Editing Abraham Musser (section)

==Personality==
He has an interest in movies wanting to make one himself,<ref>Your father talks about a movie he wishes to make, but he takes so few steps.- [https://palewebserial.wordpress.com/2021/07/31/false-moves-12-z/ Excerpt] from [[False Moves 12.z]]</ref> a trait that goes back to his childhood.<ref>“What are these for?  Music?”<br><br>“Movies, sir.  Opera of the Void.”<br>[...]<br>And if he was forsworn there would probably be no games, no friends, no movies, no family- his family would probably ''kill'' him.  Or keep him in some dark place to point to as an example.  Or both.<br>[...]<br>If he could destroy or replace his Self?  Could he keep just- what did he even want?  If he could obliterate every iota of his Self, except for- except for a ''kernel''.  Just one piece of himself that was happy.  When had he last been happy?<br><br>Going to the movie with Timothy. - [https://palewebserial.wordpress.com/2022/04/02 Excerpt] from [[Gone and Done It 17.z]]</ref> All other personality traits were essentially overridden by his taking over as family head.

As family head, The Musser, Abraham has an extreme force of personality focused on growing his own power and that of his family. This has left him with an extremely authoritarian attitude.<ref>Apparently assholes were something that got [Jessica] talking.  “Musser is a ''taker''.  He takes power, he takes familiars, he takes implements, he takes demesnes.  He takes things people think are safe and he’s very mindful of doing all the while.  Bristow was a collector, an important distinction, because he wasn’t on guard for Alexander ''taking'' Tanner from him.  Tanner was an [[Aware]], could read the writing on the wall…”<br><br>“Yeah, we got the gist, student guide and everything.”<br><br>“Good.  A collector has to be very wary, at all times, because it’s very easy to bring the wrong piece into your collection and ruin everything.  The counterfeit, the cursed, the tricky things and people.  As a ''taker'', same idea.”<br><br>“Being careful about what he takes?”<br><br>“He’s very unwilling to take shit, to take insubordination, any of that.  He takes ''selectively'', he won’t take just any implement.  He’s always building an image.  He holds himself up as a breed above and unfortunately, we live in a world where far too many out there, Other and human, will see that and go along with it.”-[https://palewebserial.wordpress.com/2021/07/24 Excerpt] from [[False Moves 12.9]]</ref> Still he is very socially skilled.<ref>“Depends how young a Musser you mean.  But that’s more about who they are than who I am.  I don’t think there’s many out there who could resist Alexander’s charisma, if he truly wanted to get on your side, or Musser’s force of will.  How Musser could make you feel so privileged to be in his good graces, considered a friend.” - [https://palewebserial.wordpress.com/2022/07/27 Excerpt] from [[Crossed with Silver 19.z]]</ref>
===Relationships===
===[[Lawrence Bristow]]===
He was a founder at the Blue Heron Institute and [[Bristow]]'s right-hand man, but after Bristow was replaced by [[Alexander]] as headmaster Abe got into an argument with Alexander and seldom visited the school, even when dropping off his kids.<ref name=":1">“Musser was one of the school founders, wasn’t he?  But he sorta isn’t a part of things anymore.  Which makes it sound like he was pushed out by Alexander.”<br>[...]<br>“If you want to learn about implements, then you should talk to Mr. Sunshine,” Melody said.  “There’s Mr. Musser, but he’s rarely around and Mr. Sunshine is way more approachable-” - [https://palewebserial.wordpress.com/2020/11/07 Excerpt] form [[Cutting Class 6.4]]</ref> When Bristow returned to the school, he traveled a long way to be at his side again.<ref name=":2">“You finish your ritual?” Jarvis asked.<br><br>“I did,” Lucy said.  She adjusted the angle of her head.<br><br>“Congratulations.”<br><br>“Thank you.”<br><br>“You know, if you want to make the most of it, you should ask Mr. Musser.  He came a long way to be here for our new headmaster.  I know you were hanging out with Raquel Musser last week.” <br>[...]<br>“He invited Musser back.  And Musser hasn’t been back in person since he and Alexander got in an argument years ago.  Doesn’t even drop off his kids, normally.” - [https://palewebserial.wordpress.com/2020/11/24 Excerpt] from [[Cutting Class 6.9]]</ref> However he was considered a guest teacher who had agreed to be there with Alexander in advance.<ref>“Raymond has been serving as a guest teacher for a year while pursuing other projects, but is returning this summer and fall, at the very least.  We’re glad to have him.  On the topic of guest teachers, I would like to extent my gratitude to Mr. Bristow, Electra Miraz, the Ports, the Crowes, Mr. Musser, and Ms. Lair, for agreeing to come this summer, and to anyone and everyone else who decides they can find the time.  To others too numerous to name, I would extend thanks for the loaning of books for the student library.” - [https://palewebserial.wordpress.com/2020/09/01 Excerpt] from [[Leaving a Mark 4.5]]</ref>

Following Bristow's fall, he took up most of his cause.
===[[Anthem Tedd]]===
They're genuine friends. In part due to their similarities.
===[[Grayson Hennigar]]===
Also friends due to their similarities.

===Children===
[[List of BHI Students#Reid Musser|Reid Musser]] is his son,<ref name=":0">Reid Musser<br>Reid takes after his father, a school founder, but does not necessarily follow in his footsteps.  He has been traveling the world since he was fifteen, studying in its various forms.  Reid keeps a collection of nine Implements and two Familiars, Blackhorne and Drowne, a trick that owes to close-held family secrets.  He attends Advanced classes and helms one special project in the workshops. - Bonus Material: [https://palewebserial.wordpress.com/2020/09/10/4-7-spoilers-student-guide/ Student Guide]</ref> but was mainly used as a tool. Abe banished his other son Donovan.<ref name="fam">“Money rings hollow.  Your wife keeps track of the various relationships, doesn’t she?  Meets with Adelade, Ursanne, Richard…?”<br><br>
“Yes.  You’re thinking of marriages?”<br><br>“They’re putting a lot at stake to help bring this to pass.  Let’s let them feel a part of the success.  What better way than to bring them into the family?”<br><br>“If only it was that easy.  There are only so many bachelors and bachelorettes.  I was talking to Duchamps the other week, and we talked about arranging for a ten year old to marry a ten year old, six years from now.  That’s thin, even with oaths, but we’ve still exhausted most of our youth in that manner.  How much further am I to go?  I insinuated to Wye Belanger that if he got a girlfriend pregnant, there’s a Musser child on the way.  Children not even born yet.  What chips do I have?”<br><br>“Your father banished members from the family.  You have as well.  Donovan?  Billie?  Bring them back in?”<br><br>“There would be angry mutterings when I wasn’t in the room, in the various Musser properties.  And I would have to mind the mutterings of those who were banished and brought back.  They wouldn’t necessarily repay me with gratitude.”<br><br>“A knife in the back, instead?  I could see it.” - [https://palewebserial.wordpress.com/2022/01/22 Excerpt] from [[Left in the Dust 16.z]]</ref>

[[Raquel Musser]] is his niece, but he raised her after her mother was cast out of the family. As a result of their weaker connection, as well as gender issues within the Musser family tradition, she's been disfavored.<ref name="ew">“It’s my job to keep these two from puffing themselves up too much,” Kass said, indicating the other two on her bench with a swish of her thumb.  “They talk fancy and dress nice but they lean too much on the family name.  You aren’t defined by the family you come from.”<br><br>“You’re a ''little bit'' defined by the family you come from,” Raquel said.  “If you try, you can be the best bits of it.”<br><br>“You’re going to have to try awfully hard, Raquel,” Kass said, sitting back against the bench.  “You’re not a boy, and only boys get the best of what the Mussers have to offer.”<br>[...]<br>“Was it your dad that was a school founder?” Avery asked.<br><br>Raquel looked over, still clearly ''very'' pissed, and pissed in a way that made her look hostile even as she turned to Avery.  “Uncle. But he raised me, more or less, after my mother was removed from the family.”<br><br>“That’s pretty heavy,” Lucy said.<br><br>“You aren’t lying.  And, I’ll say this, there’s ''way'' more to things than gender, like me being a niece, and not his actual kid,” Raquel said.  - [https://palewebserial.wordpress.com/2020/10/27 Excerpt] from [[Cutting Class 6.1]]</ref>

Commenting on [[Elise Norwood]]'s age, Musser stated that she looked "young enough to be my illegitimate child." This unusual choice of phrasing may indicate that he has one or more natural children born out of wedlock.<ref>“You look young enough to be my illegitimate child,” Abraham said.  “Oh, this is going to be a shitshow, isn’t it?”- [https://palewebserial.wordpress.com/2021/07/17/false-moves-12-a/ Excerpt] from [[False Moves 12.a]]</ref>

He sees his extended family as commodities for political maneuvering,<ref name="fam"/> his nephew [[Sullivan Fletcher]] was put in situations where he could have died to prove Abraham's resolve.<ref>Sullivan Fletcher, of House Musser.  Nephew to Abraham Musser.<br>[...]<br>“Guaranteeing loyalty,” America added.  “Sullivan here goes somewhere as a show of trust to someone else.  If Musser screws up or betrays them, they get to at least off his nephew.”<br><br>“I’m prepared to contribute to the family,” the little boy announced.
 - [https://palewebserial.wordpress.com/2022/01/18 Excerpt] from [[Left in the Dust 16.y]]</ref>

===[[Lighthouse]]===
He knows [[Gerald Haris]] and has a non-aggression treaty with the Lighthouse, they don't go after him in exchange for Bristow providing them with Aware. Since Bristow's removal, they've fallen behind on their agreement.<ref>“We have arrangements with the Lighthouse.  Nonaggression pact.  We supply you with Aware.  The building in Winnipeg.”<br><br>“Surely you can name the person in charge of ‘the building in Winnipeg’,” Elise said.<br><br>“I can.  Bristow?  He was a colleague.”<br><br>“Was is the operative word,” Haris called out.- [https://palewebserial.wordpress.com/2021/07/14 Excerpt] from [[False Moves 12.a]]</ref>
===Spouses===
He's been married twice, the first time shortly after the founding of the Blue Heron Institute and the second time more recently to a significantly younger woman named Carolyn.<ref>“Which time?  The first marriage was about three years after Lawrence and Alexander founded the Blue Heron.  The second was only a few years ago.  More peaceful.  Carolyn, my second wife, was nineteen, but she’s risen nicely to the occasion.  Manages the house and finances, sets up events, sometimes with her sister’s help.  I can send her to meetings to speak in my place, and trust that if the subject turns to things she doesn’t have the power to answer, she’ll end things without breeding any bad blood.” - [https://palewebserial.wordpress.com/2021/10/26/fall-out-14-z/ Excerpt] from [[Fall Out 14.z]]</ref>