The scrawny Paolo crawls down from the crows nest during his midwatch break, after Aodhan and Tearlach have had their little discussion. A few minutes later, Talia comes from below decks.
"Release the captain." she calls out, and goes back below deck. After several minutes, more than enough time than is the length of his break Paolo still hasn't returned to his station in the crow's nest.
Tearlach will have observed that when in the crow's nest Paolo always has some scraps of parchment, or even a wax tablet if the day isn't too hot, or something to write with/on.