Beautiful People: Oddball's Childhood

Thank you so much Cait @ Paper Fury and Skye @ Further Up and Further In for hosting Beautiful People!

Oddball refuse to answer these. *glares at him* It seems he'd rather run the risk of me answering for him. So here we go.

1. What are their first childhood memories?

His mom singing. His father throwing him in the air.

2. What were their best and worst childhood experiences?

After 'they' burned his family's house and his dad, Cat, recovered from a gunshot wound from 'them,' his family lived in the huge sludge trees and survived on whatever they could find. But his dad still told jokes and his mom, crazy though she was, still sang songs. His family was still his family and they were still together. Nothing had really changed. Even though everything had gone wrong, 'they' couldn't do anything to him or his family. The best experience was the strange invincibility that comes with loving and being loved.

The worst experience was when 'they' did kill his family. Strange thing though, the invincibility of love remains.

3. What was their childhood home like?

Small. Cozy. Singing in the air. Drawings and pencils on the floor.

4. What's something that scared them as a child?

Being eaten by prackles. Losing his parents. Never belonging. The dark. Being caught by 'them.'

5. Who did they look up to most?

Dad

6. Favorite and least favorite childhood foods?

His mom, Sera, made a good tree mussel stew.

The least favorite is of course swamp spinach. Esin would make him eat it because, "It's good for you. It'll make you run faster." Oddball never bought that.

7. If they had their childhood again, would they change anything?

He couldn't change anything despite wanting to. So no, he doesn't want it back. He just wants his parents back and that's not going to happen either. So there's no use, is there?

8. What kind of child were they? Curious? Wild? Quiet? Devious?

Mature. His mom had leftligger, so she wasn't all there. He had to look after her when his dad was away finding food or work. Sera wasn't bedridden or incapable. She could cook and clean, and she did have moments of clarity. But her mind was like a child's, an easily frightened two year old who couldn't comprehend everything.  So I would say Oddball was mature.

He was curious also. Esin Trik, his father's only friend, would bring him books from a big city library Esin traveled to from time to time.  Oddball loved learning about different kingdoms and cultures. When he lived with Esin later, Esin taught him many things like mapmaking and science. Oddball would sit around in trees reading books. (So yeah, he was a homeschooler.)

9. What was their relationship to their parents and siblings like?

For a time he was angry with his mom for being unable to be his mom, but his anger didn't last too long. He knew it wasn't her fault. He just loves her and wishes he knew her before she became sick. His dad and Esin always said she was amazing.

His dad is like his hero. Oddball could be a kid around Dad. Also, Dad would take him seriously. He never opened up to anyone the way he would to Dad.

10. What did they want to be when they grew up and what did they actually become?

An explorer (all those books got to his head ;). And safe. The former happens, but the latter? Probably never.

I've realized while writing Oddball the Sequel, that Oddball is the only one in the Foursome who actually has good childhood memories. Rocky never knew his parents and his brother betrayed him. Both Peril and Skyler have been sorely affected by their parents' influence. The thing that sets Oddball apart is that he had a real family who taught him what family and love is. He doesn't have a mentor figure. He truly treasures the memories of his parents (sometimes he kind of idealizes them). I think that's why he didn't want to talk about it. For him, talking about it is like giving it away. 

I actually wrote five or seven versions of this BP with different characters. Peril, Skyler, Rayne, Eelistelle, etc. Maybe I'll post others later if you're interested.

Apologies for Oddball's absence on this one. Perhaps I can persuade him to come around some other time. Hope you liked this! 

Have you done a Beautiful People post?