Erebus

Erebus is Umbra's older brother, and every bit as mean and nasty. Apparently it runs in the family. However, there are reasons why both of them are as bitter as they are. When Erebus was four, and Umbra not yet born, Erebus' mother passed away. His father soon remarried, and when Erebus was five, Umbra was born. Erebus never forgave his father or his step-mother for trying to replace his mother, but he could not hate Umbra. He found the baby boy captivating, so when his step-mother neglected Umbra, Erebus took charge of him instead. Umbra latched on to him in return, and the two became inseperable. Umbra looked to Erebus for everything; it was Erebus who meted both discipline and praise, albiet in a child's haphazard way. They adored each other so much that they paid almost no attention to their parents, and neither of them noticed their parents' marriage falling apart around them. However, when Umbra was five and Erebus was ten, their parents seperated. The surrounding legal battles resulted in splitting them up -- Erebus went with his father, while Umbra was given to his mother. It took the help of several well-meaning relatives to seperate the two kicking, screaming, crying boys that clung to each other, but seperated they were. And Erebus' father moved clear across the country, making certain they could never see each other again. Erebus did everything he could to try and get his brother back, but he was only ten, and his father was determined. He failed. So he decided to make the life of everyone around him a living hell as a result. And he's continued to live that way ever since, so much so that it's become a part of who he is. When he grew old enough to understand the way of things, he began to hunt for his brother himself; but it took him two years to find out where he was and another year to work and save enough money to get there. Now it's just a matter of finding out if his brother remembers him or not.

Eldritch

Eldritch is a bit of an aloof, moody type, who's best known for always being in the background, watching with knowing eyes, and saying hardly a word. The moody attitude coupled with his good looks and unusual style has been known to sway many a heart, but Eldritch isn't interested. He finds people a disappointment; he has high standards in what he finds interesting, and most people just don't live up to it. He's interested in the human brain, mental illnesses in particular (including his own) but he doesn't talk about such things because he knows that most people don't care about them. Most people just want to discuss the weather or the latest gossip, and he'd rather have no conversation than an inane one. This can make him quite abrupt and short with people who try to talk him. Eldritch avidly enjoys skateboarding and can usually be spotted with his skateboard in hand. Not only is it a completely solitary pleasure, with no interaction required, but he also loves the rush he feels whenever he does difficult tricks; it's one of the few things in life that never disappoints him. Eldritch met Erebus several years ago, and from the start was quite taken with his attitude. Erebus also only talks when he has something worth saying, and Eldritch somehow found a kindred spirit buried in his surliness. Erebus was slow to warm to him at first, but the two became close friends, and Eldritch is second only to Umbra in Erebus' life. Eldritch is currently at a stagnant point in his life; he doesn't know what to do with himself, or where to take his life from here. So when Erebus announced he was flying across the country to find his long lost brother, Eldritch decided to go with him. He had nothing worth staying for anyway, and why not take a chance and risk everything?