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There’s a sleeping lion here in Carbunculus Castle. I don’t want to miss seeing it wake up.

Mémoire 43: Encens Restant

Introduction

Sir Francis Varney (フランシス・ヴァーニー (きょう) , Furanshisu Vānī Kyou, most often referred to by his moniker the Clockwork Fiend Marquis Machina (機械 (きかい) (くる) いのマキナ侯爵 (こうしゃく) , Kikai Kurui no Makina Koushaku) or simply Marquis Machina, is a character from Jun Mochizuki's The Case Study of Vanitas. He is one of the most venerable, most prolific, and most eccentric Vampires known, possessing a reputation which rivals that of the Comte de Saint Germain. As a result he has many connections and involvements in numerous different matters, including but not limited to being a Senator, a Beastia serving the Queen, and the sole protector of the widely loathed Dhampir race.

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SPOILER WARNING!
This article contains plot and/or ending details for The Case Study of Vanitas.
Read at your own risk.
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Marquis Machina's true identity and appearance, a mystery constantly hidden to all except only a select few by the custom-made automaton suit, is that of a young girl with pale hair and dark brown skin. The undeniable characteristics of an Archiviste, which are believed to be long since extinct aside from the supposed sole survivor, Noé Archiviste.[1]

Appearance[]

Marquis Machina's appearance is almost always concealed behind a large automaton suit much larger than herself with which to obscure her true form, and aside from a select few she does not allow any to peer at herself beneath the suits. In current times, the suit she most commonly is seen wearing is one easily doubling her true height with a rotund, heavyset, bulky form. A cylindrical torso, thin and easily maneuverable limbs, the gloves and boots of a common knight's armor, and extra bulky padding for the shoulders and leg joints where the limbs connect to the main body. The head is modeled after a diving helmet with a porthole where the face would be. The suit is entirely colored white with gold detailings. On the back of the suit is a gold colored engine, presumably powered by Astermite, which powers the suit's automaton functionalities. At the front of the automaton's chest is a purple and gold plated grate from which Machina's voice is projected out; a staple of seemingly every automaton suit she wears.

Aside from such, Machina has been depicted wearing a number of other automaton suits as well. This includes one which was identical to a literal full-sized bear.[2] Another was modeled after an Asian doll,[3] particularly with a Japanese aesthetic, wearing a jūnihitoe,[4] an extremely intricate kimono known for being worn by noblewomen, and an extremely uncanny mask which attempted to mimic the oshiroi[5] makeup used by geisha.[6]

VnC Lady Archiviste appearance Vol 11

Marquis Machina's true appearance

Under the suit, Machina's appearance is immediately distinct and noteworthy for having all the characteristic features of the supposedly wiped-out Archiviste Clan. She has a dark brown complexion to her skin and snow white hair with black underneath. She has a long, angular face, thin almond-shaped purple eyes, and short thick eyebrows. Her knee-length hair is gathered into total of five braids, each tied off at the base of her head with a hairpiece, and tied off at the ends which flare out freely like brush strokes. Three of her braids form the top layer of her hairstyle, while the remaining braids lay underneath and are colored a pitch black. On either side of her head above the two outermost braids are a pair of smaller braids. Two chest-length strands of hair frame her face. Like all Vampires, her eyes will occasionally turn red.

She wears a black ankle-length dress that billows out and obscures the shape of her form like a cloak. The dress includes a large hood with which to cover her face, slits on the sides for her arms to poke through, frilled buttons on the front closing it shut. Embroidered on the right side of her dress's waist is a floral-shaped symbol. Oval dangle earrings adorn her ears, and a choker consisting of black beads set to white ruffles decorates her neck. Disconnected white cuffs are buttoned around her wrists and ankles. On her feet are a pair of okobo[7] as her footwear.

Personality[]

Marquis Machina is amicable, goofy, and easily bored. She’s highly interested in magic tricks and card tricks, though her interests vary, and her true motives towards anything and everything are unknown. Marquis Machina seems to be rather promiscuous, hooking up with Veronica de Sade at least once, and isn’t above using Dhampir information brokers to get jobs done. The Marquis has a reputation for being "an eccentric always, a sage on occasion."[8] Although she is usually very extroverted, she claims to be a "shy fellow" and gets very distressed when someone tries to get her to come out of her suit.[2]

Despite her goofy personality, Marquis Machina is implied to have been quite different in the past, formal and tired of life. In the present, she still attempts to be formal in front of the Teacher until she's called out on her unnatural respect, as "those who've lived too long do experience character shifts along the way to some degree". She is described as a "scatterbrain who thinks she's fortifies herself with cleverness", and said to have been a dubious character even in the past.[1]

Plot[]

Bal Masqué Arc[]

Coming soon!

Beast of Gévaudan Arc[]

During the return of the Beast of Gévaudan, Dante revealed to Vanitas that Marquis Machina hired him and asking him to do three things: involve Vanitas in this incident, find out whether the d'Apchier's alteration device really exists, and, if possible, bring it to her.

Miel Incident Arc[]

Coming soon!

Powers and Abilities[]

Coming Soon!

Relationships[]

The Teacher[]

Coming Soon!

August Ruthven[]

Coming Soon!

Veronica de Sade[]

Coming Soon!

Quotes[]

  • "Will you discard the human world… and live as a Vampire among Vampires?"[2]
  • "…Did you know this? In conjuring, the important thing is how you divert your audience’s attention from your scheme."[9]
  • "It looks as if some other magician didn’t want that human to be part of the audience."[9]
  • "Ha ha ha! You’re telling me, of all people, to be careful not to die!? August!! You’ve always been far too serious! Don’t overwork yourself and break down even more than you already have!!"[9]
  • “This is… a ‘story.’ A single volume guaranteed to start with birth… and end in death. Joy. Anger. Sorrow. Hope… and despair. All those exist to prove the life that once was. They are memories… and records. Being forgotten is a pardon, but it is also a loss. Therefore, we wrote them down.”[10]
  • “Within our bodies, countless books… are placed in our care… and handed down… so that they will not be lost. We are the Fangs That Reveal Blood—‘Archivistes,’ Keepers of Memory.”[10]
  • “A fugue of hatred… that’s forgotten how to stop. Who will be the next… to play it?”[11]
  • “You’re rather like a natural disaster. You destroy without much thought… foster and bewilder… give and then steal. It’s impossible for anyone to understand you. You’re far too different from us.”[12]

Appearances[]

Manga Appearances
Anime Appearances

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

Trivia[]

  • "Machina" is a Latin word that translates to "machine," "scheme," "plan," or "machination."
  • "Sir Francis Varney," Machina's real name, is based directly off the titular character from Varney the Vampire,[13] a serialized gothic horror novel James Malcolm Rymer and Thomas Peckett Prest in 1845-1847. The story pioneered many of the tropes now widely used in modern vampire fiction, particularly the attribute of vampires to possess sharpened fangs.
  • Marquis Machina is one of the first of Mochizuki's characters to be portrayed as lesbian, having an explicit sexual relationship with Veronica de Sade.[9]

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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