#dustkid

Initially commissioned as Amelia's right-hand bodyguard, Espen distinguished themself in both their martial prowess and for their advice. Amelia came to rely on them both professionally and personally. Espen was privy to secrets Amelia would never breath in public, trusted in a way no one else was.

Amelia declined suitors and dalliances alike. The rumors flew once it came to light that Espen declined them, too.

There can be no doubt that Espen loves Amelia deeply. They would gladly fight for her honor on any given day, even centuries since their last meeting, and genuinely believe she will return someday (and maybe, just maybe, Changeling society will have progressed enough that the distinction between commoners & nobles won't matter anymore.)

Espen does not doubt Amelia's love for them in turn. Despite the rigid social barriers standing between them, Amelia matched Espen's loyalty with her loyalty. No one was honored more highly, no one was trusted so much, no one else got to remain at her side when she went off to be alone. What happened between them was private and precious and timeless.

The Motley doesn't believe in Amelia like Espen does. While most of them (with the exception of Jael) believe Amelia probably loves Espen in return, they also don't think highly of the Marquess abandoning all of them to the human world while she stays safe and glamour-filled in the heart of Arcadia. Plenty of time with mortals & modern reincarnations have given most of the Motley the idea that feudalism actually sucks a lot. And given that Amelia is the driving force behind binding them to the region & to her will despite not making an appearance in hundreds of years, well... her reception won't be the warmest.

Amelia herself has certainly made questionable choices in the past, too. While she and Espen have a very loving relationship, it's very likely that their loyalty blinds them to the flaws in her character. Perhaps the past few centuries of reincarnation will have opened their eyes - perhaps not - only Amelia's return will tell.

In another few months, I’ll do Amelia’s return and then the Motley will really have some soul searching to do!

tl;dr - Espen & Amelia are undeniably in love, but the veneer of courtly love & chivalry are very likely painting the Marquess as more idealized than she is in reality.

AS FOR NOLAN AND RONAN, I’m glad you asked! >:D

They are, in fact, not twins. Nolan is reaching middle age, while Ronan doesn’t look a day over 25. But here’s a fun twist: Ronan is the older brother, by about five years. They were both born in Ireland in the late 1960s, living relatively normal lives until their teenage years. While Nolan personally always considered his brother to be a bit of a stook, when Ronan turned 17, it was like he became someone completely different. (coughcough He Did). Where once he was somewhat annoying and teasing like a typical older brother, suddenly he would disappear from home for days on end, terrifying their poor single mother. He would resurface and promptly ask their mom for money.

Sometimes he claimed it was money so he could travel home, sometimes it was to bail him out of a jam, sometimes it was to fund a brilliant business venture that he would absolutely definitely repay in a few months honest, ma!

And their dear mother would cave every single time for her precious baby boy.

Nolan saw right through him. That bastard was bleeding their poor mother dry and he didn’t even care what it was doing to her! He caught Ronan in lie after lie, at party after party, hooked on this new drug or that new crowd, living well beyond his means and doing whatever the hell he pleased. Nolan was pissed, but he had no idea of his brother’s true nature until much later.

Nolan wanted to take on extra jobs to help out at home, but his mum insisted he make time for his schoolwork despite their financial need and he managed to keep top marks, despite their struggles. Still, he felt the unquenchable need to DO something. To make a difference. He became deeply involved with politics & the punk rock subculture, his views shifting further and further left as time went on. Given that they lived in the Republic of Ireland, he and his mother were no stranger to the violence and unrest facing the country (aka The Troubles), along with their neighbors. He wasn’t satisfied to keep his head down and so he often wound up in protests, counter-protests, and many a dangerous situation in a passionate, sincere effort to make his home a safer, more egalitarian place. Though he was too young to get involved with the Peace People at the time of their marches, they left a lasting impression on him.

He made his way through University to medical school and studied to become a surgeon, eventually graduating and officially gaining the title of doctor, while continuing to attend protests and advocate for peace in his off hours. It was good money, at first, and as he took more responsibility over his mom’s finances, he was able to deny Ronan’s leeching more reliably.

One summer, Ronan came to ‘visit’ and managed to leave with a ten thousand dollar ‘loan’ from their mother. Nolan had enough. He chased his brother down and caught him before he left town - it came to a full on fistfight. Ronan wasn’t nearly as scrappy as Nolan and was pretty clearly going to lose, so he used a little bit of Faerie magic to turn the tide in his favor. Maybe it was the full moon, maybe it was the fact they were duking it out at the foot of the Hill of Tara, but Nolan saw Ronan’s true Sidhe self shining through: bedecked in dazzling finery, wielding a rapier fit for royalty, and wreathed in an ephemeral aura of pale green fire that blazed but did not burn.

Ronan left, assuming his brother would forget the nasty surprise.  After all, the Mists of Banality would wipe the memory from Nolan’s mind, right? Never one to forget a slight or willingly admit that he had been wrong, Ronan pulled a few strings, made a few nasty allegations, and let slip Nolan’s political activities (with some embellishment) and in short order, his little brother’s medical license was revoked. Unfortunately for him... the Mists never set in. 

Nolan remembered everything and he knew exactly who was to blame for ruining his career (so recently launched, after years and YEARS of hard work). He began to dig. And dig. And dig. Eventually, his efforts brought him to the attention of a hunter cell, who were more than sympathetic to his dreadful tale of a brother stolen & rotten from the inside... and more than happy to bring on board a new hunter who could professionally tend to their wounds after a mission. He’s been with them ever since.

They are funded by a USA based group known only as ‘The Institute’ and - while it’s not the pay of a surgeon - it more than pays the bills. Hard to argue with all of the sweet, sweet equipment they keep providing, too, for the low price of a few samples taken from their fallen foes.

... geez, I really rambled long there. If you read this far, THANK YOU.