Andreas
From Changeling Venue
| Seeming | Darkling Antiquarian |
|---|---|
| Court | Spring Court ••• |
| Freehold | The Gift of Iron and Twine |
| Player | Chris Baines |
Contents |
Overview
Alias(es): Andrea Velvet (70's pen name), Andy Winter (current pen name), 'Sir' (known at his club)
Real Name: Alex Byron
Age: 60 (appears mid 30's)
Concept: Former erotica writer turned sadist and keeper of personal secrets
Entitlement: Those who enter the Kabaret Klub with a sense of entitlement are corrected soon enough.
Physical description: Pale, with deep, black burns said to cover the length of his body. He is generally thought to be a little overweight, but this is rarely raised. Andreas reasons he's already had his appearance twisted by his change, and sees little point in vanity, surrounding himself with beauty to coax his subjects, rather than become slave to it himself.
Relevant Mechanics: The only mechanics relevant to Andreas are over six foot tall, dark, handsome. They serve, beg and whimper when instructed, and change your car's oil in their underwear.
Character Livejournal: None
Character Information
Known History
Basic Timeline: A popular underground English writer of erotic and borderline BDSM during the late 1960's to 70's. Though no relation to the namesake poet, the coincidence nonetheless inspired Alex Byron to an interest in pre-Victorian erotica. As the years went on he began to develop an interest in other authors of the time, as well as more contemporary works such as Lady Chatterley's Lover and the writings of the Marquis de Sade. The sexual revolution of the 60's only spurred on his interest, and writing under a false, female moniker, Alex began publishing his first works on the British underground market. His work also proved highly popular in Australia. Further to this however, Alex became prone to experimentation, to further his subject matter. After countless dalliances with women, men, and it is rumoured the unsuitably young, though Andreas dismisses such whisperings, he gathered altogether the wrong sort of attention, that of the Fey. He disappeared in 1978. Because of this he did not see much of the rise to power of many of the conservative voices he'd attacked in his less erotic, more political writings, including Margaret Thatcher, Mary Whitehouse, and Barbara Cartland, who he termed 'an unholy trinity of frigid chastity.'
Andreas will not discuss what happened to him in Arcadia. It is understood however, that he was put to work as a research assistant and sometime test subject for his master. Since then he has re-established himself as a low-key writer, though thanks to the copious notes required of him in Arcadia on the subject of sexuality, he can no longer bear to write anything of this nature. He is otherwise occupied as the owner of what he calls his 'fantasy lounge.'
Current Activities: Much of Andreas' time is taken in Sydney, Australia, managing his 'fantasy lounge' Nightshade, an exclusive BDSM parlour of sorts in Darlinghurst, where he is known only as 'Sir', and it is against club policy to refer to anyone else as 'Sir', an offense punishable by banning, or worse. Andreas is rarely seen by his patrons, and those who are granted the rare audience are treated to exquisite physical rewards in exchange for secrets, and by extension, desire.
It is known, that Andreas keeps a vast library of secrets, and most particularly photographs of those who have fallen under his influence, earning him the seeming of the Antiquarian. His library may be unique, but it is surprisingly diverse.
He also continues to write freelance, but publishes rarely to avoid detection by the Fey. He does write a regular column in the local gay paper , feeding paranoia about male body image. These columns are written under the name 'Andy Winter' in homage reference to Vogue editrix Anna Wintour and the size-zero obsession. Andreas was once heard to describe Wintour as 'everything I could aspire to be' in terms of promoting insecurity and desire. Because of this proactive approach, he is well recognised within the Spring Court.
Merit Details: TBA
Motley
Andreas is known to have strong ties to The Velvet Underground, but promoting himself as 'a friend to all' his allegiences beyond this are frustratingly elusive.
Allies
Club staff, including an extremely large, powerful male bodyguard called Cheryl, and some publishing editors. He is also curiously well liked within the Autumn court. The favours he may have performed to gain such esteem will remain a mystery.
Notable Changeling Allies
- Valentine
- Marcus Cunningham
- Mouse
- 'a friend to all'
Enemies (current and former)
Mary Whitehouse - The enemy (at the time) of all social progressives. "Nasty conservative bitch" was the term most oft used.
Margaret Thatcher - "So frigid that when she opens her legs a light comes on inside." - from a 1974 article by Andrea Velvet published by The Sun. No further articles by Velvet appeared in that paper.
Barbara Cartland - It's unknown just why Andreas takes such exception to Barbara Cartland. A romance novelist seems an odd choice for his ire, yet he despises her, even post humourously. It may be due to her success in writing what Andreas perceives as 'weak, watered down, pitiful excuses for romantic fiction.' He is also beleived to have briefly met her at one time and found much in common, making him despise her even more.
It's difficult to tell, but a fair bet anyone Andreas has kept files or records of, doesn't hold him in high regard, even if they fear what he may do with that knowledge.
Character Inspirations
The UK underground literature movement of the 60's and 70's, Kabaret Emcee, 'Cirque Burlesque', Hellfire etc.
Soundtrack
"There's a party in my head..."
Quotes
- "My dislike for Cartland, Thatcher and Whitehouse has not been lessened by the fact that I now know I shall outlive the bitches."
- "I've great admiration for Mary Shelley. Nineteen, with a published horror novel, and regular experiments with absinthe and lesbianism. She's someone I'd take home to meet mother. No, I'm serious."
- "I don't mind Australia, largely because I rather like the fact that it never minded me."
- Originally penned and gave Kenny Everett what would later become his famed quote "When England was a Kingdom, we had a king, when it was an Empire, we had an emperor. Now it's a country and we have Margaret Thatcher." The quote is attributed to Everett, and was not heard by the public until well after Andrea Velvet's disappearance.
Rumors
Andreas keeps rumours... he doesn't leak them, though they may yet appear.
