Ash Lynx

ABOUT

ABILITIES

PERMISSIONS

MISC

WARNINGS

CODE BY

Please note that anything marked with a ** is headcanon. I will use this sparingly and only when canon lacks details. Weaknesses are combined with Abilities for those looking to get a leg up.

Ash has a long and triggering history. I wrote a detailed account of his past here. Wiki has a more summarized account here. Canon events can be found here or summarized by wiki here.

Ash is seen wearing glasses when in the library or on a computer for an extended amount of time. However, he's able to use his phone and move around without trouble. I believe he has a case of farsightedness that allows for some use of his eyes in everyday life but which will become painful for him when studying, using a computer, or anything that requires intense concentration of his eyes at a close distance.

At one point, he also develops anorexia nervosa due to a highly stressful/traumatic situation. I'll only take him from this canon point, or early in his recovery if it's relevant to the thread.

Please note that the following will have passing mentions of child abuse and sexual assault.

TDLR; sarcastic, rude, is nice to kids, will jump into a dangerous situation to save someone, traumatized

Ash's personality is much like an onion: there are multiple layers just as thick as the previous. On the surface, he's a horrifying gang leader. Those who follow him do so with the utmost respect and with no small amount of fear, even being too afraid to try and wake him up. Ash isn't above punishing those who go outside of their rules and isn't ashamed of doing so in front of an audience, sending a message that the same will happen to anyone else who steps outside of the line. However, an example of that line is 'we don't murder' and even if he takes shots at the men, he intentionally misses. While you have people who fear Ash, many still believe in his sense of morality and his strengths as a leader.

Of course, there are strong hints of a softer, warmer side that's often aimed at younger or more innocent characters. For example, enter Skip, a small boy who seems to have nowhere else to go, a boy that Ash cares for without a single hint of that cold edge. The young boy idolizes Ash, and in return, he thinks very highly of Skip and is sent into a murderous rage when he's killed. Jennifer is his stepmother, and he seems eager to return her kindness in turn, speaking softly and with a tone that seems uniquely for her, one that's unusually kind. Eiji later becomes the primary focus of this, as Eiji becomes the person who makes Ash open up in a way no one else can.

That isn't to say he's as selective as he may seem with his kindness. With words as sharp as knives, it's very easy to write Ash off as a rude and disrespectful young man; and he is. However, if you look at his actions, they show a very moral, kind man who has never managed to be the monster he claims to be. If someone is in trouble, he'll jump in to help, even risking his life to do so. Time and again, we see himself surrender to save someone else, and it's the most reliable way to gain his submission. While there have been moments in his history where he's more willing to kill, he's now adjusted his outlook to let someone go if doing so is safe.

In general, we see Ash being willing to do what has to be done. Does this mean saving himself? No. That isn't always the goal. Originally, his entire purpose for living is to get out from beneath the thumb of those who have ruled him for so long. He's been slowly building a case against Dino, waiting for the chance to strike. Ash was raised to be Dino's successor and used that to learn all of his operations, but he also took the initiative to find out things Dino wouldn't have shown him such as installing spyware to find out Dino's passwords, passwords he later uses to steal a lot of money from Dino. When the goal is to save those on his side, he puts himself in danger, knowing he'll most likely be able to escape. When Shorter is infected with the Banana Fish virus and is forced to kill Eiji, Ash is given a gun with one bullet. As soon as the gun is in his hand, Ash shoots Shorter through the heart, even though Shorter is easily his best friend. He's not cold and detached at this moment; instead, he's crying, screaming, and when he's pulled back into his chains, he begs for them to just kill him instead. Then, when he escapes, he burns Shorter's body, assuming it will keep them from performing further experiments on his corpse. In prison, when he needs inside the infirmary, he allows himself to be sexually assaulted.

That isn't to say he has no sense of self-preservation. He does. Unless he needs to let it happen, such as in the example above, he will kill anyone who tries to do anything without his consent. Though he seduces men to get an advantage, he rarely lets it get to actual sex. He'll go to extreme lengths to stop it, even turning a fork into a weapon to fight them off. The most heartbreaking instance happens when he's 8 and is forced to shoot the man who'd been raping him because the police aren't willing to step in.

It's also with Eiji that we see Ash act more like a normal teenager. He's hard to wake up, sometimes being pulled through numerous morning routines before finally waking up. He's also very picky with food and complains a lot about the foods Eiji makes for him, especially if they're Japanese. Ash is quick to complain to Eiji in general, but their banter comes naturally, without any fear or pain in their everyday conversations. While the sarcasm is still thick in his words, the teasing changes to minor insults and barbs. He also takes the initiative to ask about Eiji's hometown and his past, creating a more casual conversation than we hear elsewhere.

However, his usual wall also results in a strong inability to be emotionally vulnerable. Ash doesn't want pity. If his past is discovered, he'll do his best to act strong, and often, he'll respond with barbs instead of weakness if the choice is between the two. While there are some times in which the pressure manages to break him, it's rare. Instead, he's closed off, using the aforementioned sarcasm to keep people from getting too close. Subconsciously, despite wanting someone special, he even uses this to push people away such as the time Eiji suggests he can model in Japan. Ash's reply is that child whoring doesn't mean he can make it as a model. While he does apologize immediately after, the response comes from a lifetime of trauma.

Even as his life changes, he never loses the hardness inside of him. It's his shell, his protection. He fully believes that those who hurt him see nothing more than something to be used. As he says to Shorter, many of them seem shocked he'd actually speak up, shocked he would have an opinion on the matter. To him, it's also a power game, which is why he has to have the most power. It's also something he's willing to use should his friends be hurt. After he has to kill Shorter to save Eiji, Ash escapes Dino's mansion, killing dozens of armed guards singlehandedly and burns the place to the ground. When Eiji is shot, Ash immediately kills both of the men who shot him, using more bullets on each body than was necessary.

All of that shows that while he may have been forced into this life, he's adapted to it and will kill. While we normally see him trying to spare people whenever possible, we also see him being more proactive and tracking down people when he has to reclaim his territory. He's seen the world, he knows that if he hesitates, he dies. Canon reinforces this; the people around him are hurt whenever his guard drops. In a world of kill or die, he'll kill. He shoots someone in self-defense for the first time at the tender age of 8.

We do get to see what opening up to Eiji does. He's had other friends before. His brother Griffin is alive in the beginning, though he can't speak back so we only really get to see how much Ash loves him without receiving anything in return. Shorter is his best friend, and their relationship is easy, allowing for the same back and forth we see with Eiji though without the element that allows Ash to be quite as open. We see Ash being good with kids, both with Skip and with Max's son. However, for Eiji, Ash is willing to give up everything, including Banana Fish, which has been his key to taking down Dino. When Blanca -- Ash's old teacher -- threatens Eiji, Ash isn't sure of his ability to protect him. Not only does he agree to go back to Dino, but he also brings along the evidence of Banana Fish, allowing them to keep the drug a secret from the world. In the end, after Eiji is nearly killed, once Foxx and Dino are dead, Ash specifically decides it's over, that all of the killings need to end. Though at the moment, he thinks he'll continue to be a loser living on the streets, a letter from Eiji has him decide to go to Japan before he's shanked in the streets. Thanks, Banana Fish. My heart was good until then. Anyway, for two entire minutes, he had hoped he could move past his pain.

To further and fully understand Ash, it's critical to focus on two things. The first is to look not only below the surface but below his words as well. He's an unreliable narrator. Those who trained and shaped him did so to create a weapon, and the result is someone scarily efficient and capable of pushing down his emotions to rise to the challenge. His skill soon earns him titles such as 'demon' and 'monster', and many even don't consider him human. All of this reinforces the lesson that he's a bad guy, someone to be feared. So, he's a bad guy, someone to be feared. Only, he's not, so Ash has to work together to piece together these two different identities, someone who can rule with an iron fist and someone who doesn't like to admit murder. Instead of deciding he's a good person in a horrific situation, Ash instead twists reality to make himself a worse person than he is. It isn't to prove something or to make himself seem scarier; he's ashamed and feels guilt for the man he assumes himself to be. The biggest example is his claim to feel nothing over Shorter's death when we see him crumble at the kill. However, if he's as perfectly capable as they claim, surely he could have saved him. Since he didn't, he didn't care enough. So now, he feels nothing. Only, of course, none of it's true. It's why, despite all of his skills and intelligence, he doesn't see a world beyond the streets. ​

The second critical point is one that Ash doesn't acknowledge: he is a good person in a bad situation. Yes, he kills. Yes, he's rude. However, it's never been about wanting to murder. His first kill was as a child, to protect himself when no one else would. His second was also while a child and while being forced. While he makes mistakes and uses more force than necessary at moments, a huge majority of the violence comes only to defend himself or those with him. He hurts, just as anyone would in his situation. He hurts, but he cares deeply for those he's close to. He cares for children and doesn't want unnecessary death. Even when it's the dumb thing to do, Ash will be quick to sacrifice himself if it means stopping someone else from being hurt. It's only because he's so good that he feels such strong guilt when so many of his crimes weren't his fault. While he does internalize most of the guilt, he can, and does, apologize when he does something wrong to someone he doesn't think deserves it.

As mentioned when talking about the true Ash Lynx, the surface Ash is very different but there are still some core pieces included. Ash is sarcastic and rude no matter how good a heart he may have. He's prone to say harsh things, both casually and as a way to intentionally dig at someone. While he isn't trying to damage someone for life, those who meet him for the first time should expect a lot of his words to be sarcastic. While he can certainly also be charismatic and friendly, that can switch the moment he thinks he might need to protect himself.

On smaller notes, Ash doesn't care what strangers think of him. He's capable of ignoring insults and catcalls as if they're not even audible. Because of his training, while he's at home on the streets, fine dining and expensive taste are just as familiar to him and when he does have money, it doesn't bother him to spend big. Though his looks have been a burden to him, Ash also recognizes the power he holds because of them and does actively try to keep himself attractive. On an ending note, he's afraid of pumpkins.

Speech patterns: Casual, harsh, and sarcastic. Ash is well educated and has grown up on the streets, but neither of those shows through particularly strongly. He doesn't slur or speak in a New Yorker's accent, nor does he sound particularly intelligent unless he's actively showing off or trying to explain a complex topic. However, the harsh, sarcastic side does show through very easily unless you're a softer character that he's attached to or a child. Compliments are also few and far between. Instead of 'that was great', expect 'not bad'.

At 5'11, Ash is a relatively tall man. Thanks to his training, Ash carries a decent amount of muscle but does so on a slender frame. He's also quite pale. With platinum-blond hair and jade-green eyes, Ash is considered to be quite attractive in canon.

While a figurative human chameleon, his normal clothing is simple. Ripped jeans and a loose shirt, often white, are his go-to options. He'll don jackets and hoodies as the weather demands it.

I'll include some canon reference images. Clicking on a picture will take you to a larger version.

ABILITY

Computers

Ash is trained in hacking and the general use of computers. He won't be able to hack into the best of computers, but he has more skill than the average user.

Combat

Trained by a very skilled combatant, Ash is very skilled in martial arts, though his style doesn't seem to resemble any particular family of martial arts aside from the rule of cool. He's prone to using his legs a lot. Since he learned to fight as a younger teen and seems to always be against bigger enemies, he's learned to take out even multiple larger opponents by using both brain and brawn. Ash is capable of fighting even when drugged, injured, and even blind so he has practiced using all of his senses, meaning having one dulled isn't enough to stop him. More details here.

Weapons

His aim is beyond ridiculous, second possibly only to Vash the Stampede. He's seen using handguns, automatics, and even grenade launchers. A Smith and Wesson .357 Magnum with the barrel cut short (3.5") is the gun of choice. Ash is also practiced in using a knife, able to switch hands effortlessly. More details here. A reference to his weapon of choice can be found here.

Intelligence

His IQ, even when injured and at his weakest, is 180. It's shown to be even higher when tested again, stating it's above 200. He's also capable of doing extensive medical research and writing dissertations. Beyond the numbers, Ash is also good at learning and using his environment, thinking on his feet, has a variety of knowledge in assassinations and war techniques, and is trained in high-class knowledge. More details here.

Seduction

I'll keep it brief due to the triggering topic, but Ash knows how to use seduction to get what he wants. This normally doesn't go beyond getting someone into a compromising position that will allow them to be defeated more easily.

Misc

Ash is the type of character that seems to be able to do almost anything he tries. A combination of genius and athlete, most skills come very naturally to him so while he's not going to be an expert from day one, it's safe to assume he'll pick up new talents at a ridiculous speed.

WEAKNESSES : has a fear of pumpkins but will push through this in a fight; hostages; really, any hostage, take a stranger; hostages really are your best bet;

ooc backtagging ✓ fourth-walling ✓ threading jacking ? kidnapping ✓ injury ✓ killing ? physical contact ✓

MISCELLANEOUS

Family: Father (Jim Callenreese, alive), Mother (Unnamed, headcanon Emma, deceased), Brother (Griffin Callenreese, deceased)

Ash is afraid of pumpkins but doesn't fear death.

His favorite gun is the Smith and Wesson .357 Magnum with the barrel cut short (3.5"). He doesn't prefer keeping anything faster as he worries he'd kill too much before he could stop himself.

His diet is a bit inconsistent depending on how picky he's allowed to be. If he has the funds, he eats like a girl running for prom queen and is worried about fitting into her dress; if he's broke, he can handle most things. However, he hasn't enjoyed the Japanese foods Eiji's fed him, and he hates hamburgers.

For example, according to Eiji, his favorite dish is a shrimp avocado salad.

Dino is a member of the Corsican mafia, which has French origins. While the main organization is in France, Ash was meant to succeed Dino in taking over the American operation.

His job for the Corsicans was to enforce their loan shark operation and transport goods for them, which I equate to firearms. None of these jobs were done willingly, but he still did them effectively.

Ash's name is legally no longer Callenreese and was never legally Lynx. For all legal intents and purposes, his last name is now Golzine. Just as officially, Ash Callenreese/Lynx is dead. I mean, he's also actually dead, but even before he was, there were falsified reports of his death.

Ash keeps a messy room, but it could be worse.

Two of Ash's favorite foods are champagne sorbet and avocado and shrimp salad. He also enjoys New York-style hot dogs. However, Ash isn't a fan of hamburgers, natto, or dried fish. Overall, Ash tends toward a healthy diet to keep his figure and favors vegetables and such over greasy and fatty foods though there are exceptions. He is seen with a bag of chips so I'm assuming salty foods are his guilty pleasure.

Ash can be seen as a child here

WARNINGS

Dark content. Click to expand

SEXUAL ABUSE/PEDOPHILIA - Ash has been a victim of sexual abuse from the young age of seven. He was also sold into sex trafficking only a year later. Even during canon, ages 17-19, he is attacked and assaulted. This isn't something he's likely to discuss at all.

PROSTITUTION/SEX FOR FAVORS - Ash has been sold against his will and later to get medicine for his brother. At one point, he also learned to use it to get power to get protection, but he's since dropped the idea.

SUICIDE - The drug Banana Fish forces someone to kill the designated target before taking their own life.

EATING DISORDERS - Ash is eventually brought back to his abuser and while there, he develops anorexia nervosa and loses the ability to eat. He's kept alive on an IV and grows progressively weaker.

SENSORY DEPRIVATION - Is this even a warning? It seems pretty nightmarish to me, so... While in captivity, Ash's abuser would occasionally take him out in public. Before doing so, he'd use eyedrops that dilated his eyes to the point of practical blindness. He could still see light, but the world was literally one large blue

DRUG USAGE - The titular Banana Fish is a drug that's forced upon several characters. Ash also mentions Dino using drugs on the kids he sells to keep them compliant so it's likely he had an addiction at some point that he had to overcome.

POVERTY/GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION - The main theme throughout canon is the tendency of the rich to take advantage of the poor. Ash has lived on the streets, has sold himself for money, and is used by the rich and powerful. Dino's able to buy adoption papers to make Ash his legal son while still sexually abusing him.

If you wish to opt-out of interactions with Ash, please comment here. If you want to leave a note, please feel free, but an explanation isn't required. For those interested in tagging with him but would prefer to avoid the topics discussed above, I can certainly work around them.