Hostile Takeover

“That’s weird… thought it used to be purple.” Percy mumbled to himself.

The tent was tall and dark and pointer than any wizard’s hat in existence. The line there was so long that an entire space of the marketplace was devoted to housing it, businesses lined up along the sides to leech money off those waiting.

Mervin Smith and Derman Knomes had been standing in line for half an hour already, passing the time by bickering between themselves.

“Well if they want to paint the whole park black, I say let ‘em!”

“Derman, I love you, but you just don’t see it. They do that and then what do we have? The gloomiest sodding place on planet Earth, that’s what. What if Kidney made his whole park black, huh? Can you imagine that?”

“Oh, Kidney. It always goes back to Kidney. Every park we visit, every argument we have- you do realize your celebrity crush is older than our bloody calendar era.”

“Excuse me?”

“What?” Both men turned towards the teenage girl interrupting them. She had an American accent and dyed-blue hair.

“Well- we’re uh, messengers from the King.” She motioned to the five other kids behind her, all but one of which wore the same gold equipment. “Would you let us steal your place in line?”

Katie grabbed her shoulder.

“Frankie, I don’t think this is gonna-“

“Take our place in line?” The haughty Mervin laughed, the green elvish cap on his head flipping about like a vine as he did. “Been here for forty minutes we have, wouldn’t give it up for a thousand coin.”

Katie pulled Frankie away entirely, leaving the couple to their spat.

“Frankie. We just. Need. To do it.”

“You said this before, what do you mean?”

“Easier to ask forgiveness than permission, right?”

Everyone in line watched on as their cheap horn bought from a nearby stall sounded their attention. The six adventurers marched in unison, right along the line, carrying the hastily-scrawled banner of his lordship.

“I-It’s working!”

To Frankie’s surprise, it got them right up to the front of the line.

Namos counted funds in his tent, his long black beard falling off as he went about his day. “Next!” He ordered, not even looking as the crying child and his mother left his tent. “I said next!”

The Verdant Inferno stepped inside, looking like lost lambs as they entered his abode.

Frankie spoke.

“I was wondering if-“

“Fifty coins to speak.”

“Pardon?”

“FIFTY COINS TO SPEAK!”

Rocco bit his lip before sliding over the coins.

“What the- Rocco, didn’t you spend all your money on that new gear?!” Serah jumped at the gesture.

“I- had a little left over. I-“

“Wait wait wait. Don’t tell me you’re… doing this for me?! Oh my god. Oh my god. Do you wanna get married?”

Ignoring his friend, Rocco nudged Frankie on to continue speaking to the man.

“Sir, we were wondering if you’ve had any weird customers lately. Any… men in suits, perhaps?”

“I’ve seen no such thing. Do you have any other questions to ask?”

“Well, I uh- no, but-“

“Then you have no purpose to be here any longer. Leave my sight.”

“I’m sorry-“ Percival stepped in, disgusted by the wizard’s attitude but curious nonetheless- “Did your place get a new coat of paint lately?”

“What are you, colorblind? Yes, just a bit of rebranding.” He shuffled the meager sum of fifty coins into the much larger pile in his drawer.

“Why’s that?”

Namos gave him the evil eye.

“I’m done with your questions. Security!”

“S-sorry, sorry!” The knight backed off, taking his guild with him. Soon they were outside of the area, racking their heads.

“Any ideas?” Serah shrugged.

“Not sure… but something’s going on here.” Frankie decided to quickly scribble Namos’ name down on the list of people who broke character- not because he didn’t come off as a convincing old jerk, but because she hoped it might get him fired.

“Wait… guys, are you seeing this?” Gregory stopped to look around.

At last they stopped missing the forest for the trees. In the short time they’d been gone, many of the buildings and services around them had been cast in dark tarps…

Some of which bore the silver emblem of a wolf.