𝓉𝑒𝓁𝓁 𝓂𝑒 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒾𝓉'𝓈 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝓊𝓇𝓃

lonaxos

text

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ✹ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

FIRST AND LAST NAME^^

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

❝ ℐ 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓇𝓈 𝓉𝑜𝑜 𝒻𝑜𝓃𝒹𝓁𝓎 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒 𝒻𝑒𝒶𝓇𝒻𝓊𝓁 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓃𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉 ❞

════════ 𝙱 𝙰 𝙲 𝙺 𝙶 𝚁 𝙾 𝚄 𝙽 𝙳 ════════

𝐅𝐔𝐋𝐋 𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄 ✦ Sebastian Carlisle Warrick-Dupont
𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐒 ✦ Sebastian has never felt at home in his rather ridiculous name. Tammy's partiality towards the extravagant failed to pass down to her youngest son. 'Sebastian'...it's too elevated...too serious; probably intended for a boy that would have commanded far more power and respect. Alas, Sebastian goes by Seb in most circles. Those closest to him are afforded the luxury of calling him Bash.

𝐀𝐆𝐄 ✦ 18
𝐁𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐇𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄 ✦ May 1st 2002, 4:44am
𝐙𝐎𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐂 ✦ ☼ Taurus ☽ Capricorn ↑ Aries

𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 & 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐒 ✦ Cisgender male | He / Him
𝐒𝐄𝐗𝐔𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐘 ✦ Heterosexual

𝐁𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐇𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐄 ✦ Warrick House on Church View, Mystic Falls, Virginia, USA
𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 ✦ Warrick House: Bash and Charlie haven't shared a room in many years. While Charlie now resides in a seemingly far off abode on the other side of the house, Bash's room was specifically chosen by Tammy for its location beneath the stars. Bash isn't at all that sure what the optimal star location is supposed to do for his magic, but his window seat has some pretty neat views. The room itself is a bit of an organised mess. Like his mother, Bash seems able to find a home for every nicknack he comes across. Whether it's mini skateboards or big lumps of Whitby jet, Bash's room is a shrine to everything and anything he's ever found interesting. Of course, being a kid that was homeschooled through most of his youth, you can imagine that the amount of random crap he owns outnumbers the amount of friends he has. His prized possessions are his whale noise machine (it drowns out Tammy's chanting) and his mini basketball hoop.

𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐄𝐒 ✦ Witch

𝐌𝐎𝐃𝐄𝐋 ✦ Marcus Sivyer

════════ 𝙿 𝙴 𝚁 𝚂 𝙾 𝙽 𝙰 𝙻 𝙸 𝚃 𝚈 ════════

✦ 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑 ✦

𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜 • 𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚍 • 𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚖 • 𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚍 • 𝚜𝚎𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 • 𝚊𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚏 • 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚟𝚎𝚍

In his mother's eyes, Bash has always been the golden boy. She is sure that he is destined to continue the great Warrick dynasty. But Bash's excitement over the promise of eternal greatness died quickly in his youth. Power became something that scared him rather than intrigued him. As time went on, Tammy's lessons only made him more reserved and more cautious. He became a master of control - not over people or magic, but over himself. Hiding magic from a coven of witches (not to mention his eagle-eyed mother) required an extreme amount of discipline, where it sometimes felt akin to self-flagellation. While the family assumed that he had not yet tapped into his 'inner source', Bash's day to day agony was the fact that he had. Perhaps this is why his initial entrance into the mainstream school system had stirred some discomfort with his teachers. To outsiders, Bash often appears distracted. Teachers have blamed this on the 'freedom' of his prior education (𝒸𝓊𝑒 𝓈𝒾𝒹𝑒𝓌𝒶𝓎𝓈 𝑔𝓁𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒𝓈 𝒶𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒫𝒶𝓈𝓉𝑜𝓇) but, after a few detentions, Bash managed to shift his report card's description of him from "completely detached" to "mildly disinterested". It's a small victory, but a victory none-the-less.

Of course, Bash's air of distraction doesn't lend itself well to making friends. His circle of trust has always been small - not many kids cared to be associated with the homeschooled Pastor's son - but it seems that high school has chewed him up and spat him right out. People know of him, sure. But you'll be hard-pressed to find a senior that knows anything more about him than "Oh, he's the pastor's son" or "Seb? Isn't that Charlotte's brother?" His ability to blend into the background is quite a talent. He has never been bullied (𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓇𝓁𝑜𝓉𝓉𝑒 𝒾𝓈 𝓉𝑜𝑜 𝓅𝑜𝓅𝓊𝓁𝒶𝓇 𝓉𝑜 𝒶𝓁𝓁𝑜𝓌 𝒶𝓃𝓎 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉) but he drifts along in his own little bubble most of the time. Detached from the kids that seem to have memories and friendships stretching back to the day they were born, Bash's only long-term commitment has been to his twin. The company he does keep, (NAME and NAME), is a friendship of frankness and honesty. When together, they tend to put aside clique rivalries and family snobbery. They're not afraid to call each other out on bullshit. Unfortunately, Bash isn't quite the model friend that NAME and NAME are. He will tell them everything but...that.

While honesty isn't his forte, excitement surely is. Bash loves to hear about the things his friends find interesting. He loves to build their courage and their confidence. He will be the first person at your spoken word show. He will ask a million questions about your favourite artist. He will happily be the guinea pig for your newest invention.

Bash's friends joke that his enthusiasm for their interests is a big tell-tale sign of "homeschooled child syndrome", but while some of Bash's excitement does indeed come from the enjoyment he takes in other people's happiness, some also finds its root in a far darker part of his soul. His willingness to give himself to the curiosity of his contemporaries speaks of a deeply self-sacrificial nature. Possibly, Bash's eagerness to lay himself across a stone for whomsoever cares for it is his own warped penance for the magic he feels he's done very little to deserve. As much as he has abstained from magic, Bash still walks around with a chip on his shoulder, looking to repay a debt for something he never requested. Why was this unshakeable curse bestowed to him?

In the deadest of night, Bash ruminates over switching places with his dear twin. She would take away his suffering and bear it as her own in a heartbeat, he thought. Of course, Lottie always has been the braver one, and indeed, perhaps what he saw as 'suffering' was no more than mere privilege. Quite the philosopher, Bash has spent his youth theorising his condition...but to what end? So that he can echo Bernard's own woes and tribulations about the universe? Flitting around the subject but never really taking any action? For now, that seemed to be the only option.

✦ 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄𝐒 ✦

𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 • Bash has been smothered by his mother his whole life. It's not that he dislikes her (𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹𝓃'𝓉 𝓈𝒶𝓎 𝒽𝑒'𝓈 𝒻𝑜𝓃𝒹 𝑜𝒻 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝑒𝒾𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇...) but that her constant 'nurturing' has worn him down. He prefers his muted school persona to his home life and destiny. Being centre of attention has never (and probably will never) come naturally. School allows him to live his life independent of his mother and his magic. Of course, independence comes at a price. In clinging on to the secret of his magic, Bash ultimately pushes away those closest to him. And, despite what the town's Queen Bees might tell you, secrets are for the lonely.
𝐏𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐎 • There are rumours that musical talent is part and parcel of being a Warrick-Dupont. Everyone in the family seems to play at least one instrument. Some play multiple. Bash's weapon of choice is the piano. He can play the odd tune on the harmonica and the guitar but he is far more comfortable on keys. Bernard was an obvious influence. Bash's musical father taught him the solace that was playing piano in the empty timber of Mystic Falls Church.
𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐂𝐒 • While Bash detests the fantasy of his own life, he revels in those printed. It is the art work in particular - how everything appears in slow motion and in fast forward all at once - that he loves. Whether it's punchy heroines (his favourite) or old G.I.s, Bash will spend hours poring over comics. He always has at least one (usually two) in his school backpack and will freely give them to his friends when he finds a story he really loves. His textbooks are covered in doodle recreations.

✦ 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄𝐒 ✦

𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 • Bash misses his siblings. Sure, he doesn't know them all that well. Len, his oldest brother, is 36 and has children of his own. There is little to no connection there...but that doesn't mean that Bash doesn't miss him. In the depths of his soul, Bash longs for his siblings to come home. He knows they won't and he knows it is childish of him to desire such a thing, but sometimes the thought of them being that little bit closer eases his mind.
𝐒𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐋 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐁𝐒 • The thought of organised fun makes Bash's skin crawl. He likes basketball; he likes art; he likes skateboarding; he likes music; he doesn't mind math. But Bash is nothing if not an individualist. Playing team sports is not his thing. Neither is doing anything as a controlled collective. Bash avoids Mystic Falls events at all costs. Of course, this isn't always possible when you have Tamara Warrick-Dupont for a mother, but you can be sure that any event Tammy is unaware of is going to be blissfully ditched by Bash.
𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐈𝐂 • Whew. You knew this one was coming. Bash's relationship with his magic isn't at all complicated. He hates it. No, he despises it. How does one come to hate something that is struck from their own flesh and blood and spirit? Well, Bash has his reasons.

════════ 𝙱 𝙸 𝙾 𝙶 𝚁 𝙰 𝙿 𝙷 𝚈 ════════

꞊ Treated quite differently than the other Warrick-Dupont children because Tamara SWEARS she saw him do a flicker of magic when he was five. Then again, she hasn't seen any since. Did she make it up in her head?
꞊ Tries to keep a low profile. Was homeschooled until he was twelve { because Tammy was determined to turn that spark of magic into a flame }, so not entirely the best at connecting with others his age. Doesn't have the same "since we were babies" mentality other kids in town share
꞊ Blames his mother for that, which is only part 1 of the epic saga of reasons he is hiding his magic
꞊ Not even his twin sister knows

✦ ℬ𝒾𝓇𝓉𝒽 ✦

Bash entered the world screaming. It was 4:44am - which a particularly superstitious Tamara later assured was fate - and the labour had been absolute hell. Lottie followed a short time after. Twins. It was a revelation.

✦ 𝒯𝓌𝑜 𝓈𝒾𝒹𝑒𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝒶𝓂𝑒 𝒸𝑜𝒾𝓃 ✦

Bash and Lottie were close as toddlers. After sharing a womb, they had no reason not to be. Tamara was so giddy at their birth, and at the promise of things to come, that she allowed the twins to run riot around the house. Constantly giggling with one another, they soon tired the older Warrick-Dupont siblings with their noise. But that didn't matter. Lottie was Bash's world. Everything he did, he did to make her laugh. Of course, they'd tease each other and fight to no end...but, generally, they were happy children.

✦ 𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉'𝓈 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒹𝒶𝓂𝒶𝑔𝑒? ✦

It was around the twins' fifth birthday when things changed. Bash and Lottie had been playing in the attic rooms of the house. They liked to play pretend. They'd seen all of Mommy's funny things - her gems, her pots of ground substances, her ancient artifacts. Bash had stolen a particularly smelly wrap of herbs to tease his sister with. This time, he was the gross, evil king and Lottie had to escape him. Her mission was to make it to the shampoo in the bathroom on the second floor without being touched by the smelly stick of leaves. Once she found the shampoo, the king could have a wash and he'd be nice again.

The game started and Bash chased his sister through cobwebs and dust. Lottie was quick but Bash had a slight edge. He'd always been stronger and taller than his sister, and chasing her was no real competition. Sure enough, before they'd even made it down to the second floor, he caught her. The herbs that he'd been gripping had crumpled in his hand while he was running. When he touched them to Lottie's bare arm, he realised that the stalks had broken in two. She squealed and his hand burned under the heat of the broken stalks. He didn't understand what was happening. It was too much. His palm pulsed, sending courses of static up his arm. He started to scream for his parents. It was only when Bernard burst through the door that Bash realised he'd had his eyes squeezed shut the whole time. When he opened them he saw Lottie on the floor beneath him. Bernard was shouting. He pushed Bash to the side and fell to his knees next to his daughter.

Bash was in shock. He couldn't understand what his father was saying to him. He'd been swallowed up by the burning in his palm. Lottie was a lifeless bundle in Bernard's arms. She was slack-jawed, her eyes blank. Bash started to cry and his father told him to be quiet.

"Sebastian. You do not talk about this. Wipe your eyes. Get rid of that shit. Go outside and play on the swings."

Bash's sobs eased and he stared at his father in bewilderment as he barked his orders.

"Do you hear me? You will never speak about this to anyone, not even Mommy. Sebastian, promise me."

Bash nodded.

"Now, go."

Lottie was sick for weeks. Bash hadn't been allowed to see her, no matter how much he'd begged. When she did return home, Lottie was kept secluded in a room monitored by Bernard. It was three weeks before Bash laid eyes on her. She was pale, and smaller than he remembered. He recalled the familiar static-y feeling he'd felt on the day it had happened. He clenched and unclenched his fist three times. When Tammy - who had been watching him with puzzled eyes - encouraged him to give Lottie a hug, Bash refused. He was scared to touch her. He was scared of everything.

A paperweight dropped from a cabinet across the room. The glass smashed to pieces. Tammy's eyes went wide.

✦ 𝒜𝒻𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒻𝑒𝒶𝓇 𝒸𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓈 𝓁𝑜𝒶𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔... ✦

It was a mistake to let his mother feel even a little bit of his potential. Tammy clung to it. She didn't know that her son had been traumatised beyond belief. She didn't know what he'd done. Bash wondered whether his mother would still want him if she knew. He was young and scared and desperate to belong. His father hadn't spoken to him about what had happened; he'd barely spoken to him at all. But that was okay. Young Bash didn't want to talk about it. He wanted to hide from it.

The story was that Lottie had developed a bad fever. Somehow, Bernard had nursed his daughter back to health without telling his wife the reality of what had happened. It was only later that Bash started to wonder about why his father had kept everything a secret from Tammy.

So, when Tammy took the fallen paperweight as her son's work, Bash tried to grin and bear it. He could tolerate Tammy's obsession if the private tutorage meant that he could keep his twin at a safe distance.

Years passed, and the river Bash had placed between him and his twin swelled to an ocean. He'd been too young to process what had happened healthily. He'd had no support from his father and Lottie herself didn't seem to remember it. He frequently thought of how Bernard had made him promise to keep his magic a secret. It felt like a dark and rotten part of himself. Bash couldn't recognise the positive magic that his mother preached to him day in and day out. That was not his experience. He'd been made to feel fearful and ashamed of his magic, and eventually, Bash's fear transformed into resentment. He hated magic. He hated his mother for trying to squeeze it out of him. More than anything, he hated himself.

✦ 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝓉𝒶𝓈𝓉𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝑒𝓈𝒸𝒶𝓅𝑒 ✦

Now that Bash is (finally) attending school, Tammy can't help but grind her teeth at night. She had been so sure. That paperweight - it had to be him. But for years...nothing. She didn't understand.

Her attempts were feeble. Bash had built up a resilience to his mother's withdrawal tactics a long time ago. He was confident in his ability to keep his magic under wraps - even in front of the most powerful witches in the coven.

Recently, however, Bash has noticed his power seething at the surface. He has no idea that Tammy has taken to sewing some extremely unstable magical artefacts into the lining of his clothes. Concentrating has become increasingly more difficult. His vision keeps fading in and out and he feels exhausted constantly.

At the moment he's putting it down to the anxiety of senior year. But what will happen when a certain siphoner starts so notice that waves of power are knocking him for six in the middle of an algebra class?

════════ 𝙴 𝚇 𝚃 𝚁 𝙰 𝚂 ════════

𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓 ✦ can be found here