Complications
"…Complications arose, ensued, were overcome…" …Jack Sparrow
Duke Wentworth, an agent of the East India Trading Company sighed heavily and rubbed his temple, throwing down his latest reports upon his desk. Times had turned tough ever since the events of nine years ago. The company had lost most of it's major power, it had taken many years to even build the company back up to a quarter of what it had been before. Duke Wentworth despaired of ever seeing it in it's prime again.
Things used to be simple once upon a time. The only problem the company had faced had been pirates, the scurge of the sea, but the Company had found someone to take care of that particular problem, Lord Cuttler Beckett. Granted the man's methods had been some what questionable, and some would say tyrannical even, but the East India Companies attitude what one does not know will not hurt one, and the ships had been happier at the decrease in pirates attacks.
Of course then the pirates had to gather and revolt, along with some working sailors who did not find the East India Companies choking hold upon business any profitable to them, or anyone but those who were already well off. To make it all worse Lord Beckett the foolish man butted heads with infamous (and low in Duke Wentworths opinion) Jack Sparrow, satisfying his own personal vendetta against the man. Of course it ended with Beckett being shot or some such and many of the East India Trading Companies prize ships being blown to smithereens. After that everything had just gotten…complicated.
As if that had not been bad enough two years after Becketts death England and Spain decided to wage full out war on each other, no one remembered who had started it, and now no one wanted to venture upon the seas, or do trade with the EITC. Most of the ships had been taken under his Majesties possession to be used as war ships. They had lost a few in the war already, and the pirates, when they had a chance were harassing them. Of course the Crown, seeing as the war wasn't raging on too well, was expecting the navy force under the EITC to do something to pull up the peoples moral in their settlements in the Caribbean and show them England's power. Namely propoganda, use scape goats to blame all the people's problems on and turn their attention away from the war which was taking their able sons and fathers away from them.
What the East India Company needed to do essentially was to ensure that the people did not realise the damage which England was taking in the Caribbean. Duke Wentworth had to somehow keep them ignorant of the fact that the Spanish had invaded one of their strongest forts, Port Royal, and was burning most of their supply ships. Of course that was a bit difficult, seeing as the every day criminal could hardly be responsible for the burning ships upon the ocean and the burning towns. Blaming the attacks as pirates rather then the Spanish was beginning to fail seeing as the pirates were being attacked themselves and limping into ports. After all they were living on a sea which was in the middle of a war, and they were getting caught in the crossfire's just like everyone else.
Pirate's for hanging to appease the people were in short supply too. There was short pickings upon the water nowadays and too much danger, most pirates were retiring and settling down as average citizens, the ones that were left were too clever for the dim witted agents the East India Trading Company now had.
Duke Wentworth sighed again heavily as the rain beat against his windowpanes, almost in time to his throbbing head. He found himself almost longing for the devious man Lord Becket, he hadn't much liked the man, but he had to admit that the man did have power, control and most of all cunningness to his advantage. Unlike Lord Bartholomew now, Becketts replacement, who was a dry and nervous young man who had no vision whatsoever and would squeal at the sight of a spider.
"Sir," speaking of the annoying one, Duke Wentworth thought dryly.
"Yes Bartholomew," Duke Wentworth called sufferingly.
"Duke sir," Bartholomew stuttered from the other side of the door in his usual nervous manner. "There's a man here that wants to see you sir."
"Yes there are a lot of men who want to see me," Duke Wentworth snapped at the end of his tether, angry investors had been coming in over the past few days in droves over the recent attack upon a large cargo ship in the Caribbean while it was moored. Of course Duke Wentworth had to blame it on pirates rather then the Spanish who had actually attacked the ship, and suffered suggestions that he and his fellow agents were incompetent and losing their touch. He was not in the current mood to withstand his pride taking another beating. "Tell him to come back another time when I am not swamped with paper work."
He expected Bartholomew to scuttle off as usual intimidated but instead he stuttered more nervous then ever. "B..but s…sir, he's n..not a..an investor."
"Who is he then man, out with it," Duke Wentworth roared. Instead of Bartholomew answering though the door swung open and a well-groomed man stepped in.
"I hope you don't mind that I let myself in Wentworth," he said as Duke Wentworth stared at him with wide eyes and a gaping mouth, looking upon the man he hadn't seen going on six years. "It's just that the young man out there found it rather difficult to believe that you were a friend of mine."
Wentworth did not correct this slip of tongue, he and this man had never been friends, this man didn't even have any friends, but instead all he could utter in astonishment was. "Beckett?"
"Lord Beckett actually," he corrected. "I know it's been a long time, but gentlemen must not forget the niceties now must we?"
Duke Wentworth could only just continue to gape in the most ungentlemanly of manners.
J.S
What appeared to be a lad sat upon the dirt ground outside a run down inn, their hat was drawn over their face covering their eyes, and their hair tied back, the cloth secured with a neat little bow, not often seen among lads of his age. They lent against the building, their hat protecting them from the most of the hot Caribbean sun. A pistol was at their waist, a sword also. Their clothes were weathered and old, hand downs it seemed as they were slightly large for the slight figure, the boots one size too big. The person seemed delicate some how, though no one would dare tell them that as they raised the hat and squinted out, revealing a tanned face and a mouth set into a vicious scowl. They looked towards the closed worm eaten door, sounds were emitting from it which made some passers by glance but dare not do more. The lad looked like he was about to get up and even dare to enter the inn, but then they looked down at their hand; a white scar just barely traced a line across their smooth palm. They sighed heavily, and then rested their head against the wall, turning their face towards the sun and bathing in its warmth. They wriggled slightly obviously believing that they were in for a decidedly long wait. The street was extremely quiet, and dull, no sound stilled the peaceful silence.
"BUGGER! BUGGER! BUGGER! BUGGER!" the loud exclamations emitted from the building along with sounds of crashing. The lad's head snapped up to attention.
Suddenly the worm eaten door of the shady inn burst open and an odd man ran out in a peculiar fashion, his hands held out in front of him and his face holding a look of worry. He quickly closed the door behind him, locking it with a small brass key, then he pressed his back against it. Somebody was ramming against it, there were mumbled growls and yells. He was panting his chest rising and falling, he rubbed his mouth with a sleeve.
"Jack," the person sitting upon the ground exclaimed, looking up at the odd man with his black hair filled with an assortment of things, a goatee and beard framing his chin and his hat askew upon his head on top of a rather weathered red bandanna. His large coat was tangled, half pulled off him, he quickly settled it with a shrug of his shoulders, ensuring the collar was up. He had a red smudge upon his cheek. He held a rapier in front of him and was trying desperately to stuff something into his coat pocket with his free hand. The man named Jack looked at the lad and gave a grin showing gold sparkling teeth, his grin was one of excitement, his dark eyes sparkled.
"Had a bit of a misunderstanding Lizzy," he said, pressing his back harder against the door and bracing his legs, "Gotta go."
There was a roar from within the building and Jack made a face. The person quickly struggled up from the ground, opening their mouth.
"Not now love," Jack said, predicting the words, there was a louder bang the whole wall shook, "Right now we have to RUN."
He grabbed her hand and then they were sprinting across the street, his rapier held in front of him as he ran ensuring no one got in their way. There was a roar from within the building and Elizabeth looked back to see a creature burst forth from the building, breaking the door and the wall and scattering dust and rubble all over the street. The thing was fearsome to behold even in one glance, it was large and black, with some sort of spikes, the only thing Elizabeth noticed though was it's really large teeth. She lifted her feet and ran faster, the thing pounded as it made its way after them.
"What is that thing?" she screamed as they turned the corner.
"Later," Jack gasped, flashing another grin, he skidded and then they were running straight to the docks which were in front of them. The beast skid and slammed into a building, not being as apt at turning, and was stunned at least for the moment.
Elizabeth's heart was pounding and the beast roar filled her ears. Jack was simply dragging her and then he stopped, untying a small row boat.
"Come on, come on," he said waving at her impatiently, "We've got to push it off."
"But this isn't ours," Elizabeth protested as she looked at him dumbly.
"We're borrowing it, now help me," Jack said and then they were pushing it off and jumping in. This time Jack took to the oars, rowing with long powerful and practiced strokes.
The beast roar could be heard and it pounded forward, appearing at the edge of the water, it looked after them and growled.
"Just like Venice," Jack muttered to himself. He stopped rowing and allowed the current to pull them along for a moment. He took his hat off his head and saluted to the beast, Elizabeth rolled her eyes he couldn't help but gloat. "Sorceror, sorry mate but maybe we can catch up some other time, hey. Maybe you can bring your wife along again."
The beast roared once more, its eyes blazing with rage, Jack placed his hat back upon his head crookedly.
"Old man," he called, "This is the day that you will remember as the day," but what day it was they would never hear, for the beast opened its mouth impossibly wide and Jack's eyes widened somewhat his mouth forming in a small oh, it was almost comical. "DIVE," he screamed and he pushed Elizabeth, the boat rocked violently and then he was pulling her to the side as it capsized.
They hit the warm water, Elizabeth attempted to resurface but something was pulling her down, she couldn't see as the salt stung her eyes, she tried to kick against it and her foot met something hard, but the pressure keeping her down did not subside. The water above them seemed to bubble; Elizabeth looked up wide eyed as something red flickered above. And then when the her lungs seemed about to burst, when she couldn't think or feel anymore, whatever held her down let go and she propelled herself up with all her strength, spluttering as she resurfaced into the daylight and colorful world once more, sound meeting her ears.
She looked around her, Jack's hat bobbed beside her, as did the boat, its contents strewn over the ocean; she flung herself against it, resting her tired head against the wood and closing her eyes against the assault of the sun. Her breathe rasped and she enjoyed the cool taste of fresh air, filling her lungs to capacity.
"We have to stop doing that," she gasped. Her eyes suddenly snapped open and she squinted looking around once more. There was something wrong with the scene, both she and Jack had gone down, but only she and Jack's hat had resurfaced. She looked back to shore, the beast still stood there, it too was watching, it's mean eyes set upon her.
"Jack," she called, "Jack," she took a breath and submerged her head, trying to see anything within the watery world but there was nothing, she resurfaced and looked around once more. "Jack," she cried. She struggled towards the capsized boat again, but she frowned as she saw it had moved, rocking though not with the waves. She pressed herself against it and pushed, it righted and Jack appeared from under it, his locks dripping and his coal running from his eyes. He looked like a drowned cat, his face not very happy.
"Don't do that," Elizabeth screamed at him, he simply ignored her, his attention turned towards the beast.
"Jack," Elizabeth cried, "Don't annoy it."
Jack waved to her dismissingly, not listening to a word. "You kicked me," he said instead rather absently, but with the right tone of hurt, his hand going to his cheek.
"You were the thing pulling me down?" Elizabeth growled, remembering kicking something rather hard in the water. Jack's attention had left her once more though, and it was no use to try and get justice. Elizabeth sighed and attempted to pull herself onto the wet boat, it'd be a wet ride to the Pearl which was floating in the distance, she sighed as she saw Jack's smug grin as he looked towards the beast at the waters edge.
"There'll be no living with him after this," she grumbled under her breath.
J.S
"Are you all right Cap'n?" Gibbs immediately queried as Jack came up on deck, dripping onto the dark wood.
"Ah you lads chanced to see the little light show did you," Jack said rather dryly, he wriggled out of his coat and draped it over the railing. Elizabeth was left to struggle up the over the railing by herself, she stumbled onto the deck and cast Jack an accusing glare but he simply ignored it.
"Aye Cap'n," Gibbs said, watching Jack curiously, when nothing was forth coming from him he pressed further, the rest of the crew almost leaning in unison in eagerness. "So Cap'n could you perchance tell us what happened?"
"Maybe later," Jack said waving his hand, then looking as if noticing the rest of the crew he scanned his gaze over all their eager faces, a grin stole over his face despite himself. "I'll tell the tale tonight, it'll be worth it's weight in gold don't you worry fellows." He clapped his hands together then he swaggered towards his cabin, "Now if you don't mind gents I'll just go dry meself." The crew gave one sigh almost in unison, then moved back to their post and tasks, or simply to lazing upon the deck.
"Jack," Elizabeth called, slipping and almost falling in the puddle of water Jack had left in his wake, she pulled herself up by Gibbs coat, almost choking the man. She managed to struggle behind him. "Did you get it," she lowered her voice, the rest of the crew were watching their exchange closely, pricking their ears to hear any mention of treasure such as jewels or gold.
"Can we do the niceties later Lizzy," Jack said making a face and swatting her away with his hand.
"No," Elizabeth exclaimed indignantly, not to be deterred, "We cannot do the niceties later. I was sitting in front of a shady inn baking in the hot sun for hours; I think I've earned the right to know if you got anything at all in there."
"Like what?" Jack queried acting as if he was completely oblivious. He sighed and stopped, turning to look at Elizabeth, his hands absently tugging at his braids.
"Anything about, you know Will and this Eagle fellow?" she queried her eyes eager.
"Miss Swann if I got anything on that front," Jack whispered, leaning closer to her, suspense filled her as she waited with bated breath. "You would be the first to know." He said, tapping her on the shoulder with the finger and giving a forced smile.
"What?" Elizabeth asked, blinking slowly, staring at him with shock. "You had me wait for hours in the hot sun while you got nothing?"
"I never said…" Jack began, seeing that she was in one of her tempers, he raised his hand in a fitful movement, trying to calm her.
"So what did you exactly do in there Jack," she shrieked advancing on him, he backed away with each step she took, looking around nervously for an escape route. "Have some nice tea….or…or," her eyes roved and spotted the red mark on his cheek. "What's that?" she queried, it came out sharper then she intended it to.
"What?" Jack asked in the usual way, his eyes turning wide and innocent. His hand went to his cheek though and he rubbed at it furiously, Elizabeth turned to look behind her, Gibbs was standing there, making motions to Jack, miming rubbing his cheek. When he caught Elizabeth glaring at him his hand quickly snapped behind his back and he gave a weak smile. Elizabeth ignored him and turned back to Jack, who was still trying to desperately rub off the mark, he was only smudging it further though.
"That's lip paint," Elizabeth realized, "You were kissing somebody, that's what you were doing. You were meant to find important information on Will and you spent your time kissing."
"Actually love I don't think that's entirely fair," Jack said, lifting his hands up in protest. "I did not spend my whole time kissing in there. I hardly spent any time kissing in there. The sorcerer was giving me nothing about Will, and when he left the room his beautiful wife just happened to throw herself at me. I want you to know I was not the one who instigated the kisses, I was just an innocent man really being unjustly used you know."
"Oh really," Elizabeth raised her eye brows, the anger seemed to build within her, though on the outside she seemed to maintain a cool facade. Jack seemed to not find this change in her any better, seeming to proffer the shrieking as he knew what to expect. He seemed to realize that now was the time to attempt to appease Elizabeth with his gift.
"Lizzy love," he said leaning closer to her, she didn't even blink. "I did not perhaps manage to gain any information on your dear William unfortunately, through no fault of my own but through complications which arose. But…" he said raising a sooty finger adorned with many rings and placing it upon her parted lips as she raised her eyebrows. "I did however manage to get you a trinket, something along the shiny lines you could say." Elizabeth's mouth shut with a snap, she narrowed her eyes and looked at him suspiciously, trying to figure out how he planned to appease her with a mere trinket.
"Where is it then?" she asked rather roughly.
"Oh right bout," Jack began vaguely, he reached for her hair and Elizabeth followed his hand confused, when suddenly he appeared to pull something out and he held out a gold ring held delicately between his thumb and fore finger. "Here," he finished grinning. He gave a flourishing flamboyant bow and held it out to her, his eyes twinkling.
"Oh Jack," she gasped staring at it. "It's beautiful." She took it from his hand almost afraid it would disappear, it shone in the sunlight.
"Ah, tis nothing," Jack said, waving it away though his grin told her that he was taking in the praise. "I managed to get the sorcerer to cook it up for me before the little incident with his wife."
Elizabeth gasped as she turned it, three small diamonds twinkled from it, set evenly around the ring. Suspicion began to creep up on Elizabeth though, "What is the occasion?" she queried looking up at him.
"Ah you know, this and that," he waved vaguely. "Fine," he sighed at her unwavering look "I know taint you're wedding ring. But seeing as you had to give it up because of me, I thought I should return it…"
"Did you steal them? Are they even real," Elizabeth queried, knowing she sounded rude, but spending months upon a pirate ship had once more lead her to care little about manners, or at least be able to ignore them. After all a gift from Jack could be potentially life threatening, seeing as he usually gave little for free and tended to usually give stolen goods that others dangerous people were searching and close to finding.
"Lizzy darling I am hurt," he said pouting with fake indignation. "I swear upon my pirates honour that those stones are as real as me."
"Are they stolen?" she persisted.
Jack gave this question a rather vague brush off, "Don't you worry bout that Lizzy darling, you just enjoy them. Anyway the fellow who I stole them from isn't going to be coming for them at least."
"Well you gonna' see if it fits?" Jack finally queried, stopping Elizabeth from asking him what that was supposed to mean.
"Pirates don't have any honour Jack remember," she replied to his first statement absently. Elizabeth couldn't help but glance back down at the ring, her attention once again caught by it once the necessary questions were answered, or brushed off. It was so beautiful and it couldn't hurt to try it on at least she hoped so. She slipped it onto her wedding finger hesitantly, bracing herself for anything horrible to happen, but all she found was that it was a perfect fit. She held her hand out to see the effect; the ring looked beautiful upon her delicate hand.
"Perfect," Jack said sounding more satisfied then to be expected, when Elizabeth looked up at him however he quickly gave a grin that was very much blasé. The present achieving the desired effect and serving its purpose for now Jack believed it was time to retreat to his cabin for a well deserved sleep. He proceeded to walk back to his cabin.
Elizabeth quickly fell into step beside him, linking her arm with his. She did not notice, or maybe ignored his look of uneasiness at the offending arm.
"Thank you Jack," she said quietly to him.
"That's all right love, square an all that," he waved his hand at expressing the notion.
"So what did happen with you and the sorcerer?" she asked playfully, though curiosity bit at her as much as the other crew members.
"Later," Jack snapped his voice rather shorter then usual and impatient. Elizabeth quickly let go of his arm. She noticed that he had shadows under his eyes, he sighed heavily as if he was extremely tired. "I'll tell you all later," he gave her a rather forced grin, turning his tone airy once more. "Now if you don't mind I think I'll have a good few winks." He went into his cabin, closing the heavy wooden door behind him.
Elizabeth stared at it, then moved off to do some of her duties. She sighed somewhat as she looked down at the shining ring, she supposed that the grimmer side of Jack should be expected to come out sometimes, but after all these months she had almost forgotten it was there.
J.S
Jack surfaced from his cabin in the cooler afternoon the dog wagging it's tail at his heels. He cursed it under his breath, but no matter what he had tried to do it had somehow always managed to sneak into his cabin every night. By it's own devices or with help Jack could not tell and he had finally given up on it long ago. He declared to the crew, which they had increased with a few new men from ports along the way, that the furry thing made for a comfortable pillow to save face. Maybe he could have kept the still unnamed mutt out of his cabin if he had really wanted to, but he didn't mind its company as much as he put on. He thought also that it'd perhaps enhance his standings with the ladies if he had a cute pooch at his heels. And so it kept close to his heels on ship, getting an absent pat now and then when Jack was feeling in an especially benevolent mood.
He was feeling rather benevolent at the moment, having just had a good rest with the help of Tia Dalma's little concoction, and after consulting his maps felt ready to face the world and perhaps try another venture, one he had been thinking about for quite a while now.
"Someone's in a better mood," Elizabeth muttered to Gibbs as she saw Jack leave his cabin, a rum bottle within his grip.
"Aye well you know a nap does him good," Gibbs answered. Elizabeth hid a smile, the way Gibbs had phrased that almost made Jack sound like a tiresome toddler, though Gibb's serious face indicated he hadn't meant to make a joke.
"Perhaps now would be a good time to find out where were next heading," Gibbs suggested to Elizabeth. She hardly noticed his eagre look, the thought had already entered her head and she made her way to Jack in order to ask. Gibbs followed at her heels, he found he rather proffered Elizabeth to ask the questions nowadays, in case Jack was in one of his sudden and new moods.
Jack had moved to the wheel, a relaxed smile upon his face as he noted Gibbs and Elizabeth making their way up the stairs. He suddenly jerked the wheel, causing them to stumble as the ship turned hard to starboard. The crew stumbled but managed to right themselves, and after noting that their odd Captain was at the wheel merely shrugged it off and went back to their relaxed occupations. Gibbs did not find it so easy, losing his footing and ending up on his rump, Elizabeth lurched but managed to grip the railing tightly.
"Jack," she reproached, coming to his side. Jack brushed this reproach off with a mere grin.
"Mr. Gibbs," he called as the man got unsteadily to his feet. "I've decided a new course for us."
Elizabeth muttered, "We didn't actually have a course to begin with."
"Details, details," Jack waved this away airily.
"What's prompted this sudden change in course Cap'n?" Gibbs queried, trying to gage what Jack was about.
"I've thought of a new venture…or avenue should we say," he quickly added at Elizabeth's look. "To help us find William the junior.
"And what's that?" Elizabeth asked, looking at him suspiciously.
"Ah," Jack shook his finger, "Wrong question."
"Would the right one be where's that Cap'n," Gibbs asked thinking hard.
"That'll give you where were going," Jack said.
"And.." Elizabeth prompted as he absently scratched behind the dogs ear, a place it particularly liked.
"Port de paix," Jack said, giving a grin.
"What are we going to find there?" Elizabeth asked, rather impatient by now.
"An old acquaintance you could say," Jack said leaning closer.
"Friend or enemy?" this from Gibbs, it was almost like a guessing game, one question led to an answer which gave them a thousand more. Of course that was how it usually was to talk to Jack, no one could really fathom how his brain worked so deftly.
"Both, well not so much friend," he answered thoughtfully, and no matter any other questions he refused to answer. "It's a surprise," was all he would say and then give a superior grin which infuriated Elizabeth.
"Well as long as you don't run into any…what was it you said…complications this time," Elizabeth finally said rather sarcastically.
"Why Elizabeth," Jack asked all too innocently, hanging off the wheel, "Do I perhaps detect the taddest bit of jealousy."
Elizabeth growled at him infuriated and quickly stormed off to hide her blush, which she couldn't decide, was in anger or embarrassment.
"I was only asking love," Jack called after her.
"You shouldn't bait her like that Cap'n," Gibbs muttered, "Or one day you might find a sword in your back."
Jack just grinned and turned back to the wheel. "Wouldn't be the first time."
"So…Cap'n," Gibbs said cautiously, "Is this person of…at least…of friendly temperament?"
Jack laughed at this, "Decidedly not mate," he said with a mischievous grin and refused to say anymore, leaving Gibbs with an uneasy feeling and dread. Gibbs could think of only one person who could be considered an enemy and a friend to Jack, more of an enemy really. Though he couldn't for the life of him guess how Jack had found him.
