Basics

Long ago, there existed a goddess who hated his divinity; his being chafed against the circumstances of his birth. It was not the fault of his guardian, nor the other goddesses. It was simply who he was. Reyne, the goddess of life, longed to be mortal. So powerful was this drive that one day, he could no longer bear the burden; he threw himself into the river that divides the astral world from the material, shedding the coil of his divinity in the process. Though Reyne told no one of his intentions, he felt a presence at his side when he washed up on that mortal shore. Of course it was Xerzaephes. They had been inseparable since the day they began to live, and Xerzae understood him too well to be fooled; just as he would do for them, they followed him wherever he went. So it was that the two began a new life in the material world as humans, life and death together even beyond goddesshood.

Though Reyne loved his new life spent with Xerzaephes, it was not pure sunshine and roses. When the other goddesses were forced into the material world, unwillingly stripped of their divinity, and brought news of Lanea’s death… he knew. He knew it was his first rebellion that had destroyed the pantheon, and brought low the lives of his friends in the process. That killed their guardian! It was right for Theo to hate him; Nyaomi and Ruii should have done the same. Things have never been the same since. Reyne is trying to live the life he once desired so terribly, but it’s hard to do when he’s aware of how high a price it was bought with. It would probably be for the best if Xerzaephes left him for what he’s done, but Reyne could not bring himself to live in a world without them.

Often stone-faced and only willing to give short responses, Reyne is not the most approachable man in the world. Though he seems cold and distant, his serious personality stems from insecurity; his struggles to fit in, his overly critical thoughts, his constant guilt. Reyne has shut himself away from others not out of awkwardness or dislike, but because he does not believe he deserves love or compassion. The only person he opens up to is Xerzaephes, his partner, soulmate, and closest friend all in one; they alone understand his heart in all its complexities. Even with them, however, Reyne fears that he has ruined their life, taken too much from them. What happened to the other goddesses haunts him in every waking moment, and often during dreams as well. He is deeply self-loathing, often attacking himself for supposedly being selfish, manipulative, and cruel.

His partner is the single most important thing in his entire life, to the point his attachment can easily become unhealthy. Reyne will do anything for Xerzaephes, even if it turns him into a monster. He would kill for them, if he had to. Beneath his outer quiet nature, below his deepest fears and doubts, lies an intense anger within him. It is an unthinking vortex born from a need to lash out, to hurt first before others can do so. Violence is not beyond Reyne’s capabilities. In some AUs, it’s turned on people he once cared for. But NEVER Xerzaephes. Reyne would never physically harm them, no matter what, not even if his own life were at stake. But other people are not afforded the same care; he will always choose Xerzae over all others.

He hated being a god, end of. Reyne does not regret the end of his goddesshood itself, only that Xerzaephes ended up involved, and that it snowballed into hurting the others. Throwing immortality away in itself meant nothing to him; he likes his life as a mortal. Reyne loves his pet cats-he loves building things, he loves decorating the house for his partner. He loves being mortal with his partner. Reyne would never, ever go back. Though he deeply misses Lanea, he would not be able to bear a world where he forced himself to live that life.

Reyne is a man of a lanky height, with warm dark brown skin, silver eyes, and short silver hair (alternatively, can be portrayed with black hair instead). He is perpetually frowning except in very rare moments, and is not visually expressive. A small collection of piercings adorns his ears, including a silver claw-shaped one he favors above the others. His clothes are typically simple, as he’s not fond of flashy colors or accessories, preferring neutral tones and aesthetics. Things like slacks, peacoats, button-ups, these are his style. His single point of non-neutral colors are his nails, painted a purple shade to match Xerzaephes.