Yawar smiled and didnt’ flinch too much at Uban’s playful slap, “Aha, my Misk is certainly lovely, but he’s not a lady,” A thought of Misk in skirts and a maiden’s veil played across his mind but he focused on the conversation, stilling at Uban’s story, “I’m sorry to hear that. It must be hard to be separated like that from one you love. The fates are cruel, but ultimately we are led to where we must.” Trying a roguish tone, he continued, “Besides, I envy a free man in the ports around here!” 

A fly did a lazy loop above Hana’s head, trying to get a better understanding of the mage. If she were Elbish, her magic would be frightening indeed. “Cantrips, I believe,” Yawar said drily, “Yes, I fancy myself a scholar, and I imagine I’d enjoy a future conversation with Hana.”

——

Kara-met nodded rapidly, several pieces of the puzzle dropping into place. Tugging at his mustache he confided in Berlin, “Yes, Millie is a berserker too. Those tentacles of hers were attached by some of our chiurgeons, and the curse is what, ah, [i]fuels[/i] them. The tentacles are, how do I say, hostile? To her body, and the curse must exert itself to maintain itself. Her mood swings are greatly controlled, and the normal hazards of keeping a berserkers company have been mitigated.” His tone was coolly professional with an undercurrent of pride, a commander taking pleasure in his finely dressed soldiers, a trainer contented with his trained and obedient hound. 

He looked at Berlins hands and said wryly, “Of course, your method has much to say for it,” with a small smile which grew wider at Yawars demonstration.

——

Yawar looked around him, seeing through hundreds of different eyes at once. Trying to look through a single flies eyes was disorienting and unsatisfying, seeing through a swarm was revelatory. Kaga-met’s relaxed and easy stance next to the tense captain, Millie sitting while her friend stood, watching. Hana and the old man still sat, with the shifter-cat bristling at his display. Uban had backed away, and his shoulders slumped as his mouth opened in awe. They straightened when he spoke, trying to break his nervousness with humor. Yawar returned the smile, raising his voice to be heard over the sound of the flies, “Well, I certainly don’t want anything getting in my eyes, but yes, the glasses are mostly a consideration for others. Rather stylish too, don’t you think?”

When Berlin and Kaga-met walked down to stand before the crew, Yawars flies retreated to a less distracting presence and the other crewmembers, pirate and Barizian alike gathered round.

——
Hana had nearly shrieked when she saw the swarm of flies come out of the mans head. She’d never heard of anything like [i]this[/i] before. Another reminder that the world was much bigger and stranger than Elbar. Still, if Berlin was ready to trust them to fight the slavers, she would have to put the same faith in them her captain did. On all the virtues at once, though, she’d be willing to bet that these people would be able to scare the Barizians to death before they actually did anything. Millie and Wheel had spoken once more to each other than split up, Wheel stood next to Hana while Millie rejoined Yawar. 
“Everything okay?” Hana asked Wheel in a neutral voice, “Never been better,” he deadpanned. Hana bit her lip in frustration at Wheel, but chose not to press it. She could find out later. Besides, she figured, at least he hadn’t hurt anyone.

After Berlin had spoken, Kaga-met took a half step forward, “I understand that this is strange for all of us, but I believe our common goal, the destruction of the monsters who make their living hunting innocents, is enough to set aside any concerns or past histories,” he locked his eyes on Millie, who held his gaze for a moment before looking down at her feet. Evidently satisfied, he continued more confidently, “and together we’ll prove no match for the fiends.” 

He looked at Berlin and spoke to both him and the assembled crew, “Our Swift caught some fine tuna this morning, perhaps we should celebrate with a lunch?”