Today we put on our costumes, and by golly was it fun. Every movement we made had to be elegant because the physical constraints of the costumes mandated it. I went down a rabbit hole concerning my military pin, and it yielded some interesting results.
Firstly, Elizabeth II wasn’t the queen in WW1, nor was Cyprus a conflict I was involved in. However, Kevin did this knowingly because it resembles the India General Service Medal I would have received. Kevin also contacted some people and found that this dime-sized medal would be the kind of pin I’d wear. As for the metal bars, I discovered that they were not given out in WW1, but for conflicts pre and post-WW1. Given any realistic timeline, it means that I continued in the military after WW1 to be in the Afghanistan NWC.
We also discussed some of our timelines as characters backstage, and I thought through my timeline more. I realize now that I am high and lowballing many dates to make myself younger. This is both because I (Mason) am only 21, so a younger Colonel Arbuthnot would be more relatable, and because I feel less comfortable playing a 39 y.o. man dating a 27 y.o. Woman. Of course, it’s okay, especially for the period, but it irks me a bit. Thus, because this preparation exists solely to help me play Arbuthnot, I am willing to fudge the numbers for my benefit.
In my world, the colonel was 29 when he met Mary, who was around 20-23. When we reconnected later in life, I was 36 and she was in her late 20s. Mainly because I believe the Governess and I hit it off back then. I had a crush on her, and whenever I visited Armstrong I’d hope to see her.
~1898 – Born
1916 – Drafted in WW1, 18 y.o.
1917 – 2nd Lt.
1918 – Lt.
1919 – Finished time in WW1
1919 – Captain in the Afghan Invasion of British India (lasted a few weeks)
(captain lasts 5-10yrs)
1924 – Armstrong moves to America (Is Colonel now b/c of his Medal of Valor)
1925 – Daisy is born
1927 – Daisy gets a governess, and I meet Mary. She was 20-23, I’m 29, and a Captain
1930 – Daisy was kidnapped at 5 y.o
1930 – 6 months later the trial, up to 6 months later (1931) was complete
1931 – met soon-to-be wife, Armstrong commits suicide
– became colonel around here. ~1932-1933 –
1933 – Divorce court begins
– Information about when to meet for murder. Meetings occur, reconnect with Mary–
1934 – today, the murder