New friends, new catastrophes

[seadevil]

Who: The crew of the Katabami
Where: At sea, Manila Island
When: After departing Isla Empieza after the battle and covering events until the end of the month
What: Catch-all log
Warnings: Foul language, excessive dumb
Style: Any
Status: Closed to crew

Itinerary
- Meet and greet for new crew
- MANLY STORIES
- Visiting Manila so our more studious crew can get their research on and your esteemed captain can piss the moths off
- THIS COLD CURSE THING

EDIT: The turkey is now officially named Lord Buffalo Toritaro Stuffington, "Twitchy" for short. Feel free to make use of this.

Comments

[seadevil]

[Motochika scratches at his cheek and thinks over how best to put this one. Xun Yu doesn't seem like the type to take well to exactly what Zozo has stored away on board or how she came about having it OR why she even needs it, for that matter. He's not too thrilled with it himself, but at least Zozo's been making an effort to observe their agreement in regards to the things she has to...discard.]

Zozo is a necromancer and as such deals in some things you and I might not want to get our hands stained with. She's a good lass, though, and she knows how I expect her to deal with her stores, so you needn't worry about it.

[harbouredheart]

[Had she been certain of Motochika's boundaries and her own place, Xun Yu might have pressed for clarification; as it is, she cedes to his authority.]

...I understand.

[She looks down for a moment, quiet as she collects her thoughts, before she speaks once more.]

I will give you no cause to regret entrusting me with this responsibility, Captain. Please use me to the fullest of my capabilities going forward.

[seadevil]

[Motochika laughs at that, not mocking, but just amused.]

I think you'll find we don't stand too much on ceremony around here. Do what makes you feel comfortable, but don't be offended when the rest of the crew are a bunch of insubordinate louts. Of course, if you want to whip 'em all into shape and teach them how to act proper, I'd be much obliged.

[He bets she'd give them a run for their money, too.]

[harbouredheart]

That's... ah.

[She trails off with a soft sigh, unsure of which words to use to express herself and their appropriateness. In many ways this situation is the antithesis of her prior one. It's going to take time to adjust to the difference.

Still, she knows precisely what she is capable of.]

I'll do what I can. [A momentary pause.] If you secure the crew's loyalty, they will be invested in this ship's success and work harder towards that goal.

[seadevil]

I've certainly been trying, but it's an uphill battle. [He sighs.]

It's one thing when a man can establish a reputation or when his very birthright demands respect, but take him out of his own place and time and throw him somewhere where he's a complete stranger to all around him and where does that leave him? I've made my name once, but now I have naught but this ship and this crew to make it again.

[It doesn't help that he has to share the name.]

[harbouredheart]

[She listens attentively -- the opportunity to learn more of her captain and perhaps offer counsel is one that she won't pass up.]

Why did you choose to establish your own ship, instead of joining an existing crew?

[seadevil]

Ha! It's not my nature to follow another's orders. The great Sea Devil of the West bows down to no man.

[Certainly he'd had offers (well, an offer), but his pride wouldn't let him take it. Struggling along with a skeleton crew had been miserable and demoralizing, but that was something he'd admit to Ieyasu and no one else.]

[harbouredheart]

Sea Devil of the West?

[She questions curiously.]

Your crew members are willing to bend. And right now they look to you, as captain, to fulfil their needs. So if you discover the point where their needs beyond just passage meet what you can offer, it is only a matter of time until they bow to you.

[seadevil]

Wise words and wise advice as well. I'll take that to heart.

As for the rest of it...[He straightens up to his full height and plants his hands on his hips.]

When a man earns himself a nickname like that one, it's a shame not to use it, is it not? It motivates your allies and strikes fear in the hearts of your enemies!

[He came up with it himself, but that's beside the point.]

[harbouredheart]

[She can't help but smile at his posturing -- it reminds her of home.]

Very true, Captain.

[seadevil]

And what of you? You've spoken little of yourself this whole time.

[Can't hurt to ask, since aside from the two young lads, this new batch doesn't seem the sorts to talk about themselves much.]

[harbouredheart]

[Xun Yu answers with pride and devotion.]

I have served His Majesty, Cao Cao, as a civil advisor, military strategist and trusted general since the start of his rise to prominence.

[Essentially, she's his right hand. It's also the kind of workload that leaves little downtime, which explains something of her attitude.]

To be relied upon is all that I ask.

[seadevil]

Cao Cao, eh? I'm impressed. [He actually is.] That's not a name I ever expected to find myself having to live up to! You'll have to tell me all about it sometime. Centuries have passed, but everyone still knows that name.

[He sort of can't help grinning like a small child at the prospect of a new toy. He doesn't expect her stories to be quite as embellished as his are, but certainly they must be exciting!]

[harbouredheart]

[She's certainly pleased by Motochika's response -- his clear interest warms her disposition towards him. Very few men are more deserving of such long-lasting remembrance than Cao Cao, in her biased opinion.]

Truly? How many centuries?

[It's hardly vital knowledge, but she finds that she wants to hear a concrete number, a landmark to celebrate.]

[seadevil]

[He counts it off on his fingers, trying to remember.]

Thirteen or so? I've never been one to remember dates, but that sounds about right.

[He's never really been the most dedicated scholar of history. He pays attention to what interests him and leaves the rest for those who have interest in it.]

[harbouredheart]

[The sound that escapes Xun Yu's mouth is one of surprised delight; her following smile is radiant, a truly rare sight, though none aboard would know so. Thirteen hundred years!]

Thank you for telling me, Captain. [She says, overjoyed. And then, more sedate, she adds:] I'd be happy to share some stories, at a time when there is less pressing work to be done.

[seadevil]

Should I let you get to work, then? You have quite the task ahead of you.

[He figures he should probably mention the enormity of it one more time, just to be fair.]

[harbouredheart]

It's nothing that I cannot handle, Captain.

[She says with confidence.]

If you have no further need of me...

[seadevil]

[He nods.]

You're free to get to work whenever you're ready!

[harbouredheart]

[If the disorganisation is as dire as Motochika keeps implying it to be, then there's every reason for her to get started right away.

She salutes before she departs.]