Twenty-three bells: [WRITTEN/ACTION]

[noprevaricating]

This is Mr. Kennedy. The Britannia, Luceti's new sloop of war under command of Captain Hornblower, is finished and for all purposes ready to sail. Unfortunately, as she cannot sail herself, Captain Hornblower is in need of a crew.

Not many are required simply to sail her. A half dozen at least, although we should prefer more. We do not expect

Comments

[Voice]

[mikandelinquent]

Hm... It has been a while since I sailed on the ocean, though this one is pretty puny. Had much luck scraping together some sea-fared sailors?

[Voice]

[noprevaricating]

A few. Am I speaking with an interested person?

Re: [Voice]

[mikandelinquent]

Mm, I wouldn't mind sailing and helping out where it's needed. The name's Bellemere; Mr. Kennedy, is it?

[noprevaricating]

That's right. How many years, Bellemere?

[mikandelinquent]

Oh, I'm retired now, but I'm a former captain, so you don't need to worry about me making a mess of things. I won't sink the ship, promise.

[noprevaricating]

A former captain! We would be most honored to have you, ma'am. [EXPERIENCE! This woman is gold already.] So long as you're willing to follow orders rather than give them this time, although with so few on board the chances are you'll be given a measure of your own authority.

[mikandelinquent]

No worries there. I tended to have to follow far too many orders back in the day myself; the marines just love telling its ships what to do. [and jokingly--] Though, the first person to try to make me clean the masts is getting thrown overboard, sharks or no.

[noprevaricating]

[Uncertain:] Cleanliness is a part of everyone's duty. But...not the masts.

[mikandelinquent]

It was a joke, Mr. Kennedy, just a joke.

Well, I did have to clean the masts, but that's a different tale altogether.

[noprevaricating]

You did? My goodness, how?

[mikandelinquent]

Use your imagination there; our marine captain was a strong man, but an unfair one at times. Had some odd ways of toughening his men. Then again, I suppose half of my experience was my own fault, for being so mouthy.

[noprevaricating]

Then you were a marine and not a sailor?

[mikandelinquent]

Mmn? I guess you could say I was both; I spent a lot of my time on the job sailing. Since our world consists of islands and mostly ocean, we didn't have much choice.

Is the term marine a little different for you?

[noprevaricating]

I'm not sure. To us, the marines are the sort of guards of the navy.

[mikandelinquent]

I see... Sounds like a case of 'different worlds'. Luceti's pretty good at that.

But really, if you live on the Grand Line and can't work a boat, you best start learning, if you ever plan to go anywhere but your own island. It's a pretty sailing-heavy sort of place.