THE PHYSICAL:

Hair: Straight. Medium blonde. Fairly thick. Long (middle of the back). Worn loose at home, usually, or in an art-guy ponytail.

Eyes: Average set. Average size and usually squinted. Soft gray. Brown eyebrows that make him look somewhat noble.

Nose: Long, thin and aquiline.

Mouth: Thin lips. Full set of the usual teeth and in fine condition. Has a snake-like forked tongue that can be flicked out if he feels like it.

Skin: Light tan and rather scaly.

Face: Sharp chin. High forehead. Cheeks are a little hollowed. Has gills on the sides of his neck, but they’re not very visible. Ears have little bony flipper-looking ridges behind them, which fan water past his gills to help him breathe when submerged.

Age: By Book 5, mid thirties.

Height: Rather tall, about 6’2”.

Weight: On the thin side.

Body: Has a healthy body and broad shoulders. Strong enough but not muscular. Webbed fingers and toes. Right-handed.

Ethnicity: Has German and French ancestry—human parents—but doesn’t consider himself human.

Distinguishing features: People will notice his tongue when he talks, more often than not, and notice his webbed fingers when he uses his hands. If he doesn’t have his body covered up in his princely clothes, his scaly skin is obvious.

Voice: High end of baritone in pitch. No discernible accent. Doesn’t laugh often, but when he does it’s usually short and quiet.

Gestures: Chews on a toothpick often. Usually doesn’t open his eyes all the way. Sighs audibly when someone disgusts him. Has a way of stalking around like he’s brooding.

Clothing and style: Often wears a cape. His usual outfit is pseudo-medieval garb, complete with boots or fancy shoes. Obviously he doesn’t wear gloves. When swimming he has a wetsuit he can wear for longer trips, but when sitting around in water to relax he generally just wears his swimming shorts.

THE PERSONAL:

General mood: Ordinarily gruff and brooding, with a tendency toward pessimism. This has developed through general jadedness toward the world and its attitude, and from being alone. His general mood becomes more agreeable after he gets a girlfriend in Book 2.

Talents and abilities: Can breathe underwater in the ocean. Is fairly innovative and good with his hands. In the past he has been a rather good storyteller. Can catch fish with his hands and knows how to survive in the wilderness.

Weaknesses and shortcomings: Has generally low self-esteem and always seems to have a negative thing to say about any situation. Tries to motivate others by verbal abuse. Tends to sulk if he doesn’t get his way.

Interests: Likes reading, studying medieval history, medieval re-enactment, and the ocean.

Pet peeves: Being disrespected, being mocked or teased, being alone.

Phobias: No phobias, but fears living without companionship.

Eating habits: Generally eats when he’s hungry and stops when he’s not hungry anymore. Likes seafood of all types (especially sushi), particular brands of beer, and snacky foods like hot dogs and potato chips.

Education: Has a high school diploma, reads and studies well.

Language abilities: Fairly eloquent but tends toward silence after he’s said his piece. Speaks only English.

Occupation: No “real” job, just lives off the house’s income.

Political affiliation: Tends toward Democratic beliefs.

Religious beliefs: He’s more or less agnostic. Sometimes he thinks there’s a God, but he doesn’t really have any worship practices.

Sexual orientation: Heterosexual and rather traditional about men’s and women’s roles.

Marital status: His girlfriend Candace comes into play in the second book. They intend to be together for life, and have exchanged rings they wear on silver chains around their necks, but do not plan to get married as they don’t have an institution that they wish the approval of, nor do they care if their union is legal.

Family information: Alix is an only child and his parents are still living, but they are fairly distant in Wisconsin. He still has a legal residence and legal identity, but tends to pretend he has no last name and does not use his legal identity very often. Once or twice he has had to prove he’s a citizen in order to receive benefits he requires.

Friend information: His best friend is of course his girlfriend, Candace. He has a sort of cooled friendship with Dax, and a healthy but grudging respect for Adele.

Other information: Alix wasn’t always as negative as he became later in the story—he always had the tendencies, but was more positive in his youth. Though some of his differences from the rest of humanity would not be difficult to correct with cosmetic surgery, he never did so because he’s actually fairly proud of how he is. He just doesn’t like their attitudes.

THE STORY:

Alix grew up knowing he was different, in the human world, and isolated himself a lot more than humanity probably would have. He developed a feeling of superiority—not so much that he was different from “them,” but that he was somehow “better.” He discovered he could breathe water at age six, and thought it was a wonderful thing, it made him special.

He finished school like anyone else but didn’t want to go on to college because he thought he had a bigger destiny. He left to try living in the ocean, actively longing for companionship and a release from the constraints of human civilization. He discovered he was just too human to survive in the ocean even if he was better equipped than the usual person, and made his way to land, where he met Dax and Weaver.

His new friends bonded with him and taught him how to live in the wild. He adjusted (with complaints) to life outside and later met Adele. Finally he had a peripheral role in trying to raise Ivy, but mostly he tried to stay out of her way. Which only encouraged her, of course. He was one of Ivy’s favorite people to annoy.

He withdrew socially somewhat from the house, worked his part and built the tunnels and tried to help motivate for the missions, but after doing some exploring on his own he met Candace, and she really changed his life for the better. They have a quiet social life and like to play games and read and write stories and poetry together.

FAVORITE ALIX QUOTES:

“Suddenly a woman tells you what to do, and you melt?” –Book 0, chapter 5

“I think there’s something to be said for following your gut feeling.” –Book 0, chapter 5

“All I can say is that these two have treated me more like family than anyone who was born in this reality. Maybe it means I’m screwed up, but I don’t knock it. These guys are my friends.” –Book 0, chapter 5

“You’ve had your fun, now get back to work.” –Book 1, chapter 1

“I grew up with regular people, you know . . . I know how to get away with it.” –Book 1, chapter 11