@1MPERIUM writing blog for the original vampire character giulio aquilano, drawing from the folkloric legend of the vrykolakas/katakhanas and reimagined to fit into both modern and historical settings. trigger heavy, proceed with caution. previously @aquilanus. sideblog to vinduri, refer to main blog for rules etc. additional portrayal-specific info under the cut.
NAVIGATION # INSP / # HCS / # STORYBOARD
STATS giulio aquilano (<marcus julius aquilanus), born in spring 285 a.d. (turned in 319 a.d.) in a family estate near mantua in northern itay, latin-etruscan (acquired italian citizenship), 178 cm/5'10, commonly defined as a vampire—more precisely considered a vrykolakas, a human turned into a blood-drinking monster by a christian curse and not bitten. grew up bilingual speaking latin and ancient greek, also speaks italian, modern greek, spanish, catalan, portuguese, french, some romanian, weirdly toned and vaguely accented english. cis man (he/him), bisexual
OVERLOOK a man who dons the unmoving sternness of half-dug statues, everything about giulio concurs to paint an ancient portrait. from the way his black eyes, barely blinking, capture the light and seem to swallow it—to the way his mouth presses thinly into a cruel line, rarely smiling. it's not the mosaic of his features that stand out: he is not unattractive, but the deep unyielding focus of his judgment and the predatory interest that torches behind his eyes naturally repel most sensible people. yet, at the same time, there is something almost enigmatic about him that begs answering, like a question in an undeciphered language. his face has a royal flair, all dark curls trimmed short and an aquiline nose, a deep and shadowy stare built in the set arch of his scowling eyebrows, olive skin bearing the slightly golden pallor of undeath. pressing against his gums are retractile, wolflike fangs—one of his monstrous features, made to rip tissues rather than puncture, although he's reluctant to use them as his primary feeding method, deeming it too undignified. just slightly covered by the line of his tightly buttoned collar is a scar cutting horizontally across his throat where a knife slashed it open, many centuries ago, and delivered giulio to his immortal punishment.
PERSONALITY a cruel man, obsessed with unfulfilled promises of greatness poured into him at birth, and maybe earlier still. giulio attracts and repels in equal measure—something about him lures, a great intelligence that blurs into a sort of archaic wisdom, smooth manners and a secluded quietness that lets interest stir without giving the impression of purposefully stoking it. but he is unfailingly sharp in his observations, brutal in giving out his opinions, hard to please; an air of danger surrounds him. at his most tame, he is a creature of vicious, ancient appetites. giulio aquilano was a monster long before he became one: in life, he exercised his brutality on the people he deluded himself into believing guilty of tainting the roman empire and the old ways of his ancestors, and that violence was carefully nurtured since he was only a boy. he carries his delusions, his obsessions and superstitions with him well into his undeath, having devoted his immortal life to preserving the material memories of the homeland he's outlived. even so, he's not an artist: his mind is rigid, his soul is arid, and he has no interest in making anything new. a faithful replica of his mother. he inherited her spiteful delusions, her religious fervor, her obsessions of greatness; the only passion burning in him is the flame that burned in her.
PORTRAYAL NOTES this character deals with a list of potentially triggering themes, some of which will be actively discussed on this blog. while appropriately tagged, i encourage you to be mindful when approaching for interactions especially if themes such as gore/cannibalism, torture, pregnancy, nationalism, classism and religious discrimination/persecutions unnerve you. the fact that giulio is a vampire is genuinely the least problematic thing about him, please do skim through his biography before choosing to interact.
VERSES wip.
