@ luceti ; as if he'd ever get castmates lol

[greenjacketed]

My lady,

Beg pardon, but I do not see the point in canvasing this spot for any of my men. [ or women, lest he ever let himself dream of seeing teresa again. ] Not a one of them would like life in that village -- nor like the wings neither. Not even Harris. And as it is my duty as Major to look after their interests, I must insist. Don't try and tempt a single rifleman to Luceti. Especially not...

[ a taut, brassy silence. it's finally broken when sharpe's formal tone erodes and he argues more casually: ] Look, you. I'm doing bloody well fine without Harper. I don't need him or anyone else to brew my tea. And no, I don't need him to make certain I don't muck things up with with Miss Carpenter. I'm perfectly capable of wooing a woman without my Sergeant Major in attendance. I'm not tied to Pat's apron-strings.

[ wait -- did he just say wooing? blast it. blast it all to hell. ]

...Give it a rest, ma'am.

-- Major Richard Sharpe

Comments

[greenjacketed]

Good enough. Though -- Pat? I expected better from a man claiming to be King Arthur himself.

[godsaveireland]

King Arthur? Now I know you must be joking.

[greenjacketed]

Upon my honour, Pat. For whatever that's worth to you.

[godsaveireland]

I hope you know it's worth a lot, sir.

[greenjacketed]

Know what's nice about this place, Harper? [ a slight change of subject. only slight, though. they were still in the same general conversational area. ] No one knows my name. Our names. No brouhaha over the eagle or Badajoz.

[godsaveireland]

Oh, it's been a while since you've had that. But I'm sure you're making a reputation for yourself in your game.

[He knows what Sharpe can be like. Especially if there is a damsel in distress involved.]

[greenjacketed]

[ it'll be tough, he reckons. with so many strangely powered people. goodness -- he even shares this headspace with a tiny blonde capable of more strength than sharpe's seen in even the strongest of men. ]

A reputation? Sure and certain, if only for being the village's worst dinner guest.

[godsaveireland]

Now I'm sure you had that reputation already, sir.