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[02 Feb 2007|06:05pm] |
[OOC] - About the player
Name: Rachel
Age: 22
Time zone: Pacific
AIM/email: indigo emu & fluffyemu@gmail.com
Do you understand the activity requirements for your particular character? Yes!
If your character is currently classified as 'uncategorized' - which category will he or she be in? n/a
[OOC] - About the character
Basics
• Name: Bellatrix Peisinoë Black-Lestrange
• Birthdate: January 19th, 1951
• Citizenship: British
• Current residence: Lestrange Manor; Swanton Morley, Breckland, Norfolk, England.
• Blood status: The epitome of pure. The Blacks flatly dismiss the rumor that there was a squib in the line fifty years ago and proudly present the altered Family Tapestry to all who would doubt them.
Physical
• Height/weight: 5'9 and 145 pounds.
• Hair/eyes: Both black.
• Manner of speech: Haughty and disdainful. Bellatrix's voice is ordinarily low, sultry, and bored, though her pitch shifts drastically upward when she taunts her foes in a mockingly girlish tone. Her impeccable upbringing extends to her accent; Bella is articulate and formal, invariably scorning modern slang and often shunning contractions entirely.
• Manner of dress: Despite being "undesirably tall" by her mother's standards, Bellatrix augments her height with old-fashioned boots and heels. The sinister former Slytherin nurses a love for antiquated clothing, largely dismissing traditional dress robes in favor of sumptuous garments. She harbors a particular fondness for Victorian corsets and gowns well-suited to her shapely figure, but silk blouses and stockings earn her favor as well.
• Physical description: At first glance, Bellatrix is not unlike a beautific chiaroscuro painting. Were it not for her dramatic coloring and her innately malicious predisposition, her appearance would be almost angelic, marked by delicate, undeniably striking features. The contrast between her glossy midnight black hair and near-white complexion is both stunning and startling. Her unusual black eyes grow positively cold and sinister when cast on an enemy, though they are equally apt to glitter in sadistic amusement at another's pitiful plight or with unquenchable passion when in the presence of an intimate companion. Disparate as Bellatrix and Narcissa's respective appeals may be, she is proud of possessing the gothic beauty characteristic of the Blacks and thus has little interest in attaining a more palatable 'peach' complexion. Her bone structure is exceedingly slight, particularly evident in her slender arms, shoulder and hands, but the fragility of her slim waist is juxtaposed to dramatic effect against the lush, feminine curve of breast and hip.
• First impression:
• PB: Olivia Wilde
Personal
• General personality: Bellatrix is the embodiment of the sadistic murderess. She harbors a genuine fondness for cruelty, particularly when exacted upon those who most deserve it. Though she may have the capacity for love, she abhors traditional romance, instead favoring darker themes and obsessions. Her affections are entirely dependant upon shared ideology. She could never be friends with, let alone be romantically involved with, a Muggle-born witch or Wizard. Bellatrix has a dry, sometimes cruel sense of humor. The faults and flaws of others certainly prove most amusing her, but she can appreciate acerbic wit and sardonicism as well. She believes strongly in tradition, family and honor, thus explaining why Sirius and Andromeda's betrayals evoked such rage. She views them as having forsaken everything of importance in favor of dallying with the corrupt and filthy.
Emotion is something of a contradiction for Bellatrix. She is renowned for her iciness and stoicism, seldom showing the slightest hint of fear, sadness, or worry. And yet, when ired she is notoriously volatile, unleashing unbridled fury upon all who dare inspire it. This fiery passion is also reflected in her intimate pursuits, leading one to conclude only that it is not expression that she strives to avoid, but rather those forms that can be considered vulnerabilities and weaknesses. To assume that she is impervious to such emotions is natural, as it is precisely the image she projects and wishes you to believe, but no amount of denial and fallaciousness can quell the human capacity for hurt and distress.
Contrary to popular belief, Bellatrix is not clinically insane, though there is no denying that her mental instability verges on lunacy. Nor is she a sociopath in the traditional sense of the word, as such a diagnosis is contradicted by the deep affinity for her loyal family members. Make no mistake, however, for her morals are skewed and her mind twisted that she discards traditional definitions of "right" and "wrong," fully believing her actions to be entirely justified and, indeed, commendable. It is a fine line between malice and delusion, but for the moment Bellatrix remains firmly on the other side, torturing and slaughtering not because she knows no better, but because she firmly rejects that which is traditionally regarded as "good."
Commitment is not a word that plays heavily in Bellatrix's vocabulary, save her loyalty to her master. As a strong-willed female, she rebels against the notion that a woman is meant to be married and turned into a tea party hostess. This is not to say that she is an innocent. While not well-travelled enough to earn the title of a harlot, Bellatrix has had a handful of partners with whom she has extensive experience and practice. As a result, she is skilled in the seductive arts, but notoriously picky about who bestows such talents upon. In recent years, she has restricted most of such attentions to her husband.
Bellatrix is domineering by nature, a trait that hasn't sat well with every man in her past. She refuses to be subjugated to the role of a common housewife and socialite, a position that has not always proven to be consistent with the desires of traditional pureblooded men. Though capable of her own brand of dark affection, her true loyalty lies in serving the Dark Lord. Bellatrix only bestows her friendship on those with superior breeding and expects them to be appropriately reverant. When shown the proper respect and reverence, Bellatrix is fairly loyal, though she will not hesitate in cutting associates out of her life (or simply ending theirs) if they stray from the proper path in either loyalty or ideology.
• Strengths and weaknesses:
• Mental health:
• Interests: Bella's darker interests coincide quite conveniently with her chosen occupation. She delights in the sadistic and cruel both in fantasy and in practice, willingly engaging in that which others would deem atrocious or obscene. Within the Lord's ranks, there are flowers - individuals more suited to diplomacy and socialization - and swords - those who thrive on furthering the success of the cause by hand rather than tongue. In the former category, Bellatrix is hopelessly inept, but it is in the latter that she excels, taking true pleasure in completing the horrendous tasks assigned to her by her Lord. In this respect, her greatest interest is her work.
Delectable as murder and torture may be, one must have some other interests. Bellatrix savors certain "classical" aspects of wealthy life. She enjoys Italian wines, classical music and luxury. Expressionist artwork and macabre poetry hold particular favor, as does historical literature, particularly with regard to the Italian Renaissance. She idolizes the likes of Lucrezia Borgia, Queen Cleopatra and Erzsébet Bathory, admiring their cunning, intelligence, deception, and ingenuity. She generally shuns traditionally "feminine" activities along the lines of hostessing and flower arranging, instead preferring horseback riding and Equesterian sports for leisure. Her mother forcibly had her instructed in many things, but few failed to grab hold of her rebellious daughter. The most notable exception to this is her proficency in the piano, though she has unquestionably (and begrudgingly) inherited much of the physical grace and etiquette that Druella so relentlessly insisted she be taught. Social manners, however, are another matter entirely.
Relationships
• Relatives:
• Relationship with family:
Druella (nee Rosier) Black: Though she respects her, her mother Druella is very much the traditional pureblooded socialite, much to Bellatrix's chagrin. It is not that she opposes the notion of traditional gender roles, for she believes some women to be quite suited for nothing more than marriage and motherhood, but rather her mother's insistence that *she* follow in her footsteps. Her mother openly supports the traditional ideology that powers the Death Eater cause, but has no direct involvement with the Dark Lord himself and is disturbed by her daughter's decision to actively slaughter on his behalf. Hosting parties for pureblood sympathizers would be a far more acceptable approach for a lady, as far as Druella is concerned. Bella possesses neither the patience nor the desire to become a hostess, traditionally shunning balls and galas unless her interest is piqued or she is truly obligated to attend. It would be erroneous to label Bella her a rebel, however, as she strongly believes such social circles and events to be an integral part of traditional pureblood culture. When called upon by the Dark Lord to act in such a capacity, she is obedient and charming, as she deems His favor a worthy cause for sinking to such disdainful proclivities.
Cygnus Black: Her father Cygnus is undoubtedly her favored parent, as his interests in politics and government are far more akin to her own. Though Cygnus does expect his daughter to eventually wed, he in some ways treats her more or less as as he would a son, allowing her to discuss matters traditionally reserved for men, while still bestowing the general affection due to a daughter. As a child, she far preferred spending time in her father's library than arranging flowers or perfecting the art of the tea ceremony. Of the two, she relates most closely with her father, not only due to her preference for politics over social matters, but his willingness to accept her for who she is, as opposed to her mother's fondness for who she wants her to be.
Narcissa Black: Narcissa is one of the few people Bellatrix has any affection for. As a girl, she shunned and tortured Andromeda, but to a degree took her youngest sister under her wing. It was true that Narcissa's particular interests did not coincide perfectly with hers, but they shared an overriding devotion to family and tradition that facilitated a bond. Bella has no desire to be a socialite and wife, but understands and respects that it was an integral part of their society suited for many women - including her sister. Notable and rare as her fondness for her sister may be, however, it is easily eclipsed by her devotion to her master. Nothing - and no one - comes before her allegiance to Voldemort, even her sister.
Andromeda Black: TBA
• Sexuality:
• Significant other:
• Children:
Educational
• School:
• Years:
• House:
• Achievements:
• NEWTS:
Occupational
• Occupation:
• Previous jobs, if any:
The War
• How is your character involved in the war?
• Will your character die during the next year?
• If yes, please give some details on how/when you'd like this to occur:
Overall History
Each section should be at least one paragraph
• Family/childhood: The eldest daughter of Cygnus and Druella Black was also the most peculiar. Though her mother shared her pureblooded mentality and aristocracy, Bellatrix was troubling even to her from a young age. While the other girls her age delighted in the beauty of priceless porcelain dolls and elaborate tea parties, Bella was unimpressed and unintrigued, dismissing her mother's attempts to interest her in the hobbies and activities most befitting a well-mannered socialite. Instead, she indulged in adventure, exploring the manor and its vast grounds with such fervor that she would often worry her mother when she did not return before nightfall. The occasions on which the family servants were forced to venture out into the lush forests and green hillsides in pursuit of the absent child were too numerous to count, paralleled only in their frequency by Bellatrix's stoic unwillingness to apologize for frightening her parents so dearly, so enthralled by her adventures and discoveries that she was seemingly oblivious to the distress that her absence caused, if not incapable of recognizing it at all. Reigning in such a strong-willed girl was no easy task, but her parents were unbending in their devotion to their daughter's academic and cultural development.
As the heiress to a fortune whose wealth was utterly beyond compare, Bellatrix's education was unparalleled in its quality and extent. As a loyal society wife, Druella placed the greatest importance on the subjects most likely to benefit young Bellatrix when she grew to marry and mother children, emphasizing the beauty of the arts, dance, and the Romantic languages. Under the tutelage of the finest tutors that money could buy, she flourished in linguistics and culture, but no language or civilization held a greater lure than that of the Italians. In the Italian Renaissance, she found a lavish world of luxury, corruption and political intrigue to which no modern society could compare, compelled by the influence of the ruthless Borgias in 15th century Italy. It is in their poisonous daughter Lucrezia that she finds a Renaissance idol to this day, enthralled by the woman's toxic legacy and the unprecedented power she wielded over the country in her father's absence. Successful as her mother's endeavors unquestionably were in Bellatrix's linguistic development, she was not nearly so receptive to to being enrolled in an elite finishing school.
When the bird chirps characteristic of Black Manor's sumptuous grounds was curiously missing one morning, Druella was forced to ponder their absence aloud as she and her eldest daughter strolled through the well-manicured English gardens. Upon inquiry, the raven-haired seven-year old at her feet merely smiled knowingly - and eerily - up at her mother, strangely silent even when Druella began to stare at her, her self-satisfied smile lingering even after the older woman had gone back into the house. The incident was only the beginning of Bellatrix's bizarre deviation from normal behavior. Though her actions rarely extended to anything she could be proven to be responsible for, the incidents were sufficiently unnerving to Druella to prompt her into taking quick action to correct the abnormal behavior. Touted by Druella as the key to stifling her daughter's rebellious spirit, Madame Helene's Academy for Young Girls housed the eight year-old girl for precisely five days before she staged an elaborate escape and fled the school, only to return to the manor's doorstep unaided. Her unexpected arrival shocked her mother, but it only amused her father, who had long abandoned his efforts to placate his daughter with dolls and had begun to appreciate her uniqueness, wisely reserving his doting for young Narcissa in favor of treating Bellatrix like a son.
No attempts were made to return her to the finishing school, but Druella remained firm in her attempts to personally instruct her daughter in her efforts to turn her into a perfect lady. The results were mixed at best, and what few successes were had did not go without struggles along the way. Persuading the child to attend was in itself a daunting task, as Bellatrix far preferred to languish in her father's expansive study with intriguing books than abide her mother's social training. Under her mother's instruction, Bellatrix learned how to walk like a lady, albeit at the expense of a few bruised house elves when she flung her book from her head in frustration at the miserable creatures. Her ballroom dance classes were similarly difficult; while she took to the latin dances naturally, her fondness for the Argentine tango greatly outweighed the more practical, graceful waltz that her mother fought so valiantly to teach her. Mercifully, Druella encountered little opposition in teaching her daughter impeccable table manners and the proper way to greet guests, but she foolishly took these successes to be indicative of a turning tide and attempted to capitalize on them in an incident that would end in disaster.
• School/work: At age eleven she received her acceptance letter to Hogwarts, filling her with a sense of pride and immediately earning approval from both her father and mother. To commemorate the occasion, her mother threw a lavish going away party the night before. Despite Bellatrix's disdain for social functions, she consented to the event on account of its rarity and the fact that there was actually a milestone that warranted it. When she reached her room to get dressed, however, she found a conspicuously pink dress laid atop her bed. Freezing in her tracks, she summoned her mother and demanded to know the meaning of it, only to be informed that she would be wearing it. At first, it almost seemed as if the girl acquiesced, saying nothing and permitting the gala to get into full-swing. Surrounded by merry socialites and politicians alike, Druella very nearly blessed the divine for allowing the ball to commence without so much as a protest from her difficult daughter. Unfortunately, she prayed too soon, for the distinct smell of smoke wafted down the staircase and into the ballroom. Startled, she scurried up the stairs and burst into her daughter's room, only to find the dress and curtains ablaze - and her daughter nowhere to be found. While his wife busied herself with frantically putting out the fires, Cygnus caught a glimpse of a familiar silhouette between the fiery curtains - that of a very impudent little girl standing on the side of the road with several suitcases, impatiently awaiting the arrival of the Knightbus.
Undoubtedly sensing the sadism inherent in her childhood, the Sorting Hat promptly made its announcement of "Slytherin!" Though pleasing her parents certainly had its benefits, she was made most happy by the simple fact that she'd been placed in the House she'd coveted. Her noble bloodline led her fellow Slytherins to accept her without question, and if any were in doubt they would be abated by the immediate resumption of the sinister incidents at home. When she unintentionally spilled a potion on a hapless Gryffindor that resulted in some unattractive boils, her reaction had been one of shock. The Potions Professor had simply offered a sympathetic look to both parties involved, sent the Gryffindor to the infirmary and deducted five points for Bellatrix's carelessness. First years were bound to make mistakes, weren't they? But the Slytherins aware of her passion for Potions knew it was not an accident at all. Five points was a small price to pay for the amusement brought by seeing that Gryffindor covered in boils.
The cruelty inherent in her "accidents" grew as time went on, manifesting itself as anything from adding a potentially dangerous ingredient into an unsuspecting lab partner's potion to convincing a hapless Hufflepuff there was "secret treasure" in the Forbidden Forest. The increasingly sadistic incidents culminated in her 6th year when she put a tiny amount of poison in the goblet of a Gryffindor boy while at the Gryffindor table, using feigned flirtation as a pretense for her presence. The powder had been potent enough to send the boy to the infirmary, but miniscule enough to prevent fatality. Though Bellatrix wore a gleeful smile when the boy was carried from the Great Hall, there was no concrete evidence to pinpoint her responsibility or secure firm sanctions against her.
Bellatrix was utterly disgusted with state of affairs at Hogwarts, repulsed by the fact that Muggleborns and half-blood students were treated in the same manner as those of favorable breeding. Having heard of the far better curriculum at Durmstrang and Beauxbatons with regard to the Dark Arts and admission policies, she was less than satisfied with her school. When not in classes, Bellatrix engrossed herself in her studies, frequenting the library in pursuit of gaining knowledge about the subjects she viewed as useful. Her fascination with the Dark Arts led to an enviable collection of material on the subject, both procured from the Restricted Section and purchased from less-than-reputable merchants. Her O.W.L. scores were mixed at best, curiously comprised largely of O's and A's. Her fondness for such useful subjects as Defence Against The Dark Arts, Potions, Ancient Runes and Divination led her to focus upon these classes, but she nearly ignored "unnecessary" Care of Magical Creatures, Charms, History of Magic and Arithmancy - all but the latter due to a disdain for their perceived uselessness rather than an inability to succeed in them.
Bellatrix was made a prefect in her 5th year, much to the chagrin of her Gryffindor classmates. Her frequent abuse of the privilege eventually led to its revocation her 6th year, though in her eyes it was well worth the sacrifice. Thrilled to be rid of the pesky, unimportant subjects required of her for her O.W.L's, she received four O's and one E on her N.E.W.T's prior to graduation. It was during her 7th year that she first encounted the Dark Lord Voldemort, who appealed to her malicious sensibilities with his intoxicating, seductive picture of how the future could be under his rule.
• Recent history: TBA
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