"My name it is Maria, a merchant's daughter fair,

And I have left my parents and three thousand pounds a year,

My heart is pierced by Cupid, I disdain all glittering gold,

There is nothing can console me but my jolly sailor bold"

-"My Jolly Sailor Bold"

I Disdain All Glittering Gold

Chapter One

"When I was a lad living in England, my mother raised me by herself. After she died, I came out here with my younger sister, looking for my father...", Will Turner trailed off.

The young man was perched near the helm of a vast ship, which belonged to the navy of Port Royal, an extension of the British Empire. He was sailing with a pirate he'd met less than twenty-four hours ago, but found himself expressing more about himself than he'd done ever before.

"We had trouble, of course, making our way to him. Never did find him. The English navy found us first...at a crossing from London, and that's when I met Elizabeth."

The man Will was traveling with was Jack Sparrow, Captain Jack Sparrow, Will reminded himself. He was a peculiar man, but traveling with him was vital if he wanted to rescue the Governor's daughter: the love of his life.

Among the many things that seemed off about the Captain, was that every time Will mentioned his father, a subtle flinch; a fluctuation of Jack's facial expression, greeted him. Will raised his eyebrows, curious for more of a reaction, and continued his story.

"My sister and I were separated that year. She was ten years old and they hired her to work as a maid at Governor Swann's household," a wave of amusement passed over Will's face, as if he were remembered something fondly, "she was such a troublesome child. She argued and fought with the other girls. They couldn't afford to keep her, so when she was fourteen they sent her away...", he considered elaborating, but changed the subject.

"I hear that she was much like our mother, though I don't remember much about her. I don't know much about any of my family, really..." he raised his eyes to hold contact with Jack's, but he was refused. The pirate would not look him in the eyes.

"My father, Will Turner?!" Will, who could no longer handle the tension, shouted.

Jack pattered his fingers along the wheel of the ship that he was handling, but remained silent.

"At the jail, it was only after you learned my name that you agreed to help," Will reminded the Captain, "Since that was what I wanted, I didn't press the matter. But I'm not a simpleton, Jack. You knew my father!"

A loud, exasperated sigh came from Jack. The pirate bit his lip sharply.

"Yeah I knew him," he finally admitted to the boy.

Will sat forward eagerly, trying not to look desperate. But truthfully, he'd do anything for more information on his family. His mother had died before he'd turned 12, his sister had been taken away from him, and he'd never known his father. The only person he had left was Lady Elizabeth, and now she was gone.

"I was probably the only one who knew him as William Turner, actually," Jack's eyes were still on the water before him, "everyone else knew him as just Bootstrap, or Bootstrap Bill."

Will's face, turned up into a confused smile.

"Bootstrap?" he wondered. What an odd nickname for a merchant.

Jack made a defeated clicking sound with his mouth.

"Yep. Good man...good pirate."

As Jack caught Will's shocked face, he hastily added, "I swear you look just like him," as if to make the boy feel better.

Will stood up, striding so that he was towering next to Jack.

"That's not true," he insisted through gritted teeth, "He was a merchant sailor. A good, respectable man who obeyed the law," he was convincing himself more than Jack.

Jack sighed and rolled his eyes.

"He was a bloody pirate- a scallywag."

Will lashed his sword out from its resting spot.

"My father was not a pirate!"

Jack continued to navigate the boat, no sign of empathy on his weathered face.

"Put it away son. It's not worth you being beat again."

Will scoffed, approaching the pirate closer.

"You didn't beat me! You ignored the rules of engagement. In a fair fight, I'd have killed you."

"Then that's not much incentive for me to fight fair, then, is it?" Jack smirked.

Will opened his mouth to respond, but was suddenly taken by one of the yards, knocking him off so he was only just holding on over the ocean.

"Now...as long as you're hanging there- pay attention," Jack warned, now with his gaze on the boy, "The only rules that really matter out here are these: what a man can do, and what a man can't do."

"For instance," he began to stroll about the helm, "you can accept that your father was a pirate and a good man, or you can't. But pirate is in your blood, boy, so you'll have to square with that someday."

Will frowned resentfully at the pirate, struggling to get back to the helm.

"Now, me, for example: I can let you drown," Jack offered, "but I can't bring this ship into Tortuga all by me onesies, savvy?"

He proceeded to swing Will back onto the floor of the ship.

Jack seized Will's sword so that the handle was facing the young man's hand.

"Now...can you sail under the command of a pirate? Or can you not?" Jack raised his eyebrows in anticipation.

Will hesitated for but a moment, and grabbed the sword, stowing it away.

"Tortuga?"

"Tortuga" Jack confirmed with a flawed grin.

Marina Turner said goodbye to her most recent client, waving daintily with her finger tips, as if she were royalty. She thought that she must seem something of a queen to the man as he walked away, eyes swimming with happiness.

She patted down her dress, making sure to straighten out every last wrinkle, especially around the bust. Today she was wearing a ruffled deep green dress, curtesy of her saving up her wages for the past year. She was given food for free, so she saved her wages for treasures and trinkets like the lovely bracelet she was currently wearing.

She approached Scarlett, a good friend of hers, who was about ten years older than her, but full of great wisdom. She knew the men of Tortuga better than anyone Marina had ever met, except, she supposed, Giselle. Scarlett and Giselle hated each other, but Marina loved them like older sisters, or even maternal figures.

"Darling, how was he?" Scarlett smirked under a fan. Fans were a new trend among ladies. Marina had heard the women of Port Royal tended to favour them. Scarlett might not be rich or respected, but she grasped onto trends as soon as her pointy nose sniffed them out. She always knew what was happening in London.

"Oh, nothing special," Marina winked, admiring the pattern on her friend's new dress.

"Well get yourself freshened up," Scarlett advised, "tonight's going to be a busy night."

Picking up the ends of her dress so she could walk at ease, Marina attempted to keep up with the older woman.

"Why's that?" She begged to know. Marina was always in a state of curiosity, especially when it came to anything exciting. She loved adventures, she constantly dreamed of the day she'd leave Tortuga: running away from all the dreadful drunks and idiots she was constantly surrounded by.

"Haven't you heard? There was an attack on Port Royal last night! They say it was The Black Pearl, but honestly, it's just horse shit. There were pirates though...hmm, I could be with a pirate...they'd be so dangerous but, boy, I bet they know how to please a woman..." , Scarlett contemplated, beating her fan faster.

Marina rolled her eyes.

"How exciting! Pirates," the young woman's eyes danced with thoughts of adventure and daring escape.

"Yes well, a pirate attack drags a lot of men over to Tortuga- something like that will drive them to drink into their demises. And that's where we come in," Scarlett had a knowing look about her.

"Hmm, well if I'm going to prepare for that eventuality, I think I'll need to borrow your perfume," Marina suggested, grinning.

Scarlett ruffled the younger one's hair and lead her down to the Tortuga Tavern.

"Lemme buy you a drink, kid, and then we'll talk about it."

Marina skipped ahead eagerly, oblivious to any coming events.

"Ever been to Tortuga, mate?" Jack asked Will, though he knew the answer as he saw the young man's face full of surprise at the blatant disregard for rules or hygiene that hung about the place.

Will shook his head only slightly, distracted by a large women in a revealing dress, pouring a cup of ale into a man's mouth.

"It is indeed a sad life that had never breathed deep this sweet, proliferous bouquet that is Tortuga," Jack sighed fondly.

"There sure are...a lot of women," Will noticed, blinking rapidly.

"I tell you, if every town in the world were like this one, no man would ever feel unwanted," Jack smiled.

Will sighed, eyes scanning the place.

"Looking for someone in particular?" Jack joked and Will opened his mouth to explain, but a women stalked up to him.

"Scarlett!" Jack exclaimed as the perky red-head came up to him, only to be slapped across the face.

"Not sure I deserved that," Jack nursed his flaming cheek. Will would have chuckled if it weren't for the fact that something seemed familiar about that woman.

"Giselle!" Jack called as a thin blonde woman danced up to him.

"Who's she?" Giselle spat, slapping him even harder, and trotting off.

Will's eyes narrowed.

"I know her..."

"Well that's too bad, man," Jack whimpered.

"No...Jack, I need to go talk to her!"

"No way! I'm here for a crew and I don't much fancy her help," Jack finally removed his hand from his cheek.

"Well then search out, what did you say his name was?" Will asked.

"Gibbs."

"Right. Find Gibbs and I'll meet you in the Tavern, I must to attend to something."

"I thought you'd never been to Tortuga, what are you up to?" Jack puzzled, but Will had already set out after Scarlett and Giselle.

"Going to the brothel? At a time like this?!" Initially, Jack was annoyed, but then he realized he'd probably do the same thing if it weren't for the fact that he'd angered every girl in there.

"Ah well, it's a pirate life for me," he hummed under his breathe as he set off in search of Mr. Gibbs.

"Excuse me, ma'am," Will had finally caught up with the woman Jack had called 'Giselle' and tapped her on the shoulder.

"Hello luv," Giselle whispered seductively, posing for him to inspect.

"I was just wondering, I'm here..." Will stopped, noting to himself that he really shouldn't mention Jack.

"I'm here on business, but there's someone I've wanted to see for a long time. She might not remember me. Her name is Marina?"

Giselle's face folded and she sighed, throwing a hand on her hips, her breasts pushing up slightly.

"She's our youngest and we don't go let her galavanting around with anyone. If you want a room with her, you better get on the waiting list."

"Wha-oh," Will began to blush, "no, it's just...I'm her brother."