» PLAYER INFORMATION
Player NAME: Stupei
Current AGE: Twenty-six
Player TIME ZONE: EST
Personal JOURNAL: frogwolf
IM & SERVICE: Stupei Iori @ AIM
Player PLURK: junpei_iori @ Plurk
Current CHARACTERS: None.

» CHARACTER INFORMATION
Character NAME: Shaun Hastings
Canon & MEDIUM: Assassin's Creed | Video Game Series
Canon PULL-POINT: The end of Assassin's Creed Revelations / introduction of Assassin's Creed III; as the modern-day Assassins arrive at the Temple.
Character AGE: Twenty-three
Character ABILITIES: Of the assassins, Shaun is probably on the lower end of the scale so far as physical ability. That isn't to say that he's out of shape - but he certainly doesn't have the prowess of Lucy or Desmond. If there were ever a wall to be scaled, Shaun would be the one standing below, loudly counting down just how long it took for you to find another (more easily accessed) entrance for him.

That said, he is still an assassin. He is more than capable of taking a life, even if it's not something he relishes in doing. It's never stated explicitly in the game what methods he favours, but in the comics, he is shown to use a handgun; it's safe to assume that he uses the cleanest, most detached method available, based on his personal feelings on killing (ie. poisons, projectiles - nothing so intimate as knives or his bare hands).

Shaun's position tends to keep him on the sidelines; it makes far better use of both his intelligence and analytical skills. As he once tells Desmond, he has a gift for making the connections that others don't - which is likely the main reason he isn't at the bottom of a river.

As one might have guessed, Shaun is also an expert in world history. He has studied various cultures and eras and seems to have quite a bit of that information memorized.

He certainly is not the technical wizard that Rebecca is, but he is proficient with data management, hacking and encryptions, and covering his digital footprints. Thanks to his ability to draw up solid conclusions and connections, his databases are both thorough and comprehensive - even the slowest of team members read: Desmond can make proper use of his files.

Character HISTORY: "Lucy, what's wrong with this guy? I think he's stalking me."

"And in 1421... erm... In 1421... Yeah, I'll have to do some more research, I think."

(I apologize for linking my own journal on the second one - I've transcribed the official Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia entry for Shaun, since it's not online anywhere. And I am clearly a giant nerd.)

Character PERSONALITY: What a dick.

... At least, that seems to be the common first impression of Shaun Hastings.

Both cynical and condescending, Shaun can hardly be considered the most sociable member of the modern assassin team. It's no exaggeration to say that he's highly intelligent - just ask him, and he'll be sure to remind you. He frequently belittles those around him, treating others as though they just aren't quite at the same level he is. Whether this is the side effect of some staggering self-confidence or a just a sore lack of faith in everyone else is never made clear; most likely, it's some combination of the two. Whatever the case, Shaun Hastings can always be relied upon to complain, verbally abuse, and provide generally unwanted commentary in any situation.

Second only to Lucy, Shaun is one of the more task-oriented of the group, and is the first to remind them of just how little time they have left. Whether they like it or not, their team is working with a deadline, and the Templars aren't likely to offer an extension. As Shaun serves as their connection to the other sectors of the Brotherhood, his relaying of updates on other field teams often serves as a sobering reminder of their responsibility.

That said, he only seems to take issue with time lost when he isn't the one wasting it. His goals can be self-serving and he is easily derailed if it means satisfying his own curiosity. Having Desmond use the Animus to investigate his historical theories would be considered perfectly acceptable, even if it doesn't help them find the Piece of Eden. He also harbours a (selfish) desire to use the Animus to explore his own ancestry, despite its irrelevance to their current mission.

Extremely opinionated, he is difficult to sway and often plagued by the pesky need to do the 'right' thing. After all, it was his obstinate refusal to leave Abstergo to their business that got him caught up in the Templar-Assassin war - even after being directly warned of the threat the Templars posed on multiple occasions, he continued to prod the sleeping dog. His persistence could be perceived as admirable, if looked upon with a kind eye - but to most sane individuals, it can come off as reckless at the best of times, easily leading him into trouble.

While he doesn't necessarily regret being inducted into the Assassin's fold, he isn't deluded enough to believe that they are the "good guys" of the conflict. Their methods are just as detestable as the Templars when it comes down to it - they may be defending freewill, but they take the lives of others to accomplish that. Even dressed up as the best course of action, no amount of justification will change that fact in Shaun's eyes; there are no heroes amongst killers. In fact, he could be considered a little squeamish about death in general, for someone in his profession. He laments that he has ever needed to kill, and accepts that it likely will be asked of him again in the future - though at present, he is more than satisfied to stay on the sidelines.

Deep down though, Shaun is a nerd at heart. He is passionate about history; his entire manner changes when relaying a story or interesting factoid... even when others may not share his enthusiasm for the subject. His database entries can attest to his care for the material - rather than the usual dry, rambling articles, he frequently slips in his own commentaries and pokes fun at the subjects. It's definitely not the textual vomit of a man flipping through dusty tomes for relevant information; it's clear that he loves his work, even if his oftentimes sour demeanour would suggest otherwise.

For all his complaining and (unfounded) claims of no appreciation, Shaun does have the capacity to care about others - it's just a little more subtle. He does manage to find spare moments to banter with his teammates, and even has a decent sense of humour hidden beneath the layers of sarcasm. His jokes aren't always appreciated, but it's the thought that counts, isn't it?

Rebecca was the first assassin that Shaun came in contact with, and, when one considers that she saved his life, he comes across as pretty unappreciative. He frequently mocks her immaturity and abilities as a technician, even going so far as to claim she's not a lady. For the most part, however, it's a (very convincing) front - when you get passed the teasing, he respects her as both a person and a friend. Their emails about sharing music, combined with the sharp contrast in his behaviour after the loss of Lucy... The fact that he'd even make an effort to comfort her is indicative that he feels for her as a friend, and not just a teammate.

Of the members of their team, he was the only one who knew of Lucy's feelings for Desmond - Given how private she was about her emotions, it would take far more than his poor attitude to earn that trust. Lucy and Rebecca are not the only ones who place their faith in Shaun; William Miles, one of the higher ranked Assassins and Desmond's father, frequently forwards him critical information about the Brotherhood, expecting Shaun to guard it from even the other members of his own unit.

Shaun's trust, on the other hand, is harder earned, which is evident when looking at the progression of his relationship with their newest member. Since Desmond's arrival, Shaun has warmed up ever so slightly - it takes more than two words before he tells him to go away. But as is particularly evident following Lucy's death, he doesn't hold much faith in Desmond's integrity. He doesn't hesitate in accusing him of being a Templar sleeper agent, and even questions whether Desmond is worth their efforts.

Overall, Shaun is hardly the most likeable person - but he's good at what he does. His support is invaluable, which is likely one of the only reasons they keep him around. And, he can be an okay friend. Sort of. When he feels like it.

» EXSILIUM INFORMATION
Chosen WEAPON: Shaun has never been particularly strong on the combat front. While he recognizes the necessity of violence, it's not something he enjoys and he prefers to remain in a support role. As such, I think he'd be best suited with a weapon that would augment the combat abilities of others, rather than be used to attack on its own.

As a historian, books have long been the tools of his trade. I'd like for him to have a book that allows him some insight into his foe's abilities - perhaps able to identify some weakness or chink in their armor. Or, possibly less useful, he might decipher one of their strengths. The depth of the analysis would come with the amount of time he has to actually scan his enemy and with the amount of practice he has using the weapon. Starting out, he wouldn't be able to decide just what he learns from it, but the more evolved it becomes, he could be able to actually focus on a specific detail he needs to know. A bit like a Historian Pokedex. Coolest weapon ever, right.

And, if all else fails, I'm sure that a book to the head would be enough to deter someone who got too close.

Character INVENTORY:

> 1 pair of stylish black framed glasses
> 1 grey sweater
> 1 white dress shirt
> 1 pair of charcoal plaid pants
> 2 black socks and other necessary undergarments
> 2 black loafers
> 1 watch
> 2 stolen cups of yoghurt- wait, no. He ate those already.
> 1 pocket-sized utility knife
> 1 set of van keys
> 1 archaic two-way radio
> 1 iPod Touch with an obnoxious Union Jack wallpaper + headphones
> 1 history text that didn't quite make it to the box when they'd moved, because Rebecca's rubbish at packing

» SAMPLES
First PERSON: [I'm sure you're beginning to wonder if Shaun is ever impressed. Short answer: Yes.

... Just not by you, your bizarre facility, or your general lack of satisfying explanation. Oh, you were certainly thorough - but since when was that synonymous with satisfactory? You've handed him a magic book, said that one of the greatest countries in the world is in ruins, and that he's supposed to shack up and make the best of it?

Clearly, you have never spoken to Shaun Hastings.]

Right then - Fascinating as this all sounds, some of us have actual work to get done.

[All this business with Those Who Came Before, the Apple... Was this what it was leading up to? That didn't make sense. But then, what about all this did? In all honesty, he didn't want to find out.]

Much though I would love to stick around and chat, we do have a bit of a disaster on our hands... What with the world ending and all that. Given that yours already has by the looks of it, might want to give ours a shot. You know, delay the inevitable repetition of history.

... Is anyone even listening? Hello?

Third PERSON: There were few things more irritating and more exhilarating than not having the answers.

Not that Shaun was one to admit that he wasn't in the know. On those rare occasions, he was simply in the middle of his research, in the process of finding the information he needed; never without knowledge, just in the process of locating it. It had been ages since he'd been handed a good puzzle, if one chose to discount the ever-present tangled mess that was the Temples and the Pieces of Eden.

Well, perhaps it was more accurate to say... it had been ages since he'd been handed a puzzle that was possibly irrelevant to the Templars and hopefully unrelated to the end of the world as they knew it.

But then, he couldn't even say that with all certainty.

Outside of the initial overload of data thrust upon him by the woman who greeted him, he didn't have much to go on - a fact that wasn't helped by his reluctance to accept everything he'd been told. Admittedly, it was difficult to believe that he'd been plunked in the middle of a war-ravaged Britain, where its less-than-willing inhabitants were expected to stick it out and make a home for themselves.

Or, perhaps the best part, the most interesting (and bizarre) piece of the puzzle - it would seem that not everyone shared the same memories. Some knew more than others, had memories that had not yet happened... Or they'd apparently taken a wrong turn at the turn of the century, and stumbled out from the wrong time period. Long dead Assassins - people Shaun knew to be no longer among the living - walking about like they'd just wandered out of an elaborate Renaissance Faire.

Something, somewhere, just didn't add up. Perhaps a lot of somethings, when he thought about it.

With the loss of his usual equipment, he'd taken to keeping notes by hand; so long as he couldn't guarantee of the security of the network, it wasn't something he intended to leave to chance. While he'd seen neither hide nor hair of the Templars since his arrival, they'd never been the type to advertise their presence. In fact, they got downright indignant when you drew attention to their activities.

"Bloody ridiculous," he muttered as the pencil lead snapped, bouncing to the floor after leaving a nice smudge on the page.

He likely would have made more of a show of the complaint had there been anyone within earshot - give some sign of the amount of work he was putting in on their behalf, as though they might actually read it.

In truth, even if not a soul in the city ever so much as glanced over the notes, Shaun would have been more than happy to write them anyway.

» ADDITIONAL NOTES
I know that you are not allowed to use canon materials that are less than six weeks old, but I was hoping I could use the very beginning of Assassin's Creed III as a pull? Technically, they arrive at the temple in the previous game - I'd hoped to yank him from them reaching the door, which is literally in the first few minutes of play from the new one. If not, I can just take him from the end of Revelations.