Head canon:
Dirk was born in the Royal Palace of Derse. As the first male human child to be born after the last Prince and Princess, Dirk was meant to become the new Prince and was isolated from his family to begin life in the Tower assigned to him on the moon. Raised by the royal servants with the other children of the aristocracy, his parents were never really around. They didn't really need to be, but it would have been nice. As a result, he never bonded with them, developing an almost "devil may care" attitude in their regard. His personal carapace attendants became his family of sorts.
Seeing the young prince without real family, the Black Queen became a sort of mother figure to him. She would often come read him stories and play games with him. Occasionally she would bring him special gifts: small mechanical toys, puppets and wooden block puzzles. Of these, his favourite was a marionette which he called Lil' Cal. Seeing that Dirk was creative with his hands and mind, she would also bring him small robots to assemble. Watching in amazement as his creations come to artificial life sparked in him an interest in all things robotic. Ever eager for new knowledge, he would enquire of Derse's history and past politics. He and the queen would discuss for hours as Dirk connected the pieces of history in his head, forming an ideal of a Derse he would like to live in.
Dirk's very first friend was his younger cousin Dave, who he grew up in the palace with. Dave wasn't as into the robotics and logic puzzles that Dirk was into. Dave was creative, but more on the artistic side. Dave would usually just draw with his crayons as Dirk assembled more small robots with which to entertain himself and his younger cousin. Occasionally Dave would go to Dirk's tower to sleep over, yet always refused to sleep until Dirk had put away Lil' Cal. Something about that puppet just freaked him out. But despite Dave's adamant aversion to the puppet, in the middle of the night Dirk would always place Lil' Cal beside Dave's head and wake up early to watch Dave scream in fright when he wakes up. As they grew up, they learned to spar and would duel with each other. Dave is probably the closest person to Dirk.
As a child, growing up with Dave, it would only be natural to begin to feel attached to him. One day, on one of the rare occasions that Dirk would see his parents, he told them of his feelings for Dave; intense feelings of love, thoughts of marriage. Dirk was quickly discouraged, his parents saying that he cannot marry another boy, "You're supposed to grow up and marry the Princess." He never understood the limitation. Why did it matter if he married Dave or whoever else? Still, growing up with that seed planted in his head, he grew away from those feelings for his cousin and eventually came to see him as his brother. He later found out about the Rogue Princess and her disappearance during infancy. He didn't let it affect him much, though he knows that if she were to return that he is supposed to marry her.
Around the age of 4, Dirk started his military training. He much preferred the physical exercise and strategy over the parading and ceremonies involved with being a Prince. If he had the choice, he would have taken a military position over being prince any day. His parents agreed that taking a temporary military position as training would be beneficial to him as he could become a soldier once retired from being the prince. Finding the time in-between princely duties for training was difficult but Dirk found a way. Though, finding time for Dave, the Queen and attending to projects of his own design left him without sleep. His military training helped him with this discipline as well as forming him into a skilled swordsman and brilliant strategist.
As he grew older, he began investing time in his interests by taking various courses. One of which included a mechanics course at the military workshop. While working on one of the airships, he met Equius, a troll, of whom he became fond of for his skill and talent. Dirk soon became skilled enough to elaborate on his designs from childhood to produce complex robotics and clockwork toys for his own enjoyment.
Equius company was something Dirk enjoyed very much, not just for advice but because he could talk to him casually. Girls often became the topic of conversation. Dirk telling of a girl who he first saw at the age of 15 at one of the royal balls. Rose, the Seer. She seemed different. People were rather uncomfortable with her, but that was perhaps the reason for his curiosity, she wasn't like other girls. Equius would tell of a low blood troll in the Low District. But... as much as Dirk liked hearing about her, it was always a little awkward as Equius got visibly worked up over it. They would often discuss social classes and inequalities fostering healthy debate. Though they have differing opinions, Dirk still considers him one of his best friends as he knows that Equius wouldn't hurt a fly (on purpose.)
Seeking for different ways to view the world and to develop his critical thinking for stratagems, Dirk took an interest in philosophy. Calling upon philosophers from all around Skaia whom he had met in his previous travels, he took private lessons and gained access to the Prospitian Royal Library. Forming new ideals of his own, he spent much time with the Queen discussing how the penal system could be reformed. He didn't realize the sway he had on the Queen as he didn't know the way she felt for him. In the same way, he didn't realize the contempt and jealousy the King had for him. However, he got a bit of an idea of how the Queen felt and was very happy when she went thru with his reformation plan.
At the age of seventeen one night, Rose woke him from a troubled sleep and said that she saw something terrible was going to happen and that he was is great danger. Together they planned an escape with Dave. Dirk felt uneasy and guilty leaving the Queen and even wanted to take her with them. Rose and Dave convinced him that she would be fine. Dirk watched from the shadows as The Condesce and Jack assaulted the palace, taking control. After a moment of hesitation, he snuck through the city to the military workshop where he found Equius and explained the situation. Equius brought him to the liquor shop saying that he knew the owner and he should be fine to take the basement. The next few nights Dirk sat alone, in the dark basement just sitting feeling guilty that he left Dave and the Queen at the palace, not even leaving to get food. After coming to his senses, his logical mind told him he had to do something, he was not the kind of person to just stand and watch as his kingdom was corrupted. He is a get things done kind of guy. So he started spreading whispers, trying to get a rebellion together.
Since then, Dirk has been rather cold: almost distant. He's got a worried look in his eye with a glean of deep thought in strategy as he realizes that he may just need to lead this rebellion himself. Normally he'd be more laid back and chilled out, but the war has him tense. He cares for his friends immensely, even more than himself. He would do anything to help a friend. He puts on a persona that sometimes comes off as egocentric and self-important to hide his fear and anxiety. But he's no introvert by any means, he loves to talk long-windedly about many topics.
Physical head canon:
Dirk is about 6 feet tall, bit above average, and keeps perfect posture all the time, if not, most. He has broad, square shoulders but not too broad. His hips are a bit narrower giving him a nice proportion. Being raised in the Palace of Derse, he was well-fed his whole life maintaining a healthy weight. Because of Dirk's military training he is very much in shape; lean muscle fills out his lithe frame. A young man of the aristocracy, he was well dressed at all times. He enjoyed ensuring he was well groomed and well dressed while wearing his trademark pointed shades. All this changed after The Condesce's strike on the monarchy. Forced to flee into hiding, he doesn't have as much time or energy to maintain the look of aristocracy and now wears simpler, common clothes as opposed to the fancy garb he used to wear. To hide his distinctive orange eyes he shades his face with the hood on his tattered travelling cloak. No longer does he wear his pointed shades either, as it would be a dead giveaway to anyone who might be searching for him.
Roleplay sample:
Dirk sat at his desk which was covered in small pieces of metal: gears, little springs and screws. Quiet contemplation of how different pieces could go together. That piece there and this spring gear mechanism... Slowly a clockwork horse took form. Dirk admired his work as it started taking a smooth, graceful 4 beat walking gait across the table. He was knocked out of his reverie and turned around when he heard a knock at his chamber door.
"Master Dirk, it is time for your philosophy lesson."
Dirk stood up, adjusted his jerkin, and quickly walked to open his door. "Come in professor." Dirk invited him in with a small smile. "Another lesson in philosophy eh?" Though Dirk was sixteen, he had been studying philosophy for 2 years and actually excelled beyond a level one would expect from a sixteen year old boy. As a result, Dirk became a little cocky, but he'd never show it.
"Yes, your first puzzle is, : Who makes it, has no need of it. Who buys it, has no use for it and Who uses it, can neither see nor feel it. What is it?"
Without hesitation; without even half a second to go by, "A coffin."
Frankly startled the professor stood dumbfounded for a minute, "... that's correct."
Dirk sighed softly trying to remain polite. "Of course. The man making the coffin isn't dead yet and therefore doesn't need it. The man who is buying it, is not buying it for himself and therefore doesn't need it," he said as he began to rush feeling slightly bored, "and the man who uses it cannot see or feel it because he is dead....."
The man stood silent for a moment longer before saying, "I think... that I'm going to have to find new material for you Master Dirk.... Next week then?..." The professor quickly left embarrassedly to leave Dirk sitting in a chair, legs crossed casually.
Dirk sighed before slowly getting up and thinking for a moment. Now that that is over, .... where is Dave? Maybe he's up for a spar. Dirk smiled to himself, holding himself high as he left his chamber.
OOC: Heyy all! I'm Grayson. I am so excited to pick up this character and role-play with you guys! Hopefully I measure up. I'm sure I'll get into the swing of things rather quickly. Feel free to PM me about any RP ideas.
Website: textualvoices.tumblr.com
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