Behind the Hero: Captain Damon Antema

When Bree and I were doing our kamikaze-style brainstorming and worldbuilding for Sexual Healing, the first character I really connected with was our hero. I immediately felt like maybe I could capture the essence of a man who deals in pain, lives with it every day, but can usually rely on his discipline to handle things and get the job done.

So Bree let me have him, grateful (I think) that she would get a break from the alpha-male mindset for a little while. But the part of Captain Damon Antema which drew me wasn’t his usual resting state, it was what happened when he was pushed beyond. Beyond the point where he could even pretend he was still okay with what he’d done and seen. So he’s walking a fine line next to the crazy, there.

And this picture of Eion Bailey sort of captures that for me. Not that he looks crazy, but the picture does reflect a certain intensity that was what I had in mind. And while Damon probably didn’t start out with a beard and too-long hair, I have no problem imagining him this way, because the war is not going so well. Things like regulation haircuts tend to fall by the wayside when you’re just scrambling to hold your position.

Damon’s a psychic warrior, which means he exists as a foil for Noelle and healers like her. He uses his powers to attack and defend. To hurt, not heal. But he’s like thousands of other soldiers throughout the ages: he does it because he has to, not because he wants to.

He also doesn’t want to go to Elysium and visit a healer. He has too much other stuff to do, even if part of him knows he can’t do it well unless he’s well. Needless to say, one look at Noelle changes his mind about his willingness to be there. But he’s going to do it his way.

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