Who: Henrik and Zara
Setting: Escape from Stockholm!

Zara had stayed holed up in the little room she’d found. Her feet ached without her shoes, but it was better than trying to run in high heels; not that she couldn’t do it, but if she did happen to hurt an ankle then she was done for. She’d discarded her shoes and kept up communications with Henrik - it was he that kept her calm and sane and filled with hope that she would make it out of Stockholm alive.

( I'm coming for you! )

Z

So, Stockholm got kinda crazy, huh? Hope you're okay. We got back with not much more than a few scratches. I think this is where I get to say 'you should see the other guy', right?

Anyway, now that things are pretty calm again, I was wondering if you were still interested in that date? We could be all formal and head for the Crown, or maybe something a little more relaxed if you'd prefer. I hear there's a pretty good musician at the 88 Keys.

H

Who: Henrik and Zara
Setting: Henrik's apartment

Sleep seemed to escape Zara a lot since coming aboard the Odyssey. So much so, that she was thinking of seeing the onboard doctor about a sleeping aid of sorts. She had tried alcohol once, drinking until she passed out, but the hangover the next morning had not been fun. Mickey had been right about not turning to alcohol. She thought that maybe it was just because she was alone in her huge cabin, her rooms were empty except for herself and it seemed like a waste of space. Maybe if she found someone to share the rooms with her that might help but she wasn’t so sure.

Tonight she had worn herself out in the gym, had sat in her tub with special oils and a glass of wine and had classical music playing in hopes to lull herself to sleep. It had taken some time, but her tired body had finally succumbed and her eyes had drifted shut. An hour had passed at most, when the horrible crunching sound and banging came to startle her awake. She sat upright in her bed and clutched her sheets to her chest while her sleepy mind awakened and her eyes cleared to remind her she was on a ship.

( Escape )

Who: Zara and Henrik
Setting: The house in Massachusetts

( I'd say surprise, but I know you were expecting me.. )

So, an old friend of mine, Zara Kingsland is going to be staying with us. I went to school with her, back in the day (did you ever meet her - I have no idea!). Her family wants her on the Odyssey. So, until we get back to the ship, she'll be staying with us. I'm sure you'll make her welcome.

As promised, the night of Halloween the party at Ethan's house begins. There's food catered from the local village, drinks with official bartenders as well. The lower floor of the house he's been giving on the island has been decorated, each room with a slightly different them. The great room has pumpkins and orange everywhere, the back room that was probably a dining room before he had furniture moved out is a dancefloor done up in blacklights with a DJ dressed as a skeleton glowing under it.

Anyone who has heard about it is invited, and needless to say, just about everyone has heard about it. Ethan's easy to find in the center of it, bouncing from guest to guest.

The party goes on well into the early hours of the morning and for those who stick around, there's a breakfast buffet that gets rolled out somewhere around sunrise as the party finally starts to wrap.

Who: Blake and Henrik
Setting: Aboard the ship

( I think you dropped this )

Who: Sophia and Henrik
Where: Odyssey Restaurant, Patio

Sophia sat at a little table on the restaurant patio, playing on her phone as she waited for her brother. She'd texted him first thing in the morning, asking for brunch. Well, demanding was more like it. This wasn't something that could wait, no matter how much she'd like to put it off and pretend it hadn't happened. Andrew expected an answer and, being who he was, she couldn't ignore him. That would likely make things worse. She knew what she wanted to do, but these things had to be handled carefully. If she was going to reject a marriage proposal from the crown prince, she needed to know if her brother was backing her or not.

( Read more... )

Who: Sophia and Henrik
Where: Sophia's Room

Henrik steeled himself at Sophia's door. He didn't want to do this. He wanted to go down to the Royal, drink a bottle of whiskey and stay drunk until his liver gave out, or until he didn't care any longer. That, though, wasn't an option and responsibility had been a core of his upbringing. So, ran a hand through his hair, straightened his shirt and knocked.

( Read more... )

To Helena and Henrik

Mother? Henry? Hello? Are you okay? I haven't heard from anyone and I'm kind of freaking out. But the reception's bad where I am, so I'm hoping that's why. Let me know you're safe? I'm hiding. It seemed like the smart thing to do.

To Justin

Things have been kind of crazy lately. Today especially. Are you okay? I'm worried about you

To Sierra

Hey girl, you okay? Things are bad. Real bad.

Who: Sophia and Henrik
Where: Henrik’s Room

Sophia’s hands were still shaking when she started knocking on her brother’s door. She’d not been back in her room for more than a few minutes before she’d started sending out messages, realizing there was no possible way she could go get to sleep. While it made her feel a touch better to learn that her mother hadn’t neglected to tell her about a possible assassin, it wasn’t by much. They had enemies on board who were acting like friends, as well as enemies that were trying to kill them. How was she supposed to sleep after that?

( Read more... )

[Sent after this]

To Henrik
Are you awake? We need to talk. I got attacked. We're not safe. Please. If I don't hear from you in 10, I'm banging down your door.

To Helena
Did you purposefully not tell me about the assassin on the ship? Or did it just slip your mind?

Backdated to just after the storm

Please tell me none of you were washed overboard.

Wow.

Please tell me not all storms are like that?

Characters: Henrik, Andrew and OPEN to all royalty
Setting: The Royal Club, the start of the storm

It had hardly been the weather to sit outside, which was how Harry had found himself in the Royal Club in the middle of the day. He hated these long sea crossings. They were always so unbelievably dull. Water, water everywhere and all that crap. Once you'd seen one wave, you'd seen them all. Especially when the boat was rocking from side to side enough that he could track the movement in the slosh of golden whiskey in a crystal glass.

He snatched the glass up as the ship pitched to starboard, the crystal sliding at speed along the bar. He saved the drink, but stumbled back himself, losing his balance and pin-wheeling so that he didn't go flying.

So, I'm new to this whole living on a cruise ship thing. Does anyone have some suggestions or thoughts on how to plan a wedding on a cruise ship? Every idea is welcome!

While you're enjoying your coffee and morning Odyssey News, I want to remind you that we still have seating for dinner at The Crown. Chef is preparing incredible entrees, but if you're already thinking dessert, we will be serving Cacao Fondant with homemade ice cream. Call for your reservation and I'll save you some.

Who: Helena, Henrik, Sophia, and Aloyna
Where: Beachside cafe in Praia
When: A day after the docking

( Onward to Praia )

Is everyone okay? I haven't heard from everyone after last night's alarm.

Who: Henrik and anyone who wants to join him [OPEN, POSSIBLE GROUP SCENE]
Setting: Poolside grill/pool

Henrik had been having a quiet drink in the Royal Club when the alarm sounded. It came as a surprise - Dakar had seemed so, well...normal. They'd been due to be here for days yet. He'd organised a guide to take him round the area the day after tomorrow, for god's sake. Still, he trusted in the captain and if they needed to leave, then they needed to leave.

He'd finished off his rather fine scotch and ordered another, waiting for the tell-tale jolt of the Odyssey getting under way. Once they were bound to be in open water, he'd stretched and taken the elevator up to the lido deck. The pool was lit with wavering lights in the darkness, the grill nearby quite, but open in the way everything was.

The real benefit of being right there though was that, being at the stern of the Odyssey and so high up, he could watch their departure. At first there'd been nothing to see in the darkness. Then, slowly, the skyline coloured. Yellows and reds interrupting the black like a false dawn.