Making Oakum: historical adventure

The oakum bit against his fingers as he untwisted the old ropes. He sighed and tilted his head back to rest it on a keg behind him. The ship needed oakum to plug its holes, and oakum was made by taking really old rope that couldn't be used anymore and picking it to pieces. Somebody had to do it, and it amused the privateers to make their gently-bred captive do it. He'd acquired a nice set of blisters. At first they'd bled and wept pus, but over the last couple of weeks they'd roughened up and he'd got a set of calluses that might even make him seem to be a seaman. The shackle around his leg would disabuse anybody of that notion, of course.


Inspiration: "Oakum"
Story Potential: Medium. Nothing for it, nothing against it.
Finished Length: ?
Notes: Meh.