AGE OF PIRACY AU (1)

[agoodname]

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Where we will, we'll roam

[agoodname]

[It starts with a shadow in the water. Something large; spotted flickering in the depths. At first it seems like a trick of the eye, a sailor's suspicion as a result of cabin fever. But then more of the crew spot the shadows, and the whispers start. Over the course of a week, the flicker of shadow, just out of sight, haunts them.

And then there's the storm.

Not the day before they make land in Tortuga, it comes upon their ship suddenly; not even a warning on the horizon to give them enough time to batten down the hatches. It's strong winds and biting rains that buffet their ship, tossing it enough to soak the deck and cause damage to the ship enough that there might be a moment where they think they might sink--and yet, they manage to weather the storm with some surface damage that will certainly need to be repaired.

But they did manage to get out alive so that's....something?]

[enigmaster]

[It definitely has made for a rough voyage. Oh, not the storm, as such. Storms happen. It sucks and he's already calculating the cost to repair everything, unhappy just thinking of the cut that's going to be in their funds, but that's for the Captain to worry over. No, it's the whispers of something in the water. Superstitions. Ghost stories. Give him a break. The important thing here is they made it through the storm, to land. Edward scarcely has a moment to catch his breath, before he's sent off to check the damage. He wants to complain that it's not his job, as the navigator, and he SHOULD be working to get them on the right track, but this is clearly not up for debate. With some grumbling, he moves to check how the ship's doing. Both exterior and down below deck.]

[agoodname]

[It certainly is damaged, and the repairs will cost them out of their cut for certain. But the good news is that they should be docking by that afternoon, so the repairs can be made soon enough, and hopefully they can be on their way again soon.

In the mean time, though, he might be urged into doing some minor repairs himself with the carpenter, before being let off the ship in Tortuga with his (reduced) pay.]

[enigmaster]

[Uuuuuuugh he hates repairs, but. He'll do it. He does need the pay and the last thing he needs is for it to be docked even more. He just takes what money he does have and leaves the ship. Of course, he doesn't intend to spend much. He's saving up. ...Doesn't hurt to look around, though. Explore the place. Maybe eat something nice, for once.]

[agoodname]

[there are some nice things to eat, sure. But there's also crushing crowds. But you know where you can get a break from that?? There sure is a side street down this way that isn't so crowded at this time of day.

Maybe it'll behoove you to dart down it.]

[enigmaster]

[Oh, don't mind if he does, actually. He's heading down that alley, just... taking a breather. Too busy here. Ugh.]

[agoodname]

"Well, well, well...what do we have here."

[there's a rough voice from the side of the wall near a shadowed overhang of the alley--and peering closer might afford Edward a look of who's crouched on the ground nearby.]

[enigmaster]

[Edward stops immediately in place at that, squinting... down?] ...No wells, I'm afraid. So if you're thirsty, you're out of luck. [whomst]

[agoodname]

[there's a figure, there, dressed in dirty rags, hair matted, eye covered by a dark eye patch. Just...sitting there. They chuckle, tilting their head up to look at him]

"Aren't you interesting, then. Bit of a spark about ye, ain't there."

[enigmaster]

[...Well. Okay.] If that's what you want to call it. [. . .] I didn't realize the alleys here were so busy.

[agoodname]

[there's a low chuckle--raspy]

"Aye, many of them are. But there shouldn't be anyone in here but me. So I suppose that makes ye somethin' special, don' it."

[enigmaster]

[d o e s i t] My apologies. I didn't see your name on it before I went in. Nor do I know your name to recognize on there, so.

[agoodname]

"Considering it is usually unseeable to most..." [they gesture, one hand moving towards the entrance to the alley, where everyone else seems to be just passing it by, not sparing it another glance]

"So...what do ye want?"

[enigmaster]

...Excuse me? [what kind of question is that?]

[agoodname]

"Ye wouldn't have stumbled in here if ye didn't want somethin' I could grant. So. What do ye want?"

[enigmaster]

Something you could... grant. ...And... how exactly would you do that? Or would that be telling?

[agoodname]

[another low, rough chuckle]

"It'd be tellin'. Dontcha know not to look a gift horse in the mouth, boy?"

[enigmaster]

What I know is that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. ...Also, not to believe everything people say. [sorry bud you've got a skeptic.......]

[agoodname]

"Aye, I should've pegged ye for a skeptic, Edward Nashton."

[enigmaster]

[...] Excuse me?

[agoodname]

[Edward will be able to just make out the bare edge of a smile, toothy, a bit wider than it should be, with sharp teeth]

"I said, I should've pegged ye for a skeptic, Edward Nashton. Despite yer aspirations of glory, yer more cautious than most, ain'tcha?"

[enigmaster]

[...howmst the FUCK] And how exactly do you know my name?

[agoodname]

"I read it offa ye, o' course." [like that explains everything]

"The longer ye remain in my alley, the more I know. But I cannae offer you what ye seek, unless ye ask for it."

[enigmaster]

[what the fuck what the fuck what the fuck--] And I'm just supposed to trust that- just, just supposed to tell you what I want, and it'll just miraculously happen? That's a lot of trust I'd be putting in a complete - and, no offense, rather unsettling - stranger.

[agoodname]

[there's a rough laugh] "Oh, no, I don't peddle in miracles, lad. It's not jest goin' t' magically happen. Rather...I nudge destiny in the direction yer lookin' for. Convince the fates to turn your path into the right one.

For a price."