Browbird-462: Rhonen

Toyhouse: https://toyhou.se/7475948.rhonen

Background

Rhonen had the regular upbringing. As a small destructive browlet he was, his parent sent him to live in a pod with other browlets his age. From an early age it was clear he had a knack for metal. Rhonen was always seen nawing on it. Fearing he would choke on it his supervisors tried to remove it from him. The attendies tried in vain as Rhonen seemingly would pull it from out of nowhere. If there was metal to be had he found it. Rhonen's teething phase intensified and he preferred the cool strong metal to the other teething rings the residence provided. It felt nice against his sore gums from developing teeth. Eventually he was given a metal bar just for him to chew. It was a special bar that had a bear carved at the top with a red ring so Rhonen could carry it around. It looked almost like a metal bookmark. He was a very happy baby from then on. He took that teething slab everywhere and was very upset when it needed to be removed to wash. 

While in the in the care of the residents he was taught to hone his metal bending a little more. It wasn't 100% dedicated education but it helped just to prepare him for future study when he matured. Rhonen loved bending metal. He would use it to cause a little bit of trouble. For example, fabricating crude stairs to reach the cookie shelf or pulling his metal bar back from the watcher who was tasked to washing it. He was turning into a little trouble maker as he started to think about what he could do with metal. He one time bend all the forks. It was satisfying for him to know he could do it. Almost zen as he bent each prong and becoming more proficient. He would do a lot of this test of strength and it got him into a bit of trouble.

When his parent were ready to collect him, Rhonen was semi-proficient with metal. His parents hired him a metal tutor who Rhonen learned a lot from. At the back of his mind his parent seemed a little disappointed at his magical ability. His mother had a shadow aspect that was a proud and prevalent known skill in their family. They hoped it would show up in his aspect soon. They kept looking for it and it added pressure to Rhonen. Fearing it would not show up, his parents would have chats with his health advisor. Rhonen heard about the aspect so much that he started to get sick of it. What was wrong with his ability to bend metal? In order to impress his parents, Rhonen went full tilt into metal bending. While he was getting better, he didn't feel like he was learning faster or well enough. He was always showing off to friends. He seemed to be the cool and calm bird but under it all he was pushing. He was trying bigger and harder skills much to the protest of his tutor. Eventually he stressed himself so much that Rhonen fell ill. He spent a lot of time in bed recuperating and thinking about how weak he was. 

His parents watched over him. Their visits seemed warming on the surface but Rhonen kept thinking they were judging him. How weak he was....the shadowless bird. The one strain in the lineage that didn't hold the line. His mind went to a dark place. He spent hours just thinking and sinking into himself. "Disappear" he would think. "Disappear" It was then at his lowest point that the tendrils of darkness began to curl around. It wasn't until a few times later that the aspect made itself known. When his parents came to visit he exploded at them. It caused a flurry of darkness to fill the room. His mother dispelled the shadows and rushed to hug her son. His parents were so proud. While Rhonen was revealed it happened he felt a little hallow. His mother's hug didn't really calm him. the shadow aspect felt cold to him. As cold as metal was...and as much as he did loved the feel of the cool metal, the darkness had a coldness that drained him.

 Once he was recovered his mother went straight into teaching him shadow aspects. If Rhonen thought his training was difficult, his mother was relentless. It felt like she was making up for lost time. She asserted her family prowess of shadow bending. She was a force to be reckoned with. She was so focused and intense that Rhonen blocked with metal in defense. His mother was not happy about that. Every time Rhonen defended with metal, his mother would show aggravation and push harder with shadows. Eventually she got so mad that she restricted Rhonen from using metal until he accomplished the lesson she was teaching. Rhonen began to not use metal around her in general. It became instinctive and ingrained into his brain. 

Rhonen didn't stop using metal altogether though. If he managed to sneak some time he would practice his metal work. He was becoming skilled at both shadows and metal but still preferred his root aspect of metal. He became the perfect son and his parents gushed over him. He didn't just learn his shadow aspect over those years. His parents also ingrained proper educate and a proud personality about his lineage.

Once Rhonen was allowed to embark on his own he felt free and unrestricted. Among social circles, Rhonen was popular and held in high regard for his skills. At some point Rhonen learned to make weapons with metal bending and trained in fighting with an educator. Eventually Rhonen grew bored and started to use his influence in skill to obtain power. Not only did he become respected but feared. Rhonen's abilities got him what he wanted and he started to crave the attention and the fear. He didn't want ultimate power though. He made himself known enough to have influence but not enough to be the fall guy if big groups fell.

Rhonen now spends time further metal bending and exploring. He can have an intense aura when he wants. People in his circles tend to not know a lot of his intense nature but can get a little just by being around him. He's not easy to approach but is not hostile if engaged. He may be proud of his family line but he won't flaunt it if he doesn't need to. He thinks it's unnecessary in most situations. While Rhonen can be fine with not getting his way, he won't be above threats if he really wants something. His darker side is not something that is shown to regular people so most people will very rarely see this side. He seems like a normal bird from the outside. Rhonen is not above having a good time and a laugh with friends.