Welcome to Gaia! ::

With the creature threatening to trip him at every step, Zhan was moving slower than usual, focused on the zanteer weaving past his boots. They were an older pair, suitable for adventuring, but after this last escapade they deserved a shine.

"A name would be helpful," he said with an amused huff. "It was quite remarkable the way you charmed him so easily. Once you have something to call him I'm sure you can train him to do all sorts of things." He imagined her new pet terrorizing their crewmates on command and smirked to himself. "It's a shame I missed him fighting for you. I'm sure it was a sight."

His expression didn't change much, still a loose mask of casual interest in the conversation and their surroundings, but his eyes were almost guilty as he looked at Estellaina. It was one thing to throw himself into dangerous situations he wasn't sure he could get out of, but he didn't like it when she was the one in peril.

"I'm glad someone was there, since I couldn't be," he said with a brief smile. "I'll admit I needed some help as well. Next time I'll try harder not to be grabbed by an angry snapptrotter."

Zhan touched the pocket where he'd stowed his new quill pen, making sure it hadn't slipped away. "We should find an interesting place to spend our spoils."

With a nod meant to brush away his own misgivings, Zhan offered Estellaina the arm she had touched, in case she wished to take it, and headed closer to the nearest row of shops. "I've been thinking about finding a few strong arms of our own. Or rather, burly, adventurous sailors that are loyal to the two of us." His voice grew quiet, as if he was afraid the Captain could somehow hear him. "Then we could have a ship and crew of our own." Somehow. Saving enough coin to purchase a whole boat felt impossible, especially when the world was full of such beautiful things to buy in the meantime.

"Oh, look at that." The delicate silver bracelet displayed in the first window sparkled prettily on its cushion, and even though he knew its splendor was enhanced by lighting and position, he was still drawn in. "Not for me, but it's nice to look at."

"Perhaps." Zhan was confident Volarik wouldn't ever throw him off of the ship, but since he had learned why she kept him around in the first place, he no longer dreamed of staying forever. "But if she did leave you ashore permanently, I would follow." As traumatizing as that thought was, he realized that leaving Estellaina behind would be equally so. He forced himself to move on, his attention turned inward until he pushed that aside to think on later.

"As far as captaining is concerned, I know enough to know what not to do. We will get by. You're right though. The price is high."

After another thoughtful stretch of silence, he nodded. "It's a plan, then. Our secret." Zhan looked at her and smiled.

Then he looked at the zanteer.

"Did you have any ideas? For names."

Rather than lose his footing and fall flat on his face in public, Zhan slowly lured the zanteer toward a nearby bench, hoping the creature would continue to view his boots and (splendidly attired) legs as the targets of its snare.

"I think it sounds wonderful. Melodic." Zhan nodded. "I don't know much about animal training, but I would guess what really matters is your authority while doing it. So if we—or rather, you—like the name, then it shall be Jeladi."

He watched her silently, his small smile not born of a nervous need for acceptance this time but amused delight. "Now that we have a name, we can get a collar engraved."

"Yes. Well..." He raised his free hand, thumb rubbing at one of the crystals near his mouth. "I don't think she'd hurt him directly. For all her machinations, she's not a complete monster. But she will find a way to use him to hurt you, I can assure you. We'll have to be extra vigilant when she's not in her quarters."

"But we can afford a collar, especially if I don't buy anything else." It was Zhan's love of dressing well that left him bereft of savings. By comparison, a simple printed strip of leather or a plain metal tag would hardly leave a dent in their combined coffers.