piratejournal | [voice/written] action for Hazmats

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[voice/written] action for Hazmats

[the flip of a page brings sound first, a grunt and a slight ting of bells]

...there, 'course. Now where's the damn writing thing...?

[it cuts off and the rest comes in jagged handwriting, as the journal translates his Chinese script]

word of advice. don't get captured. sure, you'd say it's better than dying, but I'd beg to differ. it ain't fun. it's not an easy way out. puts your crew at risk, more than if you die. and I don't know about half of you, but I ain't lettin' some Navy ass gloat about stretching my neck on the gallows. Hell no. Never give 'em the satisfaction.

I ain't gonna ask for a recap of the last week, I can figure it out for myself. But I saw mention of a couple names of Oda's guys who I might wanna talk to. didn't know they'd be here...

~Gan Xingba

[for anyone on the Booyakasha, he's sitting out on the forecastle, writing and contemplating the open ocean. He's got a lot to think about. He's grateful for the rescue, though.]

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[damn ninjas sneaking up on him. No, really, Gan Ning glances up when Raph appears, but when he doesn't say anything, just accepts his presence and goes back to fiddling with the gold foil bits Gaius gave him, trying to fashion fishing lures out of them]

[Clears his throat after a moment.]

So, uh. [Scratches the back of his head.] Sorry. And all. For what happened back there.

Huh? [looking up again] What're you apologizing for, it's not like you pushed me into that pack of Navy soldiers.

[Huffs.]

Yeah, I know. But we probably shouldn't have tried to take them on like that in the first place, they seriously outnumbered us. I didn't think it through.

[...He's really good at that. Not thinking things through.]

Eh. Not like I expected it to turn out like that. I've had worse and come out on top, it seemed like more of the same to me.

[He hates to admit to himself that he could have really used Lu Meng's advice that day. Stupid old man not joining him in the new world]

You need a strategist. I mean, I know Donnie's smart and all, but I'm talkin' somebody trained in tactics.

[The grumpy look returns.]

Well, actually. Uh. Leo is usually our leader back home. He does all that strategy stuff. ...That can be so annoying, though! And it takes too long coming up with dumb plans when you could just be out there kicking butt—

[Working himself up, but he cuts off and visibly forces himself to calm down. After a second or two, he scowls and looks away.]

But that's not always the better option, I guess. Obviously, seeing as how we almost just got ourselves blown out of the water.

Trust me, I'm with ya on that. Hit first, ask questions later. But even I know when to listen to a strategist, they can tell you 'hey, go that way and bust heads over there' so that when all is said and done, you've helped your army. Or crew, as the case may be.

[peering cautiously up at Raph] ...not for nothin', but if he's your leader, why didn't you make him captain?

[Just rolls his eyes a little and waves his hand.]

Ah, he's really the one in charge and he knows it. Just, I've been here a month longer than him and I'm the one who got the ship and everything. So. [Shrug.] Captain.

[Then he grins.]

Besides, then I'm the one who gets to wear the cool hat.

Tch... [shakes his head and looks away] Being captain ain't about cool hats, you know.

[The grin slips off his face and he frowns, also looking away.]

I know. Look, this is a lesson I already learned back home when the fact that I'm not great at playing leader slapped me in the face. Hard. I can risk my own life and all that just fine, but my brothers'? Or anyone else now -- the crew and all. No. I'm no good at it.

[Which is always a pain to admit, but there it is.]

Like I said, Leo's really the one who's... That's his job. But I guess even then he's just used to being our leader. It's always just been the four of us till recently.

[Looks back to Gan Ning.]

Maybe being a captain is different. You think?

Yeah, it is. [bluntly] You gotta look after your men, but you also gotta be the kind of guy they want to give their lives for if you ask 'em to. Trust goes both way in a crew.

Look, I been both a captain and a general in an army. I know the difference. When you're a general, you still have to look after your troops, but you go into battle knowin' that some of 'em ain't comin' back. And they know it, too, but they still fight for whoever's leading 'em. For country or lord or whatever. A pirate crew...you gotta earn their trust, you can't just take it for granted that because someone gave you a rank and title that the men are gonna follow ya.

...Heh, the benefit of only working with your brothers. That kinda trust thing is already built in.

[Crosses his arms and tips his head back.]

But the others... Kinda doubt after that display that they're building up much confidence in me, and Leo, well. He'll have to break the habit of just leading three of us. But heck, you got the experience, maybe you should be captain.

I ain't gonna horn in on your act. [though now he's going to wonder. Think about it. He does do better giving rather than taking orders, but he doesn't know these kids well enough to expect they'll follow him]

Aw, come on, dude!

[Because now that he's said it, it doesn't sound like a bad idea. Better him than Raph admitting to Leo that he's probably not up for the position. Also, seriously, that experience thing.]

You've done it before, you probably know what you're doing way better than I do. Everyone'd be all for it!

[sits and looks at him, peering. Hmm.]

Dunno. Maybe. I'll think about it. We're headin' back to the main island to stock up, right?

Good. Do that, bro.

[THUMBS UP. Then he nods.]

Yeah, shouldn't take us too long to get there. I think.

All right. I'll give ya my answer by then.

[he did feel like it was time to move on and become captain of his own ship, but this would be even better! Really, though, he's going to think it over]

Awesome, sounds good! I'll hold you to it!

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[voice/written] action for Hazmats

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