Romulus scoffs, “Knowing who I’m searching for isn’t enough?” This lie is only making this worse! I can’t tell him he was the one I was searching for, then he’d ask why and what my plan was now that I had- He has to find out why even if under false pretense. Why couldn’t I come up with something more convincing?

“No,” he grimaces. “Quite frankly, you seem to be well versed in more than just what tales have been spun about me. You tell me how, and I’ll show you why-”

A lump slides down Romulus’s throat, would another lie work? He can’t expose where he'd gotten his lead. His mouth truly is the bane of his own existence. If I do lie, will it be convincing? Or do I just say nothing? NO! This is my chance to get answers, being offered by the source. Then again, what if it was all a twisted web of the man’s lies as well? How can I believe anything the blood fiend says? And what does he mean by show me-

“My patience only stretches for so long stowaway,” Varian pulls him away from his train of thought.

Romulus takes a deep breath to gather himself, “I’ve visited the ships you’ve left behind. Seen the destruction you leave in your wake. Call it curiosity, I’d ask people what they saw and picked the pieces from there, nothing more or less.”

Varian’s nose crinkles, “That doesn’t explain how you knew my name.”

Did Romulus dare to bait the shark? I can’t explain how I know but maybe I could-

“I’ll tell you after you give me your reasons.”

“Like hell.”

“I'll tell you a bit now, and after I know more, I'll tell you the rest. Does that sound fair?” He tries to play up his charm but is only looking to stall for more time to come up with a better tale to spin.

One of Varian’s eyes twitches with a raised brow, “Obviously not. You have a lot of nerve for someone who almost died within two seconds of meeting me.”

“Can’t blame me for trying, but what do you have to lose? I’m on your ship, not like I can get away from here without you noticing.” It is a good point, but not one he likes to admit.

“While that may be true, even if I were to show you,” Varian looks Romulus up and down, “I’m not sure you’d live through it yourself.”

Romulus scoffs, somewhat offended. Had Varian just called him weak? Varian had no clue what Romulus went through to get this far, it boils his blood. “How can you make such statements without knowing anything about me?”

“Your arm is injured, you’re still clutching your stomach, and I don't have a scratch on me. I think that’s clear enough.” While that is true, I can fight. Varian was fast though, unlike the thugs I’ve encountered.

“Well if you really want to know how I know your name and all that, I’d best stay alive. While I am injured, you simply caught me off guard the first time.”

Varian’s lips curl into a smile. The first smile Romulus has ever seen on his wicked face.“Simply caught you off guard? I knew you were there for hours before you came too, maybe if you thought through your actions we wouldn’t be speaking right now.”

Varian seems to have a knack for pointing out my shortcomings. Shit, this was not the plan. Then again, nothing is really going to plan. His plan was so lacking from the start, how did he think this was going to work out? “What do you propose then if I’m so ‘weak’?” He speaks through furrowed brows.

Varian takes a moment to think with his arms crossed, “I’ll send someone to give some basic defense tatics."

“Can’t do it yourself, blood fiend?” Romulus taunts.

This earns a snarl from Varian, “I have other responsibilities than dealing with impudent pests like yourself.” PEST? Calling me a fool is one thing but a pest? Not like he should’ve expected much more of the blood fiend. 

“I have a name,” Romulus sneers. 

“I don’t have a need for it, pest suits you just fine.” Varian turns on his boots heel, making his way up the stairs once more, not allowing Romulus to scrap a response together. Romulus grits his teeth, biting his tongue back as to avoid more unnecessary insults with his captor.  

As soon as the door slams on its hinges, Romulus lets out an annoyed huff. He so desperately wants to stab that man but with no resources and no choice, he wanders aimlessly around the space. He can try to leave, but what good would it do him?

Romulus peers around the desolate room, only boxes, crates and the rope that once held him being present. What did the pirates keep stored away in this place anyway? He pokes around the crates to take a look inside, not like there was much else he could do in that room anyway. One contained some fineries, polished shoes and a smaller box of bejeweled jewelry. Of course they stole too. Nothing was above the blood fiend was it?

All that did make him more curious about what morals the man would abide by, for he seemed to lack any sense of them. He continued to dig through different crates, some full of more rope, others full of silks and even one full of different papers. One of the documents catches his eye as he moves to place the lid back on top. He reaches his hand to grasp it, pulling it out from within whilst he finished placing the top of the box.

It was weathered and worn, oddly similar to the flyer Romulus had found of Varian except this one was way older. The paper is faded and warped from what he assumes is water. All he can make out is a face and the single word ‘missing’ scrawled beneath it. The face looked to be vaguely that of a child, maybe 12? It was hard to tell from how smudged the ink had become over however much time had passed. The features struck some familiarity with Romulus but no matter how long he stared, he couldn’t piece from where he recognized it.

Why would Varian keep something like this? Was it someone Varian or maybe one of the other crew knew? But it was obviously at least over a decade old. What reason would someone have to keep it?  Did it link to Varian’s motivations? All pointless questions that preoccupied Romulus’s mind.

“So you’re a snoop huh?” A voice snaps him back. He drops the flyer on top of the crate and turns his head to face the direction from which it came. It was that guy from the dock, Jackal? He questions. He was the same height as Romulus with a slim build and a stringy platinum blonde mop of hair. 

Romulus crosses his arms and turns his body to face Jackal whilst leaning against the stack of crates behind him. “Just keeping myself entertained, not like I leave this space.”

Jackal chuckles and shakes his head, “You are something. If I remember right you were at the dock?” Romulus doesn’t confirm or deny. “Thought as much, well that’s neither here nor there, I was asked to teach you some defense.” Romulus narrows an eye, Varian had been serious about that? “I know I’m surprised too.”

Romulus refrains from moving from his spot, only a glare resting on his face. “I don’t need your tactics, I won’t be here long.”

That earns another chuckle from Jackal, “I wouldn’t be so sure, seems you’ll be with us until our next…” He seems to ponder, searching for the right word. “Escapade?” It comes out more as a question. He shrugs, “Regardless, I’ve been told to teach you a bit of what I know, so you’ll just have to deal.”