video;

[aread]

[Well this sure is a video post. It opens on Kidd, who's looking rather casually bored, dressed up in all the stolen finery one might expect of a pirate. His accent is vaguely British-y, and his tone is casually bored.]

I've heard tell this turtle of ours stops off at locations along the course of its journey. And these shores— would anyone say they at all resemble the Caribbean? Nassau, perhaps?

[He assumes otherwise, but it never hurts to ferret out little bits of information. If nothing else, mention of Nassau might weed out any who know the region and what it stands for. Stood for. He cocks his head to one side, there's maybe a hint of something predatory to his expression.]

I find it curious, aye, to be plain, that we can be so long at sea without fear of outside attack. Pirates, and the like. This place is grand enough, but hardly impregnable. Has anyone considered proper fortifications for it t'all? A blockade, perhaps, or cannons? Or something a sight more modern, I understand there's all manner of things not common to my era.

Thanks be to you, listeners.

[A casual salute, and cut feed.]

Comments

[lostundercover]

Maybe the attack's coming, but they're all on fucking turtles and just slow to get here.

[So much line facing.]

[aread]

You've no notion of naval navigation, I warrant. This beast of ours moves at a fair clip.

[The rough language isn't even a blip on the radar, frankly. If anything, Kidd relaxes just slightly at hearing it. It's a pirate thing.]

[lostundercover]

Maybe it's a big ocean.

[He's half-joking. Frustrated with the idea of turtles at all, but finding the guy's response actually amicable enough.]

Or maybe there's a reason people don't have ships here.

[aread]

There's always a need for ships, lad. They mean freedom, plain enough, and we've little of it in this gilded cage.

[Pressed into service for someone else's war? Not really Kidd's idea of a good time. Did plenty of that back in the day, and found there was no use for soldiers in peacetime.]

[lostundercover]

Didn't say there isn't one. My concern was more for the ocean's accommodating them. Or not, as the case may be.

[He shrugs.]

[aread]

Only reason I can think they might not have them is that there's no one to man them, nor materials to repair them. Both are about as likely, I imagine, given what I've heard tell of the land we've visited.

[Welcome to 18th century ignorance, Costigan. Don't worry, Kidd learns fast given the impetus to do so, but wrapping your brain around aspects of a future you've never imagined takes some doing.]

[lostundercover]

You think you're the man for the job?

[aread]

[Kidd makes an incredulous noise.]

I try not to assume I'm the man for any job, mate. But if it needed doing, aye, I could have a hand in it. That being said, most everyone here seems to think it's not a necessary endeavour.

[lostundercover]

Doesn't mean it's not worth doing. People have different priorities.

[aread]

And what're your priorities, lad?

[It's casual enough, but this feels a little like being pushed, and Kidd isn't the sort to tolerate it long or well at all.]

[lostundercover]

Here? Staying alive and avoiding magic mostly.

[aread]

It can't be that hard to do either, surely?

[lostundercover]

Almost impossible with magic.

Good luck with the ship.

[aread]

[That gets a raise of his eyebrow, right enough.]

You often in the habit of tossing out ambiguous statements and the like without clarifying them?

[Seems pretty obvious the guy plans to bail on the conversation but excuse you magic this is basically the first candid discussion about it Kidd's had so far so gurl.]

[lostundercover]

At least I'm not fuckin' contradictory. [He chuckles.]

[aread]

Implying I am?

[You sir, are a disagreeable chap.]

[lostundercover]

Look, I didn't mean to start somethin'. You want to build a boat and trying sailing, you should do that. You decide the other people are right and there isn't a need for it, you do that instead. Doesn't make much difference to me.

[aread]

You seem invested in the idea of something that makes little difference to you, man.

[No skin off his nose, really, but this man is erratic, eccentric. It's a familiar sort, though, Kidd's seen plenty of like minds, usually people sick with drink and crying about the King's injustices.]

Anything that floats can sink. I don't trust turtles not to do the same.

[Not even the weirdest thing he's ever said in his life, and isn't that saying something.]

[lostundercover]

Invested? I shot down the idea and questioned your credentials to get the job done. If that's 'invested' where you're from, then I feel sorry for your people. No offense.

[Costigan knows his offhand remarks can be pretty offensive, but he's not entirely sure where the idea of his being so very behind it comes from when he spent as much time dismissing it as supporting it.]

But yeah, I want people to think for themselves instead of following the masses, sure. Usually works best when people are new here. They don't have the- [He gestures vaguely at his mind.] -the mindset of someone who's been stuck here for months.

I've never seen someone here try to sail, so- [He shrugs.] -it's new and it's sure as shit not something I can do myself. You need support, I support you. You change your mind, I leave you alone. It's not complicated.

[That's really all there is to it. Costigan's sick of people kowtowing to the superheroes, embracing magic and vigilantism as natural. Any new efforts to get them out of here is something he's willing to consider.]

[aread]

It's more the manner in which you present yourself, mate. Different cultures, and all that, no doubt.

[There's a wry amusement there. This boy and all his sundry opinions would no doubt fit in in Nassau, such that it is. It's a little like being back home. It's no Tulum, but it sufficed for the time between contracts most days. Until Kingston.]

But that's fair, aye. I don't suppose you'll let a man in on this mindset of yours?

[Kidd can guess. Nearly half a year in a Kingston jail was a cruel enough teacher. This is as like to freedom as sharks are to seaweed, but it's a gentler sort of gaol than the ones reserved for pirates.]

[lostundercover]

Some other time, guy.