“ | Bonjour, boy. Did you have a nice dream? | ” |
Introduction
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August Ruthven (オーガスト・ルスヴン, Oogasuto Rusuvun) is a character from Jun Mochizuki's The Case Study of Vanitas. He is one of the most important, prolific, and revered figures in Vampire history, having been a key figure in ending the brutal race War between humans and Vampires. He is the adoptive uncle and guardian of Luca Oriflamme and thus handles all his duties as the Grand Duke, serves the Vampire Queen as a member of the Senate, and has his name widely known even among some humans. This makes him the most powerful and influential figure seen thus far.
Formerly a teacher and moderate during the War, he was an active participant in peacemaking deals between humans and Vampires in the hopes of ceasing the fighting between races, befriending one Chloé d'Apchier during his efforts. However an incident caused him to become disgraced, his students—the adoptive parents of Jeanne, Éric and Louise—betraying him and the other Vampiric aristocracy to the humans. They were declared race traitors and brutally executed, their daughter turned a Bourreau to further atone, while Ruthven himself sustained irreparable damage to his right eye. While no longer a teacher, he remained a political activist and was adopted into the family of the Grand Duke Oriflamme, getting close to the Queen and gaining a seat on the Senate. He used these connections to broker a treaty which ended the War, facilitating the Vampires' exodus into Altus.
In recent years, August has aligned with the organization Charlatan. This means he was a key figure in contributing to Naenia's spreading of Malnomen, Doctor Moreau's inhumane experimentation on curse-bearers, and the attempted assassination of his own nephew Luca at the bal masqué. To what end he commits all this remains unknown, though he poses a clear threat to Vanitas and Noé throughout the duo's journey to save every curse-bearer they can.
Appearance[]
August is an extremely tall, well built man who appears to be in middle age. He has pale skin and a wide, square-set face, His eyes are thin and exceptionally long-lashed, accompanied by thick brows and a slightly aquiline nose. He bares some slightly nonhuman features, with somewhat pointed ears and sclera which appear to be the same yellow color as his irises. He has messy red hair which goes to about the middle of his back, while no hair falls into his face, exposing a slight widow's peak. After the War, he began to wear a large black eyepatch over his right eye.
Ruthven's outfits change across his appearances. When not wearing a Senator uniform, he usually wears formal but not extravagent attire, some combination of shirt, cravat, long coat, gloves and sometimes hat. On one occasion, he uses a cane. His right ear is adorned with a cuff that carries two tassels.
Personality[]
Ruthven is a cold and calculating man who puts on a cheerful face in order to achieve his own goals. He puts his own unknown goals above all else, which means not much is known about his true personality. Ruthven seems to be conscientious, cleaning up after Marquis Machina’s magic tricks. However, he also displays a ruthless side when questioned or threatened.
When he first met Chloé d'Apchier, Ruthven was genuinely cheerful and trusted both humans and vampires. He enjoyed being a teacher and wanted to end the needless violence between humans and vampires as soon as possible. After being betrayed by his students, Ruthven became much colder and crueler. At some point during or after this incident Ruthven drew the attention of Naenia, who tortured him with visions and hallucinations.
Powers and Abilities[]
Coming soon!
Relationships[]
Jeanne[]
Jeanne and Ruthven seem to have a close relationship. Ruthven was Jeanne’s parents’ Teacher, and she travelled around with them as a young child. Ruthven seems to be kind to Jeanne, but is willing to let her get hurt when he attacks Vanitas and seems to see her as more of a tool than anything else.
Luca Oriflamme[]
Luca is Ruthven’s nephew. Ruthven protects Luca and seems to care for him, telling Luca that when he heard the young vampire had gone to the human world, his blood ran cold. When Ruthven attacks Vanitas he hurts Jeanne and Noé in the process, but specifically protects Luca from his attack and leaves him unharmed.
Despite all this Ruthven’s relationship with Luca has a dangerous edge. Ruthven tells Luca to forget about saving Loki from his cursebearer status and admonishes him for displaying a perfectly normal reaction when Vanitas asks the vampires if their Queen is alive or dead. Most of the senators and, it seems, many of the powerful vampires in general seem to consider Luca a figurehead puppet that Ruthven controls.
Chloé d'Apchier[]
Chloé and Ruthven were once good friends. Ruthven was the first vampire Chloé met and one of her first friends. Ruthven shared his views on the world with Chloé, and she genuinely enjoyed being around him. Chloé is also much older than Ruthven, something that he found endlessly amusing.
After the deaths of Jeanne’s parents and his serious injury during the event, Ruthven changed. When Ruthven attempted to curse Chloé to get the d’Apchier family’s alteration device research he essentially destroyed their relationship.
The Teacher[]
Ruthven and the Shapeless One have an intense rivalry with each other. This rivalry seems to be highly one sided, however, as Ruthven seems to find the Teacher’s dislike for him more entertaining than anything else.
Quotes[]
- “Salvation takes many forms. Being freed from the curse may not necessarily bring happiness to the person in question.”[1]
- “The stench of burning flesh stings my nostrils. Black smoke obscures my vision, and beyond it… lie countless corpses. I hear the faint voices of precious children, begging for aid… They are calling my name.”[2]
- “Noé Archiviste. Are you a friend of the Vampires? Or do you side with the humans, against us?”[2]
- “‘Swear.’ One time only… when I wish it… you will obey my order, no matter what it is. Swear it. Swear!!”[2]
- “I have high hopes for you, boy. When the time comes… be sure to remember that oath.”[2]
- “Chloé… I like Vampires. And, in the same way… I like humans. Since that’s so, I want to put an end to the their, no matter what it takes. That’s all.”[3]
- “I… was wrong. Yes. I was a fool. I took it for granted that we could understand each other. I was fundamentally wrong. Right from the start. And so… I have to set it right.”[4]
- “From now on, as you live with these two, see many things… learn… come to understand the world.”[5]
- “…If you intend to disport yourself with savage beasts… take care that you don’t get your throat torn out.”[6]
Appearances[]
- Mémoire 3: Jeanne — The Hellfire Witch (Mentioned only)
- Mémoire 4: Femme Fatale — Love (Mentioned only)
- Mémoire 6: Altus — Other World (Mentioned only)
- Mémoire 7: Bal Masqué — Night of Sneering Masks (Mentioned only)
- Mémoire 11: Deux Ombres — Point of Departure (First Appearance)
- Mémoire 12: Pause 𝄻*
- Mémoire 13: Glissando — Glissando
- Mémoire 15: Chasseur — Those Who Hunt Crimson*
- Mémoire 18: Dos à Dos — The Shape of Salvation
- Mémoire 19: Serment — Spell-Bound
- Mémoire 21: Serment — Promise (Part Two)*
- Mémoire 22: Hurler — A Calling Voice
- Mémoire 25: Endroit Approprié — Melee*
- Mémoire 26: Dissonance — Creaking Laughter
- Mémoire 27: Cage de Neige — Dregs*
- Mémoire 29: Château de Sorcière — The Witch and the Youth (Mentioned only)
- Mémoire 30: Strascinando — Tremolo*
- Mémoire 31: Oiseau et Ciel — The Vampire of the d'Apchiers*
- Mémoire 32: Visiteur — Footfalls of the Beast*
- Mémoire 33: Cauchemar — Rumble*
- Mémoire 34: Jean-Jacques — The Vampire of the Chastels (Part One)*
- Mémoire 36: Chasse aux Vampires — The Beast*
- Mémoire 37: Vengeance — Hands That Touch a Nightmare*
- Mémoire 38: Naenia — She Who Harbors Death (Part One)
- Mémoire 38.5: Naenia — She Who Harbors Death (Part Two)*
- Mémoire 39: Poupée Fissurée — The Essence of the Witch*
- Mémoire 42: Encore une Fois — Love (Mentioned only)
- Mémoire 43: Encens Restant — Lingering Scent of the Dream
- Mémoire 61: Jeu de paume — Court Tennis (Part One)*
- Mémoire 61.5: Jeu de paume — Court Tennis (Part Two)*
- Mémoire 6: Salvatio -Questions- (First Appearance)
- Mémoire 7: Femme Fatale -Love-
- Mémoire 8: Catacombes -Where Death Slumbers-
- Mémoire 10: Cicatrice -No.69-
- Mémoire 11: Serment -Promises-
- Mémoire 12: Deux Ombres -Point of Departure-
- Mémoire 13: Forêt d'argent -Chance Encounter-
- Mémoire 14: Château de Sorcière -The Witch and the Young Man-*
- Mémoire 15: Oiseau et ciel -The d'Apchiers' Vampire-
- Mémoire 16: Chasse aux Vampires -The Beast-*
- Mémoire 17: Vengeance -Hands Upon a Nightmare-
- Mémoire 20: Mal d'amour -The Incurable Disease- (Mentioned only)
(*) - Denotes that the character did not appear physically, but as a part of another character's memories.
Trivia[]
- Ruthven is based directly off the character Lord Ruthven[7] from John William Polidori's The Vampyre,[8] which is widely regarded as the progenitor of the vampire genre in English literature.
- The name "August" is likely a reference to Augustus Darvell, the vampire featured in Lord Byron's "A Fragment." This unfinished work by Byron was the inspiration for Polidori's The Vampyre, and thus the inspiration for Lord Ruthven.[9]