Rose du Plaint
Lady, Grand Duchess Rose du Plaint (a.k.a. Rosie)
Rose is the daughter of Francine Du Plaint. She is extremely shy and is never seen while there is a customer in the shop. Her shyness stems from her percieved disfiguring disability. She has alopecia and is incapable of growing any hair on her body.
"Mother, I am one hundred sixteen years old. I should know more about how to act in society. You keep telling me I need to master certain skills but you never let me go anywhere so I can practice them. I want to learn healing. The house of healing is on the grounds so it's not like I'm leaving the palace," Rose demanded once again. "For the last time, my answer is NO! How many times do I need to explain to you the reasons? Because you can't grow hair to hide your body, you are a danger to everyone else there studying to become healers. Do you want to be responsible for an entire generation of healers going blind? How would you feel if that were to happen, huh?" "But how do you know that would happen? I have my veils and headscarves. You trained me well to keep myself clothed when around others." "You are still a child and living under my roof and protection and you will do as you're told. Do you understand?" Francine waited for confirmation. "Good. Now this is the last I will hear of this. Have I made myself clear?" "Yes, mother." Rose's voice dripped with acid. "I am sorry Rosie. I am not doing this to be cruel. I wish there were some way you could follow your heart, but without hair, that is just not safe." Francine's eyes teared up as she attempted to console her daughter.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Rose was born in the Royal Palace of Herigmark. Growing up she was isolated from other children her own age. In fact, she still feels isolated and lonely. She has never been allowed to establish any contacts outside the palace staff, who are under strict orders to just do their duties and no more where Rose is concerned. This has caused Rose to become withdrawn and lacking in the social skills required for someone of her rank.
There were many times when Rose would sneak out of the apartments to run around the palace. This was before her hair began falling out. When it first started to fall out she came back to the apartments with her hair in her hands, crying. Her mother comforted her by saying it was likely just a passing condition. As the years passed, more of her hair fell out until she no longer had any hair on her body. This happened before she was fifteen. Once it was determined that her hair was never going to grow back, she chose to remain in the suite. Choosing to leave only when she needed to run errands for her mother, or to collect the laundry and fabric her mother needs to complete her work.
Rose is learning the art of the seamstress under her mother's tutelage. She learned the arts of dying thread and cloth, blockprinting, boning and quilting. She is attempting to learn the art of tatting. Her mother is teaching her with string to practice, since she dare not risk her special threads in the hands of a novice.
Gender Identity
Rose has recently began questioning her gender. She feels like she doesn't really fit as a lady nor as a lord but somewhere in between. This has given rise to her looking at the oufits worn by others. Though she wishes to talk to her mother about this she fears the reaction she may receive.
Seeing Eldrick in the shop being measured and fitted for her mother's gowns has strengthed her resolve to bring up the conversation. Eldrick's chosen gender did not align with his body and her mother didn't even flinch or comment about it in private. She felt this bode well for her mother being supportive.
Sexuality
Though Rose has had many interactions where it could have become romantic she has never been interested in anything physical.
Education
Rose has recieved the best education that could be attained in Herigberg, thanks to the palace tutors. Although, the one area in which she really wants to be trained in, her mother has forbidden. Of all the areas of knowledge, the one she really wishes to learn is the art of healing.
Rose has the desire to read every book in the Royal Library. Having been reading since she was five she has read nine tenths of it. She knows there are books which are not in the Royal Library because they deal with the healing arts and are therefore located in the House of Healing.
Accomplishments & Achievements
Her mother allows her to help with the cutting of patterns and stitching on the gowns she makes. She has been crafting corsets for the last twenty-five years.
Failures & Embarrassments
Rose considers her inability to grow her hair to be a true failure. A nymph incapable of growing hair, is a nymph who is likely to cause a lover to go blind.
She is embarrassed by the fact that she feels nothing she does is QUITE good enough for her mother. That is to say anything other than her needlework, though she doubts she will ever move into a more visible position until she either leaves her mother's home or one of them dies.
Mental Trauma
The fact that Rose never knew her father was a blow that she has never truly recovered from. Even with the titles she was granted she has suffered. Her mother refuses to talk about her father except in vague terms.
She feels she has failed her mother because she is incapable of growing hair. For this reason she tries her best to impress her mother with her skills as a seamstress, even though it is not a career she truly wishes to follow.
Her mother's refusal to allow her to attend the House of Healing for training is causing a rift between them. Though she understands her mother's reasoning she feels like she is being smothered and unneccessarily isolated from her peers.
She has not been allowed to build friendships, nor to really socialize with those in the palace. These lacks in etiquette and social skills have caused her to become more reclusive, thus leading to bouts of depression.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
All Rose wants to do is make her mother proud of her. Seeing her mother shaking her head every now and again, reminds Rose that there is something wrong with her. Well, at least in her mother's eyes, that is.
Savvies & Ineptitudes
Rose has saved up quite an elaborate fortune from her personal stipend over the years. When she learned she had the title of Grand Duchess, she approached the exchequer asking what she was entitled to and how much she was currently receiving.
"Pardon me, Edward..." "Children are not permitted in this office. Now who is your mother?" Pulling herself up straight and tall, adjusting her head scarf she declared, "I am the daughter of Francine du Plaint, please call her." Edward paled visibly as he realised he had just snapped at a member of the Royal household, and one far older than he was. "Your Grace, I am so sorry I didn't know. How may I be of service?" He ducked his head in reverence, his voice hushed. "What is my stipend and how much am I currently receiving? My mother is receiving my stipend and I see nothing of it." "Let me check my ledger." He pulled a large book off the shelf behind him. Flipping through the pages, his face began to fall. "Your Grace you are currently receiving a pittance of your stipend. It appears that since you have surpassed eighteen years, your stipend increased to seven gold a month, up from the five silvers your mother has been receiving on your behalf." "Okay... am I allowed to collect the stipend difference from then 'til now, or is it only from this point forward? I would like the difference put aside for me to draw on as I need. Please keep sending the five silvers a month to my mother." "Your Grace, that could very well bankrupt the kingdom. Even six gold a month for eighty-two years, well that is--" he paused to make some calculations. "--That is six thousand three hundred ninety-six gold. If I refuse to pay it or you could have me imprisoned." He swallowed convulsively. "Edward I am not about to do that to you. I'll tell you what, pay me fifteen hundred gold for what is owed, calculate the rest back in as taxes. But from now on I receive my full stipend less the silver sent to my mother." A broad calculating smile crossed her face. Edward, nodded vehemently, as he made notes in his ledger. "There it is done, Your Grace." "Good now don't mention this to my mother."
Likes & Dislikes
Rose enjoys the feel of fine cloth against her skin. Her particular favourite is the silk her mother crafts herself.
Personality Quirks
Whenever Rose hears someone new, she uses the mirrors in her mother's shop to catch a glimps of them out of the corner of her eye, and then quickly hides.
Social
Contacts & Relations
by fahri ramdani
Family Ties
Her mother is Francine du Plaint, the seamstress. Although sometimes she argues with her mother, she loves her very much.
Mannerisms
When out in public she is the perfect lady of the land. The difference is that when alone with her mother in their private rooms, she acts like a petulant prepubescent child. Although she is one hundred sixteen years of age she has to reach maturity as a nymph.
Relationships
Current Location
Species
Ethnicity
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Lady, Grand Duchess
Age
116
Circumstances of Birth
Illegitimate
Birthplace
Herigberg
Spouses
Siblings
Children
Current Residence
Palace of Heriberg
Pronouns
She/her
Eyes
Deep Blue
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Pale
by Endho
Another great article! Just a few edits to be made that I've noticed: "...whom being under strict orders to just do their duties and no more where Rose was concerned." Think this could be edited to read "who have been given strict orders to..." "Once it determined that her hair wasn't going to back she chose to remain in the suite." A word or two missing in this sentence. Could be changed to "Once it became clear her hair wasn't going to grow back," "Of all the educational perspectives the one she really wishes to learn is the art of healing. She is learning the art of the seamstress under her mother's tutelage." Missing a comma after perspectives, and the next sentence could be started with "Instead, she is learning..." "Though she is one hundred sixteen years of age she has to reach puberty as a nymph." Missing comma after "age" and would put in "she has yet to reach puberty" In terms of content though, this is great! Although finding out she is the Grand Aunt of a King was a surprise! Has this been mentioned in another article I have missed somewhere? I really hope Francine is understanding when Rose has that difficult conversation with her!