The Patron

The Patron sponsors Birgit Gottlieb's research, which eventually leads to Hermann's birth. 
== Blacklist!fusion ==
Camille (pronounced 'ka-MEE') Langlais is revealed to be The Patron behind Birgit's work 
* French citizen from an old money family 
* Supporter of the Wall of Life project over the Jaeger Programme 
* During and post-Kaiju war, invests heavily in construction 
* Former diplomat (ambassador), possibly even the French representative to the UN Security Council 
* Extensive contacts in the global underworld, including with the Mountain Dragon of China 
* Long-term goal is the production of 'perfect soldiers' through genetic manipulation (via technology and careful breeding) 
* Occasionally sells 'trinkets': genetically modified children with attractive characteristics, like wings 
* Married to the same woman since his late twenties 
* Father of one son (born ~1975), who died in an accident ~2000 
* Raising (with his wife) his grandson, René (born ~2000), who will inherit control of Camille's company and shadowy projects upon Camille's retirement
** Though René is completely unaware of it, he is a genetically identical clone of his 'father', with a forged birth certificate to hide the fact he was 'conceived' after his 'father's death and born of a surrogate 
== Langlais' Products and Projects ==
=== Matchmaker Process ===
An offshoot of Birgit Gottlieb's original splicing protocol, Matchmaker is a genetic therapy aimed at 'correcting' detrimental gene combinations. The time-consuming process is still highly experimental in 2026 and has had only limited, if any, success. Most embryos to undergo the process are rendered non-viable and those that survive implantation are often miscarried, stillborn, or die soon after birth.
=== 'Vitamin Butterball' ===
A cocktail of vitamins and trace minerals designed to support fetal development and pregnant parent health. Its effects are not heritable and its most notable side effect is babies treated prenatally put on a sizable amount of extra fat. It is the default prenatal vitamin treatment for all children conceived in a Langlais-sponsored project.
=== 'Chemical X' ===
A cocktail of vitamins and trace minerals given to pregnant people and designed to support fetal development. It is, essentially, a supercharged version of typical prenatal vitamins and its effects are not heritable. Named in honour of the substance which gave the Powerpuff Girls superpowers, it also inexplicably raises the risk of miscarriage. Because of this risk, usage of Chemical X is generally only given to fetuses considered candidates for undergoing the Matchmaker process.
=== 'Vitamin DC' ===
A drug under development at one of Langlais' labs, it affects neural development and has shown great promise in inducing Drift Compatibility in children treated with it during early trials. 'Vitamin DC' treated children react to stimuli in sync and work seamlessly together without prior relationships or verbal communication. Previous experience with each other only strengthens these effects. The drug has a very visible side effect: treated children will often sit or stand immobile staring fixedly at an object or at nothing in particular for a short period before snapping back into motion as though they had never stopped.
=== Valets ===
Langlais' most consistently offered 'product', these young men are created and trained to serve obediently and quietly. A waiting list for purchase is maintained. Buyers may choose a deaf (for maximum privacy) or hearing valet and, by prior arrangement, have trained in the language(s) of the buyer's choice prior to delivery. Most valets are eighteen when delivered to buyers, but they can be transferred any time after their sixteenth birthdays.
* 1995: The prototype valet created at a facility in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France, as a clone.
* 1997-2026: A small number of clones of the original valet are created each year and trained for sale.
* 2018: First valets offered to clients.
Langlais retained the prototype as his personal valet, until replacing him with a new model in 2022. Both were deaf and referred to as 'Russell'.
=== 'Angels' ===
These winged children are created in small batches as tests of refinements made to Birgit Gottlieb's cloning and genetic splicing techniques. They are carried to term by young, healthy women paid handsomely to serve as 'surrogates' for non-existent infertile couples and are delivered by C-section.
* 1985-1989: Six 'angels' are created by Birgit Gottlieb at a facility in Bayern, Germany, one of which (Hermann) survives his first twenty-four hours. Each is a clone of Birgit spliced with little owl genes.
* ~2015: Three 'angels' are created at a facility in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France, one of which (Ariel, called 'Elli') survives his first twenty-four hours. Each is a combination of human DNA and spectacled owl genes.
* ~2021: Ten 'angels' are created at an upstate New York, USA, facility, eight of which survive their first twenty-four hours. Each is a blend of their 'surrogate's DNA, common barn owl genes, and DNA from a PPDC Ranger illegally obtained from a mole in PPDC Medical. Three of them are Angelique, Gabrielle, and Asuka.
=== Dermal Camouflage ===
A sub-project of the soldier creation program aims to create humans with the ability to change their skin color, giving them natural camouflage under their conscious control. They are carried to term by young, healthy women paid to serve as 'surrogates' for non-existent infertile copies.
* ~2019: A total of sixteen 'chameleons' are created at various facilities, ten of which survive their first twenty-four hours. Each is a combination of their 'surrogate's DNA, chameleon genes, and DNA from a PPDC Ranger (possibly both of a set of twins) illegally obtained from a mole in PPDC Medical. Three of them are Aurora (called 'Rora'), Iris, and Ixchel (called 'Ixie').
=== 'Ingots' ===
This ongoing sub-project of the solider creation program aims to create children with the physical and mental aptitudes to be superior soldiers by carefully selecting 'parents' likely to impart the desired characteristics and blending their DNA. The biological gender of the 'parents' is not a consideration in pairing. Source DNA is obtained from sponsored research, sponsored fertility clinics, and illegally obtained from moles in various military organizations around the world. 
Most 'ingots' are carried to term by young, healthy women paid to serve as 'surrogates' for non-existent infertile copies and then, generally, adopted out to carefully chosen families. One of these is Elanora (born ~2022).
A few 'ingots' are carried to term by their (or one of their) biologically female parent(s). One of these is Adam Holden Collocott (born ~2027).
==Brainstorming==
Mysterious patron ideas are still a little non-existent. The one I've batted around the most goes like this:
So, we know Hermann needs pain meds to function, especially after he wrecks his knee, right? And we had Birgit prescribing them for him. But she dies within a year and Dietrich doesn't get his medical degree until almost eleven years later. I doubt a pharmacist would fill a prescription from a dead woman. So where are they coming from?
I've been figuring Lars and the patron's people come to an agreement. They agree to provide the prescriptions/medications as long as Lars can keep Hermann's secret from being exposed. He fails and there will be Consequences.
Even after Dietrich takes over the doctoring, the threat remains.
And thus we complicate Lars' seemingly assholish behavior toward Hermann. He knows what's at stake and really does want Hermann to have some sort of a life. Which won't happen if the patron has to step back in to protect his/her/their investment.
I'm also kind of wondering if the patron could mount a case for Hermann as the result of 'work-for-hire,' which could mean he was his/her/their property and if that forms part of the threat. Even losing a case like that would be expensive and take years.
The more likely threat is "the facts start leaking and a windowless black van shows up and no one ever sees the boy again."
==Liu==
I actually wouldn't be all that surprised if Liu turns out to know all about Hermann. 
Hermann came within 20 feet of Cheung, Jin, and Hu. Of course Liu ran a full background check. Considering Liu feels he owes Hermann half the planet from helping the triplets however, he only tucked the information away in his brain. He'll probably opt to have meds ready for when Hermann (and maybe Newt--no loyalty to him) comes down with the flu--"so there's this shady person who's basically responsible for your existence ... Do you want me to make them disappear? Or take you off their radar? Or something?" Hermann doesn't know about the patron (I think) so that's kind of lousy favour. 
I'm currently brainstorming the Saga of the Patron and will be bouncing it off you for sanity-checking when it's a little more complete. The current short answer to if Hermann knows is 'kinda.' Logically, his mom couldn't have afforded a cloning project on her own and his meds came from /somewhere/ all those years ... but he has less than zero idea of who the shadowy figure could be.
==Away==
(from "Dec11 - Jan03")
pickle-plum: here's a CM question i /think i already know the answer to: is it better to leave what the Away the creche kids refer to nebulous or make it explicit they're supposedly being executed?
shmoo92: 2nd
pickle-plum: really? explicit?
shmoo92: Reasonably explicit cause he's a bad guy
shmoo92: Maybe have a caregiver with smudged makeup saying that arrangements have been made to distribute personal effects to other crèches and charities, and if that will be all, they would like to hand in their resignation.
pickle-plum: oooooh. i like this scene.
shmoo92: YOSH
pickle-plum: so ... how close should i put these scene to the first mention of 'Away'? really soon? sorta soon? it doesn't actually matter?
shmoo92: I don't think it matters
pickle-plum: excellent!
Category:Brigit's Patron
Category:Meta
Category:Gottlieb family
Category:Gottlieb family (meta)
Category:Hermann has wings
Category:Liu
Category:Liu (meta)
Category:Wei triplets (mention)
Category:Hermann is a programmer