Jack considered the young woman standing before him. He had not seen her before, yet something in her manner was familiar. He thought he knew at least the name of every girl who worked in this bar. Her dress was rather more modest than what most of the women in here wore, but was somewhat revealing nonetheless. And what it revealed was certainly interesting, if not as prominent as the same curves on some of the other women. The oddest thing about her was the dark veil, black to match her dress, which hung over her face. Perhaps she was hideous underneath it? She looked like a proper English widow, except for the low cut of her dress. He felt very curious to see her face, so he detained her after she set down the bottle of rum he had ordered. She didn't seem to be going anywhere anyway. She just stood there.
"'ere Lass, 'ave a seat. If ye're gonna be standin' and starin', ya may as well sit an' stare."
Without a sound, she did as bidden, sitting across from him, her veiled face still turned toward him. He could almost feel her gaze burning through the veil and into him. He looked right back at her curiously.
"Why the veil, Lass? Are ya hiding horrendous ugliness or incredible beauty?"
She sighed in a kind of exasperated way, as if she had just been addressed by an obnoxious child. The voice she spoke in was obviously changed to make it unrecognizable to those around her.
"Did it occur to you, Jack Sparrow, that perhaps I wear a veil because I do not wish to have people see my face, not because I am ashamed of it or believe it too gorgeous for the common folk to look upon? In a port full of pirates, including yourself, do you find it so surprising that one or two people may not wish to be known?"
He considered this speech for a moment, then nodded thoughtfully.
"I suppose that's possible. But don't your, ahem…um….customers like to see your face?"
He didn't expect the hand that came flying to his face. He winced as his head swung to one side. He didn't deserve that. What was this girl's problem? Tortuga's harlots didn't usually mind their trade being mentioned. He got his answer soon enough.
"I am not a whore, Captain Jack Sparrow! I work as a waitress, not a prostitute! And I've only been working here so I could contact you!"
She was using her natural voice now, and it was disturbingly unmistakable. He was having flashbacks.
"It must be terrible for you being trapped on this island Jack." "You came back. I always knew you were a good man." "This is the only way, don't you see. I'm not sorry." "Jack! We've come to save you!" "Will annulled our impromptu marriage. He doesn't want me to have to wait for him. He left me an unmarried virgin, acceptable to society, worthy of marriage to another, while he spends a miserable eternity alone." "Goodbye Jack. I'm sorry for everything. Will you ever forgive me?" His silence answered her question. But while he was outwardly hard and angry, his heart broke as he watched her leave.
"Elizabeth! What on earth are you doing in Tortuga?"
"That's the longest you've spoken to me since we saved you. I came to find you of course. Why else would I be here? I need your help, because you owe me one for bringing you back, even if you don't want to pay up."
"I don't owe you anything! Bringing me back made us square, you kill me, you bring me back. Why do you need help anyway? Last I heard, you had your own ship, your own crew, and all your enemies were dead. And yet here's the great Captain Elizabeth Swann, Pirate King, Pirate Lord of Singapore, asking me for help! I must be drunker than I thought."
"Jack, shut up. Listen. Most of my crew was faithful, but there was one idiot who always seemed to be planning a mutiny. I should have killed him while I had the chance, but I knew most of my crew would stand by me. One night, most of the crew and I went ashore, including him, and I left two men I knew were faithful to me to guard The Empress. That night, the idiot went and killed my guards and took the ship. What I didn't expect was that he had hired some brawlers to kill my crew. All I have left is my four best men. I am going to get that man, and get my ship back; but I need to use the Pearl. If you're still not feeling charitable, I'm going to have to remind you that I am the Pirate King, made so by your vote, and I have the right to commandeer your ship. At this point though, if you behave agreeably, I will keep you on as co-captain for this voyage, and you'll get your ship back later."
"And how do you plan to enforce my cooperation?"
"Oh, I'll think you'll be plenty willing after you see what's behind you."
Nervously, he turned and found himself staring up the barrel of a gun. Her Asian crew-member grinned at him cheerfully. He turned back to Elizabeth and grinned.
"We have an accord."