#about ashton

[the-altered-sequence]

During their attempts to integrate into human society, however willing Dev was at first, he finds the awkwardness and tension of fucking up socially a little too much to want to engage sometimes. Ashton cannot relate.

[characters are from Bound to Ashes]

[the-altered-sequence]

Ashton Character Profile

Ashton, originally labeled E12-19, is a last-wave genetically Altered supersoldier created by Caduceus Technologies before the Fall. He escaped during the revolt of soldiers against their creators and fled. Encouraged by a rogue employee that he is a person, not a thing as Caduceus asserted, Ashton was set loose alone in the wastelands of a freshly fallen society. Shortly after he found Dev and they banded together to survive a world that hated them.

Ashton stands his tallest at 7' 1". Usually, he slouches, at first out of fear of being more of a target, then as they began integrating into human settlements, he began consciously slouching, to appear less frightening. Like all Altered, he has enhanced strength, stamina, and senses, especially hearing. His experiment group also is the only Altered group to sport digitigrade legs and paws for added speed and agility.

When Ashton was a teenager, he cut off his right ear that bore the Caduceus serial number as protest and a literal severance from his past. Ashton is a forward thinker, influenced by the novels he consumes voraciously, and can be a little theatrical about things.

Despite the fears that come from being so different, Ashton works tirelessly to prove the Altered are, deep down, no different than any other human. He fights every day to combat the commonly held view that Altered soldiers are mindless killing machines, or at worst, less feeling than even their animal likenesses. He's built his whole life around learning how to be more human. He reads, he writes, he taught himself how to draw and sign ASL, he studies everything he can get his hands on. Later, after he and Dev and the other survivors in his settlement found some security, he started teaching, mostly doing outreach about the truth about Altered people with an intersectional approach. He is fussy about language: he'll correct anyone's mistake if they call the Altered 'soldiers' or make insensitive animal jokes. He was the one that brought structure to the original band of Altered (himself, Dev, Jules, and Cain). He insisted they all name themselves, like people, and adhere to rules like 'no teeth'... the Altered are people, so it's unbecoming (and alienating) to make a show of their sharp teeth.

Over the course of books 2 and 3, Ashton sustained a nearly completely crippling injury on his left foot. A brace was made for him, so he wears that for long trips or work days, but limps a little when he doesn't feel like wearing it. His feet bear the most scars from poor living conditions in his youth in the wastelands and are usually in a state of dirtiness and wear from never wearing shoes. (Some of his fellows have joked they’d scavenge some dog booties for him, which he adamantly refuses on moral principle but also, the Altered don’t usually need shoes, him especially.) He sometimes has to take power sanders to his left foot's toenails since they don't naturally wear down anymore. He also has signs of a past broken nose, a fake top left canine (custom!), and a few arrow/bullet hole scars here and there, mostly hidden by fur.

His fur is longer in the neck, cape, elbows, hocks, tail, and withers, like a real borzoi. The brown spots over his eyes and lower back are brindle. He has particular sensory icks due to his fur, so can be a little fussier about getting wet, seeds and burrs stuck in his fur, or getting sandy/muddy. He toughs it out when he has to (most of the time) but when given a chance, is often seen hand-combing debris from his wavy coat. In the summer, he trims the longer parts since it gets warmer in their new home. Usually, Ashton is a rather scruffy figure, not spending a lot of time on his appearance, but for special occasions will comb his fur.

Ashton wants to belong. He is highly motivated by acceptance and praise. He knows he's a human and wants to make the world safer for everyone, especially Altered people. Now, with life among the humans, Ashton works tirelessly to be a good example of a model Altered citizen. He is charismatic, outgoing, social, and always trying to do better. Ashton isn't terribly good at moderating his intensity, can let his temper get the best of him at times, and struggles with feelings of frustration. His partners Dev and Sybil admire his gumption but also know when he needs a reminder to take a break. Ashton wants to save everyone, knows he can't, but will try anyway.

Ashton has a wide vocabulary and some people are irritated at his tendency to directly quote from books or recite Shakespeare. He sees this behavior as very-human and thus a good thing for an Altered to do, but a lot of people just think he’s kind of a know-it-all. Sybil calls him a nerd, and she's right. However, the children of the settlement are all quite fond of him, mostly due to the best piggy-back rides ever, but also because he'll do the voices when reading a story. (Altered voices are modeled after a syrynx to allow for full range of speaking without a human mouth.)

[carterash]

Task 001 - About Ashton Carter

AGE: Twenty-one TIME IN ARAMORE: Seven years. EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Employed at Aramore Primary School

What was their life like before Aramore?

Ashton Carter doesn’t have many good memories of his early childhood. His biological parents were abusive and he was removed from their home at age ten. He spent four years bouncing between foster homes due to emotional issues before being placed with the Carter family. After his troubled past, it took nearly a year for Ashton to accept that he was both safe with the Carter's, and that they were not going to send him away. He cried for an hour when they told him they were adopting him. It was the only time that Ashton ever allowed himself to given into the emotions that were overwhelming him, the first time he had let himself cry and once he started he couldn't stop. For the year he was with his new family, Ashton acted out frequently and often fought with his new siblings, but eventually things leveled out and despite their rocky start Ashton is extremely protective of both his siblings now.

What is their life like now?

After many years of therapy and a loving family, his childhood has still left its scars, but Ashton didn't feel like that’s what defined him anymore. He had been doing well in school, and even had a few local fans of his art. It still takes him a while to trust, but once he does he would do anything for his family and his close circle of friends. He now works at Aramore Primary School in hopes of giving the stability and support to children that he never had at their age. 

Where do they want to be in 10 years/the future?

Ashton would love to be able to do what his own parents did for him, to be able to give those without a home somewhere to call their safe haven and family. 

FC: Jordan Fisher

[fightcal2020]

"whoa it's been a long time since he said something relevant tbh" NEYLA HRJENSBXHXJ

AMIRITE THO

[chonkadonk]

fun fact about ashton: his last name isn’t actually hamilton, it’s fitzgerald (like jeremy) and he just goes by that cause he thinks ashton hamilton sounds a lot less dorky than ashton fitzgerald

[disenchanfed]

Are people actually outside the hospital??? Like is that actually happening?

[stayoutxfmyway]

What do you like to do in your down time?

"I like to spend money. Other people's money, usually, but I like nice things. I like booze and cars and travel and gambling. Why? You offering me a good time?"

[stayoutxfmyway]

Have you ever killed anyone?

He smirked. "Now isn't that a persona question. Maybe I have and Maybe I haven't. Have you ever killed anyone?" He had handled a few situations, but that wasn't something you admit to a stranger.