DECADENCE

name ( s )  :  anita  saira  dupont  ,  a . k . a .  saira by some , miss dupont   .   d . o . b .  august  5  ,  1862   .   in  :  england   .   family  history  :  hails from  india   .    she  speaks  :  english  ,  hindi   .   religious  beliefs  :  hindu   .   educational  achievements  :  tbd   .   occupation  :  governess  prior in england   .marital  status  :  not  spoken  for   .   hobbies  :  staying  ahead  of  the  trends  and  starting  new  ones  of  her  own , hosting balls , calligraphy writing , roller skating , playing the sursanga   .

eye  colour  :  dark brown   .   hair  colour  :  raven black   .   height  :  5′10″   .   distinguishing  characteristic  :  warm  eyes  and  a  kind  disposition   .   adornments  :  pulling  fashion  from  the  most  renowned  places  in  europe  and  asia  ,  it  influences  not  just  her  wardrobe  but  decor  as  well  and  maybe  some  would  claim  far  too  modern  to  be  considered  for  the  new  york  high  society   .

parents  :  mother  named  samira , father  named  tbd   .   siblings  :   older sister , avi and younger sister   .   extended  family  :  second cousin george  dupont  ,  deceased  and  former  publisher  for  new  york  daily  times   .   pets   :   tbd   .

inspo  ;    𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘢 𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭 ( 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘨𝘦 ) , 𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘥 ( 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 ) , 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘱𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘴 , 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘺𝘯 𝘰'𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘭 ( 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘺 ) , 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦 ( 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 ) , 𝘥𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘬𝘦 ( 𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘰𝘣𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘰 ) , 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘮𝘦𝘴

𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚂𝙴𝙲𝚁𝙴𝚃 , after arriving in new york to a frosty disposition from not just the neighbors, but all the dupont's had crossed in high society, it was clear to anita they needed to do more, much more. in secret she has met with a few attempting to pay their arrival to any future up and coming balls the dupont's might be hosting — nothing would be more embarrassing than an empty party to be seen, but the trust that some had not just taken the money and ran is not a strong one.

𝙷𝙸𝙶𝙷 𝚂𝙾𝙲𝙸𝙴𝚃𝚈 , difficult. in a word, the dupont's have not had the most friendly arrival to new york after the death of their distant relative george dupont. at first, she thought it was due to his career with the new york daily times, but the more she tried, the worse it seems to be.

𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚂𝚃𝙾𝚁𝚈 , a family who found their place among the english soil in search of trade opportunities. this was the first, but certainly not the last time the duponts found themselves as the newcomers. traders by occupation it was not a surprise their tastes could be seen as eclectic, always exposed to new treasures from around the world that would fill the home and kitchen. but such an occupation required travel and with a growing family and mouths to feed, anita's father, suddenly became a less frequent face around their home. months at a time he would be gone only to turn around again for another voyage. but the dupont's children's mother never truly was alone, samira was a very beautiful woman prone to attract a parting glance from many a gentleman — but only when travel called away her husband did she seek a promenade with one in particular. alexander flowers, a name that almost suited him ill had it not been for the sweets he'd procure for the children before whisking their mother away for the evening. lasting nearly a decade and not a word was said apart from a few housemaids and the prying eyes of a child through a bronze keyhole. the day a photo was found in the back of a drawer adjacent to a yellowing baby photo of the youngest boy, was the day they learned of their second cousin — wealthy new yorker george dupont who made his fortune as a publisher of the new york daily times, and maybe a few enemies? with their recent arrival in new york upon their late second cousin's death, to bear witness to his last will and testament that entrusts  his life's work and wealth into their hands

𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙸𝙼𝙿𝚁𝙴𝚂𝚂𝙸𝙾𝙽 , how society views anita . . . an outcast of newfound wealth. despite her efforts to wear the best things, decorate their home with lavish embellishments, and hire the most renowned chef it is not seen as the standard in new york fashion, but maybe it is time that it should be.

name ( s )  :  jonathan  jack  quinn , a . k . a . mister  quinn  ,  jon  ,  johnny   .   d . o . b .  december  3  ,  1859   .   in  :  chicago  ,  illinois   .   family  history  :  mother's  side  is  irish  and  father's  side  is  english - irish   .    he  speaks  :  english understanding  some  gaelic   .   religious  beliefs  :  roman catholic   .   educational  achievements  :  started apprentiship  with  cadwalader  law  firm  looking  into  trade  union  causes   .   occupation  :  current  law apprenticeship  and secretary for montgomery astor   .   marital  status  :  not  spoken  for   .   hobbies  :  watching  boxing  matches  and  baseball  ,  gambling  and  falling  prey  to  excess  drink  under  copious  stress  in  the  confines  of  his  home   .   

eye  colour  :  blue - grey   .   hair  colour  :  dark brown   .   height  :  6′0″   .   distinguishing  characteristic  :  a  scar  by  his  left  cheek and down the outside of his right hand   .

parents  :  mother  named  eilis quinn , father  named  jack sweeney , step - father  named  clyde drake   .   siblings  :   two    half    siblings    he    hardly    knows   .   extended  family  :    mother's  side  back  in  ireland  he  has  twelve  cousins  ,  and  four  uncles  ,  his  father's  side  has  one  aunt   .   pets   :   none  apart  from  a  stray  dog  he'll  feed  on  occasion   .

inspo  ;    𝘫𝘢𝘺 𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘴𝘣𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 ( 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘴𝘣𝘺 ) , 𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘶𝘴 ( 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘮𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 ) , 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘰𝘯 ( 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘴 ) , 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘱𝘦 ( 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘰𝘯 )

𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚂𝙴𝙲𝚁𝙴𝚃 , it was kept tucked away in the breast pocket of his coat and other times under a loose floorboard, a small leather bound black notebook which contained every name of every person the dormer family had made some unsavory dealing with and he's been debating on sharing some of those findings if his debt cannot be remedied but it'll cost him. integrity isn't so easily gained and there are a few other names he's gathered from working under politician montgomerey astor.

𝙷𝙸𝙶𝙷 𝚂𝙾𝙲𝙸𝙴𝚃𝚈 , the cadwalader law firm is one of the oldest in new york, and therefore came with a sense of security and protection. trust. he wants to convey the exact same ideal but it's not so easy. everyone jonathan has ever crossed paths with in new york had been seen as an opportunity, especially those of higher status — that's what this is, a chance to make his way in the world away from the shadows of his past.

𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚂𝚃𝙾𝚁𝚈 , this is what love was like, or so jonathan had assumed — fighting. constant yelling and shouting that would burn the cheeks crimson with metaphorical steam coming out the ears. over nothing and over everything, but it often came in the form of his father stumbling through the door, slurred speech and empty pockets. chicago was not the place promised, the american dream nothing more than lies standing on the back of a crumbling marriage. it was divorce that caused his mother to return to her home country, the very scandal attached to her name far too much for her to bear, the quinn curse, she'd claim. no quinn could keep a marriage. jonathan had asked about it once, ' generational ' she'd claim, someone in the family long ago wronged the wrong person. and his father? he remained. the drunk on the corner. perhaps the embodiment of the quinn curse jonathan concluded after three weeks of staying with his father. somehow england was worse, it's where his mother met clyde drake. a pompous man who had everything jonathan's father did not, money in his pocket and not a drop of alcohol on his breath. and his father was dead, his mother claimed. an alleged widow who married this mister drake, a man who despised jonathan, even more so once he had two children of his own. he made sure jonnathan knew, when every penny was stripped from his inheritance, or what little one his mother had secured for him. new york wasn't much better, a far cry from the promises, a perfectly packaged lie with a shiny red ribbon, but the only place he could secure an education cheaper than europe offered. maybe not cheap enough when the coins in his pocket didn't even stir up a melodious jingle they were so few — but a dormer's offer, the next allure. the last of his coins tossed among the poker chips and golden pocket watch. luck of the irish, surely he'd claim but the quinn's were cursed and as he watched greedy hands stretch across the table collecting all that was left, someone took pity. the late mister dormer who slipped him the left behind pocket watch and a deal. wealth came in the form of compromised morals and a promise that this connection with law and politicians would pay off for the dormer family but did that deal die with the late mister dormer?

𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙸𝙼𝙿𝚁𝙴𝚂𝚂𝙸𝙾𝙽 , how society views jonathan . . . he wishes to be as every lawyer had been viewed in the past and future. never seen as the most earnest people, but holding an esteemed profession none the less. jonathan has always leaned on his charismatic nature to fight the natural inclination people have around a questionable deal or dodgy situation and he's currently seen as the young man with an ill-fitting suit jacket following around politician montgomerey pastor. some have a lesser view, hanging around the dormers gambling and walking around late at night.

name ( s )  :  evangeline  elizabeth  astor  ,  a . k . a .  eva , evie   .   d . o . b .  february  22  ,  1862   .   in  :  new york   .   family  history  :  hails from  england   .    she  speaks  :  english  ,  conversational french   .   religious  beliefs  :  tbd   .   educational  achievements  :  private tutor for primary education , finishing school   .   occupation  :  socialite   .   marital  status  :  not  spoken  for   .   hobbies  :  reading  though  at  times  it  is  used  just  to  seem  preoccupied  and  listen  to  controversy  nearby  ,  theatrics  so  long  as  it  brings  attention  to  her  ,  charity  work  namely  ones  that  benefit  the  astors in  the  eyes  of  others   .   

eye  colour  :  hazel   .   hair  colour  :  golden blonde   .   height  :  5′7″   .   distinguishing  characteristic  :  a smile that rarely reaches her eyes   .   adornments  :  always  kept  up  with  the  latest  fashion  ,  usually  showcasing  wealth  by  the  fabrics  and  and  color  pallet   .

parents  :  mother  named  diana , father  named  richard  deceased   .   siblings  :   montgomery , and  two  older  brothers   .   extended  family  :  grandfather  astor  ,  nephews  and  nieces  the  children  of  montgomery  and  his  wife  caroline  ,  alberta  huangme  the  cousin   .   pets   :   family  has  hunting  dogs   .

inspo  ;    𝘢𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 ( 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 ) , 𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘮 ( 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 ) , 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘢 𝘨𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦 ( 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴 '04 ) , 𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘳𝘢 ( 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢 ) , 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘢 ( 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘮𝘯𝘦𝘥 ) , 𝘥𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘯𝘦 ( 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘰𝘯 )

𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚂𝙴𝙲𝚁𝙴𝚃 , evangeline astor was never the type to be told, ' no ' as a child running around with idilic notions and fanciful dreams. everything she ever wanted was offered up on a silver spoon, fed to her through grander and curated perfection. but there was one — a young man. evangeline found herself day dreaming about him on walks, during family dinners when she hardly pressed her fork to her meal, and all she knew of him was he was seemingly of good standing and had a pleasing face . . . but to him, evangeline was much like the season, a facade, a show, where something unfavorable stirred underneath. so, attention was sparse, but the more he lacked interest, the more she desired to win his affections, even going as far as to tantalize confidential knowledge she overheard, but even such secrets did not keep his attention. within two days time she had spread a vicious rumor of him, ostracizing the family from society and removing them from the very prospect of the four hundred list evangeline's sister-in-law curated. people talk, but as misfortune would have it, the origin of the lie was too put into question when the family refused to remain put out. kept at bay by the protection of montgomery and the astor name secured evangeline's name from every reaching the lips of those who question its validity, for if anyone were to discover the truth . . . it would cast a rather large shadow over the astor name.

𝙷𝙸𝙶𝙷 𝚂𝙾𝙲𝙸𝙴𝚃𝚈 , it's what evangeline knows best, it's all she's ever known, a part of her does worry if it is all she ever will know. the only way she will remain in such stature is to marry another who shares the same recognition as the astor name, with good standing and a favorable disposition towards the astor's family business — the expectation placed on her by her father before his passing.

𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚂𝚃𝙾𝚁𝚈 , there was something very of the doll about evangeline astor, raised the youngest with three older brothers and spoiled by each and every one. her mother took every opportunity to manufacture perfection of what she thought her daughter should be and her father, his great expectations fell upon all his children and the future prospects of their business, an an unwitting martyr to an age of excess. ' i want to be great, or nothing! ' unfortunately evangeline never harbored any budding talent that would lead to such a future. she could not paint nearly as well as her cousin. she held no talent for a political eye as montgomery; writing seemed to fail her, never able to lace together the flowery words of a poet in just the right way, despite her penmanship stating otherwise. she could not carry a tune past a hum and impatience found her quickly at the prospect of holding an instrument. but she was great at one thing, doing what she was told by here parents and upon her father's passing and brother's election, evangeline found herself torn between abiding by her father's demands and, for the first time, questioning how much she might have wanted to follow through, make her own decisions — a thought quickly pushed away, never to be reminded of, for now.

𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙸𝙼𝙿𝚁𝙴𝚂𝚂𝙸𝙾𝙽 , how society views evangeline . . . an astor. a spoiled girl with a sharp tongue and pretty face who might seem friendly, but those who have lived in new york long know evangeline is only nice to a select few. the connection to her brother gives her an advantage and the death of her father a few years ago did warrant sympathy. she is either the type who is loved or loathed, indifference is rarely shared in the same breath as her name.