easierdonethansaid | Shot 04

[The neat, precise script reveals little, except, perhaps, that the writer is applying more pressure to his pen than is actually necessary.]

It seems I've got a window that's broken. Damage from the storm.

[Which he has iignored for a few days in the wake of the draft.

He's fought wars enough, but that... was new. To say the least.]

Could someone direct me to some supplies to fix it up? I can do the labour myself, but an extra pair of hands or two wouldn't go amiss.

Col S. Moran

[Now, he switches to speaking into the journal.]

Sharpe. [Friendly enough, though perhaps with some personal strain in it. Man to man, not colonel to sergeant.] Care for some shootin'? Jus' good target practice.

[He needs to shoot something to silence his thoughts. He doesn't have the patience to hunt today, and picking off fellow villagers won't do him any favours.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

greenjacketed

Fever dreams. [ sharpe spat. he's still warring with his ability to accept magic and the supernatural. ]

Though...slick piece you have there, Moran. [ no biting! no pouring! so quick to reload! ]

From:

easierdonethansaid

[Let's talk about the rifle. Talking about the rifle is easier than talking about the strange things that draft caused.]

Bolt-action rifle. First manufactured on a large scale in 1824, first used in combat by the Prussians in 1841.

[He turns the bolt up and pulls it back, revealing the bullets ready to fire.]

Stores a magazine-- set of bullets-- in a compartment under it. Five rounds to a magazine, this one.

[He pushes the bolt forward, hears the next bullet click into place, then turns the bolt down to close the breech.]

Makes for good, quick firing. Add a scope to it, an' you got an even better shot of hittin' what you aim for.

[He doesn't use his scope to hunt, but in war? He made damn good use of it.]

From:

greenjacketed

...Christ.

[ he can feel his blood turn green with envy. it isn't that sharpe doesn't love; depend upon; appreciate his baker. the rifle is an extension of his himself, these days. but he's not blind to progress when he sees its advantages. ]

A bit bloody better than three rounds a minute. [ the mark of an excellent rifleman, in his time. ]

From:

easierdonethansaid

You ought to see the pistols.

My employer? Acquired [through a bullet of Moran's, but] an arms fact'ry. Owner died, the pr'fessor had a considerable bit invested in it, so, he took it over.

Self-repeatin' pistols. Magazine attaches to the gun, an' ten shots before y' have to do a thing to reload. Not even with a bolt.

From:

greenjacketed

[ he's still casually reloading his baker. don't mind him. ]

Our lot'd pay a pretty penny for guns like that. The war'd be over damned fast.

[ was that a good thing or a bad thing? for a soldier's soldier like sharpe, it could mean the end of his identity... ]

From:

easierdonethansaid

[Moran smiles, not seeming bothered by the reloading at all. Sharpe can appreciate progress, he can appreciate history. Not a sharpshooter alive-- especially in the Army, let alone the Rifle Brigade-- who doesn't know how much they owe to the Baker rifle and the men who used them.]

Unless the other side got 'em, too.

Then both sides just pull in more soldiers.

Wars still last.

From:

greenjacketed

I suppose I should take that as a comfort.

[ it's the sort of notion one could only ever voice to a fellow soldier.

sharpe lifts again and trains his eye on a metallic glint. something thin and tinny, he supposes. he squeezes the trigger and hears the triumphant screech of wrenched metal. the crack of wood splintering somewhere beyond. ]

From:

easierdonethansaid

[And it's a notion Moran understands too well.

In war itself, he is exceptional. "The best marksman in the British Army."

Out of war... Well. He had a few scandals. Too hot blooded to take to peace well, so when he didn't have a war to excite him, he found trouble.]

Is to every soldier.

[He takes another shot himself.

This? This is what he knows. Talking with a fellow Army man, shooting.

Only a matter of time, he knows, before he gets himself into trouble. A few days in battle isn't enough. Not for him.]

From:

greenjacketed

When I think about life after the war, I...

[ he doesn't know, really. but he has a line that he likes to give out. a line that's mostly a lie: ] I wouldn't mind buying a little farm.

From:

easierdonethansaid

Make sure it's a new one. Or one stugglin'. Gives y' somethin' to do.

Nothin' worse for a soldier after war than havin' nothin' to occupy himself.

From:

greenjacketed

And I'm not looking to be the bedraggled drunkard on soft duty at the Chelmsford depot. Something to do, aye. That's what's needed.

Here, too.

From:

easierdonethansaid

Jus' a matter of time here, I figure. [Shift the bolt, put it back, fire.] 'Til trouble starts creepin' up on me.

Happened in India after the war, an' I haven' found much t' do here to keep it away.

From:

greenjacketed

[ a harsh laugh. ]

My RSM hates to see me bored out of my wits for the same reason, I reckon.

From:

easierdonethansaid

Y' always could [he's teasing] start a nice little farm here. Plenty of land t' do it.

From:

greenjacketed

And make no profit off the fruit and vegetables of my labour? God no.

[ but he laughed some more. ]

From:

easierdonethansaid

No' a man for charity? Quite unbecomin', I'll have you know.

[But he's grinning.]

From:

greenjacketed

Charity is one beast, Moran. Given away every last drop of your sweat for no pay and little comfort is...well, bloody hell. It's the army all over again but without the chance to shoot at anyone.

Edited Date: 2012-07-08 08:30 pm (UTC)

From:

easierdonethansaid

You find somethin' to do to keep yourself busy, Sharpe? Wouldn' mind hearin' about it.

From:

greenjacketed

And you. Moran. Have you any plans?

From:

easierdonethansaid

None.

God, if I don' need to make some, though.

From:

greenjacketed

...Practice shooting'll only take the pair of us so far. [ he snaps his rifle up into place and -- after only a moment to check his target -- another harsh cough of smoke fills the air. ]

From:

easierdonethansaid

Well, least this place doesn' give a man much way to ruin himself. [He sounds almost disappointed.]

No money, so no room to gamble.

[No cause to steal, either. Nothing worth stealing. Otherwise he'd do it just to not be bored. That was how he got started with Moriarty. Not in need of money-- in need of something to do. Here, there are no rubies or emeralds or diamonds. No temptation.]

Plenty to drink, but never been one to care for too much too often.

[And sex? He hadn't seen the slightest opportunity.

...Well, he'd seen one...

But not one he was desperate enough to take yet.]

Quiet when there's no war, an' a man doesn' need to find a livin' to support himself here.

Bad, that. Don' think the lot in charge here thought that one through much. Man needs a livin' if he's good for anythin', somethin' so he isn' just sittin' 'round idle.

Not good for anyone, that. Military men, especially. No good comes from us lot not doin' anythin'.

From:

greenjacketed

[ while sharpe loves him a good brandy or a skin of wine, he also isn't one to make a habit out of drinking. when his commission was first granted, he'd heard the preemptory accusations: jacked up soldiers -- up from the ranks -- fall most often to drink, driven there after being ostracized by both their 'fellow' officers and the men they once fought beside but now had to lead. at that point, sharpe decided to act with moderation in his vices. except, perhaps, when it came to women...

but the lass he has his eye on right now might take a little more persuading before she so much as held his bloody hand. ]

No war to occupy him and no army to drill him when he's not fighting. [ actually, it's fairly sad how aimless sharpe's become without the army telling him when to get up and when to eat and when to march. he might be an officer but he was still just as subject to the war machine's whims. ]

From:

easierdonethansaid

Didn' do well m'self after I retired 'til I was workin' again.

Didn' expect a pr'fessor to have much use an army man, but he kept me busy.

[At first as a "consultant" on matters of jewel theft. Then with increasing responsibilities until he was second-in-command and a personal companion.

Not, of course, that he could discuss any of that.]

He's the sort, Sharpe-- mark me, if he were here? You an' me wouldn' want for somethin' to do. Smart, smart man.

He'd have a hundred ideas to two idle military men.

[It's so casual, so full of friendly fondness.]