🏴‍☠️ IC contact; Duplicity

[calicoat]

INBOX text / audio / video / action "Captain Jack Rackham. Leave a message, or speak to me face to face like an adult." code credit

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[calicoat]

[ Switching to voice... ]

I trust you to know what you want and look after yourself, Ducky, just indulge me, please, and let me hear it.

[ He's taken to this damn phone and texting and all that comes with it just fine, but matters such as whether she might need protecting still ask for a more personal touch. He'll let it go, promise. ]

[astraythought]

[She switches to voice as well, her voice echoing slightly. She's in the back room of the carpentry shop where she works, surrounded by desks and cabinets and wardrobes, rather than by softer things.]

I find it unlikely that you speaking up for me will be of use in convincing those who think I'm merely following along with what the city wants for us that I'm capable of making my own decisions.

And you doing more than speaking will only make them feel like victims of a brute. Those who don't understand, who have a problem with what I enjoy...it's not really important to appease them. But it does make me want to cling closer to those who understand.

If you truly hadn't realized that there are those who question and shame people for what they like, give a closer read to the recent finder posts. Better yet, go back into the archives for one of the Dominant entries for Julian Bashir, and see the discussions of if one can be a doctor and a sadist simulaneously, or if the latter means one is inherently incapable of being the former without causing harm. I still miss him, but I am glad he's escaped the judgment he used to get here.

It happens often, even among people who are well-intentioned. Who only want the best for the poor submissives who allow themselves to be brutalized. Clearly, clearly, it's all the city's doing.[Sarcasm drips off that last.]

[calicoat]

Alright, alright, I’m no rabid dog. You won’t catch me making any gruesome retaliations on your behalf without you asking for it. If you’d prefer I just be here to cling to, I don’t mind that one bit.

[ As amusing as it might be to be seen as a brute, especially now with Charles here, it’s not worth it if it causes her any trouble. If people just return after a handful of days, violence has to be used more strategically than he and his companions from home are accustomed to. ]

I’ll look into it. Though, I suppose it’s not terribly shocking, that many have a difficult time letting go of whatever taboos and shames their worlds had beaten into them. I’m not completely sure I’ve shed them, myself, and I was surely less inhibited than most.

Who is this woman, anyway? Someone I know?

[astraythought]

Cait Snow? I'm uncertain if you know her, Jack. I could hardly track your social calendar as well as my own.

[There's the tease back in her voice again, as the mood lifts.]

She's had some recent public issues with her Dominant--you may know her name from that if nothing else.

[calicoat]

And here I thought you had your ear to the ground, darling.

Rings a bell. Some big outrage about supposed mistreatment, if I recall? I don't know her, I didn't get involved.

[astraythought]

Oh, an ear to the ground, certainly. But I don't feel a need to track you along shadows and rooftops, spying on your movements and reporting them to--I don't even have anyone to report them to here. The city, in theory, but I'd never do that.

[She rolls her eyes, unseen by him.]

Cait's Dominant was using coercive magics to play with her mind and abuse the desire she has for degradation to draw business to her bar. In the aftermath, many of her friends managed to embarrass her and try to persuade her that those desires weren't her own.

[calicoat]

I'd rather have you stalking me than them.

[ Or fucking Jopson. ]

She needs a place for that off the network, then, I see. I can meet her, if you like. But I'll make no promises. And ask me next time, won't you?

[astraythought]

Next time? You're assuming there will be one?

[She doesn't bother to hide her amusement.]

[calicoat]

Oh, I'm sure. With you singing my praises all over town, my own Submissive is going to have to fight through a crowd of women looking to be strapped down or tossed about before he can get through the door.

[ He's playing, because he's not sure yet if he's annoyed or amused by this whole thing. This Miss Snow seems to have a lot of friends, though...might not be so bad to have an in with her. ]

Let me ask you something, Ducky. Do you know anyone else with experience on a ship?

[astraythought]

Well. There's Lieutenant Jopson.

[This is with a wry tone. It seems she's aware of the tension between him and Jack already.]

If you widen your definition of ship to include those that travel in space, there's Luke Skywalker and Din Djarin and my own Dominant.

[calicoat]

Christ, no, not him.

[ What tension? They just can't stand each other on principle. It's totally fine and won't boil over anytime soon. ]

I can safely say I don't have the budget for a flying ship, but we can manage a sloop. I'll be looking for a crew soon.

[astraythought]

[Ducky doesn't fully manage to stifle a laugh at that response to her mentioning Jopson.]

He noticed that we danced together at the ball, and confronted me about it. Politely, of course. He is ever so polite.

Anyway, I don't have any good leads on sailors beside your crew and him--though. I did meet another man from 1845 recently. Well, I say met. Corresponded. Most politely and formally. I think I may have left him with the impression that I'm a modest god-fearing woman.

[calicoat]

He confronted you?

[ That’s news to him, but he did speak to Jopson for a moment at that party. They exchanged pleasantly-worded barbs and both pretended not to let the other bother him. All very normal, no mention of her. ]

What does he care for, anyway, he’s not involved with you the same way. [ Thank you list leaks. ] Don’t tell him anything, he’s got it out for me.

[ Should have driven his dagger between the man’s ribs when he had the chance. ]

You must be speaking of Mr. Irving? I know him. He is... [ Jack sucks air between his teeth. There’s a lot he could say. A lot. ] ...someone that I can work with. Much more reasonable than his friend, but maintain that illusion, if you can.

[astraythought]

He wanted to be sure I knew who I was dancing with, I assume. Because I am so naive of the nature of the men around me.

[And speaking of Ducky maintaining a facade...]

And you're right, Mr. John Irving. I've recommended he meet the lay leader at St. Agnes. I wish I could be a fly on the wall to see his reaction to Kurt, honestly. Anyway, I'll gladly maintain the illusion and my role as a friendly helpful guide to the city. Eventually, he's going to learn I'm making quota, though. That may crack the illusion somewhat.

[calicoat]

How kind of him, to come to your aid. You know, he spoke to Anne like she was a child, too, the little Navy shit. He doesn't even know who his own lovers are, he should worry about that, instead of putting his nose in our business.

[ Or at the very least, figuring out what's going on right under his nose. Speaking of, ]

He's making quota, too. I wouldn't worry about any harsh judgment from Mr. Irving.

[astraythought]

[This time, she doesn't even try to stifle her laugh.]

Jack, are you a corrupting influence on such a good, godly man as Mr. Irving? Oh, how awful.

Is he from an Earth where it's seen as unnatural for two men to become involved with one another?

[It's one of the defining features of her Earth's alternate history, she's come to realize, that same-sex couples are seen as no different to other ones, unless someone needs an heir.]

[calicoat]

[ Jack laughs with her. It's hysterical, actually, and he's quite happy that she agrees. ]

Oh, it's not so awful. He loves it. But yes, there's an exhausting amount of repression to wade through, he'll never tell a soul. So please pretend I've held up my end.

[astraythought]

I will, of course. And avoid mentioning the women I've been with. Though I can blame the city entirely for one of them.

[Beat.]

Almost entirely, I might have tried to make her acquaintance anyway.

[calicoat]

I told him that Anne fucks women, and it actually seemed to soothe him somewhat. Though I suspect coming to terms with being a sodomite and a homewrecker would be too much for him. The man's feeling quite fragile about it, and likely will for some time.

[ Meaning, he's controllable. A useful "ally". ]

Anyone I ought to watch out for? Can't say I was acquainted with most of your list.

[astraythought]

Helena. The countess--I wasn't aware she was nobility until I saw her on my list. As for the rest of them, most are friends, one's my employer, one's my Dominant, one's slightly more than just a quota partner, and one's gone home since the lists were published.

Which is great for him, even if I'm going to miss his company.

[calicoat]

The countess. Shame there's no money in that, here. And shame about your friend, too. I haven't...lost anyone here, like that, not yet.

[ He noticed Angelo's not around anymore. Which is a small blessing, they were prime candidates for Duplicity's "lock in a room until you fuck" games. ]

...slightly more, you say?

[astraythought]

[There's a definite pause, and when she speaks again, it's softer. Something tender.]

Have you met the woman who goes by the name South Dakota, yet? She's hard to miss, she's six feet tall. Blonde, with purple streaks.

[calicoat]

Haven't had the pleasure. I'll seek her out sometime.

[ Not for a shovel talk. But not not for a shovel talk? He can follow the vibe in the moment. ]

That's good. This place is so focused on one thing that meaningful connections fall by the wayside, or pop up entirely on accident. If I were in your shoes, without anyone from home, I really don't know what I would do.

[astraythought]

[They're either going to get along well, or get in a fight. Ducky's very curious which.]

I am not accustomed to having many people close to me at home, either, Jack. There are maybe three or four people back there who know that I am not as simple as I pretend to be. I'm more comfortable keeping people at a distance.

The fact that there are even two people here who I am willing to go out with on dates is a little terrifying.

[Yes, Jack, you count. In case you hadn't realized, you're one of Ducky's nearest and dearest.]

[calicoat]

Three or four is all you need. You can't go giving a part of yourself to everyone.

[ Anne. Charles, until he wasn't, but now he is again, more than ever.  Featherstone was getting there, until Jack's untimely abduction. A solid two and a half. And now Ducky, the only one here who's ever gotten a story from home out of him that wasn't tall tales and boasting about prizes and battles. He would sure hope he's among her nearest and dearest. ]

Terrifying is a strong word.