Gladys Jessamine Quillington

Name: Gladys Jessamine Quillington
Age: 45
Race: galdor
Place of Origin: Vienda, Anaxas

Backstory

Born as the only daughter of Walter Calcifer Barlow and his beloved wife Mavis Ellenora Barlow, Gladys was the middle child between two strapping young boys of five years between. Her father works in a large accounting firm and as boring and tedious as the work may sound, the man adores his job as does his eldest son, Percival, who will be inheriting the Barlow estates after him.

The only thing Walter loved more than figures was his lovely wife Mavis, and she him.. their marriage a raging love-affair even now so long after being newlyweds. And the only thing Mavis loved more than her husband was her dear and closest friend, Yolanda Quillington. Mavis and Yolanda had been friends – nigh unto sisterhood - since their first year of Brunnhold together, and had remained so deeply involved in each others lives at a point that some would consider improper.

When the two dear friends discovered that they had both had become with child at the same time, they could not have been more delighted and took the coinciding events as an opportunity to spend nearly every waking moment of the 'wondrous development' together, barring the actual birth of course. So delighted in their speculation were they that it was also decided that should one have a girl and the other a boy, oh would it not be such a delightfully quaint idea if they were to be married?

Much to their overwhelming joy, this was very much the case, and the two newly made mothers wasted no time, drawing up the betrothal contract with babe in arms, before foisting the squalling infants off onto their wet-nurses.

Left in the care of her nursemaid, Gladys grew up to be a curious and imaginative child. Books and toys such as any child would desire were never denied her, but her favorite pastime was never these material thing but the few choice moments when she would escape her shrewish made for an hour or two and be free to sit upon the stairs overlooking her mothers social engagements and the Lady Yolanda's ever frequent and often very entertaining visits. The gossip and interactions she observed there were fascinating and far more interesting than any of her toys, the woman far prettier than any of her dolls, and she longed for the day that she would be able to go down and join them.

It was during this pastime that Gladys learned of her betrothal to Yolanda's son, the young Dana Alistair Quillington. In her child's mind, she thought this was a fine idea, properly romantic like the storybooks she would read and liked only slightly less than her top-stair eavesdropping. And the thought was left to take root deep into her young impressionable mind.

When she came of age, she was sent off to Brunnhold and little Gladys passed easily with slightly above average marks. It was in Brunnhold that she acquired the nickname 'Quill', used by her close friends and fellow students due to her penchant for doodling various variations of her future name on all her class papers. She did well in all her classes, if prone to daydreaming, and proved to have a keen intelligence, a healthy curiosity for knowledge and a wide creative streak driven by a powerful imagination. Her focus of studies leaned far more to the arts than any other subject; although it was literature that caught her fancy in the end as it was a wonderful outlet of expression. Graduating at the age of twenty, Gladys was swift in perusing her career of choice, and published her first book soon after: a delightfully witty romance novel about the love affairs of students and professors alike.

At the age of twenty five, Mavis and Yolanda decided it was high time to realize their dream and have their children married. It was the happiest day of their lives... barring their own marriages of course. The wedding was a beautiful and elegant social affair, despite the two hour delay in which the groom could not be found. Both Mavis and Yolanda were overjoyed with the proceedings and the ceremony, the afterward reception a smashing success. Gladys herself was fully caught up in the spirit of romance and had fully enjoyed herself as well, despite the annoyance of all the fussing and mother-henning.

The honeymoon however was a different affair entirely. Despite her apparent infatuation with the idea of being engaged, she had never taken the time to get to know her betrothed. Even during the time that they had been in Brunnhold together, it had never occurred to her to seek him out... the idea had been enough, and her imagination supplied the rest.

Dana had not even known of the betrothal until a year before the wedding, it having slipped Yolanda's mind to tell him while he himself had become far to busy with his own affairs to have picked up on it on his own. He would not have even gone through with the betrothal at all had his mother been any less skilled in the subtle art of manipulation.

Other than being fully wrapped around his conniving mothers finger, Dana was a very selfish young man with a rather prominent desire for the things he cannot have. Charming and attractive, the young Quillington would go through women like a child does sweets; leaving a string of lovely heartbroken women since the day he entered Brunnhold, each more attractive and aloof than the next. This mousy, quiet woman, given to him on a sliver platter spurred no desire within him. Their coupling ended up being both deeply embarrassing and highly unsatisfying on both ends, and although they did play the “happy newlywed couple” to the public eye ... their marriage was anything but.

They took up residence at a quaint little estate in Vienda, close to Dana's studio where he worked as a privet fencing instructor. By this time, time enough had passed that Gladys had managed to transfer her infatuation with being married, and superimpose it into an infatuation with Dana himself; loving him in a way, but more in agonizing the fact that he did not love her. And it was quite clear that Dana did not love her, and he proved it so in that in three years time he had fully returned to his promiscuous ways. The fact that he was now a married man did not in the least hinder his ardor, and perhaps was even more so because of it. Indeed the scandals of Mr. Quillington were quite often the subject of mild gossip in the social circles of Vienda... although never in the presence of Ms. Quillington herself, of course, though that did not mean she was ignorant of their existence.

Gladys lived her life in relative contentment, enjoying the simple pleasures of material comfort if not the emotional comfort of her husbands love. She would pass the most of her time, when not involved in some small social gathering or another, writing her books and novels of fantasy, mystery, and romance under the pseudonym 'Theodora Tinsworthy'. Due to the fact that the prevalent nature of the content was often 'highly imaginative and use of prevalent creative daring' as her prudish editor put it, and highly suspect for a lady of her social standing, it was encouraged that she take this small precaution. The precaution itself was highly unnecessary, as although her books were a fine read, they were hardly groundbreaking and the false name soon became more of a game than anything else, to pretend the truth is a mystery still, as even the few who have read her books can easily determine that is, indeed, Lady Quillington who writes them.

Her infatuated 'love' for her husband did not diminish for many years, and she would often try to win his affection to where it properly belonged. She would arrange for him to have dinner at home, provide him with comforts and behave with wifely mannerisms as she had observed her own parents do when she was a child... but most if not all of her attempts came to be viewed as an annoyance or an irritant by her husband. Still, she kept up hope that one day Dana would grow tired of his play and finally desire the love of his wife instead of that of his assorted lovers.

At the age of thirty two there happened an event that caused Gladys to doubt her faith in her husbands eventual monogamy. On that evening, she discovered that her favored maid had become pregnant with her husbands child. The maid was looked on as a favorite in the away that one does a certain brush over others or a particular hound out of a kennel, and as such she was treated with preference by the galdor lady. But this came to a swift end the moment she discovered the foul travesty that had been done.

Gladys had long desired children, and the fact that her own husband would rather have relations with human woman than his wife was a foul blow. What soured the incident even more was, as the young girl tearfully cried her sins in vain hopes of forgiveness or lenient punishment in her willing confession, Gladys could clearly see just how attractive the woman was even under the blotchy skin and blubbering mess. On that day, the normally warm woman turned as cold as an iceberg; casting the human woman and her unborn wick-child out into the streets in disgrace with only the clothes on her back. A further blow came that night, when over a rare dinner together Dana mentioned the missing maid with calculated casualness. Gladys never told him, or anyone about the incident, but it is telling to note that all her novels held strong anti-human sentiments in the years afterward... not so much as to cause remark, but the change was clearly there.

In growing dismay for her loveless marriage and her husbands lack of interest, Gladys tentatively decided to seek her affections elsewhere. A young galdor man by the name of Otto Dram had often made it a point to seek out her attention, accompanying her to various social events, had made it quite clear on a number of occasions that he was vying for a more romantic engagement with the married woman. Before he had always been skillfully deterred, but eventually she turned to him out of desperation. It did not end well as Dana, it seems, was also the kind of man who views whats his as his alone, even if he cared nothing for it. When he heard the rumor of his wife's affair with the younger man, he flew into a rage. Challenging Otto to a duel of magic and blades, the Master Fencer beat the inexperienced young boy to an inch of his life, and then turning to his errant wife, Dana struck her once across the cheek in his outrage.

One would think this violent act would snuff out the remainder of her dwindling love for her unfaithful husband, but that was not the case. On the contrary, it inflamed her infatuation with him once again. Strengthening it, for now, certainly he would behave as a husband should, his actions clearly stating that he must have at least some affection for her... Hadn't he just defeated her lover to prove that?

So it was with hurt and baffled confusion that she observed him taking up his frivolous ways yet again. But she kept up her hope, and suffered his scandalous actions in silence, waiting for the day that he would need her and return her love.

At the age of forty, Dana took sick. Pneumonia, the doctor had said, a terrible case due to his delicate immune system; but Gladys knew that her unfaithful husband was in truth suffering from a disease brought on by his promiscuous ways... the doctor too polite to shame her to her face. She tended to her husband in his sickbed for well into a year, deeply concerned for his health but also secretly delighted that he would be in need of her so. But despite her diligent attentions and careful care, Dana's health declined with each passing month until on the day of the anniversary of their marriage, he died in her arms and with his dieing breath confessed his undying love... to Clarissa.

The funeral was a somber affair with a lovely obituary that spoke in glowing terms of a 'vibrant life ended to soon' and painting the Late Dana Alistair Quillington in the best possible light. Many of the mourners remarked at how regal his newly widowed wife had looked and how well she was taking her grief. After the funeral, however, not even an hour later, Ms. Quillington was subject to a nervous breakdown and dissolved into hysterics. Her lawyer, friend and dear younger brother, Montague Barlow, immediately sent her to recover in seclusion at his estate in the country while he would take care of her late husband's affairs and estates until her return upon recovery.

That was five years ago, and now, at the age of forty five, Gladys has finally come out of seclusion and is ready to rejoin the social circles of Vienda. Her recovery had been a long one, and the ordeal as not gone without leaving its mark upon the widowed woman. While her outward appearance has not changed much in the slightest, Gladys has gone through a deep and astounding internal change.

Lady Quillington will be hiding no longer; where before she had suffered in silence her husbands actions and shut herself away from the hurtful gossips and looks of society, now she will be flinging herself into the life she had denied herself by pursuing hopeless dreams of wifely-hood. It is high time she rejoin the game of high society, and she will do so with gusto, living it up and perhaps now she shall be the one starting a few scandals instead of being the one scandalized. Although this time, she will not be saddling herself with another good-for-nothing husband any time soon.

Personality

Gladys is a very creative woman with a broad imagination and penchant for romantic ideals that often lead her to view the world in terms of 'how things should be' instead of 'how things are', a type of characteristic that can be good if taken action upon and not allowed to cloud the reality of things, as was the case with most of her married life. Her strong reaction against humans stems deeply from the incident with her maid. By becoming pregnant with her husbands child, the human woman had challenged her views of 'how things should be' by forcing her to acknowledge 'how things actually are' and the woman was rebuked and removed because of it.

However, during her recovery in seclusion, Gladys has been able to acknowledge this less than healthy mindset and has since changed her behaviors to a more 'take action' kind of attitude. But the reasoning behind it is two part: the first being an attempt at self realization and testing her own power, but the other part is more out of petty revenge than anything else. Dana had kept her, if he intended it or not, under a very short leash. Shunning most social company in her desire to please him in whatever way she could, no matter how wrong she was in going about it. Now however, she is going go be dancing dangerously close to the edge of scandal and impropriety, no longer one to be trifled with... she is going to be the one doing the trifling.

In the past she has always been described as remarkably quiet and mousy, despite the abounding gossip about her husbands fickle ways, and upon a passing glance she would seem to be much the same. But now she is much more willing to be daring, prim and proper with that spark of mischievousness in her eye. She is warm and kind to most polite company, especially to family and those few friends she managed to keep in touch with over the years... To humans and wicks however, she is cold and unfeeling, showing only the utmost disdain and repulsion. In comparison she shows a far greater patience and tolerance to passives than to the other lesser races but only just.

Physical Description

Gladys was never described as beautiful. Pretty, yes, attractive, quite possibly, but she was never that stunning 'all eyes upon her' beauty that so many of the young socialites strive for. Age, however, becomes her, and as all those no longer quite as young women mourn their failing looks, she has bloomed into quite the specimen of woman-hood.

Her hair is a deep brown with reddish undertones woven together with the elegant strands of gray up into a delicate netting of pearly strands and held there with a modest feathered pin. Two artfully curled strands dangle before her ears and frame her long, rounded face with simple care; her skin marked with just the subtlest hints of wrinkles about the eyes and mouth. Her eyes are brown and deep set into her face with dark circles around them and her nose is smooth and aristocratic with just the slightest of hooks accompanied by high cheekbones. Her mouth is small and prim, but often has the barest upturn of a mischievousness about its corners.

She is of average height and build, with long legs and dainty feet. Long artistic fingers that are, more often that not, concealed in a pair of dainty gloves and grasp an elegant fan used to its fullest capacity. Her apparel has always been of the modest sort, but since her recovery it has been coupled with a new variety of daring colors of wine red, rich purples and bold blues. Her shoes are also quite modest, dark browns and blacks, along with a pair of stark white spats always kept in the most pristine condition.

Inventory

Wardrobe

Modest gowns and apparel for any occasion
Elegant fans and other such accessories
Parasol, purses, and hats with pins
Makeup and powder

Misc.

Quillington Estates (currently under the care of her brother Monty)
A small two person carriage with three moa (also under Monty's care)
Books, quills, pens, and a typewriter for finished works
A pet Osta named Waiver
A Mugrobi Passive Manservant named Jerome

Books

“Romance in Uniform”- Brunnhold romance-drama of students and professors
“The Fictitious History of Professor Archibald Wordsworth”- lighthearted comedic romance
“The Seduction of Mallory James” - a highly imaginative romance novel, her best yet.
“A Swift and Sudden Silence”- romance intrigue with strong anti-human connotations
“The Sudden Fatality of Leopold Grue”- Murder mystery and romantic intrigue

Career:

Author

Able to write and complete published works
Vivid imagination and unique view of her surroundings
Witty and entertaining in her storytelling
Skilled writer

Socialite

Warm and approachable
Easy and witty conversationalist
Always up with fashion and gossip
Well mannered

Goals

Gladys' main goal is to become well known within the social circle, whether through some scandalous affair, or through her pseudonym 'Theodora Tinsworthy', or even just by becoming a welcomed presence in the high society game. Romance and socialization are way up there on her list of things to do, now that she has the freedom and desire to do so.

In her goals career wise, she hopes that through her increased social exposure will result in an increased popularity of her publications as none of them have caught on to the masses as of yet. She is continuing to write, and has been working on finishing her autobiography that she started working on as a method to cope with her grief and recover from her shock when she had been in seclusion. It will be a long endeavor, and she will most likely be working on it for some many years to come... publishing other lighter novels in the duration. She also desires to begin her own publishing company. The one she uses now employs the prudish editor who has often fought her on the content of her novels, and she does not trust the human workers who work the mechanics of the press to not spoil her novels in some way.