The soul of an explorer in the body of a debutante. Deenie is the kind of person who prefers the company of animals to people, the fresh air of the countryside to the stink of the city, and fierce independence to the confines of marriage. Though she was sent to London with the purpose of having her cousin help find her a husband, she has no intention of completing that mission.
Does it even really exist? This thing called ‘love’ she’s heard about through whispers, gossip and novels seems so far fetched and unreachable to her, given all she has seen and experienced. Which, granted, has not been all that much, still, in her limited view, she thinks romance and love are merely delusions one wraps themself in to avoid the cold hard reality that life is simply a series of logical and profitable contracts. Humanity tries to paint themselves compassionate and caring, loving and devoted, giving and nurturing – the bitter truth, however, is that no one really cares about anyone but themselves. And now, more than ever, she knows she needs to look after herself before her uncle does it for her in a way most beneficial to him and without care for her.
Moira is a well respected member of high society and married to a well-loved and respected man, the Director of the London Opera. How involved she is in that work is up to you. Her background before marrying is up to you. Her age within that range is up to you. What’s important is that she has been pursuing an affair with Giovanni for the last year. The passion as well as the tension and jealousy that is brewing is threatening to spill over and both have a lot to lose if anyone ever finds out.
Moira can’t leave her husband but can’t accept her toy moving on. Giovanni thinks he might be in love but wants to move up in society and can’t if he is entangled in an affair that goes nowhere. Both are using the other, both know better but neither can’t resist the intensity.
Much of Moira and the dynamic with Giovanni is open for discussion since this is going to be an…intimate relationship, we should form it together. The complete dynamics are up for discussion and your input is encouraged.
Lucien, known as Lux among his peers, embodies a captivating blend of charm and recklessness. His ambition drives him to pursue his desires with fervor, yet he often struggles to maintain his composure, teetering on the edge of impulsivity and emotional outbursts. Despite this volatility, he possesses an undeniable talent for captivating a crowd, his silver tongue effortlessly weaving words that could sway even the coldest individuals to his favor. Lux knows how to command attention and inspire loyalty, even as he navigates the tumultuous waters of his own emotions as a young gentleman. The type to know a man, that knows a man, and so on- his connections vary far and wide, from the dirty slums of the east end, to the grand luxury of the upper-class.
Lucien King, playfully referred to as “Lucy” among his siblings, embodies a complex duality. While he is adored in high society for his charm, he grapples with feelings of inadequacy as he constantly finds himself compared to his accomplished eldest brother. The recent passing of their father has intensified his need to prove himself, fueling a quiet frustration that gnaws at him. At the forefront of his aspirations stands The Silver Bullet, a prestigious bar and club he opened just over a year ago in the vibrant east end, even as his father’s health declined. Lucien is fiercely determined to make this establishment thrive, attracting a diverse and eclectic clientele that reflects his vision. However, the challenges of managing such a venture weigh heavily on him, and he is acutely aware that maintaining its success amidst potential troubles is a precarious balancing act.
The epitome of a carefree socialite, Oscar enjoys the easy life of a self-proclaimed artist and poet among London’s ton. Born into wealth as the eldest son of an earl, he has long been a fixture in the city’s social circles, where his lack of obligations affords him the freedom to pursue his passions as he sees fit. Always on the lookout for his next intriguing diversion, he has long embraced his image as an entertaining dilettante—not least because it distracts from his more pragmatic existence as the secretive owner of an exclusive male brothel known as Maggie’s Place.
Guillermo is the son of a famed privateer. He is known for his violence. Known for his part in wars and rebellions, and for following in his father’s violent footsteps. His heart, however, is and has always been with the animals he saves.
Duke Nyle Reid’s life has been held deep within a fog for a long time; a product of compliance, of distance from his nature as a man, and a repression that buries him within the cold frontier. The premier face of English Lordship, he wears a distant smile in the common eye, but struggles to command the love and loyalty of others. Nyle’s life has long been a tapestry of formless despair, an obligation to duty, and a void of companionship. Perhaps, along the Thames, that will change.
Daughter of Lousia Alrich, Lee’s first cousin – Quiet, introspective, and a little intense, Birdie has experimented in just about every manner of artistic expression conceivable, from poetry to painting to sculpture and everything in between. Secretly, she yearns for the stage, but her parents would ever allow such a thing.
Daughter of Peter Astor, Lee’s first cousin – Grand lover of animals and nature, who never feels entirely at home in the city or in the confines of a corset. An amazing horsewoman. Only 20, she has nevertheless made an attempt to prepare her parents for the likelihood of her spinsterhood; the thought marriage seems terrible.
Daughter of Carolina Ward, Lee’s older sister – Lydia’s younger sister and secretly her Uncle Lee’s favorite of his sibling’s children. Sweet, intuitive, and more bookish than she lets on, Edie is forever struggling in her older sister’s shadow. Her most fervent interest is social work, particularly civil rights, although her parents limit her activity.
