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I'd probably do the same, if it makes you feel any better.
[That's -- so much to take in. A horrible story, all told, the kind that gets whispered as horror stories in taverns, scurvy and starvation and ghosts on the sea.]
You knew him. You were friends? [Nosy, nosy.] That's terrible, though. That's
I want to say the Marines in my home would never, but [But he can't. Not when there's people like Morgan, people who don't share Garp's view of the world, of people.]
Maybe I'm a little biased, yes. I saw a lot of the worst of what piracy could be when I was younger, and I couldn't leave. And it was
Bad.
It was really bad.
That doesn't just go away because the system is inherently flawed. I can survive and make the Marines better. [With more confidence than he feels; the metaphor of a rotten house is too close, too accurate.] I couldn't do that among pirates.
You knew him. You were friends? [Nosy, nosy.] That's terrible, though. That's
I want to say the Marines in my home would never, but [But he can't. Not when there's people like Morgan, people who don't share Garp's view of the world, of people.]
Maybe I'm a little biased, yes. I saw a lot of the worst of what piracy could be when I was younger, and I couldn't leave. And it was
Bad.
It was really bad.
That doesn't just go away because the system is inherently flawed. I can survive and make the Marines better. [With more confidence than he feels; the metaphor of a rotten house is too close, too accurate.] I couldn't do that among pirates.
I'm sure he wasn't mean about it. He loves you.
You're welcome.
You're welcome.
Lovers. Partners, in everything.
[ He's not ashamed of that one bit, despite the best efforts from pirates and navy men alike. And if koby hasn't gathered, he loves to talk about himself. Ask away. ]
You weren't crew, then. A slave?
You can't. Many many men have tried, who were stronger, wiser, better connected, and luckier than you. You can't, my partner couldn't, nobody can. It's the nature of these things. Centralized power doesn't stay well-intentioned for long.
[ He's not ashamed of that one bit, despite the best efforts from pirates and navy men alike. And if koby hasn't gathered, he loves to talk about himself. Ask away. ]
You weren't crew, then. A slave?
You can't. Many many men have tried, who were stronger, wiser, better connected, and luckier than you. You can't, my partner couldn't, nobody can. It's the nature of these things. Centralized power doesn't stay well-intentioned for long.
Yeah, he really is. You're lucky.
What do you mean?
What do you mean?
Oh.
That
You were in love with a soldier? A navy man, I mean?
Really? YOU?
[One moment while he adjusts everything he'd believed about Jack, welp.]
More of a pet. Or a toy or
Some other object. Like a mop, maybe.
What's the alternative? Piracy world-round, the same pillaging and looting and violence left unchecked forever?
That
You were in love with a soldier? A navy man, I mean?
Really? YOU?
[One moment while he adjusts everything he'd believed about Jack, welp.]
More of a pet. Or a toy or
Some other object. Like a mop, maybe.
What's the alternative? Piracy world-round, the same pillaging and looting and violence left unchecked forever?
How long has it been since I was brought here from Duplicity, a couple weeks? I'd say we're still in the present tense.
[ Actually let's not examine that any further okay! ]
It already is unchecked. Do you think the English navy will face any consequences for leaving John and 128 other men to die? Do you think the Balfours will be punished for this elaborate kidnapping scheme? If the pirates who mistreated you go down to your marines, it won't be for that, it'll be because someone important lost too much money to their prize hunting.
[ Actually let's not examine that any further okay! ]
It already is unchecked. Do you think the English navy will face any consequences for leaving John and 128 other men to die? Do you think the Balfours will be punished for this elaborate kidnapping scheme? If the pirates who mistreated you go down to your marines, it won't be for that, it'll be because someone important lost too much money to their prize hunting.
Well, yes.
Purgatory isn't meant to be permanent.
Purgatory isn't meant to be permanent.
You're currently in love with a navy man.
[One who isn't here. Who hasn't been for a couple weeks. The thought has Koby's stomach clenching, the idea of going somewhere else after this, without anyone he cares about.]
I can't accept that, Captain. You can believe whatever you want, but I have to believe that there's a way things can be better someday. That it can be different. I have to keep trying to make it different.
[One who isn't here. Who hasn't been for a couple weeks. The thought has Koby's stomach clenching, the idea of going somewhere else after this, without anyone he cares about.]
I can't accept that, Captain. You can believe whatever you want, but I have to believe that there's a way things can be better someday. That it can be different. I have to keep trying to make it different.
if you go first, he'll follow you. Or you'll follow him. But you'll be in heaven eventually, both of you.
If you'd like to get technical about it, the last time he sailed was with me, and he did it under the black. We built a ship and tried to escape. Didn't work.
But yes. I am not railing against them out of ignorance or taking it on faith, piglet. We were members of the same institution, over a century between us, and nothing changed.
You're young, smart, and curious. Those traits will serve you well if you don't make yourself the next victim of the powers that be.
But yes. I am not railing against them out of ignorance or taking it on faith, piglet. We were members of the same institution, over a century between us, and nothing changed.
You're young, smart, and curious. Those traits will serve you well if you don't make yourself the next victim of the powers that be.
koby. i KNOW you can count better than that.
(Gently scolds in return. Please, Koby is definitely on the friend list.)
the food is okay and it's free. bed's a bed. and the people here can be fun too. it isn't a bad place, but the reason for it is bad.
maybe but if we didn't go there and we didn't get caught we wouldn't be where we are now. or were before we came HERE here.
big show, with all kinds of show people throwing knives and breathing fire. something about a lion? but we never saw him he didn't show up. sad really, i wanted to see the lion.
yeah the townspeople were shackled up and someone would hold up a sign that told them when to laugh or to clap. i'm glad we fixed that. oh and don't let him fool you if you ever see him, he's a devil fruit eater.
(Gently scolds in return. Please, Koby is definitely on the friend list.)
the food is okay and it's free. bed's a bed. and the people here can be fun too. it isn't a bad place, but the reason for it is bad.
maybe but if we didn't go there and we didn't get caught we wouldn't be where we are now. or were before we came HERE here.
big show, with all kinds of show people throwing knives and breathing fire. something about a lion? but we never saw him he didn't show up. sad really, i wanted to see the lion.
yeah the townspeople were shackled up and someone would hold up a sign that told them when to laugh or to clap. i'm glad we fixed that. oh and don't let him fool you if you ever see him, he's a devil fruit eater.
Of course that's where I'd rather go. Obviously.
But I'm here for a reason. Until I know what it is and see it through, I won't earn it.
But I'm here for a reason. Until I know what it is and see it through, I won't earn it.
[Koby wants to ask how Tim can believe that, whether he truly does deep down. But -- he already knows the answer. And even though they're ostensibly talking about Koby himself, about the home he's making here, the next question is about Tim alone:]
Tim. How long do you have to suffer to earn being happy?
Tim. How long do you have to suffer to earn being happy?
[Koby wrinkles his nose right back, and would do more, but he's diligently working his way along Hao's hairline right now, and that takes absolute priority. He doesn't want to do a bad job, not with this being the first (only?) thing the other boy's expressed a strong desire for. Well -- first G-Rated thing, at least. So he's meticulous, focused on the roots first, trying to get an even layer all the way down so there aren't any spots.
The poke to his side gets a sharp, squeaky sound, though, startling Koby enough that he instinctively jabs his pointy elbow down into Hao's shoulder.] Don't -- do that, do you want to end up patchy?
[Huff, huff, scowling downward with his pink-smeared hands. The mention of the club, though, softens Koby's expression minutely, has his scrunched shoulders relaxing a bit.] Right. Because I was so stunning, you couldn't look away. [There's a flat note in his voice, clear sarcasm dripping from every word.]
The poke to his side gets a sharp, squeaky sound, though, startling Koby enough that he instinctively jabs his pointy elbow down into Hao's shoulder.] Don't -- do that, do you want to end up patchy?
[Huff, huff, scowling downward with his pink-smeared hands. The mention of the club, though, softens Koby's expression minutely, has his scrunched shoulders relaxing a bit.] Right. Because I was so stunning, you couldn't look away. [There's a flat note in his voice, clear sarcasm dripping from every word.]
Your escape attempt. It was with a Navy man who you are actively in love with. [He keep repeating it to try and make it stick, the concept so incredibly out-there that it barely seems true.]
No, I believe you. I don't expect any pirate to be favorable towards any sort of law enforcement or military. [Hence why the "in love with one of them" thing keeps sticking.
Then, after a pause:] I'm not THAT young. You think I'm smart?
No, I believe you. I don't expect any pirate to be favorable towards any sort of law enforcement or military. [Hence why the "in love with one of them" thing keeps sticking.
Then, after a pause:] I'm not THAT young. You think I'm smart?
It's not all bad here. I'm not suffering any more than anyone else
and before you bring up Hawk, it would be the same back home
and before you bring up Hawk, it would be the same back home
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