[ Conjuration. Spells. Light of – whatever that was. ]
Magic, then. Not technology. [ He squints at the small ball, which is currently taking up most of his attention if he's honest with himself. ] You wouldn't believe how frustrating it is to have to make that distinction.
[ The guy clearly wants a conversation, and at this point, it's not like Stephen's going to get back to sleep, especially given how long it took him in the first place. He levels another stare at the man, who's so far been entirely undaunted by his leave-me-the-hell-alone vibes, and decides – fine. He'll bite. ]
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic, [ he replies, then follows it up with a wry smile. ] That's from a famous author, not me. You discovered cell phones yet?
I don't doubt it. Captain Jack Rackham, by the way. [ Since he didn't ask. He holds out a hand for Usopp to shake, trying to get the measure of him as he does. Perhaps he's a gifted liar – many are, and talking is the habit of a liar. Perhaps he's telling the truth, and fond of laying all his cards out on the table. But damn it, Jack misses the open sea, and he'll take any chance he can even just to talk about it with someone who might know a little of how he feels. ]
Well! Usopp is totally a captain in his heart. Like, deep down. With a little elbow grease, he'll be one sooner or later — and will probably end up having to admit he is, in fact, not the captain. Today is not the day, however. He takes Jack's hand and gives it a firm shake.]
Pleasure to meet you, Captain Jack. Wish it was out on the ocean, but I'll take what I can get here.
[ Ponderously: ] Well, I started in the Navy as a boy. But there wasn't much upward momentum in a system like that, and eventually I left for greener – or, I suppose, more golden – pastures. And yourself?
[ He looks young. Far be it from Jack to doubt someone's capacity for captaincy, but the only teens he's ever seen on ships were cabin boys and swabbies, not captains. ]
[It's not crazy to imagine maybe a Marine would flip to piracy, but... they're so hardcore about their jobs a lot of the time. And a lot of marines really, really hates pirates.]
I was just your average guy born in an island village, dreaming of bigger things. My old man's on a crew — one of the best out there, naturally. He's been out there sailing the seas since I was pretty little, so he's made a pretty big name for himself.
[And while he's still talking himself up a bit, he seems to lean more into sincerity there. He has a complicated relationship with his old man — but he's always wanted to live up to some kind of example. His dad is a big deal, and that's why he couldn't come back to rescue his mother or him from life. That's how it goes. Right?]
[ Things are percolating. He needs to find out the best way to communicate with a variety of people, and perhaps he can start making inroads from there. ]
We just need to ensure that we can make ourselves useful – perhaps indispensible – in some other way. Become pivotal, such that we can share expertise as well as accept it from others.
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» elriche.
[ Conjuration. Spells. Light of – whatever that was. ]
Magic, then. Not technology. [ He squints at the small ball, which is currently taking up most of his attention if he's honest with himself. ] You wouldn't believe how frustrating it is to have to make that distinction.
no subject
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic, [ he replies, then follows it up with a wry smile. ] That's from a famous author, not me. You discovered cell phones yet?
» lessnosey.
I don't doubt it. Captain Jack Rackham, by the way. [ Since he didn't ask. He holds out a hand for Usopp to shake, trying to get the measure of him as he does. Perhaps he's a gifted liar – many are, and talking is the habit of a liar. Perhaps he's telling the truth, and fond of laying all his cards out on the table. But damn it, Jack misses the open sea, and he'll take any chance he can even just to talk about it with someone who might know a little of how he feels. ]
no subject
An actual captain.
Well! Usopp is totally a captain in his heart. Like, deep down. With a little elbow grease, he'll be one sooner or later — and will probably end up having to admit he is, in fact, not the captain. Today is not the day, however. He takes Jack's hand and gives it a firm shake.]
Pleasure to meet you, Captain Jack. Wish it was out on the ocean, but I'll take what I can get here.
How long you been sailing the seas?
no subject
[ He looks young. Far be it from Jack to doubt someone's capacity for captaincy, but the only teens he's ever seen on ships were cabin boys and swabbies, not captains. ]
no subject
[It's not crazy to imagine maybe a Marine would flip to piracy, but... they're so hardcore about their jobs a lot of the time. And a lot of marines really, really hates pirates.]
I was just your average guy born in an island village, dreaming of bigger things. My old man's on a crew — one of the best out there, naturally. He's been out there sailing the seas since I was pretty little, so he's made a pretty big name for himself.
[And while he's still talking himself up a bit, he seems to lean more into sincerity there. He has a complicated relationship with his old man — but he's always wanted to live up to some kind of example. His dad is a big deal, and that's why he couldn't come back to rescue his mother or him from life. That's how it goes. Right?]
» seavere.
I think you're right. If we've been pulled here, then perhaps others have been brought from even further back than us.
[ Jack taps his mouth with his index finger, frowning. ]
I doubt it'll be possible to maintain that kind of illusion for long. But we can ensure nobody sees it as a weakness.
no subject
[ she can win the technology understanding against some ancient greeks... that's a funny idea. they probably won't be so fortunate. ]
People are gonna take one look at us in these cars and know we don't know shit. You got something in mind already?
no subject
We just need to ensure that we can make ourselves useful – perhaps indispensible – in some other way. Become pivotal, such that we can share expertise as well as accept it from others.