Character Avatar: Simba Lombardi
Character Name: Aeneas de Somerville
Age: 32
Height: 5'10''
Rank/Title: Prince of the Blood
Race: D'Angeline
Country/Province: Terre d'Ange/L'Agnace
Player: Merle
Appearance: Besides the fineness of feature common among D'Angelines, Aeneas' countenance is stamped with the tell-tales of House Somerville. Most notably his clear blue eyes and blonde hair. The former are a little worn around the edges, despite his young age, and the latter falls to his shoulders in wheat-gold locks that grow lighter with exposure to the sun... in direct contrast to his pale skin that darkens to a warm gilded tan.
Aeneas is of moderate build, tall but not remarkably so, somewhat slender but fit... his body that of someone who tends to lead an active lifestyle. His wardrobe is conservative more often than not, catering more to sensibility than a sense of style, though that most definitely isn't to say that he isn't well dressed. He also frequently ties his hair back for practicality purposes, though he isn't so fastidious as to cut it short.
Personality: Between he and his brother, Aeneas is by far the more diligent and responsible of the pair, despite being the younger. Though he is definitely more serious about his duties and the obligations of their station, that isn't to say that he's the 'all work and no play' type. He is certainly capable of demonstrating humor and charm. Perhaps unfortunately, he's also capable of being bluntly honest and a bit oblivious to the offense it might cause.
While they aren't completely opposite in personality, sharing a stubborn streak and a sense of pride among other things, his prudent nature has often balanced Iulus' more laid-back demeanor. He can sometimes tend to be stern, even nagging, but it is generally out of concern. Particularly where his brother is concerned. Aeneas also has a temper, but he usually manages to keep his head unless he is truly furious or distraught.
Although Aeneas tries to be innovative and creative with problem solving, there are times when he can be a bit set in his ways... or more often in his way of thinking. Stubborn and a bit resistant to changes, he is a man fond of the familiar. An aside of which being that, though he's purely D'Angeline and theoretically open minded about such things, when actually faced with differing preferences and lifestyles he can tend to be somewhat narrow-minded... even to the point that he could be considered slightly homophobic.
Aeneas is dutiful, devoted. Not only to his own family, but to the crown, as well. He is acutely aware of the history of treachery that lies between the de Somervilles and de Courcels, that of his duplicitous ancestor Percy. It is that which drives him to be even more steadfast in his support of the royal family, eager to make it clear that his loyalty is genuine.
History: As is often the case with high ranking families, even in Terre d'Ange, Elaine de Somerville had little choice in who she was to marry. Her family arranged for her a politically and socially sound betrothal to the eldest of the widower Duc Bertrand's eight children. A man by the name of Jourdain. An easy-going sort with more of a sense of humor than honor or duty, he was in no rush to wed his bride to be. Though she was certainly more the responsible type, she nonetheless had no complaints, as she and his brother Julien, the next eldest Bertrand brother, began to harbor feelings for one another.
Their leisure was ended a couple years later when an illness left the Duc weak and ailing. A date was set for the wedding, and Jourdain was expected to take up his father's title and duties. Not wanting the responsibility, and knowing of his brother's feelings for his fiancee, he would have freely given up his right and let Julien take his place... but he felt that he would only be a disappointment in refusing to fulfill his duties, besides which, he did not belief that his father would accept his refusal. So, instead, he fled. Leaving no other choice but for Julien to marry and inherit in his place.
Julien was devastated at his brother's disappearance, as Jourdain had given no hint to his intentions, and the Bertrands searched for him for a time before finally giving him up as lost. But just as the wayward brother had intended, eventually Julien did inherit the Ducal title and married the Princess de Somerville, choosing to take her name more for simplicity's sake than for prestige, as Elaine did not wish to change hers and it was easier than having separate names or a hyphenated one.
In spite of the stumbling blocks that preceded their nuptials, the pair were quite happy together... and soon enough they were graced with the addition of two sons to their budding family, Iulus and Aeneas. They were well loved by their parents, but Julien took more to their first born, as he favored his father more in temperament, and the same was true of Elaine and the younger boy.
Just as the marriage was a happy one, the same could be said of Iulus' and Aeneas' childhood. Both were given the lessons and training that came with their status. Language, politics and diplomacy, swordplay and various other things expected of a prince, and most nobleman at all, really. Though they were more frequently found roughhousing in or out of the company of their various cousins. There was always a bit of rivalry between the brothers, but it was a playful sort of competitiveness that most often showed itself in wrestling matches, impromptu races and the like.
Unfortunately, the boys' blissful innocence was over in a flash when Elaine fell from her horse, succumbing to her grievous injuries. Julien was once again devastated with loss, and in an even more tragic turn of events, quickly followed his wife in death... collapsing suddenly and discovered by Iulus, who was no more than thirteen at the time.
The boys were taken in by their aunt Rosalie, Julien's only sister and now eldest of the remaining Bertrand children. She held their father's title in trust for Iulus, but was far more concerned with doing her best to ease his and his brother's grief. Giving them the same motherly care and concern she would her own children. She, her husband Dion Prideux, and the four children, the de Somerville boys and her own Desiree and Mathius, lived at the Bertrand estate for the next several years until both Iulus and Aeneas had come of age.
You would think that in the face of such tragic circumstances that as the elder it would have been Iulus to take on the responsible role, that of a sort of surrogate parent figure, but it was Aeneas who took their new duties seriously and chided Iulus for his increasingly erratic and irresponsible behavior. It wasn't that he didn't want his brother to enjoy himself, but there was a time and a place for such things and their obligations came first. Besides which, he was much more moderate in his own pursuits.
It finally became clear to him after years of watching his brother's drunken, debauched escapades that perhaps his censuring wasn't enough of a deterrent, and Aeneas enlisted the aid of the Casseline Brotherhood. Specifically in the person of Aristide Gautier. Though there was no immediate threat to Iulus' person that he was aware of... in Aeneas' mind, his brother obviously needed protection from himself, or at the least someone who would be there to remind him of his duty and provide a more level headed influence.
