Leonard West
a.k.a. the Scarlet PlaywrightA hoarder of secrets. They may know yours, and they may use the knowledge for their gain or entertainment. And, oh, are they hungry for more.
[Find them in Fallen London.] PERSONALITYPolite and sweet to the point of overly familiar on the surface, but they keep a stash of blackmail materials behind them. And how pompous they are to demand treatment like a noble.
Under that surface they value love above all. They will give themself, devote their whole being to love. Even if that love is a shadow, they will still yearn for it. Never betray love, lest their rage will come. |
PROFILENickname: Leo; the Scarlet Playwright; the Knavish Agent (formerly); Shiki Nishiooji (西大路 獅記; birth name, never call them by it) Addressed As: Lyon Pursuivant; Advocate; Si-, er, Mad-, er, yes Age: 24 (forever) Birthday: November 8 (The Bat) Occupation: Writer, information broker, and part-time Crooked-Cross. Closest To: Bohemians; Criminals; (erstwhile) the Great Game Species: Humanoid candle Family: They would never openly admit it, but they have grown fond of their found family. Memories of their birth family are still following them like a shadow. Physical Description: Eyes red as the flame of Law. Black and silky hair (so they claim). Slender, androgynous figure, not too tall and not too short. There are strange rumours about how they are able to take off their head, and if you hold them, you may get a sense of how their flesh isn't what it appears to be. Voice: Clear and smooth. Something about their accent sounds foreign. Sexuality: It no longer matters. Likes/Dislikes: Their cat-like taste for secrets gets them into troubles from time to time, which is inconvenient. Strength/Weakness: They try their best to be as charming as their family tradition dictates. Their fighting prowess, on the other hand, is only barely passable. Extra:
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RELATIONSHIP
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STORY
Young Shiki had always admired their father. Some people feared him, but for Shiki he was nothing but a charming and charismatic gentleman with a way to make people get on their knees. Each member of their family has their own light, but for Shiki, their father shone the brightest. They aspired to be like him.
In one stormy night, their father was found dead, murdered. There was no strong evidence, but a cousin was suspect. A cousin that their father was the fondest of, more than anyone else. A betrayal.
The case went cold and the cousin inherited the family's wealth and power. A grudge grew strong in Shiki's heart, but there was nothing they could do. They were no one of importance, not strong enough to go against their family. And it will always remain that way as long as that cousin stays on the top.
When they were trying to figure out what to do, an opportunity showed itself: an agent will be sent to a faraway city to gather intelligence for the family, with the cousin's full approval. In a thoughtless haste, Shiki followed the agent, down, down the rabbit’s hole into a strange world – the Neath.
In one stormy night, their father was found dead, murdered. There was no strong evidence, but a cousin was suspect. A cousin that their father was the fondest of, more than anyone else. A betrayal.
The case went cold and the cousin inherited the family's wealth and power. A grudge grew strong in Shiki's heart, but there was nothing they could do. They were no one of importance, not strong enough to go against their family. And it will always remain that way as long as that cousin stays on the top.
When they were trying to figure out what to do, an opportunity showed itself: an agent will be sent to a faraway city to gather intelligence for the family, with the cousin's full approval. In a thoughtless haste, Shiki followed the agent, down, down the rabbit’s hole into a strange world – the Neath.
Ever since their first step in London, they could hear voices coming from wells, hear gibberish whispers that haunt their sleep. They tried to ignore them and began working to gain footing and connections in the city. They adopted a new name to blend in: Leonard West, derived from the name they were born with. They charmed their way into society and bohemian salons. They came in close contacts with spies and criminals. They became friendly with the devils. Soon they learned all sorts of secrets and used their salacious knowledge to gain favours and luxury.
The more they learned about London, the more they grew fond of the city and what it has to offer; the darkness, the pleasure, and the freedom. Everything was nothing like their old life. When they managed to track down the agent only to see they have been murdered - the first time they witnessed how fatal Cantigaster Venom is - they toyed with the idea of returning to their country, but ultimately decided to stay.
One particular day, a stranger knocked on their window. Seven times, a peculiar rhythm. When they opened their window, the stranger spoke, monstrously, of the Name and the inks of the undernight. In the nights after that, they dreamed of a voice. This voice, it was the voice which the wells spoke to them with. They could hear it clearer than ever now, hear the tale of betrayal it told.
Betrayal.
Yes. There was a betrayal, long ago. He did not deserve it. They want him forgotten. He will not be forgotten. A reckoning will not be postponed indefinitely.
Those dreams came with a certain hunger. Unaccountable. Insatiable. Some people feared them for the sudden change – they lost a few connections after a certain red feast – but no matter, Leonard covered it with a smile for now. The smile they learned from their father. Their father that they didn’t get to avenge.
But this soul, they swore to avenge it. They wanted to avenge it. Perhaps it would relieve their old grudge and regret. The wells had always spoken to them, but only now they understood the darkly coiling words. Now they knew: it must be fate. It must be no coincidence that the first thing they encountered upon arriving in the city was the whispers of an old well.
You are no longer a powerless pawn. You can do this. You will do it no matter what. The due will be paid.
The more they learned about London, the more they grew fond of the city and what it has to offer; the darkness, the pleasure, and the freedom. Everything was nothing like their old life. When they managed to track down the agent only to see they have been murdered - the first time they witnessed how fatal Cantigaster Venom is - they toyed with the idea of returning to their country, but ultimately decided to stay.
One particular day, a stranger knocked on their window. Seven times, a peculiar rhythm. When they opened their window, the stranger spoke, monstrously, of the Name and the inks of the undernight. In the nights after that, they dreamed of a voice. This voice, it was the voice which the wells spoke to them with. They could hear it clearer than ever now, hear the tale of betrayal it told.
Betrayal.
Yes. There was a betrayal, long ago. He did not deserve it. They want him forgotten. He will not be forgotten. A reckoning will not be postponed indefinitely.
Those dreams came with a certain hunger. Unaccountable. Insatiable. Some people feared them for the sudden change – they lost a few connections after a certain red feast – but no matter, Leonard covered it with a smile for now. The smile they learned from their father. Their father that they didn’t get to avenge.
But this soul, they swore to avenge it. They wanted to avenge it. Perhaps it would relieve their old grudge and regret. The wells had always spoken to them, but only now they understood the darkly coiling words. Now they knew: it must be fate. It must be no coincidence that the first thing they encountered upon arriving in the city was the whispers of an old well.
You are no longer a powerless pawn. You can do this. You will do it no matter what. The due will be paid.
They were ready to throw everything away, until they met a certain woman. A woman who cared for them despite of their vile nature. She is a fool, they thought, I'm only making use of her. Even so, they allowed themself to let their guard down around her, and before they knew it, she had brought many people into their life. Before they knew it, the lone pawn had become a part of a warm, loving family - one that they never had in their old life.
The delicate balance in them had been tipped; their resolve wavered, slowly but sure. But they had sworn to complete this revenge. Refusing to fail again, they steeled themself and marched forward. They hurt their newfound family along the way, but that won’t matter once they achieve their goal, right? Nothing will. They scarred themself, again and again, inside and outside. (One more scar, what is that?)
At last, they reached the Gate. The Gate that signposted the beginning of an end. Everything was as they planned. And yet, and yet….
That resolve, cracked and weakened, finally fell apart. They couldn’t do it. They desired for warm forgiveness more than the cold hatred they lived with. They realised: all they wanted was to love and to be loved again. No longer in doubt, they turned their back on the Gate to return to the family they had come to love.
The delicate balance in them had been tipped; their resolve wavered, slowly but sure. But they had sworn to complete this revenge. Refusing to fail again, they steeled themself and marched forward. They hurt their newfound family along the way, but that won’t matter once they achieve their goal, right? Nothing will. They scarred themself, again and again, inside and outside. (One more scar, what is that?)
At last, they reached the Gate. The Gate that signposted the beginning of an end. Everything was as they planned. And yet, and yet….
That resolve, cracked and weakened, finally fell apart. They couldn’t do it. They desired for warm forgiveness more than the cold hatred they lived with. They realised: all they wanted was to love and to be loved again. No longer in doubt, they turned their back on the Gate to return to the family they had come to love.
They can never return to how they were, that much Leonard was aware. Run and hide they may, but dreams of dark water and a violet voice still follow them, and their flesh and bones are now wax and wicks. While these thoughts coil around them...
You are still you, someone told them. And you are beautiful, that voice was sweet as honey.
Ah... that's right - now there is only the path forward. Rather than regretting what they "were", it would be better think of what they "will be". Their body may be different, but the essence did not change. This essence, this existence, which has come to know love again, was the last thing their dearest father left behind in this world.
And so Leonard's new life begins. They distance themself from the deeper ends of the Great Game, as to not endanger their family. They grow closer to the intrigue of the Court of Cats, as to learn their ways in dreams and ward off nightmares. They dedicate more of themself to art, as to give themself a new purpose and expression.
Yet it's still not enough, not enough. Something still feels missing. There is still a hole that yearns to be filled.
In the meanwhile, problems keep cropping up. Their detested cousin has come to the city. Shadows from their old life as an agent show their fangs every now and then. When their heart breaks, it comes in an avalanche to match the passion that existed before it.
Still, the only path is forward. Adapt. Adjust. Change. Change.
Come to think about it, haven't they changed a lot in their yearning? They endured the Woods in Winter to earn the approval of their father. They came to the Neath to seek meaning in their anger. They scarred their being over and over to find understanding. They change the masks they wear to match their partners and enemies alike, yet also to be truer to themself.
Yes, their essence may stay, but the heart always yearns. To fulfil a yearning is to change. To change is to be true. And to be true is to become an even more beautiful existence.
This is the path Leonard has decided for themself.
You are still you, someone told them. And you are beautiful, that voice was sweet as honey.
Ah... that's right - now there is only the path forward. Rather than regretting what they "were", it would be better think of what they "will be". Their body may be different, but the essence did not change. This essence, this existence, which has come to know love again, was the last thing their dearest father left behind in this world.
And so Leonard's new life begins. They distance themself from the deeper ends of the Great Game, as to not endanger their family. They grow closer to the intrigue of the Court of Cats, as to learn their ways in dreams and ward off nightmares. They dedicate more of themself to art, as to give themself a new purpose and expression.
Yet it's still not enough, not enough. Something still feels missing. There is still a hole that yearns to be filled.
In the meanwhile, problems keep cropping up. Their detested cousin has come to the city. Shadows from their old life as an agent show their fangs every now and then. When their heart breaks, it comes in an avalanche to match the passion that existed before it.
Still, the only path is forward. Adapt. Adjust. Change. Change.
Come to think about it, haven't they changed a lot in their yearning? They endured the Woods in Winter to earn the approval of their father. They came to the Neath to seek meaning in their anger. They scarred their being over and over to find understanding. They change the masks they wear to match their partners and enemies alike, yet also to be truer to themself.
Yes, their essence may stay, but the heart always yearns. To fulfil a yearning is to change. To change is to be true. And to be true is to become an even more beautiful existence.
This is the path Leonard has decided for themself.