J. Deacon Monroe: How Did I Get Here?

So I realized there is nothing out there that really has documented or explained my persona or venture into the Steampunk world. So lets get the show on the road.

I have always been interested in History, and from an early age was fascinated with the Victorian Era. Though I found myself drawn toward anything that took place during a different time, whether it be books, movies, television shows, .etc. My first taste was with Civil War Reenacting. My high school girlfriend happened to be part of the local reenacting unit and pulled me right in. It was interesting as it was a Confederate Unit, and I live in New York State, but I became absolutely obsessed. Within a few years I had every piece of gear needed, and mind you we're talking about roughly $1,000. I spent every summer for the better part of a decade reenacting, but like many things in my life, something new comes along and I drift away from hobbies and projects.

The new thing was Freemasonry, and I joined the lodge and once again I dove in head first and has no time for reenacting. I found the true passion in my life and it really has taken over. Though I never lost that sparkle in my eye for getting into costume and pretending to be someone else. Most likely harkening back to my high school drama club days.

I had heard the term "Steampunk" in the past but it went entirely over my head. I am a little disconnected with the music scene and assumed it was some musical movement that wouldn't interest me at all. Through conversation with an old friend who happened to be interested in pretty much everything I was interested in guided me and explained Steampunk and it was like a huge lightbulb was lit. I remember asking "You mean THIS is what Steampunk is?" and I knew I was hooked.

So as my personality happens to go, I dug in and very quickly picked a name, figured out my gear and got to work.

It didn't take me long at all to pick "J. Deacon Monroe". the J stand for Jules and is a nod to Jules Verne, the so-called father of science fiction. Deacon is for the officers chair I held at my Masonic lodge at the time I got into Steampunk. Monroe is my father's middle name and I always do what I can to honor him. I like to consider him a Sgt. because it was the highest rank a direct ancestor received during the American Revolution.

From there I built the character around my experience with Civil War reenacting. I already had an entire uniform so I might as well use it to the best of my ability. I always saw these really cool optical pieces when I Googled steampunk gear and figured it would be my first project. So I built an optical piece (I have since tore it down and rebuilt it) and thought about what a Civil War soldier would have needed something like that for.....of course....sharp shooting. So the sharp shooting was my "past" and I figured during this time period with the war over I had to have some use with my skills and that meant using it for pay, bounty hunting!

I really want to work on my character development. A Lot. But the basics so far are:

Former Civil War Sharpshooter Sgt. J. Deacon Monroe, wounded during battle, captured and imprisoned by enemy forces. Used for experiments and fitted with gear to give him superhuman shooting abilities. Hired by government to track, hunt, and kill enemies of the states. Only travels with his black cat, Cricket (after my real life cat), aboard their small airship The Fulcrum, and the little surprise no one expects, a practiced Clarinetist (based on the fact my parents spent gobs on me to learn the clarinet and its the only musical skill i have!)

And there you have it folks.

Oh what a tangled web we weave.

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