Brendan Brightwell

**Brendan Brightwell** is Jess Brightwell's twin brother who begins training to eventually take command of the family business.

## Biography

### Early Life

Brendan was born and raised in London, England. He was born a few seconds after Jess and was dangerously small. This earned him the nickname "Scraps," which Brendan hates. His father is Callum Brightwell and his mother is Celia Brightwell.

He's trained as a member of his family's smuggling syndicate since he was old enough to walk. He knows all the routes and all the runs that his family holds against competitors throughout the city of London. His childhood was difficult as a result of his father's physical and emotional abuse.

### *Ink and Bone*

Brendan is sixteen years old. When Callum decides to send Jess to train for service to the Great Library of Alexandria in hopes of using Jess' future position to benefit the family, Brendan begins training to eventually take command of the family business. Jess is shocked when Brendan tells him he doesn't Jess to go to the Library because they'll lose him forever if he does.

Jess is surprised and worried when Brendan is sent to Alexandria by Callum to collect the Aristophanes play from Jess and deliver it to its buyer.

### *Ash and Quill*

Brendan and Jess switch places so that Jess can accompany his friends to Alexandria while Brendan protects the printing press and the Black Archive books from their father. Brendan is unable to impersonate Jess as well as Jess can impersonate Brendan.

## Physical Description

At sixteen, Brendan and Jess look slightly less identical. Brendan has a tiny scar on his chin. He wears his hair in a shaggy mess.

## Personality

Brendan is a skilled criminal but an even better liar. He is loyal to his family, but to almost no one else. He's learned the book smuggling trade well, and has become a tricky assassin. Brendan is reserved and is seemingly rather sadistic. Even as a child he was prone to violence. Brendan is always scheming. He watches everything and everyone. He likes to be physically high up, so that he's away from where his dad can hit him and he can avoid being a runner. He is as ruthless a deal maker as Callum. Brendan prefers to spend his time drinking and gambling. Brendan attempts to cover up his lack of self-esteem by using anger and violence. Brendan has a major inferiority complex and is always trying to set himself apart from Jess, as he views him as someone who will always be considered better than him. Underneath his ruthless shell, Brendan does have a softer side.

## Relationships

### Jess Brightwell

Jess and Brendan are identical twins, but are as different as can be. The brothers are loyal to one another despite not getting along. Jess always loses when he and Brendan fight because deep down he doesn't want to hurt his brother while Brendan doesn't seem to have this same attitude. Brendan surprises Jess when he says he doesn't want Jess to to go to the Library, saying they'll lose him forever if he does. Each brother sees the other as always being better than themselves. Unbeknownst to Jess, Brendan is actually projecting his self-loathing onto Jess. Brendan is also treated as the "backup twin" in comparison to Jess by their father. Brendan tries to deal with his major inferiority complex by trying to set himself apart from Jess. They brothers get a few moments of true teamwork as they work against the Great Library. Their relationships gets some healing and moves in a more positive direction. Despite their sibling rivalry, they work well together. With Brendan's death, Jess says he doesn't know who he is without his twin, but he supposes he will now have to learn, which Brendan would have demanded.

## Trivia

* Brendan can raise one eyebrow, while Jess cannot, much to Jess's annoyance.