[se] maybe my mind's not right

And I'm split in half, but that'll have to do

Though Everest really should be heading back to Stormbreak, everytime he had to leave the Remedy's apartment he found it more and more difficult to go. Though the floating city would always be his home and where the bulk of his responsibility lay, his heart was firmly lodged in Torchline and he didn't see that changing anytime soon. So, though he should have been making his way towards the docks to catch the last skyship of the evening to Stormbreak, Everest was instead headed out to pick up a bit of dessert for he and Isla.

Having been quite heavily lost in his own thoughts, it was the frantic cries of a few hels that had the aviator's blue eyes lifting from the coastline and darting out to see where one of the nearby lobster traps seemed to have attracted the attention of a void-raven. The screeching of the regular birds certainly wasn't helping matters, and as Everest trotted down closer to the water he could just make out the shape of something black inside of the trap.

Removing his shoes, Everest began to wade into the water, reaching under the waves for the thick rope he thought ought to be attached to the trap in order to try and drag it closer.

---

Void Messenger (uncommon): Feathers as dark as the void they traverse, these ravens serve as messengers for the infected, carrying whispers tainted by the void's influence. To the uninfected, their cawing echoes with an otherworldly dread, an unsettling harbinger of impending darkness. Where their 4-wings cast shadows, anxiety follows, a manifestation of the void's unsettling grip.

He was spending a great deal of time on the Coast this Flowerbirth, attempting to keep it clear of Void corruption until Vi could be petitioned for protection once more. Hadama walked along the line of surf, his bare feet in the cool wavelets that raced up the sand while a stiff sea breeze whipped a few errant raindrops onto his skin. He used his trident as a walking staff in one hand, his chest bare but for the harness that held several small pouches and a net bag at his side. Safrin's trousers kept him modest, the stars embroidered there glimmering faintly even in the cloudy grey light.

Emerald eyes caught sight of someone wading out to wrangle a lobster trap nearby, but it was the sight of the Void Messenger that tightened his jaw and his grip on his trident.

"Look out," he called across the waves, stretching his long legs to stride more swiftly after the fellow. He didn't recognize the man from behind, but he moved to join him and swipe at the four-winged omen with his trident to try and scare it away. "Their bite may be infectious."

And I'm split in half, but that'll have to do

"Now, now, I can't help if you keep doing all of that." Everest hums in a soothing voice, and gods wouldn't you know it, the creature calms. Explaining in a gentle tone what it was he was going to do, it was only as he heard the slash of the king's legs in the water that the aviator turned to glance over his shoulder. "Hey—wh—don't.' It's said perhaps more harshly than Everest has spoken in his entire life, but as Hadama swipes his trident toward the creature the attuned finds himself feeling suddenly very protective.

"It isn't going to bite me." The aviator argues stubbornly, turning his back somewhat to the king as if to protect the raven from any further bullying attempts on the Tidebreaker's part.

Fighting with the clasp that held the cage shut, Ever's cold fingers were clumsy at first before finally managing to encourage the mechanism open. Once he did the raven immediately took flight, but not before spitting several hostile curses towards Hadama.

Harsh words from Dahlia's young councilman might have shocked the Tidebreaker before the Midwinter Ball, but no longer. Still, it was Everest's presence in Torchline at all that gave him pause. For several moments he considered the fleeing Messenger, weighing his options, but in the end he turned his attention back to the young man who had stood at Dahlia's side and then moved to keep Torchline's King out of the meeting of leaders.

A far cry from the painfully shy spider-catcher who had helped him clean up his cafe all those seasons ago.

"Everest," he rumbled, and then paused. He watched the Breaker thoughtfully as he stood in the chilly water, shifting far more easily with the sway of the tide than he ever seemed to manage on dry land. Finally he spoke again, nodding in the direction of the departed Void raven. "Why did you release it?"

And I'm split in half, but that'll have to do

Watching the bird fly away Ever's shoulders relaxed down away from his ears, at least until his name was spoken. Lifting an eyebrow as he stared far out to sea, he glanced slowly over his shoulder, eyeing the Tidebreaker through the sliver of his peripheral vision for a moment as he considered.

"Because it was a living thing and it was going to drown." He answered evenly, before fitting the clasp of the trap back together and tossing it back into the waves with a splash. Turning, the aviator did his best to remain steady in the water though he certainly was tousled around by it far more than Hadama seemed to be. Eyeing the king with a stare that was polite if not a touch distant, the aviator nodded stiffly.

"I'm going to get out of the water, now." He announced as if Hadama might have tried to stop him.

"Mmh." Whether the answer was satisfactory or not Hadama did not indicate, only acknowledging it with a quietly noncommittal rumble and a tilt of his head. His expression was as stoic as it ever was when he was not among friends, and his gaze steady as he considered the young aviator until Everest spoke again.

He inclined his head and turned to wade from the tide, though his bare feet remained connected to the wash of small waves rushing up the beach as he left the ocean mostly behind. He was not quite done with the Breaker, however. After Everest had extricated himself from the Arclight the King turned back to him, his voice courteous and genuinely curious, though not necessarily warm as he continued to study Dahlia's devoted aide and one of Stormbreak's council. And yet... "What did she do? To gain your loyalty so strongly?" To change you so drastically in such a short time?

And I'm split in half, but that'll have to do

Wading towards the shoreline, Everest stopped next to where he'd discarded his shoes. There was no sense in putting them on with as wet as his socks and pants were, and now that he thought about it there hadn't been much gained by removing them in the first place.

Frowning as he was spoken to again, the aviator lifted his blue eyes and regarded the king. "Who?" He asked, the word stiffly leaving his lips. Ever's first thought was about Isla; she was the reason he was in Torchline after all, and though his loyalties had never been measured up against one another, certainly she was as near the top as she could reasonably be. That the Tidebreaker might have been referring to Dahlia didn't even cross his mind, and so it was with his feathers metaphorically ruffled at the thought of Hadama speaking ill of his girlfriend that Everest turned properly to face the king with his brow furrowed and jaw set.

Who was not a question that the Tidebreaker had expected under the circumstances. He heard less gossip than he used to since becoming a demigod and news of Isla's liaison had not yet reached his ears. Not that her personal life was any of his business to begin with; they were not close enough to warrant such sharing, though he had enjoyed her quietly competent company on their last foray for Torchline's protection.

Emerald eyes studied Everest as if trying to determine the root of his question; whether it was sincere or belligerent in nature. The jut of that jaw seemed to indicate the latter, but Hadama was a patient man and his voice remained even as his expression changed not a fraction from its stoic mien as he stood relaxed with his arms at his sides and his feet in the surf.

"The Reaper," he qualified succinctly.

And I'm split in half, but that'll have to do

"Oh."

Almost instantly the tension drained away from the aviator. His stance relaxed as his various muscle groups decided to release seemingly all at once, leaving him looking a touch more boyish than he had just moments before.

"I'm not sure what you mean. Dahlia is the the queen of Stormbreak, and as the Spyglass it's my duty to support her." Ever answers, and though he still eyes the Tidebreaker a touch distrustfully, his answers don't seem to suggest deceit. "Stormbreak has had many leaders over the years. Some are more well-intentioned than others, but for my position at least, I can't expect a new leader to make well-informed decisions without the proper information." He explains with a small shrug. It was a duty he'd provided to Sohalia, and now that duty had been extended to Dahlia.

As Everest relaxed it did beg the question of who else he thought Hadama might have meant, but this did not seem the time to chase that wave. It seemed unlikely the young man would answer, and if it did not involve the Void or the Family then the King was content to let sleeping dogsharks lie.

And the aviator's words did make sense. If a councilmember from any other region had made the statements they would have been accepted without question, and even in the current circumstances Hadama inclined his head in acknowledgment of the sentiments. "Indeed," he rumbled. "I am unfamiliar with the positions of your government. What does a Spyglass do?" His gaze rested calmly on the other man, and if he was chilled by the Flowerbirth winds and tides he did not show it beyond a certain pertness a bit below eye level.

Though there were times he very much missed the blessing of the Academy, or the insulation of his Mer form against such temperatures.

And I'm split in half, but that'll have to do

"Well..." Having not expected a simple stroll on the beach to turn into a discussion of his role within Stormbreak's government, Everest took a moment to compose his thoughts with an almost apologetic clearing of his throat.

"My father held the role before I did," Everest explains. "But the role of the Spyglass is to provide information back to the leader that they'd otherwise not be able to gain for themselves. With my Father, he did as Cian bayed him to when it was inconvenient for him to do so himseld, and then with Sohalia the role seemed equally as necessary given her age and inexperience." Said as if he was giving a tour of the Tower, the aviator speaks clearly and calmly. "Dahlia is not inexperienced, but being new to the area it seemed appropriately for the role to continue as it always had." Certainly the Reaper was not the first in Caido to find herself at the helm of an area she knew little about.

"I report to her on things such as our infrastructure, relationships with other regions, needs and well-being of our citizens, and any other task I am assigned."

Hadama listened, and learned, and did not so much as twitch when Sohalia was mentioned though her absence was conspicuous. Still, Everest's explanation was clear and concise and when it was over Hadama inclined his head in recognition for the Spyglass's honesty. "I see. Thank you." Just what he saw and what he thought about it remained locked behind the stoic impassivity he showed to strangers - for that, Everest surely had become.

Tempting though it was to issue some decree or ultimatum on the Void creatures - including the one that had just been set free - Hadama had not forgotten the efforts of his Queen to redirect the Reaper's attentions elsewhere. He studied the young Spyglass in silence for a time before tilting his head with a final internal decision. "Do not venture into the water carelessly," he warned. "The riptides are strongest in Flowerbirth." And did not distinguish between Family or foe.

Unless, of course, they were Mer-created.

With that he gave a final nod of farewell and turned to walk away through the surf, continuing his patrol with trident in hand and a great deal to occupy his thoughts as he moved up the beach.

~Fin~