( quote prompt )

[absurdities]

the quote prompt meme

• comment with your character.
• others will leave a quote/lyric/poem. try a sea of quotes or tumblr if you need help searching for a quote.
• reply to them with a setting based on the quote/lyric/poem.
• sockies (Source)

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[fissure]

Ah.

[ He catches the display — a wordless exchange that says all that Mary doesn't — and in that, he finds his interest and his attitude both piqued (in so many senses of the word). And that's Prior's way, isn't it? Taking exception, particularly in lieu of others, especially if they're not around to do so themselves.

Lingering for just a moment now that he's determined her helpfulness, he considers walking away and leaving her to whatever it is she's off to do, but his belligerent side just won't allow for it. ]

It's Prior. Lieutenant Prior. Temporarily on loan from the Ministry. [ It's a furtive attempt at injecting his unwelcome self into this staunch setting, and a lie at that. It won't be the first time he's used his position to sate his own curiosity about the war he's been held back from fighting.

He dips his head to her and Anna as well, although there's no proper bow to be seen. She wanted an introduction, didn't she? Billy may be crass, but he's not socially inept, even if he sometimes plays at it, like he does now. ]

[thequitecontrary]

How do you do, Lieutenant Prior. Lady Mary Crawley. [Never let it be said that she isn't always well-mannered, even when annoyed. She wasn't expecting a bow. An introduction was good enough.]

As mentioned, Isobel runs the convalescent part of this home. [Mary tries to stay away as much as she can. Even if the men here are officers, they usually aren't good company.] Have you found something amiss here?

[fissure]

Well, that remains to be seen, doesn't it? Often we find complaints are from—

[ Prior notices movement out of the corner of his eye and shifts his footing, taking on a more at-ease stance. There are other officers milling around and he's not quite ready to rile them up with his presence should word get around. ]

—from the families. They don't understand how trying the conditions can be, even somewhere as well appointed as this.

[ He could say the same for most of England, for that matter. The distance between the country and its soldiers has never been more vast, like a chasm grown wider, that one can't imagine being easily crossed anymore. ]

[thequitecontrary]

[Mary actually crosses her arms, something that she rarely does. She can't help but be irked by this man's tone and to feel defensive in response. The family is being very generous with their home and this is the thanks they get?]

I haven't heard any complaints. Many of the men here have expressed just the opposite. [She turns to Anna and asks her to try and find Isobel.] Exactly which department did you say that you are from?

[fissure]

Of course, of course.

[ He lifts his hands in surrender, as if retracting his statements. Not once has he lied, although Prior's done more this his fair share of adopting a convenient truth. ]

It was the Ministry of Munitions. A division of.

[ Prior has papers — information about his appointment — but he's not offering to wave it around just yet. He's had no problems doing so — most people don't question the paperwork, even if they question the uniform — but he will admit there have been times Billy's taken shameless advantage of the sectional letterhead in order to gain himself access to places otherwise unavailable to others. ]

I doubt I was expected. We don't usually call ahead for these sorts of investigations.