Brand Saint John

Brand, by oblivionsdream

**Brandon Saint John**, also called Brand, is the human Companion, best friend, and business partner of Rune Saint John. Together they are the last of the Sun Court.

## **Appearance**

Black-haired and blue eyed, Brand is an attractive man in his mid-30s. Intense physical training has given him calloused hands and a muscular and honed build. Very faint scars are visible on his back where he was whipped as a fifteen-year old.

Brand is armed at all times. Well stocked with tactical gear, on missions he wears chest rigs, shirts and pants with multiple gear pockets, knives, and other weapons. Even when jogging in exercise outfits, Brand manages to secret away weapons and even uses garrotes as shoe laces. Like the Atlanteans he lives among, Brand feels comfortable in revealing clothing or nudity.

## **Personality**

Brand is confident, courageous, and absolutely deadly.

Although taciturn, gruff, and impatient, Brand is observant and sensitive to the feelings of others. He cares deeply for those close to him, and is a steadfast friend and protector. While he tries to be surreptitious about it, Brand is quite attentive to his friends and found family.

Above all, Brand is committed to safeguarding Rune. He interposes his own body between his friend and hazards, disregarding his own physical safety, with the result that Rune dreads that Brand is too eager to sacrifice himself. Brand feels strongly that his life's purpose is Rune's protection; being separated from him during dangerous situations is particularly difficult for him. Outliving Rune is his greatest fear.

Extensively trained as a bodyguard, Brand dedicates himself to constant training, preparation, and foreplanning. Ever vigilant and watchful, he inevitably evaluates others as threats. At the same time, Brand strives to empower Rune and their charges to defend themselves in his absence. Comfortable with physical violence, sometimes Brand is unconcerned with collateral damage in his single-minded focus on Rune's safety.

Brand is a motivated morning person, to the despair of his housemates. His sense of humour can be sarcastic and sharp. He bluntly says what he thinks, with little time for niceties. Sometimes he acts hot-headed and impertinent, especially in the presence of self-important scions and arrogant Arcana. He has mastered the art of eyerolling, and feels free to lay down the law when Rune or Max get snarky.

## **Background**

Born to a large Irish American family in Boston, Brand was one of several sons. Before his birth, Lord Sun had extensively researched the physical, mental, and personal histories of Brand's male relatives, going back three generations. Lord Sun then purchased the infant Brand and magically bound him as Rune's Companion. The boys were raised together from that point onward.

Brash and fearless, Brand began looking out for Rune at a young age. His first true defense of Rune involved Gregor the stable boy, who bullied the younger Rune; Brand remembers this as a defining - and immensely satisfying - moment in his life. As children and young adults, Brand protected Rune from both physical and emotional pain, and has been known to secretly punish those who hurt his best friend. Rune jokes that Brand defends his honor.

When they were fifteen years old, the Sun Throne was destroyed in an unsanctioned raid. For most of the attack, Brand was unable to defend Rune from torture and rape. Although Brand saved Rune in the end, ever after he has been particularly intolerant to anyone who exposes Rune to unwanted approaches, flirting, or harassment. One such incident occurred not long after Rune's assault, when the two had moved into the Tower's residence. Dalton, the Tower's son, targeted Rune repeated sexual harassment. After Brand responded violently to Dalton, Lord Tower had the 15-year old whipped and he still bears the scars today.

Brand's education emphasized security, siegecraft, and physical offense and defense. Like other Companions in the Sun Court, Brand was trained by Mayan.

### *The Hourglass Throne*

Brand spent the months between the fall of the Hanged Man and the present restoring Sun Estate, acting as security chief, accountant, construction manager, administrator, and general dogs body, whilst Rune attended to the magical rehabilitation of the estate.

When Rune is called to investigate the shield around the rejuvenation centre, Brand accompanies him. When they develop a theory about the mysterious murderer they nickname "Lady Jade" Brand accompanies him and Addam into the Warrens. Once captured by an ancient principality masquerading as a lowly alchemist, Brand is subject to capture and emotional torture, with his mind filled with fear and terror which floods his companion bond. However whilst afraid, Brand is still able to kill their captor and free them all.

Upon discovering that he and Rune have been spied upon for over twenty years by the force that attacked the Sun Court, Rune comforts a devastated Brand, who feels he has failed as a companion.

When Lady Time sends Rune and Addam into the Time Stream, they are transported to a time loop recording the fall of the Sun Court. When they arrive, Rune panics because he can no longer feel Brand in their bond.

The time-loop is of Sun Estate during the night of the attack which killed everyone but he and Brand, and saw Rune raped and tortured for hours on end. Finding other loops, they continue to explore in order to find a way out. Eventually they realise the only way out is through the Sun Estate loop, and Rune is forced to allow Addam to see what he's been hiding since that night.

Rune is forced to tell Addam that it was Brand that allowed the Sun Estate to be infiltrated. He had followed Rune, who had snuck out earlier to be with friends, and been captured by the attackers. Placing him under a control-spell, they made Brand lower the protective wards around Sun Estate, and left him unresponsive whilst they plundered and murdered the occupants, and raped and tortured Rune.

Rune then confesses that the only way they escaped was that Brand was his Tallah. The power of their magical bond freed Brand from the control-spell and he was able to rescue Rune and get them both to safety. Brand, Rune explains, has no memory of any of this, and their Tallah bond has never re-emerged. He makes Addam promise that he will never talk about it, as Brand, Rune says, would commit suicide if he knew. Partially out of grief and guilt, but also a fear that the control-spell may still have lingering and dangerous potential to hurt Rune.

Once Rune shatters the loop, he and Addam emerge at the summer compound of the Sun Court, where Brand runs full pelt and envelops him in a hug.

Brand sleeps in the chair beside Rune over the days during which he recovers his strength after exiting the Time-Stream.

Brand works with Rune, Mayan and the Arcanum to bring Lady Time into the open and agrees to Runes plan to defeat her, knowing the personal cost both of them will pay. He is present when Lady Time attacks the compound, and is there when she sends the Tower into the raw power of the Time-Stream, killing him.

Brand engages Lady Time along with Rune, Lady Death, Anna Dawncreek, and Addam. As the Majure battle begins, he is forced to the ground to shield his eyes such is the power of Rune's aspect. Rune's massive use of his Majure costs him and Brand decades of their potential life, though Rune is unsure exactly how long that is, he estimates around 35 years has been spent.

At the Towers funeral he thanks the deceased Arcana for never telling Rune about the time he confessed his love for him. He puts it down to a childish infatuation of a powerful man who protected him and Rune, noting he would have made a terrible boyfriend. Afterwards, he gives Mayan his favourite knife, recognising the older companions loss in a way that companions would best appreciate.

The night of the barbeque and engagement at Sun Estate, Brand sneaks off with Rune and gives him his blessing to marry Addam.

## **Abilities**

Brand is a skilled fighter and tactician. He is an excellent marksman and sniper, and adept with throwing knives. He also excels at hand-to-hand combat. As a human among magic practitioners, Brand has also developed strategies for distracting and disabling scions and Arcana. Additionally, Brand is a security expert, with a working knowledge of listening devices and other security technologies.

Brand's other skills include dancing, back massages, and dropping the F-word.

## **Items**

### Arsenal

Brand has carefully built up an extensive arsenal of weapons, tactical kit, and security equipment. These include:

* throwing knives and a switchblade
* expensive obsidian knives, inset with coal and coral
* a short sword
* a rifle with locking case
* a gun with ankle holster and silencer
* a surveillance drone
* tracking apps on Rune's phone
* a World War II battleship

## **Relationships**

#### Rune Saint John

Brand is Rune's companion. Through their companion bond, shared traumas, and love for each other, they form two half's of a whole, with Rune once commenting that to not include his companion in important discussions was analogous to leaving half of him outside.

Brand loves Rune absolutely and unconditionally. Their bond is so strong that Addam Saint Nicholas once told Rune that he knows, despite their growing romantic relationship, that he will never compare to Brand, and that he accepts this.

Though he often hides this behind frustration and annoyance at Rune's tendency not to be as hypervigilant as he'd like, when scared for or believing he's hurt Rune, Brand often become extremely upset. Once, during an argument on the Green Docks, upon realising Rune erroneously thought his visits there hid some dark exploits similar to that which had traumatised him, tears welled up in his eyes and Rune felt their companion bond flood with shame and panic that he'd in anyway made him relive those moments.

Brand considers it the most important task in his life to protect Rune no matter what the danger, and with almost no regard for his own safety. He becomes very angry and upset when ordered to remain behind whilst Rune faces danger, usually requiring Rune and others to demand his word over and over again.

Brand has openly stated that he believes Rune to be destined for great things and that is not only proud to be his companion, but that he loves his life with Rune, and has no regrets about being bonded with him at birth.

Highly attuned to each other through their companion bond and shared experiences, Brand will often come looking for Rune when he experiences even a hint of a feeling out of the ordinary, prompting Rune in turn to often pre-empt such visits with texts telling him he's fine.

Unbeknownst to Brand, Rune has spent the last twenty years protecting him from the truth of what happened the night the Sun Court fell. Brand had, unknowingly, been placed under a control-spell and used by the attackers to drop the wards around Sun Estate. Rune's greatest fear is that Brand will learn of this and kill himself out of grief and the fear that some lingering magic makes him a threat.

On the same night as the fall of the Sun Throne, Rune learned that Brand was his Tallah, with their bond bringing forth powerful magic enough to free Brand of the control spell. He was able to free Rune and get them both safely off the estate. Brand is unaware that, for a moment, he and Rune were Tallah, though Rune notes the bond has not re-emerged since then.

On a number of occasions Brand has defended Rune's honour as well as his life. Upon finding out that Brand had beaten up his childhood boyfriend for publicly dumping him, Rune teased him, only to get told to colourfully back off.

When they were 13 and drunk, Rune kissed Brand in the pool house. Brand kissed him back, then threw him in the swimming pool.

#### Matthias Saint John

During their first meeting Brand shoved Max's head down a toilet, earning the boy's fear and resentment. Though initially viewing Max as an annoying burden Rune had landed them with that invariably he would be responsible for, Brand risks his life to protect Max from the Hanged Man. When the Hanged Man tries to claim Max as his consort, Brand uses his strategic skills to propose politically convenient ways to investigate the Hanged Man without provoking the Arcanum.

Whilst finding Max's rash decision making and short sighted nature frustrating and dangerous, he begins to recognise his potential and bravery, and opts to begin training him in combat.

When the Hanged Man is killed and Rune invites him to formally join their family, taking the name Saint John, Brand is with him, putting an arm around the boy, resulting in Max weeping with the emotion of the moment.

Brand is fond of punishing Max for his misadventures, and is often put in charge of imaginative ways for the boy to make it up to him and Rune.

By the time the Sun Court has been reclaimed and made a home again, Brand shares Rune's view of Max, Anna, and Cobie as "our kids".

#### Addam Saint Nicholas

Initially viewing him as little more than another wealthy scion with too much money and not enough sense, Brand grows to respect Addam's skills, positive attitude, and deep pockets.

Addams approach to problems is often the opposite of Brand's. Where Brand prefers to pull a weapon to get results, Addam uses compasion, patience, and sometimes financial incentive. Whilst not always effective, and continuing to be openly critical of him, Brand does appreciate that Addam's way can get indeed get results. As Addam grows in his combat magic and wits, Brand is noticeably more comfortable going into dangerous situations with him, viewing him as an asset rather than a burden.

Brand is often frustrated when Addam distracts Rune on jobs with conversations about "feelings" telling him that there is a time and a place.

Brand approves of the growing romantic relationship between Addam and Rune, giving his blessing to their engagement. Whilst at the funeral service for The Tower, Brand discloses his new secret; he can now feel Addam in his companion bond as clearly as he can feel Rune, demonstrating this by pointing to exactly where he is stood behind his back. He doesn't understand how this has happened, or why.

For his part, Addam, whilst in the Time Stream, tells Rune he loves Brand, too, and will keep his secrets regarding the fall of the Sun Court to protect Brand.

#### The Tower

Brand is openly disrespectful, at times verging on disdainful, of the Tower. Brand resents the meagre pay and resources the Tower awards them when considering the refined luxury he enjoys in the PacBell. Brand also find his tendency to restrict information annoying, primarily as it prohibits him from being able to effectively protect Rune.

Shortly after they were taken in by the Tower after the fall of the Sun Court, Brand discovered that Dalton, the Towers son, was sexually abusing a vulnerable Rune, and reacted by violently beating him. The Tower had him whipped for this, causing resentment and tension between them.

Brand is quick to namedrop the Tower when he feels doing so may generate leverage in negotiations with suspects and authorities alike, much to Runes annoyance.

At the Towers funeral, it is revealed that, as a teenager, he had once told the Tower he loved him, and that he had gently let him down. He conveyed his thanks for this, and for never telling Rune, putting it down to a youthful infatuation.

After his death, Brand and Rune are shown a video recording of the Tower talking about his children. He states that whilst he was not gifted at fatherhood with his own children, he considered he raised Brand and Rune right.

#### Mayan

Mayan, as the Towers companion, is bound by a similar bond as Rune and Brand. However, Brand is highly aware that were Rune and he are partners, Mayan is subservient to the Tower, and is often just as cold and aloof as his Arcana.

Though Mayan trained Brand, they constantly snipe at each other, causing Brand to flare up in threats and insults whenever his abilities are questioned. Despite this, he trusts Mayan enough to look after the Dawncreek children in the PacBell.

When the Tower dies, understanding the grief Mayan must be experiencing, he gifts him his favourite knife. The full significance of this is lost on Rune, but Mayan remarks it has many meanings amongst companions.

#### Annawan Dawncreek

Brand finds Anna frustrating, amusing, and odd. Her fascination with his companion status and skills, whilst initially annoying, impress him when her observational abilities and discipline prove helpful. Once adopted into the Sun Court, he begins to train her in combat skills, though he sometimes struggles to get her to do as she is told, as she is stubborn and impatient.

As with Max and Corbie, he considers her as one of his and Rune's adopted kids.

#### Corbitant Dawncreek

Initially unsure how to interact with the excitable 5 year old orphan, Brand quickly grows protective of the little Dawncreek boy. By the time he is made a part of the Sun Court, Brand has developed a fatherly relationship with him. Playing him with him, carrying him around, even taking innane phone calls from him during missions to make sure everything is okay.

Brand considers him one of his and Rune's adopted kids.

#### Quinn Saint Nicholas

Brand is appreciative of Quinn's abilities, but like Rune and Addam, is loathe to allow him to join them on missions unless it is unavoidable. He finds the seers naivety and innocence to be a hinderance and a danger, exposing not only Quinn, but Max, whom he is frequently with, to considerable danger.

## Trivia

* Brand is Pansexual, as noted by KD Edwards on his Twitter.

## References

1. ↑ *The Last Sun*, Chapter 7, Cubic Dreams
2. ↑ *The Last Sun*, Chapter 6, New Saints
3. ↑ *The Last Sun*, Chapter 12, Rurick
4. ↑ *The Last Sun*, Chapter 6, New Saints
5. ↑ *The Hanged Man*, Chapter 2, Half House
6. ↑ *The Last Sun*, Chapter 16, The Compound
7. ↑ *The Last Sun*, Chapter 12, Rurick