Post by Austria on Apr 9, 2011 2:33:29 GMT
These streets so fixed and solid
Were shimming with hate
[/b][/i]Were shimming with hate
"You‘ll burn out and fall,
If you aim for the heavens, like a flame loving a star.
Be careful of your love,
Brilliant child, the cold sea of death welcomes all. "[/center][/size]
And everything that I relied on
Disappeared
Disappeared
Country:Republic of Austria/ Republik Österreich
Name:Roderich Johann Edelstein
Gender: Male
Age: 22
Profession:Part-Time: conservatory music student, music library clerk, music tutor, and clinical assistant/receptionist. (See history for clarification)
Highlander or Lowlander?: Highlander
All the strangers look like family
All the family look so strange
All the family look so strange
Appearance:
Roderich Edelstein is a five foot eleven inch tall, thin, lanky Caucasian youth. His thick chestnut colored hair is cut to lay just below the top of his ears. It’s mostly straight but has a slight wave when it gets a little too long. One stray lock of hair playfully curls above his right temple. High cheekbones and a broad forehead frame mysterious eyes nearly violet in coloration. Resting on the bridge of his nose, thin copper wire half-frames grip feather-light oval lenses like two small picture frames that showcase his captivating eyes. One small dark mole accents the slightly pointed chin on his long angular face.
Attire:
He tends to wear more formal clothing when attending class or working at the conservatory. He is especially well-known around campus for his old-fashioned gray and lavender pin-stripe coat with the large leather patches at the elbow. (It was his father’s old school coat). His other clothing is more varied in style. He often wears refitted/repurposed second-hand clothing, since his family doesn’t have a lot of spare money for new clothes. (The estate/clinic operating expenses plus his father’s philanthropical activities are a drain on the family’s finances.) However, he can only sew well enough to do minor things such as sew buttons back on, hem, mend/patch some things just enough to hide minor wear and tear. So newer clothes or radically repurposed clothing comes about when he’s feeling adventurous (or desperate) enough to let himself be a dressing model/guinea pig for a friend out of necessity.
He does have his pride however, so he is very careful with how he dresses and pays attention to style and form. Thus he has settled on adopting an older eccentric style, that always looks conservatively nice. Finally, he is never seen without a 2 1/2inch sun shaped pendant on a thin braided black leather cord. On closer inspection on will see that it has small holes in it. It can only play a few notes, but it’s enough for tuning purposes. He wears it all the time because it was one of the few things he has that his mother gave to him before she passed away.
Personality:
Roderich or “Roddy” as he is known to his friends is normally soft-spoken, and rather quiet. When he does speak up or answer a question he is straight-forward in his manner of speech and can come off a bit brusque or harsh to those people who prefer to “soften” any opinions or truths that the others may find difficult to hear. However, he is no more harsh than his cousins and his style of speech could be considered more eccentric and flowery in comparison.
Normally a rather serious, loner type of young man, he’s not the type to crack a joke or try to be the center of party. That’s not to say he doesn’t enjoy company or a funny story. He is known to have a rather engaging smile, musical laugh and a wickedly dry sense of humor. As evidenced by his habit of interjecting well-timed barbs and remarks that can break a room and victim down into laughter. Even if he doesn’t mind the company of others, he usually doesn’t feel the need to seek out. He rarely initiates an invitation, feeling that if he receives one so be it, if not then that is fine also. His family’s charity event for the clinic being the one exception, as he is expected to help with the preparations and invitations.
He is a very serious and focused student who works hard at his studies and is just as focused when it comes to his passions. Which unfortunately means he can also be a little distracted and distant when he’s internalized that focus and has gotten lost to the composition in his head. One of those passions is music and that is when he comes out of his shell as both performer and teacher. As an instructor or leader he can be a demanding and somewhat unforgiving taskmaster. When he is playing an instrument he becomes performer and entertainer and is no longer shy about being the center of attention because he believes that, at that point in time, it is the music that stands center stage while he still is merely a background conduit for the music to flow through on its way to the audience.
He’s a young man who is intellectually curious, out-going, energetically enthusiastic about things he passionately likes, a natural loner, (who can be good company), duty-bound, frugal, efficient, and serious in any task assigned to him, (even ones he dislikes, as long as it doesn’t crowd out those tasks/things he truly passionate about-like music and his music students.) He can be a bit proud and fiercely independent. He doesn’t like to admit to needing help by asking for assistance.) He is frugal through necessity, so he can be extravagant when needed to save his and his family’s pride and face. Finally, he is someone who likes efficiency and organization as long as it doesn’t come at the cost of natural beauty and artistic vision. In other words, chaotic beauty is as important sterile order.
Such dichotomies as these can make him seem rather enigmatic at times even his to closest friends and family.
History:
Roderich Edelstein is an only child who lives with his father and grandfather at “Edelherzig“. It is also home to a few medical students and only two household/grounds helpers and their immediate family. (Medical students instead help in the chore rotation in exchange for paying a minor room and board fee while studying at the clinic.) His extended family who live outside of the estate consists of his grandfather’s sister, his father’s sister, her husband and their children, and smattering of second cousins scattered across the island.
Edelherzig “Noble-heart” is a larger estate that is nestled in a natural terraced cave along the cliffs on one side of the island on the outskirts of the twin cities. The intercity train tracks run a few miles away with a stop nearby for a Lowland tram route. The tram runs right past the estate with a stop near the clinic, making it easy for residents to reach it. In distance it actually lies closer to the Lowlands rather than the Highlands, but due to the family’s standing within the cities, it is considered a Highland home.
Housed within in the estate is Edelherzig Clinic run by the third generation Dr. Markus Edelstein, Roderich’s father. The clinic actually preceded the estate having been established by Roderich’s great uncle Johann Edelstein, a traveling doctor from a wealthy family, who provided philanthropical medical aid to war torn and disaster struck areas. He eventually wandered there about 120 years ago seeing a need among the newly planted settlers. He set up a small clinic with help from the residents with the goal of providing aid to any who needed it.
A few years after, he invited his brother (Roderich’s great great grandfather) and his family to join him. As the wealthier families brought their own physicians and had less need of the clinic than the Lowlander families; it was decided to build closer to the Lowland city. Using what remained of their wealth, they built the estate in a place that reminded them of the mountains from their former homeland and seemed sturdy enough to weather the rougher spring storms that came at that time. Ever since then an Edelstein has run the clinic, which currently is a source of conflict between Roderich and his family.
As the sole heir, he has been strongly encouraged by his family to follow in his father’s footsteps. However, while he may help out in the clinic, in a non-medical role, and is knowledgeable in basic first aid and care; he has no interest in studying medicine. His passion is for music; a gift from his deceased mother who was a talented concert violinist.
His grandfather, Emmerich Edelstein currently is the family member most insistent on Roderich forsaking his musical studies to study a “proper career” and “upholding a proud family tradition of serving the greater need.”
His father neither insists nor denies pursuit of one field of study over the other. He simply has chosen to grow more distant and unavailable to his son. He buries himself in work rather than be forced to choose between his father or son.
His grandfather’s sister Hanna Marie, whom he calls “Tante Marie,” a council woman, widower and force of nature lives in a small elegant and neat condo high up in the highlands. She descends annually to visit them for the charity fund-raising ball she hosts for the clinic or whenever she has selected a new candidate for Roderich. A rather practical woman, she long ago decided that, regardless of her brother’s opinion, the clinic didn’t need to be run by a “blood” relative. Marriage would work just as well. After all, it had worked for her quite well.
So any new (preferably Highlander) female medical student soon became a possible marriageable candidate. Irritated by the constant flow of arranged blind dates, he had hinted to his great aunt that his preferences didn’t run that way; hoping the shock would dissuade her. He unfortunately discovered she’s rather egalitarian about such things. Having decided that as long as the individual was a doctor or soon to be one, willing to take up the Edelstein name and helm the clinic, and loved her nephew, little else mattered. Adoption was always an option. So she simply switched tactics. Which left the poor young man in some rather socially awkward situations. Though he adored her growing up, he now actively tries to avoid her visits.
Roderich has always had strong influential women in his life. First was his mother Nicolette Sofia Edelstein or Nica as she was known in the at the conservatory. A teacher and the first violinist for the Symphony Orchestra, she was the one who recognized his talent at an early age and taught him both piano and violin. A child prodigy, by age eight he played better than most students twice his age. It’s also the age he lost her.
That year, a bad storm pounded the island and while most pass without incident this one uprooted a tree on a hill above the tram causing a landslide of rocks and earth to tumble onto the road as the tram was coming around the corner. The tram crashed not far from their home. Many survived due to the quick arrival of the clinic staff, but not all. He and his mother were returning from one of her concerts before she was to go on maternity leave. She died from her injuries trying to protect him. His father was the first to find them. His mother lay curled over him protectively. Cradled unbroken in his arms was her precious violin that she had given him to hold at the start of the trip. He had dived for it when it flew out of his arms on the tram’s first violent rocking, unaware of the large trunk heading for his head. He came out of the accident with only a few bruises. She didn’t survive the miscarriage that followed due to her injuries. Since then, he gets nervous during bad storms, and prefers playing the piano over the violin, though he has since learned to play numerous other instruments. Still at times nothing can soothe his soul but the sound of that violin.
He was raised after that mostly by his grandmother Nanette. She continued to encourage his musical talent, though her musical talent ran towards simple folk tunes on the piano, she did have a pretty voice and loved to sing while the young boy played. She was the one who could appease his grandfather and helped him get into the Music Conservatory of the Highland University. She’s also the one who started Roderich into teaching by recruiting students for him through her friends’ grandchildren. Her talent, however was in making a Sol stretch, she was the one who taught him how to be frugal with style. She could stretch a stew to feed more without it ever tasting too thin. She was also very efficient, humble and had an excellent green thumb. Most of the plants in the garden and conservatory were lovingly planted and cared for by her. She died four years ago and since then the organization and running of the estate has largely fallen to Roderich since his father has spent more and more time working.
Since her death, his grandfather went back to his hard line stance against Roderich studying music, and refuses to pay for his studies. As such, Roderich must earn his own funds by giving lessons to younger highland students and by working as clerk in the Conservatory Music Library and can only attend the school part-time. His father, a kind man despite his emotional distance with his son, does try to subtlely help him by paying him for his time when he works at the clinic.
Recurring nightmare:
His former national and current human pasts collide in Roderich’s nightmare. It’s a combination of the emotional trauma of the night his mother died and the loss of Elizabeta (Hungary) when they were forced apart after the first world war and then completely cut-off from each other during the time of the Iron Curtain. This loss is combined with the physical trauma of the land from either the second or third world war damage done to Austria, the nation . The dream ends with him sinking into the rising seawaters that eventually engulfed the land. Finally through this runs the recurring theme of the risk of brilliant creative genius, (or some might see it a representation of dangerous religious fervor too), that if left to burn too brightly, too quickly will eventually engulf the host destroying them. (Think Mozart on this one.)
(This is just a quick summation of a page long description. My apologies for the complex dream, but it‘s Austria. The father of modern psychoanalysis originated there. How could I leave his simple and dull? Anyhow, I have the dream typed out, if anyone needs or wants to read it to see how all of that plays together. )
The only constant I am sure of
Is this accelerating rate of change
Is this accelerating rate of change
Likes:
Coffee, coffee houses or small cafes
Fine, delicate desserts and sweets. (He’s got a bit of a sweet tooth)
Good food (fine cuisine or nicer ingredients) - when he can get it. Ex. Shallots instead of onions or pork loin instead of pig knuckles
Music-he likes and studies a variety of genres. He also composes. (A favorite challenge his friends like to give him is to combine two genres that wouldn’t seem to go together. An example would be arranging a heavy metal tune for a string quartet and tympani.)
The sun reflecting on the sea when the dawn of a new day is breaking.
Books (All knowledge can be found there.)
Dislikes:
Instant Coffee (He’ll drink it only if desperate)
Wasteful habits
Storms
Arranged blind dates
Having his life already predetermined and dictated to him
Loud, obnoxious self-centered people who assume that everyone is interested in what they have to say
Downside up, upside down
Take my weight from the ground
[/b][/right]Take my weight from the ground
[/size]
Roleplay Sample:
She could hear the violin music over the pitch of the storm before she made it to the glass double doors. The notes slipped in an out of tune as the changing pressure and humidity affected the pitch. But it didn’t detract from the tune but seemed to add some indefinable emotion to the tension between the notes emitted from the wood instrument and the sounds of the storm outside as wind and rain and debris scraped and pounded the glass outside between the pounding bass roll and sharp claps of thunder and lightning. She paused before the open doors watching the young man in the room as he played. She couldn’t help but want to listen a moment before interrupting him, rarely could he be coaxed to play anything on the violin since his mother’s death. It was a rare treat to hear him play.
Roderich Edelstein stood there with his eyes closed, lost to the music, on the opposite side of the room on the thin metal service balcony that allowed access to the hanging plants and small potted trees and bushes that set closest to the floor to ceiling windows. She stood there listening trying to pick up what tune he was playing before she began to realize it wasn’t anything she’d ever heard. In fact it almost seemed as if he was anticipating each clap of thunder and gust of wind and filling in the spaces between with running arpeggios, quick, sharp pizzicatos, and long low undulating bowed holds.
She leaned her head against the doorframe to stare at the handsome man across the room. Her eyes traced the silhouette of his pale chiseled features with every lightning flash. The music had descended to low hypnotic undulating tones now. A sudden large clap of thunder shook her out her reverie. She noticed that Roderich had dropped to his knees on the metal floor. The music slowed and trailed off as he stared into the inky blackness with the intensity seen only in geniuses or madmen.
“Roderich?” She softly queried his name. “Roddy, come on, we need to go now.”
He stopped playing, but didn’t look at her, his lips moving in some silent mantra.
She sighed and reached out to the large set of shutter rods near the door. Suddenly a metal shutter snapped across the window in front of Roderich blocking out whatever vision he saw in the stormy sky.
She walked over toward him. “Roddy?”
He looked up suddenly seeing her for the first time. “Oh, hi. What are you doing up here? Shouldn’t you be down helping Dad in the clinic?”
She carefully took the bow from his right hand and grabbed his elbow in her left and helped him stand in the narrow confines of the balcony. “Yes, I should, except for some reason your father thought I needed to go track you down. Just In case you happened to miss the raging storm right outside that window, and the wailing of the warning sirens going off every five minutes telling you to get your ass somewhere surrounded with rock and metal, rather than 12 feet up in the air and surrounded on all sides by glass.”
“Oh,” His eyes opened in surprise as her reply finally registered. He cocked his head listening to the muted siren that had started up again and could be faintly heard through the shuttered windows. “Hm, I suppose we should move to one of the safer rooms, like the cellar.” He motioned her forward.
She sighed and shook her head as she started back around the balcony. Nearly through the double doors she stopped, suddenly remembering something she had meant to ask. Her back still to him she asked,
“Roddy, um, what were you staring at earlier?”
Whistling lightly to himself, he mumbled only partially listening, “When exactly?”
She leaned against the doorframe and looked back at him. “Right before I came up to you, before I closed the shutters.”
Suddenly the tune died away, and there was a deafening quiet. Fearing she had crossed a line despite their history, she began damage control. “I’m sorry, just ignore my question. It was impolite of me to. . .”
He cut her off, speaking just above a whisper, like a sinner confessing. “I thought that she had come back. I thought that my music and her violin had called her back from the storm.” He shook his head sadly. “I came up trying to drive the ghosts of old memories away and all I did was bring them to life. Suddenly, I could see her in the flashes of light alive and smiling and reaching out her arms to me.”
“Thank you for coming after me.” He looked up at her sheepishly, one lock of chestnut colored hair drooping out of place over his right temple. It was like a little accent character, drawing her in as it outlined the shape of the violet colored eye framed within the small round lens of his glasses.
She looked away for a moment feeling the warm flush of desire creep up her cheeks. She snapped back quickly in embarrassment, “Well it’s just lucky for you that you weren’t dragged to the land of the dead then.”
He tilted his head puzzled, “Why is that?” Then suddenly noticing the crimson flush to her cheek . He gave a casual lop-sided smile as he leaned on the other door frame across from her. “You mean you wouldn’t call my spirit back from the Storm?”
“No” She pushed him aside and started back down the hall, “And I’ll tell you why.”
She turned and waited as he collected the case nearby and began putting the violin away.
She began counting off on her fingers. “One, I don’t believe in spirits, ghosts, lost souls or whatever.”
“Two, I can’t play the violin, and you really don’t want to hear me try unless the goal is to drive things away.”
He clicked the case shut and picked it up waiting for her to finish
She paused a moment and gave a mischievous smile, “And three, I sure as thunder would never play Orpheus to your misbegotten Eurydice.”
“Ah poor soul, scorned and condemned by thy love in one blow.“ He feigned pain as he looked to the heavens for redemption and held a hand to the imagined wound over his heart. Though the devilish smile blew the effect of fatally wounded pride.
She stuck her tongue out in reply over her shoulder as she turned dash down the hall before he could catch up.
Falling deep in the sky
Slipping into the unknown
Slipping into the unknown
Out of Character
Name/Nickname:
Roderich, Roddy or Austria is fine. Anything goes honestly. He might frown in disapproval, but he’ll still respond and probably won’t even bother with correcting you.
Timezone:USA Central Time zone (-6 UTC)
Any other information:
I haven’t done a lot of role-playing, but I like the idea of a literary role-play. I look forward to joining you. I apologize for my long-winded application. If you made it this far....Thanks for reading!
(Germanic nation brethren-Prussia, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Luxembourg-I left areas of the family tree somewhat vague if you wanted to link up to the character as a cousin or something like that. Let me know. If we get a Hungary, I’m more than willing to have some sort of previous or current relationship that can run anywhere from childhood friend to ex-girlfriend. Just send me a message.)
You pull me in…
P u l l
m e i n.[/size][/i][/right][/b]P u l l
