#oc non-apprentice

Aric Vernersson / Aedan 

Where do they live?: He lived in a fishing village with his parents and sister. Now, he lives in the palace. 

Is your character considered plain, ugly, beautiful? Would the character agree with this assessment? He's a handsome son-of-a-bitch. Just ask him. 

Does your character lose a parent/caregiver?: He had to leave his family when his cousin, Morga, sent Linnea and himself to look out for Montag. Eventually, they will succumb to the plague, along with most of their village and extended family. 

Does something else happen that changes everything for him or her?: Serving under Lucio. 

How old is your character when this happens?: He was 18 when he was sent to Vesuvia. He serves under Lucio for 6 years and dies just before his 25th birthday. 

How does this affect the character?: He had to give up most of his passions and learn how to be subservient and structured. 

Does his or her social status change during childhood? If it does, why does this happen and how does it affect the character?: He was used to being a member of a tribe. It was a hell of a culture shock. Thankfully, his father had always been a storyteller, so he knew how things were outside of the village, and they did travel some. But, Vesuvia is a whole other ball of wax. Being part of Lucio's inner circle is very insulating and lonely, but he finds ways of making fast friends. 

What is your character’s relationship with his or her caregivers like?: He adored his father, who taught him what it was to be a decent man and to be giving to others and see the beauty in the world. His mother was his strength and always pushed him to learn and observe, and how to treat people with dignity and grace. 

Who does your character love most?: He loves his sister, but the nature of their arrangement doesn't allow them to be near one another often. He loves Lucio like a brother, but Lucio's head is pretty far up his own ass. There's a couple girls that work in the kitchen that he doesn't mind spending time with, especially when they can make it a...group activity. 

Is he or she popular?: Yep. He is fortunate to be well compensated for his time and efforts with Lucio, which isn't afforded all palace staff. He likes to share his good fortune with the underserved in town, making sure that the dock kids have something hot to eat or clean to wear. He can't do much, and it's all very hush-hush so word doesn't get back to Lucio. He also likes to bring gifts to the other staff. Flowers, jewelry, sweets. Even for the courtiers, to keep in their good graces, though they scare the ever-loving fuck out of him. He also likes to bring Lucio spiced cookies, the thin ginger ones, like dad made, from their family recipe. 

What interests, hobbies, and sports does your character enjoy?: He loves fishing and he's a hell of a hunter. Lucio gifted him a hunting dog on his 20th birthday, like Mercedes and Melchior, but with brown patches. He thinks the gladiator matches are amazing but doesn't care for how they treat that poor Scourge fellow in the slightest. 

What is the character’s greatest fear?: That he'll never be able to reach Lucio and that something will go wrong. Valdemar is also nightmare fuel. 

Did your character complete his or her education?: He never had a formal education. 

What does your character do for a living?: Royal guard. Professional bro. 

 What goals does your character have?: He might settle down with a nice girl, someday. Maybe. For now, Lucio is a full-time job. 

Is your character in a relationship?: Nope. 

How many times has he or she been ‘in love’? How have these people influenced the character?: He thinks people rush to "love" way too fast. His parents had an arranged marriage of sorts and they worked out fine.

How do they see the world?: The world is awesome. I mean, have you seen it? Fucking growing stuff and water and fish and birds. Shit's incredible. People are pretty cool and most of them are nice. 

Is your character independent?: Not really. He likes people. People like him. 

Does he or she live alone or with somebody?: He lives in the palace. There's always someone nearby. 

Does your character have children?: Nope. 

What is your character’s favorite quotation?: Friendship needs no words — it is solitude delivered from the anguish of loneliness.

"I'm gonna take dinner," Aedan called across the colosseum to his partner, voice echoing on the high walls. It was a quiet night. Then, most nights were. Being on patrol in the arena was a useless task. Unless there was a fight on, nobody came here. If they did, it was usually kids wanting to play fight in the arena. They weren't gonna hurt anything. Aedan generally let them go for it. Sure, it was a little macabre, letting kids wrestle in the pit where so much blood was spilled regularly, but, it was a big, empty sandpit at the end of the day. It was less dangerous than other parts of the city, like the docks, or running through the streets.

The other man waved his hand, dismissive.

Aedan headed to the back corridors, then down to the dungeons. He had a special task tonight, off the record.

He grabbed a torch off the wall as he descended. Down into the holding cells. They were mostly empty unless Lucio found a new contender to go up against the permanent resident. Which, he hadn’t. He was preoccupied with some party nonsense. 

Walking up to the cage, he kicked the bars with the tip of his boot, twice in rapid succession. "Hey, big guy."

The massive form was huddled up in the corner, cast fully in shadow. He didn't stir. There was a chance he was asleep, but in his experience, The Scourge was pretty closed off and was more likely just ignoring him. Couldn't blame the poor guy. He wouldn't want to be fucked with either if he was in his place.

"I come bearing gifts. My s...the Nurse, from the castle? She loaded me down, guy. Said you were looking kinda rough last time she was down here."

Muriel had his back in the corner, knees were drawn up, arms crossed over the top, head down. He blinked in the dark, confused. What the hell was this guy talking about? The nurse? Celeste?

"Bullshit," he replied, rumbling. "Go away."

Aedan opened his satchel and pulled out a small metal box. He knelt down, laid it on the floor, and slid it across the cell. "She said you liked that. Smoked eel or something. Some fancy-ass candy. There should be some meds in there, too. She said to put it on that cut. The one on your side."

He didn't move. Aedan continued. "She said she'd have come herself, but her...professor, Valedmar...uh...She's not been keeping up with her studies the way they would like her to be. Something to do with finding her with the Magician in the garden one too many nights in a row. She's...grounded. On probation. Something like that."

Muriel slowly lifted his head, reaching his long arm out to take the box. He pried it open. Sure enough. Dried, smoked eel. A couple of those expensive chocolates. A small vial with pearlescent liquid swirling inside. Packed with care. A little note on top with his name in her perfect handwriting. "Take care of yourself. See you soon. Celeste."

"What the hell was she doing with you?" he said, his tone flat, but a hint quizzical. It didn't make sense. Celeste with one of Lucio's guards.

"That's...complicated," Aedan replied. "Best we don't delve into that tonight. Just...take me at my word that your little arrangement is safe with me. I know my word doesn't mean much, but it is what it is."

Muriel was just glad to have something to eat. He ate the eel slowly. It was sweet, smoky. And, more importantly, there seemed to be a lot of it for such a small box. She had magicked the box. One of Asra's tricks. She was learning.

Muriel stared up at Aedan. He was illuminated by the torchlight. He looked like Lucio, sort of. Bigger than Lucio. Taller.  Lankier in some places, burlier in others. His hair was white blonde, sunbleached. Not quite as yellow as Lucio's. Not clean-shaven, he had a hint of a beard. Softer. None of that dramatic, stupid makeup. He looked like someone else, too. His mouth and nose. He couldn't place it. It was familiar but foreign.

He wasn't used to seeing him on his own. Usually, he was a step behind Lucio. Backup. A bodyguard. Lucio tended to suck all the light out of the room. This man seemed...normal. Kind.

"You know, I'm a big fan. I mean...as big a fan as you can be of that kind of thing. You put on a good show." Aedan said. It was equal parts enthusiasm and sympathy. It was true. He had never seen anything quite so impressive as this guy in the pit. But, it was a gory task. Aedan didn't quite have a stomach for it. And, he assumed, the Scourge didn't either. Linnea wouldn't talk about him so fondly if he did.

Muriel glared, his eyes caught by the firelight. That was confirmation enough.

Aedan sighed and dropped his head. "Listen, guy. If there was anything I could do to...make this stop. Trust me. I'd do it. But...Jag säger inget, så har jag ingenting sagt." He said, remorseful, slipping into his father's tongue. "I say nothing, so nothing I have said." He repeated, clarifying. I have an opinion, but I can't rock the boat.

He had been with Lucio for a while. He didn’t know what could be done. Lucio continued to make every bad decision he possibly could. There were so few people left of any substance in the inner circle to keep his head on straight. Equal parts people worming their way around him, trying to get something out of him, and Lucio being an absolute fuck, and wearing down anyone who tried to help him be a better person. All Aedan could do was run damage control in the background, when he could.

"Look, you don't know me from a hole in the ground. But...Know this. If I ever get the chance to make this right in someway. I'll do it."

Muriel snorted. "What are you going to do? Don't make promises you can't keep."

"No promises. But...I'll try. Hopefully, I'll figure something out."

It was quiet for a long moment. He knew that the other guard would come looking before too much longer. "I'll tell Celeste you liked the gift. I don't know the next time I'll be rounding down here, but...I don't know. Maybe I can talk to one of the other guys about looking the other way for the magician while I'm not here."

Muriel squinted, confused. "Who the hell are you? Why are you trying to help me?"

"My name is Aedan. I don't know if who I am is really important at this point. You can call me a friend. I think before this is all over, we'll need all the friends we can get."

And then, Aedan was gone. Muriel watched him as he went, still bewildered.

---

Aedan was laying in his bed. He knew the end was near. He had been in and out of consciousness all day. 

A few friends had come. The sweet kitchen maids that had been his bedfellows, groundskeepers, a few townspeople that had caught wind of the news that Nadia had allowed access, and fellow guards. Like the one that was with him now, standing well back.

He was having a moment of clarity, and he had latched on to it, taking his last opportunity.

"Don't fucking fight me. Just do what I'm asking. Get the Magician. Take him to the Colosseum. Get the gladiator out. Give them whatever they need."

The other man protested. "But, Lucio..."

"What is Lucio going to do? He's not far behind me. And what need does he have of a gladiator in an abandoned Colosseum?" he spat. He was bitter. It was all for nothing. His family was gone. All but Celeste, working endlessly on a cure that wasn't coming. Everything was falling apart. "Please, give me this one thing. Let me do one good thing before I'm gone."

The man nodded his consent and pressed his hand to his own chest. "Goodbye, Aedan. In another life, brother."

Aedan sighed, relaxing a bit. His head was swimming. "Before you go...call for the nurse. The little dark-headed one. Celeste. I don't care what you have to tell Valdemar. Just...get her here. Fast."

His dog, Ebba, a gift from Lucio, curled up next to him, whining. She had always been such a good, sweet girl. She was so soft. So loving. He would miss her. His hands smoothed over her furry ears. She inched her way up under his arm, her cold nose at his neck. It felt good, so cool against his burning skin. "Be good, Ebba. I'm sorry, girl."

Celeste was running. Her feet wouldn't carry her fast enough. Her skirts were balled up in her fists after she had tripped running up a flight of stairs in her panic.

Aedan trailed Lucio. Ebba close at his heel. Mercedes and Melchior were somewhere, far up ahead, probably scaring any game within several mile radii into hiding.

As with most activities with Lucio, it was a better idea in theory, than in practice. Aedan loved hunting. This, on the other hand, was walking in the forest and watching Lucio get pissed off. Which, while entertaining, was not the point of the endeavor.

They had managed one kill. A rabbit. Which Melchior had thoroughly mangled. The dogs had zero bite control when it came to retrieval. They were sweet dogs, but untrained, and dumb as a bag of hammers. The rabbit was unsalvagable. Thank the gods they weren't counting on this for survival.

A cry from above caught Aedan's attention. He'd know that sound anywhere. "Duckhawk," he muttered, looking up. Sure enough, there it was. A brown and white bird on the breeze. Soaring overhead.

"Duck...what?" Lucio stopped and looked over his shoulder, eyebrow arched. "That's not a duck. It's a falcon."

"Yes, Your Excellency. I am aware." Aedan replied, rolling his eyes. It was a Peregrine Falcon. Known to his mother's people as a Duckhawk.

"Have you ever seen a duck before? We have them at the palace. They swim in the fountain. They quack." Lucio continued, mocking.

Aedan sighed. "Yes, Lucio. I know what ducks are. Where I'm from that particular bird is called a duck hawk. I know you call it a peregrine falcon. It's a...regional distinction."

"So people are stupid where you come from?" Lucio turned to face him, arms crossed. He was fully smiling, now, teeth bared.

Well, at least he'd gotten him to stop bitching about the poor hunting.

"It's a po-tay-to/po-tah-to situation, bud. I know what the fuckin' bird is." Aedan said, playfully. Verbiage another guard wouldn't have gotten away with. But, when they were alone, like this, Aedan knew that the boundaries were much laxer.

"I'm not sure you do. Calling falcons ducks." Lucio laughed. "What kind of ignorant shit is that?"

Aedan laughed, breathy. "You wanna talk about ignorant? Have you met you?"

Lucio barked a laugh. "Me? I'm the fucking Count, motherfucker. I run this shit." He swirled an alchemical finger in the air.

"Which only proves failing upwards is a thing." Aedan retorted, eyebrow arched.

They both burst into laughter. Aedan shook his head and reached into his satchel, producing a small bag. He opened it and extended his arm to Lucio. "Cookie?"

Lucio sobered, reaching out to take the pouch from his hand. He sniffed it, warily. Then, his eyes softened a bit. "Where the hell did you get these?" He said, quiet.

Aedan scratched the back of his neck, looking away. "It's...an old recipe. I showed some of the kitchen girls how to make it. I mean, they're a bit thicker than I like them but...they got the spice right."

"Where the fuck did you get a recipe for Pepparkakor? I haven't had these in..." Decades. Since he was a kid.

Aedan waved his hand, dismissive. "Just...one of those things. Someone passing through passed it on to someone in the village. No big deal."  

Lucio pulled a cookie from the bag and held it between two pointed fingers. Star-shaped. It was thin, but Aedan was right, just a little too thick. They were intensely fragrant, with cinnamon, clove, ginger, cardamom. A light dusting of confectioners sugar clinging. He placed it in his mouth. It snapped when he bit it, and then melted on his tongue. He closed his eyes. "Fuck me." He muttered, sighing.

"Good, ja?" Aedan watched, appraising him.

Lucio's eyes snapped open, eyes darting over Aedan. "Yeah...yeah. Good."

Aedan stuck his hand out, to retrieve the bag. Lucio placed a single cookie in his hand.

"Really, bud?" he asked, incredulous.

"Yeah. Fuck you. My cookies now," Lucio teased. "Be grateful I shared. You're welcome."

Aedan rolled his eyes and retrieved a bag of jerky from the bag. He was nothing if not prepared. Bad hunting was always made better by good hunting snacks. He took a piece for himself, and offered a piece to Ebba, who gratefully accepted, gently taking it from his flattened palm. He looked past Lucio into the distance.

"Where're your fuckin' dogs?" he asked.

Lucio turned, throwing a hand up in frustration. "Fucked if I know. If I had to guess they're up to their fucking ears in that muddy creek." He shook his head, then shrugged. "They'll come back. They always do."

Aedan scanned the scene and saw a downed tree. "Well, this has been goddamn useless. I'm gonna take a load off. You?"

Lucio nodded, resigned.

Together they sat. They passed the food back and forth. Dried fruit. Smoked almonds. Jerky. Aedan had even packed a block of cheese and a cheese knife.

"You got a whole goddamn charcuterie platter in there?" Lucio asked, a bit taken back by the spread.

"Close enough,"  Aedan replied.

They sat in companionable silence for a while, munching. It was a nice day. Warm, but wet. Overcast. The sky was white. The "duck hawk" was sitting on a branch overhead, observing them. Lucio stared up at it.

"Tell me about your village. I gotta know more about you ignorant fucks."

Aedan pulled a face. "You know that's my mommy you're talking about, right? I oughta beat your ass."

"Go for it. I'd like to see you try." Lucio laughed. "Seriously. What's the deal?"

"You wanna talk about me? Serious?" Aedan retorted. "You feelin' okay?"

Lucio narrowed his eyes. "Storytime. Do as you're told."

Aedan put his hands up in concession. "Fine, just remember, you asked."

He regaled him with stories from the village. Tales of crabbing. Diving, looking for abalone. He pulled his hunting knife from his boot, showing him the beautiful shell inlay in the hilt. A gift made by his mother and father when he was a child. A treasure. He talked about the mystics, like his mother and sister. Lucio perked up when he talked about the Datura ceremony.

"So, drugs. They had you doing drugs? For your 13th birthday?"

"I mean...you're not wrong." Aedan shrugged. "It's...a rite of passage. You see your dream helper. It's not exactly a good time. Unless you think feeling like your whole body is on fire and your eyes are burning out of your skull while an old man wafts stinking smoke in your face is fun. And that shit does not wear off for a while. And it can really fuck with your..." he waved his hand at the side of his head. "...brain. It took me a long time to get leveled out afterward."

Lucio tilted his head. "But, it worked? You saw your 'dream helper'?"

"Yeah...for all of us, it's pretty much the same." He said, pointing upwards at the bird. "Duck hawk."

"Huh," Lucio said, following his hand. "Interesting. What did it tell you?"

"It...showed me things. A great city. Great fortune. Loss. A lot of loss. There were weird visions of...bugs. Beetles. I felt death." He said, shifting uncomfortably. "I don't know. A lot of it didn't make sense. And I was a kid. And, it's a poisonous plant administered by an old fucker in a hut. Would not recommend."

"I'd like to try it, sometime," Lucio said.

Aedan rolled his eyes. "I'm not at all surprised by that information." He shook his head. "If you're serious...I know someone who can do the thing. But you have to swear not to hold her responsible for whatever happens."

"You think an apple is the thing that's gonna put me under? Please." Lucio laughed.

"Thornapple. Important distinction. And, it's entirely possible that it could be. It's not really something to fuck with." He cautioned, somewhat more serious. "But, the girl knows what she's doing. You'll be fine. Probably. Hopefully."

Then, across the clearing, two streaks of muddy brown, galloping towards them.

"Oh, fucking shit," Lucio swore, standing. "MERCEDES! MELCHIOR!" He stomped off to retrieve them. Aedan roared with laughter, nearly falling off the log. Lucio scrambled after them. "Fucking HELP ME!"

---

Some months later, in spring, at a private dinner with Lucio and Nadia Lucio produced a mid-sized box and passed it over to Aedan, a wicked grin on his face. The box rocked back and forth in his hands like something was moving inside. He heard tiny quacks from inside and made quick work of opening it. A tiny duckling. A mallard. Still yellow and brown. He scooped it up in his hands, equal parts baffled and amused.

"That is a duck," Lucio said, howling with laughter. Aedan laughed, too, stroking its downy feathers.

"Oh, you fucker," he replied, planting a kiss on the tiny beak. "I love him."

Holiday relatives. Don’t see each other most of the year but they go hard for Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Celeste doesn’t know the recipes by heart, but she’s better at cooking so she lets Lucio walk her through the ingredients and salvages dinner. 

They all think head cheese and pickled herring and lutefisk are trash food but they’re still available if someone feels particularly nostalgic. 

Historically dinners made by Morga and Verner were lackluster at best. Since Celeste has introduced an “allspice isn’t, in fact, all the spice” policy things have improved dramatically. 

Lucio keeps a running commentary on his Instastories so his followers can get some insight into his lovely fam. 

Morga tries to slap the phone out of his hand constantly and gets super pissed when he tries to make her take selfies with him. 

Aedan is a Packers Fan. Lucio likes the Vikings. It is a problem. 

Midwest passive-aggressive in a big bad way. 

The worst gossips and storytellers. 

Asra and Muriel spend the whole night with their head on a swivel as they listen to the cousins verbally eviscerate their extended family...in the nicest possible ways. 

Seriously vicious but super loving about it? 

Lucio is the rich cousin and he gives ridiculous gifts. The girls love it. Everyone else hates it. 

Do five-year-olds need ruby tennis bracelets? No. No, they do not. 

It would not be a family gathering unless the coffee table gets shoved out of the way so Lucio and Aedan can wrestle. Morga yells for them to take it out in the yard. They ignore her. Things usually end with her grabbing both grown-ass men by the ears. 

Aedan and Lucio challenge each other to do shots of Malort. Morga is the only one that can handle it. Everyone else shares a bottle of Excedrin. 

Lucio has a new boyfriend/girlfriend every holiday and loudly proclaims that “they’re the one”. He loves proposing at Christmas. It’s a tradition. 

Everyone else just stands there in a state of complete cringe, knowing they’re going to be broken up by February 15th. But, they’re supportive...ish. 

Celeste usually pulls them to the side and tries to make them feel welcome. She knows that the family can be a lot to handle. And she does want Lucio to be happy. He just has a terrible picker.  

Asra usually ends up stepping in because he knows what it’s like to be an outsider. But, he’s a covert agent, gathering intel to report back on their true character. Not that Lucio is generally receptive to warnings or criticism. Especially not when he’s IN LOVE. 

Muriel ends up taking a nap on the couch because he just gets overwhelmed with so much intensity and is ready to go home about five minutes after he walks through the door. Alternatively, he spends a lot of time outside on the back porch, watching the kids play in the yard to just get away from everyone for a minute. 

I understand this is super niche but it goes hand in hand with Midwest Lucio/West Coast Transplants Aedan and Celeste. 

Brothers-in-law is the best gift that Celeste ever got Aedan.

Your husbands? Nah. My bros. 

Cousin Lucio is great and he loves him but he’s kinda a lot to deal with.

Especially when it comes to outdoor stuff. Lucio has to have precisely correct conditions and nothing can go wrong or the day is ruined. 

You know who doesn’t have any hangups about nature? Muriel and Asra.

Ice fishing? Check. Noodling? Check. Mushroom hunting? Check.  

You wanna teach me to catch fish with my bare hands, bud? Gonna teach you how to go abalone diving. Win-Win! 

Asra wants to sit in the floor of Aedan’s bass boat and rearrange all his tackle and nap in the midday sun? Sure! 

Is it kind of a “You’re goin’ fishin’ with Bill Dance todayyyy” situation. Like, someone will probably fall out of the boat. Break the trolling motor. Fall over the ball hitch on the truck. But, it’s the best. 

Aedan starts an organic landscaping company and he’s always on the phone with Muriel consulting him about different plants and ideas he’s got for clients. 

Of course, Aedan does most of the talking but Muriel contributes some good ideas or variations that might work better. 

Asra does some design consultation, too. 

Aedan loves their creative minds. 

Bro Trip? Bro Trip. 

Tents and Fires and Drinking

 Asra and Aedan drink and get real deep. 

“I just...I love youse guys. I love ya.” 

Muriel ends up having to carry Asra to bed when he passes out.

Asra and Aedan have totally been to Las Vegas together. They had a good time but it wasn’t quite all it’s cracked up to be. 

So they bailed and went to the desert to go offroading in the dunes.

They have also gone on spa weekends together.  Muriel, too. Let’s get spruced up. Ooh, sister is gonna love that new hair cut, my guy! 

Aedan really likes to take Muriel clothes shopping. He knows all the hip, sporty brands and he knows the guys to ask to find things that will fit big bro.