Alone on a wide wide sea.

[abidinglaw]

[For some time now one node on the Journal network has been broadcasting an anonymous patch of sky broken only occasionally by the pacing back and forth of a quaking, sea-soaked man. His hair is matted and bedraggled, his arms are wrapped around his shoulders to conserve what little warmth he has. Occasionally there are sounds of a voice straining in physical exertion or cursing, or joyous laughter. Otherwise the sea dominates the audible side of the broadcast. Lapping, crashing, rushing water, rhythmic as a heart beat.

More rarely still, the man sits in the sand with the book at his feet, flicking through and reading. Throughout the day he makes his way through the guide, a selection of entries, a smattering of all that the curious book has to offer. It is a work of fiction, he knows this, but it is evidence of human life. It is a distraction from the cold.

By chance, however much he deviates, his journal always eventually ends up on the page required to broadcast video. It is by chance, too, that the journal picks up a selection of his musings - decisions on which tree along the beach would make the most suitable shelter, theories on the subject of nautical headings and snatches of naval protocol.

It is around mid-day that he addresses the journal directly. Sitting again with the book at his feet, he speaks out of a desire to hear the steady, authoritative tone of a voice in control.]

It was under the section on communication.. yes.. 'If you are reading this, then you have already discovered the journals.' Now, some superstitious nonsense, but ... Ah yes, 'if you want to set up meetings, pass a greeting or call for help.' Here we are. Now... No. As I expected. Nothing more than a string of ridiculous fantasies. Damn.

ooc: SO! Hi! Grab his attention at any time in his rambling failed-fire-building beach-stranding antics, or later at the bar post-retrieval. It's all fair game as far as I'm concerned.]

Comments

[mountain-sage.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry...there hadn't been any ships in this world. In fact, the ocean is only a recent addition to this enclosure as of some months ago.

[abidinglaw.livejournal.com]

Excuse me -- your people only recently discovered the sea?

[Strange: they speak English well enough.]

[mountain-sage.livejournal.com]

It wasn't "discovered." It was formed within the enclosure after a battle in the Malnosso's underwater research facility.

[abidinglaw.livejournal.com]

[The logic of this makes little sense to him. An underwater facility requires water by necessity - ergo there must have been water prior to the above-mentioned battle... Nevermind the fact that every mass of land eventually ends in coast. Evidently this fellow is somewhat simple.]

Right. My apologies.

Are you certain? No ships whatsoever?

[mountain-sage.livejournal.com]

No need for apologies. You are a new arrival, correct?

There was only a man who was dedicating himself to building a ship of his own. Aside from that, no ships have been spotted.

[abidinglaw.livejournal.com]

Correct.

This man, you say he was building a ship. Does he have a large workforce? A crew?

[Whoever he is, Norrington likes the sound of him already.]

Oh, the irony. lulz

[mountain-sage.livejournal.com]

No...he is only one man.

[abidinglaw.livejournal.com]

Then...

[What little excitement had bubbled to the surface of the admiral's words subsides here.]

What he is building a not a ship, but a dinghy.

[mountain-sage.livejournal.com]

[A "dinghy?"]

Well, he has yet to finish his project. Perhaps you may wish to join him?

[abidinglaw.livejournal.com]

[Perhaps indeed.]

Does this man have a name?

[mountain-sage.livejournal.com]

Yes. His name is Jack Sparrow.

[abidinglaw.livejournal.com]

[Ah. Wouldn't it have to be Sparrow?]

A strange name. Have you spoken to the man yourself?

[mountain-sage.livejournal.com]

Yes, many times.

[He chastises the man about his pirate ways while the pirate talks about getting him laid.]

We've been acquainted for the past year here.

[abidinglaw.livejournal.com]

I would do well to know more of the man before I put myself into his hands.

How would you characterize him?

[mountain-sage.livejournal.com]

[Probably a wise idea.]

He is a pirate. Some of his ways may be...questionable, but he's a good man overall.

[abidinglaw.livejournal.com]

Indeed.

And what - if I may ask - has he done to convince you of this?

[mountain-sage.livejournal.com]

I've spent much time with him. Though I may not agree with his pirating ways, I've seen pirates that are far more savage than he.

[Not that a person needs to do an exceptionally good deed to be a good person. Saleh can just see these things in people.]

[abidinglaw.livejournal.com]

[The savage ones are easy enough to deal with. Brute for will overcome them in time, however savage they may be. Jack, however, is sharp, quick and clever. Norrington has tried to wield brute force against him in the past -- and lost.]

You would trust him, then? You would have me trust him besides?

[mountain-sage.livejournal.com]

I would trust him. However, whether you would trust him is your decision alone.

[He's not forcing the admiral into this or anything.]

[abidinglaw.livejournal.com]

[How counter that lies to the grain of intuition - to trust a pirate. In Tortuga he was tolerated - but that was a den of piracy itself. Had he distinguished himself with an act of heroics then there might be some cause for the people of this place to harbor him, but no. There is no evidence to that effect. The fact is that this man knows him to be a pirate - it is likely that Sparrow even has the gall to practice his acts of piracy upon the the people of Luceti - and this man would defend him. Even trust him.]

My apologies, but I would not wish to conduct business with a pirate blindly. Nor a criminal of any sort -- you understand.

[mountain-sage.livejournal.com]

[He nods respectfully.]

Of course. In the meantime, what will you do. Have you found the village yet?