Nathaniel doesn't try to appear completely comfortable entering the counseling offices. It's not a place he stops by often, so something so blatantly unrealistic wouldn't be a good start. It's better to begin with something close to the truth. Uncomfortable, but doing his best to conceal it behind the neutral politeness he generally does his best to keep up. Nathaniel doesn't make an effort to hide his presence on the Barge, but he also doesn't try to draw attention to it.
He offers help to people in the library, because he's more comfortable with action than conversation. He cares about presentation, though that's mostly just shown by the care he takes to be neat and presentable. He's probably not a perfectly pleasant young man - he is on the Barge, after all - but that doesn't mean have to mean he's an unpleasant young man.
All in all, Nathaniel figures he can work with that.
"Doctor Sheehan, do you have a moment?" As if he's just caught him. In a world where Nathaniel would ever go to counseling, he would absolutely pick Sheehan over any of the other people who work there. It adds a certain level of honesty to it all.
Sheehan hasn't ever really thought about interacting with Arthur's inmate for a myraid of reasons. While they had a brief encounter during a flood, when Sheehan wasn't entirely himself, he wasn't sure what there would be to talk about.
Unless, of course, the boy came to him at work. He looks pleasantly startled and smiles. "Certainly, Mr. Mandrake. I have plenty. Come inside." His office is welcoming and very typical for his time, with tall bookshelves and mahogany furniture.
Nathaniel had also been far from himself, which is all the better.
"Thank you." He obligingly follows him inside, looking around for a moment before sitting down. He's memorized everything but there's no reason that anyone who doesn't know his specific skill set to know - or to assume that he would use that in some arcane judgement.
"I was apprenticed as a magician as a young age. That means I was taken in by my master to live in his house and he served as my guardian as well as teacher. Mr. Underwood and I didn't always get along, but I... cared a lot for Mrs. Underwood." He checks with Sheehan, just as someone unused to telling stories and wanting to make sure he's telling it right.
"Mrs. Underwood was very kind, even to the undeserving." He fixes his cuff again. "As the universe doesn't really care about that she was killed in a power play between people who didn't care anything about kindness." He waves a hand. "It's a long story, but I think the important part is that in the end, both Mr. and Mrs. Underwood were killed, but I managed to survive the fire."
"No, that's mostly just context for what came after." He looks at Sheehan. "Perhaps it's not correct to say Mrs. Underwood wasn't killed for her kindness. She was always kind to me, and my actions were part of what led to her death. I had underestimated the anger a certain politician would have at being embarrassed someone much younger than him."
That isn't something he would expect a twelve year old to anticipate. The fact that he's here means he's extraordinary in many ways, but twelve is still twelve.
"The man - his name was Simon Lovelace - was obviously far more powerful than me, both socially and personally. He was a respected politician, no one would've believed he was behind the murder of my guardian, even if I had more proof than being an eyewitness. So, I went to get proof." He thinks it over, but his journey to Heddleham Hall isn't important to the story. Nor is much detail on Lovelace's political ambitions required, not for this purpose.
"I'm afraid I wasn't able to sneak in completely unnoticed." He had managed to get into the hall itself, despite the distance, magical wards and suspicious mercenaries but he hadn't managed to totally manage to hide. He had been only twelve, he's grown since then. "Lovelace found me, but he also offered me... a position. Lovelace was planning a coup, and he'd need people with talent. He offered me a teacher who would help me reach my potential, and a future after that. He could tell that I was frustrated by the way Mr. Underwood held me back." In a moment of bleak, dark humor, "He had evidence of my talent."
Another nod and Sheehan sits back. "What did you tell him? What evidence did he have?" Not that he's looking to question or pick apart the story, but Sheehan does ask questions to gain true understanding, especially since that does seem to be his angle.
"Lovelace had seen me summon a high ranking djinn. That's something that many full magicians can struggle with, and I was still an apprentice." He doesn't quite shrug. "I told him he was an arrogant fool if he thought there was a chance I'd join him. He could've offered up the world and I'd refuse."
"Thank you." He takes the water with a slight smile. "I think Lovelace believed there was a 'I'd rather die' attached to my refusal. I killed him, instead. He had a moment to understand he'd lost everything." He takes a polite sip. "It turned out well for me. The Prime Minster showed his appreciation for not being murdered in a coup, and I took advantage of the gratitude while it was there. I went to Heddleham Hall seeking some sort of justice for the death of Mrs. Underwood, but I learned something very important."
Again, Sheehan isn't rattled, or he doesn't show it. He accepts what happened with a nod and takes a drink of his own. "What did you learn?" he wonders, as if that's not the obvious next step.
"To act first." He finishes his water, glancing at his watch. "It's time for my shift in the dining hall. Thank you, again. I think going through that memory helped."
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at the counseling office
He offers help to people in the library, because he's more comfortable with action than conversation. He cares about presentation, though that's mostly just shown by the care he takes to be neat and presentable. He's probably not a perfectly pleasant young man - he is on the Barge, after all - but that doesn't mean have to mean he's an unpleasant young man.
All in all, Nathaniel figures he can work with that.
"Doctor Sheehan, do you have a moment?" As if he's just caught him. In a world where Nathaniel would ever go to counseling, he would absolutely pick Sheehan over any of the other people who work there. It adds a certain level of honesty to it all.
Re: at the counseling office
Unless, of course, the boy came to him at work. He looks pleasantly startled and smiles. "Certainly, Mr. Mandrake. I have plenty. Come inside." His office is welcoming and very typical for his time, with tall bookshelves and mahogany furniture.
Re: at the counseling office
"Thank you." He obligingly follows him inside, looking around for a moment before sitting down. He's memorized everything but there's no reason that anyone who doesn't know his specific skill set to know - or to assume that he would use that in some arcane judgement.
"I've never done something like this before."
Re: at the counseling office
Re: at the counseling office
Re: at the counseling office
He folds his hands. They can establish some goals first, and he can get a baseline for how he's feeling.
Re: at the counseling office
"I just - I thought it might be a good idea to talk through a story. I guess maybe 'a memory' is more accurate, with someone who's more impartial."
Re: at the counseling office
"Alright. Go ahead." He'll let the boy lead.
Re: at the counseling office
"I was apprenticed as a magician as a young age. That means I was taken in by my master to live in his house and he served as my guardian as well as teacher. Mr. Underwood and I didn't always get along, but I... cared a lot for Mrs. Underwood." He checks with Sheehan, just as someone unused to telling stories and wanting to make sure he's telling it right.
Re: at the counseling office
Re: at the counseling office
Re: at the counseling office
Re: at the counseling office
Re: at the counseling office
"Alright. That helps, thank you. Was she part of the memory you wanted to talk through?"
Re: at the counseling office
Re: at the counseling office
He gestures for him to continue.
Re: at the counseling office
"I knew it was dangerous, but I couldn't just leave. Does that make sense?" This time it's a question looking for some sort of response.
Re: at the counseling office
Re: at the counseling office
"I'm afraid I wasn't able to sneak in completely unnoticed." He had managed to get into the hall itself, despite the distance, magical wards and suspicious mercenaries but he hadn't managed to totally manage to hide. He had been only twelve, he's grown since then. "Lovelace found me, but he also offered me... a position. Lovelace was planning a coup, and he'd need people with talent. He offered me a teacher who would help me reach my potential, and a future after that. He could tell that I was frustrated by the way Mr. Underwood held me back." In a moment of bleak, dark humor, "He had evidence of my talent."
Re: at the counseling office
Re: at the counseling office
Re: at the counseling office
Re: at the counseling office
Re: at the counseling office
Re: at the counseling office
Re: at the counseling office
Re: at the counseling office
Re: at the counseling office
Re: at the counseling office