Sinbad awoke to the feeling of hypothetical hammers and nails fastening a "never drink again, ever" sign to his forehead. The heat in the air had finally settled. He sighed, letting a chill run through his body before grasping a handful of sand from off the blanket on which he lay. A rattlesnake many feet away eyed him, and he stared back.

"Hello there, friend. I'd prefer if you stayed over there." he whispered, determined not to wake up the other two, who lay peacefully beside him in the half lean-in tent. Masrur didn't snore, but let out a small sound with each breath that sounded like a hybrid between a wheeze and a purr. Ja'far, keffiyeh pulled down over his eyes, made no noise. The snake slid its head up from its coil, and slowly began to slither closer, sending the hair on the back of Sinbad's neck up.

"No, no, friend. Stay, stay back, please. I'm warning you." he pleaded as he carefully slid onto his knees and searched around for his dagger, which had been removed from his side in his drunken slumber. He noticed the one sitting on Ja'far's side and slid it from its holster, only to receive a cold hand around his wrist.

"It's only a snake, it won't hurt you if you're nice to it. Put that back." said Ja'far, who turned over. The dagger was returned to its place, and the snake had made its way onto the washed-up sailor's leg.

"I know it won't. That doesn't mean I want it on me. Slimy little creature on my leg, I will have you know that I fear neither you nor your venom."

"Then why is your hair standing up, still? Also, you know that snakes aren't slimy. They're more practical than people when it comes down to things, anyway." Ja'far held his arm out, letting the snake curl around it and up around his neck.

"It's a reflex!" said Sinbad in a muffled whine. "Is Masrur awake?"

"Do you think Ja'far kept watch all night?"

"Oh hey, Masrur."

Nodding, Masrur stood to watch as the sun began to rise before claiming the languid duty of putting the tent away. Sinbad put a finger out, hoping for the snake to give him the same respect. It flickered its tongue a few times before sliding down from its perch into the sand.

"Fine, be that way." Sinbad said, sighing. He noticed Ja'far stirring and asked if he needed any help, to which he received no reply.

The wind spun about for a second and sand shuttered against the tent-cloth. Once it ceased, and the three had rid themselves of the sand in their pockets, hair, and eyes, Sinbad turned and gave a couple informative coughs, which he repeated when neither Masrur nor Ja'far responded.

"Spill it." the white haired boy said, angrily patting more sand from his torso.

"I was just thinking about something. Something that Judal recommended to us yesterday."

"What would that be? And I can't believe we even settled on listening to him."

"I know, he's a bastard who's worth less than the pegs he sits on. It's just that despite his arrogance, he has succeeded in producing kings, and-well, it sounded too right for me to ignore, even in my hatred for him. It's about how we're going to act if we want people to take us seriously." he spat out the sand that had found its way between his teeth.

"He said that a king needs to be charismatic, but strong. He needs an advisor who is level headed, who can help him make decisions when things go wrong; then, he has to have strength in his army." the tent was stored away, and they began their walk.

"You're already strong, and I think you have more charisma than the entire country of Partevia combined." Ja'far shook the goat-skin water bag that they shared and peered into it with an eye closed.

"I'm the army." Masrur said, sending a pebble soaring many feet in the air down the road. "Too bad Ja'far can be more stubborn than an ass."

Sinbad halted in his tracks, and it took a few moments for the others to realize that he'd stopped.

"What's the hold-up?" Ja'far asked.

"I'd leave nobody else to do the job." Sinbad whispered, running a hand through his bangs.

"What?"

"I said I wouldn't want anyone else in the entire world to be my advisor, Ja'far." he looked up with a smile. Ja'far rolled his eyes.

"Psh. Well, you'll have to find yourself another one." he turned and took a few steps forward. Sinbad looked as if someone had just taken a blade to his stomach, and he swallowed hard. The Fanalis-boy made no movement. The sailor proceeded with a different approach.

"Wait!" he rushed forward, pulling Ja'far's sleeve while simultaneously losing his balance in the shifting sand. He took the other down with him and was on top of him immediately, infuriated by his lack of expression.

"I should know by now that you're not being serious. I should be really fuckin' sure. It's just that every time you pull this shit I'm inclined to believe you. Want to know why?!"

Ja'far gave a familiar silence.

"It's because I trust you. I believe everything you say, because I trust you. It drives me insane sometimes, but it's probably a good thing. Please tell me it's a good thing."

Smiling a wicked smile, Ja'far grabbed him by the neck, thrusting him over so that he was on top this time. "It's a great idea. I was kidding, but your blind naivety spawns amazing things. My loyalty to you will go on longer in years than this desert has grains of sand. I owe you that much. Of course I'll be your advisor. Just tell me what to do."

"You already know what that is, don't you?" Sinbad's smile returned and was bright and hopeful, though it was quickly extinguished as Ja'far pitter-pattered his face with sand.

"He needs to learn to hide some of his discontent. It's not difficult." Masrur said, pushing a little bit of sand onto Sinbad, slowly burying him.
"Well, aren't you talkative today?" Ja'far joked, flicking more grains up at the red-headed boy. "You're right, though. I'll have to be personable. What a pity. I don't particularly like deceiving people-"

"Bullshi-"

"But, it won't hurt the people who have never met me before. I've been told I'm a fantastic liar, especially by the people who believe everything I say." he looked over at Sinbad before clearing his throat and holding a palm to his chest. In a kind voice, void of ruggedness or concentrated cynicism, he proudly said: "Welcome to Sindria. I bid you welcome, and may you enjoy your stay!"

Sinbad burst out laughing and was quick to choke on his humor-induced tears, "It needs some work, but it'll do!"

"I don't like it. It makes you a completely different person." Masrur dictated, wrinkling his nose a bit in sudden disgust. "It's hurting my ears. Change it back."

"The point is that I don't, Masrur. That's the one addendum that I'm adding to this deal, Sin." he rose off of him, "Shut your mouth and listen to me." Ja'far said in the same slightly enlightened voice, which really only felt that way in contrast to his previous one. It took a few exasperated minutes, but Sinbad finally came to from his fit of laughter.

While still grasping his sides and wiping away tears, he asked: "What is it?"

Ja'far's tone became completely serious in its new form. "You mustn't let me lose myself in delirium. Allow me to only indulge in my prior hysteria in battle, or in matters most dire. Keep to this promise, so that I can truly be your voice of reason. Otherwise our journey will be null. You can't do this by yourself. I will devote myself to your well-being, as well as to any of your allies. Just make sure I don't get ahead of myself."

Sinbad held out a hand, straightening his back. "Alright. It's a deal. Let it remain until the sea dries up." they grasped hands and exchanged smiles.

"Drakon's going to hate this. You'll have to transition into it slowly."

"Trust me, I will. Though, he'll just have to learn to deal with it now, won't he?"

Masrur approached and attempted to wrap his arms around the both of them, trying to lift them up by their waists. "We'll see if I can forget how annoying it is."