Though there are many terms that could be used to describe Ballister--conscientious, responsible, kind--the worst word that might pop into many people's minds is: anxious. Ballister worries constantly about things to come and things that have already past, fretting over timetables and budgets and greatly vexed with things do not go according to plan, rarely able to relax. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, there is integrity to his word, and he always does what he sets out to do, no matter how much it overwhelms him. He is generous to the point of overextending himself, and the sort who does not sleep well until he knows that things are where they ought to be... so it's questionable when the last time he saw a solid night's sleep even was.

Coming from a deeply religious brood, Ballister is no exception. He is devoted in his faith, and dutifully attends church service every Sunday, much to his family's joy. Highly moral, his beliefs and his service to community come first in his life, and he refuses to do anything that would be in conflict with this, which his bandmates have come to embrace. His biggest concerns come from some of Slice's conduct, something doubtful that even Heaven could correct, but he has learned to put it mostly from his mind.

Ballister was never what you would call a problem child, but he's always had his quirks.

The middle of three siblings, from a young age he was faced with the usual middle child trials of keeping the peace between his younger and elder siblings, while receiving the attention of neither. On his own he was bright, though stricken with a surplus of what some would call 'nervous energy.' Unable to keep focus in many of his lessons at school despite otherwise excelling at them, a counselor recommended that Ballister's parents get him into an activity. When involving their son more in work on their family's farms failed, they turned to their church, which through one thing and another landed Ballister on the drum kit of the church's junior worship band.

Though this had little effect on the problems that plagued young Ballister, he found it gave him a secondary passion on top of an unexpected first: math. Logically minded, Ballister always carried an affinity for patterns and numbers, which perhaps aided him in processing the complex subdivisions of rhythm he began to encounter as his technique as a musician grew. However there was little place for such innovation in the gig that he started in. It was not until an older member of the band befriended Ballister, and turned him on to the world of heavy rock, that a new horizon opened up.

If one were to ask Ballister's parents, it was all downhill from there, but despite heavy objections they eventually learned to cope: first with Ballister's rebellious new style of dress and taste in music, then with his joining a local amateur rock band, and then his introducing them to his first boyfriend. The biggest objection, however, came when Ballister annouced that he would be applying to a university some hours from home, to persue a lifelong dream: Accounting. The young man was nearly persuaded out of it through some heavy guilting courtesy his parents, but in the end he prevailed, and made his way to the big city.

The culture shock that hit him upon arrival would be a tale all of its own.

Ballister kept up with his music through college, dabbling here and there with various ensembles, but eventually this fell by the wayside. After graduation, while seeking further certification, Ballister took up a senior position in a local bookkeeping firm in the city of South Rock, near his alma mater. As it would happen, one of the firm's clients was a well-known area music shop, Supersonica. As he became a regular of the shop and well-acquainted with the owners, he was allowed to use one of the shop's back rooms as a practice space from time to time, which was where he caught the attention of a young vocalist and guitarist looking to start a band. Though a new gig was not something he had necessarily been after, he was stricken by their enthusiasm and talent, and missed having the chance to exercise his chops, and (perhaps foolhardily) agreed.

It was with Ballister's presence, and the addition of a fourth, a bassist named Immabel, that the little band known as Strangeh8 was founded, and the rest is history...

Well no, the story didn't end that quickly. Ballister still struggles with balancing his work and his personal life, and their band leader's ambition is something beyond what the poor number-loving oni was cut out for, but he's along for the ride now, and getting off of it is never that easy.

When he was little he always loved math, and as soon as he found out that accountants get to deal with math all day, it became his dream job—a dream that he's well on his way to achieving. Currently studying to become a certified CPA.

Does not work at Supersonica but is often mistaken for an employee because the staff (and customers) ask him to pull high things down from shelves whenever he visits.

Has poor vision and normally wears contacts, occasionally wearing glasses when they prove inconvenient. 

Grew up in a rural country area and has two siblings, an older sister and a younger brother, and a large extended family living in the area, whose farms he was often consripted to help on when not in school, along with his siblings. His older sister has three children of her own currently, while his younger brother is an active duty service member. His parents are still in good health and constantly judgmental of him.

Once modeled for a "sexy farmers" calendar in order to earn money for school.

Despite being aware of the imbalanced economics of them, he becomes easily addicted to gacha-type gambling, and often has to forcibly remove himself from his obsessions.

Unlike the church he attended back home, though he still ascribes to the same oni-centric denomination, there is a surprisingly varied demographic amongst his current congregation, which was one of the biggest shocks of moving to a metropolitan area.

Is a practicing vegan, due to economical and ethical beliefs (rather to his family's chagrin).

[NSFW/18+] Despite his lack of interest in sex, Bal is a masochist, and often visits with a dom (Orzen) as a means of outlet and therapy for his acute anxiety. The two have a mutual understanding of privacy and hard boundaries in terms of intimacy; despite the mature and healthy set-up, Bal is still incredibly embarrassed by this side of himself, and refuses to divulge it to anyone else (though Lima, an active member of the kink community herself, one day finds him out by accident - but does not share his secret either).

key features

Horns, Tail, Pointed Ears, Fangs, Sharp Nails (Black)

Design Notes

• Please draw him with ears showing, where appropriate!

Description

Tall, green, and handsome is the primary descriptor for Ballister. Built in body but lanky in silhouette, Ballister towers over most of his peers, and even many of his own family. Sporting a hefty set of horns atop his head and a long and lashing tail, and wide-set shoulders, he cuts an imposing form, though the scowls often seen on his face are more reflective of his own inner turmoil than displeasure with anyone else. His thick skin is clear and smooth, free from piercings or other adornments, with a keen eye to hygiene. His greatest pride is his hair, which he keeps well conditioned and oiled for a perfect sheen.

In terms of dress, there are two distinct sides to Ballister. In his professional life, he wears traditional office attire--khakis, polos, nice dress shoes--but in his personal life he's all punk. From the spikes on his favorite jacket to the rips in his tight jeans, Ballister has the look of a rockstar through and through... not that he's vain or anything. Though he wears little jewelry, Ballister is rarely without a sign of his Christian faith, whether in the form of a rosary necklace or the emblazoned tees he wears. For him, this is plenty of decoration; anything more would be unneeded fuss.