In the dead of the night, while most of the crew of the Black Pearl had retreated to their cabins, two of the ship's most colorful characters sat on the deck together. The two pirates, Pintel and Ragetti, sat facing each other; Ragetti absentmindedly polishing his false eye.
"Pintel?" he said quietly. "I have a question."
"What?"
"Will you always love me?"
"Yes, Ragetti."
"What if I did somethin' bad?"
Pintel raised his head and glanced at his companion suspiciously. "Why would you ask that?"
"Just wonderin', Pintel, really."
"A'right." Pintel exhaled, considering the question. "Aye, I would. You've done stupid things before."
"Even if it was real bad?"
"Yes."
"You sure?"
"Ragetti, you're creeping me out. I'm going to bed."
Ragetti watched Pintel climb down into the ship. He sat there, listening, as he heard the door close. He began to count down the seconds on his fingers.
"Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me…hey, what happened to my sword? How'd it get all bent like this? And what happened to my pants?"
Ragetti slept in the crow's nest that night.