Making Port

[Dread Pirate Read]

A strange and strong wind carried into Boston Harbor late one evening. It whirled around and whipped up anything it could grab hold of. It was not quite hurricane strength, but some believed it was pretty close. Out of the harbor, men were running to and fro on the deck of the Fortunate One as they attended to their daily duties. The ship, a colonial era frigate, was designated a First Rate Ship of the Line due to the fact it had been able to field and fire one hundred and forty of some of the British and American's heaviest cannons of the time. The ship's midnight black sails were at full and the crew was quickly securing the rigging as the ship blew through the water at an unusual pace for a ship of sail. Row after row of guns were drawn from their ports and the hatches were battened down as the ship edged closer to the port. There was no sense showing your hand early on, or even at all if you could bluff your way through the game after all. Finally the red flag was struck from the Ensign and was replaced by the Stars and stripes- of the Thirteen Colonies.

The people of Boston Harbor were presented with a sight as out of the distance the old ship of sail came into view. The ship was quite noticeable with it's pitch black sails and it's glinting golden hull that reflected sunlight in such a manner as to make the side of the ship appear to be aflame. The large warship cut across the waters and in towards the bay towards the harbor, drawing eyes to gaze upon the unusual sight. Being this was Boston Harbor, the Fortunate One was far from the only sailing vessel to be found, even amongst the historical kind, but it was by far the largest the inhabitants of Boston had seen for some time. As such, it drew a considerable crowd as onlookers looked at the rare sight in awe and wonderment even with the heavy winds that blew and whipped at them.

It took only twenty minutes for the unusually fast yet grand old warship to close in on the Port of Boston. By then it had dropped a few sails to slow it's progress in the wind, and reoriented itself with one of the empty docks. Lacking any modern Radio, it relied on the tugboats that raced out to guide it, and the workers on the dock to guide it to an empty pier. Despite the offer of assistance from the tugs, the ship remained under it's own power as it slowly settled in to one of the many ship births within the Port. Lines were cast from the ship, securing it to the dock, and ramps were drawn up to the ship. A crowd of dockworkers and onlookers alike had gathered on a nearby pier now, waiting to see who came off the ship.

From the curious vessel sprung an equally curious man. Dressed in the regalia of a ruffian from the eighteenth century (if one had to guess) a man with a Tricorne stepped fourth onto the dock and over to the officials that had trekked out to speak with the man without a radio who's ship was now occupying one of their larger spots. A name was requested of the man who simply gave a disturbing smile. It wasn't so much that he couldn't smile, so much as that when he did, he displayed an array of teeth that had received archaic dental work. Instead of modern fake teeth, the man bore golden teeth where his real ones had rotted away or been knocked out. The name 'Captain Read' was provided and as the man made to request a full name, the oddly dressed man simply tossed what appeared to be a golden coin towards the man. To catch the coin tossed at him, the dockworker used both hands, clasping it between them. To his surprise the coin had vanished when he had opened up his hands, and in it's place was ten one hundred dollar bills instead. He bowed quickly and added a quick 'Thank you for your cooperation' before departing, no doubt in order to fudge or somehow fit what little information had actually been given into the dock sheet.

Captain Warren Read looked over at the crowd with narrowed eyes before he removed his coat, threw it over his shoulder and walked away from the dock. Not long after he made his way, other sailors from the vessel also sprang fourth, some with jobs around the harbor, others looking for a little shore leave. For Dread Pirate Read, the closest establishment that served what passed for liquor these days, was good enough for him. Read quickly found himself at a bar, and ordered quite a few pints of the best brew the bar had. Mug in each hand, the pirate made for a dimly lit corner seat, where he had the entire table to himself. Read propped his feet up onto the table and began drinking down the surprisingly flavorful beverage as he watched the residents, a few of whom had stopped and momentarily watched the oddly dressed man, go about their daily routine. Most had lost their interest in Read after he had been sitting silently in his booth for a few minutes. Now they'd gone back to their own activities, for the majority of them hadn't seen the unusual ship coming to dock. They had instead sought shelter from the wind, and their daily lives, in the establishment. Now they were talking amongst themselves or playing pool, or cards. Save for the type of games, and appearances, it seemed that not a whole lot had changed spiritually in Boston Harbor in Read's absence. The thought brought out that disturbing smile once more as the mug was raised to his chin.

[Leta Raz Hades]

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Boston was a fast paced sort of city. It had lots of people in it, lots of which were dressed in suits and lots of those suited people rushed from one place to the other doing lots of important things. These people earn a lot of money, drank a lot of very expensive drinks and had very little time for beggars. In fact, they had very little time for anything that didn’t serve their self-satisfied purpose. That’s what had always made the dock yard, in any city, the most interesting. It was full of a different vibe. Sure, people rushed around earning money and doing very important things. But they didn’t do it in suits. That was the key here. The suit-less beings were much more jovial. Much more open to a quick conversation, to spend a little time watching the passers-by or the water. They were also a more social able target for a predator. The people here came from all over, many of them had come from other places looking for work on a boat, looking for a merchant fare to somewhere else. These people were the sorts of people who had left their loved ones behind to allow the sea to be their mistress – and terrible accidents happened a sea, didn’t you know?

It was late evening on the harbour and despite the odd winds that blew and danced there was a small girl stood towards one of the corner piers. The harbour, like other places in the city, drew in people and people brought with them money. The money attracted all sorts of people, beggars and entertainers amongst them. One particular entertainer was a small, slender girl. She looked like a gypsy; covered in golden and silver chains and bangles that made her appear to shimmer when she moved. This girl was an entertainer and she worked up good money here, when people took their late evening strolls, or when the women came to the docks with their small children to wave their husbands goodbye.

With cheesy, heavy beat club music playing from a speaker that she’d probably stolen, the girl came here most nights to complete her routine of acrobatics. Always she stripped out of her coloured skirts and scarfs to a vibrant bodysuit that clung to her teenage frame. Then she’d move about like the wretched wind itself until she was breathless or the music stopped – whichever came first. The girl’s movement was incredibly cat-like, with long twirls and pointed toes, long legged leaps and numerous flip-flops, rolls and cartwheels. She was incredibly agile, light and seemed to dance through the air just as well as she did on the ground.

When the ship came in, she was as curious as everyone else. Having just completed a routine she was breathless and held a bottle of water in her hands, which she sipped from periodically. She was also re-donning her clothes, loose and layered skirts that were worn to the floor, brightly coloured and dyed in an array of patterns like a shattered-rainbow. She wore brown boots with holes in them, which coordinated her brown-tan cowboy hat. Then there were the scarves. They were tied around her middle, around her arms, around her neck (where a scarf is generally worn) and around her head. She seemed to like the touch of material, lavished in its softness, but wore nothing that could truly be considered matching attire.

She scooped up her money, tucking it in a soft material bag she carried and put her hat on her head. Going, like everyone else to spy on the boat that came into the dock yard. But she did not rush forwards, she hung back and spied from a nearby wall as the ship came in, with is onyx sails, and she smiled at the gold trim, like a girl might smile at a diamond ring.

A second piece of gold attracted her and her emerald eyes shone as it flickered into the air only to exist no longer. The girl wet her lips, eagerly and watched the strange and eccentric being as he almost danced off towards a bar. Her eyes did a double take, to the dock hand with a wad of cash to the man and she decided on this evening’s prize.

Khali followed the owner of the black-sailed ship.

She tucked her long raven hair behind her ears and almost skipped behind him.

Of course this sweet and playful thirteen year old really shouldn’t be following older men into bars. She should be at home, doing school work, or worrying about boys, but this girl was much different. For a start, she wasn’t really thirteen and she wasn’t really a gypsy girl. This was a façade, a skin, created by a creature much darker than the playful street-entertainer. This was another of Leta’s games and she played it with such instinctive glee. Still, as Khali, the only indication there might be that something here was suspect was the confident air a thirteen year old girl carried herself with as she walked into the Sailors Arms.

She didn’t go to the bar, she didn’t give a second glance to the barmaid or the people that stared at her for a moment as they questioned what she was doing here in the privacies of their own minds. She didn’t even seem to notice as a drunken oaf started to whirl backwards from the gambler in the corner and move drunkenly towards her. Her side-step was natural, it was a continuation of those cat-like movements and she didn’t even flinch when the drunk up-ended a table and lay giggling like a kid on the floor.

No, her eyes were set on something far greater.

She moved through the throng of people to where the captain of the ship with the midnight sails was sat. She surveyed his feet on the table, the boots, the coat and jacket thrown over the chair and Khali smiled to herself. Without introduction and with incredible confidence she tossed her kit-bag down on the seat opposite him and slide into it, drawing a leather boot up onto the chair and sitting without the dignity of a lady or the innocence of a young girl.

“I like your hat.” She told him, touching the brim off her own brown cowboy hat. “It’s almost as cool as mine. Buy me a drink?”



<sup>**
(1000 words baby you know this is why you like me - I can usually keep up)

[sort of a visual for the dance-like aspect, if you're interested in it = Dance]</sup>

[Dread Pirate Read]

Activity roared aboard and around the moored warship. Sailors ran about loading and unloading the vessel, preparing it for another long voyage. Money changed hands as items were bought and sold, and curiosity was risen as the sailors, who were all seemingly part of a reenactment, inquired about the fancy electronic devices people were using. Some of these devices were even handed over to the sailors in exchange for a rare trinket or considerable hunk of gold. Many more useful items were also purchased, including binoculars, modern firearms, and so forth.

Meanwhile back at the bar, the captain of the vessel was taking occasional swigs from the booze he had been delivered when a young woman walked into the bar. A few heads turned to the newcomer as if it were an unusual sight. Read wondered how the laws had changed in his absence. Was there now an age limit to the consumption of alcohol? If so this world had gotten very dull indeed. Where was the fun? Getting drunk, singing songs, dancing like a fool. That was all part of the experience. An experience, he suddenly noticed, not many here were having. The soured pirate went back to drinking his booze, wondering what else about this world had become so dull.

Read didn't even notice the girl dodging the drunkard with a deft sidestep. He was off in his own little world, and remained there until a voice suddenly spoke up near him. The pirate, mid swig, blinked. He gazed at a distant point at the ceiling as if it had done something strange, but soon those brown eyes turned downward and onto the girl that was opposite of him. The bottle was slowly lowered from his lips and he stared at the young lady curiously.

Suddenly his head snapped left, then right, and then it spun all around. Finally it stopped back on the girl and those eyes widened as his upper torso shifted back in surprise. "Oh! You were talking to me. Right, thanks!" The man paused and turned to the side and squinted a moment and then quickly looked back at the girl. "I think." Read's gaze wandered off to no where specifically and a short moment of silence followed before he seemed to realize the woman asked him a question. "Er, right! A drink!" Read's eyes again wandered, this time between the woman and the bartender a few more times, leaving another moment of silence.

"All right then!" Read exclaimed suddenly. His feet flew from the tabletop and the man jumped to his feet with a spring in his step. The pirate marched over to the bar counter and stop in between two men. The bartender came over, looking at him suspiciously. Read looked at the man, then looked over his shoulder at the girl still at the table he had been occupying, then back at the bartender. "Oh, yes! Uh, a couple bottles of.. er, rum. And make it quick!" The bartender stared unamused by the man. 'That girl is under eighteen. I can't sell her any alcohol, and I can't sell any to you if I have any reason to believe you'll just give it to her.'

Read stared at the man as he spoke. When he finished Read, already leaning on the counter with his right arm, leaned back and swept his head around to look to where Khali was sitting, back at the bartender, back at Khali and then back at the bartender. As he looked back to the bartender the final time, he leaned back forward, momentarily blocking the man's view. His head then twisted a touch to the left and canted to the side. His eyes followed the bartender during the movement of his head, and they narrowed slightly. "Are you sure?"

The bartender spoke as he started leaning to the side to look past Read at the girl. 'Yes I'm quite -- cer..tain.' The man paused mid sentence as his eyes fell upon the woman in the seat where Khali was sitting. Instead of seeing the young girl he had previously, the man instead was presented with a somewhat older girl. She bore similar features to the younger girl, but was clearly, from what the bartender could see, above the age of eighteen. The man gazed curiously, and suspiciously at Read before looking at the counter where Read had placed what appeared to be quite a few sizable bills. The bartender grudgingly fetched the man two bottles and placed them on the counter before moving on to other patrons.

Read fetched his prize from the counter and practically skipped back over to table, setting one bottle down in front of the woman. The other he held onto as he flopped back down into his chair and set his feet back upon the tabletop. Situated, the man took a big guip of his drink. He said nothing else to the woman afterward. Instead he simply watched her as he silently drank, waiting for whatever the girl would do next.

[Leta Raz Hades]

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Boston wasn’t usually a place that Leta, or in this instance Khali, frequented. Sure it was big and there was lots for her to investigate, people with secrets, people who could go missing and no one would notice, people who had lots of money. But the city was, well, just that. It was big, it was brash, it was metallic and dirty and, frankly, it was a city. Though she appreciated the warm climate, Leta preferred much more lavish places, she preferred places with a little romance about them or places where the dirt was delicious. Still here she was, in Boston.

Nothing like trying something new as there? Like a new dress, that cost much more than one could afford, where you slip into the changing room and try it on for size. Then, when the material hangs at awkward angels, or the bust is baggy and disproportionate, there’s that wonderful sigh of relief that you haven’t fallen in love. That you don’t have to buy the dress and that flouncing around in the mirror for a good ten minutes is enough of an affair with said dress, that when you move on, you don’t forget about it but you don’t miss it either.

Khali sat, drawing one foot up and paying no attention to the fall of her skirts around her knee. She gave him an innocent smile as she made her request, watching his head tip about like it was not securely attached to his spine and gave him an eager grin. Her eyes didn’t come away from his face, didn’t really take notice of the bottle that he placed down on the table, nor did she really notice much else about the way that he shifted about. For a moment, though perhaps regrettably, he reminded her of a bird. Not in a way where she considered him her natural prey, but his head bobbed about like a chicken and when he rose so quickly to his feet it was like he was drawing himself up to a new height- like a flamingo.

Not the most elegant or desirable of birds, we admit, but a bird no less.

But she got what she wanted from him, despite the eccentric display, he headed off to the bar.

When he was gone, Khali shifted her seat. She moved to where he had been sitting, looking on the floor and in the chairs adjacent to his own. It wasn’t clear what she was looking for, or if she was looking for anything in particular, but she moved all the same. For a moment, she rested her elbows on the table, her chin on her palms and closed her eyes, just breathing in the scent that was left behind.

Khali’s smirk returned.

Just for laughs, and just because she could, she sat back in what had been his seat. She leant back in it, making herself comfortable and put her feet up on the table; her feet folded together at the ankle, dressed in her brown cowboy boots.

From here she had a wonderful vantage point to watch him at the bar. And although she couldn’t necessarily hear all of the conversation, mostly because she had no real urge to listen in on it, she did rather enjoy the display. The mime that passed between the two of them was greatly amusing to this kitty-kat.

When she was gestured to a second time, Khali gave a little wave, waggling just her fingers in a manner that an older woman might suggest a flirt or fancy. She even gave a wink, and all from his seat, where she’d taken up the position he had first been sat in.

Then he returned, prize claimed and she smiled. For a moment, their images seemed to mirror each other, both eccentrically dressed and both with an odd charismas about the way they moved. Though, if anyone compared her to a bird, they wouldn’t last out the night. Her movements were much to fluid, much too careful and light to be considered as clumsy as a bird. She reached for the bottle, sniffed it first, and then put it to her lips.

She wasn’t upset by his stare, she wasn’t unnerved by it. Nor did she verbally thank him for the drink (that was done by another touch to the rim of her hat, a brief and fleeting gesture). She just sat back and sipped from the bottle, a small mouthful that she allowed to pass her lips and that she swallowed down. For a moment it burnt her throat, warming her stomach. But on a second sip she quickly got use to the taste. This wasn’t Khali’s first drink, after all, but it was a little stronger than the cider she would score from the local supermarkets.

Khali returned his gaze for the longest of moments, then her smile curved upwards once more, again with the cat-like descriptors, at it edged its way up her cheeks, leisurely. “I saw your boat arrive at the dock.” She said finally, placing the bottle in her lap, holding it still with her left hand. “I saw the coin you tossed to the dockhand.”

“I want one.” She added, her eyes dancing emerald and sparkling at the thought of the pretty golden piece.

[Dread Pirate Read]

The man proceeded as if everything was normal when he had set the bottle in front of her. It only wasn't until he was about to sit down that he seemed to take into account that that wasn't actually the seat he had been sitting it. Scrutinizing eyes leered at the girl for a moment before the captain sucked it up and sat down into the freed chair and prop his feet up. The captain didn't even acknowledge the tip of her hat with so much as a blink. He was far more interested in how his seat had been stolen from him. Somebody had pirated the pirate. Did that make her a pirate pirate or an anti-pirate? Perhaps neither. Yes, it was certainly neither.

Something about that girl struck him as catlike. He could just imagine a tail swishing behind her. The disturbing thought showed on his face, giving the girl a look as if she had sprouted two heads or an extra pair of arms. The thought short-circuited as she spoke about his ship. "Quite a few saw it, I imagine. Er--What makes you special?" No sooner had he asked than a response of sorts in the form of two statements was presented.

"Coin.. Coin.. Oh yes, like that did you? If it's money you're after, get a job." Be him a man who loved to spread fortune and luck and honestly fun and adventure to nearly everyone alike, he was not the sort to give money for the sake of handing it out. Especially to people who seemed to be doing well off on their own. The bottle of rum was brought back to his lips and he took another swig before lowering it and looking to that girl again.

"I was younger than you when I started learning how to be a sailor. On a ship, everyone has to pull their weight, or we throw them overboard. A ship is only as effective as it's least effective crew member, and dead weight is less room for more valuable things. Like coins."

Read brought the bottle was brought up once again though this time he paused before taking a drink. "Though I am rather flattered that you followed me all the way from the docks to here even if it was to ask me for a silly old worthless coin." The bottle pressed to his lip and was tilted on it's end to drain the contents into his mouth. It wasn't the old stuff, but this new stuff wasn't half bad. It seemed they learned to refine it even more.

Those eyes returned to the woman after he had told her to get a job. It was admittedly slightly a quick, humorous jab back at her for the comment about his hat, but he was at least partially serious. Though perhaps this one would be fun to play with. Perhaps he would give her a chance to to earn that coin. Chance, after all.. was something he enjoyed playing with.

[Leta Raz Hades]

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Khali just smiled at him.

It was almost an innocent look.

Khali, supposedly, was just that. She was a teenager, fledgling, a hippy or alternative looking creature. Like a siren, she was pure and sweet voiced, like a pixie she had a young, fresh-face innocence. That was what she was designed to be. Like all of the ‘skins’ Leta wore, this was one perfectly crafted and treasured.

So she just smiled at him when he looked at her oddly, and the smile continued to blossom as he spoke about his boat. Then, the mention of the coin came and while her eyes sparkled and lit-up like emeralds gems, the smile remained on her lips.

"Coin.. Coin.. Oh yes, like that did you? If it's money you're after, get a job."

Unbeknown to him, she didn’t want money. It wasn’t about money. It was about this coin, this particular coin. It was about playing a game and earning a prize. But, Khali loved shiny things, like a cat chasing a ball of foil, she had an attraction to gold and silver. The bangles on her arms and wrists, the looped earrings in her hair and the chain around her neck would be testament to this love of sparkly things. She liked to dress herself in glitter and gold and she very much wanted one of those coins, simply for its beauty.

And it’s magic.

Of course there was that too.

But her answer came through that sweet and sugary voice, the accent so difficult to place because of her travelling around so often; “It’s not money I want.” She told him, plainly. “It’s one of those coins, sailor.”

She sipped from her bottle, only sipping as he drank so eagerly, but she was mimicking him. That much was clear. She sat in a similar position to him, she drank when he drank (though not the quantity he took) and she sighed when he sighed. It was all part of her game. Childish, though it was, it was just a little naïve fun.


"I was younger than you when I started learning how to be a sailor. On a ship, everyone has to pull their weight, or we throw them overboard. A ship is only as effective as it's least effective crew member, and dead weight is less room for more valuable things. Like coins."

She yawned playfully at his story, though short, then straightened in her seat, putting her boots on the floor and leaning forwards on her elbows. Her chin rested on her palms and she gazed at him, speaking into his pause while he drank;

“Oh, it’s always a good idea to have more valuable things. Like treasure…”

Again, there was the smile, but somehow, with the word, it seemed much more like a smirk or a grin than a smile, it seemed to bring darkness to her features and shadow the youth about her as she leant forwards, edging that little bit closer to him. “Gold and silver and bronze.” She whispered.

"Though I am rather flattered that you followed me all the way from the docks to here even if it was to ask me for a silly old worthless coin."

His words seemed to break the spell about her and she sat back, putting her foot up on the seat once more and tipping her head to one side as she watched him drain what was left in his bottle.

“I’m a girl that likes to get what I want.” She teased him, brightly and somewhat flippantly.

[Dread Pirate Read]

Read's gaze fell skeptically upon the girl as she continued to smile at him. Unnerving wasn't the word, it was just weird. The attempted innocence of it was also slightly creepy. It was like staring at a child who thought the entire world was sunshine and rainbows. Since it was a child, revealing the truth wasn't really an option, so you just had to look upon that naive appearing face. But there was something about it that didn't seem quite right.

"Captain," Read corrects the woman after she addresses him as sailor. "And how can you want the coin but not money? They're the same think. The coin is currency, and currency is the coin." The pirate countered the sip she took with a larger drink of his own. The look on his face suggested he was aware he was being mimicked and was counter-mimicking her almost in challenge, as if daring her to drink more.

As he continued on, the girl yawned in jest, drawing another round of narrowing eyes upon her. The girl definitely knew how to play the part of the kid only interested in what they want. His mention of coin certainly peeked her interested, though. She scooted closer and responded with her interest in treasure of any precious sort of metal and some not. A grin graced the pirate's lips, almost enough to draw those teeth into view, but not quite.

"You certainly do seem used to getting what you want. I imagine at any cost. A little pirate, huh? Sometimes people have to work in order to get what they want. But-- I'll tell you what. Let's play a game, shall we?"

Read reached into his pocket and pulled out a pair of ivory dice. The pirate's feet were then slid from the table as the pirate leaned forward and set the dice down carefully at the center of the table. There was no mistaking the age, or the composition of those two small cubes. They were ancient and almost certainly made of elephant tusk. The man leaned back and threw an arm over the back of his chair those brown eyes fell upon the person sitting opposite of him. "A good game is always fun. The rules are simple. If you roll any combination that equals seven twice before I do... I will give you one of those coins. If I win...." The man trailed off as his expression became one of troubled thought. The man wondered what the girl might have that would interest him, not that he truly needed anything from this little game. Simply playing it was reward enough.

[Leta Raz Hades]

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"Captain,"

“Captain.”

"And how can you want the coin but not money? They're the same think. The coin is currency, and currency is the coin."

“You’re assuming I want to spend it.” She told him, simply.

"You certainly do seem used to getting what you want. I imagine at any cost. A little pirate, huh? Sometimes people have to work in order to get what they want. But-- I'll tell you what. Let's play a game, shall we?"

Her eyes would appear to light up. Leta liked games. She liked all types of games. It wasn’t even about winning them, it was merely about the playing of them. She liked the adrenaline, she liked the challenge. So, his use of that simple word caught her attention in a big way and the soft expression on Khali’s girly features transformed into something of a much keener interest. She wet her lips, slowly, and watched him with a new intensity. It was like he had said a magic word.

He presented her with two small dice. Old, ivory in colour, they seemed remarkable and wholly uninteresting to the girl who scoffed a little at the sight of them. Surely, he was joking? There was nothing challenging here, nothing that required thought or clever whit, in order to throw a pair of dice. This was merely a game of chance. Luck. She might have nine-lives, but luck wasn’t something that Leta liked to bank all her cards for. Her emerald eyes flitted down to the dice, then back up to his face, disappointed to see that he was serious as he spoke;

"A good game is always fun. The rules are simple. If you roll any combination that equals seven twice before I do... I will give you one of those coins. If I win...."

“Then you’ll win and keep you’re coin and the whole adventure would be for nothing.” She said, flippantly. “How do I know you won’t cheat? That the dice aren’t in weight somehow? That you won’t use some of that ‘magic’ that you demonstrated on the coin- that turned it from a coin into money in the first place?”

She didn’t appear to be buying into his offer.

“I should’ve expected less.” She said, shaking her head at his offering. “I had hoped for something a little more…lucrative…from a man so… interesting. But it’s disappointing that nothing about you goes skin deep. You’re just another fake.”

She winked at him all the same, tipping her hat back a little so she could look at him openly. “Make it more interesting, pirate, or I’ll call the authorities.”

[Dread Pirate Read]

This time those teeth did show as he grinned to her response. "I'm assuming you want it. Wanting currency doesn't mean wanting to spend currency."

When Read spoke of a game, the woman's eyes lit up. It wasn't surprising that the seemingly young and interestingly dressed woman would be interested in games. That was part of the reason he had suggested one in the first place. Her expression however, turned sour as soon as she saw the dice he presented. Read shook his head and chuckled. He was surprised that she would turn down a game that would be so in her favor, especially if she started first. The pirate swung the bottom edge of his bottle in small little circles to swirl the little remains of his beverage around in the bottle as he watched the woman and awaited whatever explanation she had for her distaste for his suggested game.

Read's smile once more showed his teeth as her words came out. She wasn't willing to even put her own stakes up and was suspicious of him as well. The accusation of cheating brought a chuckle out of the old pirate who again shook his head. "Aren't you quite the lady? You know it's not nice to accuse someone of cheating, especially when you want something from them." Read picked up the two little ivory cubes and rolled them around in his hand. His eyes turned pensively towards them before he slid them back into his pocket, rotating his gaze until it fell back upon the stubborn girl. "And just what sort of 'magic' do you think I have? Sleight of hand is an important skill for maritime life."

As the girl continued, the old pirate let out a sigh that spoke of disappointment more than anything else. He brought that bottle back up and gave a quick side to side of his head before taking a slow drink of that dark liquor. After setting the bottle back down he ran his fingers over it as he considered a response. Then she spoke again telling him to either make it more interesting or she'd call the authorities. Those words brought the smile back to his lips and a chuckle. The words brought back memories of times when he was chased by such authorities around the port and even into the open sea. He recalled the battles between his ship and the fine ships of the British Navy. Scenes of ship against ship, sailor against sailor all played out in his head. He could practically taste the gunpowder smoke in the air.

"Oh you will will you now? You'll call the authorities and tell them... what? That a sailor gave you rum? And what would that accomplish even if they believed you? Getting the bartender in trouble. Getting me a short stay at the local fort and then there's you. I'm sure that such a law would go both ways. You would be equally guilty for having taken it to begin with. Seems rather counterproductive if you ask me. But you're right, you are indeed a girl that appears accustomed to getting everything she wants. Problem is you're not dealing with ordinary citizens of this town you're dealing with the captain of a naval vessel. You shouldn't reveal your plans so early on. You might find them less effective than you hope."

"Unfortunately for you, I do not like being threatened." Read paused to empty his drink and set the empty bottle back on the table. "And I think it's high time I got back to my ship and attended to my crew. So if you'll excuse me, girl... I have more interesting things to see to than talking to a young, needy woman who is clearly a spoiled brat." Read then rose to his feet, lifted his hat off his head and brought it back in towards his chest as he made a slight bow. He then replaced his head and made to leave the establishment.

[Leta Raz Hades]

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"I'm assuming you want it. Wanting currency doesn't mean wanting to spend currency."

“Maybe I just want it because it’s pretty.” She cooed.

"Aren't you quite the lady? You know it's not nice to accuse someone of cheating, especially when you want something from them."

“It wasn’t an accusation, it was speculation. It’s your game and your rules and I don’t like the sound of my odds.”

She watched the dice roll around in his hands then vanish back into his pockets. He didn’t seem to appreciate her mouth, but at least the dice were away.

"And just what sort of 'magic' do you think I have? Sleight of hand is an important skill for maritime life."

Again, a sparkle came to her eyes. So he wasn’t outright denying that he had magics within him. She wondered if he knew his own limits. The mention of sleight of hand made her think for a moment, and she tapped her finger to her lips in a playful display of thought. Khali knew there was more here than was meeting her eyes. She didn’t doubt that he probably had the same thoughts about her. But that was what was making this more interesting. It wasn’t her usual night in Boston, she liked that.

He, apparently, didn’t.

"Oh you will will you now? You'll call the authorities and tell them... what? That a sailor gave you rum?”

“That would be too easy.”

“…Seems rather counterproductive if you ask me. But you're right, you are indeed a girl that appears accustomed to getting everything she wants. Problem is you're not dealing with ordinary citizens of this town you're dealing with the captain of a naval vessel. You shouldn't reveal your plans so early on. You might find them less effective than you hope."

“And old men should sell tickets for their lectures, then at least their audience would be warned.” She told him, throwing another of those careless and playful yawns in his direction, fanning her mouth; toying and so full of a wonderful carefree attitude that only a teenager can truly master.

As he rose she didn’t show her disappointment. They danced around each other in circles but he was as displeased with her as she was with him, it seemed. Of course, she wasn’t done yet. His need to leave, regardless of the reason, suggest that she was getting to him in some manner. Even if he was bored or offended, that gave her a kick and she watched him as he rose and gave his funny little bow.

Khali paused for a moment, let him head out into the open night breeze, then she left the table behind too. Her drink half drunk, her mind on her prize.

She was only two or three paces behind him and she kept herself at that distance until they were outside. Then she called out to him, her voice carried on the winds; “Let me come with you? I don’t belong here. I’d rather be with you.”

It was truthful, at least, though it was possible neither of them really understood the depth of it yet. As a sphinx her job was that of a guardian to the Gods, a servant, a hit man, a creature of cunning and creativity. Sure, Forgery had taken everything that was lethal about Leta and had harvested it, at one point he had even made her his slave, but simply put…something inside of the girl knew that following the pirate was going to be better for her than sticking around in Boston. Even if instinct wasn’t telling her the why or the what.

She stepped up her pace and caught up to him quickly, her cat-like steps so light on the ground as the air caught her skirts in their dance. She didn’t reach out to stop him, or beg with him, but stared up at him, chewing her lip. That innocent expression was back as she added; “I’ll even play your stupid dice game with you.”

[Dread Pirate Read]

The pirate captain gave a barely noticeable nod in response to the young girl's claim to wanting the coin because it was pretty. He didn't doubt the truth behind the statement one bit, but such things of fancy weren't to be had just for being pretty.

"Don't like the odds? What is life but a game of odds that are stacked against you. How many people get out of life alive after all. Everything you do is a risk that lowers your potential to survive. Statistically speaking your odds of winning, especially if you started first, would have been greater than mine, but no matter. It was a risk you weren't willing to take."

The pirate continued on to scoop up his pair of dice before turning to speak with her again. As expected, the fiery little woman had a reply in store, though it's content was not at all as the Dread pirate would have predicted. "I should question your definition of old, little girl. If an Adult in his prime is old, you're not looking at too many years before you yourself end up old then, eh?" The pirate chuckled. "And I'm dreadfully sorry I didn't warn you of my lecture. It hadn't been planned, you see. What are the odds I'd break out into an advice riddled rant, eh? And odds strike their head once again." The small chuckle became a roaring laugh. Read slapped the side of his thigh and shook his head in the midst of it before he continued on out the door as he had planned.

Evening Boston air hit the pirate's face as he exited the establishment. It carried with it the smell of city life mixed with the salt air of the ocean. The smell had changed somewhat in the past couple hundred years, but it was still very familiar to the Colonial relic. It was the smell of industry mingled with the freedom that only the sea provided. Read's eyes opened up and the starstruck pirate paused to give wonder to the spectacular view of the nighttime city. Back in his day, electricity was only budding and was a thing for the rich and famous. Now it appeared the whole city was wired up and was now alight with fancy incandescent bulbs which were merely luxuries back when he was younger. It was awe inspiring to see the first major change of this new world since he had 'officially' left it behind.

Just as quickly as the moment came over him, it left him. The pirate continued on, not paying attention to the fact he had someone tailing him until she finally spoke up. The pirate didn't even bother turning around as the familiar voice played across his ears, causing the faintest roll of his eyes and a soft sigh. "And now why would I do that? I live on the open sea, love. That ship you saw me come in on is my home. Most of my time is spent on board that with about eight hundred other men. That's no place for a little girl, especially one who doesn't pull her weight. I told you before, we ain't got room for dead weight. It will only slow us down. If Boston isn't your thing, I suggest you pack up and move. I hear Philadelphia is a decent town. Or you could always try England. I hear life over there is just grand."

When the woman caught up and offered to play his game, the man's head rocked side to side yet again, and he gave another hearty laugh. "It's not about the game girl. If you want aboard my ship, you're going to have to earn your place. Even the cat has to work for it's keeping."

[Leta Raz Hades]

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He didn’t turn straight away and Khali knew what was going to come next, some scathing comment of refusal. But she wasn’t the sort of girl who liked getting no for an answer, after all, she liked to get what she wanted. Work, in her mind, was one of those words that never actually meant what everyone else thought it did. It wasn’t about slogging through something in order to get paid a reward. It was mindless activity or menial. Work, in her mind, was just another one of those opportunities to play a game, to screw something up or mess with someone’s life. The ritual little ants that fluttered home each day, exhausted from their work, well that just made everything that much easier for her didn’t it?

The only obstacle here, that Khali foresaw, was the water. It wasn’t exactly cat’s best friend now was it?

"I told you before, we ain't got room for dead weight. It will only slow us down. If Boston isn't your thing, I suggest you pack up and move. I hear Philadelphia is a decent town. Or you could always try England. I hear life over there is just grand."

“Then take me to those places and drop me off.” She offered him, like a child might. Figuring that if she could get on the boat then nothing else would actually matter.

He laughed at her again, but at least he’d stopped walking and she span around to stand in front of him, blocking his path.

"It's not about the game girl. If you want aboard my ship, you're going to have to earn your place. Even the cat has to work for its keeping."

For a moment her eyes seemed to flicker with the thinnest of pupils, long and slender slits, rather than the beautiful almond shaped greens. It was over in a nano-second, and the girl gave him a grin. “Oh, I’ll earn my place.” She told him, almost purring at him, like a cat that got the canary right between her claws.

“Does that mean I can come? That you’ll take me with you?” Glee seemed to fill the child, and she seemed to be bouncing on the ball of her feet, her act firmly in place.

[Dread Pirate Read]

The pirate turned about and gave the girl a look as if she were surely crazy. He silently stared at her for a moment and then spun around to look off in the direction of the port, not that he could see his ship clearly from here. Then he wheeled around again to stare at the girl once more. This process repeated two or three times before he brought his hand up and extended a finger towards the girl. "You do realize that Philadelphia is that way, right?" The man shifted his gesture off somewhere between the girl and his boat, but clearly deeper inland. "Boats sail over water, not land. I might be able to trick someone into believing that a few bills are actually a coin, but making a ship sail over land is not one of the tricks we learned in the naval schools. If you are familiar with the practice, perhaps you can teach it to me some time but uh-- Not with my boat. Also, you're on your own for England. I won't sail anywhere near it if I can help it." He continued to speak after that but it was mostly unintelligible mutters about the British Navy.

The naval captain's attention was drawn to the young woman's eyes. Even in the briefest split instant of a second, Read had caught the sight of those unusual eyes. His suspicion that she was not normal was beginning to be confirmed, but the ability to morph the eyes was hardly conclusive. In his days he had seen far stranger things than a shifting eye pattern after all. The stubborn girl also refused to give up on the topic, claiming that she'd pull her weight, which the captain had his serious doubts on. He had no evidence to base this doubt on, but the girl seemed more apt to run around playing games than actually do work, and it probably wasn't far off from the truth.

"No, I didn't say you could come. I merely said that's what it takes to be given the chance to come aboard my ship, not that I would grant you it. I don't make a habit of just picking up freeloaders. Every one of my crew earned their place both through their proven ability to be trusted, and the work they've done. I've picked up a few along the way but they didn't just get to show up on the ship one day. If you want to board my ship you'll have to pay your dues, either in collateral, or work."

[Leta Raz Hades]

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That had been a mistake. Not that she allowed it to show on her face but her comment about the places to be dropped off was very telling of Leta’s nature. She was a creature who didn’t like the effort unless there was a reward in it for her. She could be found to ‘pop up’ in any place in the world, but she didn’t usually succumb to mundane travelling. It was boring to her, it was beneath her standards of living. She simply didn’t care for how the world was connected, didn’t care of the geography of it. Those facts, well, they didn’t usually have any use to her, they didn’t usually reward her in anyway. But in Khali’s eagerness, she’d made that mistake.

Fortunately, for her, the Pirate seemed more interested in his mutterings about the British for a moment and she allowed him that indulgence, simply to smile at him, with that open honestly that the girl birthed from those emerald eyes.

She took a moment to reach up, take her hat from her head, run her fingers through her raven hair and replace the hat low over here brow. In those moments, she watched him most cautiously, returning his gaze as he watched her.

Then of course his refusal came.

It was what she had come to expect. There was no logical reason for him to accept her onto his boat and the only reason she was even, it appeared, looking to go with him was sere curiosity. She chewed her lip for a moment, glancing down at her feet and appearing to be thoughtful towards his words, giving the role of a scolded school girl her attention as she shifted from foot to foot, but without the eagerness from before. In fact, with his words the energy seemed to be draining out of her.

Then from her lips the words came;
“There are people in this place who want to hurt me. I need to leave, your boat would be swift passage. I’m not a good sailor, I won’t pretend to know how to work the mechanics of a boat, but I can cook and clean and entertain. I’ll earn my keep if you help me leave this hell hole behind.”

If at first you don’t succeed, spin another lie.

[Dread Pirate Read]

The pirate's eyes fell skeptically upon the girl when she neglected to comment on his words about the direction of Philadelphia. The man hadn't so quickly forgotten what he had said, and it seemed pretty obvious she had attempted to use the distraction to redirect his attention. The pirate put it down to the woman being fairly evasive, which she had been for nearly their entire conversation, and chose not to comment on it for the immediate moment.

Read took notice that the woman remained quiet for the duration of his commentary. With each word she seemed to be losing interest and livelihood about her. Read was reminded of a child trying to play the victim when it was scolded. It painted an amusing picture within his mind but that didn't mean he was going to let it fly out here, or on his ship for that matter. It was only when he finished speaking that the girl would then speak up. When she did the pirate could but laugh at what he heard.

"You must take me for a fool. If people want to hurt you, go to the authorities. I am sure Boston still has authorities. They're here to protect the citizens aren't they? And you seem to be fine running about the city unsupervised so I'm sure you can find your way out of the city. I already know you're not a good sailor. It would be negligent for me to take you out onto the open sea where you could easily get sick or drown. Such a horrible fate that would be wouldn't it? You're going to have to do better than that I'm afraid."

Even if it might not have been the real truth that he saw, the pirate saw through the girl's lie either way, and wasn't about to be taken for a fool even if he might have acted like one some times.