Thomas Underwood, usually called Tommy, is the “T” in “T&H General Services.” He features in several of my stories, most prominently in my first published story “Kitsune-tsuki” where he and his partner Hashito exorcise a nogitsune or wild fox-spirit from the body of Tommy’s old flame Linda.
Tommy’s mother is American, but his father is a fairy-being she met on a trip to the British Isles. This fey blood gives Tommy the ability to manipulate and sometimes invoke the four basic elements: Air, Earth, Fire and Water. It also gives him spiritual and mystical awareness. Tommy is very cheerful and humorous, even goofy. He rarely seems to take things seriously. While he is an optimistic person some of this is a front to protect him from the rejection he has experienced throughout his life. He grew up with little and without the knowledge of who his father was, so he was often the object of ridicule and rejection. He also strives to focus on positive emotions, for fear of what negative ones might bring forth from his tempestuous fey blood. He often finds himself at odds with mainstream society’s rejection of the magical and spiritual, things that are so much a part of who he is.
He is passionate about helping others and has a strong sense of justice. He’s deeply devoted to Hashito as his closest, dearest friend although he struggles with fear and feelings of inadequacy when they face threats involving ghosts, spirits and other things with no physical form, as his elemental powers are usually of limited use against them.
