Devlin Burke

Devlin is a little pudgy, and tall for his age.

When you need to be alone, where do you go?

I sneak a book out of the library and go down to the groundskeeper’s cottage (see below).

When do you cry, and where?

The library in the Hall proper. There’s an overstuffed leather arm chair that I curl up on with my book, to pretend that I’m reading. Or sometimes I really am there reading, but then I’m crying. Or sometimes I know I’m going to cry, so I go there to read instead and lose myself in an old favorite.

I don’t go down the cottage when I cry because (unconsciously) I want that place to be peaceful.

What’s your favorite food in the cafeteria?

Irish soda bread with butter. My mom made a fresh loaf every morning.

Which teacher do you like/hate and why?

I like Mr. Harrans because he’ll just let me sit quietly outside his cottage and read. I like when he comes and goes, doing his business around the grounds, without acknowledging me.

Mr. Fitzpatrick lets me sneak books out of the library. Or maybe he just doesn’t care? Either way….

I hate Mr. Pondry because he’s so bloody cheery all the time and won’t take the hint that I don’t want to talk about it.

Who are you parents and why did they send you here?

My parents (and me) were in import/export in Dublin, working out of a two-story building with the shop on the main floor and the home above. There was a fire, and they both died.

My sister Aisling and I lived. She was badly injured; I was miraculously unharmed. Given the tragedy of the event, both of us made it to better places via charity… just not the same place.

Who used to be your best friend and why aren’t they anymore?

Liam, from school. Well, school back home. He’s fine. I just… don’t live in Dublin anymore.

What are you picked on for that really gets to you?

I process things by comparing them to situations from novels. This is not particularly endearing, especially without a shared love of mediocre penny novels. I love those books and don’t like it when people make fun of them.

What are you picked on for that you shrug off?

I don’t go near the burnt building. Period. Even when I get teased about it.

What are you praised for that makes you proud?

I’ve always been good at maths and rhetoric (but not speaking, just the logic part). This is particularly frustrating because I desperately want to dislike Mr. Pondry.

What are you praised for that makes you upset / embarrassed?

I bake basic things well (learned it from mom, nothing fancy) and am sometimes complemented on it. But that makes me stand out in a way I don’t like, and it brings up memories of better times.

I’m tall for my age and don’t like it being commented on. It’s not like I’m in control of it!

Quirk

1. Gifted in games

You discover, likely to your own immense surprise and perhaps causing a bit of an identity crisis, that you’re quite good at sports. Recreation class starts the semester off with a heavy emphasis on team field sports. This both takes advantage of the weather before being pushed indoors and, in the words of Mr. Pondry “teaches camaraderie among one’s peers”. At first, you’re picked for teams in the middle of the pack because of your height. But then, on the field, something changes. You find that you’re familiar with most of the rules already—countless hours of penny novels, a few must have involved teams. The workouts also help with the ennui. Playing well, and being a good teammate, seems to get you a bit more respect—and therefore space—from students that would otherwise try to pick on you.

As an active ability: when you gather or join a team in pursuit of common goal, everyone involved has a higher chance at success. You actively choose to rise to the occasion, and you may do this twice. Afterwards, the quirk will evolve.

As a passive ability: in recreation, you can freely pass games checks.

2. The countenance of a captain

Not only have you discovered your talent in sports and your ability to be a team player, you’ve realized you can lead.

As an evolution of your original ability to improve outcomes through participation, your join-to-improve ability is refreshed with two more charges. Additionally, you gain a new related ability: the captain’s hunch. Once, when you decide on a plan, the narrative will bend towards that plan’s success. I.E. your presumptions are more likely to be correct / you will stumble upon help / etc.