wouldn't mind that. He's gotten a recent haul, so prices should be discussed. At least...Also, tea please.

[[You know I can't unsee the sparkles and flowers anymore now? :C]]

[[I knowww. It's like...set now. Forever. ]]

consent to serving tea, then. "Well then. What is this haul of yours composed of?"

"It seems we've gotten mostly rare jewels this time. But we've acquired high class weapons and antiques." Taps his chin thoughtfully.

mentally calculates. "I have quite the collection of weaponry at the moment, but I may be interested in purchasing some of the antiques."

smiles a bit. "I think you'll like this one. It was a pain to get out with my crew. But I thought of you when I saw it. It's a rather

gorgeous, grand piano." [[I sound so ghei omg :T]]

[[Yes. yes you do. And you make my heart melt~]]

immediately interested, but even with someone he knows as well as Xiang, he knows not to appear over-eager. "I'm touched. Where is it now?"

really wouldn't care how you reacted anyways. "We've left it on the ship. Didn't want to risk damaging it so we put blankets over it and

tied it down." [[*hands roses and sparkles at you* ;D]]

laces his fingers below his chin as a servant brings the tea. "Interesting. Any artwork?" Certainly *someone* had stolen some lately.

[[*swoons* ~<3 ]]

watches the servant leave before speaking. "A few. We've brought those to the warehouse instead so they can be kept safe."

[[*catches you all dramatically*]]

begins adding sugar to his cup. "Excellent. Perhaps I'll come by to look them over. If you need any weapons, I have plenty to sell."

[[*flings arms around* My hero! ]]

still childishly puts a large amount of sugar in his. "Of course. I only buy weapons from you. You always have the best quality."

[[*gallops off with you on a steed into the sunset* Ow my eyes C:]]

smirks over his cup as he takes a sip. "That is entirely true. That reminds me, I had an interesting run-in with a pirate today."

raises an eyebrow. He's always interested in odd gossip. "Oh? Was he trying to start something of the sort?"

nods. "I don't know if you do any business with Gilbert Beilschmidt, but he seems to be under the impression that he can just waltz in and

take things by pointing a gun at me. In my own warehouse."

nearly snorts into his tea. "I've heard of him before. But I don't usually do deal with pirates. We get territorial at times. Sounds like a

crazy git if he thinks he can try stealing like that."

smirks. "Completely. I just gassed him and sent him on his way. Merciful, really, although it's a wonder he's survived so long."

"Must be a tough one." Reminded of cockroaches or something. "It's always fun to have people like them around. Makes things exciting a bit."

shrugs. "I suppose. Although they can be a nuisance if they're trying to attack my supplies."

"I doubt anyone can get to your supplies. It's why I don't bother. If I can get good things from my raids, I might as well pay you then."

nods. "The feeling is mutual, of course. As long as profit is had on both sides, there's hardly a need to fight." Or more like they each

knew they couldn't break each others' business. Same thing.

takes a sip from his cup. "It's always a pleasure to speak with you. You always know the latest news. It really does help." Thinks it would

take too much effort for either of them to try and break each other.

smiles slightly. "Likewise. But flattery won't prompt me to lower my prices, in case you were wondering."

shrugs lightly. "If I was trying to get you to lower your prices, I would have tried harder obviously."

"Of course." He pauses as he takes another sip. "You said you like news. How does eavesdropping at a masquerade sound?"

seems thoughtful of this. "That sounds smashing. I'd be delighted. I guess it's a very exclusive masquerade?" Smiles a bit, knowingly.

taps his finger against his cup. "Not as much as you'd expect. I'd like to try an experiment. Gathering information works better when

different breeds of people mingle. The guest list is selective, but varied."

"I'm interested to see who will be there. Be sure to know I will be there then. I would never say no to an invitation." Sips his tea idly.

smiles slightly. "I know. I figured you'd appreciate the gossip."

"Oh. But it is also not often I get invited in, seeing as what I am." Laughs a little as he finishes his tea. "And I like to mingle once in

awhile."

takes another sip. "That's the beauty of it: you'll be mingling with some people who probably want you dead, and they are none the wiser."

"That's the fun of it. I promise not to start trouble. It is a masquerade so unless they remember everything about me, nothing should

happen." But stuff always happens somehow...

smiles. "No, you should be fine. I'm sure they'd love to get me as well, but as they haven't been able to

*pin* anything on me yet, I'm just another regular citizen according to law."

rolls his eyes. "They're trying to hard if they're trying to find ways to dirty your name. They could be smuggling better goods then

whatever they're bringing in if they weren't so occupied with that."

shrugs. "Of course, there's the military as well...what would you say," he pauses,

"Now this may sound insane, but what would you say to inviting an officer or two?"

taps his fingers on the table, thinking. "Oh, for the hell of it, I say do it. It would be suspicious if not. At least for you." Pauses

lightly. "At least it would seem suspicious not to I would think."

nods slowly. "That, and it would be like rubbing everything in their faces. It would be entertaining."

shrugs. "Running in with the law is something I find fun. So I am always in for picking with them when I can."

smirks. "Good. I'll just send out a few more invitations, then, and you can have all the fun you want with them there."

smiles pleasantly. "Secretly a partying type. I bet everyone thinks you're uptight." Could say differently of course.

waves an idle hand as the servant reenters to pick up their cups. "My parties just have some class."

rests his chin on his hands lightly. "I believe we should pick a time and date so you may view the paintings and perhaps the piano."

does some mental calendar work. "Actually, is tomorrow afternoon alright? My day is free after I meet with a ship that morning."

"Anytime is good for me. I don't plan on making a move anytime soon at least. Tomorrow afternoon should be quite alright."

nods and says, "It's settled then," in a very businesslike tone.

"Oh right. Digs through his pocket idly before pulling a small velvet bag. You had inquired about a very limited stocked pocket watch. A

gift to you. Seeing as I got it cheaply."

blinks in surprise before carefully shaking the watch out of the bag onto his hand. He examines it, inside and out.

"This is magnificent, Xiang. My thanks. It was so generous of you to look out for it."

"Oh. I just remember tiny things like that. I suppose I should be nice once in awhile. I probably would not have acquired it without your

high quality weapons after all."

slips the watch back into the bag. "I'll return the favor when I get the chance."

waves his hand nonchalantly. "Whenever you feel like it. I'm patient and anyways. It was a particularly good run when I acquired that."

brushes a bit of lint off his jacket. "I believe it, if you managed to get the watch for cheap."

"The crew is very persuasive." If persuasive means extremely threatening, then yes, EXTREMELY persuasive.

smirks. Language like that needs no decoding. "Well, I am in your debt. A terrible position for someone to be in, but fixed soon enough."

"You're lucky you're in debt with me. I don't really like cornering people about it, be assured. It's nice to know that I may be able to

rely on you for something in the near future though."

smiles slightly. "Oh, and my masquerade isn't payment enough for you?"

laughs idly. "Just in case, I'd like to be a little more assured to know I won't get into trouble during it. Do not worry about owing me. If

I wanted something, I would have made you pay for it instead."

plays with the drawstring on the little bag. "Generous of you. And rest assured, nothing bad will happen during the ball. To you, at least.

For all we know someone else may be stupid enough to start a fight."

grins at that. "I'd love to see that personally. Watching OTHER people get arrested is rather amusing for some reason. I guess I'm a bit

sadistic for that though."

shrugs, not really bothered. "I think we all have to develop sadistic tendencies eventually. Makes the work more enjoyable."

"It gets a laugh here and there. At least when you're sober. Everything is a little funnier drunk apparently." Not much of a drinker.

doesn't drink more than the occasional glass of wine himself. Parties are funnier sober.

that as long as he's not the one drunk, things are funny anyways.