Duke Laurent
Introduction
In Episode 3 Duke shows up in the background staring up from his desk to the recently opened doors. Beforehand the Deans had been ushering Annabel Lee and Lenore into Mrs. Poppet's classroom. He's seemingly bored and staring back curiously at the sight of late new arrivals.
Character Traits
Duke is a roguish performance man, with the release of episode 121 came a panel of him posing in front of The Stag* (The malevolent spirit shown as a Deer that hunts down Lenore through S2 so far), as a Crystal chandelier, he Dramaturgically leans down, bowing to the crashing shards of glass. He seems to be tolerating his death as he almost dies for the 2nd time, his oxygen running out behind the wall. Montressor locks him behind with the help of his goons. His acceptance is quick as he sits behind the tiny area, meeting Lenore in Dreamland, where he urges her to enjoy their time instead of worrying about him. He's pushed by his confidence in himself, his certainty unshakable in his plans. Though he seems to be skeptical when someone else is put in charge, minus Lenore, whom he grew to trust quickly. He seems to take a closeness to his group of friends, not necessarily hating others, but not having any particular positive feelings about a large mass of the other characters.
Original story
the duc de l'omelette
In the Duc De L'Omelette our main character, a French nobleman, sits down to enjoy a feast. This feast being a controversial one, a Songbird or The Ortolan. This dish is a French intricacy even being named the, "the ortolan bird delicacy,". The reason for the stigma around this dish is due to the nature of which it's eaten and the excessive hunting due to the almost addictively sinister description of the taste. In 1999 this was officially given restraints due to the mass killings of these small creatures. This isn't a direct correlation but it is a custom to have a towel over your head to disguise this crime from God. Everything down to the taste, means of getting the bird, and preparation are skeptical to anyone with empathy for animals. The taste of this bird is described as "salty, savory, with hazelnut overtones," The fat of the Ortolan is also an indescribable but easily picked out among the rest of the flavors. You are to eat the bird with a single bite, using no cutlery, tasting as you crush down on the bones of this tiny bird. As you chew down the bones prick your cheeks meaning you taste not only the bird's blood but your own. The metallic taste washes down your throat as you swallow. This devilish sin lands the Duc down in Hell as he's sat down with Satan himself playing cards. Left in nothing but his undergarments the Duc plays a round avoiding eternal damnation as he tries to prevail against the cheating Devil.
Duke not only takes the title of 'the Duc' as a name in this series but he's seen to eat an Ortolan as they are sat down in the dining hall together, the Deans saying it is to celebrate their true first day at Nevermore Academy. They are told by Mrs Poppet that as dishes appear in front of each student that this is what they would've liked to eat in their living lives. He's seen to be drinking a side of Brandy with his Ortolan. Preparing a towel as he's playfully berated by Pluto. Duke's suitcase is left with its contents scattered in Chapter 72. The insides being cards and a poster notably. THe cards probably having a correlation to the Duc playing a game of cards with Satan. Speaking of, the poster is labeled "The Fearless Fortunato," meaning the Fearless fortunate. The title is held up on a scroll by two tiny little devils, in correlation to Satan.
The Cask of Amantalladio
In the original story by Edgar Allan Poe, Monty and Duke have a tense relationship. They were assigned to be roommates and haven't entirely grown a liking to each other despite what Montresor may tell others. In The Cask of Amontillado the main character Montresor takes revenge on his drunken friend in the catacombs of Venice. Under the belief that he insulted him. In Nevermore Monty is seen to be plotting to lock up Lenore, which is interjected by Annabel Lee who instead suggests her best friend. Monty with the help of William and Ada then carry out their plan and lure Duke down to the cellar. Where they promptly knock him out and carry him away. He wakes up while Monty chains him inside of a small divet in the wall.
designs
School Uniform
Duke is a gangly* (said by the man himself in Issue/Chapter:10) dude standing at 6'3(190 cm) who often is smirking. He has Black curly hair which is relatively short cut off just at the ear and often gelled down on one side, notably in season 2 of Nevermore the preview designs have his hair gelled on the opposite side. He has thick black eyebrows and 3 lower eyelashes that stand out. These lower eyelashes in his *Spectre* forms turn into diamond designs underneath His eyes and the middle becomes black Clown smile lines. He has a broader rounded nose compared to other characters and his lips are fuller and two-toned. His jawline can be considered a boxy sharp shape and with the release of season two, he has a relatively average size waist and broader shoulders thanks to *Red* & *Flynn's* art progression. The progression has also led to his design bringing minimal changes. His jacket hangs down instead of singing making him look more laid back and the jacket design changes. The Collar on his button-down changes to a shorter shape and gains a different lined pattern down the middle with the buttons. His suspenders were changed to be thinner and basic black straps. He gains lapels on his jacket that hide the top few buttons.
Sleepwear
He also wears a different outfit to sleep that stays through episodes 74-90. Which takes inspiration from his main story, "The Duc De L'Omelette". In which the main character 'The Duc' wears a robe while feasting on his devilish meal of an Ortolan* (Songbird dish), "-of the sweetest pantaloons ever made by Stultz, the daintiest robe de chambre ever put together by Rombert,". The robe is a rose garnet color, with a black silk lining on the collar with what looks like a damask pattern on it. Underneath
Spectre (The Harlequinn, Poltergeist )
His spectre keeps his original figure but changes primarily his outfit which takes many inspired aspects of the different stories mentioned ( ex: * The Cask of Amontillado* ) To start a minuscule change is made to his face, his smile which is often prominent is drawn slightly wider. He gains the aforementioned makeup changes and his eyes change to a black color with a 4-pointed cyan star. He wears what almost resembles The "Pumpkin King" or Jack Skellington's striped suit. Replacing the white stripes with signature colors of a purple and cyan. The outer vest is buttoned down to where you can see his undershirt which has two black belts. His bow tie changes to a more extravagant colorful bow with a lock over where the knot of a bow tie is. His vest had long windy lapels adorned by bells, as like the rest of his getup. His neck is covered by what seems to be a shiny black rubber or latex that matches his arms. Which now have a glove-like look with often glowing cyan palms possibly to refer back to his lightener palms. His sleeves are possibly rolled up, and he has a white stripe pattern on them. His pants are split one half being cyan diamonds and the other the same purple stripes rolled up at the knee. He has exposed calf covered by the same pitch-black color *followed by striped black and white leg warmers(?) and extended boots with bells on the end and a bit of a heel.*
Spectre Abilities
Levitation
Duke's ability is shrouded by an oozing matching cyan essence. He's almost always airy and light in his Specter form, literally being light as a feather as he glides on air. He's able to pick up objects with this ability, using them to throw objects in his one-sided fight with Montressor. Using them to swing sharp objects his way.
Invisibility
This ability is pretty straightforward, he becomes transparent. Not like he goes into a different plane, instead, he's there like in the wind. He's unable to be seen and chooses at will if he wants to, like the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland.
Hypnosis
Duke can hypnotise to whatever he says on anyone at the snap of his fingers. He uses this one, Ada, to get her to use her ability on Montressor.
Death
Duke's death is caused by his exhilarating job and easily tainted performances, leading to his early demise, planned out by his colleague Luca. Luca is the redhead who stands faceless when we first see him, we meet him in chapter 122. He's begging the audience to cheer louder as Duke forcefully hits against a glass box in which he's trapped. His feet were locked upside down in direct correlation to his poster. The poster has him strung up upside down by ribbons held by tiny devils. These can mean both Monty or Luca in either scenario; he's smirking, looking at the viewer. As he pounds against the walls of the locked box, his screams muffled beneath water, a curtain descends as Luca continues to tell the audience to cheer for motivation and as if this were all an act.