Black Sails: Surprise

by mirwalker

Exploring an unsolved mystery from the Starz TV series, this series of moments begins about one year before Season One.

Prologue

The smack of his head against the dark alley wall did not detract at all from the clear, complementary message of the cool blade at his throat.

"What the hell are you up to?" the taller figure asked with a matching vocal force.

"Only following you, Mister Bones… Seeing where you was goin'. No harm done, right?" he lied, acutely aware of the ache and chill he was certainly feeling.

"I should think it clear now that I well know you were following me. I want to know why. Who for?"

"Just watchin', honest… for some of me sisters at Noonan's."

The knife was lowered, but not sheathed; and he was pulled into a patch of moonlight, but not released.

The lean Walrus sailor looked him over thoroughly, sizing up the younger lad's physical ability and his honesty. "You were at the beach when we landed this afternoon. And then at the warehouse. And you were just watching us at supper in the tavern. Piss poor sneak," he concluded, before realizing, "I know you…"

"I'm Sebastian, Mister Bones," the captive volunteered, much heartened to be recognized. "Apprentice to Mister Gillespie, the…"

"…Shipwright," Billy completed, making the full connection. "What possible interest could I be to any of you?" What indeed could the brothel master and drunkard ship repairer want from him?

"Just curious, honestly." The boy's nervous excitement suggested his sincerity, though he still hadn't actually explained.

"Why? Why me? What about?"

Slowly, so as not to seem threatening, Sebastian reached back and felt the growing bump on his head. Not doubting for a moment that the pirate could, and would, gift more of the same if displeased, he upped his own generosity. "Me and some of the girls, well we noticed that, unlike most of your crew—unlike most men in town really, you and your captain never visit the brothel. Captain Flint, he heads inland; so perhaps he's got someone there. But you've no ring on your finger, or missus you've mentioned; and yet even today, flush with your latest prize, still you don't spend no time or tender beyond the tavern… No problem, o' course. Just a bit… uncommon is all."

Billy looked annoyed by the story, if actually made so more by the apparent attention and deduction it evidenced. "Given the flood of lonely men across these shores, it's not like Noonan could be hurting for my coin in particular. And I'll spend it and my time as I choose; my business is my own…"

Sebastian nodded agreeably, both genuinely and knowing better than to contradict.

Billy shifted his posture and squinted, wondering beyond the man in charge. "Do the girls really pay every crew so much heed, as to notice and miss me?"

Sebastian hesitated, considering his words carefully. "Let's just say that, while every customer's bits are appreciated the same in that house, not every customer is."

"What?"

For the first time in their brief, tense interaction, Sebastian actually squirmed, fearing the reaction to his next honest sharing. "Well, you see, most pirates in these parts ain't the… prettiest of people."

Billy just stared at him, as if the message or messenger was daft.

"Many at Noonan's judge you a rare exception to that rule, if you don't mind me sayin'," Sebastian spelled it out bit by bit, nervous for the possible response. "In truth, there's more than one who wishes you would visit."

The pirate's grim stare softened considerably at the apparent and surprise compliment, before he cast a newly confused look at its payer. "And what's your interest in this, then?"

Sebastian held his hands up, assuring, "I'm just asked to solve the mystery of what's more enticing than them, pretty and available as they are…"

"Not just where else my coin is going?" Billy guessed.

"I'd be lyin' if I said that weren't a curiosity too. Nassau ain't that big, sir. So you can appreciate everyone's concern at what successful competition there might be…"

"Perhaps I'm into opium. Had you considered that?" Billy suggested with a scoff, suddenly and somehow feeling accused. "Or maybe I find my comfort in a bottle? Or prefer the company of my own thoughts. Your 'sisters' aren't a man's only options. And perhaps some of us, we look beyond a night's oft-shared fancy—no offense, and have larger, longer plans. Not that mine's any of your business, or theirs, shipmaker's apprentice…"

Reminded of his lowly status, the young man's look shifted from intrigued surprise to literally downtrodden, his eyes settling on the still firm grip on his shoulder. "I'll be sure to remind them of that, sir," he promised quietly. "If you'd be so kind…"

Certain he'd heard, and hoping he'd said, enough, Billy loosed the apparently harmless and hapless messenger.

Sebastian straightened his shirt, tested his freed shoulder, and assured his liberator, "I didn't mean to cause no trouble, sir, truly. In fact, if presented the chance, I was to extend you the warmest invitation to visit, whenever you like…"

"Such pleasantries are more pleasant when made in person and in daylight," Billy suggested, hands on his hips. "Run along now, remember it, and tell them so." Signaling the conversation was over, and the sneak was no threat, he turned and headed back toward the main street.

"Mister Bones?" the boy called after him, recovering some of his cheer.

Billy stopped, an over-the-shoulder glance all the attention he was willing to spare.

"Lest you think ill of me, whatever your intentions for Noonan's…" He held up a small leather bag.

My coin purse! Billy realized, tapping his empty pocket as he turned in place. The moment it took him to catch the gently flying satchel was just enough head start for the now-no longer-thief to dash into the darkness. Nassau and the night swallowed him up instantly.

Swiftly counting his coins, Billy sighed to find nothing missing beyond a bit of his pride. He wondered when the quick fellow youth had been able to lift it off him, and why he had done so, only to return it intact. Actually, Billy grinned for the first time in the entire exchange, the message was fairly obvious: Sebastian wanted him to know that he could take it, but that he didn't want it. A worthy non-foe indeed.

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