uncle was hitting a sensitive nerve, and it wasn’t just with the two of them, but also with their friends and everyone else that was standing around them. Squeezing Anna’s hand softly before she slowly pulled her own back, Eliza once again crossed her arms over her chest, her head shaking softly from side to side as she once more took a step back, staying close to the two brothers rather than moving away to stand by her sister’s side, “..not particularly Anna- but I’ll manage…”

"I apologize for bringing up any sensitive points here....but look around you, that's the one similarity that seems to connect each and every one of you." Dominic continued on, clearly coming closer to a final thesis.

"What I'm about to tell you is going to sound strange, it's going to sound crazy, and it's going to be unbelievable. But I urge you all to open up your minds and think about these next few words I'm about to say." Dominic warned in a sterner tone before heaving a deep sigh.

"None of you are who you think you are." He said in a blunt, if still semi-vague manner, taking a moment to let the words sink in before elaborating.

"This world, Earth, is not your home, not where you were born; neither is Earth mine, or Alan's, or Ilya's, or Funes'. All of us here tonight, on this balcony, hail from a distant land known as the Fairy Tale World."

Not stopping to let anyone interrupt for fear of rousing disbelief or skepticism, Dominic hurriedly continued.

"Many of you are Royals from where you hail, sent to this place, this realm to escape the clutches of the Evil Queen, Maleficent. Eliza, Annalise, Daria, Rapunzel, Jaidyn, Sebastian, and Morgan...I believe it is time you learned your true names." Dominic finished, looking at the group as a whole again for signs of reactions.

Dominic had absolutely and completely lost it in Eliza’s eyes… different worlds, fairy tales, true identities… the fact that he not only believed that he came from this so called Fairy Tale World, but also that everyone else standing on the balcony with him came from there as well- it was nothing more than ridiculous… and embarrassing. Tightening her arms slightly over her chest as she took a couple of steps closer to where her uncle was standing, Eliza quickly glanced around at everyone else who was standing out in the cold night air with them- Anna, Jaidyn, Sebastian, Daria, Morgan, and the other girl she now knew to be Rapunzel… They couldn’t be falling for this- they had to have more common sense than that…

“How much have you had to drink..? Because that is the only rational explanation that I can come up with for your weird behavior tonight, really…” How did he expect them to believe that what he was telling them was the truth? He was physically standing there, telling them that they were all Royals from a world straight out of bedtime stories and Disney movies- he had to be drunk, because she didn’t want to believe that he had lost his mind. Dropping her arms from over her chest as she moved a little closer to him, Eliza reached out taking both his hands gently, and even though she was more than pissed off with him at that precise moment, her features were filled with worry, “What you’re suggesting to us- it’s completely insane uncle Dom. Fairy tales don’t exist; they’re things you used to read to me at night, to get me to fall asleep… movies you used to put on, so that Anna and I would stay out of trouble… they aren’t real.”

A different world and-… and a Royal..? To say that he had been expecting any of that would be a complete and utter lie- Jaidyn had always known that he was different from others around him, but that different..? It was a lot to take on, and he wasn’t sure if he could take everything that was being said to them as seriously as his heart was telling him to take it- there was something inside of him wanted to believe in what it was that they were being told… to pull Eliza back an away from Dominic so that he could continue to explain what it was that he was trying to get at, but he just couldn’t- the skepticism was just too strong in his mind. Shaking his head as he brought his hand up and around so that he could awkwardly rub the back of his neck, Jaidyn shifted slightly on the spot before he moved over to the railing, leaning his body back against it as he tried to wrap his mind around everything that was going on, “I’m really sorry sir, but I’m going to have to agree with your niece on this one… What you are suggesting is slightly far-fetched; and the odds of this being true are extremely low, even it were possible…”

From his position towards the back of the balcony, Alan simply shook his head in minor disappointment. So much, in fact, that it brought him to his feet to make his way in between the small crowd of people until he reached Dominic and gave him a light pat on the back.

"Terrific job you're doing there, feathers." Alan complimented, but his tone was anything but. If this was the way that they were going to go about things, they would all still be there by the time they began to die of old age, one by one. No... no he had better things to do than hang around here for the rest of his life. So he took matters into his own hands; at least for this bit.

"Alright, yeah, you're all adopted, you've all got vague memories of your past and none of you know where you come from. That's a fact. So let's look at facts, then, shall we?" Alan gestured over towards Eliza and Anna. "Do you know the exact date you were found? I do. Your Uncle Dominic does and so does-" Alan glanced quickly over at Illya and Funes, forgetting their names already. "-uh, Professor X and Oscar the Grouch, over there." He paused before going on, looking back to the two sisters. "If your adopted parents told you, and you know the date you were found, great. Makes this all seem less stalker-ish." He gestured over to Jaidyn and Sebastian. "What day were you guys found? On the beach in an entirely different country. If we are to look at facts here, then turn to each other and tell them the day you were found. Go on." He looked then to Daria, motioning for her to look Morgan. "You two too. In fact, everyone. What day were you found?" Alan looked over to Rapunzel and then shook his head. "Yeah, no, not you. You can't play this round. Amnesia's a bitch."

Annelise stared at her sister as she answered her, she was feeling the same way she watched Eliza breaking away from her to stand near the two brothers. She then decided to stand back next to Daria and Rapunzel her eyes looking back over towards Dominic as he started to speak, the things Dominic was saying sounded completely insane and started to think the same way Eliza was, but something still kept her interest.

Annelise leaned up against the wall and stared at Dominic, then her attention turned towards Alan and stared right at him before finally speaking up. "If you say that all of this is true, and we don't have any memory, is there any real or hard proof that you claim us all to be?" Annelise asked crossing her arms over her chest, and started to shiver slightly due to the cold mountain air.

Nodding a wordless thanks in Alan's direction, Dominic couldn't help the look of uncertainty that darted across his features as more and more skepticism seemed to unravel among the Children - how could he blame them?

And suddenly, he heard it, his solution: The Folder.

"You want proof, Annelise? I have all the proof you need - that any of you need." Dominic replied, crossing both arms behind his back and looking amidst the group with the look of a mad scientist in his eyes.

"Alan...do me a favor and go fetch my binder from inside, would you? I believe it will help ease this transition." Dominic requested, managing to maintain a rather stately tone of voice, though his expression still mirrored that of a child in front of a candy store.

Alan threw up his hands in the air, both palms facing out though he was unable to get them to reach the height he wanted given the uncomfortable boundaries the suit (despite him rolling up the sleeves) gave him.

"By the Gods, the man actually does something that makes sense!" he exclaimed, his chin pointed up as though he were talking to the stars. "As luck would have it, though," Alan continued, bringing his gaze back down to "Earth" and speaking to Dominic. He reached his hand back behind him, lifting up the tail-end of his coat a bit and pulled out the small binder that he had taken all but ten minutes to memorize from cover to cover - well, at least the pictures. "Don't think you're getting rid of me that easy, Grizzly Adams, I brought it with me."

Stepping forward, keeping his eyes on Dominic, Alan took the binder and with a light flick of his wrist, slammed it down onto the table in front of him and then finally let his eyes detour someplace else, landing on Anna. Somehow, Alan kept his face from flushing at not only the recollection of taking the girls virginity, but also the knowledge he held now of who she was, and who she was.

"Ya might want to get to readin', the man seriously does his homework."

This was getting ridiculous- how on Earth could he possibly prove anything that he was saying… it was impossible, nothing more than a fairy tale, and the fact that both Dominic and Alan were playing on a topic that was so sensitive for the rest of the group; it was just making her frustration and anger levels rise. Shaking her head as though giving up on trying to be reasonable with her uncle while she let go of his hands completely, Eliza took a couple of steps backwards, putting space in between the both of them as she turned her back to him, her hands dropping to pick the front of her dress up just the tiniest amount as she began to head back towards the door that would lead her back into the lodge, and into the party they were all now missing thanks to this nonsense, “You’ve completely lost it- you really have uncle Dom… and I’m done playing your little game; I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m going back inside- you know, back to reality…”

Daria caught Eliza's arm as she started to head back inside. Daria was hardly one to believe the mumbo jumbo that fairy tales spat out but there was something... Something weird about all of them. She looked at her friend before speaking a low voice, "Five kids found in three different countries on three different continents... All of the with no memory of who they were before that... Even without knowing exactly what date you were found on, that's weird, Eliza."

She stole a glance at the girl's uncle and sighed, "Your uncle might make strange fashion choices but... I don't think he's crazy. I mean, your dad never would have let you near him if he thought he was off his rocker," She held Eliza's gaze, "The one time he starts talking crazy... and he is talking crazy... You turn your back on him? Eli... That's not you."

She sighed, "I know this is a touchy subject.... It is with all of us but," She reached up and touched the gold amulet that rested against her chest, "Don't you think that if there is even a chance of finding out where we are from... that it's worth it to hear him out?"

Morgan crossed her arms when Alan spoke up. So...the car thief was in on this too. She glared at him, showing her complete distrust and disdain towards him, when he spoke to them. She agreed with Anna when she asked for proof.

She pointed out to Dominic, her gaze hard, cold, and completely distrusting. She told him sternly, and loudly for everyone out on the balcony could hear her, "Sir. Even if you do have proof of some kind, do you really expect us to believe you when a repeat offender is backing you up on this?" She had pointed to Alan when she said repeat offender. She added "He tried to steal somebody's Lamborghini last night," If anything, the fact that Alan was backing up Dominic on this matter only gave Morgan reasonable suspicion to believe that Dominic may be running some kind of scam.

Dominic had zero credibility right now in Morgan's eyes.

She shook her head and she turned saying, "I too am heading back inside. This is a waste of everybody's time,"

Annelise looked over at her sister watching as she started to turn around and head back inside, she was tempted to as well. She turned to look back at the strange amulet that Dominic was holding out to her. With a sigh Annelise approached Eliza overhearing what Daria was saying to her.

"I kind of have to agree with Daria, even if Uncle Dom sounds like he's saying complete bullshit. All of us have something in common, we were all found in different places with no memory of anything that happened. I don't believe in fairy tales either, or that we are royals as he put it, but if its a chance to find out who we really are, we have to look into this." Annelise said before turning her attention back to Dominic.

"Give me a few moments of your time, Detective....and all will be made clear." Dominic reasoned as Morgan turned to head back inside.

"Now then. For the more practical of you, I have evidence that will not only correlate with what I've been telling you tonight, but hopefully allow us to reach a goal we've been trying to for over thirteen years." Dominic explained, once more to the group as a whole, planting both hands in his coat pockets.

Once Upon a Time (Rebooted)

Sorcerer's Apprentice and Isabella Français

Enchanted Forest ~ Village of Springfall

Smoke filled his lungs, stung his eyes. The entire village had been put to the torch...whether before or after the senseless slaughter, the Apprentice did not know or care to find out. Yet there was an air of eerie silence upon the ruins. No fire seemed to crackle or pop, no animals scuttled about the outskirts. It was simply silent.

A sudden flapping of wings drew the Apprentice's attention, his deep blue eyes falling on a flock of ravens that were gathering just near the twisted corpses, as though daring the Apprentice to try and stop them their feast.

"Begone, scavengers. These dead will not satiate your appetites this day." He said in a harsh, commanding tone, yet just above a whisper in volume. A single raven tilted its head to the side and 'Quarked' but soon departed with the rest, whether by the Apprentice's words or their own accord.

Letting out a shaky sigh, the Apprentice returned to the dreadful task of wandering through the husk of the settlement. He at least owed it to the people there to see....to witness. If only he had come sooner - could the damage have been prevented?

'Fate'...he could hear his Master's words ringing in his mind, 'All things have a time, my Apprentice. All things must end...nothing lasts.'.

'Even You?' He heard himself responding naively, during a time where all things were strange and unbelievable.

'Even me.'

The Sorcerer had reminded the Apprentice just how much pain he would feel during his long journey under his tutelage. An extended life would leave him hurt, leave him bitter, leave him lonely.

The Apprentice stopped beside the burnt corpse of a small house, his eyebrows narrowed as he could have sworn he heard something....someone.

Leaning heavily on his wood staff, the Apprentice moved a single hand to his temple, closing his eyes as he focused deeply, broadening his perception, feeling for life around him so clouded in this field of death.

Yes....someone was here -- someone was alive.

“..Guaine…” This couldn’t be; it just couldn’t… Her body shook lightly as she leant over the corpse of the young man that she had wrapped up in her arms, her eyes shutting tightly as she felt pain shoot through her heart at the mere thought that she could never again see him- never again hear his warm voice welcoming her into the bookstore, or share his sweet smile and excitement whenever they discussed the tales they had both read… He was gone; as was his family, and the rest of those who lived within the village. She thought she would have been safe here, she would have been able to get away from Gaston and the other Knights- it was the reason she had parted ways with Elizabeth in the first place, because she knew people here… people who would help her if she ever truly needed it…

She had only come to the village for help- to seek his help, to ask if it were possible to merely gain something different to wear; something that wasn’t the wedding dress she had been in since that morning, but all that had changed the moment that she had reached the village… the devastation that had befallen all who had lived here- it was just too much to bare… The moment she had managed to get past the original shock that she had felt upon seeing the sight, she had run- run as fast as she could until she had found him laying still and unmoving in front of the large tree which the two of them would spend hours reading alongside and speaking one another… She couldn’t help the soft sobs that slipped out as she hunched her herself further over his own, her forehead pressing lightly against his causing her hair to slip over her shoulders, hiding her face from view as the tears she knew that she was shedding for her late friend rolled down over her cheeks before dropping down onto his face.

“..you did not deserve this… you truly deserved so much better than this… I am so sorry Guaine…”

"I am sorry for your loss." The Apprentice's calm voice said behind Belle as he moved closer beside her, his staff tapping against the blackened and broken cobblestone on the ground.

Her breath caught in her throat as she heard the voice of another joining with hers in the otherwise silence that filled what was left of the village, her body freezing for only a moment before she slowly lifted herself up, her head turning and her gaze lifting until her brilliant blue eyes met with his own intense though still quite soft stare.

“..the loss of a single friend is hard to bare; however, the loss of the entire village has caused devastation to my heart- how could my father allow this to happen…”

"This is no fault of King Maurice's, my dear." The Apprentice assured quietly as he knelt down, obvious pain in his features as his knees audibly popped with the effort.

"This is the Evil Queen's work....carried out through her Huntsman, the Raven." He added on a more foreboding note, letting his staff lay down beside him.

The Apprentice remained silent for the next few moments, simply keeping an eye on the young woman. She could hardly be considered 'grown-up', that much was apparent from the still-dreamy, almost naive look in her eyes. This moment would remain in her mind forever.

"What is your name, if I may ask?" He implored kindly, trying to manage a small half-smile, hollow as it may be.

He was kind- or at least, he was being kind towards her; whether it was because it was in his nature or to keep her from shedding another tear however, she was unsure. Dropping her gaze from his so that she was once more looking upon the face of her late friend, she brought her hand up from around his body, her fingers lightly brushing against his forehead as she pushed his messy locks back off his face so that she could see him properly and without obstruction, “My name- my name is Isabella Français... though most who know me, i-including Guaine, know and call me by Belle..."

Nodding slowly, the Apprentice let out a soft sigh, his eyes feeling too dry and sore to shed anymore tears for the time being.

"I wish we could have met under pleasanter circumstances, Belle." The Apprentice began on a somewhat saddened note. "This village held a special place in my heart, I would visit it often, to interact with its people, to teach, or to learn..." The Apprentice swallowed hard, lifting a single hand up to stroke his beard, as though in deep thought.

"Guaine....he was the bookkeeper, yes? I would donate novels or volumes I had no more use for to him on occasion." The Apprentice added quietly, a mournful glance in the young man's direction.

So he had known Guaine just as she did; spoken with him and spent time with him as well… it was something at least, that the two of them could share with one another. Shifting slightly over the ground as she gently lowered Guaine’s head so that it was instead resting on her lap rather than in her arms, she nodded her head lightly in response to his question, her voice soft and slightly shaky as she spoke, “..he did what he could to help the old man who ran the shop- he was only trying to help him, it was how the two of us first met… I could not reach the book upon the top shelf…”

The Apprentice managed a small, lamentable smile at her words, suddenly looking far older than his youthfulness suggested. It was in his eyes...experienced...sad; far sadder than any young man should exhibit.

Reaching for his staff, the Apprentice rose up from the ground with more visible effort, dusting off his robes as best as he could before looking down at the young woman once more.

"If you would like, I can offer you a cup of tea, help calm the mind...I find it is best to share one's grievances in the company of friends. Being alone to bear the burden is one of the worst things in this world." The Apprentice said calmly, trying to keep his gaze on Belle and avoid the destruction that seemed to be closing in around him.

“..a cup of tea to help ease my mind, would be most welcomed sir- but…” Lifting her hand from the side of Guaine’s face, she brought it up to her own as her head shook lightly from side to side at the very thought of leaving him behind where he lay, her fingers lightly wiping away the tears that she could feel once more beginning to form in the corners of her eyes before she lifted her head up completely, her gaze turning up until her brilliant blue eyes caught onto his own in a questioning manner, as though searching for answers that she was unable to find no matter how hard she tried.

“..I cannot just leave him here- not like this…”

"I know you can't." The Apprentice replied, looking down at the body with a remorseful expression. "I believe I know what to do, please step back, Isabella." The Apprentice urged kindly, the 'eyes' of his dragon-head staff seeming to glow ever-so-slightly, just enough to blame it on a trick of the eyes.

“But I-…” The light glowing coming from the eyes of his staff then caught her attention, causing her to turn her to pause for a moment, her voice lost in her throat before she nodded her head lightly in response to his request, her body leaning over one last time so that she could press her lips lightly against Guaine’s forehead before she sat back up, her gentle touch lifting her friends head up just enough for her to be able to slip herself back up to her feet as she laid him carefully back down upon the ground in which she had first found him.

She was used to magic- at least now she was. Her time living in the Dark Castle had helped her to grow accustomed to the art, though she knew she would never truly get used to the way that Rumpelstiltskin would suddenly appear in the room with her… the action more times than none causing her to jump with the sudden realization that he was there watching. Bringing her hands together in front of her body as she took a couple of steps backwards, she shut her eyes for a moment, spinning a silent prayer for her lost friend before she once again nodded to the man who had been so kind to her, letting her know that whatever it was he was going to do- she was ready.

Breathing in deeply, the Apprentice looked towards the burnt and blackened stump of a tree, a milestone that stood as a landmark in the center of Springfall, a testament towards the village's tenaciousness and determination - now gone like all the rest of it.

Looking down once more at the body of Guaine, the Apprentice waved a single hand over it, causing the corpse to fade away slowly, leaving nothing but empty air in its wake.

A few moments passed of complete stillness before a beam of light from the sky above pierced through the clouds, illuminating the center of the village in a basking glow as the stump, too, faded away, replaced by a young sapling, radiating youthfulness and energy; its leaves, brilliant pink seeming to glow in the new light.

"The Dead cannot return." The Apprentice began calmly, looking at the sapling with a sense of hope in his voice. "But can bring new life in its wake. Guaine has passed on, but this tree stands as memorial: to him, and all who have passed in this terrible event. Neither blade nor spell will bring it down, and it will restore life around it - in time." He finished, bowing his head in respect towards the tree before turning to look at Belle once more.

She couldn’t help but hesitate for a few moments before she stepped forwards to where the tree stood tall and full of new life, signalling that not all hope was lost, her hand lifting up from the front of her wedding dress before she pressed her palm ever so softly against the trunk of the tree, careful and tenderly as though it might shatter with any wrong move that she made towards it. It was beautiful- better than anything that she could have hoped for… the tree a living symbol of all those who lost their lives, “..the life of the dead, is set in the memory of those who continue to live- I will never forget you Guaine; may you be peaceful in your eternal slumber…”

Smiling softly at her words, the Apprentice placed a gentle but firm hand on her shoulder, his own gaze turned once again towards the sapling.

"I do believe," he began, adjusting his grip on his staff, "that I owe you that cup of tea, don't I?" He asked kindly, cocking his head to the side to look into her own eyes.

Turning her head back to look at him as she felt the weight of his firm though still extremely gentle hand resting over her shoulder, she nodded her head softly in agreement, her soft pink lips turning up in a small though still noticeably thankful smile as she let her hand slide softly down the bark of the tree, until it was once more resting on the front of her wedding dress just as it had been moments before she had paid her respect to those who had lost their lives in the village that once stood on the spot where they were.

“..tea would be very welcome at this time sir- thank you…”

[ROLEPLAY CLOSED] - Once Upon A Time (Restart)

Alexander Katts and Isabella De' Fortesque

Present Day - Province

Taking a deep breath of the cool fresh air in through her nose she held it for a few moments, doing her best to steady her heart beat as she let it out slowly through her soft pink lips, the breath coming out shaky and almost inaudible as she lifted both of her arms up, her right arm bending back as she pulled back on the string, holding it strong and tight with the arrow notched into the bow. Flicking her dark brown eyes down to glance at the arch of the bow she quickly checked the arrow that she was using, the shaft of the arrow resting softly against right side the polished wood unlike most of the men under her command and in the Fairy Tale World who had gotten used to shooting the arrow off the left, allowing herself to take her time as she let her lips part from one another, the fingers resting on the string brushing lightly against her ear.

Letting the string slip from her fingertips she watched as the arrow shot forward towards the target she had set up, the action only lasting but a few moments before the arrow head embedded itself into the center of the target with the others that she had shot off during her training session, her lips pursing slightly as she slowly but surely lowered her arms back down to her sides, a sharp shooting pain pulsing through her body from the wound in her stomach that she had received hours beforehand. Turning her head to her stomach she curved her back slightly, her eyes flicking down to look at the wound that she had only roughly wrapped up, the normally white bandages now stained through with crimson red blood that also stained her skin, the young woman scrunching up her face at the thought of needing to re-dress the injury that was still inflicting pain on her.

Tearing her gaze away from the bloodied sight that was her stomach she let her eyes flick about the grounds around her, her free arm coming up as she slid her fingers over her forehead and into her long locks of hair, pushing them back off of her face so that she could see properly though it seemed to be all in vain as they fell back down into place, the long dark brown waves framing her face sweetly as she moved away from the archery field, her hand lightly resting against her stomach as she moved over to one of the large tents that had been set up around the training grounds. Moving through the tent and over to one of the couches that had been set up she lowered herself down onto it, her body perching on the edge of the settee as she closed her eyes, her body dropping back onto it as she let her mind wander over the events that had transpired that day and what was to come in the days to follow starting tomorrow.

Belle's thoughtful reverie, however, was soon to be interrupted by the abrupt feeling of something resting on top of her stomach. Not heavy, on the contrary rather light, but a presence nonetheless.

A simple, complacent, "Meow!" came from the creature on her middle - undoubtedly a cat - before a soft purr followed.

Furrowing her brows slightly as she heard the soft sound of a cats meow she lifted her head up from the cushions, her eyes opening slowly to look at the creature that had seemed to make itself comfortable upon her stomach, the young woman taking a few moments to watch it before she bent her arms, her upper body lifting up from the settee as she gently let herself rest on her elbows, the gentle purring coming from the cat causing small vibrations to sink into her stomach causing slight discomfort but nothing she couldn't handle, "Alright... Not sure when we got a cat..."

Softening her expression ever so slightly she leant her body over to one side, her arm reaching out so that she could lightly scratch behind its ear with the tips of her nails, her head tilting slightly as a small but unmistakable smile played over her lips, "You're such a good kitty... so content... I wonder where you came from..."

The cat's purrs seemed to increase in fervency as she began petting it, the cat easing its head into her touch, bright green orbs shutting tightly.

For the most part, the cat appeared to be clean and healthy, it's black fur lacked much in the way of dirt or markings. It appeared well-fed but fit and lithe, with piercing eyes that seemed to look past Belle's defenses....familiar.

Eventually, the cat decided to simply curl up into a small ball atop her stomach, occasionally letting its coarse tongue lick at her bloodied bandages, but otherwise remained still.

Shifting her body slightly she couldn't help the soft chuckle that slipped through her lips, her already soft (and almost loving) smile growing over her lips, lighting up her features as she watched the contented feline lean eagerly into her hand, the pressure of her touch increasing as she scratched him a little harder behind the ear. Raising her eyebrows only slightly, she caught sight of the slightly familiar and fierce green eyes that seemed to be looking straight through her, her head tilting and her body shifting into a more comfortable position as she watched it curl up into a ball on her stomach, "So, have you got a home..? Or should I be taking you back up to the castle with me..."

The cat, however, being an animal, said nothing, merely purring softly as it began making itself more comfortable on its new bed.

In reality, the cat was little more than the Queen's Assassin, shape shifted into this more inconspicuous form. Maleficent would be busy dealing with the Pride Lands and the Lion King, and Katts felt a certain sense of intrigue in regards to the young Huntress who was in Gaston's service. Naturally, the Assassin felt it best to spy on her in a less obvious form.

"Well, someone looks as though their comfortable enough to sleep..." Her eyes softened slightly as she watched the black cat curled up so naturally, the felines small chest gently lifting up and down with every breath that it took, the soft purring continuing to send vibrations through her body, though the young huntress was getting used to it, "Maybe that's what I should do... I grow tired of training..."

Pulling her hand back from his head so that she was no longer petting him she slid her arms down and around his body, the brunette doing her best to support his small and lithe frame as she shifted her own position on the settee, her body slipping to the edge of the couch before she lifted herself back up and onto her feet. Turning her head down so that she could see what she was doing she shifted her arms slightly, cradling the creature lightly against her chest as she began to move back through the tent, her feet slowly carrying her down the slightly long though familiar path that led back up to the castle, "I believe it is time to retire for the night, what do you think hm..?"

The cat, or Katts, opened his eyes with half-hearted irritance as she began to stand up, but he quickly made himself comfortable once more, resting his head against her very warm and comfy bosom while she walked them both to the castle.

In response to her question, he merely gave a small and content, "Mew!" as reply.

Lifting her gaze up to look at the castle as it began to get closer and closer she let her smile slowly fade back into her usual bored expression, her long dark brown locks bouncing lightly over her back and her hips swinging from side to side with every step she took, a single eyebrow raising only just slightly as they both grew closer to the doors that led inside the castle, the action causing the new guards that she had assigned to stand watch to quickly open the doors for her, the two of them exchanging questioning looks as they caught sight of the cat resting comfortably in her arms and against her chest.

"My Lady... Does the King-..." Snapping her head around as she heard one of the two of them tentatively beginning to address her, she narrowed her eyes causing his words to be cut off only moments after he had begun to speak, irritance flashing across her eyes at the thought that those who were in her command were questioning her actions, "The King, though he likes to think so, does not control every little thing that I do. If I wish to get a cat, then that is what I shall do. Now I suggest you focus on your post... or this time it will be my hands that your blood is on... Do I make myself clear..?"

Not bothering to wait for a response from her soldier she turned her back to them both once more, her body once again moving as she headed over to the large grand staircase that led to the upper floors of the castle, her heels making soft clicks against the stone as she began to make her way up them, her arms tightening slightly around the cat to make sure that she wouldn't drop him.

Katts did very little during the journey but simply enjoy the ride, continuing to play the role of the innocent, benign kitten while being led through the very castle he savaged just earlier that afternoon.

Lifting one of her arms up from around his body as she got closer to the door that led to her room she pressed her forearm hard against the polished wood, the huntress using her strength to push it open just enough so that she could slip into her room with him, her arm sliding down the door before she let it drop back down to her side, the door closing behind them both with a gentle thud. Slowing her pace now that she was alone in her chambers she made her way over to her bed, her body leaning over slightly as she relaxed her arms slightly around the cat, letting him down easy so that he could curl up and rest gently on the top of the bed, "You just make yourself comfortable, not that I think that will be quite hard for you to do. It seems as though you can sleep anywhere and at any time."

Turning her back to him as she began to cross over the room she slowed to a stop in front of her armchair, her arms coming up to cross over her body as she gripped hold of the bottom of her top so that she could began to slowly remove her clothes, laying them one by one down over the the arm of the chair so that she would be able to find them in the morning once she woke up.

Katts, still trying to keep the guise of an innocent feline, pawed at the soft, expensive bed-spread before sauntering towards one of the pillows and curling up atop it, yawning noiselessly.

But as Belle began undressing in front of him, Katts couldn't help but let a single eye wander, investigate - analyze.

Her body was pleasing, with lean, well-defined muscles and voluptuous, bosomy curves that might have made even the Dark Queen jealous.

Katts cursed himself inwardly for his averting eye, the curse of being male. Trying to push her out of his mind as best as he could, Katts once more lay down on the pillow and attempted to fall asleep, feeling a....quickening in his chest. Unusual.

Lifting both her arms up from her sides once she had finished undressing she ran her hands over her forehead, her fingers slipping through her long dark brown locks as she pushed it all back off of her face, her arms dropping back down to her sides as she made her way over to her bed, her body leaning over as she began to pull the covers back. Climbing up onto the mattress she slowly dropped back, her arm lifting up so that her forearm was resting gently against her forehead, her eyes focusing on the canopy that was hung above her as a gentle and relaxed sigh slipped past her lips.

Katts moved himself closer somewhat, enough that he was pressed up against her leg. With one more light purr he closed his eyes and seemed to drifted off to sleep.

Turning her head down slightly as she felt the soft fur of the cat brushing lightly against her leg she couldn't help the smile that once more lit up her features, the huntress deciding to take her cue from the feline as she turned her body onto its side, her arm sliding up and under the pillow to support her head as she quickly drifted off into a slumber.

After about a half an hour when he was sure Belle was fully asleep, Katts stealthily slunk off the bed, being sure not to disturb her as he did so.

With a sudden shift, the cat grew exponentially and became human again, the now regular Katts brushing off his shoulders lightly.

Wearing a cool expression he quickly investigated the bedroom, his eyes keen for anything of interest, of note. Finding nothing, the Assassin let out a small sigh before turning towards the window, ready to jump out and escape.

But one look back at Belle halted him, stopped him. His lips curved into a deep frown as he knew exactly what was going on.

'You know the rules, don't get sentimental...' He hissed inwardly at himself with a narrowed, venomous look to his eyes. But, finding himself unable to leave so soon he walked back towards the bed, shaking his head disgustedly to himself before once more shifting back into cat form and jumping back onto the bed, nuzzling himself against her once more to fall into a restful sleep.

[ROLEPLAY CLOSED] - Once Upon A Time (Restart)

Eliza Brie, Alan Woodard, Dominic Greyjoy, Annalise Brie, Daria Belikov, Rapunzel, Jaidyn Beachley, Sebastian Beachley, Morgan Reginald, Ireneo Funes, and Igor Pechorsky

Present Day - Lake Tahoe, Earth

Alan couldn't take it anymore. There was only so much 'faking' that even he could do in one night. Ever since he found out... ever since he was told about Eliza; about the others... everything changed. It was as though someone had gone into his mind and re-wired the way he saw things and it did not help matters anytime Eliza- no, anytime Elsa would brush her lips up against his or hold onto his arm tight. Each smile that she spread across her lips, each laugh he heard her make... it was torture. She was so unknowing... so blissfully unaware of the truth... they all were. So he made his move.

After about an hour after Eliza's speech, Alan finally managed to convince her to go and get herself something to drink and leave him be for a few moments, and that's when he pounced. He located Dominic within the crowd, making a direct beeline towards the older gentleman and stopped abruptly at his side, keeping his head turned in the opposite direction to keep anyone who might be watching unaware that he was speaking with him.

"Look. I don't know what you, Wheels and Jew-nose got planned for this whole thing, but you've got two options right now Pin Feathers. I'm taking Elsa aside to the balcony and I'm telling her. Now. You can either back me the fuck up by bringing everyone else out there too, or you can sit there and do nothing just like you have been for thirteen years."

Without even so much as giving Dominic a glance, Alan continued on his way, heading towards the (non-alcoholic) bar where he had spotted Elsa and joined her at her side, shaking off the anger he had just demonstrated towards Dominic and put his mask of normalcy back onto his face - even with a smile.

“Thank you.” Smiling brightly at one of her other co-workers, Eliza reached out taking up the two drinks that she had ordered, her body turning to offer Alan her full attention as he joined her by her side, one hand lifting up to pass him one of the drinks that she had just gotten for them both. She knew it wasn’t something that he would have wanted, he would have wanted alcohol, but she wasn’t old enough to get it legally, and with the Tahoe police as guests at the party, she wasn’t going to push her luck.

“Hey, I was just about to come find you. I got you a drink- sorry, there’s no alcohol in it, I’m still underage and with some of our guests… I’m not going to risk getting us any.” Smiling once he had taken the drink from her, Eliza lifted her own glass up to her lips, taking a small sip of it before she glanced around the room, her eyes catching on people here and there before turning back to meet with his, “If you want, we can leave soon, I did promise you that we only had to stay for about a couple of hours at least.”

"Yeah..." Alan replied in a general statement to everything Elsa said to him. His eyes were off of her, for the moment, however. After taking his drink, the mention of some of the guests, namely police, had his attention turning to Detective Morgan - another unsuspecting victim to the game Dominic and company had been playing for years. He forced his attention back to Elsa, taking a small drink and though he didn't even register what the beverage even was, he gave her a small nod of acknowledgement. "It's just fine. Thanks."

Not exactly having it in him to down the rest of the nameless beverage, Alan shrugged his shoulders and once more looked out at the people within the room.

"I think I can handle a bit more of this..." he told her nonchalantly as he turned to look back at her. "...If you give me a ten minute break and come out with me to the balcony?"

“Heh, ten minute break huh..?” Reaching out with her free hand, Eliza gently took a hold of his as she stepped closer towards him, her hand twisting in his slightly until she was able to entwine their fingers with one another, her brilliant ice-blue eyes searching his as she nodded her head softly. A ten minute break sounded perfect, she needed to get away from the people who were surrounding her. She was fine when it came to organizing the perfect event, she was even fine when it came to socializing with the occasional guest, but crowds like this had never been her thing, they made her nervous… uneasy, it was something she was doing her best to work on.

“I think I can allow that… Let’s go then, lead the way honey.”

Alan quickly took hold of her hand, eager to get out, to get this growing mass off of his chest. Though as they neared the threshold, Alan took one look over his shoulder at Dominic, and nodded. Whatever the old bird did now was on him, but Alan wasn't playing this game anymore. He had a conscience to clear.

---

Quirking a disapproving brow at Alan's rather harsh and commanding words, Dominic nevertheless retained his front of jovialness, sifting his keen eyes through the swelled crowd in search of anyone he could find at the moment.

Locking gazes with Jaidyn and Sebastian, the Twins, Dominic nodded once shortly. If Alan was fully intending on going through with his words, he would only have minutes to gather everyone else together before revealing their true heritage. The Sorcerer had told them so just hours before. How long had he been holding onto that information...? Dominic pushed such random questions to the back of his mind for the time being - right now he had to focus.

Politely making his way through the crowd, Dominic finally made it within speaking distance of the twins, clearing his throat initially to grab their attention.

“..-see dude, I told you she wasn’t into me like that.” Shaking his head softly from side to side, Jaidyn shoved his hands back down into his pockets, his features no longer carrying his normal happy and welcoming smile, but instead holding a slight grimace as he shot a quick glance over to where he could see Eliza and Alan making their way through the crowd, “And what’s the damage with that guy that she’s with? There’s something not right about that one… I don’t like him. There, I said it.”

He wasn’t going to deny the fact, something about the whole night felt… off… though whether it was just the fact that he didn’t like Eliza having a boyfriend, or whether it was something else about the night, he wasn’t too sure. Hearing someone clearing their throat behind where he stood, Jaidyn raised his eyebrows in surprise as he turned his head to look over at who was making their presence known, his gaze coming to rest on the man that they had been introduced to earlier by Eliza, “Hey, Mr. Greyjoy, good to see you again. Please, come join us.”

Flashing his most dazzling smile (a trait that was far more effective in youth), Dominic planted a single hand in his coat pocket as he strolled closer. "Good evening again. I don't mean to disturb at this moment, but I believe Eliza was wanting to gather....close friends and family on the patio outside, she'd be delighted if you two could be in attendance." Dominic hated lying...it was the worst part of the job, the deception; made the words taste like bile as they left his lips.

Unable to help the smile that crossed over his lips, Jaidyn nodded his head, his body shifting slightly in place as he shot a glance over at his brother, wondering just what it was that he was thinking about the situation and about what it was that Eliza wanted with all of them, “Yeah, I don’t see any issues with going out to meet with her and the others… What do you think Seb?”

Giving his brother merely half an ear, Sebastian had been eyeing the covered-up drum set in the corner of the room. Such a shame really; a fantastic place for a party - Eliza definitely had that right, but the atmosphere could have used with a bit more... well... him.

He was even amidst the first half-step towards the drum set when Dominic had his brother's attention. His shoulders visibly slumped after Dominic told them what Eliza wanted. As much as he liked Eliza and reveled in the thought of being able to torture his brother's bad luck with women a bit more, he was itching to liven up the party just a smidgen more than that.

"Uh..." Sebastian turned his body to face his brother and Eliza's Uncle who they had just met that evening. Realizing that he didn't have much choice in the matter (as there was absolutely no way Jaidyn would leave him on his own) he stuffed his hands into his suit pants pockets and lowered his head a bit to look at the tops of his shoes. "Yeah... guess we could do that..." he replied, swinging his right foot a small ways as though he were kicking an imaginary small rock.

"Good! With me, please!" Dominic beckoned, motioning towards the rather grandiose doors that led to the balcony overlooking the slopes and mountains of Lake Tahoe.

While passing through the crowd with Twins in tow, Dominic scanned the crowd once again, rather easily picking up the massive frame of Ilya sticking a bit away from the rest of the guests.

"One moment, wait here, please." Dominic directed to Jaidyn and Sebastian, his tone still cordial but a bit more serious than before.

Making it within speaking distance of the Russian giant, Dominic lowered his voice to that of a subtle whisper, "The Time has come, my friend....gather Rapunzel, Daria, and Morgan and meet me on the balcony overlooking the hills." Not bothering to say anything more than necessary, Dominic continued on his way as though he was simply greeting an old friend, waving for Jaidyn and Sebastian to follow him once more.

Catching sight of Dominic’s motion for them to follow along behind them, Jaidyn shot his hand out towards his brother, lightly tapping him on the chest with the back of his hand as he gestured towards the direction they needed to go in, “Come on Seb, cheer up… You never know what Eli’s thinking- she loves your music, you know that, she might even ask you to get up with the DJ and play for a bit… even if she isn’t thinking it, we might be able to convince her.”

Chuckling softly at the look on his brother’s face, Jaidyn shook his head lightly as he draped his arm around Sebastian’s shoulders, tugging lightly for a moment before his hand returned back to the recesses of his dress pants pocket, his feet carrying him along behind Dominic, knowing that his brother was going to follow along behind him.

Sebastian shot his brother a quick look and though his face lightened up a bit at the idea, he kept his shoulders slouched.

"I know, I know. I'm just bored is all. Being all cooped up in the plane, then getting stuck in this..." he gestured lamely towards his suit and then brushed off the front to make sure everything was pressed correctly. He may have been complaining about what he had to wear, but he still wanted to make himself look the best he could. Stuffing his hand back into his pocket, he shook his head, watching Dominic head away from them for a moment before giving his attention back to Jaidyn. "Ah well. Anythings better than that flying, pressurized sardine can anyway."

One more. There was one more left to find before Dominic could join Alan on the balcony: Annalise. Truth be told, Dominic spent more quality time with Eliza than with her sister, due to their own mutual interests, but the older man was sure he'd be able to lead his other 'niece' on just as easily.

"Annalise!" Dominic called, loud enough for her to hear at the bar as he approached, feeling much more like a fetching dog than a Guardian at the moment.

"My, my, how long's it been since I've seen you last? A year, maybe?" He began in his most polite of demeanors, adopting a casual yet elegant air that he carried with him since his youth.

"Now, I think Eliza's been planning something for her close friends and family out on the balcony. For what, I'm not entirely sure, but I was sent to find you all the same." He finished with a smile, though inwardly was hurtling curse after curse at Alan for rushing plans.

Annalise was leaning over the bar taking a sip from a glass of water, looking over her shoulder watching as all of the party goers were having fun and dancing. She caught a glimpse of her sister heading out onto the balcony on the other side of the room, but she didn't recognize the man who was with her due to the distance.

She jumped suddenly when she heard her name being called, her eyes going over to see Uncle Dom which made her smile even more and quickly ran over to give her uncle a loving hug. "Uncle Dom! Its been awhile, and it was more like a year and a half ago the last time I saw you. Eliza was at one of her competitions last time you visited." Annalise said with a smile.

She took a moment and looked over at the balcony and nodded. "Lead the way then Uncle Dom."

Chuckling shortly, Dominic strolled throughout the crowd towards the large glass doors that led out to the crisp outdoor air, feeling excitement well up in his chest as his mind raced. This was it....the moment he had been waiting for. Yet it felt so....anticlimactic, almost. As though there should have been more fanfare. No...no that would come later.

"Go on now, out you go. I'm sure Eliza's waiting!" Dominic declared, trying to usher the teenagers out the door.

Annalise followed behind Dominic, then she stood next to Jaidyn and Sebastian giving the two of them a friendly nod an smile, then looked at Dominic for a moment. Annalise opened the door and headed outside.

Raising an eyebrow as he watched Annalise wander out before them, Jaidyn tilted his head to the side ever so slightly, his eyes flicking back and forth between the two sisters that were now out on the balcony. They couldn’t have been any more different from one another. He hadn’t formally met Annalise yet, but from what he saw, she was the more excitable of the two of them, where Eliza kept a cool and level head about her most of the time, “Alright, let’s see what Eli wants, shall we..?”

Shooting a bright smile over at where his brother stood beside him, Jaidyn moved himself forward towards the door, his hand coming up to push it open as he made his way out onto the balcony and into the cool evening air, his feet slowly carrying him over to where the rest of the group seemed to be gathering by the railing.

Letting out one last sigh, Dominic watched as the three teens headed out, taking a moment to look behind him before following in suit, hands shaking in a mixture of apprehension and anticipation.

---

At this point Ilya had made his way to Funes to relay the news. Funes was happy that Alan had finally taken some initiative of his own, but worried about his methods. He hoped to delay things a little bit, and began to talk to Ilya about more trivial matters. "So, is there alcohol at the bar? I don't drink, but I do recall you and your friend talking about drinking." "There's no alcohol." "Oh, well I'm surprised you got any enjoyment out of it"

"Funes, I think we have some more important things happening now. We could just stay here and hang out, but things need to move on, and the pace is finally picking up."
Funes protested, but Ilya had already turned his head and seen Morgan. He motioned for her to come closer and said "Hello, nice to see you again. I have a friend here who'd like to talk to you if you have a moment."

Morgan was talking with her partner, and she had turned her head to see Ilya from earlier today motioning for her to come closer. She sighed, and expected that Eliza Brie told him to escort her out of the party. She groaned and she told her partner "I'll see you later. I think I'm about to be kicked out,"

Morgan walked over to Ilya and she raised an eyebrow at the fact that 'a friend' wanted to talk to her. She came to the conclusion that this friend was Ms. Brie. She greeted politely with a heavy sigh, "It's nice to see you again, Mr. Pechorsky. I have a pretty good idea what Ms. Brie wants to say. I can escort myself out, Mr. Pechorsky,"

"Did I say it wrong?" Ilya said, sounding confused "I just meant that my friend here would like to talk to you. You see, he likes to read a lot, and one of his favorite genres is detective stories, he even knows an author who's written a few. He's always wanted to talk to a real detective, and now that you're here I was wondering if you'd help him out." Ilya pointed to Funes, who was doing his best to hide his annoyance at Ilya and act genuinely interested in speaking to Morgan.

Morgan blinked and she answered in realization as she spotted that his friend was actually the man in a wheelchair, "Oh! Oh, I see," She then apologized "I apologize, I made an assumption. You didn't say anything wrong," She then answered "I can talk to him and help him out,"

"Thank you so much. I've got to attend to some other business, so I'll leave you two to talk." Ilya hurried away, heading in the direction where he last saw Daria.

Funes waited to speak, letting an awkward silence arise. He then said "Well, what he said is true. So, uh, do you ever read any stories about detectives? Do you think they're realistic?"

Morgan walked up to him, and at first there was an awkward silence. He soon broke it with his statement, which made Morgan raise an eyebrow inquisitively. When he asked, she answered "I haven't read detective stories in a long time. But the ones I have read seemed unrealistic to me in retrospect,"

Funes kept on talking, using it as a launching point for further inquiries. "I'm not even sure if realism really necessary for a good detective story. The first real detective story was part of 1001 nights, and is still highly acclaimed even though the reality that created it is far removed from the one we experience today. My friend Borges always aimed for fiction to feel convincing, but only occasionally worried about realism. Some people even argue that the line between fiction and reality isn't a defined as it seems. Discovering forgery can change what we think of as real, and fictional stories can have a real influence on their authors and others. Now, sorry about that, but I've got a lot stored in my head, sometimes I need to share it."

Morgan listened to Funes talk about realism and she raised an eyebrow at the mention of Borges. When he apologized, she answered sincerely "It's fine, I don't mind listening,"

Funes got a strange feeling that it was time to see what was going on outside. "Come on, let's talk more on the balcony, it's nice out tonight."

Morgan nodded and answered "Alright, let's go outside," She then led the way to the balcony.

Daria was dancing away on the dance floor, trying to just have fun. Annelise had gone somewhere... She hadn't seen much of Eliza and beyond Rapunzel, who was sitting alone at a table, she didn't know anyone else really. Daria never had a problem with not knowing people though. She always found a way to still have a good time. After all, a boring life was a life where nothing changed.

She did a little spin and noticed Ilya walking towards her. She smiled at him, "Do you intend to dance?" She joked, using the Russian language once more. He didn't seem like much of a dancer.

Ilya chuckled a little bit "I would need more alcohol and better music before trying to dance. Are you and your friends enjoying yourselves? I must've missed where the Brie sisters ran off to, I hope they didn't abandon their own party."

Daria laughed a little, she had assumed as much of him. When he mentioned the Brie sisters, she stopped her own movement and looked around before shrugged, "I saw Annelise earlier... I don't really know where they've run off to though," She glanced over at the table that she had seen Rapunzel sitting at earlier and nodded over to the girl, "Rapunzel is still here, so I don't think Annelise has run off completely...."

"There's a few other people who I don't see around right now. The odd characters, the magician that likes to hang out in the front lobby, and my friend from the history museum. Life around the hotel is a little more interesting with them around, although I might prefer it if Alan didn't become a fixture around here."

Daria looked at Ilya as he rambled on about the people who were attending the party. At some point she lost interest in the conversation, that moment was when she saw Alan and thought of better things to do. Things that might actually include some alcohol. As she started to make her way over to the older man, she noticed Rapunzel sitting by herself at a table and caught her arm, "Come on, I'm going to show you how to party. Come along."

Rapunzel jumped slightly but didn't question it any, merely allowing the girl to drag her along toward and out onto the balcony.

Ilya was glad that this worked out naturally, and wondered if the others would say that he took too long. He followed them to the balcony.

[ROLEPLAY CLOSED] - Once Upon A Time (Restart)

~ ? ~

[ROLEPLAY CLOSED] - Once Upon A Time (Restart)

~ ? ~

[ROLEPLAY CLOSED] - Once Upon A Time (Restart)

~Frog Prince – Naveen Repholza~

SPOILER GIF

Name: Ribbit.
Other Names: The Frog Prince, Prince.
Real Name: Naveen Repholza.
Age: 26.
Occupation: None.

Appearance - Thirteen Years Ago (Age Thirteen):



Appearance - Today (Age Twenty-six):

Cursed



After the Curse is broken

SPOILER

Personality Traits: Naveen is an exceptionally outgoing, easygoing, laid-back, smooth-talking and music-loving Prince. He often-times makes exclamations in his native tongue of Maldonian, his favorite being "Achidanza" whenever he sees or witnesses something he especially likes. He is fun-loving and lazy, but a well educated philanderer. He loves to dance and play music, having learned to play a variety of musical instruments at a young age. Although he has a lot of innocent charm to him, Naveen's childhood was spent spoiled, having servants wait on him hand and foot, day after day for years upon years. Though not with malice, Naveen didn't exactly treat his servants very well, either, showing a constant lack of appreciation to any and all who had ever served him. He has a love for women that stemmed from a very early age, however the furthest he was able to get was a couple ballroom dances with some older princesses due to being cursed at the age of thirteen. Whilst seeing himself as a heavy philanderer, he does have a huge romantic side to him that has only grown with his isolated age.

Most of these traits have carried over into his curse though mostly it is out of spite as he realized as he grew up just how unbecoming of a Prince he really was, so he constantly mocks his younger self mostly by pretending to be vain, constantly commenting on how gorgeous and wonderful he is despite his cursed appearance. Underneath this guise, however, Naveen isn't at all as confident as he likes to believe, ultimately having a huge amount of disappointment in himself and treating others terribly throughout his childhood and wants nothing more than to make amends by 'paying it forward' in treating others he meets along the way with kindness.

Skills: Not exactly without skill, Naveen doesn't have very many significant ones that need any particular explanation, however he does know how to play a variety of different string instruments as well as a few wind instruments like an ocarina or pan flute. Along with this, he is a skilled singer and dancer, able to adapt to any style of music and sometimes creates new ones of his own. He was well-educated as a boy on Maldonian history and the history of various other kingdoms, but most of that information has slipped from his mind as of date.

He has a basic feel for survival skills, having been subjected into hiding for the last thirteen years and living off of the land (though keeping himself close enough to others for occasional conversation and learning 'today's news' so he can keep in touch with reality and know what is going on within the kingdoms). His fighting techniques are limited to the experience as child playing with a wooden sword out in the courtyard with his friends; same with a bow and arrow.

Biography (Before Earth):
Born in the kingdom of Maldonia, Naveen lived a life of a silver-spoon in his mouth at all times in a castle of polished marble with his mother and father (the King and Queen) and a few years later his younger brother, Prince Ralphie, joined the royal family. Growing up, Naveen was quite the freeloader, spending most of his time being waited on and never learning to do a thing for himself, including activities as basic and simple as cooking. His parents didn't seem to mind, wanting nothing but complete lavishment for their two boys and were too busy running the kingdom to have any personal time with either of them to want to teach them anything.

When Naveen turned ten years old, he and his family took a trip to Swan Lake to pay tribute to the newest born royal to the land, a Princess by the name of Odette. It was during this time when Naveen and Ralphie were off busy playing, their parents came up with the most wonderful idea that when Odette was old enough to be married, Naveen would have her as a bride and the two kingdoms would come together in a strong union. Naveen was quickly brought to the newborn Princess after it had been decided, where Naveen's father bestowed the both of them with a swan necklace (in honor of Swan lake and the royal family's last name).

For the next three years, Naveen was forced into visiting Swan Lake on a number of occasions so that he would become more comfortable with the area (and Odette) and get used to the idea of one day ruling the two lands. Naveen hated it, and often skipped out to hide from the royal servants who were ordered to take him back to Odette, but Naveen was tricky and resourceful, and often-times wasn't caught.

Then, one day, Maleficent's tyranny came to a startling front. Immediately, Naveen and his family took their ship to cross the sea to Swan Lake to ensure that Naveen and Odette remain together, having heard from The Blue Fairy (their family guardian) of a portal that could keep their children safe in another land. However, upon arriving to the once familiar land, the King of Swan Lake and his child were nowhere to be found and instead, had been taken over by an evil sorcerer. Unfortunately for the Repholza family, Maleficent herself (a guest of the sorcerer Rothbart) had taken up a temporary residency within the kingdom's castle, and were none-the-less captured as her prisoners.

Knowing that being held captive was not something in which they wanted their children subjected to, the King and Queen worked quickly trying their best to formulate a plan in which the family would be able to slip out leaving their captors behind. Using his knowledge of the castle, Naveen's father helped to coerce a few of the prison guards keeping watch over the royal family to allow them passage, reminding a few of them of their ties they had before they were subjected into working for Rothbart. After months of planning under Rothbart's nose, the Royal Family was finally given their chance to escape (thinking that Maleficent had returned to her own Kingdom) through the underground sewers. This was not the case, however, as it seemed Maleficent was far more resourceful and watchful of the Royal Family than Rothbart.

Catching up with them before they could get too far, Maleficent (slightly fascinated with their will to escape) gave them a single chance to give to her their loyalty, offering them the life they once had if they chose to side with her. Straight out refusing her offer, the King and Queen urged Naveen to take his brother and escape the clutches of the evil that had spread through the land, however Maleficent was quick to act ripping the hearts of the royals from their chest, crushing them to dust in her hands before the eyes of the two young princes.

Terrified of what they had just seen, Naveen shouted to his younger brother to run the two of them taking off as fast as their young legs would take them, though Maleficent was quick to act, her and Rothbart appearing on either side of them in a couple of thick plumes of purple smoke. The boys, having a few years of their school-yard play for experience and prior knowledge of the castle they were in, figured the best plan would be to split up using their quick pace and their small frames to slip past the evil sorcerers. Reacting to the sudden change in plan, both Maleficent and Rothbart sent magical blasts towards each of the boys quickly trying to apprehend them. Catching Ralphie square in the chest, Maleficent's blast sent him flying backwards, the younger boy crashing into the wall. Naveen, frightened and thinking the worst for his brother refused to look back, continuing on the path he was on as he attempted to run to freedom. Frustrated at the young child, both Maleficent and Rothbart shot yet another blast towards him in unison, their magic combining before catching up to their intended victim.

One blast intended to stun while the other intended to curse, the combination of their magic caused both Maleficent and Rothbart to watch on as something that neither of them expected seemed to unfold before them. Their gaze caught sight of what looked to be both a frog and a human as it disappeared from sight, leaving them standing alone together in silent surprise. Their shock more than helped to give the prince plenty of time to get away from the castle, never to be seen or heard of again.

That is, not until nearly eleven years later when Naveen was found and captured by Armand's shadows and taken prisoner in The Bayou.

Biography (Life On Earth):
Naveen had been taken by his father to the portals to reach this 'unreachable land' however they were too late and Naveen was never sent through.

Other: Naveen always has a small mandolin on his person to play and sing to himself, he always has an umbrella made from leafs and other swamp-like materials. Though, the umbrella is mainly for show and theatrics.

Naveen also has a particular necklace that was given to him after the birth of Princess Odette of Swan Lake, a keepsake from their parents to remind them that they were to be married once Odette reached her sixteenth birthday. He only holds onto it now because of Odette's sudden disappearance just before he himself was cursed into being a frog. He keeps it as a reminder of her, but keeps it hidden underneath his shirt.

Theme Song:
It's My Life - Bon Jovi

[ROLEPLAY CLOSED] - Once Upon A Time (Restart)

~The Shadow Man – Armand Facilier~

Name: Dr. Facilier.
Other Names: The Shadow Man, Witch Doctor, Voodoo Man.
Real Name: Armand Facilier.
Age: 32.
Occupation: King of The Bayou - Voodoo Master.

Appearance - Thirteen Years Ago (Age Nineteen):



Appearance - Today (Age Thirty-Two):



As The Shadow Man -Makeup-



Personality Traits: Armand is a scheming bokor who has no friends but those on 'the other side." He oftentimes tricks his victims into making deals with him by reading their past, present and future with tarot cards. Oftentimes he over dramatizes the future reading and offers to help change their otherwise 'inescapable' future. He isn't exactly dishonest with his readings, he tends to embellish the bad and hide the good, but there is always a spark of truth in the cards he wields but has learned over the years that the human race is a greedy one and tends to overlook the good and strive only for what he can offer them. However the deals Armand makes usually backfire on the victim like telling someone that he sees 'green' in their future and though the victim automatically thinks 'money' is turned into a frog instead.

Armand is also very intelligent and is able to come up with a rather complicated plan in a relatively short period of time. He can be very patient despite how angry he can oftentimes be. He is a suave, smooth-talking man and is oftentimes charming, but on the other side his true colors reveal him to be cruel, remorseless and sadistic. He is a very charismatic performer, a smooth-talker of drama and showmanship. He's also quite the glutton for power. He's controlling and vindictive, doing whatever he can to get what he wants even if that means double crossing those he knows to be more powerful than him, but does so with a cool and collected head to keep from being exposed and will work with anyone who can promise him more power.

Armand does not underestimate the powers of nature either, and knows that animals can talk and have minds of their own just like humans do, and yet he has no problems squishing bugs or sacrificing baby animals for his own voodoo experiments. He has a complete lack of morals and has a treacherous nature, though his true intentions of what he is exactly about remain hidden to everyone but himself... and of course his friends on the other side.

Skills: A true boker with the exceptional talent for left-handed (Petro) Voodoo, he taps into the darker side of magic so very few are able to do genuinely. Both a conjurer and a sorcerer of sorts, he possesses powerful dark voodoo magic capable of accomplishing nearly anything. He can see into the past of a person and see what people desire the most. He is proficient in sleight of hand, effortlessly shuffling, twisting and manipulating his deck of tarot cards given to him by the spirits of the other side personally. Being a skilled conjurer as well, he is able to pull his staff and tarot deck (among other small things) out of nothing at all (though could arguably be tracked back to his ability of sleight of hand). The tarot cards themselves possess strange properties: the images on their face seem to change depending on the person who he is reading, reflecting the desires of Armand's victim's for a more visual effect. The images usually show his victims their future in a positive light, however they are unable to corrupt the truth entirely and usually include a clue as to the victims real fate.

Armand also has his use for a strange pink powder, the effects of this powder include (but are not limited to) reversing a curse he has cast upon a victim, making a man spontaneously grow a head of hair, producing puffs of smoke that display memories and desires. His Voodoo Emporium holds all sorts of strange objects, half of which he hasn't even tried, including (but not limited to) shrunken heads and voodoo dolls that can 'come to life, chant, and beat drums' to create a more unsettling mood for his 'clients.' The dolls also serve a practical application for the intended purpose of inflicting pain on the person the doll is modeled after.

Armand's abilities are primarily derived from his 'friends' on the other side. These 'friends' of his are in fact a multitude of dark spirits (also known as Loa) which appear to 'give life' to the otherwise inanimate objects in his Emporium like the voodoo dolls and shrunken heads. These shadow spirits come to his every call, forced to do his will as they are trapped between this world and the next, and through Armand, are able to come into our world by special means as more than just shadows. Vulnerable to light, these 'shadows' (and even his own shadow) they grow in power the darker the area is. Sometimes, in complete darkness, the shadows can pull themselves free of their confined walls or floors and become more 3-dimensional, whether it be an arm, a head, a leg, or their whole body for a short amount of time. These shadows are able to affect the real world in which we live, as they are in limbo in a place called 'The Shadow Land' where everything in our world is paralleled, but with shadows. If Armand commands one of his 'friends' to bring him back a physical stray dog, the shadows seek out the dog's shadow and bring it back to Armand, and the physical dog is affected accordingly.

Strangely enough, despite having this great power that is unlike anyone ever known, Armand can't conjure anything for himself. Instead, he must rely on trickery and guile to manipulate other people into doing what he wants. The nature of his power seems to stem around making deals; he only gains full access to his voodoo when fulfilling someone else's wishes (although he most often twists them to suit his own ends) or by tempting them. Lucking for Armand, he is a master of lies, deceit and cunning with hypnotic charismatic and vocal persuasion being second nature to him.

Biography (Before Earth):
Born in the backwater region of a remote land known as The Bayou, Armand Facilier learned what poverty truly meant ever since his birth. The family of which he was born into was not 'well-off' by any means, and in fact had no sense of bringing in a child into the world as they were not able to even care for the two of them most of the time. Armand's father, a fiscally struggling laborer named Ambrose, did whatever he could to provide for his small family, but his efforts were almost in vain as he hardly made enough to put up a decent meal on the table a few days out of the week, let alone being able to afford a nice house, clean clothes and toys for young Armand and a few years later his sister, Magnolia.

Things took a turn from bad to worse when Armand's father received a letter, drafting him into the army in a war that The Bayou had no purpose being in the first place, however as it was law, Ambrose had no choice but to leave his wife and two children. Armand's mother, pregnant with her third child, was forced to take up the mantle in getting a handful of different jobs to keep them from starving to death, though ultimately the small family ended up on the streets. It was at this point where the Facilier's couldn't have fallen lower, it seemed, and with Armand just old enough to know that things were bad... very bad in fact, life just wasn't quite finished with them yet. Nearly a year after Armand's father had left for the army, the family was delivered a letter from his station, alerting them that Ambrose had fallen in battle and would not be returning home. The pension for his services gave them very little, and was used up in the matter of a few short months putting them right back where they started, and father-less.

Overcome with stress, grief and foul thoughts, Armand's mother finally went into labor, only to have a still birth, and Armand would never get to know what was to be his second little sister. Having reached her limit after this point, Armand's mother placed both him and Magnolia under the care of her husbands mother, Armand's grandmother they called Mamma Odie, a seemingly senile old priestess who thought she could talk to animals and had a knack for 'natural remedies' for almost everything; but never seemed to work.
Still just a young boy, Armand was forced now to raise both his sister and grandmother (who Armand was even amazed to begin with that she was able to fend for herself and a home to begin with). He spent the next couple years of his life doing a variety of odd jobs where he could, oftentimes spending grueling hours on the streets of the Bayou, getting no real education and making very little in return, being forced to beg or steal just to keep himself and his even smaller family from starving.

The Facilier family's problems weren't over just yet, however. Magnolia, at the very young age of eight, mysteriously came down with debilitating symptoms, later examined by a traveling physician and diagnosed as the fatal blood disease, Ebola. Without proper treatment, Armand's sister would surely die within a few weeks, but the Facilier's just couldn't afford the treatment and so Armand was forced to watch as his sister grew worse and worse until ultimately, he found himself digging her grave and placing her lifeless body inside.

Now hardened and cynical, Armand became closed off to the world entirely, finding things like love, empathy and compassion to be a fool's waste; no longer worth his time or attention. Even for Mamma Odie, who desperately tried to reach out to him when he came back home at night was given the cold shoulder, as he wanted nothing to do with her or anyone else he had once cared for ever again and eventually left the safety of her little home to go out on his own. Still working hard each and every day, Armand, now nineteen years old, contracted a rare and life-threatening disease himself, later diagnosed as Babesiosis. Figuring that it was just his luck, as his entire family seemed to have some sort of 'bad blood' within them, Armand kept this revelation to himself entirely and waited for death's sweet kiss that would take him away from this horrid life and to reunite with his two sisters and father in a much, much happier place.

Somehow, Armand managed to hold on for another five years during the time in which he had refined his skills of thievery, lying, deception and sleight of hand, eventually opening up his own shop of Voodoo to give him something to pass the time by in which most (if not all) of his acts were faked; but faked convincingly. It was also during this time that word had spread like wildfire of Maleficent and her band of villains had otherwise taken over their entire world, leading it into darkness but Armand couldn't find it in himself to care; he was a dead man anyway. The Bayou, small as it was, went without notice and his land was otherwise left to the (comparingly) peaceful villains that of crocodiles and large snakes.

One fateful, stormy day as Armand was headed back to his Voodoo Emporium (which doubled as his home), he was finding each and every step to become more and more difficult. Finally, the moment in which he hadn't believed would ever come had arrived. He could feel his entire body shutting down, one organ after another, one limb at a time until he completely collapsed down in an alleyway of the small city. As he lay there, staring up at the rain coming down on his face, Armand could only smile weakly, for his time had finally come. Finally, finally he would be taken from his horrid life and placed into a much better place. Laying there, waiting, his vision was the last thing to go but before he managed to shut down completely, there was a hard pressure on his abdomen.

Weakly looking down at his stomach, he watched as a large black mamba slithered across his stomach, it's head coming straight at him. It's fangs were bared as it hissed threateningly at Armand, copious amounts of venom dripping from it's open mouth. Sighing in relief, knowing that death would come one way or another, Armand closed his deep brown eyes and waited. The Black Mamba struck, clenching it's powerful jaws on the juncture of his hand between his thumb and forefinger and filled Armand's toxic blood with it's own venom. The poison, however, was something else entirely. Armand's eyes flew open, now a soft lavender color; a striking difference from his soft browns. That wasn't the only thing that changed, however. Life was being pumped back into him, his body becoming more and more capable until there wasn't any pain or suffering left. His mind was severely affected, however. It was as if another being had entered into his head, battling with Armand for control over his body until the demon won out in the end, thus creating the link between himself and The Shadow Realm and with the new and proficiently learned skills of real voodoo. Getting up from the rain gutter, Armand dusted himself off and took his first few steps, no longer himself, but the new and improved Shadow Man.

Years later, after perfecting his craft and taking over the Bayou by his own means and even expanding the territory quite a considerable amount, Armand was found by no one other than Maleficent, who demanded his loyalty in exchange for her services; of which Armand took up almost too eagerly. Now working for Maleficent, there is very little that can get in the way of The Shadow Man, because no one, not even The Queen of the entire land could cross over to the other side like he could.

Biography (Life On Earth):
Armand never went to Earth, and has no idea the place even exists.

Other: Armand is one of the few 'reigning Kings' who was not given power by Maleficent, however this did not stop him from pledging his loyalty to her after she managed to track him down a handful of years after her dominating reign.

Theme Song:
"Serenity" By Godsmack.

[ROLEPLAY CLOSED] - Once Upon A Time (Restart)

~Pirate Fairy – Zarina Alteri~

Name: Zarina Alteri.
Other Names: The Pirate Fairy, Captain Z.
Age: 149 (physically mid-twenties).
Occupation: Pirate, Smuggler.

Appearance - Thirteen Years Ago (Age One Hundred and Thirty-Six):
Too Much Pixie Dust!



Appearance - Today (Age One Hundred and Forty-Nine):



Personality Traits: Free-spirited, brave and bold, Zarina possesses an outspoken, 'all-out' personality that can be both attractive and overpowering. Many who first meet her find themselves either loving her fiery demeanor or hating her with nothing in-between. She acts with her conscience, oftentimes letting her heart guide her instead of her head. Because of this she is kind and benevolent, believing in doing the right thing. Yet her free-spirit does also makes her disdainful of laws and regulations as she believes such concepts restrict her freedom.

Zarina hates seeing people use intimidation or extortion to get what they want, even more so than when she herself is subject to such methods. She knows how to handle herself in these situations but seeing another person being threatened lights a blazing fire inside her that is nearly unquenchable.

Zarina keeps her own moral compass to guide her life by. This compass, while good, may not agree with society's views as society has no place for a free-spirited woman like her.

Curious by nature with an adventurer's spirit, Zarina has a tendency of going her own way, which usually involves straying off 'the path'. This tends to land her in a mess of trouble more likely than not, but Zarina's high spirits and an almost uncanny amount of luck allow her to wriggle her way out of almost any predicament.

Zarina never takes anything at face-value, always having to find the answer on her own. Likewise she's incredibly stubborn when it comes to taking advice from others, preferring to drown them out or simply forget anything told to her in favor of adhering to her personal beliefs to reach a conclusion, no matter who it is who's trying to help her.

Despite her perky, bubbly nature, Zarina is prone to emotional lows at very rare times, during which she spends her time in the local tavern drinking her sorrows away but never allows herself to get intoxicated enough to impair her judgement too greatly, simply taking the ambiance of those around her to give her a place and time to think. On the other hand, in her usual fun-loving mood, Zarina does have a penchant towards challenging fellow sailors to a variety of drinking games, and prides herself at being the center of attention amidst her fellow drunks.

Skills: Working as a pirate and smuggler for many years, Zarina has developed a certain set of skills that make her a natural at her job. She possesses a sharp wit and acute resourcefulness that only come from an ample amount of experience, making her prepared for nearly any situation that should come up. Sexy and attractive with a rocking body, Zarina has no qualms against using her body as a weapon in itself, though she hardly reaches this point.

She possesses a certain cunning about her that can make her quite dangerous should the need call for it, using her looks, words and street smarts to her advantage when it comes to manipulation.

Yet behind her exterior of a simple smuggling adventurer is also a skilled warrior. Zarina is highly trained in the use of short, quick blades and throwing stars in combat, using her lithe frame and inherent quickness to her advantage.
Branching off of this, Zarina is also quite skilled in the art of stealth and concealment, able to hide almost anywhere she pleases using her resourceful, quick mind and coordinated movement.

But Zarina is still a pirate captain and as such possesses a high amount of skill when it comes to sailing ships, able to pull quick maneuvers and sharp turns with relative ease. Her explorer's instinct and natural curiosity also make her a skilled survivor and a quick learner, her years spent at sea have granted her a diversity in methods when it comes to all of her skills; whether it be a better way to hold a dagger, a better way to tie a knot, or a better way to hunt for food in the wild.

Where Zarina's natural curiosity really shines is her ability to work with and invent new things. Gifted with the mind and hands of an inventor, Zarina spent much of her life as a fairy working on creating new things to make life better in Pixie Hollow.

Biography (Before Earth):
Born from the very first laugh of a newborn baby, Zarina opened up her eyes for the first time to find that she had been placed into a wonderfully enchanted world called Neverland. She was given a name and a job almost immediately and thrust into a small group of fairies who were just like her in skill-set. It was this small group of fairies that became her immediate family and helped her to learn all that there was to learn about Neverland and what it was that they did to help the flow of life on this land. For many, many years Zarina did her duty to the fairies, spending her time with her best friend Tinkerbell as they were both top-notch inventors. Between the two of them, they had come up with so many new and wonderful things, fairy life in Pixie Hollow flourished. The arrangement was simple. Zarina experimented, and Tinkerbell tinkered. However, one day when Zarina took her experimenting just a little too far, she was brandished an outcast.

Each fairy is given a limited amount of Pixie dust to help make their days just a bit easier with flight or other (smaller) means, but Zerina's curiosity got the better of her and began to horde her portion of Pixie dust until she had a collection large enough to begin experimenting. These experiments were both illegal and dangerous, as she tried to change the colors and powers within the magical dust. She pushed the danger aside, however, as she was on the brink of discovery, finding that when mixed, Pixie dust can change color and be infused with the power of a certain talent. For example, when a small amount of blue pixie dust and a purple feather is mixed, the pixie dust turns purple, representing the fast-flying talent. If pink flower petals are added instead, it turns pink and it represents the garden talent. Tinkerbell found out about these experiments, however and went to the higher authorities to deal with Zarina accordingly. The Blue Fairy, leader of all fairies, banished Zarina from her tinkering position and ordered her to live on the outskirts of Pixie Hollow within Neverland so that she could no longer put the other fairies in danger. Perplexed, but finding no way around it, Zarina did as she was told and left the safety of her home to explore the outside world.

Upon her explorations, Zarina met and saw a great majority of wonderful things. She met the Indians, the Lost Boys, and even the pirates that inhabited the area, all of which were off limits to the fairies as they were dangerous, but Zarina did not see any danger, only fun new friends and spent a great number of years playing and learning about them, adopting different traits and skills from each group. However, it was the pirates she became most interested in, and shortly began her own life at sea.

Having befriended some of the pirates beforehand, it wasn't at all difficult to have them accept her as one of their own. The pirate Captain's First Mate, James Hook, was a particular close friend of Zarina and was able to put in a good word to their captain, and Zarina was quickly made pirate (so long as she stayed life-size on deck). It was here that Zarina really started to learn. About navigation, about survival, about dueling and scheming and manipulating. About duels and drinking, tattoos and partying. She adored this life, there were no rules set down to follow so long as she did as James and their Captain said and did her daily chores, the rest was on her with what to do, and she didn't squander a single moment. She spent a great number of years as a pirate, traveling through and around each and every ocean, seeing the world and exploring all it had to give them. The world was her Pixie Hollow now, and she never had to look back. That is, until the position for the new captain came up.

Their former Captain overcame a sudden illness while traveling around El Dorado. They returned with great haste to Neverland (where they could never grow old) but they were too late. Naturally, James Hook should have stepped up to take place his place as Captain but the crew had other ideas, unsure if he would be a better captain that Zarina or not. So they went about it in a contest, both of them having to find ways to prove to the crew on who would make a better captain. It was done in good sport, as Zarina and James' friendship came first, and so they took the competition as a game... but Zarina really wanted to be captain. So bad enough, that she devised a plan to return to Pixie Hollow, steal their supply of Pixie dust, and revel in the spoils with her fellow friends. And that is exactly what Zarina did. She knew Pixie Hollow like the back of her hand despite having been gone for a great number of years, so stealing the dust was easy, and the fairies were none-the-wiser, having never seen Zarina since she had been banished.

Zarina's plan paid off in the end. The pirates loved the display of magic and what Zarina could do with it, and so she was promptly made captain and kept James Hook as her first mate, best friend, and eventually her lover. However, there was a jealousy in the air that Zarina was unaware of. As it turned out, James had wanted the pirate captain position just as bad, and had devised a plan of his own to get it. In what Zarina later found out, James had thrown the competition, knowing that Zarina's desperation would have taken her back to her home so that she could steal the fairy dust. Now with a seemingly endless supply on their ship, all James had to do was wait and strike at the precise moment.

After a number of years as Captain, Zarina had quite the reputation throughout the land for her modest band of Neverland pirates, as well as picking up a small friend during one of her voyages to The Bayou. A baby crocodile, she promptly named 'Sweetie' was added to the pirate clan, becoming a pet to all but most loyal to her 'Mother.' Finally, after a few more years experimenting with the dust, Zarina finally managed to do what James and the other pirates (who had been in on it the whole time) were waiting for, and granted their ship the ability to fly. Now, with no more use for Zarina (personal relationship feelings aside) James and the other pirates performed a mutiny, taking the remainder of the dust, the ship, all the treasure Zarina had led them to and left her to die on a small deserted island after James literally cut her wings from her body (to keep her from being able to follow them) and made himself the rightful captain. He took all that was now his and returned to a life at sea, leaving Zarina completely heart-broken and emotionally wounded. James didn't get away with it cleanly, however, as Sweetie had made a last stitch effort on her mother's behalf and ripped James' hand from his body with her sharp teeth and powerful jaws and turned it into a tasty snack after James had cut off Zarina's wings. Now alone, save for Sweetie, Zarina lay there on the beach, unwanting and unwilling to go on for the time being, letting the high tide sweep in to take her away.

Fate, however, was not done with Zarina, for the island she had been marooned on was near a small and mysterious town known to the public as The Bayou. It was here where the bokor, Dr. Facilier, typically called The Shadow Man practiced his art of voodoo and shadow magic. The Shadow Man's shadow minions spotted Zarina from her place on the island and returned to their 'master', notifying him of the presence of a fairy not far away.

Attending to the island in person, the Foul Doctor quickly found the unconscious, wing-less fairy and, deciding to seize this opportunity, collected the befallen fairy's wings and sent them back to his Emporium with his shadow minions while he attended to the fairy. Waking her up, Dr. Facilier promised Zarina that he could and would reattach her wings...if she worked for him for awhile.

For the last six years now, Zarina became The Shadow Man's smuggler, at first being placed in charge of incoming cargo, but eventually gaining enough trust and becoming a captain of her own ship once again, in charge of smuggling goods from the surrounding lands of Arendelle, Russia, Oz, El Dorado, Italy, Province and Maldonia back to The Bayou, becoming an invaluable member of The Shadow Man's business. She has yet to venture back to Neverland to exact her revenge on James Hook, but it's on her to-do list.

Biography (Life On Earth):
Zarina never made it to Earth and doesn't even know of it's existence.

Other: Zarina has a small assortment of tribal style tattoo's across her body, mainly limited to her ribs, back and thighs. Some of these tattoos are as follows:
Back of the neck and upper back
Hips
Left Ear
Left Ass Cheek
and various other designs in various areas across her body.

Theme Song:
Try - P!NK

[ROLEPLAY CLOSED] - Once Upon A Time (Restart)

~James Hook – Jas Nedakh~

Name: Hook.
Other Names: Captain Hook, James Hook, James Smith (or Smithy), Jas, Pirate King.
Real Name: Jas (James) Nedakh.
Age: 853.
Occupation: Pirate Captain - Ruler of Neverland.

Appearance - Thirteen Years Ago (Age Eight-Hundred and Forty):



Appearance - Today (Age Eight-Hundred and Fifty-Three):



Wardrobe: James has sort of adapted his own style of clothing over the years as a pirate, finding two different types of outfits that both match his personality as well as give him the comfort and maneuverability that are needed for his life at sea.

While aboard deck, he tends to keep to a simpler regime with a waist-length, dark blue suede jacket trimmed with gold lace, with a longer tail over the top of a button-up silk vest and button-up white shirt with the occasional scarf around his neck to bundle up the whole look. This outfit, of course, comes complete with a pair of white pants and knee-high leather black boots.

While at Sea
While at Sea 2

On more 'noble' occasions such as time spent ashore or if James is feeling particularly handsome that day, he will switch up his overall look in favor of something with a bit more refined taste. He trades over his blue suede waist-long jacket for a near knee-length one made out of more hardy material. Buttons line down both sides of the jacket but it's design is merely for show as they do not actually close. This pattern continues to his red waist coat of the same material underneath, tied together with a golden, silk sash over the matching in color to that of his jacket, shin-length trousers and white button-up shirt underneath, complete with his knee-high, black leather boots.

Feeling Fancy
Feeling Fancy 2

Always on his person, James has a rather beautiful rapier sword which he does most of his pirating with. However, on a more 'decorative' occasion, he will swap out his usual sword for something with a bit finer taste and go with his second rapier sword.

Personality Traits: James has a fierce reputation, known as a dangerous and fearsome Captain of the Seas. Disbanding his true name long ago (very few people even know James Hook isn't his given birth-name let alone what his real name is) his reputation now spreads as the cruel and less than merciful Captain Hook. James, is a tormentor. He enjoys bullying others both verbally and physically. He is confident to the point of being highly cocky and arrogant, which only enables his mocking and ridicule towards others. He is not above name calling or putting people in their place for the sheer purpose of entertainment. He has a strong sense of humor, however probably one only understood by his shipmates.

He is of a dark nature, and takes great pride in his role as captain, and all he has achieved in this position. Whether it be his encounters with women, or all the gold and riches he has looted. With that said, he does enjoy the company of women and will often find himself in such company when he and his crew break on land, and find the nearest tavern. A great deal of his charm is revealed through his story telling. Having explored the world, he has a great deal of knowledge and can keep a crowd interested by the stories he has to share.

He has a skewed sense of honor, referring to himself as a man with a code of honor, however is not above killing needlessly should someone dare challenge him to such a fight. He is a determined and vindictive man, never one to back down from his purpose. Despite his rank as pirate, he speaks with eloquence and intelligence, which shows that he has a higher education than one would assume from that of a common pirate. He will never admit fear nor defeat, and never backs away from a fight or challenge. He is not trustworthy and can be quite deceitful at times. But then again, he is a pirate after all so one cannot expect much else.

Skills: Even before becoming a pirate and adventurer, James was always skilled in physical and martial training. A talented sailor, James' skill in voyaging a ship is almost unmatched, even by Atlantean standards. Bolstering this skill is an inherent amount of skill when it comes to reading the stars for navigation. Because of this, he is able to journey across the seas without need for a map. However, he is a talented cartographer, and can chart maps completely unintelligible to anyone other than himself. To this end, he can also decipher the maps of others unless they are magically enchanted. James likewise has consummate knowledge and experience in regards to the sea. He is so skilled, in fact, that it's said he can even pinpoint the location of the legendary whale Monstro more likely than not.

A highly talented fighter and duelist, James displays master over both hand-to-hand combat and swordsmanship. Owing both to his training and his heightened physical abilities, James has never lost a duel. Being a pure-blood Atlantean, James, like all members of his race has strength, speed, stamina, senses, agility, reflexes, accuracy, durability, intelligence, healing time and flexibility that are far superior to that of the average person which he uses to his advantage.

Also, thanks to an old fairy friend Zarina, James has quite a sizable stash of Pixie dust in which he has learned to use over the last few years, though his uses are limited as Pixie dust is near impossible to come by, he has been known to use it to gain the upper hand should things not be going his way. Such effects of the Pixie dust vary; from allowing himself to fly temporarily to filling his foe's lungs with water and drowning them, despite being nowhere near any water.
On an off-handed note, James can also work a tattoo gun and has tattooed himself and many of his shipmates on a number of occasions. He also does piercings, having done his own ears and a handful of those on his crew.

Biography (Before Earth):
Spanning back over a great number of years, James (then known as Jas) was born in Atlantis into the royal family. The younger brother of the two, Jas grew up slowly in the shadow of his brother, though paved his own way even from childhood in an attempt to be a normal kid just like everyone else. Jas had no pride for his royal blood, in fact, he detested it. All his friends saw him differently, treated him differently, and oftentimes Jas could even hear them talking about him behind his back, afraid that if they didn't do what he said, they would get in trouble. For this reason, Jas eventually grew up without having friends, not wanting to have to subject others into feeling that they were forced to like him, so he spent his free time developing skills that could keep him entertained by himself for hours on end to pass the time by. So Jas took up learning how to fight, learning to read and write, studying the stars and other various skills that he could have fun with just by himself.

His older brother, Kashekim tried to be both a good brother and a friend to Jas, but he was well on becoming shaped to be the next Leader of Atlantis and was kept busy with learning other mundane skills that Jas had no interest in such as water magic, spiritual healing, alchemy and meditation. As both boys grew up, they grew further and further apart, having nothing in common with the other save for the blood that kept their hearts pumping (discount the life crystal that helped to prolong their already-long lives).

Despite the longevity of life that the crystals brought the Atlanteans, their lives couldn't go on forever. At the ripe old age of nearly three-thousand, Jas and Kashekim lost their father to death. The loss of their city's leader was a deep and heavy one, the mourning ceremony went on for months until finally Kashekim was named his successor completely and took up the mantle. With his brother now Chief Shaman, Jas felt even further away from his family than he did before, getting an overwhelming sense of 'not belonging' though for the time being, said nothing on the matter. He was still grieving for his father, after all.

A few hundred years later, with Jas now Three-Hundred and Eighty-One years old, his brother gave Jas a niece in which Jas took an immediate liking to, despite her royal blood that he grew up to hate so much. The two of them simply connected in a way that Jas hadn't experienced before; a bond of both family and friendship. He watched over Kidagakash often, putting in whatever time he could in having a hand in raising the young princess and once she was old enough, the two spent countless hours together talking more philosophically about what life had in store for them and where their paths would take them one day.

Interestingly enough, Kidagakash had taken an interest in Jas' learned skills and asked Jas to teach her privately, both knowing that Kashekim would throw a fit if he found out. Jas and Kida's relationship had already grown strained because of Kashekim, The Shaman had confronted Jas a number of times asking Jas to be more careful with his topics of conversation with Kidagakash, not liking the influence he had on her. Jas didn't listen, however, finding it to be in Kidagakash's best interest to be well-learned in any and all fields possible and trained her in private, just as she had asked, both in body and mind.

So as the years went on and the relationship between Kidagakash and Jas grew stronger, what was left with Jas' relationship with his brother grew weaker, reduced to nothing but squabbles on the streets and late-night scoldings that often-times stemmed from Jas' close relationship with his niece. Finally, one fateful night, at four-hundred and eighty-three years old, Jas had heard enough and left Atlantis, fully well knowing that he would never be able to return (such was the law of Atlantis). He hadn't been given the opportunity to say goodbye to Kidagakash, but it was just as well. Jas never was good with emotional situations. Washing his hands clean of his life in Atlantis, Jas formerly changed his name to a more appropriate translation, now going by James and whenever asked for his last name, he would snarkily reply with "Smith. Or, Smithy if you'd like."

Putting the last four-hundred-some years of learning various skills to use, James found himself in the life of a sailor, free to explore the world that was otherwise kept off-limits to him and live a life of freedom with a new name and as a new man. He made friends, enjoyed the company of women, took to raging, pillaging and plundering to get what he wanted with the addicting fuel of adrenaline coursing through his veins. As a pirate, James never felt more alive, he never felt more 'home.'

His journeys eventually landed him on an uncharted piece of land his fellow sailors called Neverland, and in so, James learned all there was about Neverland and it's special, magical properties that could keep one young forever. Turning his attention to the crystal he still wore around his neck, James realized that even Atlanteans grow old and died, but in Neverland, such a thing wasn't ever possible. So James did away with the crystal, and became a true pirate of Neverland, spending whatever time he wasn't sailing there and living the good life. Although not the sole inhabitants of Neverland, as James had learned with his brush encounters with The Lost Boys, the mermaids, the Indians, and even on a rare occasion a glimpse of a fairy, the pirates mainly kept to themselves, keeping their ships anchored on the bay and keeping to the small pirate town that had been created long before James was even born.

He spent many, many years happy here in Neverland (when he wasn't out traveling the world by sea, that is) but ever the greedy one, James just still wasn't at all satisfied with his life. He needed something a bit... more... so when a banished fairy came poking around looking for a place to call home herself, James jumped on the opportunity. He befriended the fairy, Zarina, he learned all there was about her and slowly but surely, eventually fell in love. The thought scared him, however, and he tried to keep his emotions back so when he found out about the Pixie dust and what it was capable of, he devised a plan that would get rid of his current problem with Zarina, as well as filling the new spot of adventure he was seeking. Upon a voyage around El Dorado, James (being first mate) slipped their captain some untraceable poison into his drink, and the captain soon after died. Devising up a plan with the rest of his crew, the entire ship ordered a sort of contest between himself and Zarina as to who would become the next captain.

Zarina did just as James knew she would, and stole the Pixie dust from her old home and brought it back to them. She was a little rusty on the workings of the dust, but after a few short years after being named captain, Zarina managed to get their ship to fly. Now that James had what he wanted, he performed a mutiny against her, cutting off Zarina's wings (so she could not follow them) and leaving her on a shore to die and take all that she had given them for himself. James didn't get away cleanly, however, as Zarina's pet crocodile had snapped it's powerful jaws over his right hand, cutting through skin, bone and muscle like hot butter and devoured it whole. Returning to his ship to tend to the stump he now had for a hand, James and his crew took off in their new flying ship and James hasn't looked back since, finding justice in what he had done to Zarina for the cost of his hand (despite the events happening in reverse order).

Now with a new name to don himself with, James gave himself the last name Hook (sounded better than Smith) and continues to sail the seas, even after Maleficent's take over. He pledged loyalty to her, yes, but he didn't need her help in taking over Neverland as he had done that nearly a hundred years before she had come to him. To this day, however, he refuses to call himself 'King' of Neverland, as that just reminds James of his life back in Atlantis, and those memories, coupled with the ones of Zarina, are better left in the past.

Biography (Life On Earth):
James never made it to Earth and doesn't know of it's existence.

Other: James' body is covered in an assortment of tribal-style tattoos. These tattoos are mainly make up his back, chest and arms.

Theme Song:
The Good Life - Three Days Grace