Chapter One: The Old and the New
"Land ho!" Trini Sparrow called out joyfully down to the crew of the Black Pearl. They roared in appreciation and scrambled around, ready to dock. Trini climbed down from the crow's nest as fast as she could and headed towards the helm where her father was at the wheel, humming to himself.
"There it is," she breathed, glancing at the familiar little port that was Tortuga. It had been two years since last she had seen it---two years since those few, life-changing months Trini had spent with the Turners, her biological parents, and then decided to return to Jack, who had raised her after she lost her memory at the age of ten. But she was nineteen, now, and a full-fledged member of the Pearl's crew, doing whatever odd job needed doing and spending much of her time at Jack's side or at the helm if he was resting. They had a system worked out; usually, Trini took the wheel after a storm, because Jack spent most of his time sleeping after pulling the Pearl through some of the messes she had gotten into. But never if he was drunk or hung over---Trini had found that being at the wheel of his beloved ship was better than sleep.
They had been to Spain, as Jack had wanted, and there they had spent many months, sailing around the coasts and even going inland down some of the major rivers, though that might not have been the best idea. Trini had seen much of the beautiful land, but both her heart and Jack's had longed to the Caribbean again---the land they both thought of as a second home.
"Aye," Jack said, grinning. "Never thought I'd be so glad to see the place."
"You remember we've business on shore?" Trini reminded him, pulling out her spyglass and gazing longing out at the port. She'd acquired a good many items in Spain, but of all, the spyglass was her favorite. Jack had found it, abandoned on the rocks of one of the many little coves they had visited. It was silver, with running horses engraved on it---not really a pirate article, but Trini was fond of it all the same.
"That I do, love," Jack said wearily. "Not pleasant business, by any means."
"Oh, come now, Jack," Trini teased. "Surely picking out new crewmembers interests you a little?"
Jack shook his head. "Don't see why you're so excited, love."
But Trini was hopeful that with a few new crewmembers, there might come someone whom she could befriend. She did indeed adore the crew of the Pearl, and she was quite close AnaMaria, being her only female influence, but Trini had never known anyone near her age, save Henry Norrington, to whom she had been betrothed for a few weeks during her stay in Port Royal.
Jack, however, was less than enthusiastic about selecting new crewmembers. He was fond of his crew, and he didn't like introducing new people onto the Pearl. They didn't have a history with her, he reasoned; only someone without a past could appreciate the Pearl, for unless a man had been aboard a ship for quite some time, he thought of her as any other vessel. And that was exactly what Jack did not want---people degrading his beloved ship. It had taken all the reasoning power of AnaMaria, Gibbs, and Trini to convince him to seek out new help in Tortuga, for over the past few years, the crew had begun to dwindle. Whether in battle or other events, several crewmembers had taken their leave of the Pearl. Several had actually decided to remain in Spain, and so the Pearl returned more shorthanded than ever.
Jack refused to see this side of it, however, and only when AnaMaria and Gibbs brought Trini into his cabin to plead with him did he give in. The entire crew, as well as Trini herself, knew that Jack could refuse her nothing, as much as he tried to deny it, and if she thought it was a good idea to look for new hands, then it was a good idea.
Soon, the Pearl was docked in Tortuga, and the crew was scrambling back onto the blessed land they hadn't set eyes on in two years. Pockets jangling with Spanish gold, they made their way to taverns and pubs and the like, but Jack, AnaMaria, Gibbs, and Trini all made their way to the same pub, the one they'd always gone to, where Jack had taken Trini on her first time in Tortuga.
It was late morning, and already the bar was in a state of upset. Fights were raging, tables were being overturned. The four of them made their way to the back, near the fireplace, and sat down. Walker, the barkeep, did a double take when he saw them, and immediately he headed over, carrying four foaming mugs.
"Jack!" he cried, slamming the mugs down on the table. "Good god, man, it's been years since I've seen ye!"
Jack grinned and drank appreciatively. "Aye," he said. "Two years to be exact, mate. Been to Spain, we 'ave."
"Spain?" Walker breathed in awe, taking a seat. "Tell me yer tales, Jack."
And the four of them launched into their adventures in Spain, Walker's eyes widening at each word.
"I see ye've not been idle, Captain," the barkeep said at last. He nodded at Trini. "And ye've got yer little lady back, too."
Trini glared at him as best she could in her half-drunken state. "Watch it," she drawled, her voice more like Jack's than ever when she was drunk. "I told you before I'm 'is---"
"Daughter, aye, I know," Walker said. "Even those tales 'ave spread around here, missy. Escaped from the royal navy, ye did, right from under their noses, two years ago, and sailed off to 'o knows where. But y're back now, and the tales'll start up again, mind ye."
"Ah," Gibbs said. "Let 'em talk. D'ye know, Walker," he said, leaning over and sliding a silver coin across the table. "Where we can find a few good, loyal sailors? Run a bit short'anded, we 'ave, and I do believe I've been out o' touch with the lads 'round 'ere a while."
"Aye," Walker said, pocketing the coin. "Give me a few hours, Mr. Gibbs, and ye'll have the finest sailors in Tortuga lined up on the docks."
Jack raised his mug in a toast, apparently having forgotten that he didn't like the idea of new crewmembers. The other three shrugged and went along. Why ruin a good thing? Trini grinned and slammed her empty mug back down on the table. This was her life, and it was good. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Walker was back to polishing his glass when a familiar young man walked in. Walker spotted his sandy hair easily amidst the mostly dark- haired bunch that frequented his pub. But this young man had been coming in at the same time for about a week, and Walker hadn't even got his name yet. He was a sailor, he gathered, out of work and having just come from England a month or so ago and somehow had ended up in Tortuga with only the clothes on his back and a small pouch full of coins.
Walker grabbed a mug and filled it, making his way over to the young man. He whacked the drink onto the table and sat across from the sullen sailor, who passed a coin across the table.
"What ye be lookin' so down about, lad?" Walker inquired. "Come, ye can tell ol' Walker."
The man looked up. His blue eyes were clear and held the innocence of youth, though they were somewhat clouded by sorrow and---Walker supposed--- rum. He remained silent, however, and Walker was prompted to speak again.
"Come now, don't be so quiet," he said. "Oh, I know about ye. I've gotten word from the other barkeeps; don't look so shocked. Now, if it's work ye need, I think I've found ye some. 'ave you ever worked aboard a pirate ship, boy?"
The young man shook his head, but his eyes were glistening with sudden interest.
"Ah, well it's no doubt you've 'eard the tales of the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow, 'aven't ye, lad?"
"Sparrow," the man mused. "Yes, I've heard of him. What of it?"
Walker was slightly taken aback by the man's fair speech. He was well bred, no doubt about that. "'e's in port," he replied. "Looking for a few faithful hands to replenish 'is crew."
The man leaned forward, intrigued. "The Black Pearl?" he asked. "You're saying there's work, and aboard that ship?"
Walker nodded. "Aye," he said. "But are ye 'avin' qualms about workin' aboard a pirate ship, lad?"
The man glanced down, looking slightly abashed, and then shook his head. "I'm in need of work," he said. "And I've experience as a sailor. I'll go aboard, and I'll stay, until I'm no longer needed."
Walker chuckled. "Good," he said. "Go to the docks in an hour; I'll be there with the rest of Jack's new crew. Couldn't do better, lad; Jack Sparrow's a fine captain and a good man."
A wry smile flickered across the man's face. "So I've heard," he said, sliding an extra coin over to Walker and standing up. "Thank you for your services," he said, and he turned and made his way out of the pub. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Trini, AnaMaria, Jack, and Gibbs were sitting on the deck of the Pearl later that afternoon, playing cards and idly drinking rum while they waited for Walker to bring about his "fine crew". They were playing an odd game, played in partners and pieced together as they went, throwing in different rules at every turn. Finally Jack threw down his cards; he held an ace, a three, a jack, and five.
"We win, love!" he said to Trini, who laughed and displayed her hand: a pair of twos, a six, and an eight.
Gibbs shook his head and swigged from his flask, despite the fact that he had a bottle of rum at his side. "Cheatin', that's what's goin' on," he said.
AnaMaria laughed. "'ow can they cheat if we don't know the rules?"
Gibbs looked thoughtful for a moment, but he was saved from answering by the sight of Walker leading a long line of men up the docks towards the Pearl. "Look there, Cap'n," he said, standing up. "There's a welcome sight."
The four of them made their way down the gangplank, and Walker stopped the men in front of the Pearl. "Told ye I'd bring the finest sailors in Tortuga," Walker said proudly.
Gibbs looked them over and sneered. They were all bedraggled, mostly scrawny, though there were several large, muscular looking men among them. "Don't look too fine to me," he said to Walker. "What say ye, Jack?"
But Jack was walking up and down the line of sailors, deep in thought. Trini was at his shoulder, waiting for him to speak.
Carefully, Jack asked each sailor his name, age, and experience aboard a pirate ship. They all answered promptly, and Jack nodded at each, moving down the line, glancing over at Trini, who either nodded or shook her head. He would then look over at AnaMaria and Gibbs, who gave them same signal. They knew they couldn't really affect Jack's thoughts if he had a mind to do something, but it was always a good idea to try, especially when he so plainly asked their opinions.
Jack made his way to the last sailor, a young man who looked to be no more than twenty-one or twenty-two at the most. He was standing up straight, his sand-colored hair glinting in the Caribbean sunshine, his blue eyes staring straight ahead. He was the young man from Walker's pub.
"You, sailor," Jack said. "What's your name?"
"I'm called Skylar, sir," he answered. "Or Sky, for short."
Jack nodded. Odd sort of name for a pirate, but then, not everyone was born one. "And how many years have you spent on a pirate ship, lad?"
"None, Captain," Sky answered truthfully.
Jack looked interested. "I see," he mused. "And how old are you, son?"
"Twenty-two, sir," Sky replied.
Jack nodded, and Trini could clearly see he was thinking hard about something. Finally he glanced over at her, but she shook her head ever so slightly. He was too young and inexperienced; Jack needed men who were familiar with the sea. AnaMaria and Gibbs did the same.
"All right," Jack said, clapping his hands together. "Walker, could I 'ave a moment?"
Walker and Jack conferred in whispers, Walker nodding and glancing at the men, who were looking restless. After a few minutes, Jack, AnaMaria, Gibbs, and Trini went back aboard the Pearl at Jack's orders, and Walker stayed on the docks, pulling out the men Jack had requested and sending them on board.
AnaMaria, Gibbs, and Trini were slightly taken aback, however, when they saw the men who came up the gangplank. Of the lot, Jack had selected the youngest, most inexperienced, and definitely the scrawniest sailors. AnaMaria looked like she was going to slap him, Gibbs drank from his flask and shook his head, but it was Trini who finally spoke, when she saw the young man called Sky bringing up the rear.
"Jack, are you mad?" she hissed at her father. "Practically no experience at all, any of them! What are you thinking?"
Jack smiled and draped his arm over her shoulder. "I thought you knew me better, love," he said. "These men have never been attached to a ship. Therefore, they have an opportunity to love this one. They haven't been ruined with teaching by other captains, they're not pompous, and they won't mutiny because they don't know any better. These are the kind of men we need, love; men that can be taught. Now, would you be so kind as to go below with AnaMaria and fetch some more rum? We ought to drink to the new crew!"
Trini sighed, but she was smiling. She had thought, over the past two years, that she was becoming better at predicting Jack's actions, but apparently, she still had as much to learn as anyone. She and AnaMaria went below and returned a few minutes later, arms laden with rum bottles, to find Jack giving something like a speech to his new crewmembers.
"Ah," Jack said, watching them set the bottles on the deck. "This is AnaMaria. You can go to her after me. And after Gibbs. If for some reason I am not and Gibbs is not and then you can ask Ana, right love?" He smiled over at her, and she glared at him. The new crewmembers just looked slightly afraid.
"Right," Jack said, turning back to the men. "And this is Trini." He waved his arm in her general direction. Trini crossed her arms and nodded at the new men. "After me---and Gibbs---and Ana----then it's Trini, savvy?"
None of the men said anything, and Jack clapped his hands, taking that as a 'yes'. "Good," he said. "Drinks all around!"
Trini and AnaMaria started passing bottles around, and all the men cheered and drank heartily. Then Jack sent Gibbs down with them to sort out the quarters, telling them that afterwards, they were welcome to go back to Tortuga or to stay aboard the ship, so long as they were back by the next morning to set sail again.
"Back to the pub?" Trini asked Jack as he made for the gangplank with AnaMaria.
"Aye," Jack replied. "Coming, love?"
Trini shook her head. "Think I'll go for a swim or something."
Jack nodded; Trini had developed a love of swimming early, and she'd been doing a lot of it while they'd been in Spain. "Sup at the tavern 'round seven, then?"
Trini nodded; she and Jack had not once taken a meal separately since she'd returned to the Pearl two years ago---it was their tradition. Other people could be there or not---usually Gibbs and AnaMaria joined them---but Jack and Trini made a point of always eating together, at least at supper.
Trini headed below deck and ducked inside her makeshift cabin. When she'd first arrived on the Pearl, AnaMaria had told Jack to string up some curtains in a corner for her, since the only place she could stay was below with the crew. When she'd returned, practically the first thing they'd done upon arriving in Spain was to take down her curtains and put up a set of thin walls with the remainder of the curtain serving as a door. It suited Trini perfectly; she wasn't too sure about her exact position on the Pearl. She was half-crew, half-advisor, and usually first and second mates---on the Pearl, Gibbs and AnaMaria---were given cabins. Trini was sort of a third-mate, and thus, the entire crew respected her as slightly above them, though she always did end up pulling her weight right along with the rest of them. Since she was the only woman below decks, no one grudged her the privacy of a somewhat-cabin.
Trini pulled her typical swimming clothes out from under bed---an ancient shirt that used to be white but was now yellow with age and stiff with seawater as well as a pair of similarly stiff brown breeches, torn past her knees. Barefoot, Trini scampered back up to the deck and made her way to the bow. She climbed up on the railing and looked down. The water looked inviting, so she grinned and dove off, landing with a splash in the waters of the harbor.
Trini popped back up to the surface and brushed her hair back from her face. She swam leisurely around the Pearl a few times, enjoying the way the water smelled. Eventually her arms began to tire, and she climbed back up the bow and onto the deck, dripping a trail everywhere she went. There seemed to be no one left on board, and so it should be; they'd all want to take advantage of Tortuga while they could.
Trini, still wet, climbed up into the crow's nest, where she had a perfect view. She draped her legs through the railing and leaned up against the mast, breathing deeply the comforting air of the sea. Everything was so peaceful, a rarity in her life, but a welcome one, when she was in the mood for peace. Letting the sun dry her, she slowly fell into a sort of half- sleep, enjoying the lazy day.
Trini wasn't aware how long she had been in the crow's nest, but it couldn't have been long---an hour at most, because the sun was still high in the sky. But she awoke to the slight shaking of the platform on which she sat, and she sat up and looked around, only to see the young sailor from earlier climbing up the ropes.
He obviously hadn't seen her, and when he stepped over the rail and looked up for the first time, he started. "Sorry," he said, instinctively moving as though to leave. "Didn't realize you were up here, miss."
But Trini waved her hand. "It's fine," she said. "I don't mind company so much." She studied him for a moment; he couldn't be much older than her, but his obvious shyness and inexperience made him seem much younger. "What's your name again?"
"Sky, miss," he said, sitting down and leaning against the mast.
Trini nodded. "Not really a pirate name," she said, grinning. "But I should talk. It's Trini, by the way. None of this 'miss'; I'm a pirate, not a lady."
"Sorry," Sky said. He paused, and the peaceful silence lapsed around them again. "If you don't mind my asking," he began after a moment. "How did you come to live on this ship?"
"I should ask you the same," Trini replied. "You don't look like a pirate, nor talk like one. But I was born one; I came to the Pearl when I was ten. Don't ask, it's not a story I'm keen to tell."
"I see," he said, and that was all he said.
Trini watched him carefully out of the corner of her eye. She was wary of him; he was quiet, yes, and obviously naïve about the ways of pirates. He reminded her vaguely of Henry Norrington, but there was something utterly improper about him, as well. "What are you doing here?" she asked at last.
"I'm sorry?" he said, looking confused.
"I said, what are you doing here," Trini repeated. "Like I said before, you don't look, talk, or act like a pirate. In fact, you remind me of someone I knew once. He was a captain of the royal navy. Hated pirates just like his father, I hear. So what's a man like you doing in Tortuga?"
Sky smiled wryly. "Not everything is as it seems," he said. And then he didn't say anything else, much to Trini's irritation. She liked people who liked to talk, as long as they said interesting things.
"Well," she said, standing up. "I'm off. Jack's expecting me at the tavern." She began to climb over the rail, but she stopped and glanced back at Sky, who was still sitting there silently, as though she hadn't said anything. "D'you want to come to supper with us?" she asked.
Sky looked over at her quizzically. "Is there more than one of you?"
Trini almost laughed, but she rolled her eyes instead. Men thought they were so clever. "Myself and the captain," she said, mocking his formal tone.
"Ah," Sky said, and then he shook his head.
Trini shrugged. "Suit yourself." She swung over the rail and climbed down, jumping the last few feet and heading below decks to change out of her damp clothes. She had the strange feeling he was watching her, until she ducked below and was lost from sight. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ AN: Ahhhh! So good to be back, and I've been away, what, a day? This is obviously the sequel to my first POTC fic, The Blood of My Father. Check that one out, if you've not read it, lol! It's been two years, as stated, and Trini's pretty much the same, but she's more experienced, a bit more sarcastic, and more mature. Or at least that's how she came off to me, in this chapter. Sky is obviously my newest OC, and he's going to become quite important soon. This is meant to be more of a lighthearted, happier fic than its predecessor, because everyone is basically happy in this fic. Everyone's in their proper place, or they will be by the end. More humor, hopefully, especially near the end, when Jack gets further involved in Trini's---er---affairs. Well, R&R, and tell me what you think!! ~Ellie
"Land ho!" Trini Sparrow called out joyfully down to the crew of the Black Pearl. They roared in appreciation and scrambled around, ready to dock. Trini climbed down from the crow's nest as fast as she could and headed towards the helm where her father was at the wheel, humming to himself.
"There it is," she breathed, glancing at the familiar little port that was Tortuga. It had been two years since last she had seen it---two years since those few, life-changing months Trini had spent with the Turners, her biological parents, and then decided to return to Jack, who had raised her after she lost her memory at the age of ten. But she was nineteen, now, and a full-fledged member of the Pearl's crew, doing whatever odd job needed doing and spending much of her time at Jack's side or at the helm if he was resting. They had a system worked out; usually, Trini took the wheel after a storm, because Jack spent most of his time sleeping after pulling the Pearl through some of the messes she had gotten into. But never if he was drunk or hung over---Trini had found that being at the wheel of his beloved ship was better than sleep.
They had been to Spain, as Jack had wanted, and there they had spent many months, sailing around the coasts and even going inland down some of the major rivers, though that might not have been the best idea. Trini had seen much of the beautiful land, but both her heart and Jack's had longed to the Caribbean again---the land they both thought of as a second home.
"Aye," Jack said, grinning. "Never thought I'd be so glad to see the place."
"You remember we've business on shore?" Trini reminded him, pulling out her spyglass and gazing longing out at the port. She'd acquired a good many items in Spain, but of all, the spyglass was her favorite. Jack had found it, abandoned on the rocks of one of the many little coves they had visited. It was silver, with running horses engraved on it---not really a pirate article, but Trini was fond of it all the same.
"That I do, love," Jack said wearily. "Not pleasant business, by any means."
"Oh, come now, Jack," Trini teased. "Surely picking out new crewmembers interests you a little?"
Jack shook his head. "Don't see why you're so excited, love."
But Trini was hopeful that with a few new crewmembers, there might come someone whom she could befriend. She did indeed adore the crew of the Pearl, and she was quite close AnaMaria, being her only female influence, but Trini had never known anyone near her age, save Henry Norrington, to whom she had been betrothed for a few weeks during her stay in Port Royal.
Jack, however, was less than enthusiastic about selecting new crewmembers. He was fond of his crew, and he didn't like introducing new people onto the Pearl. They didn't have a history with her, he reasoned; only someone without a past could appreciate the Pearl, for unless a man had been aboard a ship for quite some time, he thought of her as any other vessel. And that was exactly what Jack did not want---people degrading his beloved ship. It had taken all the reasoning power of AnaMaria, Gibbs, and Trini to convince him to seek out new help in Tortuga, for over the past few years, the crew had begun to dwindle. Whether in battle or other events, several crewmembers had taken their leave of the Pearl. Several had actually decided to remain in Spain, and so the Pearl returned more shorthanded than ever.
Jack refused to see this side of it, however, and only when AnaMaria and Gibbs brought Trini into his cabin to plead with him did he give in. The entire crew, as well as Trini herself, knew that Jack could refuse her nothing, as much as he tried to deny it, and if she thought it was a good idea to look for new hands, then it was a good idea.
Soon, the Pearl was docked in Tortuga, and the crew was scrambling back onto the blessed land they hadn't set eyes on in two years. Pockets jangling with Spanish gold, they made their way to taverns and pubs and the like, but Jack, AnaMaria, Gibbs, and Trini all made their way to the same pub, the one they'd always gone to, where Jack had taken Trini on her first time in Tortuga.
It was late morning, and already the bar was in a state of upset. Fights were raging, tables were being overturned. The four of them made their way to the back, near the fireplace, and sat down. Walker, the barkeep, did a double take when he saw them, and immediately he headed over, carrying four foaming mugs.
"Jack!" he cried, slamming the mugs down on the table. "Good god, man, it's been years since I've seen ye!"
Jack grinned and drank appreciatively. "Aye," he said. "Two years to be exact, mate. Been to Spain, we 'ave."
"Spain?" Walker breathed in awe, taking a seat. "Tell me yer tales, Jack."
And the four of them launched into their adventures in Spain, Walker's eyes widening at each word.
"I see ye've not been idle, Captain," the barkeep said at last. He nodded at Trini. "And ye've got yer little lady back, too."
Trini glared at him as best she could in her half-drunken state. "Watch it," she drawled, her voice more like Jack's than ever when she was drunk. "I told you before I'm 'is---"
"Daughter, aye, I know," Walker said. "Even those tales 'ave spread around here, missy. Escaped from the royal navy, ye did, right from under their noses, two years ago, and sailed off to 'o knows where. But y're back now, and the tales'll start up again, mind ye."
"Ah," Gibbs said. "Let 'em talk. D'ye know, Walker," he said, leaning over and sliding a silver coin across the table. "Where we can find a few good, loyal sailors? Run a bit short'anded, we 'ave, and I do believe I've been out o' touch with the lads 'round 'ere a while."
"Aye," Walker said, pocketing the coin. "Give me a few hours, Mr. Gibbs, and ye'll have the finest sailors in Tortuga lined up on the docks."
Jack raised his mug in a toast, apparently having forgotten that he didn't like the idea of new crewmembers. The other three shrugged and went along. Why ruin a good thing? Trini grinned and slammed her empty mug back down on the table. This was her life, and it was good. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Walker was back to polishing his glass when a familiar young man walked in. Walker spotted his sandy hair easily amidst the mostly dark- haired bunch that frequented his pub. But this young man had been coming in at the same time for about a week, and Walker hadn't even got his name yet. He was a sailor, he gathered, out of work and having just come from England a month or so ago and somehow had ended up in Tortuga with only the clothes on his back and a small pouch full of coins.
Walker grabbed a mug and filled it, making his way over to the young man. He whacked the drink onto the table and sat across from the sullen sailor, who passed a coin across the table.
"What ye be lookin' so down about, lad?" Walker inquired. "Come, ye can tell ol' Walker."
The man looked up. His blue eyes were clear and held the innocence of youth, though they were somewhat clouded by sorrow and---Walker supposed--- rum. He remained silent, however, and Walker was prompted to speak again.
"Come now, don't be so quiet," he said. "Oh, I know about ye. I've gotten word from the other barkeeps; don't look so shocked. Now, if it's work ye need, I think I've found ye some. 'ave you ever worked aboard a pirate ship, boy?"
The young man shook his head, but his eyes were glistening with sudden interest.
"Ah, well it's no doubt you've 'eard the tales of the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow, 'aven't ye, lad?"
"Sparrow," the man mused. "Yes, I've heard of him. What of it?"
Walker was slightly taken aback by the man's fair speech. He was well bred, no doubt about that. "'e's in port," he replied. "Looking for a few faithful hands to replenish 'is crew."
The man leaned forward, intrigued. "The Black Pearl?" he asked. "You're saying there's work, and aboard that ship?"
Walker nodded. "Aye," he said. "But are ye 'avin' qualms about workin' aboard a pirate ship, lad?"
The man glanced down, looking slightly abashed, and then shook his head. "I'm in need of work," he said. "And I've experience as a sailor. I'll go aboard, and I'll stay, until I'm no longer needed."
Walker chuckled. "Good," he said. "Go to the docks in an hour; I'll be there with the rest of Jack's new crew. Couldn't do better, lad; Jack Sparrow's a fine captain and a good man."
A wry smile flickered across the man's face. "So I've heard," he said, sliding an extra coin over to Walker and standing up. "Thank you for your services," he said, and he turned and made his way out of the pub. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Trini, AnaMaria, Jack, and Gibbs were sitting on the deck of the Pearl later that afternoon, playing cards and idly drinking rum while they waited for Walker to bring about his "fine crew". They were playing an odd game, played in partners and pieced together as they went, throwing in different rules at every turn. Finally Jack threw down his cards; he held an ace, a three, a jack, and five.
"We win, love!" he said to Trini, who laughed and displayed her hand: a pair of twos, a six, and an eight.
Gibbs shook his head and swigged from his flask, despite the fact that he had a bottle of rum at his side. "Cheatin', that's what's goin' on," he said.
AnaMaria laughed. "'ow can they cheat if we don't know the rules?"
Gibbs looked thoughtful for a moment, but he was saved from answering by the sight of Walker leading a long line of men up the docks towards the Pearl. "Look there, Cap'n," he said, standing up. "There's a welcome sight."
The four of them made their way down the gangplank, and Walker stopped the men in front of the Pearl. "Told ye I'd bring the finest sailors in Tortuga," Walker said proudly.
Gibbs looked them over and sneered. They were all bedraggled, mostly scrawny, though there were several large, muscular looking men among them. "Don't look too fine to me," he said to Walker. "What say ye, Jack?"
But Jack was walking up and down the line of sailors, deep in thought. Trini was at his shoulder, waiting for him to speak.
Carefully, Jack asked each sailor his name, age, and experience aboard a pirate ship. They all answered promptly, and Jack nodded at each, moving down the line, glancing over at Trini, who either nodded or shook her head. He would then look over at AnaMaria and Gibbs, who gave them same signal. They knew they couldn't really affect Jack's thoughts if he had a mind to do something, but it was always a good idea to try, especially when he so plainly asked their opinions.
Jack made his way to the last sailor, a young man who looked to be no more than twenty-one or twenty-two at the most. He was standing up straight, his sand-colored hair glinting in the Caribbean sunshine, his blue eyes staring straight ahead. He was the young man from Walker's pub.
"You, sailor," Jack said. "What's your name?"
"I'm called Skylar, sir," he answered. "Or Sky, for short."
Jack nodded. Odd sort of name for a pirate, but then, not everyone was born one. "And how many years have you spent on a pirate ship, lad?"
"None, Captain," Sky answered truthfully.
Jack looked interested. "I see," he mused. "And how old are you, son?"
"Twenty-two, sir," Sky replied.
Jack nodded, and Trini could clearly see he was thinking hard about something. Finally he glanced over at her, but she shook her head ever so slightly. He was too young and inexperienced; Jack needed men who were familiar with the sea. AnaMaria and Gibbs did the same.
"All right," Jack said, clapping his hands together. "Walker, could I 'ave a moment?"
Walker and Jack conferred in whispers, Walker nodding and glancing at the men, who were looking restless. After a few minutes, Jack, AnaMaria, Gibbs, and Trini went back aboard the Pearl at Jack's orders, and Walker stayed on the docks, pulling out the men Jack had requested and sending them on board.
AnaMaria, Gibbs, and Trini were slightly taken aback, however, when they saw the men who came up the gangplank. Of the lot, Jack had selected the youngest, most inexperienced, and definitely the scrawniest sailors. AnaMaria looked like she was going to slap him, Gibbs drank from his flask and shook his head, but it was Trini who finally spoke, when she saw the young man called Sky bringing up the rear.
"Jack, are you mad?" she hissed at her father. "Practically no experience at all, any of them! What are you thinking?"
Jack smiled and draped his arm over her shoulder. "I thought you knew me better, love," he said. "These men have never been attached to a ship. Therefore, they have an opportunity to love this one. They haven't been ruined with teaching by other captains, they're not pompous, and they won't mutiny because they don't know any better. These are the kind of men we need, love; men that can be taught. Now, would you be so kind as to go below with AnaMaria and fetch some more rum? We ought to drink to the new crew!"
Trini sighed, but she was smiling. She had thought, over the past two years, that she was becoming better at predicting Jack's actions, but apparently, she still had as much to learn as anyone. She and AnaMaria went below and returned a few minutes later, arms laden with rum bottles, to find Jack giving something like a speech to his new crewmembers.
"Ah," Jack said, watching them set the bottles on the deck. "This is AnaMaria. You can go to her after me. And after Gibbs. If for some reason I am not and Gibbs is not and then you can ask Ana, right love?" He smiled over at her, and she glared at him. The new crewmembers just looked slightly afraid.
"Right," Jack said, turning back to the men. "And this is Trini." He waved his arm in her general direction. Trini crossed her arms and nodded at the new men. "After me---and Gibbs---and Ana----then it's Trini, savvy?"
None of the men said anything, and Jack clapped his hands, taking that as a 'yes'. "Good," he said. "Drinks all around!"
Trini and AnaMaria started passing bottles around, and all the men cheered and drank heartily. Then Jack sent Gibbs down with them to sort out the quarters, telling them that afterwards, they were welcome to go back to Tortuga or to stay aboard the ship, so long as they were back by the next morning to set sail again.
"Back to the pub?" Trini asked Jack as he made for the gangplank with AnaMaria.
"Aye," Jack replied. "Coming, love?"
Trini shook her head. "Think I'll go for a swim or something."
Jack nodded; Trini had developed a love of swimming early, and she'd been doing a lot of it while they'd been in Spain. "Sup at the tavern 'round seven, then?"
Trini nodded; she and Jack had not once taken a meal separately since she'd returned to the Pearl two years ago---it was their tradition. Other people could be there or not---usually Gibbs and AnaMaria joined them---but Jack and Trini made a point of always eating together, at least at supper.
Trini headed below deck and ducked inside her makeshift cabin. When she'd first arrived on the Pearl, AnaMaria had told Jack to string up some curtains in a corner for her, since the only place she could stay was below with the crew. When she'd returned, practically the first thing they'd done upon arriving in Spain was to take down her curtains and put up a set of thin walls with the remainder of the curtain serving as a door. It suited Trini perfectly; she wasn't too sure about her exact position on the Pearl. She was half-crew, half-advisor, and usually first and second mates---on the Pearl, Gibbs and AnaMaria---were given cabins. Trini was sort of a third-mate, and thus, the entire crew respected her as slightly above them, though she always did end up pulling her weight right along with the rest of them. Since she was the only woman below decks, no one grudged her the privacy of a somewhat-cabin.
Trini pulled her typical swimming clothes out from under bed---an ancient shirt that used to be white but was now yellow with age and stiff with seawater as well as a pair of similarly stiff brown breeches, torn past her knees. Barefoot, Trini scampered back up to the deck and made her way to the bow. She climbed up on the railing and looked down. The water looked inviting, so she grinned and dove off, landing with a splash in the waters of the harbor.
Trini popped back up to the surface and brushed her hair back from her face. She swam leisurely around the Pearl a few times, enjoying the way the water smelled. Eventually her arms began to tire, and she climbed back up the bow and onto the deck, dripping a trail everywhere she went. There seemed to be no one left on board, and so it should be; they'd all want to take advantage of Tortuga while they could.
Trini, still wet, climbed up into the crow's nest, where she had a perfect view. She draped her legs through the railing and leaned up against the mast, breathing deeply the comforting air of the sea. Everything was so peaceful, a rarity in her life, but a welcome one, when she was in the mood for peace. Letting the sun dry her, she slowly fell into a sort of half- sleep, enjoying the lazy day.
Trini wasn't aware how long she had been in the crow's nest, but it couldn't have been long---an hour at most, because the sun was still high in the sky. But she awoke to the slight shaking of the platform on which she sat, and she sat up and looked around, only to see the young sailor from earlier climbing up the ropes.
He obviously hadn't seen her, and when he stepped over the rail and looked up for the first time, he started. "Sorry," he said, instinctively moving as though to leave. "Didn't realize you were up here, miss."
But Trini waved her hand. "It's fine," she said. "I don't mind company so much." She studied him for a moment; he couldn't be much older than her, but his obvious shyness and inexperience made him seem much younger. "What's your name again?"
"Sky, miss," he said, sitting down and leaning against the mast.
Trini nodded. "Not really a pirate name," she said, grinning. "But I should talk. It's Trini, by the way. None of this 'miss'; I'm a pirate, not a lady."
"Sorry," Sky said. He paused, and the peaceful silence lapsed around them again. "If you don't mind my asking," he began after a moment. "How did you come to live on this ship?"
"I should ask you the same," Trini replied. "You don't look like a pirate, nor talk like one. But I was born one; I came to the Pearl when I was ten. Don't ask, it's not a story I'm keen to tell."
"I see," he said, and that was all he said.
Trini watched him carefully out of the corner of her eye. She was wary of him; he was quiet, yes, and obviously naïve about the ways of pirates. He reminded her vaguely of Henry Norrington, but there was something utterly improper about him, as well. "What are you doing here?" she asked at last.
"I'm sorry?" he said, looking confused.
"I said, what are you doing here," Trini repeated. "Like I said before, you don't look, talk, or act like a pirate. In fact, you remind me of someone I knew once. He was a captain of the royal navy. Hated pirates just like his father, I hear. So what's a man like you doing in Tortuga?"
Sky smiled wryly. "Not everything is as it seems," he said. And then he didn't say anything else, much to Trini's irritation. She liked people who liked to talk, as long as they said interesting things.
"Well," she said, standing up. "I'm off. Jack's expecting me at the tavern." She began to climb over the rail, but she stopped and glanced back at Sky, who was still sitting there silently, as though she hadn't said anything. "D'you want to come to supper with us?" she asked.
Sky looked over at her quizzically. "Is there more than one of you?"
Trini almost laughed, but she rolled her eyes instead. Men thought they were so clever. "Myself and the captain," she said, mocking his formal tone.
"Ah," Sky said, and then he shook his head.
Trini shrugged. "Suit yourself." She swung over the rail and climbed down, jumping the last few feet and heading below decks to change out of her damp clothes. She had the strange feeling he was watching her, until she ducked below and was lost from sight. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ AN: Ahhhh! So good to be back, and I've been away, what, a day? This is obviously the sequel to my first POTC fic, The Blood of My Father. Check that one out, if you've not read it, lol! It's been two years, as stated, and Trini's pretty much the same, but she's more experienced, a bit more sarcastic, and more mature. Or at least that's how she came off to me, in this chapter. Sky is obviously my newest OC, and he's going to become quite important soon. This is meant to be more of a lighthearted, happier fic than its predecessor, because everyone is basically happy in this fic. Everyone's in their proper place, or they will be by the end. More humor, hopefully, especially near the end, when Jack gets further involved in Trini's---er---affairs. Well, R&R, and tell me what you think!! ~Ellie