[Scorched] 411
In Character Information
character name: Jack Vessalius
Fandom: Pandora Hearts
Timeline: Canon-wise: Some time before he confronts Glen on the whole matter of the Abyss aka well before all hell breaks loose
character's age: Mid-twenties
powers, skills, pets and equipment:
Jack is, for the most part, a normal human being. If there's anything unusual about him, it's his general amiability towards others. He seems to bear an irresistable charisma when it comes to being around others.
He's a music box maker by trade, which in turn extends to clocks and watches. The music box pocket watch he has on his person is an example of his finest work, elegantly crafted and housing a lovely if haunting tune as written by his dear friend, Glen Baskerville.
His musical skills are not merely in the creation of devices to play tunes, but Jack is also an excellent pianist. Perhaps it's one of the few things he'd appreciated for all the tutelage nobles are expected to go through. Climbing trees is another of his favorite pasttimes, and a skill most certainly not standard of the noble package.
**
While Jack doesn't have any inherent powers, he has not been left untouched by the mists. Being a rather empathetic young man, this is the avenue the mists have worked in to develop abilities he would have never dreamed of. His sensitivity to strong emotions from other characters has been sharpened, so that even though they might hide it from their face, he'd know how they were really feeling. If he makes contact with them, he can establish something of a psychometric link that would allow him to see what had happened to make them feel so strongly as they were. This is not limited to people, but can also work in regards to places and objects too, so long as there was some strong tie to a person or persons, i.e. a place where someone died, an object that a person held dear because it belonged to someone important to them. It's more palpable the more recent something has happened, but majorly determined upon the strength of the emotions displayed, and unfortunately negative emotions are much easier to pick up than positive. Prolonged exposure can possibly result in such emotions bleeding into whatever Jack's current emotional state might be.
canon history:
As the third son of a lesser noble house in a society that thrived on social status, little was expected of Jack, and therefore he was given free reign to do as he pleased. Although some probably considered his talents wasted, Jack became quite a skilled music box maker. He spent most of his time doing things many of his class wouldn't dream of doing, and yet for all of his galavanting and carefree way of life, he was tolerated because he was, quite frankly, a likeable fellow.
These were the days when the Vessalius House was not considered a part of the four main dukedoms- these being the Baskervilles, the Nightrays, Barma, and Rainsworth. Jack was well acquainted with members of each of the Houses, but his most notable and unusual friendship would be with the head of the Baskerville House, Glen Baskerville himself. Even the solitary, and some might even say mysterious man
had warmed up to the nobody of a noble, tolerating Jack's company despite how different they both were in personality, like night and day.
Jack eventually became privy to many of Glen's secrets, which would include the dark secrets of the Baskervilles themselves. With him, Glen spoke freely about things he never would with anyone else. He talked about Lacie. He told him about the Chains, and what becomes of the Baskerville head's soul in their passing. Jack listened and wondered, but he would only realize too late the things that would eventually try their friendship and lead to tragedy.
It was through Glen that Jack met Alice. She was a girl that was kept locked up in a tower by herself, save for her cat. Of course it was only natural that Jack would pity her and he soon began to pay regular visits to her to keep her company. Yet the more Jack got to know the girl, the more he found out that she too had dark secrets of her own. First off, that she was not merely one, but two people, a body shared between twins, and at times he had to guess as to which Alice he was with. Secondly, the girl had a connection to the Abyss, which was why Glen kept her there. For all this, there was still a great lack of understanding.
Some time later, Jack had taken under his wing a pair of boys- brothers, one black-haired and the other blond, found on the streets and in poor condition. Young Gilbert had taken to calling Jack "master," intent on repaying his kindness for taking them in. Vincent began to adopt this title for Jack as well, but his devotion would always be to his brother. Jack grew fond of both of them, but although he had hopes that they would also be good friends with Alice, this did not work out quite so well.
Unfortunately, even the happy times that were to be had would come to an abrupt end. Glen had chosen to make his move, to gain access to the Abyss. Blood was spilt, truths questioned, and happiness shattered. Many were massacred in order to reach his goal, and it was with heavy sword and heavier heart, Jack confronted his friend.
Jack Vessalius' actions would gain him the title of hero. His house would be lifted to the same status as Nightray, Barma and Rainsworth, replacing the Baskervilles who had all but vanished into the Abyss, yet remained a name most foreboding. For all the praise showered upon him, Jack, the hero of Sablier, did not agree with it. It was a burden born on his shoulders, a pain carried beyond his passing, along with the desire to make right the trouble spawned from the past.
personality:
Even if he had not a penny in the world, one could probably believe that Jack would still be as carefree as he is. He's a cheerful persona, practically sunshine incarnate, with a great love for socializing. Perhaps that's why people don't take him seriously. He's very friendly, and so open is he that many find it hard not to like him. When it comes to people, in fact, Jack doesn't let reputations nor introvertive personalities keep him from getting to know a person. He believes in giving everyone a chance, and would rather make friends than enemies.
As undaunted as he is of others, Jack doesn't give up without at first giving something a try, granted his endeavors are within good reason. He's rather inventive when it comes to finding ways to preoccupy himself, and his time is all his to waste as his parents had spent all their attention on his elder brothers. The man can be a bit of a mischief maker, not afraid to be casual with the nobles, but perhaps it's because it's such a natural thing for him that it's been excused by even the higher houses of the dukedom. Still, his being raised in the aristocracy haven't been entirely wasted. Jack is quite a charmer, undeniably handsome and fairly bold when it comes to offering compliments to pretty ladies, even if they sometimes borderline cheesiness that it's hard to say if he's being serious or playing. He really does seem like a hapless flirt, in that respect.
Jack is a very compassionate person for all his smiles. They aren't faked; he's genuinely happy about things and enjoys his life and the little things that decorate it along the way. He cares very much for others and will do what he can to help them if he's given the chance. He just wants everyone to be able to be happy too, and so oftentimes he's hurt when things don't work out as he'd hoped them to. Not everyone can be satisfied by the same things, not everyone sees things the way he does, or can enjoy things as he can. People don't get along with each other the way he does, and it's painful a thing to realize. Still, he isn't one to give up, and he doesn't allow it to affect his relationships with those he's come to care about.