he turned around too quickly, the contents of the tea spilled onto the backside of sarinya. his instincts kicked in. he forced the cup into the hands of the person beside him within half a second. he was certain the man had not seen what had happened since it looked as if his mind were elsewhere. " mister seo, i understand you are new to london, however, spilling tea on a lady is hardly appropriate. " he pulled out his handkerchief, offering it to her. ( @nodestinatiion & @a1taers )
fingers gripped the porcelain handle before kitae's head could return from the clouds. he had been in a state of near meditation. to secure entry to such an event bode extremely well for what the season might entail -- all the more reason not to get ahead of himself despite his excitement. fate had other plans, it seemed. he stifled his irritation before it might reach his expression, instead flashing rafael a look of bemusement. it never hurt to be owed a favor.
" a thousand – no, a million apologies, my lady. " kitae deeply bowed, head hanging in shame. his beseeching gaze lifted to meet hers as he offered his own handkerchief. " though a simple apology hardly suffices for this offense. i must insist i compensate you for the dress, at the very least. " @a1taers
━━ ⊰ [ woo dohwan, 33, male, he + him ] the ton is buzzing ! have you heard ? mister kitae "percy" seo has arrived in mayfair ! i have been told that he is alluring & daring but also callous & deceitful but we shall know more about them as the season progresses. there have been whispers around the ton stating that he is a conman swindling investors (primarily wealthy widows) into purchasing land titles for a fictional country. among the ton , they are known to be a chivalrous kiss grazing a silk gloved hand, flattery whispered like sacred secrets, the temptation of coveting what should be impossible ! how they truly are behind closed doors ? we cannot be too sure .
disgust, resentment, envy, cynicism, entitlement: inevitable dispositions, surely, for the circumstances in which kitae unfortunately found himself. as the first son of a squire, though without aristocratic title, the seo family enjoyed a comfortable income off their estates. and though it was modest in size, their fortune was kitae's unquestionable birthright as firstborn, yet some madness drove his father to favor his younger brother, hajoon. paranoia bitterly nagged at him as the preference became ever apparent. as boys they were equals, which was already rather objectionable considering his position as eldest. as adolescents the partiality was incontestable. his bastard father had every intention of subverting all common practice to name his brother heir!
kitae could concede hajoon demonstrated some academic prowess that he might have lacked. moreover, a degree of integrity and honesty that his father held in high regard and kitae could only scoff at. he held no qualms with twisting the truth, deception was an easy means to a favorable end, which proved useful in his personal "business" ventures. meanwhile, hajoon's noble dream of becoming a barrister were fawned over by his parents. kitae sullenly observed his rightful inheritance deplete in pursuit of this foolish cause. another truth he was morosely aware of: the distinct difference between gentry and nobility. indeed, kitae resented them, those who wanted for nothing and whose families seemingly abided by established rules of succession... principally, he resented their wealth - something earned by no merit, simply birth! something he should have some crumb of by his birth but was being inexplicably denied. he wasn't without ambitions of his own: businesses, trades, investments - kitae put forth numerous propositions to expand the family wealth to no avail. the seo family had alternative, idiotic aspirations at odds with such pursuits.
kitae was not an entirely forgotten son. his parents tried in earnest to find some alternative place for him in the spare time they had not doting on hajoon. he dutifully studied and attended university, he participated in local society, there were expectations. he was given meager responsibilities. he managed a small allowance. the insignificance of it all frustrated him to no end. upon completing his studies he departed his family estates with the conviction of never returning. he could not bear to witness what the future might hold: hajoon applying to an inns of court and demeaning himself for approval all while his family continued to squander his inheritance in this reckless pursuit. worse, he could not bear to see hajoon succeed. however, kitae did return, only two years later.
of course, with modest means and even less considering... kitae could not embark in any post-studies "grand tour" like the aristocratic men he so resented. he slithered his way to london, nevertheless. he discovered new lucrative methods of sustaining himself, built upon the foundational abilities he'd built in youth of the lying and gambling variety. such juvenile and unsophisticated schemes could only get one so far, much less unscathed. but every burn he suffered from soaring too close to the sun was only wisdom earned. he returned with a notable shrewdness that commanded even the respect of his father. he also did not return alone.
the older gentleman called himself "percival". a name kitae understood to be an alias that he did not question, out of admiration. percival had graciously taken him under his guidance, a charlatan by profession. it was shockingly profitable. they intended to undertake kitae's most ambitious scheme yet: defrauding his own family. it was shockingly easy, pleasurable even. his only remorse: departing before realization could set for his witless family.
tldr/hc:
family was landed gentry, without peerage title but had modest wealth via rental income from their estates
younger brother named hajoon was more favored, book smart, and traditionally ambitious; wanted to pursue law and family sank all resources into that dream
kitae very bitter!! couldn't understand why his father disapproved of him so much and became very resentful
major chip on his shoulder against wealthy aristocrats (jealous...)
has a knack for smooth talking/charming/deception; great propensity for manipulation; very questionable moral compass!
was mentored by a prolific charlatan called percival he met while engaging in shenanigans and getting into all sorts of trouble in london!! they defrauded a lot of gentry together through various cons until he died of (presumably) alcoholism. now kitae has taken on the alias in his honor
has been traversing europe the past two years for pleasure, however funds are running dangerously low and he's decided to return to comfortable territory with a new scheme
always impeccably dressed, with the finest accessories to assert his position as a respectable businessman
