| backstory |

Cèdre Sterling (born as Day Bierce) is the eldest progeny of Ambrose Bierce and Mary Ellen Bierce. Their early years were spent being homeschooled while moving all over the United States due to their father’s military background granting him a prominent government position. Home life was tense, however; Cèdre’s father was a pacifist and despised his job as a result, meanwhile Cèdre’s mother was caught having an affair. Many of their early memories are of confrontations between their parents, as they tried to shield their younger brothers from the fighting as best they could.Cèdre was ten when their parents’ divorce was finalized, and their mother took them away; however, Cèdre’s brothers stayed with their father. Mary Ellen relocated the pair of them to France, trying to refine the child she’d been able to keep into a fine lady of society in the hopes that Cèdre would attract the attention of a wealthy man. Cèdre, however, cared little for their mother’s attempts - a small part of them wanted to believe they’d someday find true love, but the louder majority of their mind had decided there was no such thing. It was also not long after coming to France that Cèdre took on a new name, as did their mother, in order to avoid any contact from their relatives in the United States.At the age of thirteen, their ability - The Moonlit Road - awakened; unbeknownst to them, this was due to their father committing suicide and the ability passing on to them. Said ability rapidly caught the attention of the French government as a viable interrogation tactic. Cèdre at first considered it an honor to help their country, but they were already beginning to show signs of mental trauma before the Great War broke out. They began to be monitored by a handler to ensure that they wouldn't flee; Cèdre's mother was rather neutral on what was happening, as she had begun avoiding the teenager once the ability had manifested.At sixteen, they were enlisted by the government as part of France’s ability user forces sent out in the Great War. They were shifted from regiment to regiment, dependent on where torture/interrogation was expected to be needed for their time of serving in the war. They happened to be with Mimic when the Great War ended, and as a result they were also driven out of Europe by the Order of the Clock Tower. Cèdre drifted aimlessly with Mimic until the group fled to Yokohama in an attempt to escape the influences of the Order of the Clock Tower and the Transcendents.At nineteen, Cèdre was a large part of the conflicts Mimic got into with the Port Mafia as they struggled to find a safe space for themselves. They became a regular visitor of Mori's underground clinic, where they became familiar with Fukuzawa and Elise as well. Their ability intrigued Mori, who welcomed their occasional accompaniment on his own information-gathering endeavors. They became aware of Mori's intended part in the Tripartite Framework, though they seemed to have little emotional investment in whether or not the plan succeeded, given that their organization was one of the many that had led to Natsume determining the necessity of it.At some point after Fukuzawa ended his partnership with Mori, Mori was able to slip into the Port Mafia's ranks and take the position of personal doctor to the leader. Cèdre declined an invitation from Fukuzawa to join the recently founded Armed Detective Agency, instead spending the next two years honing their ability intent on carrying out revenge against the Port Mafia for what it had done to their associates in Mimic.When they managed to break into the Port Mafia's headquarters, they were slightly disappointed to find the boss in a weak state; Cèdre's ability easily took root in its target to invoke suicidal thoughts, but the man lacked the strength to act on them. As Cèdre was trying to think of an alternate strategy, they were startled by the sound of a scalpel being drawn and their face suddenly being splattered in blood. Cèdre and Mori stood there in silence for a long moment before he broke the silence and asked what their plan was from here.A very sheepish Cèdre admitted that they didn't have a plan; they agreed to go along with a plan he had had in the works for some time and adapted based on unexpectedly encountering Cèdre attacking the boss. He told Cèdre to present to the others within the Port Mafia that the boss had requested relief from his illness and had hired them to carry this out; Mori acted as witness supporting this narrative. While there was of course some immediate dissent, Mori as well as some who had disliked the previous boss such as Kōyō helped to ensure that Cèdre survived those crucial first weeks as the new boss.Mori could tell that they were ill-suited for such a role, but further stirring up the mafia was out of the question if stability was to be attained. Cèdre reluctantly agreed to act as a figurehead, following his counsel as they undertook efforts to restructure the Port Mafia. Mori officially remained the Port Mafia's Concierge Physician as the perfect excuse to frequently be at Cèdre's side. Several weeks into this unstable alliance, Cèdre and Mori had their first fight - Dazai was brought to Mori's clinic after a failed suicide attempt, and Cèdre immediately recognized him as the one who had prevented André Gide's ability from defending their fellow members of Mimic when the previous boss had attacked them.Mori calmly countered Cèdre's shouting while a very annoyed Dazai watched the pair of them. Eventually, Cèdre relented, grumbling that the boy would be entirely Mori's responsibility if he were so determined to save his life. With nowhere else to go, a very annoyed Cèdre relented again to Mori's pleas for them to let the boy join the Port Mafia. In spite of their misgivings, Dazai proved invaluable in helping identify threats within the organization as the slow restructuring of the organization continued.Cèdre acts as a paranoid but effective leader. They personally interrogate their own members regularly using the less powerful application of their ability (aside from Mori and Q, who are immune for differing reasons). This quickly established a reign of respect through fear, as the idea of trying to plot betrayal was laughable due to their ability and their liberal usage of it. Their mental health is severely affected from the incidents with the previous boss, but only Mori and Elise see those cracks under the surface.

| alt port mafia dynamics |

Albatross was quick to accept Cèdre as his new leader, winning the timid and paranoid boss over with his bright and outgoing personality. Cèdre appreciates his skill in controlling the Port Mafia's vehicles, and they are satisfied with entrusting any matters of transportation to him.Ango Sakaguchi knew that his time as a government agent monitoring the Port Mafia was limited when Cèdre became leader. Despite his best efforts, he cracked under the pressure of their aura during a routine inspection of loyalty. To his immense displeasure, Cèdre used this to blackmail him into helping secure a Gifted Business Permit for the Port Mafia prior to allowing him to safely leave the organization. The pair hold a begrudging respect for each other's moral codes.Arthur Rimbaud and Cèdre are extremely close. Upon meeting him, Cèdre recognized him as a Transcendent from France, and they began working with him to help him regain his memories of the time prior to the Suribachi City explosion as well as helped him track down his partner. Despite his distaste for killing, he is loyal to Cèdre's orders and will carry them out without question.Chūya Nakahara ends up recruited into the Port Mafia after the Sheep attack a Port Mafia shipment; Cèdre sends Dazai and Hirotsu to investigate the incident, and Dazai decides to manipulate the others in the Sheep into distrusting Chūya, having noticed immediately their abuse of their leader's ability. Cèdre takes Chūya in, following Mori's advice to have Kōyō help him adapt. Chūya respects Cèdre, impressed by their apparent ability to make so many volatile people fall in line.Doc and Cèdre distrust each other. Cèdre does not like his mission of saving lives, finding it hypocritical due to how he takes just as many lives in this line of work. Meanwhile, Doc does not appreciate that Cèdre will only entrust their medical care to Mori.Elise has a way of convincing Cèdre to take a break and go to a favorite sweets store down the road from time to time. In spite of claiming not to like children, Cèdre never asks Mori to dismiss her; perhaps they act differently because they know Elise isn't a real human, but they certainly treat Elise like a real human so it's hard to say.Iceman and Cèdre do not interact often, but it is clear that the two respect each other, but their mutual preference for a low profile does not lend well to any interactions aside from those absolutely necessary.Ichiyō Higuchi came to the Port Mafia as a last resort when she was struggling to pay for her sister's medical treatment. Despite Higuchi being a poor fit for the Port Mafia, Mori and Cèdre mutually agreed to take her in; after all, she clearly had no where else to go. Higuchi thinks of Cèdre in a big sister role, though Cèdre seems to be colder towards her in spite of her obvious care.Kōyō Ozaki is wary of Cèdre, though she welcomes the change in regime that Cèdre brings to the Port Mafia. She's one of the few observant enough to see the subtle ways Cèdre relies on Mori, but she does not act on it as she prefers the organization the way it is now. Acts as an advisor to Cèdre when needed, especially in matters of proper Japanese etiquette.Kyūsaku Yumeno and Cèdre are extremely close. Their immunity to each other's abilities puts them in a rare position where they are able to freely interact with each other without fear of the other's mind control ability. That being said, Cèdre is not above using Q as a secret weapon if circumstances call for it - and it's hard to tell if Q understands that that isn't one of their games. Q can usually be found playing in Cèdre's office.Lippmann is one of Cèdre's main guards in addition to acting as a negotiator for the Port Mafia, thanks to his ability. He's also one of the only members of the Port Mafia who dares to critique how young his boss is, though it's done in a way that makes it hard to tell if he resents Cèdre or is just teasing. Either way, Cèdre trusts him fully.Michizō Tachihara and Cèdre don't interact much. He seems more interested in Cèdre's doctor than Cèdre themself, but he plays his part within Cèdre's strike force well and his boss has no complaints regarding his performance.Motojirō Kajii doesn't interact much with Cédre, but he tends to unsettle Cèdre with some of his astute observations. In his unconventional nicknaming way, he dubbed Cèdre The Cipher of the Universe as a subtle way of calling out that he knows Cèdre isn't fully in charge. Seems to respect them in spite of this, as they allow him to carry out his experiments and give him freedom he didn't have previously.Paul Verlaine is technically a freelance assassin, but he is under Cèdre's employ after they helped Arthur Rimbaud reunite with him. Insists it's too risky for him to formally associate with the Port Mafia due to "what he truly is" but always comes when either Arthur or Cèdre call.Piano Man would probably already be an executive under Cèdre's Port Mafia... if the two could stop butting heads over his perfectionism causing him to miss deadlines. In spite of this, there is apparent high trust between the two as Cèdre requests that he and the other mafiosi in his group watch over Chūya during the boy's early days in the Port Mafia.Ōgai Mori acquired a certain fondness for Cèdre back in the days of them constantly turning up on his clinic doorstep, and it carried over to their relationship as mafia boss/personal doctor. Had Mori walked in on anyone else attempting to kill the previous boss, he would have killed the assailant; however, he instead steers Cèdre into a manageable leader to fulfill Natsume's vision for the Tripartite Framework. It's likely that he decided they were a person he wanted to save (in his own way) due to being extremely aware of Cèdre's past; in contrast, Cèdre knows very little of Mori's military past as they were never on equal footing for the exchange of information.Osamu Dazai and Cèdre despise each other. Cèdre wholeheartedly blames him for the death of their companions in Mimic, even though a part of them does understand Dazai was a just a child being coerced by the former boss. It is only at Mori's insistence that Dazai has a place in the Port Mafia at all. Cèdre goes out of their way to avoid interacting with Dazai, save for briefing him on mission tasks as they do see value in his ability. Dazai likes to press Cèdre's buttons by calling out that they're no difference from the former boss in that regard.Ryūrō Hirotsu offers an immediate respect to Cèdre that confuses them, as they expected such a senior member of the Port Mafia to resent them for the leadership change. He has a mentor relationship that borders on paternal with his young boss, wanting them to succeed - both in their position and in overcoming the demons he can tell haunt them.Sakunosuke Oda doesn't fit in the organization very well, but Cèdre doesn't think it a good idea to kick him out given his past crimes as an assassin. They don't know (or particularly care) why Oda refuses to kill, but there's always a need for an errand-runner as well as a considerable amount of work to be done in the archives ever since Ango's leaving the organization. Cèdre is a bit perplexed when they learn of the friendship among Dazai, Oda, and Ango but they're content to let it be... after all, it's another thing keeping Dazai out of their hair and it keeps a close link to a government agent.

| moridre dynamic |

I never stood a chance in the first place. You'd already won before I even tried and failed to attack. I... do not wish to return to France. What do I need to do to stay in this country? If my loyalty is your only price, I will pay that. - Cèdre meeting Mori

Cèdre gained the title of Port Mafia leader by killing the previous leader. They maintain leadership through fear and intimidation, but they also have respect of most due to their perceived skill as a leader. In reality, they rely on advice from another. They rarely smile and are usually seen with their bodyguards and personal doctor by their side.

Mori assumed the position as the leader of the Port Mafia after assassinating the previous boss; he also has a notable history as part of Japan's medical unit during the Great War. He often hides his true nature under the guise of an ordinary and clumsy man, but it is a ruse for public interaction. He is a ruthless leader who heavily weighs options in order to choose the most optimal solution for the organization as a whole, though he rarely takes emotions fully into account. He takes no time for guilt or regret, considering only what will benefit the organization as a whole. He possesses the ability Vita Sexualis, which allows him to manipulate a summon named Elise who acts as a typical young girl until the need to save him from danger arises. He seems to keep the true nature of his ability secret from all but his most trusted associates.

Elise is a physical manifestation of Mori's supernatural ability, and she masquerades as his daughter. Elise is almost always either annoyed with or ignoring Mori, but she adores Cédre and will happily play the part of a loving daughter to Cédre; she comes off more as a spoiled brat when with Mori alone.

Relationship: Mori is protective and possessive of Cédre. Both of them put up a dangerous front to the outside world, but they can be vulnerable and affectionate with each other when alone. Mori especially likes to take Cédre shopping and to the theater, eager to show them off and dote on them. Cédre is more reserved and likes it best when they play chess together in private or if they go on a walk in nature together. Also likely to be seen together at holiday parties or Japanese festivals. Somewhat co-dependent, but they manage to bring out each other's best sides. In spite of their obvious affection for each other, the two are not officially together.

Aesthetics/Themes: cherry blossoms, chess, chrysanthemums, dancing, freesia flowers, mafia, masquerade, music, poppy flowers, tea parties