Writerverse Challenge #14: Character Study (Brendan)

[n3m3sis43]

Title: Brendan
Word Count: 267
Rating: PG
Original/Fandom: Original (Cliffton)
Your Character: Brendan
Pairings (if any): We don't need no stinkin' pairings!
Warnings (Non-Con/Dub-Con/etc): Not really?
Summary: Meet Brendan.


Brendan is only 18 years old, and already he's given up on his dream. Blackballed from the military due to his brother Kalen's terrorist acts, he's forced to find a new path. Though he's chosen to join Kalen and his friends on a quest to stop the war he once hoped to fight, he feels out of place among the rest of the group.

Not that Brendan's felt truly comfortable around Kalen in a long time. As children, they were close, but they've drifted apart. Kalen is smarter, good at everything, and better-liked at school. Brendan tries not to be jealous, but the fact that Kalen doesn't value the popularity Brendan wishes he had makes it even harder.

Regardless of his feelings, Brendan is loyal to a fault. When he catches Kalen sneaking out to meet anti-war subversives, Brendan keeps his secret without question. Even so, Kalen never shares his plans. Brendan knows Kalen's lack of trust is due to his temper. All his life, he's had moments where he's so consumed by rage he loses all control. Brendan has no doubt he could kill during one of these episodes. And Kalen knows it.

It's easy to see Brendan as a monster, a weapon. Inside, though, he's a caring person, willing to forgive almost any wrong. The anger that causes people to fear him isn't even his fault. Brendan doesn't know it yet, but he's the result of a failed genetic engineering experiment. Perhaps if he can find a way to control it, he'll be free to pursue a life of his own, out of Kalen's shadow.

Comments

[alien-writings.livejournal.com]

I know this character sketch wasn't your favorite assignment, but I enjoyed it. Lol, you know I like to read about Brendan though. :)

Brendan tries not to be jealous, but the fact that Kalen doesn't value the popularity Brendan wishes he had makes it even harder.

I know this feeling, of wanting something someone has and doesn't even seem to care that they have.

[n3m3sis43.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I hope you enjoyed it because I might be putting off the rewrite of Visiting Hours until Fake!NaNo. It depends on how inspired I feel to write it sooner, but I'm pretty sure it might spark All The Drama because (a) I am going to write Brendan snapping and going into Rage Mode from his POV and (b) I'm pretty sure whatever happens in this story is the trigger for Devin and his later assholery/craziness/whatever. So I might wait to do the rewrite until I'm ready to explore whatever drama in the second half is still unwritten.

Awww. I bet it's a sucky feeling. Somehow I always end up being that asshole people are jealous of and I'm just like, "uh... me? why?" Either that or I'm totally ignored, which is actually sort of okay by me sometimes.

[alien-writings.livejournal.com]

I've been the asshole people are jealous of, too. It's a weird as fuck feeling because I'm like "you WANT my brain? WHY, dude? My brain sucks!" Generally speaking, I have major trouble accepting compliments, so any jealousy of me induces serious bafflement. Even something simple such as people going "I wish I could write/world-build/plot/etc. like you" makes me go "whaaa?"

And yeah, Visiting Hours Version 2.0 sounds like it will indeed spark All the Drama.