Evgeny Boleyn
Name Given at Birth: Evgeny Shandor Merikano Boleyn
Nicknames: Genny
Hometown or where you were born: I was born in a quite forest glade north of Dublin, since its also where my mother died these are special places for me
Current Residence: Gypsy encampment outside of barbarian encampment
Age: 21
Class: Plenty, I'm one of the Maestro's boys after all
What do you do, your main function in life/society: My function is whatever my father would have me do. This usually means painting the vardos to keep them looking presentable, fixing and making new wheels for all of them, any metal work the Kumpania has (my knives are quite excellent), as well as a fair chunk of the hunting. There's also the affairs of the "Family Business" but we don't discuss those as much.
Have you ever gone skinny-dipping / do you know how to swim: I do know how to swim but I avoid larger bodies of water. I'm more at home wading through the streams at the top of a waterfall or climbing high into the branches of a tree while a light rain filters through the leaves, and running across grassy hills with a storm on my heels.
Do you make fun of people: Well so many people do such an adequate job of mocking themselves I really only make comments in agreement to their actions.
Favorite Color: Crimson Red, the hue of the blood that fuels my Romani limbs.
Have you ever committed or been convicted of a crime: Well my papa does like to accuse me of vanity quite often.
Closest friends/How did you meet: I travel much but there are a few fine people I know in this world who I consider truly close to me, well of course outside of my family.
Arianna: A Chava a few years my minor whom I admire for her fire and free gypsy spirit. We met a few years ago when we were touring the highlands. We were paired together for a dance, and made it quite the show. We spent that evening talking and enjoying the company of fellow Romani. Since then we've made an effort to stay in correspondence with each other. I value her witty repartee and like thoughts in many of life's more interesting situations. Her fellow Highland Chava are also wonderful girls.
Petronella: This poor Vulgarian princess is stuck on English men for one reason or another. The last one who had a moment of clarity to join with her ran off when he returned to the stupor that comes with being cooped up in those castles of theirs too long. But by any count of a real man she is quite the catch and we had the pleasure of her traveling with us. Living in proximity to a piece of true royalty has only cemented my strong opinion of the Vulgarians as Europe's best.
Nikolai: A brother who deserves special mention. He and I have been through every thing together. Mischief of our own devising and at the hands of others. He and I work closely together taking care of the caravan's vardos. We also hunt together, my climbing skills and his archery making it a time to focus our wild energy. I'm glad papa came to me to help him with some of the decorative bits of his fine bow. He also is very friendly with the Gadje girls and has told me quite a few tales, most tamer than you'd expect form his long disappearances. His guilt at the slightest thing that would make him lose face with papa means he can hardly enjoy a kiss much less anything else. Make no mistake though neither of us minds selling the other out to papa for a good laugh though, but we often pay the price side by side since we walk into the trouble in much the same manner.
Lucianna: A wise Romani woman with far too many brothers and only one little sister too far away to provide a reprieve. But she manages and my indeed be stronger in spirit and body than many of us chavos. I value her wisdom and voice on several matters. We've spent nights at the fireside discussing our pains and joys and find strong shoulders to rest upon. She is also fun to dance with and revel is another common time we spend at a fireside.
Nadia: My friend and the leader of Troupe Festival. I enjoy her company and her tips in dancing. Her drums drive me to movement and I am always exhausted when I leave a revel she is leading. I am hopeful for her and Iosif.
One Pillow or two: A comfortable nook in a tree usually suffices, though the lap of a Chavi friend is good for a quick nap.
Pets: One of the goats, Jolie, has taken a liking to me despite the fact I tease and taunt him, might have something to do with my ability to get some of the tastier bits out of trees for him.
Favorite Type of Music: Give me strong drums and plaintive violins. The first to move my feet to, the second to set my hips in motion.
Hobbies/Pastimes: More than you'd think a busy Chavo like myself could handle. But I do study some of the fine arts and charcoal and oils lend themselves nicely to my endeavors. My smithy work is at times a hobby as well as I work at fine blades. I also take time for study of the scriptures to keep my mind as sharp as my heart with my faith. It's also never been a chore for me to climb a tree or two. And Oh! Nikolai and I find the most clever of ways to set the boots of the guardsmen into motion for a game of chase.
Personal Hygiene: Papa makes sure all of his boys are kept clean, if not necessarily smelling as such.
Favorite Food: Daryole the sweetest of all the sweet cakes. Especially when made by a Romani woman, which only makes sense as they are the most enticing of all women.
Are your parents alive, do you get along with them: My mother, Antoinette, God rest her tender soul, died as she brought me into the world. My father on the other hand is very much alive and is a wonderful man. He's heavy handed when need be but puts up with his children marvelously well for one who is so often a bachelor.
If your parents are dead, when and how did they die: My mother died in the glade in which I was born. I take comfort in the fact she was able to hold me a moment before she expired. She also gave me my middle names.
Favorite place to relax: A nice thick tree branch that I can sprawl upon, overhanging a river or stream is preferable. Rooftops are wonderful out of the way places where you can watch the people below as they go about their wondrously everyday lives.
Favorite Holy Day / Why: Michael the Archangel’s day of patronage, I always take time to make it to the abbey in order to pay homage to the heavenly patron of artistic endeavors.
Favorite Drink: Goat's milk is my everyday potable, but with a fine meal there are some wonderful German lagers that I indulge in.
What's your bedtime: When my chores are done, the sun sets, and the fire dies. Only then can my boisterous spirit calm itself for sleep.
What, if anything, do you usually wear on your feet: Some wonderful handmade sandals when we're camped for festivals and performances, but heavy boots are what the road requires as well as my forge.
Are you married or single: Oh I am single though a few girls I know may be worth the time and efforts of arduous attention. But for now it's easy enough to live vicariously through the stories of Nikolai, or even Papa when he tells us of his wild youth. He does have 13 children after all.
Do you have a family / who are they: My family? this may take some time to tell you.
My Papa is Martin Boleyn he is the leader of our Kumpania and there is no one who could hope to take his place. He is fair though heavy handed with us boys and its made us the fine Romani men that we are. You'll find no better children this side of Asia. And then only if you visit this one extraordinary bunch of 7 boys of whom I'm sure they'll be legends of. But I do digress, Papa is a man gifted with the "sight" and a good head for business. but he is also a man who knows how to enjoy himself he often tells me that this world is to fleeting and life too thrilling to not go after a few of the things that seem out of reach. Of course right after that I was sent after an apple he wanted on a nearly impossible branch.
Martino: My oldest brother, and a fine one at that when he isn't spending time in a bastille. But he has created a difficult example for the rest of us to live up to and spending a year with him as he led a caravan was a privilege and a bit of a challenge as well. But I value him and look forward to when papa calls him back from the convent he's laying low in.
Sasha: A man with a keen mind and a poet's heart. How papa puts up with so many artists as sons I do not know. But Sasha is the one who takes care of the lions and a few other large cats we have in the menagerie. I worry about this sometimes. It seems to me if a small cat is Marhime for us gypsies then larger ones can only complicate this condition. But papa assures me he's consulted a kris about this and they consider it acceptable if not unusual. But there isn't a chance that I'd consider cleaning any bit of that vardo after that first night Sasha gave them some bad beef. It's his responsibility now.
Gregor: He is the brother I know the least. He is most likely to take time to himself in my opinion. But he's come back to the fireside with some truly wonderful stories. But he is also very protective of his little brothers. He doesn't hesitate to stand up for them or do what he can to guide them. Often he's beaten me to moments when it seems they may need the hand of an older brother. I wonder just how much he takes that brand of justice to his heart.
Slavvo: A fine and humble young man, and an incredible dancer. When I'm looking to properly tire myself out at a revel it is Slavvo I challenge to meet me in dance, and we're never quite sure who outdoes the either. He is shy when it comes to asserting himself and has not the outward confidence nor the joking over-confidence of Nikolai or I, but he is one of many brothers and it can take time to assert one's self.
Tito: A young man who's explorer longings lead to some fun times for the two of us. I've climbed rock faces plenty of times and the moment I take Tito with me he finds a fine cave or wonderful crevasse to make things a true challenge. I'm just glad I have a brother who can keep his head when we go on such adventures. That's a boy who'll die old and happy with the greatest stories to tell his grandchildren when he's a patri or else he'll leave us with the grandest story to tell of how he left this world.
Guido: Aye he is to Tito what Nikolai is to myself. Those two are strong companions and friends. He'd follow Tito to the ends of the earth and very well may if they head off to the new world at some point. I enjoying sitting down with charcoal and parchment with him and drawing the girls as they dance. He'll be a heartbreaker for certain and I'll likely need to watch him to make sure he doesn't find himself staring down a truly angry father.
Benvolio: A brother too old for his age at times. But I see him opening up more and more as he spends time with Sasha. They are like minds and spirits those two and I often spot them tinkering away at new toys and ideas. I also have a respect for his judgment of character. He knows instinctively those we can trust and those we can't. He'll make a fine businessman in the future and be an asset to the kumpania.
Cesar: A boy with a light heart and tender eyes. I do not envy him the day he finds out just how dreadful the world can be to those who live on the fringe of it, but until then I'll tease him gently and after I'll stand by his side dagger at the ready to take on the whole bloody mob. Nadia is good for him and has taught him to be strong and how to put a face on when it is needed. He'll make a fine spy when he grows and becomes a bit shrewder.
Luca: The youngest of the brothers and one on whom that youth is not wasted. He dreams and plays a bit more often than he works and the brothers do what we can to pick up his load. There will be a time when he'll need to learn all his duties but I'll not have it be yet. He has hills to climb, stars to yearn after, and time to learn what beauty is. If it were not for his age he'd give Slavvo and I both a go at being last to stand dancing around the camp fire and as it is gives most people a fine run for their coin in this arena.
Favorite Entertainment: Most certainly the dancing of one or two of the Romani girls I know, especially when they keep their eyes on me as they do so.
Favorite Subject in School or Chore growing up: Upkeep on the vardos. Learning to carve designs into the trim and building new wheels was all rather exciting and purposeful for my clever fingers.
Least Favorite Subject in School or Chore growing up: Cleaning those same wheels. It's atrocious what a vardo rolls through in the course of a day. Complete Shesti!
Favorite Sport: This would be climbing. Along the coast there are so many wonderful rock faces for a chavo to test his endurance, and his body's wit on. Though there's one or two other activities just as fun to test those on.
Most Humiliating Moment: Well... I was atop a roof playing a game of chase with a few of the towns guardsmen. Both were a good deal clumsier than I and I was having fun finding the most difficult route possible to take them on. I was enjoying a hearty laugh as one of the fellows managed to fall half into a chimney and the other fell farther behind my nimble steps when I spotted a nice low wall at the edge of the roof I was on and made to jump over it. I really should've been paying attention to a few other things, such as the smell coming over that same wall or indeed from all over, but I wasn't and leapt cleanly over. As it turns out the leap was clean but the landing wasn't as I plummeted into a cooling vat for the tanner. Papa made me ride at the back of the caravan for a month after that.
Proudest Moment: My father is quite the swimmer, and I quite the climber. So one night when we were making an entrance into a castle for special "business" we decided to make a game of it. He would swim the moat and I would take the drawbridge chain. He beat me by the fringe of a diklo, and only because they'd just greased those chains a night ago. So next time I'll be sure to bring some good shark hide gloves and teach papa there's no need to get one's boots wet just for a job.
Craziest Person or silliest you know: Guido is making a strong show for just how outlandish a gypsy can be lately. He's able to eat himself into a stupor at times and create extra work for a few of the brothers.
What do you look for in the opposite sex: Long flowing dark hair, a poet's wit and charm, hips that know what dancing truly is, wonderful in keeping in touch while we both are traveling over distances, and of course a girl who proves herself worthy of the name Romani. I haven't become too specific have I?
In our Hierarchical Society everybody has somebody "over" them, Who is your immediate "overlord" My ever loving and masterfully demanding Papa!
Favorite Sport to watch: My brothers try to explain to papa why the kneel before him covered in the dust of the fae. I cannot tell you enough how entertaining that is.
Do you remember your first kiss: I am far too much of a flirt to have ever fully engaged myself as such. But the girls are fond of me and I of them so there's no telling when one will be bold enough to go after the other.
Do you keep in touch with your childhood friends: You mean the wild bunch of chavos I call my Frall? Of course I do, who else would I past time with and find mischief to make?
Where is your favorite "Vacation" spot: Gypsy are always on vacation in whatever we're doing. Work is play when you live as we do. That being said I do so much enjoy the play that life becomes when we visit the highlands and our friends and fellow Rom there.
Have you ever been overseas: Many times, and Italy was the most eventful. You'd be impressed and slacked-jawed if you'd seen Nikolai and I leaping about the canals of Venice. Myself always one leap ahead and the heels of my boots a slight bit drier.
Do you have Dirt/Mud floors or Stone: Wood floors when I sleep in the vardos and the out-of-doors provide the carpet of every other room I could claim as mine. For wherever a gypsy roams is the room he's in.
What is your bed made of: Leaves, clover, a sturdy branch, a comfy tummy
How many people sleep in your bed: Just me, I usually make my bed in places others wouldn't find as comfortable. Though I'd be interested to know who'd be willing to join me.
10 Things Everybody Should Know About Me:
1.I'm not nearly as vain as my papa chooses to believe I am. Really, he just doesn't understand my odd sense of sarcasm in elevating myself. Though sometimes I am just stating facts about how good I am.
2.It’s never a wise idea to try and slip my paint brushes away from me. Neither the one in my pocket nor behind my ear is fair game for fleet fingers. You had better be swift of foot or excel at batting some truly enticing eyelashes to go after my tools.
3.Its been said that any girl would love to pose in any state of dress to be one of my models, though that’s still up for debate. I have, after all, yet to ask the Queen if she'd care to be the inspiration for any of my pieces.
4.I actually like Jolie, the goat that’s label itself as my pet, but I’ll deny it if you ever ask me.
5.If you’re looking for me and can’t find me look up and I just may be there in a tree or perched on a gutter.
6. I am a gypsy for the fall months, I need strong rains and lightning to split the sky on a regular basis. Plus the weather puts the strength of my indomitable Romani spirit to the test as things turn colder.
7. I actually hold friendship with a few of the fae, as much as the convex and perplex my papa.
8. Dancing is a real joy for me and I keep it a hobby rather than a passion to follow after.
9. I'm looking forward to the day I run a caravan of my own.
10. Nikolai and I are planning some big mischief for the festival, more specifically for papa and maybe his new bride as well, but you didn’t hear it from me...
You heard it from Nikolai.