As quickly as he can escape his lessons for the day, Masamichi goes to the hold to try and catch the heimin before the go on duty.

"Good evening. I am Asahina Masamichi, I would aid you in maintenance of the ship this evening if you could use another hand." he states to the group.

The collection of crafters, who had been merrily chatting, stopped when the samurai arrived. Rising and bowing nearly as one, two of the three went right back to work but the third, an unsmiling man in his prime, said, "What're you trained in best, -sama?"

Rule one...never imply a samurai isn't trained.

"I am an engineer by training, specilized in balista and other large weapons. However, Moshi-Gunso-Sama has restricted me from that area and asked I do what you have need for. I know my way around a ship well enough I should be able to help with most of what you need." he says in a not-too-happy way.

"Ah."

Punishment detail, then.

"How're ya on splicin' rope? Gunso had ta cut down some fool an' we lost a fair bit of line."

"Certainly. Never enough rope, eh?" he says with a mock smile.

It seemed the peasant didn't find it funny because his face remained set in the same stern lines.

"Nope. You can sit with Knots, he'll show you how it's done on this particular boat."

He gestured to the older man, currently working on a rather large assortment of cabling. Knots turned, gave a toothless grin, but then went back to his task, his gnarled hands moving with amazing dexterity over the silk.

The Cran stretched out his hands a bit and then found a seat near Knots, learning a new braiding or knotting technique can never hurt. You never know what can be applied to improving the capabilities of a ballista...

Probably not.

Still, it was a needful task and the old heimen was a cheerful man, perfectly happy to share his expertise with a younger shipmate, despite the difference in their ranks.

Masamichi returns the old man smile and happily learns all he can working besides the man, careful not to braid his gorgeous moustache into the ropes. He is always happy to make himself useful, and he knows it will stick in that Moshi's craw if she knows he goes about his punishments willingly and happily.

After the first several minutes of silence, the chatter starts up again.

Knots, who worked without pause, asked, "So what's te wager up ta now?"

The other man scowled. "Last I heard, nearly a whole bu."

The girl gasped. "So much? Which side's leadin?"

Knots laughed. "Te priest, a'course. Frail lookin' one, 'an t'other a Crab an' all."

"Betting on who gets sick first, who washes out first or who beds first?" the Crane asks with a knowing chuckle.

Knots, cheerfully, said, "On who has ta' get t'e really nasty way of survivin' seasickness, -sama."

The other two nodded, the girl blushing just a little.

He considers for a moment I can't say I have noticed anyone having problems in the classes. Are there a few struggling?

The solemn man made a sort of 'hrrumph' that seemed to be as close to a laugh as he could manage. "That Isawa's been bent over the rail dozen times already an' the Toritaka...he don't have nothin' left for the bendin'."

The young woma, at least, showed some sympathy. "Poor man...think he only managed to get out of his berth the once all trip. I hope someone fixes him soon...bad omen to have the sickness take a man."

Instantly, all three of them did the same warding gesture, nearly at the same time.

He copies the gesture, holding the same superstitions as they. "Not good. Especially where we are. With so many who seem to have never set foot on a ship though, we should count ourselves blessed there aren't more like them."

They all nodded, the one who seemed the leader of them all offering, "Damned surprise none of them Unicorn ended up in the bay...guess callin' them fields seas of grass ain't just pretty language."

Masamichi pauses and shows his work to Knotsto see if his work is satisfactory, while looking back to the group "Never know who will be hit with the sickness. Though a few of these recruits don't seem to be more or less useful in their bunks or on deck. Moshi-Gunso-Sama and Isawa-Gunso-Sama both do a good job of whipping green folk into shape though."

Knots nodded his approval...it wasn't pretty but it would serve.

"Well, -sama, they should be good by now." It was the first man again. "Moshi-gunso's been w' Captain a long time an' while Isawa-gunso's newer on this boat he's been at sea since his sixteenth summer, or so I heard 'im tellin' Captain over drinks once. That's a fair long time to learn what needs doin' and how to get others to do it proper."

Masamichi nods, "They seem like good people and good sailors. It is clear why they hold this position." he continues to happily make smalltalk to catch up on scuttlebutt he has been missing while working away on the lines.

The peasants were happy to share, though much of what the spoke of was of those who had come before, other ships and other sailors the Captain had trained, now gone on to new duties. They still treated Masamichi with deference and no doubt chose their talk with his presence in mindd, however, and so nothing too scandalous was revealed.