#xander stone

Who are they?

A group of friends since they were around 11/12. All met through school, when Mia, Xander and Ricky all moved to the same smallish town Carol lives in. Totally coincidental. But hey, you can make some great friends through moving schools.

They’ve been friends for 10 years now, even though all are on very different path trajectories. And no matter what, they’ll be friends for life. They promise. No matter what…

Richard Samuel Keyes

Also known as Ricky, he’s the oldest of the group. You’d think that would make him the de-facto leader but he’d prefer to stay in the background. He’s the most studious of the group, and the only one actively seeking further education, specifically in literature. He’s one to never mince his words, which while favourable in some circumstances is less so in others. Would do better to learn tact, but he’s not going to directly hurt your feelings. (He’d describe you being happy rather than him being displeased.) The most open book of the group, yet still somewhat unknowable. Birthday is November 3rd, and he is aroace.

Caroline Elizabeth Godliman

Also known as Carol, she’s the free-spirited creative of the group. The token “rich kid”. An only child who is always looking forward in life and never looking back, mostly because she doesn’t want to be stuck in the past and waste her life worrying. Which worries her. Very much aware of her catch-22, Carol is currently fundraising for a local band she works for with loading and transportation. Her favourite holiday is Christmas, mostly because she likes to pretend everyone is celebrating her birthday, which is December 24th. She is an asexual heteroromantic.

Mia Jolene Holmes

They’re not known by anything else. She’s short and to the point. Loyal with a fierce temper. The most extroverted and social of the group by far, and despite boasting that she can flirt with anyone she’s absolutely terrible at it. Doesn’t matter tho, they love corny one-liners. Used to have a different name and different life but she’s not one for over sharing. What you see isn’t always what you get but Mia tries hardest to make others solely see Mia and nobody else. If you’re in a pinch, they’re the one to call for affection and fun. Birthday is April 22nd, she is a pansexual demigirl.

Alexander Michael Stone

Alex to his family, but Xander to you. Makes an effort to go-with-the-flow and not cause a disruption. The self-nominated jokester and seemingly the easiest going… but he’s got a lot under the surface that he’s trying to hide. Everyone’s sussed out he’s not fully honest and honestly it makes them happier about their own secrets, but Xander himself isn’t generally thrilled. Still, why dwell on that when you’ve got a down-to-earth pal of the world who will teach you to drive and go on wild tangents with no meaning? Birthday is July 18th, he is a demirose bisexual (and also autistic. And dyslexic. Those aren’t the issues btw, there’s more).

Is there a story to these four outside of just friends and stuff?

Yes! I’ve gone into details on my own blog if you’re super curious but I’m planning on making it into a webcomic so I won’t go into huge amounts of detail (though the main spoilers can be seen fairly easily through the tags and art both I and others have made). But the basic gist is these four are bored one day and decide to go into a part of town they’ve never been before. Specifically to a different section easily passed through under a bridge. It’s not too long but it can leave you in darkness for a while.

Whilst walking through and joking with each other, they start seeing some odd movements in the shadows. Thinking they’re about to be attacked, they turn and leave, only to find the tunnel is a lot longer than they thought. Then one of them feels an unfamiliar hand on their shoulder… and a strange yet oddly familiar figure greets them before disappearing and the tunnel returns to normal. Slowly though, everyone feels the presence of something subtly messing with their lives, up to and including threats, violence and dragging up the past and the things they wish to remain hidden.

They call this entity Vanta. He’s almost like a fifth main character, but he’s the villain and doesn’t want to be a part of “Team MARC or something like that…”

What’s with the name? Why MARC?

Doylist reason: the forms said a name and I didn’t have one planned. I could’ve called them the Encroaching Darkness Quartet or the Vantaverse Quartet or even just The Gang, but I had to be extra.

Watsonian reason: Carol came up with it on a whim. They had to use Xander’s full first name because nobody knew how to combine together their first initial without it sounding cringe. It still sounded cringe to her, hence the trailing off… but hey! It’s nice to have a name!

Why should I vote these guys?

A vote for “Team MARC or something like that…” is a win for long lasting friendship, being queer and proud of it, autism, modern day antics and getting over your fears and being free.

Is there anything else to note?

He's noticably lost weight, the skin once so fitting now being too tight here, too loose there. His demeanour's wholly different too. More withdrawn and dejected, curling in like a spiral rather than expanding out like a sun. He tugs in the sleeves of his coat, trying to distract himself from me... or maybe just the world at large? I'm not sure. The hood's pulled over him, masking his face to the world, only allowing a small window to which I'm privy.

A smile usually rests on his face. Warm and bright, inviting and playful. The week leading up to his disappearence, it seemed forced and strained, like he was trying to keep bay something by play pretend everything was ok, but the space it occupied never shifted. As though to him, faking a smile was natural. Like he had done it all along. I don't want to think he was living a lie for god knows how long... Lord knows I've had nearly seven months to dwell on that.

Anyway, that smile isn't there.

Nor the glint of energy in his eye. Usually golden with joy and warmth, sometimes red with anger and rage. Twin green eyes once filled with raw emotions; one has been torn from his body just before he disappeared, the other now glazed over and unfocused. A small flicker of something - not joy nor anger, but something primal and base - darts around before disappearing again.

It's off. He doesn't play it off or pretend. He's experienced something I will never. Something most people have never, nor will they. How can you explain to someone you've been kidnapped by an eldrich god and that you shouldn't technically be alive?!

He sighs. We haven't met eyes yet. Xander hasn't even noticed me. Truth be told, I doubt he's noticed anyone, absorbed into his own safe world away from those who could hurt him. He closed his eyes, reopening them slow as though to check that yes, he's here. With a sudden jerk, he darts his head around as though he's trying to locate something or other. I don't think he did though.

Slowly, as though his uncertainty is forming chains, he lifted his hands towards the curls of his hood. A deep breath in, a more shallow one out. He took of the hood, followed by the rest of the coat.

...I have no clue what happened to you in there, Xander. I want to know. I want to help you. I just don't know how. But something must've happened.