Post by DORIAN GRAY on May 14, 2011 2:49:53 GMT 1
DORIAN GRAY
[/color]of the civilians. [/color]
[/center]CLASSIFIED INFORMATION[/color]
"And your name is... oh, dear." -Nuala. [/color]
»»FULL NAME:[/b] Dorian Gray
»»AGE:[/b] Born in 1869, London
»»OCCUPATION:[/b] Pleasure Seeker/Pianist
»»FACTION:[/b] Human, plot character.
»»SPECIES : [/b] Cursed Human
»»ALIGNMENT:[/b] Chaotic Neutral
»»ABILITY: Portrait of Dorian Gray
- - -Strength: Grants eternal youth & immortality, heals wounds, gives Dorian the ability to live life to the fullest without experiencing true consequences.
- - -Drawbacks: Displays true colors and tolls that his sin takes upon his soul, Dorian cannot be killed unless the portrait itself is first destroyed.
THE DETAILS[/color]
"Give it up nasty, we can see you." -Hellboy. [/color]
»»EYE COLOR:[/b] Brown
»»HAIR COLOR:[/b] Dark
»»HEIGHT:[/b] 6ft (182cm)
»»PLAY BY:[/b] Ben Barnes
»»APPEARANCE: [/b]
Looking akin to that of a school boy with incredibly ancient eyes, this man is very good at deceiving people about his true age, for he has had a very long time to perfect his skill.
Dorian Gray is a tall, dark, and handsome character. His most salient characteristics are his seeming youth and physical attractiveness. Standing at about 6 feet tall and weighing about 72kg, Mr. Gray dresses the part of a modern aristocrat.
Being both radiant and impressionable, Gray is from a wealthy background and devotes himself to having as many experiences as his lifetime will allow. Aided by his beauty, he dresses in elegant clothing, generally of a Victorian appearance that he is more accustomed to. Though as times have passed he has started to modernize his look.
While he looks the same as he has since he was nearly twenty years old, Dorian is living proof that appearances can be deceiving. Aided by his portrait, painted by Basil Hallward during the Victorian Era, Dorian's body does not age. While he used to think this fact made him very god-like, he is now tired of his old ways.
»»PERSONALITY: [/b]
There is much to be said about Gray's personality. For a man of his age, there are certain fatal flaws with the way that he thinks. For example, he escapes from unpleasant realisms by focusing on other things. He is suffering the aftermath of his many years of being unwilling to admit that his actions have moral implications. He seeks his refuge in art, and is a fantastic pianist.
As a result of narcissism, Gray has forced himself to live most of his life from an appealing perspective. It is also a result of narcissism that Gray is still living, old as he is, due to giving his soul away for eternal youth. For example, when he finds himself facing a conflict, he tries to step outside of his experiences, as if observing his situations from a third person standpoint. For example, he views death as a wonderful ending to that of a Greek tragedy.
Dorian lives by the principle that “To become the spectator of one's own life, is to escape the suffering of life”. Not long after he discovered his seeming immortality, he learned to separate himself from his own problems, thus no longer feeling a part of them. He has become a spectator of life, and only sees the monstrosity that his own personality has taken. He displays no real sorrow, and no real joy, he shows his emotions as the faces of an actor would show on the stage. As if the world was the stage in which he was a player.
Aside from watching himself, he has learned to observe others as well. For instance their reaction to the drama, cruelty, and unappealing situations that he does not wish to see in himself. He is also quite cynical and has no problem questioning the morality of society. Although he has since recognized his corruption, Dorian still struggles to atone for his previous sins. He seeks forgiveness, and wants to be good, but his old habits have been hard to shake.
When he is interacting with others, or forced to become involved, his actions are often moved with fear. While he covers this truth well, he watches life pass him by with an alien interest that contributes to the situation. He cannot always find expressions, or emotions, and he fears the unknown. Even with the means to enjoy life without limits, he seeks refuge in a false-reality. He also has the inability to deal with consequences of his own actions.
He learned from his past that he is frightened by this unpreparedness to accept responsibility, or verdict, from his actions. He personifies the color, beauty, and joy of life, and is a fascinating sight to behold. He is driven by fear and would sink to the extreme low of destroying his closest allies if it meant protecting his secret. He avoids being involved with pain due to fear, although with his portrait he heals rather rapidly. All of his old scars have been removed since he was cursed. Overall, Dorian is elusive, evasive, and overall rather complex.
THE BACKGROUND[/color]
"I'm not a baby, I'm a tumor." -Tumor. [/color]
»»FAMILY TREE:[/b]
Margaret Devereux: Mother. Deceased.
Lord Kelso: Grandfather. Wealthy & Maternal. Despised Dorian. Deceased.
Father: Unknown by Dorian. He just knows he was a "No-Account" soldier. Deceased.
»»IDOLS:[/b] PAST IDOL: Lord Henry Wotton: A nobleman of Victorian Era, London. Most prominently Dorian's most influential figure in life. Now deceased, Henry was before his time. He could be described as witty, and well-phrased, preaching the epigrams that critiqued the morality and hypocrisy of their society. He preached about “New Hedonism”, which was his belief that stimulating the senses while disregarding morality was the correct way to live. His influence played a large part in the person that Dorian has become.
»»HISTORY: [/b]
PAST HISTORY: POSSIBLE SPOILERS
Born in 1869, London, Dorian's background is easily summarized into one word: “Dark”. In Victorian London, a young Dorian Gray inherited a grand, expensive, house from his deceased grandfather, Lord Kelso. Dorian did not know his parents, because they were both dead while he was an infant. His grandfather Lord Kelso took him into his house as a child though he despised Dorian due to his resemblance to his no-account father. Dorian moved out for a time while he as an adolescent, but returned when he inherited the estate.
He quickly befriended a posh crowd for his day and age, his two closest friends being Henry Wotton and Basil Hallward. Dorian was heavily influenced by Lord Henry Wotton when he was around twenty years of age. Lord Henry Wotton shamelessly encouraged Dorian to indulge in his passions, teaching a philosophy of “Life is a flame, you must live it all before it burns out.” Although Lord Wotton preached his style of living, he did not practice it himself.
A little about his circle of friends. Henry Wotton, a nobleman of Victorian Era, London. Most prominently Dorian's most influential figure in life. Now deceased, Henry was before his time. He could be described as witty, and well-phrased, preaching the epigrams that critiqued the morality and hypocrisy of their society. He preached about “New Hedonism”, which was his belief that stimulating the senses while disregarding morality was the correct way to live. His influence played a large part in the person that Dorian has become. Having not known his own parents, it is a theory that Wotton was the closest person to a father figure that Gray had. His mother had passed in childbirth, and his father seemed to have no role in his life. Believing in Wotton's words, Dorian lives according to the principle that 'conscience is a polite term for cowardice', and seeks pleasure moral or not. While appearing charming, Dorian was considered heartless by many while he was young.
Basil Hallward, a friend of Lord Henry, instantly becomes infatuated with Dorian once meeting him at a party. Intrigued by Dorian's rare beauty, he begins to paint Dorian after several sketches. He discovers ground breaking artistic levels that were also featured in exhibits back in the Victorian Age. He considered the Portrait of Dorian Gray his masterpiece, although Dorian would consider it his freedom, and his curse. Realizing the influence that Henry was to Dorian, Basil acted as a good friend would, and tried to convince young Gray to change his methods of living, with claims that Wotton was a hypocrite who did not practice what he preached.
In passing, and possibly by sheer misfortune, Dorian had given his soul to the devil, in return for eternal youth. The result of the agreement to Mr. Wotton's question had resulted in the picture becoming his true soul. A mirror and reflection of the actions he took. While Dorian lived a sinful and pleasure seeking life, the portrait aged and showed his misdeeds, while he remained unmarred and perfect. His scars from his earlier life vanished when the curse was made. Upon realizing the power of the elaborate portrait, Dorian quickly stores it in his attic adding new safety features, such as bars and locks, to protect its value from the outside world. Later, when Basil asks to see it, since it is no longer hanging in plain sight, Dorian declines and says it is 'simply too valuable.'
Dorian was not always heartless, in fact Basil had stated to Lord Wotton that “He was never cruel until he met you.” Dorian has a history in lovers as well, he has not only bedded women, he has loved them. His first love was a woman known as Sybil Vane, an actress in a local theater, whom played Ophelia in Hamlet when he first met her. Courting the woman, and giving himself to her sexually, Dorian decided he wished to wed. Wotton, however, preached to him about experiencing lifes pleasures, and took him to a club where he bedded other women without the concept of morality or consequence. Broken by his actions, Sybil confronted Dorian while in the company of Lord Wotton. Knowing of his actions, she still loved him immensely, and mentioned she wanted to have his children. Dorian stated his unreadiness, not knowing she was with child. Days after this confrontation, Jim Vane, her brother, returned to his estate to give him a dirtied dress, in which he had gifted her. Dorian, confused by this action, was then informed that they found it in the river along with her body. Grief stricken, Jim attempted to take Dorian's life, when the butler intervened, sending the brother to the authorities. It was after this event when Dorian first learned of the portraits relation to him, as it cried a maggot.
Heartbroken, and practicing Wotton's preachings, Dorian believes himself to be a god, in essence due to his portrait. Young Dorian believed it to be the greatest gift anyone could ask for, the gift of immortality, not knowing the toll actions take upon the soul. He is very capable, and willing, to kill his closest friends to protect the secret of this portrait.
CURRENT SCENARIO:
Having come to terms with his past monstrosity, Dorian decides to pack up clothes and portrait in the mid 1900s and move to New York. Living with the ghost of his past proves to be difficult, as he seeks to repent and find forgiveness for the cynical corrupt being he's become. However, the dangers of the city persist, and his NY estate had been raided by forces unknown to him. The current whereabouts of his portrait remain a mystery to him.
THE PLAYER[/color]
"I can't smile without you...." -Abe & Hellboy. [/color]
»»YOUR NAME:[/b] Laura
»»GENDER:[/b] Female
»»AGE:[/b] 24
»»TITLE:[/b] The Painted One
»»POST SAMPLE:[/b]
Staring at the empty hole above his fireplace was far from settling. If there was one word that could have described him, it would be: Horrified. He had gone through several cigarettes from Cairo all ready, an acquired taste in which he had been introduced to in his youth by Henry Wotton. Vision obstructed by a thick smoke spiraling from his last cigarette, Dorian decided to take a walk to a local tobacco company and pick up some more. The beauty of living in New York was nothing ever seemed to close, the city never slept, which was for once rather fortunate for Mr. Gray, or unfortunate depending upon ones perspective.
Straightening his tie, Dorian reached for his overcoat, smoke still flowing from his mouth. Crossing the large living space, he came to a halt before his side table and poured himself a strong glass of gin. Perpetually shaken, after drinking the remains of his personal selection, Dorian grabbed his cane and headed for the door. He flew down the stairs, a man on a mission, and repeatedly pressed the button to the elevator going down.
Impatiently he waited, his time was ticking away, and even in a matter of seconds time stood still. Gray felt as if he had aged a century by the time he realized there was a group of girls also waiting for the ride down. One of them even had the nerve to wink. Unmoved, Dorian watched the numbers above the elevator as they ticked up floor by floor stopping at 13. Taking the last drag from his cigarette, he put it out on the trash can before flicking it to its doom.
“Did you hear?” Said one of the girls. Dorian looked up, in need of a distraction.
“Hear what?” Said the other.
“I think they're shooting another Harry Potter movie or something here. They had one of those animated pictures, it looked horrifying. I can't wait to see it on the screen.” Dorian held his breath and looked at the girls standing beside the elevator. So this thief hadn't even bothered to use stealth, how very sure of himself.
“Oh yeah, I saw one like it! I thought it was a new TV!”
”The better to see Daniel Radcliffe on!” The first one swooned.
”Oh please, Johnny Depp is a thousand times better!”
Quirking a brow, his eyes met the first girls briefly, before refocusing his attention on the stalled elevator on floor 14. ”I think this one will do just fine.” Said the first girl walking a circle around Dorian.
“For what?” Inquired Gray, his eyes weighing her interest. “I couldn't help but overhear that they were shooting a Harry Potter movie here?” He started out loud. “Any clue which way that portrait went? I'd love to have a look for myself. Big fan.” He lied.
”Oh they took it downstairs... like an hour ago!”
DING! Finally! “Well, this one's me.” He said stepping onto his ticket out of another uncomfortable situation. Much to his relief the girls didn't follow him. Absentmindedly, Dorian reached into his pocket to claim another cigarette before realizing he was still out. Cursing to himself internally the girl stated something that startled him.
” They say it was custom made by a Mr. Gray. Sounds like another big name to me. There are so many here in New York!” The second girl exclaimed.
Quickly jamming his hand between the almost shut doors of the elevator, tripping it to open again, Dorian asked “They?” The girls giggled and left with their friend who had gotten off on the last elevator waving at him giddily.
The ride down to the first floor took longer than he had time to be comfortable offering. With his life at stake, it was clear someone knew the value of his portrait, and that someone had taken it into their possession. Keys around his neck Dorian swung the glass door of the building open furiously, toppling over a bystander, catching them by the arm. Goddamn you, New York City. The land of the sleepless. “Are you okay? My apologies.”
Straightening his tie, Dorian reached for his overcoat, smoke still flowing from his mouth. Crossing the large living space, he came to a halt before his side table and poured himself a strong glass of gin. Perpetually shaken, after drinking the remains of his personal selection, Dorian grabbed his cane and headed for the door. He flew down the stairs, a man on a mission, and repeatedly pressed the button to the elevator going down.
Impatiently he waited, his time was ticking away, and even in a matter of seconds time stood still. Gray felt as if he had aged a century by the time he realized there was a group of girls also waiting for the ride down. One of them even had the nerve to wink. Unmoved, Dorian watched the numbers above the elevator as they ticked up floor by floor stopping at 13. Taking the last drag from his cigarette, he put it out on the trash can before flicking it to its doom.
“Did you hear?” Said one of the girls. Dorian looked up, in need of a distraction.
“Hear what?” Said the other.
“I think they're shooting another Harry Potter movie or something here. They had one of those animated pictures, it looked horrifying. I can't wait to see it on the screen.” Dorian held his breath and looked at the girls standing beside the elevator. So this thief hadn't even bothered to use stealth, how very sure of himself.
“Oh yeah, I saw one like it! I thought it was a new TV!”
”The better to see Daniel Radcliffe on!” The first one swooned.
”Oh please, Johnny Depp is a thousand times better!”
Quirking a brow, his eyes met the first girls briefly, before refocusing his attention on the stalled elevator on floor 14. ”I think this one will do just fine.” Said the first girl walking a circle around Dorian.
“For what?” Inquired Gray, his eyes weighing her interest. “I couldn't help but overhear that they were shooting a Harry Potter movie here?” He started out loud. “Any clue which way that portrait went? I'd love to have a look for myself. Big fan.” He lied.
”Oh they took it downstairs... like an hour ago!”
DING! Finally! “Well, this one's me.” He said stepping onto his ticket out of another uncomfortable situation. Much to his relief the girls didn't follow him. Absentmindedly, Dorian reached into his pocket to claim another cigarette before realizing he was still out. Cursing to himself internally the girl stated something that startled him.
” They say it was custom made by a Mr. Gray. Sounds like another big name to me. There are so many here in New York!” The second girl exclaimed.
Quickly jamming his hand between the almost shut doors of the elevator, tripping it to open again, Dorian asked “They?” The girls giggled and left with their friend who had gotten off on the last elevator waving at him giddily.
The ride down to the first floor took longer than he had time to be comfortable offering. With his life at stake, it was clear someone knew the value of his portrait, and that someone had taken it into their possession. Keys around his neck Dorian swung the glass door of the building open furiously, toppling over a bystander, catching them by the arm. Goddamn you, New York City. The land of the sleepless. “Are you okay? My apologies.”
