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[longitudinal]

WELCOME TO THE SALTBURNT NETWORK

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longitudinal

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quentin toma NOTES: sailor, navigator, loverboy, war-bringer. THREAT LEVEL LIKABILITY LEVEL SCANDAL LEVEL FASHION LEVEL WEALTH LEVEL

Comments

[longitudinal]

i think you would make an excellent sailor. you have the build.

and on the deck of a ship, wind and sun in your hair - we’d never accomplish anything.

[holyposition]

What's the right build to be a sailor?

Where would you get into trouble like that on a ship?

[longitudinal]

strong arms. strong legs. strong back.

should i keep going?

and there are plenty of places. i’m the navigator - the crow’s nest is the perfect place for some trouble if you’d let me lure you there.

[holyposition]

I'm too far away to possibly stop you.

Above everyone's heads?

[longitudinal]

you’re right. then i’ll go on about your hands, maybe your eyes…

far far above their heads.
you see nothing but sky and they’ll never hear a peep from us.

[holyposition]

My eyes? No good for sailing. I'm nearsighted.

Is that where you invite all the boys you like?

[longitudinal]

sure they are - they'll catch the sun just right.

boys and girls alike, sometimes - boys are easier to hide on the ship. not many lady sailors, but plenty of lady pirates. sometimes the galley, sometimes the bilge room.

i can be flexible. but you? i'd take you to the crow's nest. lay you out so all you saw was sky.

[holyposition]

Girls too?

That sounds nice. Do you miss it?

[longitudinal]

well of course. like the variety, the fun.

i do. grew up on those ships making all manner of trouble. but this place isn't so bad.

you see now why i enjoyed the baths so well. among other things.

[holyposition]

That sounds stressful.

I can't even message you without feeling like a selfish ass, if I were worried about women too, I'd drive myself crazy.

[longitudinal]

not stressful at all. i am simply not concerned with what i'll find beneath a shirt or a dress. i am lucky to meet many wonderful people this way.

and why do you feel selfish? i don't see you being selfish at all.

[holyposition]

That's completely foreign to me. There's just the one acceptable way to be, where I'm from. I guess if someone could be attracted to anyone, they'd just choose to stay "straight" so they're not punished for it.

You don't think it's selfish to entertain these little fantasies and not actually do anything about them?

[longitudinal]

that's so very restrictive, but i know some people prefer it that way. i travel so often between places it can be difficult to connect with anyone buy my crewmates. sex is one way to connect even with a stranger.

wouldn't you agree?

so no, i don't think fantasies and little games are selfish at all. sometimes not doing anything at all about them can be half the fun.

[holyposition]

I don't usually feel connected after. Just dirty.

Except for the man I was with at the hospital. And you. Which is confusing. I barely know you.

[longitudinal]

that's a shame

but you care for that man deeply, i can tell. and as for me? well, i don't know. i don't expect anything from my partners, as long as we both enjoy ourselves. it's hardly fun if i'm only going after what i want.

[holyposition]

Or a reminder.

You gave me exactly what I needed at the time. I guess I'm used to more selfishness than that.

[longitudinal]

you deserve better.

but you should also consider you gave me exactly what i needed, too. it's not a one way street.

[holyposition]

That's nice of you to say.

How so?

[longitudinal]

it was my first day here in this place.

my home is quite different. you were sweet and warm.

[holyposition]

I'm happy I could give you a warm welcome, then. I'm working through some things right now, but I am glad. I really do like you. I'd have shut down the flirting messages if I didn't.

Different how? Other than the sailing.

[longitudinal]

oh best of luck to you shutting down my overt affection - I've been told I'm insufferable.

we don't have these devices for one. we have electricity, but not so many devices. it's run by the sea, and lights our homes and such. people here mention countries that don't exist in my land. the laws are different, the rules are different, the customs.

[holyposition]

You're on the borderline. But I like it.

We didn't have these either. Mine is kind of close to this one, but in the past. A lot's changed in fifty years, but not everything.

How are you adjusting? I've been doing alright at it, if you need a hand.

[longitudinal]

i do enjoy a borderline and seeing how far i can move it.

but at least your home is similar. the foods here are different, the culture. the comfort. i've enjoyed it, but there are things i'm sure are similar here and home - none of this can be free.

everything has a cost. i've been figuring things out, with a little help. i've recently been made aware that you can take pictures with these devices.

[holyposition]

I don't know how how I'd cope if I was from somewhere completely different. You're braver than me.

You can. It's handy. Where I'm from, we have cameras, but they're bulky, and it takes time. This is instant.

[longitudinal]

i don't know about brave, but i'm certainly not afraid to throw myself into new places. i'd be a terrible sailor if that were the case.

change is all part of my landscape. but i like the pictures - i wish i could have pictures of my home to show you. the boat, the water. do you miss anything about where you're from?