Just a quickie. Because there's no actual interaction between Killian and August on the show, and I think they'd be nifty drinking buddies. Yes, 'nifty'.

Also, apologies on the radio silence. The mountains were calling and I needed to answer before my wilderness permits expired. Sometimes getting far away from a wifi signal is great, but admittedly I'm glad to be back in range.

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"I'm telling you it'd be great!"

"And I'm telling you that I've no bloody idea what you're on about!"

August watched the pirate take a large gulp of his beer, wondering not for the first time at the man's extensive alcohol tolerance. If August were nursing his sixth beer of the night he'd be looking for a pitcher of water to save himself from a hellish hangover the next day, not playing a very close game of darts against one of the Merry Men. But for all the time August had spent in bars over the years, he would likely never match the tolerance of a three hundred year old pirate, so the writer limited himself to a third and final beer, and let the booze loosen his tongue enough to brave a proposition to one Killian Jones.

"Look, all I'm saying is that you've probably collected a lot of stories over the years. Why not write them down?" August asked, holding the pirate's beer for him as the man landed yet another shot on the bull's eye, much to his opponent's dismay.

Hook laughed. "A record of my travels is hardly an innovative thought. I've done that for centuries. Any decent sailor keeps a log of their whereabouts and happenings whilst at sea."

"And you don't wanna share those with people? Not even those exaggerated stories you tell that everyone knows never actually happened?"

Killian twisted his face to him then, stormy blue eyes darkening in accusation. "Whose to say they never happened? As you're all so fond of reminding me, I've been privy to a well-extended life. My eyes have gazed upon wonders beyond your comprehension, boy." The pirate never did seem able to resist bringing up his recent age-change, August thought.

"Bullshit, you love an audience. We've all seen you drunk and sitting on this bar sharing all your greatest imaginary hits. Maybe your memory's a little fuzzy from the tequila you and Emma were drinking that night, but last week you were telling everyone in the Rabbit Hole about how you fought off a kraken with a magic amulet and some MacGyver-ism of a spear made of your hook and a crewman's wooden leg."

"MacGyver-ism…? You dare doubt my word?"

"By the end of your story your homemade spear was made of a crewman's actual leg and a parrot beak instead," August challenged.

Killian's cheeks flushed a dark red and he visibly fought against a wave of laughter that threatened to bubble out of him. August watched him stumble a little over his feet in amusement at his own story, the only real signs he had been drinking at all.

"Continuity's a bitch, huh, Hook? If it makes you feel any better though, I think Emma had a great time laughing about it." Hook shrugged in agreement, the corners of his mouth tipping a little more upward. "But seriously, a blog could be a great start for sharing your stories and getting them out there."

Hook waved his namesake in the air helplessly; still waiting for the Merry Man whose name August had forgotten to finish his turn at the dartboard. "And you've lost me again. What in the bloody hell is a blog?"

"A web log, blog for short. It's a log that you write on the Internet where lots of people can see it, and you update it every so often with new stories." August narrowed his eyes in question. "Emma's explained the Internet to you, right?"

"The lad and Belle both did. The magic box is hardly a worthwhile pursuit," Hook bit out, sounding just a little offended. "Who would want to share their private thoughts in such a public manner anyhow?"

August didn't fight the snort that escaped him, but did stop short of revealing the realm's need to update the world on their day-to-day activities. "This would be a travel blog. Not a personal one. Don't worry, you won't have to tell the world whether you're a Coke or Pepsi guy."

If Killian didn't understand the difference between Coke and Pepsi, he didn't call attention to it. The Merry Man stepped aside and waited for Hook to step forward. Hook took aim at the board, flicking his wrist and landing the dart just next to his opponent's outside of the center ring. He flattened his lips in annoyance at his failed shot. "A travel blog?"

"A fake travel blog, actually. People in this world will assume it's fake, because it'll have creatures and characters in it that they've always thought of as fantastical and imaginary, like dragons and mermaids and-"

"Mermaids are no laughing matter, boy. I've lost many a good crewman to their wiles," Hook said, whirling on August with a threatening finger pointed between them. From behind them, August thought he heard the red-capped Smee call out a 'here here!' in agreement with his captain. He also thought he saw the shorter man pour out a portion of his drink onto the floor while muttering something.

"Duly noted," August replied, unperturbed by the pirate's worries and gently moving the threatening finger aside. "But stories like that are entertaining and I think people would like them."

Killian looked unconvinced, but pressed on with his next question. "Enlighten me, what would I gain from sharing my history with perfect strangers?"

"A chance to show off on the biggest stage in existence in any realm?" August answered knowingly, taking a drink from his beer.

"Hmm, oddly tempting, but I'll have to pass. The only people I'd have enjoying my stories are in this town," Killian answered, fingers stroking his chin in thought.

August wasn't ready to let go yet though, sure he could convince the pirate of his idea. "Think of it this way then. It'd be a way to legally make money without having to leave Storybrooke, and you wouldn't even have to tell the whole truth in your stories if you didn't want to. Just change a few details and names if it makes you more comfortable."

Killian watched the Merry Man take his time lining up his shot. "So I'd be lying about my own history."

"Professionally, yes."

"And this is what you do for work in this realm? Lie professionally?" Hook asked, one eyebrow quirked up in challenge.

August fidgeted on his feet, just a little uncomfortable now. "Ok, I prefer the term storyteller or writer. But I guess technically that makes me a professional liar by my own definition, so good job fate, because the kid who couldn't lie is now a pro. Fate has a funny way of working out like that, even from realms away. But seriously, you've got centuries of stories, and I've still got a buddy in publishing that I know would love to get in on them. You start the blog, get a small following, show that people are interested, and then you start selling books of stories."

"And this earns me currency in this realm? How would I retrieve this currency? Make an annual pilgrimage over the town line?"

"Eventually it'll get you money, yeah, but like I said, you gotta build a fan base first. And all the money exchanges could be done online too, so everything's over the Internet and you wouldn't have to leave town. That magic box is looking pretty good now, huh?" August told him. "And if nothing else, it'd be a cool way to collect all your stories for everyone in town to enjoy too."

Hook stared distantly straight through his beer, lost in the torrent of thoughts no doubt swarming through his head. His opponent had finished his turn and was calling for the pirate's attention. Killian straightened and put his beer down, picking up a dart and tossing it haphazardly toward the board. The projectile only barely stuck on the edge of the center ring, well away from the Merry Man's more centered dart. August had stopped keeping track of the game points but he was pretty sure that right now the pirate was losing, even if he didn't seem too broken up about it. August was sure it meant he had almost gotten through to the pirate with his idea.

"Even you can't live off old treasure haunts forever Killian, no matter how many doubloons you have hidden away." August watched as Hook's gaze drifted to where Emma was standing at the other end of the bar, caught up in conversation with Ruby and Victor. The pirate's eyes stayed trained on the blonde as he absently twisted a ring on his finger. Finally, he turned back to August, an ambitious gleam in his eyes and a determined set to his jaw.

"This friend of yours, you've spoken of me to him?"

August smiled, happy for the pirate's genuine interest. "Mentioned in passing, more like, but yeah. And he was very interested."

Killian's mouth turned upward into a grin. "How do you suggest we start, mate?"