Post by HENRI D'ARTOIS on Feb 27, 2013 1:52:15 GMT -5
| [atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, background-color: f9f9f9; border: #1f4579 solid 10px; width: 420px; padding: 15 5 15 5px;] |
At the end of the day you're another day colder
FULL NAME: By the Grace of God, Most Christian King of France and Navarre, Henri Charles Ferdinand Marie Dieudonné d'Artois, duc de Bordeaux, comte de Chambord
NICKNAMES: "Just Henri. s'il te plait."
HERITAGE: French
AGE: 13
GROUP: Aristocracy
CANON: Yes, technically.
PLAYBY: Aidan Alexander (with lightened features in p/s to match appearance description)
-----
PERSONALITY: Henri is an interesting boy with quite a few distinguishable traits which he will likely carry through to adulthood. Some children lack development of much personality as a young teenager, but Henri is an exception to that, being a very interesting and well-rounded boy for his years. There is much to suggest he will be a strong, interesting young man with a good heart though, like anyone else, he has his numerous shortcomings.
One particular characteristic evident in Henri, perhaps because of or maybe in spite of his family and upbringing is his loyalty - both to friends and country. As a Petit-Fils de France he learnt quickly and from a young age the importance of this loyalty. (Great Great Grandson of Louis XV). He learned that country comes before self for certain and sometimes even, sadly, before family. Watching many of his family members work hard to try to stabilize the country and living through multiple coup d'etats and regime changes has left Henri with a mind of understanding that perhaps if monarchs of France made more of an effort to do the right thing, there would not be so many problems. Their loyalty, however, is to themselves.. not to France. This, he is already old enough and wise enough to see, is a major injustice to France and her people. Henri is determined to change this. He was taught to always try his hardest at whatever he attemped and not to accept defeat easily. This has of course led to a stubborn streak. Perhaps a positive thing, but at times also a negative one. Refusing to accept certain things and arguing can winnow one down if one doesn't pick one's battles carefully - a lesson Henri has yet to learn. Unfortunately though Henri is just a boy like everyone else and.. at times longs for a normal existence.. his position and circumstances make normalcy impossible leaving him frequently lonely and isolated. Cut off from real world realities, it's easy for Henri to get an impractical idea about how the world works, but on the whole many of his ideas are good. However, like most young boys who grow up in fairly well-to-do families, even those running and hiding at several points he became slightly spoiled and doted upon by his family. They didn't do the best job of disciplining him and, as a youth, he was mischievous, but that's calming down as he gets older and a bit wiser. His impatience. however, is still in tact. He likes to see results to his requests quickly and can get a sour temper if he's not humored. However, again, age and experience is tempering this a little - though it will take time.
In the interim, Henri tends towards daredevilishness - a normal thing for boys his age. He enjoys taking dares, pulling stunts and feats of accomplishment and showing off. He's brave and wants the world to know it. He wouldn't want anyone to question that for sure. He loves to play war with his many little tin soldiers and figurines, lining the formations up and pretending to have real battles. Other active play also makes him happy. He seems to have boundless energy and is, on the whole, healthy and happy. He's had few childhood illnesses, which is lucky as he knows many children don't live as long as he has already. He's man enough to be grateful for what he has - both in health and in chances and opportunities. He knows he's a very fortunate boy. That kind of intelligence often comes only with age, but Henri's childhood of being dragged in and out of exile has made him wise beyond his years. Besides that, he's a bit of a bookworm, enjoying reading and scholarly and logisitc pursuits like chess. However, he does have an artistic side. He enjoys painting as well, though he's been told that's for girls, he doesn't agree. He's long since learnt that curling up with a good novel is an escape from the problems surrounding him both in exile and back in power.
Other important traits include his sense of being a gentleman. He was taught manners and to be respectful of ladies and of other men by his nannies and tutors as a child - not a bad lesson to have learned at all. He never fails to be polite and hopes this will win him a bride when he's a little older. However, despite his young age, Henri is already thinking about marriage, He knows a good marriage will be important for France, but he also hopes for love as well, but this is a secret he keeps to his journal, not wanting to be mocked for such a forward thinking concept.
APPEARANCE: Henri is thirteen years of age and starting to undergo the transformation from boy to man in every sense of the word - not just in his mentality and emotions, but in his looks as well. His face used to be very round, but now his cheeks are getting less baby fat, and his jaw line is getting more defined. He still tends toward a more oval face, however, than a truly square one. His skin is pale like any boy of good breeding, and he has a tendency for reddish cheeks - particularly if he's been exerting himself. He blushes easily as well, something that embarrasses him at this age! When Henri smiles, he has dimples which his mother once told him were where twin angels kissed him while he was still in Heaven with them. Age and science has taught him to be a little dubious of this theory, but it holds a place in his heart nonetheless. Occasionally he has outbreaks of pimples given his age, but they always go away eventually. He's pleased they're not as bad as other youth he's met! He is tall of stature for a boy of his age and fairly slender due to being active a good deal of the day. Though he does eat a great deal - being of the age where boys do that, he isn't glutonous to cause himself to become obese like some other members of the court.
He has soft, strawberry blonde hair - looking lighter in the summer months when he's able to be out of doors more frequently. He used to wear it down to his collar, but now that he's King of France, he can't get away with wearing ridiculous fashions. Now his hair is pulled back into a queue like all the other gentlemen. Likewise, he dresses like a miniature gentleman as well with breeches, stockings, fresh pressed shirts and the like. Or, sometimes, in one of his honorary regimental commanding uniforms, which he likes quite a lot. It gives him the delight of believing himself a soldier defending France for even just a few moments. His eyes are a sparkling medium blue color matching the lightness of his hair. On the whole, Henri is beginning to come into his looks a little bit, though he still does have a gawky adolesence about him which is not entirely left. Stuck in the gusp of child vs. man, he's waiting to see what time will do not only to his appearance, but to his person.
GOALS: Henri's goals are fairly simple and straight forward. The older he gets the more determined he becomes to do what is the very best for France. He wants to be a good and strong leader who can make the aristocracy uncorrupt, the people's lives better, and reunite France so that everyone is getting along as best they can and working for the betterment of the country. Some people would call him a republican and some of his ideas certainly aren't tradition for a monarchy - but he wouldn't consider himself a true republican because he hopes to maintain the aristocracy - just.. making it more effective, non-corrupt, and such that it actually addresses the needs of the people. Unfortunately, his officials are making it difficult for him to achieve his goals by doing bad things in his name, brown nosing him but not actually respecting him, and other problems.. So another of his goals is to find a way to get the Chouannerie to let him do what he wants and stop making a mockery of his name across France. Other goals include to become a more well rounded scholar, to learn more languages and continue his education, to travel and see other parts of the world, and to eventually find an acceptable bride for France that he also can love. A tall order! These are the basic fundamentals of Henri's hopes.
HISTORY: To learn much about Henri at all, one needs to go back to the history of France given his lineage and role in the running of the country now. Henri's parents are Charles Ferdinant, Duke of Berry and Princess Carolina of Naples and Sicily. Charles' affable manner and openness made him well liked at court both to his family before the first revolution and to Napoleon during Empire days. It was in 1814 that he first returned to France to serve in the army, though failing to retain his troops' loyalty in the Hundred Days War. Charles Ferdinand escaped France during the second revolution with his neck still attached to the rest of his body. His life had been torn to shambles save the marriage negotiations which had been made for him by Count of Blacas, then French Ambassador. Princess Carolina of Napes and Sicily became Charles' wife in April 1816. Though the marriage was arranged, it proved a fairly happy one. Having to flee France for exile during the second revolution brought the couple closer together than they had been before as they had to work together to forge a new life away from French government or military duties.
In 1819, their first child was born; a girl, whom they called Louise. Louise was a happy, chubby baby with rosy cheeks and seemed in good health. The family returned to France upon the establishment of a Republic, missing their home and their culture. despite time in Naples with Carolina's family and a stint in Austria, nothing felt as much like home as France. The young family was soon to realize, however, that France was not going to be the same as they'd remembered it. Charles, the great-grandson of Louis XV had once been entitled to a princeship, but the Republic was not as friendly towards his position, his money, or his power. Some thought him a very dangerous advocate of the old ways, a reminder they didn't need. Before long, trouble came. Charles was leaving the opera house the rainy, stormy evening of February 13th. As he was leaving, he was stabbed by a saddler named Louis Pierre Louvel. Despite the doctors' best attempts, the wound proved mortal by the next morning.
A few months after her husband's death, Carolina was shocked to discover startling news... her husband might have left her a widow but a pregnant widow at that. On September 29th in the hours just after sunrise and after a long and difficult labor, Carolina's first son was born. Technically another petit-fils de France, no member of the now non-existant court was present to legitimize the birth of the boy, not that it was of much importance except to the royals in exile, who were delighted to know of his birth. Things changed for the family after Henri was born, however. Carolina felt less safe in Republican France with a son about whom word was rapidly spreading as people called him dieudonné - the miracle child - because of his birth so long after his father's death. Carolina decided to take her small family and move away from France once again. She went to Edinburgh this time and, eventually returned to her family once again.
Henri's first memories are from a time where he was lovingly brought up amongst his mother's numerous siblings and her large, loving family. The sisters all parented him a little bit, as if they thought they needed to make up for his lack of a father. They made him into a little gentleman from as early as Henri can remember. They taught him how to hold a door for a lady or pull back her chair, how to keep himself neatly groomed, and how to interact with others politely. Though as a child he had a tendency towards, if anything, being a little spoiled in his idyllic life, they all considered him to be turning into a fine young man right before their very eyes. Their lessons, tutelage, and attention kept his spoiled streak mostly in check and kept him fairly disciplined - at least for a royal child. He was surrounded by cousins constantly due to his mother's large family.
Carolina was determined to also see that Henri would become a good young aristocrat and a Frenchman in his father's memory. To this end, from the time he was eight years of age onward, he had daily lessons. Along with the usual subjects of reading, grammar, writing, and arithmetic, Henri learned French - which he perfected so finely that no one would have guessed it was not his first language - given how quickly he had left that place after his birth. He learned about the tactics and art of making war and making peace (diplomacy, if you will). He learned how to balance a budget and other economics quandaries which made his head spin round like a top. He learned the fundamentals of French history and even read More's Utopia - a work which broadly expanded his horizons about what a country should run like. Though his mother wanted him to be a young aristocrat, she also wanted her son to be able to take multiple perspectives, rather than being blind like those who had come before him - namely Marie and Louis. All the teaching did not go to waste and Henri soon became a consummate little gentlman even though he was still very young.
As Henri grew a little older he started to notice that his mother was leaving the house more often of an evening. He soon learnt that she had secretly met (and married!) an Italian nobleman by the name of Ettore Carlo Lucchesi-Palli, 8th Duke della Grazia. However, she told Henri that the marriage was a great secret and no one could know about it. Why, she did not tell him and as a young boy, he did not think to ask. What mattered to him was that his mother seemed very happy with her new marriage. Ettore Carlo soon won a place in his new stepson's life because he was the only father figure Henri had ever been familiar with. Even Louise, who had been only five months old when their father died, of course, did not remember him and soon became fond of Ettore Carlo herself. Henri hoped for more siblings, but knew what his mother had said about the marriage needing to stay quiet. He knew that meant there would not be any more siblings - at least for the present. However, with a male figure in his life, he became determined to model even more successfully what he thought a grown up gentleman should be like, delightfully imitating his new father in every way he could - including trying to learn his Spanish language. Life was bliss.
The summer of 1829 is the one Henri looks back on as his favorite thus far - perhaps because it was the last before things changed - seemingly forever. The summer began like any other, playing with his cousins and finally free of lessons for the next eight weeks. Henri often spent a good deal of time playing with his aunts and uncles - the children produced of his grandfather's second marriage after the death of Henri's mother's mother. He went on to have 12 further children with his new wife, all of whom Henri was close to and enjoyed playing with - even the baby Prince Francis who was only two years old. However, that summer his favored playmate became his, then fourteen year old aunt, Maria Antonia who was the most beautiful of all of the girl children added to the family by Francis's second marriage. The adults did not concern themselves with the childrens' play until Henri declared that he intended to marry Maria Antonia. At first the adults thought little of the proclamation, until they learned that Henri had been secretly slipping out of the nursery at night, dressing, and venturing off to secretly visit Maria whom he had an incessant crush on. Though the distance was not far, it spoke volumes about young Henri's feelings toward her! It was Ettore Carlo who finally realized how serious about Maria Antonia he was and informed his mother about this after a long conversation including discussion about making sure Henri understood how babies were made ("How stupid can adults be?" Henri wondered about it "Not exactly as if I would -want- to make one at this age -anyway-.") When asked by his mother when he intended to marry Maria - as a joke, he responded with a staunch "Next summer." Finally, his family and hers began to see the gravity of the situation, though not before Maria and Henri secretly shared a kiss on the ocassion of his birthday - though with a nine year old.. it was obviously going no further for the moment - despite anything Henri might think about next year. He considers this not only one of his special secrets.. but.. a great part of what developed his personality from childhood to the very beginnings of more of an adult perspective.
The following spring, Henri's mother made the difficult decision to return to France with Henri and Louise. She was still secretly married to Ettore, so it would mean the family would be separated for a time, but he intended to follow in the fall. Henri and Louise were unsure about this plan, but their mother reassured that all the noble families were coming out of hiding now and had been for the past year or two. Henri eventually became excited about the move to his father's homeland.. a land he'd only seen in book pictures and heard stories about. He was excited to see things there. He soon settled in to life in Republic France. His mother even allowed him to learn a little about the customs and government policies, though his education was still primarily for a monarchy. However, little did anyone know, changes were occurring beneath the surface, like a pot.. waiting to boil. Sure enough, in July 1930, a counter revolution exploded through the just-beginning-to-heal country. A group called the Chouannerie - mostly aristocrats who wanted revenge for their relatives' death and church supports, had staged a coup d'etat and taken control of the country once again. Paris was in an uproar and things were about to become even more complicated in young Henri's life. The Chouannerie had chosen their king. Henri. Aged almost Ten.
Henri was soon escorted to court where he met with a group of men from the Chouannerie alone. They did not permit his mother to accompany him, despite her protestations. In this sealed room, he met with the highest command of the chouannerie who told him he'd been chosen as their king and had to say yes or no before he left that room. Shocked and, like any boy his age would be, very pleased that they wanted him, Henri said yes immediately. He was honored to become King Henri V of France and Navarre.
However, what was a dream was quickly going to become a nightmare. Henri tried to ignore the prickling signs of trouble and enjoy the new lavish life which had been thrust upon him. As a minor king, he didn't have as much say as he would like, but at least his advisors in the chouannerie did consult him quite a bit before making decisions in his name and the like. He enjoyed the new clothes, uniforms, and all the frivolities and privileges he was aloud. Suddenly, no one was there to be sure he stuck to his bedtime or ate healthy foods. A nagging part of him was worried how long it had been since he'd seen his family. And when he sent official inquiry about them, he was told that they were safe within the city, but upon being asked to be reunited with them, was told such a thing was "impossible" and, "from now on the chouannerie had placed him with official governesses to care for him." He began to be a little frightened at this point, now kept from his family. Later on, a message turned up -somehow- in his wash delivered by a maid he didn't know if he could trust saying that Ettore Carlo had smuggled his mother and sister out of France after someone had attempted to have them done away with. An older Henri might have put it together that the Chouannerie had him right where they wanted him... defenseless and alone.. he was much more malleable without support. As it were, he was merely saddened by the state of affairs. He tried to distract himself by buying things, though did try to at least curb his purchases to reasonable amounts, remembering with a sickening, prickling feeling how one of the last Queen's of France had died and what her reputation had been. He'd prefer not to meet a guillotine himself.
The more time that has passed, however, Henri has begun to see more and more cracks in the pot. Though the Chouannerie tells him everything is fine in France and people are happy with the regime change, Henri has his doubts. He also worries about if they're listening to his requests or just giving him the run around. He would not be surprised if that was the case. They brown nose him, but he has finally begun to doubt their true loyalty to him. He's started to be afraid that they're being less than honest with him and that, quite honestly, he's little more than their puppet - and the more time that's passed.. the more sure he's become of just that. A position he had hoped never to be in. He's being used and he's starting to know it. Or to become more sure of it.
By spring of 1832, the nearly 12 year old King decided to take matters into his own hands. He needed to find someone to rely upon he could actually trust. Someone outside the Chouannerie. And, so, he hatched a plan. He requested from the Chouannerie that he could personally choose a few little friends from amongst the royal families of France to join him in play several times a week - friends befitting a prince. He insisted gently that these should be boys of his own choosing as they're to be his compatriots. Seeing no harm in play dates, the Chouannerie told him he might choose a few friends. Little do they know, these boys are not mere friends to Henri. He has them doing investigative work.. going out into the streets of France, talking to people, finding out what's really being said and done in Henri's name. And the reports aren't good. Though Henri feels quite clever, he knows he's losing ground quickly. The information coming in is not positive. The Chouannerie is abusing Henri's name and so on. Their policies are not very good.. the taxes are out of site, people are complaining, the social stratification is through the roof .. France is quickly becoming a nightmare building towards another revolution plain as day - even Henri can see that. However, aside of bringing him information.. there isn't a lot his group of friends can do to improve the situation. Henri has, however, began giving away almost his entire allowence provided by the Chouannerie to needy causes in the city.. those worst afflicted. He knows his name can never be attached to these deeds, lest the Chouannerie find out.. but he knows he's doing his part to help his people and that's what matters to him. But still.. it's like the boy who put his finger in the dyke to stem the tide..
Worse off, by the end of the summer 1832, he received more bad news. At least, bad news to him. An invitation to the wedding of Maria Antonia and Leopold II, Duke of Tuscany arrived for him. Not that he suspects the Chouannerie would let him go and, truthfully, he was almost happy for the excuse not to see the first girl he ever loved marry someone else. Part of him understood that holding onto the hope they'd one day be together was foolish, but he couldn't help being devastated nonetheless. He had wanted Maria for himself, and now she would be with someone else. Somone, he reflected, who he couldn't imagine her having as much fun with. In an instant, he saw a childhood of running bare legged with her through marshy ponds at night lighted by fireflies and holding chicks and picking wildflowers in the meadow flash before his eyes and knew it was a different life of a different boy. That was done now. he was an adult now with adult concerns and could not be sad about childish whims - but it was hard not to. He could not manage to cheer up - even for the event of his 12th birthday.
By Christmas of 1832, things were continuing to decline and Henri felt an all new misery and loneliness having not seen hi family in two and a half years and having few people he believed he could trust. He finally decided to ask for a French hunting spaniel as a Christmas present. The Chouannerie saw nothing wrong with this request and Henri was allowed to send out some inquiries to hunters about acquiring a pup with potential. On Christmas Eve, his new companion was brought to the palace. A handsome black and white pup whom he began to spend a great deal of time training and caring for - finally a friend with loyalty no matter what. By spring, the half grown puppy had become Henri's constant companion, following everywhere loyally and keeping an eye on his master.
Spring brought with it a thaw.. but not a relief from the building pressure of the position.. Something has to give soon - be it Henri's health, the French people, or something else.. Either way.. Henri is frightened of whatever is coming, but refuses to give in. He's going to be brave and persevere on. At the very least through his small circle of friends he has some window to the outside world.. even if it looks bleak.
-----
ALIAS: Beck
AGE: 22
GENDER: Female
OTHER CHARACTERS: Nada. Yet.
HOW DID YOU FIND US: Ashley dragged me here *grin*
ROLEPLAY SAMPLE: (Being lazy and tired.. I'm just using an RP from another site rather than writing one special lol)
'Sour State': It was the first thing that entered Olivier Varyn's mind as he entered the cook tent on the morning of January 7th. It was a grey, dreary day and too warm for what should be Christmas. For Orthodox Christians still bound to the Julian calendar, everything fell 13 days later. Olivier, for his part, had woken up slightly out of sorts this morning himself as well. For him, it was the weather which really ruined things. New Orleans was hotter and muggier than home. He'd been to a lot of different climates, but those had never bothered him because he'd never remained anywhere long-term. This, however, was home for the forseeable future and he didn't like waking up to Christmas day being fifty damn degrees. At home it would have been much colder and likely snowy. Here it never snowed and if, on the rare occasions it did, it didn't stick or accumulate. He missed that. He missed a lot about home even if he couldn't say he missed his father.. but he did miss his culture, his language, his food, his climate.. and others like himself. That much he missed.
So it was that he was not entirely unsurprised to see one of his fellow Russians looking glum. He also wouldn't be surprised if, like his previous years in the Cirque, few people ever realized why today was special for him and the other Russians. Henri knew, but Henri always knew everything so that was no surprise. Olivier had taken things into his own hands this year in inclement days during the fall and had started to make Christmas presents for his fellows. Of course it was nothing fancy since Christmas in Russia was a church holiday, but.. something small never hurt to at least acknowledge the day. Now if only there was some Russian food to be had. What he wouldn't have given for proper black bread and some borscht to go along with it and perhaps even some kvass or even Russian vodka. Oh well.. wishing wasn't getting. Time to think of less depressing things.
He was not surprised to see Ivan, the cossack dzhigit rider, sitting at one of the tables looking glumly into his bowl of Americanized soup. Olivier approached him hesitantly however, because he and Ivan had had their falling outs here and there.. it happened when one's skin tone wasn't the color of most Russians. He was used to it. Ivan certainly hadn't been the first and, honestly, probably wouldn't be the last. However, Ivan was better than nothing on a day that was supposed to be a holiday they normally both woul have shared. So, it was with deliberation that he finally went to sit across from the other man, being careful of his knees knocking against the table which was simply not built for men of his size. "That sure sounded like you meant it." He muttered with a slight smirk. "But S Rozhdestvom to you all the same."
So it was that he was not entirely unsurprised to see one of his fellow Russians looking glum. He also wouldn't be surprised if, like his previous years in the Cirque, few people ever realized why today was special for him and the other Russians. Henri knew, but Henri always knew everything so that was no surprise. Olivier had taken things into his own hands this year in inclement days during the fall and had started to make Christmas presents for his fellows. Of course it was nothing fancy since Christmas in Russia was a church holiday, but.. something small never hurt to at least acknowledge the day. Now if only there was some Russian food to be had. What he wouldn't have given for proper black bread and some borscht to go along with it and perhaps even some kvass or even Russian vodka. Oh well.. wishing wasn't getting. Time to think of less depressing things.
He was not surprised to see Ivan, the cossack dzhigit rider, sitting at one of the tables looking glumly into his bowl of Americanized soup. Olivier approached him hesitantly however, because he and Ivan had had their falling outs here and there.. it happened when one's skin tone wasn't the color of most Russians. He was used to it. Ivan certainly hadn't been the first and, honestly, probably wouldn't be the last. However, Ivan was better than nothing on a day that was supposed to be a holiday they normally both woul have shared. So, it was with deliberation that he finally went to sit across from the other man, being careful of his knees knocking against the table which was simply not built for men of his size. "That sure sounded like you meant it." He muttered with a slight smirk. "But S Rozhdestvom to you all the same."
And the shirt on your back doesn't keep out the chill
[/center][/td][/tr][/td][/tr][/table][/center]
