Marieke van den Berg
Further Information
Marieke is a quiet and cautious individual who has learned through her time as a ghoul to talk less, smile more. While around other kindred, she does what she can to avoid any unwanted attention, and considers just about any attention to be unwanted. This only lasts as long as it takes for someone to break through her icy exterior; once she's come to trust someone, she reveals a rather dry snark and an amusement at all the social humbug kindred life has to offer. Even so, she keeps most people at arm's distance, but those that are willing to put up with months of subconscious vetting from her will find themselves an unwavering ally.
Marieke is about as "Nu Goth" in appearance as one can get, save for the pops of purple and pink that make their way into her hair or outfit on occasion. It's hard to tell if she adopted the goth aesthetic post-vampirism, or if she's been part of this lifestyle for a little too long. Regardless, she appears to have tried to keep up with the times on the style, and has done her best to tone it down for the sake of not causing too many rolling eyes amongst other kindred. Her voice is airy and flat, and has a bit of an accent, though her English is fluent.
- Born in Utrecht, Netherlands, in 1976
- Was introduced to Andrea Rocheleau, Malkavian, in 1998
- Become Andrea's ghoul in 2001
- The relationship began as an assistant and caretaker role, but turned romantic in 2009
- Was introduced to Oleander Oakley, Brujah, in 2018
- Began watching his paramour, Lieve Groenwege, at this time. The two became close friends.
- Marieke was embraced by... Andrea, in 2020... 0r was it 2021... or was it...
- Marieke was brought to Denver by Oakley in 2021
Marieke van den Berg was born to moderate wealth in Utrecht in the year 1976. Her childhood was rather uneventful; her parents were plain, her friends were plain, her grades were just short of outstanding. She spent most of her childhood in dance classes required of her by her mother, and in book clubs encouraged by her father. While she enjoyed both, her preferences leaned towards reading, and she delved into English studies in particular. She ended High School perfectly fluent in English and with a desire to become an editor and translator.
In college, Marieke was introduced to the "goth" culture, and she quickly wormed her way through chatrooms and the monthly Cyberia party until she became a staple of the community. Despite the unpleasant abrasiveness of gatekeepers in the culture, Marieke was generally rather happy to guide baby bats through finding music they would enjoy. It was around this time in her life that she first met Andrea Rocheleau, a striking french woman who was supposedly there with a friend. Marieke and Andrea spoke and danced through most of the night, and when it was time to leave, Andrea insisted on remaining in contact. The two exchanged numbers, and a friendship slowly formed.
Marieke was always a little suspicious, of course. It was rather strange that Andrea was never available during the day, even for phone calls, and that Marieke never once saw Andrea even drink water. Andrea frequently changed personality as well when certain topics came up, though the shifts were rather subtle. Their friendship danced between lighthearted and friendly, to a battle of wits and mental chess, and while Marieke wasn't opposed to the situation, she did find it unusual. As such, it came as more of a relief than a surprise when Andrea finally admitted her kindred nature, the night that she requested Marieke become her ghoul. Marieke was given a day to think things over, and the two came to a quick agreement. Andrea needed someone to help her with her derangements, and "both of us" liked Marieke enough to want to keep her around.
So, for almost two decades, Marieke grew to know both sides of Andrea. It appeared as though Andrea's derangement created an alter personality for the Beast within, and Marieke took careful note of whenever "Andres" was present. Marieke was given no easy task; Andrea frequently found herself with lapses in memory from whenever Andres was front facing, so it was Marieke's job to keep all facts, relations, and secrets in check as Andrea navigated the Utrecht Camarilla. Marieke managed to graduate college during this time, but Andrea ensured that Marieke never needed for money, so Marieke dedicated all of her time to her domitor. As the years went by, a romance slowly formed and strengthened.
Marieke was content with her life, up until Oleander Oakley arrived.
Oakley, a Brujah from Sacramento's camarilla, arrived to deal with some loose ends of his sire's in Utrecht. Andrea was roped into his temporary coterie after he'd been granted permission to stay in the sect until his business was concluded, and suddenly Marieke found herself juggling Andrea, Oakley, Oakley's paramour Lieve Groenwege, and a spiderweb of Sabbat that had been encroaching on the sect. Suddenly, her life and Andrea's life became very dangerous, and it felt like there was a new problem to deal with every week.
To this day, Marieke isn't sure about the specifics of her embrace. She remembers a feeling of being afraid, of a fight, how she moved to stand in front of Lieve, and suddenly...
Marieke doesn't remember the following month, which leaves her with a bitter fury at knowing her memory was tampered with. All she knows is that she was embraced (by Andrea, she assumes), Andrea somehow perished, Lieve possibly perished, and Oakley had to smuggle Marieke out of Utrecht to avoid having her be considered an illegal embrace. Marieke's first memories since that night were arriving in Denver. Oakley swore he would be back to get her but that he couldn't stay for long...
And Marieke has been in Denver ever since, unsure of how to introduce herself to the hectic scene that Denver has to offer.
| Player | Ayla Budge |
|---|---|
| Pronouns | She/Her |
| MES # | US2022040014 |
| Domain | CO-016-D |
| Storyteller | Stacey Deloria |
