James was a large, unpopular boy with more interest in books than in the companionship of others or outdoor activities. Cloistering himself away in his room, he voraciously read whatever he could find and soon gained a healthy appetite for science. Obsessed with knowing how things work, he talked his parents into helping him pay for college and worked hard to get his degree in physics.
However, something happened during his senior year that shattered his notion of reality. Dismissive of supernatural phenomena, he nonetheless had a fascination with it and pursued his odd obsession under the auspices of debunking it. While "investigating" a voodoo priest, he was witness to several things which he could not explain. As he was pulled in deeper, he slowly began to realize that his view of the universe was somewhat lacking. Abandoning his scholwork, he began to reevaluate everything he'd dismissed, but quickly grew frustrated when most of the other leads turned up nothing but frauds and dead ends. It was during the mad search that he was noticed by members of Julia's herd, who brought him to her attention.
Julia approached the Embrace of her new apprentice in much the same way her sire had. Coaxing James out to the chantry with promises of the 'proof' he sought, she revealed her true nature to him and offered him entrance into the world he was seeking. To her surprise, he accepted almost immediately. Having never really related to the rest of his family and lacking any real friends, he had minimal ties to sever, and he proved an avid student. Obsessed with his studies, he approached magic like a science, which fit well with his sire's strict Hermetic teaching methods. He was even happy with the move to Shreveport, as he found the other apprentices, particularly the twins, disturbing to be around.
After the move, however, things went badly. Julia's new ambition drew most of her attention and she wasn't able to provide the time he desired as a mentor. Further, he found little reason to the sect and clan politics with which she was devoting her time. Lastly, the idea of destroying other sentient creatures was abhorrant to him and yet he knew that this was a distinct possibility. His doubts and frustration grew to such a point that when Father Aaron finally did approach him, it didn't take much convincing to turn him to the other side.
While he feels a great deal of guilt for the reprecussions his defection caused for his sire, he is very happy with the freedom the Sabbat has offered. Now, however, he has a new problem. All three of the other members of his pack are suspicious of his occult studies and are trying hard to disuade him from pursuing them. He simply cannot. His drive to understand the mystical forces at work in the world keeps him buried in his occult lore and he has been seriously considering leaving Shreveport to offer himself as an apprentice to another antitribu Tremere or even a Koldunic sorcerer.
James is a very nice guy, though he lacks a lot as far as social skills are concerned. Tending to keep to himself, when you do get him talking, he is quite sociable and very interesting, if you like discussing philosophy, science, or the occult. Sometimes, his enthusiasm (some would call it obsession) with these topics tends to kill conversations, so he tries not to bring them up unless he senses that the people he is talking to have a genuine interest.
While he doesn't really subscribe to the religious side of his pack's philosophy, he respects their ethical beliefs immensely and does all he can to live by Black's law, aside from giving up his magic.
James respects Black and Father Pryce quite a bit, though his former cynicism towards superstition lingers a bit in a dislike of religion. He likes Douglas a lot, as well, but has noticed the man's distrust of his arts and so tries not to bring up the subject of magic around him. He is not happy about the possibility that he may have to leave the pack in order to continue with his research, having become quite fond of them over the years.
James doesn't hate his sire, but he is scared of her. He isn't even aware of the true depth of her hatred for him, but his own guilt suffices to make him a bit paranoid of what she might do to exact revenge. He isn't fond of Kyle at all, feeling that his arrival has only made matters with his sire worse and resenting him for pushing her aside (in a lingering loyalty to her).
He hasn't really met many other members of the Sabbat, with the exception of Dennis, whom he is wary of and feels little respect towards, given his religious mania. He has also heard enough of the New Orleans Sabbat to know that he'd never want to meet any of them, with the possible exception of the Lasombra. He would like to go to Dallas, however, both to meet more kindred and, secretly, to find someone to share his obsession with.