Who is their closest friend, and why? What do they like to do with this person?
Sebastian's best friends are Hunter Clarington and Bree Jordan. While Hunter is probably his best friend because he's his oldest friend, Bree deserves to be mentioned because of how close they are. With Hunter, Sebastian does literally anything. They're close friends for a reason, and Sebastian loves just spending time with his best friend and talking. Bree, on the other hand, likes to drink with Sebastian (not that Hunter doesn't) and they gossip. They're like the head bitches of Slytherin House, and they know it.
Do they have any rivals? Who and why?
Sebastian does have rivals. Scorpius is definitely his biggest rival, and he has been since they were 11. They've always competed for the same things, and for that Sebastian is resentful. He knows they'll never be able to be close friends, but he hopes that they can at least kind of be friends one day. Sebastian's other rivals include everyone who has ever tried to compete with him.
Have they ever been betrayed? By who, and how did it affect them?
Sebastian doesn't like to talk about when he lost his virginity, and he certainly doesn't like to talk about the boy he lost it to. Actually, man would be a better word for this. But Sebastian felt betrayed in that moment.
Do they, or have they in the past, had a mentor? What was their relationship with this person, and how has it changed since then?
Sebastian never really had a full-time mentor, as in, someone he was consistently looking up to. However, since he has been at Hogwarts, Professor Odinson (Loki, not Thor) has been a big help to him because of Sebastian's love of Divination and dedication to the Slytherin house. Everyone calls Odinson a creep, but Sebastian really likes him and appreciates how much he helped him out when he was struggling.
What sort of education have they had? Do they want more?
Sebastian had multiple tutors as a child in subjects such as English, French, maths, and history. This was in place of any Muggle primary school, because his parents wanted him to learn school things their way. Now he has his Hogwarts education, and while he's learned about Muggle universities and thinks that they're excellent places, he could never be surrounded by all of those Muggles at one time.
Who was their idol growing up? Who was the first person they fantasized about?
Growing up, Sebastian idolized his father, which he now fails to even admit. As for fantasies, Sebastian was always in to guys, so he really just fantasized about the last hot guy he saw.
Where (and when) did they grow up? How did they view it as a child, and did that change as they matured? How do they feel about the place now?
More often than not, Sebastian was shut down on these operations, and he began to realize that his parents liked keeping him alone. They liked making him learn old ways of conversation, but when he was thrust in to these new environments, he was awful at communicating because of that. As Sebastian matured, he realized that the house was less and less of a palace and more and more of a prison.
Now, Sebastian doesn't go back much. That house gives him a cold feeling, much like anything associated with his parents.
Describe their best and worst memories from childhood.
As for bad memories, Sebastian doesn't like to speak of them often. However, his worst memory was definitely the night after his father's birthday. Sebastian was 10, and his father had a big, extravagant party that everyone had been to. However, his father had a bit too much to drink and ended up a mess. Though it wouldn't be a big deal for some people to see their father like that, it crushed Sebastian. His big strong father was sloshing around and having to be carried around and Sebastian had cried. Hunter had held him and Sebastian had sobbed because it was then he realized that growing up sucked, and being an adult wasn't all it was cracked up to be. He hardened even further after that night.
What were they like as a child? What was their favorite toy? Favorite game? Playmates?
What did they want to be when they grew up?
Sebastian had been groomed from a young age to act and look properly so he would be an upstanding member of their society. It wasn't so much Sebastian's society as it was his parents, but they still made him in to a respectful young bloke who always looked the part. Though Sebastian had a spark of mischief in him, he really did enjoy being attentive to the rules and he liked order and discipline. Though his parents rarely punished him, they did make him feel bad if he ever did something wrong, so he had to learn to do everything right.
His favorite toy were toy trains. His maid would set the tracks up and his father would sometimes even play with them with Sebastian. He loved wearing a conductors hat and watching the locomotive whirl around the tracks gracefully and precisely. He wasn't a big fan of games, but because he was such a small child, hide and go seek was always easy for him. As his parents would mingle with their counterparts, Sebastian and the rest of the children would often play this game in the sprawling estates they lived in, and he loved every moment of it.
His favorite playmate was obviously Hunter. Where Sebastian was uptight, challenging, and a bit cruel, Hunter was easy to get along with and kind. They balanced each other out and made a wicked team, even as young children. The Claringtons and Smythes began going in the same social circles when the boys were 6, and they have been inseparable ever since.
Sebastian wanted to be just like his father when he grew up. The man was self-assured and strong, and he taught Sebastian to never let people see their weaknesses, because that was how others would destroy him. Sebastian didn't realize the fault in the lack of appreciation for vulnerability until he was much older, and Sebastian's idolization of his father was why the rumors of dark wizardry hit him so hard. If Sebastian had wanted to be just like his dad, did that mean he was destined to a life of darkness as well?
What is their family history like? How does it affect them? How do they feel about their family? How does their family feel about them?
Sebastian comes from one of the wealthiest Wizarding families there is. His parents are part of a prestigious social circle that includes Hunter's family, which is why the two boys are so close. Sebastian was destined to be a Slytherin before he took his first breath in this world. His parents trained him from his early childhood to behave like a gentleman, to remain orderly, and when Sebastian was around them, he did. However, as he grew older, behaving like a gentleman became less fun and he found it easier to act out when his parents weren't around. This was easy for him because as he grew older, his parents were gone for longer and longer on their business trips. Soon, Sebastian was alone more than half the time, and then it was almost all the time.
Sebastian's extended family is not one he speaks with often. In fact, the only family member he was relatively close with was his Grandfather Smythe, When he passed away, all ties to the extended family were cut. Sebastian's mother, Avelaine, is an only child and his father, Richard, has one brother. That brother, Sebastian's uncle, has a son named Jacob, who is Sebastian's cousin and is also straight, and therefore has the responsibility to carry on the family name. Sebastian knew that if his cousin were not to carry it on, his parents would be much less accepting of his homosexuality, but because of this, they never made much of a stink about it. In fact, they accepted it wholly, saying it made Sebastian different and unique, and that it should make him even tougher.
As a child, Sebastian looked up to his father. He wanted to be involved in Wizarding law, just as his dad was. He even had an identical briefcase that he played with. At a young age, Sebastian's father sat him down for the "Smythe man talk". This talk forced Sebastian to believe that being hard-headed and quick witted was the only way to get ahead in this world. Vulnerability was a laughing matter and relationships and friendships only came after one was ahead. Sebastian accepted this as truth because of the respect he had for his father, and he quickly learned the quips that he would need to be successful. Wit came naturally to him, and he felt proud that he could use snark to make the other children leave him alone. This way, he could focus on being ahead and being the best, just as his father told him.
From day one at Hogwarts, there had been rumors about Sebastian's family. Rumors that they were Death Eaters, rumors that they had kept dangerous objects in the home Sebastian grew up with, so many rumors. Sebastian didn't pay attention much before Hogwarts. In fact, his tutors in English, French, and Maths seemed to accept his family and like them, so Sebastian had never seen anyone who didn't feel this way. He was immediately shocked and confused when he heard children talking about his family in a degrading and disrespectful way. Sebastian used that acquired wit to try to make them go away, but this only made the older kids taunt him more. It didn't help that his best friend had been sorted in to the wrong house, and he felt completely alone. He didn't want to ask his parents if they were true, because they were mostly gone anyway and they were important people. He didn't want to bother them. So he ignored it. For 5 years, Sebastian has ignored these rumors. They still aren't addressed.
When the time came for Sebastian to start applying himself in school and shooting for upper level things, he worked as hard as he could. He was a natural on a broom and knew he wanted to join the Quidditch team. There was a pressure from his father to join because Richard Smythe had been the Captain in his time at Hogwarts. His mother and father had also both been prefects, and Sebastian had an immense weight on his shoulders to accomplish this as well. He had excellent marks, nearly perfect, but he worked to make them perfect. However, Scorpius Malfoy and Sebastian were always neck in neck, which made it increasingly harder for Sebastian to get anything to go his way. When Scorpius made Captain and Prefect, he'd been devastated. He had cracked under the pressure his parents put on him, and it wouldn't be the first time this had happened.
Sebastian isn't sure he'll ever have a normal relationship with his parents. He still doesn't know if they were, or are, dark wizards. They don't accept his boyfriend or half the friends he has. Sebastian's best friend isn't a talking point for them simply because of the color of his tie, and they barely ever speak with him unless they want something or need his face for a photo op. He doesn't know if he ever wants a relationship with them, either. It makes him jealous when people are close with their families because of how much he missed out on that as a child, but he would never want to be close with his parents. A part of him will always want to impress them, and depending on the day that part can be pretty dominant, but he's content with being himself and seeing them only a few times a year. It makes it much easier for Sebastian.
Sebastian is alright with Muggle technology. He works his laptop well enough and sought out to learn more during his 6th year Muggle History class, though he'd never tell his family that.
Are they specially qualified in any particular field? Would they be considered at the top of the field?
Sebastian is excellent at Divination. It's not taken as seriously as he wished it was, but he's really good at that in terms of his classes at Hogwarts. Outside of that, he's very good at writing and hopes to make a career of it one day. He'd like to call himself one of the best writers at Hogwarts, but that might just be his ego talking. As for Quidditch, Sebastian has always been good at it. However, he cracks under pressure often and doesn't always show off the skills that he works hard for and knows he has.
Have they ever been publically acknowledged for anything? (Ex. Nobel Prize)
Sebastian's a bit sad about this, but no, he hasn't. He didn't make prefect or Quidditch captain, two positions he sought after and lost to Scorpius Malfoy, who became his arch nemesis during first year.
Is there anything they’ve deliberately sought to improve at?
Fitness is a big thing for Sebastian, and he works out a lot to improve his body and his Quidditch skills. He is constantly studying too in hopes of being the prefect next year, even if Scorpius makes Head Boy.
What are some of your character’s more notable merits and flaws (including physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, etc.)? How did they develop? How has this helped or hindered them in the past?
Sebastian's strongest trait is his ambition and intelligence. When he wants something, he uses his entire brain to get it. He doesn't take no for an answer much, which some people see as a good thing. He's well-focused and he's charming enough to make the people that matter like him. One of his biggest flaws is that if he doesn't see that person influential in the furthering of his life, he can treat people pretty badly. He's emotional and he lashes out with his witty, biting words much too often. He doesn't think before acting and he's extremely impulsive. It gets him in to a lot of trouble with people who don't think this is the best trait to have.
Other than his impulsiveness, Sebastian is very afraid of opening up to people. He has trust issues that stem from his relationship with his parents, and this also gets him in to trouble. If he doesn't trust someone, he can use rude words to make them leave him alone so he doesn't have to deal with it.
Though his ambition is his best trait, Sebastian is also loyal. Once you've proven to him that he can trust you, he'll hold on to that and he'll make sure that the other person can trust him too. This faltered a bit when he cheated on Blaine, but he still sees himself as loyal. He treats the people that he cares about right, and he knows this.
Sebastian would never tell anyone this, but he is very self-conscious. Not about his looks; he knows he is good-looking. He doesn't perform well under pressure, and this gets him down sometimes. He doesn't want anyone to think he is a bad Quidditch player, because he really is hard-working and is constantly working out so he can be the best. He does well on school work when there's not a lot of pressure, but big tests can sometimes be a problem for him which is why he hasn't made Prefect yet.
