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Mémoire 6: Altus

Introduction

Dominique de Sade (ドミニク・ド・サド, Dominiku do Sado), frequently nicknamed Domi (ドミ, Domi) is a major protagonist from Jun Mochizuki's The Case Study of Vanitas. A Vampire of the Crimson Moon, she is the childhood friend of Noé Archiviste, having met him through her grandfather, his Teacher. Born the youngest child of the influential House de Sade, Dominique adopts a brash, authoritative persona, taking it upon herself to serve as Noé's "protector." She holds a great distrust for Vanitas, whom she regards as a potential corrupting influence on her close friend. She works as a knight for Carbunculus Castle.[1]

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SPOILER WARNING!
This article contains plot and/or ending details for The Case Study of Vanitas.
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Twenty years prior to Noé's trip to Paris, Dominique was born, raised to believe she was a year younger than her brother Louis, and the youngest of four siblings. While Louis was declared a curse-bearer and sent to live with their grandfather, Dominique was raised by her biological parents in Altus Paris, only occasionally visiting him in the rural village of Averoigne. When she and Louis were still quite young, they met Noé, who had been taken as a student by their grandfather. The three quickly developed a deep friendship, Dominique developing romantic feelings for Noé over the next several years.[2]

When she, Louis, and Noé were in their teens, a failed attempt to rescue a child in the final stages of Malnomen resulted in the corruption of Louis's True Name and his death by decapitation.[2] She gave Noé a box of unknown contents upon Louis's instruction, having been told to give it to Noé "when the time comes." Horrified by what was inside, Noé collapsed,[3] leaving Dominique to fret over his health for the next several days. It was during this time she learned she and Louis had in fact been twins, the birth of which was highly stigmatized in Vampire society. Their birth as twins had been covered up, Domi chosen arbitrarily from the two to survive, Louis intended for death but rescued by their grandfather on a whim. After Noé briefly confuses Dominique for Louis before collapsing again, Dominique developed an extreme inferiority complex surrounding her brother. She began to crossdress and adopt a more masculine persona out of the belief Noé would've preferred Louis survived in her stead.[4]

Appearance[]

Dominique is a tall, thin woman with pale skin and a neat hourglass body type. She has broad shoulders, a small bust, wide hips, and a well-defined butt. Her face is round with a small, pointed chin, a large forehead, thin eyebrows, and large, golden, upturned eyes with thick eyelashes. Black, wavy hair falls past her hips, her long bangs parted in the center of her forehead such that some of her hair falls into her eyes, while the rest covers her ears. Otherwise, her hair is usually kept loose and unstyled. Like all vampires of the Crimson Moon, her eyes will occasionally turn red.

Though she changes outfits several times over the course of the series, Dominique's usual outfit consists of a black button-up over white pants, a long, white, gold-accented tailcoat with large cuffs, black thigh-high boots, and a black bow. In addition to this, she wears a purple, ribbon-like sash attached to a sword sheath, where she normally keeps a rapier. In most of her appearances, she wears purple gloves. Her outfit would be considered very masculine for the setting.

As a child, Dominique bore a very strong resemblance to her brother, though she was shorter and their fashion tastes differed. Prior to Louis's death, Dominique had long hair she would keep loose or in a bun, and would favor dresses. She either lacked bangs or parted them to the side. After he died, she cut her hair short and began to deliberately mimic his choices in fashion, styling her hair like his, beginning to wear pants, and adopting an overall less feminine gender presentation.

Personality[]

Dominique is initially presented as a confident and flirtatious young woman with a bold and ostentatious manner. During her introduction she asserts that she is Noé's fiancée and, when Noé reveals this is a lie, flirts with Nox to distract from her indiscretion (though the latter interaction is cut from the anime). She naturally attempts to protect those she likes, such as Noé and Jeanne, though this protectiveness does not often take into account other's wishes. As such, she is hostile to Vanitas, going so far as to threaten, interrogate, and briefly stalk him, as she perceives him as a threat to Noé and later Jeanne.

Despite her apparent confidence, Domi is shown to fake competence at times. When Jeanne asks for advice to scare Vanitas off on the presumption Dominique has a history with troublesome men, Dominique refuses to admit she has no dating experience with men and instead gives Jeanne advice based on what she'd learned of Vanitas through Noé in an attempt to remain Jeanne's protector. Though she tells Jeanne she does not care for the impact their relations may have on her reputation (as Dominique is a noble and Jeanne is a Bourreau,) she is greatly embarrassed by being defeated and bound in combat.

Behind this brash, outgoing, and sometimes sadistic exterior, Dominique is deeply insecure, and her narration frequently turns to self-degradation. She is frequently the target of bullying by her elder siblings, who refer to her as a failure and mock her fondness for Noé and Jeanne. Following Louis's death, Dominique becomes convinced both Noé and her family would've preferred she had perished instead. While Noé had come down with a fever, she suffers a breakdown and goes so far as to attack her maids when they tried to stop her from cutting her hair. Subsequently she attempted to play Louis's role, adopting a male speech pattern and style of dress. Nevertheless, her relationship with her family does not improve, and Noé does not return her feelings for him. After meeting Misha, Dominique becomes convinced that Noé would be happier were she to die. When Jeanne thwarts Dominique's suicide attempt, Domi expresses jealousy towards her and claims to despise her.

Dominique has a more girlish side. She is sometimes flustered by discussions of sex or romance, despite affecting a more experienced personality. When Jeanne mentions the possibility of sex with Vanitas, Dominique tells her that relationships between men and women should start with the exchange of letters. Her siblings' discussion of sex causes her great embarrassment, and she was susceptible to teasing by Louis regarding her crush on Noé.

Powers and Abilities[]

General: As a Vampire, Dominique has far greater strength, speed, and endurance than an average human being by strengthening her physical abilities with interference of the World Formula. She is fit, active, and trained in combat, very much capable of holding her own in a fight with ease, but her natural abilities are no more than that of an average Vampire. Still, she has been shown fighting easily against multiple other Vampires[3] and works as a knight in Carbunculus Castle,[5] showing her skills and credentials to be significant in their own right.

Weapons: Dominique's main weapon of choice is a long thing rapier with gold and purple sheath and hilt, which is nearly always strapped to the side of her waist. She is very skilled and highly trained in sword fighting, her movements and reflexes very fast and accurate.[6] She is able to both exert deadly force if need be, and also fight to subdue and restrain against less dangerous foes. In addition to her sword, she is also very skilled at knife throwing, easily hitting her intended targets even upon a spinning wheel.[7]

World Formula Interference: As a de Sade Dominique possesses the ability of cryokinesis, the ability to create and control ice, by rewriting the World Formula much like her older siblings. Whereas the rest of her family uses their powers destructively and nearly always with deadly force and intent, Dominique is more likely to use her ability with restraint and mercy. With her cryokinesis, Dominique can summon large shards of ice out of thin air and manipulate them to fly and crash into any target she wishes. The shards of ice will explode and expand into massive waves of ice, which she can use to restrain and trap people. The ice Dominique produces is so strong it can protect against the weight of a falling ferris wheel without giving or breaking in any way. While the other de Sades' powers are far more forceful, Dominique still possesses her own keen, precise kind of strength.[8]

Quotes[]

  • “I worry… that you might be thinking that what happened back then… is your fault…”[1]
  • “Go ahead. I’ll give you… all of it… mon chéri.”[1]
  • “Just so you’re aware… even if you cry or scream, no one will come.”[7]
  • “Doesn’t the very fact that you’re using his name show that you worship the Vampire of the Blue Moon!?”[7]
  • “‘Acts of pleasure are the passion to which all others are subordinate.’ I’m quoting my father. I possess no passions that deserve priority over admiring a beautiful flower that blooms before me.”[9]
  • “…I envy you, Louis.”[10]
  • “‘Why wasn’t it me?’ It’s something I’ve wondered ever since the day Louis died. I wish I’d been the one to become a curse-bearer. I wish I’d been the one to get beheaded. I wish Louis was the one who was here with Noé now. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry…”[4]
  • “Noé. Would you rather have had Louis too? More than me… did you want Louis to live…?”[4]
  • “I’m sorry. I wish I’d been the one to die.”[4]
  • “I wish I’d been the one to become a curse-bearer. If Louis had lived instead of me, Noé would have been happier too.”[11]
  • “Noé’s getting hurt, and I… I can’t just… watch that happen…! If I lose Noé too… I can’t survive.”[12]
  • “Heh! Hilarious. Are you sure you’re doing this for Noé’s sake?”[6]
  • “I… I hate myself. I’m indecisive and pathetic. I can’t stand myself! But even so, there’s one thing I won’t compromise on. I won’t forgive anyone that hurts Noé. If my getting hurt makes Noé feel that way… then I mustn’t allow it, no matter what!!”[13]
  • “Our True Name isn’t the least bit defiled.”[13]
  • “It’s all right. No voice like that could unsettle us. Keep your eyes on me. I’ll face the two of you squarely as well. For now, in order to protect… take up your sword with me!”[8]
  • “Me too!! I love you too!!!”[14]
  • “He gets lost right off the bat, and he doesn’t even know he’s lost. It’s incredible. He’s kind to me when he has no idea how I feel. He’s straightforward, and it’s not fair of him. Since he’s like that, I—!”[14]
  • “‘Costuming’… doesn’t simply mean dressing oneself beautifully. It’s also the act of veiling one’s true nature so that it’s seen as something else.”[15]

Appearances[]

Manga Appearances
Anime Appearances

(*) - Denotes that the character did not appear physically, but as a part of another character's memories.

Trivia[]

  • "Dominique" means "of the lord."[16]
  • The de Sades are inspired by the real life Marquis de Sade,[17] He was a French historical figure infamous for his philosophical influence on sexuality and eroticism, to the point where the term "sadism" has been directly derived from his name and his writings.
    • In Mémoire 12: Pause, Dominique says to Jeanne "'Acts of pleasure are the passion to which all others are subordinate.' I'm quoting my father." This is one possible translation of a quote attributed to the real life Marquis de Sade, usually translated as, "Sexual pleasure is, I agree, a passion to which all others are subordinate but in which they all unite." This confirms the fictional head of the de Sade family to be directly based on the Marquis de Sade.
  • After Louis's death, Dominique changes her preferred first-person pronoun from 私 (watashi) to the more masculine 僕 (boku).
  • She is a weepy drunk.[18]
  • Dominique is one of the first of Mochizuki's characters to be portrayed as bisexual, having expressed romantic affection for a man—Noé[9]—and a woman—Jeanne.[14]

References[]

Navigation[]

v - e - t The Case Study of Vanitas
Characters

Main: Noé ArchivisteVanitas
Dhampirs: DanteJohannRiche
Galerie Valentine: ManetNoxParks Orlok
Hôtel Chouchou: Amelia RuthFlute
de Sade: Antoine de SadeChryslerDominique de SadeLouis de SadeMurrThe TeacherVeronica de Sade
Oriflamme: August RuthvenJeanneLoki OriflammeLuca Oriflamme
Chasseurs: Astolfo GranatumCharlesGanoGeorgesMarcoMariaMiraOgierOlivierRoland Fortis
d'Apchier: Chloé d'ApchierJean-Jacques Chastel
Blue Moon: MikhailVanitas of the Blue Moon
Archiviste: Noé ArchivisteLady Archiviste
Charlatan: ChèvreMonsieur SpiderMoreauNaeniaPlague Doctor
The Vampire Senate: FaustinaLord BellatorLord PaldenceMarquis Machina
Others: Beast of GévaudanCatherineÉricFannyFredGillesLouiseMinaNoé's GrandparentsParacelsusThomas Berneux

Nobility Archiviste ClanClan of the Blue MoonHouse d'ApchierHouse de SadeHouse of GranatumOriflamme DukedomThe SenateThe Vampire Queen
Terminology Species & Factions: BeastiaBourreauThe Catholic ChurchCharlatanChasseursDhampirsVampires

Objects: Astérisque FlowersAstermiteThe Book of VanitasMielWorld Formula Alteration Device
Weapons: Carpe DiemDurandalHauteclaireLouisette
Events: Babel IncidentThe War
Miscellaneous: MalnomenMark of PossessionTrue NameWorld Formula

Locations AltusAveroigneLa BaleineCarbunculus CastleLes Catacombes de ParisGalerie ValentineGévaudanHôtel ChouchouDoctor Moreau's LaboratoryParis
Volumes 1234567891011
Omake Romance is a✰LOVE MISSION
Episodes 123456789101112131415161718192021222324RecapSpecial
Blu-ray/DVD 12345678
Drama CDs Drama CD 1Drama CD 2Drama CD 3Drama CD 4
Soundtrack OSTSora to Utsuro0 (zero)Your NamesalvationCharacter Song Album 1Character Song Album 2
Character Songs Le Formidable!Hidamari ni Saku Hana~mon trésor~Na mo Naki MichiSekka
Other Media Stage Play
Extra Vanitashu no KaruteAuthor's NotesTimelineReal-World References
Author Jun Mochizuki
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