multiversallogs | And be it gash or gold it will not come again in this identical guise. [OPEN]

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And be it gash or gold it will not come again in this identical guise. [OPEN]

Who: Sebastian and YOU? (Also, Podder and Sol.)
What: Part open post, part wizard talk.
Where: The open post can be for anywhere in Hellsing Guild House or Baedal.
When: Newdi
Notes: I've been so slow about posting this open thread. *sob*
Warnings: None, yet.

Always adaptable, Sebastian has found it easy to settle into life in Baedal. There are times when he thinks it's the best of both worlds: he doesn't need to lie about his abilities (or lack thereof) and he's able to do useful, constructive things. Most of his days are filled with rebuilding and repairing the Hellsing Guild Hall and the evenings walking through the city or working through Malfoy's never ending reading list. It's not an ideal existence, but for as long as he's in exile from Britain it's the best he can hope for.

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Boromir smiles down at the dog, "Hello, boy." And then, after visibly pausing, "He...doesn't talk, does he?"

"Not when I'm looking," Sebastian says dryly as Velcro realizes that he's being spoken about and hams it up by wuffling and wagging his tail.

"I don't think I've your name though."

"Forgive me, I'm still coming to terms with extending courtesy to new races. And in my defence, I've heard at least one instance of a talking dog." Although it doesn't stop him from smiling slightly at the absurdity of the situation. "I'm Boromir, and quite recent to Hellsing."

There's a moment where Sebastian is tempted to say that his godfather was a talking dog, but he chases the thought away with a drink from his glass.

"A pleasure, Boromir," he says, putting his glass down and offering to shake hands over the table. "I'm the local handyman, should you need anything fixed, let me know?"

Boromir shakes hands, a new gesture for him but it's one that he's gotten used to. "I will. I'd extend the same courtesy but unless you have any battles to fight, I'm not much use."

It's meant tongue-in-cheek but it's also true. Being a warrior is all Boromir's ever done in life and all he feels that he's good at, even though his original cause is now gone.

"I don't, not anymore," Sebastian replies with a bit of an odd, half wistful smile. Were Boromir to voice his opinion about being a warrior and lacking a cause, Sebastian could agree whole-heartedly. "Which is why I've taken up carpentry and the like."

The meaning behind Sebastian's stance and visible injuries click into place. Boromir nods, thoughtful. "Many of my men had such a skill for times of peace." The first part of that sentence might indicate to the discerning listener why he doesn't.

"I didn't know the first thing until a few years ago, but without much else to fill the time, I've had to learn quickly." Sebastian is the first to admit that he's not particularly brilliant at what he does and suspects that there might be a residual bit of magic to his work so that it all turns out well.

"Well, it's always good to be adaptable." He'll definitely give him that -Boromir hadn't even considered trying his hand at something different, and he didn't know the first thing about where to start. Then again, Baedel is bursting with new ideas and perceptions, and he's done quite well navigating the culture shock. Baby steps.

"So I've heard. There's plenty of work here for those who can still fight well and just as much for those who're more likely to hold a hammer than a wand or sword." Which is a very roundabout way of saying two things: first, that Sebastian might not have done all his fighting with a traditional weapon, and second, that he likes Boromir enough to work with him.

Boromir catches the 'wand' part, which gets a small pause of...mild surprise, but not the bad sort. He's not met any magic users in Baedel yet, so that more or less leaves Gandalf by way of comparison. Enjoy that. "I've met some likely to wield all three. Besides which, I feel I'll have to acquire some new skills myself. This city is different from what I'm used to in most respects."

Given he can usually be seen sporting a sword and cloak, the latter being an elven one to boot, it's not much of a surprise for most people.

"Is it? It's strange for me too, but not too strange, I think. What's your home like?" If Boromir doesn't care to answer, Sebastian won't be offended but he is genuinely curious about other worlds and other lives.

It's more a question of where to start. "I can only vouch for one part of it; Middle Earth. I've travelled most of it, some parts more extensively than others. I can speak mostly about the habbits of Men, a little about elves, with second-hand knowledge of Halflings and a little about Dwarves. Not that we're only limited to those races either. What we don't have is many devices of elaborate clockwork. Or cities as large and diverse as this one."

"I come from a country named Gondor, which is old by the standards of Men, although the elves would surely smile at my saying so. It lies to the south west, with many regions. Sea, moutains, flat plains." And of course, their infamous neighbour to the East, but lets not focus on that for now. He's too busy with wistful to focus on the bad.

"It sounds a little like my home, Britain, but I'm sure that our own elves would have something to say on the matter." While there are a great many differences between his world and that of Middle Earth, Sebastian would like to focus on their similarities for now.

"What is Gondor known for? What do your people do better than anyone else?"

That inquiry inevitably brings his train of thought back to the bad. "Mostly staving off the Enemy of the Free Peoples of Middle Earth." There are also some nice vinyards in Ithilien, but...well. "We've, ah, been engaged in war with a being of immense power for... Since forever. The Dark Lord Sauron. There have been some periods of respite, but few in my lifetime."

He's been trying not to worry about the state of things ever since he came to Baedel. Not that he's even sure if he can go back.

Sebastian takes a moment to think through his words before continuing, "Sounding more and more alike; although, our war was significantly shorter and our enemy, while powerful, at the end was once a man and could be killed like one." More or less.

"For what it's worth, you've my sympathy."

In an odd way, there is a little comfort knowing other people have gone through similar things. Especially since he's quite alone in Baedel. War doesn't translate well to those who haven't encountered one, and it leaves its mark on a person. "Thank you. I'm glad to hear yours is over."

"The fighting, anyway, the rebuilding is a whole other sort of battle that I'm entirely unsuited for." At this point, it may be worth mentioning that Sebastian is still somewhere in his early to mid-twenties and it might seem a little odd that he's able to talk as if he once was a leader of men.

Sebastian's tone hadn't gone unnoticed, although Boromir had thought it best not to pry. If the young man wanted to elaborate, then he would. And if not, it was none of Boromir's business anyway.

"I think I would be the same." Although if he were to be honest, he'd never given much thought to the aftermath. When he was alive, there was a rough idea: rebuild, rule Gondor, possibly start a family. That had changed with Aragorn's claim to the throne, but Boromir was still a nobleman, and would have been involved in the country's affairs somehow. And then things had changed again.

"Still. Here we are," he says with some confidence. Yes, the world may spin on without them as wars come and go, but they've both managed to survive -- for a given value of survival. "And I suppose there's naught else to do but make the most of it. What else is there to do?"

"The only thing that comes to mind is giving up, in some way or another. And I'll be damned if I've come this far to think on such things now." Which, despite some previous moments of personal weakness, has more or less been Boromir's life's motto.

Sebastian's answering smile is bright and makes him look much younger than he usually presents himself. "I'd advise against being damned."

There may be something to be said about Sebastian's sense of humour. (Namely, that it's deeply warped.)

"Yes, well," he says, shooting Sebastian a wry look. Luckily he was used to odd quips when he was on the verge of taking himself too seriously. That's what younger brothers are for.

Although, if he was actually damned, he'd still fit in and be welcomed at Hellsing. Small mercies?

"I, ah, can be a bit flip sometimes." Sebastian does make an effort to think before speaking but it doesn't always work as planned.

He relents, feeling slightly abashed and fully aware of his default demeanour. "Don't think on it. Sternness is...something like a national trait, where I'm from." he says, attempting to loosen up with a little tongue-in-cheek humour. "It's not gone unnoticed by the people I've met here so far. And I'm considered the cheery one in my family."

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