Ransom

In my case, there wouldn't be much of a distraction. I also wondered if the pictures of the woman with bare breasts was a way for the artist to make a comment on their supposed morals - or lack there of? Obviously, "nice" ladies did not become pirates. I wish there was a little more leeway in the breeches department. I prefer the way the Dutch boat hand breeches look, although I woud probably not make them quite so baggy. However, since I'm not Dutch, are those breeches totally unacceptable - even if modified. Or is modifing putting you out of the ball park for authenticity?

Cool. But, do I have to bare my breasts for authenticity? But, I still like the Dutch sailors pants (bloomers?) better than Bonny and Read's baggy things.

Oops, I just read the post, and my question was redundant. Sorry. That'll teach me to backread before I post!

No, I wanted the Kass seal of approval!

Okay, the one I'm most interested in, is the Dutch boat hand. Love the jacket. Would that work for a woman on board trying to dress like a man?

Oh geez, FR. I've got to be your least favourite person today! I didn't even consider how that would look! This is the first time I've ever used my Super Moderator Powers[tm] to split a topic. I didn't even know it was going to work! Let me see if I can insert a post above yours and take the blame myself... Don't worry about it, Kass. Let's just let the thread go on, and have fun with it.

I don't know what it is either, but it looks kinda rude!

Not to quibble or anything, but I don't really like it when someone starts a thread in my name, when I didn't start it, at least without asking. The subject is a good one, and I'll roll with it this time, but please, it's only polite to ask first, as I wouldn't dream of starting a thread in someone elses name. Okay, so how do you adapt .....

Now you're onto something, Jenny! Good show! I think you're definitely moving in a good direction, Aurore. Which is why I'm going to push you a little farther. The simple fact remains that women didn't copy men's dress. Three women disguised themselves as men aboard ship. That's three (well two -- Lincken wasn't a pirate) women out of thousands of male pirates in this period. And as Foxe states, even they didn't wear men's clothes all the time -- or even most of the time. Portraying a person from history is by definition stifling to the creative personality. You have fewer choices because you are choosing to do something they did, not something you would have done in their place. The biggest problem with this mode of thinking is that we are trying to put ourselves into the mindset of people from 300 years ago. And the only way to make the kinds of choices that they would have made is to make choices that we know they did make. If you see what I mean... Which is really funny to hear myself say because in real life, I'm far from conservative in my dress! Um, sorry Kass, but the second quote was from me, not Aurora. Don't want her getting into trouble for my comments. This is a really good, and neccessary topic, simply for the fact that in the GAoP there weren't many female pirates, as least that we know of. So, since there are a lot of females currently trying to play/recreate a pirate persona, how do you stay true to the times, and also to your character, when you have so little information to base it on? Males - tons, females - almost nada. I agree that, other than when on a ship, a woman would wear women's clothes. On board, she would wear sailor's clothes. I liked the Dutch sailor example because it was simple attire, and I like the short jacket. Would this not be appropriate for a woman to wear on board?

I think that if I were a female pirate/privateer, I would dress like all the rest of the male pirates/privateers. If I wore a combination of garments, all period for the times, with proper accessories, and not something that shouted, "I stole this!", causing me to be arrested, then I would assume (!) that this would be correct and in period. I do think that it's a little stifling to limit all female sailing garb to just two examples. In theory, if women copied men's dress, then any picture/painting of men sailors of the proper time frame could be used as an example of proper sailing attire. My first post was just a reaction to the pictures, which I thought were very nice, and gave me lots of ideas.

When I finally woke, groggy and starving, I slipped from my hammock and went up on deck. Jimmy Cox was standing at the rail, a thin fishing line dropped over the side. Tunny, standing next to him, was also fishing. In a bucket at their feet wriggled a half dozen silver fish, which Africa was in the process of gutting and cleaning. When the big man saw me, he grinned. "No need fo dat Goose today. I grill these up pretty, an we eat like kings." The thought of fresh-grilled fish nearly made me faint. Looking at the three, I felt a great deal of pride. "You all did spendid during the storm. When the fish is ready, break out one of those small casks of Port, and we'll celebrate surviving the hurricane." I was given a round of huzzahs by all three. "Has anyone checked the ship lately?" The Rakehell had canted around with the outgoing tide. Africa stood. "The bottom be naught but sand. The anchor want ta drag a bit." I looked toward the deserted, wild-looking shore. "Well, don't let her drift too far. The current looks to be pulling us south, toward that finger of land." I pointed to a spit of sand and a few palms. "If she pulls the anchor loose, we'll have to haul it up quick and turn her about." "I keep an eye on it, Captain." Africa replied, then went back to gutting the fish, but I trusted him to keep the ship safe.

While attempting to ignore the tingling sensation that shot through me at the kiss, I glared at my dinner companion. "Are you implying that I might get too drunk to enjoy the dance - which is not a dance at the moment, but more like a fencing match? IF you are going to pour good wine, then you had better expect me to drink it. AND, I can drink you or any other man under the table, so you can spare me the caution." I gave him my best scowl, but knew for a fact that I couldn't drink a five-yer-old under the table without puking my guts out, so I hoped he wouldn't actually call me on the threat.

"Owoooo, ach...." I rub my eyes, which feel crossed at the moment, and I have a terrific headach. It takes me a minute to figure out where I am...or where I think I am. It occurs to me that the fumes from all the rum on the floor are starting to affect us. "Maybe we better find this treasure and get the heck out of here, before the next bout of rum-vapor induced sleep hits us again, and we all end up with hallucinations that we're back in the Pub. Maybe that's how the Spider traps people down here, by making you think you're safe, when you're really just about to become the Snack de Jour." No one is listening to me. They are all staring at the caged bones.

Blast and damn the man, I thought. Trying to get emotional secrets from him was like trying to mine for gold - a lot of effort, but worth the price? So, between us, what course was the best? Sometimes I thought I knew, then, as now, I hadn't a clue." I shook my head and leaned back in my chair. "Alright, I won't press the matter. But you know, my...friend, since that's the way you appear to want to keep this relationship...you're going to have to cross that bridge eventually. I don't want our times together to be nothing more than a few glasses of wine and a tasty dinner between voyages, no matter how pleasant both may be." I took a sip from my glass for courage, then met his serious gaze. "I know you feel something for me, and I for you, otherwise I wouldn't be here, but...but...oh, never mind. "I waved a hand, anoyed with myself. "I'm spoiling the evening by being too serious. Forget it. Let's just enjoy a nice meal, and I'll stop trying to analyse everything you do or say. Agreed?" I held up my glass in salute, then downed a large swallow, hoping I hadn't caused Jacky to wish he'd never sent the invitation to dine.

Humm...Now, how do I adapt one of those to a female pirate costume? I kinda like a combo of English and Dutch, especially Dutch boat hand. Very cool pics, Captain. Note: This topic was seperated from another, but the pictures being referrred to didn't get transfered with it. They are re-posted further along the thread.

I frowned. "You are procrastinating, sir. Tell me the truth, if you dare."

I watched Jacky's expression as the wine was served. I could tell he was waiting for something, but I wasn't sure what. There was a sense of tension in the air, but not a bad sort, but rather something electric - as if sparks were about to fly. To settle my own feelings, I decided to ask a rather mundane question, but also one whose possible answer had plagued me. Swirling the wine in my glass, I peered through the candlelight. "I must ask you, Jacky, one thing. Why did you refuse my invitation to dinner, yet ony days afterwards, invite me here to your own ship? And don't tell me it was the threat of having to eat Goose's cooking, for I had volunteered to have the dinner catered. What, exactly, were you afraid of?"

***snarfle, snort,*** "Huh? Ray speaks?" "Hummm, think I'll stay asleep." zzzzzzz.....***Dreams of Jacky's kiss under the mistletoe. *** zzzzzzz

Yikes, where to start. It was my first VERY pirate Christmas. DMC 5 hr. two-disc DVD - With the special holograph slip cover. Plus the DMC limited edition T-shirt that Walmart gave away with purchase. DMC regular DVD, with music CD of pirate songs (Kirk Douglas singing "A Whale of a Tale" included). Yellowbeard DVD. DMC Calender Coffee mug with fighting skeleten pirates (not from PotC). Pirate pennant for the boat. Black watch-cap with pirate logo - "Surrender the booty." And, last but recieved first, from my Pyrate Secret Santa, the CD "Prelude to Mutiny" by Captain Bogg & Salty (VERY good, BTW). Of a none-pyratical nature, my husband bought us crab traps, so we can go crabbing off our boat. Cool!

I must also put in my vote for Patrick Hand, for all the reasons so far mentioned. A thought might also be given to having one male and one female pyrate of the year, since the areas of expertise might be totally different, but equally worthy of merit. You already have two perfect nominations - Patrick and Kass.

Christmas day there were ten people at my house for dinner - all family. My husband smoked two rolled pork roasts, then BBQ'd dozens of chicken thighs that he'd de-boned. With the meat we served my homemade plum chutney, green salad, fruit salad, and cheddar-cheese bread roles. The wine was Yellow Tail Merlot. For desert my mom made homemade gingerbread with orange sauce. Killer! Tonight - something completely different. Black bean chili, salad and leftover bread rolls.

Professor Trilby pounded, kicked, then yanked open his front door, which revealed a scene of devastation. The street was a sea of mud in which floated the bodies of dead chickens, dogs, and cats. Roof-tiles, plank siding, broken furniture, and uprooted plants added to the tangle. A thick, noisome haze of steam hovered over the mess. The barrel that had wedged itself against the door proved to be not the fine port Trilby was hoping for, but a small cask of pickled pigs trotters. Directly accross the street was a shattered wagon, broken wheels hub-deep in mud, it's dray horse still harnesseed to the load it had pulled until death. In a metalic wake, the wagon had spewed its cargo of pots, pans, iron hooks, and cutlery. Scavangers were already selecting their favorite items. Trilby eyed a fine heavy stew pot and pointed. "Souris, grab that pot, quick now." Souris slogged through the ankle-deep mud and snatched the pot just as an extreamly fat woman made an unbalanced grab for it, teettered, and fell on her well-padded posterior, heaving up a tidalwave of muck. Taking the pot from his servant, Trilby grinned at the floundering woman. "Mayhap, Mistress Farley, if yea had nae eaten away sae much of your good husband'd provender, yea'd nae find yourself mired like a hog in a wallow." Mistress Farley's reaction to this bit of sympathy, like any good fishwife, was to shatter the air with curses.

As some of the others here, I do not know you, but wish you all sympathy for the loss of your good friend and mate. Ransom

To all the Port Royal Players, and our readers, a very Merry Christmas! Hope you all get everything your little pyrate hearts desire! And, here's to a new year of Port Royal adventures!

I pass the magic flask into Red Cat's eager hands, then look a bit closer at the skeleton. It may be my imagination, or the tricksy light, but it looks like her canine-teeth are a bit longer than normal. Which makes me think of the missing Elvira. Could the spider have trapped her down here, then sucked her dry? I try to remember what she was wearing at the Halloween party, which was the last time anyone saw her in the Pub. I peer closer, trying to decide if that toothy grin looks familier, but the bones are too dried up, dusty, and covered in webs. I turn to Jacky, nodding my head at the caged bones. "Who do you think that is?"