Stranded

"Yes." Clarisse turned to face the cabin boy. She looked at him squarely and calmly. She wondered what he wanted.

 

"I just..." His lips tightened to a thin line, hating what he was about to say, but it was captains orders. "I just wanted to say...i'm...sorry for my behavior this morning...I was completely...disrespective to you."

 

"I expect by your reaction that you were told to say that. Of course your lack of conviction tells me the truth. Why don't you go and play with your little friend.as you are obviously not mature enough to understand what is happening here."

 

'Bet'cha i'm more mature than you.'

"I know you plan to buy this ship and fire everyone on it." Matt kept his face emotionless, his voice serious but not disrespectful.

 

"Actually the ship and the company are already bought and I am assessing whether it would be cost effective to upgrade and refurbish the ship. I had no intention of 'firing everyone' as you put it. I have had good service in certain areas. Yes, the ship will be replaced with one that is state of the art and we will need a dedicated crew to serve on her. The wages will rise but for this to happen the crew must give good service and show loyalty. Do you understand now? It makes little sense to throw money at a bad investment. I am merely auditing the ship. You really know nothing about business."

 

Matt couldn't disagree with her. It wasn't like he had anyone to pay for his education. He was no good with numbers and although he could write, he could never do any real buisiness. The ship was all he had, all he'd been brought up for. And he knew that as soon as they landed again back to shore, he wasn't gonna be in the group that kept their jobs.
He swallowed hard, staring down at his feet, eyes narrow in thought and realization.

 

"Look, I know things look bleak at the moment but you will find that I haven't completed my report and it won't be written until the voyage is over. I'm not the monster you paint me to be, just someone with a hard job to do and a knowledge that the only way to do it properly never wins friends. You can still redeem yourself as nothing is set in stone. Work hard and the company will pay for you to attend courses, extend your education and maybe you will end up as captain of your own ship."

 

Matt looked up at her quick, wondering if she was just teasing him. It didn't seem like she was. He didn't understand. He figured he had no chance, but he did after all...maybe... He nodded, feeling small.

He didn't know if he should thank her or ask her if she really had the power to do that or what. So he just looked up unsure and said, "I'll work hard as I can, miss."

 

Clarisse smiled. "I can help if I see that this ship can be saved. Sadly someone has to do this job and I was in the best position as I needed to travel anyway. I have the power to hire and fire on the spot but I want people to have a chance. Just because I seem pampered to you doesn't mean that I have any more freedom or that I don't work. Your little friend is the lazy spoilt one. I will wipe the last set of notes and we will pretend it never happened."

 

Matt nodded. "If I may ask a question, miss Dubois...what will happen to the captain? Will he get replaced with the ship?" Matt wasn't sure how she'd answer but he had to know. The captain was like a father to him and he would stay loyal to him no matter what the cost, even if it meant leaving the ship with him.

 

"Well ideally the ship will be replaced as it is old and in need of too many upgrades. The captain will transfer to the new ship and he will take most if not all of the crew across with him. Some jobs may change but ideally the same crew would be easier as people already know the pecking order and what is expected of them."

 

Matt nodded, feeling better. As long as the captain kept his job.
"Well. I guess I shouldn't stray too far from my job. I still have to scrub the rest of the ship down." He bowed a little to her. "Miss Dubois, if you would excuse me..."
He turned and went back to his work, things were looking up again, if not just a little bit.

 

Clarisse smiled to herself. So she was cast as the Cruella DeVille character. Next she'd be killing puppies or something in their eyes. They had no idea of the responsibilities she shouldered or of how lonely she really was.

ooc:got to go. Goodnight.

 

*Raina walks around*

 

Matt was still working, scrubbing the deck when he spotted Raina. He smiled and waved at her.

 

*Raina waved back and walked over*

"need any help?"

 

Matt smirked and shook his head. "Thanks but no thanks. If miss Dubois saw you doing my job, she'd mark me down again." He thought for a moment. "But if you like, miss. You can stick around... if you want..."

 

"I won't be doing ur job just helping"

 

"Please, miss. It's alright. I got it. It's captains orders and what he says goes..." He paused, thinking of what to say next. He glanced over her shoulder and saw the sky was black off in the distance. A storm. He shrugged it off. Maybe the storm wasn't headed there way...

ooc: If both you and Gharanth are on tonight, we might sink the ship today.

 

"ok then I'll stay and keep u compeny"