The buzzing of whispering and swirling gossip had at least started to fade. He heard less of it when he stepped into a room, perhaps the crew had found something more exciting to talk about rather than who was sleeping in the Captain's cabin. Perhaps it was simply now just giggle fodder, something to be enjoyed more in his absence.
It would pass, novelty always did.
The weather was perfect, idle contentment rolling through the air, rocking the ship beneath his feet. A little elf ran from one end of the deck to another. Her laugh was breezy, carrying easily across the surface air, rather than cutting through it. She slapped a cabin door as she reached it, triumphantly smiling, before returning to the mast.
Thren barely contained a smile, the corner of his lips coming up. How had he not known there was a child on board? Was he that oblivious? Was she a child of the crew?
He was careful not to cross his arms across his chest, afraid to appear a monstrous, towering behemoth to a small elf child.
Reara was attending to those in her command, distributing them amongst duties. She dispersed them quickly, resting at Then's side, nudging him with her elbow. "I was starting to get worried about you, looking a little pale, aren't you?" She grinned wickedly, playfully, and he appreciated how forthright she was.
"Don't you have important Bosun-y duties to attend to, instead of mocking the kitchen help?" His tone was light, and he held no shred of animosity. The sky was too blue, and the air too crisp for any annoyance.
"Fair enough, Wicked Grace lessons at dinner?" Re was already backing away. Carefully aware of every motion around her, easily avoiding a woman carrying a crate.
Thren waved her off, and she smiled. She'd been trying to get him to play for days, under the guise it would help acclimate him to the rest of the crew. Her motives were suspect, only after Vi's careful warnings that Re was a shameless cardshark.
He found the rail easily enough, sat, his back against it. He drew up his knee and lazily watched the odd, lively crew, and the child-elf as she gracefully darted between them.