Post by Rigby on Sept 7, 2021 11:01:18 GMT -5
The Midnight House
The Last Five Years... Hiems 822 | Hiems 827 |
In Autumna 822, Ravin Tracey , the beloved owner of the Midnight House disappeared without a trace. For weeks, the Midnight House closed its doors, waiting for its master to return - but he never did. Despite an overwhelming sense of grief, the doves of the Midnight House still needed to provide for themselves and the families, and so - without Ravin - once again reopened its doors. Divine has taken over business operations, with @mina serving as her apprentice and assistant. @katerina and Kasper Van Zant lead on security along with other members of the Van Zant clan. Benedict Delaney is still a familiar face around the establishment, helping where he can. Since marrying Lord Carter, Norah Carter 's appearances have been fewer and farther between. In aestas 823, Tulip left the Midnight House - citing personal reasons. She had come into some money, rumored to be from her secret nobleman father, and set up in a nice apartment in one of Skia's more desirable areas. When she left, she cut ties with the Midnight House almost entirely.
Though operations continue, the Midnight House is not quite the same. There is more bickering and infighting than there used to be, fewer nights of music and mayhem, and an overall sense that the light in the House has gone out.
Though operations continue, the Midnight House is not quite the same. There is more bickering and infighting than there used to be, fewer nights of music and mayhem, and an overall sense that the light in the House has gone out.
Divine Nurturing | Dependable | Principled |
Divine was the only child of a cobbler. Her mother died in childbirth and her father never remarried. Stricken by lifelong grief, he struggled to provide for his beloved daughter. Divine would say her father died of a broken heart. She cared for him diligently in the last years of his life, but once he died she found herself twenty years of age and not a penny to her name. She started working for Madame Clementine at the Midnight House where she fell in love and married one of the hired security. Divine has worked there for fifteen years with her husband’s support. They have three children together; Estelle, Jacqueline, and Sophia.
THE LAST FIVE YEARS: After the disappearance of Ravin Tracey, Divine took over operations of the Midnight House. Though they don't pull in as money as they used to, she's managed to keep the place afloat and keep on all the staff.
THE LAST FIVE YEARS: After the disappearance of Ravin Tracey, Divine took over operations of the Midnight House. Though they don't pull in as money as they used to, she's managed to keep the place afloat and keep on all the staff.
Eden Vivacious | Fiesty | Clever |
Eden, also known as @mina , is the third eldest child and resident sweetheart of the notorious Van Zant clan. Don’t let her cute-as-a-button face fool you: like any woman that’s had to make her way on the tough streets of Skia, Mina is both sharp as a tack and sparkling as a gem. She’s the Midnight House’s most recent hire, but her experience and natural talent have allowed her to take to the job with ease. Though she’s only been there a short while, Eden is quickly becoming the little darling of the Midnight House. Read more about Mina (Eden) here.
THE LAST FIVE YEARS: After the disappearance of Ravin Tracey, Mina started to act as Divine's apprentice and assistant in business matters. Though she still works as one of the doves, she has proven herself to be a smart, savvy woman and a fast learner. To equip her with the tools for success, Divine has been supplementing her education with lessons in reading, writing, and arithmetic. Divine considers Mina to be indispensable and has no doubt that she, along with the help of her siblings, could one day run the Midnight House themselves.
THE LAST FIVE YEARS: After the disappearance of Ravin Tracey, Mina started to act as Divine's apprentice and assistant in business matters. Though she still works as one of the doves, she has proven herself to be a smart, savvy woman and a fast learner. To equip her with the tools for success, Divine has been supplementing her education with lessons in reading, writing, and arithmetic. Divine considers Mina to be indispensable and has no doubt that she, along with the help of her siblings, could one day run the Midnight House themselves.
TULIP bubbly | romantic | dreamer |
Rumor has it that Tulip is the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy noble, though she never really cared to find out if the rumors were true. Her mother - commoner - was always tight-lipped about her parentage, either out of fear or out of embarrassment. Tulip grew up the only child of a single mother who worked her hands raw cleaning homes. While her mother was very strict and rigid in her work ethic. Tulip, meanwhile, was a dreamer. She was bright, silly, and apt to fall in love as soon as a boy looked her way. When she was sixteen, Tulip agreed to elope with the son of a lesser noble - against her mother’s wishes. The boy was caught and reprimanded by his parents, never to be seen by Tulip again. After the betrayal, Tulip’s mother refused to let her daughter back into her home. After working in taverns and barely scraping by, Tulip found her way to Ravin at the Midnight House when she was 18. She’s been there ever since, free and happy and able to express herself.
The worst-kept secret at the Midnight House is that Tulip is hopelessly in love with Ravin, who gently refuses to return her affections. Besides the fact he has a strict policy not to get involved with any of his doves, he sees Tulip more as a little sister than a potential love interest.
THE LAST FIVE YEARS: In aestas 823, Tulip left the Midnight House - citing personal reasons. She had come into some money, rumored to be from her secret nobleman father, and set up in a nice apartment in one of Skia's more desirable areas. When she left, she cut ties with the Midnight House almost entirely.
The worst-kept secret at the Midnight House is that Tulip is hopelessly in love with Ravin, who gently refuses to return her affections. Besides the fact he has a strict policy not to get involved with any of his doves, he sees Tulip more as a little sister than a potential love interest.
THE LAST FIVE YEARS: In aestas 823, Tulip left the Midnight House - citing personal reasons. She had come into some money, rumored to be from her secret nobleman father, and set up in a nice apartment in one of Skia's more desirable areas. When she left, she cut ties with the Midnight House almost entirely.
Sapphire Spirited | Reactive | Stubborn |
Sapphire comes from a well-to-do merchant family. It was her dream to sail the seas like her father, delivering goods and having great adventures in far-off places. Her mother tried to make a lady out of her, but she proved entirely untameable. But Sapphire had a secret: she had no interest in men or marriage, knowing from a young age she was interested in only women. When she was fifteen, her parents found out about a relationship she had with another merchant’s daughter and threw her out on the street. She spent several years on the street, stealing what she could and digging in the garbage for the rest. Finding her as she tried to steal from him, Ravin took her in.
Apollo Broody | Arrogant | Suave |
Apollo grew up with his father and three brothers, all mean and tough as nails. Apollo had always been the quiet, sweet one, which made him an easy target for his siblings. He learned how to toughen up against his nature, joining the same gang as his brothers and working as a hired thug. When two of his brothers were killed by a rival gang, Apollo decided he wanted out. He fled, finding refuge at the Midnight House. He was hired on by Madame Clementine and has been a dedicated employee ever since.
Pheonix Flirty | Adventurous | Bold |
Phoenix was the eldest of ten children. They grew up in a one-room apartment with only what his mother could afford to put on the table. His father was a drunk and could barely hold down a job, leaving Phoenix to raise his siblings while his mother worked. Once the ninth and eighth eldest was old enough to look after the younger ones, Phoenix went looking for work to help provide for his family. Ravin hired him on at the Midnight House, which Phoenix thought was a perfect fit. He would send them money regularly, dramatically improving their circumstances. However, when his father found out what Phoenix did for a living, he turned down the money and forbid him from seeing his family or siblings. They have all seemingly disappeared off the face of the earth, and Phoenix has given up looking for them. He is content in his current life and revels in the freedom he was never afforded before.
Indigo Artistic | Poised | Quirky |
Indigo is the only daughter of an actor and an opera singer. They had little time for actual child-rearing, but never let Indigo stray very far. She grew up at the theatre, falling in love with the dramatic arts. She resolved to become an actress herself, starting at a very young age to act in plays and sing at cabaret nights. Her parents encouraged it, but remained very focused on their own careers. When Indigo was fifteen, she was sexually assaulted by a prominent director. She confided in her parents, but when the director vehemently denied the claims, they did not support her, as they feared for their own careers. Horrified, Indigo left and cut off all contact. She worked as a maid for a while but found that harassment was commonplace. After some searching, she found her way to the Midnight House, where she has been recently hired. Ravin is very protective of his doves. Indigo has found the work to be a way to reclaim her sexuality, knowing that Ravin will always keep her safe.
Velvet Passionate | Decisive | Practical |
Velvet grew up in the tenements, just like Ravin. She worked in a factory with her mother and sisters as a seamstress. The working conditions were dirty and dangerous and unfit for a child. Still, Velvet had no choice and continued to work until she lost three of her fingers on her right hand in an accident. Unable to work, she was seen as a burden on her family and one more mouth to feed. At fourteen, she started working for a pimp who treated her poorly and paid her even worse. After several years of heartache, she took to begging and homelessness instead of working for a man she despised. Ravin knew her in passing from his time in the Skia slums but had never had the resources to hire her on. Now with the additional income from House of the Blessed, he was able to take her in and provide her with a safe and loving home.
Poppy Affectionate | Sensitive | Shy |
Poppy didn’t start talking until she was five. It wasn't because she couldn't: it was because there was simply no need for her to speak. Her four older brothers were rowdy and lawless, causing trouble and running in with the law. They were scavengers, living by the burn pits. She is Iris’s childhood friend - one of Ravin’s doves who recently passed. Young and impressionable, Poppy became pregnant at age sixteen and was cast out by her family. She was taken in by an older woman who took pity on the sweet girl. The woman was able to get Poppy the treatment she needed for Scavenger’s Lung - a disease that afflicts those who grow up by the burn pits. Tragically, Poppy lost the baby. She continued working for the old woman as a nurse and housemaid until her death. Without any skills or place to call home, she found work at the Midnight House, as well as the family she always wanted.
Hollie eight years old | Iris's daughter |
Losing her mother was hard enough, but losing her new father and guardian was even harder. Ravin had been acting as a second parent to Hollie long before Iris had died, so losing him was in some ways harder. She waited for weeks for Ravin to return until, eventually, she just stopped doing much of anything at all. Hollie retreated inward, saying very little and smiling even less.
Once she came to live with Ben and Ellison, things started to change. At first, she was nervous around Ellison and clung to Ben - crying whenever he was physically separated from her. But, with time, things improved. Her interest in potions strengthened her bond with Ellison, although the two strong personalities still butt heads on occasion. Nowadays, she is a talkative eight-year-old who enjoys bossing her little brother around (lovingly, of course) and standing on a footstool like a pint-sized apprentice as Ellison makes potions.
Over the years, Hollie’s abandonment issues have persisted. She struggles with frequent night terrors and anxiety attacks. More often than not, her anxiety manifests in explosive, frightening temper tantrums. Though she has been an exceptionally challenging child to raise, Ellison and Ben have treated her with nothing but love and affection. Ben’s calming presence has helped them weather the storm of Hollie’s temper, and to this day she remains a daddy’s girl. The subject of Ravin shuts her down completely, and she tries to avoid it whenever she can. For this reason, she’s struggled to connect with Norah, as she reminds her of what she has lost.
Once she came to live with Ben and Ellison, things started to change. At first, she was nervous around Ellison and clung to Ben - crying whenever he was physically separated from her. But, with time, things improved. Her interest in potions strengthened her bond with Ellison, although the two strong personalities still butt heads on occasion. Nowadays, she is a talkative eight-year-old who enjoys bossing her little brother around (lovingly, of course) and standing on a footstool like a pint-sized apprentice as Ellison makes potions.
Over the years, Hollie’s abandonment issues have persisted. She struggles with frequent night terrors and anxiety attacks. More often than not, her anxiety manifests in explosive, frightening temper tantrums. Though she has been an exceptionally challenging child to raise, Ellison and Ben have treated her with nothing but love and affection. Ben’s calming presence has helped them weather the storm of Hollie’s temper, and to this day she remains a daddy’s girl. The subject of Ravin shuts her down completely, and she tries to avoid it whenever she can. For this reason, she’s struggled to connect with Norah, as she reminds her of what she has lost.
Otto Six years old | Iris's son |
Otto easily made the transition from the Midnight House to Ben and Ellison’s home, accepting them as his mother and father without question. He still will ask the occasional question about Ravin, but to Otto he is nothing more than a distant - though fond - memory. Nowadays, Otto is a mild-mannered child who delights everyone he meets. He enjoys going out on ‘adventures’ with Ellison or Ben, chatting amiably to strangers wherever he finds himself. His parents would tell you, however, he knows just how cute he is: using his charm to his advantage to get out of trouble or weasel treats out of doting friends and family. Norah is one of his primary targets. He adores ‘Auntie Norah,’ and can be found cuddled up next to her whenever she comes by, gazing up at her with big eyes.
Otto has an exceptionally gentle touch with all things. He bears his sister’s fits and tempers evenly, often shooting a precocious, knowing smile at Ellison whenever Hollie starts to get out of hand. More than anything, Otto loves animals. He was gifted a chicken coop by Ben and Ellison and takes great care of his ‘babies.’ He can often be found trundling around the yard, holding a baby chick in his hands. He is trying to convince Ellison and Ben to get him a puppy but has so far been unsuccessful (though he secretly hopes he can win Auntie Norah over on that front).
FIVE YEAR UPDATE:
After it became clear their adoptive father, Ravin Tracey , was not to return anytime soon, it became clear to Norah Carter that Otto and Hollie could not remain at the Midnight House. They needed the stability of a family and a home - something that the doves were not equipped to provide. Norah brought Hollie and Otto to live with Benedict Delaney and @ellison , who welcomed them with open arms. 'Aunt' Norah continues to visit and sends gifts when she can. Though they try to keep the memory of Ravin alive, the children, now eight and six, can barely remember him.
Otto has an exceptionally gentle touch with all things. He bears his sister’s fits and tempers evenly, often shooting a precocious, knowing smile at Ellison whenever Hollie starts to get out of hand. More than anything, Otto loves animals. He was gifted a chicken coop by Ben and Ellison and takes great care of his ‘babies.’ He can often be found trundling around the yard, holding a baby chick in his hands. He is trying to convince Ellison and Ben to get him a puppy but has so far been unsuccessful (though he secretly hopes he can win Auntie Norah over on that front).
FIVE YEAR UPDATE:
After it became clear their adoptive father, Ravin Tracey , was not to return anytime soon, it became clear to Norah Carter that Otto and Hollie could not remain at the Midnight House. They needed the stability of a family and a home - something that the doves were not equipped to provide. Norah brought Hollie and Otto to live with Benedict Delaney and @ellison , who welcomed them with open arms. 'Aunt' Norah continues to visit and sends gifts when she can. Though they try to keep the memory of Ravin alive, the children, now eight and six, can barely remember him.