The tavern was thick with smoke and laughter, but when Agatha and Rio walked in, the place went still as death. Agatha Harkness, the infamous pirate captain, strode in with a confidence born of fearlessness and raw power, her dark coat sweeping the floor, a wicked smile playing on her lips. Behind her, Rio Vidal followed, eyes glinting under her hat, hand resting on the hilt of her dagger. The crew muttered and shifted, eyes wide with a mix of reverence and terror. They knew better than to cross either of them.

As you brought a drink to their table, Agatha’s eyes met yours, sharp and calculating as she took you in with a slow, appraising glance. She leaned back, one hand drumming on the table, her voice low and smooth. “Well now, aren’t you a sight? What’s a pretty little thing like you doing working in a place like this?”

Rio’s grin grew wider, her eyes gleaming with a mix of amusement and something darker. “Careful, Captain. I think you might be scaring her,” she drawled, though the challenge in her voice made it clear she had no intention of letting you go.

Your cheeks warmed under their combined gaze, but you managed to keep your voice steady. “Just trying to make a living, same as everyone else.”

“Mm, but everyone else isn’t quite like you, now are they?” Agatha’s tone was teasing, though her gaze held an intensity that made your heart beat a little faster.

Rio chuckled, leaning forward. “You’re wasting yourself here. Why not come along with us?” They had already decided, you realized, and though you’d heard enough tales of Agatha and Rio to know they were ruthless, you felt a strange thrill at the idea.

Before you could fully process it, Agatha’s hand lifted, a slight shimmer of magic sparking between her fingers.

“Tell you what,” she murmured, her voice barely audible over the tavern’s noise, “you come with us, and we’ll show you what true freedom is.”