I hate picking out pictures for my characters since none ever really match the image in my head... As a result, there is a relatively verbose description following my short list. Enjoy (I hope)~<br/><br/><div align="center">~*~*~*~</div><br/>The short list:<br/><br/><em>Name:</em>Sebastian "Bastian" James Hatch.<br/><em>Age:</em>18.<br/><em>Gender:</em>Male.<br/><em>Sexuality:</em>Hetero ((for the moment *mischievous grin*)) Switch.<br/><em>Role:</em>John.<br/><br/><em><span class="bbc_u">Appearance</span></em><br/><em>Eyes:</em>Green.<br/><em>Hair:</em>Dirty Blond.<br/><em>Skin:</em>Lightly tanned.<br/><em>Scars:</em>None visible.<br/><em>Tattoos:</em>None currently.<br/><em>Facebuild:</em>Classical.<br/><em>Bodybuild:</em>Athletic.<br/><em>Stands at:</em>5'7"<br/><em>Clothing style:</em>Custom-tailored formal attire.<br/><br/><em><span class="bbc_u">Information</span></em><br/><em>Personality:</em>Fickle, calculating, charming.<br/><em>Likes:</em>Expensive things and activities.<br/><em>Dislikes:</em>Crass behavior.<br/><em>Small history:</em><br/>Sebastian was born into old money, and lots of it. Most of his family's fortunes are tied up in investments and a few choice business ventures.. The sort that he would be hard-pressed to financially ruin if he were actively trying. The result of this is that he puts little value on money and more value on what money can buy.<br/><br/>Being born to a family that has enjoyed its place in the upper echelons of society means that Bastian has had his share of attention in certain social circles. His life has been filled primarily with social gatherings chalk full of useless conversations and lessons about how to best use the family's wealth.<br/><br/>About a year ago his father was brutally murdered in a robbery in an alleyway. Bastian was not present for this event, but did have to make the funeral arrangements as the whole ordeal set his mother into the social spotlight, 'poor dear'. Most of the 'old money' in his family's social circle forgot about the scandalous uncovering of his father's attendance of one particular whorehouse when the man died so horribly, but Bastian never would.<br/><br/>He has yet to attend the house for the first time, but his surname is certainly not unknown to it.<br/><br/><br/><span class="bbc_u"><em>Common Knowledge about Bastian</em></span><br/>(C - Stuff anyone might know; U - Less common knowledge, but still not truly difficult to come by.)<br/>Sebastian...<br/><ul class="bbc_list"><li>C - is the single legitimate heir of the noble Hatch family.</li><li>C - rarely displays 'soft' emotions.</li><li>C - disapproves of playing on the sympathy of others (likely because it's his mother's most common tactic).</li><li>C - is the owner of a horse which has made decent winnings in horse races and thus attends the events on occasion.</li><li>U - keeps two wardrobes, one for things that require him to be out and about and the other for events of a more stationary nature.</li><li>U - shares the name of the main character in the novel, <em>My Dark Reflection</em>. The Sebastian in the book is a noble whose beautiful and charming exterior belie the monster within him (think Dorian Gray).</li></ul><br/><br/><span class="bbc_u"><em>Rumors &amp; Gossip about Bastian</em></span><br/>(For those in the 'know')<br/>Sebastian supposedly...<br/><ul class="bbc_list"><li>is quite a shark when it comes to business.</li><li>spends a lot of money on an impulse without requiring much in the way of convincing.</li><li>comes from a family with a shady background despite its 'noble' heritage. (This a more recent crop up due to the many rumors that abound around the circumstances of his father's death and what might have drawn a noble into that particular part of town.)</li><li>has no emotional attachments to anything and so can be your charming friend one day and readily cast you aside the next.</li><li>is in a pre-arranged engagement.. Or at the least, has been pressured to marry a particular individual by his family.</li><li>is quite the womanizer and always an interesting man to bed despite his young age.</li></ul><br/>((Those are just some examples of rumors. Should you care to twist, elaborate, or add to them in the event that your character might have heard about him, feel free to do so or PM me and we can chat some. His history's actually quite a bit more detailed than what I've written, but I don't want to spoil everything before the story starts. :-) ))<br/><br/><br/><span class="bbc_u"><em>NPCs Related to Bastian</em></span><br/>(These are free to be controlled by others or used in passing ("I spoke to Ellen Hatch a few days ago...") so long as they adhere to examples set in previous use of them)<br/><br/><em>NPC:</em>William Hatch.<br/><em>Role:</em>Bastian's father.<br/>(Not to be used in the sense of being present, but rather as a subject for gossip and perhaps a bit of history. The man was murdered a year prior to the present timeline and was visiting the Teahouse so he might well have used the services of some of the current employees. He would have tipped well, spoken of his life outside of the Teahouse very little, and been a relatively easy customer for the women. Bastian inherited his father's eyes and facial structure.)<br/><br/><em>NPC:</em>Minerva Hatch.<br/><em>Role:</em>Bastian's mother.<br/>(Not to be used in the sense of being present, but rather as a subject for gossip and perhaps off-the-scene interactions)<br/><br/><em>NPC:</em>Ellen Hatch.<br/><em>Role:</em>Bastian's illegitimate cousin.<br/><em>Notes:</em><br/>-Has a six-year-old son named James who was born out of wedlock and thus is unlikely to find a husband in good standing in society.<br/>-Daughter of James Hatch, Bastian's uncle on his father's side. James had Ellen with a whore. His marriage has produced no legitimate children thus far.<br/><em>Initial Appearance:</em>Bastian's<em>Description in Motion</em>(found below).<br/><br/><em>NPC:</em>Henry.<br/><em>Role:</em>Bastian's personal butler.<br/><em>Initial Appearance:</em>Delivering Bastian's letter to Ryan (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=98330.msg4270020#msg4270020)<br/><br/><em>NPC:</em>Marcus.<br/><em>Role:</em>A less-versed butler than Henry who is also in the employ of the Hatch family.<br/><em>Initial Appearance:</em>Bastian's<em>Description in Motion</em>(found below).<br/><br/><div align="center">~*~*~*~</div><br/>Description in Motion:<br/>(That is, bit of IC story mainly meant to draw an accurate picture of the man in the mind's eye. :-))<br/><br/>Rounded fingertips safely kept in pristine white gloves pinch together to pluck a strand of blond hair from the black lapel of his jacket. The little strand of hair twisted as a breeze coming from the open window caught hold of it and danced before his green eyes. Sebastian tutted softly at his butler before releasing the hair and losing sight of it in the wind.<br/><br/>"Apologies, Milord. I should have noticed that," the butler spoke softly.<br/><br/>Sebastian's only response was a thin smile that might well have been a frown in disguise and a slight incline of his head, affirmation of the servant's error. The looking glass appeared as cold and honest as ever while Bastian surveyed himself. He dusted his lapel off with his gloved hands and then ran them down the front of his knee-length frock coat. "Your work is otherwise acceptable in the absence of Henry, though I will be most thankful for his return," his cold voice ushered forth as easily as his breath and drew the lips of the butler attending him into a forced smile.<br/><br/>"Thank you, Milord," the servant offered, not sounding particularly genuine. Bastian's green eyes turned on the man, deep and probing as they always were when he felt annoyed. The thoughts he had of simply relieving the man of his position right then and there could almost surely be seen in those pools of verdant green, for the butler promptly offered a half bow before asking, "Shall I prepare your morning meal, Milord?"<br/><br/>Soft, slim, tanned lips tugged into a slight frown at the thought, though they had relaxed again before the butler's bow had straightened and thus assuredly missed the man's notice. "No, I think not," Bastian responded,<em>'I'd rather not risk my health so early in the morning..'</em>In truth he knew the servant would likely have prepared a perfectly acceptable meal, but one could never be too careful these days. He turned back to the reflection of his image, subtly paler in the clean glass, and was reminded again of how short his stature. This butler was close to six feet tall and Bastian could clearly see the five inches or so of difference in their heights in the mirror. "Your services are no longer required," Bastian said as his eyes moved from his crown of dirty blond hair to his eyebrows.<br/><br/>The servant hesitated, shaken by the demeanor of his lord on this early morning. It was as though Sebastian had stolen the very breath from his throat. Tentatively he spoke in question, "My Lord-"<br/><br/>"Today, Marcus," Sebastian said, cutting him off mid-statement, "Your services are no longer required<em>today</em>," a nigh-tangible tension seemed to stir in the air at his words, not lifted but circulated.<br/><br/>Marcus nodded and bowed again, "Yes, Milord. Thank you."<br/><br/>Bastian let his breath roll forward from his nose at the sight of Marcus offering a third bow in his hesitation by the door, "Send Ellen to tend me. Sometime soon."<br/><br/>"Y-yes, Milord. Right away." A fourth bow, and at last the door to his chamber fell closed.<br/><br/>"Good Lord.. What did I do to bring<em>that</em>on myself?" The words were muttered softly and the majority of the remaining tension in the air seemed to fade, though there was still something about the man watching the looking glass that kept the scene unsettled. His gloved hands straightened the fabric of his black waistcoat, unfolding a small crease in the pockets, and then set to adjusting the collar of his shirt.<br/><br/>Not more than five minutes passed before the gentle rapping of soft knuckles drew Bastian's eye to his door. He knew, of course, who had come to his chambers, "Enter," he offered in a tone much warmer than that of his previous words. The intricate door swung open softly and Bastian's appraising gaze fell upon the soft, refined features of his cousin, Ellen. She was his uncle's bastard child, and thus lucky to be afforded the position she filled within the Hatch household. "Good morning, Cousin," Bastian offered with an inclination of his head.<br/><br/>Ellen's pink lips swept into cheerful smile, "Good morning, my lord." Her pale fingers dipped into the fabric of her skirt and she curtsied. "I trust this morning finds you well?"<br/><br/>Bastian's muscles rolled as he turned from the glass to face Ellen, a single, gloved hand sweeping through his silken hair, "Well enough, I suppose. I fear I need your sharp eyes though, Ellen, in the absence of Henry. My confidence in Marcus is much diminished." The matter sounded so trivial now, playing from his lips in a voice that was music in motion.<br/><br/>Ellen was accustomed to Bastian's ways though, and despite her cousin's charms she knew how the man could be, "Well, I'm always more than happy to be at your service, Lord Hatch." She moved forward to look him over, starting with the hand he'd passed through his hair. Her own delicate fingers took hold of the white glove and she turned it over, a gentle smile crossing her lips, "I trust you've prepared yourself this morn?" She plucked a strand of his blond hair from the surface of the glove as she asked, blue eyes sparkling a bit in the room's lighting.<br/><br/>"Is it that obvious?" Bastian inquired, genuine curiosity coloring the tone of his speech.<br/><br/>"Oh yes, when but a single pass of your hand pulls stray hairs away." Her fingertips traced over his strong palm as she played at a game she knew she could not win. Bastian would not fall into her lures despite her best efforts, and not solely because they were cousins. "Though your waistcoat seems in order, and your jacket.. Open as it is.." Her fingers slid free of the hand whose strength had been so defined by training in close quarters combat through the course of the previous year and now gently graced the fabric of his frock coat, pulling it closed and stealing a tad too slowly around the buttons to press them through the openings.<br/><br/>"Well, I should be pleased then that I've done anything right, my dear cousin." He rather enjoyed the game, or at the least the accuracy of her eye. She was so good at what she did because she knew to catch a nobleman she would need two things.. One, a respectable place in society and two an eye for detail. The first Bastian supplied, the second she came by honestly. Still, he would not be wed to his cousin, for he knew her as sure as he knew himself. No mirror was required for that.<br/><br/>She pressed the coat to his sides so that it followed the form of his body, seeking rumples in the cloth if one were to ask, but truly it was more a way to enjoy the build of his body. The fabric stole the definition of his muscles from her hands, but not the generally pleasing tone of his athletic frame, and another smile stole across her lips. "Well, you're all straightened out I think, unless you wish me check your breeches..."<br/><br/><em>'Coy minx, you are, my cousin,'</em>his thoughts were accompanied by a deep chuckle, "No, my dear. I don't think that's necessary." Bastian moved from her side and took hold of the silver head of a slim, black cane with his right hand. "I'm going out, as you may have guessed. Be a dear and tell my mother that I won't be home until it pleases me."<br/><br/>"Of course, my lord," she swept into another curtsy as Bastian made his way toward the door, dirty blond locks falling in layers to just below the level of his shoulders. Today he dressed in one of the silk suits, meaning he would be attending something relatively tame. She'd felt the dagger sheath at his waist when she'd been touching him too, but that did little to offer indication of his intended activities. She'd yet to see him put the blade to use, but watching his fluid movements told Ellen's keen eyes her cousin would do well in a small fray with such a weapon.<br/><br/>He paused and turned back toward her, green eyes dancing, knowing she would likely have some fairly accurate guesses as to where he was heading, "Thank you, Cousin, and do have a pleasant day yourself."<br/><br/>Ellen nodded, "Don't be gone too long unless you've learned to better keep your nails, my lord." The words were half in jest and half to test how long he would remain away.<br/><br/>Bastian didn't offer much in the way of insight, instead letting the smile on his tanned lips grow a little further, "Of course. Thank you for the reminder." He brought the silver tip of his cane to the level of his eyes in a salute to Ellen for her words and her gaze caught on the red and gold house ring glinting in the light from the index finger of his right hand. She blinked twice to clear her thoughts of that and nodded again as Bastian turned and left the chamber.<br/><br/><br/><em>Player's O/Os:</em>O/Os (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=32542.0)