The smell of light, flowery perfume in the air; the sound of paint scritching from a brush across fresh canvas; the unmistakable clink of a wine glass, or was it a diamond bracelet; stolen glances in a search for meaning while climbing the social ladder; the taste of champagne on your lips
basic info
full name: adeline misseri liddell
nickname: ade, 'line, seri (jabberwocks: the devil)
name meaning: noble
affiliation: the jabberwocks
age: forty-four
date of birth: may 11
star sign: taurus
place of birth: westminster, london
current location: city of london
gender: cis female
pronouns: she/her
sexual orientation: demisexual
religion: agnostic
occupation: owner of an art gallery / money launderer
family: mitchell liddell (father-deceased), coraline liddell nƩe carmichael (mother-deceased), francine liddell (older sister, npc), unknown liddell (older brother, wc), unknown liddell (younger sister, doesn't have to be liddell if she got married, wc), evelyn liddell (daughter), malachi liddell (cousin), audrey liddell (aunt), lilliana byrne-liddell (cousin, close), theodore byrne (favored cousin, boss)
education level: a-levels finished but nothing further pursued
living arrangements: safe-guarded home in london proper with enough space without being gauche
financial status: affluent
spoken languages: english, french, italian, welsh
personality: (-) self-indulgent, manipulative, impulsive (+) nurturing, persistent, creative
inspiration
andromeda black (harry potter), primrose (octopath traveler), the illusive man (mass effect), dantes (the count of monte cristo), kitty (pride and prejudice), persephone (greek mythology), bubbles (power puff girls), mel medarda (arcane/league of legends), faith (buffy the vampire slayer), georgina sparks (gossip girl)
trigger warnings for beneath the cut: pregnancy, ptsd, drug use
bio
Born the middle daughter to Mitchell and Coraline Liddell, Adeline was seen as a golden child from birth. Beautiful, the apple of her father's eye, quick as a whip and witty to boot. She was a precocious child with big dreams for herself and the will to follow her dreams.
Adeline has two older siblings, and one younger; when her younger sister came along she was less doted upon by her family but it didn't bother her. She actually loved her sister and doted upon her as well.
She excelled in school, earning marks that were far beyond that of her peers, yet eschewed AP levels until much later, though they were offered. She was, in essence, a genius.
Adeline didn't spend much time with her extended family, but Theo was her favored cousin. They got on really well, even from a young age, and he was one of the ones who actually checked up on her often.
When she was 17 she fell in with a boy and fell in love ā her first foray into such, though flirtations had been a thing in school ā and, after a flash in the pan whirlwind romance she became pregnant with her daughter, Evelyn.
Adeline and ā through no fault of her own and never openly ā Evie became sort of the hidden secret of their branch of the Liddell family. Her parents very much loved her and loved her daughter, but they also loved their status and the lack of scandal it had endured. They weren't cruel to their daughter, but it didn't mean they were overtly kind.
Adeline was ushered away into a private location, one of the family's many vacation homes, and forced to live there and finish out her A Levels as such. She took care of Evie on her own, though her parents had sent servants, and managed to get through her schooling just fine. University was an option but ā and possibly as an act of defiance ā chose not to attend and instead stayed at the vacation home raising her daughter and learning to paint.
She honed her skills in painting in the years she was there, still kept away from the public eye because, even now, showing up with a child the age of Evie would be simple math to do even for the burgeous elite.
When she was 25, both of her parents were killed in a car accident ā no foul play is suspected, but it's rumored that her father was not sober, a fact buried by their family's lawyer that still managed to trickle out in gossip ā and left Adeline a hefty sum.
All of her siblings were taken care of, mind you, but she got the most because they had hoped their daughter would take care of their (then and possibly still) only grandchild. This was never a question and money was immediately put away just for Evelyn in a trust and Adeline was able to life quite comfortably (and by comfortable is beyond the means of the middle class) and still turn all of that money into more.
Her first entrance into society after her purported scandal was at her parents' funeral (they had a dual ceremony, very tasteful, very 'we were always in love') with her daughter's hand in hers. She refused to shy away or hide her daughter, prouder of her than you could imagine, and she looked like she'd never seen a day of ill health. Her head was held high and she (and Evie) walked with the assuredness that comes with knowing who you are.
No scandal occurred, even when people did the math. It didn't need to be a scandal at all, and to her credit, Adeline didn't even entertain those who tried to pry into how it had come to pass or where she'd been all that time. The going line was 'I was away with my daughter.' ā not ashamed; never ashamed.
Adeline was welcomed back into the family, connecting first with her cousins Theo and Lilli, and all was well. She did not blame her parents for what had happened, no one even knew she'd been sent away because of their want to keep themselves out of scandal. Instead she just kept her head high.
Theo was eventually told of the whole situation. She trusted him beyond most because in her time at the vacation home she'd received letters (I know, how analog) and correspondence from him especially, with tidings from Lilli as well. Obviously this was before the drama.
Lilli and Adeline opened an art gallery, cheekily named the Black Sheep Gallery and, under a pseudonym, Adeline sold a lot of the artwork she'd done while in exile. Lilli helped her curate and collect more art and the business was thriving. Adeline would never be a starving artist.
It wasn't until a couple of years later that Adeline had approached the Jabberwocks ā fully aware of her family's involvement and wanting to be a part of it herself ā about helping them launder money through sales at the gallery. She was also now extremely good at forgeries and would do them only at the request of the Crimson King.
She spent years keeping her business in such a reputable condition that no one ever questioned what had happened. Her association with the Jabberwocks was not known and she was skilled at keeping the idea of them separate. Yes, she was a Liddell, but the association need not mean that she was also a member of a crime organization, thank you very much.
She attends events at the Casino often, as its a family affair usually, and often works at charming those there with her quick wit and soft smile, encouraging them to look into art at her gallery when the situation proves appropriate.
At some point in all of this, Lilli and Theo had their falling out and Lilli pulled out of the gallery to pursue her own wants. Though Adeline had never lied about what was done in the gallery on behalf of the Jabberwocks, she neither offered the information up without prompting. It's unclear how much Lilli knew before she left as she and Adeline do not talk about the Jabberwocks when they meet up.
Adeline dated frequently and has hobnobbed with some of London's elite over her tenure. She has never fallen in love, and relationships do not seem to last all that long for her. She's demi/demi sexual/romantic and has yet to find someone to keep her sparked interest.
Now in her mid-forties, Adeline is a proper lady of society, head of her own household, boss lady, and mother of Evelyn, whom she had at a young age and never denies the fact.
She has, in the past, had a few stalkers. Bring known to go out with a lot of men and flirt, lead them on, etc and sometimes they get violent or extremely attached and start to make it their goal to make her life miserable. This once turned into her house being set on fire by a jealous man AND his wife (a situation in which he told her this woman (Adeline) had wronged them in some way and not that he'd been trying to pick her up in a bar and she'd managed to talk him out of most of his money in drinks and cause an obsession) and she had to relocate. The property is not in her or her daughter's name and is instead handled through a secondary party but belongs to them both nonetheless. There is a security detail outside and no one seems to think anything of it because of her status.
If a relationship even gets tense she has a private security detail that can be called in to be put on herself or Evie for their safety. This also can be used if things go sideways in the Jabberwocks and covers her both physically but as far as the WHY she needed it being not necessarily tied to whatever is going on there.
Adeline is a shrewd, charming woman with lofty goals for herself that will take her ā and her family ā to greater heights. While power never seems to be her goal, she is definitely ambitious and wants to rule something... for now she'll settle with her Gallery... and society.
headcanons
Though she never talks about it, she still has moments in which her mental health gets the better of her and she remembers the isolation she suffered as a teenager. She handled it like a champ, but that kind of treatment will mess with someone, especially if they sit on it too long.
She and Evie still live together as of right now, and Evie is always welcome in their home. Adeline always makes sure that their place is safe and secure and that Evie always has her own dedicated space for herself, as well as access to EVERYTHING else.
She and Theo have a weekly tea date regardless of what's going on with the Jabberwocks or her Gallery.
She is frequently seen in the tabloids, since she was 27 and up to the present day, as her teen isolation led to a young adult crisis that led to recreational drug use, partying, rapid fire relationships, etc. It's hard not to end up on those pages when you're a Liddell. She never let it have an impact on Evie, however. She IS a good mom.
To the above point, she can separate things. She learned to compartmentalize at a young age because of everything that had gone on ā and the way her parents were when they were dealing with things ā so when Evie needed her she would abandon whatever (or whomever) she was doing to tend to her daughter. She can sober up like a mother when it's put to the test and also cordoned off a time in which everything was just about Evie, but never sacrificed her own being to that. She's a good mom but she's still a whole person around that. Mom is not her personality.
Evie has been encouraged to find her own path, but never pushed out of the nest. Adeline reads like one of those bohemian moms who loves and encourages their child but is freely willing to let them spread their wings and fly, but refuses to force it upon her. This is likely a response to what happened with her.
She's the friend you call when you're in trouble but don't want a firefight to happen to get you out of it. She will save you but it will be quiet and commanding and charming. No broken doors or weapons... unless it's necessary.
Adeline learned how to shoot with a bow when at the vacation home for all those years. She also now is proficient in gun use and frequents a custom gun range built into her home; perhaps a necessity of her association.
wanted connections
we about to get craaa-zaaaay.
friends - starting off with a not so crazy one. Adeline is charming above all and tends to cultivate true and lasting friendships. When she gives her affection in such a way it is lasting. Though this is harder on a romantic front she is fiercely social and fiercely protective of these relationships so they form to varying degrees of attachment. (ā)
best friend(s) - while the above is true for everyone, her best friends fall into a category of their own. They're the people she goes to (outside of Evie) when she needs to talk. Most trusted, most beloved, and she will go to great lengths for them. (1/3 @dcvth )
flings - these are the 'flash in a pan' relationships she's had through the years. Whether this led to tension, anger, friendship or whatever is up to whomever pursues the role, but these are the relationships that generally made it into the tabloids but were snuffed out within a week or so. Extremely flexible on this. (ā)
exes - these are the relationships that lasted a bit longer. Somewhere between a couple of months to a year or so (it rarely goes beyond that) and who broke up with whom is for us to plot out but... as above, it could have led to drama or not, they could be friends or bitter enemies or not even acknowledge each other. Let's just make it fun. (0/3)
evelyn's dad/adeline's first (and only as of posting) love - they got together when she was 16 and by 17 she was pregnant with Evelyn. He doesn't know she exists because of how her parents ported her away and kept it all under wraps. once she reemerged he might have wanted to reach out to see if it was his or not, that'd be up to the player. He would only be (at MOST) two years older than her (so 45-46ish) and could crop back up at any time. Whether he and Evie have talked and know each other will be up to you two. I headcanon that Evie is aware of her father but none of the details really because Adeline feels she can seek those answers out as easily as anyone. (1/1) taken by Harold
slow burn - god, hit me with that slow burn. That will they, won't they relationship that builds over time. Give me a relationship which starts as contention and distrust and builds over time into something more; mutual attraction sure but buried under the other shit going on. Give me something for them to work towards and watch it happen. Chemistry always wins out but I assure you ilu all and plotting this out could work (established or new chars is fine) (0/1)
favored artist/client - at Black Sheep artists move through at the will of its owner. this means that in curating artists to have shows or feature art, Adeline is the last line of defense. this artist and/or client is her favorite and will get preferential treatment for both sales and buying other pieces of art. can be one artist, one client or both in the same (0/?)
willing to plot anything if you've got ideas that you think she'd fit into!
