Chapter Text
The bar was dark and filthy, that much was obvious. The stench of cheap cigars and even cheaper alcohol that lingered in the air was slowly latching onto the expensive suit Dark was wearing. Why he agreed to meet in here, he did not know. The company here was hardly the one Dark was used to. From dirty thieves to drunk workmen, everybody was there to drink away their problems and hat little money they had.
Dark was getting impatient, the man he was meeting tonight was already late. While contemplating whether he should leave or not, the man, owner of the bar, finally showed up. The owner looked just like his bar, cheap and sleazy.
"Ah, mista' Dark, you're 'ere. Good, good." the owner exclaimed jovially as he sat down. "Would ya like somethin' before we start? A drink, cigar? Maybe some doll to keep ya company... "
"My time is a very precious thing and you already. Wasted. Enough. Either you get to the point or I'm ending this meeting right now."
The man, suddenly not so confident, just nodded and began talking. "Well, ya see mista' Dark, I'm a humble man. All I 'ave is this bar and the only thing that keeps it runnin' is that the chief of coppers has a debt in 'ere. But, 'e ain't 'appy with this and my luck is runnin' out. I need..."
A loud bang coming from the stage interrupted the man's speech. They turned their heads to the front of the bar and the musician shot them an apologetic smile while picking up his fallen instrument.
"...As I was sayin', I need an access to a dock. That's what I wanted to ask ya. An access to the Northern dock so I can bring some goods 'ere."
Dark's stare was piercing the man's head. While he /did/ control an almost whole city, the Northern dock had a prominent position, since most of his good came through there. And Dark wasn't a sharing person. "And why pray tell, would I ever do that? What do you have, to ever convince me to let you use it?" he drawled.
"W-well, ya see.."
If I had the money, let me tell you how it'd be,
I'd take over the country, everyone would bow to me.
Sit up in my palace, baby you would be my queen,
we'd run this ship together, just you wait and see.
We'll be royalty.
A melodic voice ran through the suddenly silent bar. A man in a white and red striped suit, pink mustache, and matching hair were standing on the stage. Dark ignored the man's rambling and stared at the singer instead. Never in his life, had he heard such beautiful sound. The singer took his breath away and a million questions began to form in his head.
"Who is that?"
The startled owner stopped talking and confusedly answered. "Oh, 'im? Wilford, Wilford Warfstache. 'e sings 'ere. Keeps the scum in check."
Dark was silently considering his choices. Would it be worthy, to partially lose a deck over this? And so, he made a decision.
"Him."
"Excuse me"?
"You wanted to know the price for the dock. It's him. Fire that singer and I will allow you to use my dock."
"Deal."
Wilford couldn't wait to get home and finally relax. He was sitting in what was supposed to be a dressing room. In reality, it was a moldy dump in the back of the bar, rearranged so Wil could change. He folded his suit, careful to not ruin it more than it already was. The owner suggested him to get a new one a long time ago, but Wl couldn't. He just didn't have money for a new one. That's why he was singing here every night, doing a 'woman's' job. Nobody else was hiring and no girl wanted to sing in a bar like this. So he just had to roll with it.
A gentle knock on the door interrupted Wil from his musings. He scrambled to open it, knocking everything around him down in the process. Cursing, he made his way around the mess and slammed the door open. A tall stranger in an expensive black suit stood there, patiently waiting.
"May I help you?"
"Depends. Are you Wilford Warfstache?"
Wil really didn't have the patience nor the energy to play games. And somebody as rich as this guy in this type of bar? No, something wasn't right. "That would be me."
The stranger smiled. "Your performance tonight was quite exquisite. I am here to make you an offer. How would you like working for me?'
Why would anyone want to willingly have a pink-haired male singer, he didn't know. "I-what?"
"You heard me."
"Then I refuse." This clearly shocked the other man, but before he said anything, Wil continued: "Look, I'm sure there's plenty of girls outside that would be thrilled by job offer like this, but not me. This is the only place that was hiring and I'm not gonna let this go just because you asked me to. So thanks but no. Goodbye."
Before he could shut the door, the stranger managed to put something in his pocket. "If you ever change your mind, this is where you find me."
Wil sighed. Could this night be any worse?
"You're fired."
"WHAT?"
"Let's face it Wil, you're maybe an eye candy for the girls, but that won't do much in here. So pack your things and get out."
Wil was leaning on the back entrance door, clutching his few possessions to his chest. He couldn't go back home, the householder was certainly waiting for him, demanding his rent money. Money he did not have.
He reluctantly pulled out the card he got from the stranger. There were an address and a name written on it. He made a decision, swiftly walking toward the nearest bus stop.
"So, Upside Down, huh? Delightful name."