James Din

James "Jim" Din, formerly known as James Faegan, Blade, or Gale Phoenix, is the adoptive child of the infamous travelers, Jein and Ara Din. While his biological family stays unknown, he has grown several close relationships with others he has encountered throughout his life. Despite this, hardship has found its way to him just as easily. He as well has a strongly developed skill using corruption-based magic.

## Appearance

Jim is a human young adult standing at 5'9", with straight dark hair almost as long has he is tall. It is typically kept in a high ponytail tied off into one bubble at the end, with side-part bangs to his chin. Jim has freckles along his face and body, as well as heavy scarring on his left side from magic burns, though the burns do not reach his face, and a brand resides on his right hand bearing the insignia of the Phoenix Clan that he keeps hidden. His corruption use has left him with small white hairs that are near-impossible to see from afar, slightly pointed ears, and slightly pointed canines, on top of small specks of discolored skin that blend easily with his freckles. Being transgender, he had larger breasts that he kept hidden, until a point at which he could get them safely removed. His energy could be described as cerulean or azure.

Jim generally stays well-covered, typically sporting a light-blue shirt tucked into ivory colored pants with a sleeveless aubergine jacket that has gold trim and magenta lining. His arm guard match the jacket, and he always wears a glove over his right hand. He has boots, a belt, and a garter belt of reddish leather, and often wears an over-the-shoulder leather bag. His left boot has a crystal trinket tied with blue braided cord, matching Bennett, and a necklace rests under his shirt, matching a similar necklace owned by Biscuit and containing Faegan's energy. Jim also keeps several knives stored on his body.

## Personality

To the passing stranger, Jim might come off as arrogant or boastful, speaking loudly about his virtues - or just loudly in general. He might wrap an arm around a stranger's shoulders, in a sense that's trying to be casual, and he speaks a Gillian accent. Many find him as annoying or closed off, but this demeanor is nothing more than a facade he adopted since working within the Hack Estate.

In truth, Jim cares deeply about others, perhaps to a fault. He holds himself responsible for harm he may have caused in the past, and harm caused by those in his vicinity, and he tends to spiral in his own negative thoughts when left alone after a bad event. He struggles with intimacy as a result of past trauma, and physical touch from others can often make him uncomfortable, in spite of how much he may crave it. Making new close connections doesn't come easily to him, and he has a very indirect way of speaking, preferring to avoid direct confrontations with the things that give him anxiety.

He thinks lowly of himself, and remains unsure of his ability to find a place of belonging, especially prior to being found again by Jein and Ara. His status in being transmasculine results in a feeling of being othered, only opening up around those who share the feeling of being outcast. Jim has many insecurities regarding his appearance, be it the scars that remind him of his past or his perception of a "feminine" appearance. This leads to him overcompensating in public for his masculinity rather than finding what truly makes him comfortable. Having traveled a lot in his life, his natural accent comes out as an odd mix from various regions, which he can be insecure of as well.

Jim carries an innate desire to help others in need, either by providing food and shelter, or by defending those actively antagonized by others, all while making it out as something more casual. Genuine thanks from those he helps will often be shrugged off, or otherwise be dealt with in ways that avoid the closeness of the interaction.

With friends, he cares deeply, buying or making gifts, or trying to keep people entertained through his own antics. The more he drops his facade, the more awkward he becomes in navigating these genuine bonds. Jim will often crack jokes, sometimes with inappropriate timing, or he'll have a tendency to ramble on about nothings in fear that the silence will bring something unruly. Still, the moments where he can be vulnerable have a big impact on him, and he couldn't be more thankful for the company he's found himself in today.

## History

### Early Childhood

Jim was born to Tuliana, a sex worker in the suburbs of Arcan. Unable to keep the baby in her profession, she begged the travelers Jein and Ara Din to take him instead, knowing of the couple's virtues. The two agreed, having had recent discussion of wanting a child between them, and the infant Jim was introduced into their family as Abigail Din. For the seven years, Abigail was raised by the two of them, under a loving roof without insecurity. Jein and Ara were not ones to boast their child's status as adoptive, and with the two themselves being immensely talented in magic, rumor spread that any child of theirs would have to be something special.

### Involvement of the Phoenix Clan

The Phoenix Clan, ever searching for children of unforeseen talents, caught wind of the rumors. Their leader, Sulien Phoenix, took it upon himself to see personally that Jim became theirs. Knowing full-well of Jein and Ara's talents, he sought to make sure that this kidnapping would be untraceable, and with the help of his son, Julius Phoenix, he succeeded, blocking Abigail's memories as the final nail in the coffin of a proper childhood.

At the age of seven, Abigail's life was thrust into a world that did not show care for autonomy, with no memory of the past. The Clan traveled often, meaning there was never anywhere solid to stay. As well, they operated on a familial dynamic regardless of blood, making Abigail the new youngest child among them, preceded by Mazn Phoenix, Lily Phoenix, and Faegan. Abigail shared sleeping quarters with Lily when they were not in such a space that they'd all sleep together, and was initially provided with a strong hospitality. It was not long however until that hospitality began to wane in ways Abigail was too young to fully process. The Clan introduced modes of self defense, and then small ways of offense, using knives that were easily hidden. They taught about the things that make a person vulnerable, how to steal, how to distract, and how to handle different types of pain. This went along with foundational skills on working with magic - something Abigail was familiar with behind the memory block.