A job.

[bringmethatnpc]

On the banks of the Singapore River, a small bamboo-and-stone structure stands out as being one of the newest, and best cared for buildings in the area; a temple for a religion the Western world only hears of in stories from disreputable sailors. Inside, the acolytes sleep soundly on minimalist pallets, biding the time before midnight rituals.

The stillness within is a strange departure from the all-night activity in the town without, and stands apart as a silent haven. The silence is broken only by the movement of unwelcome boots sneaking across bamboo floors designed for bare feet only.

Comments

[hai-dao.livejournal.com]

Things have not been easy for pirates lately, but he is still Sao Feng. None dare oppose him... or at least none here in Singapore. He eyes the stranger with great suspicion.

"Barbossa."

Glancing off to one side, his eyes narrow in thoughtfulness and his hand moves to cover the scars evident on his head and face. "It took 18,000 years for chaos to balance into yin and yang before Pangu could begin to create the world we know." And in what seems the blink of an eye, all of Pangu's yin/yang balance has been defeated. The nature of that defeat wears the uniform of the East India Trading Company: to him, this makes little sense. But he also knows that this is not a time for imperiousness. If this man has something to offer -- something of actual use -- he'll find out.

"Some days I think the fleas that fell from Pangu's fur became one too many race of human beings."

One that looks and sounds suspiciously like this man in front of him right now.

"Now, why do you think I have reason to provide your Captain Barbossa with a ship? These are precious commodities, not to be given away lightly to the first tāmāde húndàn who has the gall to break into my home and fight with my men and ask."

[turned_captain]

Will really isn't used to this. His approach to bargaining so far in his life has been 'If you don't I'll kill myself' or 'Jack told me to!'. Right now he's playing with fire, and has gambled everything he has already.

He'd better try really hard not to do anything stupid.

Will holds Sao Feng's eye steady.

"It's a hard time for pirates right now." Even now, he pronounces the word in such a way that defines it as people who aren't Will Turner.

"Lord Cutler Beckett has been given full reign in fighting pirates, and he holds the heart of Davy Jones."

Will pauses long enough to take a breath, and shift his weight.

"What if I were to say that Jack Sparrow has in his possession something Lord Beckett would very dearly like to have for his own?"

[hai-dao.livejournal.com]

Beckett: that name is like a slow-acting poison. He would slice off his head and not give it a second thought. And people say there's a scourge of piracy in the world: they don't know what they're talking about.

He considers the man's words carefully. Any misstep now could result in losing face, and he will kill before that happens. "Then I would say it would be... beneficial to both of us to know what that item might be, and keep it from anyone with ties to the East India Trading Company at all cost."

This man is absolutely right about one thing: it is a hard time for pirates. It used to be that they could go wherever they wanted, take whatever was there for the taking, return home, give homage where homage was due, and enjoy the spoils. Those days are becoming desperately rare.

He takes a step forward, looming tall over this liúmáng. "Tell me your name, insolent intruder, and what you know of Jack Sparrow's whereabouts."

[turned_captain]

"My name is William Turner," Will says, uncowered by the other man's height. He has no idea if the name carries any weight, but is willing to assume it means nothing to anyone who hasn't served on the Pearl.

"And I know Jack Sparrow is in Davy Jones' locker because I was there when he was taken."

He was in his room, and didn't find out about it until the next morning, but he's not going to say that.

[hai-dao.livejournal.com]

He hasn't suffered for all his scars stupidly; this is his home and this William Turner is trespassing. Sao Feng sees exactly where this is going. But he believes he's smarter than this foreigner, so he holds back.

No suspicions need be voiced.

"And you think I can help you find Jack Sparrow for this unnamed point-of-barter item. Tell me, William Turner, do I look like a fool to you?" This pirate and his talk are beginning to become tiresome.

He has the map. He knows how to get there. It's a journey that only either the most dedicated or the most foolish would undertake, and he's neither dedicated to rescuing Jack Sparrow or foolish enough to think it could actually be done.

"Tell me precisely what you want from me. My patience is not without limits."

[turned_captain]

But Will is foolish enough to believe anything if it furthers his agenda. He replies steadily,

"I want you to give Barbossa the ship and the crew he asks for, to help retrieve Jack and the Pearl. Then I will hand both Barbossa and Jack Sparrow over to you, along with a compass that points towards whatever you most want.

"All I want is the Pearl."

[hai-dao.livejournal.com]

"The Pearl is just a ship. One of many." It's almost sacrilegious to speak of the Pearl that way -- she is the most legendary ship on the seven seas -- but he's as ruthless as the next pirate when all is said and done. Everybody wants something they can't have.

Still, every man has his reasons. If he has Sparrow, Barbossa, and one of Sparrow's small treasures, that's a potent bargaining chip against Beckett and the ruinous East India company.

"And how does Barbossa propose to find World's End?"

He, after all, holds the only known map.

And he has never used it.

[turned_captain]

"Then there's no reason not to let me have it, is there?" Will counters, his eyes flicking to the charts now in the hands of Sao Feng's men again.

"That's why he sent me to fetch those charts."

[hai-dao.livejournal.com]

"Which you decided to take without asking." With a brisk tilt of his head, the man William Turner is surrounded. "Show this... pirate to the bath. He's earned some of our noted Singaporean hospitality."

All it takes is a single fierce nod.

[turned_captain]

Will opens his mouth to protest, in shock and indignation, but he hasn't the chance before his arms are knocked down and both swords are removed from him, as well as his unfired pistol.

He realises verbal and physical protests would harm his own cause, so can only stare at Sao Feng in fear and anger as he's dragged away viciously.

This isn't going to be fun.

[hai-dao.livejournal.com]

Nobody steals from him and escapes unscathed. Even if the theft is unsuccessful, there must be retribution.

Still, he likes the possibilities set out in front of him, and he's not a completely unforgiving man. After the sense of betrayal from this bèn tiānshēng de yìduī ròu dies down, he might even agree to his terms. After all, he's got both the Empress and the Hai Peng at his disposal and a man can only be aboard one ship at a time.

The day has just turned interesting.