cousin | application | eudio (wip)

PLAYER INFORMATION

NAME: Alicia
AGE: 25
CONTACT: widowing
CHARACTERS PLAYED: n/a

CHARACTER INFORMATION

NAME: Barnabas Collins
CANON: Dark Shadows (1966)
AGE: Roughly 200.
CANON POINT: About midway through 1840.

BACKGROUND: NOW THIS IS A STORY ALL ABOUT HOW...
INCENTIVE:
Barnabas would ask for some timeline shenanigans. He'd ask for Angelique to have never cursed him to become a vampire, so he could presumably live happily ever after with his ~one true love~, Josette, in some timeline.

FIT:
Barnabas is incredibly eager to prove himself. It's equal parts a matter of pride, family honor, and a self-righteous desire to do what he considers to be the right thing. If given a chance to change the past, and therefore change everything he thinks is wrong with his entire existence, he'd likely develop tunnel-vision and go for it. He recognizes that he has done things wrong in his past (and does have guilt towards it, which in turn fuels his other Bad Decisions), but a way to get out of that with no blame whatsoever? Sign him the fuck up.

CONSENT:
Barnabas HAS violated consent in the past. Most notably, he attempted to gaslight and brainwash a woman into "becoming" Josette soon after he was released from his coffin. Questionable power dynamics came into play when he slept with Angelique, a servant girl, and he attempted to hypnotize a governess at Collinwood into marrying him. However, around the time of his canon point, it could be argued that he's begun to soften: he's beginning to make amends with his ~nemesis~, Angelique (which will culminate in him professing his unyielding love for her over her dead body, literally, but hey - baby steps), and has even started to move past his obsession with Josette. While he still wants to make amends - or even correct - the things he's done in the past (as evidenced by his guilt and his incentive), I believe he's canonically at a point at which he could suppress his darker impulses. It will likely still be a struggle, but with his own happiness and that of his family at stake, Barnabas will likely adapt and communicate effectively. While still brooding, of course, because duh.

SAMPLES:
dp thread.

RECRUITMENT:
And I suppose my answer is required immediately?

[ Barnabas sits in an armchair across from the smiling, serene representative, his back straight, his hands folded across his lap, taking in the - well - the everything.

The representative responds, and it's a good deal. Barnabas knows that. His hands ball into fists, clenching and unclenching, and finally, he rises, straightening his jabot as he turns his back on his visitor. ]

I don't - I don't know.

[ And that's all he says for a moment. Because it's a good deal.

And if Barnabas has been paying any kind of attention to the way his life has unfolded, good deals usually come with the most dire of consequences. ]

The city you've described. It sounds - unsustainable. A place populated mainly by an exchange? Is it fueled by wishes? [ A low chuckle.] If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were presenting me with a fairy tale.

[ But Barnabas' amusement is short lived. He turns, glances over his shoulder at the representative who still waits oh-so-patiently in the chair closest to the fireplace, and his smile fades. He pauses, allows himself to take in the small amount of warmth from the lit candles he's placed nearby.

Anything he wants.

Without a word, he crosses with wide strides to the staircase, holding the banister as he peers up it toward the landing. He sees her room, all pastel green and lace, sees her portrait and he was done, he swore he was done, but with his eyes closed he can still feel her cool fingers on his cheeks and God, it's everything.

Josette.

Josette.

He thinks of Angelique, thinks of Roxanne, thinks of those he has now, those he has waiting for him back home, intermittent flashes of her racing through his mind until all he sees is a white dress and dark hair and a tall, tall, tall cliff and - ]

I'll go. I'll go if you promise I can have her. If I can start over.

[ His instincts have always ruled him. Fitting, perhaps. ]

You must give me time to tell the family.

ANYTHING ELSE?