The Bravos are ready to prove themselves

The day flew by with the Bravos acquainting themselves with the ship and crew, and making a few trips back into the city to stock up on supplies for the journey that lay ahead. Becky sifted through the various crew members, finally relaxing just a bit as she assured herself that she didn't recognize any of the from her past. Of the crew, a dozen or so seemed to be mercenaries of a sort, more focused on fighting than sailing, which wouldn't be out of place on a bounty hunter's ship, but did little to assuage Becky's concerns that their new hosts were actually pirates.

It was after they ate a communal dinner of various types of slightly overcooked seafood that the Bravos agreed they were ready to get started proving their worth. Fuu found Dariel who grinned his response. "It's time, boys!" he yelled. His voice carried rather well through the mess deck and down to the quarters below. Within minutes, the majority of the crew was gathered in the hall. The space, though decently large, felt somewhat cramped with all of its occupants.

"This is how this is gonna go." Dariel said. The man had climbed up onto one of the tables at the far side of the mess deck, facing the crowd of Bravos and sailors. Looking around, Emmaline noticed that there was an atmosphere among the crew members like that before a stage show, eager anticipation. They were on the edge of their seats, just waiting. "We of the Midnight Duckling have a tradition for new crew, don't we boys?"

"Aye!" the mixing of voices was almost like a roar, mostly male but with a few higher pitched female voices as well.

"To be part of the crew, you've got to prove that you've got what it takes. And... that ye've got our backs." Dariel sounded more like he was announcing a circus act than explaining anything to the Bravos. As Emmaline glanced around through the sea of bodies, she noted that Captain Peregrine was nowhere to be seen. It made a sort of sense, she supposed. They would prove themselves to the crew now and the captain later, so there was no need for him to be present at the moment.

"The tradition is a good and simple one, a right guaranteed to earn the trust and respect of every man on the ship." Dariel's eyes glimmered with excitement. "Tonight, each crewman will give ye a task. Once every task is complete, ye're one of us. Simple as that."

"Hmm that's not so bad." Emmaline heard Robin think aloud, though she herself was somewhat worried. Sailors were a particular group from what she remembered. Emmaline doubted the 'tasks' would be so simple as collecting produce or polishing the floors.

"And, if you do yer tasks in a manner that is, shall we say 'pleasing' to the eyes and tastes of the crew..." Dariel paused until the sudden cheering died down. "Then ye can count them as more than a single task. Its easy, really."

With that as the final part of his announcement, Dariel stepped down off of his table, and the Bravos turned to see many of the crewmen and women already eager to offer them tasks to complete. Emmaline looked to Fuu, who shrugged. "Looks like it's gonna be a busy night," she said.