Catherine
*A small, stupid grin took upon Adenium's face as Circini jumped upon noticing his presence, nearly dropping a leather book from between his talons into the coastal seaweeds below. A smile that struck Adenium as uncharacteristic grew across Circini's face, who immediately launched into the pleasantries. Adenium declined Circini's offer to take his bags with a slight drop of his head, taking that small enough of step back to the get point across. It was, quite literally, all he had. He'd rather get to know Circini a bit more personally anyways- he's hardly spoken outside of the ship tours, in a less professional setting. Regardless, it irked him the wrong way, but the gratitude of Circini still shined through.*

*The top deck was significantly less busy than it had been back at the Nightwing port; with more room and less cargo to see, the ship's top deck somehow seemed even more wide- probably twice his wingspan, if he had to guess. A few crewmembers- largely Nightwings, of course- lay upon the deck, clearly taking advantage of the eternal Sand Kingdom sun.*
*As they made their way back down the stairs, Adenium had to stop himself from laughing a bit at Circini's comment informing him if just how dangerous the area could be- hilariously ironic, considering Circini was the visitor in this occasion. With that same, slight grin, he answered, slightly sarcastically,* "No, no problems getting over here. I had *No idea* It could be so dangerous!" *Circini continued on that vocal escapade of his, always the charismatic voice Adenium had found him to be- but it actually struck a chord to a degree. Circini was quick to pick up on who he was- surprisingly quick. That information was stored in the back of his mind, and feasted on readily by whatever little mental medium kept him so suspicious.*

*Tapping and the distant sound of soft Summer waves lapping against the hull.* 

*They'd finally came up to the first empty room Adenium had seen on the little tour Circini had provided a few weeks ago. Circini stepped beyond the door, waiting for Adenium to trot inside.*

*It was furnished more heavily this time- the lone bookshelves on the wall was joined by a simple dresser of matching wood, with both doors left equally ajar. There was l ready some gear of the signature midnight blues and tans hung on the small racks inside.*

*The room itself was decently larger than the sandstone shack he'd come from, with enough room to nearly match his wingspan. A half-glance back to Circini made it clear just how proud of the accommodations he was. Adenium made the mental note that Circini wore his emotions on his figurative sleeve.*

*Another, final glance towards the left side of the room actually shocked him for a second; his eyes locked with the envelope, marked 'welcome' in a calligraphic handwriting much more formal than his own. The shape of scales pressed against the paper; couldn't have been any less than 1k, but any amount made him happy, really; he wasn't expecting hardly anything at all. It'd be more than enough to furnish the room.*

*Ironically, the thing that excited Adenium the most wasn't the scales, but the bed. He felt that little smile creep onto his face again. The place he'd be leaving behind left beds almost solely to the most expensive and exclusive of caravanserai, considering just how sandy everything was- hell, he'd begrudgingly slept on a shoddily-woven hammock for as long as he could remember, under the circumstances that it 'was better than the floor', to quote his father. Ugh.*

*He turned back towards Circini.* "Wow..." *He said, a talon running along the length of his arm.* "That's... Great, really. Even spelled my name right on the metal thingy-!" *He joked, rapping the back of his claws against the nameplate.* "I mean, really, it's perfect. You didn't have to-" *He cut himself off. Too informal, he thought. Still haven't spoken to this Nightwing outside of a work setting. He cleared his throat, and his voice returned to that usual, slightly gritty tone. His best formal voice was out on.* "Really. I appreciate it, it's more than enough space for everything I'd need." *He cocked his to the side a bit, and he squinted as if thinking. Following a brief moment of silence between them, he asked,* "Is this something you do for all crew members? It seems excessive, almost. You're got a lot of work on your plate."
Marian
Circini playfully rolled his eyes with a grin at Adenium's sarcastic comment regarding the safety of the area, clearly, he didn't seem to mind a more lighthearted nature to conversation on or off the job.

He chuckled at the thought he had done well in spelling Adenium's name- "Of course it's great! Only the finest for my employees and friends." The merchant nightwing humbly nodded as if to wordlessly say Adenium was very welcome. "I have so much space - almost a few square meters too many than I know what to do with - and if it's more space than you need, then it should be just perfect for whatever you might *Want*." He said with a cheerful close-eye smile- only opening his eyes when Aden prompted the question about doing this for all of the crew. "Well- certainly, I make it a point to have a personal relationship with all of the crew, first impressions for people as well as places is important... It's important the foundation for the memories held here are pleasant ones-" His voice seemed to trail off with a somber sense of sorrow, his eyes slowly turning to avoid eye contact with Aden for the first time- though it wasn't that his words weren't genuine, rather- there seemed to be something beneath the surface that must've made him function in the ways he did- though for the sake of not bringing the mood down, and the fact he was relatively secretive about his past beyond surface-level information, he simply filed the empty silence with an awkward chuckle.

"W-well that's not to say I don't go out of my way to make the experience unique for everyone- authentic interactions are born from a sort of spontaneous nature, carefully curated with forethought, but not so much you're meticulous about it to the point you're following a script." His typical smile popped back onto his face as he continued to explain himself a bit further. "The truth of the matter is once you've gotten where I am now- you don't actually have a lot to do besides filling out paperwork- and even that doesn't take very long once you've got it down to a science- I like to feel like I'm actually contributing something to this place- besides money, rooms, jobs - it's important to fil my time with my work on the same level of my crew." 

Circini looked like something was starting to bother him . . . His smile fading from his face once again and an ear flicking in an anxious manner at a sound that probably should've been familiar- a dragon landing on the deck above. "Forgive me, but I think I have to go- please stay here- er- I mean you can go wherever you like, but..." He couldn't seem to come up with an excuse or a set of stipulations in the heat of the moment, the silence was deafening as he turned and walked out in a hastened manner, turning towards the direction of the stairwell they had come from before. Whatever was happening, it seemed to be stirred on by the sound from before - one that was loud enough to pierce the otherwise soundproof walls Circini had eagerly boasted about before.

Once the nightwing made it to the deck - it became clearer what had happened, and judging by his reaction- it had happened before- leaning against the center mast was a tall sandwing covered in scars, tattoos, and donning a multitude of piercings across his face - any crew that had be present onboard the ship had seemed to have conveniently 'fallen asleep' - 

Should Adenium have followed- be it out of worry for himself, Circini, or even curiosity- to Aden- this Sandwing was equally a familiar sight as it seemed to be for Circini- one of the leaders of the gang that held domain, and collected 'taxes' from the bandits and killers in the scorpion den, his name was Gila - and upon seeing Circini, a terribly vile, predatory grin crept across his face as the sound of a voice more rugged than the Scorpion Den itself spoke to the otherwise, unassumingly innocent Nightwing. "Well well well... If it ain't 'Slithroat Circini' - can't say I'm surprised given the -" The sandwing gestured around the ship, as he walked forward- causing Circini to tense up... It seemed these two had history with each other, the way they looked at each other told

More than the words of a novel could've hoped to spell out as the sandwing continued. "Well- the *Everything*, you always were a little *Extra*... You know why I'm here, boy- you got one of mine, figured he could scrounge his stuff and slip out without me noticin em leaving." A halfhearted, manipulative face of grief washed over the sandwing. "It's a shame when someone thinks they can leave my little family, but I think it's even worse when they think they're doin any better comin to *You*- let me guess, you played your part of the rich nice-guy, offered him a job- and he bought the fabricated facade you sell to your coworkers, customers, n crew alike. Think you've really outrun the things you've done to get yourself here- trying to make amends by 'being a better dragon', but we both know you ain't changed since you were mine." Circini didn't respond, almost as if listening to him would be enough to make him go away- vanish into thin air like a phantom, an apparition- but this ghostly, malevolent figure was very much alive. 

His head craned to the right, peering towards the stairwell- almost seeming to know Aden was there based on instinct alone. "You can come on out, Adenium- don'tcha want to meet yer new boss? Know who he *Really* Is?"
Catherine
*Adenium's ears perked to match Circini's as the unusually heavy thump against the mast above rocked the ship. The hasty response from Circini was just enough to give Adenium clear insight into just how big of a deal this was; if someone as businesslike as Circini found it important to hurry, then something was clearly wrong.*

*As the Nightwing politely shoved himself between Adenium and the wall to make his hurried scuttle to the stairwell, Adenium resisted the urge to ask what was wrong. Instead, as soon as the Nightwing's tail had disappeared from sight, just above the metal beam lining the edge of the stairwell, Adenium followed carefully- not up the stairs, but just below, just loud enough to pick up on a faint voice:* "-one of mine, figured he'd scrounge up his stuff and slip out without me noticin' 'em leaving."

*The heaviest mental groan Adenium had ever experienced washed over his head. He'd recognize that voice anywhere. Gila.*

*He'd worked with Gila before, while he was still in the bounty business. Gila was a less-than-honorable client, but he paid well. The guy was a total fuckhead- he got his way through brute force and brute force alone. The guy ran the town like a mafia boss. Members tied to him by the theeat of death were sent off on the towns to pick up whatever scales most had scrounged up, giving the promise of 'protection'- from them, Adenium thought snarkily.*

*Adenium had been tied to Gila for a while now- he's been sent to take in a few dragons that'd escaped him. It wasn't often Adenium actually did, though- Gila's only question of proof that the dragon was that he bring one of their scales back. Again, brutish, not the brightest.*

*More times than not, he'd confront whoever he was sent to deal with, tell them the deal, and knife a scale off of em'- better than death, he'd reason. They'd all done their fair share in keeping themselves as far from Gila as possible, considering Gila was willing to kill them himself were this Adenium to fail, so it wasn't out of his way to assume one of them got sloppy, and Aden was on the hook for it.*

*But, no- in an ironically lucky for him, Gila must've just assumed Adenium was trying to bail on being tied to him, maybe going to find some authorities. Adenium was stuck between a rock and a hard place here.*

*Gila's final comment didn't give Adenium much wiggle room- Gila knew he was here, and Adenium wasn't about to leave Circini on the deck alone. As far as he was concerned- despite Gila's rant about Circini, and the slightly odd vibes Circini seemed to put out- Adenium wasn't looking forward to seeing his blood drip between the deck's boards. He heaved a small sigh, turning to face the metal bar, disregarding the stairs as too slow a way to get up there. He leapt slightly, gripping the beam with his talons, and pulled himself up with a small flap from his wings.*
Marian
Circini turned his face away from Adenium - he could feel what was coming next more than a nightwing with the strongest prophecy powers ever could've anticipated - with Gila you paid in one of three ways, scales, your life... Or with enough embarrassment the scandal from it would ruin the rest of your miserable life for crossing the sandwing criminal's path- Circini hadn't told *Anyone* What he assumed was about to be revealed, it was something he sank the bulk of his wealth into when he was first able to get off of his feet - he wanted to bury those memories, those experiences, those actions... Deeper than the bodies of those he had ripped normalcy from- to himself, he was no saint- he was a sinner of the highest order, an irredeemable monster who sought salvation through helping those far less fortunate than had become, but his path to success was paved in bones- and that wasn't something he wanted for anyone else. 

Circini could feel his heart sink into his stomach - he knew Adenium would never see him the same- perhaps he'd turn his back on working here altogether- maybe he'd tell the whole crew, and that was probably what Gila was hoping for- the sandwing wanted him to squirm for leaving him in squalor while he ascended to be a wealthy businessman - and the best way to kill someone who was probably already wishing for death- was to tear apart their reputation, and the image they had built for themselves with the thought they'd be free from the past they were shackled too.

Gila smiled as Adenium made himself formally known- his voice never a clear indicator of his intentions, Adenium had watched him peel the scales of a dragon one by one after Gila had showered the victim with compliments and reassurance. "I have every reason under the desert sun to be here... You were gonna leave me high n'dry- can't leave my little family unless it's under a few hundred pounds of sand... C'mon, don't tell me *You* Of all dragons forgot that." He paced closer- Adenium could feel Circini' trembling, his pupils were pinpricks - focused, or maybe lost in a memory as he stepped back, causing Gila's face to fill with utter glee at the power just his presence alone held over Circini as Gila continued. "I was gonna come here, maybe knock a few heads- give you an ultimatum, come back with me- or die... I'm sure you might've convinced yourself this is a two on one - but that's far from the truth, I never leave without my entourage, n'good luck spotting em- try something and they'll take your head clean off your shoulders, and I don't think that'd be fun for any of us, ain't that right *Circy*~" His gaze shifted over to the silent nightwing.

"Long time no see- didja miss me?~ Well- I missed you, Circini." He circled the two like a shark, pressing his weight into each step he took and causing the floorboards to occasionally let out an uncomfortable squeak. "The deal we had- the riches we made... If you just stuck with the program, we'd be *Both* Be living high'n mighty- not just *You*." Gila scoffed before continuing. "And you used to say you loved me- huh... Funny how hollow those words rang out the minute you could stand on your own four legs without me..." Gila glared harshly at Circini at the remark that pinned the two to be exes of some kind- and Gila was certainly an interesting ex to have *Lived* Through the fallout of.

Gila approached Adenium from behind, wrapping an arm around the back of his neck like the two of them were best friends. "Back in the day, me n your new boss were smitten- I'd like to talk poorly of ole Circ's business habits, but he's always had a keen awareness on the simple principle of supply and demand... And the fact that if something exists..." He chortled happily, getting in Adeniums 'face, his breath reeking of smokeberries and cheap liquor. "You best believe there's a market for it, boy." He pushed Adenium away as he continued walking back around to Circini who stared down at the floor rather than up at Gila, to which Gila grabbed his chin and forced Circini to look him in the eyes. "You don't like telling the story of how you got this pretty boat, do you?~ Say you got it off of the generosity of an Icewing noble, but that's only *Half* The story- everyone knows Icewing nobility don't deal with Nightwings unless there's a good reason- and oh you had a good reason." Gila grabbed Circini's snout- making the once physically imposing Nightwing appear meek, weak, and defenseless as he used a talon to pull up Circini's lips to reveal his teeth. "See... Circni here... Was a special kind of vendor... No one had the guts to do what he did, no- not since the experiments the Night Kingdom used to conduct on them Rainwings all them centuries ago-" Circini turned his head, ever silent as he pulled his snout from Gila's claws- Gila only smirking in response. "Icewings love their little feuds n'wars- and the noble Circini got this pretty ship from was no different than the rest of em nobles - he wanted power, he wanted... Weapons, and what's the most potent weapon possessed by any dragons? Ding ding ding! That's right! Rainwing venom- not just Rainwing venom, but sometimes the Rainwings that came with it- and other times... Just the venom." Gila's face twisted into a nasty grin as he stepped back.

Trigger Warning, accounts of torture, violence, and other unsavory topics

Gila sighed in frustration - rubbing his own face as he started to walk away. "Well... What do yah think? Still wanna stand next to that murderer? Oh and I ain't talking to *You*, Circini-" That gross grin came back to Gila's face as he looked at the utterly defeated Circini- who had essentially become catatonic over the course of Gila's speech - he was in shock, withdrawn, his expression cold, almost lifeless- and his scales were pale despite his body being almost entirely black - he couldn't stand to look anyone in the eyes- let alone Adenium- Circini was utterly unresponsive, only digging his talons into the wood beneath him as hot tears boiled over in his eyes, but as he cried he didn't make a sound- Gilas just ate it up, utterly enjoying every second of Circini's humiliation, and eager to see - or rather hear what Adenium had to say about all of this. "Now- I know you might wanna kill em just as much as me now... He's *Sick* He ain't no merchant with a heart of gold - he's a monster- but if you kill em, we'll both be in big trouble... So if you want, you can just come on back with me and leave him behind- better yet, when his crew wakes up- tell all of em, let them all turn on him like a pack of scavengers - serves em right for what he did to *Me*."