[centre][IMG]http://i.imgur.com/HM5Q8Xd.png[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/BOVXcb6.png[/IMG]
[b]:Gender: [/b]
Male

[b]:Age:[/b]
Appears around twenty; ~117

[b]:Role in the Circus:[/b]
Puppeteer

[b]:Magic:[/b]
The ability to give “life” to humanoid objects. This faux-life is an extension of himself. Generally they can’t do anything unless he commands them to. Other times they can get a bit “lively” of their own accord. Either way, they can only be animate so long as they are not too far away, should he leave them or they stray, they return to deadness. “They” must be resembling of a human to a certain degree. André tends to mostly use the marionettes which he has made. 

[b]:Reason for joining the Circus:[/b]
André has several reasons for joining the [i]Cirque de Noir.[/i] Most prominently was the escape from war.

[b]:Past Life:[/b][/centre]
André’s life began in small village in northern France. His father, Alexandre Leclair, was the town woodcrafter. Alexandre was skilled in his trade and took pride in it. Seeking more from his talents was largely the cause for the family’s eventual move to Paris. In his earliest years, André had possessed a fondness for replications of humans. He felt like he could hear them, and like they could hear him. As though they had a life of their own. These thoughts were some of the few things he could remember of his earliest years. Another of them, was the marvellous wooden toys his father made for him. The humans were always his favourite.

Shortly after his arrival to Paris the boy learned of [i]les marionnettistes[/i] when he saw some performing on the streets. While his father worked to try and spread his craft and his mother did… well, whatever it was she was doing, André would tie string to the toys he had and imitate the show he’d seen. Yet, there were things to do, things to help mother with, so these small shows did not last long. Especially as things got worse. His father could not make a business out of his woodworking and was having trouble finding another source of steady income. So the family decided to leave their home again, this time they planned to sail across the sea, to America.

The Leclair's arrived in a foreign and strange world. They spoke little English and both parents were required to take jobs to support the family. Madame Leclair had only intended to work until her husband had worked his way up. Nevertheless, both were gone many hours, and this left André who was still young, much time to himself. There were others there, but they had things to do. [i]Important[/i] things. So the boy continued his practise of puppetry. To his surprise, he discovered he did not need strings. The toys would move on their own, if he let them. Occasionally he’d put on a display, and people liked it. A part of him hoped something would come of it. He didn't quite understand how that what he was doing was abnormal.

For several years things were not unwell, however, there was never a promotion in sight, and both Leclair parents continued to work. They became more bitter, and the warmth of his youth was lost to the tired and worn-down faces. The distance between those who lived at the house only continued to grow, until at fourteen, André chose to leave. He was not the type to require much, so he managed to live off of the coins of strangers. Around three years, he continued like such, until he started to develop a sickness. At that time he realized exposure to the elements was going to kill him. Returning home seemed best, where he stayed, until his health had returned to full. Even once his health improved he remained with his family, now offering them support. André continued to perform when chances permitted, which tended to be few. Still, things were not so bad. 

Alas, war came to America. He fled home after being drafted and while on the run found the [i]Cirque de Noir.[/i]