exsilium | o1 ✍ sharpe's introduction ✍ voice + video

voice;

Money in cards and saying me rifle’s been changed.

[ Except that’s not actually how he says it, it’s more like: munneh in cards and sayin’ me rifle’s been changed. Sheffield, Yorkshire haunts the streets of Exsilium now, thanks to one Richard Sharpe. ]

The only cards I know of are those given by weasely merchants looking ta fleece more money out of you. But you ain’t asking for money, are you? Yer asking me to fight with me blood and sweat, and you ain’t even decent enough to give me a half-ration of rum, or even a proper King’s shilling.

[ Thud. The sound of rifle on stone ground. There’s a soft shuffling sound and tapping of fingers on the screen of the tablet. The video switches on. ]

video;

Me name’s Richard Sharpe. [ Blond hair, green eyes, a scar on his upper left cheek. His lips are twisted into a scowl, and at the edge of the screen, you can see the edge of his Rifleman’s jacket. Have a picture.

If you met him during the masquerade, he's a lot cleaner now. Face-wise anyway. You can actually see what he looks like underneath the layers of dirt, and his hair isn't just a layer of dust anymore. ]

If yer name's Patrick Harper, I suggest you get yer arse over here before I shoot it off you.

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Sounds like a long war, then. [ You know, if there's anything that shows Arthur to be inexperienced, it's the whole conversation about soldiers, not about how long he's been here. Sharpe doesn't know many people who has actually seen war who keeps that kind of idealism about what soldiers should be like.

Or hell, what life should be like. He looks down for a moment, tracing his fingers over the rifle. It's clean now, and he takes his pistol and starts cleaning that as well. Something for his hands to do. ]

There ain't a man amongst the ranks who isn't a bastard of some sort. 'mongst me own most trusted men, [ yes, Arthur, he's a commander ] there's a poacher and a debtor, and there used ta be a thief and a soldier's bastard. And there's the Irishman, the worst of 'em all. [ He chuckles quietly - private joke.

He lifts his head. ]

Yer world seems a li'l too nice and clean ta be true, yer highness.

[A commander. Really. People come of different lives, not all of them pleasant. This is especially true among common folk--but there are some crimes worse than others. And while all might be pardoned, Arthur somehow doubts that there are any pardons involved here.]

Do not think me simple, or ignorant of the world. I know the way of things. But I know the soldiers of Camelot--I know what they are--and they have more honor than the soldiers of your kingdom. That is the truth of it. What is permitted in the your ranks would not be permitted in mine.

[ Nah. When you're dirt amongst dirt, it stops mattering.

And he chuckles quietly. ]

Yer highness, 'tis yer army, aye?

[Somewhat irritably (because he hates to repeat himself, because he hates being laughed at, or made to feel as if he's anything of a joke), he answers:]

Of course it's my army. And?

You should keep yer ruling ta that army, highness, 'cause keeping soldiers in line's a hard job. [ He doesn't know how Wellesley does it, really, and even Wellesley isn't a hundred person successful all the time. ] Me army belongs ta King George, and it's his ta deal with how he chooses. I ain't got a hand in ruling it any.

[He can read that well enough, in a general sense--keep out of it--but that doesn't mean he's going to keep any opinions to himself.]

Given his choices, I'd have to say your King George is more than a bit of an idiot.

Nah, that's his son. [ Glibly. What is respect for royalty, Sharpe hasn't got any. ] The King is mad, not a fool. Mad King George, he is.

[Dryly:]

Is he truly mad, or is this another example of your charming humor?

I've got no idea if he's truly mad or not. [ Frankly. ] I ain't ever met 'im, just the Prince Regent. [ Who is frankly the most embarrassing person in the world. Sweet Jesus, as Harper would say. ] But I ain't the one who give him the name.

No, you just follow his orders. An excellent chain of command. Idiots and madmen and murderers.

You can't choose yer King, can you? [ Sharpe isn't taking offense, because Arthur speaks the truth. It's fucked up, but then again, there you go with the monarchy. Not that Sharpe is anti-monarchy - it requires him to give a shit, which he doesn't. ]

Good thing the King has nothing ta do with the war, aye? He stays safe in London.

[His expression darkens slightly at that. Distance from the people is a point that he has argued with his father, and this is a reminder of that.]

He shouldn't. A king should be in the field--that is where he belongs. What of your prince, does he join the battle?

[ SCANDALISED- and mostly amused. ]

A King in the field? Are you mad? [ He swings his gun further up his shoulders. ] No royal ever steps out of London unless it's to their country houses, much less sail over the sea ta fight the wars they've ordered.

[Stiffly:] Then your kingdom has known only poor kings and princes. Whatever battle they have ordered, they should fight in, too, or else call themselves cowards. Whatever they ask of their men should not be anything they would not do themselves.

There are such kings in the world.

Thought Kings and Princes are there ta give orders. [ Dryly. ] What happen if you get killed in the midst of a battle, eh?

[ Reality... ensues... ]

They give orders as well as fight. Such a thing is possible--I thought a commander such as yourself would know all about it.

And if I were to be killed, the world wouldn't come to an end. A king's life is worth nothing if his people are in danger. It is the same for a prince.

Aye, but I'm only a Major. [ Dryly. ] If I die, there's plenty of Majors, and the General can make a new one. [ In other words, he's disposable, and he knows it.

In any case: ] Yer like no Princes I know. Not that I know many, but yer different.

[ He's unwillingly starting to like Arthur. Welp. ]

[THANKS MORGANA for eventually ruining this weird semi mutual respect.]

[He could argue the point further--each soldier is important as well; no knight or major or general ought to be forgotten or abandoned or unknown--but instead, he snorts.]

Should I say 'thank you'? I'd return the compliment, but I think we've already established that you're no soldier of Camelot.

[ Gosh Morgana, why would you. ]

[ Sharpe cracks a smile at that. ]

Can't be a soldier fer a land I don't know, aye? [ Because, odd as it might sound, he would've followed a leader like Arthur. Someone who seems to give a shit about the men, even though he seems to think that every single soldier's hands should be clean before he can fight for his country. ]

[BECAUSE SHE IS THE WORST you'll see, you'll all see!]

[He concedes that point with a short nod.]

And yet that's exactly what is asked of you here.

[ He shrugs. ]

Good thing I ain't much fussed 'bout what I fight fer, aye?

o1 ✍ sharpe's introduction ✍ voice + video

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