Thread by @OurFlagMnsSteph

#noangstnov
Day 11: Stargazing
It was storytime on The Revenge, but for the third night in a row, Stede was holed up in the Captains' cabin with a nasty cold. The crew missed their nightly ritual, but they still gathered to rest and be together.

It was wonderfully clear and the stars were bright, so they laid out their blankets on deck and spread out, staring at the stars. They pointed out the constellations they knew and made up stories for the ones they didn't.

"Izzy, which ones do you know?" Frenchie asked the first mate.
"Iz knows all of 'em" Ed piped in. "Tell 'em a good one."
Izzy pointed up at a cluster.
"That's Bezeh, the despised. It's supposed to look like a centaur, but I can't fuckin' see it."

"Does it have a story?" Swede asked.
Izzy nodded and the crew waited to hear.
"Centaurs were immortal but cruel and savage and men hated them for it. This one, Chiron, was good and wise. He was shot by a poison arrow and gave up his immortal life for a man."

The crew was silent a moment, taking in the story.
Jim broke the silence
"Well that one's a bummer. You know a fun one?"
Izzy sucked his teeth.
"No. Death and sin and rape and the savior that'll never come."

"Learn their names and how to navigate by them, but don't learn their stories. They're all fuckin' sad.
Just let them be beautiful and guide you home."

End

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