Pieter didn't seem to react much to Berlin's confession, but he sucked deeply on his pipe as he refilled Berlin's mug. Exhaling a plume of smoke, he said, "No, I don't think you have told me. Tell me about it."

---

Hana returned Uban's natural smile with a sheepish one in return, she certainly might have seemed like an ass for yelling all the way across the [i]Borealis[/i]. Still, he was here and smiling, "Oh, umm. If you weren't busy, I was going to ask if you could shave my scalp. I can do it by myself, but it's a pain to reach everything. If you don't mind, of course.

--

Wheel had sorted through and organized the materials they needed for the training, dulled blades for training, wire and cloth dummies for targets, and plenty of shot and powder for the marksmanship practice. He also had marked the barrels and weights he intended to saddle everyone with for the obstacle course he designed. He didn't take many things seriously, but he understood the importance of physical readiness to keep the crew in fighting condition. The Barizians would outmatch them, and the only way the [i]Borealis[/i] would stand a chance is if they could outfight, outrun, and outfuck all of the slavers. And he'd be damned if he wouldn't make it happen. The curse was singing to him, a satisfied beat that let him focus on the task at hand. It knew what the training was for, and it was eager to help Wheel get ready for the violence that was coming. 

--

Wheel stood on the deck watching the eagle descend and throw the pin at him. And while the eagle was fast, his reflexes let him easily catch the speeding pin with one hand behind his back. He knew it would irk the boy, which is why he did it. While he talked to Uban, he waited, tossing the pin easily up into the air and catching it. After the boy had finished and started to descend to the galley to find some grub, he called out, "Good work, boy. Maybe you'll amount to something I can make a passable fighter out of. Get your rest, you'll need it for tomorrow." Smirking, he rolled a cigarette and lit it, looking up at the night sky.