RP:The Mermaid's Pitch

Part of the Tales from the Row Arc

Part of the Merfolk Tale Arc

Summary: The mermaid captain Sadie meets with the smuggler Finn, to arrange for the black market sale of stolen goods with the potential to wreak havoc on Hollow. Business, or part of a more sinister plan?

Characters: Sadie, Finn, Npc crew of The Nautica.

Location: Port Rynvale; Rynvale Harbor.

Sadie || Anchored in Rynvale's harbor, just beside the Mutiny, sits The Nautica. Oak wood stained and treated to protect against the salty water of the ocean is void of blemishes or any unsightly algae that normally stains the wood of other ships. Three large masts stand erect down the length of the vessel, proudly barring ivory canvas sails that prove the upcoming adventure to Cenril. From the port side extends the gang plank and beside the wooden stretch of walkway are crates and barrels that are constantly getting loaded by burley men-elves and humans alike that all seem clean shaven and relatively good looking. And amongst them is the blonde woman who looks as though she's just came back from an expensive dinner party. Blonde curls are pinned up in an extravagant up-do, complete with jeweled pins that match the ruby necklace hugging the slender column of her neck and dips down to where her cleavage is pushed up and held back behind the golden material of a figure flattering damask gown. Clip board in hand, she points and demands with a purred voice and looking completely out of place amongst the sailors there upon the dock.

Finn’s approach along the dock was leisurely, and in the manner of one entirely without purpose-which was of course an illusion. For any number of reasons, getting is eyes on the blonde captain’s operation had become something of a priority, and as soon as it had done so, the network that the runner had built for gathering intelligence had been kicked into action. Not that it had needed to be, the woman stood out in any crowd, as did evidently her ship, and it had not been too long before whispers of what could only be her presence in port had reached him. The location of her vessel had given him pause. If she was in port, under the inspector’s eyes, whatever she had on board could not be -that- radically interesting- unless her cargo was supremely well hidden of course. All in all, it left him curious, and being a man who disliked unanswered questions..the day found him now in steady approach to the anchored vessel and its very out of place mistress. Her first indication of his presence would be that soft drawl over her shoulder, in which lingered a lazy appreciation for the picture that she made in the damask gown. “Never could figure why you bother with the captain gig darlin’.’ Reckon you could make all you ever needed to make after one evenin’ in that dress alone. Some fool would give you the world ..” he drawled with an easy flash of white in the darkness. “Let’s talk business..shall we?”

Sadie had noticed the approach of someone merely due to the passing glances her crew offers the man as they work, but she doesn't turn to acknowledge him until his silky drawl passes over her shoulder. "Good evening." She purrs, turning only her head to award him with that brilliant blue gaze while a smile curves her pink stained lips. "We can talk compliments if you like instead? Perhaps some quick innuendos?" But before he can respond, she curls that smile into a grin and adds, "No? Business instead? Alright, I think that will suffice tonight." Turning from the Runner, her attention falls on a large blonde man who is also watching over the loading crew and helping every now and again where he can. "Samson. Take over this. Me and this gentleman have things we need to discuss." A few heeled steps are taken, placing herself ahead Finn even further and at the mouth of the gang plank. "Also, Samson. If he should leave this boat and I'm not in plain sight… Well, use that extensive imagination of yours." Skipping her attention towards Finn, she smiles sweetly, "You understand yes? Well, then, follow me." And as she ascends the wooded walkway, her hands fall to the skirt of her gown to hike it up, ensuring the doesn't trip over the material. She'd lead him across the deck to the stern of boat and proceed to unlock the grand door that hid her cabin from the crew's gaze. "I have a few things in here. Samples if you will."

Finn’s lips curved in appreciative response for her banter, even as his hazel gaze swept the immediate confines of the ship at anchor, observant eyes taking in the approximate numbers that she seemed to have at her dispersal, and that many of them seemed not of the typical local fare. There were not the men hired for hourly wages at the labor market, rather the crew seemed as oddly disciplined and orderly ..and out of place for a dockside party as the woman herself was. Somehow her stories of rum and drunkness did not ring true now that his eyes could witness her mini world in operation. Nor would the runner fail to note the giant of a man she addressed, and his apparent role as muscle on the vessel. Confirmation there.that the captain was the female of whom Sela had spoken-not that he’d really needed it. His lips twitched again slightly as he made to respond to her order to the man. “Darlin..’ Only a fool baits a bear in its own den. An I reckon I’m no fool. You’ve nothin’ to fear from me..though if -I- fail to reappear in a timely manner, your ship may find itself rather the worse for wear..aye?” A certain coolness lingered in the depth of his eyes as he stepped on to the gang plank behind her. “I’m sure you understand..” He mimicked her words dryly. Standing behind her at the door to captain’s quarters, he’d murmur huskily, “Pretty ship..almost fitted out more for..pleasure, than labor. Must be the woman’s touch..” He’d be right behind her as she made her way inside, eyes alert for anything that might speak to him of the female and her purpose in port. She still raised every hair on his nape to high alert. “Well..what’ve you got lass?..Time is gold..as it were, in my line of business..”

Sadie flicks that blue gaze over her gold clad shoulder upon mention of his reappearance, and she quips back a cool, "What if I do not wish to return you to your business until the morning? The late morning at that?" Her voice a coy purr, suggestive and yet innocent all at the same time. But until she's given them both entrance into her cabin, she's silent. Therein the cabin rests maps of foreign lands and seas that hang over the walls as well as art in giant frames of sceneries and beautiful sea side light houses. There's also a large table, laden with a few plates of food-enchanted to keep from perishing. There's no bed for comfort, or large chairs for the same purpose; rather, there is a hammock hanging from the eastern wall that lacks a pillow and blanket. Tucked underneath that makeshift bed is a trunk that probably holds the bedding as well as what ever it is she plans to sell to the runner, because it's what she moves towards. After inserting the key and popping the lock, she rummages through the belongings to grab three things. A smaller box, a draw string pouch and a large book. Pivoting on a heeled foot, she turns back towards Finn and nods to one of the dinning chairs nailed to the floor. "Take a seat if you like." She offers before venturing towards the table and laying out the items.

Finn’s response to her innocent lure was another slow grin of raw masculine appreciation, even as his whisky gaze took note of the significant, and possibly insignificant details of her surroundings. “Reckon you’d not be the first lass..or the last,” he murmured. “Though I’m not particularly fond of mixing business with pleasure..” His eyes swept the room again, noting the absence of a bed, and the presence of a hammock. And it doesn’t seem like you’re much open to entertainin’ anyhow..” he drawled as he lowered himself into a seat tat the table. Openly curious gaze followed her now, and the items she held in hand. He had learned over the years that books should never be judged by their covers, and as a result waited patiently for her to explain the meaning of the apparently tame display.

Sadie quirks a well defined brow towards the Runner and merely smirks. "There is no difference between business and pleasure for me. They are one and the same." She answers, slowly lowering herself into the adjacent seat. Flipping through the keys on her small chain, she picks out the smallest one to pop the lock on the small box. "I don't plan to sell this one, merely because it has brought me rather decent luck." Slowly, dainty hands dip into the container and retrieve a thin golden chain that holds a small, opalescent stone set in a similarly hued gold. "I pilfered this off a ship I came across nearly twenty miles outside Rynvale. This was in a set of seven." Lifting her gaze to his, she smiles wryly and lifts the necklace into better view. "It is named Lust. Supposedly after the Seven Deadly Sins. I had the luck of finding an older woman who told me the story behind these peculiar trinkets, and it's rather interesting. However, I'll save you from the droll story and simply tell you what they're supposed to do." The neckline of the jewelry piece is unlatched, and held out as if fixing to place it around an invisible neck, however, it's simply suspended there. "If worn around the neck, this piece at least, it will induce a strong, over-powering lust in the wielder for who ever it is they see. Be it a cat, a man or a woman." Her lips curl into a smile of secrets, giving the impression she's used it before on some unsuspecting victim. "Each sin has it's own piece. A pair of earrings, this necklace, a bracelet, an anklet, and two rings."

Finn’s eyes followed the path of her fingers as she revealed the first of her secrets, hazel eyes gleaming as he ran through the implications in his mind. No scoundrel worth his salt remained ignorant of the seven sins, and the potential for items that could trigger the sin on demand, was limitless. It would be a matter of fining a way to let it be known that he was in possession of the items..and somewhere, someone in need would find their way to him and pay a considerable sum for a guaranteed outcome. His gold flecked gaze lifted to her icy gaze. “Reckon that piece you don’t want to sell would fetch the highest price captain..sure you won’t part with it?” he drawled idly. “The rest are just as marketable if we activate the right networks.” His eyes drifted over her considerable appeal again. “Not like you need a necklace to make a man lose his mind darlin’” This last was said with a peculiar smile playing across his lips. Eyes turned again to the table. “What else..” He’d not bother to ask exactly how those pieces had come into her custody. His was not to question the source, only to find a buyer.

Sadie lofts her brows into a suggestive state before she moves to tuck the piece back into it's appropriate box. "I'd rather not part with this one. Not yet, in any case." What reasons she may or may not have for the necklace isn't shared, and after locking the container once more, she slides it to the side to take up that small draw string bag. "From my understanding, this here isn't the easiest to come across if you're a regular civilian. But I have barrels and barrels of it upon my ship, and can easily access more." Loosening the mouth of the bag, she pours a small amount of its contents upon the oaken table top. "I'm not sure how much black powder will sell for on the market, and the only reason I'm looking to part with a few barrels is merely because I'm loosing storage space upon my ship for anything else." Drawing the small purse shut once more, she discards the bag upon the small jewelry box to address her next item. "Last but not least is this." At this point, she lifts herself up from her seat, book cradled against her chest as she moves towards Finn only to reseat herself but this time on the table top close to him. "This is the only one of its origin. At least, the only one I've come across." The book itself is thick and would look as though it would weigh a considerable amount, but the woman handles it as if were no burden. "The woman who explained to me the jewelry, told me this is the Anima." Her voice is a pure whisper at this point, and the tome is laid back onto the table top so she could flip it open. The only text there upon its thin pages were simply names in elegant script in alphabetical order. Pages are turned and the names skimmed until she taps a name and turns towards Finn. "I found this book three years ago before the winter season set in. The crew at the time felt bad ju-ju when it was brought aboard, and one man called it the book of souls. So, to prove them all wrong, as well as myself, I looked up Kirk Daiwolden." Her index finger taps the name there upon the page and her blue eyes curl towards Finn, "He died the day we went to retrieve it."

Finn’s eyes followed the careful restoration of the necklace, his own lust for what it might mean for his pockets already stirring ideas to life for perhaps, at some time in the not to distant future returning to search and retrieve the item-greedy, the smuggler. He should be careful least it be his downfall. “The powder will find buyers, once it becomes known we are a source..” he advised idly. “Reckon right now there’s only one maker on the mainlands, and she’s chargin a pretty penny. We under sell her and they’ll be knockin’ down the walls to get to us.” This with the grin of a co-conspirator. Really, the easiest way to win the co-operation of a thief and rogue, is to make him rich. And this could make them both, a great deal of gold. While with profit the uppermost thought in mind the runner might not pause to consider why the idea of the captain’s possession of the explosive powder struck such a niggling cord with him, it would perhaps be something he might consider later. The lure of future profitability however, would be a tantalizing offering that might secure the runner’s lips on that subject. For now..at least. The gold flecked gaze would narrow upon the last item, the hairs on his neck standing on end almost immediately. His instinctive wariness of all things magical, meant that something with a name so ominous as –the book of souls- and held with such reverence by the captain, was something he might be willing to stay away from..unless it could yield, considerable profit. He grunted softly as she opened the pages and fingered out a name. “Go on..” he said quietly. “What does it do..your book of souls.. need to know before I can figure out if there’s a market for it..” he added

Sadie quickly flips the book shut once he bids her to continue, obviously just as wary of the item as himself. "It's believed that a necromancer would have the ability to pull the soul from this book and trap it in another body, living or dead." A twitch of her lips belays the lack of amusement in the object of topic. "Necromancers usually have the ability to only give life to that isn't too completely destroyed. At least, from my understanding. It is believed that this book allows them to ignore that rule altogether to bring back the dead. So if a Henry here in this book was burned to ashes and scattered to the winds, any old man can come along, pull his soul from this book and attach it to any other body." A brief shudder trails her body, leaving her skin prickled. "Thankfully, it has yet to be tested or proven. But the fact that this book has the ability to create the names of the dead on it's own accord was interesting enough." Once more, she pushes herself to stand so that she could once more gather the items and tuck them back into her awaiting chest. "The book is the item I want gone the most. The crew believes it will bring bad luck, and I can't have jittery men."

Finn’s brow was knit as his eyes followed the retreat of the book to more secure location. “If it does what they say it does lass..that book is bad news, an I reckon won’t be put up to anythin’ good. I figure if a man is gone, he’s gone. Served his time. Bringin’ em back is just askin’ for trouble.” His auburn head shook in instinctive rejection as he rose to his feet. “Don’t want it in my keep any more’n you do. If you want my advice, burn it, throw it in the ocean. Do whatever you’ve got to to destroy the dammed thing.” He all but barked huskily. “I can move the tokens, and the powder. If you’re wantin’ a price on the book, you’ll be needin’ another to deal with that,” he said with resolve. “Give me a few days to search out demand, when I find buyers I’ll be in touch.” He glanced her way as he rose to his feet. “It’s late, and a night’s runnin’ still to be done. If that’s all for now I’ll bid you g’night lass..”

Sadie looks sourly disappointed the moment Finn rejects the book, and his mention of its destruction is met with a look of indifference. If it was as powerful as the rumors have it to be, then the thing probably needed to be destroyed. However, she was always too curious for her own good and well being. The moment the Runner mentions his good bye, she nods her head softly and crosses the expanse of room to place herself beside the door. "I'll be away in Cenril for the next few days, so hopefully by the time I'm back, you'll find buyers." Twisting the knob and pushing the cabin door open, she stands aside the way to allow Finn to exit first so that she could lock the door behind them both. But before he leaves the confines of her cabin, she offers him a lusty grin and a quick once over. "Perhaps next time I shall kidnap you for the entire evening rather than just a few minutes."

Finn laughed softly, amusement warming the golden tones of his eyes for a moment as his hand lifted, perhaps unexpectedly, to allow calloused fingers to rest lightly upon the smooth skin of her cheek. “Perhaps..” he drawled huskily. “But I reckon I’m an old fashioned kind of scoundrel.. I like to be the one doin’ the huntin’” he murmured, his thumb brushing across the sensuous curve of her bottom lip. “Reckon that way it feels less like the trap we lads all know women lay for us -even if we’re just foolin’ ourselves.” He dropped her a wink then, and another irresistible grin, before tipping her a lazy salute. “Be seein’ you around captain. Pleasure doin’ busness with you..” And without another word or backward look, he would be off, leggy stride taking him down the gangplank and off the too clean ship, back towards the storefront and shady cellar where much of the result of this nights work would likely unfold.

Sadie allows the touch to commence, and merely settles her brilliant blues on his own; when his thumb rolls over the curve of her lower lips, she merely smiles and finds herself retorting with a silken: "I never said I wouldn't let you 'hunt'." Devoid of pantomimed air quotes, the contact and words are over the moment he slips past the threshold of her room, and while he moves from her ship altogether, she merely locks the door of her cabin and moves about her ship, inspecting item placement through he cargo net draped over the yawning roof of the hull and making soft demands in that silly dress.