quack quack

[forsometimenow]

Who: The crew of the SS Wonderduck and any visitors
Broadcast: N/A
Action: SS Wonderduck
When: The first few weeks of April

[The crew has changed a lot since the last mingle. What're you up to, Wonderducks? What nasty and/or hilarious rumors are being spread about you?]

Comments

[servantnotserving]

Truly?

You're not? That's a shame. I would bet you would be very good at it.

[norwaysown]

I'm a fleet captain, not a soft-handed diplomat.

[servantnotserving]

There's not much soft-handed about diplomacy. It is a tricky business. Trying to balance firmness in your own needs while not ruffling feathers to the point where they would be insulted and break a potential alliance.

[norwaysown]

There's plenty soft-handed about diplomacy.

[ She thinks of the Company man, who had sold out the fleet. She doesn't hold Mazian's degree of anger about it, but that doesn't mean she forgives it. ]

I'm a soldier.

[servantnotserving]

Perhaps we will have to agree to disagree there, ma Cherie.

[He says, diplomatically.]

You are? Most impressive! I'll bet you cut an imposing figure on the battlefield.

[norwaysown]

Mallory.

[ It's close to a growl. ]

And it's at the helm of a ship. I was Captain of the Norway.

[ And if they were there, this conversation would be going very differently. ]

[servantnotserving]

Yes, yes, Mallory.

[This will never get old. ]

Then I'll bet you cut an imposing figure at the helm of a ship. I imagine others move away from you as fast as they can, when they learn it is your ship they are facing.

[norwaysown]

[ It's already old. ]

They're wise to do so.

[servantnotserving]

[Not for hiiiiim. ]

I would not doubt that for a second!

[norwaysown]

There's value in discipline.

[servantnotserving]

So my friend back home likes to tell me every waking second he can.

[norwaysown]

[ Sounds like they'd be better off with him here instead. ]

It doesn't sound like you listened.

[servantnotserving]

[The Wonderduck would run 100% more efficiently but would be 99.9% less fun. ]

If I listened to him all the time, I'd never have any fun. It's good for him. Encouraging him to loosen up a little.

[norwaysown]

[ Sounds like her kind of ship. ]

There are things much more important than fun. Like safety.

[servantnotserving]

[So dull. ]

You can safely have fun.

[norwaysown]

It can't involve fire in an oxygen-controlled environment, for one.

[servantnotserving]

Magic fire. I do not think the same rules apply to me.

[norwaysown]

[ She makes a face. ]

I would assume it starts becoming normal fire when you involve paper.

[servantnotserving]

[He waves a candle dismissively.]

A minor detail.

[norwaysown]

Just don't kill us all.

[servantnotserving]

I promise you that no harm will come to anyone aboard this wonderful ship.

[norwaysown]

Not deliberately, at least. Neglect can be just as important to watch out for.

[servantnotserving]

So serious.

[He loves it, really. She reminds him of Cogsworth. ]

I promise I will do my best not to neglectfully set anything on fire.

[norwaysown]

Someone on this ship has to be.

Good. See that you do.

[ At that she assumes the conversation is done, the matter settled. ]