wouldntbetonit | 1st Order [Voice]

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1st Order [Voice]

what in the --

[Give him a moment. He just figured out how to use this monstrosity.]

I'm -- ah -- not sure if anybody is listening to this. This is a message to Luceti. [He pronounced it wrong. Whichever way you pronounce it, Lucetians, he did it wrong. Judge him and his lack of talent with foreign words.]

There is a ship in port, The Britannia. Quite a beauty, I have to commend Mr Kennedy for the design of her. Unfortunately she's come to be rather understaffed, so if there are any men who are interesting in crewing her....I'm sure her captain would appreciate it greatly.

That is all...back to your business.

[If William Bush could have it his way, he'd start a press-gang right here, right now. But that required a navy and men to help. So asking nicely would have to do.]

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[And it will be glorious.

Of course, Bush scoffs. Scoffs.]

Better trained?

[...Yeah he's not going to be making friends any time soon.]

Better trained. [Said with the patience of an adult talking to a child.]

There aren't many worlds represented by the population here that still holds to the superstition that women are bad luck. And I'd rather have a well-trained lady on my crew than someone who can't tell his ass from the anchor.

[Bush almost starts to make the point that having women aboard distracts men and that is not a superstition. However....the fact that so far, there don't seem to be men crewing the vessel so that point is rendered moot. Legs to stand on: one.]

It's not done. If a lady can tell me one part of a ship from another than by God I'll be impressed. I've yet to meet a-one.

[That's your own fault for being distracted, sir.]

Might want to ask them, then, before making your announcement. Guarantee you'll be impressed. Provided they haven't already decided you're not worth talking to.

Meanwhile, I want to know your qualifications, since Kennedy made no mention of you when we discussed crew.

[Offended thy name is William Bush!]

First Lieutenant William Bush of His Majesty's Ship Hotspur.

[And - because this is now a game of qualification chicken:]

And might I ask for your qualifications?

[Oh, we can do rank.]

Derek Bliss. Vampire Hunter for the Van Helsing Group, stationed in the United States of America, roughly two hundred years after your time. Usually solo, but when a group is needed, appointed team leader.

Also ranked Captain in the US Army Rangers.

My experience with sailing rigs is on a personal level, but it's long standing and since early childhood.

[A captain is a captain is a captain. Is a captain. Even if it is American. And....really, really young. Technically. Ugh that hurts his head.]

Sir.

[The respect is almost instant.]

[You are already an annoyance, Bush, and close to pushing Derek's snap button.

But if he can hold his temper back home with worse assholes (who would definitely know better in their own home), he can do it here. Kennedy and Hornblower will already have their hands full talking the rest of the crew into not leaving...

Or giving Bush what for. No doubt in some very interesting, and painful, ways.

Now how to word this without peppering it with profanity.

Be grateful Derek was raised in a high class family, Bush.]

I won't be the captain on this ship, so you can drop the 'sir' unless it becomes necessary.

I will ask though that you consider the fact that you are not working for Her Majesty's navy, and you're going to have to take into account, and respect the fact, that you are dealing with several different cultures. Most of which are far past and beyond thinking a woman's place is as nothing more than a mother and keeper of the household.

And if you can't manage that, then at least spare your actual captain the nuisance of having to clean up after you by refraining from saying anything about it, especially in front of the crew. If you would, please.

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