Bring me that Horizon
Chapter One: Tortuga
Author's Note : Testing the seas (sorry, I couldn't resist :P) with a PotC fic. I don't own these characters. Please review, constructed criticism very very VERY welcomed. Depending on the response, I'll see if this is worth exploring. Hope you enjoy (even though this is very introductory)!
**********§**********
The crew of the legendary Black Pearl had docked at the port of Tortuga. Noisily, everyone stepped off the ship singing merry tavern songs, heading to the nearest pub to wet their whiskers. The captain of the crew, Jack Sparrow, was saying his last goodbyes to his Black Pearl, whispering to the wheel and shining the rails with his sleeve. A young, attractive woman standing on the docks below was smiling at this scene. She looked at the other ships in proximity and sighed as she saw the sun rising higher above the horizon. She looked back up at Jack and saw that he was still caressing his ship.
" Jack, she'll be here when we get back! Come into the tavern with your crew," she shouted up.
Jack glanced down and sighed in turn. He grabbed his effects and ran down to join the woman.
" I know she'll be here, Anamaria... But it just pains me to have to leave her all by her... AH, RUM!" he exclaimed as she shoved a bottle in his hand.
He hopped towards the pub, where his crew was waiting for him. Anamaria smirked and turned around to take a last look at the port and its ships. She was about to turn back round and enter the tavern when she noticed a ship she had never seen before. It was a ship with white sails, like any other, but she knew she hadn't seen this one prior. Every ship had its intricacies, and every good pirate had an eye for them. Still, boats came and went from Tortuga, there was nothing new about that. Thus, she forgot it was even there and entered the pub.
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" That's when I skewered him on my sword... Ran to the bleeding boy... Saved him from the two deadly creatures... Tossed the coins back in... Shot Barbossa and killed the bloody bastard!" yelled out the infamous Jack Sparrow, slamming his mug on the table.
The whole room cheered him on as he continued his storytelling. Gibbs, who had grown a wee bit tired of Jack's tall tales, was sitting at the bar, chatting with the old barkeep.
" So what be new here in ol' Tortuga, Fred?" inquired Gibbs.
" Nay much, as far as me ears have heard. Naught but a load of rubbish from old sailors and fishermen's wives. And what have ye been doing, since joining with that ol' Jack Sparrow?" asked Fred the barkeep.
" Ah, I guess you could say we've been pillaging. Doing some plunderin' and generally not givin' a hoot!" exclaimed Gibbs.
" Here's to that, mate!" replied Fred, as he and Gibbs knocked mugs together.
They continued their talk until Anamaria joined them.
" Hello Fred! How are you?" she asked.
" Not too bad meself, and you then?" responded Fred with a cheery smile.
" We've all been doing quite fine, not that there's much adventure to be had around these isles nowadays. It seems the Royal Fleet has made everything terribly tedious," she answered.
" Now now, even with a nutter for a captain? I used to think Jack Sparrow could pull anything out of his hat, excitement included," said Fred, with a hint of disappointment in his voice.
" We get plenty of excitement, if I do say so meself. I'm almost startin' to think I'm too old to be doing this sort of thing, if you do get my meaning. I honestly don't know what I've gotten myself into, associatin' with this lot. A bit nutters I am meself, I must say!" reflected Gibbs.
" Come now, Gibbs. Don't be talking nonsense! You've still got plenty of spirit, and that's all that really matters!" comforted Anamaria.
" Well said!" rejoiced Fred, and he took a swig of his own mug. " Now, how long shall ye all be stayin' in the homely hospitality of Tortuga?"
" Not very long, I dare say. We just came in to get our fill of cheerfulness and liquor and then we'll be right off," answered Anamaria.
" Probably before the end of the day, by my reckoning," added Gibbs.
" That's a shame! I was itching for a good bar fight, no doubt being started by one of your men. Haven't seen one in ages!" said Fred.
" Don't be losin' hope. You might yet see one before we leave," replied Gibbs with a wink.
They jabbered away, passed noon, at times being interrupted by the rowdy crowd listening to Jack. They spoke of tales and kings, governors and ships, when a thought came back to Anamaria's mind.
" Fred, I've been wanting to ask you... I saw a ship at the docks just this morning. A ship with white sails that I had not seen before this day. Who would it belong to?" she asked.
Fred creased his brow in reply and fell into deep thoughts. He swivelled his head from side to side, seemingly trying to get his memory to seep through the cloudiness of his liquored brain. This continued for a moment until he raised his finger in triumph, as if to say "Eureka!".
" Yes yes, THAT ship with THOSE white sails! It's a crew of men who docked a few days back. Not been too loud about their presence. Pirates, the lot of them, if my judgement is correct. First time I've ever seen them anywhere near here. Wouldn't know where they're from or who their captain be, but they've got a woman with them. Mustn't be too wise of a lot then, bad luck having a woman on deck... No offence meant to you Anamaria," he quickly added when he sighted the fury in her traits. " Anyhow, just been at the inn and in and out of taverns. Still, it's an odd lot... But that be it," he finished.
" Doesn't sound like much of a mystery to me, really. Just a crew making provisions to take back to their ship and sail off, is all," said Gibbs, with a shrug of his shoulders.
For no apparent reason, Gibbs and Fred slammed their mugs together again and downed the last of their drinks. Anamaria raised her glass in agreement, but couldn't help but think there was more to this strange crew than they thought.
**********§**********
The crew of the Black Pearl stepped out of the tavern, each with a barrel of liquor (rum no doubt) in their arms. They wobbled their way back to the ship, chanting a parting song in unison.
With ale in belly, song in heart We trudge our way to a new start Your fire be warm and rum so sweet But sea and darkness we must meet Our last farewell we all must say And then we must be on our way Pillage and burn, jewels, gold and coats
" WHO THE DEVIL IS ON MY BOAT???" yelled out Jack, as he started to run towards his ship.
" Raww, that's not how the song goes, raww!" croaked Cotton's parrot.
" Wait... Look! There really is someone on the Black Pearl!" said Gibbs, squinting his eyes in the fading light.
" And that ship I was talking about, it was docked all the way to the right. Now it's right next to ours!" exclaimed Anamaria.
The whole crew began their sprint to the docks, where Jack had already climbed aboard the Black Pearl to meet the intruder.
**********§**********
To be Continued...?
Chapter One: Tortuga
Author's Note : Testing the seas (sorry, I couldn't resist :P) with a PotC fic. I don't own these characters. Please review, constructed criticism very very VERY welcomed. Depending on the response, I'll see if this is worth exploring. Hope you enjoy (even though this is very introductory)!
**********§**********
The crew of the legendary Black Pearl had docked at the port of Tortuga. Noisily, everyone stepped off the ship singing merry tavern songs, heading to the nearest pub to wet their whiskers. The captain of the crew, Jack Sparrow, was saying his last goodbyes to his Black Pearl, whispering to the wheel and shining the rails with his sleeve. A young, attractive woman standing on the docks below was smiling at this scene. She looked at the other ships in proximity and sighed as she saw the sun rising higher above the horizon. She looked back up at Jack and saw that he was still caressing his ship.
" Jack, she'll be here when we get back! Come into the tavern with your crew," she shouted up.
Jack glanced down and sighed in turn. He grabbed his effects and ran down to join the woman.
" I know she'll be here, Anamaria... But it just pains me to have to leave her all by her... AH, RUM!" he exclaimed as she shoved a bottle in his hand.
He hopped towards the pub, where his crew was waiting for him. Anamaria smirked and turned around to take a last look at the port and its ships. She was about to turn back round and enter the tavern when she noticed a ship she had never seen before. It was a ship with white sails, like any other, but she knew she hadn't seen this one prior. Every ship had its intricacies, and every good pirate had an eye for them. Still, boats came and went from Tortuga, there was nothing new about that. Thus, she forgot it was even there and entered the pub.
**********§**********
" That's when I skewered him on my sword... Ran to the bleeding boy... Saved him from the two deadly creatures... Tossed the coins back in... Shot Barbossa and killed the bloody bastard!" yelled out the infamous Jack Sparrow, slamming his mug on the table.
The whole room cheered him on as he continued his storytelling. Gibbs, who had grown a wee bit tired of Jack's tall tales, was sitting at the bar, chatting with the old barkeep.
" So what be new here in ol' Tortuga, Fred?" inquired Gibbs.
" Nay much, as far as me ears have heard. Naught but a load of rubbish from old sailors and fishermen's wives. And what have ye been doing, since joining with that ol' Jack Sparrow?" asked Fred the barkeep.
" Ah, I guess you could say we've been pillaging. Doing some plunderin' and generally not givin' a hoot!" exclaimed Gibbs.
" Here's to that, mate!" replied Fred, as he and Gibbs knocked mugs together.
They continued their talk until Anamaria joined them.
" Hello Fred! How are you?" she asked.
" Not too bad meself, and you then?" responded Fred with a cheery smile.
" We've all been doing quite fine, not that there's much adventure to be had around these isles nowadays. It seems the Royal Fleet has made everything terribly tedious," she answered.
" Now now, even with a nutter for a captain? I used to think Jack Sparrow could pull anything out of his hat, excitement included," said Fred, with a hint of disappointment in his voice.
" We get plenty of excitement, if I do say so meself. I'm almost startin' to think I'm too old to be doing this sort of thing, if you do get my meaning. I honestly don't know what I've gotten myself into, associatin' with this lot. A bit nutters I am meself, I must say!" reflected Gibbs.
" Come now, Gibbs. Don't be talking nonsense! You've still got plenty of spirit, and that's all that really matters!" comforted Anamaria.
" Well said!" rejoiced Fred, and he took a swig of his own mug. " Now, how long shall ye all be stayin' in the homely hospitality of Tortuga?"
" Not very long, I dare say. We just came in to get our fill of cheerfulness and liquor and then we'll be right off," answered Anamaria.
" Probably before the end of the day, by my reckoning," added Gibbs.
" That's a shame! I was itching for a good bar fight, no doubt being started by one of your men. Haven't seen one in ages!" said Fred.
" Don't be losin' hope. You might yet see one before we leave," replied Gibbs with a wink.
They jabbered away, passed noon, at times being interrupted by the rowdy crowd listening to Jack. They spoke of tales and kings, governors and ships, when a thought came back to Anamaria's mind.
" Fred, I've been wanting to ask you... I saw a ship at the docks just this morning. A ship with white sails that I had not seen before this day. Who would it belong to?" she asked.
Fred creased his brow in reply and fell into deep thoughts. He swivelled his head from side to side, seemingly trying to get his memory to seep through the cloudiness of his liquored brain. This continued for a moment until he raised his finger in triumph, as if to say "Eureka!".
" Yes yes, THAT ship with THOSE white sails! It's a crew of men who docked a few days back. Not been too loud about their presence. Pirates, the lot of them, if my judgement is correct. First time I've ever seen them anywhere near here. Wouldn't know where they're from or who their captain be, but they've got a woman with them. Mustn't be too wise of a lot then, bad luck having a woman on deck... No offence meant to you Anamaria," he quickly added when he sighted the fury in her traits. " Anyhow, just been at the inn and in and out of taverns. Still, it's an odd lot... But that be it," he finished.
" Doesn't sound like much of a mystery to me, really. Just a crew making provisions to take back to their ship and sail off, is all," said Gibbs, with a shrug of his shoulders.
For no apparent reason, Gibbs and Fred slammed their mugs together again and downed the last of their drinks. Anamaria raised her glass in agreement, but couldn't help but think there was more to this strange crew than they thought.
**********§**********
The crew of the Black Pearl stepped out of the tavern, each with a barrel of liquor (rum no doubt) in their arms. They wobbled their way back to the ship, chanting a parting song in unison.
With ale in belly, song in heart We trudge our way to a new start Your fire be warm and rum so sweet But sea and darkness we must meet Our last farewell we all must say And then we must be on our way Pillage and burn, jewels, gold and coats
" WHO THE DEVIL IS ON MY BOAT???" yelled out Jack, as he started to run towards his ship.
" Raww, that's not how the song goes, raww!" croaked Cotton's parrot.
" Wait... Look! There really is someone on the Black Pearl!" said Gibbs, squinting his eyes in the fading light.
" And that ship I was talking about, it was docked all the way to the right. Now it's right next to ours!" exclaimed Anamaria.
The whole crew began their sprint to the docks, where Jack had already climbed aboard the Black Pearl to meet the intruder.
**********§**********
To be Continued...?
