Wo's Bar

"Tsk tsk. You've been quite the thorn, haven't you."

The mechanical monstrosity turned its head, looking over to a lanky robed figure wielding a knotted wooden staff as a walking stick.

"Been disrupting more than my operations these last few years, haven't you. Abandoned in Ala Mhigo, distress calls ignored, attempts to return home thwarted. And now, you and I, we face a common enemy. Don't we?"

The robed man approached, thwacking the chest plate. "Come along, open up. We both know you're dying in there. Might as well talk face to face."

The metal monster stared at the man for a long moment before the eyes flicker off, steam bursting forward as the chest-plate opened. The old man smiled at the somewhat younger man within, wires and metal plates holding the body to the machine. Blood ran from many cuts along his broken form. "Go ahead then, savage." The chest-plate opened fully, the shadow falling away and revealing the Garleans face. "Take your prize." He spat blood at the old man, who deftly dodged it, chuckling.

"If you insist. My prize will be your service. I will see you healed. Your armor, rebuilt. You'll have a safe harbor. I ask only one thing."

"I'd rather die than work for a savage."

"I want you to kill the people that attacked you today."

The Garlean stared. "I'm listening."

"I am making something... spectacular, you see. Something the world over, yes, even Garlemald, will bask in. The people that attacked you are beginning to interfere with my business. So, I want them dead. You want them dead as well , yes?"

The Garlean stared, spitting this time into the dirt. "The enemy of my enemy. How the noble fall in this cursed land..."

"I could leave you for the wood wailers. They will be far crueler."

The Garlean was silent. "Fine. What do I call you?"

"A well travelled rat is still a rat."

The woman stopped in her tracks, clenching her fists. "You're not supposed to be here."

"I'm out of the game. Just tell me where he's holed up these days."

"So you can take him out of the game?"

"Nah. It's not like that." Wo looked around, making sure nobody was listening in. If they were, they would have to be good. Good and bored. "I just need information. He still owes me for the Ledudont job anyroad."

The woman sighed, sitting down at the table. "He's been expecting you since Edward...he heard about you burning bridges in Ul'dah last year."

"That was different. Those people betrayed me. Turned to slavery. They took..." He sighed. "Winslows always been on the up and up. As much as one of us can be that is. Look, if he wants to kill me, fine, just. Tell him I wanna talk? Please? No tricks. Street rats honor."

The woman chuckled. "We both know that's a crock of shite."

"Yea, but a broken code's still a code. I'll abide if he abides. I just want information. Hell, I'll tell you so you can tell him if that works better. He won't ever have to see me."

The woman shook her head, glancing around. "Give me half a bell. I'll... see if he's willing to entertain."

"That's all I ask. Thanks Glitter."

"I still hate that nickname."

"Shouldn't of hidden your cute and glittery side."

"Like you?"

"...Yea.” Wo frowned, turning back to his ale. “Like me."

The woman huffed, leaving the table, and Wo, alone. For half a bell he sat, drinking cheap ale and turning down food. A second half a bell past. Then a third. As Wo fell deeper and deeper into his cups, he began to feel... funny. Not even haha funny. Just... bad funny. The world fell into a buzzing silence as he fell face-first into the table. The crowd continued drinking, shouting, fighting. Nobody paid any mind to two patrons helping their drunken friend out the bar and into the woods...

Wo awoke in a dark, dank room. If you could call it a room. Was more a cave really. He recognized it all. The foul odors were a lot stronger since he learned to use his natural Miqo'te abilities. He wished for a moment he hadn't. "Did you seriously drug me?" He tried to stand. Chains rattled on his wrists and ankles.

A mans voice spoke out from somewhere behind him. "Had to be careful. You killed Van'dal. Doug. Tajo Bujo. Li'l Davey. Big Davey. Thorhund. Sure he had it coming, but the others? You got busy. Lotta burned bridges. Can't be to certain I won't join that list."

"You won't. I just wanted to ask if you've seen or heard anything about a blue chocobo. You've always kept your ears to the ground around here, and you never steered me wrong before. Just... I need this. Please."

A book closed, loudly. "A blue... chocobo. Hmm... Sorry Wo. I haven't."

"Could you? Keep your ears open? Please."

"You're quite demanding. Has your time away made you forget our customs?"

"Sorry Winslow... I'll do a job for you, even call it squares on the Ledudont job. Hells, I'll even pay you a finders fee."

"What is so important about this chocobo? Belong to someone... important?"

"A friend."

"Special?"

"A FRIEND. Winslow. You know I don't like you prying."

"Prying is my job, Wo. For instance, why did you kill all of those people in Ul'dah? Thorhund I can understand, he was a mad dog, but the Davey brothers? They ran contraband for the refugees. Good, honest boys. What did they do to deserve death?"

Wo was silent for a moment as the man finally came around to face him. He reminded himself of how little things changed as he looked the elezen over. Still hid under those giant robes. He knew how small he really was.  

"Edward... he... kidnapped my sister. Yuhzuh. Just after the Calamity... They were all in on it. The Daveys kept me occupied that day. Van'dal kept me ignorant to Edwards real dealings. Taju Bujo kept sending me on wild morbol chases. In hindsight all the 'clues' I found on his jobs were planted to keep me busy."

"And Doug?"

"Doug was... an unfortunate bystander. I didn't mean to shoot him. Van'dal used him as a shield. He was a good kid, Dougie..."

"Yeah. He was." The clasps on Wo's wrists came undone with a pair of clicks. Soon after, so did his ankles. "I'm sorry all that happened to you. Always liked you and Yuhzuh. Quiet girl. Sweet. Can only wonder if she-"

"She's long dead Winslow. I've given up that ghost." Wo stood slowly, rubbing his wrists. "Sorry to scare you. Can you?"

"Blue chocobo. Yes. If I see or hear anything, you'll know."

"Thank you Winslow... So... Keeping in good company?"

"Hells no, I've got those bastard Redbellies guarding the place now."

"They still exist?"

"Unfortunately. Scare off most of the riffraff. They'll let you leave no fuss. Just don't talk to em. They've been antsy lately. Someone gassed their hive."

"Wonder who."

"Eh. I'll keep my feelers out for you kid. No strings attached. Call it even on the Ledudont job." Winslow walked back around the post to a desk. "Maybe come work for me again sometime?"

"Maybe. I'm tryin' to be legit now."

"You don't leave this life kid. Might skip a few years, but it always comes back to haunt you."

"Yea. Thorhund reminded me of that. Edward's still out there too. Who knows who else." "Who indeed. Get on outta here kid. Head on home, before someone comes sniffin' for ya."