On the foredeck, Amaya moved crisply from one location to another. She checked the ropes while listening for the called orders of whoever was at the till. If a call was made to tack, she would adjust and retie as needed along with the others. For now, she was checking to see which ropes were going to need to be replaced or repaired sooner.

Toritaka Punchiru, still on deck continuing his second shift duties, notes her presence.

"I think that these ropes are mostly still in good shape. I can't speak for the ropes on this side though."

At first, there was no immediate response. Amaya didn't appear to have recognized that she had been addressed. This Toritaka wouldn't be the first to talk to himself. As she caught on that he had been speaking to her, she turned crisply and saluted with a cough. "Yes, O-Samurai-sama," she said, a faint bit louder than necessary, her voice grating as she addressed him. "Look fine fer now."

"Your vigilance does you credit. I am Toritaka Punchiru. May I ask your name?"

Hmm...she seems a bit stiff today. I hope i'm not too intimidating.

"Name's Amaya, O-Toritacka-sama," she said, getting the pronunciation on that hideous minor clan name off. Toreetackoo? Why the hell couldn't they name them something properly simple? At least the Hida was easy to say. Wait, no, this was Crab wasn't it? Damned blasted fool half minor clan turned great... how the hell was she supposed to tell them apart? Samurai was samurai. "What can I do ya for?"

"Oh, there was nothing I needed. I simply wished to greet you properly, Amaya-onna. I do wish to express that you are diligent in your duties, and thank you for it. Naturally we would expect nothing less of course, but it is good to express gratitude even for expected things."

Punchiru continues assuring himself of rope function.

She blinked and cocked her head slightly. "Ah... well, y'er welcome. I'll keep at makin sure th'ropes are tended most days, 'less they need me fer somethin else," she said, definitely sounding a touch confused. "Thanks ... err, f'er bein helpful round here as well."

What the hell does this one do anyway?

"We must all do our best."

Punchiru smiles in a self-satisfied way.

I get along excellently with the help. I should write a treatise on interclass relations shipboard.

"Y...yeah, that'd go without sayin I spose, but 'sgood advice general-like," she said, scratching her head. I suppose everyone's got their types that think the sky is blue and that it needs saying every so often. She pondered adding a thought or two, but for the moment seemed content enough to let the man lead the conversation. He was the samurai after all.