Post by The Exodus on Aug 19, 2011 17:03:14 GMT -6
Character: Damien Alexandre Blackwood-Michaud
Age: 25
Gender: Male
Occupation: Artist and aspiring art history professor
AI: Gaspard Ulliel
Personality: Damien is a passionate perfectionist who would rather craft flawlessness than a happy mess. Damien developed what his mother affectionately calls, “only child syndrome”, which is probably a nice way of saying “bratty and dependent”. He desperately wants to shed the moniker and be independent. Even if that means taking on the mantle of “starving artist” literally. Unfortunately, when you’re used to living off your trust-fund, the adjustment can’t be easy…
Despite his privilege and ego, Damien's heart is in the right place. He loves his friends dearly and would do anything for them. He'll also strike up conversation with most anyone.
History: It is hard being the son of one of England’s most high-profile, political couples. Damien knows this first hand. His mother, Natalie Blackwood-Michaud is widely regarded as the prettiest socialite of her generation. His father, Lucian Michaud, was touted as Parliament’s darling and most likely to be Prime Minister by age fifty. A hard picture to fit into, but one that Damien managed. Despite the potential for a high-profile lifestyle, Damien’s parents decided to raise their only son in as normal an environment as possible. Natalie stayed home with Damien; Lucian went to work and willingly drove from the countryside to the city and back daily to maintain a regular home life. It was a relatively peaceful childhood, if a bit lonely. His parents indoctrinated in him a strong work ethic and encouraged him to follow his passion. After several long years of searching, Damien discovered that art was where he truly felt most at home. He always preferred to colour with his Crayolas than to play rugby with the other boys. Some of Damien’s fondest childhood memories involve sketching for hours in the still of the local art museum. And when his parents noticed that, they sent him to a private art academy for secondary school.
Damien had everything that could have made him popular in the art school. He was rich, good looking, and talented, but he was still extremely self-conscious and shy. Besides, he reasoned, there was no way he was going to live up to the popular kids. Especially not Bill MaCarthy. A few years older than Damien, Bill MaCarthy was a good looking technical theatre student with a penchant for woodwork and rule-breaking. Damien was in awe of the older Bill. When assigned to work with him on a set design project, Damien was beside himself with excitement. He must have impressed Bill because the older boy invited him over. Damien quickly fell in love with Bill’s family and managed to charm them in return. The large MaCarthy brood differed from the Michauds in every way imaginable. There were tons of kids around and everything was so fantastically loud and energetic. He got on best with Bill and Bill’s younger brother, Ben. Damien’s relationship with Ben, Bill, and the other MaCarthy’s prompted him to grow up a bit. He matured into a sense of humour—sarcastic, quiet humour—and let himself go on mad exploits with his friends. Some involve picnics on rooftops. Others involve pranking Gimpy and Penny. Even now, these are Damien’s most cherished memories and the trio is still extremely close to this day.
From a young age, Damien knew he was attracted to other boys, but as an adolescent, was never comfortable with his own sexuality. Growing up, he had no gay role models to look up to. His parents never entertained the idea of their son being gay, so they never discussed it with him. For many years, Damien thought he was probably the only gay boy in Wiltshire, if not the whole world. But, as luck would have it, Bill MaCarthys younger brother, Ben, was openly and vocally gay. At fourteen, Damien developed a crush on the other boy—something he is embarrassed by now that Ben looks like lumberjack and wrestles dangerous animals for a living. Perhaps it was because the pair was so different; perhaps it was lack of options. But at sixteen, Damien and Ben began to date in semi-secret. While the MaCarthys watched their immature relationship with wry amusement, the Michauds remained in the dark. Damien was able to hide his sexuality from his parents by framing dates with Ben as “going to the MaCarthys”. Things fell apart when Ben decided to use one of Damien’s art projects for football practice and that was the end of that. Though the relationship fizzled, the pair remain friends through Bill.
Soon enough, Damien went off to college. At Natalie’s prompting, he attended Oxford to study architecture. She insisted he do something practical with his artistic talents. And socially, that worked out. But Damien was never happy with his field. Instead of focusing fully on his studies as his Mum and Dad hoped, Damien expanded his social horizons. He dated and made friends and tried to figure out his life.
Due to a family drama worthy of any soap opera, Damien ended up in Paris for his doctoral studies. Not that he's complaining. It’s the city for any aspiring artist. If Damien plays his cards right, he hopes to make a name for himself outside of his family.
Age: 25
Gender: Male
Occupation: Artist and aspiring art history professor
AI: Gaspard Ulliel
Personality: Damien is a passionate perfectionist who would rather craft flawlessness than a happy mess. Damien developed what his mother affectionately calls, “only child syndrome”, which is probably a nice way of saying “bratty and dependent”. He desperately wants to shed the moniker and be independent. Even if that means taking on the mantle of “starving artist” literally. Unfortunately, when you’re used to living off your trust-fund, the adjustment can’t be easy…
Despite his privilege and ego, Damien's heart is in the right place. He loves his friends dearly and would do anything for them. He'll also strike up conversation with most anyone.
History: It is hard being the son of one of England’s most high-profile, political couples. Damien knows this first hand. His mother, Natalie Blackwood-Michaud is widely regarded as the prettiest socialite of her generation. His father, Lucian Michaud, was touted as Parliament’s darling and most likely to be Prime Minister by age fifty. A hard picture to fit into, but one that Damien managed. Despite the potential for a high-profile lifestyle, Damien’s parents decided to raise their only son in as normal an environment as possible. Natalie stayed home with Damien; Lucian went to work and willingly drove from the countryside to the city and back daily to maintain a regular home life. It was a relatively peaceful childhood, if a bit lonely. His parents indoctrinated in him a strong work ethic and encouraged him to follow his passion. After several long years of searching, Damien discovered that art was where he truly felt most at home. He always preferred to colour with his Crayolas than to play rugby with the other boys. Some of Damien’s fondest childhood memories involve sketching for hours in the still of the local art museum. And when his parents noticed that, they sent him to a private art academy for secondary school.
Damien had everything that could have made him popular in the art school. He was rich, good looking, and talented, but he was still extremely self-conscious and shy. Besides, he reasoned, there was no way he was going to live up to the popular kids. Especially not Bill MaCarthy. A few years older than Damien, Bill MaCarthy was a good looking technical theatre student with a penchant for woodwork and rule-breaking. Damien was in awe of the older Bill. When assigned to work with him on a set design project, Damien was beside himself with excitement. He must have impressed Bill because the older boy invited him over. Damien quickly fell in love with Bill’s family and managed to charm them in return. The large MaCarthy brood differed from the Michauds in every way imaginable. There were tons of kids around and everything was so fantastically loud and energetic. He got on best with Bill and Bill’s younger brother, Ben. Damien’s relationship with Ben, Bill, and the other MaCarthy’s prompted him to grow up a bit. He matured into a sense of humour—sarcastic, quiet humour—and let himself go on mad exploits with his friends. Some involve picnics on rooftops. Others involve pranking Gimpy and Penny. Even now, these are Damien’s most cherished memories and the trio is still extremely close to this day.
From a young age, Damien knew he was attracted to other boys, but as an adolescent, was never comfortable with his own sexuality. Growing up, he had no gay role models to look up to. His parents never entertained the idea of their son being gay, so they never discussed it with him. For many years, Damien thought he was probably the only gay boy in Wiltshire, if not the whole world. But, as luck would have it, Bill MaCarthys younger brother, Ben, was openly and vocally gay. At fourteen, Damien developed a crush on the other boy—something he is embarrassed by now that Ben looks like lumberjack and wrestles dangerous animals for a living. Perhaps it was because the pair was so different; perhaps it was lack of options. But at sixteen, Damien and Ben began to date in semi-secret. While the MaCarthys watched their immature relationship with wry amusement, the Michauds remained in the dark. Damien was able to hide his sexuality from his parents by framing dates with Ben as “going to the MaCarthys”. Things fell apart when Ben decided to use one of Damien’s art projects for football practice and that was the end of that. Though the relationship fizzled, the pair remain friends through Bill.
Soon enough, Damien went off to college. At Natalie’s prompting, he attended Oxford to study architecture. She insisted he do something practical with his artistic talents. And socially, that worked out. But Damien was never happy with his field. Instead of focusing fully on his studies as his Mum and Dad hoped, Damien expanded his social horizons. He dated and made friends and tried to figure out his life.
Due to a family drama worthy of any soap opera, Damien ended up in Paris for his doctoral studies. Not that he's complaining. It’s the city for any aspiring artist. If Damien plays his cards right, he hopes to make a name for himself outside of his family.
