Benjamin Park

**Benjamin Park** is a character in The Great Moon Hoax. He is the former editor of The New York Sun and the former friend of Rose and Samuel Stratford. He is played by Curt Mega.

## Background

Benjamin met the Stratfords at the Paper Stand before the events of Moon Hoax, where they would tell him their stories as he passed by for work at The Sun. They would talk often and eventually become friends.

## The Great Moon Hoax

Benjamin is introduced as Samuel's best friend, and he insists that Chester Thomas won't like his story. Samuel shows him the stories, but Benjamin tells him that the notebook is bad news for everyone involved. He's had this conversation with Samuel before, but Samuel keeps pushing, telling him that *The* *Sun* is going down no matter what. Benjamin reminds him that *The* *Sun* from New York revolves around Earth.

Samuel tries to insist that this story could change anything, and Benjamin expects that the stories will be written by the Stratfords. Although Benjamin thinks that Samuel and Rose are incredible, he thinks that publishing the stories will be a bad idea and tells Samuel that, by not printing them, he'll be doing Samuel a favor. When Samuel is confronted by Chester Thomas, Benjamin lies and says that Samuel is working on a story on the weather. Despite this, Thomas reads Samuel's notebook, tears it up, and fires him.

Benjamin later arrives at the Stratford Family Paper Stand with the pieces of Samuel's notebook, having read the first few lines, and the Stratfords tell him the story of their story. He's confused, but accepts it. He admits that he can't print the stories since Samuel no longer works at *The* *Sun*, but Rose convinces him to print it anyway. He leaves with the notebook in hand and prints the first story that night.

Although the buzz about the stories is great for the Stratfords, Benjamin faces the repercussions of going behind Thomas' back to print the stories and is denied a rightfully deserved raise. He hasn't seen Samuel in quite a while, but he runs into him after a meeting with Thomas. Here, he learns about Samuel's raise. Benjamin is rightfully disappointed, but Samuel assures him that this is still his moment. Benjamin asks if he'll see him later. Samuel doesn't reply.

Days later, as *The* *Sun* rises, Benjamin asks Thomas for a raise, but he's told that he can't be trusted. That night, he works with Rose to print the next articles. When she jokes that she's bad at lying, he snaps at her, telling her that she's a better liar than she thinks. He immediately apologizes, telling her that he's got a lot on his mind and warning her that this excitement won't last forever.

Benjamin leaves to edit the articles and returns to The Sun to see an unconscious John Herschel on the ground, Rose having knocked him out with a printing press plate. Reasonably, Benjamin is horrified, and Rose asks for his help. The two of them bring Herschel to Benjamin's apartment, and Rose leaves to find Samuel after setting Herschel up in his apartment.

However, a reporter from the Sentinel arrives at Benjamin's apartment, and so does Margaret Cavendish. Having been left behind as his friends got rich, Benjamin, in a fit of jealousy coupled with the promise of a large sum of money from the New York Sentinel, reveals to Margaret that the stories were a hoax and exposes the Stratfords for their deceit, betraying his closest friends. As he tells the two, Rose and Samuel run in to see Margaret crying and the reporter from the Sentinel leaving, thanking Benjamin for his assistance. Benjamin then tells the Stratfords that their moment has passed.

As Margaret cries, she begins to glow, knocking the Stratfords out with the Radiance. The only one still conscious in the room is Benjamin, who watches her in awe, afraid to speak or run. As the Radiance dissipates, Margaret tells Benjamin that his next course of action is entirely his choice.

He leaves his apartment, and upon Herschel's arrival in New York, Benjamin tries to get him to reveal the truth. When Herschel won't, Benjamin tries to expose the Stratfords himself, telling the gathered reporters that the telescope is fake. The Stratfords arrive to see Benjamin practically begging Herschel to tell the truth. While at first he seems to listen, Herschel then says that his observatory perished in a fire. Benjamin warns him against it, but his efforts are futile.

Thomas fires Benjamin from The Sun. Benjamin protests, exclaiming that the truth will come out, but Rose interrupts him by hitting him over the head with a printing press plate, knocking him out.

## Personality and Traits

When compared to the Stratford twins, Benjamin appears much more serious and down to earth. He think rationally and is unwilling to take risks and has to be convinced to take them. Benjamin can also be prone to jealousy when he sees others getting things he wants, which can ultimately lead to him lashing out and being self-destructive.

## Skills

* **Printing press operation-** As editor of The New York Sun, Benjamin has the keys to the printing press and is responsible for it's operation.

## Relationships

### Samuel Stratford

Samuel Stratford is Benjamin's former best friend. The two met when Benjamin would visit the Stratford Family Paper Stand before going to work at The New York Sun. He helped Samuel to get his job at The Sun. Benjamin cares for Samuel and really wants the best for him but is amused by Samuel's 'head in the clouds' attitude. However, Benjamin also became very jealous of Samuel's success following the publishing of the Great Astronomical Discoveries articles, which eventually resulted in him betraying his loyalty to Samuel.

### Rose Stratford

Rose Stratford is Benjamin's friend and crush. The two met when Benjamin would frequent the Stratford Family Paper Stand on his way to The Sun. Benjamin and Rose have a very friendly relationship and Benjamin is often amused by Rose's excited, 'head in the clouds' personality. Benjamin is also impressed by Rose's intelligence and agrees with Samuel when he says that Rose is incredible. Benjamin also has a crush on Rose but never acted on it.

### Chester Thomas

Chester Thomas is Benjamin's boss at The New York Sun. Chester has a lot of trust for Benjamin as the editor of the newspaper but despite this Benjamin does not like Chester. It was Chester's lack of care for Benjamin and his involvement in the publishing of the Great Astronomical Discoveries articles that ultimately results in Benjamin betraying his friends.

## Trivia

* Benjamin was born during a leap year, so in 1835, he would have only had 7 birthdays. (1808, 1812, 1816, 1820, 1824, 1828, 1832)