Bones in the Ocean by bunflower

Chapter 3

Technoblade is welcomed aboard by a crew of unfamiliar faces and one incredibly smug pirate.

Philza stands with his back up against the railing as Technoblade scales the gangplank, his heels crossed and his arms folded, looking for all the world like a cat who got the cream. His brow quirks at the meager belongings he's brought with him: an old leather satchel-containing a few precious tokens, his scarce funds, a few books, and his journal-and a small case of clothes. He won't need much else out on the high seas.

"That it?" Phil asks. He doesn't sound patronizing, for once-just curious. "Have everything you need, mate?"

"Yep."

Phil straightens, taking a breath before spreading his arms wide with a bright smile.

"Welcome, Captain Technoblade, to the Argo."

There are three dozen faces staring at him, each bearing a different expression. He catches disbelief, curiosity, annoyance, excitement, boredom-the list goes on and on. He doesn't recognize a single one, and frankly, it's disquieting to be stepping into a vacant captaincy position not knowing anyone.

Save for Philza.

He doesn't count.

The pirate doesn't give him a moment to breathe, handing off Technoblade's belongings to the blonde boy from earlier before leaping straight into introductions, throwing him right into the center of the crew's attention.

"This is Niki," Phil says, with a voice warm with affection, clapping a hand on the shoulder of a slight young woman in a vest with pale pink hair. "She's your helmsman. You need to get somewhere, she's your girl. She's one of the best navigators on these seas."

Technoblade eyes her. She holds his gaze defiantly and simply smiles in return.

He's sufficiently intimidated.

"Tubbo. Gunner. Kid has a penchant for explosive getaways, and could hit a gull in the crow's nest with one eye closed."

A young boy with a red bandana in his hair grins cheekily up at him as Phil ruffles his dark hair. He's small, but looks as though he could probably pick Technoblade up and throw him if given the chance, and his eyes glitter with a manic sort of delight at the praise, his chin lifted with a confidence he's sure the kid has earned.

"Nice to meet you, boss man," he chirps, and Technoblade gives him a nod, wanting to say more but not getting the chance as Phil charges ahead with his introductions.

"This is Eret. They're not-well, they don't really-do anything in particular? That is, they aren't actually officially a part of the crew." Phil grins, clapping a hand down on their shoulder. "They invited themself along, actually. Crazy bastard's done it all-doctor, politician, historian-but they jumped at the chance to risk their life out on the seas."

"I'd never tried being a pirate before," Eret laughs, and finally turns toward Technoblade.

Milky-white eyes blink up at him from behind dark lashes, unseeing and yet shaking Technoblade to his very core as he stares down at the stranger. Their face is gentle, their expression kind, and yet he feels as though they are staring into his very soul. It's not as if he's never seen a blind person before, but there's something different about this-something not quite natural, almost magical in its nature. He's unsettled, though in a way that's not entirely unpleasant, as Eret extends a hand his way in greeting. Tentatively, he takes it and watches as their smile broadens, their eyes crinkling at their corners as they tighten their grip, tracing his knuckles.

"Don't be so nervous, Captain," they say softly, low and soothing. And then they laugh. "It's the eyes, isn't it?"

He mumbles an affirmation, feeling rather ashamed.