AGE OF PIRACY AU (1)

[agoodname]

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[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."

[enigmaster]

[Ah yes, there it is, the catch. The key to whatever scam is going on here.] What sort of price? Or is that going to be delightfully vague as well?

[agoodname]

"It'll differ depending on what ye ask for. It could be a cut of yer eventual treasure. It might be a bottle of good wine. It might be tyin' your path to someone else's for a time."

The man leans forward a bit over his legs, back bending a bit oddly.

"Ask, and I'll tell ye the price.`

[enigmaster]

...Well, fine. Sure. Why not! [he rolls his eyes a little, crossing his arms.] I want a ship of my own. How many bottles of wine is that, pray tell?

[agoodname]

"A ship of yer own." The man's eyes narrow.

"Surely you're smart enough to know better than to phrase it like that."

[enigmaster]

Oh, for-- What? Do I need to be more specific? Is this going to have some ironic twist if I don't phrase things carefully enough? You asked me.

[agoodname]

"That's how deals *work*, boy." [annoyed, now.] "Ye've heard enough of the stories, and riddles, t'know better. Now *ask*. Proper-like this time."