o2 ✍ sharpe's distractions ✍ video

[sharpe]

[ The video opens to a pair of hands. Hands, paper, and a line of tobacco. A cigarette being rolled before the camera is tipped upwards and Sharpe comes into view. He drags a hand through his hair, which is more than slightly wet by the rain. It's obvious after a while that he's outside, sitting below the awning of one of the houses in the Hold. His rifle, leaning against his shoulder, is completely dry.

He takes out a lighter and snaps it on, lighting the homemade cigarette and taking a drag. ]

Convenient things, these. [ Tosses the lighter up, and catches it again. ] Works better than any flint. [ Pause, and he shrugs. ] But I ain't here ta talk 'bout fires.

I'm a soldier and I ain't use ta just waiting 'round here. Even travelling and sightseeing [ he grins at this, because going out to the Outlands was fun but not the kind of sightseeing and travel most gentlemen go for ] gets tiring after a while. [ He leans a bit further back against the wall. ] There any books 'round? [ Beat, then he clarifies, because his accent tends to mark him as illiterate: ] Fer reading, I mean. English'd do, but if there's something in French or Spanish, I ain't going ta say no.

[ He takes a drag of the cigarette contemplatively. ]

Stories'll do as well, if no one's got any books ta read.

[ He makes to switch off the transmission, but then he seems to remember something. Scramble, scramble, oops, ash and burnt paper on the camera, which he brushes away irritatedly. ]

Can someone explain ta me how a man and a woman can share the same house without being married or related ta each other? [ He tips his head ta the side. ] It don't say much for decency or the woman's reputation, no. [ Beaaaaaaaaaaaat. ]

And what's those noises on the thirteen floor of that damned building we've been housed in, eh?

[ This is actually Sharpe's point in making the transmission but he wants books as well. Whatever. Look, it's shut off for real now. ]

a little bit later, 10% (crappily) encrypted to morgana

[ Awkwardly: ] How fares you, milady?

Comments

[sharpe]

That's a fucking stupid way ta live. [ Dry. ] And unfair too, fer if you can fight better than any other man, it's easy fer you ta say so.

[priad]

So honor means nothing to you? What does, then?

[sharpe]

Me life, fer one. [ Dry. ] Honour means nothing if I end up dead.

[priad]

That is understandable. What do you put before your own life?

What, if anything, are you willing to die for?

[sharpe]

That's a damned stupid question ta ask a soldier.

[priad]

Hmm. I think war may have been different in your time.

[sharpe]

Do people still kill each other because officers told 'em ta?

[priad]

Yes. Of course.

[sharpe]

Then nothing's changed than that the clothes you dress war up in is prettier.

[priad]

Someday, Major, I will have a chance to show you what humanity, united humanity, fights against in my time. I think you may rethink some things.

[sharpe]

[ He snorts quietly. ]

There's plenty here that's supposed ta make me rethink things, but it ain't happen yet.