wrecking_yard

Sunrise at altitude over the ocean is an entirely different thing to even a ship on the ocean - and almost eerily peaceful, with mostly clear skies and little sound but the wind and the crewman on watch.  It's quiet enough that I almost end up dozing at the railing, and don't notice Tiberius until he's clearing his throat somewhere behind me, approaching to lean on the railing beside me. 

"Up early as always, I see." 

I half-nod; old habits die hard.  He's oddly pensive and hesitant - something is up.

"The view from up here is quite lovely - it's a shame these ships are so scarce." 

"It is."  There's more than enough time for small talk, but considering the events of the past month or so, my nerves are not up to letting him not so much beat around the bush as circle it like a blind vulture.  "Was there something amiss?"

"Ah."  There's a quick third-eyelid flicker and he clicks his jaws a couple times.  "I didn't mean to pry, but after that meeting... well.  I happened to overhear a little here and there, when you were talking to the Sovereign." 

He was sitting on the closer end of the table, and has elevated curiosity into a deadly sin.  I sigh.  "Yes?"

"Well.  You seemed - unusually stressed through the whole meeting, and I didn't hear much of anything you said, but I caught something Sovereign Uriel said about someone - taking over after the deaths of ..."  He inhales, a little puff of smoke out before he speaks again.  "A ... de Rolo family, and it sounded familiar - but of course I was quite preoccupied with our current perilous cargo, so it wasn't until there was more quiet time with not much else to do before I ah, remembered that - if I was not mistaken that's your family name." 

"Yes.  It is." 

There is an awkward pause as he makes a tiny, uncomfortable little rattle.  "Was that -......"  He trails off, stiff and concerned.

"Yes.  It was." 

Another uncomfortable noise.  "... Are you quite alright?"

I just lean a little more heavily on the railing, looking down at the light reflecting over the water distantly below. 

"Hmm."  He's staring at the water with me.  ".... is that why you took such interest in - what was it, Blackbriar?"

"The Briarwoods, and yes."

There's another long awkward pause, and eventually he puts a hand on my shoulder, giving it a squeeze.  "Well.  Whatever it is, you have all of Vox Machina behind you." 

"Thank you, Tiberius." 

He takes his hand off my shoulder, and there's a slightly longer awkward silence, and then - "...So have you gotten much of a look at how this ship is built?  I've been taking notes to decipher the magics that keep it aloft, but you are far more of an engineer than I and I'd imagine this would require some structural differences from a standard seagoing ship." 

Off into an honestly more than welcome distraction.

[( Some things you just can't be paid enough for. <strike>also maybe don't try to double cross someone with a vengeance demon living in their head.</strike> )