Aisling
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Our story starts on a farm . . .
S E A C H T
He is the fourth, the middle, the center
of a set of scales that he feels he must
keep in careful balance. A mediator
when they fight, a shoulder when they
cry, an anchor and an island.C E O L
They grow and thrive on music, an
instrument each and voices that
harmonise in the tones of angels.
The ivories lend themselves to his
fingers, his voice their baseline.T R A S
When they are old enough to hold a knife,
their father teaches them to whittle. The
first thing they all make is a cross, which
they wear around their necks proudly. To
them, a cross means family. Teaghlach.
Home for him will always be found in sweeping fields fat with crops and game, the warmth of a fire and the smell of smoke, apple, cinnamon... And he will always find himself returning, no matter how long he is gone or how far he travels. It is as much a comfort as it is a sadness.
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He grows up alongside his siblings . . .
William and Eileen
Mother and father, who are his guides and mentors and teach him the very foundations of what makes a person good. He remembers fondly the smell of tobacco and cinnamon that clung to them respectively, their voices echoing in notes of whiskey and pastries. They worked tired hands to the very bone to make good of their land and their children, to raise them both well.Michael
The eldest, and closest to him in temperament. He teaches Bastion to read those around them as if they were open books, to run his fingers along their spines and mark the pages of them with his fingers. There is no one he respects more, or trusts more deeply, or follows more loyaly. . . Even if, some days, the weight of his shadow feels a heavy burden he will never step out from.Elliott
The second, is the rage he never allowed himself. Brash and easily fired up, a bull in the shape of a man. But when he is calm, and sings, and surrounded by loved ones, then he is soft and gentle and his edges smoothed... and here, Bastion learns how to fight when pressed, the most invaluable lesson Elliott could have taught him.
Patrick
The third, fondly referred to as Pan or Puck. An impish and childish man, even as he grew. There is a tremendous amount of sunshine in him, from his smile to his playful nature to the bright and vivid landscapes his fingers create. He teaches Bastion the simplest thing -- to smile, and it's a lesson Bastion carries in his heart.Shane and Vincent
His younger brothers who are always referred together despite how separate they are. The twins are loud and quiet, brash and restrained, confident and self-conscious. A perfect example of yin and yang. And though there is more of Shane in him than Vincent (soft and cautious things that they are), he learns from them how to balance those around him and work in harmony.Carla
The youngest, seventh son of a seventh son. There is feminine beauty in her, a homeliness and warmth found in women's touch, but she is far from docile and compliant. A fiery determination to never be treated as less than her brothers makes her sharpen her strength and wits to steel edges. Still kind, yet quietly jaded, she protects Bastion in what little ways she can, fearing his softness and naivety in a world she sees as cruel.
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and then . . . he leaves . . .
And the house is left empty save for Patrick and Carla...
Though a voice in his head screams stay, his heart screams run, and it has always spoken louder to him.
So he runs.
And that is where he meets him . . .