† 1 letter of marque † written † action for Isla Impieza

[unionjackass]

[Arthur gazes across the streets of the unfamiliar town with the senses of self-loathing and relief mingling like two unlikely blending oddities. The distant murmur of his shores comes to mind; and then the vague image of all the different coastlines, both foreign and ones that for so long have marked the borders of his fair islands that he knows like the backs of his hands because that is what they are. How long Arthur has been away from the sea and lived under the intoxicating chaos of subjecting oneself and one's crew to her whims. The guilt of not having been able to sail, and of being away from his duties--they wrap themselves into the otherwise joyous fold of the smell and spray of the sea, the clamor of the townsfolk going about their lives, and the chance at some strange and happy yet unwanted adventure.

He scrawls out a few notes in his journal.

England's handwriting is, as usual, a neatly placed, hasty, bold and curling hand.]

I've missed the sea. I'm an island mind, so I can't exactly escape it. What I miss is not having properly had the chance to sail at length for at least a century. It's almost as if I've come home to my wife and I've been unfaithful and she knows it. God help me.

Suppose I'll need to find a captain, or a suitable ship and crew.

Perhaps you lot could introduce yourselves. I'm interested in the comings and goings of my ah fellow travellers on this unwitting quest.

Comments

[Written]

[redcinemareel]

That is a brilliant analogy. The sea can be unforgiving.

[Written]

[unionjackass]

Thank you. Yes she's as unforgiving as she is bountiful. Fair is fair honestly.

[Written]

[redcinemareel]

Playing fair on the seas? I'm not certain if that goes hand in hand.

[Written]

[unionjackass]

Not playing fair on them. Only fair that she takes as much as she gives if she's handled with respect. Reckless sailors for example, don't live long. Ah I'm sorry I didn't mean to turn this discussion dark.

[Written]

[redcinemareel]

Yes, I see now. I don't mind dark discussions. Usually I'm the one to bring them about. No need for apologies.

In what way would you consider sailors to be reckless?

[Written]

[unionjackass]

Oh that's different then. It's not all sailors that are reckless, just some; when they drink heavily at sea and are generally irresponsible with their work. The smallest of mistakes can wreak havoc on the water.

[Written]

[redcinemareel]

Very true. I'm confident enough in my crew that they'll be responsible enough to not drown us all.

[Written]

[superstitiouspirate]

[Having had all manner of doing with the sea before and after the release of Calypso, the analogy strikes him as rather truthful. It also makes him remember not so fondly the near death experiences he has had recently while having to deal with what amounted to as more or less an ancient lover's quarrel between the sea and a man.]

Be thankful you aren't married to the sea in truth. Tis bad enough loving her.

[Written]

[unionjackass]

Good God in heaven I couldn't even imagine. It's awful enough having to acclimate to things all over again.

[Written]

[superstitiouspirate]

I take it you've been away from the sea for some time then?

[Written]

[unionjackass]

I am always close to the sea but I have not really sailed as I used to some time ago. If I did not have important work at home to which I must attend I would see this little opportunity as more pleasant rather than a nuisance.

And what of yourself?

[Written]

[superstitiouspirate]

I've sailed for many a year before the mast. Fact o' the matter is I was on a ship before waking up here in Isla Empieza.

[voice] Because I just can't with the 18th Century grammar rn.

[justguidelines]

[Looking through the written replies, he finds it exceedingly hilarious that no one seems to have caught the phrase, "I'm an island". Even Gibbs, and there goes any estimation of his mental prowess.

But rather than take that question head on, as that's not really his style, more importantly:]

The sea hates us all, mate. Really, and truly. All we can do is appease her for the moment and remember she could swallow us whole as though we never were.

PERMAVOICE

[unionjackass]

[While England himself doesn't seem to notice--seeing as he is in fact an island, and casually mentioning it is nothing out of the ordinary--the writer is laughing stupidly at her keyboard]

True enough. She's taken from me as much as she's given. Anyone would be a fool to think, "oh the sea looks calm, what's the worst that could happen?"

But they do.

[to disastrous results; but he won't mention those because it goes without saying, and the town and the sea and nostalgia are putting him in a superstitious mood.]

[justguidelines]

[Weird things? Just another Tuesday for a pirate in the Caribbean, to be honest, though he's going to be keeping a sharp eye on whoever else may reply, of course.]

Of course they do, when they're green, and lacking in the brains department. And they will die.

[And there's humor in his voice, not seriousness. Not dread. It's funny, because the sea only takes that which angers her, as he very well knows.]

[unionjackass]

And cause other good men to go with them.

--[He clears his throat.] And that sort of talk is no way to precede any voyage.

You wouldn't happen to be a sailor yourself would you? Because you sound it, speaking of experience and such.

[justguidelines]

Aye, so I am. [Of what type he doesn't divulge, but...Well, given everything, it's wiser not to.]

[unionjackass]

[Note how he just accepts and doesn't ask. Arthur knows better and... honestly, assuming and prying are just rude. Beyond that, if someone is a pirate or noble, they are still human. War, disease, and the elements don't care how much money you've got and neither does Fatherland he.]

Then we're of a kind. Alright. By the sound of it you're not an idiot--so, what's the going rate for the exchange of good information? Unless of course, you're as new arrival to this ridiculous situation as I.

[justguidelines]

Well, I couldn't say, mate, I suppose that comes down to what ye have to offer. After all, I'm sure there's plenty that would sell themselves cheap in that market, but then...

Well, I'm sure you've also noticed there be plenty here as have no idea what they're on about.

[unionjackass]

Maybe, I think, it comes down to whether or not you're the sort to admit that you've no idea what you're on about and have any decent information at all.

And if said information is good and accurate and truthful I may be obliged to reward it with the purchase of a bottle of choice for the provider of that information.

... Within a reasonable price range. A man needs a few simple things to call his own.

[justguidelines]

I could be, for the right price, aye. After all, it's not as though it's hidden, is it. But the fact remains that there be plenty that still can't come to terms with what be happening, aye?

A bottle. Tempting, but that's easily enough obtained without worrying about the price tag, mate.

[written]

[oceanicbutterfly]

I believe the usual expression is that no man is an island.

[...yeah, this is going to go well.]

cracking up already

[unionjackass]

Pardon, I wasn't using that expression.

I am an island.

Who's on first?

[oceanicbutterfly]

But it exists for a reason. You must be connected to someone.

What's on second

[unionjackass]

Yes, an entire nation. It comes with the territory quite literally.

I don't know--THIRD BASE!

[oceanicbutterfly]

[Literally? This just gets more and more confusing.]

Then you aren't an island, not even remotely.

IDK YOU BUT I LIKE YOU

[unionjackass]

Of course I am. Connecting with others hasn't got anything to do with the definitions of geography.

THEN YOU SHOULD START KNOWING ME

[oceanicbutterfly]

No, nothing except BEING THE ENTIRE ANALOGY.

OR MAYBE YOU SHOULD START KNOWING -ME-

[unionjackass]

That's the whole bloody point! For all intents and purposes I AM AN ANALOGY.

Oh I'll *know* you, all right...

[oceanicbutterfly]

[There is a pause.]

Do you even know what that means?

WOW is that a threat LET'S TAKE THIS OUTSIDE and by outside I mean on plurk I'm Dessi, hello

[unionjackass]

analogy a correspondence between one thing and another typically for use in an explanation and/or for clarification. Can also be known as a parallel, resemblance, or correlation.

written

[brbvirmire]

["At least a century" strikes Ash as slightly odd, but then, there are aliens with thousand-year lifespans where she's from. So it's not as weird as it could be.]

Nice analogy. We could use someone who actually knows how to sail on this crew, if you're still looking.