o3 ✍ sharpe's confusion ✍ video | backdated to January 26th

[incorrupt]

[ Someone is dressed in clothes that's obviously not his size. His shirt is obviously too big for him and hangs off the side of his shoulder. It's white, and a little dulled and thin from too many washings. The coat he's wearing over the shirt is, on the reverse, a little bit too small for him, the sleeves pulled up tight against his shoulders. The coat is absolutely, completely filthy. It's the kind of coat that you find on a chimney sweep, if chimney sweeps have money to buy coat.

Someone's either thieving from dumpsters or clotheslines or stealing them from beggars. What do you mean, you can buy clothes? Why would you do that when you have free stuff all over the place? Sure, he can pickpocket people, but the easiest targets are in the clinic and he feels bad about stealing from the people who healed him.

Look, just be happy he has a shirt on, okay? He spent like most of the last week half-naked. (He doesn't like charity. Stealing is better than charity, honestly. At least he knows where those things come from.)

The camera spent most of the time stuck onto his shirt before Sharpe tilts it up to his face. Look at his chin! Wait, no, he has it in his face. He stares a little belligerently at the camera for a long moment before he drags a (callused, not very clean hand) through his (sweaty, not very clean) hair. ]

I've got two questions. [ One finger. ] Who knows a man named 'Richard Sharpe'?

[ Two fingers. ]

D'ya think anyone can change their class? Move up the ranks, so ta speak. A rat becoming a gentleman. Summat of that sort.

[ This is important, okay? He knows about his future self (one gets very, very bored on a hospital bed, and he has this tablet thing in his hand), and future Richard Sharpe calls himself a Major. That's puzzling, that's what he is. He doesn't know how he even gets promoted in the first place to Ensign, much less a goddamned Major, commanding entire divisions and maybe even regiments. He's a streetborn rat joining the army to avoid two consecutive murder charges. What the hell? ]

Comments

[incorrupt]

Then he opens his mouth and becomes a laughing stock. [ Droll. Then- ]

What's yer business 'bout what this might be 'bout?

[whatsupcroc]

I figure if I'm answering one question, I can ask one in return! You're asking about it. So I'm curious!

( She wrinkles her nose as she smiles. )

I don't think that's always the case... just don't say something totally dumb!

[incorrupt]

[ Snorts. ] It's got nothing ta do with what I'm saying, lass, but how I'm saying it. Don't tell me you can't hear the difference. [ Accent! And he raises his eyebrow. ]

That good 'nough answer fer you?

[whatsupcroc]

You mean how you make yourself sound different when you speak? Yeah, I hear that. I don't think I totally get what it means, though.

[incorrupt]

[ Eyebrow. ]

I'm not making meself sound different. [ Dry. ] Are you an American or summat?

[whatsupcroc]

Californian flavor of American, yep. You're, uh... English?

[incorrupt]

Never heard of California. You sound American 'nough, from the little I've met of yer lot.

[ Pause, and he barks a laugh. ]

Aye.

[whatsupcroc]

I like thinking all Americans sound California.

( She laughs after saying this, since she knows it's blatantly not true. )

What century of England?

[incorrupt]

[ Mockingly serious: ]

It is the year of Our Lord 1799.

[whatsupcroc]

That's so crazy. I love it!

[incorrupt]

Aye? What's crazy 'bout it?

[whatsupcroc]

The fact we're in the future, and in the far future I'm talking to a guy from hundred of years in the past! Where else is that ever going to happen, huh?

[incorrupt]

I don't know. I've never been in a place like this. [ Chuckles. ] You talk 'bout 'crazy' like it's a good thing.

[whatsupcroc]

It can be! Not everything sane is really as sane as it sounds, and some crazy can be the good kinds!

[incorrupt]

A good kind of 'crazy'? Now you sound like a lunatic yerself.

[whatsupcroc]

Don't most of us anyway?

( She sounds amused at his statement. )

It's just not all bad, that's what I think.

[incorrupt]

So how's it good, eh?

[whatsupcroc]

Opportunity for new experiences, chance to live a little outside the way you would normally, a free pass to being sent back and having nothing much change at all for however long you've been here. Which is all crazy in theory! But nice.

[incorrupt]

[ Snorts. ]

Aye, yer crazy alrigh'.

[whatsupcroc]

( She just ends up laughing again in response. )

Guess so!

[incorrupt]

[ Snorts. ]

Just don't tell doctors 'bout what you said, eh? So they don't put you in chains or whatever you future people do with the mad ones.

[whatsupcroc]

It'll be my little secret. I'd hate to end up in a future straight-jacket!

[incorrupt]

The hell's a straitjacket?

[whatsupcroc]

This coat with extra long arms that tie behind your back, with your arms crossed over your chest. It's supposed to stop someone from hurting themselves or other people, in theory.

[incorrupt]

[ He barks a laugh at that. ]

Men don't change.