Post by Roderich Edelstein on Feb 26, 2012 12:28:11 GMT -5
IC
Character Name: Roderich Edelstein
Nationality: Austria
Gender: Male
Birthday: October 26th
Age: 24
Education: He graduated from the University of Vienna with four years of study and got a Magister degree in Psychology. He's all but certified because he needs a certain amount of experience.
Occupation: Assistant, butt-monkey at an ancient Viennese coffee shop on the Lower East Side of New York. Does many things; coffee-making, waiting, hosting.
Family:
Hometown: Vienna….Well, he lives in NYC at the moment.
Starting Town: Vancouver? (Not sure, this used to be the old rule and now..?)
Brief History:
Roderich was born into an upper middle-class family in Vienna. His father was a professor of philosophy (specializing on Schopenhauer and Nietzsche) and occasionally wrote books on the subjects to increase family income. His mother was a concert harpist. They lived very comfortably in a good neighborhood of Vienna, not so far from where Roderich’s father taught.
Roderich wasn’t a very outgoing child. Visitors quietly thought that the child was just like the Edelsteins’ décor, an old-fashioned, dusty object. Perhaps they even thought Roderich was austere, given his penchant for frowning often. The word “Plain” got passed around quite easily. Roderich’s parents, mature and cool, didn’t evidently realize that Roderich had a sensitive ego, and so paid no mind to their son over-hearing discussions.
“Children,” as they believed, “especially Roderich, should be able to take things rationally.” However both attitudes gave Roderich harm in the end.
Many things were expected of Roderich; punctuality, civil behavior, good grades. From a very early age Roderich showed aptitude for the arts, especially music. He would accompany his mother to shows and watch as she strummed strings with long, delicate hands that he inherited. As a young child he would occasionally give recitals playing the piano or the violin. Eventually, as he became more and more restricted in his behavior, as he practiced self-regulation, music became less of a thing to impress people with it and more of a way to express his feelings. When he couldn’t punch a boy in class because he was teasing him (from both what was expected of him and because he wasn’t that strong. Roderich probably didn’t know how to make a real fist anyhow) he played the anger out on the piano. It became a reliever for him.
And so the years went by. Little changed for the Edelsteins; they had money and comfort. Roderich was the prissy, self-contained honor student at school, and at night he was an angry, piano-pounding maniac. At some point he started reading about psychology and chose that as a suitable career path.
He made it through college, forming very little emotional bonds and focusing on studying. Once he’d finish enough to go into a specialized school and get certified, Roderich realized something.
The epiphany was had a little coffee shop near his college, something that made him not leave his room for a day.
Here he was, about to go finish his studies and start his life. And yet he hadn’t lived before. He had few friends his age, they were all acquaintances. There were no real relationships. He’d seen little, felt little. And so Roderich told his parents he needed a break. Frowns followed frowns. Breaks are not part of the plan. He decided he needed to be far away from Vienna, from his room, somewhere he wasn’t himself. His father mentioned a distant relative he visited a few months before, living in America and running a Viennese bakery/cafe. Roderich phoned him up to arrange a deal and told his parents he was going to complete his studies (eventually) in New York.
So now Roderich is living the dream in NY, trying to explain that no self-respecting would order plain coffee in a Viennese coffee house and wiping off hot chocolate stains.
Personality:
Although Roderich usually doesn’t set much sore by most Freudian theory, if he were to analyze himself he’d realize that his super ego, the conscience that forces the ego (self) into do what society expects him to do is extremely strong. Roderich spent his time making sure everything was..respectable. His wavy hair was stylish and tasteful, yet not natural. His glasses made him look intriguing and intelligent. His clothes made him look more masculine. Roderich actually happens to be very insecure behind that façade of aloofness.
It’s easy to get irritated with Roderich. His parents unfortunately gave him a sense of entitlement of something, making him act snobbish at times he feels threatened. He does complain and he is a bit of moocher. He hardly smiles and it feels like he doesn’t care about most people. This is not true, as Roderich does, however habits of being stoic are hard to lose.
Instead, he emotionally connects with others through passions. He can appreciate talents and passions, as he himself has many hobbies, all of which usually distract him from his work. Speaking of work, he procrastinates. If Roderich likes you enough to play you his favorite pieces of music, you can count him as a friend. He also likes cooking, so he may give his friends meals as a treat.
While Roderich seems aloof, he’s actually patient and good listener. He also has some quirks. For one, he’s pretty frugal. And he hates throwing out clothes, so he’s always patching them up.
Appearance:
Roderich stands at five feet and seven and a half inches. He is brown-haired and fair-skinned with light-colored eyes that are almost lavender. His hair appears to be wavy, although there is evidence to the contrary. Roderich spends too much time on his hair, and yet there is a peculiar curl that stands up straight. The Austrian prefers for people not to bother it as it gets him irritable. Roderich has a fair complexion, mostly because he doesn’t like leaving his tiny apartment.
Mister Edelstein wears glasses although there are no records of him actually needing them. Rumor has it that they are fake, as he takes them off during work. Edelstein also has a little mole under his lip on the right side. Subject has a thin build, and tries to hide this with coats that have shoulder-pads and tucked in Oxford shirts. This gives others the impression that he is a much stronger figure than he actually has. This impression is easily rectified when he takes off his coats and shirt, or when asking him to lift something extremely heavy.
Fashion Style:
Roderich’s fashion sense can’t decide whether it is vintage or second-hand. Neither can the people paying attention to it. Roderich loves looking presentable and tasteful, yet not overly ostentatious. He also favors practicality and long-lasting clothes. He usually has a coat on, whether a pea coat or a frock military style coat.
His coats usually have shoulder pads on them. And the shirts he wears are more often than not starched and tucked in, giving him a bigger appearance. His bottoms are either khaki pants or black dress pants. At times he will wear vests, or if going somewhere important, a suit with a bowtie on it. Shoes have little variety, either loafers or booths that end below the knee.
But one accessory Roderich will surely be wearing is a frown. It's always fashionable.
Goals: Roderich has no set goal yet; he made a spontaneous choice to go live in America and he’s pretty lost. He does hope to gain friends and just life experiences.
Secret: He has a very weird habit of keeping spare boxers all around the house. Yes in the fridge’s bottommost drawer. In the medicine cabinet. Under his pillow as well.
He's also frightened of sea animals.
Other:
Just to clarify, he plays
He’s also an alright tenor, although he doesn’t have much training in vocals, except attending a Boy’s choir for his church as young boy.
RP Sample: (taken from Zirkustalia)
OOC
Name: Rina
Age: June 23, and 17
Contact Info: Available on request.
Website: Laurel has my FB.
Other:
I’m not here looking for an absolution
Because I found myself an old solution.
I’m not here looking for an absolution
Because I found myself an old solution.
This is his body
This is love
Such selfish prayers
And I can’t get enough~
- Bedroom Hymns, Florence and the Machine
Character Name: Roderich Edelstein
Nationality: Austria
Gender: Male
Birthday: October 26th
Age: 24
Education: He graduated from the University of Vienna with four years of study and got a Magister degree in Psychology. He's all but certified because he needs a certain amount of experience.
Occupation: Assistant, butt-monkey at an ancient Viennese coffee shop on the Lower East Side of New York. Does many things; coffee-making, waiting, hosting.
Family:
- Erika Edelstein (Mother)
- Klemens Edelstein (Father)
- Sebastian Muller (father’s second cousin, family immigrated to America. Own’s Muller Coffee Haus and is Roderich’s boss.)
Hometown: Vienna….Well, he lives in NYC at the moment.
Starting Town: Vancouver? (Not sure, this used to be the old rule and now..?)
Brief History:
Roderich was born into an upper middle-class family in Vienna. His father was a professor of philosophy (specializing on Schopenhauer and Nietzsche) and occasionally wrote books on the subjects to increase family income. His mother was a concert harpist. They lived very comfortably in a good neighborhood of Vienna, not so far from where Roderich’s father taught.
Roderich wasn’t a very outgoing child. Visitors quietly thought that the child was just like the Edelsteins’ décor, an old-fashioned, dusty object. Perhaps they even thought Roderich was austere, given his penchant for frowning often. The word “Plain” got passed around quite easily. Roderich’s parents, mature and cool, didn’t evidently realize that Roderich had a sensitive ego, and so paid no mind to their son over-hearing discussions.
“Children,” as they believed, “especially Roderich, should be able to take things rationally.” However both attitudes gave Roderich harm in the end.
Many things were expected of Roderich; punctuality, civil behavior, good grades. From a very early age Roderich showed aptitude for the arts, especially music. He would accompany his mother to shows and watch as she strummed strings with long, delicate hands that he inherited. As a young child he would occasionally give recitals playing the piano or the violin. Eventually, as he became more and more restricted in his behavior, as he practiced self-regulation, music became less of a thing to impress people with it and more of a way to express his feelings. When he couldn’t punch a boy in class because he was teasing him (from both what was expected of him and because he wasn’t that strong. Roderich probably didn’t know how to make a real fist anyhow) he played the anger out on the piano. It became a reliever for him.
And so the years went by. Little changed for the Edelsteins; they had money and comfort. Roderich was the prissy, self-contained honor student at school, and at night he was an angry, piano-pounding maniac. At some point he started reading about psychology and chose that as a suitable career path.
He made it through college, forming very little emotional bonds and focusing on studying. Once he’d finish enough to go into a specialized school and get certified, Roderich realized something.
The epiphany was had a little coffee shop near his college, something that made him not leave his room for a day.
Here he was, about to go finish his studies and start his life. And yet he hadn’t lived before. He had few friends his age, they were all acquaintances. There were no real relationships. He’d seen little, felt little. And so Roderich told his parents he needed a break. Frowns followed frowns. Breaks are not part of the plan. He decided he needed to be far away from Vienna, from his room, somewhere he wasn’t himself. His father mentioned a distant relative he visited a few months before, living in America and running a Viennese bakery/cafe. Roderich phoned him up to arrange a deal and told his parents he was going to complete his studies (eventually) in New York.
So now Roderich is living the dream in NY, trying to explain that no self-respecting would order plain coffee in a Viennese coffee house and wiping off hot chocolate stains.
Personality:
Although Roderich usually doesn’t set much sore by most Freudian theory, if he were to analyze himself he’d realize that his super ego, the conscience that forces the ego (self) into do what society expects him to do is extremely strong. Roderich spent his time making sure everything was..respectable. His wavy hair was stylish and tasteful, yet not natural. His glasses made him look intriguing and intelligent. His clothes made him look more masculine. Roderich actually happens to be very insecure behind that façade of aloofness.
It’s easy to get irritated with Roderich. His parents unfortunately gave him a sense of entitlement of something, making him act snobbish at times he feels threatened. He does complain and he is a bit of moocher. He hardly smiles and it feels like he doesn’t care about most people. This is not true, as Roderich does, however habits of being stoic are hard to lose.
Instead, he emotionally connects with others through passions. He can appreciate talents and passions, as he himself has many hobbies, all of which usually distract him from his work. Speaking of work, he procrastinates. If Roderich likes you enough to play you his favorite pieces of music, you can count him as a friend. He also likes cooking, so he may give his friends meals as a treat.
While Roderich seems aloof, he’s actually patient and good listener. He also has some quirks. For one, he’s pretty frugal. And he hates throwing out clothes, so he’s always patching them up.
Appearance:
Roderich stands at five feet and seven and a half inches. He is brown-haired and fair-skinned with light-colored eyes that are almost lavender. His hair appears to be wavy, although there is evidence to the contrary. Roderich spends too much time on his hair, and yet there is a peculiar curl that stands up straight. The Austrian prefers for people not to bother it as it gets him irritable. Roderich has a fair complexion, mostly because he doesn’t like leaving his tiny apartment.
Mister Edelstein wears glasses although there are no records of him actually needing them. Rumor has it that they are fake, as he takes them off during work. Edelstein also has a little mole under his lip on the right side. Subject has a thin build, and tries to hide this with coats that have shoulder-pads and tucked in Oxford shirts. This gives others the impression that he is a much stronger figure than he actually has. This impression is easily rectified when he takes off his coats and shirt, or when asking him to lift something extremely heavy.
Fashion Style:
Roderich’s fashion sense can’t decide whether it is vintage or second-hand. Neither can the people paying attention to it. Roderich loves looking presentable and tasteful, yet not overly ostentatious. He also favors practicality and long-lasting clothes. He usually has a coat on, whether a pea coat or a frock military style coat.
His coats usually have shoulder pads on them. And the shirts he wears are more often than not starched and tucked in, giving him a bigger appearance. His bottoms are either khaki pants or black dress pants. At times he will wear vests, or if going somewhere important, a suit with a bowtie on it. Shoes have little variety, either loafers or booths that end below the knee.
But one accessory Roderich will surely be wearing is a frown. It's always fashionable.
Goals: Roderich has no set goal yet; he made a spontaneous choice to go live in America and he’s pretty lost. He does hope to gain friends and just life experiences.
Secret: He has a very weird habit of keeping spare boxers all around the house. Yes in the fridge’s bottommost drawer. In the medicine cabinet. Under his pillow as well.
He's also frightened of sea animals.
Other:
Just to clarify, he plays
- The Violin
- The Piano (and similar instruments like the Organ and Harpischord)
- The Cello
- The Harp
- He can play guitar, mostly acoustic.
He’s also an alright tenor, although he doesn’t have much training in vocals, except attending a Boy’s choir for his church as young boy.
RP Sample: (taken from Zirkustalia)
As the caravans neared Prague, Roderich felt a small eagerness rise up. There wasn’t much paper work to do now; Gilbert had said they were going to Prague as a vacation and tourists, not as performers. Not that Roderich wholly agreed with him, there was just so much money to be made in the capital city of Bohemia, especially during a festival as large as the one the city was currently holding.
Prague was no Vienna, of course, but it was so close to home, and the Bohemians would speak German, after all, the Austrian Empire ruled over them, that way he could almost pretend it was home. All he had to do was close his eyes and he could see home. Almost. Though, with what he was planning to do for the entire festival, well, he wouldn’t dare attempt this at home in Austria. Pretending to be a woman for the entire festival? No, someone would recognize him in Vienna and then the gossip would spread like fire, disgracing his family and possibly sending him to a mental institution.
Roderich sat up and faced the clothes he neatly laid out on the chairs, all freshly laundered and pressed. He gulps when his gaze falls on the crinoline he recently bought, not very large since Roderich abhorred the large and bustling crinoline and petticoat trends he’d been spotting during their visits to fashionable areas. His face reddens a little when he looks at his usual corset, the fact that these were ladies’ intimates not lost on him. Ladies’, not men’s.Pushing away that line of thought, Roderich turned to stare at the cotton with lace chemise he made himself during the particularly bad days in Poland, when he was too ill to leave his bed. All that work paid off, and now Roderich had a lovely chemise to wear under a silk dress when he left to go explore the town.
An exhausting hour later, where in Roderich managed to put on his intimates with great difficulty and was now pulling the silk navy dress over them, the caravans stopped, signaling their arrival. Adjusting both the dress and the chemise, Roderich smiled a little at how they hugged his frame, giving the appearance of a bust and hips to his broad shoulders. He didn’t look like an oddly built scrawny man with wide shoulders; he looked like a woman in a fitting dress. Whether he was pretty by female standards was yet to be seen.
“It’s why I’m heading out tonight.” whispers Roderich, standing over his vanity, fluffing out the wig he pulled out of a special box from under his bed. He pulled the chestnut-colored wig over his hair, making sure none of his original strands stuck out as Roderich placed the wig firmly on his head with pins. The woman smiling in the mirror began to pin her hair into a chignon, letting a few stray waves frame her face and neck. Roderich smiled widely, an expression so natural on her face, not his. She did a twirl when Roderich twirled, and Roderich let loose a light laugh. This was going to be an interesting night.
________________________________________
Ah, Prague! Roderich could remember fond memories of the city his Vater had taken him on a trip to as a young boy. The few business deals his father was able to keep were usually foreign ones and so Roderich was dragged across Central and sometimes Western Europe by his Vater. Roderich had a penchant for being lost easily when he was young (okay, he couldn’t find his way out of a haystack today either), but Roderich would always wait by the large medieval clock, named the Orloj Prazhky, and watch the clock attempt to tick. Roderich, a morose child, would find himself being captivated by the clockwork figurine of Death, who should have according to the locals, ringed the bell. Roderich’s curious orchid eyes would wait for hours, hoping that maybe the clock would work the next time, perhaps enough to make the skeletal figure move.
Now it was a woman who headed to the clock. Roderich managed to blend in well with the local populace, appearing to others as a young and wealthy woman out for Midsummer’s Eve, perhaps even mischievously given her escort the slip. His gloved hands held on tightly to his matching parasol as he navigated the streets with a trouble expression on his face, Roderich biting his lip with worry. His pace was awkward as he tried to walk ‘lady-like’, with grace in each step. His posture had been beaten into him (literally) by nuns, and it was hard to assume another posture other than the one he was supposed to be carrying. Roderich spent some time tripping over his feet that day.
That was when the pamphlets caught his eye. They weren’t the same color of purple as his eyes were, much lighter in fact. The pamphlets looked like they had been made with care, someone passionate about his work spending time on them. Curious, Roderich retrieved one from the ground and read it over, his gaze darting from the sheet to the town hall he could see tower above the other buildings. A performance? Roderich’s lips curled as he headed in the clock’s direction faster, intent on watching both the clock and the man claiming to be a ‘Master Illusionist’.
Sulfur greeted Roderich’s delicate nose and the man wrinkled his nose, lightly powered face pouting at the unpleasant smell, unable to be over-powered by the pleasing scent of food around the square. “At least the effects he has are decent, can’t say much for the smell.” Roderich thought to himself as he seized a window of opportunity and managed to find a spot stand in near the front. True, whoever the illusionist was, they were brilliant at showmanship. He stuck a mysterious figure, obscured by the billowing smoke. The man, Roderich could guess he was French with the accent and French words peppered in, and it would explain the glitziness of the act so far, was good at capturing interest. Through the throng of people, all quietly talking, Roderich could hear his voice explaining the clock and talking about ‘fate’ the way a writer would, eloquently phrasing himself. Roderich himself was amazed that the man could boast of making the Orloj work again and shuffled closer, watching his every movement in an attempt to pry the secrets the man was about to show.
Prague was no Vienna, of course, but it was so close to home, and the Bohemians would speak German, after all, the Austrian Empire ruled over them, that way he could almost pretend it was home. All he had to do was close his eyes and he could see home. Almost. Though, with what he was planning to do for the entire festival, well, he wouldn’t dare attempt this at home in Austria. Pretending to be a woman for the entire festival? No, someone would recognize him in Vienna and then the gossip would spread like fire, disgracing his family and possibly sending him to a mental institution.
Roderich sat up and faced the clothes he neatly laid out on the chairs, all freshly laundered and pressed. He gulps when his gaze falls on the crinoline he recently bought, not very large since Roderich abhorred the large and bustling crinoline and petticoat trends he’d been spotting during their visits to fashionable areas. His face reddens a little when he looks at his usual corset, the fact that these were ladies’ intimates not lost on him. Ladies’, not men’s.Pushing away that line of thought, Roderich turned to stare at the cotton with lace chemise he made himself during the particularly bad days in Poland, when he was too ill to leave his bed. All that work paid off, and now Roderich had a lovely chemise to wear under a silk dress when he left to go explore the town.
An exhausting hour later, where in Roderich managed to put on his intimates with great difficulty and was now pulling the silk navy dress over them, the caravans stopped, signaling their arrival. Adjusting both the dress and the chemise, Roderich smiled a little at how they hugged his frame, giving the appearance of a bust and hips to his broad shoulders. He didn’t look like an oddly built scrawny man with wide shoulders; he looked like a woman in a fitting dress. Whether he was pretty by female standards was yet to be seen.
“It’s why I’m heading out tonight.” whispers Roderich, standing over his vanity, fluffing out the wig he pulled out of a special box from under his bed. He pulled the chestnut-colored wig over his hair, making sure none of his original strands stuck out as Roderich placed the wig firmly on his head with pins. The woman smiling in the mirror began to pin her hair into a chignon, letting a few stray waves frame her face and neck. Roderich smiled widely, an expression so natural on her face, not his. She did a twirl when Roderich twirled, and Roderich let loose a light laugh. This was going to be an interesting night.
________________________________________
Ah, Prague! Roderich could remember fond memories of the city his Vater had taken him on a trip to as a young boy. The few business deals his father was able to keep were usually foreign ones and so Roderich was dragged across Central and sometimes Western Europe by his Vater. Roderich had a penchant for being lost easily when he was young (okay, he couldn’t find his way out of a haystack today either), but Roderich would always wait by the large medieval clock, named the Orloj Prazhky, and watch the clock attempt to tick. Roderich, a morose child, would find himself being captivated by the clockwork figurine of Death, who should have according to the locals, ringed the bell. Roderich’s curious orchid eyes would wait for hours, hoping that maybe the clock would work the next time, perhaps enough to make the skeletal figure move.
Now it was a woman who headed to the clock. Roderich managed to blend in well with the local populace, appearing to others as a young and wealthy woman out for Midsummer’s Eve, perhaps even mischievously given her escort the slip. His gloved hands held on tightly to his matching parasol as he navigated the streets with a trouble expression on his face, Roderich biting his lip with worry. His pace was awkward as he tried to walk ‘lady-like’, with grace in each step. His posture had been beaten into him (literally) by nuns, and it was hard to assume another posture other than the one he was supposed to be carrying. Roderich spent some time tripping over his feet that day.
That was when the pamphlets caught his eye. They weren’t the same color of purple as his eyes were, much lighter in fact. The pamphlets looked like they had been made with care, someone passionate about his work spending time on them. Curious, Roderich retrieved one from the ground and read it over, his gaze darting from the sheet to the town hall he could see tower above the other buildings. A performance? Roderich’s lips curled as he headed in the clock’s direction faster, intent on watching both the clock and the man claiming to be a ‘Master Illusionist’.
Sulfur greeted Roderich’s delicate nose and the man wrinkled his nose, lightly powered face pouting at the unpleasant smell, unable to be over-powered by the pleasing scent of food around the square. “At least the effects he has are decent, can’t say much for the smell.” Roderich thought to himself as he seized a window of opportunity and managed to find a spot stand in near the front. True, whoever the illusionist was, they were brilliant at showmanship. He stuck a mysterious figure, obscured by the billowing smoke. The man, Roderich could guess he was French with the accent and French words peppered in, and it would explain the glitziness of the act so far, was good at capturing interest. Through the throng of people, all quietly talking, Roderich could hear his voice explaining the clock and talking about ‘fate’ the way a writer would, eloquently phrasing himself. Roderich himself was amazed that the man could boast of making the Orloj work again and shuffled closer, watching his every movement in an attempt to pry the secrets the man was about to show.
OOC
Name: Rina
Age: June 23, and 17
Contact Info: Available on request.
Website: Laurel has my FB.
Other:
I’m not here looking for an absolution
Because I found myself an old solution.
I’m not here looking for an absolution
Because I found myself an old solution.
This is his body
This is love
Such selfish prayers
And I can’t get enough~
- Bedroom Hymns, Florence and the Machine