Monster Build
May. 30th, 2026 12:36 pmEdward is a Dryder, part of the Swarm subclass. He is based on an English garden spider.
A reference sheet drawn by the enormously talented Owlie.
Current Monster Traits
--Extra arms or legs, can have a total of eight limbs.
He has four (human) arms at present, and can shift into another form where he has a spider butt that comes with four legs, for a total of eight possible limbs. He can shift in and out of full spider form at will, but he needs to take his pants off first, or he rips them.
--Wall climb, can scale all but the most slippery of surfaces as though walking on flat ground.
He can and does scuttle all over things and enjoys hanging out on the ceiling when inside or in an enclosed space. He is as yet unaware that he looks very creepy when he does this.
--Tremor-Sense: Receive information based on footsteps or similar vibrations through the ground; typically can register the presence of a person or object, and generally pick out physical features such as gait, weight, etc.
He refers to these as his vibrations and uses them to get around. He goes barefoot everywhere to utilise them better, and will stomp his foot or rap his knuckles on objects to make them vibrate so he can sense them better.
--Able to spin webs of silk, sticky or smooth.
Edward makes webs with aplomb, both sticky and non-sticky. The sticky ones are dangerous, because he gets very possessive about anything caught in them. He hasn't eaten anything caught in a web... yet.
--Mandibles growing from or framing the mouth.
When he's gone full spider, Edward has mandibles that come out the sides of his mouth. He uses them to crush whatever's caught in his web, although it grosses him out when he gets splashed with blood or guts. When he's not full spider, the mandibles slide back into his mouth and rest on either side of his jaw.
--Limited Telepathy: can communicate with other members of the hive (ie close friends and the like) through thoughts. These thoughts tend to be limited to emotions like empathy, or simple sentences or single words.
With more Swarm members around now, Edward has gained the hive mind ability. He has also used this on occasion with close friends who aren't in the swarm, although it's far more limited.
Upcoming Monster Traits
--Super jump, capable of leaping twice or even thrice as far as any human, capable of bursts of swift, scuttling speed and enhanced agility.
Great for enhanced scuttling.
Traits from Other Builds
--from Drakonis: Elemental breath, can be exhaled at will or when emotional. Breathes ice.
The poor guy needed at least ONE offensive ability.
--from Volare: Powerful voice: can force objects/creatures back at full volume or shatter glass.
This manifests itself as the sound of the Somme in WWI, and is more industrial sounding than an actual voice. He doesn't like using it if anyone he cares about is around, because he doesn't think anyone else should have that sound in their head.
--from Volare: Swift reflexes: becomes very agile and capable of bursts of tremendous speed.
Not just a spider, but an extremely fast spider.
Visuals
Riding around with his new bestie Vincent Valentine (art by Maruah @![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
coffinturk)
Having a frank exchange of ideas with the Digital Devil Saga crew (art by Ten @bufudine)
A reference sheet drawn by the enormously talented Owlie. Current Monster Traits
--Extra arms or legs, can have a total of eight limbs.
He has four (human) arms at present, and can shift into another form where he has a spider butt that comes with four legs, for a total of eight possible limbs. He can shift in and out of full spider form at will, but he needs to take his pants off first, or he rips them.
--Wall climb, can scale all but the most slippery of surfaces as though walking on flat ground.
He can and does scuttle all over things and enjoys hanging out on the ceiling when inside or in an enclosed space. He is as yet unaware that he looks very creepy when he does this.
--Tremor-Sense: Receive information based on footsteps or similar vibrations through the ground; typically can register the presence of a person or object, and generally pick out physical features such as gait, weight, etc.
He refers to these as his vibrations and uses them to get around. He goes barefoot everywhere to utilise them better, and will stomp his foot or rap his knuckles on objects to make them vibrate so he can sense them better.
--Able to spin webs of silk, sticky or smooth.
Edward makes webs with aplomb, both sticky and non-sticky. The sticky ones are dangerous, because he gets very possessive about anything caught in them. He hasn't eaten anything caught in a web... yet.
--Mandibles growing from or framing the mouth.
When he's gone full spider, Edward has mandibles that come out the sides of his mouth. He uses them to crush whatever's caught in his web, although it grosses him out when he gets splashed with blood or guts. When he's not full spider, the mandibles slide back into his mouth and rest on either side of his jaw.
--Limited Telepathy: can communicate with other members of the hive (ie close friends and the like) through thoughts. These thoughts tend to be limited to emotions like empathy, or simple sentences or single words.
With more Swarm members around now, Edward has gained the hive mind ability. He has also used this on occasion with close friends who aren't in the swarm, although it's far more limited.
Upcoming Monster Traits
--Super jump, capable of leaping twice or even thrice as far as any human, capable of bursts of swift, scuttling speed and enhanced agility.
Great for enhanced scuttling.
Traits from Other Builds
--from Drakonis: Elemental breath, can be exhaled at will or when emotional. Breathes ice.
The poor guy needed at least ONE offensive ability.
--from Volare: Powerful voice: can force objects/creatures back at full volume or shatter glass.
This manifests itself as the sound of the Somme in WWI, and is more industrial sounding than an actual voice. He doesn't like using it if anyone he cares about is around, because he doesn't think anyone else should have that sound in their head.
--from Volare: Swift reflexes: becomes very agile and capable of bursts of tremendous speed.
Not just a spider, but an extremely fast spider.
Visuals
Riding around with his new bestie Vincent Valentine (art by Maruah @
coffinturk)Having a frank exchange of ideas with the Digital Devil Saga crew (art by Ten @
bufudine)Permissions
May. 30th, 2026 12:35 pmPlease note that Edward is from 1917 and is not at all used to more modern interactions. He is also recently blinded and still grappling with his disability, which will color many of his reactions.
OOC
Backtagging: Yes
Threadhopping: Definitely
Fourthwalling: No
Canon puncture: No, but if your character knows about WWI and twentieth century history and wants to blow Edward's mind, go right ahead.
IC
Hugging this character: Hugs are nice, if unexpected. This will go a lot better if your character tells Edward they're going to do it before they do. Just going for one might result in a bad reaction.
Kissing this character: He will be completely perplexed that your character wants to, but yeah, okay. Again, asking before going for it will work out better for him.
Flirting with this character: He doesn't know how modern flirting works, so it might take him a moment or two to catch on. Once he does, though, he will turn on the charm.
Fighting with this character: Would you punch a blind man? WOULD YOU? ... please don't.
Killing this character: Not without talking to me first, please.
Using telepathy/mind reading abilities on this character: Edward has no defense against this, so go right ahead.
Extra info: Unless you want a bad reaction to your character, don't touch him anywhere besides his arm (he's gotten used to that, people taking his arm to help him around) without announcing that that's what's going to happen. He's especially sensitive about anyone touching his face, and will freak out if anyone grabs him there.
OOC
Backtagging: Yes
Threadhopping: Definitely
Fourthwalling: No
Canon puncture: No, but if your character knows about WWI and twentieth century history and wants to blow Edward's mind, go right ahead.
IC
Hugging this character: Hugs are nice, if unexpected. This will go a lot better if your character tells Edward they're going to do it before they do. Just going for one might result in a bad reaction.
Kissing this character: He will be completely perplexed that your character wants to, but yeah, okay. Again, asking before going for it will work out better for him.
Flirting with this character: He doesn't know how modern flirting works, so it might take him a moment or two to catch on. Once he does, though, he will turn on the charm.
Fighting with this character: Would you punch a blind man? WOULD YOU? ... please don't.
Killing this character: Not without talking to me first, please.
Using telepathy/mind reading abilities on this character: Edward has no defense against this, so go right ahead.
Extra info: Unless you want a bad reaction to your character, don't touch him anywhere besides his arm (he's gotten used to that, people taking his arm to help him around) without announcing that that's what's going to happen. He's especially sensitive about anyone touching his face, and will freak out if anyone grabs him there.
Donnie Hamato
teenaged turtle best friend
*****
One of the first people in the Convoy to introduce himself to Edward, Donnie is now a ride-or-die friend. Edward is deeply proud of everything Donnie has accomplished and lets him know at every opportunity.
Levi Jordan
unfortunate child soldier
***
Levi is a soldier from a world similar to Edward's. While he's a competent soldier, Edward feels somewhat responsible for him and tries to look out for him when and where he can.
Vincent Valentine
probably can turn into a bat
***
Vincent was, in his own way, very welcoming when Edward arrived. Edward knows there's someone kind and considerate lurking behind that coat and serious demeanour.
Maggie Rhee
competence gained through suffering
**
Maggie had the unfortunate duty of informing Edward there was a second world war. That somehow didn't scare him off and they work together on occasion. He respects her abilities and courage, and can tell she gained it the hard way.
Leo Hamato
designated younger brother
****
Leo was introduced as Donnie's brother, but Edward quickly figured out the two are very different. Leo's more light-hearted disposition means he and Edward tend to get into more silly shenanigans than Edward and Donnie, but he's also seen Leo's more serious side and is as proud of him as he is of Donnie. He's also convinced the Leo is, in fact, the younger of the two brothers.
Arcade Gannon
a goddamn mystery
? ? ? ?
After meeting by Edward falling out of a tree and getting caught by Arcade, they are... honestly, Edward has no idea. He can't tell if Arcade is his best friend after Donnie or if Arcade not-so-secretly can't stand him and they keep getting thrust together by circumstance. The man is an enigma, and the mystery keeps Edward coming back.
Negan Smith
from Maggie's world
**
Edward and Negan have only interacted once, but he's not opposed to getting to know the other man better.
Raphael Hamato
the brother who reads fiction
****
Edward is fairly certain Raphael is the oldest brother, but he's also the one he feels the most protective of. Raphael is the least afraid of being vulnerable in front of Edward--in all fairness, he hasn't always had a choice--and so Edward associates him with the soldiers he led during the war. In happier times, they also enjoy yapping about classical literature like the giant nerds they are.
Serph
Biblical angel who is also a demon
****
Serph comes from a very mysterious, very strange world that Edward doesn't really understand. That's fine, because Serph doesn't seem to really understand it either. They have that in common, in that they need to have things explained to them. Serph has always been endlessly patient and considerate to Edward, though, so Edward likes spending time with him.
Zack Fair
delightful chaos gremlin
****
Zack's relentless happy attitude and cheerful shit-stirring reminds Edward that he is still, in fact, a young man, and it's easy to get swept away by Zack's shenanigans. He seeks Zack out when he's getting too in his head and needs to be reminded that, even here, it's possible to have fun.
Andrew Blur
he creates the colours
<3
Edward and Andrew are speedrunning their way to being historical roommates. They currently share custody of one car, one motorcycle, a trailer/cucco coop, and four cuccos.
Root
SWARM SWARM SWARM
***
If Edward ever starts getting overconfident about understanding the future, he just needs to go talk to Root and be disabused of that notion. The things she talks about might as well be magic. That said, she has taught him about emojis, so there's that. She's also a member of the Swarm, so they hive-mind at each other whenever they're together.
Heat
like Serph, but also NOT like Serph
**
Edward is deeply grateful to Heat for healing his leg, and will be providing him with web-caught meals in perpetuity. Heat's methods for amputation leave something to be desired.
CHARACTER NAME
subheader text
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!!Your text here!!
TMI/Opt Out Post for Route 666
May. 28th, 2026 02:47 pmThis is both a TMI and an opt-out post. If there’s anything you’d like Edward to not do (mostly referring to the vibration senses and hive mind sections, although others are also possible), please let me know. I’m also aware that a lot of people are afraid of spiders, so if you’d like to avoid having Edward be around your character in the spider body, that’s totally fine and I’m happy to accommodate.
⚰︎ ⍢ ⌲ ⍚ CLEAN(ISH) HUMAN SECTION ⚰︎ ⍢ ⌲ ⍚
Character name: Edward Courtenay. He has the title of Lieutenant as well, but never uses it.
Age: Twenty-three, soon to be twenty-four
Birthdate: It isn’t given in canon, but for him to be twenty-three in 1917, he would have been born in 1894.
Zodiac sign: The actor was born in April, so let’s go with that. He’s an Aries.
Height: 6'2"
Build: Tall and slender, but with some muscle. He used to run track and do field events in university (because the actor did), so he has a runner’s build.
Appearance: He’s tall and traditionally handsome and is also fairly aware of that fact. He’s not Hollywood beautiful, but definitely BBC handsome. Before being blinded, he moved gracefully and flowed from place to place. He’s been slowly regaining that in game. His hair is dark brown but has glints of red in it when he’s in the sun. His eyes used to be hazel. He also has four arms, and a prosthetic leg on the right side, where his physical leg ends just below the knee. His prosthetic is a cheetah-leg type design.
Voice: A pleasant tenor. He speaks with an educated, London-born accent (Edward appears at 2:30 in the clip).
Body hair: Not much. He has some here and there, but not enough to be noteworthy.
Scent: In canon, he probably smelled like antiseptic and whatever godawful chemicals you’d find in a WWI-era field hospital. Now he has a faint woodsy, cold scent to him, like he just got in from doing something in the woods on a cold December day.
Sigil: Swarm
Sigil placement: On his back, between his shoulder blades. He has no idea it’s there, because no one has ever mentioned it before.
Vehicle: a WWI-era British motorcycle, which has been souped up with both Tough and Spacious. That means it can pull his combination trailer-chicken-coop behind it without any issue. The motorcycle still retains a bit of sentience and will follow Edward around unless he’s told it to stay in one spot. He shares his trailer with Andrew, and has four cuccos in the coop: Sir Earl Cluckner, Lady, Duchess, and President.
Clothes: Tends to wear whatever he’s given or whatever fits. The one thing he’s devoted to is his military jacket, which is a dark khaki green. He tends to wear it open in front, since the back got ripped when his second pair of arms grew out all at once. He goes barefoot all the time to pick up the vibrations through the ground that allow him to navigate his surroundings.
Scars: He has the typical scars and blemishes on his body that come with being an active child and young man, but none particularly stand out.
The scars on his face, in contrast, are very noticeable and significant. They surround his eye sockets and stretch back over his temples, but they don’t meet between his eyes. They’re healed but it’s also clear that they aren’t long healed; the skin immediately around them is still pink and can look inflamed at times. The scars themselves look like his skin melted and then grew back as scar tissue. His eyes are also scarred over, making the pupils and irises grey and blank. He can’t focus his eyes and so they always look like they’re staring off into the distance.
It’s worth noting that, because of his blindness, Edward won’t always turn his head towards other characters when he’s talking to them. If he does, it’s a pointed, conscious choice so the other character can see his face while he’s talking.
For those curious about how he got injured, Edward has described what happened exactly twice. He will usually simply say it was a gas attack in WWI, and leave it at that. Close cr can access the full story, but only if they actually ask about it; he won’t bring it up on his own unless he has a very good reason to.
Finally, Edward loves it when people mistake him for being sighted or forget that he’s blind. No one should feel bad if their characters make that mistake, because it makes Edward’s day whenever it happens.
Piercings: None
Tattoos: None
Other bodily modifications: He’s from 1917, so no.
Vices of choice: Edward drinks as much as someone from a time period without a real concept of alcoholism might, although he doesn’t actively search it out here and as such his consumption has dropped. He will occasionally try to cadge a cigarette from Arcade, but he knows he shouldn’t, since his lungs were damaged in the same event that took his eyes.
Hygienic routine: After being in the trenches for three years, Edward is almost fanatical about keeping clean. He particularly hates having blood or mud on him, and will try to clean it off as soon as he can. In Revan, his usual routine involves washing his face and upper torso every morning, then taking a shower in the evening before going to bed.
Other daily habits: He wakes up and feeds his cuccos, collecting any eggs they’ve laid. Then he’ll take a stroll around the convoy, where he is not-so-subtly making sure everyone he knows is still there. He may also deliver some eggs to various people during his walk.
He also keeps his trailer neat and organised. He got in the habit during the war and it hasn’t left him yet.
Sleeping habits: Being somewhere relatively peaceful, where they typically don’t get attacked at night? Edward is going to take advantage of that. He tries to clock at least six or seven hours a night. He is somewhat bothered by nightmares, but those have decreased since he and Andrew shacked up and share a bed.
⚰︎ ⍢ ⌲ ⍚ MONSTER SECTION ⚰︎ ⍢ ⌲ ⍚
Monster type: Drider
Physical Features: Edward sports four arms at all times. All his arms are human and look the same, with the second pair having grown slightly below the pair he always had. The second left hand tends to be grabbier than his other hands, and Edward sometimes has difficulty controlling it. It is also the hand most likely to reach up and cover Edward’s eyes or the side of his face when he’s upset about something.
He also has a spider form, where he’s a spider centaur build. The spider body begins just below his waist, and is based on an English garden spider. It has four legs, but the right back leg has been damaged below the knee, and he wears a prosthetic for it. He is capable of walking around fairly well with three and a half legs, but he’s slower than he would be otherwise.
Edward also has a pair of mandibles, which are normally hidden inside his mouth. They retract and rest on either side of his lower jaw when not in use. He uses them for killing what he catches in his webs.
Physical Attributes:
--Vibration sense: this is the most important of all Edward’s changes, and the one he relies on the most. Because he’s blind and I’m a terrible person who refuses to get him some monster eyes, this is how he gets around. It essentially works like this: everything makes vibrations when it moves, and if both Edward and whatever is moving are touching the ground, he can feel the vibrations the other thing is making. It’s much like how Toph navigates in Avatar, right down to everything being monochrome shades of grey, white, and black.
Except! Recently Edward has started seeing colours in the vibrations. This doesn’t happen for everyone and everything; unfriendly monsters and Drifters he doesn’t know well yet still appear in monochrome. For his friends and close cr, though, he has started sensing colours in their vibrations. Everyone has a unique colour that they vibrate at, which can be seen in his CR Chart. The colours may not match canon colour associations at all (sorry, turtles!), although I do try to have some reasoning behind why people are the colours they are.
The major flaw in the vibrations is that if something is in the air and not touching the ground, Edward completely loses track of it. Flying monsters are the bane of his existence, because until they land on him, he doesn’t know where they are and can’t follow them. He’s also gotten bonked in the head by a pinecone and hit by snowballs due to this.
The extent of the vibrations is usually whatever is the most fun to rp at any given moment, but the usual range of them is around a twenty-foot radius. That can be decreased by things like snow or rain, or increased if it’s a very still, clear day or the thing moving is very big. The same applies for how much detail he can sense through them; if he’s physically close to another character or touching them, he can pick up facial expressions and subtle details. At a distance of about five feet or so, he loses facial expressions and has to rely on body language.
Because of this, he tends to be grabbier than someone from his time period would be, and will oftentimes try to touch whoever he’s talking to, particularly if they have some cr built up between them. If he’s touching your character and starts drumming his fingers on them, he’s creating vibrations so he can get a better idea of what’s going on. He may do this without thinking about it, but will stop if he’s told off or the other character pulls away.
--Web spinning: Edward makes webs! And catches stuff in them! He can also use his webbing to wrap wounds or make simple, temporary clothing for people. He bound someone up in a full web cocoon once, but that is something that would need to be requested in the future; he won’t ask anyone to do that.
--Wall climbing: when there are walls or ceilings around, Edward likes to climb up and onto them. He is prone to occasionally dropping off the ceiling to greet his friends, but he’ll usually give a warning before doing so.
--Hive mind: Edward is able to communicate through the hive mind. This works best with other members of the Swarm, where he can communicate in complete sentences, but he can also speak basic ideas into the minds of his close cr. He is cognizant that some people don’t like that, though, and if your character tells him not to or reacts poorly, he’ll stop and not do it again.
He will also inadvertently send colours associated with emotions through the hive mind, and he has a bit less control with that.
He can also use the hive mind to show what the vibrations look like to other people. He will ask before doing this, because he knows that would be terrifying to have suddenly in your head. He does this fairly frequently with Andrew, and has shown Donnie as well. If people ask, he’s happy to share.
--Ice breath: he can spit ice as a defensive measure, and also make snowballs by breathing frost breath into his hands and shaping it.
--Powerful voice: in extremely dire situations, Edward can project a wall of sound that knocks enemies back. This is not a shriek or a sound that anything organic can make; rather, it’s the sound of trench warfare. He hates doing this, because whoever he’s fighting with has to hear it too and have that sound in their head. As such, he’s only done it in situations where he didn’t feel like he had another choice.
Additional Monster Build:
--Currently pending mod approval: ice wolf!
⚰︎ ⍢ ⌲ ⍚ DIRTY SECTION ⚰︎ ⍢ ⌲ ⍚
Sexual preference: Probably technically bisexual, but with a strong preference towards men. He likes women and would be flattered if one was interested in him, but it would take a very special lady to sweep him off his (many) feet.
Where they fall on the D/s spectrum normally: He is still very much learning about sex and sexuality, so this has never really occurred to him. In his exploration thus far, though, he’s been leaning towards a service switch.
Penis size: Just this side of bigger than average. When he’s in his spider form, it’s buried in the spider body and he can’t access it.
Pubic hair: Moderate, and he keeps it controlled.
Circumcised?: Nope, that wasn’t and still isn’t much of a thing in the UK.
Underwear preference: He grew up wearing the ridiculous long johns of his era, and then nearly froze in trenches wearing said long johns. The desert areas of Revan are rough, y’all. He could easily be convinced into something more modern, and would probably really like boxer briefs.
Sleepwear preference: Used to have an entire routine and equally ridiculous ensemble for sleep. Now he sleeps topless to accommodate all his arms, and wears whatever pair of pants he tore to shit transforming into a spider that still fit well enough to serve as sleepwear.
What was their first time like?: Still working on that!
Best sexual experience: The first time he and Andrew were canoodling and suddenly a bunch of colours popped up in the vibrations.
Worst sexual experience: The time he got dragged to a brothel in France and ended up just chilling and smoking cigarettes with a prostitute for an hour. She was pretty cool, though; he liked her, and tipped well because she was so understanding.
Size preference: Not experienced enough to have any preference beyond ‘his boyfriend sized’. Edward does like the fact that he’s taller and generally bigger than Andrew, though.
Preferred method of sex: He will use all four hands at the same time and let the saucy left one go full chaos mode on all its dirtiest impulses.
Preferred frequency: He has been pent up for years and is making up for lost time. If the trailer is a’rocking, and it probably is, come back later, they’re busy.
Masturbation habits: would YOU jerk off in a trench in the middle of an active war zone? I didn’t think so! He lost the habit during the war and then spent some time so detached from himself that he was functionally impotent. Now he’s back in action but has a partner, so this isn’t really an issue.
Favorite position: He can use the vibrations to ‘see’ his partner’s face no matter what position he’s in, but bear in mind that he is very much paying attention to his partner’s face the whole time.
Favorite place to have sex: His clean, private trailer with a locking door.
Favorite kinks/sex acts: Edward is starting to realise that he likes a bit of pain with his pleasure, and loves getting his back clawed at during the act. He’s also coming around on the idea of hair pulling.
Kinks they've tried and hated: He doesn’t really understand the appeal of having his fingers sucked on, but he’ll do it if his partner likes it. He would react very poorly to being tied down and losing control of his movements. The idea of blindfolds would leave him cold, and he would get up and leave if anyone tried degradation talk.
Favorite toys: Someone please, please put the idea of using his webs for bondage into his head!
Sensitive areas: Scalp, back, his hips and legs. If he really, really trusts someone, the scars on his face and around his eyes. Be prepared for an extremely emotional reaction from that, though.
Turn-ons: clawing at his back, prolonged kissing and foreplay (he would be very into edging if he knew what that was), cuddling, touching the spider body and not being afraid of it or him when he’s in it.
Turn-offs: Negativity, degradation, really unequal power dynamics
Triggers: While Edward enjoys some level of man-handling in the bedroom, there’s a fine line where it could get too violent and trigger some war PTSD. Deliberate, excessive blood would be an immediate turn-off.
Something they want to try but haven't before: Someday, Andrew will figure out the lube situation and they’ll seal the deal.
Number one fantasy: Deep in his heart of hearts, Edward wants nothing more than a little place in the country where he and his partner can lead a quiet, domestic life.
After-sex habits: He is going to cuddle and sprawl all over the place in the bed. No one is getting up and cleaning off for at least an hour, and that includes rinsing their mouths. Edward is going to aftercare the hell out of his partner and probably show off all the pretty vibrations they made together, and then just watch them change as things get back to normal. If they both fall asleep in each other’s arms for awhile, all the better.
PLEASE NOTE: in game, Edward is very much with Andrew, and they’re going to love each other forever and get married and find a way to make little dog-spider-human hybrid babies (according to Edward). In my slutty, slutty heart, I am happy and delighted to AU him into all sorts of debauchery and sinful behaviour. If you’d like to play with any of this, just let me know, and we can work something out.
⚰︎ ⍢ ⌲ ⍚ CLEAN(ISH) HUMAN SECTION ⚰︎ ⍢ ⌲ ⍚
Character name: Edward Courtenay. He has the title of Lieutenant as well, but never uses it.
Age: Twenty-three, soon to be twenty-four
Birthdate: It isn’t given in canon, but for him to be twenty-three in 1917, he would have been born in 1894.
Zodiac sign: The actor was born in April, so let’s go with that. He’s an Aries.
Height: 6'2"
Build: Tall and slender, but with some muscle. He used to run track and do field events in university (because the actor did), so he has a runner’s build.
Appearance: He’s tall and traditionally handsome and is also fairly aware of that fact. He’s not Hollywood beautiful, but definitely BBC handsome. Before being blinded, he moved gracefully and flowed from place to place. He’s been slowly regaining that in game. His hair is dark brown but has glints of red in it when he’s in the sun. His eyes used to be hazel. He also has four arms, and a prosthetic leg on the right side, where his physical leg ends just below the knee. His prosthetic is a cheetah-leg type design.
Voice: A pleasant tenor. He speaks with an educated, London-born accent (Edward appears at 2:30 in the clip).
Body hair: Not much. He has some here and there, but not enough to be noteworthy.
Scent: In canon, he probably smelled like antiseptic and whatever godawful chemicals you’d find in a WWI-era field hospital. Now he has a faint woodsy, cold scent to him, like he just got in from doing something in the woods on a cold December day.
Sigil: Swarm
Sigil placement: On his back, between his shoulder blades. He has no idea it’s there, because no one has ever mentioned it before.
Vehicle: a WWI-era British motorcycle, which has been souped up with both Tough and Spacious. That means it can pull his combination trailer-chicken-coop behind it without any issue. The motorcycle still retains a bit of sentience and will follow Edward around unless he’s told it to stay in one spot. He shares his trailer with Andrew, and has four cuccos in the coop: Sir Earl Cluckner, Lady, Duchess, and President.
Clothes: Tends to wear whatever he’s given or whatever fits. The one thing he’s devoted to is his military jacket, which is a dark khaki green. He tends to wear it open in front, since the back got ripped when his second pair of arms grew out all at once. He goes barefoot all the time to pick up the vibrations through the ground that allow him to navigate his surroundings.
Scars: He has the typical scars and blemishes on his body that come with being an active child and young man, but none particularly stand out.
The scars on his face, in contrast, are very noticeable and significant. They surround his eye sockets and stretch back over his temples, but they don’t meet between his eyes. They’re healed but it’s also clear that they aren’t long healed; the skin immediately around them is still pink and can look inflamed at times. The scars themselves look like his skin melted and then grew back as scar tissue. His eyes are also scarred over, making the pupils and irises grey and blank. He can’t focus his eyes and so they always look like they’re staring off into the distance.
It’s worth noting that, because of his blindness, Edward won’t always turn his head towards other characters when he’s talking to them. If he does, it’s a pointed, conscious choice so the other character can see his face while he’s talking.
For those curious about how he got injured, Edward has described what happened exactly twice. He will usually simply say it was a gas attack in WWI, and leave it at that. Close cr can access the full story, but only if they actually ask about it; he won’t bring it up on his own unless he has a very good reason to.
Finally, Edward loves it when people mistake him for being sighted or forget that he’s blind. No one should feel bad if their characters make that mistake, because it makes Edward’s day whenever it happens.
Piercings: None
Tattoos: None
Other bodily modifications: He’s from 1917, so no.
Vices of choice: Edward drinks as much as someone from a time period without a real concept of alcoholism might, although he doesn’t actively search it out here and as such his consumption has dropped. He will occasionally try to cadge a cigarette from Arcade, but he knows he shouldn’t, since his lungs were damaged in the same event that took his eyes.
Hygienic routine: After being in the trenches for three years, Edward is almost fanatical about keeping clean. He particularly hates having blood or mud on him, and will try to clean it off as soon as he can. In Revan, his usual routine involves washing his face and upper torso every morning, then taking a shower in the evening before going to bed.
Other daily habits: He wakes up and feeds his cuccos, collecting any eggs they’ve laid. Then he’ll take a stroll around the convoy, where he is not-so-subtly making sure everyone he knows is still there. He may also deliver some eggs to various people during his walk.
He also keeps his trailer neat and organised. He got in the habit during the war and it hasn’t left him yet.
Sleeping habits: Being somewhere relatively peaceful, where they typically don’t get attacked at night? Edward is going to take advantage of that. He tries to clock at least six or seven hours a night. He is somewhat bothered by nightmares, but those have decreased since he and Andrew shacked up and share a bed.
⚰︎ ⍢ ⌲ ⍚ MONSTER SECTION ⚰︎ ⍢ ⌲ ⍚
Monster type: Drider
Physical Features: Edward sports four arms at all times. All his arms are human and look the same, with the second pair having grown slightly below the pair he always had. The second left hand tends to be grabbier than his other hands, and Edward sometimes has difficulty controlling it. It is also the hand most likely to reach up and cover Edward’s eyes or the side of his face when he’s upset about something.
He also has a spider form, where he’s a spider centaur build. The spider body begins just below his waist, and is based on an English garden spider. It has four legs, but the right back leg has been damaged below the knee, and he wears a prosthetic for it. He is capable of walking around fairly well with three and a half legs, but he’s slower than he would be otherwise.
Edward also has a pair of mandibles, which are normally hidden inside his mouth. They retract and rest on either side of his lower jaw when not in use. He uses them for killing what he catches in his webs.
Physical Attributes:
--Vibration sense: this is the most important of all Edward’s changes, and the one he relies on the most. Because he’s blind and I’m a terrible person who refuses to get him some monster eyes, this is how he gets around. It essentially works like this: everything makes vibrations when it moves, and if both Edward and whatever is moving are touching the ground, he can feel the vibrations the other thing is making. It’s much like how Toph navigates in Avatar, right down to everything being monochrome shades of grey, white, and black.
Except! Recently Edward has started seeing colours in the vibrations. This doesn’t happen for everyone and everything; unfriendly monsters and Drifters he doesn’t know well yet still appear in monochrome. For his friends and close cr, though, he has started sensing colours in their vibrations. Everyone has a unique colour that they vibrate at, which can be seen in his CR Chart. The colours may not match canon colour associations at all (sorry, turtles!), although I do try to have some reasoning behind why people are the colours they are.
The major flaw in the vibrations is that if something is in the air and not touching the ground, Edward completely loses track of it. Flying monsters are the bane of his existence, because until they land on him, he doesn’t know where they are and can’t follow them. He’s also gotten bonked in the head by a pinecone and hit by snowballs due to this.
The extent of the vibrations is usually whatever is the most fun to rp at any given moment, but the usual range of them is around a twenty-foot radius. That can be decreased by things like snow or rain, or increased if it’s a very still, clear day or the thing moving is very big. The same applies for how much detail he can sense through them; if he’s physically close to another character or touching them, he can pick up facial expressions and subtle details. At a distance of about five feet or so, he loses facial expressions and has to rely on body language.
Because of this, he tends to be grabbier than someone from his time period would be, and will oftentimes try to touch whoever he’s talking to, particularly if they have some cr built up between them. If he’s touching your character and starts drumming his fingers on them, he’s creating vibrations so he can get a better idea of what’s going on. He may do this without thinking about it, but will stop if he’s told off or the other character pulls away.
--Web spinning: Edward makes webs! And catches stuff in them! He can also use his webbing to wrap wounds or make simple, temporary clothing for people. He bound someone up in a full web cocoon once, but that is something that would need to be requested in the future; he won’t ask anyone to do that.
--Wall climbing: when there are walls or ceilings around, Edward likes to climb up and onto them. He is prone to occasionally dropping off the ceiling to greet his friends, but he’ll usually give a warning before doing so.
--Hive mind: Edward is able to communicate through the hive mind. This works best with other members of the Swarm, where he can communicate in complete sentences, but he can also speak basic ideas into the minds of his close cr. He is cognizant that some people don’t like that, though, and if your character tells him not to or reacts poorly, he’ll stop and not do it again.
He will also inadvertently send colours associated with emotions through the hive mind, and he has a bit less control with that.
He can also use the hive mind to show what the vibrations look like to other people. He will ask before doing this, because he knows that would be terrifying to have suddenly in your head. He does this fairly frequently with Andrew, and has shown Donnie as well. If people ask, he’s happy to share.
--Ice breath: he can spit ice as a defensive measure, and also make snowballs by breathing frost breath into his hands and shaping it.
--Powerful voice: in extremely dire situations, Edward can project a wall of sound that knocks enemies back. This is not a shriek or a sound that anything organic can make; rather, it’s the sound of trench warfare. He hates doing this, because whoever he’s fighting with has to hear it too and have that sound in their head. As such, he’s only done it in situations where he didn’t feel like he had another choice.
Additional Monster Build:
--Currently pending mod approval: ice wolf!
⚰︎ ⍢ ⌲ ⍚ DIRTY SECTION ⚰︎ ⍢ ⌲ ⍚
Sexual preference: Probably technically bisexual, but with a strong preference towards men. He likes women and would be flattered if one was interested in him, but it would take a very special lady to sweep him off his (many) feet.
Where they fall on the D/s spectrum normally: He is still very much learning about sex and sexuality, so this has never really occurred to him. In his exploration thus far, though, he’s been leaning towards a service switch.
Penis size: Just this side of bigger than average. When he’s in his spider form, it’s buried in the spider body and he can’t access it.
Pubic hair: Moderate, and he keeps it controlled.
Circumcised?: Nope, that wasn’t and still isn’t much of a thing in the UK.
Underwear preference: He grew up wearing the ridiculous long johns of his era, and then nearly froze in trenches wearing said long johns. The desert areas of Revan are rough, y’all. He could easily be convinced into something more modern, and would probably really like boxer briefs.
Sleepwear preference: Used to have an entire routine and equally ridiculous ensemble for sleep. Now he sleeps topless to accommodate all his arms, and wears whatever pair of pants he tore to shit transforming into a spider that still fit well enough to serve as sleepwear.
What was their first time like?: Still working on that!
Best sexual experience: The first time he and Andrew were canoodling and suddenly a bunch of colours popped up in the vibrations.
Worst sexual experience: The time he got dragged to a brothel in France and ended up just chilling and smoking cigarettes with a prostitute for an hour. She was pretty cool, though; he liked her, and tipped well because she was so understanding.
Size preference: Not experienced enough to have any preference beyond ‘his boyfriend sized’. Edward does like the fact that he’s taller and generally bigger than Andrew, though.
Preferred method of sex: He will use all four hands at the same time and let the saucy left one go full chaos mode on all its dirtiest impulses.
Preferred frequency: He has been pent up for years and is making up for lost time. If the trailer is a’rocking, and it probably is, come back later, they’re busy.
Masturbation habits: would YOU jerk off in a trench in the middle of an active war zone? I didn’t think so! He lost the habit during the war and then spent some time so detached from himself that he was functionally impotent. Now he’s back in action but has a partner, so this isn’t really an issue.
Favorite position: He can use the vibrations to ‘see’ his partner’s face no matter what position he’s in, but bear in mind that he is very much paying attention to his partner’s face the whole time.
Favorite place to have sex: His clean, private trailer with a locking door.
Favorite kinks/sex acts: Edward is starting to realise that he likes a bit of pain with his pleasure, and loves getting his back clawed at during the act. He’s also coming around on the idea of hair pulling.
Kinks they've tried and hated: He doesn’t really understand the appeal of having his fingers sucked on, but he’ll do it if his partner likes it. He would react very poorly to being tied down and losing control of his movements. The idea of blindfolds would leave him cold, and he would get up and leave if anyone tried degradation talk.
Favorite toys: Someone please, please put the idea of using his webs for bondage into his head!
Sensitive areas: Scalp, back, his hips and legs. If he really, really trusts someone, the scars on his face and around his eyes. Be prepared for an extremely emotional reaction from that, though.
Turn-ons: clawing at his back, prolonged kissing and foreplay (he would be very into edging if he knew what that was), cuddling, touching the spider body and not being afraid of it or him when he’s in it.
Turn-offs: Negativity, degradation, really unequal power dynamics
Triggers: While Edward enjoys some level of man-handling in the bedroom, there’s a fine line where it could get too violent and trigger some war PTSD. Deliberate, excessive blood would be an immediate turn-off.
Something they want to try but haven't before: Someday, Andrew will figure out the lube situation and they’ll seal the deal.
Number one fantasy: Deep in his heart of hearts, Edward wants nothing more than a little place in the country where he and his partner can lead a quiet, domestic life.
After-sex habits: He is going to cuddle and sprawl all over the place in the bed. No one is getting up and cleaning off for at least an hour, and that includes rinsing their mouths. Edward is going to aftercare the hell out of his partner and probably show off all the pretty vibrations they made together, and then just watch them change as things get back to normal. If they both fall asleep in each other’s arms for awhile, all the better.
PLEASE NOTE: in game, Edward is very much with Andrew, and they’re going to love each other forever and get married and find a way to make little dog-spider-human hybrid babies (according to Edward). In my slutty, slutty heart, I am happy and delighted to AU him into all sorts of debauchery and sinful behaviour. If you’d like to play with any of this, just let me know, and we can work something out.
App for Monster Truckers
May. 30th, 2025 12:37 pmCONTENT WARNING: discussions of depression and suicide in this app
Player: Trystan
Contact: NewKillerStar@plurk, this journal
Age: Yes, I am very old.
Other Characters: N/A
Name: Edward Courtenay
Canon: Downton Abbey
Canon Point: shortly before he gets the news that he’s being moved to a new hospital
Age: Unclear, but an adult. The actor was thirty when he played the part but I tend to play the character a bit younger, in his early to mid-twenties.
Backstory: Edward appears in the WWI season of Downton Abbey. He’s a young lieutenant who was injured in a gas attack and sent to Downton to convalesce. While he’s there, he befriends both Thomas Barrow and Sybil Crawley, who are helping him adjust to being recently blinded. He’s struggling with his injury, as before the war he was an outdoorsman and is coming to grips with the reality that he won’t be able to do those things any longer.
While he seems to be improving while at Downton, he gets word that he is going to be transferred to another hospital, as his injuries have healed. Edward pleads to not be sent away but is denied his request. Both Thomas and Sybil speak up on his behalf, but the Major is insistent that the beds are needed for other injured soldiers. The night before he’s to be moved to another hospital, Edward commits suicide by slitting his wrists.
Personality:
+Default emotional state and temperament: Edward is currently reeling. He was fighting in WWI when a gas attack left him blinded, and he’s desperately trying to find a new equilibrium for himself. His family has been minimally supportive, his younger brother is making a play for his inheritance, and he has all the residual traumas from being in one of the bloodiest wars of the twentieth century. He is incredibly fragile, both mentally and physically, at the moment.
All that said, Edward does have a reservoir of strength that he can draw from. With encouragement from his two friends, Edward was learning how to use a cane to navigate. He appeared to take Thomas seriously when Thomas told him to fight with his mind and not let anyone put him in a corner; he also mentioned studying at Oxford before the war, so the man is not stupid or uneducated. When he’s not caught up in despair, Edward is charming and polite, and speaks eloquently.
From what we know of his background, Edward was something of a lad’s lad before the war; he speaks fondly of outdoor activities like hunting, fishing, and farming. This likely means he is someone who benefits from being outside and in the natural world, as well as having an amount of natural athleticism and physical awareness.
+Motivations and goals: In the short term, Edward is focused on survival, and doing what it takes to overcome his blindness. He was also beginning to do what it would take to regain his independence and make a play to keep his inheritance, before he was derailed by the suggested move to another hospital. He knows he needs a great deal of help right now, and doesn’t care for it; he doesn’t like being babied, even going so far as to chastise Thomas for using euphemisms with him and insisting that he’d rather have people tell him the truth.
Long term, Edward would want to be as independent as possible, and to explore the new world he finds himself in.
+Regrets and fears: Edward’s blindness is a great source of fear for him. He knows how helpless he is and he hates it. He also suffers from shell shock (PTSD), and is prone to panicking when explosions or other loud sounds startle him. That said, he can also be the calmest, most take-charge guy in a bad situation, channeling his war experience and using it to his advantage. He’s aware of the difference in these reactions and wishes he could be Cool War Machine Guy at all times, but has no control over which reaction he’ll have. The idea of shutting down completely in the face of a threat terrifies him.
+Breaking points: Feeling helpless and out of control is something that makes Edward shut down. We see this in canon; he’s doing better and starting to improve, but when he’s told he has to move to a new hospital with completely different people, it’s too much for him to handle. He spends large chunks of time feeling like he has no control, so he clings to any independence and control he regains. If that is suddenly snatched away from him, it sends him into despair.
+Values: He admires intelligence and the ability to survive. Realistically, a part of this is the ability to compartmentalise; meeting someone who is able to carry on and set all their trauma aside is very motivating for him, like he can learn to do the same. This is not a healthy reaction and he’s dimly aware of that, but that doesn’t change the fact that he admires it. He also appreciates honesty and people being blunt with him; being lied to or having euphemisms used about his condition annoys him.
+How do they handle change and trauma? Specifically the changes and trauma of turning into a monster? In Edward’s mind, he’s already halfway to being a monster. Public opinion on people with disabilities were not very liberal in 1917, and he knows that he’s viewed as being mentally deficient due to his blindness. Therefore, the idea of an actual transformation would bother him less than you’d think, particularly if the transformation led to him having a way to get around being blind.
+Closing statements: Downton Abbey didn’t dwell too much on WWI, as it’s not that kind of show. To round out Edward’s character, I’ve drawn on my history background and filled in some of the gaps with other readings and shows about the time period.
Powers/Abilities: He has none! He is literally just a guy.
Inventory: He arrives wearing a dark khaki military uniform.
Game Plans: My main goal is to see him come out of his shell a little and find his own worth again. I’m particularly excited to play him getting some kind of transformation that allows him to get around being blinded.
Monster Choice: Randomise me! I’m looking forward to figuring out a way for him to overcome being blind, and I’d like the challenge of having a completely random monster assigned for this.
Vehicle Choice: a WWI era motorcycle, complete with a stretcher attachment. It looks something like this. Its special feature is that it acts like a herd animal and will stay with the rest of the convoy, guiding itself when Edward can’t and not dumping him off.
Sample: There's a SECOND world war?!
Player: Trystan
Contact: NewKillerStar@plurk, this journal
Age: Yes, I am very old.
Other Characters: N/A
Name: Edward Courtenay
Canon: Downton Abbey
Canon Point: shortly before he gets the news that he’s being moved to a new hospital
Age: Unclear, but an adult. The actor was thirty when he played the part but I tend to play the character a bit younger, in his early to mid-twenties.
Backstory: Edward appears in the WWI season of Downton Abbey. He’s a young lieutenant who was injured in a gas attack and sent to Downton to convalesce. While he’s there, he befriends both Thomas Barrow and Sybil Crawley, who are helping him adjust to being recently blinded. He’s struggling with his injury, as before the war he was an outdoorsman and is coming to grips with the reality that he won’t be able to do those things any longer.
While he seems to be improving while at Downton, he gets word that he is going to be transferred to another hospital, as his injuries have healed. Edward pleads to not be sent away but is denied his request. Both Thomas and Sybil speak up on his behalf, but the Major is insistent that the beds are needed for other injured soldiers. The night before he’s to be moved to another hospital, Edward commits suicide by slitting his wrists.
Personality:
+Default emotional state and temperament: Edward is currently reeling. He was fighting in WWI when a gas attack left him blinded, and he’s desperately trying to find a new equilibrium for himself. His family has been minimally supportive, his younger brother is making a play for his inheritance, and he has all the residual traumas from being in one of the bloodiest wars of the twentieth century. He is incredibly fragile, both mentally and physically, at the moment.
All that said, Edward does have a reservoir of strength that he can draw from. With encouragement from his two friends, Edward was learning how to use a cane to navigate. He appeared to take Thomas seriously when Thomas told him to fight with his mind and not let anyone put him in a corner; he also mentioned studying at Oxford before the war, so the man is not stupid or uneducated. When he’s not caught up in despair, Edward is charming and polite, and speaks eloquently.
From what we know of his background, Edward was something of a lad’s lad before the war; he speaks fondly of outdoor activities like hunting, fishing, and farming. This likely means he is someone who benefits from being outside and in the natural world, as well as having an amount of natural athleticism and physical awareness.
+Motivations and goals: In the short term, Edward is focused on survival, and doing what it takes to overcome his blindness. He was also beginning to do what it would take to regain his independence and make a play to keep his inheritance, before he was derailed by the suggested move to another hospital. He knows he needs a great deal of help right now, and doesn’t care for it; he doesn’t like being babied, even going so far as to chastise Thomas for using euphemisms with him and insisting that he’d rather have people tell him the truth.
Long term, Edward would want to be as independent as possible, and to explore the new world he finds himself in.
+Regrets and fears: Edward’s blindness is a great source of fear for him. He knows how helpless he is and he hates it. He also suffers from shell shock (PTSD), and is prone to panicking when explosions or other loud sounds startle him. That said, he can also be the calmest, most take-charge guy in a bad situation, channeling his war experience and using it to his advantage. He’s aware of the difference in these reactions and wishes he could be Cool War Machine Guy at all times, but has no control over which reaction he’ll have. The idea of shutting down completely in the face of a threat terrifies him.
+Breaking points: Feeling helpless and out of control is something that makes Edward shut down. We see this in canon; he’s doing better and starting to improve, but when he’s told he has to move to a new hospital with completely different people, it’s too much for him to handle. He spends large chunks of time feeling like he has no control, so he clings to any independence and control he regains. If that is suddenly snatched away from him, it sends him into despair.
+Values: He admires intelligence and the ability to survive. Realistically, a part of this is the ability to compartmentalise; meeting someone who is able to carry on and set all their trauma aside is very motivating for him, like he can learn to do the same. This is not a healthy reaction and he’s dimly aware of that, but that doesn’t change the fact that he admires it. He also appreciates honesty and people being blunt with him; being lied to or having euphemisms used about his condition annoys him.
+How do they handle change and trauma? Specifically the changes and trauma of turning into a monster? In Edward’s mind, he’s already halfway to being a monster. Public opinion on people with disabilities were not very liberal in 1917, and he knows that he’s viewed as being mentally deficient due to his blindness. Therefore, the idea of an actual transformation would bother him less than you’d think, particularly if the transformation led to him having a way to get around being blind.
+Closing statements: Downton Abbey didn’t dwell too much on WWI, as it’s not that kind of show. To round out Edward’s character, I’ve drawn on my history background and filled in some of the gaps with other readings and shows about the time period.
Powers/Abilities: He has none! He is literally just a guy.
Inventory: He arrives wearing a dark khaki military uniform.
Game Plans: My main goal is to see him come out of his shell a little and find his own worth again. I’m particularly excited to play him getting some kind of transformation that allows him to get around being blinded.
Monster Choice: Randomise me! I’m looking forward to figuring out a way for him to overcome being blind, and I’d like the challenge of having a completely random monster assigned for this.
Vehicle Choice: a WWI era motorcycle, complete with a stretcher attachment. It looks something like this. Its special feature is that it acts like a herd animal and will stay with the rest of the convoy, guiding itself when Edward can’t and not dumping him off.
Sample: There's a SECOND world war?!
Victorian spider nonsense
May. 19th, 2025 03:46 pmBeing injured on the battlefield and permanently crippled by it wasn't insult enough. No, that alone Edward might have been able to bear. It would have been a battle, getting his family to accept him again and taking his place as the rightful heir and oldest son, but it would have been possible. He's still young, after all, has an education his brother never bothered to receive, and their father is still bluff and hale and healthy; he could have worn them down over time. A well-placed marriage wouldn't have hurt his chances, and he was always popular with the ladies (he admittedly doesn't know why, he barely gave them the time of day, but perhaps the society women are bored and enjoy a challenge themselves). Given a few years to adjust, to make connections and alliances in London, and Edward could have presented himself back home as a man in full control of his faculties, ready to take on the management of the estate.
It wasn't only blindness that he brought back with him from the furthest reaches of the Empire. It was the curse as well, the curse that is changing him beyond what anyone in England knows or recognises, that sends Edward into reclusiveness in the family's London estate.
Hybrids are not entirely unknown in England; humans and half-humans travel in and out through the Empire, and it's not unusual to see the occasional sphinx in the British Museum, or a mermaid sunning herself on the banks of the Thames. The hybrids are not exactly beloved, but they're tolerated with a certain amount of benign amusement, much the same way immigrants are; they're not British, but they have their uses, and as long as they're not trying to rise above their stations, they are folded into society. Some even manage to make names for themselves, like the centaur who races himself and is campaigning to enter the Derby.
But there are no hybrids like Edward. He wasn't even aware that hybrids like himself existed, until it was too late and he was turning into one. Now he's sequestered away, hidden and spoken of in hushed tones, as he goes through the slow, torturous changes alone.
It's enough to give anyone insomnia, which is why Edward feels it when someone enters the house late at night.
It would have woken him up anyway, had he been sleeping; the slow, nearly imperceptible creak of a window opening rattled throughout the entire house, setting the entire thing vibrating, and Edward slipped down from the hammock--it's a hammock, not a web, and if he tells himself that enough times, it will have to be true--he's made in the corner of his room and glides out into the hallway on silent spider feet. Whoever it is, they've found the safe in the room off the dining room and are tinkering with it, trying to get it open.
Edward positions himself in the doorway, blocking the exit. "What are you doing?"
It wasn't only blindness that he brought back with him from the furthest reaches of the Empire. It was the curse as well, the curse that is changing him beyond what anyone in England knows or recognises, that sends Edward into reclusiveness in the family's London estate.
Hybrids are not entirely unknown in England; humans and half-humans travel in and out through the Empire, and it's not unusual to see the occasional sphinx in the British Museum, or a mermaid sunning herself on the banks of the Thames. The hybrids are not exactly beloved, but they're tolerated with a certain amount of benign amusement, much the same way immigrants are; they're not British, but they have their uses, and as long as they're not trying to rise above their stations, they are folded into society. Some even manage to make names for themselves, like the centaur who races himself and is campaigning to enter the Derby.
But there are no hybrids like Edward. He wasn't even aware that hybrids like himself existed, until it was too late and he was turning into one. Now he's sequestered away, hidden and spoken of in hushed tones, as he goes through the slow, torturous changes alone.
It's enough to give anyone insomnia, which is why Edward feels it when someone enters the house late at night.
It would have woken him up anyway, had he been sleeping; the slow, nearly imperceptible creak of a window opening rattled throughout the entire house, setting the entire thing vibrating, and Edward slipped down from the hammock--it's a hammock, not a web, and if he tells himself that enough times, it will have to be true--he's made in the corner of his room and glides out into the hallway on silent spider feet. Whoever it is, they've found the safe in the room off the dining room and are tinkering with it, trying to get it open.
Edward positions himself in the doorway, blocking the exit. "What are you doing?"
