| 🂱 Julian Zephyr "Zeph" Justus 🂱
"Don't you get it? I've been seven steps ahead of you this entire time." Nickname:
He goes by Zephyr, or Zeph, if you're lucky enough to know him long enough. Don't call him by his first name- just don't. Age:
He's 20, but he's introduced himself as four years older than his actual age since he was 14. Gender:
Male Nationality:
Mixed; White/Mexican Sexuality:
As long as they're hot, he doesn't care. Birth Date:
October 29th
Rank:
Recruit Desired Rank:
I'd put gunslinger due to limited options, but he'd really be a better diplomat of some sort. He can fight, be he prefers to use his tongue. Previous Occupation(s:)
He's worked in a brothel since he was 14 to pay off his education debts. He's taken other odd jobs, but he isn't very open about any of them.
Personality:
- Deadly Smart || Unpredictable || Intuitive || Perceptive || Aloof || Paranoid || Manipulative || Charismatic || Eloquent || Private || Amused - Zeph has learned to get along in the world.
With whip-fast wit, observant manners, and intuitive nature, Zephyr is perfectly suited for high-strung, political situations, which he can navigate with ease. He knows how to get what he wants without actually admitting his goals, and isn't afraid to use whatever tactic he can as long as it gets him the upper hand- no matter how dirty.
Zeph has mastered the ability to seem as apathetic as possible while still pushing for goals. If he seems aloof, above it all, hides his true nature, he finds opportunities will present themselves to him. He is able to look at any situation, and person, any problem, and analyze it in that certain, smart way of his. He can fix problems, can read a person with a single glance. He has perfected the ability to seem as dynamic as possible, and yet, mundane. Unthreatening.
Zephyr is a man of contradictions. He hates liars, and yet, he lives in the rumors that circle him, sometimes even taking the time to start them himself. His reputation could be in tatters for all he cares, and he would still be there, smiling placidly. He knows how to manipulate people, and uses this tactic as he pleases, but will react badly if the same tactics are used against him. He cannot handle not being in the know, not being in complete control of the situation. His collected aloofness can fizzle into unpredictable obsession, and his careful eloquence can cut like a knife. With him, it can feel as if you are balancing on a swords' edge, unable to fall one way or another without risking being sliced to ribbons.
His tongue is sharp when he wants it to be, but it usually doesn't get to that point. Zephyr is the one draped elegantly over a fainting couch in the corner of the party, all careless lechery, and perceptive eyes. He deals in secrets and rumors and surrounds himself in a measure of enigma, true intentions obscured by fog. He is there for one, long moment, and then disappears, leaving only an imprint of secrets and tenous rumors behind. Where does he go? Where does he come from? He never lets people close enough to find out.
Likes: Being in control of the situation, knowing what is going on, privacy
Dislikes: Hypocrites, people smarter than him, politicians
Fears: Getting emotionally attached to people, being betrayed Appearance:
Standing at 5'3 (and a half!), Zephyr almost takes the appearance of a trickster fae. With golden, lightly bronzed skin just a shade too dark to be white, and sharp, gunmetal eyes, he can be quite striking. He has a thin-bridged nose, dark, curved eyebrows, and long, dark eyelashes. His chin is somewhat rounded and not very strong, giving him a softer, almost feminine look. He has a cupid's bow, with a sparse upper lip and a fuller lower one. His hair, falling halfway down his ears, is a mess of dark, chocolate-brown curls.
His ears are both pierced, twice on his right lobe and once on his right. In them, he dons small brassy-silver rings and a single stud, popular for their time.
He has a smaller, more agile form, with more muscle in his legs and lumbar region. He has smaller hands, with a faded brand on one of them that has obviously been disfigured beyond recognition, most likely by himself. Dirty, chipped fingernails and dusty skin is common for him. Still, he is surprisingly hygienic (for his time, at least) as he doesn't like feeling "dirty." Outfit/Accessories:
Traditional cowboy clothes- loose, cotton shirts and wool trousers in shades of tan, grey, and off-white. He has a dark, canvas jacket with some tricky buttons on it (the very bottom one is missing,) He also has a thin, dark vest which he spends a bit too much time taking care of. And, of course, who could forget- a dark grey, almost black cowboy hat, complete with curved edges and a thin, braided belt that matches his own. He has an alternate hat as well, a cream-colored one with dark brown accents, that he doesn't wear very often. Mannerisms:
Zeph does not have many tells. He holds himself in control, every twitch, every glance, all intentional. It is very hard to surprise him or catch him off guard. To the outside eye, he looks confident, cool, and collected. If you really do get to know him, then you might start to notice the tiniest of tells- not, not so much tells, but more the absence of them. He does have a few tells that slip a few every once in a while.
When he is listening intently or finds some bit of knowledge interesting, he will tip his head to the side ever-so-slightly, barely noticeable unless you were truly paying attention.
When he is determined or annoyed, his brows will furrow just barely, not even enough to wrinkle his forehead, giving his eyes a sharper, considering look- like a predator reconsidering a particularly smart prey animal.
If he is somehow caught off guard, he will make to blink, but remember himself, and then will, instead, hold his gaze for just a bit longer than usual.
Other than that, his body language is mostly for show. The most notable example: when he knows he has won, he will stretch his mouth into a sharp, amused smile. When he does this, you should know: he's already won.
Mount/Horse:
An older, snappy horse who doesn't seem to like anyone, including him. Where did he get her? Who knows.
Weapons:
Sabre- His prized possession; a long sabre with a silver hilt, and blue, white, and silver decorating its scabbard. (He can use guns, but he doesn't like doing so.) Affiliations:
Liked by few, yet liked even fewer. There are only a handful of people who he has ever trusted, and now, most of them are dead. Family:
Zeph doesn't talk about them. He doesn't even think about them. You get the feeling it's a touchy subject. Significant Other:
N/A Crush:
He rarely lets himself dwell on the crushes he does get, but he does find quite a few people attractive. He finds emotional vulnerability a terrifying weakness. Children:
He hates children with a burning passion. Pets:
He just doesn't have time for them.
Background:
Zephyr is very close-lipped about his background. You can see hints of it in how he acts, his elegant, upright posture, soft hands not quite used to callouses, a general sense of fashionable over-importance. There are more obvious signs, too- the brand on the back of his hand, now disfigured by scars. How he will fall into a proper sort-of accent when he's tired enough to forget to care. His obvious literacy and understanding of higher education. It's there, clinging to him like a ghost, inky lines soaking through a blank, paper veneer.
Don't ask, he'll only smile at you. If you've somehow gotten close enough to him, he'll bare his teeth in a facsimile of a smile that's just barely off. He grows tight with tension whenever he sees something that reminds him of it, turns away, leaves the situation. At night, he'll wake from night terrors and drag himself out of bed, practice sparring until the sun rises and blood drips from his knuckles, hand muscles cramping from complicated swordwork. Sometimes, he'll push away an offered breakfast, claiming nausea, though you can tell there's something else beneath it. Something he can't stand to face.
He is not a coward in any other aspect of his life. Yet, when it comes to his past, he will always choose to turn and run. Theme Song(s:)
-- "Tongues and Teeth" by the Crane Wives --
-- "Stop Me" by Natalia Kills --
-- "Fools" by Troye Sivan -- Other:
For a wild west roleplay, there are very few lgbtq+ and black/Hispanic characters. It doesn't really matter I guess haha. I wonder how widespread mangoes actually were in this time. ════ ⋆★⋆ ════ Artemis Blanc
(Artemis) Age: 7-and-a-half
Gender: Female
Breed: Silver-dapple/Arabian Mix
Owner: Zephyr (technically- really, she is her own horse and simply allows him to come along for the ride)
Appearance: Loosely based on the image I used. She has a darker grey base, with a thick, black-and-grey mane and tail, with large, black eyes, and smaller, white spots. Her face pales to white, with a velvety-soft, pink nose. Her legs darken as they get closer to dainty, grey-white hooves.
Personality: Snappy and proud, she has the personality of a horse once over-pampered and the mannerisms of a show horse, now she is resigned to the dusty west.
Likes: Nipping people, sugar cubes, being brushed with expensive brushes
Dislikes: Other people, other horses, Zephyr, probably everything
Other: I don't know how widespread mangoes were, or if horses can even eat mangoes, but she's probably had one.
Image: 
(x) || Image Credits: (c) Maria Itina -- https://www.dreamstime.com/ || |
Spring 
Night Weather: 
Fog Moon: 
