Case #57: Video

[19centconstable]

[Thoughtful George in thoughtful pose with the usual but thoughtful accent says:]

This is a bit inspired by what Captain Rogers' said ...and also Captain Angua, but: do you feel that being here has changed you? Any you, that is. Wardens and inmates alike.

Comments

[scentbombed]

I tried to tell my friends about it, you know, when the network opened? But I didn't get very far.

[19centconstable]

How so?

[scentbombed]

Well, we got as far as blue jeans and I think laundry and then it all sort of stalled out.

I tried to get a bit into the, um, more personal ramifications, but none of us are very good at talking about that sort of thing. We're cops.

[19centconstable]

Really? What had they said in response to it?

Personal ramifications?

[scentbombed]

Well, we've not got either, so they were generally confused.

Personal ramifications, George.

[19centconstable]

But you have got trousers, at least?

Yes, that's what I said. Or asked, rather.

[scentbombed]

For men and coppers, yes. And dwarves. [But the latter two categories basically count as "men" anyway.] But it's different for young ladies.

The sort of personal ramifications you and I discussed on Risa, George.

[19centconstable]

But they do exist. And so it isn't too much of a stretch to imagine that ladies might someday wear them, I would think. But it was?

Oh! Oh. Oh. You spoke to them about that?

[scentbombed]

Rather, yes. Of course, Cheery's a dwarf, and they're still fighting for the right to wear skirts... it's all a bit political.

Well, a... little.

[19centconstable]

The right...to...

And it went poorly?

[scentbombed]

It's dwarves. I'll explain sometime. There's a lot to explain.

Not exactly, but... I just don't think anyone understood anything, that's all. Not the way the people here talk about it, or the way you talked about it, which is exactly the point, isn't it? Being here changes things.

[19centconstable]

They're a good deal shorter. ...Is there more than that?

It does. I'm a bit embarrassed, really, of the way I used to think of some things.

[scentbombed]

That's sort of like saying, "women are a different shape, is there more to it than that?"

Oh? What sort of things?

[19centconstable]

[George very nearly says is there?, but stops himself just in time.]

Mostly ankles. But also of the sort of relationships two people of the same gender might have with one another.

[scentbombed]

Oh... yes, people are a bit more... open about that, here, aren't they? [She's never had a problem with it, but she certainly had never met anyone quite so ready to admit to it, before...]

But between Stildyne, and. [Buffy.] Things. [That time with Buffy.] Like that. It's hard to think much of it.

...did you say ankles?

[19centconstable]

And it isn't illegal.

I may have said ankles, yes.

[scentbombed]

...Are a... preference of yours, I take it.

[19centconstable]

I may still sometimes...consider ankles, yes.

[scentbombed]

Sometimes, I think your world's not all that different from mine.

But... did you--

[Oh ho, wait, this is so very private now]

My ankles?

[Private]

[19centconstable]

They're really quite lovely. Both sorts.

[Private]

[scentbombed]

[She probably should be more fazed by that, but she'd somewhat guessed that if he likes one, he'd like the other.]

You've seen rather a bit above the ankles, of course.

[Private]

[19centconstable]

[George is just the kind of guy who'd notice your dog-ankles.]

I have. And I can pronounce all of it entirely thrilling.

[Private]

[scentbombed]

[This is the choice she has made.]

Nonetheless, should I wear a very long dress next time?

[Private]

[19centconstable]

Oh no. Quite the opposite. Unless I misunderstand.

[Private]

[scentbombed]

What about just a very long dress?

...although come to think of it, I'm not sure I've got any left.