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[heartlessknave]

As far as backwater villages go, this one wasn't quite a wretched hive of scum and villainy but it was close. This was actually a good thing as the odds of finding a way to get to Storybrooke was much better here than in some nice friendly village.

Of course, the odds of getting into a fight were also a lot higher but the Knave reasoned that there was a price for everything, wasn't there? Besides, he could handle himself - and so could Cyrus for that matter.

After asking around, he had finally gotten directed to a tavern that managed to look more disreputable then all of the other buildings combined. There was supposedly a pirate there who knew how to pass through realms. Whether it was true or not, the Knave didn't know but right now, this was their best option.

"That must be him," he murmured to Cyrus, gesturing to the rather handsome man in the back. He could understand now why the dairy maid had giggled and blushed when telling him. "You stay here and I'll deal with him, okay?"

With that, he squared his shoulders and walked through the room, ignoring the speculative looks and catcalls from the bar maids until he reached his destination.

"Don't suppose I could buy you a drink, mate?"

Comments

[itsapirateslife]

The maids were talkative tonight and Hook already knew about the young man looking for him. It had to be him after all, since no other pirate, much less one in this hole of a tavern, would know how to cross worlds, much less to Storybrooke. A name he was honestly surprised to hear in Wonderland of all places, but then the Hatter and Cora had spent time here, hadn't they?

Not that he would do anything about the inquiry until the man was bold enough to approach him. Approaching a pirate of his reputation to ask for something spoke a lot for a person.

Hook saw the young man finally approach, after leaving a finely dressed, handsome man by the door. He either had an overabundance of confidence or stupidity, bringing such a fine morsel into a place like this and leaving him to fend for himself. Hook looked over to one of his crew at a nearby table and nodded to the left behind young man. The crewman nodded back and with a laughing distraction, moved himself so he could watch over the morsel.

The other pirates drinking with Hook looked up but he kept his gaze just below. He lifted his hook and dropped it pointedly on the table before looking up lazily. "Depends on what we're drinking to, doesn't it mate?"

[heartlessknave]

If Cyrus were a regular sort of man, the Knave would have definitely not let him anywhere near the town, much less the inn. But the genie could take care of himself, no two ways about it and so he wasn't worried. Too much, at any rate.

"Now I'm not the picky type," he said easily even as he kept a wary eye on the hook. "It seems like a good day to share a pint or two, that's all."

[itsapirateslife]

Better to be safe then sorry with handsome young men. Hook knew that for a fact.

This young man was smart if he was giving the hook a wary gaze and Hook couldn't help a smirk. "It's always a good day for a pint. Sharing is negotiable." He gestured with the tankard in his hand to an empty seat. The crew moved aside to make room, subtly backing up their captain. "Why should I share with someone like you when I have all these find fellow to share with?" Then he gestured at the crew, who roared in approval, making their captain grin with pride.

[heartlessknave]

Oh, it was going to be like that, was it? Well, the Knave couldn't say he was too surprised - not after all the rumors he heard about this Hook. This negotiation was going to take every little bit of skill he had to avoid getting a knife in the back, let alone passage on his ship.

He could do it, he was the Knave of Hearts, wasn't he? He'd convince the pirate to let them board, one way or another.

"Would you be willing to share a pint with the man who'd like to employ you?"

[itsapirateslife]

Of course it was going to be like that. Hook didn't have his reputation for nothing. Though most of his reputation was embellished by the drunk, he would admit, but he wasn't about to refute it.

"You come in here attempting to employ a pirate. I hope you have the sums to back up that bravado." His smirk didn't waver as he took a drink from his tankard and his crew sniggered around him. "Please, sit. You have peaked my curiosity. Where are we going?"

[heartlessknave]

If great sums included a stale peanut and Granny's keys, then Hook was definitely in luck. Otherwise... well, the Knave would figure out how to pay for their passage - one way or the other.

He just smiled easily and sat across from the pirate, resisting the urge to check back on how Cyrus was doing. This was not the time for distractions.

"Anywhere that's not here is good for a start," he said. "But I was thinking Storybrooke."

[itsapirateslife]

To the Knave's credit, Hook was rather impressed that he hadn't looked back at his companion. He was giving these negotiations his all and not letting himself be distracted. Thankfully there was nothing to be distracted by, as Hook's crewman was watching over him, only letting the pretty barmaids through who mostly flirted for tips then anything else. The young man's blush was rather alluring...

Not that it was obvious Hook was keeping an eye on the man's companion as he just kept up his cocky smirk. Which turned intrigued when the name of the destination was named. "Storybrooke aye? Now...where in all the worlds did you hear that name?"

He kept it out of his voice and expression, but Hook was a bit concerned about the safety of the town if people were actively trying to go there. He had first had experience with the type of people who were desperate to get there and he was not about to let another Cora loose in the town.

[heartlessknave]

"I've been there as it happens," the Knave answered. He hadn't been caught by the curse thanks to still being in Wonderland at the time but he had spent a fair amount of time in that world. When the curse broke, he'd made his way over and had been living there ever since.

"It's a nice place and, you know, I've had more than enough of this place. Thought I'd go back, see the folks and all."

[itsapirateslife]

"You've been there." Hook says with a skeptical look, still not quite believing the man. "Alright then. Tell me about it. Or better yet, tell me the names of the royals." He needed proof and that information wasn't common knowledge anywhere outside of Storybrooke.

[heartlessknave]

The Knave had to hand it to Hook. He'd known the pirate was sharp, he had to be given everything he'd heard but he hadn't figuring on him asking that question. It was a good, smart question and his estimation of the man grew.

"Their real names or their names under the curse?" he asked, thanking whoever it was that looked after rogues like him that he'd met Gus and gotten the gory details from him.

[itsapirateslife]

It was part of the fun of being a pirate. People tended to underestimate them as a bunch of drunken thieves. It was no doubt why Hook's crew of former military men did so well with the element of surprise and strategy.

"Both."

[heartlessknave]

The Knave smiled and leaned forward. He knew the answers, yes, but there was no sense in letting everyone else know the answer. It probably didn't matter but better safe than sorry, after all.

"Snow White. Charming. The Evil Bitch Queen. Or if you prefer - Mary Margaret, David, Regina."

He leaned back again with a self-satisfied smile on his face. "That good enough?"

[itsapirateslife]

Hook wasn't going to lie, he was both impressed and surprised that he actually had the right names, all of them. The existence of Storybrooke, much less the names of those there, was a very well guarded secret and Hook did all he could to keep it that way. Now he just had to determine if the Knave and his companion were going to passengers or casualties.

"Very good. I'm impressed. Though, I have to wonder why you want to travel to such a place?" His tone was light but his expression was anything but. He needed a good reason to take them to Storybrooke, to risk it with new inhabitants.

[heartlessknave]

The Knave hesitated for a moment, trying to work out what the best answer was that wouldn't put Cyrus into more danger. If he told Hook everything, he had to gamble on him keeping his word and not just handing them both over to Jafar.

He wasn't sure he liked the odds but he didn't know what else he could do. They had to get out of this world and fast. Hook was their only chance.

"Because it's better than here," he answered finally. He hoped that would be enough but he didn't think he could be that lucky.

[itsapirateslife]

The answer was not what Hook wanted but he sensed the desperation behind it. He leveled the young man with a look...before standing up. "Come with me."

He spread a charming smile to his surrounding crew. "Excuse us, mates. I think we need to take this talk somewhere else. I think it's going to get into terms your drowned brains wouldn't understand." The insult was fond and crew roared in approval. He picked up his tankard and motioned with his hook.

When the man drew closer to follow Hook, he said under his breath, "My crew will watch over your pretty little friend. We're going to the back where you are going to explain why I should take you to Storybrooke and it better be good. I won't risk the town for two young lads on the run."

[heartlessknave]

While it wasn't the response the Knave had hoped to get, it was better than a flat out no. There was still a chance he could be persuasive enough to get the pirate on his side. As for how he would do it... the walk from here to the back room would give him enough time to come up with something. Right?

He glanced over at Cyrus, giving him a reassuring smile then followed Hook.

He'd get an idea. Anytime now.

Telling Hook the truth was something that ran counter to his instincts but if it were Alice, he knew she'd tell him (and threaten him into doing her bidding with her sword). Doing the right thing seemed to work for her. Then again, if he was wrong they'd be all in a hell of a lot of trouble.

"I'll admit it, we're on the run," he said once they were in private. "But the way I look at it, it's like this. We get to Storybrooke, we have breathing room to figure out how to stop the sorcerer after us once and for all. And even if he finds out where we are, he has to stop and consider whether he wants to take on the Evil Queen and Rumplestiltskin. He's insane but not suicidal."

[itsapirateslife]

"That's your best argument. Bold I must say, to hide from an evil sorcerer among other evil types." But despite his words, Hook's look was anything but convinced. He led the young man to a table and chairs, motioning for him to take a seat.

"But there are good people in that town, good people I actually like, who have done a lot to keep their town safe, even making the Dark One and the Evil Queen behave under their rules. I'm going to need a reason to upset that idealic scene." The playful tone from out in the main room was gone. Hook was all business now, lending a genuine fierceness to his overall expression.

"Who is chasing you and why?"

[heartlessknave]

The Knave settled heavily into the indicated seat, wondering if this was just a prelude to getting a hook in the chest or something else just as painful. That didn't seem like the kind of thing Hook would do - the rumors were that he would at least give you a chance to fight first but you never knew. Not here.

"His name is Jafar," he answered. This was way more of the truth than he had ever planned on telling but there didn't seem to be any other way to go at this point. "He wants to mess around with the rules of magic and he needs my friend to do it."

[itsapirateslife]

That was the wonderful thing about reputation, especially an embellished one: Hook could get away with many things just with threats, because people assumed he'd carry them out, when in truth, he was too honorable a man to do so. Underneath the pirate was still the navy man he'd been before he lost his brother.

Hook had not heard of this sorcerer but anyone out to change the rules of magic could not be treated lightly. Now he understood why the two young men were running to the point of asking for help from pirates. "Your friend must possess some powerful magic. Will he be a danger to my ship?" He had already decided he was going to be taking them, as long as it wouldn't endanger his crew.

[heartlessknave]

"No," the Knave answered immediately, feeling a little more hopeful about their chances of getting out. He hadn't yet gotten a no and if he was reading Hook right, he was probably thinking of Cyrus as an asset just for the magic. That it was genie magic was something he wasn't going to share just yet.

"He won't be a danger to anyone. He wants to get out of here as much as I do."

[itsapirateslife]

"I can't say that I blame him, from the sounds of."

Hook leaned back in his chair and took a long drink of rum, considering the Knave and the situation. He blamed hanging around Emma and her damn parents for the notion that taking them to Storybrooke was the right thing to do.

"Tell me who the both of you are so I know who I'm taking on my ship tomorrow morning when we set sail." It was his way of saying yes.

[heartlessknave]

The Knave let out a breath he hadn't been aware he was holding. They were going to get out of here and he was so ecstatic about this that he was half-tempted to give Hook a kiss.

"My friend's name is Cyrus. I'm the Knave of Hearts but I'll answer to Knave. Or Will. Or you right bastard."

[itsapirateslife]

"You know, I find it funny how the highly sought after magic being has the simple name and you have a list." Hook pointed out a bit harshly but names were important in Storybrooke. Everyone had too damn many of them. This Knave would fit right in.

Hook stood up and moved to a small bar in the room and pulled out a bottle of rum. He sat back down, refilled both tankards, but kept the Knave's out of reach. "It's settled. You will sail on the Jolly Roger on tomorrow's tide. If you can pay."

Now his smile turned sharkish. He didn't do anything for free.

[heartlessknave]

The Knave just snorted at the comment about names and said nothing. From what he knew, Cyrus had always been Cyrus, whether he was a genie or not. He had changed who he was and his name changed with him.

His amusement faded as the mention of payment. He should have known there was a catch. There was always a catch. He had brought up the idea of payment earlier and insinuated he could meet whatever the pirates demanded. Hook would be an idiot not to call him on it.

"Right, payment," he said, thinking furiously. He was fairly sure a stale peanut would be right out and he didn't want to offer up Granny's keys unless he absolutely had to. "I don't suppose we could work it off?"

[itsapirateslife]

When the Knave's amusement died, Hook's grew. He was familiar enough with bravado that he recognized quite easily and he'd had a good feeling the implication of payment was just that. And while he had decided he was going to take them anyway, that didn't mean he was going to let his reputation suffer. Time to string the Knave Alex by a bit. Perhaps he could get something out of his pretty friend...

"I have a crew for that. Try again."

[heartlessknave]

"You're telling me you can't use an extra - uh, use extra help around your ship?" That was a little less than smooth but the Knave was sure he could still save this without resorting to the keys.

"Anything that needs doing, we'll do it."

[itsapirateslife]

"Really...That's an awfully broad statement." Hook added with a bit of a leer. He reached out his hand and stroked a finger down one of the Knave's. He wasn't serious, just testing the young man's conviction. "And if I asked for something that didn't involve physical work?"

Then he leaned back and his leer turned sly. "Or I asked it of your pretty friend?"

[heartlessknave]

The Knave was certainly no stranger to propositions from man or woman (and caterpillar though he tried to block that night out of his mind). He didn't flinch or squirm away at the touch, just smiled easily.

It didn't hurt that Hook was easy on the eyes but that was neither here nor there at the moment.

"Depends on what it is, don't it? We can come to an agreement, can't we? If I ask nicely?"

[itsapirateslife]

The Knave handled the advances easily enough but Hook noticed the deflection from his friend. He met the easy smile but pulled his hand away to tap it against his chin.

"I think you know exactly what I'm inferring too. And if we are going to negotiate those terms, shouldn't we bring your pretty friend in here as well? I'm sure he'd like to know his friend his selling his body for a ride on a pirate ship."

Hook really shouldn't enjoy this, but he was.

[heartlessknave]

"Here's the thing," the Knave said, leaning forward. "Cyrus, well - I ain't making him do nothing he don't want to do, okay? This, what I'm offering is between you and me."

He leaned back again and dug into his pockets until he found Granny's keys. He wanted to save them for an ace in the hole, as it were, but Cyrus had been through quite enough already without having to deal with Hook's insinuations.

Besides, if the pirate didn't appreciate what kind of trouble he could get into with the keys, then he wasn't the pirate his reputation said he was.

He pulled the keys out and dangled them in front of Hook. "But if you're not interested in me ever so handsome body... what if I offer you Granny's keys?"

[itsapirateslife]

"And how very noble of you." Hook said in a tone that smug and just on the side of mocking. "Shame...as I said, your friend is very pretty." As was the Knave but Hook had a feeling that wasn't going to be nearly as hard to get. The protector was always less protective of themselves then their charges.

"I didn't say I wasn't interested..." When the Knave pulled out the keys, Hook's eyes went wide. He'd have denied their validity if he hadn't heard Granny going on a rant about loosing them the morning he'd last left Storybrooke. "...But this is definitely a much more useful offer. One trip to Storybrooke for two passengers for those keys. I think we can call that a deal."

[heartlessknave]

"Good," the Knave grinned. He cheekily dangled the keys one last time then handed them over to the pirate. He wasn't foolish enough to think that was the end of the teasing but that was all right - if nothing else, it'd help distract him from the fact he would be on a ship in the middle of water.

"A drink to seal the deal and then I'll go tell me friend the good news."

[itsapirateslife]

The pirate hooked them with his hook and held them up, a mischievous smile on his face. Oh the fun he could have with these keys...

The keys disappeared into a pocket of his coat as Hook reached out with his hand to refill both glasses. "A drink to seal the deal and then you and your pretty friend can gather yours things. We sail at dawn."

[heartlessknave]

He'd done it. He'd gotten them on board a ship to Storybrooke and all it had cost them in the end was a set of keys. The Knave knew that this was only the beginning of the battle but he felt relieved anyway. Just getting out of here was huge.

He picked up his glass and raised it to Hook in a salute. "What should we drink to? A new partnership?"

[itsapirateslife]

"To an uneventful voyage." Hook said with a smirk as he raised his glass to tap against the Knave's. He knew it was going to be anything but uneventful with a genie on board and evil sorcerers after them but it didn't hurt to try.

[heartlessknave]

"To an uneventful voyage," the Knave said. He knew better than to think that would be the case but you never know. They could get lucky. Stranger things had certainly happened.

He drained his glass and set it down on the table. "Thanks again, mate - er, Captain. I'll go get Cyrus and we'll meet you at dawn."

[itsapirateslife]

"We'll see you and your pretty genie at dawn." Hook confirmed, saluting the retreating Knave with the rum bottle as he poured another drink.

He watched the Knave leave as he slowly sipped his drink, admiring the denim glad back side. "Oh yes. Quite the uneventful voyage..."