So much work to do (Finn!)

    Normally Gavin, the cook aboard his vessel, The Wolfsbane, took care of making sure their galley's storerooms were fully stocked, but the last the Captain had checked he'd found the big, lovable, oaf passed out over a tavern table with, what Finn was sure, had been a belly full of mead and stew. Normally he might've thrown something at the man and shoved him out the door to do the job he'd been signed on for, but honestly it was a hassle to try to wake that guy up and after the chaos of his past few days Finneas could use a leisurely stroll through the market, securing shipment orders for his vessel down at the docks.
It was late in the evening now, the sun starting its downward trip below the horizon line as it cast an orange pall across the clear, open sky. Finn was pretty sure he'd collected everything they would need before setting back out to sea, running the list through his head several times over, just to be certain.
There were no markets on the open ocean, unfortunately, and it was a terrible fate to be lacking any items necessary for ones survival.
Once he was absolutely certain he was done with his necessity shopping, he decided to let his eyes drift about the shops all around him, his hands tucked away into the pockets of his billowing coat that caught the breeze coming off the ocean.
He had to close his eyes to take in that scent he treasured so dearly. Nothing smelled better, nor more liberating, than the salty sea air.
How the people who lived much further inland managed without it, he would never understand.

    It was then he noticed a peculiar little shop.
"Sunshine and Moondust" the sign read, catching the Pirate's fickle attentions as he looked the place over. He could swear he'd felt a vibration running through the ground emanating from somewhere within the place, but it was so brief he thought he must've imagined it.
Still, the sensation had certainly piqued his interest as he moved to the door, noting the place seemed to be closed now, but he swore he saw movement from within.
The Captain moved to a different window, getting a better view as he cupped his hands to the glass panes to block out the waning sunlight's glare.
There was indeed a girl in there. Rather young to be managing a shop all on her own, though, wasn't she?
He couldn't make out anyone older around, within, but he noted the way her hands simply brushed across the leaves of her plants and they sprouted more.
Magic.
Fascinating!

    His finger tapped against the window, aiming to get her attention as he pointed to the plant she'd made grow before his very eyes with a simple touch, miming an explosion bursting out of the side of his head to indicate how impressive and cool he thought it had been to see such a thing, first hand.

    A chuckle passed stubbled lips when she jumped at his presence and rubbed the back of his neck a bit sheepishly, clearly having not intended to give the poor lass a tiny heart-attack or anything of the sort. His grin broadened into a wide and friendly smile as she moved towards him and cracked the window that separated them.
He took a step back to not be pressed to the glass any longer, eyeing the girl up and down with a flicker of curiosity glistening in the depths of eyes the same color of the ocean he called 'home'.
"Apologies, love," sneaking a peak at the bare looking shelves behind her, though they brushed across what few wares still remained, wondering what sort of things one sold at a shop like this.
Cures?
Tonics?
...Love potions?
Hah- no that was no different to taking advantage. He was incorrigible, sure, but he'd never so much as taken advantage of even a knackered woman in all his life. If one was too drunk to make coherent decisions, well, then he assumed the party was over and at most he'd simply guide them to their doorstep.

"I saw you were closed, didn't mean to intrude," he explained, his eyes once again back on the girl, "I was just strolling through and felt- drawn to the shop."
Had there really been a tremor, before?
He still wasn't sure.
"Noticed the display of magic and was just so fascinated by it I felt I had to convey my amazement at such a sight."
His arms propping himself up on the windowsill between them as he rested his elbows upon it.

    Still, no one older than her appeared to question the 'untrustworthy pirate' talking to the girl who appeared to only be a little over half his own age. He'd always been a tad more childish in nature than his age conveyed, however.
Call it a lack of parental supervision growing up or a penchant for doing what he pleased when he pleased, regardless, it was just who he was.
"You can't possibly run this whole job on your lonesome can ya, lass?" his brow furrowing, feeling more concerned by the thought than anything.
"That seems a hefty load for a solitary beauty."
His tone more complimentary than flirtatious- he could be a 'Don Juan', but hitting on a girl with such a vast difference in their ages?
He may be a Pirate, but he wasn't a Pig.

"I can understand that," sympathizing with enjoying something despite the work it entailed, "Many have told myself I'm a tad too young to be Captain-ing my own vessel."
Nodding at the camaraderie of the struggle. Granted, he didn't do it on his own. He had his first mate watching his back and a crew he considered like a family.
Still- leading a group of men and women that looked to you for direction when most of the time you didn't have nary an idea where you were heading, yourself?
It got a bit weighty at times.

Moten, huh?
"Can't say I've spent much time in Moten. 'My kind' aren't exactly well liked there. Act as if I'd want anything to do with running away on one of their ships when none compare to the beauty I already own," scoffing at the very notion of it.
Their military vessels might be bigger, shinier, more expensive.
But none matched his Wolfsbane for heart or speed.
He'd spill his own blood to keep her safe from harm.
The lass did seem tired, though. He felt bad for keeping her while he got the sense she still had other things to wrap up before she'd be able to head off for the night and get some well deserved sleep.
Poor dear.

"Anything I can do t'help you get on out of here and get some shut eye-?"
He winced after the words had left his mouth.
Maybe it was a stupid question. He suddenly felt like an idiot for asking, having briefly forgotten most didn't exactly like the 'helping hands' of a Pirate. He was a thief, yea- and sometimes he aimed to rob a place of some sparkly things that caught his eye, but this wasn't exactly a nobleman's vault.
There was nothing within that caught his 'treasure seeking' eye, he just felt the benevolent mood of lending a hand.
But, he wouldn't be offended if she just told him to take a hike and slammed the window in his face.
It wouldn't be the first time his good intentions were met with scrutiny because his fingers seemed to stick to glittery baubles.

    The Pirate was openly surprised but the fact she hadn't started swatting a broom at him or conjuring up some sort of incantation to turn him into a newt or some such.
Could a witch do that?
Turn you into newt?
He wasn't sure he really wanted to know the answer to that question as he moved to the door where she welcomed him inside, a broad smile warming his face.
"Uh- just for full disclosure," he started, "I am a Pirate."
He wasn't entirely certain she was overly aware of that fact given how welcoming she was being for his aid.
"But! I have less than zero intentions for robbing you," raising his hands and then forming an X over his heart in a sort of 'on my honor' oath.
"Just got my duties done for the day, gathering gear for my ship, and have some time to kill. And let's just say me and idle hands are a jittery companionship."
He lingered to take in the shop, chancing to pick up a vial of- something?
He had no clue what, giving a sniff and pulling back as floral and earthen scents assaulted his sensitive wolf-nose.
"So, uh- what do these things even do? Like....if I drank one could I sprout wings? Oh..that would be fantastic. The fae lookout on my ship? Young lad by the name of 'Pix'- he has wings. Man, I bet there's no freer feeling in the world than flight..."
His eyes wondering in to the open air, clearly imagining what the sensation might be like.
"Ah...sorry, I came in here to help you, not slow you down by asking a million questions, so-" he placed the vial back where he'd found it and brushed his hands together, "What d'ya need me to do, love? I've cleaned ships from top to bottom, I think I can manage a store."

"Cure seasickness?" He mused, glancing back at the strange little vial. He'd never had the displeasure of experiencing such an affliction, but life on a boat, he'd met many men who struggled wit the issue.
"You know there's an old seafarer's trick for that one?" He indicated the bottle in question, "Plug an ear with cotton and the sickness will fade. Only one ear, however, not both. Then you'll just be sick and deaf."
He let out a soft sound of humor, the chuckle vibrating in the Pirate's chest as he strolled around the small shop front, eyeing what remained on the displays. It was a neat little place, to be certain. Not so different from an apothecary, but with a more broad range of cures for different ailments.
Shame nothing in here could make you fly.
He'd always wanted to experience the sensation, being a man who sought out the feeling of freedom like no other.

"Of course."
Moving to the plant and running his fingers along the veins of the leaf. He didn't have the pleasure of seeing plants often, they didn't do well at sea and were a bit unnecessary aboard a ship. It didn't mean he didn't like them. He understood the marvels that they were and respected them, but between the Earth and the Sea, for him, the Sea won every time, no question.
"Pleasure, Karina," the Pirate spoke up when she introduced herself, turning towards her to dip into a low bow with his arms spread out wide as he did so, "The name is Finn."
Pulling himself back up to his full height with a cheeky grin sprawled across his lips, twirling about once more to head to the plant she had indicated. He felt weird about the idea of just tearing the leaves off. He didn't know much about plants, but it seemed rather rude to tear its little self limb from limb. Instead he pulled a small knife, he often used for cutting rope aboard his ship, from his pocket and started trimming the leaves from the plant until he had, what he imagined, was probably a substantial enough pile.

    Finneas stood alongside Karina and placed the leaves neatly beside her on the counter.
"Will this be enough?" he inquired after having put his blade away, "I can get more, I imagine. It just felt rude to leave a woman bare," gesturing back to the plant, indicating the 'woman' in question.

    Evidently his discretion with the greenery was unneeded as the plant began repairing itself all at once, just like he'd witnessed before, wondering if this young lass were not secretly the goddess Gaia given human form. He'd witnessed many wonders in his travels, but magic was one that never ceased to bring a glimmer to his eyes like the waves of his watery mistress. It was a treasure he could not wield, not unlike his desire for flight. Sadly, like all things one could not have, it only made him yearn for it all the more. Some in this world had been granted such marvelous gifts and yet his remained a monstrous beast that took hold beneath the full light of the pale moon and stole his mind and his control away from him, leaving behind nothing but a fanged creature as if molded in the depths of Hell sent to this earthly plane only to cause pain and misery to others.
He supposed he'd drawn the short straw when it came to magic, gifts, and curses.

    Still, the time wasted lamenting his birthed destiny served no one any good. All he could do now was his best to never allow that beast out again to wreak bloodshed and havoc among the innocents.
He was a bringer of death in the presence of one who made life. Perhaps that's why he was so drawn to her.
The pirate felt envious of that power.
...Positively green with it.
Chuckling at the private joke in his mind.

    He'd taken up a perch on a table out of her way, resting atop it to observe her process with rapt attention like a child watching baked goods rise in the oven in anticipation of biting into their sweet and gooey centers.
"Absolutely astounding," he whispered, afraid to exclaim too loudly and disturb her from her process.
It was clear his mind raced with questions, a newborn discovering a new world.
How did it work?
Could she mend a broken bone?
Could she talk to plants and if so what did they say?
He wanted to ask them all, but he feared breaking her focus, occupying himself by rolling a coin across his nimble and deft fingers, clearly not lying when he said he could not tolerate keeping himself entirely still.
"What does it feel like?" he finally had to ask. One of the questions burning through his brain like a raging fire. His own curse felt like breaking bones and tearing skin. He had to imagine the flow of magic was nowhere near as brutally unpleasant as all that.

    The Pirate nodded as the elemental witch answered his question. Her words calming, in a way. He'd imagined it felt something like that, perhaps. Though he knew he'd never truly understand the sensation, but it was utterly fascinating to hear her version of the process with which the healing magics flowed through her.
It was sweet the way she sought to help people, heal them.
He was a Pirate, but not a violent nor malicious man. He simply loved living by his own rules, one of them being to never hurt an innocent (despite the wolf within disregarding that number one law) and another that he never stole from those who could not afford to be stolen from. Only took from those who had more than they could need.
Besides, those ones usually had the shiniest little baubles just lying around like disregarded toys having no clue how men died in streets for just a brush of that sort of wealth. It was a bit disgusting really. He wasn't super fond of most nobles, at least not the "pompous rub it in your face" sorts. Those really got under his skin and almost begged with him to be relieved of their goodies.

But actually helping people?
The must do a soul good.
If spirits were visible on the outside of a being he could imagine the pure white that emanated from Karina.
"That sounds beautiful."
His eyes drawing a distant look as he turned his head to stare through the window, though it was clear in his vacant gaze that he wasn't really seeing anything in his eye-line.
"You are an amazing person, love. Not many in this world would see a hand reaching for help and offer it in turn. In my experience they're more likely to steal your coin purse and leave you dying in the street. World could use more pure souls like yers. Good on ya."