She nods. "If I can get it, how do I hand it to you? How can you promise me that you can give the potion’s formula to me in return for the ghost shark blood, as well as the authenticity of the formula?"

"I'll give you an address. When I have the ghost shark blood, I'll either mail you the formula, or if you'd rather..." He glances at the strange power overseeing this trade.

Who is still here, yes. Watching silently.

Absorbing all of this information like a sponge. Potions are necessary to become - what was the phrasing? Empyrean? Attain magic? And there are specific formulas to follow? How were they found? What the fuck is a Ghost Shark? Is its blood one of the ingredients for one of these potions? Is he trying to give this girl magic to... attain it for himself? But from context, he clearly already has some, so...?

She inclines her head, when looked at.

She is hoping desperately that he doesn't have a question for her.

"... I believe we would be wise to ask the gracious Ms. Fool to witness our bargain," because that is clearly what this whole thing is about, and She's likely going to witness it no matter what, so he'd better uphold his end of the deal, "and might perhaps entreat Her to summon us here again, if you'd rather a more secure method of formula acquisition."

Because he'd rather use the more secure method, thanks. Sending a Sequence 9 Empyrean formula through the mail sounds like a recipe for disaster.

She nods again, more vigorously. "Yes, that seems reasonable." She turns to The Fool. "Honorable Ms. Fool, would You please permit me to take the liberty of requesting You to be the witness of our trade?"

"I shall, yes."

If a whole potion for the bestowal of magic is going to be oh-so-helpfully wafted in front of her nose, who is she to turn it down, hm? And she is technically providing a service by connecting them. Even if it was.... entirely by accident, and without really knowing what she's messing with. Regardless, if she's doing this, she will be doing it properly. With some style. Since she has approximately no way to actually make them follow their deal besides direct intimidation.

She straightens in her chair, dropping her air of patient hospitality in favor of imperious authority.

"Do you both agree that your bargain is a trade you mean honestly and fairly? Will you do your utmost to uphold it, to the best of your ability? Do you accept potential penalties should you renege on your side of the deal, at the discretion of the party wronged?"

squeak.

"I agree that I mean this trade honestly and fairly. I will do my utmost to uphold it. I accept potential penalties should I renege on my side of the deal," says Alger, a little hoarsely.

She looks substantially less scared by this than he does. "I do, Milady. I mean this trade honestly and fairly, shall do my utmost to uphold it, and accept potential penalties should I renege on my side of the deal."

The Fool gives a satisfied nod, and relaxes back into her seat. Her voice returns to its usual volume.

"Good. Then you may proceed. I am willing to oversee a second meeting, should you both desire and consent."

Pay no attention to what she stands to gain from this arrangement. Yes, yes, you can definitely trust this messenger with these secrets...

"I-I think that would be wisest," agrees Alger, still quite unsettled.

"I do, too. Sending a potion formula over mail could lead to problems." She turns to the man again. "Where should I be trying to send the ghost shark blood to?"

Right, yes, uh. The deal. (That is now being upheld by an eldritch goddess!) That deal. Yes.

He had fortunately already picked a trustworthy place to send it to, so his brain being slightly broken by terror is immaterial.

"Send it to the Warrior & Sea Bar at Pelican Street, in the White Rose Borough of Pritz Harbor. Tell the boss, Williams, that it’s for the 'rat captain.' Keep its contents hidden -" an idea comes to him, since it's a bar, "- actually, pretend it's alcohol. Uh," what kind would nobody touch, "Conantian Black. No one's going to want anything to do with that."

Williams himself is trustworthy, and knows he'll be good for payment, but people are idiots and might try to steal from him anyway. Best if they think it's not worth their time. (Gods beyond, someone drinking ghost shark blood like it's booze...)

She nods. "I'll do my best to get you the material." She turns to The Fool. "Ms. Fool, how should we hold future gatherings?" The Fool had only talked about a 'second' meeting but there was no reason not to imply that she would be open for many more than that.

"I can call you back in the future, at a time of our choosing. How long do you estimate it will take to acquire and send your trade partner his ghost shark blood?"

Those two little red stars, right there. When she focuses on them, she can even hear - their voices, she thinks, so she'll be able to locate them again, even if things shuffle around.

"I think... less than a week." Wait, don't give out too much. "Uh, if I can do it at all," she quickly amends.

What the fuck? Really??? What kind of power does this woman have?

"Let us err on the side of caution and provisionally set our next meeting for two weeks." Apparently The Fool likes to play things safe, or is possibly unwilling to accept this extremely short estimation.

This next part is addressed at Alger. "Would that be sufficient for you to verify the blood's veracity?"

"Just a, a week would be fine." Get this whole thing over and done with as quick as possible.

"... Very well. In one week, if you'd both prefer."

She sounds vaguely dubious of this timetable, but is amenable.

Audrey nods. "Yes, that would work for me!"

"And then... maybe we could continue to meet up? We aren't as powerful as Milady Fool," says Audrey, dipping her head, "but there might be trivial inconveniences that we could help solve for You, within our abilities?"

She hasn't had the second, and she already wants to make this a regular occurrence?? Gods beyond, but she has high expectations, doesn't she. For his part, Alger doesn't think he'd have a choice in the matter of continuing to be summoned here at Her behest. She said She'd let them leave, She did not say that She wouldn't summon them back at Her choosing. So... at expected and predictable intervals would be better than 'Whenever She feels like it.'

"I, too, would be willing to offer my services to You in the future," he says, because when in doubt, groveling to a goddess is a solid plan.

Plus.... this meeting has already been very rewarding, if all goes as promised, and more after the second could continue to be so. The goddess has been very fair.

Goodness, she's excited, isn't she. And meanwhile, she's not sure she has much to gain besides embarrassment for continuing to flail in the fog like a damn fool. Regardless, she can flail with some level of fake-mysticism and grace. Being artful in her flailing.

"Perhaps," says the goddess, sounding a little amused at Audrey's enthusiasm. "One week from today, after the sun has set, but before the light has left the sky, I will call you both here. I recommend being alone, and somewhere discreet. We will speak then, on the prospect of further meetings. Is this agreeable to you both?"

"Yes."

After the sun has set, but before light has left the sky? So she's definitely not the Evernight Goddess - is she some sort of goddess of in-between? He supposes that makes as much sense as anything else...

"Yes. And so—should we have codenames?" She's under no illusions about her ability to hide her identity from The Fool, she's thought this before, and if they'll keep seeing each other...