The air aboard the Borealis became static as everyone watched the exchange between this tentacled stranger and Wheel. From the first word, Berlin quickly put it together that they knew each other, and he had yet to decide if that was a good thing or not. So far it was pointing to not. And yet...he knew if Wheel really wanted this person dead, they'd be dead without so much fuss or drama. He liked that about Wheel, he was practical. So he waited. With bated breath he waited and hoped that his crew was ready to fight if it came down to it. He hoped the Swift Justice didn't breathe fire. Did all dragons breathe fire of some sort or another? Could that one anymore, even if it once could?

Uban bit into his apple with care in order to be as quiet as possible; he absolutely wanted to hear what was being said and without too much crunching to drown it out. He could see tentacle-lady tensing, and inwardly he groaned. Why'd he have to pick today to show off and experiment? If he was honest with himself, his current wildest fantasy was for someone to feed him in bed, and here they were about to engage with some people that were--dare he think it--even weirder than they were. He felt exhausted. Uban, perhaps even more than Berlin, did not want to see this whole exchange escalate. 

So when the woman vaulted across the deck and managed to weird him out more than Rohaan (an impressive feat), and said shifter instantly dropped from his seat on the gunnel, Uban shot a hand out faster than he thought he was currently capable of to grab the lad's shirt collar. He yanked back a little, earning a strangled "Ghhllk" sound from the boy, who immediately turned his scowl on his mate. 
"Shh," Uban hissed even though the boy hadn't said anything. "Wheel can handle himself, don't make this worse. Besides, I'd like to see her just [I]try[/I] to stick him with that spear."
Rohaan whispered a little wicked cackle. "Yeah!" He was right, Wheel could handle himself. And that freed up his attention to now focus on the other two, especially the man with the glass circles over his eyes. Rohaan wanted those. If he had them, their next trip into port would be a whole new experience for him, one he thought denied to him at birth. He could hide in plain sight. So those infamous lapis eyes settled with the weight of boulders on the man with the spectacles. If things went sideways, he would be Rohaan's first target. 

The wind rattled the tack and made the water slop against the sides of the boat, but still, no one fired any shots or punctured any lungs. And Berlin's expression went from tight to unabashedly surprised as Wheel and the woman...hugged? He actually blinked a few times just in case. No, still there. And it was still [I]him[/I] and not some cursed (er, doubly cursed) version of Wheel, Berlin realized as they both served them all up such sour frowns as would turn new milk. Berlin actually sighed, feeling like he'd just dodged a bullet. He stole a quick glance to Pieter that simultaneously said 'thank the stars' and 'this is why I drink.'

The captain turned back to Kaga-met and his mate. "Seems we have some mutual friends. Good. Very good." He seemed a little more relaxed, a little more assured of their odd alliance. Berlin picked up two mugs of mint tea and offered them to Kaga-Met and Yawar. "Cheers, mates." He drank from his own mug, wishing it was of better quality. Mm, he'd have to shake down a merchant ship soon to get them some. "So...I know we don't look like we'd be much of an asset to you and yours, but I've hand-picked my crew over the years and I'm very pleased with what they're capable of. Hana here is a right-fine mage and has been working with Uban there to create some special explosives. Uban can summon lighting from his hands." Uban held up his thumb and forefinger and let a short arc jump between them for show, but then he found himself only wishing for his hammock even more. "The lad there's a shape shifter, as you've seen. A terror in battle, but also a first-rate topman, if I may say so myself." He added the last bit  with a little bit of an edge, as if to preemptively defend the lad and Berlin's choice to keep him on board. "Pieter's been my friend and shipmate for many years, and he has a knowledge of the...darker parts of the sea that has proven invaluable. Wheel..." he glanced back to where he and the woman had retreated and simply said, "is one of the best warriors I've ever seen. And I..." Berlin gave an honestly embarrassed smile. "I'm not sure how to describe me. Perhaps I could demonstrate? May I have your hand a moment?" 

Berlin reached out one of his own to Kaga-Met as if to shake hands, offering such a charming smile as he did it. "Now, I'm going to ask you to do two very simple actions. And I would like for you to not comply. Ready?" Berlin let his power flow into Kaga-Met and said, "Tell me your name, and clap your hands once." Nothing odd or humiliating, but enough to get his point across. Berlin let go of his hand. "So...that's us. How long have you been chasing this lot? Do you know much about them? I was sort of planning to sneak aboard their ships one by one and...sow a little chaos. Make them kill each other. Once our cover was blown I figured..." Berlin shrugged. "We'd blow them to bits, burn down their ships, you know. But if you've got other thoughts, I'd like to hear them."