Your Nickname: Nuri
Have you read and do you agree to the Code of Conduct?: Yes
Are you over thirteen? Yes
How did you find us and decide to write with us? Friend
If you have written other characters here: Yes
If Yes, list them all: PRIMARY: Balfour Spectre, Raine Almasy, Ira Almasy, Virgil Carstairs, Dietrich Eisenbeg, Rascal Rosier, Peter Thackeray, Solomon Carstairs. SECONDARY: Edgar Carstairs, Nathaira Spectre, Sylvain Onuris, Roger Lemon, Arthur Lemon. Is this a Primary or Secondary Character?: Primary




Physical Description:
Jebediah Layton is neither especially tall nor short, standing with soldier's bearing at about 5'9'' and a little less if he slouches.

His face is all at once charming and forgettable: a slightly bulbous nose, sharp and vaguely doleful brown eyes. A working man's smile. For those who only know Layton outside of his working life, the almost-there smile is a common sight.

Seriousness lends Layton an impression of menace. The unconscious countenance of a man who has never hesitated and never will. By necessity of occupation, his build is strapping but stealthy and his tread a quiet one. You won't hear him coming.

Layton's sense of style is plain. He wears straight cut jeans, light sweaters and shirts, brown jackets that tend to look a size too big. His clothes are always new as he has a rigorous cycle of replacing the wardrobe at intervals throughout the year. There is nothing unattractive about the image he projects - if anything, he emanates an unassumingly merry aura.

Since Ira Almasy's death, he has changed his style of dressing. Partly out of preference and partly for practical reasons of disguise. He now wears more fitted clothing in darker colours, and fashionable suits. His shoes are well-polished, his beard painstakingly trimmed. A pleasure to look at.

Underneath his clothes Layton is covered by many scars from past duels, and several bites of Werewolves in their human form. He takes his steak bloody and does not suffer fools on a full moon. His perfume is a delicate one, of birchwood and black pepper.

Personality Description:
How do you solve a problem like Jebediah Layton?

He is a conundrum to everyone but himself. Layton has two distinct public personalities.

(a) In his Social Life, he lives in a perfectly normal apartment building where his neighbours consider him to be the salt of the earth and the friendliest chap that ever lived. You would borrow sugar and eggs from that old boy, who might keep odd hours but never makes a lot of noise and brings only the best sort of beer to your flat warming. Solid conversation, always says his pleases and thank yous.

(b) In his Working Life, Layton is not at all a person you want to find in your flat. He maintains his deadpan sense of humour and easy nonchalance, that God-given talent of people who do any physical thing with grace, but the underlying calmness of his persona comes through like light in shallow water. The impression is clear: Jebediah Layton doesn't care about you. He sees you as less than human and his self-possession is blunt brutality kept in check.

The real Jebediah Layton lays somewhere between these unlikely twins, wedded to one another by a sense of loyalty and love for a woman whose vision he has admired for over ten long years - Ira Almasy.

History:
CHILDHOOD (1973 - 1984)

Jebediah Layton was born to a middle class Halfblood couple in Guilford, Surrey. He was an only child and his father (Anthony Layton) was a tradesman and an unregistered Werewolf. His mother, Tabitha, was a muggleborn. They were not a happy family.

There was a scrappy, underfed ruthlessness to his appearance as a young boy. Layton was often physically abused by his father and would oddly relish the week leading up to the full moon every month, as it often meant that Anthony would leave town to find shelter in an illegal Werewolf cell of a neighbouring district. He loved to read and would get through four or five books of any genre in the seven days that his father would be away. Tabitha turned a blind eye to anything that put her husband in a negative light - she had been shunned by her muggle family as well as her wizarding friends during the first war, and relied both emotionally as well as financially on Anthony. Her prowess as a skilled Potioneer was not good or practiced enough to encourage a career.  This dependency made her afraid to acknowledge his weaknesses, which in turn became her own weakness as a mother.

But Layton was a resilient boy who was grateful for any small refuge from pain and grew inured to it as he slowly grew up in the slow English town.

HOGWARTS (1984 - 1989)

Hogwarts should have been the best thing to happen to him. It was for a while - being sorted into Hufflepuff and not having to see his parents for months at a time, gosh, that was heaven for him. And he wasn't entirely unpopular at school either.

People liked Jebediah. That's what they called him back then, a name now so far gone that it hardly merits being called a name at all. He was friendly and reliable and if you were kind to him then he would do just about anything for you. It was easy to take advantage of a personality like that. By his second year - around the same time Jebediah became the Quidditch team's graceful little Keeper - he had learned to how to say no to inane favours or requests. He had learned to be just a little less friendly and a little more quiet.

Summers back home became increasingly worse in the meantime. After his fourth year, the underground cell in Surrey had been raided by the Ministry and shut down. Anthony decided that he would lock himself up in their basement during the full moon instead of registering or seeking another illegal shelter. This meant that Jebediah had to be around his father at the moodiest time of his month - and in spite of being physically strong, he was no match for the much taller and brawnier parent.

At Hogwarts, he achieved below average results. Black Walnut wands generally did not respond well to bearers who practice self-deception - and Jebediah, putting on his friendly exterior at school every year, lived a precarious lie that reflected in his wandwork. He left Hogwarts with all Acceptables save in Potions and Care of Magical Creatures, for which he barely received Outstandings.

Jebediah wrote to his wizard "Uncle" Maximillian (not a blood relative but an old trading friend of Anthony's) in Bolivia, explaining the circumstances at home and asking if he could take on an apprenticeship with Max's importing business in South America.

Max, who had visited Anthony's family over the years and felt bad for poor Jebediah, and arranged for a speedy journey.

SOUTH AMERICA (1989 - 1999)

In 1989, Bolivia was just coming under the leadership of muggle Jaime Paz Zamora: a president whose policy on narcotic trade was notably lenient at the time. Layton knew little of such politics however, and was in for a nasty surprise when he arrived in the country at 16 years old to find that Uncle Max helped facilitate a drug ring between Europe and Bolivia from his lofty apartment home in Sopacahi, La Paz.

In addition to international trade, the ring also dealt locally. Uncle Max exchanged Layton's service for food and lodging, employing his pseudo-nephew to work as his representative whilst supplying various drugs to impoverished neighbourhoods outside of Sopacachi. Most of Max's target market were youths or young adult werewolves who took cheap sedatives to ease their symptoms before or after the full moon, as Wolfsbane was difficult to come by in their position.

It was a violent business, especially dangerous on the night of the full moon when suppliers would jack up their prices to take advantage of more desperate werewolves. And desperate people are dangerous. Layton grew up quickly over the three years that followed; he adapted at a remarkable rate, learning local language and lingo... and becoming quicker with his magic and instincts than he had ever been at Hogwarts. The wand no longer found self-deception in him. He had embraced the brutality required to survive this cityscape, and (in defence) killed no less than three werewolves in urban conflicts related to the drug trade.

Although Layton always had his Uncle's apartment as a safe base, he still felt that he was held at the mercy of temperamental Lycans wherever he went.

By 1993 he had saved enough money to move away from Max, and packed his bags for the economically favourable climate of Peru under the rule of muggle leader Alberto Fujimori. In trying to avoid the ongoing communist conflict of major cities, he travelled to a small wizarding village in the Ayacucho region, not far from the eponymous city where he would go for more lively entertainment.

Layton spent two years here, where he met surviving members of Peru's Shining Path terrorist/communist organisation. Many of the wizards here were Werewolf supporters who wanted equal treatment and proportionate distribution of goods for their kind. Layton instinctively did not like them, aligning himself with the village's opposing group of wizards - mostly military men who'd participated in the massacres of innocent communist supporters in the past.

Some of his best friends in the years to come would be among these men, who taught him Legilimency in addition to adopting him into their fold of anti-werewolf raiding parties in the region. He did not entirely approve of their tactics but Layton had a bad track record with werewolves and this was his best survival policy.

He left Peru with a group of friends when the Ecuador-Peru conflict came to head in 1995, heading to Colombia instead.

With no political or personal agenda to follow, Layton took on a career as a man-for-hire. He had a particular set of skills and was more interested in private work rather than his companions' military leanings. His main base in Colombia was in the town of Santa Rosa, within the Bolívar department - Layton received communications from various sources around town, directing him to work for months at a time with different people. Usually these were crime lords, drug traffickers or crooked politicians whose enemies were aggressively pro-werewolf supporters.

He spent the next five years in this trade travelling across the country, and his first communication with Ira Almasy was via owl in 1999. She contracted him for a limited period of two years to retrieve a political figure in San Juan who happened to be a werewolf - Layton went undercover in San Juan's town hall for a year before travelling to England to deliver his bounty to the Russian liaison.

LONDON (2000s)

Back in the United Kingdom for the first time in ten years, Layton was surprised to find that much had changed in his home country. People did not recognise him - or if they recognised the name, they feigned familiarity of his face. The return was jarring but he slipped into his old life like he was flexing a particularly well worn glove.

He fell in love with Ira Almasy at first sight. She was beautiful poison to everything he detested and yet free of the ugly violences that had nurtured him in the past decade. She offered him a world he had never imagined possible for himself: where he could live in reasonable peace and dignity without denying the brutal parts of himself that had been broken and rebuilt a multitude of times.

Was it really possible, after all these years? To have a quiet little flat in a serene little neighbourhood? Build a life where once his childhood had only been ruin? The distance from South America made him realise that he had been addicted to his lifestyle - to the work that made him feel in control, the money and friendship that afforded him ease, the detachment from his history.

But Ira... well, Ira wasn't afraid of facing who she was at all. He could have both worlds if he wanted, with her. And at this point it didn't matter anyway, what he wanted. Her vision of beauty and violence enchanted him: he desired only what she desired.

LONDON TODAY (2010/2011)

Layton's relationship with his employer, after the natural termination of contract in 2000, has evolved since then.

In spite of the fact that they live entirely separate lives outside of his work, the pair are effectively a married couple. He has his own opinion about the decisions she has made in creating her network - a network now bordering on becoming something much larger. Ira's chaotic ambitions are unsustainable.

They both know this.

His love and loyalty to her persists in spite of the odd interference; ticks of her bedlam personality rubbing off on him. Sometimes he can convince her to be more practical in her approach but generally speaking Layton has come to accept that his Empress is nearing the ledge of a future neither of them can predict.

He is determined to be with her until the very end.

Layton currently resides in a muggle building near Paddington station, but also keeps a flat in Atreus where he might spend the odd night when working for Ira.

Describe your job duties and how you go about them:
Layton does what Ira Almasy tells him. Poisonings, sabotage, errands, spy. If she wants somebody at her doorstep, he will bring them to her. If she wants a corpse, he will arrange for it - and if she wants him to die for her he would certainly try his best.

But sometimes all she wants is a glass of white wine and a mind to pick. This, too, he can provide.

As both he and Ira are Leglimens, a large portion of orders in the same vicinity pass in the medium of thoughts. When asked in public life about his career, Layton usually gets away with saying that he is the Personal Assistant of a public figure he'd rather not mention. His official paperwork and forms lists him as Ira Almasy's PA, and his place of work the Royal Opera House where she is a patron of the arts.


Elaborate on your expertise in your field:
Layton has trained with various criminal gangs and military groups in South America (see History), earning him a reputation as The Violent Englishman in those regions where he visited. His skills extend from basic physical protection to outright assassination and torture. If anything he is overqualified for his job as a personal assistant.

Writing Sample: N/A


Sum up your character in one paragraph:
Jebediah Layton is an amiable looking wizard in his late 30s, who makes a brilliant cup of tea and will gladly let you talk his ear off on a good afternoon. He is also Ira Almasy's personal assistant - and a formidable criminal himself, placing a very low value on human life.

URL Link to Biography: LINK
Cover Job (If any): N/A
Type of Criminal: Murderer
Allegiances / Loyalties / Political Faction: Ira Almasy
Are they currently under pursuit by the Ministry of Magic?: No


What previous crimes have they committed? Were they convicted?:
In his ten years of working with various criminal groups in South America, Layton has killed many people - most of them werewolves or werewolf supporters (see History). In the United Kingdom, he has had some hand in almost all crimes perpetrated by criminal liaison Ira Almasy.

He has also committed minor crimes of theft, torture, arson, intimidation and interrogation on behalf of Ira.

What crimes might they commit in the future?  Discuss all possible:
Layton has every intention of continuing to do as he has in the past, for as long as Ira requires him. Under the circumstances of her possible capture or death, he would wish to continue pursuing a career in this particular field.

Character Name: Jebediah Layton
Age: 38 years old
Character Biography: LINK
Do any of your other Characters have Special Abilities?: Yes
If Yes, then Please provide their name and a link to their bio: Ira Almasy (Metamorphmagus, Leglimens)
Raine Almasy (Animagus)
Virgil Carstairs (Seer, Leglimens)
Balfour Spectre (Animagus)
Rascal Rosier (Occlumency)


What level is this ability at?: Master

At what age did your character gain this ability?: 19 years old

How did they learn or hone this ability?:
In a village of the Ayacuho region in Peru, with wizarding members of the local military who actively incited violence from pro-werewolf members in Shining Path (Peru's communist guerrilla group in the early 90s).

They used Legilimency to strategically communicate with one another, particularly on nights of a full moon when they would attempt to capture or murder transformed Werewolves who had not been able to find refuge.

Describe how the Special Ability influences their life.  What do they use it for?:
It is Layton's central method of communication with his employer and 'friend' Ira Almasy. He also uses this ability in trying to gauge those clients with whom she has set him against, or his targets.

Write a description of what happens when your character is exhibiting this Special Ability: Layton has been practicing as a Leglimens almost constantly since acquiring the ability. His mind is even more protected than his employer's and it would take a very skilled opponent to make him externally express discomfort whilst trying to exercise his power. It comes as naturally to him as duelling or holding a conversation.

Character Name: Jebediah Layton
Character Biography: http://absitomen.com/index.php?topic=18535.0
Previous Job/Position: Personal Assistant to Ira Almasy
Position Applying For: Dangerously Underemployed

Why have you chosen to change careers?:
Layton, now presumed dead by the Ministry of Magic, considers himself a wizard of leisure.

Elaborate on your expertise in this new field:
Very little, actually, for a man who has been occupied with various criminal activities for most of his life. Layton os currently in possession of substantial wealth, stored in various institutes both in the UK and abroad.

Describe your new job and how you go about doing it:
At present, he goes by the false identity of Jonathon Leslie, a muggle businessman who travels around the United Kingdom for undisclosed professional purposes. In between trips, Layton lays low at a residence in east London where he has established himself as a perfectly normal fellow to his neighbours. His days are spent in quiet study of wizarding society, in addition to picking up various harmless hobbies - knitting, book clubs, calligraphy, and the acquirement of the French language.