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Message: <blockquote data-quote="barsoomcore" data-source="post: 3736514" data-attributes="member: 812">I decided that Corky was basically a character from a P.G. Wodehouse story. It's most amusing to compare my description of what happened between Corky and Frances and Rodrigo's (we were in the same game).Gerald “Corky” Corkington, British dilettante (and the companion of Daniel Hume.)The year is 1921.[sblock]1.      You were of age during the Great War. Why didn't you enlist?As a young mathematics student at Cambridge in 1914 I was greatly influenced by Bertrand Russell's activism and followed his footsteps to avoid conscription. Of course I now deeply regret my misguided idealism.2.      What is your most impressive accomplishment?I could hardly say. Not Cambridge, certainly.One doesn't like to boast about one's accomplishments, but I did shoot a tremendous round at Coxley Greens not long ago. Both Fink-Nottle and Humie said they'd never seen the course handled so well. Fifteen under, if you must know.3.      Why do old people make you uncomfortable?It's not old people themselves; it's that terrible sense of tragedy about them. Wasted potential, I suppose. Also they talk so slowly.4.      You often end up paying. How can you afford to spend your days drinking and carousing?To tell the truth, my family once had quite a fortune; an estate in Cornwall, in fact. Long gone now, of course, but those old connections always seem to come through for me. Though nowadays it's more collection notices on debts. Still, you can always find someone willing to pitch in for an old boy.5.      You try to spend time near Daniel Hume, and always tell people that you’re both best friends. Is this hero worship, or something different?Humie's brilliant. I've never met a chap so completely ripping. It does you good just to be around him, with his hearty good cheer and his clever tongue. I don't know if that's hero worship. Just straightforward affection from one lad to another. Nothing strange about that, is there?6.      How does Daniel feel about you?Well, I don't know if it's my place to say. We've been through some tight times, I can tell you that. I suppose he relies on me to some degree; I'm the sort who can always smooth over a scrap, you know. Feels about me? Sort of a strange question, what?7.      Does anybody owe you money, and for what?Not as such. I mean, there's plenty of times I've picked up a tab here or there, I suppose, for Humie or other lads round the club and whatnot. But gentlemen don't keep track of such things.I'm a generous man when I can be. It's my nature.8.      What do you currently have in your pockets?Let's see... A golf ball I pocketed while winning a half-crown from old Gussie Fink-Nottle up at Twing Hall, a folding pocketknife Frankie gave me a few year's back, some change (always keep a little change on hand for cabs and whatnot), and a chequebook. Never know who's going to put their hand out, or show up asking rudely for their stake back.9.      Daniel’s sister Frances sometimes looks at you oddly. Why do you suppose she does that?Dear old Frankie. We've been chums forever. Not everyone knows, but we were engaged once, for a brief spell. I don't think even Humie knows that. Sweet child, of course, though wild like all the girls are these days. Honestly, she's lovely but it just would never have worked. Can't imagine what I was thinking, but you know how it is. Spend a few days in the country with a gal and before you know it, you're engaged. Dashed difficult breaking if off but a chap's got to get out of such things if his heart isn't in it.She was a good egg about it, but every now and then I see that spark in her eye and I think to myself, "Corky old thing, time to make yourself scarce now."10.      Are you currently in love?Good heavens, what a question! Am I in love? Of course not? Spend all my time with Humie, don't I? Who should I be falling in love with then, him?11.      What do your parents think of you?Well I suppose the old fellow would be rather disappointed, if he hadn't choked to death on a pomegranate during the War. Mother's never been the same since. To be honest, she hasn't spoken a word since. Not that she ever said much beforehand. The nurses tell me she's doing fine, however. Strong lady, she is. Good family.12.      Do you have any addictions?Ha ha! Only to adventure, what? Isn't that what the chaps in the stories say? I like a drink as much as the next fellow of course, but that's hardly anything to go on about. I will confess to a terrible fondness for sunflower seeds.13.      What are you scared of?Same things as anyone, I suppose. Drowning. Getting old seems frightfully nasty. I should hate for Humie to find out that old story about Frankie and I. Just seems so silly and foolish, you know. Not the sort of thing a fellow's proud of. And well, of course no one wants, you know, money trouble to get about. Not that the situation is so terribly dire, but some of these banker chaps are awfully insistent, you know. Quite difficult to reason with.[/sblock]</blockquote>

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