Member
Fetzen
Abstract Proxy
Name
[The] Baron Duke
Nationality
American
Age
35
Sexuality
Heterosexual
Birth
April 2nd, 1996 - Los Angeles, California
Appearance
A dandy in every sense of the word, the Baron Duke is a man first-and-foremost concerned with appearances. Standing at the tall but not too tall height of five-foot-ten-inches with a slender physique brought about through years of crash dieting and cosmetic surgeries, the Baron is equal parts handsome and unsettling: an effect no doubt achieved through the myriad of cybernetics that course through and across his body, up to and including his eyes and the lower half of his face. What natural flesh remains is smooth, clean, and blemish free, with habitual laser resurfacing treatments keeping it that way. A series of strange, wire-shaped tattoos stretch across the canvas of the Baron's visage, appearing as if his cybernetics were attempting to claim what little remains of his natural humanity. His hair, augmented for maximum texture and fullness, is recolored - not dyed - a custom blend of champagne brown, rose-gold, and strawberry blonde. A neatly-trimmed mustache of similar color blankets his upper lip, turning upwards at the corners each time he smiles with perfect white teeth. Yet, the most striking feature of the Baron's face are his eyes: glowing blue-green cybernetics. Only adding to the ethereal eeriness of the Baron's countenance, few can stand to gaze in his eyes for longer than a few moments. Indeed, whenever the Baron looks at someone, he seems to simultaneously look past them, as though focused elsewhere.
Thought to be more machine than man, the Baron took to augmentation like a sculptor takes to clay - or an addict to drugs - undergoing countless operations both minor and significant for the purpose of vanity and convenience. Every aspect of the human body had to be fine-tuned into the perfect specimen. Ever thorough, the Baron made sure that even his vices were kept in-check with an internalized health system repairing the inevitable lung and liver damage that came with a healthy diet of liquor and cigarettes. The near-complete replacement of his neck and lower jaw, for whatever purpose, has the added effect of altering his voice: tinging each word with mechanical reverberance while allowing the Baron to near-perfectly imitate the voice of anyone he's heard for longer than a few minutes. Most apparently, the Baron's entire left arm has been replaced for reasons unknown, though may have to do with aiding the nature of his work. Unlike his other prosthetics, the Baron takes special care in hiding his left arm beneath articles of clothing, giving the impression that the limb is still missing. No one is particularly sure why he does this, though some around the NSF claim it's for the purposes of drama.
Clothing-wise, the Baron is a self-described man of wealth and taste, dressing in the finest outfits money can buy. Favoring dark colors and expensive fabrics, the Baron's elegant wardrobe toes the line of impracticality with a variety of high-collared suits, vests, coats, and capes, each complemented by gaudy LED accents and silver clasped jewelry. As a man of subtlety rather than action, the Baron keeps to such grandiloquent clothing even while on-duty, preferring to blend in with a crowd that shares his eccentric sense of fashion. However the Baron is no fool, and ensures that each of his outfits, whether in part or whole, are reinforced by an armored fabric lining to protect against melee weapons and small-arms fire.
Lastly, as further testament to his vanity, the Baron is almost never seen without a silver-topped walking cane. While apparently having no need for it, the Baron, in his unconventionality, has been seen subconsciously mimicking a limp while walking, perhaps in an attempt to disarm suspicions.
Height
5'10"
Personality
Suave, debonair, enchanting, and unnerving, the Baron Duke is a man both open-faced and enigmatic: transparent in his expressions yet nuanced in his motives. Best described as smug, having not one, but two noble titles for names did little to suppress the Baron's arrogance, giving him an air of privileged, self-assured confidence. Inspired by the tales of old nobility in classic literature, the Baron has meticulously cultivated an image over the years that would make Lord Byron, himself proud. Seeing himself as enlightened, aware of the big picture, the Baron's alleged insight only further drives an artificial wedge between himself and the rest of Neo-Tokyo. Yet despite the veiled disdain for those beneath him, the Baron uses his charm, both natural and synthetic to achieve romantic and social dominance. The one man others could never hope to match.
A man of aesthetics, the Baron is preoccupied by appearances, most notably his own. Everything he does is calculated, designed to match the image he presents. He smokes without feeling the burn of nicotine; drinks without experiencing the buzz of alcohol, all to cater to the elegance of self-destruction.
Stylizing himself as a detached observer, the Baron takes great pride in his ability to read people and situations, a skill no doubt assisted by his advanced ocular implants. Always trying to remain one step ahead, the Baron acts as the man holding all the cards, using his complacent magnetism to project an aura of carefree control. To aid in this projection, the Baron approaches all men-and-women as equals, even those objectively higher in station than him. He views himself as a necessary asset, and so long as he continues to get results, who cares whose ring he refuses to kiss?
Indeed, though showy and flamboyant, the Baron is cunning and adaptable, well-aware of the nature of appearances to deceive and convey falsehoods. His diligence and attention to detail make him a skilled detective, using a blend of cybernetics and his own resourcefulness to get the job done. Some in the NSF would call him neurotic, even bizarre. But that's just fine to the Baron: better to downplay your cards than slip a good hand.
But, as always, a mask worn too long will crack, and the Baron has wore this mask for a very long time. Beneath himself is a man brooding and introspective, burdened by his burgeoning loss of humanity. Some nights the face in the mirror is a complete stranger, and the constant reminders of his artificiality have created a sort-of dysmorphia, to say nothing of the standard side-effects of augmentation. World-weary and overall uncertain, the Baron has spent many a sleepless night lying awake on thousand-dollar mattresses.
Role
Shadow Detective
Equipment & Notable Augmentations
- NSF Standard-Issue Service Revolver
- Sonic Taser
- Ocular Implants [Telescopic Zoom, Night-Vision, Limited X-Ray capabilities; Remote Access to the NSF Information Database]
- Auditory Implants [Enhances Hearing; Sound Filtration; Remote Audio Recording - Files Stored in Left Arm]
- Prosthetic Arm [Enhanced Strength; Data Storage & Built-in Interface; Synchronizes with Ocular & Auditory Implants]
- Internal Health Package [Prevents Alcohol and Nicotine Damage; Marginally Heightens Healing Factor; Increases Lifespan]
Previous Careers
- Tailor [Family Business / Cover Operation]
- LAPD Detective [Left Under Suspicious Circumstances]
- Gambler [Disqualified]
- Armor Dealer [Former]
- Informant
Biography
Presenting himself as an archetypal man of mystery, little is truly known about the Baron's background; a fact he takes morbid satisfaction in. He came to Neo-Tokyo seven years ago, carrying a lot of money, and the mark of augmentation already on his flesh. He wouldn't say much about where he came from, only that he was running away from "bad business" back in Los Angeles. His name, though, that was something unique. A bit of digging would reveal at least one connection: Duke Tailoring. Family-owned, wealthy, went back at least five generations. The Baron came from affluence: it was plain in his clothes, his voice, the way he carried himself. Money was in his blood; gold, his soul.
For a time, he floated from place-to-place, making his mark in small, subtle ways. Gambled for a while, or so he claims. "Was pretty damn good at it, too." It was an art form, learning to read people. Not just their faces and expressions, mind you, but the slight twitching of their fingers, a shifting of the shoulders, that slight hesitation before speaking. Course, eventually having both eyes replaced with cybernetics would disqualify that dream in any professional capacity.
But there was something about mingling in the public, aware but intangible. Baron loved it, loved the feeling of control. Those around him could see it: he was arrogant, self-assured, condescending. But charming, with a certain refined grace.
When the NSF found him in 2030, he was a cyborg scoundrel who had flirted with law enforcement for some time now. His record was full of redactions and black block text, leaving much of his background a mystery. But what little was there gave testament to an exciting, controversial life: tailor, gambler, artificer, informant, with little information connecting them to each other.
Nonetheless, he was skilled, experienced, and, most importantly, owed a debt. The NSF offered him a job: make a difference, fight the Jinrai, preserve democracy. Baron honestly didn't care much for those selling points, but for one of the first times, he found himself in a position he couldn't easily wriggle his way out of.
So, with everything to lose, he accepted.
Affiliations
- Gordon and Cassandra Duke [Parents]
Relationships [Optional]
[To Be Determined]
Character Theme
Not necessary, but can be used if wished. Just a tad fun.