Tall Ship Tales Three: A Deck

[p0wdermonkey]

Third of five Tall Ship Tales that take Jack from landlocked childhood to Shipwreck Cove.
In this one, Jack finally goes to sea and discovers he can have too much of a good thing.
All five stories are written. I'll be posting the rest this week.
You can read this on its own, but it works best if you start with Tale One: A Keel.

Tall Ship Tales:

Comments

[tessabeth]

Poppet! It's so nice to see these going up!

I have taken the opportunity for a re-read, in lieu of getting on with the 84937854903 things I should be doing instead. And because, you know, it's always interesting to watch someone else's editing process. Love the new intro to #1!

In summary: still love this muchly. Especially, still, “Nuffin,” says Ben affably, adding on further reflection, “Nuffin I din’t like. Which makes me smirk, and I think it's the "affably" that makes me like Ben straight off. Jack is so seldom addressed affably, after all.

And you must tell: was there much overlap between Gloria's comments and mine? Or were we contradictory and difficult? I'm dead curious :)

[p0wdermonkey]

Have a feeling there wasn't nearly enough editing involved. I feel like I've been working on these forever and I just want to get them fixed and posted as fast as I can. Have just read it through and found a whole crop of brand new typos - hopefully better now.

was there much overlap between Gloria's comments and mine? Or were we contradictory and difficult?
Both!
You both liked that "nuffin" line, but sometimes you pulled opposite ways - another reason I went for a pretty minimal edit. I'll email you properly when I've sorted out 4 and 5, both of which probably need rather more editing than the early ones.

The new intro is all down to you. I think it's a big improvement.

Thanks for re-reading - it makes my day!

[tessabeth]

We pulled in opposite ways? Gosh, sorry!

It just goes to prove, you can't please all of the people all of the time, eh? What's a writer to do, except follow her own instincts? And yours are so very reliable and good, anyway.

I saw one of the corrected typos, actually, between writing and posting that comment... didn't half make me smile, I'd been wondering whether to point it out and decided not to be such a picky cow!! But huzzah, you saved me :)

[p0wdermonkey]

What? You saw a typo and said nothing?!? Careful you don't endanger your reputation. (I expect I've left one or two just for you...)

[justawench]

"O little boy Jack, we're going to kill and eat ya,
So undo the top button of your little chemise..."

That was running through my head after reading Jack's fears that he was the most tender thing on the ship! Losing teeth makes me shudder, though. Your description of their southern passage painted a vivid picture, as well as their subsequent disorientation. I can't imagine anything more harrowing than deep-ocean sailing with that technology.

Did they almost get eaten on Easter Island?

[p0wdermonkey]

Looks like we both have the Rogues Gallery CD. I love that song! ;)

To be honest, I don't know if it was Easter Island or not. They could be anywhere between there and Samoa.

Thanks for sticking with me. Jack'll be having a nicer time in the next one.

[geekmama]

Another marvelous installment, though somewhat grimmer this time -- as is right, considering the territory covered. And Jack is so delightfully Jack, as always.

He can spit his baccy to hit a swooping gull on one attempt in three, and even sleep in a hammock without injuring himself when he falls out. (Not falling out will take longer.)

That line, contrasting with his more erudite accomplishments, made me laugh out loud.

Fabulous work!

[p0wdermonkey]

Thank you! And for reccing this. The next installment should be more cheerful.

Many things come naturally to Jack, but not falling over isn't one of them.

[sharklady35]

I have to agree with everyone; the best thing about this yarn is Jack being so very much himself.

Hate to see him losing parts, though, so I'm glad to hear things'll be picking up for him soon.

[p0wdermonkey]

Thanks!
Jack's going to have a much nicer time in the next one. It'll be a long while before he gets some gold to fill those gaps though. (But when he does, you know he'll look better than ever.)

[sharklady35]

Recommendation: When that time comes, you could send Jack to France, where one Claude Mouton was afixing gold crowns at least as early as 1746:

http://www.ada.org/public/resources/history/timeline_18cent.asp

I'm absolutely certain Jack would enjoy a visit to Paris in any case.

[p0wdermonkey]

It's a long way to France! Jack would love it though...
(Actually, I've just remembered that I got some more of his teeth knocked out in a fight in St Malo in another story, so I really do owe him some gold ones now.)

Did you see this post and discussion?
http://community.livejournal.com/potc_universe/18863.html#cutid1
If your Claude Mouton link isn't in there already, it certainly should be!

[salr323]

These are so good! I'm really enjoying the creation of the legend, it's fascinating to watch. Love your period detail too. Smashing. :)

[p0wdermonkey]

Thank you! I enjoyed "researching" the background for these. Maybe I should post some refs on potc_universe once the stories are all done and dusted...

Eg The Expedition of the St Jean-Baptiste to the Pacific 1769-1770 from the
Journals of Jean de Surville and Guillaume Labé, translated and edited by
John Dunmore, London 1981. Lots of scurvy, wild celery, kidnapping the natives to make them more friendly, and "We shouldn't have come this way, but nobody asked my opinion. I wash my hands of it." Great fun!