Personality

Bright, intelligent, charming...

That's everything that anyone would expect from the first (and only) son of a large company's president. That's everything that Sage should embody, and everything he really should be. But the truth of the matter is, he's only that way in front of a camera. Playing the part of a charming young man smiling, laughing, placing compliments in the right ears and smiles toward the right faces. It's all a part of a game, a chessboard set with his family ready to take it all. It's all a bluff

Sage is very self-centric and private. He'd rather enjoy his time in some smoggy, cigarette infused bar with soulful jazz singers up on stage, a grand novel or another in his hand, and a cup of coffee always on hand than nearly anywhere else. Most of the time, Sage has the top marks in almost all of his classes - all business and literature oriented of course - and is used to getting what he wants. He's used to pulling all the right strings so that the piñata simply falls open instead of having to be beaten apart and treats land in his lap so easily.

Perhaps that's why Oleander is such a large part of his life. They've known each other for some odd years, attending the same tutoring sessions to learn the piano and vocals. Sage might go so far as to say they're even friends and that he can tolerate the other's company for more than an hour or two. Which, given his disdain and disinterest in the masses that surround he and his family day in and day out, is quite a cut above the crowd. Oleander isn't an easy friend, not always. He pushes Sage to interact on campus, to get involved and care about something more than the library corridors. Oleander is a mystery, a puzzle with pieces still absent from the board, a knot to untie bit by bit until it's unraveled at last. For now, Oleander knows more secrets than many others in Sage's life - perhaps it will stay that way forever, perhaps they'll graduate and grow apart.

So the sulky young man plays pretend for his family, smiles for the cameras, and falls into a restless state of unease and discontent whenever solitude keeps him company where none dare go.

History

Alexandra Burgeone was quite possibly a marvelous woman once, but she's always been so driven. Brave, courageous, charismatic... She draws crowds to her like flowers do bees, pulling in those off the street and others from their high horses to come nearer, nearer until they're within her trap. Perhaps that's how she managed to marry Lance Giovani. He was much the same, an outspoken fellow who could turn a phrase better than the first silver-tongue ever to prance around. He could convince anyone of just about anything, and maybe that's why she married him, too.

For all intents and purposes, Alexandra and Lance love (loved?) each other. So much that their company flourished, their competitive natures synchronizing to topple any enemy and push expansion much quicker than it should have. And then he came. Sage, formally born Simeon and officially changing his name at the age of just 15 to what it is now, as a bouncing baby boy. He was their pride and joy.

But parenting is harder than Alexandra and Lance thought it would be and so many mistakes were made. Growing up, Sage was lucky to see his parents for more than a few hours a week. Always busy with work, with the expansion, with some new trade or another. Too busy for him. Too busy to teach him what it is to be cared for and loved. Put into the care of Mme. Lisette, he was quickly brought into the fold of those who had tutors. A strict schedule came into play when he turned four, and this was promptly followed by the arrival of Myla Lucille Burgeone, his new little sister.

They paid her as little attention as they did him, a wet nurse quickly provided... Yet she was the bright point in his dark and lonely life, this little ball of sunshine who smiled as though Sage was her sun. So the five year old became a big brother, a proud protector of this precious life.

From there, things were easier. He watched her grow, she taught him to laugh and he taught her to smile. They were relatively quiet, learning more of the fine arts and rules to business than others. Every once in a while their parents would parade them around for the press, for some friend or another, to meet others their age. But they were not to attend public schools. Myla only went to a private school after months and months of insisting. And once more Sage was thrown into his world of isolation.

Books became his only friend. Books and music that poured from his room, from his stereo, from his headphones, every hour of every day and every hour of every night. It became and unstoppable force in his life, crooning to him, talking to him when few others did.

That is...it was there so often until, at last, he went off to college. After all, one cannot - should not - take over their family's legacy without ever earning their keep. Leaving home wasn't the hardest thing he'd ever had to do. Leaving Myla was harder. Leaving Mme. Linette was harder. Leaving his piano and reefs of music stuffed precariously into chests and drawers was harder than leaving home in itself.

Yet he made it. With hardly a look back, Sage was taken to a new and bustling world full of young heirs being groomed for their future. And here, at this new college, is where he met Oleander. Oleander who shone as brightly as a dying star, who's smile could captivate millions, and who secretly brewed the best pot of coffee that Sage has ever had. A few years older, but still just as lively as the next, he never really wanted Sage to be around him at first. But Sage was curious, and persistent, and eventually weaseled his way into Oleander's good graces. Now, the two are nearly inseparable, even on the bad days.

Misc

Sage is the heir to the Burgeone Corporation, a booming business that oversees the management and expansion of HoneyB Hotels. Despite this, he often is found on campus, avoiding meetings, going through halls and simply existing. While he wears a smile for the crowds, he's not really one for the public's eyes to find.

Oleander is one of his closest friends that Sage can often be found around town and campus with.