It took all of Dolphus’s strength not to look at Ari during the response.
There was no one to flee to, no corner to hide in, to escape from the sudden and agonizing reminder of his own existence. Sudden crushing pressure from all sides demanded that his knees buckle, that his heart crumble under the assault. The immediate notion to try and find his missing mother in every woman that entered his vision never occurred; Alexis had filled the void in his mind and Ari had smothered the void in his heart.
But he still missed her.
Worse, the giant muscle-bound woman he had deliberately shunned in full view of the rest of the crew had not magica- that is to say, not not-magically teleported to his side the moment his heart shuddered at the thought of his mother’s pulse vanishing under his touch. Conflicted thoughts of whether or not Ari even cared for the pain he was in battled viciously with the memories of his mother’s last day alive.
And so, while the mask stayed affixed to his face, his features fought beneath it to keep the tear he could feel welling up against his eye from growing any further. His eyes broke from her during her explanation, and drifted aimlessly off, staring out at the Caelin’s Hand until he could not recognize it any more.
And then there was Mako.
Perpetually the most unsightly member of the crew proved to be a blessing and a curse, both a completely unwarranted interruption as his shrouded face and odious hiss made a very poor attraction for joining the crew on Annabelle’s part and a saving grace that brought him enough out of his melancholic reverie of pain and sadness to recognize that he had been asked a question.
However, there was still Mako’s inquiry to deal with. Dolphus once again glanced at the oversized coat, large enough by his estimate - with some blatant hyperbole - to fit seven of Annabelle. Regardless what else she carried, she could fit nearly the entire gaggle of inspectors between its buttons. Definitely* not hyperbole.
“The tools of a doctor are in the mind.” Dolphus did his best to avoid making eye contact with Mako, as there was something slightly sickening about his eyes without the stained bandages framing them, and he did not want to maintain their presence in his focus for too long. “There will be opportunity for you to test your medical acumen once we enter the open sea.”
“Your question I will answer at a more appropriate time,” he continued, eyeing the Inspector as he seemed impatient to complete his paperwork. “Once we embark I will show you to your quarters. For now, welcome to the Caelin’s Hand.”
Without waiting for a response, Dolphus swiftly strode past Annabelle, leaving her alone with Mako as he returned to the Inspector’s side, doing his best to angle himself away from any possible unintended eye contact with the ever-present Ari. “Is there anything else?”
*It was absolutely hyperbole. Dolphus is not a nice person.