Author's Note:
Sigh. Things are looking up.
Jinx began her childlike wonder of exploration by running around the piers and looking over the various wares and sights. Merchants selling fish and other catches of the day, some with necklaces and other jewelry decorated with gems, gold, silver, and pearls, others with weaponry and antiques from their times at sea, and the rest appeared to be along the lines of spice and sugar or other luxuries. There were a few shady dealers, ones who sold poisons, information, and other wares, but they quickly left the loud, energetic female tourist alone and wandered back into the shadows.
The summoner, of course, had to make sure his charge didn't get into trouble and reassure the vendors and merchants that Jinx wasn't going to cause any troubles for them, damage their wares, or steal anything; even if that meant he had to be the one to pay for some things. At least the some things she did walk off with weren't more than five or twenty coins. This wasn't an easy task, but he managed to accomplish it with some charisma and the merchants didn't call in their bodyguards or hire reformed pirates to watch the Loose Cannon.
"Ooh! This looks cool! And this is amazing! What does this do? I could use this for something sometime somehow for some reason on some day!" Jinx would say as she looked over everything, but only actually selected a few things, which either she paid for with bullets of gold or the summoner paid for with coins.
He couldn't help but smile as he followed her through the wooden above water streets. He really did enjoy spending time with her, even if that meant his wallet took a beating or she didn't acknowledge his presence. In some ways, it was a good thing as that she knew there was a constant audience following her, commenting and observing her actions. She liked to be the center of attention sometimes, and she preferred solitude at others.
Some might think of it as creepy or stalking, but the summoner had learned to identify some changes in her expression, tone, and actions. Using this knowledge, he was better able to directly and indirectly influence her actions and reactions, preventing her from getting into a fight, causing property damage, and being a threat or danger to Bilgewater and its people.
Eventually, their tour led to an old ship that people were allowed to board, explore, and look over. By the explanation the summoner received from the owner, it was refurbished and modernized every year, an attempt to make it appear as modern as other ships. This meant there was an admission fee he and Jinx had to pay, but it was a minor one that he covered for both of them. Jinx liked that it was like any other ship, and he liked that she was enjoying herself.
As the summoner spoke to the owner, Jinx went off to do her own exploring of the ship. "So, is this based off a pirate ship, or something like Miss Sarah Fortune's ship?" He asked with a causal smile and tone. Once a seeker of knowledge, always a seeker of knowledge...
The owner, Mr. Grungs, was an aged burly man with pirate tattoos on his arms, a bushy rust colored beard, and an eye patch that covered his bad right eye, and he was a former pirate who once sailed with several ships back in his younger days. He was responsible for maintaining the cannons, checking the sails and ropes, and stocking the cannonballs, until he retired when Miss Fortune began her mission of hunting down pirates. He was one of the few of his crew that escaped, taking with him a bag of loot, which he used to buy his old crew's ship when it was brought to the pier and sold as loot from the bounty hunters who captured it.
Now, the ship was grounded, tied forever to the end of a pier and only to ride the easy waves, but it still kept its pirate look, making it quite the tourist attraction with all the work he put into it. There was even a sign on deck that advertised private parties, get-togethers for former pirates and old crews complete with drinks and food, and, once in awhile, the full pirate-pillaging experience, which was popular among those who sought to hunt pirates or to experience a rush.
"Ay, this was me mates' old ship. We used to sail and plunder all over the seas, until the twin pistol lass began her hunting. Since then, I've had this ship, made it me home and business, and now I live me days in comfort with a steady flow of booty from those like you and your slim friend. HAHA! The fee is ten coins per person, by the way." The former pirate answered with a smile from behind his beard.
The summoner looked around the deck, taking in the sights of the mast, the sails, and the railings. They were all in good condition and repair, and it looked like the ship could set sail at a moment's notice. "I see. What happened to the rest of your crew?" He asked as he counted out twenty coins from his coin purse.
"Some were hung, some were imprisoned, some drowned probably, and the rest I don't know." He answered with a slight grim tone. When the coins were placed in his hand, he continued. "I met two of me old mates, let them stay here for a while, paid them for their work, and then they left to join another's crew." He added with a little more of a smile.
"Do you ever miss it? Sailing the seas with friends?" The summoner asked.
The old man seemed to become lost in his memories then. "Ay, I do miss it some days, but now I'm too old for that kind of work. Let the younger ones have their fun on the seas. As much as she wants ta stop it, there will always be pirates on the seas to keep her and her bounty hunting lot happy and shooting." He said, looking back on the memories with fondness.
The summoner didn't know how much fondness one could really have for pillaging, plundering, and raping, but he guessed those weren't the only reasons for such a career. The promise of adventure, excitement, and wealth had to also be a great draw to many. After all, pirates were known as pioneers by some, constantly sailing and exploring the seas as well as discovering and selling information on new islands and lands; not to mention where sunken ships were.
"I don't suppose you ever found some cursed or magical items, did you?" He asked with a small smile. He had heard stories of such things, and, while rare in the real world, he couldn't help but ask.
The larger man laughed. "You've been reading too many fairy tales, boy!" He said before patting the summoner on the shoulder. "The only magic we found in those days were made by us, and the magic of luck of course."
The summoner laughed at little at his answer, and then looked away to see where Jinx was. He looked back when he saw her looking over one of the cannons, and asked another question. "How long have you been doing this? And does Miss Fortune know about your past?" He asked.
"Ay, I've been living this way for near to five years now, and the bounty hunting lass knows me past, but I've paid for me freedom. Long as I keep me nose clean and don't swindle or rob again, all I have to do is pay the fees for keeping this vessel here." The former pirate answered.
"Hey!" They both turned to see Jinx as she effortlessly lifted one of the cannons from its spot on the deck with a small grunt of effort and some work to get it in her arms. "I'm taking this for something cool!" She said with a large grin, and then began walking off the ship.
Grungs, understandably surprised, only stared, wide-eyed, and watched as Jinx carried off the three hundred pound weapon... with its wooden stand! When she was off the ship, he turned to the summoner, and was unable to speak, but the look on his face asked the question for him.
"Yes, she did just walk off with one of your cannons by herself." The summoner said in answer to his unspoken question. He was used to her odd and amazing actions, having spent a lot of time with her. Seeing her display her rarely seen inhuman strength was not something new to him, and it wasn't that inhuman. "How much did that cannon cost you?" He asked as he took out a notebook and began writing in it.
The man was still dumb struck by the fact that such a skinny, thin-armed girl walked off with a full-sized cannon with little effort by herself. "I… um… two hundred gold pieces…?" He managed to say with a low voice.
The summoner wrote the check, and then handed it to the man. "Turn this in to one of the bankers at the Institute of War, and they'll exchange for money from my personal savings." He explained. "Thanks for the tour and answering my questions, and sorry my friend walked off with your cannon." He added as he put up the notepad and started off the ship while the other man looked at the paper with that same surprised look on his face. It would likely take him awhile to move from his spot.
When he got down and off the gangplank to the ship, the summoner sprinted over to Jinx, who was still carrying the cannon down the peer, drawing the stares of several people as she did, and stopped in front of her. "What do you need a cannon for?" He asked her, finally showing some surprise.
"The invasion." She replied simply. "I also want a bigger minigun, and I want it to be made out of cannons and to shoot cannonballs! Wouldn't that be AMAZING! It'd be like-" She began, and then, with a grunt of effort, tossed the cannon into the air, and then caught it in her arm with the stand away from her. "KA-BOOM! POW! BOOM-BOOM-BOOM! Explosions and shrapnel everywhere!" She said with her normal enthusiasm.
Some people backed away when she began tossing the cannon around, afraid for their own safety if she hit them with it, but the summoner didn't even flinch. "I see… and do you mean the Void invasion?" He asked, trying to get a hint of what she was talking about.
"Ooo, that one's scary too." She said before adjusting her grasp on the cannon. "But nope! I mean the other invasion. The sooner one!" She said.
The summoner scratched the back of his head as he thought. "Uh, what invasion then? And why do you care? I'm sorry, but this is something new." He asked. If there was going to be an invasion, he would have thought Jinx would be the one to lead it out of boredom, at least she got bored of that and changed sides.
"Well, you went through all the trouble of getting the bore-lords to agree to get us here. I figured I'd help out by keeping us here until this place gets boring." She answered without actually answering.
"…should I tell Miss Fortune, or Gangplank?" He asked, not sure what else to say. Could it have something to do with what he saw before?
"Nope!" She replied. "I need two more cannons, welding tools, cannonballs, and chains and ropes for my big ass minigun." She then leaned toward him. "But don't tell Pow-Pow. He's sensitive about his size." She said, and then straightened and giggled. "I need a workplace too." She added.
The summoner turned his head back to the sea, and then looked where he was walking. "Well, are there any other sights you want to see? I did speak to other people and got up reservations at some places." He informed her.
Jinx shook her head. "After the invasion, which is after I have my new gun, then maybe. Until then, I need to work on this, and then fun times abound!" She said with growing excitement.
The summoner didn't understand what she was talking about, but he guessed it was something important to her for the time being. It would be very difficult to get her away from it. "Alright. Well, where to now then?" He asked.
"Shopping for stuff, duh! And then workshop. Double duh!" She answered.