Herri Smallthumbs gave a smile with his too-wide mouth, a number of his teeth replaced with silver and ivory. Neil had once heard him say if someone ever lent him a gold tooth he would make them a captain of their own galleon. Neil would have done it, but Herri had rejected 8 gold tooths, insisting they wouldn't fit. He was well known, but not well liked. Only Neil and a handful of others who had no qualms dealing with someone who stank like dead fish and acted worse could stand him. Neil actually liked the scraggly old sea dog.

"So you survived that job on Castell Fiore. I was hoping to see you again." Herri said in a way one couldn't help but question the validity of. He was good at that. "How was it?"

"Lot of fire, lot of shot, more swords than you'd expect.." Neil shrugged. "About as dangerous as that night at the summer solstice. You remember the one, when we-" 

Herri grinned. "Yeah, and then the mule when he-" 

"And the prince drank with-" 

"the blind orphan, right!" Herri cackled with laughter. Neil laughed with him. Truth be told, Neil remember the night only vaguely, but the flippant memories were wilder than anything he could realistically make up. But he knew Herri had been there, and when Neil dragged him out from under the roof of the ruined tavern, they had been comrades ever since. Neil had only just started his life of crime off solid ground, and Herri had lost one friend too many. 

After their jovial mood died down, Herri took a sip of his brandy, and gave a satisfied sigh. He then dropped his smile, and leaned forward. "You wanted a score, right?" 

"I'm not in it for the food." 

Herri produced a piece of parchment, and handed it to Neil like it held the location of Barnabus Isaac's treasure. Neil took it and raised an eyebrow, opening it up speculatively.

[i][b]ADVENTUROUS SOULS WANTED[/b]: To accompany an expedition into Aeternian Empire ruins on the Azul Islands. Handsome rewards and historical credit to those who assist in this bold enterprise. Contact Sir Edmund Lawrence at the Golden Cove Hotel for more information.[/i]

"I heard you can make incredible gold on such a venture. Might want to check it out. They should still be here another day or two, then the contract is gone like piss in the ocean."

"Do you know how long the voyage is? Daily pay? Working conditions?" 

Herri Smallthumbs gave a faux 'whatever' look. "Sure, I can play with your ass too if you want." 

"Is that how you got the nickname?" 

"Get outta here!"