Oisin Fox (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
between_duality) wrote2016-08-11 02:15 am
between_duality) wrote2016-08-11 02:15 am
Lysander's Backstory
Lysander Fox was born with his twin Emily in county Donegal to Commandant Lysander Fox of the Irish military (equivalent to a major in other armed forces) and a half-selkie witch named Niamh. They were raised in a very quiet, unpopulated area, permitted to play along the cliffs, fields and shoreline to their heart's content. It would have been lonely had Lysander and Emily not had each other and the two developed an extremely strong bond. Despite their father often going on tours, he was active in their lives and enjoyed sharing his love of music and rugby with his children, insisting on teaching Lysander how to play the violin with him. They were frequently taken to Kinnagoe Bay and told tales of selkies and other fae folk, as Niamh hoped that one of them would inherit her magic. Their father assumed Emily would inherit it, as selkies are typically female, and ensured he had a close, non-combative relationship with her.
Shockingly, it was Lysander who developed magic during puberty. This delighted his mother but frightened his father; he and Lysander had similar, stubborn temperaments, and magic wasn't something he could control or restrict if Lysander began to use it. Regardless Lysander became his mother's apprentice, displaying a speciality for illusion abilities and shapeshifting. The family had to relocate to London for work opportunties after Commandant Fox retired from the military. The move was difficult on the twins, leaving the quiet, open countryside for the smoggy, crowded and cramped heart of London. While they would adapt to the city, Lysander always longed to return to Kinnagoe Bay.
Shortly after moving Lysander met a boy named Michael. The two became fast friends and over time, Lysander became smitten with him. Michael returned his feelings and eventually hte pair began to date, keeping their relationship largely quiet. Unfortunately, Lysander's father found out. Being an extremely strict Catholic, he believed homosexuality was a sin and feared for Lysander's soul. An extremely ugly fight broke out between them, with his father giving him two options; go to Church, repent and swear to purge himself of the Sin, or get out of his house and never return.
Kicked out of his home, Lysander lived on the streets. While Emily would visit him to give him books and food when she could, Lysander was left to his own devices to survive. The following years saw Lysander reach the darkest low, working as a prosititute for money or a place to sleep and suffering from depression and suicidial thoughts. He didn't see a way out of the life he was in; too stubborn to return home and submit to his father's demands that he 'return to God and atone for his Sin'. When he wasn't working he devoted himself to perfecting his magic for what respite it could give from his life, and venting his anger at the world by destroying property and getting into fights. As Emily was set to join the army, she suggested they perform a blood ritual to tie them together, no matter the distance. It was successful and they remain magically connected to the present day.
This led to what Lysander considers the worst crime he's ever commited and the greatest turning point. At 18 he joined a gang of other 'lost souls' and helped disguise an arson with his magic, so they could watch the newly built building burn for longer before authorities came. What he didn't realise was there was a family who had moved into their new home early. The two adults died before help could arrive. Outside Lysander found the only survivor; a three-year-old swaddled in blankets and dropped from the window. Realising he had led to the boy being orphaned, Lysander took the child with him. To try and atone, and being aware of how poor the care system was, Lysander made the decision to raise the kid as his own. Returning to the remains of the house, he managed to find the boy's name; Leon Ashley Walters. To honour his parents while preventing authorities from tracing them, Lysander changed his name to Ashley Walter Fox.
Lysander's luck finally came through when he was 19. Still on the streets, now trying to support himself and a young boy, he came across a gentleman offering him work. The man was a 'Smith', an inbetween for mega corporations and Shadowrunners, and had noticed Lysander's illusion abilities while scouting out potential runners from local gangs. While it wouldn't be legitmate work, it would mean far more money and that he could stop his current 'work'. Lysander eagerly took the job and assumed the alias of 'Kinnagoe', after the bay he still wished to return to someday. The money from the job, and the ones that followed, allowed Lysander to rent an apartment for himself and Ash to live, finally getting off the streets.
After a few more years passed Lysander reached out to his parents to try and rebuild that relationship, although he and his father can easily fall back into explosive rows over religion and Lysander's sexuality. Emily has been a constant in his life, writing to him frequently once he had an address and becoming fond of Ash despite her initial worries that Lysander shouldn't be caring for a child so young in such a difficult situation. While he first took in Ash due to guilt and a sense of moral responsibility, Lysander grew to love him as if he was his own flesh and blood.
Nowadays he has a side job teaching music in addition to his well-earned reputation for his shadowruns. Ash, now sixteen years old, has developed magical abilities of his own and has become his apprentice. While fully aware that Lysander isn't his biological father he insists on calling him 'Dad' anyway and is ignorant to the part Lysander played in him losing his parents - Lysander has no idea how to tell him.
Shockingly, it was Lysander who developed magic during puberty. This delighted his mother but frightened his father; he and Lysander had similar, stubborn temperaments, and magic wasn't something he could control or restrict if Lysander began to use it. Regardless Lysander became his mother's apprentice, displaying a speciality for illusion abilities and shapeshifting. The family had to relocate to London for work opportunties after Commandant Fox retired from the military. The move was difficult on the twins, leaving the quiet, open countryside for the smoggy, crowded and cramped heart of London. While they would adapt to the city, Lysander always longed to return to Kinnagoe Bay.
Shortly after moving Lysander met a boy named Michael. The two became fast friends and over time, Lysander became smitten with him. Michael returned his feelings and eventually hte pair began to date, keeping their relationship largely quiet. Unfortunately, Lysander's father found out. Being an extremely strict Catholic, he believed homosexuality was a sin and feared for Lysander's soul. An extremely ugly fight broke out between them, with his father giving him two options; go to Church, repent and swear to purge himself of the Sin, or get out of his house and never return.
Kicked out of his home, Lysander lived on the streets. While Emily would visit him to give him books and food when she could, Lysander was left to his own devices to survive. The following years saw Lysander reach the darkest low, working as a prosititute for money or a place to sleep and suffering from depression and suicidial thoughts. He didn't see a way out of the life he was in; too stubborn to return home and submit to his father's demands that he 'return to God and atone for his Sin'. When he wasn't working he devoted himself to perfecting his magic for what respite it could give from his life, and venting his anger at the world by destroying property and getting into fights. As Emily was set to join the army, she suggested they perform a blood ritual to tie them together, no matter the distance. It was successful and they remain magically connected to the present day.
This led to what Lysander considers the worst crime he's ever commited and the greatest turning point. At 18 he joined a gang of other 'lost souls' and helped disguise an arson with his magic, so they could watch the newly built building burn for longer before authorities came. What he didn't realise was there was a family who had moved into their new home early. The two adults died before help could arrive. Outside Lysander found the only survivor; a three-year-old swaddled in blankets and dropped from the window. Realising he had led to the boy being orphaned, Lysander took the child with him. To try and atone, and being aware of how poor the care system was, Lysander made the decision to raise the kid as his own. Returning to the remains of the house, he managed to find the boy's name; Leon Ashley Walters. To honour his parents while preventing authorities from tracing them, Lysander changed his name to Ashley Walter Fox.
Lysander's luck finally came through when he was 19. Still on the streets, now trying to support himself and a young boy, he came across a gentleman offering him work. The man was a 'Smith', an inbetween for mega corporations and Shadowrunners, and had noticed Lysander's illusion abilities while scouting out potential runners from local gangs. While it wouldn't be legitmate work, it would mean far more money and that he could stop his current 'work'. Lysander eagerly took the job and assumed the alias of 'Kinnagoe', after the bay he still wished to return to someday. The money from the job, and the ones that followed, allowed Lysander to rent an apartment for himself and Ash to live, finally getting off the streets.
After a few more years passed Lysander reached out to his parents to try and rebuild that relationship, although he and his father can easily fall back into explosive rows over religion and Lysander's sexuality. Emily has been a constant in his life, writing to him frequently once he had an address and becoming fond of Ash despite her initial worries that Lysander shouldn't be caring for a child so young in such a difficult situation. While he first took in Ash due to guilt and a sense of moral responsibility, Lysander grew to love him as if he was his own flesh and blood.
Nowadays he has a side job teaching music in addition to his well-earned reputation for his shadowruns. Ash, now sixteen years old, has developed magical abilities of his own and has become his apprentice. While fully aware that Lysander isn't his biological father he insists on calling him 'Dad' anyway and is ignorant to the part Lysander played in him losing his parents - Lysander has no idea how to tell him.