[written]

[thethundersaid]

[private to Howling Sabers]

Murderess: two points.

1. There is a lot of talk about this Navy ball in the Corsair Kingdom. I believe it would be a good opportunity to gather information, or at least listen to what is being said within the Navy. Who among you can handle subterfuge?

2. We are running low on everything except what we can catch or collect in buckets. We're nowhere close to Empieza and restocking yet. Be careful with what you take from the stores, or I'll start requiring shared meals crew-wide.

Comments

[voice]

[yatteyanyo]

Ah, I do apologize about that. I suppose I'm still getting used to being hungry again... I will account for the extra burden on our supplies out of my own wallet, sir, when it comes time to resupply.

... And as for the ball, if it's not too much to ask... may I be excused from official duty? You see... I have a date.

[voice]

[thethundersaid]

Apologies don't matter. The crew has grown larger than before, and there are new people on board who aren't used to life without easy foraging available. [He pauses, though, a little thoughtful --] It may be useful to have a crew fund for this sort of thing, though.

[And that request draws him up short, because it's absolutely not in his experience or purview to handle personal matters -- it takes him a second, but there's almost amusement in his voice when he answers this time.]

You're excused. The watch schedule can be adjusted.

Re: [voice]

[yatteyanyo]

Thank you, sir... And should trouble start, I won't hesitate to help get the crew safely back onto the ship.

... Let's just hope trouble doesn't start. -But they both know, without saying it, that with the Spades involved, trouble was pretty much bound to happen.-

written

[forhylia]

I volunteer for attending this ball, though I admit that I am not certain as to how fruitful a venture it will be.

written

[thethundersaid]

If nothing else, we'll be able to observe without being attacked as pirates right away.

Are you familiar with the traditions around this sort of thing?

written

[forhylia]

A masked party? No, I am not.

My hesitance is that the risk would likely outweigh the benefits. How much would a soldier be willing to tell a faceless stranger?

written;

[keyworddouble]

I had considered asking you about a similar matter regarding the ball myself, but figured it best to allow you to plan your own course of action. Naturally, I volunteer for the task of seeking intel, though I will more than likely also be escorting Akichan to the ball for something of a more frivolous nature. [He taps his pen against the paper for a moment so there is a collection of meandering dots.]

If needbe, I would not be opposed to making a trip somewhere to obtain supplies for the crew in between our ability to restock at Empieza. I admit to occasional forgetfulness in regard of eating in the first place, which may prove useful if it comes to gathering emergency rations. [Philip you're a little dumb sometimes.]

written;

[thethundersaid]

Yes, I expected you to gather intel. If Akiko wants to attend for fun, her presence will be a benefit to your cover story.

[There's a pause while Sasuke absorbs the information that apparently there are not only members of his crew that eat too much, but those that eat too little.]

Any venture elsewhere will need to use the sailboat, which the younger Link controls. Talk to him if you intend to try, but avoid inhabited islands we haven't heard about. [Another pause, then:] I expect the members of this crew to maintain health and strength. Do you require a reminder to eat?

written;

[keyworddouble]

Ah, very true.

[Philip is a touch sheepish about this concept. He taps his pen against the journal again for some more dots, and then proceeds to connect them like he's drawing something before he responds.]

That will not be necessary, I assure you. I am persistently in a proper condition for combat and whatever else you may need me for, my occasional lack of attention to sustenance will not affect that. [He doesn't actually need to eat much, really. He probably weighs under a hundred pounds.]

[voice]

[dragonbadfaith]

A ball? Really? They have those here? With dancing and all that? We had a ball at school last year over the winter hols!

[Sorry, you wanted to go for an actual serious reason?]

[voice]

[thethundersaid]

I assume that's what they're talking about on the journals. Are you familiar with this sort of tradition, then?

[voice]

[dragonbadfaith]

Yes, very. Though I imagine being something more official and for a military force like the Navy, this will be quite a bit more posh than some silly school dance.

voice

[obstinates]

I wanna go to a ball. Sounds fun!

voice

[thethundersaid]

Did you miss the part where I asked for people who are good at subterfuge?

voice

[obstinates]

[GOD ALWAYS GOT TO RUIN HIS PARADE.]

Don't be more of an asshole just because everybody else thinks you should be captain, y'know. I'm better at subterfuge than you think.

[voice]

[forthevillage]

I'm sure you're aware that subterfuge is something I'm capable of.

[voice]

[thethundersaid]

... [It's not that Sasuke doubts his brother's skills. It's not. It's just:]

From the sounds of it, this is going to be an event mostly for civilians, even if the Navy is hosting it.

[Voice]

[breakfastmetaphors]

I can handle subterfuge, but not if it means integrating myself into the crowd at the event itself.

[Meaning he'll hide behind curtains as much as you'd like but actually interacting with other human beings? Well, unless he's shooting or stabbing them, he's probably not the best choice.]

[Voice]

[thethundersaid]

... I was hoping to have your eyes at the event. We need someone with a good memory for detail present.

[Given that L-Elf's familiarity with the weaponry in this world, Sasuke was rather hoping that he would also be capable of dealing with an event like this.] Are you saying you'd rather hide somewhere rather than go undercover?

voice

[slugly]

Haruno Sakura, shinobi of Konoha, at your service-

[to which she means HELLO SASUKE SHE IS A NINJA REMEMBER deceit is a thing]

-Captain Sasuke.

[hehehe should we call him Seakage]

voice

[thethundersaid]

That ... [No, that definitely sounds weird.] Just call me Sasuke.

It's my understanding that this is the sort of event where people are expected to come in couples. Are you willing to attend under that cover?

written

[greenshoe]

I can handle gathering information at the ball, I'm great at being able to go undercover.

[ The one time she went undercover as a maid didn't really go well but it's the effort that counts... ]

written

[thethundersaid]

Yes, Philip told me you are likely attending together.

[missvicegirl]

Aw, you beat me to asking out Sakura.

But I'll be there. I've already made plans for something with someone, and it should throw them off if we both get spotted. I'll keep you posted.

[thethundersaid]

We need to divide those who are better at managing conversation amongst the crew.

Is this 'something' a thing I should know more about?