Since it’s Pride, I thought I’d write about a queer character in my books for every day in June. I’m super behind but it’s the thought that counts, right?

Kerry is a bit of a self-insert since I have yet to read a book with an aro-ace agender character. He’s how I wish more characters on the ace/aro spectrum were written: doesn’t ever think about sex, has no interest in relationships, isn’t part of a relationship of any sort, and is perfectly fine just doing their own thing. 

Kerry, like me, is aro-ace and agender, but is agender masc so he uses they/him pronouns whereas I use they/them or they/she depending on the company. Kerry is the type of aro-ace who has no interest whatsoever in any sort of romantic or sexual relationship. He tolerates friendships, but also spends 50% of the time wondering why they made friends in the first place. While he is agender, he tends to dress more on the masc side when it comes to business but has been known to experiment with fashion when he’s in a good mood. Since Kerry is so close to my own identity, he means a lot to me and I’m very protective of them (even though that doesn’t prevent me from torturing them, haha).

Read More: Celebrating Queer Characters in My Books-Kerry McNair

Their theme song

The sound we hear, it is our hearts, they are in time
They’re marching clear and swift, the beat forever in our minds
It gives us hope, it gives us strength, you know, to carry on
Keep fighting ’til the end and past the end you will be strong

Too late to keep the world from dying
It’s not too late to spread the love you share

Kiss the Sky by Shawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra

Kerry is a rebel leader who prioritizes effectiveness and reasonable gains/low cost to martyrdom and wild gambles that could win everything but could also lose everything. He often clashes with Kingsley who approaches rebellion very differently and Kingsley develops a weird sort of crush/hatred. Kerry just despises Kingsley and does their best to stay away from him. Kerry also has anger issues (that isn’t helped by the fact that his best friend, Marcus is 6’5 and towers over him. Poor Kerry is only 5’1)

Kerry is the oldest and has a younger sister, Caroline. They lost their parents during the Shadow War and were passed along from uncle to uncle to desperately alcoholic uncle. They only had each other to count on and thus have a very strong bond. Kerry went to work at a local coal factory at the age of eleven when a Hevian, in desperate need of someone to do the books, pulled them out of line randomly and taught them basic arithmetic and accounting. Kerry took that knowledge and ran with it, which is why he’s affectionately known as the accountant among the crocodile rebels.

He joined the IFM, another crocodile rebel group, at the age of thirteen and befriends the intense, socially awkward, but inspiring Marcus Galloway. Together, they learned how to be effective rebel commanders and took control of the IFM at the age of sixteen and seventeen. Both of them are now the most wanted crocodile people in all of Heva and the Killbraugha.

Important Relationships

While Kingsley has weird love/hate feelings Kerry, he matters very little to Kerry, personally. Kerry hates him and wishes Kingsley would die, but that’s as much energy and mental thought they’ll put into their association with Kingsley.

His most important relationships are his friendships with Devin, Marcus, and his sister Caroline.

Devin

Normally, Devin would be the type of crocodile who would drive Kerry crazy. Devin is an absent-minded crocodile who always finds himself in a bit of love related drama but at least he means well. Kerry actually prefers Devin’s wife, Aimee, over Devin, and there are days when he wants to lock Devin in a trunk for a few hours just so he can have some peace and quiet.

As the book progresses, Kerry and Devin find a way to work together and actually become good friends, strangely understanding each other in ways no one else can. The key to their relationship is that Kerry hates violence unless it’s done in a cost effective, low risk way and Devin prefers to build community over attacking state targets. They’re able to find a way to marry both approaches to rebellion and create a powerful partnership.

However, there is a Kingsley shaped tension between Devin and Kerry because Kingsley is Devin’s best friend and Kerry despises Kingsley. Kerry doesn’t want to tear two friends apart, but at the same time, Kerry is convinced Devin needs to make a choice otherwise their whole cause is at risk.

Marcus

Marcus is Kerry’s best friend and fellow rebel leader. They met when they were young teenagers while joining the same terrorist group. They clicked instantly and together they clawed their way to the top and now command the most effective crocodile terrorist group in the region. Marcus is an unusually tall crocodile who is devout, socially awkward, and a bit of a dork in every day interactions, but when he’s on the battlefield he turns into an inspiring leader. He became the face of the movement while Kerry is in the background organizing everything.

Marcus has a bit of a suicidal/martyrdom streak which Kerry balances out with their own calculating approach to rebellion. Marcus and Kerry are devoted to each other and trust each other completely. Many people have tried to tear them apart, but it’s almost impossible and that’s what makes their terrorist organization so effective. They don’t always agree, but there isn’t a single decision they will tear them apart…..until Kingsley approaches them asking for an alliance.

Marcus is also dating Kerry’s sister and while Kerry doesn’t disapprove, they’re not thrilled about it either. Not because he distrusts Marcus, but because Kerry knows he and Marcus are dead crocodiles walking and they want their sister to be happy. They’ve already buried one husband, they don’t want her to buried another one.

Caroline

Caroline is Kerry’s sister and his closest friend. They lost their parents when they were young and were supposedly raised by their uncles, but really raised each other. They have an incredibly close relationship and love each other deeply even though the war against the Hevians is coming between them. While Caroline respects Kerry’s dedication to their people and their decision to join the IFM, it’s hard to have a sibling who’s already dead. Kerry knows she feels this way, but what else can they do?

Kerry does their best to keep in contact with Caroline while on the run, writing them weekly letters, even though he’s not always able to send them on a weekly basis so sometimes she’ll get five letters at once. Kerry is a key pillar in the lives of Caroline’s three sons, especially for Cathal, who is also ace and agender. Kerry can find their endless energy overwhelming and draining, but at the end of the day, he loves them more than anything and hopes he can give them a better world than the one he grew up in.