lucianmalaurie-blog

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scarlett-deveraux‌:

Scarlett was a bundle of nerves that vibrated excitement into every move she made. There were a million reasons she was reverberating with emotions - the twinkling lights, she never grew tired of them- not after the first fifty years, not after the next she was sure. Scarlett was running around- tho running was a loose term as her steps were controlled and fluid as she moved quickly around the back curtains peaking in and out to greet the odd guest or two. Shooing acts back to rehearsal space and their dressing rooms as they prepared for perhaps the most significant opening night they’ve had in decades.

Sure they’d had plenty of them since Anais- a name that still sent shudders through Scarlett’s lithe frame, but this was different. This was New Orleans, this was where they were coming to stay, semi-permanently, maybe permanently. Scarlett wasn’t sure but as she rounded a bend and found herself engulfed in the familiar presence of Lucian, a smile that felt like forever dimpled her cheeks. Wrapping her digits around the offered glass Scarlett admired the work a twinkle in her eyes as she rose the glass and her gaze towards his face - “To you.” Scarlett added with a wistful sigh before pressing the glass to her lips.

Looking out into the expanse of the big top filling with guest Scarlett shivered, goosebumps rising on her exposed flesh - “We keep doing this, and it never gets old. I never get tired of any of it.”

Lucian’s smile is warm. He has always enjoyed spending time with Scarlett, she is by far, one of his favorite people in the circus. He’s pleased they’ve found their way to each other on this night. He takes a moment to admire her profile as she takes a drink, a rare moment of selfishness. “And to you. We would not be here without you, Scarlett” He waves over a server and takes a flute of his own champagne. It’s not nearly as nice as the one Scarlett was handed but Lucian doesn’t mind. He hardly tastes it anymore.

“That’s the true appeal of Cirque. The fact that every night can make you feel like this.” He waves his hand around the tent. Gesturing to nothing and to everything all at once. “It doesn’t matter where we are. What show we’re doing...I will never grow tired of opening night jitters.” Regardless of what mark they left on history as a whole...Lucian knew he wouldn’t forget this night. “Tonight will be perfect, Scarlett. Utterly perfect. I’m sure of it.”

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cryxmercy‌:

Mercy wondered if this whole shindig would’ve been quite so glamorous if there hadn’t been more than one vampire at the helm. All the ones she knew - the old ones at least - prided themselves on showing off their wealth and their… fancyness… to anyone that would so much as glance their way. It wasn’t a bad thing, really, and it was certainly impressive, if a bit on the nose sometimes. But that was just Mercy’s biased opinion. She’d known rich as fuck vampires her entire life. Some were decent enough people, others not so much. 

She had been making the rounds, talking to people she didn’t know and trying her best not to be overly nosy about any of the behind the scenes bits when she’d met a member of the crew. She now found herself simply watching the humans as they were oblivious to all the real magic that moved around them. It was nothing new, but now there were just more of them all together. Whatever the Cirque had in store, Mercy was nearly as excited as the rest. But for different reasons. 

Someone next to her spoke, and turned towards her. When she glanced over, the whiskey in her hand half empty, she was surprised to see a face she knew, but had never actually met in person. Mercy smiled at the man, looking him over before returning her gaze to his face. “Certainly,” Mercy said of the night going down in history. “As if you vampires need anymore stamps on the annals of history,” she smiled. “But yes; to the Cirque.” Mercy raised her glass. “Laissez les bon temps rouler.” 

Lucian’s answering smile is wide and warm. He can appreciate this woman’s candor on a night like tonight. He’s seen her around, knows of her, but beyond the barest gleam of knowledge she remains an unknown. There’s no denying the wonder in her eyes though. “One of the many perks of being immortal. Any life worth living involves touching the path of history. Besides. What sort of person would I be had I not?” A bad one, a bored one. Lucian could honestly claim to have hardly touched the passing of history at all, if you didn’t count donating large sums of money to people throughout history of course. “Besides. It’s fun to see the trail you leave behind. Call it...an exaggerated butterfly effect.”

He clinks his glass to hers, not bothering to hide his surprise at her knowing French. A part of him knows he shouldn’t be surprised, but he is. Pleasantly so. His smile grows a little more as he takes a sip. “En effet mon ami.” He adores speaking French. Adores anyone who can. “It is such a welcome sound, French. I think that’s part of the reason we decided to settle here. The French.” His smile quirks up at the corners. “Forgive me, I’m being rude.” He sticks out his hand. “I am Lucian Malaurie, one of the owners of this fine Cirque Noire. I trust you are...enchanted?”

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rngldrkat‌:

There were few moments in her life that Katerina could remember being this content or felt so at home as she did here, outside the big top of Cirque Noire on their grand opening night in New Orleans, this was home now and for the foreseeable future. Her gown flowed behind her as she walked, greeting guests happily until she found herself stood by Lucian, listening to him talk to a group of people before he spoke to her, and she gave him a short, sharp smile. They agreed on so many things and yet there was one that would bring a bitter taste to her lips every time, he saw Cirque Noire as his. “Would I ever plan an event that wasn’t worthy of going down in history?” Her smirk grew, taking a sip of her cocktail and smoothing off her dress, to any onlookers they would just see two of the Cirque’s owners discussing their wonderful event. “To our Cirque, to new homes.” She raised her glass, just enough to clink against his and took another sip, “And family, speaking of which, have you seen what Mina has planned for her performance? Truly magical.”

He smiles warmly at her answer. He likes it when the people in Cirque Noire are confident in both themselves and their abilities. It’s part of what makes them the best. Not the magic, not the acts, the confidence to even attempt to pull it off. “Of course not. You’d never stand for such a thing. I know you better than that,.” He smiles warmly at her. He can see the claws behind her smile but it doesn’t bother him. He’s faced down people far worse than Kat, and he knows that her best interests are also his. He’d never admit it out loud but her sharpness is nice, even after all these years.

He raises his glass to meet hers, his smile never faltering. “Yes. To our Cirque. May she forever be a shining star of talent and devotion.” He takes a long drink from his glass, he wants to feel the buzz of it tonight and if he wants that he’ll have to start early. Alcohol does little for him these days aside from abate the sharper edges of his hunger, lest he fall behind schedule. “Mina has not informed me of her performance tonight. I believe she wishes for it to be a surprise.” He smiles just thinking about her. About how far she’s come. About how far she has left to go. He’s deeply proud of her and not afraid to let that emotion flicker across his face for just a moment. “I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us this evening. So please, do keep it a secret for now.”

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nel-webster‌:

Large crowds made her nervous at the best of times, she liked the shadows, she liked not being seen. Winding her way between patrons and the big top, the black skirts of her dress flowing around her, the gold filigree winding its way around her ribcage as delicate flakes of gold leaf glittered across her cheekbones, her fingers clutching a glass of champagne as she leant against one of the posts marking a path. 

She’d seen Lucian around, especially of late as they’ve been getting ready for the night of nights, this grand party, all the glitter and grandeur. His smile that of a proud father looking at a child, this clearly meant something to him. Standing shoulder to shoulder with him she remained silent for a moment, the excited muffled whispers of the incoming crowd, the music filtering through the bodies. “No, I think we should stay in the moment, you can’t capture all of this for a book. You’ll miss something.” Raising her glass she tapped her nails against the glass slowly, small chimes of celebration. “To us and tonight.” A stilted pause, that hitch in her breath where she almost ceased all movement, there was an apprehension to her about the night, there was so much that could happen, anything was possible. 

“Are you nervous?”

He doesn’t press her for an answer when she walks up, taking her time to reply. He’s not offended. Large crowds, lots of nerves. There’s a thousand and one reasons it might take someone a second to find their voices again. And it was Nel. “I would never take notes, it would ruin the appeal of it all. But I have been told I have a fantastic memory. Perhaps I will write it all down later.” He grins at her over the lip of his glass, mostly joking. He’d never write it down, Lucian was just fine with being a member of history rather than its author. Besides, he found it quite entertaining to see how it got twisted over the years. Perhaps this day would be recalled as a myth in the future. Perhaps it would be forgotten. He was not sure which he preferred.

He gently clinks his glass against hers before taking a long drink out of his. It tastes...like wine. Such a let down. “Nervous? Exceedingly so. I would find it odd if anyone from Cirque wasn’t scared tonight of all nights. It’s a big night. Life changing you might say.” The decision had been an easy one, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t stopped to consider it either. He smiles warmly at her though, not allowing a drop of that anxiety to show. “But it doesn’t do well to show how anxious you are when you’re the one in charge. So don’t go telling anyone, hmm?” He takes another drink. “And are you nervous, mon amie? “

[lucianmalaurie-blog]

Tonight could not have been a more perfect night. The moon was high and the stars twinkled bright enough you almost didn’t need the street lights. Perfect in every way. And he’d spared absolutely no expense to make sure tonight would be a night to remember. Enchanted tokens, beautifully written invitations to anyone who’d take them from his messengers. Tonight would be perfect in every way. He contacted his favorite tailor for the occasion, ordering a custom fit suit with subtle and golden accents through out. Small golden cuff links and a brilliantly golden tie. Midas’s touch indeed. He’d never wear it again, it would get relegated to his suits closet, like the hundreds of others. It didn’t bother him.

He’s got a brilliantly gold colored glass of wine. He’d had it spelled to look that way, but it’s a fine batch of wine on its own. He’d been saving it. For a special occasion. Tonight seemed a good enough reason to open up the bottle. And it tasted fantastic. He was savoring every moment he had it. The show wont’ start for another hour though, but people are already arriving, dressed to the nines and clearly eager to see the show. A show Lucian was most eager to give them. He walks over to the nearest person with a smile on his face. He can’t help but be proud. “What do you think? A night worth putting in the history books?” It would not be the first time Lucian’s likeness would appear in such things, he doubted it would be his last. “Shall we toast? To Cirque Noire?” He raises his glass, a welcoming smile on his face.

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“I’m not going to the past, and it’s not tied to me, every time moving forward, and this is more important - to move forward every time.”

N A M E - Lucian Malaurie

G E N D E R - Male

A F F I L I A T I O N - Cirque Noire

O C C U P A T I O N - Investor

S P E C I E S - Vampire

AGE - 38 / 750

“LIKE STEPPING INTO A FAIRYTALE UNDER A CURTAIN OF STARS.” -

TW: Suicide idealization, Death

Lucian Malaurie was born the oldest son of four to a poor French farmer and his wife in the rural country side in the 13th century. Life wasn’t easy on the farm, but Lucian had been to the nearby town before and had seen people much worse off than him. And while life was hard, it was good. At least, until Lucian turned twelve and his father succumbed to the local epidemic of diphtheria. And after him, their mother. And then the youngest. And then it almost took his last brother and whether by divine providence or pure chance, it didn’t. And it was just the two of them against the world. Lucian tried to run the farm by himself for a while, tried to protect what his family had left behind. But it was futile. Lucian was never going to be a farmer.

So he sold the farm and packed up what was left of their lives and moved to the nearest city. Within days the money was gone and the Malaurie’s were penniless and alone in the world. They survived off of scraps and petty theft for a while before what little Lucian had left was gone. Sickness took his brother from him, just as it had taken everything else from him and he despaired. He had just laid down to die when Gabrielle appeared. A vision. A sign. Her gentle words pulled him back from the edge and then her hands pulled him off the streets. She was a  novitiate from the nearby convent, in town to do the Lord’s work. She an her fellow nuns nursed him back to health and in an attempt to repay them for that kindness he offered to stay on the grounds as a worker. He lived there for three years, tending to the gardens and the small flock of sheep. Gabrielle would visit with him most days, a small lunch in hand.

And they fell in love. Gabrielle left the convent to marry Lucian and in the dead of night they left, striking out on their own. They went to Paris and started selling bits and pieces of Gabrielle’s artwork. It was hawking their wares on the streets of Paris that Lucian learned he was good at something. Haggling. And soon enough they were doing well. A nice house, a few horses, a slew of nice dresses for Gabrielle to wear. Life was good to them. And they flourished for years. The attack came at night. They didn’t even have time to scream. In minutes the deed was done. Lucian, his wife, his two daughters, his son. All gone in a bloody rage.

He doesn’t remember waking up. He just remembers the burning, the need, the want. So he attacked without thinking. Again. And again. And again. He became a ripper who wrecked havoc throughout Europe for years. Human life meant nothing to him. It took him a long, long, time to find himself again. To remember his humanity. He’s spent years trying to make up for what he did, travelling the country side of Europe, building the foundation for what would become his financial empire. It was somewhere in the country side he got his first taste of magic. Of Fae. Of everything mystical the world had to offer. He devoured anything he could get his hands on. And as his wealth grew so too did his library. There is no collection in the world that can rival his. And no one who knows magic as well as him. And he’s always been willing to share it with anyone, for a price. Knowledge for knowledge.

When he heard of Cirque Noire he was intrigued…and repulsed. The death of it’s proprietor was as fortuitous for him as it was for the poor souls she enslaved there. They were going to close, to pretend it had never existed, but Lucian couldn’t let that happen. He swooped in and took control, remaking Cirque Noire from the bottom up. Those who wanted to leave he gave a small sum of money to and a smile. He could find others. He could find them and study them and learn even more. Cirque Noire was nothing more than a fancy front for his research. A place Lucian could see things he’d never get to see in public. But as time drug on, things changed. The circus became less about what he could learn and more about the people in it. Cirque Noire became a place for those with no home, no family. Lucian took them all in. They became his family. A second chance, he loves them deeply. Taking the deal to set up a permanent home in New Orleans was as easy as breathing for Lucian.

“TO BE, RATHER THAN TO SEEM.” -

Lucian has always been an eccentric man, and with 750 years under his belt he’s had plenty of time to becomes exceedingly more eccentric. But while he is eccentric he is also exceedingly kind. He wears his heart on his sleeve and will often stop to help those in need, especially those he considers part of his eclectic family. He wants the world for his acts and will stop at nothing to get it for them. Money isn’t an issue, and neither is time. And he likes to give their audiences a good show, he works hard to make sure the shows they put on are magical, mystical, and top tier. He earns his money on merit not on  underhanded tactics.

But don’t mistake his kindness for softness. The years have hardened his heart and he refuses to be taken advantage of. His kindness has limits and woe to the person that tries to push past them. Lucian can be a hard man when he wants to be, he has rules for a reason. He enjoys a good joke but takes no shit from anyone. Patience for miles and a laugh you can hear through the room. Lucian is a people’s person, he strives to light up a room in any way he can.

The world is full of mystery and Lucian is dead set on collecting every scrap of it he can find. His quest for knowledge sometimes over powers anything else. Some would say it’s his fatal flaw. Offer him a good enough deal and he might be willing to, say, sell a strange man controlling shares of his business. Lucian doesn’t have many regrets, he thinks they hold one back, but he often wonders.

The Benefactor ( Bradley Cooper ) is written by ( CAITLIN - SHE / HER - CST  )

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I figure life’s a gift and I don’t intend on wasting it. — Titanic (1997)

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HEAD CANONS;

Lucian didn’t get a daylight charm for the first few decades of his life, nominally because he didn’t know they actually existed.  It was his first taste of magic, the first drop of excitement that has snowballed into a massive library of his own. His daylight charm is actually his watch. It’s actually his fourth charm, he’s been force to update it as the times have changed. He keeps them all in a locked box in his room. Each one has a personal meaning to him and he would not react kindly to anyone touching them without permission. (His current daylight charm is a designer watch that Mina has spelled herself. He never takes it off.)

Lucian’s library is vast, just how vast only Lucian knows. There is some knowledge in there he will never share and plenty that he will. He’s often regarded as the foremost scholar on all things magical. He is often consulted by covens when they are attempting a tricky spell. He has few scruples about what he consults on but he draws the line at spells that cause harm, especially spells that cause harm to humans.

Lucian adores Mina and would move heaven and Earth for her. It hadn’t stated that way, he’d taken her in to use her at first, but there’s something about Mina. She’s like a light and he a moth. Somewhere during their numerous training session she became less his tool and more his…daughter. She’s his daughter and anyone who tries to take her from him will suffer, that much he knows for certain.

Part of why Lucian found himself pulled to Scarlett was because she reminded him so much of his late wife Gabrielle. She looked like her and even sounded like her. It was like a ghost from the past come to haunt him. And he loved her for it. It was intense and sudden and passionate. And over almost as quickly as it had started. They ended on good terms and have remained close friends ever since, but Lucian still finds himself drawn to her, curious. Wondering. And maybe a little hopeful too.

Lucian knows the names and the stories of every act in his circus. He makes a point of being friendly with every single one of them. Making himself a part of the team. The family. He makes it no secret that he is deeply invested in their lives and will do what he can for them.

Lucian lives life luxuriously. Fancy cars, tailored suits, gourmet meals. He is unashamedly rich and has no issues showing that off. He’s more relaxed in his wealth when he spends time with his acts it’s always there. A designer shirt, a fancy tie. Approachable, but affluent. He likes spending money and has no trouble paying for anything either for himself or to get it out of his way.

Lucian owns a copious amount of art. It’s displayed around the world. He buys anything that strikes his fancy and adores loaning his art out to share it with others. There’s a rumor that he owns most of the art in the Louvre but it isn’t true. He only owns half. Beautiful art is one of his weaknesses. He strives to design his show to be beautiful art and spends a great deal of time working with his acts and designers in order to achieve that effect.

Lucian is an adept magician. He’s most talented with close up, slight of hand, but he can do all sorts of mundane styles of magic. He likes to use it to perform, even if it’s not real magic. It still inspires awe in his audiences…and it can throw off anyone who isn’t aware of how magic and the supernatural work. He’s no witch, but it’s fun to pretend, even for a little bit.

Lucian speaks a lot of languages. Spanish, French, Latin, English, Italian, Russian, to name a few. He’s a sucker for good French though and loves teaching people how to speak the language.

Lucian is deeply invested the designing process of the circus. He’s helped design everything from costumes to lighting effects. He works hand in hand with all of the designers he’s hired on to bring to life the best possible version of an act and often pulls in the act themselves for their input.

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vampire moodboard.

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❛❛ S o m e t h i n g   a b o u t   t h e   c i r c u s   s t i r s   t h e i r   s o u l s,    a n d   t h e y   a c h e   f o r   i t    w h e n   i t    i s   a b s e n t. ❜❜                                                                                       - THE NIGHT CIRCUS by Erin Morgenstern

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(tell me about the city, a miniature cosmos, supernovae in reverse, the ghostly lull of city breathing still echoes in my room at night)   darling it’s star-soaked dreams, it’s people with fireflies caught in their eyes walking faster than the speed of light, it’s the hope and the magic so visceral you can feel it drifting in the air   (tell me about the wildflowers that grow on the borders of the yard, i think about them sometimes when i fall asleep - you know the type, the sort you used to braid into my hair as we sang lullabies even though we didn’t know all the words)   they’re the color of love that smolders out into cold, of all the places you’ve never been, of all the wishes you’ve never made on shooting stars, the color of aching and wanting and yearning   (tell me about the sky, i don’t mean the patch of cerulean framed by the gaping mouth of my window, i mean what does it taste like, i mean when you weave your whispered secrets into the strands of the clouds, what does it whisper back)   it’s sweeter than cotton candy, lighter too, cool and gentler than a kiss, it listens and it’s my best friend and when i walk into its embrace i know i’m home   (tell me about everything, the memories i keep like moths in a jar under my bed are losing their color, tell me what it’s like to live without agoraphobia)   darling, darling, the world is so beautiful, every day it reteaches me how to breathe.

the universe is waiting for you, paperharbors (via paperharbors)

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