Business as Usual

The salt breeze of the sea blows once again through the streets of Freeport. Less than legal deals are being struck, new blades and arrows being tested on cowards for mutiny, and the captains sail their vessels out of part all before dusk. A day in the life opportunity as it travels through the denizens of its city. But with all the hustle and bustle even the most determined natives must rest their head. Some rest them while mingling with the new arrivals and the Ravenous Butcher is just the spot. While not your average hole in the wall tavern, it’s nice enough to not turn away a nose shoved into privilege but not nearly nice enough to warrant a planned robbery. It glides the line between its two clientele and it profits for it by the hour. Business is usually held below the rooms in the ground floor if you can find yourself a corner but it seems for today only the attention of the masses is focused on their individual tables of privacy. Each face in here has seen their fair share of life.
One table waits patiently for its potential business partners while another waits for their opportunity to get rich quick. The common thread between the two groups? They are Survivors.
The Ravenous Butcher is not an unfamiliar location to Iain. He has spent much of his free time here, trying to pick up some form of information - clues, perhaps - about the ruins. As he listens to the hustle and bustle of the tavern's patrons, he glances around the room, impatiently looking for the trio that were supposed to meet them here.
"Where the hell are they Christine?" Iain thinks to himself, "I thought you said they'd be here by noon?"
From his position near the tavern's entrance, Iain can see Tim and Christine talking to each other, occasionally looking down at the maps of Freeport that Tim had found. Tim had been so dedicated to find this ruin since they had heard of it, and Iain was more than willing to travel with Tim. At the very least, he needs to protect him any way he can.
After fidgeting with his hat for a second, Iain pushes himself away from the wall and walks towards his siblings.
As if on cue, the local folk “hero” tentatively opens the doors of the Ravenous Butcher wide. There stands Ode with his back leaning against the right door to keep it open, arms crossed and tucked into his pockets, and his foot tapping impatiently against the wooden floor almost on its own. He does not look well and upon noticing his impatient tapping, he stops. His eyes glance over the tavern once. Then twice. And on the third his eyes lock on the group of three. Tim, Iain, and Christine. He gives a two finger wave and motions to the outside with his elbow before hollering,” Found’em Mags!”
As people enter and leave, Ode gives a brief nod or a “Hey” to everyone. Holding the door open places a little responsibility of kindness though it’s rarely reciprocated openly. A few quick glances and a tilt of the hat is all the thanks he gets, but he smirks after every one.
Jonah glances over towards the new throng of people moving into the tavern. The shuffling of feet and gust of salty air from outside distracting him from the cards for a moment. Among the crowd he notices a few familiar faces, and as he places them his brow furrows. He hadn't been in town for Ma's funeral, and from what he had heard she wasn't the only death their family had seen recently. He recognized most of the Pit Pack in passing or by reputation, but he had done business with Ma and Maggie. Jonah considered that he should probably pay his condolences at some point, but Maggie looked busy beelining towards a different table at the moment. He wasn't planning on leaving until dusk, there was probably time to catch her before they had to head out.
Lost in thought, Jonah was snapped back to reality by Harper pointedly knocking on the table and gesturing to him, wordlessly asking if he'd like to raise. Jonah also knocked the table, briefly glancing back at the strange group now doing introductions before deciding that it could at least wait until he finished this hand. After all, he was feeling lucky tonight.
Maggie steps through the door that Ode holds open, her thumbs hooked in the hip pockets of her overcoat. She glances around the room, keeping her gaze quick and casual, not making eye contact with anyone. She clocks Jonah across the room but judging by the amount left in the glass beside him, she has time to acknowledge him later. Business needs to come first.
The Ravenous Butcher is as crowded as one could expect at this time of day: more crowded than Maggie generally prefers, but not so densely packed that she can't dart between patrons with ease. She arrives at the table where Christine sits with her two companions and gives the group a brief nod of greeting before taking her seat. She waits for Ode and AJ to arrive at the table as well before she speaks.
"So," she says, pausing to blow a stray strand of silver hair out of her face. "I take it you have some sort of deal for us?"
Christine begins in on a conversation with Maggie, Ode, and AJ going on about her story. One better covered by Iain and Tim, who she waves over early in on the topic in as far as 'violent trades require medical aids!' Something that works in both directions as her younger brother and the archeologist would do well to know the Pit Crew here for ruins beyond a two man job. It opens up so much potential with relative safeness.
Harper has his head on a swivel. Sharp eyes. He catches Reese entering the tavern before most. It is the sound. Heavy footed steps of a forge worker. Then the smell. Coal and baked sweat. Seeing him is easy enough once he is there, a tall man of muscle with a cowl over his head to hide much fire singed flesh. If a soldier sees war by the clash of steel, the blacksmith sees war with with the clash of fire. He goes over to the table Jonah and Harper are at right as the hand finishes up. "Its on a timer," the gruff man says, displacing all social niceties, "the entrance. Time lock. Not that we are short on it at this hour." He looks with one of those intense brown eyes to a window as if he could tell time that way. He cant.
That's the thing, though. The ruin that Tim was looking at? Also a timer. Only one in the area accessible by foot at this hour. Its a rare coincidence, if those beholden to the clockwork of Mechanus believe in coincidence.
Ode waits for AJ to get in before he closes the door and sits next to Maggie. His eyes dart between the three potential partners and gives a quick closed eye nod. 
From his scarf, he pulls out a large handful of sunflower seeds and offers them to Iain and Tim first.
“In case it wasn’t already said, name’s Ode,” the dark skinned man recites for probably the first time today. It’s not everyday people might not know who he is now that he’s back home. “Hope you like sunflower seeds. I can’t get enough of them,” he chuckles as he pops a few in his mouth,” SO! We need supplies and you guys need some muscle is what my sister tells me. Where exactly are you gonna be using us? You guys seem too out of town to know any really good places.” He says good with a bit of a devilish smirk, a tease and friendly jab at the potential exploration of Freeport’s shadier parts. The smirk doesn’t last before he bursts into a chuckle,” Kidding. Never know what to expect from the people in this town.”
Ode shoots Maggie a look, a quick one, barely a second would pass before someone blinked past it, but as his eyebrows raise and the chuckle dies his expression is replaced by a single emotion. Tired. He couldn’t sleep last night. He had to do exercises until his knuckles bled and his stomach cramped yet he still couldn’t sleep.
His posture returns to looking fully rested and hiding the bags under his eyes. “But look at me talking too much. Hehe, didn’t mean to step on your toes, Sis.”
Its been some hours since Tim started going through his notes in case he missed something. The rumors Iain and Christine gathered from the local have proven very useful in his research. Laced with superstition however.
The interior of the Ravenous Butcher make for Tim an ideal place to do his work. He seems to be enjoying himself. After some more time and a third drink, he starts talking in a low voice, just in case someone is within earshot.
"Yes, I think we are ready. An estate is build on top of those ruins. We do not need to leave the city, very fortunate."
Suddenly the sound of a clock fills the room
"Tick tock tick tock"
The sound of a clock only one hears. Tim slumps a bit buried in papers, notes and maps, stale ale in hand but he is not looking at them. He sole focus is the clock.
"Is the clock real Iain?" Tim asks his friend in a low voice. Without waiting for an answer Tim raises his head only to get startled by the strange man offering seeds. A phrase escapes his lips "Someone is already dead". He takes one seed.
“Uuuuh...”
Ode’s jaw sags slightly, unhinged and unnerved by Tim. “Someone is already dead,” Ode thinks,” Who says that?”
His eyes dart to Maggie and AJ. Did they catch it too? A quick burst of heated air forces itself out of Ode’s nose to signal the clench of his jaws. The impatient tapping is the second horn. His eyes narrow inquisitively at Tim, the glare of a judge about to sentence a dead man? A boxer sizing up his next opponent? Either way, Ode has a new goal?
“Ima take a guess and say that you’re Tim... I didn’t expect you to be this.... eccentric I guess, but answer this for me bud. Who’s dead?”
"I don't know, yet" says Tim as he is munching on the seeds. His eyes go wide when he realizes who he is talking to. The numerous scars, the skin tone and the smile... This must be Ode the pit fighter! "Can I have your autograph?" says Tim in a whisper.
Ode blinks for a moment. The feeling changing a topic so quickly is unnerving to someone so dedicated. Still, can't so no to a fan like Tim.
"Suuuuuuuuure, bud. Anybody got a quill?"
Ode's question pulls Iain away from scanning the tavern's patrons for some sign of trouble. In a fraction of a second, Iain realizes what's happening to Tim. "Iain, you idiot," he thinks to himself, "Tim is always the first priority." Discretely, Iain reaches for Tim's hand and traces an Ise rune on his palm, hoping the symbol of stoic calm will help Tim out of his current state. Then, Iain turns to Ode, and with an apologetic smile, hands him his quill and inkpot.
With inkpot and quill in hand, Ode gives Iain a nod. It's harsh. Short. Uncharacteristic of the pit fighter Tim seems so enthralled about, but that smile just beams positivity. It's odd how stoicism of the nod contrasts the welcoming of the smile. Is he forcing it?
It takes Ode a second of looking before he finally takes off some of the dirty hand bandages around his knuckles, tears it off with a quick yank, and lays it across the table to be signed.
"You got a last name Tim," the pit star asks though his eyes don't look at Tim as they raise up from writing. They go to Iain. They're concerned and as they to Tim then back to Iain Ode mouths," Is he okay?"
"My last name is Keeper, thank you very much and... nice to meet you Mr. Ode" says Tim while nodding to Iain, with a crooked smile, that he is ok now.
“Drop the Mr. bud,” Ode chuckles though he can’t help but nod in appreciation,” There aren’t any Mr. and Mrs. in Freeport. Here you gotta work for respect and I haven’t earned yours yet.”
With a quick scribble and a wink, Ode slides the torn bandage across the table to Tim as the dark ink begins to settle and spell,” Always chase your sun, Tim. From your pal, Ode.” “Sooooo bout these ruins. You guys mind sayin why you’ve got an interest in them?? You like treasure or something?”
Maggie, who has been discussing business with Christine, perks up at the mention of treasure. She had started to tune Ode, Iain, and Tim's side of the table out once talk had turned towards autographs - she often rolled her eyes at such things under normal circumstances, and these days she doesn't much want to think about the pit fights any more than she has to.
She rotates in her chair, resting her chin on her hand and leaning towards Tim and Iain. "Did I hear someone talking treasure? I do hope we mean the literal kind and not... I dunno, the friendships you made along the way."
Ode rolls his eyes while still keeping up his smile. He leans back in his chair, balancing on its back legs, while resting his hands over his stomach just like you would after eating a nice dinner. He makes a grand motion with his hand as he exclaims proudly," My OLDER sister, boys. Girl's got sticky fingers. Treasure first and handshakes later n' all that."
Jonah throws his cards down and pushes out his chair, saying as he stands, "Think I am done getting cleaned out by the two of you, need catch up with an old friend. One of you can let me know if we are getting short on time." With that Jonah starts sauntering over towards Maggie's table.
Just offer your condolences and maybe a drink to her and her brothers. You've been there, knowing others still have your back can mean a lot. It looks like she's in a lull in conversation too, I can probably step in right now
A word catches his ear from the table, Treasure. Jonah notices a marked shift in the attention of the table, moving from multiple smaller conversations to all eyes being focused on two men who Jonah recognized as part of the groups of Crystallians that had been hanging around the area recently.
Jonah falters mid stride, before catching himself and shifting his direction slightly to head towards the bar, making sure to keep ears trained on the table.
Suppose I could grab the drinks first, and if I happen to get a scoop on potential treasure then all the better
Tim waits a moment to gather his thoughts and his courage take a large sip of ale and says "We... do like treasure... too erhm nice to meet you Ms ... erhm Maggie, but we also like investigating relics of the past. A- hick up ..Archaeologists maybe is a better title for us. Soo... ehrrm... getting down to business, as my sister probably mentioned already we know the location of on ruin nearby and we would like to delve into it. What...erhh we managed to uncover is that this ruin is inside the city. An estate was build on top of it at some point. In this estates' cellar we will find erhm... an entrance to that place." Tim takes a second large sip of ale, finishing his drink and continues. "What I have divined about that place, is....strange to say the least." Tim pauses..... and waits some moments.. but nothing happens and continues "A ticking clock, A door we are waiting to get in, someone who is already dead and a blinding light". Tim puts his hands on his temples waiting for the usual headache he gets after the light, only to feel just the buzz from the alcohol. "ah yes this is real" mumbles to himself.
Iain, who had been mindlessly marking the table with runes, plants his knife in the table to speak up. "Ruins like these often are littered with traps and, sometimes, guardians of some sort, so it would be smart to bring some appropriate gear." He gestures with his knife, "and rope, lots of rope."
"Honestly, so many traps it would probably be suicide to go in unprepared" Jonah interjects, as he drags a stool up to the table between Christine and Maggie. A tray of drinks floats in the air next to him, seemingly held aloft by a swirling mass of winds before gently lowering itself onto the table within reach of everyone.
Jonah flashes a winning smile to the table, following up with, "As fate would have it though, I happen to have an inside man for the traps and a strong desire to head down there myself, so drink up, my treat, and let's talk business."
After a brief pause Jonah looks across the shocked and confused faces around the table, and leans conspiratorially to the side and mutters, "Magenta, you are looking as sanguine as always by the way, could you be so kind as to do introductions? It seems our new business partners are a little out of their element"
Maggie glances sideways at Jonah. "Hmm, 'sanguine' is a new one. Certainly better than 'sticky fingers', isn't, Ode?" she says, elbowing her brother.
To the rest of the table, Maggie says, "Family, friends, friends-to-be, this tall drink of seawater is Jonah Swallow. I was considering suggesting his services when he so very conveniently appeared. While Ode and AJ make for good muscle, and you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who knows their way through the cellars of the wealthy than I do, one can never be over-prepared. I don't know about you, but when it comes to dangerously guarded valuables, I'd prefer to live to enjoy them than die in the acquisition stage."
She gestures vaguely around the table. "You're aware of my brothers; this is Christine, Tim, Iain. They're in need of some assistance, as you may have gathered from your blatant eavesdropping."
Maggie plucks a metal goblet from the tray and sips at the wine inside. "Ooh, very nice. Point in your favor here, this is," she says to Jonah, settling back into her chair.
Jonah, still smiling, bows his head slightly and opens his arms as if to receive the praise. As Maggie settles back though, the smile falls away from his face. He leans in, and with a much more serious demeanor says,
"Cards on the table, I suspect a man who wronged me may be using this vault as a safehouse. I planned to go in with my associates, kill the whoreson, and take anything valuable. With this time-lock we only have this one shot to make this happen though. If you are going down as well, working together seems prudent. I get my man, we all split whatever treasure there is, and we don't step on each others toes trying to get in and out."
Jonah glances around the table, making eye contact with everyone who will meet his gaze.
"Provided no one sees any issues with that, we still have a couple of hours to kill. Anyone here any good at cards?"
Ode gives a slow nod and a smirk to Maggie even as his side gets hit by her elbow. His eyes wander a bit, switching between Jonah, Iain, Tim, Maggie, AJ, Christine. He can't seem to focus and his foot just continues to tap. His eyebrows crease in agitation, his muscles tense up, but Jonah isn't the issue. It's himself.
Ode takes one, two, three, four, and all of the other drinks untouched by the others as he says, "I'd love talk more, but Ima need more drinks." He starts to drink one cup after the other and points to everyone as if counting them up. After chugging the last cup, he stands up from his chair to wipe his lips. "I'll get us some more drinks, one sec." He's gone before anyone can respond. Maybe even before anyone registers what he just said. They're all moving too slow for him now. He rushes past everyone and everything on his way to the bar, trying his best not to knock into anyone though his body just seems concerned to reach the bar. It would seem normal if you didn't know Ode. Freeport knows Ode. At least on the surface.