[voice/written] action for Hazmats

[youhearthebells]

[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.]

Comments

[action]

[youhearthebells]

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.

[action]

[mostattitude]

...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.

[action]

[youhearthebells]

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]

[action]

[mostattitude]

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!

[action]

[youhearthebells]

[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?

[action]

[mostattitude]

Good. Do that, bro.

[THUMBS UP. Then he nods.]

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

[action]

[youhearthebells]

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]

[action]

[mostattitude]

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