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+---- Thread: [Open] Somniac's Disasters (/showthread.php?tid=19)
Hey hey. I’m a low-pressure plotser type who can be contacted by either posting here, board PM, or Discord DM. I adore comedy, adventure, cheesy drama, romance, and palate cleansers of tragedy – in that order.
Be sure to take a look at my OOC preferences to make sure our interests align. Please also note that the things and people that intrigue me fictionally often also tend to have elements of the things that horrify me IRL, and so the two are best off not confused.
All romance plots have a high chance of failure. Please don’t take it personally if our characters don’t ride happily into the sunset; I apologize in advance.
The boundaries in my profiles are for my enjoyment, and in turn a guide to what mutually enjoyable plots you can expect from me. There are exceptions, but those exceptions are negotiated, communicated, and based on established trust.
Zechariah Meijer
Born 1869 :: Bohemia – London & York :: Barrister Current Location: A pretentious waterfront cottage in Whitby
My lawyer will hear about this:
From Whence He Came
Having been a student for the vast majority of his life, Zechariah is now experiencing life on his own terms … kind of. A combination of expendable income and no curfews have him, well, here.
From 1867 – 1878, Zechariah lived and schooled in Bohemia.
Since his eldest brother had gone to German schools, Zechariah appealed to his father’s desire to get rid of him mother’s love of travel and shipped off to boarding school in London.
1878 – 1882 saw him at boarding school.
1882 – 1889 saw him at the Jewish Free School, in the Zangwill House.
He shadowed an experienced barrister in York from 1889-1892.
From 1892 onward, Zechariah has been active in criminal law within both the York and London chambers.
After Oscar Wilde’s sentencing, Zechariah has been living a much less flamboyant life – including a disastrous engagement.
Connections
Once upon a time, young barristers used to live en masse within the chambers they worked. This habit became less frequent later into the century, but plenty of unmarried gentlemen were still enterprising with living within their means. It is likely that Zechariah has roomed with other barristers and barristers-to-be, and might still currently share a tenancy in both York and London with someone of the same profession. He probably has a landlord (and all the connections/frustrations that might entail) what with being early in his career.
There was a barrister which he shadowed mentioned in the timeline, who has probably had a large impact on him for better or worse.
As a fellow who spent a lot of time away from family at a young age, Zechariah has had some time on his own to notice how hot his fellow boarders were figure himself out. There’s probably been a few crushes through his scholastic career (one-sided or otherwise), so if you want a character to have a former (but not necessarily current) romantic past with him, there’s that. Rumor tends to get around gay circles as well, so there might be some suggestions lingering that he prefers tophats to skirts.
If your character is Jewish, there is a decent likelihood they’ve crossed paths before. If your character is Bohemian, there is some chance they’ve crossed paths before. If they’ve lived in London, York, or Whitby, there’s some chance they already know/know of each other. If your character likes to read the news – especially the criminal kind – criminal cases and the lawyers involved tended to have a lot of coverage, and they might recognize him from a court artist’s rendition, a photograph, or his name and quotes from a case.
Is your character a criminal? Have they been tried or sued? Has their family been tried or sued? Then Zechariah might be a face they recognize.
I have a morbid fascination with court proceedings. Find me an excuse to write about Victorian court rooms and you have my full attention.
Your character is or knows a client of his, for better or worse.
Potential Threads
Your character’s case is going to court, and a Mr. Meijer is the barrister mentioned.
Your character has been looking for a certain book, but a haughty young man seems disinclined to part with it.
Zechariah finds out after the fact that his lovely summer home was used as a saloon by the last tenant, and people who used to go there for a drink keep barging in.
Your character is a crime journalist who has found a crafty way to get past the butlerMr. Benjamin.
Your character pickpocketed Zechariah once without getting caught by anyone other than him, and is being tried for a criminal case. Not knowing your character’s name, Zechariah has been assigned to their defense. Awkward.
Your character, too, has a tendency to collect scandalous literature.
Your character is anyone who might be subpoenaed for a crime, indirectly or otherwise.
Existing Relationships
Penina Humphries nee Meijer:Zechariah’s eldest sibling, who has popped back into his life with a full-fledged family.
Uriel Meijer:Zechariah’s youngest sibling, who seems to be intent on clinging to his coattails.
Menachem MeijerZechariah’s least favorite brother, whom he used to be a dick to growing up.
Ruth MeijerSister voted most likely to steal every single article of his clothes.
Rose Ward:Sister of a man Zechariah had an ill-fated flirtation with.
Benny “Mr. Benjamin” Green:Man hired to replace the butler who streaked with his cock out across his lawn; hired him explicitly for breaking in and mortifying Rose Ward – no more, no less.
Darius Carrington:Frenemy who currently employs him as his stooge personal lawyer.
Anne Carrington:More competent Carrington. Fucking terrifying thought.
Sonia Carrington nee DeAngelis:Controversial serial killer Magnus Carrington IV’s widow who blackmailed him into an engagement and then weeks later tried to break it off.
Elijah Crane:Constable he had a mostly mail-based flirtation with before his ill-fated engagement.
Dr. Tristan Wells:Zechariah’s favorite doctor, until he became Zechariah’s least favorite doctor.
Kitty Meijer Calamity:Zechariah’s least favorite in-law that he considers himself in an uneasy truce with.
Abraham Meijer: Zechariah’s … nephew. May or may not have sneakily set a fire under desperately wanting kids of his own.
Tobias Appleton:A man who presumed Zechariah slept with his wife, almost punched him over it, and then ended up grudgingly prying off a man who did punch him for being involved with a different Ward.
Claude Longbottom:Fellow he used to be attracted to, before he had a disappearance followed by a growth spurt.
Aslan Koç
Born 1871 :: York :: Private Eye Current Location: A Murder Villa on the East Side
Classified Information:
From Whence He Came
Originally from York, Aslan and his sister have been drifting as their father’s supposed reputation haunts them like a bad smell. Though he barely remembers his mother, his father’s undeserved death has propelled him into a sort of saintly role in Aslan’s mind.
On August 10th, 1870, Aslan was the firstborn of his family.
In 1872, Nisa was born: her mother died in childbirth.
In 1889, their father was tried, convicted, and hung for multiple murders.
In 1890, the Koçes had to sell the shop at a loss, and thus started their journey to find somewhere and something that would tolerate them.
Connections
Childhood and young adulthood friends with either Aslan or his sister, Nisa. Contrasting pre- and post-murder fallout + uncomfortable nostalgia could be rife.
Aslan’s family would have been warm with others in the community – there are likely mixed opinions about the fairness of the trial, and a hesitance even among those who assumed their father guilty to completely turn against a member of their small community. On the flip side, there’s the tension of those who feel betrayed, be one of their families victims of whoever was at large or [rightful] belief that the wrong Koç hung.
Friends in law enforcement from York probably have a complicated history with him. Aslan was chummy with them, up until they started investigating his father.
Criminals with history in York and Whitby. Having a strained relationship the law himself when he used to worship it in the past, it is a complicated and fraught dance.
There were three lovers (none simultaneous) back in York, all whom mysteriously disappeared; family members might suspect Aslan or his father as having been involved in their disappearances. It’s possible those lovers are still alive, running from their old lives … and it’s possible their families are chasing their ghosts, be they of their idealized versions of them or something accurately sinister.
Ernest, a slick fellow from Australia who has an uncanny ability to cough up stolen goods; associates of his might also know and work with Aslan.
Erick, a giant fellow with a gang that used to stick to petty theft but has been hitting bigger targets lately – was your character or someone they know targeted? Do they work with this gang?
Streetwalkers and sex workers from the less illustrious brothels – he’s probably paid them for info and nothing more, or exchanged favors of a non-sexual nature.
Potential Threads
Your character has been accused of murder, and knows a guy who knows a guy...
Your character is headed to trial, and Aslan has been enlisted to find something damning.
Your character has taken to stealing shit just to split the bounty with middlemen like Aslan.
Your character believes their spouse, or child’s spouse, or rotten boss is cheating on their spouse; whether or not they are, your character is determined to prove it.
Hasn’t your character seen this guy before? … Nah, your character saw him just yesterday and he did not have such an impressive mustache.
Your character was an avid York news reader in ‘89, knows exactly who Aslan is, and knows the worth of a reputation …
Your character wants to court his beautiful (and unbeknownst to them, deadly) sister.
Your character is injured near or in the Diamond Pony, and Aslan has a sewing needle.
Existing Relationships
Nisa Koç:Aslan’s only surviving immediate family...
Elijah Crane:Constable who Aslan is most accustomed to working with; friendly.
Menachem Meijer:Fellow he respects and helped get out of jail via evidence.
Francis Tully:Homeless man who he has received good if not humiliating advice from.
Malachi Brennan:Priest Aslan regrets not listening to Francis’ humiliating advice about.
Nettie Brennan:The Brennan Nisa thinks Aslan boned, and is therefore contemplating murdering unbeknownst to him.
Roderick Carrington
20 :: Whitby :: Blundering Student Current Location: Between schooling and home for holidays
What oath? My brother signed that:
From Whence He Came
A triplet from a very large and wealthy family, figuring himself out (and deciding whether or not he wants to be different or just blend in) has been a little hazy.
Who is the oldest triplet? Excellent question, hotly debated.
Has spent most of his life sharing homework with Roger, and dreads the day he has to work on his own.
Being young, Roderick’s future (and past) is highly [s]volatile malleable.[/s] After having his eldest brother be murdered by The Poors, being on the brink of being disowned by his own father, being reviled by society both by virtue of his name and own personal increasing unpleasantness, and having Another Poor sort of not quite jump him? Roderick is on his way to careening down a path of no return.
Connections
As a Carrington, Roderick is in the know of the well-to-do Whitby families. While he himself flounders at best socially, gentry would know his last name at the least.
He has fraternity connections.
He might recognize families of his nanny’s, governess, and more frequently disciplined servants.
Your character knows his family’s dirt unless they live under a rock.
Potential Threads
Is your character a relative? Does your character still get the triplets mixed up? So do they sometimes. Awkward.
Did Magnus kill someone your character loved? Also awkward.
Existing Relationships
The Carrington Family:For better or worse, he grew up with all of them. There’s bound to be some stories there.
Alice Ward:Saw her hocking it up on the coast once. Did it live?
Credit for the basic template goes to Dun of RPG-D. Please note that this template may be altered in any way from its original form to better suit individual plot-requesting needs. If redistributing in an altered format, please include credit for the original template.
Roderick Carrington: Arabella Somerville is totally the opposite of blood-shy and would absolutely pester Roderick about practicing dissection with her and then try to convince him to use his medical knowledge to help her find some uses for all these damn chemicals.
Zechariah Meijer: I think it could be fun to have some sort of case where something like the William Hare and William Burke murders were going on and Davy Galloway is trying to explain how you might go about figuring out which cadavers were legal and which weren't without being too suspicious.
lol this is a wonderful reminder to update my plotter
(10-05-2019, 05:08 PM)Ozfiz Wrote: Roderick Carrington: Arabella Somerville is totally the opposite of blood-shy and would absolutely pester Roderick about practicing dissection with her and then try to convince him to use his medical knowledge to help her find some uses for all these damn chemicals.
I could definitely see Roderick trying to quiz her on her dissections so he can try to do his homework without having to look at anything. He would definitely be more enthusiastic on the chemical front.
I do prefer to deal with dissection scenes as fade-to-black, and not involve scenes with dead cats or chickens for my own comfort. (Seriously. Chickens are what everyone fantasizes about pet parrots being.)
Quote:Zechariah Meijer: I think it could be fun to have some sort of case where something like the William Hare and William Burke murders were going on and Davy Galloway is trying to explain how you might go about figuring out which cadavers were legal and which weren't without being too suspicious.
Ugh, I love law intrigue. <3 As you guessed, Zechariah would not have a lot of insight into the motives or methods of those being tried. I could see him consulting with Galloway the same way one grudgingly uses a stick to fish something important that dropped into the toilet out. Whether or not he would get suspicious of him entirely depends on what's funnier how the leaves fall. If he's able to implicate people Zechariah hates, all the bett- ... er, more necessary.
I was thinking they'd probably have to work up to it. Very sappy plants and then those weird medical dolls and then maybe a fish.
I'm definitely pro fade to black. I think the most interesting bits are the dynamic of build up and either failure or success after. I skipped dissection in bio for a reason xD; We could also just skip the dissection entirely and have it be a looming threat basically. I don't hate the idea of a running gag where he keeps distracting her with things so they never get to dissection.
(That is the best description of a chicken I've heard in a long time XD My grandpa raises layers and show chickens and they've always been more like a pack of little dinosaurs)
Zechariah
Yes~ That sounds great. Davy's got sort of a weird investment in body-snatching not being as bad as murder, so he'd definitely seek out Zech to get involved. It sounds like that thread will be mostly Davy trying to impress on Zech that a) murder is definitely worse and b) he too is a rich guy and Zechariah trying to get actual useful information out of him. That sounds fun to me, does that work for you?
RE: Somniac's Thread Tracker - Kian Kane - 12-12-2019
I would love to roleplay with Frances. I am sure that Kian would be intrigued. He loves rare beauties and she's almost as tall as him. As a pirate captain whose acquired a good bit of treasure and gold he could pay her handsomely. (I hope writing here was okay. I didn't know how else to get in touch with you.
(12-12-2019, 04:57 PM)Kian Kane Wrote: I would love to roleplay with Frances. I am sure that Kian would be intrigued. He loves rare beauties and she's almost as tall as him. As a pirate captain whose acquired a good bit of treasure and gold he could pay her handsomely. (I hope writing here was okay. I didn't know how else to get in touch with you.
Thanks for mentioning that! Moved your post here and linked to this post in my tracker to try and make navigation more straightforward.
lol him and I both. Frances is also a rough-and-tumble type and a character likely to be in high-risk situations, so it could certainly be an interesting dynamic. I've known a few women of similar size to her, and it certainly seemed to bring up some interesting quandaries revolving around expectations of masculinity and femininity.
Were you thinking a spontaneous meeting, such as at a saloon or in town? Or something more targeted, like one of the brothels?
Sorry about putting it in the wrong place. I am trying to figure things out.
I was thinking that he would meet her at the brothel, but i wouldn't mind running up on her in a saloon or town. I'm down for whatever you want.
