“ | —No problem at all! 'Cos you're my dear son! | ” |
—Retrace XLVII: Unbirthday |
Introduction
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Oscar Vessalius (オスカー=ベザリウス, Osukā Bezariusu) is a supporting character from Jun Mochizuki's Pandora Hearts. He is the head of the Vessalius Dukedom and uncle to Oz and Ada Vessalius. Compared to his elder brother Xai, Oscar is far more personable and approachable. His affable and carefree nature makes some think of him as a fool, and others admire him for his charisma. Due to his loving nature, he is considered their true father figure by Oz, Ada, and even Gilbert.
Though Xai is the elder of the two brothers, it was Oscar who inherited the title of Duke Vessalius; the reason for Xai not having this title is never expanded upon. However Oscar had no affinity for Contracting, so Xai instead Contracted their family's Black Winged Chain Gryphon. One fateful day Oscar went out disguised to Old Town in Reveil and met Sara, a commoner's daughter, whom he eventually fell in love with. Despite outside disapproval, the two of them married and had a child, living happy lives together. However Sara and their son both died in childbirth. Oscar became an uncle when Xai and his wife Rachel Cecile had Oz, then Ada. Shortly after Rachel died in a carriage accident. While Oscar did not know the full and exact reasons why, since then Xai had been nothing but cold and distant towards his children, particularly Oz. As a result, Oscar in his place took on a parental role for Oz, Ada, and when he appeared at the Vessaliuses' Door to the Abyss, Gilbert as well.
Oscar was deeply burdened by Oz's existence and at times nearly came to resent him for it, unable to stop himself from wishing his own son could be present instead. But at the same time, Oz's presence was what grounded Oscar through his grief for Sara and their son. Oz had always been extremely perceptive and deeply empathetic even as a young child, and as a result he detected his uncle's grief near instantly. This lead to Oz almost seriously injuring himself to save Oscar's treasured camera, which he had hoped to use for his son's birth. Oscar slapped Oz for his recklessness, but Oz simply begged Oscar to not throw away the camera, filled with such precious feelings. Since that incident, Oscar swore to himself to love Oz with everything he had regardless of his own baggage, knowing that Oz would one day need Oscar to save him from being swept away. Just as Oz did for him all that time ago.
Appearance[]
Oscar has blonde hair and a goatee. In the first episode, he wore a blouse and black pants, but in the Pandora headquarters, he wears the standard Pandora uniform.
Personality[]
He is always seen as cheerful and bright, just like Oz. He's very protective of Ada as seen when he received a letter from Ada saying that she loves somebody and Oscar set Oz, his friends, and himself on a mission to Lutwidge Academy. He is somewhat a pervert, as explained by Break.
Powers and Abilities[]
Oscar lacked the proper qualities to form a Contract with Gryphon or any other Chain, as stated by Vincent, and thus he has no access to any kind of Abyssal power apart from the Vessalius Key to the Abyss. Oscar is never portrayed as an individual with a aggressive persona, and thus he rarely takes part in conflicts; only doing so in the conflict that ended with Oscar's death. For this reason, Oscar is never shown wielding a sword or a gun in combat, so it is unknown as to the extent of his skill with them. Therefore, Oscar has no powers or abilities which set him apart from his peers.
Quotes[]
- "Looks like I caught a pair of bad, little brats!" (to Oz and Gilbert)
- "You are... my precious son!"
- "Oz, you probably have no idea...what it meant to me...to be held by...that small hand of yours...what torture it was."
Appearances[]
- Retrace I: Innocent Calm (First Appearance)
- Retrace II: Tempest of Conviction
- Retrace III: Prisoner&Alichino (Mentioned only)
- Retrace IV: Rendezvous (Mentioned only)
- Retrace VI: Where am I?*
- Retrace VII: Reunion*
- Retrace VIII: Whisperer
- Retrace X: Malediction*
- Retrace XII: Where am I? (Mentioned only)
- Retrace XIII: A Lost Raven
- Retrace XIV: Lop Ear
- Retrace XVII: Odds and Ends
- Retrace XXI: Discord
- Retrace XXIV: Hello my sister!
- Retrace XXVI: The pool of Tears*
- Retrace XXVIII: Modulation
- Retrace XXIX: Rufus Barma*
- Retrace XXXIII: Echo of Noise*
- Retrace XXXV: Madness of lost memory*
- Retrace XL: Blindness*
- Retrace XLII: Stray
- Retrace XLIII: Crown of Clown (Mentioned only)
- Retrace XLV: Queen of Hurts
- Retrace XLVI: Persona*
- Retrace XLVII: Unbirthday
- Retrace LIX: Couldn't put Humpty together again
- Retrace LXXIV: Broken Rabbit*
- Retrace LXXV: Alone
- Retrace LXXVII: Vacant
- Retrace LXXVIII: Decision*
- Retrace LXXIX: Falling
- Retrace LXXX: Oscar Vessalius
- Retrace LXXXI: CHILDREN
- Retrace LXXXII: Wish (†)
- Retrace LXXXIII: After the Rain*
- Retrace LXXXV: Reverberate*
- Retrace LXXXVIII: Answer*
- Retrace XC: Clock Tower*
- Retrace XCI: Juror*
- Retrace XCII: A Story*
- Retrace C: Ossia*
- Retrace CIV: Will
- Episode 1: Innocent Calm
- Episode 2: Tempest of Conviction
- Episode 11: A Lost Raven
- Episode 12: Welcome to Labyrinth
- Episode 13: Keeper of the secret
- Episode 15: Who killed poor Alice?
- Episode 16: His name is...
- Episode 17: Hello my sister!
- Episode 20: Modulation
- Episode 25: Beyond the winding road (Non-Canon)
- Maidora Hearts (Non-Canon)
- Magical Girl Ill-Omened❤Lacie (Non-Canon)
- Pandora Academy (Non-Canon)
- Gilbert in Wonderland (Non-Canon)
(*) - Denotes that the character did not appear physically, but as a part of another character's memories.
Trivia[]
- "Oscar" is a name of Irish origin which roughly means "deer-loving one" or "friend of deer."[1]
- His likes are, in order, women, card games, alcohol, sneaking out, and photography. He dislikes any existence which hurts his family.
- His skills include dancing, swordsmanship, and songs or poems. He is weak when it comes to Xai, Vincent, the Nightray Dukedom, and chess.
- Mochizuki's comment on him is, the scenes in Volume 20 that displayed his inner emotions were very difficult for her to draw. She has been wanting very hard to see the buildup of events that lead to Oz outwardly crying portrayed in the anime.
- Oscar's interest in photography may be a reference to how Lewis Carroll was a very good photographer himself.