Neutral Omens

Wednesday looked thoughful. "A favor, eh? You should know, Marquis, that I usually don't deal in favors. Favors are a very... fluid commodity." His eye glinted in the dark bar. "You have no idea how many owed favors I've managed to get out of." He smiled tightly as he sized de Carabas up with stone cold grey eyes. After a long scrutiny, he apparently found that marquis adequate. "I miss the barter system," Wednesday said nonchalantly, as though he were changing the subject. "How about we make a trade? It could be a... simultaneous favor exchange, if that makes you feel better." He took the tree-shaped pin out of his tie and rolled it around in his hand. "Being in this place is like staring at the moon too long. I can feel myself disappearing in the light. Surrounded by non-beleivers. I will not allow myself to drown in a bottle, and I don't want to be a fucking maitre'd." The room got suddenly still as he sat up, shoulders squared. "I need to make trouble- to feel alive again. And, I need a partner, de Carabas." He fixed the marquis with his eyes. "Perhaps we can see if these two favors balance."