ataraxion | † second; [text]

piracy now isn't so different from piracy as i knew it centuries ago

at the end of the day it doesn't matter a bit how the technology has changed as long as your motivations are the same: money, a misguided sense of yourself and the universe, or if you've simply got problems controlling your impulses.

the sorry bit of it is that when one involves oneself in a dangerous occupation there are often unpleasant consequences. those who live in violence will likely meet a violent end and that's that

i realise aside from the bare essentials the contrasts are exceedingly stark but i can't help but be caught in nostalgia especially after having been lost on this accursed floating deathtrap for God knows how long. weeks i assume

if only i could stand on the deck of a rolling ship and feel the spray of water and the breath of wind that hasn't been recycled and pumped from hand-crafted gardens. recent events have made me feel more at home and yet

there is no natural place for a country to be but on his or her own landmass

i therefore should not be adrift in space

and i do not belong here.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh, I-- er-- I wasn't a pirate--privateer. State-sponsored, if you will. [This is one lie he can't cover up all that well. Oh, it's more or less a half-truth; being a privateer, that is. But he can't be a gentleman and a pirate at the same time, and because England is a damn good gentleman he's certainly no pirate.

That's his logic.

He clears his throat.]

Things were different centuries ago. That is, centuries from my point in time. I must say I'm not unaccustomed to the idea of time travel but... not interacting with people from varying timelines so regularly.

I don't mean to sound callous you know. Chaos and violence aren't pleasant but they're--well, they're a part of living. Perhaps they enjoyed some sort of that wild freedom and excitement before they... [were brutally killed] ... yes.

Heh. Don't know that government sponsorship means much sometimes. Sometimes that makes it worse.

But yeah, I think I know where you're coming from. Not real sure I sympathize with 'em, myself, but they chose to do what they did.

[he snorts. Don't get him started on that. Don't. But oh, does he know exactly what you mean.]

When the government decides it no longer needs licensed mercenaries, it tends to leave waves of armed and dangerous men and women out of a job. Funny how those things work.

--If it's not too personal, may I ask how you were a pirate? An "in-a-way" pirate, that is.

Licensed mercenary's a good word for what I was. Only thing was that the leadership was rogue. Found out later I'd been involved in things I couldn't stand for, so, I found my way out of it.

And when I say I found my way out, I mean I'm still on the run from them, back where I come from.

--Oh, I-- I'm sorry, I shouldn't have pried. [His tone isn't overly sympathetic; it's more, "sorry for prying into things that aren't my business." But it's sincere at any rate. With this story he can actually empathize but this old man isn't in the habit of sharing parts of his history that aren't documented in modern textbooks.]

Best of luck to you. I had considerable work at home but that is really the reason I exist. Only one of my associates would be happy to be aboard this ship.

We've all got our duties though haven't we? It's admirable to stand by one's principles no matter what, soldier or no.

--Ah, listen to me ramble on! My apologies...

Hey, no, if I'd had a problem with it I wouldn't have told you. I don't really keep a lot of secrets— I am who I am and my past is part of that.

Sounds like you're pretty homesick, though, yourself, huh? Man, I feel for you there. A lot of the time I don't mind being here much but there are times when it really hits me what I lost back home.

Y--Yes and no. You see, I don't... exist for the same reason humans do. I wasn't born with ancestors and such. Really, being here rids me of any purpose whatsoever.

[He is very, very matter of fact about this.]

So that's what you meant when you were talking about...what'd you say, that you're a country? I thought maybe I heard that part wrong.

[ Yup, York's becoming a lot less skeptical about these kinds of claims than he used to be. ]

[laughs sincerely. the old nation's grin is audible. Conversations of a more frank nature put him in a good mood. ~~An uncommon good mood.~~]

Yes! You didn't. Sorry if that's outlandish to you, but that's just how it is. Not that I'd consider myself closed-minded about the world--er, universe--but even I'm astounded at the diversity aboard this spaceship.

[a pause. He puffs a sigh.] Words I never thought I'd say. 'Aboard this spaceship', my God...

[ He chuckles. ]

Well, the space ship part is kind of old hat for me. It's definitely different from the one I'm used to, though.

So how does this work, this whole being a country thing?

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