Beautiful People--Aunic Pekorin

Hello, lovely bloglings!

We had snow today, which was slightly exciting.  Even though I'm a Yankee, living in the south has set my winter expectations low.  We got a goodly amount today, though, and I am happy!  *Insert enormous grins here*

But this post is not about snow, but about Aunic Pekorin, with whom I am slightly obsessed at the moment.  He's one of my characters in The Peasants of Niminwell, which I've been working on but not blogging about, as I've obviously been absent from the blogging world for quite some time.

Anywho . . .

Here's Aunic:

Aunic Pekorin

Poor Aunic has a hard time of it.  He's the younger brother of Lisya Pekorin, one of the four viewpoint characters, and he's a puzzle to most of the people that he meets.  He has only one friend, a slightly simple master of disguise named Nouso Deraston.  And he's a spy.  Even though he's not in a huge amount of the story, the whole plot hinges on him.  However, to the questions!  I'm using questions for a villain, even though Aunic isn't necessarily the bad guy of the story.

1. What is his motive? 

His motive is deep.  When his wife died, he didn't want to have anything to do with his son Howard, who was permanently injured in the same accident that killed his wife.  He feels that Howard is responsible for his wife's death, and he can't stand to look at him.  So his motive, I suppose, is to avoid his son.  He does, however, want to take care of his friend Nouso, who is not all there.

2. What is he prepared to do to get what he wants?

Aunic is prepared to sacrifice everything but his friend.  He'll even give up his honor, which he did long ago.

3. Is he evil to the core, or simply misunderstood? 

He's neither.  Aunic is not misunderstood.  People have a hard time fathoming his actions, but they all know where he stands in relationship to his family.  Nor is he completely evil.  He's more bitter than evil, but he has a sense of justice that keeps him from going completely over the brink.

4. What was his past like? What about his childhood? Was there one defining moment that made him embrace his evil ways?

Aunic grew up as a peasant boy, the son of a blacksmith in Niminwell.  He's never been interested in being a blacksmith, and he's always been slightly aloof, never trying to make friends.  The defining moment that made him embrace his evil ways was when his wife was killed trying to save their son from a frightened horse.

5. Now that he's evil, has he turned his back on everyone, or is there still someone in his life that he cares for? (Brother? Daughter? Love interest? Mother? Someone who is just as evil as he is?)

Aunic definitely cares for Nouso, which is an odd quirk in his character, considering that he is something of an introvert.  But Nouso's state touches Aunic's sympathy, so that's good, I suppose.

6. Does he like hugs?

Are you kidding?  Aunic would probably consider hugs some advanced form of Korvaskian torture.

7. Is he plagued by something? (Nightmares, terrible thoughts?)

Deep down Aunic knows that he needs to right his relationship with Howard, but he doesn't think about his old life any more than he can help.  Most of the time Aunic is worried about Nouso.

8. Who is he more similar to: Gollum or Maleficent?

He's a Gollum sort of character.  He's not purposefully malicious, but he does have that aspect of hiding away and letting bitterness eat out his soul just as Gollum let the Ring devour him.

9. If your villain could have their choice of transportation what would it be?

Aunic would give a lot for a horse, but that's transportation for knights and nobles.

10. If you met your villain in the street, how afraid would you be? Are they evil enough to kill their creator? 

No, I wouldn't be afraid.  Aunic has problems, but he would never harm a woman or child.  He has a sort of gruff chivalry that his father taught him.  He has hurt, or worse, a few men in his time, but only on provocation.  I wouldn't be scared of him, just sorry for him.

Well, that was fun.  It definitely helped me to organize a few things about Aunic's character that were puzzling me.  And now, let us have some snippets!

Venian rode up, her travel veil fluttering about her face and getting into her mouth in a most annoying manner.

            “Aunic Pekorin, what are you up to?” she asked.

            Aunic bowed with a smile.  “I am only traveling, my lady.  Surely that is not now a crime in Kempra?”

            “No, I suppose not,” said Venian, staring with distaste at his friend, the infamous Nouso Deraston.  Everyone said that he was not right in the head, and Venian was the first to believe it, especially since Deraston had ripped a tapestry in the castle once when he and Aunic had come to see James.  No one knew why Aunic traveled with him, for Aunic did not seem the type of person who would want the added responsibility of a lunatic.

            That was one of the nice things about a traveling veil.  She could stare at people and they would never know.

~ The Peasants of Niminwell

“Even I’m not foolish enough to strike up a friendship with the likes of her,” said Cadmio as he poured out a cup of water for Lonny to drink.

            “How is that foolish?” asked Lonny.  “Just because she is lame and underfed doesn’t mean we all have to hate her.”

            “You know perfectly well her lameness has nothing to do with it,” said Cadmio.

            “How did you even know that I talked to her?” asked Lonny.

            “Because she was extremely worried about you and said that it was because you had been kind to her.  I wouldn’t do that if I were you.  Everyone already hates you.  You don’t want them to try to actively destroy your reputation.”

            “I’m already a coward.”

            “Only because you’ve let them push you.  Push back!”

            “And get whipped again?”

            “They won’t whip you if you show your own strength.”

            “Go away, and leave Willa alone,” said Lonny.  He was growing extremely irritated with the pushy page.  “If you’re not against me then you’re not against her.”

            Cadmio raised his eyebrows.  “Are you making an actual assertion?  I didn’t think you had it in you.”

            “Just don’t hurt her.  No matter who she is, she needs a little happiness and at least one friend.  The poor child doesn’t even know how to smile properly.”

~ The Peasants of Niminwell

Howard leaned on the fence and looked at his aunt.  “I met Jacob Grudd, Auntie.”

            Lisya looked up and glared at him.  “Tell that fat-purse that I would sooner give my money to the Korvaskians than to him.”

            “He said he could make you pay if you didn’t.”

            “I’d like to see him try that little trick.  I would send him packing soon enough.  Honestly, it’s as though the man bears a grudge against me ever since I refused to marry him.”

            “Don’t you think you’d make him a good wife?” asked Howard.

            “Of course!” said Lisya.  “I would make him a wonderful wife.  I would make any man a wonderful wife.  The only problem is that he would make me a dreadful sort of husband.”

~ The Peasants of Niminwell

Wester had to listen to the mindless chatter of Lady Coscala, one of Sunningdeep’s largest and most influential dowagers.  Her tongue was as endless as her waist, or so it seemed to Wester, who was seated beside her.  He smiled politely and wished her in the heart of Korvask.

            Lady Coscala, however, was not in the heart of Korvask but occupying the chair directly next to Wester and almost part of his as well.

            “My dear prince, I hope you are eager to meet Lady Carmilla at the ball tomorrow,” said Lady Coscala, and Wester wondered how her chair did not collapse.  He was certain that he heard a creak in the legs thereof.

            “Yes, Lady Coscala,” said Wester.

            “You understand that Lady Carmilla is one of the most eligible young ladies in Eshtelroth.  Even a prince would be happy to obtain her as a wife.  She has an impeccable genealogy and a fortune that rivals that of the king.”

            “Wonderful,” said Wester.

            “And, of course, as her second cousin I know that she is also a very sweet young lady with so much charm and wit,” continued Lady Coscala.

            “I’m sure,” said Wester.

            Lady Coscala’s chair groaned as she shifted her considerable weight in it.  Wester winced, positive that the chair was going to collapse.

            “Of course, I know that you are going to be looking for a wife soon, if you haven’t already started,” said Lady Coscala.

            “Oh,” said Wester.

            “And, well, I don’t want you to think that Lady Carmilla is better just because she is my cousin,” said Lady Coscala.

            “I won’t,” said Wester.

            “But, my dear prince, the fact of the matter is that Lady Carmilla is a very superior woman.  I cannot say enough about her.”  Lady Coscala beamed benevolently.  Her fleshy face wrinkled up so that her eyes were quite lost beneath folds of fat.  Wester was rather disgusted.

            “So I’ve noticed,” said Wester.

~ The Peasants of Niminwell

Thanks for reading, and God bless,