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Post by Lucien Vilette de Séraphin on Sept 29, 2010 21:04:46 GMT -5
LUCIEN|NARCISSE|SÉRAPHIN [/b][/center][/font][/size] revolution is beautiful
a serenade set aflame _________________________________ [/size] IT’S A LIE SHE’S BEEN CARRYING AROUND
IT’S THE LIE THAT WILL BRING HER DOWN [/font][/size] m a k e y o u r m o v e[/center] _________________________________ [/size] Name: Lucien Amadieu Marie-Florence Narcisse Vilette de Séraphin
Nickname: Formal title : Le Comte de Séraphin
Age/Birthday: 240 // October 17th, 1756
Gender: Male
Orientation: Heterosexual
Blood Status: Halfblood
Affiliation: Neutral
Year/House: N/A - Interested in CoMC professor post
Wand: 14 inches // mahogany // thestral feather – crafted to be concealed in his favorite rapière._________________________________ [/size] TAKES PRIDE IN APPEARANCE
AND THE JOB IN HAND [/size] m a k e y o u r m o v e[/center] _________________________________ [/size] Eyes: Silver rimmed with black
Hair: Golden blond
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 160 lbs. – Perhaps bordering on underweight given his frame and height, but this could be in a sense attributed to the fact that he is … sort of ‘dead.’
Distinguishing Features:[/b] A small scar remains at his right forearm; it is the leftover mark of a smallpox vaccine which was a revolutionary discovery in its time. Most shameful of all is the horrendous scar printed into the skin of his chest, over where his heart would be. As the wound was inflicted pre-turning, it has never healed, eternally preserved in a brutal image of discolored and mangled charred flesh. Vaguely, the shape of a cross can be made of it. Either way, it is a reminder of what horrors came to pass a long time ago. Not that Lucien needs help remembering. Play-by: Yuuji Kamijou Overall appearance: At first glance, Lucien might appear the very image of androgynous beauty. He stands a bit above six feet, his figure slender yet shapely; he moves with a liquid grace that is not entirely feminine, though neither does it conform to the ideal posture of the aggressive male archetype; it is evidence of a complete control over physical awareness, something brought about only by the length of time in which he has been allowed to familiarize himself with all aspects of sensory input. Indeed, his aura in itself is subtly commanding all its own – a side effect of the effortless confidence with which he carries himself – and the combination of both natural beauty and learned (borderline obsessive) grooming could only lend to this fragile image of perfection. His narrow and slightly pointed face, with its tapered features and high cheekbones, is of a flawless, practically ethereal complexion with skin of porcelain white tones. The rest of his features are just as elegant, with sharply arched brows, a slight nose, and delicate lips often found set in a slight, disdainful pout. Most striking are his eyes however, with their somewhat exotic slant, impossible to place on any one ethnicity; what most find enthralling, however, is not the shape but the color; the irises are of pale silver, rimmed unevenly in black. It is in his gaze that one might interpret anything from a subtle standoffishness to a thoughtful and distant regret. Loose, golden curls frame his features, cascading down to nearly mid back. As expected from the rest of his carefully assembled appearance, this feature requires much maintenance, and Lucien can often be found preening or picking at his hair when left idle. Back in his time, ‘dandy’ – a term for a young man who ‘lived to wear clothes’ – was a teasing remark at best, and an insult to one’s shallowness at worst. Immersed in a culture where keeping up with Parisian fashion was absolutely imperative, even now it is a mindset of which Lucien cannot (and does not wish to) discard. And just as most of his character – mannerisms, ethics, and experiences – are grounded firmly in his former life, so are his preferences for fashion. One would not find him in anything less than carefully coordinated brocade, lace, and silk. His day-to-day outfits are typically those befitting of a chevalier, with the usual noble’s ensemble, though with corseted knee-high boots rather than stockings and heeled shoes. Most likely he would not leave the house without at least the standard high-collared shirt (jabots, cravats, and ruffles are all interchangeable), waistcoat, and overcoat (of varying length from mid thigh to ankle), breeches and boots. White gloves are always worn outdoors, and more often than not some sort of rapière-like weapon will be sheathed at his hip. …but now given all of that, one need only to take a closer look to realize that beauty is fragile indeed. Beneath his visage of physical beauty, one can detect an ever present wariness, or rather, paranoia. Lucien rarely, if ever, appears to be pleased by anything; he is always prepared to face some threat that never comes. He is tired, oh so tired, to the point that he is – in all but literal terms – decaying while at the same time suspended in physical stasis. His body does not age but his thoughts do; one only need to spend a few hours in his company to realize how simply tired he is. Beyond fatigue, however, the vampire is, at its most basic, a predator. Those enchanting silver eyes are hardly enchanting, but rather…hungry. Starved. Ever seeking, searching, evaluating. That set of delicate, smirking lips; not pretty at all, hiding that pair of fangs waiting to sink into the throat of its prey. [/size] _________________________________ [/size] IT’S THE SIMPLE FLAW
THE MIND FORGETS TO LOOK FOR [/size] m a k e y o u r m o v e[/center] _________________________________ [/size] Erised: To be at the Yorkshire farmstead again with Emily and the family.
Patronus: Peacock.
Boggart: To gaze into a mirror and see the image of himself physically reflecting his actual age.
Dementor: The cold metal of the barrel of his father’s pistol pressed to his head, moments before he was shot.
Amortentia: Blood, for obvious reasons; shepherd’s pie – Emily used to bake it all of the time; chai tea – Araziel’s ‘comfort’ drink for everyone._________________________________ [/size] THE PIECE YOU DIDN’T SEE
AND THE PIECE YOU DIDN’T FIGHT FOR [/size] m a k e y o u r m o v e[/center] _________________________________ [/size] Likes:
× Classical music – listening, playing, writing
× Rococo through Regency fashions
× Fencing
× Tea, particularly chai
× Blood, particularly AB+
× Wine, anything red
× Neoclassical art & architecture
× Camilla’s art
× Araziel’s cooking
× Keeping odd pets
× Acromantulas
× Ducks
× Sheep
× Shepherd’s pie
× Natto
× Carpentry
× Roses
× Music boxes
× Cold weather
Dislikes:
× Modern fashion
× Modern music
× Modern art
× …. Most modern things
× Shepherding
× Arrogance
× Unfounded opinions
× Unwarranted self-pity
× Untidiness
× Transfiguration
× Wasabi
× Hot weather
× Land sharks
× Lawyers
× Morgues
× Goth kids
Strengths:
× Musically prodigious
× Eloquent
× Intuitive
× Wise
× Protective
× Physically capable
Weaknesses
× Resistant to change
× Aloof
× Discriminating
× Incessantly vain
× Obsessed with tidiness
× Polyamorous
Overall Personality:
Since his ‘turning’ and until only recently, Lucien occupied his time with rebuilding connections on the outside world. He once served no greater purpose; his only master was himself. Withdrawn almost completely into his own wellbeing, he became a self serving creature, interested only in whatever fleeting entertainment the next day brought. For a time, his airs of elegance were extensive but false; underneath it all, Lucien was a primitive creature, fascinated and driven by the most basic needs: feeding and sex. Only the past few decades have seen Lucien’s disposition finally begin to thaw. However, one must remember that he is still a vampire in instinct, and thus needs to feed regularly. He can sense spilled blood from an impressive distance, and depending upon when he last fed, his bloodlust may be more or less difficult to control.
This aside, there are more facets to the vampire’s personality than even he cares to acknowledge. On the positive, he is extraordinarily talented in the musical arts; the drama surrounding his talent makes up a great part of his history, after all. His ability in music borders on supernatural, though Lucien will not speak of this possibility to but the most intimate associates. Surely the center of Lucien's talents, however, is this; the vampire is nothing short of a musical prodigy, and adores the delicate intricacies of orchestra and vocalization with the discriminating taste of only a true connoisseur. He is skilled with a great number of instruments from piano to harp to anything in between, though most notable is his voice; in song it is capable of instilling such a range of emotions even before magic comes into play. The vampire is capable of great compositions and often he dreams in cadence rather than imagery; his knowledge of musical theory is all encompassing; it might be said that his collected knowledge of it is greater than any living creature's. He can compose anything from simple etudes to vocal arias to full fledged symphonies in his head without the aid of an instrument for reference, and can transcribe said musical strains onto staff paper (or transcribe any music he hears by ear, really) as easily as an artist makes a graphite sketch or a poet a simple limerick.
His artistic ability extends to the visual arts as well, and all in all his intelligences lean towards that of the spatial and musical fields.
Lucien comes off as extremely reserved and collected. He moves with grace, is well mannered, speaks with impressionable eloquence, and all in all appears to be the epitome of elegance. He is soft spoken and pensive, though he always seems to maintain some sense of impenetrable distance no matter how close one might think oneself to the vampire. He is extremely alert, constantly reevaluating his surroundings whether consciously or subconsciously; it is virtually impossible to catch Lucien by surprise, at least in literal terms.
On the other hand, as mentioned before, Lucien is extremely narcissistic. While common misconception defines narcissism as simple vanity, Lucien’s narcissism is nearly absolute. Recently it has begun to wane however, though obvious traits of vanity remain – he can often be swayed by the right flattering comments, especially compliments about his music or physical beauty, and quite in line with the latter, he’ll usually be found preening at his appearance with every opportunity.
Regardless, he has been doing his best to extend his knowledge and talents towards those who may need it – or whoever he deems worthy. After all, his lifespan and consequential travels have earned him much wisdom and compiled knowledge over the years, and the pool of resources is a rare and valuable one, a precious asset to both him and his associates and allies. Even so, it still may take him some effort to put aside his ingrained selfish tendencies (selfishness borne from both his vampiric instincts and learned behaviors) when making decisions of any scale.
He is unequaled with swordplay, trained and skilled in the execution of (now what would be considered antique) firearms, and is adept in equestrianism. A formal education at his young age earned him well-rounded studies in the arts of literature and language, and he can speak several different languages, though he is most learned in English, French, and Japanese (due to his family); and Italian (due to studies in operatic libretto and studies in art with his sister Camilla).
Whimsically, Lucien will still enjoy the occasional silly pastime. Swordplay, equestrianism, and hunting are all very well and good, but so is painting and enjoying an etude or two in the parlor. He isn’t above tea parties or a night of erotic engagements, either. _________________________________ [/size] IT’S THE CRACKING OF THE GLASS
THE HAUNTING OF YOUR PAST [/size] m a k e y o u r m o v e[/center] _________________________________ [/size] Family:
NUCLEAR FAMILY:[/b] Florentin Delacroix – Father
Nao Delacroix (née Minori) - Mother  Camilla Adelais DelacroixGender: Female Age: Appears late 20s Relations: Sister of Lucien Camilla is a part of the Chevalerie's central operations. She tends to be a bit brash and impatient in her decisions, but at the same time she is perfectly capable of resorting to deceit and trickery to accomplish her and the Chevalerie's goals. Her unique ability with the visual arts is invaluable to the Chevalerie; aside from providing her with clairvoyant visions, she is also able to use her paintings to conceal and store precious items from jewelry to documents ... and she can even archive immaterial thoughts. Because of this, Camilla is often involved with the trafficking of cargo and the relaying of concealed messages. CHEVALERIE – EXTENDED ‘FAMILY’: Edmond Durand Ivon d'AoustGender: Male Age: Appears late 20s Relations: Brother of Valentina Edmond has also been a part of the Chevalerie's inner circle since its reestablishment after the Napoleonic campaigns. A charismatic, dashing (seemingly) young gentleman, Edmond possesses a different sort of charisma from his friend Lucien, one that makes him more charming rather than inexplicably alluring. Still, most can't help liking the guy; it's a valuable trait, certainly. More valuable even, however, is his ability as a tactician and combatant; a military man ever since the French were sent to aid the British colonists in the American Revolutionary War, Edmond is an unequaled tactician and is invaluable in planning large-scale infiltrations and sieges. On the field he is a one-shot sharpshooter.  Valentina Morisot d'AoustGender: Female Age: Appears early 30s Relations: Sister of Edmond, mother of Valeri The fourth of the six members of the original King's Secret, Valentina is the glue that holds the Chevalerie together. A reserved and intuitive woman, of all the members she is best at managing her peers and diplomatically resolving internal conflicts. She was responsible for maintaining connections even during the Chevalerie's unforeseen hiatus after the French Revolution and for reestablishing it after Napoleon's exile. Whenever times may look dark for the Chevalerie, she is there with the right words to keep morale from falling. She is the lead figure in maintaining communications with other Chevalerie headquarters and members.  Jean Robin MourilleGender: Male Age: Appears young adolescence Relations: N/A Jean was once a personal servant to His Majesty, Louis XVI, and his preference to playing adviser still remains; he is unofficially Lucien's personal assistant. Though he might appear to be a mere fourteen or so years in age, he is only a few years younger than the rest of the members of the inner circle. This is quite deceiving when taking into account his natural intelligence; he is a naturally bright person and spends extensive amounts of time in the Chevalerie's libraries; most go to him first when in need of an obscure bit of data. His ability to quickly adapt to reading, writing, speaking, and understanding new languages makes him a precious asset in regards to foreign relations and documents.  Devereux du SanguinGender: Male Age: Appears early 30s Relations: Brother of Jacques (member of Epiphany) Perhaps the least approachable of the Chevalerie's inner members, Devereux immediately comes of as a standoffish, brooding figure. He is naturally untrusting though his comrades do understand why; however, his loyalty is unwavering if one can manage to earn it. His expertise in medical matters, his knowledge of chemical and biological substances both common and obscure, and his ability to investigate and analyze crime scenes (particularly homicides; he works closely with Piers in these matters) are his contributions to the Chevalerie, and he is the one who manages the medical operations across the Chevalerie's branches as well as the consultant for unfamiliar bio-hazards. He is the oldest member of all of the current living members both in age and his years of membership.  Valeri d'AoustGender: Male Age: Appears early 20s Relations: Son of Valentina & Lucien Valeri is one of the few members actually 'born' into vampirism, the product of Valentina and Lucien's (to this day still) rather confusing relationship. He lacks the personal hate that most of the inner members harbor against the Epiphany, but his sympathy towards his parents' agendas and basic principle have allied him against the Epiphany nonetheless. He is very close to his mother and father and he takes it upon himself to look after both of them, especially the former, through trying times. Due to his specialization in the mysteries of arcane magics, he is responsible for researching and archiving knowledge about the Cult's darker secrets, and he is the lead consultant in most matters regarding infiltration and battle tactics with the Cult.  Araziel Léon VasilicaGender: Male Age: Appears early to mid 20s Relations: Son of Lucien Araziel too was born into vampirism; Lucien is his father but his mother Clarisse Vasilica, a human, passed away long ago. Araziel was adopted into the Chevalerie after his personal travels to run from his overbearing mother and investigate his heritage. Deceivingly unequaled in the art of empty handed combat, Araziel's martial arts make him a valuable asset in battle scenarios. He gets along well with Edmond due to the two's tendency to laugh away troubles, and whimsically he is known for his culinary skills; he'll often be found passing out samples of his latest dish to the members on off days.
Pets: Charlotte, Acromantula; Félix, giant vampire bat; Adèle, phoenix. Residence: Several homes for the Chevalerie scattered across France; ‘home’ is really at Versailles. History: (Hrm … it wouldn’t fit in this post, so see post below ! I am also aware that it is somewhat fragmented in places; however, Lucien is always a work in progress, and if I need to I can reference completed but now outdated versions of his history.) [/size] _________________________________ [/size] YOU TOOK YOUR EYES UP OFF THE GAME
YOU’VE GOT NO ONE LEFT TO BLAME [/size] m a k e y o u r m o v e[/center] _________________________________ [/size] Name/Alias: Kai
Age: 21
Roleplay Experience: Too much. :B
How you heard about us: Marily!
Code Phrase: admin edit.
Roleplay Sample: this template is credit to xmrsmalfoyx at CAUTION 2.0.
Feel free to add and change as necessary, but please do leave my credit here.
I worked very hard on this, and I’d rather not
have to send my horde of zombie soldiers after you. |
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Post by Lucien Vilette de Séraphin on Sept 29, 2010 21:05:20 GMT -5
1756
Lucien Amadieu Marie Florence Narcisse Vilette de Delacroix, then Vicomte de Delacroix, was born in the Parisian suburb of Versailles in the year 1756. His family on his father Florentin’s side was of old wealth; his mother, Nao, was foreign born from Edo. His parents’ union was a rare one – one out of love – hence the ‘dark horse’ of a bride and the lack of care for the distribution of family wealth.
Growing up, Lucien enjoyed the material comfort of extravagant court life; he lived in one of the many ‘duplicate’ homesteads on the outskirts of the palace’s grounds first built during the previous monarch’s reign in His attempt to attract noble families to the young chateau. Lucien was the first child; Camilla followed two years later, and her coming was both a joyous and tearful one; Nao died a few hours after giving birth to her. To add to the tragedy, Florentin, a respectable general whose father had fought in the War of the Spanish Succession, and he himself a veteran of the War of the Austrian Succession, was called away within the year following Nao’s death to fight overseas in the New World; this time would later be known as the Seven Years’ War (to the soon-to-be Americans, the French and Indian War).
Though raised by nannies and the like whilst they were young, the two siblings, whilst parentless, learned to be very independent. They looked after themselves, and when of age, applied themselves to their private studies as any young educated people of the time would be expected to. Even before formal studies were begun however, Lucien began to display an impressive aptitude for music; his sister did the same for the visual arts. At the young age of four he was already playing and rearranging chords on the harpsichord with a technical accuracy typically only found in young adults trained in music since childhood; sensing a budding prodigy in the child, his tutors soon honed in on this talent and focused his free time on musical study. They did the same with Camilla’s art studies.
1763
Until 1763, Florentin’s visits home were few and far in between. During such visits, he had the opportunity to witness for himself the prodigious talent of his children, but, lacking any artistic talent (and therefore having little personal interest) himself, it was speculated that the traits must have come from Nao’s side of the family. Nonetheless there still remained a fatherly pride, and already he was planning on how best to optimize these talents to the children’s (and his own) advantage – mostly social advantage. Any plans he might have had could not be put into action until the end of the Seven Years’ War, however, and when he was finally released from service, he headed straight back to Versailles to see to his children’s abilities.
Lucien and Camilla, now seven and five respectively, had made astounding progress in their individual talents, progress that not even Florentin had expected. Lucien had already penned one symphony, written the libretto for an opera, and doodled countless other little etudes for everything from flute to harpsichord. The young prodigy’s soul was simply alight with some insatiable thirst, compelled by an inexplicable need to simply create. Too, of course, was that childish need for approval from his elders; he had made that simple connection that his caretakers loved when he wrote music, and as such he saw no reason not to do so. For him, it was the simple pleasure of creating, receiving praise, and playing his compositions. Playing instruments was no difficult task to master, either; by ten he could play the harpsichord and violin blindfolded. Other common instruments popular at the time were part of his repertoire, and even the revolutionary pianoforte was becoming a new delight to him and to others with its ability to reflect the volume of the pressure applied to its keys. Furthermore, to help enrich Lucien’s musical education, Florentin made a few ‘tours’ with Lucien, Camilla, and other family members to places of artistic significance including Italy – known for its chapel art (for Camilla’s sake) and its renown opera (for Lucien) – and Vienna – the musical capital of the world at the time.
To Lucien at his young age, all of these things were ‘normal’ to him; after all, one who has grown up with such abilities assumes until a certain age that it is status quo. Florentin of course knew otherwise, however; he was soon having Lucien perform at social functions – balls, dinners, and even out about the palace’s grounds – to help garner public recognition of the child’s talents (and it would be at one such dinner during one such performance that Lucien would meet his best friend for life, Edmond, and his future wife, Edmond’s sister Valentina). Word of mouth is one of the greatest catalysts in such endeavors, after all. And it worked, too. Florentin was soon invited to have Lucien play for the court; such an honor and opportunity would not be passed up so easily, especially since the ‘musical industry’ was so saturated with aspiring composers scrabbling for approval, much less work (even later in his career, Mozart was known to be out of work simply for this reason).
Florentin deliberated endlessly over what Lucien ought to play, but the young musician was hardly concerned anymore; in theory, it was just ‘another performance.’ Thus Lucien ended up playing some sonata penned that morning that, to him, was almost a throwaway piece; to his audience, however, it was pure passion and godly talent embodied in the dancing melodies and harmonies of a sonata that was a perfect balance between skillfully executed technique and artistic creativity.
1770
The seed was planted, then, though the Vilettes would not hear from the court again until Lucien reached the age of fourteen. The period of silence was unnerving to Florentin, though Lucien cared little; by then he was finally beginning to grow tired of the constant pressure with which his father burdened him; Lucien would have been happy to pursue other careers. He was impressed by the military merit of his father and of his best friend, Edmond; the two often went hunting together. Though Lucien had of course been tutored in equestrianism, swordplay, and other such ‘gentlemanly’ pursuits, it was Edmond, really, that helped him hone his talent; his brain was a bit saturated by all of the musical study, after all, and the variety was certainly both welcome and refreshing.
Meanwhile, there was Valentina. It was quite rare during that time that marriages were for any design other than political and fiscal advantage; just as rare was the union of a man and a woman of the same age – the husband was typically much older for the sake of being able to protect and provide for the wife. It was therefore a bit out of the popular norm that Lucien had no mistresses nor any interest in obtaining any; what began in childhood as an innocent childish friendship soon began to develop into a proper courtship, shy at first but no less real. Edmond would often tease his best friend for having his eye on his sister, but at the same time, Edmond knew Lucien better than anyone else, and thus also knew the potential union would be a solid one.
A few months before Lucien’s fourteenth birthday, he suddenly received a surprising but no less welcome invitation from Monsieur le Dauphin. It confirmed the word circulating that he was soon to wed Austria’s princess, Maria-Antonia (later French-ified to ‘Marie-Antoinette’) despite France’s general public opinion against it (as sentiments against Austria were still somewhat shaken in the wake of the bitter outcome of the Seven Years’ War). The correspondence stated that their previous commissioner, François Giroust, had canceled last second due to his mandatory attendance at a family member’s funeral, and that Lucien had been the first the Dauphin had named when asked about whom he wanted to write and play for his wedding.
It was evident now that success was the result of not only hard work and talent but of luck as well. Lucien immediately accepted, and after much rejoicing with friends and family alike, he set to work on the various pieces that would be needed for the event. The fervor for this particular task was borne from more than just work ethic; Lucien had taken a personal liking to the heir-apparent for the few times he had met him; he was a gentle man, and though Lucien did not in any sense envy the duties the Dauphin would face as king, he still admired and respected him. And from what Lucien could tell, Louis-Auguste thought the same.
Lucien’s official debut at the wedding was a great success; he was immediately offered a position as one of the court composers. He of course accepted, and the title brought about a great number of benefits. He moved to the palace (and was quite grateful to be away from his overbearing father), enjoyed the even greater luxuries the palace had to offer, and of course he was most pleased to be able to be closer to both Edmond and Valentina; the siblings themselves resided at the palace.
The only downside was that he was distanced from his dear sister Camilla. The two siblings were very close, but Lucien’s career kept him quite busy, and now that he was bound to the palace and his work, he could not leave as easily as he would have liked. He could no longer join her during her sojourns around France due to conflict of schedule. They kept in touch through letters of course, but the visits were fewer and farther in between.
1772
All too soon, life grew stagnant at the palace. Within the year, his mind, thirsty for knowledge and for enrichment, began to grow discontented, stunted. Lacking any challenge or stimulation – the palace only wished for music that glorified France, forcing Lucien to produce very political, systematic work – Lucien was simply bored. He never grew ungrateful, really, but he did wish for some variety. At least his network of associates had grown much, and in the years following his court debut, he became involved in the declining but no less adamant association known as the King’s Secret.
This ‘association’ was once a network of undercover political spies that worked for the previous monarch, Louis XV. Few knew of its existence; even fewer knew of its true agenda: to deal with the supernatural. This would be Lucien’s first encounter with magic and the like, though it would still be a few years until he discovered his lineage through his mother’s side of the family.
Still, the King’s Secret worked to keep the malevolent intervention of supernatural creatures and activity out of the affairs of the common public. Their operations were extensive enough to keep them out of any one category, but some tried anyway, and their agents earned several unofficial titles from exorcists to vampire hunters to alchemists. The King’s Secret operated chiefly out of the palace though of course in secret; most of the members were nobles, after all. Lucien, Camilla, Edmond, and Valentina were all involved in the Secret.
All the while, Lucien was pining for a chance to escape from the monotony of his job, even if only temporarily. At the same time, he began to see things in his music, in the music he wrote for his own pleasure, not for mass production for the court. He would have gone so far as to say his etudes were suggesting hints of the future as if he were subconsciously clairvoyant; of course he refrained from saying anything of that nature however, simply for the sake of not wishing to appear insane. The reality of his unintentional predictions could not be ignored, however; they started with small, random things. Oh the Madame du Barry would embarrass herself publicly at tonight’s ball. She did. The Duc d’Orléans’ cousin would fall ill whilst abroad in the British Isles. He did. Not all such ‘readings’ were easily decipherable, however, but they did much to aid the King’s Secret in anticipating the activity of their enemies.
1776
Whilst the ‘enemies’ of the Secret remained widespread and elusive, unable to be pinned to any one organized entity, it was around the year 1776 (Lucien was then turning twenty) that things began to look bleak for them. With the death of Louis XV and the coronation of Louis XVI, the young king saw no need for the Secret; it had been instituted by his predecessor after all. Thus Louis XVI officially disbanded the King’s Secret, though the move was just that: official. Their political ties had begun to fade anyway, their agenda more focused on the aforementioned supernatural diplomacy, control, and extermination; now that they were no longer obligated to work solely for the crown, they renamed themselves as simply the Chevalierie.
Odd timing, too, or perhaps it had been organized; a structured enemy was beginning to emerge, known only as the Cult. They were the anti-Chevalerie, composed of supernatural creatures; their belief, however, was that they were above common society and thus were free to prey on the public as they so pleased. Other darker, ritualistic things were said to have taken place within the Cult’s embrace, but the Chevalerie had not yet managed to infiltrate it, though it was rumored that the Cult operated from somewhere in Paris, its members quite possibly composed of some of the court as well.
Despite these setbacks, life continued in relative normalcy until one night when Lucien penned a certain nocturne. In it he saw the Cult, saw something about their activity in the New World, and at once he brought it to the Chevalerie’s attention. They did not doubt Lucien’s word, and though none understood exactly how Lucien’s clairvoyance worked (him included), they at once made arrangements for him and Edmond to travel overseas to investigate the matter.
The New World in question was the British colonies. Word had reached a friend of some of the Chevaliers: the Marquis de Lafayette amongst other educated, free thinkers of the time were quite moved by the colonists’ agenda. Lafayette was prepared to march right over to the colonies to aid the revolutionaries in their fight against the tyrannical Britain – his motives were both personal and political – and he was willing to do it for no pay whatsoever. The court, however, feared openly declaring war upon their longtime enemy, Great Britain, and despite Lafayette’s petitions, they ignored him. Assuming their silence was a diplomatic agreement, he set off for the New World with eleven of his best men – Lucien and Edmond included. He was reluctant to sign Lucien onto his self-fashioned crew, but his friends in the Chevalerie had convinced him that he would be an invaluable asset outside combat.
After a quick stop in Bordeaux and Passage, Spain (the detour due to the court’s attempt to drag the marquis back to Versailles), they were already heading across the ocean. It was Lucien’s first time truly out at sea, and though he spent much of it quite seasick, he still managed to write countless letters to Valentina in the absence of illness. The two had grown ever closer over the years, and already they were planning to wed though Lucien had not yet officially proposed to Valentina for a number of reasons, most of them having to do with scheduling and timing and all of that other complicated nonsense.
After a couple of months spent on that blasted ship, the group finally arrived in the colonies. Lafayette set off at once to plead his case before the colonies’ Congress. At first he was denied due to the overwhelming amount of (surreptitious) support from other foreign military officers, but soon enough he was accepted and sent off to rendezvous with General Washington, the alleged leader of the ragtag band of revolutionaries known as America’s Continental Army. Whilst most of Lafayette’s overseas activity can be found in the history books, Lucien and Edmond followed along and kept to their own agenda, always on the lookout for a certain member from the Émeraude family, the one they were meant to capture; Lucien had had plenty of time to contemplate his prophetic music during the voyage over the Atlantic.
Their work needed to be quick, however; though Lucien was excellent with a rifle and sabre and had no quarrel with following rules, he was simply not meant to be a soldier; indeed, his momentary incompetence in the Battle of Brandywine made him partially responsible for the wound the marquis suffered, a wound from which Lafayette took two whole months to recover. Nonetheless, Lucien was highly valued out of battle; his music and song and penchant for storyweaving (the latter stemmed possibly from his need to write libretto for his operas) made him well-liked amongst both French and American soldiers, and he could often be found playing a song or telling some story for the men during camp.
It was at Gloucester Point that Lucien and Edmond finally tracked down the stray Émeraude. She had been attempting to recruit Hessians for some cause back home; the German mercenaries, willing to take on any job for the right price, would have certainly agreed, and they were a resource with which the Chevalerie would have trouble dealing, even if only because of their sheer numbers. Still, somewhere amidst the battle there they managed to capture her alive, and, their work done, they immediately sent word ahead that they would be heading home, their work here finished. They bade de Lafayette goodbye, each promising to see the other once reunited at Versailles.
They were just preparing to leave Massachusetts Bay to return to Bordeaux when the Émeraude’s protégé attempted to take her back. Edmond and Lucien ended up killing the man, but Edmond was grievously wounded in the process. Lucien managed to keep Émeraude from escaping, but morale was certainly low during the trip back home. Things were hardly better back at Versailles, either; the Chevalerie could only cover for Edmond and Lucien’s disappearance for so long, and after nearly a year spent overseas, tying up loose ends was a bit of a task. Edmond was faring better but was still injured, and he spent his days recuperating in his apartment with constant visits from a court doctor (and one of the Chevalerie’s members), Devereux.
Lucien felt personally responsible for Edmond’s condition, and though neither Edmond nor Valentina blamed Lucien in the least, Lucien still mistook Valentina’s distance as her being unhappy with him. Really she was only concerned for her brother and was committed to looking after him, but after the trip overseas, Lucien was ever-paranoid; the experience had been quite overwhelming and eye-opening; in the short span of a year he had finally felt the tug over the court’s grander political schemes, the reality of what the Chevalerie dealt with worldwide, the horrors of war, estrangement from his beloved, and the ever mounting volume of cryptic messages his music foretold. Indeed, for a great time following, the latter was all he could focus on, and it persisted in everything he wrote, even in the pieces for the court. Only he could see them, something that was both an advantage and disadvantage; he could speak of them to nobody but his closest friends, but as relations were currently strained with Edmond and Valentina, he desperately resumed his adamant letter writing with Camilla.
He discovered that Camilla had gone into hiding during his time overseas due to her father’s attempts to wed her off to some pig of a husband. Both siblings had initially been infuriated over the fact that the court would not recognize Camilla’s artistic talents on the grounds that she was a woman; the furiousness had gradually subsided into a festering resentment, only adding to Lucien’s compiled stress. The news of Camilla’s new situation didn’t help matters any.
1780
It was at this point that Lucien’s overall happiness began to really decline. He spent long nights shut away in his apartment, writing countless scores of music in frantic desperation to decipher the cryptic messages of which he only had hints before. It was only for the sake of keeping his position and reputation at court that he continued to pen the occasional march or opera or fanfare upon his superiors’ request; otherwise he was just churning out more music, from somber requiems to wildly spinning minuets.
Meanwhile his heart still ached for Valentina, but both pride and shame kept him from trying to reconnect with her. He still sent her the occasional letter or rose but couldn’t bring himself to see her again. With nothing to occupy himself during the day, Lucien began to make frequent trips to Paris, and he easily became immersed in the salon culture in the wake of the Enlightenment. It was the popular pastime and general mode of thinking for all individuals of that generation, regardless of class. Commoners, sans-culottes, nobles, and clergymen alike gathered in taverns, salons, and gambling houses to discuss philosophy pertaining chiefly to government and the rights of people. Admittedly Lucien was a bit of a fish out of water here, what with Versailles’ subjects tending to be ignorant (purposefully or no) towards the commoner’s affairs. He wasn’t stupid, though, and his uncommon fraternization earned him a rare insight into the general mindset of the commoners …
On the Chevalerie’s front, things were looking bleaker. The captured Émeraude had revealed little useful information beyond cutting off the tie to the Hessians; quite the contrary, her disappearance had led to more friction between the two sides and the Cult’s activity within the palace was pushing the boundaries of discretion; the two sides’ war, beneath the public eye for so long, threatened to erupt into the open for the first time. Hanging by very thin threads, the Chevalerie only managed to keep things under control, but Devereux, the court doctor and the Chevalerie’s alchemist (or potions master), mysteriously fell ill and was bedridden for some weeks. Only a day or two after this incident, Edmond’s previous wound (from the gunshot to his forearm from overseas) thought to have been healed began to show signs of infection. He declined amputation despite the second court doctor’s diagnosis.
Fearful for his friends and associates, and though sadly it took dire circumstances to re-forge friendships, Lucien nonetheless pulled himself together long enough to visit Edmond’s apartment. Valentina answered the door and immediately flung her arms around her estranged beloved; Edmond, despite now being bedridden as Devereux was, cracked his usual jokes about Lucien’s ‘disappearance.’ It was a tearful, somewhat quiet, but no less joyful reunion. Lucien’s long-held fears about his friend and beloved’s opinion of him were washed away in that instant.
Unfortunately it was a tad too late. Though Lucien and Valentina easily rekindled their love for one another and Lucien and Edmond their friendship, Edmond passed away the next week, the infection from his former battle wound having grown suddenly dire within the short span of a few days. With limited medical resources now that Devereux was out of commission, there was nothing that could have been done. Even then, however, Lucien traced it back to that time at the pier where he had failed to prevent Edmond from being harmed …
Lucien and Valentina mourned grievously over the loss of their friend and brother; even Camilla managed to sneak into the viewing and funeral at the Notre Dame to pay her respects as well. That reunion was a somber one, and it seemed things could grow no worse, but then Devereux followed Edmond into death as well, even whilst the Chevalerie was still mourning the first. They were dark times. The Chevalerie began to drift apart, and Lucien, Camilla, and Valentina had only one another.
1786
Lucien was still writing. Despite the day to day routine at Versailles, the musician was, at this point, sick of the lifestyle there. The nobility were complacent, ignorant fools. They did not fear the impending national crisis that Lucien did not even need his music to foretell (intuition was enough for that); they only feared boredom. Extravagant parties, exorbitant spending; the state was spiraling deeper and deeper into debt, and Lucien could not understand how the nobility remained oblivious. In the wake of the unpaid debts America owed for the French aid in the American Revolution, the harsh winters and bad harvests, the nonexistent funds that had been poured into Versailles’ continued renovation … were the nobility truly the bumbling idiots that Lucien saw them to be, or were they aware … and purposefully blissful in their ignorance?
Camilla had withdrawn back into hiding, and so Lucien spent most of his days at the salon with Valentina, or … just with Valentina. Nights were spent still feverishly writing away, however, and the combination of all of his stresses on top of the messages of his music left him increasingly paranoid. Every moment he expected an attack from an unseen enemy; every conversation, every person he passed, everything pointed towards a threat that didn’t come. But perhaps he simply wasn’t wary enough.
One rainy night found Lucien in his apartment’s study, writing away as always. He had fallen into an unnaturally deep bout of depression, perhaps brought on by the haunting aria he was in the middle of mindlessly penning. Nonetheless, when there was a knock on the door, he answered; Valentina was there, and without a word she pushed her way into the room. Wondering if something was amiss, Lucien asked her what the matter was, but just as silently she pulled herself to him and unceremoniously began to kiss him. It was not as if they hadn’t shared kisses before, but there was a strange insistence to her actions, one that Lucien could not quite decipher. In the back of his mind, something was very wrong …
Well, he deciphered it soon enough. One thing led to another, with the wine and the depression as factors in the lack of inhibition. Only when they lay sated in the wake of the confusing desperation of their exchanges did Lucien glance over and … realize it was not Valentina. No! Such a thing was absurd; he knew it was her when she had come in, he was sure of it. But through the haze of wine, he began to slowly but surely piece things together … the unnatural coolness of her skin, her foreign taste … oh God, he should have anticipated that his vigilance would be foiled in the most sinister sort of subterfuge.
He recognized the woman now; she was Zoë, allegedly the daughter of the former court composer. Yes, it made sense now, but she … oh God now that his senses were returning, he was realizing the searing pain in his neck and … what was she doing? The woman was scrabbling out of bed; after flashing him a brief but no less malevolent smile that nearly made his blood run cold, Zoë fled from the room naked, her bedclothes clutched around her. Oh she was a little actress …
“Help! Somebody help me! Rape!” Lucien could do nothing to stop her, and he frantically tried to dress himself, but a chambermaid passed and immediately misinterpreted the scene. She too called for help and the commotion soon built; Lucien immediately fled from the palace, but in an inexplicable last-second impulse, he ransacked his own desk and took what music he had there with him. Those that were gathered to the scene in the hall caught only a glimpse of the half-dressed, fleeing musician.
Lucien stole a horse from one of the gendarmes and sped off immediately towards his father’s estate a few miles away from the palace itself. Upon arrival he burst in through the doors just as the dam of his troubles broke; his concerned father asked what the matter was and Lucien amidst his sobbing managed to spell out the events that had just come to pass. The witch! She was a witch, weaving her spells of illusion and deceit! Though Florentin could make little sense of what had happened, he could see the desperation in his son’s demeanor, and without any further deliberation he hurried Lucien inside, reassuring him that he would hide him and smooth things over himself. Fatigued and grateful, Lucien thanked him profoundly before retreating and collapsing into his room.
Florentin kept to his word, turning away anyone who came calling for Lucien at Florentin’s door. Admittedly it was not too difficult to pretend Lucien was not there; a couple of days after the incident, Lucien too fell ill and remained confined to his bed, but unlike his friends who had fallen ill before him, he now had nobody to see to him.
Every day he pined after Valentina, praying that she would come searching for him regardless of what she thought of the incident. This was Versailles after all, and news never stayed in one place. Rumor compounded upon rumor and all spread like wildfire; in one fell swoop (one not even of Lucien’s own doing), his reputation was tarnished, gone. Lucien realized how cold the court could be, even above their childish idiocy; nobody from his musical associates to the once Dauphin that had been his willing patron cared enough to investigate, much less clear his name. The Chevalerie would have been the entity to come to his rescue, but it had long since drifted back into the woodwork.
What of Valentina? She too heard the matters, and Zoë went so far as to make sure Valentina witnessed her retelling of the ‘horrible incident’ to her friends. That silver tongue of hers went far; she spun a tale of how she and Lucien had been secretly involved with one another despite his ‘passive lover Valentina being in the way.’ Still, somehow in a corner of her mind, she refused to believe it, but the deed was done and, betrayed and hurt, she too, alone, could not bring herself to confront Lucien.
Camilla, meanwhile, heard of the incident, and immediately she knew it had to be a setup; Florentin begged her to come see her brother despite the strained relationship between father and daughter. Camilla consented, and within the week she arrived at Florentin’s estate; she went immediately to Lucien’s bedside and was horrified at the state of his health. He was asleep when she first arrived, but she could still see how pallid his skin had turned, how labored his breathing had become. It seemed every breath was a struggle. He seemed to sense her presence there, however, and he awoke slowly; there hardly appeared to be a difference between being asleep and being awake. His eyes were so bloodshot, though whether from crying or from his odd sickness she did not know. Still, she clutched at his hand and told him all would be fine.
Lucien was at first sad it was Camilla and not Valentina who first came to him, but the thought was only fleeting, and he was eternally grateful for Camilla’s appearance there. He found he could not cry, even though he wished to; he was too weak, and he could not explain why. Even amidst the fear that he was about to die, however, Camilla was trying to piece things together logically. Zoë … she was not a popular one at court, but Camilla tried to remember her associates.
Oh God, the Cult. She was a part of the Cult. Camilla realized it right away, and suddenly remembered her sudden fraternization with Devereux and with Edmond around the time immediately before their deaths. And … wait, had it not been Zoë’s mother who had acted as the second doctor when Devereux was out of commission …
Oh God, oh God, oh God … Camilla wanted to spill all the information on Lucien, but she could see his heart would probably not be able to withstand the news. As such she saved it for later, when she was sure he would be better.
A week later, and Lucien’s condition was no better, but no worse. However, whilst Camilla tended to him one night, she suddenly realized something strange. Brushing back his outgrown, neglected curls, she spotted a minute but noticeable pair of puncture marks.
Vampire. Oh God, her brother had …
Camilla in her franticness called immediately for Florentin, forgetting momentarily that Florentin had never been involved with the Chevalerie … and that he was a very superstitious man. He saw the bite mark and he too realized what it was; fearful and desperate and now convinced that his son was beyond saving, he nonetheless bought himself some time, knowing how brash Camilla could be. He sent her away to find a medic and once she was gone, he went to Lucien’s bedside and solemnly recited some prayers. Then, crossing both himself and his son, he went and fetched a crucifix, tongs, and his pistol.
Camilla returned to the house with the medic and was greeted by the gargled howls of pain from the second landing. She charged up the stairs as quickly as he restrictive panniers would allow and burst into the room to a horrid sight. Florentin clutched a pair of tongs holding a still red-hot crucifix, heated by the fire; Lucien’s chest was branded, the shape of the crucifix cauterized into his skin, burning red. And then there was the click of the pistol, Lucien’s weakened but no less desperate pleas, and … the gunshot.
Where Lucien’s dying screams ended, Camilla’s began. She attacked her father with her fists, biting and clawing and whatever else she could manage, but what was done was done.
A hasty funeral was held within a couple of days. General rumor agreed that Lucien had simply gone insane as many artists often did, and the chain of events that had followed had all merely been a culmination of his pent up insanity, later guilt, and eventually death.
Only a small handful knew the truth.
1787
About a year passed before half life returned to him; the fear that Lucien felt upon awakening was the most absolute fear – and loneliness – he had ever known. Everything was so cold, but it was a beautiful sort of cold…
Lucien arose from his grave, then, and wandered, absolutely lost. A thick haze pervaded his scattered memories as if something wanted to prevent him from remembering…though for what reason is left up to interpretation. As shades of his former life returned to him, however, so did the remembrance of discord and betrayal; it was immediate that he either respond in rage or be crushed by sheer exhaustion … or perhaps both in succession.
There had to be an escape from this horrid half life, but months spent in self discovery did nothing but allow him to familiarize himself with the thing he had become. Oh, sensory stimuli were increased a hundred fold; food was sweeter, colors more vivid … primal desires nigh irresistible. Courtesans were easy prey, and it was with them that Lucien experienced his first feeding; it was a dirty, disgusting act, the sort that one hated even while one enjoyed it, the sort whose result could only leave one feeling sated on guilt and self loathing. Still, it only took that one moment before Lucien fell victim to countless other sinful indulgences. When the courtesans were too easy to chase, he moved his attention to higher classes, always testing his limits, delighting in nightly games of cat and mouse.
But what did it matter? He was dead. The world thought him dead. He had no reputation, not even an identity, and for a few years thereafter the only thing to entertain his frantic mind was his games of self-fascination. Oh, he was beautiful. He might have been handsome before death, though he never had held a particular interest for his appearance, at least not beyond what was expected of the fashion forward Paris. But oh, death brought about a certain haunting quality, an elusive etherealness that made him both beautiful and horridly gruesome. He tried not to think of the latter, though. What power denial can bring.
It took a great amount of self control to tame the basic instincts that drove him from day to day. Only when he was able to overcome his self fascination were his eyes opened to the reality around him. This home he so loved was no longer welcome – to him or to any of his class. He tried to ignore it at first, just as he tried to ignore the ugliness that came with being dead, but there is only so far that delusion can offer solace, and after that, there was no denying it. The nobility was to be crushed soon. There would be no more parties, no more elegance and splendor; the country was in need, and when the cries of revolution were no longer ignorable, Lucien knew he had to escape.
He tracked down his dear Camilla, finding her living unhappily with the pig of a man to whom she had been married. He was an impediment; Lucien quickly and easily disposed of him. She was rescued – she had no quarrels – and together the two made to flee…but to where? It would be difficult to escape without drawing attention to themselves, and both were weighed down by Camilla’s ceaseless questions. It had been four years since Lucien’s death … how had he appeared here like this? And why was he … so different? Lucien thought she meant only physically; Camilla had meant in more ways than that.
1789
Unfortunately, the siblings were barred from escaping immediately. With all of the civil unrest, Lucien and Camilla knew it would be both risky, possibly life threatening , to attempt to leave the country right away. Thus for the meanwhile they were forced to remain in Paris; even trying to return to Versailles would have been downright foolish. They kept to an apartment in the Montmartre district; it was a not-so-nice side of town, conditions to which the siblings were not accustomed, but it was a small price to pay in exchange for their security.
Lucien spent most of his hours contemplating his ‘condition’; Camilla spent hers worrying about their family and friends. Where was Florentin? Valentina? They eventually found news about the former; apparently the old veteran had been stationed at the Bastille. Guard had been increased due to the stockpile of weapons kept at the fort; the government feared that the commoners might try to break into the stores there if the situation worsened. For this reason amongst others, the siblings were reluctant to try to pay a visit to the fort. Lucien had also, at this point, had plenty of time to mull over his father killing him … and by no means was he prepared to forgive him. Camilla was silent about the matter … it was a difficult and tragic one to grasp.
Still, around July they finally emerged from their hiding place disguised as commoners. They hurried to the Bastille to try to find Florentin, sentiments of uneasiness pervading the air the entire way. It was early morning, but frighteningly enough there seemed to be a commotion building. There were other commoners: peasants, shopkeepers, and other lower class men and women gathered outside the gates. The siblings found a less well-guarded spot along the wall and, carrying Camilla atop his back, Lucien easily scaled the sheer stone. They made it over the other side, stole uniforms, and proceeded to make their way around the fort.
The y located Florentin outside where the weapons were stored, and without hesitation, Lucien confronted the man with all of his pent up frustration, spitting blasphemies and accusations as the poor shaken man witnessing his son returned from the dead could do nothing but cower and gibber nonsensically. Camilla looked on, stunned, before intervening, restraining her brother as best she could, and shouting at Florentin that he needed to leave the Bastille because the peasants were plotting something. Their commotion had attracted some of the other guards who at once recognized that Lucien and Camilla were not employed there; a fight started between them all, but at the same time the gates were suddenly run down and the enraged commoners flooded into the fort.
Somewhere amidst the chaos, Florentin was shot and killed on the spot.
Lucien recalls little of the rest of the conflict, only that he remembers the satisfying sensation of tearing apart the peasant responsible. Whether his rage was on account of being denied the opportunity to have at his father himself or due to fundamental filial duty and love (however hidden), he is still to this day unsure, but again … the deed was done.
After that, Lucien fought their way out of the crowd; he managed to pull Camilla out unharmed whilst he suffered only a few scratches that healed quickly on their own – the first time he experienced the odd accelerated healing of a vampire. Still, they returned to Montmartre, shaken but in one piece, and once the initial shock of what had happened was overcome, the two siblings dissolved into mourning with only one another for support. All around them their lives were rapidly falling apart. What was worst of all was that they were powerless to do anything about it.
1792
× Meet J.L. Davide. Witness the execution of Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette; Lucien and Camilla finally leave France.
1793 – 1800
× Lucien and Camilla travel to Italy for more art study; Renaissance art exploration.
× Camilla is turned.
× Become mixed up in pirating – unofficially join a band of nobles who lost their titles.
1804
× Napoleon crowns himself emperor. Anonymously assist him in breaking Lafayette out of prison.
1805 – 1811
× First contact with Valentina since death; Lucien becomes involved in a confusing relationship with her.
× Valeri born.
× Lucien remains with Valentina for some time to help care for Valeri.
× Camilla temporarily leaves Lucien and Valentina to go study more in Rome.
1812
× Become involved in the War of 1812 by sabotaging British ships and trafficking contraband to America.
× Stay out of Napoleonic Campaigns.
1814
× Napoleon defeated and exiled; Lucien and Camilla stop over at Elba to resupply during a pirate excursion.
× Liaison with Clarisse Vasilica.
× Araziel born; Lucien commits himself to regular clandestine visits to the Vasilica estate to care for the vampire child.
1815 – 1850
× Lucien hides out in England, taking refuge in a nondescript rural farmstead. Becomes involved with their family; affair with the daughter, eliminates a certain 'land shark' plaguing their property.
× Eventually marries Emily Grey, one of the daughters of that farmstead.
They were in no hurry to find the others, however. In fact, after a fruitless investigation in some rural farmland of Yorkshire, England, Lucien, tired of months starving on the road with his dwindling supply of coin, was unexpectedly adopted into the care of a family of farmers: the Grays. It happened one night whilst he was traveling down this rural road, lost, weary enough to the point that he was unable to fly. Emily – one of the daughters – happened to be out and about that night, and she at first mistook Lucien for an angel; a belief that stuck for a long time after despite all evidence pointing to the contrary. Still, she offered him a humble shelter – the barn – but it was more than what he had had for the past few months. That was the start.
The Grays were honest folk who worked the land, and though the lifestyle was radically different from what Lucien was used to, he was simply grateful for a chance to ‘hide’ from society whilst still keeping up honest work and learning some practical things on the way. For the first time in a very long time, Lucien had rediscovered peace … and what it was like to fall in love.
As unlikely as it might seem, he and Emily were soon courting. It was kept quiet at first of course, but soon the family learned of it and … approved. The vampire was truly happy there, though of course little by little secrets about his background were dug up. By then he had already proved himself to the family however, and he was one of their own no matter what oddities he brought with him.
During his correspondence by post with Camilla, Lucien, still afraid of being found by enemies that may or may not have existed, no longer signed his letters with his name. Unsure of what alias to adopt, on a whim he recalled Emily’s constant insistence that he was an angel. The word for it in French – ‘Séraphin’ – soon became the name he used in letters. Little did he know it would stick far far later.
However, Camilla soon sent word that another lead had been found elsewhere. Lucien, torn between attending to the urgent matter and remaining with the family, regretfully opted for the former. By then he figured he’d overstayed his welcome, and he departed hastily, perhaps afraid that he might not be able to depart at all if he deliberated. The lead proved once again fruitless however, and defeated, Lucien – this time with Camilla accompanying him – soon returned to the farm, only to find that the family had had to give up their daughter Emily. They had been blackmailed by the landowner that owned their farm; in exchange for allowing them to keep the farm, he had demanded the daughter.
Well then. Lucien and Camilla went off at once to get her back. Though the farmers were not versed in the technicalities of law, Lucien and Camilla put their education to use and managed to win Emily and the farm back. It was a joyous reunion. Camilla was assimilated into the family as well, and soon enough Lucien and Emily were wed.
These were perhaps some of the simplest but fondest years of the vampire’s life. Family was … really something neither he nor his sister had ever had, but the Grays were more of a family than Florentin had ever been. Camilla came and went on her various studies, but Lucien remained there on the farm. He and Emily had three daughters together, and the family grew up together, enjoying the simple pleasures of life. They traveled occasionally, and things were well.
That was, of course, until they realized that Emily was aging and Lucien … wasn’t. It was truly the first time that Lucien realized his immortality was very, very real. Even then, it never came between them, at least not beyond the occasional bout of sorrow, but the two loved one another unconditionally, all the way until Emily’s passing.
Thus ended the brightest phase of the vampire’s life. He and Camilla mourned for weeks before moving on. Lucien wished that it never had had to end, but he also knew that business was still left unattended, and try as he might, it simply could not be ignored.
In remembrance of Emily, Lucien then officially shed his father’s old title. Camilla remained la Comtesse de Delacroix; Lucien became the Comte de Séraphin. To this day, the name is still a tribute to Emily.
1850 – 1900
× First contact with Edmond and remnants of the chevalerie.
× Camilla and Lucien discover Nao’s family’s refuge in Japan.
× Leave Nao’s refuge to establish and maintain old family property near Marseille.
× At first involved with the Académie des Beaux-Arts, but Camilla’s avant-garde style led her to gravitate towards the salon art culture instead.
1920
× Prohibition in America; Lucien and Camilla traffic wine from their vineyards to ‘private investors.’
1930
× Eventually return to Nao’s refuge to maintain connections there.
1939
× WWII breaks out; Camilla and Lucien flee Japan to stay out of their Pacific affairs and to protect their property at home in France.
× Stores of art and music stolen and destroyed / scattered by Nazi censorship.
1950
× Chevalerie formally pieces itself back together and resumes operations.
Present Day
× Begin to make connections with the still-existent Cult and scattered pieces
× Activities resumed at Versailles
× Lucien, Camilla, Edmond, Valentina as diplomats
× Begin to recollect scattered art and music
× ‘Descendant of the Rose’ established (Descendant Co.). Masquerade as international business consultants; public front for Chevalerie’s modern day operations.
In regards to the wizarding world, Lucien and Camilla have been aware of its existence since their first stay at their late mother Nao’s refuge. The community itself was a secluded utopia of witches and wizards, but as they were quite used to the existence of supernatural entities and socities hidden from common man’s eye, this revelation was little more than mildly pleasant news. In the present day, however, Lucien and Camilla have both been working to break more properly into the wizarding world, especially the communities active in Western Europe. Over the past thirty or so years, they have extended the Chevalerie’s relations into wizarding territory, and into foreign Ministries.
In recent days, both for whimsical pleasure, the sake of a new experience, and of course to help establish relations with Hogwarts, Lucien sought a teaching post at Hogwarts. He was the Care of Magical Creatures professor a few years back, and though he left for a little while, he has returned to take it up again. As with all things, it will be passing, but for now, he sees no point in not enjoying it.
Since Remus Lupin's one year stint as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Lucien and Remus - distant contacts before then - became close friends, a friendship perhaps based in great part upon their 'outlying' nature of being a vampire and a werewolf, respectively. They have enjoyed a strong bond of friendship ever since. |
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