So many ideas, so little time, so limited an attention span for research...

[thrillingdetectivetales]

Kidnapped fic I will never write, a list:

1. AU where Davie joins the church instead of looking into the stuff about his mysterious uncle and is deployed to the Highlands as a missionary catechist on behalf of the Scottish Society for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge who has a down and dirty affair with an Alan Breck Stewart who's in town recruiting. I'd have to fudge timelines a bit, probably having the stuff with Davie's parents happening when he's 16/17 as in the book but keeping the play setting of him and Alan meeting around 19 and 25, respectively. Anyway it would require way too much research, so it'll never happen, but just for the musing of those who might be interested. (Also I'm not up to resolving the issues between someone working on behalf of the Reformed Church and a local attempting to hang onto his own religion, but whatever. Handwavey historical romance with heavy religious overtones, I throw myself upon thy mercy.)

More to come as I think of them, which certainly won't be an issue as every song I hear and new tidbit of historical information I learn makes my brain go "but what if applied to your favorite little guys, eh?" /melting smiley face emoji

Comments

[muccamukk]

I'm an idiot. Alan of course cannot have been Catholic. He was in the English army.

[thrillingdetectivetales]

If you're an idiot, I'm also an idiot lol. And hey, we learned something! Go us!

[muccamukk]

Yeah, but I've been in 18th century military fandoms before, and actually DID already know that.

[thrillingdetectivetales]

Well, in that case, I can't help you, lol. But still! Good to know, in case I ever do write the silly fic.

[regshoe]

Wait, were Catholics barred from enlisting, rather than just from being officers? (Or was Alan an officer in the British army? I can't keep track of all his different ranks...) I had been assuming the rank and file of the Irish regiments at least would inevitably have been mostly Catholic.

[muccamukk]

This paper I was just reading said to ENLIST as a private in the English Army, you had to be Protestant, 5'6" and in good physical health (no open sores, all your limbs, etc). They could wave the height thing in time of troop shortages, but not the religion.

Another book mentioned that it was one reason so many Catholic Scots went into French service.

ETA: I'm assuming they changed this by the time Sharpe rolled around.

[regshoe]

Huh—well, that is interesting to learn, thank you!

(I suppose they must have waived the height requirement in book!Alan's case :D )