Revision [28242]
This is an old revision of ColeDescription made by BillHamilton on 2013-02-15 11:50:51.
I added some quick thoughts / tweaks / changes. Reminder nothing here is set in stone that I say so if you want to push back or think it would be a better story to change things let me know.
I readded Kate and Ann so they could view and respond to my notes as well since some of it involves the NPCs.
NeedsAnn
NeedsCourt
NeedsKelly
Upon Arrival At The Orphanage
Cole arrives at the Orphanage at age 6. 1865.12.31.0600.NicholasArrives
He arrives at the orphanage with an average height and build for a child his age. He has thick, midnight black hair. His eyes look like shiny pools of oil. He actually has dark green eyes, but they are so dark that unless gazed at in direct light they appear as black as his hair. But for the bright gold flecks in his irises one might think his eyes consisted of only large pupils. By contrast, his skin is marble white. The faint blue lines of veins can be easily traced under most of Nicholas' exposed skin.The overall effect is attractive. If, however, Cole is at all tired, it causes him to look sickly. While his skin tone gives the initial impression of a Caucasian heritage, his full lips, high forehead, and distinct cheek bones imply a mixed background. He arrives at the orphanage with little more than the clothes on his back - which seem quite worn, though at one time they were probably expensive. His only other possessions is a harmonica which he is never without. Personality-wise, Cole is a quiet and thoughtful child, but not shy. He tends to look directly in the eye of whoever speaks to him, and with adults tends not to speak unless spoken to. In general, he seems to have something of a distrust for adults.
Early to Late Childhood
As you know, Cole's primary hobbies are the harmonica, chess, and make believe fighting/soldiering. After a guest of the hotel demonstrates a few simple magic tricks to Cole, the boy is hooked. The stranger refuses to reveal his methods and Cole just cannot stand not knowing how it all works. He becomes obsessive in trying to break down the mechanism of the tricks. Eventually, he succeeds and then starts seeking out sources for new tricks and even trying to create his own. It is only over the course of years, however, that Cole grows coordinated enough and is able to perfect the slight of hand and artful misdirection that most of the tricks require. As a child, all put the most basic tricks are performed clumsily and the adults, at least, easily see through them.
Cole props for his tricks often include his handkerchief (gifted to him by Ella), a chess piece (usually the knight gifted to him by Celeste), and any playing cards he can get his hands on. He seems to understand the principal that the cards are used for other types of games, but as a child he doesn't seem to take an interest in them beyond their use in his magic tricks. When he's older, Cole takes the opportunity to try his tricks out on guests when he can (exciting to him because they have never seen his tricks). He's punished more than once by Mr. French or Nora for "bothering" a guest.
Cole loves to hear a good story and as the years go by, he learns to love telling one just as much. It's not uncommon that he'll gather the children around in the tower to tell a dramatic story complete with sound effects, hand gestures, and gory details. These stories range from things that have actually happened to Cole (often greatly hyperbolized), to stories he's heard or read and is retelling or expounding upon, to stories he has made up completely out of his own head.
Early on, Cole proves himself to be a great scavenger. His eyes are often trained on the ground looking for his next treasure. When he eventually becomes a strong enough swimmer, he spends much of time in the river holding his breath and skimming the murky bottom, groping with his hands to unearth something long forgotten. He collects these treasures and stores them under his bed. It is not uncommon of Cole to clean up some of the items he finds and gift them to others. While his gifts are not always appreciated by the recipient, there is no doubt that Cole thinks he is giving them something special. Over the years, Cole actually manages to find a few items of real value. While he doesn't seem to mind giving them as gifts, he is generally loathe to sell them simply for money. Still, he has done so in order to pay for something he really wanted.
Cole is a prankster and remains so throughout his time at the orphanage. Though his jokes are harmless, he likes little else more than pulling on over one someone. More than once he has been the instigator in a prank war that goes on for weeks and grows in scale until several of the orphans get beaten.
Cole's distrust of adults seems to continue throughout his childhood. To be clear, he doesn't hate adults or think they're all evil. He just is very unlikely to let his guard down. He is able to interact with adults just fine, he's just never really warm with them or totally relaxed the way he is with the kids. He will even initiate conversation with adults (play chess etc) - but it is always for a purpose and never simply idle chatter. The kids notice how much more quiet and reserved he is with an adult in the room. The only true exception to that is Miss Lizzy. Though Cole seems to genuinely like Louie and Abner he is still 'careful' around them.
With the other children, Cole is very outgoing and warm and even sweet. He seems to sincerely care for all the kids at the orphanage - even Minnie (though perhaps not all equally) and is physically affectionate. Still, even with the kids Cole doesn't tend to be loud and to talk aimlessly. He is often quiet and reserved until he's really got something to say (a story, a magic trick etc.). He is very generous with the other orphans and doesn't hesitate to share with them whatever he has if the need arises. During any matters of great concern to the kids he will gladly make his thoughts known, but usually only after quietly listening to everyone else. Some may see him as a follower, but he's not really. It's just that he tend to hold his opinion in reserve and if it doesn't need stating then he doesn't state it. Often, when someone has an idea to do something "bad" like smoke or sneak out he goes along because of his curiosity. He wants to see and experience and know. It's also the same reason he will, almost literally, try anything once. I'm sure he smokes at least once, just to see what it's like (but I don't think he's a smoker). I'm sure he drinks at least once, and gets drunk at least once, just to see what it's like, but I doubt he's a big drinker.
Cole loves competition. He frequently turns any minor task or game into a competition. The competition is friendly, but Cole always tries fiercely to win. Cole is a good loser though he clearly doesn't like to and the pain of defeat can be seen plainly on his face. If he loses at a particular thing, he might spend hours quietly practicing and strategizing in preparation for the next contest. Most of his competitions with Callahan start with Callahan trouncing him pretty soundly. Then with Cole challenging Callahan again after he's practiced - usually with the tables being turned. In these situations Callahan generally immediately loses interest in whatever the "thing" they were competing in was. Over time, Callahan knows what to expect and learns to slyly dodge any subsequent challenges so that he can remain undefeated.
While Cole is person of mild disposition, slow to anger (unless he sees perceived injustice), and generally bright and cheery, he seems drawn to some dark topics. He becomes interested in death and many matters pertaining to the occult - including ghosts/hauntings and Voodoo.
Finally, if there is one over-arching theme to Cole's childhood it is his irrepressible curiosity. It is the thing that gets him in more trouble than anything else. It is the thing that is most likely to cause him to act out of his normal character (be outgoing with adults when he would otherwise refrain, be independent from the other kids when he might otherwise follow, be impatient when he would otherwise be patient.)
Later Childhood and Teenage Years
As Cole ages his personality remains more or less unchanged, though overall more reserved. His distrust for adults, while still there, is less obvious to the casual observer. He still likes competition, but he is less likely to challenge someone. If he loses a competition, he's still likely to practice to become better, but doesn't feel compelled to rechallenge them. Instead, he seems to reach some intangible, private level of competence and be satisfied.. He still likes to hear and tell stories, but his story telling is less overtly dramatic and instead more mature and nuanced. Instead of bursting at the seams to tell a story, it's more likely that someone will ask for one, he'll pretend to be reluctant to tell one, but with the least bit of pressure he'll jump right into one.
As Cole grows older he seems to have an ongoing internal struggle between his growing sense of honor and morality and his desire to satisfy his curiosity. If someone strange comes to the hotel and seems to have interesting things, he absolutely wants to pour through their belongings when they're out of the room...but the older he gets the more he worries about invading someone's privacy. As often as not he gives into the impulse to look and feels guilty afterwards. If he is able to refrain, his is plagued by the dissatisfaction of not knowing what he might have found. Between a man and a woman, he is much more likely to invade the man's privacy than the woman's.
As Cole gets older he shows a deeper and deeper respect for things that are old. He demonstrates a marked preference for used items and will eschew new ones. This trait works well for an orphan without money, but his preference goes beyond mere frugality. As a consequence, Cole becomes quite adept at refurbishing and recycling objects most people would discard as worthless. Moreover, most of personal belonging show signs of mending and still retain dents, scratches, and stains that Cole couldn't fix.
By the time Cole is a teenager, his scavenger skills grown to include not just things dropped on the ground or buried in the earth, but also finding just about anything. He knows what all the shops carry, when they receive their new shipments, and where and when all the businesses discard their trash (as well as the types of things they're likely to discard). He knows when restaurants/stores are likely to toss their unsold food and candy and it's not uncommon to find him waiting at their back door to relieve them of their burden so that he can bring it back to the orphanage to share with his "brothers and sisters". Over time, Cole earns a reputation for being able to find anything one could want in the city. On more than one occasion he is approached by members of the community and asked to find some impossible to locate item. Some times Cole will take on the task just for the challenge, at other times his is compensated for his trouble.
Girlfriend 1 for Cole - Character to be fleshed out by Bill, but is the Candy store owners daughter who provides some of the "throw away sweets". CoraJames Cora James
During one of the outings in which Cole follows Ella to a bar or pub or dance hall, Cole, as is his custom, starts to explore the area. He happens upon a poker game in a back room. At first he's tossed from the room, but eventually convinces the men to let him stay so that he can fetch drinks and empty ash trays. He watches intently and learns the game - and it's the firs time he really sees a use for cards beyond magic tricks. He brings the knowledge back to the orphanage and teaches the other kids. When he's a bit older, his able to convince the men to let him join in a very small stakes game when they are shorthanded of players. Again, Cole engages in an internal moral struggle because he wants to play (competition/to see if he's any good), but he's afraid that gambling is not a "gentlemanly" thing to do. In the end, he plays and becomes hooked. Cole is skilled enough and reserved enough in his playing that he generally comes out ahead. If he loses it's only some portion of his winnings from a prior game. (That said, I'm considering an event where he is convinced someone must be bluffing and the stakes get high and he loses - and though he believes he was cheated, he can't prove it and he's got to pay up. There is fallout from this in some form or fashion - gets beat up when he can't pay up quickly enough or perhaps is forced to may in some other manner - like by finding some item wanted by the guy he owes. Open to thoughts/suggestions here).
<#kate: I think this is cool but where does he get the money to join in the poker game?#>
This last section may need tweaking. Callahan is, as soon as he is able (13+) sneaking off to gambling halls and gambling. He loves all gambling but has a real soft spot for cards and is quite the shark. I think that Cole would have been exposed to card playing well before this point.
<#bill: Okay, well Cal would be 13 in 1871 and Cole would be 12. I can adapt, but I'd like to know what Cal re playing cards etc prior to sneaking out. Where does he learn to play? Does he show interest in playing etc before he starts sneaking out to play? Does he have a deck of cards at the orphanage? Does he invite others to play/is he willing to teach? #>
As a young teen, Cole discovers girls. Whereas Callahan is an over flirt and has a series of girl friends, Cole just seems to a series unrequited crushes on girls in the community. While Cole tends to keep his feelings to himself, the kids at the orphanage can read all the signs pretty quickly. While not normally shy, he is awkward in these situations and rarely, if ever, approaches the girl he currently desires. It doesn't help matters that his pales cheeks flush so brightly pink whenever he's embarrassed - which, in the presence of a crush, is all the time. He can actually be quite charismatic, but only when it doesn't count. The others have seen him flirt as adeptly as Callahan with girls if it's only playful and he doesn't actual have a crush on the girl. In this way, he ends up pining after girl after girl who don't return his feelings, while a number of girls in the community pine after him to no avail.
<#kate: Ella would try and help him with the girls (bringing them into conversation or somehow jigger the situation to bring them into contact) #>
It is a point of honor with him that he conduct himself as a 'gentleman' and treat all women as 'ladies.' This includes the girls of the orphanage - at least in public. In private, he treats them like brothers generally treat sisters, though he never forgets that they are not boys.
It is likely that he gets into more than one fight defending the honor of a lady (though he is particularly fierce defender of the girls from the orphanage, he's been known to respond even when hearing a complete stranger). He's a scrapper and tries hard, but he's not really a great fighter so he's usually on the losing end of these battles - though it doesn't stop him from jumping in the next time. Callahan and Shawn have bailed him out more than once. When he is in a fight the evidence is hard to hide because every blue, black, and purple bruise that blossoms across his face or body stands out in stark contrast to his skin. Several times he's been beaten up outside the orphanage and then receives a second whooping at the orphanage. At first, Mr. French and Nora cannot be made to listen to Cole's explanations, but eventually they do. They show some respect for why Cole gets into the fight, though Nora, particularly when the fight doesn't involve an orphanage girl, thinks he's "a damn fool for sticking his nose where it has no business being." Mr. French seems more put out by the fact that Cole doesn't win more of the fights. The eventually stop punishing him for these fights, unless the matter brings the constable to the orphanage door.
Something to note, Cal talks a good game but is physically pretty small and wiry. He tends to be the talker not the fighter. If Cole gets into something and Cal cant talk them out of it its most likely Shawn (the biggest of the boys I suspect) that is "pulling him out of scraps" Lord knows hes the muscle for Cal's mouth more often than not.
Noted. If I write up any events, I will try to reflect that.
Physically, Cole remains of pretty average height and build until he is about 15 years of age. That year he goes through several growth spurts and reaches 6ft tall. While his shoulders broaden as well, he remains pretty slight of build for the most part. Has strong, but long and slender fingers/hands. The really helps him with his magic tricks. Ella and Celeste remark repeatedly that he should really play the piano with hands like that, but, though he can read music and knows the notes/piano basics, he never becomes a serious student. He puts on a little bulk, however, when he start 'training' for the army when he is 16.
Eventually, it becomes clear to Abner, Mr. Black, and Mr. French, that Cole's desire to become a soldier was not just a childhood dream and has not waned with the passing years. About a year, year and a half, before Cole plans to leave the orphanage, the three men each begin helping to prepare Cole for the army. Each man, with regard to his own knowledge and abilities, instructs Cole in different disciplines including, physical fitness, use of firearms (though he's had some of that with hunting anyway), self-defense, use of a knife, strategy, military protocol and etiquette, and wilderness survival. The training clearly does some good because Cole increasingly holds his own in the fights he gets in.
I think again that some of this would happen earlier. Abner does the hunting for the boys because, "Every southern gentleman should know how to shoot a gun." Cole has shot for most of his life with Abner, and would already know a lot of the firearms things.
Regarding firearms, I understand. I was just putting it in because I think it's one of the things they go over...but maybe they spend less time on it since he already has a lot of the knowledge. Regarding the training happening earlier in general, how much earlier did you have in mind? I just picked that time because it's close enough to him leaving that they'd believe that's what he was going to do and soon enough that they'd have some time to really teach him some stuff. But I have no objection to it happening sooner. When?
As the the orphan's leave one by one (I'm not sure of the order except I'm fairly confident Ella leaves first), Cole gifts each of them a carefully hand-written (almost a calligraphy style - he has nice handwriting), copy of the sheet music to that person's "theme." The music is written in nice ink on nice, sturdy paper (probably expensive) and has a hand-written personalized message on the back.
<#kate: If he doesn't have real interest in music/playing the piano and "never becomes a serious student", how does/when does he learn to write sheet music for each of their original themes? #> <#bill: What I mean to say is that he never becomes a serious student of the piano. As I said, he learns piano basics...and he learns to read sheet music. As far as how/when, I think he learns sheet music when the others do/when he's learning the piano basics...he probably pays more attention to learning to read music than the rest of the piano lessons - he's just mostly applying it to his playing of the harmonica. Up until that point, he has played only by ear. He realizes that learning to read sheet music will be able to play new songs, songs he's never even heard before. #> <#kate: So do you think he joins the girls in their piano lessons with Ms. Ida? #> I think probably not - since it seems to be a "girl" thing. It's more likely that he learns from you all after she's gone/when you are practicing on your own. <#kate: Awe, but she's all pretty - I was hoping Cole could get his first crush =P #>
<#bill: Well, it's not like he doesn't see her at all...he can still crush. If it makes you happy, I'm happy to have him initially turn down lessons, see her, crush, beg to take them, get mocked by the other boys, take them (and talk like a blubbering idiot) for a time and then quit when either a. she reveals she's taken or b. he loses interest anyway. Does that make you happy? #>
NeedsKelly
NeedsKate - at the bottom
