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

Others would say that the best course would be to go on the offensive.

I find that tends to worsen the problem, not bring about any sort of resolution.

Funny. I've witnessed quite the opposite.

I'm afraid I can only answer for what I know. When I give offence and have meant none, I prefer not to give it further.

Wow, you truly are different from the last naval bunch the Britannia had. And from James.

The navy has many different sorts, I've found. [He... won't apologise for the previous ones. They were, after all, the individuals whose rights to the ship she was defending, so any acknowledgement of their faults would need to come solely from her.]

Apples have different sorts, but they're still apples.

And, by that token, Navy men have different personalities, but they all serve their country, I suppose.

Alright. Fine. Serve as you see fit. Just also see to it that you stick to the Britannia. If I see so much as a single cross or stripe or Union Jack anywhere near the JJ, I know who I'll be calling on.

I promise you, Miss Summers, your ship is entirely safe. So is any other. As I said before, any command I hold over Britannia is entirely temporary, there until her captain or officers return. [A pause. But it needs to be said.] Or until the admiral you spoke of sees fit to relieve me of any command of it by written order.

[It's a disheartening option, but he cannot overrule an admiral.]

[ oh if handwriting could be dejected: ] He probably won't. James is a decent guy, once you get under all the dour.

[Oh, but if she's familiar enough with an admiral to refer to him so casually... David's not going to get his hopes too high for keeping that ship in his possession.]

Whatever he chooses will be his prerogative, Miss Summers. I assure you I will bear no ill will, whatever the outcome.

[None, at least, that he'll give voice to. What good would it do, after all? An admiral's word was law, and to complain would be an open show of disrespect as well as unproductive.

No. Should that happen, the best course would be to accept and bide.]

...Interesting. I don't think the other ones bothered to obey him.

[ more like norrington never bothered to give them orders, having seen the futility of being naval in a place so unlike home. but buffy has a narrow view of naval life. ]

I cannot speak to their reasons for that, Miss Summers. I only know that I feel myself bound by the orders of my lawful superiors, even on such foreign soil.

I wonder how long it'll take for your song to change.

A very long time, I should hope, Miss Summers.

You may be right. Some of us take longer to crack than others.

[He can think of no good way to respond to that. Talk of men who have been broken by the service or by other things is hardly appropriate in this company.

So.]

I am sorry for the inadvertent insult I gave to your absent friends, Miss Summers. I hope, sometime in the future, you will allow me a chance to atone for it.

For God's sake -- [ this is getting pathetic; it's making her feel even more guilty. ] Just quit it on the amending and promise to stop in for a drink or something. We can always use more loyal regulars at the bar.

I would be honoured to.

We seem to collect sailing types, down at Good Spirits. Or we used to. You might feel a little at home. [ it's a small gesture from a temperamental woman. ]

[And it's a gesture he is not about to dismiss.]

I've been there once before, Miss Summers. I shall certainly see about paying further visits. Thank you for the invitation.

-- Did you have a good time?

I did, Miss Summers. I quite enjoyed myself.

It's kind of my baby, you see. It and the JJ.

[ written ]

contentwithoutcommand - 2013-05-26 21:59 (UTC) - Expand

herotypical - 2013-05-26 22:02 (UTC) - Expand

contentwithoutcommand - 2013-05-26 22:05 (UTC) - Expand

herotypical - 2013-05-26 22:09 (UTC) - Expand

contentwithoutcommand - 2013-05-26 22:28 (UTC) - Expand

herotypical - 2013-05-26 22:36 (UTC) - Expand

contentwithoutcommand - 2013-05-26 22:50 (UTC) - Expand

herotypical - 2013-05-26 22:59 (UTC) - Expand

contentwithoutcommand - 2013-05-27 00:51 (UTC) - Expand

herotypical - 2013-05-27 16:53 (UTC) - Expand

contentwithoutcommand - 2013-05-27 19:23 (UTC) - Expand

herotypical - 2013-05-28 17:58 (UTC) - Expand

contentwithoutcommand - 2013-05-31 00:47 (UTC) - Expand

herotypical - 2013-05-31 11:13 (UTC) - Expand

contentwithoutcommand - 2013-06-01 03:45 (UTC) - Expand

herotypical - 2013-06-01 11:29 (UTC) - Expand

contentwithoutcommand - 2013-06-02 00:54 (UTC) - Expand

herotypical - 2013-06-02 16:40 (UTC) - Expand

contentwithoutcommand - 2013-06-02 20:11 (UTC) - Expand

herotypical - 2013-06-02 21:36 (UTC) - Expand

contentwithoutcommand - 2013-06-04 05:09 (UTC) - Expand

herotypical - 2013-06-04 11:31 (UTC) - Expand

contentwithoutcommand - 2013-06-08 21:23 (UTC) - Expand