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Post by Shinko on Dec 27, 2014 19:18:12 GMT -5
((Time for a roleplay with Kristykimmy! But first, a quick note for those of you who haven't been following my Countryswap Crossover fics. If you haven't read them, you're probably a bit unfamiliar with Seamus Dun, a minor character I introduced in that story and made canon with permission from Celes. Here's a quick refresher on Seamus for those who may not know him, and for the first time, a visual reference!)) Seamus Dun is a member of the minor Bernian noble family House Dun, based out of the coastal town of Jennet. Seamus lives in Destrier and was hired by House Stallion to take over as their bookkeeper after Kirin Mao opted to stay in Medieville with his boyfriend Leif and work for Ambrose. In general Seamus is a cheerful guy, and loves meeting people and making friends. A bit of an absentminded professor, he can occasionally lose track of time and his train of thought is easily derailed by distractions. He is a fantastic mathematician, capable of doing complex calculations in his head and with a near photographic memory for tallies and formulas. However, where he excels in math he is somewhat deficit in his social graces. While he does just fine in a casual setting or with a small group of people, in a large formal gathering he might as well be a lump of stone for all the good it does trying to talk to him. He avoids most parties and banquets when he can get away with it, and tries to linger around the edges of the crowd and be unobtrusive when he can't. For a nobleman he's surprisingly lax about his rank, having grown up in a small coastal community with numerous peasant children as friends. In fact, most of his closest friends in Destrier are castle servants or townspeople, and his relationship with most of the Stallions is strictly a professional one. He was twenty-two at the time of his hire, a few weeks after the Bloody Coronation, so you can calculate his age at any given point of the timeline from there. The family patriarch is Seamus' older brother, Aaron Dun, and their house colors are goldenrod, dark brown, and white. Their emblem is the sea otter, which the people of Jennet trap for it's valuable fur. Seamus usually wears the colors of his birth house, but with a crimson or maroon cloak as a sign of his employment with House Stallion. Seamus sighed with contentment, closing his tally book for the day and standing up with a stretch. It was spring at last in Destrier, and with the thawing of the winter snows traders were once again making their way into Bern. The twenty-four year old bookkeeper of House Stallion was kept extremely busy recording the numerous transactions that were made with these traders, but he didn't mind it so much. After all, he'd taken this job because he liked math, so the long hours weren't too much of a drain on him. Certainly nothing could quite compare with the organizational nightmare that had been Lady Isabelle's wedding the previous summer. That had been a real trial by fire for the fledgling bookkeeper, and it had been a distinct relief when the entire affair went off as splendidly as anyone could have hoped. The nobleman glanced at the window and realized that while he'd been working, the sun had become little more than a thin line of gold on the horizon. Whoops, had he really lost track of time that badly again? With a self-conscious chuckle, Seamus took the maroon cloak he wore as a symbol of his service to House Stallion down from the coat hanger in the records room, tied it around his shoulders, and started off down the hall towards one of the smaller common rooms in the public areas of Destrier Castle. It would be at least another hour or two before dinner was called, but if he didn't move out of the privacy of the records room he was liable to get distracted again and miss it entirely- it wasn't the first time that had happened to the workaholic bookkeeper. At least in a more public room a servant or other worthy might notice him if he got sidetracked again and helpfully inform him of the hour. Arriving at his destination, Seamus sat down on one of the chairs and nodded politely to the servants who were in the room sweeping the floor. They bowed to him, though it was mostly out of formality since he knew both personally and considered them friends. Not wanting to distract them from their task, however, Seamus instead took out a small worn book he'd been given as a gift from his older siblings when he left his home in Jennet- a book written by a famous Bernian mathematician of a hundred years ago. He'd been working his way through it a little at a time between his work since arriving. He was just getting to a complex theorem when the sound of footfalls on flagstones outside the room caught his attention, and he looked up curiously to see who was there. Seamus is a workaholic and worked past the end of his shift- not for the first time. He goes out into a common room of the castle to relax and read a good math textbook (yes he's that much of a nerd). The he hears someone coming and looks up to see who it is.
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Post by Kristykimmy on Dec 27, 2014 21:29:22 GMT -5
Lucinda put her head into the room, and immediately spotted the person she had been looking for: Seamus Dun. Lucinda barely knew Seamus. She had never had much cause to know the bookkeeper before; the only reason why she had known the last one so well was because she had been friends with him. Seamus himself didn't seem to be much of the bent to socialize, so she simply hadn't crossed paths with him in a social setting. She walked in, smiling amiably at him and stopped before his chair. “Good day, Lord Dun. I hope you have had a pleasant one. I have need of your expertise, when you have time. I don't wish to intrude if you are busy or have plans, nor distract you from your duties during the day, so is there a time when you might be free?” Lucinda said, getting right to the point. Lucinda comes looking for Seamus for help with a problem. |
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Post by Shinko on Dec 27, 2014 21:43:23 GMT -5
Seamus recognized the person who'd walked in immediately- Lucinda, the granddaughter of his employer Alain Stallion. He hadn't had much to do with her, since they seldom crossed paths, but from what he'd heard she was a nice enough person. He smiled up at her, inclining his head politely. "Lady Baroness, 'tis an honor. I'm more than happy tae help ye with whatever business ye need; I'm nae doin' anything just now, actually, I was only killing time until dinner. If ye'd like we can discuss what's on yer mind now, or if ye prefer another time, I'm usually technically off the clock by four in the afternoon." He laughed, rubbing the back of his neck ruefully. "I'm just a bit absentminded is all. I loose track of the time, and end up working way past when I should've called it quits for the day. There's only one window in the records room, tae keep sunlight from damaging all the paper, so it's easy tae not realize how much time passes." Realizing he'd gone off on a ramble, he chuckled. "Sorry, did nae mean tae tangent. But I am at me lady's disposal whenever is most convenient for ye." Seamus shows that he's not as anti-social as he might come off- just absentminded and inclined to losing track of time and overworking. He tells Lucinda he's free right then, or if another time is more convenient, she can come bug him in the records room after four PM and he's technically done for the day- he just forgets to stop then a lot. |
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Post by Kristykimmy on Dec 29, 2014 19:15:01 GMT -5
Lucinda took a seat opposite to him and smiled. “I'll bring the actual paperwork by tomorrow then, as I don't have it with me. As you might know, I inherited lands in Kine from my father. They have been managed by his step-brother since his death, and Reinold will continue to manage them for me for the time being. However, I'm trying to become more involved in the management, something I was supposed to be doing since I came of age four years ago but neglected to actually do until the last year. That was the reason that I left for Kine for the end of the last summer and autumn.” Lucinda suddenly stopped and waved her hand, as if pushing that last statement. “I'm getting off topic. The point of this is, Reinold sent me financial reports, and I cannot make heads or tails of them. I was hoping you would be able to explain them to me. That was not something we thought to go over during my time in Kine.” Lucinda explains what she wants from Seamus. |
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Post by Shinko on Dec 29, 2014 20:34:41 GMT -5
As Lucinda explained her request, Seamus visibly brightened. With a wide smile he replied, "I'd be honored tae help you, Lady Baroness. Certainly I can relate tae being overwhelmed by reports yer not used tae. The wedding last summer was a learning experience for me, 'n I didn't really have anybody I could look tae for advice. At least not directly, the quartermaster 'n the stewards were wonderful but they're not bookkeepers so their advice only went so far." He shrugged, still grinning. "Point is, if I can help ye be a little less confused than I was, I'm more than happy tae do so." With a chuckle he added, "'N I think ye'll find that ye like it, once ye get used tae it. I know being the younger son with nae title or responsibilities, I was bored stiff most of the time back home in Jennet. Getting hired here and having real, meaningful work to do was... grand." Crossing his legs and sliding a page marker into his book, Seamus went on, "So, what sort of holding is it that ye've got exactly? If it's in Kine, I'd imagine the main industry'd be agricultural, but ye can never tell." Hurriedly he added, "I ask 'cause that'll make a difference with how tae handle the accounts when ye bring them tomorrow. Seamus is as earnest and enthusiastic as a boy half his age about helping Lucinda, rambles a bit about how nice it is for a young noble who'd previously had nothing to do to be given real meaningful work, and asks her some questions about the lands she is now helping manage. |
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Post by Kristykimmy on Dec 29, 2014 23:13:16 GMT -5
“I see. It must have been a challenge so soon after your appointment to your position, Lord Dun,” Lucinda commented, listening to his story about Isabelle's wedding. She couldn't help the small smile that was creeping onto her lips at the memory of her aunt's wedding. It had been a beautiful affair, and Isabelle deserved the happiness. A part of her wondered if her mother's wedding must have looked something like that, all those long years ago. A curiosity for her parents had been awakened in her during her trip to Kine, and now she often found herself reflecting on her late parents, something she had never thought she would be concerned about. She drew her mind back to the topic Seamus was on, his boredom at being the second son. “Oh, I like it well enough, the ability to be able to help my people and make their lives better. It's the technical side that is baffling to me. My education was thorough enough for a noblewoman, but it didn't exactly prepare me for this, and, admittedly, I was not the most dedicated student. I learned what I needed, and was too flighty to retain anything I didn't. I am hardly proud of my teenage self,” she admitted with a self-depreciating smile. She considered the question he put to her about her holdings. “All farmland. I also have a manor on the lands which has an orchard, which I am told produces good fruit.” Lucinda's mind wanders a bit, but she keeps up with Seamus' discourse, telling him about her lands. |
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Post by Shinko on Dec 30, 2014 7:54:15 GMT -5
"Aye, but I managed in the end," he said on the subject of Isabelle's wedding. "'N it was nice tae see her grace happy, even if parties aren't usually somewhere I'm keen tae be. Seeing it all come together was worth a bit of... unease." Unease was understating it. He'd had the same etiquette lessons as any other noble child, but when it came to big formal get-togethers he was as shy and awkward as an untutored peasant would be. Having to mingle and make light, meaningless conversation with other nobles was wearing on his patience and stressful to boot, since those conversations could easily mean a lot of trouble for him and anyone he was associated with if they went south. Be cordial, but not too forward or you'd look like a sycophant. Be clever, but not so clever you seemed to be mocking them. 'Friendships' were first and foremost a means to secure advantageous alliances, and only after that a source of pleasant company. Or so the mantra went. Seamus much preferred the simplicity of his numbers and his real friends. Though it seemed Lucinda would have no issues with the sorts of events he abhorred so much. She was perfectly polite and formal, even in the face of Seamus' eccentricities. She reminded him a lot of her grandfather with that cool, almost distant sort of mode of speaking, and he found it difficult not to want to slip instinctively into the sort of formal, differential behavior he used with Alain instead of addressing her with his natural, cheerful personality. At least she seemed willing to unbend enough to make a joke at her own expense, which helped Seamus relax just slightly after the concern that he'd been acting insubordinate that had been trickling into him. "Well, admitting there's a problem is the first step tae fixing it, aye? Ye seem intent on being a good Baroness now, so I think ye'll do just fine m'lady. And I'll be more'n happy tae help ye along the way with whatever I can. I... I like helping people, 'n feeling useful, even if it's a lot of work." Seamus is clamming up just a bit because Lucinda's very cool, businesslike mode of speaking reminds him a lot of Alain and he's starting to worry that she might think his earlier exuberance and easygoing friendliness was inappropriate for someone who's technically her employee. He's still being friendly, but is just slightly on guard now and trying to be more polite. |
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Post by Kristykimmy on Jan 3, 2015 12:34:03 GMT -5
Lucinda's smile grew a little when he expressed his sentiment that seeing her aunt happy on her wedding day was worth the trouble. It made her like him a little more. His comment that he liked helping people added to that. “You're a kind person, Lord Dun, and I will be grateful for your help,” Lucinda commented. “And, you are correct about that. Except in my case it wasn't a case of admitting it so much as realizing it existed. Castle Destrier is too isolating a place; too many over-indulgent and protective family members who might have spoiled me a little too much. That was likely why Grandfather took me to Medieville with him two years ago. It was an eye-opening experience to say the least.” Lucinda noticed his book and saw an opening. If she was going to be coming to him for help in the future, it wouldn't hurt to get to know him a little better. “You're reading a book of math during your free hours? Are you studying some problem, or is that just one your spheres of interest?” Lucinda comments on some of the things Seamus has said and then tries to make small talk about his book. |
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Post by Shinko on Jan 3, 2015 18:37:02 GMT -5
Seamus smiled, shaking his head. "Ye can just call me Seamus m'lady- my brother's the lord, I'm just me." The bookkeeper didn't feel like he knew Lucinda well enough to comment on how she might have acted when she was younger, so instead he just shrugged. "It was pretty eye-opening for me coming here. Jennet's such a tiny place, 'n everyone knows everyone else. It's crazy how little ye can understand of the world until yer forced out of yer comfort zone. But I'd say it's worth it." He was surprised when she asked about his book, but his grin widened again at this overture of casual conversation. Maybe she wasn't as formal and businesslike as Alain. "It gets me some odd looks, but I've always loved numbers," he admitted cheerfully. "Ever since I was young I've had anxiety problems with big crowds, and sometimes with private stuff if it's really formal 'n diplomaticly loaded. People can confuse me sometimes. But numbers are constant 'n follow a set logic. Does nae matter who's got what agenda or whatever, two 'n two is always four, eight by eight is always sixty-four, 'n the square roots of sixteen are four and negative four." Catching himself, he laughed. "But I know most folks do nae have my enthusiasm. I also do some hunting and trapping, those are some of the main industries in Jennet. I also like socializing with my friends, doin' any old thing as long as it's nae somewhere tae crowded." The bookkeeper didn't mention that a lot of his friends liked "socializing" in pubs- not something to bring up with your employer, even if it wasn't exactly uncommon in Bern. "What about yerself, Baroness?" he asked, tilting his head. "I've heard that yer a musical sort?" Seamus returns the attempt at small talk with more small talk- and geeks out over NUMBERS! before realizing he should dial back the nerdgasm. XD |
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Post by Kristykimmy on Jan 8, 2015 23:18:03 GMT -5
“I've never been to Jennet,” Lucinda commented. “I've always lived in large cities, or on my father's lands. My lands, that is.” She nodded as he talked about his interest in math. She wasn't the best at math, but his explanation made sense to her. “I do play, and I sing,” Lucinda said in response to his question. “My father was something of a musical prodigy. We used to sing together when I was a small child, and he would play the piano. I took after the harp; he had one that was an heirloom, and I used to play with it. I fell away from it after her died until I was made to take it up again as part of my studies. I've some small talent, nothing like my father's, but I've worked to hone it over the past few years.” Lucinda spread her hands in a sort of shrug. “Still, unlike your interests, mine is solely a pastime. There was a time when I was foolish enough to pretend I would be something of a minstrel, but that time passed. It is a worthwhile pursuit, but like my father's life before mine, it is merely my favorite activity. The lands in Kine are my future.” Lucinda talks about her interest in music and her silly pretend interest in being a minstrel once. |
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Post by Shinko on Jan 8, 2015 23:54:56 GMT -5
Seamus shrugged. "Well there's nae shame tae be had in enjoying a thing just for it's own sake. Frankly I'm lucky I got a job doing what I love- most folks can't claim tae be so fortunate. And I am grateful tae the Grand Duke every day for giving me this opportunity." He smiled sympathetically. "Nobles are born intae their lots in life, or at least the heirs are. It's a responsibility of the bloodline, and nae an easy one tae shift for personal preference. In that position I'd hang tight tae my hobbies, if only for the sake of something tae do tae unwind." The young nobleman scratched his head. Though he was not the most astute of people-readers, Seamus couldn't help but notice that Lucinda seemed to put a lot of effort into self-depreciation. The subject somehow kept shifting to how she'd behaved in a way she wasn't proud of in the past. But she was only what, nineteen, twenty? Being immature and being a teenager went hand in hand, but she seemed to have matured a great deal now. Why was she so fixated on this? "I wish I had a talent that was better for entertaining," he went on, hoping he might cheer her up a bit. "Most folks dinnae care to hear me recite math problems at them. But singing is something most people can appreciate- I cannae sing or play, but I do enjoy music and I'd love tae listen tae ye sometime if you're amendable tae it." Curios, he asked, "So ye looking tae eventually move down tae Kine permanently, or manage the estate from afar?" Seamus seems to have finally come to the firm decision that the boundless enthusiasm approach he takes to everything else in his life isn't going to work with Lucinda since she keeps srsfacing him, so he instead addresses her more politely, as one noble to another. He still tries to make tentative friendly overtures in the hopes that he can draw her out at least a little. |
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Post by Kristykimmy on Jan 21, 2015 14:46:35 GMT -5
“I would be happy to play for you sometime, Seamus. I sometimes play for the family in the evening. I'll invite you up next time. However, you must remember not become lost in your work and forget to come,” Lucinda said, giving him a teasing smile, remembering his earlier comment about being inclined to work past his hours. “As for moving to Kine, perhaps one day. Someday, when I have a family of my own, moving there might seem an easier option than traveling whenever there are matters to attend to in person. The distance between Destrier and my lands is not vast, but travel is always a burden. It would also depend upon my eventual husband and where he would need to live to attend to whatever duties he might have,” Lucinda explained. She gave a slight laugh and said, “That was a rather long-winded way of saying it is too soon to say.” “And you, Seamus? Do you intend to live the rest of your life here in Destrier, or will you return to Jennet at some time in the future?” Lucinda offers to invite Seamus to hear her play sometime in the future, and then tells him that maybe she'll live in Kine one day, but she doesn't know when.
She asks him about his plans for the future. |
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Post by Shinko on Jan 21, 2015 17:07:47 GMT -5
Seamus laughed ruefully. "Aye, that'd be the sticking point. Usually if I've something tae look forward tae, I take care nae tae get so caught up in my work 'n miss it." He grinned. "If ye're really amendable tae me hearin' ye play, I'll be there." He glanced to the side, at a tapestry hanging on the wall in the colors of House Stallion. "Ye know, it's probably for the better ye stay here most of the time. If ye lived down there, nae doubt yer Kinean relatives would be tryin' tae pressure ye to marry now to secure an heir tae yer estate. And ye'd have every matchmakin' minor noble between Hereford 'n the Courdonian border foistin' their unwed sons at ye." The bookkeeper winked. "At least his grace can scare all the vultures away when yer up here." Lucinda's question about his plans for the future legitimately seemed to surprise Seamus, and he looked at the book in his lap with a faint downward turn of his mouth. "Honestly I'd nae thought about it. I'm happy enough now, couldnae ask for a better place. 'N there's nae much for me in Jennet tae be going back to. But..." the young nobleman grimaced. "I... I really dinnae. Never thought much on it, got nae real ambitions..." Seamus agrees to see Lucinda's music, jokes about the matrimonial obligations that go with being a noble, but seems somewhat uncertain about the subject of his own future. He never thought much past getting the job he has now, and realizing his own lack of direction or ambition to further his life is a bit unsettling for the poor guy. XD |
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Post by Kristykimmy on Jan 23, 2015 19:06:19 GMT -5
Lucinda couldn't help laughing at Seamus' jibe about all the eligible suitors and matchmaking. “Yes, though I suppose I may have to deal with that regardless, sooner or later. My uncle's wife is something of a matchmaker, and all of her daughters who are of age she's married off already. Thankfully, she's distracted by her son, but I hear she tormented my father endlessly and tried her hardest to set him up with eligible young ladies. Her efforts on that score were for naught; he had his sights on my mother, but she was apparently happy enough just to see him wed.” Lucinda just smiled when Seamus mentioned he didn't have plans beyond the present. Though it seemed to disturb him, she didn't see why. “There is no rush, Seamus. You have your entire life ahead of you. There is plenty of time to simply enjoy the life you have now. I would think the openness of your life, not being locked into one role, would be exciting. You could go anywhere. For now, we're happy to have you here. There seems to be nothing but praise for the job you've done as our bookkeeper.” Lucinda laughs over Seamus' jokes about suitors and mentions Marian's reputation for matchmaking.
She encourages Seamus to just enjoy life as it as at the moment. |
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Post by Shinko on Jan 24, 2015 10:11:24 GMT -5
Seamus relaxed a little at Lucinda's words, though he still looked a little shaken. "I suppose ye have a point, Baroness. I am glad nae tae have been forced intae an arranged marriage for the sake of the family or the estate. Happens all tae often with younger siblings, after all. I'll never be able tae thank Aaron enough for putting my name forward when his grace sent word out that he was looking for a bookkeeper. I really am happy in this job- and I'm glad yer family is nae looking poorly on my work!" He looked down absently tracing the edge of the page in his book with a finger. "Still it does get me tae thinking. I mean a place like this was all I ever wanted- tae be doing something worthwhile that's needed 'n appreciated. I have that so... what now? I can nae think of anything else I really want from my life. It's a little unsettling. Am I just that boring a guy? I feel like I should want more from life, but I've got friends 'n a good job, so... I dinnae." Seamus is happy that Lucinda doesn't think less of him for having no ambition, but admits it still unsettles him a little. |
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