but an absence
-
reworking
NAME: Dorian C. Attwood
GENDER: Cisgender male
RACE: Human / vampire
AGE: Appears early 30's (226)
OCCUPATION: History professor
HEIGHT: 6'3" or roughly 190 cm
COMPLEXION: Caucasian, sickly pale
HAIR: Golden, long and wavy
EYES: Slightly narrow, light gray
INTRODUCTION
At a glance, Dorian Christopher Attwood easily passes for what he pretends to be; a perfectly average college professor. Perhaps average is not the right phrasing, but ordinary at least. Dorian teaches evening classes in European History at a local collage, which occupies him for a few hours about three or four nights a week. Well-liked by students for his ability to relay historical events in a relatable way, sometimes as if he was even there, and respected by his colleagues for achieving a professorate at such a young age, Dorian seems to be doing rather well for himself - even if his job is hardly enough to actually pay his bills. What he does when not teaching a class, however, seems a complete mystery to his fellow teachers and has once or twice become a hot topic of debate amongst some students.
That is, of course, because Dorian is hardly an ordinary college professor. About 190 years ago, give or take, he was turned by a vampire lover who could not bear to see him age beyond his thirties and loose the last lingering traces of youth left in him. Initially bitter and hurt, Dorian spent a good decade being angry at the world, until finally accepting what he had become.
Having the time to do as he pleased, he spent many years traveling the world and experiencing the nuances of different cultures that he had previously only known through books. As he grew older and felt an increasing distance from his past human self, he became rather fascinated with the concept of humanity and the ever developing society of mankind. It was this, and not the need of a paycheck, that drove him to pursue a carrier in teaching. He has taught classes at many different universities and colleges over the years under different aliases, never staying in one place more than a few years in order to avoid suspicion. Having a wide network of acquaintances, most of them familiar with his circumstances, has definitely helped him switch identities every now and again without much fuss.
He has no other source of income than through his teaching, but over the years he has been smart enough to set aside what he needs to pay for a roof over his head and other basic needs.
PERSONALITY
Dorian is, despite the rather dark nature of his existence, a very pleasant person. He doesn't see his vampiric traits as defining of his personality or as a curse. Instead he sees it as his chance to watch the history of the world unfold without having to live with the crushing realization that there is something he will not live to experience. He is still young for a vampire and as such he has not aged enough to become completely detached from his own humanity. His general fondness of humans also makes him reluctant to kill, preferring instead to feed from someone willingly letting him - or resorting to alternatives that do not require a human at all. Hospitals are well-stocked these days and anyone can be bribed.
Since he was born a couple of centuries ago, Dorian has a tendency to be overly formal or use phrases that are completely outdated. Some find it odd or amusing and others seem to think of it as part of his personal brand of English gentleman charm. He has a very calm demeanor, rarely gesturing much or pacing when he talks. He is generally quite stationary, so to speak, although he does pick up some habits once in a while that seem to make his demeanor more human - such as making a circular motion with his hand when lost in a train of thoughts or listing things out loud during lectures. He has a love of literature and art, poetically thinking of them as eternal in much the same way as his own kind is.
Because of his age Dorian has had his share of relationships, both brief ones and those that spanned a decade. He prefers not to be permanently tied down, however.. Although preferring to form meaningful relationships with what one might call like-minded people, he does sometimes find himself infatuated with humans despite the fragility of their existence. Gender means very little to him, since he usually finds himself drawn to personalities rather than appearances.
APPEARANCE
With a height of 6'3 Dorian stands rather tall, even by modern standards. His height is well-balanced by his slender and lean build however, so he doesn't cut a very imposing figure despite being above average height. His skin is pale to the point that it might look sickly, which he often brushes off as being his curse as an Englishman. Most of his skin is usually covered anyway, as he prefers garments with long sleeves and either a collar or neck high enough to conceal a series of pin-prick scars by the posterior triangle of his neck, earned around the time he was turned. Another feature that might hint at him not being quite human is his pale grey eyes. Apart from their color they also reflect light in much the same way that a cat or dog's eyes do when exposed to direct light. Not very convenient when he often happens to be in a dark classroom with a projector pointed almost directly at his face. In order to counter this, Dorian wears fake glasses which, in his own opinion, also adds to the aesthetic and credibility of his professor persona. In the way of older people not quite able to keep up with the pace of things, he thinks of this as a rather clever disguise. Combined with his well-trimmed beard and long hair it has made him accidentally fit into the urban lumberjack aesthetic.
TRIVIA
▪ Dorian has never knowingly turned anyone and to his knowledge has no fledgelings.
▪ Food and drinks hardly taste like anything to him anymore. He rather enjoys the scent of good cuisine and quality teas, however.
▪ Ironically he rather enjoys cooking, despite being virtually unable to taste it.
▪ Dorian is very particular about the quality of his clothes. He would also not be caught dead in a t-shirt and jeans.
▪ He is incredibly comfortable with modern technology and is more or less completely adapted to it. The concept of social media is a bit lost on him, however.
▪ Despite having lived in America since the early 20th century, he still uses British terms for things. Such as flat, lorry, post etc.
