Culfre

Culfre carries an air of easy-going confidence about him, the kind that stems from the healthy mindset of someone who knows they're capable of handling the challenges of life and doesn't feel the need to prove himself to others at any given opportunity. His natural charisma compliments his confidence well; he always seems to know just what to say and how to present himself to placate, to inspire, to lift someone up... or knock them down a peg and put them in their place, if need be. While he's not innatly malicious and finds no joy in it, he certainly has his moments where a certain manipulative, almost hard-hearted streak shines through. Culfre is determined to maintain his place (and the positions of those he's sworn allegiance to), even if that entails using unpleasant tactics. He's no stranger to persuasion and coercion, following a carrot and stick approach - sometimes, a subtle threat and borderline blackmail works wonders where honeyed words and promises don't.

Although he enjoys the luxuries and finer things in life that come with being a high-ranking member of the royal household, Culfre has never forgotten his humble origins. He's well-liked and respected among staff, known to be someone who is always willing to engage in a pleasant chat, or lend an open ear or even a helping hand wherever needed. While he holds any employee to a high standard and expects them to show a strong work ethic, he's never cruel or unjust in his treatment of them. Perhaps he's not purely motivated by selflessness, as happy staff is more likely to be motivated to work hard... and they often times overhear private conversations or pick up rumours that others of higher standing may not be privy to otherwise. Still, it's obvious that Culfre sees them as people first and foremost, and he looks out for them as much as he can - there's been more than one instance where important visitors abruptly changed their unsavoury treatment of the servants after he pulled them aside for a "private talk".

While he is a diligent and dependable person in his position as royal secretary and advisor, outside of it Culfre could definitely be described as free-spirited and non-commital. He enjoys sampling all the exciting things the world has to offer, whether it be hobbies, foods and drinks, or even partners. The latter certainly has ruffled some feathers here and there; while many may find the lack of pressure that comes with being with him fun and refreshing at first, there eventually comes a time where the lack of commitment and not knowing where exactly they stand with him leads to problems, particularly if they secretly wish for something steady and serious. Culfre rarely reacts well to this, prefering to cut his losses rather than allowing himself to be tied down by anything or anyone else that doesn't fall within the realm of his occupational and societal obligations.

If one can deal with giving him the freedom and space he needs and learn to accept him with all of his quirks, Culfre is a pleasant and reliable friend or lover who knows when to be light-hearted and playful, but also when to be serious and supportive. His way of living in the moment and making the most out of each day can be incredibly freeing and inspiring, yet his role in the royal household also makes him an incredibly valuable mentor and guide to go to for help when things get tough. He chooses to keep his close circle small - a little suspicion goes a long way if you play the game of political intrigue - but those that make it in will never have to doubt his loyalty. If treated with mutual respect, he can be incredibly caring, generous and affectionate, all while giving the other person the same space to be themself, to explore and experience and follow their heart that he needs.

Around those he dislikes, whether it be due to a shared personal history or because they're widely known to be shady and disloyal characters to be wary of, Culfre tries to remain courteous and fair in his treatment of them. He will try to minimize interaction and maintain a superficial, yet respectful relationship where possible. However, in certain situations and around certain people, a colder side may be seen. While it's a rare occurence, usually only brought on by a deep-seated grudge or constant disrespect from the other person, Culfre can be incredibly aloof and icy, appearing distant yet almost offensively blunt or subtly snarky at times. Just like he knows how to use his words to encourage and heal, he also knows what to say and which buttons to push to really make his words hurt, attempting to mask his own pain or hurt pride behind indifferent disregard at best and callous, sharp-tongued hostility at worst.

At that point, any kind of relationship there may have been could be considered past the point of repair - though if the other side should show a true and genuine willingness to change, he will never refuse an offer to work things out. While he will stand his ground and it might be a long journey back to "normal", he deems it important to give people room to learn from their past mistakes and grow. To him, there is no point in holding onto negative feelings or old grievances if they no longer apply to the present. While he is generally open to giving others second chances, don't expect a third chance if you betray his trust once more though - after all, only a fool would repeat the same mistake several times and expect a different outcome.