This is sometimes a problem with PBP, where people can sometimes play their characters as more aggressive/arrogant/snotty/etc than they might in a tabletop or LARP situation when an immediate response might get out of hand and cause a backing down effect. On the other hand, reacting or responding as your character would to what can be perceived as such stances becomes more academic and lose players because they feel constrained, particularly early on, to keep the story from becoming confrontational and escalating.<br/><br/>I've had to moderate a character's reactions like this on more than one occasion when a player decided to push to be top dog in some way and it either backfire or cause increasing problems in a game.<br/><br/>In this case, I think that the player in question simply didn't know how a ship runs, or how well trained a crew had to be in the era of the story. Ships didn't stay out for a couple of weeks crossing the pacific, but for months and even years with little or no support... they had to find ways to deal with things we today don't even consider... For example, the storage of foodstuffs and fresh water would of been safely secured to withstand everything but a sinking in most cases and a passenger's personal effects would of been limited to what he/she could carry into their cabins. In this particular case, coffee and tea.... which would not be stored in a galley that had a regulation orpersonal organized arrangement for the ship's cook... one or two people charged with feeding as many as 300 people or more with only what was on hand.<br/><br/>The second mistake was taking on the role of God and decreeing what wasleft and implying that it was due to his actions, and a professional cook's incompetence  by allowing a passenger to store private goods in the galley's limited storage space.<br/><br/>Ultimately, it's up to wghat the GM decides to do. I would agree with TItch, who very likely hired his crew man by man for his ability or potential and took on passengers who could cover his price, or have their price covered. I fear that one or the other player will feel feel cheated and picked on over this.<br/><br/>A final mistake was the assumption that the cook would tell a passenger that "All of the food is gone, except for you're, your highness... don't tell anyone or we'll have a riot on the decks..." and then runs up on deck, puts on a show and makes sure that the entire crew know of their desperate pliat. Sadly, in the end, it just wasn't a well considered post. As we don't want a fight at this moment over it, perhaps it may be best to moderate such postings in the future, or get data from the GM before posting. Try to remember that you have to work with and live with them in hostitle situations and there are some who may simply leave you to your own devices out of spite and distrust if you become too aggrevating. Upbeat and cherry doesn't seem to be the attitude in the first post.<br/><br/>perhas a middle ground might be a more private conversation with the Captain admitting that what he said was what he had heard in the rumor mill/scuttlebutt and he didn't mean to pass misinformation to the general crew without someone verifying what was said. That could reduce TItch's temper, clear the air a little and move on. If not, ignoring such a claim now only sets everyone up for another one later and things will be worst then...Titch could simply have a rope wrpped about the offender's leg and thrown overboard to cool off. Once he stops spluttering, he can be raised back onto the deck... of course, he would then feel obligated to strike out at those who embarrassed him and the game falls apart.