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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

[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..."