[video] You only THINK I guessed wrong!

[nonscriptum]

I fell victim to one of the classic blunders- do I seriously have to read this?

[You may recognize the guy on your screen as local parkour enthusiast and history nerd Nathan Drake. What he is wearing, however, differs so resolutely from his typical "jeans and a Henley" aesthetic that the broadcast appears to be hosted by a man whose sartorial sensibilities make him look like the quintessential Harvard professor: tweed vest, bow tie and all.

He gives a pleading expression to someone out of frame, who appears to have no mercy. Nate takes a fortifying breath and continues his recitation with approximately zero enthusiasm.]

...the most famous of which is "never get involved in a land war in Asia" - but only slightly less well-known is this: "never challenge an FBI psychologist to deliver a line with a straight face."

[He looks directly at the camera, then at the figure behind the camera, and mimes a finger slicing across his neck at the figure in question with a mouthed I'm going to kill you.]

Comments

[nonscriptum]

[It is Pratt's slightly-awkward tone that has Nate wondering whether he had misstepped somewhere, or said something wrong, but he realizes (too little, too late) that the guy had probably been hoping for a better description of New Orleans' bawdier scene.]

...you just wanted to know about Mardi Gras, didn't you?

[theweakhavepurpose]

Sorta.

Foods good too though, I guess.

[Except the idea of eating food for fun makes him want to hurl. It's amazing how all your tastes can change when you've been fed your dead friends. ]

Admittedly I don't know anything else about the place.

[He found it rated highly on a list of "Best places to go to see topless women" right under Cabo.]

[nonscriptum]

It's...very European? French and Creole languages are still spoken there.

[Which he can understand well enough and sometimes communicate in, just not with an especially talented accent. The patois languages that combine Spanish come easier to him.]

We moved there when I was trying to find a new job after I left the old one.

[Or...slowly made the transition from the old one, anyway.]

[theweakhavepurpose]

[Okay he has no idea what 'european' means. He's starting to get the sense he's not going to get any info about potential spank bank material out of Nate. Moving on.]

And into your new job as a librarian from the 1920's?

[nonscriptum]

[They are not nearly close enough yet for Nate to tell Pratt about hot babes and/or his sex life. He does laugh - a little deprecating, but fair - at the accusation.]

Ha ha, cute. I do marine salvage.

[It used to be less-than-legal, but he's got a wife and a house now.]

[theweakhavepurpose]

For sunken ships and stuff? That.. actually sounds really awesome.

[Good thing you didn't mention the less than legal cuz...]

It doesn't look like it when I'm wearing this horrible thing, but I'm a Deputy. Deputy Pratt of Hope County, Montana.

Not that it means much here.

[He shrugs, maybe he can use his shiny badge to start a fire or something.]

[nonscriptum]

Ships, cargo, you name it.

[A year ago Nate might have had more reservations about sharing his former profession with others - particularly those in the law enforcement sector - but even if they did take umbrage, what would they do to him? What could they do to him? Pratt looks about as intimidating as a baguette.]

But yeah, probably doesn't.

[Which isn't to say that Nate hasn't vastly underestimated people in the past, but Pratt doesn't come across as someone with a whole lot of power under the surface. Everybody's got secrets, but the guy seems pretty forthright.]

If you wanted a similar job, guess you could always join the Guard.

[theweakhavepurpose]

[ He is at least a croissant.]

Nah, there's plenty of people better suited for it than me. People here who can fly, people far stronger than I'll ever be.

I don't plan on being here that long anyway. Though I suppose everyone says that, as if I have any say in the matter.