The Pirates' flat share - Episode 4 "Theme Night" ( * update 30 Oct 2022 *)

The Pirates' flat share Episode 1 "The Newcomer"

I used to do some little photo stories too but haven't done any in a while... I would like to think of some again in the future and wonder how best to present them in both German and English without doing the double work of editing the pics in both German and English... I don't want to do them in English only as it will not be received that very well by the German "audience" and as I would not be able to play with language as well as I can do in German.

So, it is either using no speech bubbles at all and putting the text underneath the pics or doing the bubbles in German and translating below - what would be best received by you?...

Here's a sample with the first episode of my "Piraten WG" = "The Pirates' flat share" - from October 2018 when Edward Kenway moved in to disturb the cosy togetherness of Captain Jack Sparrow and Captain Harlock in their section of the cabinet.
I am not sure all jokes and allusions translate correctly - or at all - but I hope you get the gist of it.



Ahoy guys, this is your new roommate.
Edward, these are Captain Harlock and Captain Jack Sparrow.
Guys, this is Edward *ouch*
ok,ok, so what... this is CAPTAIN Edward Kenway...
I'll leave you so you can get to know each other.



Welcome my dear! You look like someone to drink a nice bottle of rum with. The other company around here is quite dry.




Edward: "Move"
Jack: "Pardon?"



Edward: "You don't expect me to stand on this little piece of fake wood whilst HE is sitting on a mega stool and you are hanging out on a gun? Move over."
Jack: "No way. This is the base of Captain Jack Sparrow - and that is ME."



Edward:"There is no name on it. And now get off! ... and give me the bottle."



Jack: "What? Certainly not! It's not even fully paid for!"
Edward: "The bottle!"



Jack: "you mannerless brute!... Harlock, say something! We can impossibly stay around this buffoon -"
Edward: "Keep the silent guy out of this. YOU already talk more than enough for the two of you. Now, give me the bottle or I'll feed you this rabbit pelt of yours."



Jack: "Outrageous. I am speechless. Harlock, what shall we do?"
Harlock: "Do? I am reading. And you could fetch a chair."
Jack: "But how to get rid of him again?"
Harlock: "I would be more interested in how to get rid of YOU. I would like to go on reading."



Jack: "Harlock! I thought we were friends!"




Jack: "I must insist!"



Jack: "Keep your pistol off my hat."

Sparrow looks quite annoyed to be forced to sit on the folding chair!

This was quite amusing, or at least, I thought so!

Very cool, Illusion! You used the movable eye-system on Sparrow to its maximal effect. Very amusing how he glances in the gun barrel...

Great story!

I would have love to have one of those Captain Harlock throne chairs but unfortunately I was just getting into the 1/6 hobby at that time.

davidd wrote:Sparrow looks quite annoyed to be forced to sit on the folding chair!

This was quite amusing, or at least, I thought so!

Thank you, hope you have had a little fun...

Randam Hajile wrote:Very cool, Illusion! You used the movable eye-system on Sparrow to its maximal effect. Very amusing how he glances in the gun barrel...

Thanks a lot - this eye-system really adds a lot of potential for stories - esp. when combined with two different faces as with Jack. Unfortunately it takes either a lot of planning before taking pics (not my cup of tea) or a lot of constant switching heads/taking the hair off and putting it back again...

BAD WOLF-787 wrote:Great story!

I would have love to have one of those Captain Harlock throne chairs but unfortunately I was just getting into the 1/6 hobby at that time.

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it... I started collecting a little while after this Harlock set had been released but there had been leftovers lingering in some shops for a while. And as I am a sucker for "special chairs", I got it. Really helped that Harlock himself is right up my alley too


Well guys,... there are two more episodes so far (after all, Captain Jack Sparrow cannot resign himself to this humiliating situation)... just not sure whether you are interested in a translation? I could give them a try.

This is great, I enjoyed it and your photography. My favorite photo was also the one where Jack looks cross eyed at the gun barrel. Is Edward this much of a pain in the source material (I'm not familiar with the games)? Anyway, looking forward to the rest. Speech bubbles are best, so if you have already done them in German, I suppose we can make do with the English subtitles as text under the photos.

GubernatorFan wrote:This is great, I enjoyed it and your photography. My favorite photo was also the one where Jack looks cross eyed at the gun barrel. Is Edward this much of a pain in the source material (I'm not familiar with the games)? Anyway, looking forward to the rest. Speech bubbles are best, so if you have already done them in German, I suppose we can make do with the English subtitles as text under the photos.

Thanks Gub! Glad you are fine with the German bubbles and English subtitles...
I don't know Edward's source self as I have not played the games... I have tried once with a free PC version of his game - but as a complete dummy and newbie I spent about 3 hours in the opening scene running around a deserted jungle village trying to find out how to navigate the keyboard and how to get any further . A friend pointed me towards web pages where the solution is explained - which got me a bit further. I really enjoyed navigating a ship but at the next city there was the end for me. Too complicated...
In the meantime we have an XBox but hardly anyone ever plays. I liked Lara Croft very much and would love to try the Witcher - but I keep forgetting the keys and functions... I am too old for this

so, long story cut short: my figures have the character traits I assign to them as I see fit (Harlock is certainly a different guy than in the movie . He is intellectual, cautious and polite (which does not say that he is neither of that in the movie)... and utterly boring when it comes to Jack's opinion of him.)

Here we go with

Episode 2 "RUM Geträumt"

Translating the header proves already impossible for me as it has a double meaning (which may not even have been obvious to all German readers).
So let's just call it


"Dreaming of rum"








WHAT THE F****




Jack yawning




Edward, why so restless? Again bad dreams?




You should be careful with your nutrition. Something seams to upset your stomach at night.




I don't know Jack, I've never had nightmares. I can't figure why... Maybe we should switch our spots after all. Might be worth a try from a Feng Shui point of view.




Just start moving your stuff. I have some shopping to do.




No worries. I'll take care of moving. See you Eddie!




To all the seven sea's kobolds... What the hell is going on with me. I am totally worn-out...




Congratulations, seems like my contact has been a success.




Yes he was... and with your help too. Nicely done Guppie!


Note:
To have a chance to understand what's been going on I need to (re)introduce Endrik:

in short: He is a dream catcher travelling space and time and can manipulate dreams.

more poetic:
Myths, legends, fairytales about eerie characters that are being told to children so they shall behave themselves and respect their elders...
Such as the legend of Endrik the dreamcatcher who traps all dreams of all living beings in his rod and can manipulate them to be both prize and pain.
Many have sneered at children hiding under their blankets during the night not daring to sleep because of their fear of Endrik's punishment for their mischief during the day.
However, those that crossed Endrik and consequently lost their mind after only a few nights, those do not sneer any longer...





Endrik! My friend! Welcome! Welcome! We have just talked about you...




Endrik: Hmmm... looks like you are back where you belong. That was faster than expected.
Jack: And my shark actually spoke with Edward???




At times, he simply devoured him.




Jack: INCREDIBLE! Of course I would have managed to get my spot back by myself...
Endrik: REALLY?




But your method has been soooo much more elegant and subtle!




After all, we need to get along here. Would have been inconvenient to sleep with a gun in hand at all times.




Jack: But tell me, do you think the rum will work out too?
Endrik: Sure, it will.




Endrik: See, there it is already.
Jack: I am U*T*T*E*R*L*Y thrilled!




Edward: Guys, we had a bad start. I just got some booze to give our sloop a new direction.
Jack: What a lovely idea, Eddie. Let me help you.




Jack: Eddie, this is Endrik. I think the two of you haven't met yet.
Edward: Have some rum with us Endrik.




I'll have some tee. A cup of green tea, please.




What else!




Be careful not to get just any greenish tea bag, Eddie! ... I once got him "Italian Mint" - a wonderful green! Just as jungle leaves glittering in the sun after heavy rain...
and what happened????




He spat the tea to my feet.




Edward: To our Pirates' Flat Share!
Jack: To us!




Thank you for your help. Otherwise life with these two would have been intolerable.

Funny. The plot was not entirely easy to understand in every particular, but you still pulled it off, especially with the extended clarification that followed. I love the makeshift reassignment labels (but why is "Jack" "Jake"?), and the photos are excellent -- Jack totally steals the show with those expressive movable eyes.

Does the Captain Jack figure have movable eyes? Or different heads? Or have you moved the eyes digitally?

GubernatorFan wrote:Funny. The plot was not entirely easy to understand in every particular, but you still pulled it off, especially with the extended clarification that followed. I love the makeshift reassignment labels (but why is "Jack" "Jake"?), and the photos are excellent -- Jack totally steals the show with those expressive movable eyes.

Sorry that this is too complicated and does not come across well enough with the translation and explanations.
There is one more Episode which should be less confusing and hopefully more entertaining.

You really had a close look around to single out the reassignment labels. Thank you. Unfortunately this „Jake“ is a rather irrelevant comedy element that is impossible to understand and it would have been better to keep it simple and spell the name correctly.
Background is: The tattoos on Jack‘s left hand say JAKC instead of JACK (right hand). Around the time when I did this story there had been a short discussion in a figure forum whether it is JAKC oder JAKE as in the font type used the C and E could be similar. We ended up being not sure (by now I am sure it is JAKC) and why the name would be spelled wrong on his left hand at all (does anyone know? It surely should not be a mistake by Hot Toys)

So, as Edward had written the reassignment labels, he misspelled Jack‘s name to add to the humiliation (whether on purpose or not).

davidd wrote:Does the Captain Jack figure have movable eyes? Or different heads? Or have you moved the eyes digitally?

He has two different face plates with movable eyes each.
(My digital skills would not allow for this, I am afraid.)

Actually, you're not giving yourself enough credit -- that (Edward doing it) is precisely what I thought happened to the labels.

GubernatorFan wrote:Actually, you're not giving yourself enough credit -- that (Edward doing it) is precisely what I thought happened to the labels.

Oh that's cool. Would not have dared to expect anyone to actually follow my thoughts concerning these minor details without pointing it out

Thanks for the excellent entertainment.
Great story posing and character. But no one has a chance against Captain Jack. He´s like Johnny a fantastic actor. So many emotions by just move the eyes. So much story telling potential in this figure.

Indeed great story and posing, very enjoyable.

Ephiane wrote:Thanks for the excellent entertainment.
Great story posing and character. But no one has a chance against Captain Jack. He´s like Johnny a fantastic actor. So many emotions by just move the eyes. So much story telling potential in this figure.

Thank you! glad you have had some fun… yes, this movable eye system is great, fantastic when combined with different face plates. Pity the number of figures with it is limited.

BAD WOLF-787 wrote:Indeed great story and posing, very enjoyable.

Thank you. Happy you enjoyed their silliness.

just felt like translating the next episode... anyone interested?


The Pirates' flat share Episode 3  "Supplies"






What? Where? Who? How?




I have asked the two of you to clean up - and what do you do? You are sleeping AGAIN! And Jack? Where the heck is he?




Jack said he was going to get some tools to clean up. I am waiting for him to return. Won't start all by myself...




Bird: Kroax - Rum Sloppies

Harlock: A broom won't be of much use here...




Harlock: We will have to apply for a move after all, Bird.

Eddie: moving stuff with his feet




Eddie, I really hope the two of you will finally pull yourselves together and get and keep things neat and tidy. How is one supposed to gather one's thoughts properly in such a mess...







Suuuuupliiiiiiiesssss!




A broom! As if... you old rascal!




You open the cask! I'll look for the cups.




Found them!




This damn thing won't open!



Jack: Try this!

Eddie: Are you nuts? certainly not with my most valuable piece...



Neptune - have brain rise from the depths!




Harlock: You are a true pain! Get Billy's hammer you bouzehounds! And if you do not get going with cleaning afterwards, it will be MY turn to borrow this hammer!

Jack: Uh!... there, there... who's causing bad vibes... wasn't your tea sufficiently greenish?







Billy: Not now, guys. I'm busy.

Jack: But it is URGENT!




Billy: What?

Jack: We need your hammer! Our cask won't open.




Harry, briefly get the hammer to the slobs downstairs. I'll have a coffee break.




Folks! What's this here? It looks like about time for you to clean up.




Wurgs! You could have cleaned up this a bit...




well, anyway, let's get going...




see, there you go... Harry, I will get you another cup.

Very nice installment. This one felt more like roommate drama. And I learned some more German to boot!

Oh, the neighbors upstairs were completely unexpected!

I find these stories quite amusing!

The pic of Jack rolling on the barrel was quite nicely posed!

Fun stuff all the way through!

Thank you for continuing to read these stories!

I am happy you enjoy them and have a little fun. (and a German boost along the way on top )

Indeed great installment!

BAD WOLF-787 wrote:Indeed great installment!

Thank you for continuing in spite of the German base…

The concept reminds me of Toy Story. I.e. what figures are doing when nobody is looking.
The visitor from another shelf is a brilliant touch
Jack Spar... Sorry, Captain Jack Sparrow is indeed very expressive thanks to movable eyes, though I imagine how much effort it takes to adjust them between shots.

Visisonor wrote:The concept reminds me of Toy Story. I.e. what figures are doing when nobody is looking.
The visitor from another shelf is a brilliant touch
Jack Spar... Sorry, Captain Jack Sparrow is indeed very expressive thanks to movable eyes, though I imagine how much effort it takes to adjust them between shots.

Thanks very much! Glad you have had some fun.
.. yes, it is a bit like Toy Story
I am often too lazy to change even hands for shots or stories… so changing the faces and adjusting the eyes of Captain Jack Sparrow is indeed a bit of a challenge. If I had to do this on all figures, I would probably never try to take pics for a story
But I usually try to think through the story and take those pics that require the same face all at the same time and not necessarily in chronological order. It just becomes difficult if the environment changes. Might end up in inconsistencies… but, so what… we are not in the game to win any prize but just to have fun, right?

CAVEAT:
Though there is no explicit nudity, this might not be appropriate for all audiences or work environment.


First of all, there is a new flatmate to the Pirate's flat share: Shay Patrick Cormac. His character is kind of in between the lightheads Jack and Eddi, who are mostly interested in alcohol and woman, and the conservative intellectual - some would actually call him boring - Captain Harlock who favours green tea and books.


Episode 4 - Theme Night



Guys, the new club is having theme nights. Tonight's "Pirate Night". True pirates drink for free between 10 and 11 pm. We just have to go.




Shay: Come on, who is going to a club before midnight... you old boozer, you...

Eddi: I think, it's a great idea. We will have all the waitresses exclusively for us.




Yeah, sure... you are just incredibly boozy. But for my sake... let's go that early.




But without me.




Come on Harlock. That will be fun. You need to get out of here once in a while. You are reading yourself to death and you will end up poisoning yourself with your green tea. We will look for another greenish drink.




Ready to go! Cast off!



Harlock: I don't know.... when Sparrow's involved, there will be disaster, for sure.

Jack: What's keeping you. Let's go!




Shay: If Sparrow becomes too embarassing the two of us will leave. Promise.

Harlock: ok, if you say so... maybe it is really not wrong to have a little change once in a while...




There we are... a rather cool ambiance, right? Why am I only here for the first time tonight?
But really still totally dead, not even a little bit of music playing yet...
and no waitress... irritating...




Jack, does that look like a "Pirate Night" theme?




Better not to touch anything!!




Harlock: I knew it. Just look around. I can smell fiasco.

Shay: well... it does smell a little strange...




voice from outside: hey, what are you doing here!!!??? It's still closed!




by all ship's hounds and hell's kobolds

(this does not translate well as Jack is mixing up ship's cobolds and hellhounds)







Admission starts at midnight only.




I told you
I told you
I told you




What odd fishes are you now? Can't you read the sign at the entrance?



Stupid question. We are pirates. Tonight's Pirate Night. From 10 pm. So, here we are.



Duh! nah... Pirate's Night's next Friday. Tonight's SkinSM.




Eddi: soooo predictable you would mix things up again. Let's get out of here!

Harlock: Absolutely. At once. And Immediately.




Hey, you... don't you wanna come back later on? I really dig tall guys in leather.


not far from the Club the foursome pause for a moment to discuss the further proceeding.



Shay: just let it go my friend...




Eddi: Jack, we will go there next week... Nothing happened... it's all fine.

Jack: I don't get it Eddi... I was SURE, it was TONIGHT!




Shay: But to be true, the guy has not been that bad looking...