Ben Nolan

Ben Nolan is the fourteenth Star Child, currently the fourth-youngest. He was born when the earth was struck by a star of fire, and as a Star Child he is able to be fully conscious inside the world of dreams, allowing him to eliminate threats that cannot be reached by the world of the awake.
==Appearance==
Although he is thirty-five years old, Ben appears to be an eleven-year-old boy much like other Star Children. He has a rather strong build for a child, as a result of his very active lifestyle, with light brown hair and red eyes. He generally wears clothes resembling a football uniform - a blue shirt that is darker around the shoulders with red stripes on the sides, short grey shorts with similar red stripes, two sets of socks (one red and one grey) and white football boots with blue laces.
==Personality==
Ben is confident and determined in everything he does, but also knows how to keep a cool head when most necessary. He often likes to act “cool” around his friends, though this generally causes the opposite effect, leaving him as a laughing stock. This, however, makes him well-liked by people younger than him, such as the children he helps at the orphanage, and has allowed him to make exceptionally strong bonds with Jamie and Daniel.
==Abilities==
Ben is powerless in the land of the awake, though like with all Star Children he can remain sentient while he is dreaming, giving him full access to the dream world.
Ben's unique ability is being able to manipulate fire. His ability can set a flame on any surface, even non-flammable ones. This is a very practical power, with uses including making light to attract enemies or allies, along with creating a wave of smoke to obscure the sight of his foes.
==Story==
Ben had a notably rough start compared to other Star Children. His star landed in a forest away from human settlements, leaving him with no adoptive family for the earliest parts of his life. However, he was still given care by the older Star Children in their dreams. Sienna Celestia gave Ben his name, after a boyfriend she had recently dumped.
After a few weeks in the wilderness, which he was able to survive due to the effective immortality of the Star Children, Ben was found by a young orphan girl who was passing by, and taken to the orphanage that she was raised at. Six years later he was adopted by the Nolan family, leading a relatively normal life afterwards.
At the “age” of twenty, Ben returned to the orphanage that he spent his earliest years in for a job in taking care of the children. He chose this job because he knew it would offer him free shelter as he could use one of the orphan's bedrooms, though also because he wanted to take advantage of his abilities to bond with younger people.
==Relationships==
===Jamie Ayliffe===
Ben and Jamie are very close friends, as both are Star Children within a close enough age range, as well as being connected by Ben's aid of Jamie during a difficult part of his early life. The two are described as being like brothers.
They generally bond through activities, such as playing Ben's favourite sports together, in the world of the awake.
===Daniel Day===
Ben and Daniel are close as a result of knowing each other for a long time, despite their strongly contrasting personalities and interests being an obstacle. The two had a complicated relation at first because of this, though they gradually began to warm up to what each other liked. In recent times Daniel is happy to watch when Ben plays sports, despite formerly not showing any interest, while Ben often asks to loan books from Daniel, although he rarely gets far before having to return them.
==Trivia==
*Ben was formerly part of a youth football club, but had to drop it as a result of his job. He is still friends with most of the members of the club in his time, though they are all now adults.
*Ben's preferred position in football is the centre-right midfielder. According to him, this is because “the centre-right just feels right to me”.
*Ben is the fastest at doing mental maths of all the Star Children. However, he doesn't like doing written maths, due to being poor at fitting his notes across the page.
*Ben is a surprisingly poor swimmer despite his strength, having yet to get the hang of a single stroke.
==Gallery==
Ben Nolan Nightclothes.png|Ben in his nightclothes
Ben Nolan Football Kit.png|Ben in his football kit (old)
Ben New.png|Ben in his football kit (new)
Ben V3.png|Ben's official art for The Shambler in Star Dreams
Jamie and Ben.png|Ben and Jamie
Category:Characters
Category:Males
Category:Children
Category:Star Children