Eremurus

"Perchance is humanity a fungus, a mould that is spreading in the world and cleansing it from itself, preparing it for the next sinner to ruin."1​

[Etymology; Also known as Foxtail lilies, or desert candles. The plant is native to Eastern Europe, Russia, Ukraine, and temperate Asia from Turkey, Siberia to China. Their floriography meaning is; Endurance.]

[Reasoning; Finding that Fallen are much alike to the Japanese geisha, who often named themselves after flowers as well, the idea was born from this foreign tradition that he as well was to take the name of a flower. Not wanting to take on any name the man then studied floriography in the hopes to find a meaningful flower to name himself after. It was such that he came across 'Eremurus' the flower that meant; endurance. Hoping to escape the brothel once he has paid off his debt and earned enough money he knew he would have to endure his life as an Angel and later as a Fallen for a while. His name became a message of encouragement, one that silently promised him that the results were all worth it if he just endured.]

Birth Name: Gabriel Engelbert

Nickname(s):

Ere - The first syllable from his stage name, a shortened version. Used extremely casually/intimately.

Rus - The last syllable from his stage name, another shortened version and only casually/intimately used as well.

Pretty Boy - A nickname gained from his younger days due to his appearance.

Flower boy - Another nickname gained from his days as a 'Bud' - 'Angel'. It follows his own interest in flowers, but the term 'Flower' boy is also used to describe 'beautiful' men that rival the beauty of women.

Angel - Rarely used, for it can be mistaken for the term 'Angel' as in the apprentice the 'Fallen' take in. Only casually used by these who know him by his birth name.These who don't know about his birth name believe that the nickname is given to him due to his features.

Eremus - It isn't uncommon that fellow escorts, or clients, mistake his name to be 'Eremus', which would mean 'desert', 'wasteland', 'wilderness' or 'waste' in Latin.

Role: Escort

Position/Stage: Fallen

27 years old, born on; September 29

Male from a mixture of several European ethnicities, owns the German nationality.​

Appearance:

Height - 180 cm [5 feet 9 inches]

Weight - 60 kg [132 pounds]

Structure - A tall and slimly built character. Small shoulders with soft curves like a female and very few developed muscles. His posture comes across as rather fragile, but don't be mistaken, Eremurus is much stronger than he looks like.

Hair - Platinum blond, long, reaching for his mid back, straight and smooth. Usually bound together with a ribbon.

Eyes - Dark blue, almond shaped with thick lashes. Eyebrows are light to very light, often a little accentuated.

Skin - Pale complexion, no to little blemishes, easily sunburnt and sensitive skin.

Voice - A Leggiero Tenor, a light and agile voice. Clear and gentle to the ear.

Biography

The house of Engelbert is in the memory of Eremurus a warm house. A house where everyone loved each other, cared for another and looked after everyone. No one was left behind. His father was a florist, selling flowers and growing flowers. Mother Engelbert was a former governess, having devoted her life now to teach her children. It was a content life where enough money came in to feed all the mouths in house. However cruel fate had it that on a certain stormy night his father's greenhouses were all destroyed, leaving an immense debt on the family who had suddenly lost their main source of income. They fell in poverty, now barely scrambling by each day. From the shock Gabriel's father fell ill, racking up their debts even further as their strongest man was struck down by his health. His mother tried to make ends meet by taking up a job as a teacher. However, the money she earned was never enough and barely fed them all. Desperate she thus started to sell their properties, their grounds and their furniture. However, as they were formerly only a mere working class family these sales could only cover up so much of their bills. When the disaster happened that his father passed away as well the family was already at the end of their wits.

As they were unable to pay off their debts the bailiff started to come around more regularly, slowly taking away the last possessions they had. The debt never seemed to lower however, only rising up. It was then, two years after the disaster that their house was taken away. Now they had become street rats. However, before such tragedy could befall on the children his mother had tried to look for a place to bring them under. No one wanted to take all children in at once, neither did they want to have anything to do with this debt agonised family. They feared that they would be persuaded then and thus the suggestion came to sell them to the house of the Fallen. There they would receive education and at least a promise of a roof over their head, even if they didn't become successful. The house of the Fallen would cover up their debts royally in exchange for her children. A devastating decision, but mother Engelbert saw no other option anymore than to part with her children.

Selling her children was harder than she had expected however. Not only emotionally and mentally, but in overall. When they started to bargain on the prices the mother constantly jumped up in defence. Her children weren't worth that little, or worth any price. However, realising that she didn't have much of a choice but to comply she closed her heart off. The eldest three of her children were all considered unsuitable. All of them well in their teens and scarred by heavy labour they had to do in order to help out. The two that followed were deemed as questionable, not too old, but neither young enough either. They could do, if they worked hard, of remained servants for the rest of their lives. However, the last one, Gabriel, who was five at that time was considered a suitable score. Young enough to be taught and pure enough to work with. The charms he had, even as young, held promise and as such they had settled. The youngest three of the children would be bought, the youngest son for the highest price and the other two for a slightly less. The other three siblings would have to find some other place they told mother Engelbert, there was no career for them in the house of the Fallen.

With that devastating news the payment was made and the family parted. The youngest three barely understood what had happened, what was to become of them as they cried for days and begged to go home. However nothing could be done as they were left to vend for themselves. His mother and remaining siblings were never seen again, leaving only one cross for each of them. It was the root where religion started to grow for the very young boy.

His first year was devastating, Gabriel didn't understand what he was doing here, what was expected from him and why he was here. Everyday he would cry to go home, wishing to see his family and run over to the other two siblings who were sold with him. However, with the passing of his first birthday something changed within the boy. As if a bucket of cold water was dunked on him. Gabriel realised that he was to work off his debt if he wished to escape and thus started to develop the personality he has today. Focussing on his work and immersing himself in whatever means there was to be successful Gabriel from there on started to develop himself rapidly.

It was four years after that he entered the house that Gabriel was promoted to become a Bud, nine he was then, starting long hours of training in the arts and competing for the attention of a Fallen so that he could become an Angel. His siblings who had entered with him graduated along with him to the Bud stage. By then Gabriel had a deep understanding of how the house worked and that he had to become a Fallen no matter what if he wished to escape the house. It was in this stage that Gabriel had determined his own stage name; Eremurus.

It would however take another seven years for him to become an Angel. Mainly because the Fallen considered him to be too young, but also a threat for his own appearance and rapidly developing talents. At the other hand they were all eager to take Eremurus in as an Angel, knowing that he was surely to succeed in five years. However, none of them dared to make the first move and thus remained to lure at him leeringly. Eremurus had driven himself to be so, willed himself to do everything and excel, rise above the rest. It was only a certainty that he would be a success if he ever graduated as a Fallen. When he was sixteen a Fallen had finally taken him in, jokingly adding to it that he finally gained the title that suited his image. The barrier was broken and he could finally advance. By then it went all very fast, the delicate balance of humility, respect, ambition and professionalism made him very popular with the guests, even as an Angel. Though he was only allowed to observe it has happened more than once that a client had tried to advance on him, but he usually gently put them down and distracted the client with his speech. It has been jokingly said that the reason why it took three instead of two years for him to graduate was because he had troubled his Fallen too much for having to rescue him from clients so often.

Three years later Eremurus graduated, age nineteen. His siblings he had never seen again, presumed to be still stuck as buds. He had finally become the Fallen he wanted, but still had a long way to go to pay off his debt. Still feeling some obligation to help out his family, Eremurus had also decided that he was going to earn enough to free all of his siblings from the house and then escape to see their own family back again. What happened afterwards was none of his concerns then, as he had long decided that he was to live in seclusion afterwards as a monk. The sentiments he once felt for his family seemed to have faded after so long, it was merely an obligation that remained. Knowing that the sum of the three of them was immense, his debt being the greatest, Eremurus could only work, hoping that one day he had enough.

Personality

Flowery and Metaphorical For some a source of frustration, others consider it romantic and poetic. Eremurus speaks in riddles, in descriptions, rather than to be straight forward. He wants people to think about what he is saying, ponder deeply about what he is trying to say. Eremurus tries to give his speech a sense of depth, the illusion that it means something out of the world, extraterrestrial. It gives his speech something mysterious, a surreal touch to it. Something elusive, for no one truly knows what he is trying to say. To some it sounds as if he is flirting, honing them, and trying to get on their good side. To others it sounds as if he is insulting their intellect, for never saying what he actually wants to say. Eremurus is indeed not one to explain his own words and comparisons, usually shading towards something, by leaving subliminal messages behind. They can assume what he means, through interpretation, and other ways, but without him truly explaining what he is saying no one can truly be sure.

Amiable, but Aloof Easy-going in nature. Eremurus isn't someone hard to get along with, a trait valued by escorts. He is sociable, agreeable and in over all very gentle in nature which shows in the way he moves and speaks. Traits that are all trained in once they start their education as escorts. It gives him an tranquil charm that attracts people to him, usually attracted to his imaginary way of speaking and enigmatic smile. However, whilst the male is very easy to converse with, seemingly taking a deep interest in his clients, Eremurus is also very reserved in character. It takes a while to recognise the way he emotionally keeps his distance from everyone, trying to keep his relationships superficial as much as he can. Though he isn't above to touching his clients when they wish for intimacy Eremurus is also soon to retract once their time together is over and his role is finished. Once business is over a cool mannerism descends over him, taking away the first so very agreeable Fallen.

Compliant, yet Authoritative Obedient. Eremurus usually carries out the tasks asked from him without much complaint or question, knowing that they can all help with his debt. He is very docile towards the higher ups as he really has no care in what way he pays off his debt, as long as it doesn't become bigger and his chances of escaping are completely cut off. This mentality can be viewed as submissive by others, however for Eremurus it is just another part of 'enduring' and 'surviving'. However, that doesn't mean he lets himself be walked over like a doormat. With fellow Fallen, and these below, Eremurus is known as someone with a presence and a lasting impression. Isn't it because of his face it will be because of his own attitude. He is assertive and imposing in his own way, especially with Angels, which usually gives him a somewhat intimidating aura despite his gorgeous appearance.

Relationships

Biological parents Father - Deceased He doesn't remember much from the man anymore. It has been so long, to Eremurus he is an absent character in his live now, someone he once knew, but can't recall the face from anymore. He doesn't resent his father, but rather thinks of him as weak for collapsing like he did. There is however no help in it anymore, he knows how useless it is to think and hope back for something that happened.

Mother - Unknown The woman who sold him. Eremurus may never truly understand what she was thinking when she sold her three youngest to the house. Grateful he shall never be for her decision, but he knows that he longs to see her one last time. Perhaps to ask questions, maybe because deep inside of him he still loves her. However, he isn't even sure if she is still alive.

Siblings Oldest three - Unknown Over the course of time Eremurus forgot the name of all his siblings. He was so young when they parted and hadn't heard of them ever again. There are some fond memories with them inside of it, but other than that there is nothing left inside of his heart anymore. Just like his mother Eremurus has no idea how they are now, if they are still alive and how they are doing. He just hoped that by the time he gets out they are still around.

The two Buds - Alive The two siblings who were sold with him. Eremurus doesn't like to interact with them, finding them a stain and a liability. Though he has taken it up on him to pay off their debts he is disgusted to know that they are unable and incapable of advancing, this unable to earn their own share. Over the course of the years Eremurus's feelings of sentiments has turned into an obligation of sorts after which he plans to cut off all his contacts.

Other ​

Floriography - After that he had learnt that a geisha took on a 'flower' name as her stage name Eremurus had decided that he was to do such as well. Wanting to choose a meaningful name for himself, one preferably with a hidden message, he studied all of the symbolism of the flowers as well as their messages they carried according to floriography.

Religion - Christianity plays a huge part in Eremurus's life. It is what keeps him going and what he devotes most of his life to. His religion gives him strength and hope to endure the hardships he goes through as an escort as he hopes that one day, as he pays off his debt in a whole, he can live peacefully in a monastery as a monk. He wishes to, after he leaves this life of sin and pleasure, to live modestly and serve his Lord until his end.

Sexuality - What Eremurus's sexuality is, is unknown. Many believe that he might be bisexual, or pansexual, for he doesn't seem to mind to intimately engage himself with whatever gender. However, keeping his own motivation in mind to pay off his debt as quickly as possible one wonders whether this willingness to either gender springs forth from his own sexuality or his determination.

Hormones - Ever since young Eremurus has been treated with the female hormone oestrogen and progesterone to maintain his feminine characteristics. The treatment has been added into his costs and debts, thus raising it and harder to pay off. However, believed is that, by maintaining his features, he brings in more money than without the treatment. There are some significant risks tied to the treatment, such as the development of breasts, but for that reason Eremurus is regularly checked up on by the doctor and pharmacist to lower or heighten the amount of hormones.

Entertainer - Eremurus engages himself mostly in music and arts, playing a wide variety of instruments as well as roots to other form of arts such as literature, crafting and so on. Being an escort he is trained to be an all-rounder, capable as well to entertain and participate himself in political discussions and the likes, however the male takes very little interest in it as he rather consumes his own time crafting, or plucking away. This makes him usually very popular as a more leisurely sort of escort, when the client wishes to escape their own world and reality for a while.​

1 - Inspired from a quote of 'De Fictiefabriek'[The Fiction Factory] written by Diederik Stapel & A.H.J. Dautzenberg​

Face Claim; Kuroba Saneaki from Ken ga Kimi