Difference between revisions of "Steris Harms"

As a result of her autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Steris often feels disconnected from those around her. She often describes herself as boring,{{book ref|mb6|12}} and mentions several times that others find it difficult to spend much time with her.{{book ref|mb6|2}} As a member of Wax’s close circle, Steris often feels as though she has nothing to contribute to their heroics. NearDuring the endhunt offor the [[Bands of Mourning]], Steris gives herself a 7/100 usefulness rating.{{book ref|mb6|23}}

Steris is very intelligent and dedicated to what she views as her duties. She puts an enormous amount of effort into learning everything she can about the players and moving parts of [[Elendel]] society,{{book ref|mb5|9}}, and takes her responsibilities as a head of House Ladrian very seriously, even to the point of reviewing the house finances in an effort to recover three missing clips.{{book ref|mb6|5}} Her dedication to and interest in what Wax views as meaningless and boring tasks inspires him to greater dedication to his own responsibilities as High Lord Ladrian.{{book ref|mb6|6}}

Steris and Wax attended the [[Yomen-Ostlin wedding dinner]] as a couple a few days after their first meeting.{{book ref|mb4|4}} As they entered the party, Steris educated Wax on how Elendel society revolved around gatherings like it, and how invitations were used almost as weapons. Steris also informed Wax that she would no longer respond negatively to his “ignorant frontiersman” act. Despite this statement, she did become frustrated with his coarse table talk and leave their group for a moment. As a result, she was in the bathroom when the [[Vanishers]] attacked the party. Steris and Marasi were the kidnapping targets of the attack,{{book ref|mb4|5}}, and while Wax was able to rescue Marasi, Steris was ultimately taken.{{book ref|mb4|6}}. Lord Harms was devastated at the loss of his only (legitimate) daughter, and offered to bankroll Wax’s efforts to recover her.{{book ref|mb4|7}}. The next day, Wax coaxs Marasi into revealing that she and Steris are actually half-sisters, rather than cousins as they were first introduced.

Wax felt intensely guilty about failing to save Steris, and thus undertook an intense investigation into the Vanishers and their mysterious financial backers. As he finally confronted [[Miles Hundredlives]], the leader of the Vanishers, Wax discovered Steris hidden a room of Miles’s lair.{{book ref|mb4|19}}. He rescued her from the room and used his [[Feruchemical]] and [[Allomantic]] powers to collapse the building, an event which Steris appeared to find exhilarating. He then had Steris run from the scene to fetch the constables. After the fight was over and Miles was arrested Steris was interviewed about her experience by the constabulary, then offered Wax her thanks for his rescue.{{book ref|mb4|20}}. She informed him that she “remained pure” after her captivity, and suggested that the pair advance the timeline for their relationship that had been laid out in her contract, an advance that would be facilitated by his dramatic rescue. Steris also informed Wax that she would no longer complain at his hobby of rushing around the city fighting crime, because they could each accept the other for who they were. For the first time, Steris shows a small amount of affection for Wax.

Steris appears at the beginning of the novelgoes on a cordial visit to Ladrian Mansion to do some wedding planning. Her main goal of the day is to decide who to invite to the wedding between her and Wax. Steris reveals that she has been reading the public records of Wax’s arrests in the Roughs in an effort to discover more about his life. They decide to invite [[Douglas Venture]] in an effort to control the chaos that Steris knows will inevitably appear at any major event in Wax’s life before Wax is ushered out the door by Wayne to chase down their latest prey, the [[Marksman]]. Before he leaves, Steris asks Wax to take care of Marasi.

Later that day, Wax accompanies Steris to see the governor speak at [[Lady ZoBell]]’s party.{{book ref|mb5|8}}. On the way there, Wax tells Steris a story about his uncle from his childhood. When traffic clogs up, Wax uses [[Ranette]]’s new grappling hook to climb [[ZoBell Tower]] with Steris according to the plan in Steris’s notebook. During this climb Steris voices how wonderful she thinks it is to fly by allomancy, although Wax feels she is uncomfortable with the experience. During the party, Steris discards her usual plan for working the crowd in favor of Wax’s goal of finding [[Bleeder]].{{book ref|mb5|9}}. Steris evidences interest in the methods Wax uses to protect himself during a social occasion, and proves much better than he is at navigating, and ending, conversations. Steris also revealed that she had prepared a list of witty quips that she thought Wax would enjoy, prompting Wax to say that he thought she was being truly genuine with him even though she was working off a list. Steris and Wax encountered [[MeLaan]] in disguise before finally being able to speak with Governor [[Replar Innate]]. Steris defends Wax to the governor before being left behind when Bleeder begins to speak to Wax. After Wax chases Bleeder out of ZoBell tower Steris is left to make small talk with Wayne, who tells her that he finds her repulsive and indicates that he would rather be anywhere else than talk with her. Eventually, Marasi sends Steris off to wait in safety until Bleeder is captured.{{book ref|mb5|12}}.

After Wax confronts Paalm and learns the truth about Lessie, he goes through a severe depressive episode.{{book ref|mb5|epilogue}}. During this time, Steris handled all of his affairs, from looking after the events of House Ladrian to making conversation and excuses to his visitors. After he recovers, Wax states that Steris gave him an invaluable gift by allowing him to cry and to grieve without requiring anything of him.

Steris began her relationship with Wax with a touch of desperation, as her efforts to secure a future for herself and her house had come to a stalemate.{{book ref|mb4|20}}. However, after Wax rescues her from her captivity by the Vanishers, she evidences some affection for him.{{book ref|mb4|20}}. By the time Wax goes to search for the [[Bands of Mourning]], Steris has fallen deeply in love with him,{{book ref|mb6|24}}, even though she regards the emotion as foolish.

At the beginning of their relationship, Wax regards Steris as an inconvenient necessity, and even enjoys needling her until she loses her temper. As their relationship progresses, however, Wax finds himself becoming protective of Steris’s feelings as well as her person.{{book ref|mb6|12}}. Eventually Wax realizes that he not only cares for Steris, but that he loves her. Since their first wedding was ruined by Wayne, Wax surprises Steris with a private wedding after their return from the Seran Mountain Range, delighting her with the one thing she had never expected - a marriage marked more by love than by duty.