audio | p.h

[prinks]

[Her voice is calm and clear, with a nebulously English accent. It's hard to pin down anything but 'South London' from her accent, if one's fond of specifics.]

Pardon me if this isn't the done thing, but I've a question and, I believe, an introduction to make. I am of the understanding we are all adapting to these circumstances, but some may have more to adapt to than others.

You may call me Margaret Hugues, or Peg, if you like.

I am curious how many here have had experiences with... well, prison. What did you encounter there? From reading back through this device, it seems to me that much has been made of the conditions here-- which, frankly, I find rather luxurious, if severe in mode. But as I said, we are all adapting.

I suppose I am asking this: Is this place what you would expect, from a prison? Based on your own experiences, of course. If you have been to such a place before, in your home, or in... other places entirely.

Thank you.

[ooc if you wanna hit her up for a log thread, go for it.]

Comments

j.barnes > wardens only

[counterstep]

i've got plenty of experience with prisons
but yeah it's a total walk in the park here
it's supposed to be a prison
theoretically, a very successful one of many
but i find the circumstances jarring too

anyway i'm james
pleasure to meet you, peg

p.h > wardens only forever.

[prinks]

[Give her a second to get the hang of this thing...]

While I find the architecture of little comfort, that is the only fault I could find. One could summer here rather comfortably. But I of course am aware the difference is found in the choice, rather than an... abrupt transference.

What experience have you with this business? Prisons and penal fleets.

A pleasure, James.

[counterstep]

( penal fleets? when and where is she from?? something to ask later. )

choice is only on our part as wardens
abrupt transference happens for the inmates
but they have little reason to comply, with how comfortable things are for them here
which is a mounting concern

my experience is on both sides
i've been a prisoner of war on multiple occasions
and i've seen how justice is dealt

what of you?

audio

[nineteenfortyfive]

[Fellow English accented lady! Claire's glad to hear it, which is why this is a rare audio reply from her.]

Hello, Peg. I'm Claire.

As for prison... I've been in a few myself, and I know many former inmates at home. [One being her husband. She thinks he's spent more time behind bars at this point than outside of them.] They've all been horrendous places. This ship is a palace in comparison.

[prinks]

Yes, that is what I meant. Apologies, this mode of communication is new to me.

Why do you say they've no reason to comply?

A prisoner of war? Against the Roundheads? [She knows, in most circles, it's an insult to imply he was for them.]

[This last reply takes a moment.] I have seen the inside of Newgate.

[prinks]

A pleasure.

Then I am not so unfamiliar with what to expect. I suppose it is not an exaggeration, now that I am here, to say that I have lead an unpredictable life, at times.

How long have you been... well, here?

[nineteenfortyfive]

You'll find that most people here are considered to be unusual.

A little over two months, now. That's the longest any of us have been here, though others might have come from other ships.

[counterstep]

oh sorry
no that's
don't worry about it

there's no sense of order or regiment for them
no regular sense of self-reservation being enforced
why change if you're not compelled to?

( wait, newgate. that's. the old bailey? that was destroyed even before bucky was born. damn. this...might be difficult to explain, then. )

i'm not familiar with the roundheads but
even of the first, they said it was the war to end all wars
that one they call the great war, in england
because of how much was lost across all the countries that were involved
no one anticipated a second happening within decades or that it would be even more devastating

the second had was upwards of 25 million military deaths alone
at least 50 million altogether
i didn't expect to go back to america alive

text | travistouchdowncrownlessking

[rank1]

Never been in prison but I did spend a couple nights in jail. Here I get to keep my shoelaces, so that's been great. On the other fucking hand, a couple nights is a couple nights. When the fuck do I get out of here?

[prinks]

[Penitence thinks of the sky in Somerset, darkened by smoke, the din of canon fire, and the screams. She thinks of the writhing bodies at the assizes, sacrifices to slake the blood thirst of judges. She thinks of her son, hidden and alone.]

But you are here now, James. That is all in the world that matters. You dared do all that may become a man.

And for one I am glad you overcame it.

[prinks]

Participation in this gambit is enough to make any man or woman unconquerably odd.

[Dryly,] Other ships, yes, of course. How silly of me to assume this vessel was unique in its oddity.

How has the effort gone, then? One would assume two months is too short to see anyone's epiphany.

[prinks]

[oh great a monarchist.]

Shoe-laces? I fear I don't follow.

Where it up to me, I'd have the majority of you turned out, I'm sure. But as things stand, your dismissal hinges on a change of character.

Have you any guess as to why you're here?

1/2

[rank1]

Shoelaces. You know, the strings in your shoes to tie them closed. They take them in real prison because you might strangle someone with them.

Also, you've been here for ten minutes, how the fuck do you know who you would send home?

2/2

[rank1]

Almost forgot. I kill people. Usually it's an arranged thing, but sometimes people come at me at random. Those are the worst.

[prinks]

I have met my fair share of accused criminals, and seen the punishments law would enact on their bodies and minds. I've yet to see any any fairness in the assizes and the gallows-yard, for murderers or debtors or poor-fellow thieves.

As those pains are not metered out here, I can only hope to help in the process of manumission.

An arranged thing-- you mean some sort of assassin?

[rank1]

Jeez, that's a lot of ten dollar words. I'm sure you're just gonna do whatever you want, but anyone here saying they're innocent is probably bullshitting you.

And yeah, I'm an assassin. Retired, though.

[prinks]

Why did you retire? I don't think I've ever met an assassin before. Though I don't think they would have told me if I had.

[rank1]

We're only chatty when there's no reason to hide it.

And hate to surprise you with this, but people in that "industry" are twisted. At some point, you just get tired of it.

[prinks]

Like spies, then.

The work, or the industry? Often those are two different things entirely.

[rank1]

Nah, spies are something else. We just aren't dumb enough to run our mouths about doing something technically illegal.

[Murder: Technically Illegal.]

I hate the industry. Killing is fine if the fighters know what they're in for.

[prinks]

[Living in Massachusetts has taught her the futility of starting strong with your opinions, be it over Christianity or that murder might be maybe bad.]

Wouldn't that make you more of a mercenary, if you don't use subterfuge?

[rank1]

Mercenaries are soldiers.

[prinks]

Soldiers

[She stops typing, rethinks what she was writing. A benefit of this system.]

I realize there is little point in arguing with an expert. You surely know better than me.

Where are you from?

[rank1]

Probably do, but who knows. I was an outlier.

I'm from California. You?

[prinks]

Somerset. Though I've lived in London and Massachusetts. Where is California?