Ruthven, Gavin

Captain Gavin Ruthen is a character from Poison or Protect featured opposite Preshea Villentia.
== Appearance ==
Captain Gavin Ruthen is described as being a very large Scotsman - even being likened to a minor Greek god. He complains frequently about being such a large man in a time when fashion dictates such delicate food and furniture. He moves stiffly, ever aware that he takes up too much space to be careless in his movements. His hair is brown with strands of gold in the sunlight and blue eyes. His chest hair is golden. 
Gavin speaks with a thick Scottish accent. Preshea describes his voice as being like "a mulled wine, warm and heavily spiced." 
== Personality ==
Gavin is a soldier - good at taking orders and very tactical. He is also very caring, especially of his friends or those who need protecting. He prefers to take direction from his lovers in the bedroom, to serve and her pleasure. 
== History ==
Gavin attended Eton and, despite often acting and speaking in a provincial manner, was familiar with the proper forms of address.Poison or Protect, Chapter One: The Game Begins 
Gavin was a master tactician in the Coldstream Guard, but gave up his position in 1866 or 1867. He hired his former batman, Mawkins, to stay on as his valet. He occasionally drinks claret at night to help settle the ghosts from the war. 
He shares a club with Mr. Jackson, who he became friends with after Mr. Jackson found himself in some trouble. 
Gavin marries Preshea after Poison or Protect and has four daughters, the youngest being Arsenic Ruthven. 
== In the books ==
=== Poison or Protect ===
Gavin is escorting his friend, Mr. Jackson, to a house party. Unbeknownst to Jack, Gavin is also going at the request of Major Channing to protect the Duke of Snodgrove against possible assassination. On the float there, he meets Preshea Villentia, also known as the Mourning Star. He initially worries Preshea might be the assassin, but learns that she too had been hired to protect the duke. The two grow closer, Gavin slowly breaking through Preshea’s defenses. Between the two of them, they manage to keep the Duke safe and agree to marry each other. 
== Trivia ==
* Gavin refers to Preshea as leannan sith, or the fair folk.
*He speaks with a thick Scottish accent. 
*Gavin gets horribly airsick. 
*His horse is named Rusticate. 
*He wears a banyan, despite it being out of fashion. 
*It is implied that Captain Gavin Ruthven is more properly Gavin Ruthven Jr, as he states that it was his father's name as well. Poison or Protect, Chapter Five: Ghostly Consequences
== Links ==
* Pinterest Character Board for Gavin Ruthven.
== Quotes ==
* “Gavin was known amongst his friends for his abhorrence of tiny females.” (Poison or Protect, Chapter One)
*"He looked like a minor Greek god, all rock-hewn inertia." (Poison or Protect, Chapter One)
*"He held himself like a soldier, with the confidence of a man who had nothing to gain or lose in any given social situation." (Poison or Protect, Chapter One)
* “Dirigibles were all well and good if one wanted to waft about the countryside, taking in views. Gavin wanted his tea. And not to have to kill Lady Villentia. But tea first." (Poison or Protect, Chapter One)
*"He might act and sound provincial (it worked in his favor, to be constantly underestimated), but he'd attended Eton and knew all the forms." (Poison or Protect, Chapter One)
* “Gavin himself preferred a lady to take him in hand. In the bedroom, mind you, not outside of it.” (Poison or Protect, Chapter Two)
* “Gavin Ruthven. Very Scottish. He sets his brogue forward like a weapon. He doesn’t want to use an Eton accent, although I wager he could.” (Poison or Protect, Chapter Three)
* “Tis a pain to be a big man in a world made for tottie folk.” (Poison or Protect, Chapter Three)
* “Gavin wasn’t one to drink every night, in the way of some refined gentlemen, but he did occasionally take a drop of claret in the wee hours to settle his ghosts.” (Poison or Protect, Chapter Five)
* “He held himself still, as if she were a skittish wild creature who might dash back underground to her fairy kingdom.” (Poison or Protect, Chapter Five)
* “Gavin felt his request was greatly daring – her gun was still within reach.” (Poison or Protect, Chapter Seven)
* “He was wearing that banyan again, looking like a laird from olden days in some Highland castle portrait.” (Poison or Protect, Chapter Eight)
* “He’s a pirouetting fool, for all he looks like a water buffalo.” (Poison or Protect, Chapter Nine)
* “He was discreet and careful about his liaisons.” (Poison or Protect, Chapter Nine)
* “Gavin tried not to stare at the lobster. He decided not to inquire further. Whatever Jack's reasoning, best to accept that crustaceans were necessary to his view of the world.” (Poison or Protect, Chapter Ten)
* “Tis hard to turn aside from a skill at which one excels, no matter how civilization perceives that skill.” (Poison or Protect, Chapter Ten)
* “He’d stayed in a place he hated on the slim chance that she would come looking. And now he was profoundly, bone-meltingly relieved that she had.” (Poison or Protect, Chapter Ten)
* “He liked knowing she could kill him.” (Poison or Protect, Chapter Ten)
== References ==
Category:Characters
Category:Parasolverse Characters