contentwithoutcommand | Second Tackle : written

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

Pardon me, ma'am. I was given to understand by Captain Spartan-023 [she asked not to be called captain, but David feels it's most appropriate for this conversation] that Britannia that the ship was without a captain or commander.

If this is incorrect, I am most eager to know so I can make the proper apologies.

She has a captain. He's just -- [ tap tap tap ] -- not here. Nor is his...second-in-command. [ wait? what was the title? first lieutenant? eh. she couldn't remember. the point is that archie and co could come back ANY DAY and she'd hate to see their beautiful ship poached out from under them. ]

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.]

I was told two officers of the Royal Navy had her built. [Probably the two men this woman is referring to, he can guess. Gone from this place now, but... People could come back, he'd heard. If that was possible, well...

But he had to think of how to explain it to a civilian. How he'd describe the situation to Faith.]

I only wish to see that she does not fall into disrepair, ma'am. She needs a commanding officer to make sure everything that is needed is done. There is a custom in the Royal Navy of -- when a captain must be away from his ship for a long period of time, such as serving in Parliament -- appointing a man in full but temporary command of the ship until such a time as the captain is able to return.

I assure you, ma'am, that is all I am doing. When her captain and lieutenant return, I shall be more than happy to cede command of her back where it is properly due.

...But they didn't pick you.

[ propriety and custom be damned. she feels a ferocity in her bones that was interested only in protecting her nostalgia. like setting a place at the dinner table for the deceased. ]

No, they didn't. Nor do I have any written orders from the lords of the Admiralty. [If Hornet were here, he could simply devote himself to his ship and try to ignore the other vessel. But that is not the case.]

Britannia has been cared for admirably by the Blue Rogues, but she is in need of close work and someone to look after her until her rightful officers return. That is all I intend to do, ma'am.

[This woman might not be a member of the crew of Britannia (she wouldn't be so outspoken to a new commander if she was), but he knows the attitude. Bitter hands who liked their previous captain and resent their new one for whatever winds of fate caused the change in position. That he is speaking to a civilian means Long cannot merely assume the authority of command.

He has to try and explain himself without giving offence.

At least his life does not depend upon this hand at a station doing all they can for him and the ship. More than one unpopular man in command has been hindered that way.]

...An Admiral's orders can be arranged.

[ HUFF. ]

There is an admiral of the Royal Navy here? [So there is someone to send dispatches to, perhaps. He'll remember that.] In a foreign port, his orders, indeed, compel me, as there is no Admiralty to confirm or issue differing orders.

[And no way to check the Navy List to make sure this was not someone simply calling themselves an admiral.

Still, if this woman has the connections to see him barred from the command of Britannia... Well. That is how favour works, isn't it? He's worked it many times in his favour or the favour of his friends. Perhaps it's high time he felt the other side of it.

Until it comes, he won't stand down, but an admiral's orders are an admiral's orders.]

There is. If you've been to the Britannia, then you've seen the house on the shore? The Admiral lives there.

[ a lonely sad single man. dead and drowning in his solitude, buffy suspects. ]

I shall be sure to remember that, ma'am.

[Not that it would be proper form to call on the man and present himself in that way. But the information is good to have.]

...What's your name?

[ after all, he'd signed his missive with an initial. ]

Commander David Long, ma'am.

And I'm Buffy Summers, but you can call me...no -- you know what? Just keep on calling me ma'am.

Yes, ma'am. I'm sorry I could not make your acquaintance on a more pleasant topic.

Trust me. It could have been worse. You could have tried to take command of my ship.

[ okay. the jj is jack's, but jack's currently not himself. and so the first mate has gotta step up. ]

[David wants to point out that he wouldn't have tried to take command -- temporary or not -- of a ship with a present captain. But now is not the time or place for that.]

I would be most sorry for that, ma'am.

You really would have been.

[What else is there to say? He can hardly argue, and to simply not reply would seem dismissive, he fears.]

Yes, ma'am.

...Buffy Summers.

[ well. she just feels guilty when they don't give as good as they get. ]

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[ written ] Threadjack?

[ written ] maybe just a short one?

[ written ] sure ^^

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

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