19centconstable | Case #10: Video

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Case #10: Video

[George's hair is being untamed again. It may actually be plotting something. I wouldn't trust it not to fake left and then dart right, that's all I'm saying.

More importantly: George is wearing this. And jeans.]

My tea shirt [and you can hear the t-e-a in his pronunciation] has a mustache.

[George looks confused. And a little enthralled. And slightly suspicious.]

And Mr. Spinola has an interest in working with the infirmary.

[George glances down at his shirt again.]

I do believe it's staring at me.

((George is not affected by the flood, so if you would like your character to be overwhelmed by optimism, youthful enthusiasm, or a distrust of modern underwear, feel free to spam away.))

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[She shrugged, taking a biscuit but only to hold it. It was strange, being here as an equal and not off to the side, serving the tea. She was trying not to look awkward.]

I try to follow the Rules sometimes. I wouldn't expect it to stick. [She paused, trying to remember what they were here for. Right. The date.]

When are you meeting her?

[George has never been to a tea where someone else serves the tea.]

There's a rule about hair?

[George looks thoughtful. Which is a funny look on him.]

I suppose I haven't been told yet.

There is a Rule about everything where I'm from, George. [She finally did try the tea, attempting to take the awkward away.] You don't seem to be too excited about this.

Or involved.

What's the hair rule? There's sugar if you take it.

[George grins crookedly.]

Oh, no, I'm sure it will be a nice time. She seems like a very...nice young lady.

[She's just no Ruby Ogden. Few women are.]

If you pull it back, it has to be a certain way. [She shrugged lightly, shaking her head at the offer of sugar.]

You've met her already? Who is she? What's she like? [All important things to know if she was going to give him something to say.]

It's improper for ladies to wear their hair down where I come from, which is a bit of a shame. Although I do understand it must be difficult to keep out of everything. I wore my hair quite short myself until recently.

[George nods.]

I spoke to her briefly. She looks like Miss Penderghast and her name is an American state.

[Jane considered saying something about hair but refrained. Instead, she focused on the other topic.

Unfortunately, none of that made sense to her.]

Oh. I don't know her. [She stared down at the tea in her cup.] What's an American state?

It's a bit in America. Like a city, but bigger. They're made up of lots of cities, in fact.

[She thoughtfully took a sip of the tea, frowning as she tried to imagine it.]

And America is a...[She searched for the right word] country? Like on the Parker Brothers Map?

Er...on any map, yes.

[George is unsure if she's just confused, or if the card game fellows were also cartographers unbeknownst to him.]

I don't think it's terribly important, though. That her name is that.

Probably not. [She folded her hands in front of her.]

So, tell me how you can...talk to her. [She couldn't remember the unfamiliar phrase he had used to describe that.] So that I know what I have to work with.

[George flaps his hands sort of vaguely.]

I...suppose I'd just ask her about herself and tell her about me if she were interested. What sorts of information are you usually given?

[She rolled her eyes at him. Typical.]

The P- Girls don't care about that. But...it's the first time that you've met, so you don't want to be too forward- talking about whatnots and noses. [The last one was said a little bitterly. Not that she thought George would do that, but she had to start somewhere.]

[George squints.]

I don't...believe I've ever spoken about noses. But perhaps it would be easier for you to give me advice in a hypothetical situation. Say...in the event that I were to run into a young lady in whom I was interested and who I believe to have an interest in me who has been traveling for several months as a newspaper reporter, but is from a very good family in Toronto, and whose sister I've known for a number of years. Hypothetically. What should I say? Besides hello.

[She stared at him.]

Well, you ask her about her travels, of course. I'm sure she's going to have plenty of stories to tell you. And then you let her talk and talk and talk. If she's really from a good family, I'm going to say that they're probably at least Yellows and maybe Purples and so she would love to talk about her.

The best thing to do in that situation is listen. You get extra points in this game if you actually pay attention. [No. Jane wasn't bitter at all.]

[George taps his finger against his lips.]

She does have stories, but I'm not sure I'd say she likes to talk about herself: she's a reporter; she likes to be told about other people. She's a bit, erm, nosy.

But how do I tell her that, I know I'm only a constable, not a famous author, or magician, and that I don't have very much money or any sort of family name, but that I am going to make something of myself and that I'd like to do so with her?

...Hypothetically

[Now Jane was getting the picture.] If she's a reporter, then she must enjoy writing. And words.

Impress her with your words. [She laughed.] You could be like the boys where I'm from and try your hand at poetry. [No, she doesn't really think that.]

Hypothetically, you appeal to the heart, rather than the head. If you're trying to marry upcolour, which it sounds like you are, then you need to stay away from logic.

Our Prince once gave me a poem about bums.

[George should really sound embarrassed about that, but he doesn't.]

Do people often marry..."upcolour"?

Usually. The more colour perception you have, the better your family looks.

[And then what he said dawned on her.]

Poetry about what?!

Um, bottoms.

[Now George sounds slightly embarrassed.]

[A slightly mischievous look came across her face.]

Do you have it here?

No, but I recall it.

"There was a prince who liked to succumb,
to vulgar young girls with big bums.
But he knew he was trapped,
And would have to adapt,
So he begs you instead for some rum."

He wrote that himself.

[THE ROYAL FAMILY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.]

[It took her a full ten seconds to actually process that and then she began to laugh. It started out small and worked into full giggles where she actually had to turn away from him to control herself.

Once she had composed herself, she cleared her throat and faced him again.]

Why do you have that memorised?

[George points at his forehead.]

Oh, I have an excellent memory.

Especially when it comes to poetry about whatnots. [She snickered and placed her teacup on the table.]

I thought we were supposed to talk about your date. [Not that she really cared too much about it now. Strangely, this conversation made her feel better about the whole situation.]

Case #10: Video

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