Leon Moreau

Leon Moreau (aka Leo Monroe)
"Twenty-eight" | Vampire | Hunter of Hunters

Birthday:
August 30th, 1762 1985

Death Date:
August 1st, 1791

Occupation:
Writer (currently), but does not actually need to work due to immense saved up funds
Frequently recruited and paid generously by his own kind to hunt down and eliminate individuals known to hunt vampires.

Hometown:
Marseille, France; Currently claims New Orleans, Louisiana

Personality:
Leo, as he goes by currently, is a smooth, charismatic individual. Seeming to be the sort of person you only find in movies- not necessarily blaringly perfect, but difficult to find fault in. He's the sort that seems to do everything with purpose yet does it so naturally it seems effortless and without second thought. Leo is naturally charming, witty, flirtatious, and overall someone that anyone would be able to (and wanting to) have a conversation with. He comes across as intelligent without seeming too smart, and has a sort of aire of quiet power to him- seeming like the sort of person who always accomplishes what he sets out to do. His speech is refined but not stuffy, and that combined with his tendency to answer immediately and never stumble over his words makes it all the easier for people to believe his lies. Leo finds he only has to use glamouring when he wants someone to do something so innately against their nature, because his persona and sure speech makes his lies so believable that everyone marks him as being honest when he's usually anything but truthful.

Talents/Skills:
Having lived a quarter of a millennium now, Leo has collected and perfected a variety of skills, though he doesn't show off many for fear that people will go past thinking of him as talented and intelligent and start to suspect he's simply had too much time for his young age to accomplish so much. Among those skills and accomplishments are fluency in ten languages, four college degrees, and more than a hundred books published under various names through the course of his existence.

To those who truly know Leo as what he is, one of his best-known skills is tracking and eliminating those who attempt to kill vampires. Earning him the title Hunter of Hunters, Leo is one of the longest-surviving of vampires who dedicate themselves to this 'career,' earning him quite a bit of notariety and a decent amount of power and influence despite his relatively young age. Most who devote themselves to hunting those who hunt vampires find their life expectancy short, so Leo's relatively long survival for that 'calling' has already earned him the benefit of people thinking highly of his skills, but the powerful vampires who have recruited his services and owe him only solidify his standing and the power and influence he has within his species.

Quirks/Habits:
This is where Leo stands out as almost supernaturally perfect- he truly does not have any unusual quirks or habits left. Anytime he determined something about his demeanor was unrefined- things like messing with hair or nervous gestures- he determined to train it out of himself, and has had enough time to do so completely. Without fully realizing it, this lack of any nervous quirks or habits is one of the things that just adds to the impression of refinement that Leo radiates.

History:

Leo was born Leon Jacques Moreau, eldest son of a wealthy noble family in Marseille, France. Part of his upbringing was spent in the court of Louis XVI of France, even becoming something of a valued confidant of the King. Leon was precisely the type of son his parents expected and that was common for the Moreau family- he was well-educated, and stayed involved in and informed of current events. As such, Leon was well aware of the Revolutionary activity long before it ever came into his life.

Despite sensing the unrest and the unease it gave him when thinking of the future, Leon did as was expected of him, marrying Jeanne-Marie, a noblewoman of even greater standing than himself, warranted and arranged by his close companionship with the King. Together, the couple had two children- a son, Pierre-Louis, and a daughter, Therese. His continued loyalty and role as confidant to the king had the Moreau family gaining prominence greatly, with talk even of Therese being betrothed to the young Dauphin, setting the family in line to have a daughter become queen someday.

While Leon cared for his family, he found it difficult to let go of his worry enough to truly love his wife and children, fearing the instability and creeping sense of impermanence he caught from his discussions with the king. Only guarenteeing in his mind the fact that he'd not go unnoticed in the impending uprising was finding out that his cousin, Jean, was getting rather involved on the side of the revolutionaries, while he remained steadfastly loyal to the king. And so, when revolutionaries broke into his family's abode in the early days of the revolution, he was certainly frightened, but not the least bit surprised. His children were killed rather quickly in the chaos, and his wife not long after. Leon, however, was 'spared' for public 'trial' and execution.

It was as he was awaiting his sentence that someone found Leon, breaking him from his prison. Leon's illusion that this was a rescue, however, soon faded, as his supposed rescuer soon turned on him, doing something he found quite strange- he bit him, draining him until everything went black.

The next thing Leon knew was waking up in complete darkness, pushing his way out of the earth. His maker stuck around long enough to explain what he was now and show him how to function, and then gave him a simple task- watch closely. For there was one thing not all involved in the revolution realized- the means of execution by decapitation was purposeful, as unlike hanging it would kill vampires, and a mass purging of vampires could be hidden within the revolution. So Leon was tasked with using his knowledge of nobility to determine when people not worthy of the notice were executed, and then to kill the hunters who captured and condemned them. And this Leon did gladly, blaming them for much of what happened, including the death of his family, friends, and the fact he was turned for the express purpose of rooting them out.

Ever since, Leon has moved around, serving as a very efficient, ruthless hunter of Hunters. Often tipped off or recruited by older vampires who wish to see Hunters put down but not wanting to risk it themselves, Leon has made a tidy living for himself, as well as many powerful acquaintances. He is one vampire who does not live in much worry of his safety from others, even those older than him, as he's eliminated hunters for enough powerful vampires to have earned a reputation as being valuable and protected.

Though he could have retired from this 'occupation' long ago, Leon has stuck with it gladly, the danger feeding his reckless side, the rewards satisfying the part of him raised to seek more and more power. Leon has never had any real ties that he's felt fully attached to, and so with nothing to lose he's an ideal candidate for the role. And so, Leon continues to offer his services to those who know to look for him, leading him to Ashwick.

While Leon was initially concerned that the coming-out of vampires would eliminate hunters and ruin his 'business,' he has found quite the opposite to be true. There are many more hunters now from those who are innately prejudiced but simply did not know of the existence of vampires, but Leon finds those individuals to be amateurs and makes quick work of them. There are still more, though, who have stepped up their game even more, concerned that the common knowledge of vampires would lead to more of them in power, and as such the true Hunters are still out there, working harder than ever, and providing Leon- now going by Leo, complete with perfectly American accent- with more than enough to keep him occupied.

Leo has therefore just recently arrived in Ashwick, paid by several powerful vampires who noted the increased collection of their progeny in the location and wanting him to thoroughly purge the town of anyone who might be a threat. Leo has taken the job gladly, and is settling in, using his charismatic nature to help him gather information and decide what move to make next.

Romantic History:
Leo would be the last person to consider anything about his history to be 'romantic'-- ironic, perhaps, since his country of origin is thought of as romantic in nature by many. Leon's first and only committed relationship was the arranged marriage to his wife. Since then, he's occupied his time with more women than he can count or name, killing almost all his human companions, and parting ways with those who were like him as each acknowledged the interaction as a brief reprieve from the loneliness of immortality.

However, Leo, despite never genuinely feeling love, comes across as quite a romantic, knowing precisely what to say and when, and seeming to always find companionship when he seeks it. He will admit, though, that he's never known love, and considering that feeling it would require him to give into emotion and feel everything he's done, he has no intent to ever experience the emotion.

Struggles:
Leo portrays his existence as being struggle-free, and does a good job of coming across as cool, calm, and collected. He has plenty of them, though, even if he doesn't like to admit it. Keeping emotion suppressed can be difficult somedays, and trying to find continued purpose in existence without it can be a challenge if he lets himself think too much. As such, Leo gladly fills his time with physical pursuits- hunting, killing, and physical relationships- to keep his mind clear.

Some days, his self-given job as a 'Hunter of Hunters' can be a struggle, as he will occasionally find those who know what they are doing, who can subdue him and invariably try to 'torture' him for information- whereabouts of others like him, more often than not. These struggles are temporary, though, as Leo always breaks free, kills them, and then drinks away any lingering pain or torment. So far, it is a process that has worked for him, and he plans to keep with it, for as long as he can convince himself he has a purpose and can keep himself in the good graces and protection of the most powerful beings on earth, Leo is well aware he may be able to truly live forever.

Portrayal:

Gaspard Ulliel

((Amerz here again with Leo. He is open for plots, and the best way to get in touch with me is probably still AIM (Amerz17)- please don't hesitate to message me! I had to purge my old computer, so old contacts got lost and I might not have everyone, but I'm friendly I promise!

Leo is open for just about anything. I think it would especially be interesting, given his insistence that he has no ties, for him to have a progeny who comes to Ashwick. Otherwise... he could also use some vampires who have done 'business' with him in the past, friend-like acquaintances, rivals, old flings, etc. So lets get plotting!))