Post by The Earl of Pudding on Oct 5, 2009 14:10:15 GMT -5
Name: Lloyd Asplund
Alias: -
Age: 28
Occupation: Chief of research and development team, the Camelot.
Race: Britannian (an Earl)
Appearance: His body structure is tall and thin, height around 180cm (~6‘?). Constant working with computers has made his general posture to be a bit crooked, but when he's not actually sitting and typing on front of a computer, his posture is nonetheless seemingly just laid-back. The noble appearance of his, though, seems to lack this crookedness - the noble appearance of his is quite upright and he carries his status with this certain dignity as any other noble. Otherwise Lloyd's appearance is decent, and never too untidy or ungroomed, yet not too groomed either. Big eyeglasses do give him the stereotype looks of a nerdy scientist, but aside of that he can hardly be called ugly - in a way he’s even quite handsome. His face is proportionate and His eyes are pale blue, and his hair that of a shade of pale violet is quite short and somewhat curly, with bangs of just above the eyes length and split on the left side of his face.
Basically, as being a scientist in the army, he wears basic working clothes which is a high-collared white coat, hem split from the back. The coat's verges, only visible (decoration) button and a sleeve band belonging to the attire are dark green. Under the coat he usually wears a green polo shirt and black trousers, with black shoes.
But elsewhere than at work, or anywhere Earl Asplund would be needed, he does prefer tidy, yet comfortable clothing suitable to be worn by a member of nobility. The usual clothing for him is quite simple and not taken to a too aristocratic level, as well as the colors he tends to wear are actually quite down-to-earth. Brown for the jacket with a possibility for a black collar, shirt simply white, though he likes to wear some sort of a necktie or scarf which usually is violet. Trousers of his choice are usually white or brown, and the outfit is mostly completed with white gloves. Choice of footwear for him are black boots or shoes depending of the suit.
Then there’s yet the most formal outfit of his for the court or any other occasions of the most formal nature. For this attire his jacket, being that of knee-level with cleavage at the back hem, is olive green with black collar and broad cuffs, rest of it being somewhat similar to his usual preference for clothing - white shirt, broad violet scarf, white trousers and black shoes with dark, knee-lenght gaiters. But this outfit he wears quite seldom anyway, mostly only when attending the court or some occasion fo higher degree is absolutely mandatory for him.
Knightmare Appearance: -
Knightmare Abilities: -
History: Lloyd was born as the only son of the previous Earl and Countess Asplund. His mother would have wanted to have more children, but was sort of infertile - even Lloyd’s birth was a tiny miracle to itself - so Lloyd was left to be free of siblings. Thus he was also the only heir to the noble Asplund house, which was one of the older noble families of Britannia, their noble lineage dating back to the 18th century. Being the only child, and the only heir such a family, has greatly affected his childhood. He was quite quiet and shy a child to begin with, and was pampered and protected more than anything else - especially by his mother - though the timid little boy would have gladly lived with much less fuss around him. Basically he was never left alone, with all the nannies, servants and such around, which didn’t make any better of his shyness.
Naturally he was also educated at home by the best private teachers his family could afford, and as he was always just pampered and whatever he did or said was simply agreed to - with the exception, of course, that he was strictly taught to follow the good manners of a noble - he didn’t exactly develop great social skills either. With was always the same people around and the same fuss going about, with no real contact to anyone, what do you expect. The only place he could find some peace or comfort in was his own little hobby, which was allowed to him - crafts, that is. At least those little things - like wooden toys and later on e.g. small steam engines and such - built by him didn’t make any fuss or agree with him on everything. They didn’t always come out as he wanted, broke up if not done well enough, even blew up at times - only to his joy to re-build and develop them. Probably his mother and father were the only really dear people to him - though what child wouldn’t care about his parents, especially an only one and pampered like him?
The older he got, this little hobby of his developed, and as he saw many things around him which in his opinion could work better, he actually began inventing and developing other solutions to them. Some out of laziness or boredom - like that one device to pull his curtains before or from his windows with remote control - and some others to be actually useful - with actually one, if to be said so, of the earliest predecessors of his Yggdrasil Drive to boost up their vacuum cleaner into quite a portable shape, much to the maids’ joy of it‘s usefulness. His parents were astounded. Their precious youngster clearly had talent, and they couldn’t but wonder where he had already learned that much of it. What they did, was naturally to hire some more teachers at subjects related to teach the boy at what he was good at, but as he still grew and became even better, near Lloyd’s sixteenth birthday his teachers finally told his respectable parents that no more home counseling would do - a) if he was simply taught but never got any use out of what he got, everything even taught was totally in vain, b) it was clear that he was already out of their league and could develop things, frankly, let’s say even his hands tied up, to blow the whole house up just out of boredom. Of course, during years Lloyd himself had grown irritated, even frustrated - it had been long since his teachers had been able to present him with anything new, and lately he had just tinkered with same things all over and over again. The message was clear - the pampered one, the precious, their little ‘baby’ was to be let go off - into a real school to make something useful out of his intelligence and talent. Least to say, Lloyd was more than overjoyed when he was told of this kind of an opportunity.
And by the beginning of next term, Lloyd was starting his studies at the Imperial Colchester Institute on a scholarship arranged by his tutors. Thus he was also introduced to a totally new world to him - full of different people, full of interaction, and the fact that suddenly he was treated like any other of them - not like some glass prince to rule his own (forced) little kingdom called the Asplund estate. And it all felt good, at first - though soon Lloyd noticed it made life quite much harder when you didn’t get everything you wanted right away, or when people seldom agreed with him on anything. He wasn’t used to such, and made quite many to think he was some arrogant, spoiled brat - well, true in a way but not like he could‘ve helped it.
He was, from the very beginning, one of the top-notch students - least to be exceptional. Which by the way didn’t really do any better for him to get know and get along with the other students. With the timidness and poorly developed social skills he had to begin with, he was left to be the quiet, geek-to-be-avoided of the class, always knowing everything but not getting along with other students. Lloyd was never exactly bullied, but neither was he accepted anywhere among the students. It definitely didn’t help him make any more social development to make the situation better, but being alone wasn’t really a new thing to him, so in time he got used to it, again. At least the top grades opened many doors to him and once again let him make full use of his skills - in solitude, but to his teachers‘ joy and pride. Also already on his first year he had taken interest into military technology, and would surely orientate to it when their basic education period would end in the middle of the second year of studies.
Though yet another day to make a change to his solitary way was destined to come, soon enough anyway. The day he began his second year at the Institute, a new student was transferred to his class. She was an Indian transfer student, named Rakshata Chawla, quite the top-notch students of her own trade as the rumors went. Lloyd, of course, had heard none of them, and at first the new girl was like anyone else to him - indifferent, and someone treating him like air too. But soon enough did Lloyd begin to observe her work - if he had this far had no one to rival himself in skill and talent, now there was someone. And because no one else was any match for them - and now that there were two of them so skilled - Lloyd soon found himself paired up with the new girl for some homework to be done in pairs (since no one this far had been up to his level, he had got the luck to do those too alone, too). It was, least to be said, a strange situation for Lloyd. Well, figured he’d get into fight with her right away - he was stubborn, and she had quite the temper, so in no way they would agree - or so it seemed. The homework this time assigned was to develop a home appliance of some sort. Well, a simple matter, but still, always something they’d get forward with. To make it easy for him, Lloyd had first off suggested a modified version of his early, so-called ‘Boosted Hoover’ - but surely it was something Rakshata would’ve had nothing to do with. And the girl definitely didn’t want to make it the easy way, not to mention her own idea she had. But Lloyd wouldn’t give up - which was quite unusual of him to take anything head-on with anyone. But he had finally met a worthy rival of his, and it was about his salt of life, so no way he would give in to some new face come across the ocean. A new side of the young Asplund had showed up - some pretty eager competitiveness. And for the first time, also real passion showing towards his own work.
Well, they did argue for the matter for a good time - almost till the deadline of the work. Then, on the third night before returning whatever the result of their work, Lloyd finally got enough of it and gathered all his courage - only to ‘steal’ the almost ripe fruit of their mutual work. And what he did with it - a machine meant to do something like roasting coffee beans to the exact liking of the user? Well. The day the homework was supposed to be returned, Lloyd’s and Rakshata’s machine magically was found - turned into a machine making pudding. Rakshata was furious. Lloyd was more amused than ever seen during his time in the Institute. Their work, surely, was judged great, but it definitely did not make any better of Lloyd getting along with Rakshata either. It was quite obvious who had made the pudding machine, though. And Lloyd claimed it to himself after the review - as it indeed made pudding well and even quite delicious of the sort - Rakshata not objecting but very acrimoniously beginning to call the young man “The Earl of Pudding” after the incident. Not that anything of it affected their studies - they were paired up again and again because no one else still shared their expertise. It never ended well, least to be said. At least many enough of their projects suddenly disappeared a few days before deadline, then returned as suddenly and completely re-done - excellently, but still. The whole ordeal was always far from pair work.
At the end of his second year, Lloyd had then oriented to the military technology - as well as had Rakshata, by the way - only receive news of his father having fell ill. It wasn’t very pleasant time for him, but as his mother told him to continue and do well with his studies, that was what Lloyd did - competing with Rakshata, and only him to make it then to his father’s funeral in the middle of the fall term of his third year of studies. And thus was there now a real Earl Asplund in the Institute. Not that it exactly changed anything - though now Lloyd was freed even of the hidden bullying treatment he had got this far from the others, simply out fear of their what would come upon those who would dare to anger a noble. Sure, there were other noble offspring among the students too, but none of them actually had inherited their title yet. So. The Earl Asplund got to continue in peace - with no one to stop him, with no one to stand by him, with no one to be there for him. Sure was strange this world outside his home estate. Again he was against some new, powerful feelings - like loss, pain and suffering. He had never realized how fragile a human life could be until now, but then again, he had no means to process his sorrow either. So he drowned the feelings of loss and grief by working and studying as hard as ever, even not bothering to argue with Rakshata anymore, only to aid her and reasonably bring his own opinions out when they were needed.
The young Indian woman had at first thought he was only playing around with her, but when the fifth mutual assignment of theirs went on with no problems at all, she finally decided it was going even too well to her liking. Of course, they were doing successfully as ever, but it just… wasn’t right. If Lloyd had once been bored and frustrated without a proper rival, so was even the more tempered young Indian woman right now. This kind of Earl of Pudding just wasn’t right. Sure he was still grumpy, eating even more pudding than usually and was socially lacking as ever, but that was it. Too easy. And too out of his usual passion for science.***
During his studies he also met and started working with his future subordinate and assistant Cécile Groomy.
After finishing his studies Lloyd joined the Britannian military, completely devoting himself to science. He became an engineer and was soon nominated to be a member of the Britannian Army Special Division, Special Dispatch Guidance System Division. Trough hard work and ingenious research he was a significant factor in development of Knightmare Frames.
Finally Lloyd was transferred under direct command of Schneizel el Britannia, the Second Prince of the Britannian Imperial Family. Thus was created Lloyd's research organization, the Camelot, which is an irregular division of the Britannian Military and has been granted permission by Prince Schneizel to operate outside the command structure and regulations of the regular Britannian armed forces - which isn’t always a good thing though.
Led by Lloyd, the Camelot continued the research and development of Knightmare Frames, as those practically had been stuck after the 5th generation, and the organization ultimately made the breakthrough with the first 7th generation Knightmare Frame, the Lancelot.
Nowadays Lloyd has also had a proposal by the formerly noble Ashford family to engaged one of their offspring, Milly, to him - in their guest to restore their noble status from before. For Lloyd, the request is actually quite an interesting one in a way that the infamous Ashford Foundation was once was also a pioneering organization in developing Knightmares. Though they were pushed down and disbanded by the Britannian Military, as well as ripped of from it former nobility when Empress Marianne was murdered, the prototype of the 3rd Knightmare Frame, Ganymede, still remains in Ashfords' possession. Thus, what interests Lloyd is the possibility that he might get access to the Ganymede and its designs - be there then a girl as a part for him to succeed.
Personality: Being quite lively but hard to read, Lloyd could be described at least eccentric. Usually he is cheerful, yet realistic, and frank to the point of being even brutally honest. While involved with others he acts with an air of indifference - he prefers to keep his distance from others for not being reminded how fragile humans in the end are. Thus has Lloyd immersed himself to science and the Lancelot, his pet project, is his pride and joy above all else, while he views other people mainly as usable parts for something or then nothing at all. (Like viewing the pilot of the Lancelot simply as one necessary part for the machine to function.) Basically he is wholly devoted to the Lancelot taking his attachment to the project and the machine easily to a disturbing extent.
Lloyd's general mannerism include occasional dance steps or such, his speech manner being melodic and filled with his own sounds and exclamations. Among Britannian army his straight mannerism is considered impolite by many, especially towards his superiors - typically him being restrained by his assistant Cécile Groomy, her making up for Lloyd's aloofness. Could be said she acting as his conscience, at least trying to mentor him how to act properly with people - usually in vain, though. *his lack of typical social manners in most scenarios causes his partner to act as his conscience, and how it might negatively impact how others view him*.
It could be said that because of his eccentric nature, not that many people tolerate him if they necessarily don't have to - albeit the fact that Lloyd necessarily doesn’t lack proper manners. (Well, naturally not as he’s a born noble, after all.) Mostly it’s just that he - consciously or not - chooses not to care about such.
Yet, in spite of all, Lloyd does have also his more serious side, being actually pragmatic and very aware of the world around him. This basically means he knows what happens around him, but it doesn't affect his actions the slightest bit - all he's interested about is his tinkering with the Lancelot, not what comes out of the fruits of his work being used by others. The war going on around him does not seem to affect him too much also because as he considers humans as parts, he also considers himself among others just as a part drifted to the war, his concern mainly being the Lancelot and his work - not to whom he does it. Lloyd shows pretty much no loyalty towards anyone or anything, except maybe the Lancelot (though it, too, is mainly just a precious toy for him to tinker with) and with that, if one faction does not satisfy him, there's technically nothing to stop him from jumping over to another faction if it would provide better means for him to work.
One thing other than the Lancelot he's fond of is pudding, having set this favorite food of his also as the password of the Lancelot's Harken Booster, and having earned the nickname "Earl of Pudding" from a certain Indian colleague of his. What he doesn't like that much on the other hand is Cécile's cooking - not that anyone has seemed to like it that much either this far.
Strengths: High intelligence and total expertise in his work - might some even consider it a strength that he doesn't have his actions needlessly disturbed by his emotions. He's also very dedicated to what he's doing and granted it's up to him, one can but expect the best out of what he's working on.
Weaknesses: His lack of loyalty, and to some extent also his devotion towards the Lancelot - though the latter does not necessarily stop him for anything, he can always develop and have new things built in name and development of his pet project.
Abilities: Other than being the leading scientist in Knightmare and weaponry research and development and what has made him to be such a pro of his profession, nothing special to be added. He can ride a horse, irritate people by simply being himself and to some extent endure Cécile's cooking when forced to eat it.
Weapon Proficiency: -
Allegiance: Britannia
Extra: -
Role-Playing Sample:
(Not sure if this was to be written in 1st or 3rd person, pray tell me if I’ve done the wrong one and I’ll correct it ^^)
“Hnn~”
Lloyd stretched himself, leaning back in chair. A sigh escaped his lips, pretty pleased a smile upon his face nonetheless. Another all-nighter he had been pulling there - not that he would have even known what time it was if it hadn’t been for the clock visible at the corner of one of the computer screens set in a row in front of him. The glowing digits proved it was thirteen to eight in the morning - just the time when people usually got to the work, not when they’d finish it. But that was a pure utopia, or at least something totally unusual when it came to the research and development team Camelot’s leader, this Lloyd Asplund. When he worked, the time mattered to him not. His subordinates came and went usually within the usual working hours, but for their chief it was totally common a thing to be spotted at their base at any hour of the day. Like today - some of his workers had come to their morning shift only to find a certain chief scientist typing furiously and not paying any attention to their greetings of good morning at all. Only now had the ticking stopped - for the moment, at least.
Not moving for a while from the position of leaning backwards and basically staring at the ceiling of the room, Lloyd sighed anew. Yes… After this, it finally might work… And what was this what he had been doing all night? Why, a stupid question. Anything but tinkering with the Lancelot was perfectly out of the question, surely. But what exactly this time? Well, something he had come up with a while ago, and another thing to distinguish the white Frame from it’s predecessors - a system called the Harken Booster. It would be something which would allow the Slash Harkens actually be controlled while their launching and charging through the air, considerably increasing their efficiency and hit-ratio in the battle. Or that was what the system was supposed to do, at least - Lloyd could just hope he would get to try it out for real soon enough.
Another sigh - though this one had not so pleased a tone on it.
Soon enough - was what they all told him. Everything worked in theory, and some functions had already been tried out in specific trials, but there had yet to be any real situation in which the Lancelot could be tried out for real. With no proper pilot Lloyd had no chance for such a thing, which annoyed the scientist to a most disturbing extent. Like a child with a new bicycle, but with no skill to drive it. He had been grumpy, and only yesterday pouted at Cécile when she had tried to cheer him up - ’why surely, there’ll come a pilot proper enough’. But soon enough wasn’t good enough - he had waited, waited even quite patiently, and of course used his time to develop many most varying equipment for the Frame, but with no one to try them out there was no way he could know whether they worked or not, and how he could develop anything to be even better. All he could do was invent more and more new things - and even that wasn’t such a good thing when it went on for too long. In the end, the Frame would have many options to what it was equipped with - granted that any of those things even worked when they could not be tried out - but too much equipment would also ruin it. And that was the least Lloyd wanted to become of his little pet Lancelot - fated to be a failure with too much on it.
Damn the military bureaucracy. Something even an earl couldn’t speed up, not in away it would have had any real effect to the process.
Sigh.
But. Lloyd took a look at the clock anew and this time, the digits made him frown. Better hurry and try get some breakfast before Cécile would make it to the base’s kitchen… The man rose from his seat, stretched himself anew, and with almost a pirouette-like turn around headed towards the break room of the base. Though getting closer to the said room, a scent in the air getting stronger all the way while he went told quite another story. Ahh, shoot… She’s already at it. Well, she was an early bird, though knowing it didn’t make the fact that Lloyd was late from breakfast any better. Well, a decent breakfast anyway. Poor him.
Alias: -
Age: 28
Occupation: Chief of research and development team, the Camelot.
Race: Britannian (an Earl)
Appearance: His body structure is tall and thin, height around 180cm (~6‘?). Constant working with computers has made his general posture to be a bit crooked, but when he's not actually sitting and typing on front of a computer, his posture is nonetheless seemingly just laid-back. The noble appearance of his, though, seems to lack this crookedness - the noble appearance of his is quite upright and he carries his status with this certain dignity as any other noble. Otherwise Lloyd's appearance is decent, and never too untidy or ungroomed, yet not too groomed either. Big eyeglasses do give him the stereotype looks of a nerdy scientist, but aside of that he can hardly be called ugly - in a way he’s even quite handsome. His face is proportionate and His eyes are pale blue, and his hair that of a shade of pale violet is quite short and somewhat curly, with bangs of just above the eyes length and split on the left side of his face.
Basically, as being a scientist in the army, he wears basic working clothes which is a high-collared white coat, hem split from the back. The coat's verges, only visible (decoration) button and a sleeve band belonging to the attire are dark green. Under the coat he usually wears a green polo shirt and black trousers, with black shoes.
But elsewhere than at work, or anywhere Earl Asplund would be needed, he does prefer tidy, yet comfortable clothing suitable to be worn by a member of nobility. The usual clothing for him is quite simple and not taken to a too aristocratic level, as well as the colors he tends to wear are actually quite down-to-earth. Brown for the jacket with a possibility for a black collar, shirt simply white, though he likes to wear some sort of a necktie or scarf which usually is violet. Trousers of his choice are usually white or brown, and the outfit is mostly completed with white gloves. Choice of footwear for him are black boots or shoes depending of the suit.
Then there’s yet the most formal outfit of his for the court or any other occasions of the most formal nature. For this attire his jacket, being that of knee-level with cleavage at the back hem, is olive green with black collar and broad cuffs, rest of it being somewhat similar to his usual preference for clothing - white shirt, broad violet scarf, white trousers and black shoes with dark, knee-lenght gaiters. But this outfit he wears quite seldom anyway, mostly only when attending the court or some occasion fo higher degree is absolutely mandatory for him.
Knightmare Appearance: -
Knightmare Abilities: -
History: Lloyd was born as the only son of the previous Earl and Countess Asplund. His mother would have wanted to have more children, but was sort of infertile - even Lloyd’s birth was a tiny miracle to itself - so Lloyd was left to be free of siblings. Thus he was also the only heir to the noble Asplund house, which was one of the older noble families of Britannia, their noble lineage dating back to the 18th century. Being the only child, and the only heir such a family, has greatly affected his childhood. He was quite quiet and shy a child to begin with, and was pampered and protected more than anything else - especially by his mother - though the timid little boy would have gladly lived with much less fuss around him. Basically he was never left alone, with all the nannies, servants and such around, which didn’t make any better of his shyness.
Naturally he was also educated at home by the best private teachers his family could afford, and as he was always just pampered and whatever he did or said was simply agreed to - with the exception, of course, that he was strictly taught to follow the good manners of a noble - he didn’t exactly develop great social skills either. With was always the same people around and the same fuss going about, with no real contact to anyone, what do you expect. The only place he could find some peace or comfort in was his own little hobby, which was allowed to him - crafts, that is. At least those little things - like wooden toys and later on e.g. small steam engines and such - built by him didn’t make any fuss or agree with him on everything. They didn’t always come out as he wanted, broke up if not done well enough, even blew up at times - only to his joy to re-build and develop them. Probably his mother and father were the only really dear people to him - though what child wouldn’t care about his parents, especially an only one and pampered like him?
The older he got, this little hobby of his developed, and as he saw many things around him which in his opinion could work better, he actually began inventing and developing other solutions to them. Some out of laziness or boredom - like that one device to pull his curtains before or from his windows with remote control - and some others to be actually useful - with actually one, if to be said so, of the earliest predecessors of his Yggdrasil Drive to boost up their vacuum cleaner into quite a portable shape, much to the maids’ joy of it‘s usefulness. His parents were astounded. Their precious youngster clearly had talent, and they couldn’t but wonder where he had already learned that much of it. What they did, was naturally to hire some more teachers at subjects related to teach the boy at what he was good at, but as he still grew and became even better, near Lloyd’s sixteenth birthday his teachers finally told his respectable parents that no more home counseling would do - a) if he was simply taught but never got any use out of what he got, everything even taught was totally in vain, b) it was clear that he was already out of their league and could develop things, frankly, let’s say even his hands tied up, to blow the whole house up just out of boredom. Of course, during years Lloyd himself had grown irritated, even frustrated - it had been long since his teachers had been able to present him with anything new, and lately he had just tinkered with same things all over and over again. The message was clear - the pampered one, the precious, their little ‘baby’ was to be let go off - into a real school to make something useful out of his intelligence and talent. Least to say, Lloyd was more than overjoyed when he was told of this kind of an opportunity.
And by the beginning of next term, Lloyd was starting his studies at the Imperial Colchester Institute on a scholarship arranged by his tutors. Thus he was also introduced to a totally new world to him - full of different people, full of interaction, and the fact that suddenly he was treated like any other of them - not like some glass prince to rule his own (forced) little kingdom called the Asplund estate. And it all felt good, at first - though soon Lloyd noticed it made life quite much harder when you didn’t get everything you wanted right away, or when people seldom agreed with him on anything. He wasn’t used to such, and made quite many to think he was some arrogant, spoiled brat - well, true in a way but not like he could‘ve helped it.
He was, from the very beginning, one of the top-notch students - least to be exceptional. Which by the way didn’t really do any better for him to get know and get along with the other students. With the timidness and poorly developed social skills he had to begin with, he was left to be the quiet, geek-to-be-avoided of the class, always knowing everything but not getting along with other students. Lloyd was never exactly bullied, but neither was he accepted anywhere among the students. It definitely didn’t help him make any more social development to make the situation better, but being alone wasn’t really a new thing to him, so in time he got used to it, again. At least the top grades opened many doors to him and once again let him make full use of his skills - in solitude, but to his teachers‘ joy and pride. Also already on his first year he had taken interest into military technology, and would surely orientate to it when their basic education period would end in the middle of the second year of studies.
Though yet another day to make a change to his solitary way was destined to come, soon enough anyway. The day he began his second year at the Institute, a new student was transferred to his class. She was an Indian transfer student, named Rakshata Chawla, quite the top-notch students of her own trade as the rumors went. Lloyd, of course, had heard none of them, and at first the new girl was like anyone else to him - indifferent, and someone treating him like air too. But soon enough did Lloyd begin to observe her work - if he had this far had no one to rival himself in skill and talent, now there was someone. And because no one else was any match for them - and now that there were two of them so skilled - Lloyd soon found himself paired up with the new girl for some homework to be done in pairs (since no one this far had been up to his level, he had got the luck to do those too alone, too). It was, least to be said, a strange situation for Lloyd. Well, figured he’d get into fight with her right away - he was stubborn, and she had quite the temper, so in no way they would agree - or so it seemed. The homework this time assigned was to develop a home appliance of some sort. Well, a simple matter, but still, always something they’d get forward with. To make it easy for him, Lloyd had first off suggested a modified version of his early, so-called ‘Boosted Hoover’ - but surely it was something Rakshata would’ve had nothing to do with. And the girl definitely didn’t want to make it the easy way, not to mention her own idea she had. But Lloyd wouldn’t give up - which was quite unusual of him to take anything head-on with anyone. But he had finally met a worthy rival of his, and it was about his salt of life, so no way he would give in to some new face come across the ocean. A new side of the young Asplund had showed up - some pretty eager competitiveness. And for the first time, also real passion showing towards his own work.
Well, they did argue for the matter for a good time - almost till the deadline of the work. Then, on the third night before returning whatever the result of their work, Lloyd finally got enough of it and gathered all his courage - only to ‘steal’ the almost ripe fruit of their mutual work. And what he did with it - a machine meant to do something like roasting coffee beans to the exact liking of the user? Well. The day the homework was supposed to be returned, Lloyd’s and Rakshata’s machine magically was found - turned into a machine making pudding. Rakshata was furious. Lloyd was more amused than ever seen during his time in the Institute. Their work, surely, was judged great, but it definitely did not make any better of Lloyd getting along with Rakshata either. It was quite obvious who had made the pudding machine, though. And Lloyd claimed it to himself after the review - as it indeed made pudding well and even quite delicious of the sort - Rakshata not objecting but very acrimoniously beginning to call the young man “The Earl of Pudding” after the incident. Not that anything of it affected their studies - they were paired up again and again because no one else still shared their expertise. It never ended well, least to be said. At least many enough of their projects suddenly disappeared a few days before deadline, then returned as suddenly and completely re-done - excellently, but still. The whole ordeal was always far from pair work.
At the end of his second year, Lloyd had then oriented to the military technology - as well as had Rakshata, by the way - only receive news of his father having fell ill. It wasn’t very pleasant time for him, but as his mother told him to continue and do well with his studies, that was what Lloyd did - competing with Rakshata, and only him to make it then to his father’s funeral in the middle of the fall term of his third year of studies. And thus was there now a real Earl Asplund in the Institute. Not that it exactly changed anything - though now Lloyd was freed even of the hidden bullying treatment he had got this far from the others, simply out fear of their what would come upon those who would dare to anger a noble. Sure, there were other noble offspring among the students too, but none of them actually had inherited their title yet. So. The Earl Asplund got to continue in peace - with no one to stop him, with no one to stand by him, with no one to be there for him. Sure was strange this world outside his home estate. Again he was against some new, powerful feelings - like loss, pain and suffering. He had never realized how fragile a human life could be until now, but then again, he had no means to process his sorrow either. So he drowned the feelings of loss and grief by working and studying as hard as ever, even not bothering to argue with Rakshata anymore, only to aid her and reasonably bring his own opinions out when they were needed.
The young Indian woman had at first thought he was only playing around with her, but when the fifth mutual assignment of theirs went on with no problems at all, she finally decided it was going even too well to her liking. Of course, they were doing successfully as ever, but it just… wasn’t right. If Lloyd had once been bored and frustrated without a proper rival, so was even the more tempered young Indian woman right now. This kind of Earl of Pudding just wasn’t right. Sure he was still grumpy, eating even more pudding than usually and was socially lacking as ever, but that was it. Too easy. And too out of his usual passion for science.***
During his studies he also met and started working with his future subordinate and assistant Cécile Groomy.
After finishing his studies Lloyd joined the Britannian military, completely devoting himself to science. He became an engineer and was soon nominated to be a member of the Britannian Army Special Division, Special Dispatch Guidance System Division. Trough hard work and ingenious research he was a significant factor in development of Knightmare Frames.
Finally Lloyd was transferred under direct command of Schneizel el Britannia, the Second Prince of the Britannian Imperial Family. Thus was created Lloyd's research organization, the Camelot, which is an irregular division of the Britannian Military and has been granted permission by Prince Schneizel to operate outside the command structure and regulations of the regular Britannian armed forces - which isn’t always a good thing though.
Led by Lloyd, the Camelot continued the research and development of Knightmare Frames, as those practically had been stuck after the 5th generation, and the organization ultimately made the breakthrough with the first 7th generation Knightmare Frame, the Lancelot.
Nowadays Lloyd has also had a proposal by the formerly noble Ashford family to engaged one of their offspring, Milly, to him - in their guest to restore their noble status from before. For Lloyd, the request is actually quite an interesting one in a way that the infamous Ashford Foundation was once was also a pioneering organization in developing Knightmares. Though they were pushed down and disbanded by the Britannian Military, as well as ripped of from it former nobility when Empress Marianne was murdered, the prototype of the 3rd Knightmare Frame, Ganymede, still remains in Ashfords' possession. Thus, what interests Lloyd is the possibility that he might get access to the Ganymede and its designs - be there then a girl as a part for him to succeed.
Personality: Being quite lively but hard to read, Lloyd could be described at least eccentric. Usually he is cheerful, yet realistic, and frank to the point of being even brutally honest. While involved with others he acts with an air of indifference - he prefers to keep his distance from others for not being reminded how fragile humans in the end are. Thus has Lloyd immersed himself to science and the Lancelot, his pet project, is his pride and joy above all else, while he views other people mainly as usable parts for something or then nothing at all. (Like viewing the pilot of the Lancelot simply as one necessary part for the machine to function.) Basically he is wholly devoted to the Lancelot taking his attachment to the project and the machine easily to a disturbing extent.
Lloyd's general mannerism include occasional dance steps or such, his speech manner being melodic and filled with his own sounds and exclamations. Among Britannian army his straight mannerism is considered impolite by many, especially towards his superiors - typically him being restrained by his assistant Cécile Groomy, her making up for Lloyd's aloofness. Could be said she acting as his conscience, at least trying to mentor him how to act properly with people - usually in vain, though. *his lack of typical social manners in most scenarios causes his partner to act as his conscience, and how it might negatively impact how others view him*.
It could be said that because of his eccentric nature, not that many people tolerate him if they necessarily don't have to - albeit the fact that Lloyd necessarily doesn’t lack proper manners. (Well, naturally not as he’s a born noble, after all.) Mostly it’s just that he - consciously or not - chooses not to care about such.
Yet, in spite of all, Lloyd does have also his more serious side, being actually pragmatic and very aware of the world around him. This basically means he knows what happens around him, but it doesn't affect his actions the slightest bit - all he's interested about is his tinkering with the Lancelot, not what comes out of the fruits of his work being used by others. The war going on around him does not seem to affect him too much also because as he considers humans as parts, he also considers himself among others just as a part drifted to the war, his concern mainly being the Lancelot and his work - not to whom he does it. Lloyd shows pretty much no loyalty towards anyone or anything, except maybe the Lancelot (though it, too, is mainly just a precious toy for him to tinker with) and with that, if one faction does not satisfy him, there's technically nothing to stop him from jumping over to another faction if it would provide better means for him to work.
One thing other than the Lancelot he's fond of is pudding, having set this favorite food of his also as the password of the Lancelot's Harken Booster, and having earned the nickname "Earl of Pudding" from a certain Indian colleague of his. What he doesn't like that much on the other hand is Cécile's cooking - not that anyone has seemed to like it that much either this far.
Strengths: High intelligence and total expertise in his work - might some even consider it a strength that he doesn't have his actions needlessly disturbed by his emotions. He's also very dedicated to what he's doing and granted it's up to him, one can but expect the best out of what he's working on.
Weaknesses: His lack of loyalty, and to some extent also his devotion towards the Lancelot - though the latter does not necessarily stop him for anything, he can always develop and have new things built in name and development of his pet project.
Abilities: Other than being the leading scientist in Knightmare and weaponry research and development and what has made him to be such a pro of his profession, nothing special to be added. He can ride a horse, irritate people by simply being himself and to some extent endure Cécile's cooking when forced to eat it.
Weapon Proficiency: -
Allegiance: Britannia
Extra: -
Role-Playing Sample:
(Not sure if this was to be written in 1st or 3rd person, pray tell me if I’ve done the wrong one and I’ll correct it ^^)
“Hnn~”
Lloyd stretched himself, leaning back in chair. A sigh escaped his lips, pretty pleased a smile upon his face nonetheless. Another all-nighter he had been pulling there - not that he would have even known what time it was if it hadn’t been for the clock visible at the corner of one of the computer screens set in a row in front of him. The glowing digits proved it was thirteen to eight in the morning - just the time when people usually got to the work, not when they’d finish it. But that was a pure utopia, or at least something totally unusual when it came to the research and development team Camelot’s leader, this Lloyd Asplund. When he worked, the time mattered to him not. His subordinates came and went usually within the usual working hours, but for their chief it was totally common a thing to be spotted at their base at any hour of the day. Like today - some of his workers had come to their morning shift only to find a certain chief scientist typing furiously and not paying any attention to their greetings of good morning at all. Only now had the ticking stopped - for the moment, at least.
Not moving for a while from the position of leaning backwards and basically staring at the ceiling of the room, Lloyd sighed anew. Yes… After this, it finally might work… And what was this what he had been doing all night? Why, a stupid question. Anything but tinkering with the Lancelot was perfectly out of the question, surely. But what exactly this time? Well, something he had come up with a while ago, and another thing to distinguish the white Frame from it’s predecessors - a system called the Harken Booster. It would be something which would allow the Slash Harkens actually be controlled while their launching and charging through the air, considerably increasing their efficiency and hit-ratio in the battle. Or that was what the system was supposed to do, at least - Lloyd could just hope he would get to try it out for real soon enough.
Another sigh - though this one had not so pleased a tone on it.
Soon enough - was what they all told him. Everything worked in theory, and some functions had already been tried out in specific trials, but there had yet to be any real situation in which the Lancelot could be tried out for real. With no proper pilot Lloyd had no chance for such a thing, which annoyed the scientist to a most disturbing extent. Like a child with a new bicycle, but with no skill to drive it. He had been grumpy, and only yesterday pouted at Cécile when she had tried to cheer him up - ’why surely, there’ll come a pilot proper enough’. But soon enough wasn’t good enough - he had waited, waited even quite patiently, and of course used his time to develop many most varying equipment for the Frame, but with no one to try them out there was no way he could know whether they worked or not, and how he could develop anything to be even better. All he could do was invent more and more new things - and even that wasn’t such a good thing when it went on for too long. In the end, the Frame would have many options to what it was equipped with - granted that any of those things even worked when they could not be tried out - but too much equipment would also ruin it. And that was the least Lloyd wanted to become of his little pet Lancelot - fated to be a failure with too much on it.
Damn the military bureaucracy. Something even an earl couldn’t speed up, not in away it would have had any real effect to the process.
Sigh.
But. Lloyd took a look at the clock anew and this time, the digits made him frown. Better hurry and try get some breakfast before Cécile would make it to the base’s kitchen… The man rose from his seat, stretched himself anew, and with almost a pirouette-like turn around headed towards the break room of the base. Though getting closer to the said room, a scent in the air getting stronger all the way while he went told quite another story. Ahh, shoot… She’s already at it. Well, she was an early bird, though knowing it didn’t make the fact that Lloyd was late from breakfast any better. Well, a decent breakfast anyway. Poor him.
