Post by Raoul Christophe de Chagny on Feb 24, 2012 21:01:56 GMT -5
RAOUL DE CHAGNY
"I’m here, with you, beside you, to guard you and to guide you."
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Player Name: Mel
Years Roleplaying: 5
Gender: Female
Contact me: PM
Anything else?: Hope it’s okay to use this face claim—he was the most readily available face I could think of.
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Basic Information
Age: 22
Canon or OC?: Canon, The Phantom of the Opera ( 1986 Musical)[/size]
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Appearance
Body type: Since his youth, Raoul has been tall and slim, though ever since entering the National Navy he has put on a few pounds of muscle. He still maintains a healthy weight of 190 pounds, and because of the toilsome work that he’s experienced aboard sailing vessels he possesses an ample amount of physical strength. Training in fencing and his enjoyment of activities such as running races and swimming during his early years also contributes to his lean physique. He walks with pride befitting his station, though when he stands he slouches ever so slightly because of the sailor’s gait that he has adopted.
Eye color: Raoul has intelligent, striking blue eyes whose color resembles that of the sky. Usually they are warm and inviting, however when he is angry they seem icy, cold, and piercing. His eyes are very expressive, and always reflect his mood. When happy, it’s as if his eyes are smiling with him, and when furious it’s as if they are burning with rage. When annoyed or frustrated, he has a habit of rolling his eyes, and when amused his eyes twinkle.
Wardrobe: Since he is a viscount, Raoul can afford clothing made of silk and wool and other expensive materials. He tends to dress in wool frock coats of many different colors—his favorite being navy and burgundy—during the day, and during the evening he dons fancier woolen tailcoats. Whenever he is out and about he always wears a top hat, and on particularly cold days he’ll wear a scarf. When he was serving in the Navy, Raoul was issued a dark blue uniform with a black chapeau. Although he has since been given an honorable discharge, he occasionally wears it to social functions such as balls or salons.
General Appearance: Raoul is tall and handsome, and has the face of an aristocrat. He’s clean-shaven, and has dirty blonde hair with short sideburns that is neatly kept and parted to the side. The front of his hairstyle curls slightly and a few locks fall above his forehead. At first glance he looks harmless and benign, but he carries himself in a way that most people around him view him and treat with respect—which is in no small part due to his title.
His wardrobe enables him to appear grand and princely, but his appearance also gives off a sense of worldliness as opposed to the aloofness that many other nobles possess. A lot of his contemporaries can proudly say they have never worked a day in their life, but not Raoul. His muscular physique is proof of the years of labor he voluntarily did aboard a French naval ship prior to becoming the patron of the Parisian Opera Populaire.
Played By: Hadley Fraser
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Personality
Up until that point, everything had come easily for the young viscount. He had money, a home, a beautiful best friend by the name of Christine Daaé, and was good-looking. He had pretty much everything a young man of his age could possibly want. However Raoul was not satisfied—he desired adventure and a challenge to devote himself to. He wanted the experience of working toward something, as he saw it as a thrilling competition.
When he was met with the harsh realities of tiring life aboard a ship, Raoul was still in good spirits. He enjoyed the work, as it was fun and he knew that he was doing something that was worthwhile, as opposed to the more laidback lifestyle of drinking and romancing that he would have had back home at his country estate outside of Paris.
Raoul had always been a bright child, immersing himself in his studies. His elder brother Philippe had been a studious dynamo, and Raoul had been determined to match his scholastic success, if not completely outdo him. He adores the Count de Chagny, but like many younger siblings, he sees each accomplishment he makes a strike in favor of himself in the healthy competition he has with his brother.
When he was aboard the naval ship, he felt as if he was no longer living in his brother’s shadow. He was doing something that he loved, and that he was good at. It was work, but it wasn’t at all like the tedium of his studies. He thoroughly enjoyed life at sea to the point that he didn’t even view it as work. Raoul gained faith in himself as both a person and a mariner.
After rising through the ranks of the French Navy, reaching the position of Capitaine de corvette, the viscount has more pride in himself than ever. He doesn’t flaunt his status, nor is he afraid to use it. For example, if he feels that he is being mistreated, he will not hesitate to answer with a sharp reproach characteristic of one of his station.
He is an excellent critical and analytical thinker due to both his education and career as a naval officer, however sometimes pride can influence his decisions in a negative way. As an officer, though he was compassionate toward his men, he accepted nothing short of their best efforts. He wanted to run the best crew in the entire Marine Nationale. He ordered his sailors to work hard, but he didn’t hesitate to share in their toil. If perhaps he had served during wartime, Raoul’s leadership may not have been as commendable, since his pride would have caused him to make some reckless decisions.
Still there is one trait he can hold over his brother’s head, and that is his personal responsibility. Philippe is known to be a philandering socialite due to his wealthy bachelor status, but his contributions to the art has preserved his personality in the eyes of the public. Raoul on the other hand does not drink very often, and hasn’t courted too terribly many women ( perhaps because he was away at sea for so long ). Even as a child, he was known as ‘the quiet one’. The title is outdated now since in his adulthood he has become far more sociable. He decided to devote some of his fortune to the Opera Populaire, becoming its new patron. Not only was he following in Philippe’s footsteps, as the elder count had sponsored a rival symphony, but was also expanding his social circle, since many nobles tended to attend the opera as a pastime in the evenings.
Dreams and Goals: Now that Raoul has gotten his adventure, his greatest ambition is to settle down and marry. He is unimpressed by the noblewomen his brother has introduced him to, and hasn’t seen any of them again since their first meetings. He doesn’t want to marry for convenience, but rather for love, naïve as it may sound to his brother. Often his mind drifts back to his childhood friend Christine—especially after he saw her recent performance at the selfsame opera house he has become a sponsor of. Seeing her again awakened a flame deep within him, and he is determined to see her again and perhaps win her love.
Strengths:
1. Whenever Raoul is set on doing something, he is determined to succeed. He’s perseverant and persistent, and will not yield to any margin of pressure if he is truly dedicated to accomplishing his task.
2. He has total confidence in his own intellect and abilities, and never hesitates when making a decision. Thus he is always decisive, and never wastes time in figuring out a plan of action.
3. Raoul is very charismatic—when he talks, people listen. He developed the skill while in the Navy. Although he has a sort of natural charm, becoming a good leader was a learning process. He gleaned what he could from the actions of his colleagues and superiors, and applied their strategies to his own situation. As a result, the men under him grew to respect him, and followed each of his orders to the letter.
4. Raoul is intelligent—both book-smart and people smart. He makes it his business to be one step ahead of everyone else, meaning that he is very observant of his surroundings, and also tries to figure out what makes people tick. By learning this, he can predict what their next move will be. It’s no wonder that he enjoyed chess so much as a kid.
5. Raoul is courageous. In times of crisis, he is always willing to step up to the plate and take charge of the situation. He will do whatever it takes to keep his loved ones safe, even charge headfirst into danger without thinking things through.
Weaknesses:
1. Raoul’s hubris is perhaps his greatest weakness. Though he doesn’t often let his power, money, and influence get to his head, the man is only human. Without even thinking about it, sometimes he can act in a condescending way toward other people. At times he feels as if he is invincible, when in fact he is far from it. This causes him to make less-than-wise decisions.
2. Another weakness Raoul has is impulsiveness. In sticky situations he often acts solely by instinct, and doesn’t stop to think about what he’s doing. This endangers not only himself, but the people around him.
3. Raoul’s stubbornness is also one of his weaknesses. When he believes that he is right, he will not sway from his opinion unless he is clearly proven wrong, and even so, he hardly ever admits that he’s wrong.
4. His anger can also be a critical hindrance. There are few times in his life where Raoul’s lost his temper, but when he is positively incensed, it takes a lot to calm him down. While he is enraged, he is unable to think clearly and can often again fall prey to impulsiveness and end up getting himself hurt.
5. Jealousy is another one of Raoul’s vices. When he is envious, he often grows bitter. Bitterness however only strengthens his resolve to get what he wants. Unfortunately, he doesn’t always think things through in resentful fits, and his moral code takes the back seat to his ambition if he is extremely jealous.
Fears:
1. Failing to reach his expectations of himself.
2. Failure to accomplish his ambition.
3. Failure to protect the people he loves.
4. Appearing weak.[/size]
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The Past
Father: Comte Philibert Horatio de Chagny ( deceased )
Mother: Comtesse Isabelle de Moerogis de La Martyniere ( deceased )
Brother: Comte Philippe Maurice de Chagny, 41
History: Raoul Christophe de Chagny was born to the Comte Philibert de Chagny and his wife, Isabelle, the Comtesse, in Perros-Guirec, France. His mother died from complications of childbirth a few days after he was born. As a result, he was raised solely by his father and English governess Elizabeth. Raoul and his father were not very close, and though he loved the man and he knew the Comte loved him back, he seemed distant due to his wife’s death. He also seemed to favor the elder viscount, who had been born twenty years prior to Raoul’s birth. Raoul never really saw his brother, who had an estate in the countryside, but he had heard plenty of stories about him.
Thus from an early age he felt as if people viewed him with ideas already in mind about who he was and what he should be like because of having come in contact with Philippe. This greatly upset him, and he began to see himself in an unfavorable light, not thinking himself ‘good enough’ since Philippe had already done so many wonderful things. He believed that his father would never love him as much as he loved Philippe, and saw himself as inferior to his brother. As a result, he became withdrawn from other people and shy. The only person he could really talk to was his butler, Alfred Worthington. Alfred had been hired by the Comte soon after Madame de Chagny's death. Raoul was rather close with Englishman, as unlike with his father, he did not have to struggle to get his attention. Whenever he needed a listening ear, Alfred was there, and despite the fact that he was a hired servant, he was almost like a member of the family--a second father to the young Vicomte. But despite their relationship, he became even more introverted after the death of his father when he was twelve. He’d been devastated, and out of habit blamed himself, thinking that he had vexed his father and that had led to his death. However, Alfred was a great comfort to him during the time. He had held the young nobleman as he cried, and in order to console him, told him something that remains etched into his memory to the present day. "Why do we fall, Master Raoul? So we can learn to pick ourselves up."
The task of bringing up the viscount fell to the newly-appointed Comte de Chagny, Philippe. Secretly Raoul looked up to his brother, but having heard so much about him, he felt as if he had to make a name for himself in order to step out from behind his shadow. Thus he was driven to do even better in his studies.
Raoul preferred to spend his time alone in the chateau, reading stories, and playing chess with his governess. He developed an apt mind and threw himself into his studies, being in particular skilled in writing and arithmetic. His father praised his efforts. After finding out he had a talent in these things, he worked even harder at his schoolwork, determined to please his father and best his brother. Although the old Comte was proud of him, Raoul still believed that he loved Philippe more, and that he needed to do something for his father to have that much pride in him.
When he wasn’t studying or playing chess, Raoul could be found swimming at the various beaches near the estate. One day, the governess allowed Raoul to leave his studies early and go out to the beach as a special treat. There was a girl there who was a few years younger than him with curly brown hair and unforgettably stunning green eyes that reminded him of the sea. Though he would blush at the time to think of it, he had been quite taken with her. Suddenly the wind picked up, and the scarf the girl had been holding blew into the sea. She cried out, and without thinking he assured her that everything would be fine before volunteering to go retrieve it.
Despite his governess’s protests, Raoul dashed into the ocean—still wearing his silken shirt, vest and trousers—and came back with the scarf, soaking to the skin and freezing. He never forgot that day, as it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Whenever he thought of his childhood, he remembered Christine. The two became close friends, and shared an interest in some of the old Norse legends and stories from the northern regions of Europe. One in particular that he remembers quite well was a tale Christine’s father, Gustave, would tell them involving a character named Little Lotte ( who reminded him of Christine funnily enough ) who dreamt of a fictional ‘Angel of Music.’
All childhoods must come to an end, and his did when he reached the age of sixteen. He had just finished his education, and had decided to pursue a career in the National Navy. Philippe had discouraged him from continuing to see Christine—after all, she came from a peasant family, and Raoul was a viscount. However he didn’t see things that way. Nonetheless, and against his better judgment, he bid her good-bye before departing for Paris.
Instead of allowing his brother to secure a commission for him through his connections, Raoul started off as a simple sailor. He had spirit and pluck, and showed both impressive seamanship and charisma among his peers, leading them in most of the shipboard duties. His commanding officers saw this, and promoted him to Maître ( Petty Officer ) within his first year of service. He was known amongst his shipmates as extremely diligent, but also quite personable. He had formed bonds and friendships with the men around him, which delighted him because as a child, thanks to his status, he didn’t really have too much contact with other kids his age. Other than Christine, he didn’t have that many friends. Of course he had met other noblemen’s children, but he never really felt too much of a connection with them, as none of them had shared his interests.
Raoul’s greatest accomplishment came when the vessel he was on had been assaulted by a hurricane. The Capitan had fallen overboard, and he led the rescue effort, calming down the mariners who had panicked, and directing the helmsman. Under his leadership the crew was able to rescue the main, who personally recommended that he be given a commission. The Capitan’s superiors agreed, and Raoul was bestowed the rank of Aspirant ( Midshipman ).
Over the course of those five years, Raoul traveled the world with the French Navy. He saw many brilliant sights that rivaled those in his story. He visited Africa, the Caribbean, South America, and Asia, and kept detailed notes of each location in a diary. As an officer he spent a lot of his time studying at Oxford, and it was then that Raoul became interested in the law. By the time he turned twenty-one, he had been promoted to the rank of Capitaine de corvette. Soon after, his five years of service ran out. He decided to return home in hopes of building a family now that he had accomplished his life’s ambition—to see the world.
He was welcomed home with open arms. Philippe was evidently pleased by the change in his brother when he held a ball in his honor the night of his return. The Comte de Chagny had invented plenty of eligible young noblewomen to the gala at the Chagny estate in Perros-Guirec, hoping that he would choose one as his bride. However in defiance of his brother’s expectations, Raoul politely greeted each woman and offered to dance with them, before bidding them farewell. He then withdrew to the chateau his brother had built for him outside of Paris.
At this point, Raoul didn’t have a clear idea of what he wanted. Fleetingly he wondered if he should have renewed his commission. However he knew that he would have to eventually adjust to civilian life, and what better way than to find his way back into the Parisian nobility’s social circles. Over dinner Philippe had mentioned that he was currently sponsoring the Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire in Paris. He had also mentioned that the Opera Populaire had gotten new managers. Remembering that Christine’s father had played there, the curious viscount made a few inquiries, and eventually offered to become the opera’s new patron. Naturally the management was all too happy to accept his offer.
The eve of the gala held in celebration of the two new managers, Raoul shared their box. Initially he had expected La Carlotta to sing—at least until one manager, Monsieur Andre, mentioned the name Daaé. His face paled in shock as years’ worth of memories flooded back. He asked Andre to repeat the name, but his question was soon drowned out by that night’s music. He directed his attention to the stage and watched in awe as none other than his childhood friend sang a magnificent aria. The childhood crush came back, but this time it had intensified into a passion that was a lot like love if he ever knew it. After her performance ended, he sent her a cryptic note that referenced their childhood. He then bought a single rose and asked the two managers to direct him to her dressing room. However on the way, he felt faint, and the world went black. Christine’s voice was the last thing he remembered prior to being transported to the manor.
RP Sample
Raoul settled back into his seat as the orchestra began to play, brushing aside his question. The man had said Daaé—but that wasn’t the most unusual name, was it? Perhaps this singer was simply Swedish as well? He would be lying if he tried to claim that the instant excitement he had gotten over that name had nothing to do with how he had felt about the girl in his youth. He had been thinking about her a lot lately, wondering where she was, and what had happened to her. He knew well enough that her father had died, it had been all over the papers, but he had no idea what had happened to ‘Little Lotte’ as he had called her.
His thoughts were interrupted when the soprano began her song, titled appropriately ‘Think of Me’. That voice… There was something so hauntingly familiar about it, but he couldn’t understand why. It caused his heart to race, and he could swear if it weren’t for the music everyone in his box could hear his pulse. A gasp escaped from his mouth as he raised his opera glasses, hands shaking. “Can it be?” he whispered aloud. “Can it be Christine?” Was it really his friend from all those years ago? She was beautiful…like a goddess. And her voice—Mon Dieu, her voice! It made him believe that those stories about sirens and mermaids that the sailors around him had been so fond of were real. “Brava! Brava!” he roared, jumping to his feet abruptly during an instrumental section of her aria. He could see the managers’ subtle gestures to quiet him down out of the corner of his eye, but for the present he ignored them. He stayed standing and clasped the edge of the balcony, leaning over the side eagerly as he stared down at the Swedish opera singer.
It was so long ago that they had last met. Their last meeting had been full of sorrow, as he was leaving Perros-Guirec to join the French Navy, and didn’t know when—if ever—he’d see her again. Every now and then he’d remember little details, like her sparkling eyes and her beautiful smile, but he hadn’t ever thought that he would see her again. He had hoped, but he didn’t really believe that he would. And yet here she was. He remembered her so quickly—she had grown so beautiful, and though she looked different than she had as a child, he was certain that this was Christine, this was Little Lotte. Does she remember me? He intended to find out after this performance. Seeing her again brought back so many memories—of his idyllic childhood of innocence and laughter, of staying up late in the attic reading stories to each other…
She looked so happy as she sang; it was as if she was in her element. He knew she loved music, which made sense since her father was a violinist. But by Jove, her voice had changed. He had never thought that she—or anyone for that matter—could sing this angelically.
She ended on a high note that left him positively speechless. As applause swirled up around the theater, Raoul paused, hands raised in shock before clapping thunderously, grinning from ear-to-ear. “Brava.” he murmured, shaking his head in wonder. He had to see her again. He flagged down one of the ushers and asked him for a slip of paper, which he scrawled a note on that read,
A red scarf. The attic. Little Lotte.
Hopefully that would do to jog her memory—at least until he arrived. “Please give this to Mademoiselle Daaé.” he instructed the usher before taking off his opera gloves and heading off to buy flowers. “I’d very much like to meet the new soprano—Mademoiselle Christine Daaé. Could you take me to her?” he interrupted the two conversing managers, who were no doubt congratulating themselves on Christine’s success, with a patient smile. He was overjoyed to see her again, and it took a great deal of effort to restrain the almost boyish enthusiasm he was feeling. It didn’t take long for them to reach the dressing room, and when they entered, Raoul held up a hand to wave the other men away. “Gentlemen, if you wouldn’t mind. This is one visit that I should prefer to make unaccompanied.” He then strode forward, proudly, confidently, and resolutely with a smile on his face.
This is it, was the last thought he had before the world went black.
His thoughts were interrupted when the soprano began her song, titled appropriately ‘Think of Me’. That voice… There was something so hauntingly familiar about it, but he couldn’t understand why. It caused his heart to race, and he could swear if it weren’t for the music everyone in his box could hear his pulse. A gasp escaped from his mouth as he raised his opera glasses, hands shaking. “Can it be?” he whispered aloud. “Can it be Christine?” Was it really his friend from all those years ago? She was beautiful…like a goddess. And her voice—Mon Dieu, her voice! It made him believe that those stories about sirens and mermaids that the sailors around him had been so fond of were real. “Brava! Brava!” he roared, jumping to his feet abruptly during an instrumental section of her aria. He could see the managers’ subtle gestures to quiet him down out of the corner of his eye, but for the present he ignored them. He stayed standing and clasped the edge of the balcony, leaning over the side eagerly as he stared down at the Swedish opera singer.
It was so long ago that they had last met. Their last meeting had been full of sorrow, as he was leaving Perros-Guirec to join the French Navy, and didn’t know when—if ever—he’d see her again. Every now and then he’d remember little details, like her sparkling eyes and her beautiful smile, but he hadn’t ever thought that he would see her again. He had hoped, but he didn’t really believe that he would. And yet here she was. He remembered her so quickly—she had grown so beautiful, and though she looked different than she had as a child, he was certain that this was Christine, this was Little Lotte. Does she remember me? He intended to find out after this performance. Seeing her again brought back so many memories—of his idyllic childhood of innocence and laughter, of staying up late in the attic reading stories to each other…
She looked so happy as she sang; it was as if she was in her element. He knew she loved music, which made sense since her father was a violinist. But by Jove, her voice had changed. He had never thought that she—or anyone for that matter—could sing this angelically.
She ended on a high note that left him positively speechless. As applause swirled up around the theater, Raoul paused, hands raised in shock before clapping thunderously, grinning from ear-to-ear. “Brava.” he murmured, shaking his head in wonder. He had to see her again. He flagged down one of the ushers and asked him for a slip of paper, which he scrawled a note on that read,
A red scarf. The attic. Little Lotte.
Hopefully that would do to jog her memory—at least until he arrived. “Please give this to Mademoiselle Daaé.” he instructed the usher before taking off his opera gloves and heading off to buy flowers. “I’d very much like to meet the new soprano—Mademoiselle Christine Daaé. Could you take me to her?” he interrupted the two conversing managers, who were no doubt congratulating themselves on Christine’s success, with a patient smile. He was overjoyed to see her again, and it took a great deal of effort to restrain the almost boyish enthusiasm he was feeling. It didn’t take long for them to reach the dressing room, and when they entered, Raoul held up a hand to wave the other men away. “Gentlemen, if you wouldn’t mind. This is one visit that I should prefer to make unaccompanied.” He then strode forward, proudly, confidently, and resolutely with a smile on his face.
This is it, was the last thought he had before the world went black.
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