Temporal Rift? Again?
Tidy your cuffs. One cannot time-travel with wrinkled sleeves.
This image was created with the assistance of machines far too polite to take credit. No paradoxes were harmed in the making.
Facebook, 13th May 2025
In this meme titled “Temporal Rift? Again?”, we are introduced to a quintessentially composed Victorian gentleman calmly adjusting his cuffs while a swirling temporal rift looms ominously behind him. The contrast between chaotic time anomalies and his unwavering sense of decorum plays into the humour of steampunk culture — where refinement and absurdity coexist in perfect harmony.
This piece pokes fun at the idea of repeated time-travel emergencies being met not with panic, but with sartorial composure. The caption, “Tidy your cuffs. One cannot time travel with wrinkled sleeves,” satirises the obsession with appearance and etiquette often found in both Victorian society and modern cosplay subcultures. It’s not just a visual gag — it’s a manifesto for the chronologically adventurous: dignity first, even when the timeline collapses.
The underlying joke is a love letter to the steampunk aesthetic, which blends high-stakes sci-fi tropes with genteel manners, impeccable tailoring, and a touch of British absurdity. Whether facing tea shortages or tachyon surges, proper attire is non-negotiable.
This meme sits comfortably within the “Steampunk Composure Protocol” series, where formality always trumps chaos.
