Ben Summers
"This is a gift,
it comes with a price,
who is the lamb,
who is the knife?"
-Florence + the Machine
NameBenjamin Summers
NicknamesBen: His preferred name. Benjamin is so stuffy and, really, only for the government's dotted line or awful formal affairs.
Doc: A nickname he picked up from frequent customers, as he is known for the treatments he gives to Vales. The younger crowd tends to call him this.
The Original NameOberon, Fairy King of the Summer Court
Story of originWilliam Shakespeare's “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
AgeAppears to be a relatively young man, in his early 30s, if even that. (419)
GenderMale
Sexual OrientationPansexual
MagicYes/Natural Affinity/Not addicted
Job/PositionOwner of “A Finer Touch”, a clothing/dress boutique located on Cedar Grove’s strip. (Non-Vale)
Unable to break free from his deep-seated desire to cloak the world in fineries (psh, royalty…), Ben opened the shop as a way to keep his Sidhe heritage alive, often weaving bright and strangely patterned fashion that’s always a hit around prom season. Some have said he enchants his most expensive pieces to enamour the crowds, but he won’t give up his secrets. He’d like to believe his work radiates talent and grace, not sorcery.
...except on April Fool’s Day. Shoppers beware on that fateful day.
Owner of “The Brewery”, a magical potion shop ran out of a hidden area of his store’s basement. (Vale)
One thing living in a forest for centuries taught Ben was how to brew up a mighty fine cure. Using techniques passed down through the Summer Court, Benjamin is known throughout the Vale community as the go-to for any magical ailment, or even physical. Sadly, a popular treatment he seems to be giving lately is reversing Essix overdose. Inside of The Brewery is a stabilizing chamber for patients to safely discharge their magical energy after a heavy trip. Sort of like a magical drunk tank.
AppearanceIn all ways, Ben holds himself highly, and proudly. Every point of his appearance describes his confidence, from his strong jaw and commanding, frosty eyes, to his
sharp, clean dress. He is a man of reasonable bulk, fit but not highly toned. There is a slight gracefulness to his form, as though "misstep" wasn't in his vocabulary. If he’s not in his usual white button-up, black slacks and tie at work, then he’s usually a stylish sweater or similar sleek but casual get-up. Most of the time he’s got a worn leather satchel with him, containing threads and measuring tape, some herbs in vials, among other little knick knacks.
Ben’s medium length chocolate brown hair is kept off his forehead, normally molded into a stylish, slight quif. If he’s got a messy ‘do, you know something’s really off.
"You alright? No, I won't tell anyone. Promise."
Personality|Noble|Mischievous|Compassionate|Impulsive|Proud|
In every sense of the word, Benjamin has a kind soul. He cares about his fellow man (or otherwise, in case of Vales) more than he cares for himself, a byproduct of his kingship thirty years prior. He is always looking to better the community, but it’s always in his own way. Be it by making clothes for the homeless or concocting a much needed remedy, Ben wants to heal the underside of Cedar Grove, and make the less-savory into proud citizens of their little town. Now that he’s no longer a king, he prefers to work in the background. Turns out, he’s quite suited to it. You can see his influence all over town; in the beautiful dresses of high school girls going to prom that might not have been able to afford one otherwise, or a co-worker finally perking up after that month-long cold.
That isn’t to say Ben isn’t fun to be around. There is a lively energy to him, like his body is humming, and he brings it with him into every room. He especially enjoys a harmless joke or prank here or there, and tends to seize the opportunities he sees. After all, with all the heavy stuff going around, everyone needs a laugh, right?
That isn’t to say, however, that Ben’s the cure to all misery. He tends to take the first solution he thinks of, whether it’s correct or not, and will often times screw up the desired result. He’s normally more careful with his treatments, but it still comes through. Ben’s the only Vale “clinic” around, so who’s going to tell him he’s wrong? Of course, when he is wrong, it hits him like a truck. As he’s usually a jovial, calm man, stress builds quickly and can push him to drastic solutions.
Strengths- Charismatic
- Experimental
- Capable magician
- Protective
- Keen eye
- Empathic
Weaknesses- Sometimes too proud
- Vulnerable to Stress
- Rash
- Failure
- Self-sacrificial
Mortal WeaknessAs with most fae, Ben is incredibly allergic to iron, and contact with his skin will cause his flesh to boil and burn, unable to heal for a long while. If he is stabbed in the vitals with a cast iron blade, Ben will almost certainly perish.
FearsBen fears that he will grow to be useless to the community once the Essix issues are taken care of, if they ever are, and he fears that if for any reason his business were to fall through, the community would lose respect for him. A lot of Ben’s perceptions of himself come from the populace, and thus they hold a massive power over him.
"I've done this before, don't worry! How different can you be from a squirrel?"
HistoryOne might call Oberon’s crossing to the human realm as a, “fall from grace”. And while he may have agreed in the early years, things took a turn for the better.
His days in the Court consisted of bored, frivolous politics, ridiculously fashionable finery, and exquisite parties that only the Fair Folk could arrange. Oberon's rule was fairly bland; During his reign, the most action to happen were minor border skirmishes on the edge of the woods the Summer Court called home. This was mostly due to the fact that their kingdom was quite tiny, as the fae could change their size to that of an insect. Only when threatened did they brandish their full form. Oberon, however, entertained his court with festivals, jokes, and other gaiety that brightened their otherwise dull lives. And while he did go a bit far with his, at the time, wife Titania, most jabs were in good spirit. Of course, dignitaries of other Courts came and went, bringing with them drab border declarations and policies. Perhaps they are the source of his discontent for the political game?
At any rate, things never truly picked up. Until Mystvale came crashing around them, that is. Oberon lost more of his Court than he cares to admit, including Titania. At the start of their new lives on Earth, he was absolutely crestfallen. Grief choked him, and for weeks he refused to leave his house once they settled in their homes in Cedar Grove. A king was supposed to lead his people in the most dire of events, and here he was with more blood on his hands than he could stand. With the Queen's blood.
After some time passed, the man now calling himself Ben found that there was work to be done and he was as able-bodied as anyone else. It was then he realized that his grief could be channeled into good. He joined the ranks of other Vales and opened his clothing store as a way of keeping Summer Court style alive. Ben also brought his alchemical knowledge from home to the table, and working with the Vale council, hoped to be a force of good.
Over time, the sadness waned and gave way to readiness to move on and be noble in a new sense. A new challenge arose each day, driving him to further succeed. Failure would not pass for him in Cedar Grove, and everyone was sure to know it.
Likes- Forest walks
- Calculated Risk
- Chamomile tea with honey
- Warm summer days
- Helping those in need
- Squirrels (he tries not to talk to them in public, but they’ve always got the best gossip)
- A good, wholesome night on the town
- Environmentalism
- Indie pop
Dislikes- Winter
- Old cookware (stupid iron cauldrons)
- Soda
- Heavy Metal
- Losing at his own game
- Over the counter drugs
- Dark magic
- Planes (30 years later and flying metal tubes are still not okay.)
- Bleak colors
"No time for regrets. Not anymore."