piratejournal | 02 ~ written

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02 ~ written

Out of curiosity, can anyone familiar enough with these events explain to me the purpose behind masquerade balls?

Is there cultural reasoning behind it, or do they really find the false illusion of pretending behind a mask and costume to be fun?

Perhaps I just don't understand the significance. Beorc nobility have the oddest ways of doing things.

[In preparing for the Naval ball this weekend (and all the fun restricting his wings under a cloak and pretending to be human for a night, oh goodie), Naesala's been wondering about the event itself.

That, and he's bored up in the crow's nest, currently avoiding most of the crew's new pets that seem to be cropping up day after day. Baby chicks and a cat and he's pretty sure there's a dog around somewhere? No thank you.]

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No, you could be right. The navy already seems to have a backwards view of justice, who knows what other meanings lie behind their actions.

Not that it matters either way. I imagine the outcome will be the same.

Is it really backwards? If there was a criminal in your home, well known for those acts and dangerous and he brought people you had never seen before to your home. Wouldn't you react the same?

It's not fair, that's obvious. But I can't blame them for it, neither I can't give in to them and just accept their decision.

You mean the outcome of how people are going to go to the ball, right?

Sure. But we're taken here against our will and branded pirates apropos of nothing, and then hunted regardless of our initial moral standing. I'm sure most of you wouldn't have taken on piracy had they given you the option in the first place.

And yes. For the most part.

Certainly, many people still refuse to take on full fledged piracy as well. However, such an option could have never happened, even if they had been willing to hear us out, the moment we sailed those waters we became pirates. Sailing without official documents that allow it is piracy even if the ship does nothing else.

[Of course there had been a moment when she had thought "maybe we could just talk it over", but Ciel had been quick to remind her of the situation and laws. Sure, they didn't fully know the laws of this world, but it's safe to assume they would be similar to the ones they knew.]

"For the most part"? What did you mean then "for the lesser part"?

And who controls the distribution of those official documents?

[Really, he's not going to agree with this person either way, but it's a nice discussion.]

The outcome of the ball itself. Considering they must know we pirates are aware of the event.

The government. Or a really skilled forger!

[There must be one, there has to be an underworld in this one just like in England, especially if piracy is such a normal thing. It's a matter of finding the entrance to it and the right people to get the documents needed, sure they won't be legal, sure they will only serve to buy some time and sure, with bounties being offered how long those papers work will be reduced. But it's still a possibility especially if new people join the crew and they manage to stay out of the Navy's eyes. She's sure that if Ciel had still been around he would have took care of all those things long ago, and maybe they wouldn't have even gotten a bounty to begin with.]

It does feel strange that such information would be leaked so easily, we got forewarning of it with too much time. But that's not going to stop people from going to have fun, right?

Again, if the government controls the parchment, the entire point is moot. The navy won't listen, which means the real people in charge won't either; even if anyone had tried to fill out information beforehand. We're pirates in their eyes from the minute we arrive, no matter how legal we could try and make it. It's still backwards justice.

[He would really love to meet whatever government is in charge. He just knows what type of people they must be to run a system like this.]

Of course not. It just means everyone should be ready for confrontation should it arise. I'm sure most are betting on it, in fact.

I still can't see it as backwards justice when I'm sure most of us, including us both, would be more than okay with it if we were standing on the other side of the line. Unless you mean that justice is always backwards, after all, you were talking about espionage being fun.

[Elizabeth imagines the government as being similar to the one she knows, or maybe not so similar as she has never heard the Navy talk about the Queen or King. But the base was probably the same pyramid shape, with the top being few people who control all the lower levels even if they are far more than the ones on the top.]

I would think they would think so, yes. After all it's literally waltzing into enemy territory. Do you think it is some kind of trap on top of that?

My views on undercover operations have nothing to do with it. No, I'm certain a real sense of justice is out there, somewhere. I stand by my assertion that this navy doesn't have it.

[Of course, he may be a little biased, having fully experienced the sort of corruption human leaders seem to be fond of. But the absence of a visible governing system is more ominous than baffling.]

Sure. I like to anticipate for any eventuality. If it is, those attending will deal with it. And if it isn't, it'll be an amusing time.

What would be a "real sense of justice" for you, then?

[Elizabeth isn't a stranger to the corruption that exists in power, but she remains standing on the fact that normally justice depends just on who is talking. For a policeman and a clerk, justice would be to imprison a thief. For the thief, though, justice would probably be for him to have enough so that he wouldn't need to steal to begin with.

She pouts at the last part. If there are suspicions of it being a trap then Sebastian will definitively not allow her to go. Or at least he will strongly advice against it and she will be unable to do otherwise because she promised to not put herself in danger recklessly.]

I thought you didn't enjoy the idea of the masquerade? Will you still enjoy it despite that?

Certainly not the kind that doesn't give people the chance to explain. Punishment should go to those who deserve it, not to any poor scapegoat the higher power deems responsible. And I'm a big believer in comeuppance.

[For all of his questionable morals, never let it be said Naesala doesn't know right from wrong. That being said, he's not above being a hypocrite. But this person doesn't know him or his life, so he's free to admit his opinion on those who get what they deserve. At the moment, though, it really all boils down to not liking the system here.]

Oh, I still think it's stupid. But if it's being used as a guise to cover up their real plot, it's something I can appreciate. So yes, I most likely will.

I can agree on that. At the very least, even if they were to arrest us first, it would be better to be given the chance to explain then rather than execute us on sight. On the other hand, a chance to explain means nothing if they don't listen anyway or the explanation is too difficult to believe, which s what our situation has been like from the start.

[It's funny, but Elizabeth never had many hopes or expectations on the government of this world and its justice listening to them or helping them. Probably because Ciel never even considered the idea. Whether they liked it or not they stood on the "wrong" side of the line now, and their best bet was to try to get out of the game as soon as possible rather than try to get into the other side. Which is why, she assumes, Ciel didn't bother with even trying the forgery option.]

I see, I'm glad to hear that you will still be able to enjoy it despite finding it stupid, one thing doesn't deny the other. Though I will hope for it to not be a trap, even if it's pretty pointless.

[It's one of those "hopes" that she knows are completely wrong and pointless, but she will cling to them until they fall by their own weight just for the slim chance of them to actually be right. Just like when Ciel appeared alive and safe after everyone assuming that he was dead.]

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