piratejournal | 003 [voice]

[You all remember Hector, of course. The ass who's torn apart most of the folks who've asked stupid questions? And has been highly offended at the assumptions about the way he speaks? Well, he's just come upon a thought that struck him out of the blue, and really, in his opinion you just might want to pay attention.

But hoo boy, does he sound full of schadenfreude. Because he is.]

Just as an aside, as that execution do bring some things to mind. At least for meself, as I'm a bit more versed in the laws and rules of the sea...

You do realize, o'course, with your sailing and bartering without proper papers - letters o' marque or otherwise granting you permission to do such from a nation - you are all, in fact, committing acts of piracy, aye?

No papers, no authority to conduct yourself as a legitimate crew. No authority, of course, to organize yourself in a militaristic force. You aren't privateers. You aren't merchants, and you aren't treasure hunters.

You're pirates. Piss poor excuses for pirates, I'll grant ye that, but not a single soul brought to this place has authority to do anything. You're conducting in black market trade, operating a craft that is not, in fact, registered in any home port, and not a single one among ye has a place ye make berth.

This, of course, does include our little ship full o'sparkle and light in the name of justice et cetera, et cetera.

Pirates, the lot of you. Every last one of you be staring at Jack Ketch, waiting to be the next to dance the jig. No matter your noble intentions.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

1803, sir. King George III sits on the throne.

[A question he has become far more used to answering than when he first arrived.]

[And he'll be dust in the wind, but it answers one thing.]

Tell me, then, if you will, how does it feel to know you sit on the opposite side of the battle lines. Assuming, o'course, piracy is still alive and well in 1803.

We're more worried about the French than pirates, though we have our share of problems still.

[A pause.]

At present, however, we are at peace... so I'm grateful to have a ship at all.

Ah, the French. [There's a goodly amount of humor in that.]

But nay, the English will always have her Navy, I assume. Would be unwise, given she's not made many friends, mate.

She hasn't. [A sad truth, but he's used to the fact that England stands alone against Napoleon. Her allies are few and far between.] But her Navy is the pride of the sea.

Wouldn't say that, mate, I know of a fair few pirates who've outwitted her time and time again.

No one is perfect, sir. I didn't mean to imply that. Merely that as far as naval powers go, we... are not generally under a great threat.

Well, no. For as small of a dismal rock as she be, she does have her manpower, willing or no.

Her hands are well-trained, too. A proper frigate can reload a full broadside in under three minutes.

[With a handled crew and a firm captain who drilled them regularly. It was, after all, a chief asset. Be able to fire on a target multiple times before they could fire once.]

A typical French frigate usually takes about five minutes to reload. In my time, at least.

Were a merchant marine, meself. Navy would nary have me, too young, and all that nonsense.

Of course, that were a long time ago, and I suspect, lad, you've never come across a pirate vessel wanting what you have. Amazing, how fast they can move when money is on the line.

I've faced more privateers than pirates myself, sir. Won my share of battles, lost my share, too.

Privateers. [He snorts loudly at that.] Naught but pirates who could nary turn a profit the right way.

First one I ever met? Used to be a slaver. [And, oh, the distaste in his voice as he said that.] But France stopped the slave trade, so he refitted his ship, sailed her as a privateer.

Aye, there be another name for their sort. Picaroons. Find themselves highly unwelcome in Tortuga and New Orleans, so they do.

Some men deserve to lose their ships. That captain was one of them.

I imagine we've all met their sort.

Tell me, lad, who be your captain here.

I don't have one at present, sir. I had thought to captain a vessel myself, but that seems to be unlikely to happen at this point.

Nay, that be a dream here. If you could gather a crew. It be a hard thing, and few among them worth taking on.

My nine years have been spent as an officer. I'm used to training landsmen. [Not alone, but he could manage. Getting the numbers, though, was what he knew would prove difficult.]

It wouldn't be an easy task, of course, but I do believe I could manage it, sir. At a later time, though. As of yet, it's proven difficult to get the hands I'd need.

Nay, ye nary will. Too many fighting over who wants to be captain with no experience. After all, I'm used to a Galleon. And here I be. Stuck with a Caravel.

My command was a sloop. 18-gunner, just right for a green commander. [Even if he didn't like the ship, not like he loved other ships... He still respected what Retribution was.

There's a pause. It's... weird, but they are in a completely different world.] Have you use of a former British lieutenant and commander, sir?

voice:

justguidelines - 2013-10-15 02:42 (UTC) - Expand

captainhornblower - 2013-10-15 02:50 (UTC) - Expand

justguidelines - 2013-10-15 02:57 (UTC) - Expand

captainhornblower - 2013-10-15 03:02 (UTC) - Expand

justguidelines - 2013-10-16 03:27 (UTC) - Expand

captainhornblower - 2013-10-16 21:33 (UTC) - Expand

[chokes on his rum again and claps a hand over his face to keep it coming through his nose]

You might have hit your limit, there, mate. Next round be your'n.

[thumps his chest and clears his throat yet again.] --I most certainly have not. I've just--swallowed the wrong way, that's all. Got a bit of rum where it doesn't belong. Like in my lungs, for example.

Carry on, Captain.

[A snort.]

Oh, of course. How silly of me to think otherwise.

003 [voice]

voice:

voice:

voice:

voice:

voice:

voice:

voice:

voice:

voice:

voice:

voice:

voice:

voice:

voice:

voice:

voice:

voice:

voice:

voice:

voice:

voice:

voice:

voice:

voice:

voice:

voice:

voice:

/threadjacks if this is ok

dkfjsdf GET OUT no stay bb ilu [more accidental than anything]

YOU'RE STUCK WITH ME MAN

DAMMI- I mean yes good.