It was no surprise to him to hear about the crew initiating new members by fights or tussles. Sometimes they were brutal but they were necessary to test the strength of the recruit. He remembered when he was on the ship for the first time, the scars he obtained. But he had always fought back and it wasn't long before the abuse had stopped. Most initiations lasted only a couple months after either they had proved themselves or the crew got bored. The fact that Elijah endured years of abuse right under his nose and without so much as breathing a word was a blow to Sebastian. Even though he understood his logic, the captain's stomach twisted into a tighter knot as his hands clenched at his sides. "Who were the leaders." He said, his voice quiet but heavy. 

When Elijah stood up, Josephine stood as well. She was hesitant to reach out and put a hand on his back in order to steady him. He needed to show the captain that he was strong, even after being beaten down he could stand on his own two feet. And while she understood that, her hands itched to support him, to show that she with him. It wasn't until he turned away that she put a hand on his back, giving him a small smile.