WritesNaughtyStories

Name: Marcus Aurelius Ballard Age: 53 Gender: Male Country: United Kingdom Appearance: Marcus is a middle height, graying rapier of a man. He's an even 6' tall, lean and wiry. His face is sharp and angular with deep set, intense blue-gray eyes. He typically wears a conservatively cut dark gray suit and carries a cane. Bio: Born the third son, and fourth child, of minor nobility in 1882, Marcus found his way to Oxford to study history at the turn of the century. In 1904 he found himself working with an Egyptology expedition. He proved himself an astute archeological anthropologist and was assigned to several Royal Anthropological Society expedions to India, Siam and Palestine. It was on a brief return from India he married his long-time sweetheart Emily White. Emily began to accompany him on his expeditions as his scribe, secretary and artist - her hand and eye much finer for sketches than Marcus's own. While researching ancient ruins in the Siamese jungle after the signing of the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909, the young couple hired a young house girl named Srirasmi who they both came to adore and rely on quite heavily. Marcus began to suspect a connection between a butterfly god he'd seen in obscure and nearly forgotten Egyptian hieroglyphs and one he discovered in the ancient Siamese ruins. That no link between the cultures had been recorded or even hinted at, made the relationship tenuous at best, but the likenesses were startling. Two years of study had revealed a wealth of information about Siamese history, but only the barest scraps about the dark butterfly deity. It was 1911, and Marcus and Emily were gifted the birth of their daughter, named for the house girl who had cared so well and diligently for Emily throughout her pregnancy. Enjoying the surprisingly good relations between the Siamese government and the British Empire, the Ballard-Whytes remained in Siam, working in the ruins until 1914. At the outbreak of The Great War Marcus was called back to England and conscripted to lead a Siamese detachment that would fight along side the Royal Army. With Emily's death in the Spanish Flu outbreak, Marcus sent young Srirasmi back to Siam to be looked after by the woman she was named for. After the war, Ballard returned to Siam. Having made no progress on uncovering more information about the butterfly demon, Ballard accepted a senior position with a new dig in Egypt. The elder Srirasmi was unwilling to to leave her aging parents and her namesake was sent to boarding school in Gloucester. While Ballard found further hints, without Emily as his scribe, his notes were less robust, disjointed and the images poor. Meanwhile, Srirasmi spent more time answering to the headmistress, and Marcus eventually sent for his daughter. She replaced her mother as his secretary and both were happier for it, though Srirasmi could see the hollows the horrors of the war had left in him. The pair chased the shreds of evidence across the shrinking empire until last year. Marcus was presenting his findings on the poorly recorded demon-god that seemed to have strong parallels in Siam, Egypt, Turkey, India and perhaps the Belgian Congo. During the presentation, the brute Challenger interrupted him, calling Marcus a "dim-witted of, too smitten by yellow hussies to realize he was a charlatan, chasing after the imaginings of his oriental girl-child" Marcus, a seasoned veteran of both the harsh trenches of France and Belgium as well as Siamese boxing drove an elbow into the famously ride oaf's temple and asked if Challenger would like to continue outside. Whole not officially banned from the RAS, no patron will see Marcus and few so much as top their hat to him at functions. He finds himself relegated to tending to the aging, broken men at St. Germaine's and following Srirasmi's progress as she leveraged her youth and more than a decade of experience to join the new Antarctic expedition. Theme: Redemption, discovery, vindication.

I would like to propose two characters for this club, one for St. Germaine's Sanitarium and the other for outpost 32. They are, Sir Marcus Aurelius Ballard and his daughter, Srirasmi Ballard-Whyte. Marcus is now a Fellow at St. Germaine's after making himself unwelcome at the Royal Anthropology Society by challenging the game Professor Challenger to a duel. Srirasmi was largely raised by her father on anthropological expeditions after she found herself ill-suited to the frocks and quiet of boarding school and is on the Outpost 32 expedition now. Her first out from under the shadow of her father. Sound workable?

Not guilty. From the TMI desk: I own no underwear of any variety. Next poster walks around the house naked as much as possible.

Not guilty. I love both instrumentals and music with vocals, but if I have to choose, I'll have the vocals. The next poster follows a combat sport.

Depends, is there a statute of limitations? It's been more than 30 years ago. But, technically, guilty. Next poster knew who Diamond Rowe is without searching.

Not guilty. Once or twice a week at most - no way to froth milk at home, so if I want a macchiato I have to buy one. Next poster doesn't want to own a car but has to.

Guilty/Not Guilty. in the morning, espresso and black coffee. Go so far as to roast my own beans if time permits. Love it. Afternoon and evening, white tea or earl grey. Next poster likes sweet frappes that get called coffee. Another pile up, caused by @WritesNaughtyStories. Not guilty, but I used to be. Single malt Islay scotch and small batch bourbon. But I'm retired. Next poster likes sweet frappes that get called coffee.

uncontrolled hormones

Not guilty. I'm a comic shop veteran and don't like most superheroes. Marshall Law is an exception but he's nothing really a superhero and gets pissy when people call him that. Next poster prefers Love and Rockets (the comic, not the band) to R. Crumb.

embedded reporter

Not guilty. Hopefully tomorrow. The next poster prefers the show or movie of a famous novel or series despite what the purists say.

Oh, I know. I'm the biggest offender. That's why I was so excited - nice to not be the only culprit. Guilty. We have a big family-do every year. Games, prizes, food. Next poster knows they're going to procrastinate too long on their holiday shopping.

Ha ha! I think I snuck in ahead of you @Rexyon Not guilty. Most of my parents generation have died and those that remain I haven't seen in years. My cousin's all live hundreds of thousands of miles away so I don't see them either. Next poster has a relative they're glad they don't see any more.

Guilty, but again, under duress - my family loves the shit. In part, I'm sure, because I grumble about it endlessly. I love seeing them happy, but I give not a single fuck for the holidays beyond our annual family get together. Next poster loves the holidays - the rituals, the traditions, the decorations, Christmas music blasting from shitty store speakers, the whole fucking mess.

Guilty. I am an American on the weekend after Thanksgiving Day. But next year, I'm planning on having WAY less. Next poster hates how much the holidays are about consumption and corporate profits.

Not guilty, but only by virtue of not having owned a wristwatch at all since about 1978. Next poster owns real estate.

Not guilty, but I serve, and eat, it under duress. I much prefer ham but it mandated that I serve it because "it's traditional." In truth, it was more likely the Wampanoag brought venison. Family can be an immense pain in the ass. Next poster tries to stay thankful all the time.

Only for cash.

Guilty. Quite often, but I occasionally have access to a physical keyboard, which I much prefer. Next poster has bought something from a TikTok shop.

Guilty. Next poster has a tickling kink.

Not guilty. I never gave a shit either way. I just don't want to hear Christmas music until December 1st. Next poster starts the "Holiday Season" November 1st.

Not guilty. A lot appear to come from anime and manga I don't recognize and don't have the time or inclination to investigate. The next poster enjoys generating character images using AI.

Guilty. I eat damn near everything. Next poster has studied cooking professionally.

Guilty AF. I am a an unrepentant board and roleplaying gamer. Next poster is strictly a video gamer

Half guilty. I need a day to myself but not to drink. I have a stack of games I want to play - solitaire is fine. Next poster struggles for their sobriety, but has it.