Beautiful People ~ Bruno

Hello again, fellow bloggers!

Don't forget, the opening sale for the Christmas at the Tittletons eBook is still going on!  You can find it here.

Bruno and his mother

So, today's beautiful people post is actually about a character from Alicia.  I told you I was consumed with Alicia right now, since I'm editing/finding beta readers.  Still looking, by the way!

Bruno is an incredibly wonderful character.  I made him for a specific purpose, but I never expected to become as attached to him as I eventually did.

Basically, Alicia rescues Bruno from the streets when she comes across his dying mother.  Bruno is Alicia's connection with goodness, as it were.  He is meant to symbolize the hope that Alicia will eventually turn into a good character, since she certainly isn't at the beginning of the story.  Because of Bruno, we see that Alicia isn't quite as thoughtless and cruel as she seems at first.  She actually does care for the little boy.

By the time Alicia starts, Bruno is nine years old and Alicia's favorite page boy.  I'll let the rest of the beautiful people questions give more information about him.

1. What is his full name?
Bruno, just Bruno.

2. Does his name have special meaning?
Bruno means shield or armor.  In a way, Bruno is Alicia's shield, keeping her from total cruelty.

3. Is there something he is afraid of?
Bruno is afraid of nothing.  He knows that Alicia will dismember anyone who so much as looks at him funny.

4. Does he write, dream, dance, sing, or photograph?
Bruno does like to sing and enjoys a rousing jig as much as the next boy, but he does not write much, he doesn't even know what a camera is, since those contraptions don't exist in Valewin, and he already has everything he could ever want, so he doesn't bother to dream.

Bruno

5. Is he a Christian, or will he eventually find Jesus?
Bruno is not a Christian.  I can say no more, due to intense spoilers.

6. Does he have a good sense of humor?  If so, what kind?
Bruno has an amazing sense of humor.  He especially appreciates sarcasm, probably since he's been exposed to so much from Alicia.  He also likes wit and highly enjoys slapstick humor.  He's the sort of person that will take humor in any form he can get it.

7. Any strange hobbies?
He puts people to sleep for Alicia.  He also likes to spend time in the stables with the horses when Alicia doesn't need him.

8. What kinds of things get on his nerves?
Bruno hates to see anyone do anything mean to Alicia.  Never mind that she is cruel and manipulative.  To his childish mind, Alicia is IT, and no one had better mess with her.

9. What is his biggest secret?
Bruno is secretly ashamed of his background.  Even though Alicia rarely mentions it, Bruno knows perfectly well that he is one of the only people in the castle who came off the streets.

10. Has he ever been in love?
No, not in the way this question means.  He does love Alicia, though.

11. What color are his eyes?  His hair?
Bruno has blue eyes and brown hair.

12. What is one of his strongest childhood memories?
Well, Bruno is still a child, but he always looks back with fondness upon the day that Alicia gave him his own horse.

13. Does he believe in love at first sight?
He's never really thought much about it before.

14. What would he do if he discovered he was dying?
He would want to tell Alicia first.  She means the world to him, and besides, what else would he do?  And he would tell Alicia that he loved her and that he was sorry he had to leave her.

15. What do your other characters have to say about him?
Alicia: Bruno is the best friend anyone could ever want.
Calla: Bruno is the least innocent of any child I have ever known.  If he really knew what Alicia involved him in, I think he would be horrified.
Sir Ashenisk:  He's a good boy, but he needs to straighten up or he'll be as twisted as his mistress.
Calius: Bruno is an obedient boy, at any rate.
Siladra: Bruno is a nuisance, and he and Alicia are too thick for my taste.
Hernagrow: Bruno is a lot more clever than that innocent face of his shows.  I like him.

And now, let's have some snippets about Bruno!

Bruno was a nine-year-old boy, my trusted page-boy, and a beloved friend.  The two of us could converse for hours on end.  His youthful wit and spirits never failed to catch me up into the best of humors.  Meanwhile, the two of us had developed a simple but effective code.  When I snapped my fingers twice, he was to use a special little weapon that I kept locked up in a box.  He and I each had a key for that box, and he knew exactly what to do with the contents of the box.

~ Alicia

The child came in his usual pompous state.  “Your Highness,” he smiled, bowing low before me.

            “Shall we have a lark tonight, Bruno?” I asked.

            His eyes lit, and he rolled back on his heels.  “I should greatly enjoy that, your Highness,” he laughed.

            “Excellent!  I want to put a bit of my potion into Rachelle’s cup tonight, but only enough to make her ridiculous.  Make certain that she is sitting at my right hand.”

            “Nothing shall be easier,” said Bruno, smiling again.

            “See that it is done, child,” I returned, tapping him on the shoulder.  He strutted off to do my bidding.

~ Alicia

Suddenly I wanted companionship.  I saw Bruno standing near one of the doors, and I waved at him until he saw me.  His solemn little face lighted up into his most mischievous smile.  I beckoned him towards me, and he dutifully strutted through the jugglers, the servants, and the few dancers, up to the royal table.

            “Yes, your Highness?” he asked pompously.

            “I want you beside me, if you please,” I whispered as kindly as I could.

            He possessed very sharp ears, for he heard the terror that I had tried to conceal.

            “Your Highness?” he questioned, looking about him for some sign of the problem.  I wondered if even my dear Bruno would understand what I had only felt.

            I laid my hand upon his shoulder and squeezed it just a little, happy to feel the warmth of the child beneath his thick garments.  Bruno looked up at me, his usually mischievous eyes displaying only the trust he had shown me when he was very little.  He was my accomplice, my partner in crime, and yet he was but a little boy.  I felt almost guilty for having brought him up so, but then I felt guilty for feeling guilty, and my mind became so confused that I stopped thinking.  After all, Bruno was a dear child, and I was his protector.  Without me, he would have died long ago.

~ Alicia

By the way, I'm still looking for beta readers for Alicia.  If you happen to be interested, please email me at j.bassfrench@gmail.com.

Thanks for reading, and God bless,