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.

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[They disagreed about God -- an argument Hornblower knew he had no good standing to make and had, thus, abandoned rather than try to fight -- but this?]

It surprises me how many don't seem to understand that here.

Whatever we were where we came from, we're not, now. It isn't quite the press, but it's near enough. [No choice, after all, if what he heard about the natives was true.]

Without a letter of marque or any papers verifying us as traders, we are all committing crimes.

What's illegal about sailing around in the seas?

It would be nice if we could register properly, but I guess that's not an option.

I'm surprised this is news to anyone. Are the laws where they live that lax?

I really don't see why it's so hard to understand that whether we like it or not we're outlaws in the eyes of the Navy. They can hold themselves to a higher standard but they should get used to idea that people aren't to fond of us.

[It's a little hard to care about the Christian idea of God when you've been raised from the dead by a Greek one.

But disregarding...Well. All of that.]

You're a Navy man, are you not?

You have no papers. No letter of marque, no registration. Only your word you're not a pirate.

That's not me problem. And since you can't, pirate you be.

I would imagine it has quite a bit to do with them not being acquainted with the sea and the men who sail her beforehand.

Nay, mate, it'd be the same in me own where and when. No papers? Pirate. And, of course, we've all seen what happens to pirates.

If you get caught.

Where I'm from, yes, sir. Nine years service in His Britannic Majesty's Royal Navy. So far.

Hm.

What year be it, where you're from. Or rather...Who is King.

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

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

Oh, that's it? [He snorts a little.] Paperwork is a waste of time anyway. Probably better just not to get caught.

That's too bad.

But - a title doesn't determine everything, at least.

I hardly find that an excuse, but reflecting, I do recognize my circumstances weren't normal. I had many duties and learning even foreign law was something necessary, so although Beelzenia was landlocked, I knew that here I was a pirate from early on.

[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.

And how would we get a letter of marque? Ask the Navy we've already been warned against contact with? There's no way to make it work.

Aye! But there's little point in running from the Navy if you're not going to actually do anything worthwhile.

Oh, but does it not, then? After all, they'll hang you whether you've pillaged yourself sick or not.

Yes, that's bully good for you. However, seems a bit narrow-minded, does it not, to only consider what you know.

Sure there is, you can avoid execution that way, since they execute pirates, right?

Actually, aside from exploring, I'm going ahead and going to assume we're going to have to find some manner in which to fund these exploits. Our money won't last forever.

Then you run away, or don't get caught.

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.

That's the point. And besides, the Navy's not who gives said letters of marque to begin with. Kings do, or a King's representative in a territory. So you can either own to the fact you're a pirate, and follow the Code, or...Well. Hang for nothing.

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