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Charles, at first glance, is an absolute spitfire of a teen. He's lively, impulsive, impossibly charming, and absolutely impossible to ignore. He might be a ghost, but that hasn't stopped him from living the (after)life he wants, reaching out to take control of his destiny with both hands. His warmth and brashness make him the perfect contrast to Edwin's calm restraint, making them nearly perfect as investigative partners and best friends both. He's passionately inquisitive about the world around him, and seems in some way unable to be quiet or still. he needs to be moving, he needs to be talking, he needs to be making the most of the chance he's got. He's the sort of boy who wades right into the middle of danger with a grin, not because he's never known fear, but because he's never learned that fear should be able to stop him.
He'll laugh and joke his way through his fear, but it's never to make light of it- it's a way for him to feel in control of it, rather than it controlling him. This allows him to show incredible bravery, to the point of recklessness at times, running towards chaos because he can't stand to feel helpless. This is never more true than when he's coming to the defense of those who cannot defend themselves, or even more so should he be coming to Edwin's defense. He is deeply protective and loyal to those he loves, and he loves so very easily if given half a chance. His bravery extends to his independence, and his instinct to challenge authority, especially should it be unjust, a clear byproduct of his unfortunate early life and how he died, failed in every way by every authority figure in his life, he now is determined to make sure that no one else is failed like he was. Tragedy in life could have made him bitter, cruel, but instead he just lives and loves all the more fiercely as if in defiance of the cruelty. Chooses kindness, . All he wants, though he'll never admit it, is to matter. To be enough.
Another thing vital to him is connections. Charles is not a boy well-suited to solitude, and Edwin has, since he died, been the heart of his world. He is his most comfortable with the other teen, teasing, affectionate, fiercely loyal and protective. He does his best to be his partner's bridge to the world, grounding the often stoic boy with his own warmth and mischief. He's never had good examples of loving relationships to learn from, so he doesn't quite realize just how deeply his love for Edwin actually goes, simply assuming that... this is how a person loves their best friend, their other half, their person. With others, Charles is typically approaching any interaction as a chance to make another friend. He's outgoing, charming, flirts in an almost habitual way at times. Does his best to make others smile and laugh no matter if the timing might sometimes be terrible. Personable, but at times he can come across as overconfident. However friendly he is, Charles isn't one to suffer people treating him as lesser for things like what he is, or his supposed age. And he's not one to allow others to be treated that way either, will always step in, reckless, mouthy and irreverent to whoever the offender is, no matter how important or powerful they might be. He is, despite his laissez-faire attitude at times, so very sincere in how he cares for others, and it shines through in everything he does, more than he might realize or intend.
This does not mean he's not without his flaws and failings. Dead or no, Charles is as human as anyone else despite his larger than life persona. Despite encouraging others towards understanding their own emotions, he so often avoids his own. Hides his uncertainties and painful feelings behind a mask of confidence and humor, which leaves him unable to process them. This sometimes ties into his impulsive behaviors, where he avoids painful revelations by acting without thinking things through, as if he could somehow outrun the reality of his own mind and heart. And unfortunately, this feeds into how he seems almost unable to be still, quiet, as if he might just fade away if he can't move, can't do. And with how responsible he feels for protecting Edwin, for defending those around him, any failure to do so feels like a moral failing. Like he's failing at his purpose. Like those around him will see him fail and decide that he's not good enough. That he's just like his father. That they'd be better off if they left him behind. And that, to a boy so desperate for love and understanding is a harrowing prospect. So, he winds up overcompensating. Smiling too bright. Laughing a bit too loud. Taking a risk he shouldn't, as if he can prove his worth if he can just endure so others don't have to. He tries his best, his heart is clearly in the right place, but sometimes, that's not quite enough to avoid turmoil.
In the end, Charles is like a flame in a lantern that refuses to go out in defiance of the encroaching dark. He's loud, loyal, and just a little bit lost. While he might be physically dead, he's so very alive in spirit and heart, full of stubborn, almost defiant hope, turning death, which could have been a quiet, miserable prison, into an adventure, one he intends to share every step of with Edwin. He is a ghost who's never stopped living. He'll face down demons, witches, eternity itself with a smile on his lips and a quip on his tongue, because if he stops to think about what's gone, he might never start back up again.