Character Avatar: Robbie Amell
Character Name: Noe Duchamp (formerly Noé no Valerian then Noe no Lefebvre)
Age: 37 (6th April 1988)
Race: d'Angeline
Country/Province: l'Agnace/Elua
Rank: Duc-Consort, Fully Marqued ex-Adept
Player: Janet
Appearance: Standing at six foot high and with a muscular physique, Noé is not your typical looking Valerian - he is well built but supple. His dark hair and easily tanned skin contrasts strikingly with his pale blue/grey eyes, reminiscent of a storm at sea; those, coupled with his wide smile, broad nose, high cheekbones and smooth skin mark him as pure d'Angeline. His skin is littered with tiny silvery scars, and he has a brand over his heart, marking him as Andraiya Lefebvre's. Over time he's added more brands. Another one on his chest adjacent to his first, a knotwork design that marks him as Gregoire Duchamp's, a stylised GN on his left forearm to show his relationship with Gregoire. The letters AL in a heart on his right forearm. And finally, a branded ring on his left hand. A risky venture since he is left handed, but has healed well. He has now added a few more brands, to signify his love for his children, Syl, and Libertin.
Given Noe's penchant for violent delights, he has a large number of scars, beyond those of his brands. His back is slashed with scars, thanks to being whipped bloody more times than he can count - and his marque is now faded. He has a long scar along one hip and two across his lower belly, from an assignation with an eagle talon. His thighs, shoulder and lower back are scarred with long strips and there's evidence that he has been burned on various parts of his body.
Personality: Noé is confident in himself and isn't afraid of challenging his partners although he will submit if someone proves themselves to be stronger or more dominant than he. He tests himself and others with regularity and does not like to lose when he feels he should have won. For all his cocky arrogance, though, Noe can be extremely insecure, especially when it comes to his art.
His Valerian nature comes to the fore quickly in a tryst - he loves being bound and he will enjoy pretty much anything his partner cares to do to him as long as humiliation is not part of it. If the latter was not true then he'd likely have ended up at Dahlia, instead of Valerian, as he frequently gives off an air of dignified pride. He's not picky as to gender, as long as they are strong or strong-willed enough to make him submit to them. He laughs easily, is proud of his appearance to the point of vanity and rarely acts like you'd think a true submissive should.
Noe is very sarcastic and well able to counter comments with quips and witticisms of his own. He loves to poke fun at people, though he can't take a joke at his own expense, at least for the most part. Catch him in the right mood and he'll laugh along with you, but, more often than not, he'll show his prickly nature.
He is very secretive about his personal life and does not like to be asked questions about it. To those questions he does not wish to answer, he either deflects or ignores. In fact he has got so good at deflecting enquiries that the questioner often does not realise they've been diverted until well after the fact. He is trying to get better about opening up and talking about himself, though currently that is restricted to his nearest and dearest.
Due to Noe's tendency for rough sex (an understatement - it has been said of him that he treats masochism like an extreme sport), another trait has become apparent. Noe sleeps. A lot. For the most part, sleep is a recovery tactic for him and after a violent session it's not unusual for him to sleep the day away. But that's not all. Noe sleeps like the dead. It can be extremely difficult to wake him once he has fallen asleep - a fact that's given a few of his Patrons heart palpitations. Noe also is able to sleep anywhere. Finding him asleep on the floor, chair, or in bed, are routine, but he's also been known to sleep propped up against a wall and even whilst suspended in an assignation - the latter being when the Patron left him there as a punishment, only to find Noe snoring away on his return. It's not unknown for him to talk in his sleep, either - which affords much amusement in his partners.
Another fact that should be mentioned is that Noe dislikes saying his signale...in fact, loathe might be a better word - He views saying it as a sign of weakness, his pride coming once again to the fore. He will endure almost anything to avoid saying it. Pain has never been a cause of his utterance, as he is an extreme masochist, but humiliation has - though if Noe realises that if his partner is 'signale hunting' then he will exert all his will into ensuring that they are not satisfied.
History: Noé was actually born into the Night Court to two Dahlia adepts, Adelais and Clement (Poirier), who wanted to give back to the House that had made them so happy. Noé then was raised from birth to feel pride in everything he did and in himself, to conduct himself with a regal air and this was something he was very good at --- and yet, there was something that didn't quite sit right with him, something which was noticeable to his parents, too. Although he fell in line with Dahlia's canon, there seemed to be no real interest in it for him and it seemed he only did it to please his parents and the Dowayne. After careful consideration, his parents and the Dowayne reluctantly decided to try him at some of the other Houses. Cereus was out, because of his complexion, Eglantine too as he seemed to have no aptitude for any of the arts. Alyssum was bypassed as even at 6 years of age he was far too confident. It was at Mandrake that they got a real reaction. They took him there because of his confidence and surety, even at such a young age, but the young Noé didn't react the way they had expected him too...rather it was the opposite of what they had expected.
So it was to Valerian they went and he was allowed to try the spiced candy - when he asked for more his parents knew they had the right House. He transferred over to Valerian but kept much of his Dahlia mannerisms - confident and proud of himself and frequently challenging those around him and as such wasn't exactly popular with the majority of his peers. He wasn't cruel or anything, just unable to back down or back away.
His début price was purchased by a Veteran soldier, one that liked the look of challenge in Noé's eyes and during that assignation Noé realised that he had really found his niche. As long as someone was strong enough to override his innate pride and security, he was the perfect Valerian - both able to endure and enjoy whatever his Patrons devised.
He was slow to complete his marque - a confident Valerian not being to everyone's tastes. He wasn't for those Patrons that just liked the odd slap or pretence at dominance, no, he was for those who really needed to dominate and he enjoyed every second of it. When his marque was completed, he opted to stay at Valerian - at least until something better comes along. Why would he want to leave when he was enjoying himself far too much where he was?
Updates:
Noe's marque has been bought by one Andraiya Lefebvre and he now resides with her. She has branded him, with his more than willing consent, over his heart to show that he is hers and no-one else's. Slowly, Noe is getting to grips with having a former Mandrake around the place too, one Gregoire Duchamp. He has been trying to avoid the man as much as possible, concentrating instead on his new-found love and burgeoning talent for Art. However, this didn't always go to plan, and the pair are slowly but surely discovering that they actually like each other.
Noe's relationship with Andraiya eventually began to change. She spent longer and longer away on business and so he spent more and time with Gregoire. As a result, he and Andy drifted apart and he grew closer to Gregoire. So much so, in fact, that when it was clear that the relationship between Andraiya and the boys had changed, they discovered they didn't want to be without each other. They became Consorts, Noe taking Gregoire's name as his own. After that, it wasn't a stretch for Noe and Gre to decide to move out of Andraiya's house and find their own place.
They rented a small place in the East District and began to pay their way by taking assignations again, as well as Noe selling some of his artwork.
For a more comprehensive update: Adjusting
Now, after the shock revelation that Gregoire is actually a Duc, the boys have moved to a house in the West borough and Gregoire has proposed to Noe, now that the equal marriage act has come into effect.
A year on. How things have changed...
Joining Gre and Noe in their household is Gre's daughter, Zayna, and her mother, ZhaaviAll the adults dote on Zayna and she's very spoiled. The relationship between the adults is more strained, though mostly between Gre and Zhaavi. Neither of them are sure how to act around the other.
In a moving if irreverent ceremony on the Kusheth coast, Noe wed his soulmate after over a year's wait and he couldn't be happier.
Family
