Headquarters

It did not take Stephen very long to prepare for the day - the clothes went into the chest quite easily, the damp and the dry separated, and he put on his cloak over his clothes. It really was very blue, he thought.

He enjoyed the sensation of being able to walk through the corridors of Headquarters without wearing his pack, just a sword bouncing against one thigh and his leather bag snug by the opposite hip. The cloak was heavy, and too long - he would hem it once they had finished marching. The rain fell still outside, like so many perfectly vertical sheets, but he had decided during the night to visit Padstowe, and explain himself, and he would do just that.

He was wearing his spectacles now. The image he wished to present to the staff was of an Irish physician - a drab, unremarkable creature, awkward and socially inadequate. He would not need to call upon any great depths of thespian ability, he thought wryly as he pulled up his hood over his wig - the only remarkable things about him were his eyes, and he wore his blue-tinted spectacles to distract from them - rain-light was as harsh as candlelight was softening, and worse than bright sunlight for bringing attention to things, for bright sunlight blinds just as much as it reveals. He seemed to be the only person having such musing thoughts - all of the staff officers ran to and fro, frantically organising the pursuit.

George ran inside the building and stopped to shake off the excess water off himself, not unlike a dog or cat might do. Firebird was more than comfortable as it turned out, though a bit restless after being cooped up in the stables.
He was not all that comfortable now. He tore off the wet cloak form his shoulders and ran a hand through his hair, grimacing when he found them so wet as if he'd just taken a bath.
He was distracted from his own discomfort by the figure of the General's doctor. If he was just a doctor of course. What he heard of their conversation left him slightly doubtful if the man was truly what he appeared to be.

Stephen looked up, and smiled to himself as one of Wellesley's officer shook himself off, like a uniformed golden retriever. He walked over to the man. "Captain Hunter. I wished to thank you for your help yesterday, and I think I have been remiss in neglecting to properly introduce myself - my name is Stephen Maturin."

'It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, sir. No need to thank me, just trying to do my job,' George almost extended his arm for a handshake, saw that it was wet, wiped it on a dry part of a cloak, that he now held gingerly over one arm and extended it again. 'I hope you are not in need of anything?'

"Oh, no," said Stephen, shaking Hunter's hand and bowing slightly. "No - I will billet with the Staff, so I thought it prudent to introduce myself."

'Ah, that is good news. We can only benefit by a presence of a Doctor. It will be a pleasure having you with us, sir. My name is George Hunter, as you know already.'

[OOC: I suppose he gotta tell him his first name, no? XD I kept wanting to write: "Hunter. Sir George Hunter." XDDD]

"Thank you, Captain; I believe the arrangement is that I will look after the General's staff as well as the General himself, so if you have any problems of a medical kind, please do not hesitate to ask," Stephen said masochistically.

[OOC: ... You have no idea what the temptation to write "Maturin. Stephen Maturin." was. XD]

'Thank you, but up until now I have been in a lucky possession of rude health, and I hope to continue in that way,' he smiled to indicate that this was not meant to be an insulting remark. 'Have you had breakfast, sir? With all the ... excitement we had this morning I would not be surprised if you haven't.'

[OOC: I think I do. XDDD]

"Ah, yes, that," said Stephen in a tone of voice that was a shade too casual. "I was just planning to find a piece of bread - with the going here and there and all the organisation I do not believe anything formal has been arranged. I believe we must be ready to be gone by the early afternoon."

'Doctor, if you will forgive my saying so, a piece of bread will not quite suffice. One does tend to get hungry on a march and there is not an opportunity to eat properly until dinner time usually.'

"Oh, I do not eat much," said Stephen with a smile. "And I know that there have been quite serious problems in bringing the rations across the river - do you know how they fare with that task? I am quite concerned; do the men have enough to eat?"

'For now, but we are bound to encounter problems sooner or later, even with the Portuguese being on our side.'

"I do not doubt it, considering the looting that has been taking place," said Stephen. "And sure, they have their own army to feed as well."

'Yes, and of course with so many turning away from their usual life to that of guerrillas...'

"So I hear," said Stephen. "But if there is food here now, which will otherwise go to waste, it would be unwise to refuse it."

George smiled. 'There is, I was just about to breakfast myself,' and knowing Fernao there would be more than enough for the two of them.

"Shall we see what is available in the kitchens?" Stephen said.

'I am sure there will be something. I have a very caring servant.' George grinned. 'He always tried to overfeed me.'

Stephen smiled - he had never dreamed that a day would come when he might miss Killick. "Ah, Captain, that reminds me - are there any staff officers who keep a young Portuguese boy as a servant?"

George's smiled faltered, his face becoming serious. 'I do. Has he done something?'

"He was of very great help to me yesterday - very great help indeed. I wished to ask his name and thank him properly," Stephen said with a smile.

'Ah, his name is Fernao.. Mattoso, I am sure you will see him sooner or later. I'm glad to hear that he is improving.' George smiled. 'Shall we see about breakfast, Doctor?'

"I will just grab something, if I may - I am on my way to see another officer," Stephen said with a grateful smile.

'Of course, and I will get rid of my cloak. It's much too wet to carry around.'

"Indoors, at least," said Stephen, glancing out at the rain - a company marched in the street outside.