Kacey Dace's Biography

Kacey Dace is the eldest son of Daniel and Dahlia Dace. He's also the oldest brother to King Dice ( legal name: Kaleb Dace in my story ).

Like his mother, Kacey was quiet, dry, and quick to temper when enduring stressful incidents. Although he wasn't visibly aggressive, his words would become curt. He would socially withdraw as he became mute, ruminating in his thoughts.

Like his father, Kacey was hardworking, dutiful, and resilient. Although they shared work ethics, they differed in worldview. Daniel would face challenges with peppy optimism. Kacey, on the other hand, faced them with dogged realism.

While his father was training him to work as a stevedore, Kacey spent his spare time as a bootblack on the docks with Kaleb.

During this time, he befriended a girl named Molly Mink.

Molly's family lived along the docks unlike Kacey's. She would sell her family's mink oil to the residents. Because Kacey was a bootblack who used such wares, the two became fast friends. They often set up shop around one another and spent their spare time playing games.

Kacey soon became aware of his deeper feelings for Molly. Since this was his first time encountering them, he solicited advice from his father.

Upon having "the talk" with his father among other things, Kacey and Molly grew closer. They began to hug hello and goodbye, held hands, and in one incident, Molly pecked him on the cheek. 

Stunned and emboldened, Kacey made the effort to present her simple gifts. Molly adored the sodas and flowers Kacey brought her, much to the chagrin of her father.

Upon seeing these affections, Molly's father, Martin, caught Kacey by the arm. He berated the child. Accused him of being a negative influence upon his daughter with no evidence to the claim.

Daniel intervened upon hearing the commotion. He apologized profusely for whatever offense his son might have caused yet defended him from such harsh accusations.

When he asked Martin what was the matter, the paternal mink accosted Kacey once more. He spewed fears of how, because Kacey was a die, he would give his daughter a worse reputation. Because they were mink, she and her family were often seen as "shifty" due to them being erroneously equated with weasels.

Because they could reach no resolution, both parents agreed neither child would see the other. Enraged and confused, Kacey vented to his father about Martin's ill opinion of him. Especially since he'd done none of what the mink accused him of. It was here that Daniel informed his son of the deeper issues they face despite Kacey's general awareness of them.

During this time Kacey became morose and despondent. Seldom did he smile, though he rarely did prior, and he was quicker to agitation.

In a stroke of bad fortune, his father became injured a few months later. Wanting to support the family, Kacey and Kaleb spent their free time on the docks shining shoes.  

One night, to assist in the upcoming rent and medical bills they were behind on, Kacey snuck out to work the docks early.

As Kacey was wrapping up on the docks an altercation ensued during the foggy night. It escalated to the point that he was stabbed. Despite his awareness, Kacey was immobile from the pain, only able to cry out until a passerby attempted to help him. Despite the samaritan's attempts, Kacey bled out and died within minutes.

Kacey's murder left a fissure in his family that never healed and lead to its eventual collapse. It especially affected Kaleb, who looked up to his brother immensely and who didn't find out the truth of his brother's death until a year later.

Kacey's death, his parent's divorce, and his father's suicide warped Kaleb's mind. A myriad of complexes and disorders festered during his formative years. How he related to others and viewed himself became greatly skewed. This distorted sense of self would prove profound in the choices he made in life which inevitably led to his relationship with The Devil. 

~ FUN FACTS ~

Kacey is shy. He often conceals his shyness while working at the docks and in school. Although open and playful with his family, his demeanor is usually mature and controlled for his age. 

Like his mother, Kacey suffers from a generalized anxiety disorder. This is usually expressed in overachieving, perfectionism, and intrusive thoughts. When pressed he remains relatively mute. His short temper's triggered when his anxiety takes over and he has no outlet in the form of focusing on an activity. He does not mean this, however, and almost always apologizes upon catching himself. 

Although he has stage fright he was taught to overcome it by his mother, who also suffers from the same fear. His self-soothing tic is to rub his thumb underneath his index and ring finger when he's overwhelmed. 

Daniel Dace's Biography

Daniel Dace is a character from my fanfic "You Rascal You".

Also known as "Danny," he’s King Dice’s ( legal name Kaleb Dace in the story ) father and the main source of his son's optimism and comfort. His first name was inspired by Danny from Cats Don’t Dance. Personality wise he's a mixture of the aforementioned character and Waymond Wang. When it comes to his looks Harold Lloyd was a major source of influence. And when it comes to his skill of dance he's inspired by the Nicholas Bros and Fred Astaire.

He was a stevedore ( eg longshoreman ). It was a common profession for men in the 1900s and his place of birth was along the eastern coast of the mainland.

This line of work is a tradition in Daniel's family. Stemming back from his Irish roots and hinted within his surname. In French, the surname refers to the fish and is allegedly a nickname for fishermen. Implying his family was once fishermen.

Despite the hard labor he endured, Daniel wasn't like most other men on the docks. His nature was affable and friendly; always eager to assist and took pride in his work. Because of his reliability and friendliness, he was often second in command on the docks; teaching new recruits and directing the flow of work where needed. This was a rare accomplishment for his time as die were seen as untrustworthy and prone to gambling. 

He never partook in the vices many of his coworkers dabbled in after hours. Smoking, drinking, gambling, and lechery weren't his fancy. This is in large part due to Daniel's abusive and absent father. He'd work long and hard but often squandered the money on such affairs. Daniel, being the eldest of three, often picked up the slack and took the brunt of abuse to spare the rest of his family. 

Daniel's commitment to being an available father and husband was adjacent to his commitment to honest work. His joy stemmed from the time spent with his family and the activities they did. Albeit he wanted to be anything but his father. This sometimes caused Daniel to soften his approach to issues and dismiss his well-being to a fault.

Even though he endured abuse, there was one familial bond and that was through tap dance.

His father at one point was a skilled dancer who taught his three children the art. In earlier years it was a fun endeavor. But as his father's drinking and abuse worsened, it became a form of escapism and income. Until Daniel came of age to work the docks he'd do menial tasks. Dance was often a way to gain potential clients' attention for jobs ranging from bootblacking, hauling goods, to pedaling.

Daniel worked around the docks as a young child, helping with securing parcels and cleanup. Upon turning eleven, Daniel performed more laborious chores alongside his fraternal twin brother and father.

At some point, his brother became embroiled in a scandal involving a mistress. He ran off with her and was scarcely heard from.

This left Daniel and his father to continue working. His father persisted as a stevedore until he died from liver failure. But Daniel's family was alive and local for part of Kaleb's life until the age of four or five. It was around this age that Daniel's mother died from pneumonia and his young sister married and moved further north.   

Daniel met a female die named Dahlia in his prime. A young woman of higher class, she moved into the area on account of her working in a local theater as a singer with her father and mother paying for her stay. It was on occasion they talked as she passed through the docks, but this soon grew. Especially since it was rare for die being within the mainland so this chance encounter sparked their curiosities of one another.

They admired one another's passions. It was because of his encounter with Dahlia that Daniel stopped working as a stevedore. Instead, he worked as a backstage hand for her stage productions in musicals and plays. After two years of working together, they married.

Although their dream was to progress in the ranks within the theater, reality sunk in. Dahlia was pregnant and potentially having twins. Something common for die people. Dahlia began work as a singing teacher while Daniel resumed work as a stevedore due to better pay.

Life though not what they expected, was good. They enjoyed lower-middle-class activities and luxuries and enjoyed time together. That was until a workplace accident, which was no fault of Daniel's, caused him a broken hip and leg.

This injury made Daniel bedridden. Not only that, but the medical expenses and lack of income were putting them into debt. His eldest son ( Kacey ) and his youngest ( Kaleb ) began working as bootblacks on the docks to help out.

It was during this time that Kacey, more aware of the situation than Kaleb, snuck out one night to get more hours in to help pay for an upcoming medical bill.

As he worked, someone stabbed Kacey for reasons unknown by the docks. Though the wound was severe, Kacey became aware and began crying out for help. A passerby found the boy and attempted to help in the early morning hours.

Despite his attempts to rescue the child, Kacey died.

Cops notified Daniel and Dahlia and they rushed to the morgue. Daniel demanded an investigation. Due to prejudice from cops, however, they denied his request. When pressed they scoffed, presuming Kacey was gambling.

This enraged Daniel; getting him into an altercation. Annoyed, the cops beat Daniel and arrested him for the night, causing Dahlia to pay bail. This incident is the cause of the characteristic crack in his glasses.

After failed attempts to work on the mainland at his old job and his sullied reputation, Daniel applied for work elsewhere, managing to get a job as a stevedore on Inkwell Isle.

Daniel, Dahlia, and his son Kaleb move to the island into a lower-income area.

His best efforts to maintain his optimism and his family's morale proved weak as he and his wife grow further apart. So much so that they feign intimacy in front of their son even though Daniel's desperate for it. This is due to Dahlia's resentment towards her current life. Her belief that Daniel's allowance for Kacey to work around and on the docs was what caused his murder. Especially since she wanted neither of them there as she knew the dangers.

Upon Kaleb turning ten, Dahlia filed for divorce. She's granted this due to Daniel having a one-off affair after years of emotional neglect. Something he admitted to prior during one of their fights.

Dahlia and Kaleb move back to the mainland and she remarries into the upper-middle class. Her husband is an investor. This allows her to work again as a performer and for Kaleb to attend better schools.

Kaleb sharpened his natural skills for tap dance and singing in his youth. As he matured he studied to become an accountant, pressured by the demands of his stepfather, while attending college. 

Due to living across the sea and Daniel's poverty, Kaleb visited his father twice a year. Once during a chosen holiday and the other during summer break. Staying with him for a week or so at a time and writing him weekly when away.

By the time Kaleb's in his twenties, Daniel became a shell of who he used to be. Financial struggles and chronic depression took their toll on his entire being and shattered the facade. Daniel was now an alcoholic and paid prostitutes to quell his pain. Although when his son would visit, he attempted to keep up appearances. Kaleb, saw the breadcrumbs of his father's habits, and mentioned them but to no avail.

Despite this, Daniel continued to be a doting and loving father through his letters and in person. Proud of his son's success.   

In Daniel's final year, Kaleb wrote him of an upcoming play he'd be performing in.

He was aware of Kaleb's small theater roles thanks to his mother and stepfather. But this particular letter was an invitation to Kaleb's first leading role. Within it was the play's flyer and money covering the expenses for Daniel to attend.

The sight of his son with his ex-wife and her second husband caused Daniel to break down. All too aware of what he'd lost and how he failed to provide and make them happy.

Daniel wrote a letter, leaving it on the dresser, and after a week of deep melancholy, he took his life.

Kaleb became worried when his father didn't attend his play. This escalated when he never returned his follow-up letter.

He's soon informed of his father's suicide by officials. Regret and sadness make Kaleb go to his father's estate on Inkwell to handle his affairs. It's here he meets up again with his childhood friend Horace.

The two men reconnect and Horace sells the idea of working at a "joint" upon learning of Kaleb's accounting profession. Little does Kaleb know but that "joint" is a speakeasy run by a well-dressed black goat of unknown origin.

~ FUN FACTS ~ 

Daniel's full surname is "O'Dace" but was Christianized to "Dace" when they came to the mainland in the mid-1700s.

Members on Daniel's paternal side have names starting with "M". His father's name is "Murchadh" which is Irish/Gaelic in origin meaning "sea warrior". Most people call him "Murdo" as a nickname. Daniel's brother's named "Murray".

Members on Daniel's maternal side have names starting with "F". His mother's name is "Fiona" which is Irish/Gaelic in origin meaning "white" or "fair ( skinned )". His sister's named "Finna" which also means "fair". Her brothers and mother affectionately call her "Fin".

"Ó Murchadha" is the surname on his mother's side and was Christianized to "Murphy". Because her husband's given name is the same, he boasted their marriage was fate.

Daniel, despite his outward chipper demeanor, has extreme anxiety concerning abandonment and not living up to others' expectations. This is due to years of physical and mental abuse from his father combined with his naturally kind and affable personality. Because of this, he'll often overcompensate. The welfare and wants of others almost always come before his own as it was the only way he knew to obtain any modicum of love. 

Daniel's name was inspired by his mother's deceased brother of the same name. 

Both he and his sister were fraternal twins. Unfortunately, his youngest sister died shortly after childbirth. 

Index ~ You Rascal You

I love love love 1900s America and old cartoons. So Cuphead's a game and cartoon that's filled to the brim of writing possibilities for Inkwell's inhabitants.

King Dice is one of my favorite characters. He's not only modeled off of one of my favorite singers and performers but his relationship with The Devil in the 1930s is fascinating.

For the story You Rascal You, I want to focus on King Dice's childhood and what parts of it made him who he is in canonical ( videogame ) lore.

This post will be updated with more references and lore as my story unfolds. But I'll attempt to avoid spoilers.

~ Characters ~ 

Kaleb Dace ( aka "King Dice" )
A young die and a new resident to Inkwell Isle. He comes to Julius in search of work. 

Kacey Dace 

Kaleb's deceased older brother. He dies almost a year before the story takes place.

"Kacey" and its variants mean "vigilant" and "watchful".

Dahlia Dace ( aka "Dahl" )
Kaleb's overbearing but well-meaning mother. Although loving to her son and husband, her frustration and sorrow are often expressed in her being a bit emotionally detached and scathing. 

Dahlia's first name means "flowering branch" and her maiden name ( Beauregard ) means "lovely sight".  Of course "Dahl" phonetically sounds like "doll" which her husband lovingly calls her by.

Daniel Dace ( aka "Danny" )

Kaleb's jovial and optimistic father. A bit of a Stepford Smiler, he does his best to resolve conflict in his family and look after their well-being often at the expense of himself. 

Daniel's first name means "God is my judge" and his surname means "fisherman". His name is, as with all names I chose, significant. Galilean fishermen were Jesus' disciples and guides for those who sought them. He is the bedrock of Kaleb's childhood innocence, morality, and approach to life. 

Horace Hawk

An opportunistic and aggressive preteen Harris' hawk and vendor of the Inkwell Gazette. Despite his aggressive demeanor, he's very insecure and on edge for what may lurk around any dark alley.

The joke of a "Horace the harassing Hariss' hawk hawking papers" was purposeful lol. 

Honey Knacker ( aka "Shiv" )

A sadistic and short-tempered piebald brindle pit bull and daughter of Tige Knacker. She's named after Crenshaw's Honeybunch; one of the gamest female pit bulls in history who won 3x against the best of her sex.

Her method of intimidation is to use whatever trash she can find, turning them into effective lacerating tools.

Pincher Knacker ( aka "Shank" )
A barbaric yet intelligent piebald brindle pit bull and son of Tige Knacker. He's named after Colby's Pincher; one of the gamest male pit bulls in history with 24x wins and a foundation male for the apbt breed.

He's meticulous in his intimidation, often prolonging his victim's suffering before taking what he wants from the sheer elation he gets from it. His weapon of choice is a switchblade.

Tige Knacker  
A belligerant but hard-working brindle pit bull and owner of Tige Knacker’s Butcher and Dressing Services. He's named after Tige from the comic series Buster Brown.
 

Julius Rattigan
A large cantankerous melanistic Norway rat and owner of Inkwell Local Gazette. He's named after Julius Chambers. 

Joseph Conan Doyle ( aka "Joe" )
A frantic big-headed fly and main assistant of Julius. His first name's after Joseph Pulitzer and his surname is from Arthur Conan Doyle.

Dr. Jonathan Cotton Tronley
A cottonmouth salesman known on Inkwell for his wares. Named after Jontron's character of the same name.

~ Terms ~

Bootblack
A person who shines shoes.

Buster Brown
1902 comic character of a mischievous boy and his pit bull who was always got into trouble.

Crapper
Craps is a gambling game played with dice. In my story, it's a derogatory term specifically for dice in the Cuphead universe due to the perception that die people are deceitful and not reliable.

Goop
1900s slang for "idiot".

Ragged Dick
1860s children's book by Horatio Alger Jr. of a poor shoe shiner who grows from "rags to responsibility". Julius calls Kaleb this as an insult.

Snake Eyes
A derogatory term used for snakes perceived as deceitful. In the case of Kaleb and other die it's used to note a die as being bad luck.

Sticker
1900s term for "embarrassing situation".

~ Places ~

Inkwell Isle
Where the story takes place. 

Mainland
A place referenced by Kaleb and his family. Though not specified, it is his homeland and close to Inkwell Isle. 

Francia
The fictional version of France based on the post-Roman country first ruled by Clovis I.

Éire
The fictional version of Ireland based on the Irish nomenclature of the island.

 

~ Notes ~

Why is King Dice called "Kaleb Dace"? 

I like to imagine that many of the characters may have names that are different than the ones they use. Kaleb's name has purposeful meaning as do most of the characters.

"Kaleb" can mean "whole of heart", and "loyal", but it also means "dog" and "tenacious". Under certain perceptions, the later meanings could be implied as negative.

Ironically the biblical Caleb was one of the two Israelites to see the promised land while numerous others weren't. The irony is that canonical King Dice works for The Devil.  

"Dace" was closest to "Dice". I chose the surname because many who had it in the early 20th century worked hard labor and were of Irish and French ancestry. 

Why does Kaleb stutter? 

I grew up with friends who stuttered and were outgoing and inquisitive. Since King Dice owns a casino and in the show runs a game show, I thought it would be an interesting contrast. Especially since many real performers have stutters they temper through their passion. In Kaleb's case, it's singing.

What is Kaleb's heritage?

I did this for fun since I wanted to illustrate the colors of his family described in chapter 3.

I like to imagine that as die people age, their spots darken.

The Cuphead game alludes to real cultures and languages via surnames, locations, and attire. What's interesting however is that no countries are directly mentioned ( from my recollection ). 

Because of this, and because I wanted to avoid the butterfly effect of "real-world consequences", I attempted to keep this trend. Especially since this is very toony and fictional world. So I chose names that could be recognizable for their real-world counterparts without being too direct. 

 

But let's pretend the locations are their real-world counterparts. Kaleb would be Creole ( African-French ) from his mother's side and African-Irish from his father's side. 

Dahlia's pedigree is one of privilege hailing from "France" and settling in the Mainland's coastal southeast ( "Louisiana" ).

Daniel's pedigree is one of poverty. His roots run deeper; primarily in the Mainland's coastal northeast ( "New York" ) and coastal northeast ( "Alabama" ).

Some of this is based on my own lineage as someone who's of various mixed cultures. Specifically the black, Irish, and French portions. Although I myself don't know or speak Creole of the Louisiana variant nor does Dahlia necessarily do the same. 

Why doesn't Horace say "scout's honor"?

Because that phrase didn't come about until 1908 and this story takes place in 1905.

Is there plumbing in Inkwell?

Yes. Although it varies by state, I took inspiration from New York's protocols.

In 1901 New York enacted a decree that all new tennant housing should have running indoor water for sinks at the minimum. Older buildings did not meet this requirement and many landlords did not follow this ruling until it was enforced in 1905. This means bathroom needs were done outside as was fetching water from a local pump. 

Because Kaleb's family is lower-middle class, they do not have these, at the time, apartment luxuries. 

Were there really bathtubs in the kitchen and were living conditions that bad?

Most 1900s apartments had a kitchen, bathroom, and living in one room.
Early bathtubs doubled as a sink and kitchen prep table when not in use.

Yes. Tennants that were lower-middle class and down often had deplorable living conditions in the early 20th century before there was widescale reform. 

Blueprint of an 1899 New York apartment snagged from GaL's blog. 

Index ~ Perseus et la Gorgone

Jack Rackam's historical comedies led me down a rabbit hole of wanting to learn more about the French Revolution. From there I opened Pandora's box of, "are there A03 French Revolution fics?" That in turn caused me to land on Les Saisons by Ethike Arete which of course evolved into this lol.

My short story Perseus et la Gorgone was inspired in part by a dream. In it, I dreamt of Antoine ( Saint-Just ) flirting with Maxime ( Robespierre ) and it being awkward because of Maxime’s low self-esteem and timid personality.

Of course, it’s of historical likelihood that both men were only platonic ( and I personally believe so ). But their nature and acts fit tropes I adore be it platonic or romantic. The bookworm and the jock, the broken ace / woobie ( concerning Maxime’s deteriorating mental and physical health ), the ride or die ( Antoine to Maxime ) to list a few.

Although I love history and read many documents pertaining to Rome, the Americas, and Russia, I've only done light reading concerning the French Revolution. My knowledge contains a few excerpts I could translate from French to English, brief papers concerning certain events and people, and posts on Rodama1789's blog. I’m sure if I consumed entire books a lot of PelG would change. But I did attempt to gather basal key traits pertaining to both men’s lives, personalities, and politics and expound upon what I felt could be exaggerated. Elements I had little to no knowledge of or could not source I kept limited or vague. Otherwise, my obsession for accuracy would mean I'd never get this done if it were event and date-specific. Of course, it should be of note that when I write fiction in which the framework is of important historical people and events from the perspective of those individuals, I attempt to take no sides on the politics therein. If any side is taken, it is to reflect the character's perception of a topic in a way they'd most naturally respond. It matters not if I'm writing from the viewpoint and life of Louis XVI, Odoacer, Tsar Nicholas II, Ivan the Terrible, or Benjamin Franklin. Sincere attempts will be made to describe a person's nature, intents, and actions in a way appropriate to them and their experiences, even if I choose to alter a key trait. In this case, a homosexual relationship between Maximilien and Saint-Just.

Either way, I hope this short story brings some joy to those who consume it as I descend into the pits of hell for publishing this.

~ People ~

Maximilien "Maxime" Robespierre: ( The bookworm / wallflower ) A studious and well-read lawyer from a middle-class background. In his youth, Maxime earned so many scholarships he requested his university grant the excess to his brother Augustin. Anecdotal accounts by contemporaries vary concerning his personality. What appears to be consistent is that Maxime was subdued, aloof, and awkward, even in the privacy of those he loved. Although others note a hint of charisma that naturally gifted his brother Augustin. Concerning Maxime's alleged anxiety, one associate notes that Maxime confided to him that he was as timid as a child while orating for the various committees. That he often had to work up the composure to do so. Others note this timid nature was natural for him and were thus shocked at his blossoming despotism and brutality towards the elite and civilians the more he participated in the revolution. Accounts of his childhood, primarily from his sister Charolette, seem to illustrate a boy of a passive disposition. His love for animals, specifically birds, went uncontested. And as an adult, he owned a parrot and a large breed dog named Brount. He also had ailments of varying types that seemed to worsen as the stress of his roles and potential mental illness worsened his health. His sexuality is unknown, but both Charlotte and Georges Danton ( in accounts I've read ) appear to mark a complete disinterest in romance with Danton claiming "he ( Maxime ) could not fuck". Although there is no confirmation, I am open to the idea of him being either asexual or low-libido. For my story, I decided to go with the latter.

Louis "Antoine" de Saint-Just ( The jock ) A rebellious youth and arguably the most loyal person to Maxime. Real-life accounts, both scornful and admiring, make note of his unwavering devotion. Antoine was so devoted that he defended Maxime at every juncture even though he knew it meant potential death to himself. After the altercation at the Hôtel de Ville Antoine's characteristic stoicism allegedly left him. He remained teary-eyed beside his friend who had been gravely wounded in the incident. He was the son of a retired French cavalry officer. While an intelligent child, he was troublesome and lacked discipline, and had to attend a disciplinary school. His repulsion towards authority remained into adulthood and after a frivolous year studying law he dropped out. Antoine showed a passion for reading and writing and penned medieval fantasies and salacious libels of the aristocracy. After failing at both law and literature, however, he turned his attention toward the army. He didn't meet the legal age and financial requirements but was allowed to join the National Guard. It was here that Antoine found a sense of discipline and purpose with swift accord. His stoicism and ruthlessness were rewarded for in a few months he was elevated to commanding officer with the rank of lieutenant-colonel.

Maurice Duplay Landlord and friend of Maxime as well as a carpentry contractor and revolutionary. He is very passionate of Maxime's works and took him and his siblings ( Augustin, Charlotte ) in after the Champ de Mars massacre of 1791.

Éléonore Duplay ( Unrequited Love ) Daughter of Maurice Duplay and friend of Maxime. She is very close to Maxime, some argue obsessively so even after his execution. She was known to be articulate of political matters and to speak her mind, atypical for women of the time, and to have loved Maxime deeply. It's disputed as to if they ever had any sexual interactions or if Maxime loved her in the way that she loved him. Maxime's sister ( Charlotte ) contests this was not the case in the postmortem writings of her brothers.

Brount Maxime's molosser of disputed breed. Some note he was some sort of Pyrenees dog, but paintings suggest otherwise. To me, the descriptions are something more akin to a Bullenbeisser ( not existent yet in breeding true ) or bull dogs of old used for bull-baiting. It is known he was a loyal companion of Maxime, often accompanying him on his long daily walks.

~ Personifications ~

Maxime and Antoine were fervent readers of various mythologies of the western and eastern world. They often were inspired by these mythical heroes and alluded to them in their works.

Various references are made by Maxime concerning himself and Antoine in Perseus et la Gorgone. Below are the meanings. 

Perseus

Known for his bravery, dignity, and persistence to protect loved ones. Maxime compares Antoine to  Perseus when Antoine refuses to disown his affections for Maxime. Paris is also an accomplished fighter, much like Antoine who fought in the Austrian war.

Adonis

A mortal known for his beauty and thus a common internal compliment given to Antoine by Maxime.

Paris

A handsome and intelligent nobleman and Shepard. Even as a boy, Paris was known as the “protector of men” for his deeds ( such as stopping cattle thieves ). He was also beloved for his dedication to fairness ( as when he awarded a stranger‘s bull at a sacrifice to himself ). 

One could argue Paris mirrors Antoine’s historical persistence in protecting Maxime, even to the death. Antoine was also a legislator and orator of Robespierre’s condemning reports. 

Maxime’s comparison of Antoine to Paris is contextual and can be good or bad. In the beginning, Maxime believes Antoine's mocking his appearance and so derides him as deliberately hurting his feelings. Towards the end, this shifts.

Gorgon
Creatures feared for their monstrous and deformed appearances. Maxime had several ailments, as noted by contemporaries and current scientists. So I took the liberty of making him self-conscious of these traits. 

Interestingly, Gorgon’s only noted sex, which I could find, is female. I think it's fitting considering Maxime, when coordinated, was defined as being “feline” in movement and “somewhat effeminate” in oration and mannerisms.  

~ Locations~

Tuileries Location of the royal palace and gardens that were ransacked during the 1792 riots.
Rue Saint-Honoré The street on which Maxime lived in Maurice Duplay's estate and also the location of the Jacobin club. University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne The law school in which Antoine attended for but a year.

~ Honorable Mentions ~

Jean-Honoré Fragonard French rococo artist who painted 1767s' The Swing. He is known for his delicate portrayal of romance and has created erotic works. He's referenced due to the blossoming romance between Maxime and Antoine as well as their sexual thrusts creating a "swinging" motion.

Parcae Female personifications of destiny. They controlled the life and death of mortals, demigods, and gods.

~ Notes ~

Map I modified from Pascal's blog.

Blueprint of the Duplay Estate I tried to find as much as I could concerning the layout of the estate in relation to where Maxime lived within it. This entry by d'Anthony Pascal was of some assistance as was some from Rodama1789's blog. I could not discern with accuracy certain anatomical structures and thus took some liberty by leaving out details so as to not have it too off the mark. Maxime's Room There are various pieces showing some details of Maxime's room. What is known is that it was small, cramped, and sparsely decorated. Maxime was noted as being a frugal man. Paul Barras' account notes how Maxime bathed in front of him and I presume it took place within his study based on Pascal's blueprint. Other images depict his writing desk and bed in the same room with him looking upon the courtyard. Blueprints, hard to discern and in French, seems to make note of Maxime's study and bed being in close proximity. As an American, I'm presuming Maxime's floor would be on what I'd call "the second floor", but blueprints note it is "the first floor" as Europeans do not count the ground level as a floor as we do

Daemons and Familiars

I've always enjoyed the concept of familiars and daemons, so of course, I've begun to imagine which animals would represent which French revolutionary. Below are my selections and their explanations. I also wanted to choose animals that have some history in France while befitting their person. 

Maximilien Robespierre

( Prés-salés du Mont-Saint-Michel ram )

Noted as being a northern French sheep breed, it seemed like a perfect selection for Maxime. 

I chose a sheep due to the fact that, as with any male ungulate with horns, they are ( literally ) hard-headed. This combined with the sheep's white coat felt befitting of Maxime as "The Incorruptible". 

But there's also the symbolism of sheep. They are a religious icon across many cultures, marked for their purity and sacrificial purposes. At a time, people perceived Maxime as pure and moral in what he proposed and did. But as years passed and his mental and physical health deteriorated, he came to embody traits he once opposed. Inevitably sending many innocents to their demise at the guillotine. In an ironic twist, Maxime created a cult of reason and later faced the blade of his own making as his staunch lack of compromise marked him for slaughter by those he accused. In that sense, there's another irony of him being a sheep in that he excited what he believed with a blind fervor.  

Louis Antoine de Saint-Just
( Friesian stallion ) 

Originally I chose a wolf for Louis Antoine de Saint-Just, but felt it too cliche and not fitting of his history and personality. Instead, I chose the Friesian stallion for its history in the breeding of war horses, some of which were used during the French revolution.

Contemporaries claimed St-Just was a handsome man. A man who moved with a clean and clear intent and who kept his calm when necessary. Paradoxically his personality ( when young ) was rebellious and fiery. I argue that this shift was from disciplinary education tempered like steel. St-Just did not lose his youthful fire. He learned to weld it like a sword, unleashing it when necessary. Both traits assisted him greatly in the Austrian war and in his practice of law.  

Camille Desmoulins 
( European pine marten ) 

For Camille, I thought of the fox, but again, felt that cliche. Regardless of my personal opinions of these individuals and politics, I wanted to abstain from animals that held a blatant connotation of vice or villainy. While the historical and contemporary views of these men have their legitimate grounding in their actions, I chose to attempt to respect the complexity of their being. 

One could argue, "but you chose a weasel, aren't they villainous?" And yes, while granted, pine martins seem to have less of a reputation for this. Instead, I've seen them valued for their playfulness, energy, and wit. 

Pine martins are quick, sharp, and perceptive; often tackling prey twice their size. And when moving with frenetic energy it's akin to a visual stutter to me, complimenting Camille's real-life stutter. 

These traits combined with their small size felt befitting of Camille. He was once defended by his then friend and prior schoolmate Maxime who argued Camille was a "child" when accused of treason. When Maxime told Camille to burn his journalism criticizing  Jacques Hébert, he stood strong to his once friend and declined.

This act, along with the accusation of him assisting Danton in scandals, sent Camille to the guillotine. On the way to the tumbril, he learned of his wife's arrest. Since arrest almost always equaled death in later years of the revolution, Camille went mad. He screamed, thrashed, and tore his shirt in defiance. He begged the mob, not for his life, but for that of his wife and child's.

What's ironic about the execution of Camille's wife is that it ( presumably ) left his child an orphan and Maxime once fought for the welfare rights of orphans and bastards. 

Georges Danton
( European boar ) 

I couldn't find much concerning Danton'ds youth beyond him being attacked by bulls and pigs as a child and apparently being a strong boy. 

Danton being brash and stern in his beliefs and actions appeared consistent from youth to adult. In one instance, he defended a classmate from corporal punishment in a manner his teacher found brash. 

He was a key proponent of the revolution and offered his services to the guards of his district in the storming of the Bastille. While St-Just appeared to be the brains of army service, Danton appeared to be the bulk, although he was a smart man too. "We ask that anyone refusing to give personal service or to furnish arms shall be punished with death," Danton declared during a  provisional government meeting.

Danton is depicted as a strong, scarred, and intimidating figure in almost all portraiture. Boars are respected for their strength and ferocity. Despite their capacity to thrash and cause immense harm, they are also clever beasts.

Contemporaries claimed that, even if did not seek it out, he was an opportunist and full of avarice if an opportunity was offered. This led to the scandal of the French East India Company and his later execution.