Markus Alastair Cecil Deas
Aug 4, 2013 12:26:42 GMT -5
Post by Jelly on Aug 4, 2013 12:26:42 GMT -5
Written: 8/4/2011
[style=width: 500px; font-family: georgia; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 1.5px; color: #000000; text-transform: uppercase;]TO THE WELL ORGANIZED MIND,[/style][style=width: 500px; font-family: georgia; font-size: 32px; letter-spacing: 1px; color: #467970; text-transform: uppercase;]MARKUS ALASTAIR
CECIL DEAS[/style][style=width: 450px; font-family: georgia; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 1.5px; color: #000000; text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px dashed #000000;]DEATH IS BUT THE NEXT GRAND ADVENTURE[/style]
[style=width: 450px; border-top: 1px dashed #000000; font-family: georgia; font-size: 10px; font-style: italic; color: #000000; text-transform: lowercase;] yeah I'm walking on a tightrope
I'm wrapped up in vines
I think we'll make it out
but you just gotta give me time[/style]
[style=width: 480px; font-family: georgia; font-size: 20px; letter-spacing: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #467970;]THERE IS NO GOOD AND EVIL, ONLY POWER[/style][style=width: 480px; font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: .5px; color: #000000; text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px dashed #000000;]BASICS , BASICS , BASICS , BASICS , BASICS, BASICS , BASICS , BASICS , BASICS, BASICS[/style]
[style=width: 480px; text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;]FULL NAME ,
Markus Alastair Cecil Deas
NICKNAMES ,
Mark, Alastair, Al – though not many call him anything but Markus, Professor, or Headmaster (or Professor/Headmaster Deas)
AGE && BIRTHDAY ,
Forty-four; June 14th, 1967
YEAR OR OCCUPATION ,
Headmaster of Hogwarts
BLOOD ,
Half-blood, believed to be muggleborn
HOUSE ,
Slytherin alumni
GENDER && SEXUALITY ,
Male, heterosexual (possibly pansexual, though he has yet to admit/really notice it)
WAND ,
Twelve inches, oak wood, Nundu hair, sturdy[/style]
[style=width: 480px; font-family: georgia; font-size: 20px; letter-spacing: 1px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #467970;]AND THOSE TOO WEAK TO SEEK IT[/style][style=width: 480px; font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: 0px; color: #000000; text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px dashed #000000;]APPEARANCE , APPEARANCE , APPEARANCE , APPEARANCE , APPEARANCE , APPEARANCE[/style]
[style=width: 480px; text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;]FACE CLAIM ,
Boris Kodjoe
HAIR && EYE COLOR ,
Black hair; brown eyes
HEIGHT && WEIGHT ,
Six feet, four inches; 187 lbs.
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES ,
Markus can be a rather imposing person, with his towering height (though he doesn’t tower above everyone, just the majority of the population) in addition to his naturally wide shoulders and the way he’s built. Though he can thank genetics more than constant exercising, he is certainly in shape, and he takes pride in keeping himself as such – even though it doesn’t help to lower the possible intimidation features at all (thankfully well-fitting robes can make him seem just like the simple headmaster he likes to think of himself as).
As for noticeable markings, Markus has one long scar along the back of his head, from behind his right ear to almost the base of his neck, as well as a set of talon marks across his right shoulder blade and across his back – all from an encounter with a hippogriff that took a disliking to him (though the scar on the back of his head came from falling to the ground after being bucked off, whereas the talon marks came from the beast coming after him as he lay on the ground). Then again, it’s not a surprise the hippogriff objected to the accidental pulling of a few feathers when Markus nearly lost his balance. Usually his robes or other clothing cover the scars on his shoulder/back, but with the short hair he has, the one on the back of his head is there for all the world to see.
He also has a set of tattoos that span the inside of both of his wrists – something his wife talked him into doing, while she got identical ones on her own small wrists. Scrawled there are the words “regret nothing,” though they are done with a special ink that only shows under ultraviolet light (and some spells). Not very many people know of them, but the tattoos are there nonetheless.
STYLE ,
When not done up in his robes (which is most of the time), Markus is very much a suit type of man. He enjoys dressing well and keep himself ‘in style’ even in muggle eyes, and knows that a well-fitting suit can be suitable (hah) for almost any occasion. Not that he doesn’t know how to dress down in simple jeans and a well-fitting shirt, but even then he has an affinity for jumpers (sweaters, American English speakers), turtlenecks, or vests. He simply enjoys looking good, though he doesn’t obsess over the issue. He also enjoys his hats, wearing quite a variety of them – despite any comments people might make about them.[/style]
[style=width: 480px; font-family: georgia; font-size: 20px; letter-spacing: -1px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #467970;]FEAR OF A NAME INCREASES FEAR OF THE THING[/style][style=width: 480px; font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: .5px; color: #000000; text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px dashed #000000;]PERSONALITY , PERSONALITY , PERSONALITY , PERSONALITY , PERSONALITY[/style]
[style=width: 480px; text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;]LIKES ,
Order, especially simple order.
Coffee – he has no problems admitting that he's all but addicted to the stuff.
A good fantasy book, particularly the older ones.
Working with his hands, especially carving things out of wood.
DISLIKES ,
Students who cause unnecessary trouble (pranks are fine, until they disrupt the entire school, but it's fights he has more of an eye on)
Discrimination in any sense of the word – by race, gender, blood-status, species, etc.
Anyone threatening his friends, family, colleagues, or students.
Dueling
People who try and intimidate others in order to push them around and get what they want
STRENGTHS ,
Skilled with magic, mostly charms and defense against the dark arts.
Single-minded when he needs to be – can't be distracted by menial things while he's dealing with more important matters.
Charismatic and a skilled actor, both having a way with words and being able to hide a wide array of his thoughts (though obviously not all of them) from whomever he's talking to.
Careful with who he trusts.
Cooking, with a wide variety of different meals he can make.
WEAKNESSES ,
Extremely protective – hence somewhat predictable when those he's protective over are in danger of any kind.
Rather uncoordinated in the air (be it on broomstick or through some other method of flying).
Has a habit of letting his mind wander when he finds a topic unimportant or boring.
Has never been able to hold his liquor very well (thankfully he doesn't drink all that often).
PATRONUS ,
Jellyfish. More specifically, the tiny Turritopsis nutricula, a jellyfish thought to be immortal because it is able to revert back to the beginning of its life cycle at the point where most of its related creatures end up dying, but that's getting all scientific. The patronus creatures itself is as small as the true animal (which is the size of the nail on your pinky finger, a strange sight when the wizard casting the charm is so tall himself), yet it never manifests without a hazy 'mist' of sorts around the corporeal form – and when he uses it against dementors (or similar creatures it might be affective against), it usually produces more of a shield instead.
Markus himself isn't sure why his patronus is a jellyfish, of all things in the world, especially when the creature usually symbolizes acceptance and faith to those who look for meaning in animals. When the jellyfish is the type of animal that has no choice but to go with the flow – and the fact is that that is something Markus has to do to deal with his life. He often tends to get caught up in every little incident that happens to him, even after so many have gone by, and has yet to quite learn his lesson in that.
There's another reason the jellyfish represents him as his patronus though, especially the 'immortal' jellyfish: that whatever he goes through, Markus is certainly someone who can push through to survive, in whatever shape he's in after it.
BOGGART ,
Fire: Small flames such as candles don't bother him, but Markus tends to avoid even open fireplaces, never letting a fire burn in his own office even in the coldest parts of winter. He just bundles up instead, and avoids any questions concerning this strange habit – but the fact is that the sight of a large burning fire terrifies him, and easily brings back memories he never wants to remember.
Relationships that go farther than friendship: A much simpler fear, mainly because he's afraid of what they will turn into, or what will happen if he loses someone else that was that close to him.
Flying: Not that he'll avoid it at all costs, but he was never terribly skilled at it, and after he was thrown from a hippogriff trying to maintain his balance (which he knows is different than a broom, but still), he chooses other means of travel whenever he can.
VERITASERUM ,
He is still plagued by nightmares of his wife's death and is far from getting over her memory, even though he's become skilled at acting like he is, as well as focusing on other, 'more important' things.
Sometimes he wishes he had never realized his magical blood, however fleeting those moments might be.
AMORTENTIA ,
Chocolate and raspberries: Brooklyn's favorite scent of perfume, anything of her's that he still has still carries that scent.
Anything cooking: Markus has always been fond of food, but his skills are only what they are now because of the lessons (if you can call them that) that his wife gave him – and the smell of anything cooking brings him right back to those many nights they spent in the kitchen.
Sawdust and fresh-cut wood: His father was a carpenter/sculptor at heart, and never wasted a chance to try and pass on his skills to Markus. It's still a habit he takes up from time to time.
DESCRIPTION ,
Markus is a man fully invested in his work. Running Hogwarts to the best of his ability is his goal, passion, life, and lifeline from time to time. As... interesting as it can be to run the school at times (it seems there is always something disrupting the 'normal' student lifestyle there), Markus actually takes pleasure from sorting through all the issues and problems that can crop up in a boarding school such as Hogwarts, even without the magical element involved. Perhaps it's the bit of him that loves the fact that he's in control, but he likes to believe that it's more that he simply loves being able to work the magic (hah) that is running the school and shaping and protecting the young minds that fill it after every summer break (which is certainly true as well). And it's not just his job that he cares for, not at all. Markus truly does care about his coworkers and students (though some can set his teeth on edge at times), and would do anything to protect them, whether it be as their headmaster, their friend, or even simply a listening ear.
He is one of those people that's just generally easy to be around – he's talkative and friendly and open and, if he says so himself, has quite the way with words. A laugh is not usually far from his lips, and he enjoys the ability to bring at least a small smile to others' faces. Markus likes to believe that he can carry on a pleasant conversation with most anybody, and can distract or soothe the worst a person might be going through (though he can't exactly help himself in that area – and he keeps his own problems locked up and hidden away, no one else needs to be burdened with them).
But of course, he's not always completely easygoing and jolly. The strict headmaster that must solve a complicated, sticky situation or doll out punishments and deductions of house points is rather easy for him to pull up when he needs him – and even then, he's not usually too bad (not everyone is Professor Curtis, of course). However, Markus isn't as skilled as he would like to believe at hiding his true thoughts about someone. If he's disappointed in you, something about his voice or his expression will likely tell you. The same goes for if he likes or dislikes you, if he's proud of you, amused by you, etc. While he may be able to keep some things to himself, his emotions tend to make him an open book just waiting for others to read.
Now, it is not a surprise that there is also an incredibly dangerous side to Markus as well. After all, he's a powerful wizard in his own right (though there are definitely many in in this world who are stronger than him, in many different ways). And that little fact combined with his tremulous temper and fierce sense of protection is not exactly the best combination. Thankfully there aren't many things that can trigger it. However, along with that, it's probably a good idea to mention that revenge is certainly something that Markus believes in – that he would gladly encourage if an issue involving it was ever brought to him. He wasn't always so adamant about it, but considering the fact that he himself is secretly (well, not secretly, just not... publicly) hellbent on his own revenge, he can't exactly deny that drive in others.[/style]
[style=width: 480px; font-family: georgia; font-size: 20px; letter-spacing: 1px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #467970;]TIME IS MAKING FOOLS OF US AGAIN[/style][style=width: 480px; font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: .5px; color: #000000; text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px dashed #000000;]HISTORY , HISTORY , HISTORY , HISTORY , HISTORY , HISTORY , HISTORY , HISTORY[/style]
[style=width: 480px; text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;]PARENTS ,
Madelyn Jade Deas: mother, sixty-nine, muggle, secretary at a small private school
Damien Ezra Deas: believed/adoptive/step father, muggle, deceased
Reuben Drake Hawthorne: biological father, seventy-eight, pureblood, Gryffindor alumni, resident at St. Mungo's after a dangerous backfire from his wand (has no idea he has a son)
SIBLINGS ,
Cecil Malcolm Deas: older half brother, muggle, deceased
Terryn Connor Deas: older half brother, forty-nine, muggle, CEO of a major company
OTHER FAMILY ,
Brooklyn Rosa Deas (nee Pierce): wife, muggle, deceased
IMPORTANT FIGURES ,
None
PETS ,
Grimalkin: A kneazle, Grim was a pet he bought for his wife, and he swears that if any muggle ever had a familiar, Brooklyn's was Grim. The two were nearly inseparable, and the creature mourned her passing nearly as much as Markus himself. He has free run of the castle, but tends to stay around Markus' office (though causing trouble in the owlery is a common past-time for this kneazle as well).
Ackley: Basically, the owl Markus owns to send out and receive his mail. A loyal bird, but not an incredibly smart one. Grim's prime target for causing trouble.
Xavier: His familiar, this Raven enjoys accompanying Markus everywhere, even though that's not exactly possible most of the time. However, it still isn't an uncommon sight to be greeted by Xav when making one's way into Markus' office, and the bird is incredibly protective of him – and he's not above squawking/crowing at, glaring at, or even attacking someone he sees as a threat.
DEMENTOR ,
His wife's death.
PATRONUS MEMORY ,
His graduation from Hogwarts.
BACKGROUND ,
The Deas family wasn’t a very notable one. They lived simply, got by how they could, and were completely and utterly oblivious to the wizarding world. Before Markus was born, Damien Ezra Deas was a man working odd-jobs wherever he could find them while trying, not so successfully, to follow his passions as a carpenter, and his wife Madelyn was a secretary at a small private school near where they lived (a job steady enough that she still has it to this day), and they already had two young sons. Cecil was seven, his younger brother Terryn five, and thanks to their mother’s influence, they were both already in the private school system, for a reduced charge.
However, it was one night as Cecil was coming home from a nearby friend’s house (his parents had been told that he would be walked home by one of his friend’s parents, but he had left without them, sure that he could handle himself), that the older brother Markus never met was killed as a result of someone losing control of their car and suddenly jerking up onto the narrow sidewalk. Markus never heard the details as to why it happened, though as he grew older he came to believe the driver had been piss drunk. Whatever the reason was, the death shocked the small family.
Damien, stuck in one of his unemployed states, mucked around the house whenever he himself wasn’t out drinking as well, choosing to deal with it that way instead of focusing on what family he had left. Madelyn threw herself into her work, staying late in the school’s offices even when there was little for her to do in the first place. And young Terryn grew quiet and sullen, retreating from the world as his parents retreated from him. It was one night that Madelyn decided to follow her husband’s lead and seek solace in drink (though she never spoke to him of it, not even to scold him when she came home to him passed out and Terryn left to fend for himself), that led to Markus. The fact of the matter, though Madelyn would never admit it and Damien would never even let himself consider it, was that that night she found comfort in more than alcohol. The guilt of it drove her easily back to her husband, and she never spoke a word of it – not even now. She’s the only one that knows that her husband is not Markus’ father (although she’s not the only one that suspected it).
And despite his rather chaotic home life in his first few years – as Madelyn’s pregnancy had not-so-kindly forced Damien out of his depressed stupor and back out into the working world – Markus grew up with little trouble along the way. At least, little trouble outside of what’s normal for a young boy. He was a rather lonely boy until he started school, though, despite how much his mother babied him and cared for him, her grief for her lost son transferred into an extra urge to care even more for her new one, at the expense of poor Terryn. The older brother was glad to no longer be alone like he had been, missing Cecil, but Markus was more of an invasion and burden for him in those first few years than a godsend, and he never treated the younger boy very well.
Their relationship improved dramatically as soon as Markus was old enough to accompany his brother – who he, on the other hand, somewhat idolized, mostly because he hardly got to spend time with him anyways – to school. For some reason, that was the mark that proved to the older boy that his brother was actually becoming something more than a tow-along, someone taking his parent’s attention while still looking for attention from him. It wasn’t as if they became inseparable over night – far from it – but soon enough their relationship began to mirror the one Terryn and Cecil had had (though the older boy would have denied it, he accused his parents of replacing his brother with Markus, he would have never done such a thing).
Unfortunately (from Terryn’s point of view), strange things began to happen around his brother. It wasn’t a sudden change, but no one in the family, however little time they might have spent around him, could deny the little things that none of them could really explain. The first came when Markus was around seven, while he and his brother were eating lunch at school. The problem was, though, that Markus had forgotten his. He complained, got told it was his own fault that he had forgotten to put his sandwich in his lunch pail, and sulked for a while as his brother made a big show of enjoying his own lunch. Frustrated in the way only little boys can be, he tossed his empty lunch pail a little ways away – only to pause when it made a noise like something was inside it. When he checked, there was a full lunch (at least what the two boys usually packed) sitting inside. Markus was in awe, but when he told his brother, Terryn just passed it off as the younger boy being oblivious and making a big deal out of nothing. That attitude about it didn’t last too long, especially as more strange things – always small things, but always hard to explain – began to happen around Markus.
Thankfully nothing too obvious or dangerous happened over the course of the next few years, and by the time Markus was turning eleven, the family was able to explain it all, at least to themselves. For that was when his Hogwarts letter arrived. He was ecstatic, the fact that he was a wizard amazed him, and he felt like it was the most exciting thing in the world. He’d get to leave home, live in a big castle, likely meet a ton of people who would actually enjoy spending time with him (as he wasn’t the most popular of boys at school – probably because it was no secret he and his brother were only enrolled there because of their mother’s influence), and he’d learn how to use magic. Unfortunately, while both of his parents were glad to send him off to Hogwarts, his brother quickly began treating him as he had at first. As if Markus wasn’t worth his time, as if he only existed as a sad attempt to replace Cecil, and that now that he was so ‘special’ with his magic, he might as well go off and leave them all be. He didn’t keep his opinions a secret either, and that cast a shadow over Markus’ excitement, but it didn’t stop him from being eager to go.
Seven years at Hogwarts followed. Markus was sorted into Slytherin, which surprised him (at least, based on what little he had heard of the different houses on the train ride there), but he wasted little time getting to know his fellow Slytherin first years, easily cementing himself in their opinions as someone eager to prove himself as a wizard, and eager to enjoy himself. Perhaps it helped that he almost never mentioned his family – all social stigmas about muggleborns could be avoided that way. Even if that enjoyment came from being talked into pranks galore – after all, that was the easiest way for him to bond with the few quick friends he made. Markus was certainly no stereotypical Slytherin, but he can’t deny that he took on a few of the traits all of them are rumored to hold, such as his little regard for the other houses and a heavy pride in his own magic as well as an ambition to be the absolute best in his class. The latter never quite happened, but he was never far behind his fellow classmates, excelling in anything that needed skill in pure magic. The hands-on or book-learning topics were less of his forte, but he managed there as well, usually.
As the years went by, Markus became more and more invested in his life in the wizarding world, and less and less involved with his family and the muggle world they inhabited. He would go home during breaks, enjoy ‘family time’ with them, but he often spent most of his time taking advantage of the floo network to visit his friends. It didn’t help that very little repaired the relationship between him and Terryn, and soon enough, Markus gave up trying. He simply spent even less time at home.
After he graduated from Hogwarts, Markus was lucky enough to secure himself a position (a rather unofficial one, but he still got paid for it) as a teaching aide at the same school – probably because he had gotten on the good side of said Arithmancy teacher, until the position opened up a few years further down the road and he took it as a full teacher.
It was one of his rare visits home during the summer that tied him back into the muggle world again. Or rather, it was one ‘family’ dinner where Terryn’s girlfriend and her younger sister were joining them. Suffice to say, the two younger siblings hit it off extremely well, so well that they ended up almost ignoring the rest of the family up until both sister’s left. Within the next week, they were spending even more time together, traveling London and spending evenings in whatever small restaurants they could find. If anything was ever a ‘whirlwind romance,’ their’s was, and yet it was more than just a simple connection. After the school year started up again, Markus kept in contact with her through a constant stream of letters, and as the next summer came around, he decided to tell her just what he was.
Though he had little doubt about her reaction, Markus was relieved when Brooklyn was amazed and interested rather than anything else. He took great pleasure in showing her the ways of the wizarding world, and despite the stigma of some of his friends and colleagues, he introduced her to them and invited her to whatever little events with them that he might have been invited to. And eventually, Markus gave Terryn yet another small reason to dislike him, through no fault of his own. Because while Terryn’s own long term relationship was suddenly cut short, Markus and Brooklyn were soon engaged, and shortly after married. They both elected to living near Hogwarts, and Brooklyn became a familiar face in Hogsmeade, muggle or not.
They lived happily like that, little changing over the years besides the fact that Markus left his position as Arithmancy teacher to take the Headmaster’s after his predecessor passed away (because old age affects us all, even wizards). It wasn’t long after that that rumors of a rising Dark Lord began to float around. Markus gave them little thought, though, for they were few and far between and there was little to actually support the claims. He’s regretted that attitude for many years since, for in his own complacency, one of the Dark Lord’s orders targeted him and his wife – if his status as a muggleborn wasn’t enough, the fact that he had gone and married a muggle anyways was the icing on the cake. The attack was a quick one, the order fulfilled by only one member of the Evito Deo, who came in the middle of the night to catch them off guard and asleep.
Fortunately, Markus was woken by the intruder before he had the chance to kill them both, and fought him off long enough for Brooklyn to race for the small car they owned and attempt to get away. But that wasn’t enough. The Evito Deo member, deciding a one-on-one fight with the Headmaster wouldn’t get him anywhere, started to run before he saw his target’s muggle wife started to drive away. Whatever went through their mind then, they cast a curse on the car and blowing out both of the right tires. When the car careened off the road and into a tree just off of it, the entire thing burst into flames (partly from the impact on the engine, and partly from the wizard’s curse). Markus drove the attacker off, but there was little he could do to save his wife – she was already engulfed by the flames by the time he reached the car, and he couldn’t get within the last few feet to reach it, the heat was so intense. Instead, he had to deal with the knowledge that there was nothing he could do, and that he couldn’t even go after her killer as he was already long gone, satisfied with the damage they had caused.
Instead, he buried himself in his work as headmaster, waiting for the rumored ‘Dark Lord’ to make himself known. And when he finally did through the fight against the Ministry, Markus merely kept a careful eye on the Ministry in hopes of that wizard that attacked him would be put in a prominent position, simply so that he could recognize him. Unfortunately, he’s had no such luck, and while he still hopes to one day come across his attacker, he’s put the majority of his focus back into Hogwarts, determined to help his students and colleagues where he couldn’t help his wife.[/style]
[style=width: 480px; font-family: georgia; font-size: 20px; letter-spacing: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #467970;]IT IS THE UNKNOWN WE FEAR[/style][style=width: 480px; font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: .5px; color: #000000; text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px dashed #000000;]ROLE PLAYER , ROLE PLAYER , ROLE PLAYER , ROLE PLAYER , ROLE PLAYER[/style]
[style=width: 480px; text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;]CBOX NAME ,
Jelly
RP EXPERIENCE ,
Going on seven years
OTHER CHARACTERS ,
Russel “Watson” Blake Mardel
Isabelle Marlena Chambers-Panshaw
COMMENTS ,
Yay, he's done! *dances*
Feel free to make sure I don't make any more characters after this <.<[/style]
[style=width: 480px; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: -0.5px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #467970;]IT DOES NOT DO TO DWELL ON DREAMS AND FORGET TO LIVE[/style][style=width: 480px; font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: .5px; color: #000000; text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px dashed #000000;]SAMPLE , SAMPLE , SAMPLE , SAMPLE , SAMPLE , SAMPLE , SAMPLE , SAMPLE , SAMPLE[/style]
[style=width: 480px; text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;]Watson’s app[/style]
CECIL DEAS[/style][style=width: 450px; font-family: georgia; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 1.5px; color: #000000; text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px dashed #000000;]DEATH IS BUT THE NEXT GRAND ADVENTURE[/style]
[style=width: 450px; border-top: 1px dashed #000000; font-family: georgia; font-size: 10px; font-style: italic; color: #000000; text-transform: lowercase;] yeah I'm walking on a tightrope
I'm wrapped up in vines
I think we'll make it out
but you just gotta give me time[/style]
[style=width: 480px; font-family: georgia; font-size: 20px; letter-spacing: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #467970;]THERE IS NO GOOD AND EVIL, ONLY POWER[/style][style=width: 480px; font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: .5px; color: #000000; text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px dashed #000000;]BASICS , BASICS , BASICS , BASICS , BASICS, BASICS , BASICS , BASICS , BASICS, BASICS[/style]
[style=width: 480px; text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;]FULL NAME ,
Markus Alastair Cecil Deas
NICKNAMES ,
Mark, Alastair, Al – though not many call him anything but Markus, Professor, or Headmaster (or Professor/Headmaster Deas)
AGE && BIRTHDAY ,
Forty-four; June 14th, 1967
YEAR OR OCCUPATION ,
Headmaster of Hogwarts
BLOOD ,
Half-blood, believed to be muggleborn
HOUSE ,
Slytherin alumni
GENDER && SEXUALITY ,
Male, heterosexual (possibly pansexual, though he has yet to admit/really notice it)
WAND ,
Twelve inches, oak wood, Nundu hair, sturdy[/style]
[style=width: 480px; font-family: georgia; font-size: 20px; letter-spacing: 1px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #467970;]AND THOSE TOO WEAK TO SEEK IT[/style][style=width: 480px; font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: 0px; color: #000000; text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px dashed #000000;]APPEARANCE , APPEARANCE , APPEARANCE , APPEARANCE , APPEARANCE , APPEARANCE[/style]
[style=width: 480px; text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;]FACE CLAIM ,
Boris Kodjoe
HAIR && EYE COLOR ,
Black hair; brown eyes
HEIGHT && WEIGHT ,
Six feet, four inches; 187 lbs.
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES ,
Markus can be a rather imposing person, with his towering height (though he doesn’t tower above everyone, just the majority of the population) in addition to his naturally wide shoulders and the way he’s built. Though he can thank genetics more than constant exercising, he is certainly in shape, and he takes pride in keeping himself as such – even though it doesn’t help to lower the possible intimidation features at all (thankfully well-fitting robes can make him seem just like the simple headmaster he likes to think of himself as).
As for noticeable markings, Markus has one long scar along the back of his head, from behind his right ear to almost the base of his neck, as well as a set of talon marks across his right shoulder blade and across his back – all from an encounter with a hippogriff that took a disliking to him (though the scar on the back of his head came from falling to the ground after being bucked off, whereas the talon marks came from the beast coming after him as he lay on the ground). Then again, it’s not a surprise the hippogriff objected to the accidental pulling of a few feathers when Markus nearly lost his balance. Usually his robes or other clothing cover the scars on his shoulder/back, but with the short hair he has, the one on the back of his head is there for all the world to see.
He also has a set of tattoos that span the inside of both of his wrists – something his wife talked him into doing, while she got identical ones on her own small wrists. Scrawled there are the words “regret nothing,” though they are done with a special ink that only shows under ultraviolet light (and some spells). Not very many people know of them, but the tattoos are there nonetheless.
STYLE ,
When not done up in his robes (which is most of the time), Markus is very much a suit type of man. He enjoys dressing well and keep himself ‘in style’ even in muggle eyes, and knows that a well-fitting suit can be suitable (hah) for almost any occasion. Not that he doesn’t know how to dress down in simple jeans and a well-fitting shirt, but even then he has an affinity for jumpers (sweaters, American English speakers), turtlenecks, or vests. He simply enjoys looking good, though he doesn’t obsess over the issue. He also enjoys his hats, wearing quite a variety of them – despite any comments people might make about them.[/style]
[style=width: 480px; font-family: georgia; font-size: 20px; letter-spacing: -1px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #467970;]FEAR OF A NAME INCREASES FEAR OF THE THING[/style][style=width: 480px; font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: .5px; color: #000000; text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px dashed #000000;]PERSONALITY , PERSONALITY , PERSONALITY , PERSONALITY , PERSONALITY[/style]
[style=width: 480px; text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;]LIKES ,
Order, especially simple order.
Coffee – he has no problems admitting that he's all but addicted to the stuff.
A good fantasy book, particularly the older ones.
Working with his hands, especially carving things out of wood.
DISLIKES ,
Students who cause unnecessary trouble (pranks are fine, until they disrupt the entire school, but it's fights he has more of an eye on)
Discrimination in any sense of the word – by race, gender, blood-status, species, etc.
Anyone threatening his friends, family, colleagues, or students.
Dueling
People who try and intimidate others in order to push them around and get what they want
STRENGTHS ,
Skilled with magic, mostly charms and defense against the dark arts.
Single-minded when he needs to be – can't be distracted by menial things while he's dealing with more important matters.
Charismatic and a skilled actor, both having a way with words and being able to hide a wide array of his thoughts (though obviously not all of them) from whomever he's talking to.
Careful with who he trusts.
Cooking, with a wide variety of different meals he can make.
WEAKNESSES ,
Extremely protective – hence somewhat predictable when those he's protective over are in danger of any kind.
Rather uncoordinated in the air (be it on broomstick or through some other method of flying).
Has a habit of letting his mind wander when he finds a topic unimportant or boring.
Has never been able to hold his liquor very well (thankfully he doesn't drink all that often).
PATRONUS ,
Jellyfish. More specifically, the tiny Turritopsis nutricula, a jellyfish thought to be immortal because it is able to revert back to the beginning of its life cycle at the point where most of its related creatures end up dying, but that's getting all scientific. The patronus creatures itself is as small as the true animal (which is the size of the nail on your pinky finger, a strange sight when the wizard casting the charm is so tall himself), yet it never manifests without a hazy 'mist' of sorts around the corporeal form – and when he uses it against dementors (or similar creatures it might be affective against), it usually produces more of a shield instead.
Markus himself isn't sure why his patronus is a jellyfish, of all things in the world, especially when the creature usually symbolizes acceptance and faith to those who look for meaning in animals. When the jellyfish is the type of animal that has no choice but to go with the flow – and the fact is that that is something Markus has to do to deal with his life. He often tends to get caught up in every little incident that happens to him, even after so many have gone by, and has yet to quite learn his lesson in that.
There's another reason the jellyfish represents him as his patronus though, especially the 'immortal' jellyfish: that whatever he goes through, Markus is certainly someone who can push through to survive, in whatever shape he's in after it.
BOGGART ,
Fire: Small flames such as candles don't bother him, but Markus tends to avoid even open fireplaces, never letting a fire burn in his own office even in the coldest parts of winter. He just bundles up instead, and avoids any questions concerning this strange habit – but the fact is that the sight of a large burning fire terrifies him, and easily brings back memories he never wants to remember.
Relationships that go farther than friendship: A much simpler fear, mainly because he's afraid of what they will turn into, or what will happen if he loses someone else that was that close to him.
Flying: Not that he'll avoid it at all costs, but he was never terribly skilled at it, and after he was thrown from a hippogriff trying to maintain his balance (which he knows is different than a broom, but still), he chooses other means of travel whenever he can.
VERITASERUM ,
He is still plagued by nightmares of his wife's death and is far from getting over her memory, even though he's become skilled at acting like he is, as well as focusing on other, 'more important' things.
Sometimes he wishes he had never realized his magical blood, however fleeting those moments might be.
AMORTENTIA ,
Chocolate and raspberries: Brooklyn's favorite scent of perfume, anything of her's that he still has still carries that scent.
Anything cooking: Markus has always been fond of food, but his skills are only what they are now because of the lessons (if you can call them that) that his wife gave him – and the smell of anything cooking brings him right back to those many nights they spent in the kitchen.
Sawdust and fresh-cut wood: His father was a carpenter/sculptor at heart, and never wasted a chance to try and pass on his skills to Markus. It's still a habit he takes up from time to time.
DESCRIPTION ,
Markus is a man fully invested in his work. Running Hogwarts to the best of his ability is his goal, passion, life, and lifeline from time to time. As... interesting as it can be to run the school at times (it seems there is always something disrupting the 'normal' student lifestyle there), Markus actually takes pleasure from sorting through all the issues and problems that can crop up in a boarding school such as Hogwarts, even without the magical element involved. Perhaps it's the bit of him that loves the fact that he's in control, but he likes to believe that it's more that he simply loves being able to work the magic (hah) that is running the school and shaping and protecting the young minds that fill it after every summer break (which is certainly true as well). And it's not just his job that he cares for, not at all. Markus truly does care about his coworkers and students (though some can set his teeth on edge at times), and would do anything to protect them, whether it be as their headmaster, their friend, or even simply a listening ear.
He is one of those people that's just generally easy to be around – he's talkative and friendly and open and, if he says so himself, has quite the way with words. A laugh is not usually far from his lips, and he enjoys the ability to bring at least a small smile to others' faces. Markus likes to believe that he can carry on a pleasant conversation with most anybody, and can distract or soothe the worst a person might be going through (though he can't exactly help himself in that area – and he keeps his own problems locked up and hidden away, no one else needs to be burdened with them).
But of course, he's not always completely easygoing and jolly. The strict headmaster that must solve a complicated, sticky situation or doll out punishments and deductions of house points is rather easy for him to pull up when he needs him – and even then, he's not usually too bad (not everyone is Professor Curtis, of course). However, Markus isn't as skilled as he would like to believe at hiding his true thoughts about someone. If he's disappointed in you, something about his voice or his expression will likely tell you. The same goes for if he likes or dislikes you, if he's proud of you, amused by you, etc. While he may be able to keep some things to himself, his emotions tend to make him an open book just waiting for others to read.
Now, it is not a surprise that there is also an incredibly dangerous side to Markus as well. After all, he's a powerful wizard in his own right (though there are definitely many in in this world who are stronger than him, in many different ways). And that little fact combined with his tremulous temper and fierce sense of protection is not exactly the best combination. Thankfully there aren't many things that can trigger it. However, along with that, it's probably a good idea to mention that revenge is certainly something that Markus believes in – that he would gladly encourage if an issue involving it was ever brought to him. He wasn't always so adamant about it, but considering the fact that he himself is secretly (well, not secretly, just not... publicly) hellbent on his own revenge, he can't exactly deny that drive in others.[/style]
[style=width: 480px; font-family: georgia; font-size: 20px; letter-spacing: 1px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #467970;]TIME IS MAKING FOOLS OF US AGAIN[/style][style=width: 480px; font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: .5px; color: #000000; text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px dashed #000000;]HISTORY , HISTORY , HISTORY , HISTORY , HISTORY , HISTORY , HISTORY , HISTORY[/style]
[style=width: 480px; text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;]PARENTS ,
Madelyn Jade Deas: mother, sixty-nine, muggle, secretary at a small private school
Damien Ezra Deas: believed/adoptive/step father, muggle, deceased
Reuben Drake Hawthorne: biological father, seventy-eight, pureblood, Gryffindor alumni, resident at St. Mungo's after a dangerous backfire from his wand (has no idea he has a son)
SIBLINGS ,
Cecil Malcolm Deas: older half brother, muggle, deceased
Terryn Connor Deas: older half brother, forty-nine, muggle, CEO of a major company
OTHER FAMILY ,
Brooklyn Rosa Deas (nee Pierce): wife, muggle, deceased
IMPORTANT FIGURES ,
None
PETS ,
Grimalkin: A kneazle, Grim was a pet he bought for his wife, and he swears that if any muggle ever had a familiar, Brooklyn's was Grim. The two were nearly inseparable, and the creature mourned her passing nearly as much as Markus himself. He has free run of the castle, but tends to stay around Markus' office (though causing trouble in the owlery is a common past-time for this kneazle as well).
Ackley: Basically, the owl Markus owns to send out and receive his mail. A loyal bird, but not an incredibly smart one. Grim's prime target for causing trouble.
Xavier: His familiar, this Raven enjoys accompanying Markus everywhere, even though that's not exactly possible most of the time. However, it still isn't an uncommon sight to be greeted by Xav when making one's way into Markus' office, and the bird is incredibly protective of him – and he's not above squawking/crowing at, glaring at, or even attacking someone he sees as a threat.
DEMENTOR ,
His wife's death.
PATRONUS MEMORY ,
His graduation from Hogwarts.
BACKGROUND ,
The Deas family wasn’t a very notable one. They lived simply, got by how they could, and were completely and utterly oblivious to the wizarding world. Before Markus was born, Damien Ezra Deas was a man working odd-jobs wherever he could find them while trying, not so successfully, to follow his passions as a carpenter, and his wife Madelyn was a secretary at a small private school near where they lived (a job steady enough that she still has it to this day), and they already had two young sons. Cecil was seven, his younger brother Terryn five, and thanks to their mother’s influence, they were both already in the private school system, for a reduced charge.
However, it was one night as Cecil was coming home from a nearby friend’s house (his parents had been told that he would be walked home by one of his friend’s parents, but he had left without them, sure that he could handle himself), that the older brother Markus never met was killed as a result of someone losing control of their car and suddenly jerking up onto the narrow sidewalk. Markus never heard the details as to why it happened, though as he grew older he came to believe the driver had been piss drunk. Whatever the reason was, the death shocked the small family.
Damien, stuck in one of his unemployed states, mucked around the house whenever he himself wasn’t out drinking as well, choosing to deal with it that way instead of focusing on what family he had left. Madelyn threw herself into her work, staying late in the school’s offices even when there was little for her to do in the first place. And young Terryn grew quiet and sullen, retreating from the world as his parents retreated from him. It was one night that Madelyn decided to follow her husband’s lead and seek solace in drink (though she never spoke to him of it, not even to scold him when she came home to him passed out and Terryn left to fend for himself), that led to Markus. The fact of the matter, though Madelyn would never admit it and Damien would never even let himself consider it, was that that night she found comfort in more than alcohol. The guilt of it drove her easily back to her husband, and she never spoke a word of it – not even now. She’s the only one that knows that her husband is not Markus’ father (although she’s not the only one that suspected it).
And despite his rather chaotic home life in his first few years – as Madelyn’s pregnancy had not-so-kindly forced Damien out of his depressed stupor and back out into the working world – Markus grew up with little trouble along the way. At least, little trouble outside of what’s normal for a young boy. He was a rather lonely boy until he started school, though, despite how much his mother babied him and cared for him, her grief for her lost son transferred into an extra urge to care even more for her new one, at the expense of poor Terryn. The older brother was glad to no longer be alone like he had been, missing Cecil, but Markus was more of an invasion and burden for him in those first few years than a godsend, and he never treated the younger boy very well.
Their relationship improved dramatically as soon as Markus was old enough to accompany his brother – who he, on the other hand, somewhat idolized, mostly because he hardly got to spend time with him anyways – to school. For some reason, that was the mark that proved to the older boy that his brother was actually becoming something more than a tow-along, someone taking his parent’s attention while still looking for attention from him. It wasn’t as if they became inseparable over night – far from it – but soon enough their relationship began to mirror the one Terryn and Cecil had had (though the older boy would have denied it, he accused his parents of replacing his brother with Markus, he would have never done such a thing).
Unfortunately (from Terryn’s point of view), strange things began to happen around his brother. It wasn’t a sudden change, but no one in the family, however little time they might have spent around him, could deny the little things that none of them could really explain. The first came when Markus was around seven, while he and his brother were eating lunch at school. The problem was, though, that Markus had forgotten his. He complained, got told it was his own fault that he had forgotten to put his sandwich in his lunch pail, and sulked for a while as his brother made a big show of enjoying his own lunch. Frustrated in the way only little boys can be, he tossed his empty lunch pail a little ways away – only to pause when it made a noise like something was inside it. When he checked, there was a full lunch (at least what the two boys usually packed) sitting inside. Markus was in awe, but when he told his brother, Terryn just passed it off as the younger boy being oblivious and making a big deal out of nothing. That attitude about it didn’t last too long, especially as more strange things – always small things, but always hard to explain – began to happen around Markus.
Thankfully nothing too obvious or dangerous happened over the course of the next few years, and by the time Markus was turning eleven, the family was able to explain it all, at least to themselves. For that was when his Hogwarts letter arrived. He was ecstatic, the fact that he was a wizard amazed him, and he felt like it was the most exciting thing in the world. He’d get to leave home, live in a big castle, likely meet a ton of people who would actually enjoy spending time with him (as he wasn’t the most popular of boys at school – probably because it was no secret he and his brother were only enrolled there because of their mother’s influence), and he’d learn how to use magic. Unfortunately, while both of his parents were glad to send him off to Hogwarts, his brother quickly began treating him as he had at first. As if Markus wasn’t worth his time, as if he only existed as a sad attempt to replace Cecil, and that now that he was so ‘special’ with his magic, he might as well go off and leave them all be. He didn’t keep his opinions a secret either, and that cast a shadow over Markus’ excitement, but it didn’t stop him from being eager to go.
Seven years at Hogwarts followed. Markus was sorted into Slytherin, which surprised him (at least, based on what little he had heard of the different houses on the train ride there), but he wasted little time getting to know his fellow Slytherin first years, easily cementing himself in their opinions as someone eager to prove himself as a wizard, and eager to enjoy himself. Perhaps it helped that he almost never mentioned his family – all social stigmas about muggleborns could be avoided that way. Even if that enjoyment came from being talked into pranks galore – after all, that was the easiest way for him to bond with the few quick friends he made. Markus was certainly no stereotypical Slytherin, but he can’t deny that he took on a few of the traits all of them are rumored to hold, such as his little regard for the other houses and a heavy pride in his own magic as well as an ambition to be the absolute best in his class. The latter never quite happened, but he was never far behind his fellow classmates, excelling in anything that needed skill in pure magic. The hands-on or book-learning topics were less of his forte, but he managed there as well, usually.
As the years went by, Markus became more and more invested in his life in the wizarding world, and less and less involved with his family and the muggle world they inhabited. He would go home during breaks, enjoy ‘family time’ with them, but he often spent most of his time taking advantage of the floo network to visit his friends. It didn’t help that very little repaired the relationship between him and Terryn, and soon enough, Markus gave up trying. He simply spent even less time at home.
After he graduated from Hogwarts, Markus was lucky enough to secure himself a position (a rather unofficial one, but he still got paid for it) as a teaching aide at the same school – probably because he had gotten on the good side of said Arithmancy teacher, until the position opened up a few years further down the road and he took it as a full teacher.
It was one of his rare visits home during the summer that tied him back into the muggle world again. Or rather, it was one ‘family’ dinner where Terryn’s girlfriend and her younger sister were joining them. Suffice to say, the two younger siblings hit it off extremely well, so well that they ended up almost ignoring the rest of the family up until both sister’s left. Within the next week, they were spending even more time together, traveling London and spending evenings in whatever small restaurants they could find. If anything was ever a ‘whirlwind romance,’ their’s was, and yet it was more than just a simple connection. After the school year started up again, Markus kept in contact with her through a constant stream of letters, and as the next summer came around, he decided to tell her just what he was.
Though he had little doubt about her reaction, Markus was relieved when Brooklyn was amazed and interested rather than anything else. He took great pleasure in showing her the ways of the wizarding world, and despite the stigma of some of his friends and colleagues, he introduced her to them and invited her to whatever little events with them that he might have been invited to. And eventually, Markus gave Terryn yet another small reason to dislike him, through no fault of his own. Because while Terryn’s own long term relationship was suddenly cut short, Markus and Brooklyn were soon engaged, and shortly after married. They both elected to living near Hogwarts, and Brooklyn became a familiar face in Hogsmeade, muggle or not.
They lived happily like that, little changing over the years besides the fact that Markus left his position as Arithmancy teacher to take the Headmaster’s after his predecessor passed away (because old age affects us all, even wizards). It wasn’t long after that that rumors of a rising Dark Lord began to float around. Markus gave them little thought, though, for they were few and far between and there was little to actually support the claims. He’s regretted that attitude for many years since, for in his own complacency, one of the Dark Lord’s orders targeted him and his wife – if his status as a muggleborn wasn’t enough, the fact that he had gone and married a muggle anyways was the icing on the cake. The attack was a quick one, the order fulfilled by only one member of the Evito Deo, who came in the middle of the night to catch them off guard and asleep.
Fortunately, Markus was woken by the intruder before he had the chance to kill them both, and fought him off long enough for Brooklyn to race for the small car they owned and attempt to get away. But that wasn’t enough. The Evito Deo member, deciding a one-on-one fight with the Headmaster wouldn’t get him anywhere, started to run before he saw his target’s muggle wife started to drive away. Whatever went through their mind then, they cast a curse on the car and blowing out both of the right tires. When the car careened off the road and into a tree just off of it, the entire thing burst into flames (partly from the impact on the engine, and partly from the wizard’s curse). Markus drove the attacker off, but there was little he could do to save his wife – she was already engulfed by the flames by the time he reached the car, and he couldn’t get within the last few feet to reach it, the heat was so intense. Instead, he had to deal with the knowledge that there was nothing he could do, and that he couldn’t even go after her killer as he was already long gone, satisfied with the damage they had caused.
Instead, he buried himself in his work as headmaster, waiting for the rumored ‘Dark Lord’ to make himself known. And when he finally did through the fight against the Ministry, Markus merely kept a careful eye on the Ministry in hopes of that wizard that attacked him would be put in a prominent position, simply so that he could recognize him. Unfortunately, he’s had no such luck, and while he still hopes to one day come across his attacker, he’s put the majority of his focus back into Hogwarts, determined to help his students and colleagues where he couldn’t help his wife.[/style]
[style=width: 480px; font-family: georgia; font-size: 20px; letter-spacing: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #467970;]IT IS THE UNKNOWN WE FEAR[/style][style=width: 480px; font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: .5px; color: #000000; text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px dashed #000000;]ROLE PLAYER , ROLE PLAYER , ROLE PLAYER , ROLE PLAYER , ROLE PLAYER[/style]
[style=width: 480px; text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;]CBOX NAME ,
Jelly
RP EXPERIENCE ,
Going on seven years
OTHER CHARACTERS ,
Russel “Watson” Blake Mardel
Isabelle Marlena Chambers-Panshaw
COMMENTS ,
Yay, he's done! *dances*
Feel free to make sure I don't make any more characters after this <.<[/style]
[style=width: 480px; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: -0.5px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #467970;]IT DOES NOT DO TO DWELL ON DREAMS AND FORGET TO LIVE[/style][style=width: 480px; font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: .5px; color: #000000; text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px dashed #000000;]SAMPLE , SAMPLE , SAMPLE , SAMPLE , SAMPLE , SAMPLE , SAMPLE , SAMPLE , SAMPLE[/style]
[style=width: 480px; text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;]Watson’s app[/style]