Predict/Origin
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
And then he saw her on stage, belting out a tune that would make any man sweat. Legs that went on forever and a body to die for, Gustave knew he had to have her. Only Gustave was a married man. But that had never stopped him before. They danced for what seemed like hours. They stayed in touch after he'd left the country and he'd often travel back every few weeks. She held nothing back, and in return Gustave professed his love for her. But he refused to leave his wife. Splitting his money in half was not something Gustave ever planned on doing, not even for Elisabeta.
Throughout their torrid affair, their love blazed like a wildfire. They'd consummated their relationship that first hot night in Louisiana, but nine months later, they both received something neither of them wanted; a baby boy. After the birth, Gustave distanced himself from Elizabeta and their son, whom she had named Jean-Luc. His trips became less and less frequent until he stopped visiting at all and only spoke to them over the telephone. Heartbroken, Elisabeta often drank herself to sleep at night, leaving young Jean-Luc to his own devices.
Largely ignored by his mother, Jean-Luc came and went as he pleased. He'd often spend nights away from home, wandering the city streets with a pack of friends. His love of magic began early when he was given a magic kit by his uncle, himself a professional illusionist. Although he began learning the craft in childhood, his early attempts at performing professionally were unsuccessful until he realized that he needed to work on his showmanship.
Unbeknownst to Jean-Luc, his mother's Cajun bloodline ran strong with magic; descendants of the Homo Magi, a sub-race of humans born with innate powers of sorcery. Luc discovered his natural magical abilities early on in his adolescence. He embraced and practiced his abilities in secret, hiding them away from his mother and friends.
Now in his teens, young Luc began performing his "magic" on the busy boulevards of Baton Rouge for money. A very successful street performer with natural charm and charisma, Luc amassed a considerable fortune by the age of twenty-one. By this time, his mother's drinking habits had turned into a full-blown addiction. He spent most of his earned money paying for his mother's stints in rehabilitation, which never lasted very long. Eventually, the alcohol took it's toll and Luc's mother passed away at the age of forty-one. Life went on for Jean-Luc.
The rest of his money now went towards women and cards. A notorious gambler, Luc spent many nights betting away his cash in any one of the many bars or casinos in the city. He won many fortunes, and lost countless more. Over time, his luck ran out and Luc found himself in debt to a number of unsavory characters.
It was only after being regularly hounded and harassed by the criminals he was indebted to that Luc discovered the full extent of his abilities. No longer summoning roses to charm pretty girls or turning tissues into doves on the street, Luc was forced to use his abilities in self-defense now. But after his penthouse was burned down with him inside, Jean-Luc had had enough. Luc confronted the shylocks and during a brief struggle inadvertently killed one. Distraught and with nothing holding him to the city anymore, Jean-Luc left Baton Rouge for good.
- "Trouble don't follow me, mon chere... It rides on mah back."
- - Jean-Luc Thériot
It was there he met and romanced an Irish villianess named Shamrock, capable of wielding luck as a weapon and manipulating probability. Shamrock and Luc used their abilities and "won" millions of dollars week after week. Casino owners eventually got wise to their scam. Luc escaped from capture but ironically Shamrock wasn't as lucky. She was jailed, but not before swearing revenge on Jean-Luc for hanging her out to dry.
Of course, hers was not the only heart Luc had left broken in his travels. After his narrow escape from the law, Luc was forced to leave Las Vegas lest he be noticed by the authorities again. The temptation to gamble was too much and he knew it. This time, he headed east, to Paragon City, where one such as himself might blend in a bit easier.
It was in the "City of Heroes" where Luc met Chelsea Vance, an amateur young heroine who operated under the alias 'Combrat'. He fell in love almost instantly, and it frightened him quite a bit. But before the two were able to truly explore their relationship, Jean-Luc's past caught up with him. The brother of the man he killed came looking for blood and nearly killed Luc and Chelsea, but they narrowly escaped. Luc confronted his would-be killer and the two fought viciously until Luc defeated him and handed him over to the police.
Again, Luc was forced to leave, this time his love rather than his home as he deemed his life too dangerous for anyone but himself to be involved in.
Currently, Jean-Luc resides in a large estate on the outskirts of Croatoa. It's unknown how he acquired such a home, but knowing Jean-Luc, it's fairly certain it wasn't through honorable means.