Sanctus Sol: An Introduction to Lux
Well. I might as well post this. It's about the only concrete event that I've really written about in any sort of detail that isn't purely intended for my co-creator to read: Lux was found amongst the rubble of a hospital during the time the bombs fell; a newborn without the mother that birthed him and the father who watched over; alone and vulerable. He was rescued by Percival Kittinger and his wife Mirabelle, two hares, their own child lost in the explosions. They just- couldn't leave him so helpless and alone and took him in, raising him as their own son. His full name is Kittinger Lux, though he's known as Lux- that was the only legible name on the wrist band and as such, the only memory of his birth family. They reside in a machine shop on the outskirts of Detroit where Percy teaches him how to fabricate using the materials they've scavenged while Mira educates him on sewing, cooking, and other home making skills- things they know[but do not express] he will need to get by in this new world. Mira dies when he's ten and Percy is never the same; in fact he passes two years later, self-inflicted gunshot wound. Lux is left on his own and with the knowledge his parents passed onto him. He's able to scratch out a living- barely. It's hard, it's lonely, and he misses Percy and Mira so fucking much. Sometimes it's just- he wants to give in. He's fifteen, it's been fifteen years since the bombs fell- not that he's been really keeping track; there's no one to celebrate birthdays with. Just. So much gawddamn snow. He's had to dig tunnels to get in and out now. It's about a year after Percy's death, the fox has been scraping by- just barely, living off of what his surrogate father has taught him. He looks after the machine shop, keeps it clean, and filling that overwhelming sense of loneliness with hard work and creating his tools for survival. And that's when Sabian appears, along with Atronai, a man who was with him during the great war that caused the nuclear apocalypse. Atronai is in a pretty hard way since losing his own family to scavers- a lot of bitterness to be held, sticks close to his former battle-brother; the only "family" he still has left. They too, are trying to survive, and it's an opportune location. The fox's instincts are developing, and he's starting to become in tune with his surroundings[though the large ears have to help] and he hears them coming. Hides, ready to attack with his spade. Sabian enters at first- the warm glow instantly tells him that this place is inhabited- that's where he's struck across the head. Lux does his best to look as intimidating as possible, baring his fangs and charging at Atronai as Sabian groans in pain, trying to regain his bearings. Atronai strikes back, disarming him and throwing him against the wall, holding him up and pressing the barrel of a sawed off shotgun against his face. Sabian tells him to stop- he's just a kid and probably scared as shit. They argue, Lux takes the chance to break free, grabbing his spade and charging- Atronai is quick to disarm and slam him to the ground, one foot holding the kid firmly to the floor. "What do you mean, 'let him up'? He's trying to fucking kill us!" Atronai goes out, Sabian bandages his head. It's like approaching a wild animal. "Like chocolate? Ever have chocolate, kid?" The fox brandishes his fangs, backing away into a corner- this is his home, who the fuck are these trespassers? He could've gone feral; falling back into a more animalistic nature geared for survival, but something told him to follow the wolf; something that could've come from the simple memory of Percy and Mirabelle- they meant, still mean so much to him; his one tie to the old world and a reason why he embraces it and uses it as a basis for his own moral compass; to not inherit the sins of his father. And the basis for his rather unusual name; the combination of two surnames; Kittinger Lux. He goes by Lux because that is the only name that is truly his and keeps the name of the parents who raised him. He goes off with Sabian and Atronai- bright kid, knows a lot, his father did him well. His relationship with the former soldiers isn't a loving one, but rather one that further honed his survival skills. He learns to get close to them. Well, somewhat. They're not parents; they're soldiers. And it's sort of the lifestyle he adopts- he's 12, doesn't fully understand. But he does see the rift starting to grow between the two. One night, as Atronai is sleeping, Sabian gives him the key. It's small and unassuming- Sabian calls it a trinket and tells him to keep it as such. He makes the necklace[originally, the nuts were Percy and Mira's wedding rings, when he gives one to Sig and wears the other, he replaces them with the nuts most commonly seen with the key] and wears it. Atronai and Sabian are arguing more and more; Atronai wants the key- demands it. Sabian tells Lux to run and they part ways, for good. It's the last time they see one another. The event is a lot more dramatic; there's gunfire; the sound of death. Lux can only keep going, as far away from Atronai as possible. Doesn't ully understand what is going on or what the key is for, just that Atronai is more than a cool-and-distant figure in his life. He's seen his ruthlessness, heard his ideals- just. Run.