character basics.

NAME.	Monroe Onésime Rainier Laroque
NICKNAMES.	Roe, Rose
AGE.	43
DATE OF BIRTH.	April 19, 1972
ORIENTATION.	pansexual
DATING STATUS.	engaged to Trevor Ryan
DATING HISTORY.	Annie, 2008-11 Patrick, 1999-00 Shaun, 1990-94
FAMILY.	Éliane Laroque; mother (deceased) Renaud Laroque; father (deceased) Carole Laroque; grandmother
HEIGHT.	5'5"
HAIR.	dyed black
EYES.	green
EDUCATION.	MBA – Stanford Graduate School of Business (2002-04) BBA – Seattle University (1990-94) L'Ermitage International School of France (1976-89)
OCCUPATION.	owner of Merveilleux, a chain of luxurious day spas
HOMETOWN.	Cancale, France
CURRENT RESIDENCE.	238 East 4th St., Manhattan, NY
ADDITIONAL RESIDENCES.	Cancale, France** 3464 Sweetwater Mesa Rd., Malibu, California 2807 N. 28th Pl., Phoenix, AZ 210 Lavaca St. #2102, Austin, TX

personality.

Upon first impression, Monroe often comes across as no-nonsense, too articulate and stubbornly opinionated. He is impatient with anyone he feels is undeserving of his time and despises filler conversation, which makes him seem cold and inhuman at times. However, if he desires something or someone, he is all persuasion and charm. It takes a fair amount of established trust to find his softer side, though Monroe likes to think himself a decent judge of character and will occasionally allow his guard to drop rather quickly, especially when he is already emotionally worn out.

appearance.

Monroe rarely leaves his home without a full face of makeup; the majority of his clothing is intended for women save for his boots, which boost his height (5'5") a few inches. Hair is kept from chin- to shoulder-length, his loose curls perpetually dyed black, and he keeps close attention that roots are never visible, as these days they've turned noticeably gray rather than his once natural brown. Most compliments go to his eyes, large and light green, or his lips, forever glossed.

Most unnatural marks have been removed with the exception of a checkmark-shaped scar near his right wrist and a horizontal scar below the left side of his ribcage. Hairline scars on his shins and upper arms are slightly visible when his tan is deep enough. He has a small tattoo of the Alcoholics Anonymous symbol in the inside of his right wrist though he has obviously not given up drinking. When questioned, he downplays its significance by saying he received it at a party whilst drunk, and considering his humor and antics, the explanation is accepted and not discussed any further.

history.

Monroe came into the world as the presumed heir to France's first and largest hotel group. His father was a strict, pragmatic businessman with no interest in raising a child, aside from assuring that his son would become his worthy and lucrative successor. Monroe's mother, on the other hand, luckily was quite maternal and took full responsibility for nurturing their son alone, brushing aside suggestions of nannies and housekeepers. Raised under modest means herself, Éliane Laroque, chose to take advantage of her husband's prosperity and stayed home to bond with her child. For the early years of his life, Monroe spent all his time with his mother. She paid no particular notice to his affinity for their dress-up games, as he was, of course, just a child.

At the age of four, Monroe was enrolled at L'Ermitage International School of France,* where he was boarded full time. It was rare that Monroe would see his father even during his weekend and holiday visits home. The businessman simply did not make an effort to put time aside for his son, and therefore the relationship between the two was strained and awkward at best. The only topic of actual conversation Renaud seemed to be capable of was alluding to the predetermination of Monroe's future. Once Monroe was old enough to form his own opinions, the relationship between the two became even more tense. His weekend visits home dwindled to less and less until, at the age of ten, he returned only during holidays.

While the school was revered for its high testing scores, Monroe learned much other, less desirable matters, as well. He became wise in the ways of manipulation and persuasion, and safe within his popularity for such, indulged in his penchant for cross-dressing. The idea of running his father's company revolted him in its entirety, and the unrelenting pressure to do so created great anxiety, which he quelled with substance abuse.

It was clear, as he got older, that he was not becoming the man his father had assumed in his child. With little fear of the businessman, Monroe was not likely to hold his tongue. By the time he was fifteen, he was welcome home only once a year. Regardless, he was still expected to attend business school upon graduation, and knew he'd not receive his trust fund without doing so. After several heated, threat-laden debates, Monroe convinced his father to drop a considerable fund into his account on the premise that he would agree to attend business school. In order to stay on somewhat adequate terms, and mostly to appease his mother, Monroe traveled to the United States to attend Seattle University.

Ironically, after his freshman year the major in business became more functional than intolerable when he started to make plans with a culinary major to open a restaurant in their future together. This scheme of course was kept under wraps from Monroe's father in order to maintain his financial support. His partner in crime, however, did not come from such wealth. Because neither were willing to succumb to conventional employment, Monroe prostituted while his boyfriend dealt drugs. The arrangement unsurprisingly wore on both young men, and they were on the brink of receiving their bachelors degrees when an overdose took the life of his companion.

Monroe did acquire his BA, but his allowance was cut once he showed no interest in pursuing the business career. With plenty still in the bank and perverse occupation still underway, he continued to attend inconsequential classes, his path aimless and miserable. It took repeated accidental run-ins with particularly stubborn and sensible man to revive young Monroe's vitality. With a fresh objective in mind, he sobered up and put forth his new strategy.

The first step was to mend his relationship with his father. Altering his behavior to appear as a serious executive-in-training, he returned to France to work alongside the man before returning to the States to acquire his master's degree from Stanford Univeristy. Within the four years this took, his mother passed away due to leukemia, which only further motivated him to continue and succeed. As his father was in his mid-seventies once the master's degree was procured, Monroe bequeathed the company once it became apparent he had a handle on the business. Shortly thereafter, he sold the corporation at an exorbitant rate and returned to America.

Exceptionally pleased with his malicious demolition of his father's life's work, Monroe finally began to find peace within his existence. Despite his wealth, his industrious nature left little desire to yield to an indolent lifestyle. In the ten years since achieving his financial prosperity, he has turned his focus on opening luxurious day spas, with locations in Phoenix and Austin, two in Los Angeles and one in New York following his relocation to the city.

miscellany.

RELATIONSHIPS.
QUIRKS.	reckless driver, culinary genius, owns a dog but is otherwise not fond of pets
LIKES.	intelligence, wit, strong black coffee, dry red wine
DISLIKES.	ignorance, martyrs, funerals, children, traffic

Monroe easily passes as an American. He speaks with a flat, unplaceable accent and is up to par with slang and proverbs.

You can push him around, but don't expect to see any evidence of injury other than visible wounds – Monroe was conditioned to not show pain at a very early age.

If he had a dime for every time someone assumed he was transgender, he'd be…richer. Despite appearances, he is very much all man.

How many cars can he drive at once? One, but that doesn't stop him from owning three:  a 2009 Porsche Boxter, a 2010 Mini Cooper and a 2014 Jaguar F-Type. Wait until he gets bored of one – he tends to simply give them away to anyone who seems deserving enough.

Also does he occasionally give away exorbitant amounts of money. Out of the blue. Need something? Be nice and respectful and he'll probably hand it over.

This aging thing is such an inconvenience. Whether by way of genes or from being too reckless with his body in the past, Roe is plagued with arthritis, never mind nerve damage and carpal tunnel syndrome. Recently he has given up the medications which managed the pain and instead resorts to keeping himself active through exercise…and lounging when feeling too miserable.

Music is more prominent in his life than he realizes. He received piano lessons throughout most of his time at L'Ermitage and later learned to play the guitar on his own. He tends to sit behind his baby grand when feeling melancholy, and picks up his Les Paul when frustrated.

Monroe is very hands on with business matters. He insists upon conducting in-person interviews with each new hire, and his spas have an impressively low turn-over rate. He takes exceptional care of the collective Merveilleux personnel, aware that a happy staff equates a smooth-running business.

Most nights he unwinds with at least one glass (or bottle) of red wine, but under enough strain and distress will succumb to hash, ecstasy or opium. His drug use has, however, lessened in the last two years in favor of his relationship.