contentwithoutcommand | Second Tackle : written

[There is no one to read an official dispatch. He's gathered that much. However, this is quite a different communication.]

May the nineteenth,

I have recently come into command of the sloop-of-war Britannia. She has been well cared for, and I am grateful to the members of the Blue Rogues for that.

However, she is in need of some detailed care to bring her back to her proper state. I have found scrub brushes, paintbrushes, and buckets, but it seems she lacks any holystones. I am in need of those and paint. I am not particularly concerned as to the colour of the paint, so long as there are large quantities and it is a consistent colour. Black for the trim (that, there is plenty of below decks) and yellow (as she is presently) or white or blue for the bulk would be preferable.

Once I have these supplies, I will be in need of volunteers to assist in the work. There will be painting, rowing of rigging, stitching of sail, swabbing, holystoning, and polishing to be done. I have no wages I can offer for these tasks, but I will require those who want to help to be able to follow direction. Maintenance must be done in certain ways to avoid unnecessary work and possible damage to the ship, so I will be very specific in how each task should be accomplished.

Any assistance will be greatly appreciated, and I shall be most grateful for any information on where and how I might obtain the supplies I need. I do not have much, but I may be able to find something in the ship's scarce stores to trade, as I am not looking for charity to bring Britannia to her best.

D Long, commander, R.N.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Miss. SPARTAN-023.

My group and I were responsible for the care of the ship until their return.

By laws of the Royal British Navy by which the Lieutenant Archie Kennedy and Captain Horatio Hornblower abided by, previous to the creation of the United Nations by three hundred years, command of the ship would return to a willing officer of said navy.

...You'll find I don't give a rat's ass about the laws of the Royal British Navy.

[ but she does care about the friend who'd poured himself into the project. this has nothing to do with legality or rationality or even justice; this has everything to do with a woman who still isn't over losing one of her dearest confidants. ]

But both of them did.

I never claimed command of the ship, and chose to maintain it out of respect for them. But neither of us are from their era or customs.

[ buffy doesn't reply. she's in no position to argue, but nor did she want to debate the particulars of what is right and what is wrong. her reaction to the change in command wasn't about them; rather, it was about her own inability to let go of long gone friends.

hours later, she may cool down. but there's no reasoning with her at the moment and so she opts to be unreasonable in her silence. ]

[He just wants to reiterate this. Make his position perfectly clear.]

To be given back to them upon their return, should they wish to reclaim it. Any command of the ship I may claim is a wholly temporary one, barring written orders from a superior of the Royal Navy.

[SPARTAN-023 realizes many more had better ways of dealing with civilians. She finds herself nodding on her end before she continues writing.]

Of course, Commander. My apologies.

There is no need to apologise. The fault is mine for not making the conditions of my command more clearly known.

[...Not that said conditions existed before he had need of them. But they exist now, in writing, and they will be upheld.]

Second Tackle : written

[ written ] Threadjack?

[ written ] maybe just a short one?

[ written ] sure ^^

[ written ]

[ written ] Going on record to say: any and all threadjack stuff is totally fine!

[ written ]

[ written ]