[quote][big][color=yellow]Thousands of feet march to the beat, it's an army on the march.
     Long way, from home, paying the price in young men's lives.
          Thousands of feet march to the beat, it's an army in despair.
               Knee-deep, in mud, stuck in the trench with no way out.
-Marching Hymn of the Lovat Scouts[/color][/big]
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[u][b][big][color=yellow]End of an Era:[/color][/big][/b][/u]
[b][color=white][justify]
Born and raised in London at the end of the 19th century, Anthony lived neither in the lap of luxury nor on the cold streets. An only child, his father worked at a local factory that manufactured parts for a multitude of machinery, while his mother acted as a nanny for the children of noble families. While he was still young, his father would often bring him to the factory to instill a strong work ethic within the boy. It wasn't his favorite thing to do in the slightest, much preferring to play with the other children on his street or even accompany his mother to see how the upper class lived. Regardless, Anthony learned what a good day's work could do for a man's spirit as well as his purse. By his tenth birthday, his father had saved enough money to send Anthony to a boarding school out in the countryside, his parents wishing to see their son excel in the future. Although not the most prestigious of schools, he devoured what knowledge and books that they had to offer, always being the one to ask questions rather than lay back and relax.[/justify][/color]

[u][b][big][color=yellow]Student to Soldier[/color][/big][/b][/u]
[color=white][justify]
At the age of 18, German troops poured across Europe, leading to the bloodiest war in history up to that point. Anthony however fell victim to the rumors of a quick and decisive war, glory and spoils being within sight after an easy victory. For the first two years of the Great War, he served as a standard infantryman as the war of attrition painfully dragged on. He would spend nights wide awake in the muddy rat infested trenches, keeping his ears open for the sound of artillery in the distance before praying his position wouldn't get hit. Due to his skill with a rifle, in 1916 he was transferred to the Lovat Scouts, a specialized regiment of marksmen tasked with taking out enemies from a far. For the final two years of the war, he crawled through the battlefields with sniper rifle in hand, playing the part of both a hunter and a survivor. [/justify][/color]

[u][b][big][color=yellow]Return to life[/color][/big][/b][/u]

[color=white][justify]After the Peace Treaty of Versailles, he kissed France good bye and returned back to London, his parents thrilled to see their son come home in one piece. He had left a soft faced boy, and returned as a full grown man, his facial features and knowledgeable mind making the young man seem a bit older than he was. With no real direction in his life, he gave a majority of the money he had socked away during the war to his parents, using what was left to rent a small flat that he runs a detective business out of. Currently he works minor cases presented to him, taking what money he can while waiting for the day that something amazing will finally happen. [/justify][/color] [/b]

[color=yellow][collapse=Personality and Physique]
[b][color=white][justify]Anthony stands at just above six feet tall with a thin yet athletic build, mostly thanks to his time in the Army. His hair is a golden type of blonde, always kept well combed with his face being freshly shaved; his eyes a cold light blue color. The only physical disabilities he has is a noticeable scar on his inner right thigh, the aftermath of a mortar that landed a tad too close. While it doesn't hinder his movements normally, he isn't quite as quick on his feet as other young men his age. Personality-wise, he's a cordial and kind man, having no qualms with being friendly to complete strangers if needed. At the same time however, he is rather serious and reserved, preferring to keep acquaintances at a comfortable distance while indulging in the company of close friends. Despite his service, he doesn't come off as a being a military man, instead giving off the aura of a scholar or a thinker more than anything else.[/justify][/color] [/b][/collapse][/color]

[color=yellow][collapse=Alternative Backstories]

[collapse=The Nobleman]
[color=white][b][justify]Mostly self explanatory, instead of growing up in a lower class family, Anthony was instead born to a noble house. Most aspects of this backstory would be determined by the scenario at had. Specific ranks, titles, life styles, alterations of the standard story line, and the addition of family members is entirely possible. In addition to that, linking two characters together as siblings is possible as well, allowing for an incestual spin on things as well.[/justify][/b][/color]
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[collapse=The Creature]
[color=white][b][justify]As a player this would not be my most favorite background, but it is entirely doable. In this representation, Anthony is no mere man but rather a creature of the night with blood sucking tendencies. Unlike the commonly represented iterations of Vampires, he prefers to keep risks low and blend in as best he can. Subtle feedings here and there in the dark London alley without lingering too long or building bonds. Survival is his main pursuit, not enthrallment.[/justify][/b][/color]
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[collapse=The Worker]
[color=white][b][justify]Poverty forces one to do many things, and in this case Anthony was forced into menial jobs from a young age. Although doing well enough in commercial jobs, working as a clerk, salesman, and similar jobs, he found out rather quickly that the life of a butler or servant offered better opportunities. Even if he were to work well into his late years for a well off family, wouldn't it be worth it to make a decent living to call his own?[/justify][/b][/color]
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[collapse=The Scholar]
[color=white][b][justify]Instead of enlisting in 1914, Anthony decided to pursue his education instead in order to keep himself out of the killing fields. Six long years of intense work and study at a highly accredited University earned the man a Master's degree in his field of choice. Despite his relatively young age, Anthony was more than qualified to teach at most state run schools or even take up position within the private system of education. Of course, his skills could always be requested by noble to instruct his own children, even if there is more to the job than originally hinted at.[/justify][/b][/color]
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[color=yellow][collapse=Possible Scenarios]

[collapse=Prearranged Marriage]
[color=white][b][justify]For as long as he could remember, Anthony knew that he was to be betrothed to a woman without having his own opinions heard, and the day has come for their marriage. What is she like? Was she that one homely, yet loyal woman he had once met at a play in London? She could just as likely be that one wench rumored to live far in the countryside, her beauty only being rivaled by her sharp tongue. What if he hadn't met his bride to be at all, their first chance meeting being at the chapel itself? Furthermore, what if he wasn't to marry a woman at all, but a mere girl, still young in years and barely on the verge of womanhood? Whoever he was to marry, however, he would need to come to terms with it rather soon lest their lives be full with constant bickering. [/justify][/b][/color]
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[collapse=Fallen Noble]
[color=white][b][justify]Perhaps a series of unfortunate events have ousted Anthony from the lap of luxary, or perhaps he was disowned for his volunteering to serve in the armed forces like a "common man". Whatever the case may have been, Anthony is now forced to fend for himself for the world with no money, titles, or family to rely on. Maybe he can find a kind, albeit "common" soul to offer him a place to stay? Perhaps an old child-hood lover opens her own home to accept him into her waiting arms? Or even a rival aristocratic family sees this as the perfect opportunity to shame a member of the house of Stroiche?[/justify][/b][/color]
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[collapse=Guardianship]
[color=white][b][justify]Through some means Anthony has been tasked with the position of a Guardian or something of a similar position. Perhaps he is to over see the organization and management of an entire estate and it's occupants, or maybe even control over a single person. Whatever the case may be, he should certainly make sure that no harm comes to those under his supervision. Now whether he is an exception to this rule is another question entirely. [/justify][/b][/color]
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[collapse=A Spy Among Us]
[color=white][b][justify]As a polite, well manner, and unassuming man, who better would be suited to espionage than Anthony himself? There are a number of ways this scenario could proceed, depending on the set up. He could be embed himself into an aristocrat's household to learn of affairs going about behind closed doors on behest of a rival family. Or perhaps he is playing a much more high stakes game, becoming a traitor to his own country thanks to a lucrative offer from the newly formed Wiemar Republic in Germany. Anything is possible, just make sure that his words are true.[/justify][/b][/color]
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[collapse=The Detective and his Assistant]
[color=white][b][justify]More often than not, having two heads to work with is much better than one, especially if she has a pretty face and a sharp mind. Perhaps there's a string of burglaries in the upper half of London, hinting towards a new smuggling ring or maybe there's something more dire and unholy stalking the streets of London during the middle of the night. This can certainly lead into supernatural territory if it's a mutual interest.[/justify][/b][/color]
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[color=yellow][collapse=Things to know/OOC]
[color=white][b]-First and foremost, the formatting on this profile looks best when using the Dark theme for F-list.
-I have a preference of Note play over F-chat (easier to keep things organize and refer back to plot points), but I can easily do either or.
[color=green]-He is meant to be played in 1920's London, but Victorian England is [b][u]always[/u][/b] a welcomed and loved setting of the player.
     +In regards to female characters, Victorian fashion as well as Lolita fashion is also always enjoyable. The more detailed the dress, the better.[/color]
-Any art used on this profile is not my own, and I will take said art down if requested by the original creator.
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