#some side characters

[siriannatan]

Series of Unexpected Occurences

So I decided to write an origin story for fWhip from Jinn & Other Troubles and it's all because Jimmy's No Good, Very Bad Year (Made Better) by TrosesPink has inspired me to come back to this AU.

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

To say fWhip was at a loss would be an understatement. Yes, he has somehow made it to Stratos safely. He even found the Evermore Academy. And had someone talk to him. All that just to be said 'No, go home kid'.

Well, he was not about to go home after that. Father would be much more than just upset with him. Gem was off, studying magic at the other end of the world the whole year already. And she was just a girl. fWhip was more than aware that Gem, unlike him, was born a genius. Always good at everything she touched. Moving on, what was he to do if he was not going back home? 

What he decided to do was find a job. Practice his magic a bit more and try again next year.

And so the most exhausting time in the whole sixteen years of his life started. He jumped from doing errands to helping at the docks to even more errands to used things stores. He barely had any time to think about practising with how much of his time was taken just by paying for the room he was stuck in. And it wasn't even in a nice inn but some dingy one by the docks. Finding a stable, not overly expensive apartment in the big town was much harder than expected.

Finding a small job helping someone start an inn or restaurant or something like that was possibly the best thing that had happened to fWhip in a long time. The woman in charge - Katherine she introduced herself, was apparently a former adventurer and a mage of some sort. fWhip was not too knowledgeable about the kinds of mages. But that wasn't important. What was important was that she paid well compared to everything fWhip did so far. And not only that. Unlike all the gruff warehouse owners and captains fWhip dealt with so far she was darn nice.

"What is that?" Katherine asked as she caught fWhip and his lunch out the back of her new restaurant. She has just decided they should have a break, rest a bit and eat something.

"My lunch?" fWhip mumbled over his meat pies. They haven't even gone fully cold yet. Thank you nice weather. He was a bit confused why his lunch was an issue. Meat pies were nice even when cold, and filling, while also cheap. Maybe he should have gone somewhere a bit further away with it? "I can move if..."

"No. No. No. I'm not having a young man work on all the hard and heavy things on just meat pies alone, in with you, the stew's almost ready," Katherine stopped the young tiefling and nearly pulled him inside the inn. 

fWhip was left by one of the tables he helped bring in. Actually, it was just him and Katherine doing all the stuff. Well, most of the port freelance workers probably scoffed when a woman asked them even if she was offering good pay. No matter, it meant fWhip's pay was a bit higher and didn't need to see certain people so he was not complaining. But for now, while waiting for Katherine he finished his first meat pie. He was not about to annoy someone who was paying him but he was also not about to waste his already half-eaten pie. Leaving it like that would not be good.

He was barely done with his pie when Katherine walked in with a tray with two steaming bowls and some bread and a jug of juice and two glasses on it. It was a really big tray. "While helping me out don't worry about lunch or any other at-work meal," she announced and left no room to argue. fWhip just nodded as a steaming bowl of stew and a couple of thick slices of bread were placed in front of him along with a cup of juice. "No need to be so polite," she chuckled when he mumbled a thank you.

"I... I'm still getting used to being away from home," it didn't really matter what he said. It wasn't like he'd be much in this part of town anytime soon. Too fancy and expensive for him. "More work than back home," he quickly added, just to avoid having to elaborate too much. He'd hate to lie to her after she fed him. She absolutely did not have to be that nice. "Didn't want to get stuck there," avoiding the truth was not lying. Right?

Katherine seemed satisfied with it so fWhip shut up and focused on the stew. It was really good. Bread and juice too. Actually, he didn't have food this nice since leaving home... But he was going back. Maybe the enchanting shop he walked past needed someone to carry heavy things? fWhip was getting good at moving boxes lately.

After food - Katherine offered him seconds but he politely declined, after the first bowl and the meat pie he was quite full - they moved furniture and boxes couple more hours before fWhip was paid and asked if he can come back the next day. He obviously accepted the offer. Anything to have some time away from the smell of the sea. It got boring very quickly - the smell of rotting fish and fish guts and constant noise did not help.

On his way back fWhip checked a couple of used things stores and even found one useful book. Lucky for him whoever the store got it from and the store staff knew nothing about magical things so it was really cheap. Illusion's weren't something he was ever really interested in but it was the first book he managed to find so he was still very excited. Who knew what would be useful in the future?

The next day he made his way to Glimmer Grove a bit late. Who could blame him, the book was much more interesting than he anticipated. So interesting he brought it along in case there was even the briefest moment to read some more. Somehow there was a chapter on familiar summoning in this one, and while fWhip had no idea what he'd like his familiar to be he was immensely fascinated. Unfortunately, it was rather difficult and expensive to summon one but if he could do that then maybe he would be able to get into the academy. A good option to have just in case.

Katherine did not mind that he was late or that he was reading during his breaks but she put a limit on lunchtime. "No books next to food," she said sternly but with a smile. "Interested in magic? Shouldn't you be in Evermore then?" she asked as fWhip sheepishly set it aside.

"I tried, apparently being able to do magic is not enough... At least it was a good excuse to get to the..." he instantly started stringing together an excuse as close to the truth as he could without sounding as bad as it probably was.

"And you're stuck in town because you don't feel like going home after failing? Believe me, you're not the first to have that happen to them, I know several people who were told no and who are now the pride of Evermore," Katherine instantly cut him. "I have free staff rooms so you can stay here."

"I... I'm very grateful but I can't pa..." fWhip instantly protested. Katherine was already the nicest person he's met since coming to town. She paid well, gave him regular breaks and fed him. He had no real way of expressing how grateful he was to have met her.

"You can pay by occasionally helping with boxes and cleaning, it'll make saving for Academy easier won't it?" he was once more cut short. "And I can ask some friends if they need any help? Recommend you based on how well you worked here? You don't have to agree now. But if you do feel free to bring all your stuff tomorrow."

"I... I... Thank you, it's a very kind offer... I'll think about it," fWhip nodded, staring at the scrambled eggs, bread and vegetables Katherine made for them. She was a really good cook. 

"It's nothing big kid, one less room for me to clean," she laughed and fWhip felt a bit better. There was no saying what she went through as an adventurer. Or.. was she even a human? Or did she retire adventuring very young? She could be an elf, her hair would easily hide the ears and it was hard to say how old elves were.

"Just never call me 'mam, I'm not THAT old," she finished the topic and they finished their lunch before it's gone cold. Unlike meat pies scrambled eggs were not too good cold.

After another round of boxes and furniture moving Katherine said she was nearly ready to open. Just some more cleaning and organising, stocking up and finding at least a cook. Luckily she was in a good spot by one of the main roads through the city and there were already curious customers peering in and asking if it was open. And promising they'd come by when it was. Citizens of Stratos liked a good restaurant and were always eager to visit any new one - as long as it was at least in the Middle Stratos it usually stuck a while and prospered well enough.

On his way back fWhip bought a couple of meat pies. Maybe he could ask Katherine if she had a good recipe for meat pies... for later in life. A memento of her? That sounded lame. Just because he liked them. Yes. He also stopped by the same used-things stores. No more books but he got a well-priced dagger just in case. It was a bit rusty and dull but he could deal with that.

He barely got any sleep while thinking over Katherine's offer. It was very generous and would help him greatly and he did not mind helping around Glimmer Grove if he was ever out of errands around town. And if she ever told him he needed to move he could find another cheap inn to stay at. So feeling only mildly bad with how little he owned at the moment - he just got to the city and travelled light okay - he packed his meagre belongings into his bag. Ate his pies. Read some more about illusions and tried out a couple of simple ones. With shocking success too.

The next morning he paid for his room and went to Glimmer Grove feeling like his life was tuning out to be a bit better. At least there'd be much less fish smell and seagull noise in it. And hopefully, the room Katherine would give him would be on the ground level... Or have curtains so he could not see it was not...

"Decided to grab that room?" Katherine grinned at him from next to a cart full of ingredients and general supplies required to run an inn. 

"If it's still open," fWhip smiled sheepishly. He was suddenly feeling even more awkward with how little he owned. "I was supposed to be at the academy now," he excused himself just so she would not feel too bad for him.

Katherine was fine with the excuse and after quickly showing him the room - ground floor with barely any window, lucky for him, and had him helping unload the cart and then with some errands and picking up more things around the town. And after that she had him helping clean the place as she interviewed potential cooks. In general, a great day even if he didn't get much reading in and all but passed out after it.

[siriannatan]

Series of Unexpected Occurences - chapter 3

I have finally sat down with an idea I liked :}

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

fWhip avoided going anywhere near that one bar in Lower Stratos like fire for almost a month. He helped Katherine around the restaurant. Grabbed some odd jobs in the docks. Some around the shops in the Market Square, mostly from the Big Eye Enchanting Emporium. Delivering boxes and bringing boxes to the stores.

He was tempted to go and see if maybe the mysterious Copper King had any other jobs out. The copper coin bracelet was a very good catalyst for magic in his few small tests. There was still the grimoire issue and all the other ingredients to transcribe spells and to cast some of them. Like the familiar spell, he really wanted to try it out. Having a companion he could trust would be really good for his current circumstances. fWhip spent many late nights trying to come up with a solution. A small investigation into Academy's rules did not help.

A good thing came out of it. There was a way for him to get into the Academy even if he didn't suddenly become a proper noble recognised in Stratos. A once a year entry test that the academy hated. Only the best of the best could go through it. fWhip doubted he could place in the top twenty, not even thinking of the top five that would be accepted into the academy. And he barely missed it when he arrived in the city meaning he had at best nine months to get ready for it. Not enough time to save up for a grimoire, transcribing quill and enough special in to transcribe even one spell and master it. Depending on what that test would involve. No one did as it was different every year.

The bad? No criminal record. Not that fWhip has done anything against the law since he arrived in Stratos but he was still worried about what he did for the Copper King. Mostly because it kept him tempted to go back and see if he hung up any more offers. The money he was paid was a lot of money but not 'learning magic comfortably' a lot. Magic supplies were damn expensive especially when one had to worry about food, safety, seasons changing and needing warmer clothes and other stuff even if fWhip didn't have to pay for lodging. Additionally a grimoire and all that wouldn't do him much good if he didn't have what to transcribe. And magic books and scrolls were rare and expensive unless he got super lucky.

So as tempted as he was fWhip stayed away from the Copper King... for three more weeks before he gave in. The last job wasn't anything illegal... as far as he knew and he decided to stop overthinking it. Katherine was worried about how much of his free time he spend counting his money and worrying about it instead of doing something fun. It went so far that she dragged him to the kitchen to teach him how to make his favourite meat pies. Somehow they were better if he made them himself... But once the pies were eaten he still needed money so back to Lower Stratos it was.

He promised himself to not pick jobs from anyone but Copper King. With him he could fool himself he wasn't doing anything bad. That last job was just picking up a box. It was addressed to the mysterious voice, the guy likely was too busy with his dingy bar to go and pick it up on his own. Yeah... No laws were broken even if fWhip broke into that storehouse. But like... No more overthinking. He scolded himself, wrapping his cape tighter around himself. The weather was terrible this past few days making fWhip buy a proper coat for the rain. A good investment since it let him work even if it wasn't sunny out, and it should be warm enough in winter.

The bar he got the original job from was as quiet as it was last time. Just the bartender and a couple of quiet patrons who completely ignored the young tiefling. Even the bartender didn't pay him any mind as he checked the job offer board. And there it was. Copper King's cursive writing. 'Looking for help delivering a letter, if interested come to...' fWhip recognised the address as the place he brought the box to. And it didn't sound at all illegal so fWhip left the bar and went to the Vigil, as the place was called. 

As soon as he knocked the door opened on its own. "Excuse me..." fWhip barely whispered as he walked in. He was greeted by silence. 

The place didn't change at all. No furniture save for a table with an envelope and a sheet of paper with what had to be the instruction where to take it, a long burned-out fireplace. With a deep breath, fWhip walked with as much confidence as he could muster to the table and glanced at the letter first. It was addressed. Katherine, Glimmer Grove.  Now this was... Well, she used to be an adventurer so she no doubt had many acquaintances and some of them probably would like to remain anonymous. Having calmed his conscience he read the instructions.

He was to deliver the letter without Katherine knowing where it came from or that the Copper King was in town. Once it was delivered he would have to wait three days before coming back to Vigil for his payment. Not hard conditions even if mildly suspicious and fWhip was confident Katherine could take care of herself... Not that a mere letter could do any harm. He had no way of knowing what Copper King might want from her but since he didn't want her to know he's in town it probably wasn't too bad.

fWhip chose to believe that and packed the letter and the instructions, just to have proof he was the one who picked up the job. And with a polite nod left the place to plan how to give the letter to Katherine. 

He couldn't come back this soon so he went for a walk around Middle Stratos, Up to the academy to remind himself why he was working so hard and ask if any mail was sent there for him by mistake. There was a letter from his parents and the clerk told him next time they'd just send it to the main post office in the Upper Stratos. Not somewhere fWhip could just go since he was neither important, rich nor even a human. Non-humans weren't all that popular in Stratos. After apologising for his parents' mistake he went to the market.

The Big Eyes didn't need any help so he bought himself a meat pie and just wandered around to kill some time. He basically had a plan. Katherine had a mailbox that he had access to. He could just say he checked it on his way back and that he found the letter there. Easy.

"...and never come back you good for nothing bard!" a sudden shout had fWhip freezing and looking at one of the taverns by the market. A man, owner he assumed, was shouting at a colourful even for Stratos bard. Throwing his red beret and lute that froze in the air before hitting the poor blonde's head. The whole situation was weird since Stratos loved bards and parties and music. Well, this particular tavern's owner was not the nicest and flat-out refused when fWhip came to help when he was looking for help. He really didn't like non-humans and the bard had the misfortune of being an elf.

fWhip, quickly remembered Katherine was looking for a performer. Her customers loved the food, the magical service and the drinks but the rather plain music was barely acceptable. So, being a nice guy fWhip followed the bard. "Umm.. sorry? Could we..." he stopped the bard once the crowd moved on with their time.

"So my talents can be ridiculed further?" the bard said, very loudly, as he dramatically turned around and paled when he saw fWhip was no human. "Oh... I apologised, I assumed..."

"It's okay. Could you be a bit quieter though?" fWhip requested, feeling very uncomfortable with how much attention the bard was attracting. "I happen to know an owner of a bar that's looking for someone to perform at her place," he quickly moved to the proper reason he spoke to the bard.

"They shan't mind my ears I assume," the bard hummed and with a wide grin added: "Lead the way then new friend, I'm Oliver Sound and I'm going to be a world-famous bard very soon," he introduced himself and fWhip regretted ever talking to him.

With a sigh fWhip led the man to the Glimmer Grove. He introduced himself and explained he was temporarily staying at the bar for personal reasons and sometimes helped out around but not always. He probably said too much but Oli, as annoying as he was, was friendly and didn't ask too many questions. He did offer to pay back fWhip's kindness but fWhip only asked he buy him a couple of meat pies. The bard did not look like he was good at paying back his debts. But that was just an assumption. 

"Katherine?!" fWhip called out as he walked in with the bard close behind. She wasn't too far.

"Back so soon?" she asked with a wide smile. "And who's that?"

"One, it looks like it's about to rain and two..." fWhip explained with a shrug. "This is Oli, he's a bard, I saw him kicked out by one of the meaner tavern-keeps around the market. And I remembered you're looking for someone well-versed in music," he carried on and Oli nodded along with a wide smile.

"Well, we'll see how good you are then mister..."

"Oliver 'Oli' Sound, a bard and entertainer, you have a beautiful place," the bard was all smiles and charms as he introduced himself.

"I'll go and check the mailbox in case there's anything there, in case it rains," fWhip excused himself and got back to his actual plan.

He was no idiot so when no one was looking he stuffed the letter from the Copper King in just so it looks the part and quickly pulled it out. It was slowly starting to rain. Katherine was still interviewing Oli but all the present patrons seemed excited that there was a bard present. A bard who would possibly perform soon. He passed the letter to Katherine and excused himself to look for something to help with in the kitchens. There was nothing to help with there but the halfling cook made him sit down and have a bowl of soup with his meat pies. And read the letter from his parents. They were mostly saying how proud they are he got into the academy... Lying felt terrible.

Katherine didn't seem any different after getting the letter so fWhip didn't think anything of it. Oli spent a lot of his time on the so far mostly empty stage, either playing and singing or just playing, with his hat set out to accept donations from happy patrons. He was indeed a talented musician and gave fWhip his meat pies the very next day as fWhip was helping move the delivery of alcohol to the back. He frankly had forgotten he had asked him for that but he was not complaining about free meat pies.

Three, rather uneventful, days later fWhip returned to the Vigil for his reward. As expected, the bag was there but this time he was definitely not alone. In those three days Vigil has gotten a bar added to it and by it sad a figure in a cloak. "Don't mind me," the mysterious voice from when he delivered that box. Was the hooded stranger the Copper King? "Good job with the letter kid," he added and vanished. He didn't move or anything like that. Just one second he was there and the next he was not. It was far beyond what fWhip was capable of so he grabbed his reward, mumbled out something polite and left. In much less panic than last time but still shocked as all hell.

He didn't return to Katherine's after leaving Vigil. Instead, he went to a different tavern and hid in a corner to count out his reward. It was far too much for how little he had to do making a completely legal thing feel illegal. All he did was give Katherine a letter. Sure, he did have to say a small lie but it didn't hurt anyone. Back to pay... This time there were no trinkets but the bag it came in was suspicious. There was far too much gold in it for how big it was. Not so much anyone would notice from afar.

"There's no way..." he muttered to himself. This was far too nice for this job. A bag of holding... He couldn't even go to Big Eyes to ask about it since he'd have to say where he got it from. But there was no way it was anything else. It didn't change how it looked no matter how much money there was in it. He really hoped it was just a magically extended bag. That would make him feel a lot less... 

As he investigated the bag a piece of paper fell out. IT both calmed him down and make him more nervous. Since it came out of the bag without him properly trying to empty it, it was not a proper bag of holding. But he was also nervous what it said so he picked it up with shaking hands. 'Well done, stay safe, next time just come to Vigil, CK' it said on one side. On the other, it said 'keep the bag, don't need it anymore,' making him feel slightly less nervous. There was no way he could ever let Katherine know it was a magical bag.

Once he returned he had to lie that he decided to get a nicer bag to keep his stuff safer when out in town after seeing someone get robbed. Coming up with lies was coming easier and easier to him... On the other hand, he was more and more convinced Copper King wasn't evil or bad. Just shady and weird. So he didn't feel too bad buying a Grimoire with most of the pay from this job. It was still literally useless but it was literally the most expensive thing he needed. And he could always help Copper King.

[siriannatan]

Series of Unexpected Occurences - Part 2

I have no explanation for myself. I wrote this whole thing in like an hour or two. Hope you guys like it :}

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Random odd jobs around the town would not be enough. Even with better-paid jobs he occasionally got with the help of Katherine's recommendation, there was no way fWhip would be able to afford everything he needed to properly study magic. Katherine told him there was no hurry but fWhip was in a hurry. He only has so much time until Gem heard the 'great news' that he was studying in Evermore. Over the almost two months he stayed in Katherine's free room he had to send a letter home so his parents didn't come to the city and do something stupid.

That aside. He needed something better than small odd jobs. There was no way he could afford his daily expenses - clothes, food - he was not letting Katherine feed him for free, occasional meat pie. That one time the needed a healer or he'd be out of commission for far too long. And then came the costs of studying magic. It needed much more than just some books. Magical supplies were damn expensive and were even rarer at second-hand stores. While magic stores rarely bought used books, which led them to fWhip's favourite stores, they had no qualms about buying old artefacts and really rare tomes and scrolls. Like very, very rare ones. fWhip would know, he helped at a new enchanting shop in town a few times. Tango and Keralis were a really impressive duo and it was no wonder enchanted items - even the simplest and smallest enchantments of mundane items - were really expensive.

And there was a matter of fWhip being a wizard, not a sorcerer like Gem was based on a short chat with Keralis. Outside some really simple and small spells, he'd need a grimoire and a proper 'focus' to properly concentrate his magic for bigger spells. Empty grimoires were expensive to buy if one didn't have proper magical education. They practically had to be specially ordered from a place like Big Eyes and made from very specific materials in a very specific way. In short - they were possibly as expensive as a year's rent in Middle Stratos. For an empty book to transcribe spells into... And the transcription needed expensive things too. A very special quill and speciality ink and speciality paper if one's book didn't have room anymore.

He needed a proper stable job. His skill with magic wasn't good enough to become an adventurer. He wouldn't need to get into the academy if he could do that. No proper, paying well enough place would hire someone as young as him. And if they did it might be troublesome to quit later on.

But no part-time kind of job he was doing so far would pay well enough unless... it wasn't legal. Where would he find shady job listings? Shady taverns in Lower Stratos. But he couldn't just go to one of those. He didn't want any trouble chasing him when he got into Evermore. But they would likely pay so much better just so he doesn't babble what and for who he was doing.

Would Evermore ever investigate what he did to get better at magic? No way. And with that conclusion, he left for the Lower Stratos. Officially he was out to look for job listings at other more reputable taverns and big announcement boards in the market district. Katherine didn't need to worry about where he was actually going.

Lower Stratos barely felt like part of Stratos. The main streets were barely paved. If the occasional side street was it likely led to a place fWhip should not go to. At least according to what he heard about the place. He stayed by the main streets - narrower and much dirtier than even the docks but he grew up on a farm. Some mud was nothing new.

Once he found a tavern that was open he walked in and instantly turned to the job board. The listings were a bit different than in Middle Stratos. There you would ask the tavern keeper for how to contact the person who was looking for 'assistance'. Here you just tore the paper off and simply left the establishment. Like a gruff-looking adventurer type who was already there when fWhip walked in. fWhip looked over the three listings left on the board trying to look like it was nothing new. And to ignore the only other two people there - old, one-eyed bartender and a person completely covered by a cloak, sipping an amber liquid.

None of the jobs was anywhere legal. And one clearly would involve breaking into a house in Upper Stratos. It paid more than fWhip ever expected a single job to pay but he was not that desperate or insane so he picked a cheaper offer. It was to get into a specific storehouse in the docks - fWhip recently learned a trick to open doors with magic that did not need a focus - find a specific package and bring it to a specific storehouse in Lower Stratos. Didn't sound too hard or illegal - though the thing he would have to pick up likely did not belong to whoever was paying. And it paid as much as fWhip made last month. The payment would apparently be waiting for him where he was to bring the thing.

He didn't hear anyone shouting after him as he left with the paper in hand so he assumed he was correct to follow the gruff man's example. If this one went smoothly he might look for more jobs signed by the 'Copper King', as lame as that nickname sounded. But who would sign an offer like that with their real name? Certainly not fWhip. And other two offers were also signed with what looked like an alias.

Since there was no specified time to get the job done fWhip took his time making his way to the docks. He was not grabbing mysterious boxes during the day. The listing did not involve asking anyone for a thing. Just to get in and grab the thing. He bought the cheapest bag he could find. He had no bag on him to move the thing in when he got it.

The storehouse in question was mighty suspicious even as fWhip just walked past it towards his old accommodations. It was locked, silent, and dark with no traffic or even guards. Well. No turning back now so he ducked into a side alley as soon as there were no guards around and carefully made his way to the back of the storehouse.

No guard there either but there was a back door. Most of the storehouses in the docks had a back door for safety purposes. He stopped by the door, waiting with his trick and listened in for any noise from inside. Nothing. Silencing magic, he thought and focused as well as he could on trying to feel out any magic in the area. Again, nothing aside from the city light out front. But it could be something he could not feel like this. No turning back, he reminded himself and gently knocked on the door sending some magic along with it as he practised at Katherine's.

The lock clicked open and there was no alarm or other noise. He waited a few seconds before walking in and summoning a small light. Another small trick he learned that didn't need a fancy focus.

Inside the storehouse was dark and smelled weirdly damp. There were some big wooden boxes but mostly it was empty. The listing said to find a small box wrapped in brown paper so he carefully looked through the storehouse for it. Still listening for anyone coming into the place. Curse Stratos and their curfew hours. He'd much rather do this sneaking about at night.

Not that he was doing any crimes. He was just picking up someone's box since they apparently couldn't do it. The storehouse might as well belong to this 'Copper King'. It never said it wasn't his. Maybe he just needed the box moved discretely without involving more people than needed. And were too busy to do it themselves. Yes. That's what fWhip would tell himself if he felt bad about it.

"Oh," he could not help but sigh in relief when he found a box that matched the description in the job offer. Not too big or small, wrapped in plain, brown paper, with - 'to CK' written on it in elegant cursive. CK. Copper King? He could not help but wonder as he put it in his bag and even as he snuck back out of the storehouse and away from the docks. Back to Lower Stratos.

The address he was to bring it back to was in a side alley. He was a bit apprehensive to walk to it but he already got that far. And it wasn't one of the paved ones. This storehouse was much like the one in the docks but the lantern by the front door was lit up even if it wasn't that dark. There was still some time left until the curfew. With a deep breath, fWhip knocked on the front door. Just in case whoever lit the lantern was still there. The door seemed to open on its own, almost spooking him back to the docks, to return the box.

But he stayed and walked in. There were some more dim lanterns inside and nothing but a table with a bag - smaller than fWhip's bag, and upon closer inspection letter in it. "Okay..." fWhip whispered to himself as he pulled the box out. With another deep breath, he grabbed the letter. It wasn't in any envelope and simply said - 'good work fWhip,' and was signed 'Copper King' in the same cursive as the box fWhip grabbed from the docks.

Now that's creepy, fWhip thought as he looked around. Didn't look like there was anyone else there. "You're welcome? Pleasure working with you," he said to the empty warehouse. The box out of his bag and replaced by his payment. There were a lot of coins in that bag where he peeked in. All real as far as he could see from a brief check.

"The pleasure's all mine, young man," a voice came out of nowhere.

That was enough Lower Stratos and creepy storehouses for fWhip and he all but ran away once out of the warehouse. Right to Glimmer Grove, to warm dinner and his room.

Once his heart calmed down he counted his payment. There was a bit more than the offer said. About seventy coins more. And a leather rope bracelet with a copper coin with CK emblazoned on it. He heard from Keralis that copper made for good magic focus. He probably shouldn't just walk around with it out but it might be useful if it was real, pure copper there. He'd have to test it and if it was then... Well, Copper King was already proving to be a very generous individual for how easy the job was. With just one job fWhip was much closer to grimoire than he would be in half a year with his usual jobs... If the coins and bracelet were genuine he just might look for more jobs from this mysterious King.

[emtearzz]

I love when one piece starts doxxing characters on a stage for everyone to hear and it’s a major plot point.