I've linked my dumb Umber orgin story theory here so if u wanna learn what ur about to read.
TW: Contains mentions of SA, don't read if your uncomfortable with that topic.
Umber came from a working class family. Actually, worse than working class. She came from the lowest dregs of society. Her parents were Talentless/Pyrokinetic, which gave her a great insight into the failings of their society.
Umber older child of two siblings. Umber and Trix met when they were both kids - and immediately became friends. Trix came from a broken home. His parents were like Mai & Quan Song, just without the status. Umber's parents aren't exemplary, but they were kind they kind of take Trix in.
Umbrix is fake. I know, I know, "Ricanne why do you dislike it sm?" It just never hit for me, and it's never outright confirmed - only implied by Keefe and Rayni, and they never went on missions together. Umber and Trix are siblings, in a way. They just allowed everyone to think they are GF/BF for a prank.
Trix and Umber never went to Foxfire. Their families weren't noble enough. Instead, they went to another school, a school where the children of people between the nobles and the Unworthy go.
Umber was 13 when she manifested. Her sister never manifested an ability, and was talentless. Even from the beginning, Umber was freakishly powerful. Soo powerful, the Shadowflux kinda spoke to her, like fire speaks to Pyrokinetic and water to Hydrokinetics. That's how she learnt so much about Shadowflux without a great education. And lots of practice.
As a kid, Umber was a very sociable person. She was also pretty naive. But she also faced the horrible stigma and mistrust that came with her ability, and it was a thousand times worse cuz she was working class.
Trix was, and is incredibly loyal to Umber. She and her family took him in. Umber is two years older than Trix, and kinda used to view him as a younger brother. Umber was always emotional, and always had a temper.
Umber was in a relationship with a member of the Vacker family for some time. However, her boyfriend didn't actually love her. He was a bit like Alvar - same kinda rich b*tch with 3 girlfriends. That's kind of why he wasn't broken from sexually assaulting her one day.
Umber was a heartbroken mess after that. Who could she tell? Who would do anything? She was a shade - a working-class shade.
In some cases, trauma can break a person beyond recognition. I've even seen this happen in the case of one survivor of sexual assault. Umber was already a very emotional person. All of this pain and heartbrake and shame and trauma pushed her to her limit and broke her.
Umber began rebelling, exploding. She sorta began losing her control over her ability, and Shadowflux is very volatile and disobedient, much more so than the other elements. Until one day she caused an incident with her ability - a few bones were shattered.
She told Trix about the assualt some time later. Trix was furious. He tried to fight - he even tried to go up to a Councillor and tell them. But it was the word of a working class shade against a Vacker.
Nobody believed Umber's story. The same old stereotype - "Shades can't be trusted". The word sorta getting out affected Umber horribly. A Tribunal was called - and Umber ranted and raved - and people thought she was crazy.
Her ex-boyfriend was thought to be the victim of this horrible girl's smear campaign. And this incident was hushed up and spoken behind doors, but it contributed to the mistrust of Shades.
So Umber was banished for the incidents she caused after the Tribunal, and Trix went with her, due to his loyalty to her. That's the reason she always wears a hood - bcuz she is ashamed. She's scared of anyone recognizing her or Trix, so she makes him wear a hood to. That's also what's up with the fake names - to protect her and Trix's real identities.
Umber joins the Neverseen shortly after she is banished, like a month after. Trix joins with her. Fintan recruits her, having heard of this girl's immense power and command of Shadowflux.
Her life gave her an intense hatred of the Vacker family. So imagine her feelings when Alvar joined. This is also why she was so happy with hurting Fitz in Flashback, and why she kinda wanted to open the door to the Legacy.
She and Vespera kinda bonded over this hatred. She is closest to Trix, but then sorta bonds with Brant & Vespera. Brant and Umber are kinda the nut cases of the group. She's not really close with Gethen and Ruy - they kinda are indifferent to eachother. She doesn't like Gisela, however. She loves putting things on fire - kinda bonded with Brant on it. She loves destroying things.
Umber has huge mental health issues. She intrusive violent thoughts, and doesn't care. She has schizophrenia - she struggles with episodic hallucinations, and is kinda paranoid. She has a huge need for control. She absolutely hates it when people don't listen to her - has the worst meltdowns.
The other Neverseen members kinda walk on eggshells around her, especially Alvar, cuz she hates him. Shez like Brant, a mix of put together and psychotic.
Umber loves painting. She's even better than Keefe at art. One day Keefe was just casually boasting about his art & displaying some artwork during his time at the Neverseen. When Umber casually drops her own art.
Umber's art is... creepy. Kinda haunting style that leave you kinda creeped out. Even her portraits are creepy. She draws gore a lot.
Before she died, her and Trix's relationship broke down a bit. Trix's guilt comes back to bite him. So Umber doesn't go on missions with him that often anymore. But they're still close. Everyone in the Neverseen ships Umbrix except Umber.
Umber looks really fine. She has messy, wispy shoulder-length hair. Also Umber is POC, her father's family is from human Sri Lanka and her mother is Cambodian. She has creamy brown skin and dark blue eyes.
Miscallenious stuff abt my gurl: Umber loves makeup & chocolate. She likes cold climates, while Trix likes hot ones. She's insomniac. She has an human umbrella with her. It's a frilly, lacy, silk pale green. She stole it from a shop cuz she thought it looked pretty.
i've always been really curious on her past, so i did this mirror thingy.. also neverseen tattoo.
i hc her as a vacker, who got sent to exilium for an incident, but idk what. i also have some other hcs about her i might share later, but i'm rlly tired so im going to bed
i almost fell asleep just now and realised i had to post this lol
hope yall like it, give me suggestions on what to add in the art!!
