OOC: Profile
[Character Name] Jean Valjean ALIAS M. Fauchelevent
[Canon] Les Misérables (book-verse)
[Point Taken from Canon] Before the wedding of his adopted daughter Cosette, Jean Valjean; Book Sixth- The White Knight
[Age] 64
[Gender] Male
[Sexual Orientation] He only loves his daughter and God ;_;
[Eye Color]
[Hair Color] White
[Height] Santa.
[BUILD] Football player, no pudge
[Other] He's very old.
[Clothing] Ratty yellow coat that is FULL OF MONEY.
[Background] Born of a poor peasant family in 1768 to Jean Valjean and Jeanne Valjean (maiden name Mathieu), nothing grand was ever expected of the young Valjean. He was never even taught to read or write as it was believed he would follow his father in the same career, pruning. It may have been simple, but his life was planned out. He had a steady job he could look forward to and, eventually, he could marry and continue the Valjean family.
However, his happy childhood didn't last. His mother was unexpectedly taken ill by milk fever and passed away suddenly, his father soon following after by falling out of a tree while on pruning business. Still a child, Valjean's older sister, Jeanne, stepped in and helped to raise him until he was old enough to take care of himself, procuring that pruning job he was bound to take over at Faverolles. As the young man was far too focused on working hard in his simple, yet tiring career to have a sweetheart, all he had left in the world after his parent's deaths was his sister and her ever expanding family. As things rarely seemed to go well for the family, his sister's husband passed away quite abruptly, leaving Jeanne alone to feed and clothe seven children, all between the ages of eight and one. Knowing they would never survive long enough on their own, Valjean took it upon himself to support them. Though as hard as he worked, it was never seemed to be enough. Times became so bad that the children would run to the better off neighbors, asking to borrow milk for their mother and then they would drink the entire bottle between themselves. Valjean found out and repaid the neighbors without speaking to his sister; he didn't want the children to be punished when such circumstances weren't their fault. Taking on as many odd jobs as he could handle- pruner, workman, reaper, laborer- he still couldn't provide enough for nine mouths. Jeanne tried to work as well, but it was impossible with seven children at home. There was no way to leave them all alone.
A severe winter came upon them and the family was poor and starving. Valjean couldn't stand by and see the only family he had left die because he couldn't provide for them. That Sunday evening, Jean broke the glass of Maubert Isabeau's window (the local baker) and snatched a single loaf of bread. Running as fast as he could, Valjean was still caught by the baker and promptly arrested. Brought in before a tribunal for burglary at night in an inhabited house, he was immediately pronounced guilty, sentenced to five years in the Bagne of Toulon.
Weeping violently as they shackled him, he rose his hand seven times before him, as if patting seven separate heads. Everything he had done, both good and bad, had been to feed and clothe his nieces and nephews, innocent children who didn't need to know the cruelty of the world. Taken from the town of his birth, his name was discarded and replaced with the number 24,601. The only thing keeping him sane while in prison was his constant worry of the family he had left behind. Would they be alright without him? Had some kind stranger jumped in to help them out? It took four years but Valjean finally received word by letter from his sister. Jeanne only had her youngest child now. The others had either disappeared or died. However, she finally had a job now. There was even a school nearby for her remaining son to attend as she worked. Every morning he would wait out in the cold for one hour before the school doors opened.
That was the last time Valjean would ever hear of his sister or nephew, but it seemed to seal him up. The last bit of hope keeping him going had extinguished.
Though he preferred to stay silent, Valjean's reputation spread throughout the prison. He was a monster of a manbo because he was both someone to fear and his ability to lift as much as four men. He was nicknamed 'Jean the Jack' because of his incredible lifting strength. His time, however, was not completely put to waste. It was here in the prison that he learned to both read and write from a few friendly friars.
At the end of his fourth year, Valjean attempted escape. He was caught and three years were added to his sentence of five. Unable to stop himself, he attempted escape three more times, giving him a sentence of nineteen years in prison. Nineteen years in the galleys for breaking a pane of glass and stealing a loaf of bread.
While imprisoned those nineteen years, he had much time to reflect. Looking to his own conscience, he acknowledged that he was guilty of a crime, and therefore, justly punished. But was he the only one who was in the fault? How fair was it that society kept him from work, away from much needed food, practically condemning him to a life of theft just to survive? In the end, society was to blame in Valjean's mind. There was no balance, no real equality on the crime he had committed and the crime committed upon him. Valjean then sentenced all of society and man to his hatred.
And then a light appeared. Nineteen long years had passed and he was finally free. Valjean had a chance to live again.
Lol just kidding.
Forced to carry the yellow passport proclaiming him a former convict, the man was turned down from all inns and given only half the pay regular workers were given. After all, he was a criminal. Why should he get the same pay as honest, good people received?
A kindly old Bishop named Myriel took Valjean in, feeding and providing him with a place to sleep for no charge. Still bitter about the wrongs done to him, the convict stole the Bishop's silver in the dead of night and made a run for it. Arrested and dragged back to him the next morning, the kindly man not only forgave him the crime but also offered him the rest of the silver from his collection, including two expensive and valuable candlesticks. However, with this silver, the Bishop claims, he has bought Valjean's soul for God. He must promise to live the life of an honest man.
Almost immediately after leaving Bishop Myriel, Valjean steals a forty sous piece from a young child. The boy cries before running away, leaving the convict to realize just how terrible he has become. After nineteen years of hatred, the man breaks down and weeps, praying for forgiveness on Myriel's doorstep. He promises to change.
EIGHT YEARS LATER~~
Valjean now goes by the name Monseiur Madeleine and is Mayor of Montreuil-sur-Mer, a rather quiet city where his identity has next to no fear of being discovered. He earned the respect of the villagers when he saved two children from a burning building when he first entered the city. He runs a button factory that will employee any person in need of work. The only prerequisite Madeleine has is "BE HONEST". The little city thrives under the his watch and instruction. Wages rise, hospitals are improved, and the mayor becomes filthy rich.
Life has pretty much become fucking awesome for Valjean, until, Inspector Javert steps into the scene. For some reason, the Inspector seems very weary of the new Mayor. Madeleine ignores it, continuing in his efforts to help out the members of his city as best to his ability. He hands out coins, saves a man named M. Fauchelevent from being crushed to death, and all sorts of amazing good deeds that everyone loves him for.
THAT IS until the prostitute Fantine comes to be arrested by Inspector Javert. Getting himself involved, Madeleine orders Javert to release Fantine, who he has heard is miserable and unhealthy. He knew that the charges made to her were false as she was goaded into attacking the man who had summoned Javert. However, instead of joining the rest of Montreuil-sur-Mer and praising the Mayor, Fantine replies by spitting in Madeleine's face. She had previously been a worker in his factory until she was thrown out due to her being an unmarried woman. Her young daughter, Cosette, was currently under the care of an innkeeper and his wife in Montfermeil while Fantine tried to make enough money to feed her and keep her well clothed. However, as Cosette was 'prone to illness' and her caretakers could not provide medicine to keep her well, Fantine kept falling behind in payments. And now, without a steady source of income, she had fallen into prostitution to try to make enough for her child.
Knowing it is his fault for her current condition, Madeleine demands for her release, humiliating Javert in the process. He then takes Fantine to his awesomely updated hospital for tuberculosis treatment. Unfortunately, this is 1823. The young woman doesn't have much time to live and longs to see her sweet daughter Cosette again. Madeleine promises to bring her.
However, Javert interrupts him before he leaves, requesting an audience. Much to the Mayor's surprise, the Inspector asks to be fired. He has committed a serious error against the man, having gone to prefect of police at Paris and stating that he believes the man known as the Mayor of Montreuil-sur-Mer is known other than the convict Jean Valjean. However, much to Javert's surprise, the man states that he is wrong. They have just arrested Jean Valjean, who was living under the name of Champmathieu. Having been blinded by anger, Javert realizes he was wrong and wants to be dismissed. Madeleine, who is the real Jean Valjean of course, refuses.
That night, however, he struggles with himself. Does he allow this man to take his place? Or does he give up everything he has worked for return to prison, a slave once again? Can he really allow an innocent man to suffer the way he had for so many years? Quite magically, Valjean's hair turns white during the night! It's magic!
Even though he has promised to go and save Cosette for Fantine, Valjean travels to the court trying Champmathieu first. Proclaiming that he is known other than JEAN VALJEAN, he then leaves and returns to Montreuil-sur-Mer as everyone in the court room is too stunned to react and grab him. On his return, he hears that Fantine is dying. Telling her again that he will save her child, Javert suddenly appears in the doorway, scaring the poor girl to death (literally). He is there to arrest the Mayor and he does so.
HOWEVER, Jean Valjean manages to escape again and goes quickly to Montfermeil to save Cosette. He pays the greedy innkeepers 1500 francs for the girl and then off the two go into the sunset towards Paris. Never to have a trouble again~.
Except, you know, Javert is kind of a douche. Doing all he can to track down the bread thief, Javert follows Valjean and the little Cosette to the Gorbeau House where he chases the pair into a convent. M. Fauchelevent, the man Valjean saved from being crushed by the cart, is there and more than willing to repay the favor by giving them a place to say. Cosette begins a good education while her 'father' is able to hide under the name Ultime Fauchelevent, the good man's brother.
MANY YEARS LATER AGAIN!~~
Having left the convent after his 'brother' passed on, Fauchelevent(Valjean) and the teenager Cosette have moved on to buy three different houses in Paris. They live humbly in peace as father and daughter, spending their evenings strolling through the park together, arm in arm. They both continue to be generous with Fauchelevent's massive amounts of cash, giving money to the poor as often as they can. Things have been going very smoothly for the pair until the day a man named Marius Pontmercy takes one look at Cosette and falls in love. He practically stalks the pair around, watching them every day as they round the park together. Fauchelevent becomes very annoyed instantly. Who is this man who thinks he can just spy on his daughter without a word? However, things take a turn for the worst when Marius follows them home.
The next day Cosette and Fauchelevent have left to one of their other houses, no longer returning to the park they spent so much time at. Sometime after this, Fauchelevent returns to see Thénardier, the innkeeper who had raised Cosette in Fantine's place. The man has asked for his charity as his family has fallen onto very hard times. Fauchelevent, being the generous man of God he is, accepts. However, Thénardier recognizes Fauchelevent for who he really is and decides to trap him. BUT OH HO~ Javert bursts into the place, giving Fauchelevent a chance to escape and return home safely with his daughter, leaving the Inspector none the wiser.
Unknown to Fauchelevent, Marius has found Cosette and the two have fallen in love with each other. A young woman named Éponine leaves a note for the old man to find telling him to move. She wants Marius to herself and would like nothing more than to see Cosette taken away. Feeling terrified of being discovered after the close call with Thénardier, Fauchelevent instructs Cosette to pack up immediately as they are going to England. Though as if by chance, he finds a letter from Cosette to Marius, telling of her love for him and how saddened she is to leave his side. Shortly afterwords, he receives a letter for Cosette from Marius. The young man says that he has gone to the barricade of the rebellion to die there. God, young love is so dramatic.
At first Fauchelevent is filled with joy. How simple it would be for the young man to die and leave his precious Cosette alone and to himself, but of course, the feeling doesn't last long. Guilt taking over, Fauchelevent runs to join the rebellion, leaving Cosette in the care of the house keeper.
Valjean joins the fight silently, using his gun to not injure the enemy soldiers, but to shoot their helmets off, scaring them away. The barricade's leader thanks Fauchelevent for joining them and offers him any reward he wants. Fauchelevent casts his eye upon Javert, who has been tied up after his attempt at spying was found out. The barricade boys have already decided to kill the Inspector, but are waiting for the right opportunity. The old man says that he would like to blow Javert's brains out. Yet, after dragging Javert outside and away from the boys, Fauchelevent sets him free, telling him to go away so he doesn't get killed. Javert, though he now knows the man's real identity, does so. He is very confused.
The schoolboys of the barricade all fall except for Marius, who Fauchelevent has saved by dragging through the sewers to safety. As much as he dislikes the boy, how dare he not come to Cosette's father to chat before courting her, he doesn't want his darling daughter to lose the love of her life. The boy is still injured though and needs a doctor immediately. It seems like fate is on their side until Javert returns, stepping in Fauchelevent's way one last time. Promising to give himself up if the Inspector will first let him take Marius to his grandfather's house, Javert agrees, leading to one very awkward carriage ride. After dropping off the derp and saying that he only wishes to speak to his daughter one last time, Javert allows Fauchelevent to return home. The Inspector leaves though with no thought of arresting Valjean again. He drowns himself in the river, a fact that later only makes the former convict raise an eyebrow and question the man's sanity.
Upon Marius' recovery, he proposes to Cosette. As delighted as M. Fauchelevent is for his daughter's delight, he doesn't want to lose her to another man. :(
[Personality] "He is stronger than you, he is nicer than you, and he is definitely going to heaven.
Also known as Super Saint Valjean.
Likes candlesticks and saving the day."
Jean Valjean is a man who has experienced much throughout his long life. With every difficult decision he has made and every barrier thrown in his way, his innermost beliefs are put to the test, though he always eventually ascends with his morals to the top.
Because of the revelations in his life, Valjean's personality section is a bit...involved.
At the beginning of his story, imprisoned for a petty crime of kindness, Valjean is absorbed. He speaks to no one but himself, relying on his inner monologue to keep himself going. He is, at this time, consumed in his hatred. He hates everything. No one escapes his harsh and bitter judgments, including himself. Even after he is released and a single ray of hope seems to break through the walls he has built up, the unfair treatment he gets for being a criminal builds his barriers up again.
Being taken in by the kind bishop, Valjean feels the man is foolishly kind to allow a dangerous man like himself into his home. He steals the man's silver without a second thought, knowing that a simple act like that will pay him much more than any honest work he could perform would. In his mind, society has driven him to become a thief. The people accusing him of stealing are the very people who have forced him into that sin. He is later dragged back to the Bishop, who not only forgives him but gives him the rest of his precious collection as well. The man then speaks of God, saying that Valjean's soul now belongs to the Father. This, of course, confuses Valjean. How easily the Bishop could have sent him back to prison, but instead he left him go. Are there really people out there with souls? Does God really even care for men like him?
It is later after he steals a small coin from a boy that Valjean sees just how far he has fallen. Weeping, he promises to change. He will live his life for God and God alone. He will be generous, like the good Bishop, and share all he makes with others. It doesn't matter how wealthy he becomes. He will spend all of his life making up the sins he has committed.
And so he does. Valjean does become wealthy, but the money means nothing to him. He spends his wealth very recklessly, throwing coins to the poor as he passes by, investing in repairing both schools and hospitals, two institutes he knows are important to everyone. He smiles kindly upon strangers and welcomes them into his town. He goes out of his way to help people, using either his money or his strength. He also attends mass every Sunday. God is a very important center in his life.
After Javert comes to him about 'Valjean' having been arrested, the real Valjean struggles with himself. He is a man of God now. He has provided for and built up the town of Montreuil-sur-Mer all by himself. If he were to disappear, what would happen? Would chaos ensue or would the happy villagers continue to prosper? And even more importantly, could Valjean stand to be taken back to prison, a slave of the law once more? Those nineteen years had darkened his soul so harshly that he had stolen a cheap coin from a child. Even with God on his side, would he be able to come out from prison the same man he was now? In the end, it comes down to what will happen to the other man. Champmathieu is an innocent man and Valjean can not allow him to go to judgment in his place. He would never forgive himself.
Saving Champmathieu, Valjean has no choice but to abandon his former life and look for the innocent child Cosette. This girl's mother is dead because of him and he must not break his promise to her. Collecting the girl, sometime changes most magically within the man. This child becomes his source of happiness. As the two continue in their life together as father and daughter, Valjean comes to believe that the only thing that matters to him is his daughter's happiness. It becomes the aim in his life. How loving God must be to have bestowed this ray of light into his miserable life.
Still, even with Cosette at his side and the wonderful life they have made together, there is a hint of paranoia within the man. He doesn't fear prison so much as he fears Cosette finding out about his past. What could be more humiliating than his precious girl finding out the man she looks up to so much is a former convict? She would leave him. And there is nothing more frightening to Valjean than the thought of Cosette leaving him.
Which is why, when he receives Marius' letter proclaiming that he is running off to kill himself at the barricades that Valjean is relieved at first. Finally, that problem has been taken care of! Marius will die and Cosette will be his forever. However, of course, Valjean could never be that cruel. He immediately feels guilty for even thinking of such a thing. Marius may try to separate Cosette from her father, but that is no reason to throw his life away. So he rushes off to save the boy and bring him back to his daughter.
OKAY, so Valjean is a loving, generous, caring man, who has devoted his life to God, helping the poor, and seeing his sweet daughter Cosette happy. Family is very important to the man, as shown not only by his devotion to Cosette but also with how hard he worked for his sister and her children. He thinks little of himself and often of others. He is very good natured, though at times it appears he is lost in thought.
Valjean is intelligent. He enjoys reading anything, expanding his knowledge and mind. He also enjoys walking every night. After spending so much time locked up in prison, he likes to spend his evenings stretching his legs outside in nature.
He is robust and very hand, having all sorts of random knowledge to help fix things for people. He is always willing to help others.
Though he has plenty of money, he likes to live humbly. He spends a TON on Cosette, giving her a house all to herself while he lives in the shack outside with no fire. What a good dad.
He is also paranoid and ashamed of the crimes he has committed early in his life. He has a tendency to RUN when trouble pops up, though after saving Javert that has quelled considerably.
Valjean is a selfless man, who holds a great deal of faith in God after his encounter with the Bishop. He would do anything for his daughter, Cosette, which pretty much shows near the later half of the book as every choice he makes goes to keep her happy. At the same time however, he has a difficult time letting go of things. He becomes attached to people, mainly people he would consider family, and is very scared of losing them after all of the loses he has endured during the earlier part of his life. He is very paranoid, but considering he is an outlaw, that only makes sense. Because of this he is almost always full of anxiety and stress, though he is also able to hide it easily and appear to be at ease around figures of authority. This is one of the reasons that he tends to keep to himself. Valjean doesn't have friends. :(
[Specialties/Abilities] Valjean has no SUPERHUMAN abilities except for, perhaps, his incredibly strength. He is as strong as four men and can easily lift up nearly anything. He also has an incredible shot with guns.
[Affection] Affection will probably creep him out. He's a hermit and a 65 year old virgin. Leave him alone.
[Fighting] Valjean doesn't get into fights. He is, however, an excellent sharp shooter and has the strength of four men. Just so you know~.
[Other Facts] Uhh, he's old. And like santa. There's a chance he will break into your house and leave some random money you can't even use in Somarium on your table.