kowase | IC INBOX

[ usually he doesn't respond to messages on the first ring. but given it's a message that it turns out he's highly interested in, he doesn't actually leave Edward on read. Small miracles. ]

--What do you mean, your entire boat from the 1700s just showed up in port?? [ this sounds... insane, but not even Vergil can hide the sound that's close to excitement out of his voice.

He's uh.

Already getting ready to leave. ]

I can be there within the hour.
You will still be there?

I mean my entire boat from the 1700s just came into port. Can’t miss her, she’s the only wooden ship around.

[All the rest are modern-day yachts and fishing boats, and many are very easily dwarfed by an authentic 18th-century brig.]

Oh, I have no plans for going anywhere today. I’ve some maintenance to do anyway.

I would be surprised if there was more than one. Wooden boats fell out of style in--

...

That is not important right now. I am more than certain if she is there too long, there will be enough people swarming to want to look at it. You'd ought to charge for tours. Act as if it is a passion project.

But I digress.

I am on my way. I appreciate the invitation.

[teasing:] Really? I hadn’t noticed all the hulls that weren’t made out of wood in the harbor.

[A hum.]

Aye, I just might. Ten dollars a head, five for each child under—say, twelve or so. I’d make a fortune. [A beat.] I just need to do something about all the rum that’s still in the hold.

You’re welcome. Figured you’d want to hear about it.

There are a number of places in the city that may be interested in buying vintage ale.

Not that I know any off hand, given that sort of trade is outside my usual plied trade.

[ he'll arrive at the ship literally within ten minutes. A bitch can powerwalk--or maybe he halfway flew there, he'll never tell.

Edward is just going to hear a 'thump' up on deck as he lands, and immediately starts to look around. ]

[Edward happens to be up in the rigging checking the ropes and the masts and the sails, so he sees Vergil and decides to be a little shit about it. He moves into place just above Vergil, the same silent and unseen way he would if he were air-assassinating someone, and then peeks down from the rope-bridge he's currently kinda chilling on.

Then he calls:] She's a beauty, isn't she? Stole her from the Spanish treasure fleet before they all sank.

A live relic. And 'beautiful' does not begin to describe. Not a single boat from those days exist in such immaculate form as this one does. It is, to put it simply, breathtaking.

[ he doesn't mind being kind where it fits, see!!! unfriendly as he is, his passion is this exact thing: relics from the past, preserved into the future, well cared for by someone who sees merit in the past. Living relic that he is, Edward was a lucky man to have it back. ]

You have done good work taking such good care of it. Stealing it before it met the same fate as her sisters...

[ his hand rests on the railing, rough wood, coloured by years at sea... ]

You mentioned she had a name? Remind me of it?

Careful, you keep going like that and I may blush. [He drops, swinging from the rope and onto the railing, then hopping off the railing and back on the deck, the movement as fluid as water.] She's had some improvements since then. Iron plating for the hull, a stronger ram, more guns...

[He pats the mast lovingly, a small smile touching his lips. He's missed this ship, he really has. Being on it, he feels more at home than he did before she sailed into Kaisou's port.]

The Jackdaw. Named her after a bird I used to see often as a child, back in Swansea. Clever little bastards, they were.

You are proud of her, then, by that statement. [ he nods, appraisingly--taking only one step back as the other does a fancy flip down from the railing above--clearly used to making his way around effectively.

A privateer, indeed. ]

Did she have to go to battle often? It'd be a pity to see her eventually sink due to hull damage.

Jackdaw is a fine name for a vessel. Simple, but with heart.
A relic to be proud of.

...

Is she still sea-worthy?

Who wouldn't be? She's taken on galleons. [He didn't make it too much of a habit, man-o-wars tend to have mortars and no compunctions about using them, but the old girl's taken her fair share of them as prizes.] She's seen more than her fair share of fights, aye, and come out of them all with scars to show for it. I've had her repaired...more times than I can count, really.

[And will see her repaired many more times in the future, he knows, before he may one day have to let her go.

But for now, let that day be far in the future.]

But she can still sail.

Have to admit, the idea of being on a wooden vessel in the middle of the Caribbean during a cannon fight sounds more than vaguely terrifying, but I suppose privateers did have hearts of steel for such things. [ not really the sort of thing scholarly types like him were built for. Maybe his past self would be fine... ]

You would have far less cannonfire to contend with in this day and age, I suppose.

If you ever do end up offering small sailing tours, do let me know.

I would gladly come along just to have the experience.

Privateers and pirates alike, aye. [A chuckle.] "More than vaguely terrifying" describes your first few boarding actions, but when you've done it as many times as I have, you start to get it down to an art.

[A nod, and a sigh.] I would have less cannonfire anyway. She came without any ammunition, and I'm having a devil of a time procuring the sort I need. [There's a real risk he might end up sailing without any ammunition for her mortars or her cannons, in which case he'd feel very, very naked.] I suppose they're not needed anymore, and would be outmatched in any case, but it would be nice.

[A pause.]

Well, why not. I'd have to work out the advertising and nail down the prices, but I'd earn a fortune. [And for once it would be legitimate!] And you'll be one of the first I'll invite onboard.

...Being an antiquarian, I could likely find you someone willing to sell old cannonballs from their collection. It is likely they will be meant for 'showpieces' only, and given they are mostly just balls of iron, they should not be terribly expensive.

[ he has a few himself, truth be told--but he'd be sore to give them ALL away. Maybe one or two... ]

I cannot help you in the means of raw black powder, however. I am afraid that is far out of my jurisdiction.

[ he looks pleased, though, at the fact that he'd be the first edward would invite. Maybe even a little smug. ]

Happy to hear it. As a business owner myself, perhaps I will give you suggestions on prices and I could even advertise your boat tours in my shop. Given it is an antique boat and all...

[ But ah. ]

We are far off topic. Those maps.

IC INBOX - kaisou

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