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[indent]Luro, in his stammering, let it slip. Runali was the captain, huh? She seemed like a little girl. She seemed even more naive than the girl whose sword he just snapped, younger than the girl that could be compared to a fairy, and far too young to be leading the men that were following her. Granted, Shouta had met many young individuals and even women that were capable leaders, but she a stark contrast to what he had seen in the past. That wasn't necessarily bad. In fact, two of the previous supernovas gave Shouta a similar impression, albeit for different reasons. None of that mattered now, however.[/indent]

The intense gaze of Shouta fell on Runali. This is why he was the judge. Even drunk, his will was indomitable. Even if she could bare the weight of his will, no one alive would fight off the pressure that one could feel through his gaze. He was the judge. He wasn't judge evaluating, either. He was the jury and executioner, and it was visible from his gaze alone. He wasn't just going to pass some opinion onto her, that was made obvious by the fact he asked for her alone. He hadn't even judged them. No, this was different. He was passing verdict. What she would do, as Captain - as a good Captain - to make up for Alicia. The girl had failed in her 'challenge' so miserably, but more so she challenged a man and his word for the sake of her pride only to accomplish nothing. What did that merit? Not just for Alicia, but how would that reflect onto the Captain and crew as a whole?

"Runali, you will stand before me," he told her, a declarative sentence. Disobeying him might result in something as drastic as a crushed skull, if he caught her. Even if he didn't verbally communicate, the atmosphere he created wouldn't fail to. "That woman represented you and yer crew, but she failed to even leave an impression dat could make me remember'er name... what does 'at say of teh Stardusk? -- Don' answer. Don' waste yer breath; I know, but you don' seem to. I broke her sword teh break her will so she may build it back up stronger. As weak as you all are now, you won' make it long in this worl'. You will die a sailor's death, an' ain't no one gonna save ye miserable asses," Shouta spoke to Runali, almost speaking down to her at this point.

[indent]"Youse will face teh same punishment as'er. You will give me yer blade, be a sword er not, an' I'm gonna break in front of teh rest of yer crew. Difference be, you will show it to her an' you will keep it as a token of yer shame. If you ain't got any blade, girl, you be just dimwitted enough I may rip off yer arm," he told her, explaining what was to happen to her. It wasn't the worst, by far, but it had a definite symbolic gesture. After a brief moment of silence, Shouta added, "an', girl, if you ain't got a sword now, get one. It ain't about usin' it; a captain don' need to be a swordsmen. A sword is a symbol of leadership, girl. When a captain raises t'ere sword, the whole crew shoul' follow." Even while passing down his verdict and even explaining his punishment, Shouta was not without his words of wisdom. A harsh judge he was, sure, but far from a cruel one.[/indent]