Case #6: Video

[19centconstable]

[George is standing in his room and squinting suspiciously at a patch of wall next to him.]

We're quite sure all of the rats have gone, yes? Only it's a bit uncomfortable sleeping in trousers.

[But enough about trousers; George turns and addresses the camera pleasantly, if a bit over-enthusiastically.]

On a less bite-y front I hope: hello Mr. Spinola, I'm George Crabtree, and it looks like I'm to be your warden. We ought to have a tea.

Comments

[thebestnose.livejournal.com]

Why would rats determine what you sleep in?

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

My uniform is made of quite hardy material, and I witnessed an incident with a ferret and a man's...tender bits.

...I'm sorry about having to say "tender bits".

[thebestnose.livejournal.com]

Apology accepted. Sometimes talking about things like whatnots is inevitable.

But there were no rats in your room, were there?

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

No, but they can get into all over. Back home, during a rain, I've seen rats the size of pumpkins come up out the sewers.

[thebestnose.livejournal.com]

I thought Una had collected them all before.

...and why would a rat come into your room specifically for your whatnots?

[equalsfive.livejournal.com]

The rats are gone, comrade. You can go back to your... usual sleeping arrangements.

[pause]

Don't tell me about them.

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry? Don't tell you about what?

[equalsfive.livejournal.com]

Your usual sleeping arrangements.

As I'm quite sure, comrade, you were about to tell me all about just how uncomfortable your trousers were.

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

I don't think that I was. Why are you sure?

[una_persson]

The rats are sorted—either Dracula ... well, dealt with them, or they vanished when the flood ended. I doubt they got anywhere else in the ship; they were quite insistent on staying in O'Brien's room.

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

Thank goodness for that.

Although I can't say I would have minded if the Admiral had had to furnish us all with several ratting dogs.

[una_persson]

Considering his usual sense of humour, I'm surprised he didn't, now that you mention it. Perhaps even he has his limits.

I do, however, now have plenty of cage traps in the event we ever need them again.

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

Perhaps he was waiting for someone to ask? Dogs are quite a responsibility, and I'd hate to see one stuck with someone who wouldn't care for him properly.

Let's hope that we don't.

[doctor-scarf.livejournal.com]

You got an inmate! Congratulations, George!

Oh and don't worry about the rats, I'll put out some cheese and see if they'll take the bait.

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I have. I'm looking forward to it.

Don't go wasting good food just yet: I'm told they've all been taken care of by a Dr. Acula.

[doctor-scarf.livejournal.com]

Ah well. If I had known about it earlier, I could have helped. Granted, if people were clearing out the rats while the flood was still in progress, I really couldn't have done anything, but afterwards I would have been wonderful help.

And it's just Dracula, by the way. I don't think he's a doctor.

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

Were you badly afflicted by the flood, Doctor?

My mistake, then. All of it really. I suppose I must have dreamed that I heard a rat in the wall. I have dreams like that quite often. You know: when you think you've woken up out of a dream, but really you're still dreaming? Generally, plums seem to be involved.

Private. Written. - Oh, you make me laugh.

[acertifieduser.livejournal.com]

Do you think we could reschedule? I could use a day or two to get cleaned up.

Private. Video. :D

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

Cleaned up from what? Has something happened?

Private. Written.

[acertifieduser.livejournal.com]

From laziness. Relax, man.

Private. Video.

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

You're going to need two days in the bath?

[Well now George is concerned.]

[kingfor-aday.livejournal.com]

You didn't actually sleep in your trousers, did you, George?

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

...

...

...Um.

[kingfor-aday.livejournal.com]

I wasn't criticising. I just... didn't expect you to go through with it.

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

They were extremely large rats, Neil.