Marion Desmarais

[jewel]

:: Marion Desmarais ::

^{Type: Original.
Age: Seventeen.
Gender: Female.
Sexuality: Heterosexual.
Crushes: Currently none.
Face Claim: Prussia, Hetalia.}

[/sup]

Appearance:

Most people have remarked in the past that Marion inherited her mother’s soul and the majority of her father’s strong, distinctive looks. The swirl of white-gold hair for example mimics his own, although Theodore’s has grown much darker with age and is now threaded through with some notable gray. Her nose is strong and narrow and was always her least favourite feature by far. It’s not that it’s disfigured or unshapely by any means of course, she just found it to be far too masculine for her petite face. Her complexion is very much improved in comparison to when she was about thirteen, when constant redness was an issue. But changing her diet and learning to stress only about the more important things in life have made a difference. Now her skin is a relatively flawless cream, bothered only occasionally by a spot or two which she quickly amends with the use of cosmetics. Her dark, slender eyebrows have always been a shade darker than her mane of hair – something that generally annoys her – and was also a bit of a quirk picked up from her father’s side of the family.

Thankfully everything else seemed to reflect her mother in some way. Her pair of wide, expressive blue eyes for instance are something still envied by her female cousins. With such long, curling lashes she doesn’t bother with mascara and it is often said they’re reminiscent of a doll’s. Unfortunately it’s as though anyone can guess what she’s feeling at any moment, as they can darken quickly when she’s upset and become an almost translucent colour when she’s giddy. Her chin and jawline are feminine angles that do well to contour the rest of her face. Paired with high, arching cheekbones and lush, pouty mouth ... it polishes off a simple but nevertheless pretty face.

Her height and weight are the healthy average of young women her age, and she strives to keep it that way. With an abnormally fast metabolism however, sometimes she has to resort to gorging herself on junk food to pack on a few pounds when she begins to lose some unintentionally. Otherwise her body is as shapely as one might expect of a developing lady with the right curves and dips in the right places. She finds her fingers to be unusually long and thin however, though her mother reassured her that they are ‘pianist’s hands’ and have the potential to make very elegant music. Even so, she’s self-conscious about both them and her legs … believing her legs to be much too skinny and cause her knees to stick out in a very ungainly and ungraceful way.

As for her manner of dress, that seems to be the most eccentric thing about her entire appearance aside from her brilliant blue eyes and bright hair. She favours bold colours and isn’t afraid to pair things that might initially seem like they’d match. She has a keen eye for fashion and challenges current trends. Her favourite jewellery of choice has always been a pearl necklace and earrings – a set she’d purchased for herself for her sixteenth birthday. Otherwise she isn’t a fan of lots of accessories and isn’t opposed to dressing more plainly from time to time when it suits her mood.

But red lipstick? It's certainly one make-up staple she can't live without.

Personality:

Marion has always been a woman who is appreciative of beauty, regardless of the incarnation in which it presents itself. Whether in the form of romantic poetry, old buildings or a first snowfall, she has the innate ability to sense the immediate worth and benefit of something. This doesn’t necessarily mean she always gauges her environment and the people in it on a purely superficial level however. She is also an effective judge of character and can normally surmise both an individual’s strengths and weaknesses simply by studying such things as their body language and manner of dress. She acknowledges that this sort of behaviour could easily be traced back to her mother, who – as an antique and art curator – makes a comfortable living putting a price on precious, valuable artefacts and who eventually incorporated that into the manner in which Marion was raised. That's not to say she resents her mother for her shallow approach to things. Instead she takes advantage of the unusual skills that were passed down to her and makes frequent use of them in her day to day life.

But would you also peg her as someone who isn’t fully satisfied with what they’ve become?

Marion tends to try and overreach when it comes to her goals and ambitions. Some might say she sets the bar too high, but refuses to relent if she’s unable to reach it after numerous attempts. Failure is never an option for the young woman, far too determined and prideful to even consider giving up, especially if she knows she’s striving for something that came naturally to someone else. She is very much a sore loser, and has been known to sulk a bit when things don’t work out the way she originally intended them to. Not to say that she's juvenile or doesn't offer credit when credit is due. Marion simply likes to know that she is able to push herself beyond average expectations and becomes disappointed when she finds that she's not yet ready to overcome certain obstacles. Being sufficiently equipped to face society's various trials is something of a high priority for her. Such things as weakness and excuses were never tolerated in the Desmarais household after all.

Her strict upbringing and the severe rules and restrictions that were enforced by her parents were meant to groom Marion to - in essence - become the perfect daughter. Unfortunately, they also contributed to the development of several unexpected flaws. It's commonly accepted to most people that children shouldn't be expected to carry so much responsibility at such a young age.

Every aspect of her life was controlled to the most minute details. In truth, her strict upbringing and the severe rules and regulations that were enforced by her parents were ultimately meant to groom Marion to essentially become the perfect daughter. Along with attending a prestigious all-girls academy in France, she was attended to by private tutors who instructed her in the more domestic duties expected of obedient housewives, along with the talents of upperclass socialites.

Despite being able to play an assortment of instruments, speak several languages fluently and know the waltz off by heart, Marion is also constantly plagued by a high level of stress and sense of naivety. Prepared to deal with most any situation diplomatically, she is yet made nervous by the advances of men, never before having been permitted to intermingle with those of male persuasion. She also grows ill considerably easily and often needs to remain home in bed for says at a time as her strength dwindles, finding it difficult to keep up with her schoolwork as a result. She is demanding in nature and can grow irate when someone doesn't understand exactly what she's asking of them .. making her a poor team player. Although charitable when she needs to be or in the case of rare exceptions, it is still more usual to see her putting her needs before those of others. She realizes that she can't use her time and energy to benefit someone else, especially when she parents expect so much.

Charismatic and encouraging, she does make a loyal and useful ally - if you're willing to give her that chance. All in all, she's a very intelligent girl and catches on quickly to whatever she's taught and although she may seem intimidating and intolerant at first, she's simply extremely resolute in her hope of making her critical parents happy.

History:

In a similar fashion to the majority of Ouran's student populace - excluding the small influx of scholarship attendees - Marion originates from a family of great wealth and social prestige. In fact, the Desmarais family is renowned throughout most of France for their impressive répertoire in the way of theater productions, art and antique collections, as well as their long-reaching connections with influential families in Italy, America and Russia. The older Desmarais generation remains most famous for the plays they were able to put on in the midst of the Great Depression, hoping to lift the spirits of the desperate and destitute. And although they charged little to nothing for it at that time, they knew their names would forever be fondly remembered and ensured later success. It had been a definite risk on their part but inevitably managed to work out in their favour. As her parents would say, the Desmarais have simply always had very good business sense.

In the years following, Marion would be born to two energetic and vivacious people. It'd been on a crisp November afternoon to the sound of the clock tower chiming and warm sunlight filtering in to the nursery. Her father had remained just outside, waiting anxiously for good news, and was ushered in when Penelope - her mother - was ready. They were both exceptionally proud parents and idolized their daughter as she became a charming little girl. It was as though she could do no wrong and so they pampered her to heart's content. Until that is, she became highly sought after by some sons of close friends of theirs. That is when her parents fully grasped the benefit their child could be. By preparing her for marriage, they could secure a solid alliance with some of the most powerful people in the country.

From that point on, they put her through rigorous training in an effort to produce a woman of high marriageable value. She would be used to tempt the highest offers and then bartered off to whomever promised the greatest assets. Surprisingly, such a thing was common practice amongst social royalty. The girls that were being used as tools for their family's advancement could also decline of course. After all, such practices were taboo and could be quickly squashed by the law. Most young women saw it as a high honor however and went through with it without a hint of rebellion or resentment.

In Marion's case, she struck a deal with her mother and father. If they allowed her the chance to travel abroad and attend a co-ed private school the year before she was set to graduate, she would agree to whatever their terms and accept the hand of the man of their choosing. She did make a point of reminding them that establishing ties with a superpower such as Japan would be extremely beneficial for them and that - if she found a willing candidate there - it might prove all the more worthwhile. Thinking on it, they agreed it was a wise choice and in the end she flew overseas to attend Ouran Academy.

Since she has arrived, she has made quite a positive impression amongst her Professors - each of them claiming that she is as self-disciplined and polite as they come. The students on the other hand find her to be extremely aloof and quiet; suspicious of the fact that she is only taking a single year at Ouran and arrived without much of a fuss or explanation. In time of course she will step out and begin mingling, but first she has to judge exactly whose company might be of more value. That's when she was enlightened as to the existence of the Host Club. A group of some of the most handsome and chivalrous young men - and each from a reputable, accomplished family? It seemed like an opportunity she couldn't possibly overlook. So, biding her time Marion intends to make good use of her year at the academy. The only question is whether something desirable or disastrous comes of it.

Controller's Information

Nickname: Jewel.
Age: Twenty-three.
Gender: Female.
Seen the Anime?: Yes.
How Did You Find Us?: Where Darkness Reigns.

Sample RP:

It was set to be a long and grim winter season, especially for Cainhelm’s poor. Naturally the slums weren’t a particularly pleasant place to dwell due primarily to the cramped, dirty quarters and scarcity of clean water. But with the heavy drifts of snow and biting winds blowing in, it seemed everyone had simply succumbed, unable to keep up. In fact it felt as though they’d sooner let the storms carry them away to a place far from this one than put up any kind of a resistance. Why fight something you had absolutely no control over? Melisande had pored over that very thought every day during her initial stay in the capital. There had been several occasions during which she’d gone hungry or slept amongst the vermin of the street, wondering why she didn’t just end it all then. At that time there had been no hope, no prospect … nothing that might have convinced her that her life was a precious thing. That – in time – her situation would change for the better. And yet there she stood nine years later, healthy and strong; at ease with the way everything had fallen into place. Granted, she wasn’t pursuing the most commendable lifestyle. But her gratitude had instilled a strong obligation to the common folk of Cainhelm. She pledged whatever resources or skills at her disposal to the countless victims of poverty, and would make every effort to inspire morale.

Thankfully she was not the only individual with the interest of the people at heart; otherwise it would have proven to be an extremely trying and drawn-out battle. Budding heroes had begun to acknowledge their own power, appearing out of the woodwork and contributing where they could. It was quite an amazing spectacle, watching as those who had been treated with nothing but unkindness offer their aid, and asking only for the same courtesy in return. That was true courage, and reasserted her faith in humanity when she had nearly given up all hope.

Melisande had salvaged a heaping pile of thick, woollen material from one of the privatized tailor shops that catered exclusively to Cainhelm’s nobility. She would never have stolen from one of the lower-end establishments after all; they were struggling to make a living just as much as any other humble middle-class citizen.
Having spent the past few days sewing and stitching with deft, practiced hands, she’d managed to throw together a few makeshift quilts and blankets. Of course they weren’t the most attractive or expensive looking things, but that was hardly the point of it to begin with. Having noticed that the onset of cold was a bit premature this year it seemed inevitable that the upcoming frost would be twice as unforgiving in comparison to those previous. The children and elderly would need something far more substantial than what they currently used to keep themselves warm, and so Melisande had graciously obliged. The sight of youngsters attempting to warm themselves by huddling together greatly upset her. Body heat alone would not keep them alive this season.

Moving briskly along the icy cobblestones and through measures of wet snow, the tall brunette was particularly relieved when she came to realize her thick, sturdy boots were what was keeping her toes dry. She’d swiped them from a sailor who’d left them on the docks to wade through the shoreline one summer afternoon. In her defence he was quite a nasty piece of work and tended to harass any young women working the evening shifts at local taverns. Obviously they were overly large for her, but making a few crude alterations was enough to keep them from slipping off unexpectedly.
Her first stop was the orphanage where she was greeted with surprising enthusiasm from a throng of toddlers. Their cheerfulness was infectious, and she quickly offered a few of the blankets thrown over her shoulder, waving goodbye and winking to the head mistress before departing.

With only a few more detours left to make, Melisande stopped short as she caught sight of a familiar face. Could that have been Chryste? Upon closer inspection the other woman’s pretty face became more recognizable and confirmed her suspicions. Opening her mouth to greet her friend however, Melisande was caught off-guard by the woman’s unhappy expression. “I have a strong feeling you need to vent,” she observed, taking the last few steps toward her with caution. If she slipped, Chryste would likely go down with her. “Tell me.”

[/size]



[/blockquote]

[Tamaki Suoh]

Approval, my lady ^_^.